themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Moscow Medics Battle Coronavirus On Converted Ice Rink

As Russia continues to grapple with the second wave of the coronavirus that has seen record-setting surges in new infections and deaths in recent weeks , Moscow , the pandemic ’ s epicenter within Russia , is on the front lines .
On Wednesday , Russia reported 20,985 new coronavirus infections — the first time in five days that cases fell below 22,000 — with Moscow accounting for 4,174 of them .
While Moscow ’ s daily infections still outnumber those of Russia ’ s regions , the capital ’ s modern healthcare systems are better-equipped to handle the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country .
Regional hospitals , meanwhile , are struggling to accommodate the surge in new infections and reports have emerged of hospitals under extreme strain , overflowing morgues , medicine shortages and more .
In an effort to ease the growing pressure on its medical system , Moscow is mobilizing to construct makeshift hospitals for treating coronavirus patients .
The Krylatskoye Ice Palace in western Moscow , once the capital ’ s main speed-skating rink , is now the site of one of these makeshift treatment centers .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @

Moscow Medics Battle Coronavirus On Converted Ice Rink
As Russia continues to grapple with the second wave of the coronavirus that has seen record-setting surges in new infections and deaths in recent weeks, Moscow, the pandemic’s epicenter within Russia, is on the front lines.
On Wednesday, Russia reported 20,985 new coronavirus infections — the first time in five days that cases fell below 22,000 — with Moscow accounting for 4,174 of them.
While Moscow’s daily infections still outnumber those of Russia’s regions, the capital’s modern healthcare systems are better-equipped to handle the latest surge in the pandemic than other parts of the country. Regional hospitals, meanwhile, are struggling to accommodate the surge in new infections and reports have emerged of hospitals under extreme strain, overflowing morgues, medicine shortages and more.
In an effort to ease the growing pressure on its medical system, Moscow is mobilizing to construct makeshift hospitals for treating coronavirus patients.
The Krylatskoye Ice Palace in western Moscow, once the capital’s main speed-skating rink, is now the site of one of these makeshift treatment centers. Here’s a closer look:


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Injured Humpback Whale Migrates From Russia to Southern California

Whale watchers in the U.S. first documented the distinctive humpback off the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 2019 , then earlier this November off Catalina Island , the outlet said .
A humpback whale with a mangled tail first spotted in Russia five years ago has re-appeared more than 6,000 kilometers west in Southern California , the Orange County Register reported Tuesday .
A whale-tracking website produced a match with a whale nicknamed Lomot ( Russian for “ chunk ” or “ hunk ” ) that watchers spotted off the coast of Russia ’ s Kamchatka Peninsula in July 2015 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aquatic mammal “ Top Gun.
” According to its biography on the Happywhale.com website , the humpback ’ s tail was “ severely damaged by a killer whale attack as a calf or juvenile.
” “ It had killer whale teeth marks all over it , you could tell it survived a pretty brutal attack when it was a calf , ” wildlife photographer Mark Girardeau , who documented the whale , told the OC Register .
Comparing images taken in 2015 and 2020 , Girardeau estimated the 10-meter whale is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack young calves .
“ This is the first humpback I ’ ve ever documented that has been seen in Russia , ” Girardeau told the OC Register .
“ Usually we get excited if it is documented in Monterey or Washington and then comes here , ” Girardeau said .

Whale watchers in the U.S. first documented the distinctive humpback off the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 2019, then earlier this November off Catalina Island, the outlet said.
A humpback whale with a mangled tail first spotted in Russia five years ago has re-appeared more than 6,000 kilometers west in Southern California, the Orange County Register reported Tuesday.
A whale-tracking website produced a match with a whale nicknamed Lomot (Russian for “chunk” or “hunk”) that watchers spotted off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in July 2015. Its latest spotters in the U.S. named the aquatic mammal “Top Gun.”
According to its biography on the Happywhale.com website, the humpback’s tail was “severely damaged by a killer whale attack as a calf or juvenile.”
“It had killer whale teeth marks all over it, you could tell it survived a pretty brutal attack when it was a calf,” wildlife photographer Mark Girardeau, who documented the whale, told the OC Register.
Comparing images taken in 2015 and 2020, Girardeau estimated the 10-meter whale is about six years old because killer whales usually attack young calves.
“This is the first humpback I’ve ever documented that has been seen in Russia,” Girardeau told the OC Register.
“Usually we get excited if it is documented in Monterey or Washington and then comes here,” Girardeau said.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Coronavirus-Hit Region’s Governor Treated in Moscow Out of ‘Altruism’

Vladimir Sipyagin of the Vladimir region 180 kilometers east of Moscow is at least the 22nd regional leader to contract the coronavirus since the pandemic arrived in Russia this spring .
Reports citing anonymous sources said he was medevaced to the capital Tuesday after four days of at-home treatment because he allegedly feared being treated in his home region .
The governor of a coronavirus-hit Russian region is seeking treatment in a private Moscow clinic out of concern for his own residents , he explained on social media following news of his evacuation .
“ I decided to continue treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own expense so as not to occupy a bed at an infectious disease hospital , ” Sipyagin wrote on Instagram .
“ There aren ’ t many available places and there are patients in much more serious condition than I am , ” Sipyagin wrote .
“ For some of our fellow countrymen suffering from Covid-19 , hospitalization will not just preserve their health but save their lives.
” With a population of 1.36 million , the Vladimir region has confirmed nearly 11,700 coronavirus cases with new infections reaching triple digits since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the regions hit hard by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic , with severe hospital bed , staff and drug shortages being reported nationwide while Moscow has the capacity to manage a surge in new cases .
The Kremlin said it saw no connection between Sipyagin ’ s hospitalization in Moscow and the Covid-19 situation in the Vladimir region .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that a large number of Russian governors get infected because of the nature of their work , which requires frequent contact with people .

Vladimir Sipyagin of the Vladimir region 180 kilometers east of Moscow is at least the 22nd regional leader to contract the coronavirus since the pandemic arrived in Russia this spring. Reports citing anonymous sources said he was medevaced to the capital Tuesday after four days of at-home treatment because he allegedly feared being treated in his home region.
The governor of a coronavirus-hit Russian region is seeking treatment in a private Moscow clinic out of concern for his own residents, he explained on social media following news of his evacuation.
“I decided to continue treatment in a private clinic in Moscow at my own expense so as not to occupy a bed at an infectious disease hospital,” Sipyagin wrote on Instagram.
“There aren’t many available places and there are patients in much more serious condition than I am,” Sipyagin wrote.
“For some of our fellow countrymen suffering from Covid-19, hospitalization will not just preserve their health but save their lives.”
With a population of 1.36 million, the Vladimir region has confirmed nearly 11,700 coronavirus cases with new infections reaching triple digits since the start of November. It is among the regions hit hard by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with severe hospital bed, staff and drug shortages being reported nationwide while Moscow has the capacity to manage a surge in new cases.
The Kremlin said it saw no connection between Sipyagin’s hospitalization in Moscow and the Covid-19 situation in the Vladimir region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that a large number of Russian governors get infected because of the nature of their work, which requires frequent contact with people.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Ozon Sets Price for Blockbuster $5Bln Share Sale in Quest to Be Russia’s Amazon

Russian e-commerce giant Ozon is eyeing a $ 5 billion valuation in one of the most hotly anticipated Russian stock market debuts in years , papers filed by the company in New York on Tuesday laid out .
The company said it would price shares in its upcoming initial public offering ( IPO ) in the range of $ 22.50- $ 27.50 each , giving the firm a valuation of between $ 4-4.9 billion .
That is toward the top end of analysts ’ estimates , first outlined when the firm confirmed its plans to IPO on the U.S.-based Nasdaq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ozon itself could rake in around $ 1 billion in cash from the IPO , which is expected to take place next week , Forbes Russia reported .
The company has not confirmed the date of the listing .
It is set to be the largest and most eagerly-watched Russian launch in years , and cement Ozon ’ s position as one of the fastest growing Russian companies of recent decades .
Only a handful of Russian companies have listed on global stock markets in recent years , as dealmaking crashed following Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic crisis of 2014-16 and the imposition of Western sanctions against Moscow .
In addition to the public offering , Ozon will also sell $ 135 million of additional shares to long-time investors , the private equity fund Baring Vostok and Sistema , a conglomerate controlled by billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov in a concurrent private offering .
Shares in Sistema have surged to a six-year high in recent weeks as Ozon has edged closer to the IPO .
Combined with other convertible share options in play , insiders say the valuation could top @ @ @ @

Russian e-commerce giant Ozon is eyeing a $5 billion valuation in one of the most hotly anticipated Russian stock market debuts in years, papers filed by the company in New York on Tuesday laid out.
The company said it would price shares in its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) in the range of $22.50-$27.50 each, giving the firm a valuation of between $4-4.9 billion. That is toward the top end of analysts’ estimates, first outlined when the firm confirmed its plans to IPO on the U.S.-based Nasdaq exchange at the beginning of November.
Ozon itself could rake in around $1 billion in cash from the IPO, which is expected to take place next week, Forbes Russia reported. The company has not confirmed the date of the listing.
It is set to be the largest and most eagerly-watched Russian launch in years, and cement Ozon’s position as one of the fastest growing Russian companies of recent decades. Only a handful of Russian companies have listed on global stock markets in recent years, as dealmaking crashed following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the economic crisis of 2014-16 and the imposition of Western sanctions against Moscow.
In addition to the public offering, Ozon will also sell $135 million of additional shares to long-time investors, the private equity fund Baring Vostok and Sistema, a conglomerate controlled by billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov in a concurrent private offering. Shares in Sistema have surged to a six-year high in recent weeks as Ozon has edged closer to the IPO.
Combined with other convertible share options in play, insiders say the valuation could top $5.5 billion.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Bill to Give Putin Lifetime Immunity Passes First Reading

The legislation , published on the lower house State Duma website , is among constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote and will allow President Vladimir Putin to again run for office when his fourth term ends in 2024 .
Russia 's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed in its first reading a bill that would grant former presidents immunity once they leave office .
If passed , the bill grants former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime .
They will also be exempt from searches , arrests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are only immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office .
The State Duma on Tuesday approved the bill in the first of three readings .
To be passed into law the bill will need approval from the upper house — the Federation Council — and Putin 's signature .
Under the bill , a former president could be stripped of immunity if accused of treason or other grave crimes and the charges are confirmed by the Supreme and Constitutional courts .
Then both chambers of parliament must support the motion by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of the bill 's authors , told state news agency RIA Novosti that the new legislation will not apply to Mikhail Gorbachev , who was president of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991 .
As Putin is still in office , Dmitry Medvedev — who was head of state between 2008-2012 — is Russia 's only living former president .
The State Duma on Tuesday also passed in its first reading another bill that will grant ex-presidents a lifetime seat in the Federation Council , a position that also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sparked rumors that Putin , 68 , is planning to step down , but the Kremlin denied this saying he is in good health .

The legislation, published on the lower house State Duma website, is among constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote and will allow President Vladimir Putin to again run for office when his fourth term ends in 2024.
Russia's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed in its first reading a bill that would grant former presidents immunity once they leave office.
If passed, the bill grants former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime. They will also be exempt from searches, arrests or questioning.
Currently, former presidents are only immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office.
The State Duma on Tuesday approved the bill in the first of three readings.
To be passed into law the bill will need approval from the upper house — the Federation Council — and Putin's signature.
Under the bill, a former president could be stripped of immunity if accused of treason or other grave crimes and the charges are confirmed by the Supreme and Constitutional courts.
Then both chambers of parliament must support the motion by a two-thirds majority.
Lawmaker Pavel Krasheninnikov, one of the bill's authors, told state news agency RIA Novosti that the new legislation will not apply to Mikhail Gorbachev, who was president of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.
As Putin is still in office, Dmitry Medvedev — who was head of state between 2008-2012 — is Russia's only living former president.
The State Duma on Tuesday also passed in its first reading another bill that will grant ex-presidents a lifetime seat in the Federation Council, a position that also provides immunity from prosecution.
The bills have sparked rumors that Putin, 68, is planning to step down, but the Kremlin denied this saying he is in good health.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Russia to Upgrade ‘Outdated’ Multiple Rocket Launchers

The next-generation family of Tornado MLRS is a “ high-precision complex equipped with guided missiles that can hit individual critical enemy targets at significant ranges , ” Matveyevskyi told the Defense Ministry ’ s Krasnaya Zvezda ( Red Star ) publication .
Russia plans to rearm its outdated multiple launch rocket systems ( MLRS ) with lightweight and more mobile versions by the end of the decade , Lieutenant-General Mikhail Matveyevskyi , the head of the Armed Forces ’ Missile Troops and Artillery , said .
“ By the end of 2027 , large-caliber Tornado-S MLRS with improved characteristics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existing Smerch and outdated Uragan MLRS , ” he said .
“ Medium-caliber Tornado-G with an automated targeting system will replace the outdated Grad MLRS , ” Matveyevskyi said Wednesday , on the day marking Russia ’ s missile forces and artillery .
The head of Russia ’ s Missile Troops and Artillery estimated that the share of modern weapons systems in his forces ' fleet has increased from 25 % in 2012 to 60 % this year .
Russia is undergoing a $ 340 billion state armament program seeking to overhaul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The next-generation family of Tornado MLRS is a “high-precision complex equipped with guided missiles that can hit individual critical enemy targets at significant ranges,” Matveyevskyi told the Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) publication.
Russia plans to rearm its outdated multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) with lightweight and more mobile versions by the end of the decade, Lieutenant-General Mikhail Matveyevskyi, the head of the Armed Forces’ Missile Troops and Artillery, said .
“By the end of 2027, large-caliber Tornado-S MLRS with improved characteristics and extended range missiles will almost completely replace the existing Smerch and outdated Uragan MLRS,” he said.
“Medium-caliber Tornado-G with an automated targeting system will replace the outdated Grad MLRS,” Matveyevskyi said Wednesday, on the day marking Russia’s missile forces and artillery.
The head of Russia’s Missile Troops and Artillery estimated that the share of modern weapons systems in his forces' fleet has increased from 25% in 2012 to 60% this year.
Russia is undergoing a $340 billion state armament program seeking to overhaul 70% of Soviet-era hardware by 2027.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Oxygen Pipe Explodes at Moscow's Main Coronavirus Hospital

An oxygen line has exploded at Kommunarka , Moscow 's main coronavirus treatment center , on Wednesday , city authorities @ @ @ @ @ social media showed clouds of white steam rising from the hospital , which is currently @ @ @ @ @ The RBC news website quoted eyewitnesses as saying that they saw the smoke following a @ @ @ @ @ statement shortly after the explosion , the Moscow health department said that an oxygen line @ @ @ @ @ a temporary ward that is still under construction .
The department added that there is @ @ @ @ @ hospital staff .

An oxygen line has exploded at Kommunarka, Moscow's main coronavirus treatment center, on Wednesday, city authorities said.
Video posted to social media showed clouds of white steam rising from the hospital, which is currently treating 733 coronavirus patients. The RBC news website quoted eyewitnesses as saying that they saw the smoke following a loud bang.
In a statement shortly after the explosion, the Moscow health department said that an oxygen line was depressurized during installation at a temporary ward that is still under construction. The department added that there is no threat to patients or hospital staff.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--Putin 'Alarmed' by Russia's Spike in Virus Deaths

Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country 's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control .
Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections Wednesday , which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world .
`` The number of new cases is rising ... and what 's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing , '' Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours .
Russia 's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries , raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis .
Data published by Russia 's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September , suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's outbreak , is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions .
Putin acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation .
He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation , noting that `` it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine . ''
`` We went through this in the spring .
We know what and how it needs to be done , '' Putin said , adding that vaccines are on the way .
Russia in August registered the world 's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92 % effective , slightly lower than its international competitors .
Last month , Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine , EpiVacCorona .

Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control.
Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections Wednesday, which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world.
"The number of new cases is rising... and what's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing," Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television.
Health authorities Wednesday also reported a new record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours.
Russia's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries, raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis.
Data published by Russia's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher.
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia's outbreak, is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions.
Putin acknowledged Wednesday that several regions were experiencing medicine shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation.
He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation, noting that "it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine."
"We went through this in the spring. We know what and how it needs to be done," Putin said, adding that vaccines are on the way.
Russia in August registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — but before beginning large-scale clinical trials.
Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92% effective, slightly lower than its international competitors.
Last month, Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-18--'Uighur Jail' Note Found in St. Petersburg Shoe Alarms Human Right Experts

UN experts and human rights groups say that Chinese authorities have detained at least one million Uighur and other Turkic Muslims in detention camps .
China maintains that the camps are voluntary and aimed at tackling religious extremism and poverty .
Critics say it is a necessary measure to prevent terrorism .
Critics say Beijing is overblowing the threat to justify its actions and liken the centers to concentration camps .
A July 2020 report from a human rights coalition of 180 organizations said that “ virtually the entire ” fashion industry is complicit in Uighur forced labor in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 2020 , the Australian Strategy Policy Institute issued a report that said over 82 leading brands are profiting from Uighyr forced labor , estimating that China transferred 80,000 Uighurs from their home province of Xinjiang to work in factories across the country between 2017 and 2019 .
While The Moscow Times has been unable to verify the authenticity of the note , the incident has turned the spotlight for the third time this year on the global fashion industry ’ s relationship with its Chinese suppliers and their use of forced Uighur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted on his Instagram , read `` Help I Am in Jail in China Pleas [ sic ] Help UYGHUR.
” “ I got home and started putting the shoes on .
As soon as I shoved my hand in one of them I discovered a strange note tightly sewn inside the shoe , ” Gibadulin told The Moscow Times .
Arslan Gibadullin was eager to try on an expensive pair of The North Face slippers he ’ d treated himself to in an online shopping spree after collecting them from a pick-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VF , the parent company of The North Face , was initially included on the Australian list , then removed after the brand proved that its association with the factory had ceased before the evidence indicates that the factory received Uighur workers in a transfer scheme .
When contacted by The Moscow Times , VF said it had been made aware of the note and started an internal investigation .
VF also said no forced labor was used in the production of the shoes in question .
“ VF Corporation and its family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manufacturing of any of our products and prison labor was not used in the manufacturing of any of our products .
The shoes in the photographs were never in China .
The shoes the consumer purchased were manufactured in Vietnam and shipped directly from the factory to our facility in Belgium and then to a distribution center in Russia … VF does not source any products from the Xinjiang region.
“ However , human rights groups specializing in forced labor say it is nearly impossible to be 100 % sure that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoe weren ’ t sourced from China , given the complex nature of the globalized supply chain “ With the discovery of this note , the burden of proof that no forced labor was used during the production of the shoe lies with VF ” Johnson Yeung , a Hong Kong representative of the international Clean Clothes Campaign global told The Moscow Times .
He urged The North Face to provide full transparency on the origin of all the raw materials used to produce the shoe .
Penelope Kyritsis of the U.S. Worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed Yeung , pointing out that while VF said it “ does not source any products from the Xinjiang region , ” it didn ’ t explain where the raw materials came from .
“ VF needs to show every facility that was involved in the production of this shoe.
” VF did not immediately respond to requests from The Moscow Times to provide details of where the raw materials used to manufacture the shoe came from The SourceMap , an open source online database that visualizes supply chain maps shows that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Vietnam , many of the materials used to make them come from China .
The complexity of the supply chain was underscored at recent government hearing between leading fashion brands and the U.K. ’ s Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee when a representative of Stella McCartney , a brand which takes pride in its sustainability reputation , said the traceability of certain raw materials , such as cotton , `` is extremely difficult to gain . ''
During the same hearing , VF ’ s vice president of global sustainability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that VF uses forced labor , but admitted that there have been instances of audit failure among suppliers .

UN experts and human rights groups say that Chinese authorities have detained at least one million Uighur and other Turkic Muslims in detention camps. China maintains that the camps are voluntary and aimed at tackling religious extremism and poverty. Critics say it is a necessary measure to prevent terrorism. Critics say Beijing is overblowing the threat to justify its actions and liken the centers to concentration camps.
A July 2020 report from a human rights coalition of 180 organizations said that “virtually the entire” fashion industry is complicit in Uighur forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. And in March 2020, the Australian Strategy Policy Institute issued a report that said over 82 leading brands are profiting from Uighyr forced labor, estimating that China transferred 80,000 Uighurs from their home province of Xinjiang to work in factories across the country between 2017 and 2019.
While The Moscow Times has been unable to verify the authenticity of the note, the incident has turned the spotlight for the third time this year on the global fashion industry’s relationship with its Chinese suppliers and their use of forced Uighur labor.
The note, which he posted on his Instagram, read "Help I Am in Jail in China Pleas [sic] Help UYGHUR.”
“I got home and started putting the shoes on. As soon as I shoved my hand in one of them I discovered a strange note tightly sewn inside the shoe,” Gibadulin told The Moscow Times.
Arslan Gibadullin was eager to try on an expensive pair of The North Face slippers he’d treated himself to in an online shopping spree after collecting them from a pick-up point in St. Petersburg last Thursday.
VF, the parent company of The North Face, was initially included on the Australian list, then removed after the brand proved that its association with the factory had ceased before the evidence indicates that the factory received Uighur workers in a transfer scheme.
When contacted by The Moscow Times, VF said it had been made aware of the note and started an internal investigation. VF also said no forced labor was used in the production of the shoes in question.
“VF Corporation and its family brands do not use forced labor in the manufacturing of any of our products and prison labor was not used in the manufacturing of any of our products. The shoes in the photographs were never in China. The shoes the consumer purchased were manufactured in Vietnam and shipped directly from the factory to our facility in Belgium and then to a distribution center in Russia … VF does not source any products from the Xinjiang region.“
However, human rights groups specializing in forced labor say it is nearly impossible to be 100% sure that some of the materials used to make the shoe weren’t sourced from China, given the complex nature of the globalized supply chain
“With the discovery of this note, the burden of proof that no forced labor was used during the production of the shoe lies with VF” Johnson Yeung, a Hong Kong representative of the international Clean Clothes Campaign global told The Moscow Times.
He urged The North Face to provide full transparency on the origin of all the raw materials used to produce the shoe.
Penelope Kyritsis of the U.S. Worker Rights Consortium NGO specializing in forced labor echoed Yeung, pointing out that while VF said it “does not source any products from the Xinjiang region,” it didn’t explain where the raw materials came from.
“VF needs to show every facility that was involved in the production of this shoe.”
VF did not immediately respond to requests from The Moscow Times to provide details of where the raw materials used to manufacture the shoe came from
The SourceMap, an open source online database that visualizes supply chain maps shows that while most The North Face products are manufactured in Vietnam, many of the materials used to make them come from China.
The complexity of the supply chain was underscored at recent government hearing between leading fashion brands and the U.K.’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee when a representative of Stella McCartney, a brand which takes pride in its sustainability reputation, said the traceability of certain raw materials, such as cotton, "is extremely difficult to gain."
During the same hearing, VF’s vice president of global sustainability and responsible sourcing Sean Cady rejected suggestions that VF uses forced labor, but admitted that there have been instances of audit failure among suppliers.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-19--Russia Threatens to Block YouTube for ‘Censoring’ State Media

The draft bill explains that the Prosecutor General ’ s Office and the Foreign Ministry would be able to identify foreign platforms they view as violating Russians ’ rights by restricting content .
That designation would allow Russia ’ s federal media watchdog Roskomnadzor to fully or partially block the platform .
Russia could block YouTube and other major U.S. social media platforms for “ censoring ” content from Russian state media , according to draft legislation submitted to parliament Thursday .
The bill ’ s explanatory note singles out YouTube , Facebook and Twitter for having “ censored ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including RT , RIA Novosti and Crimea 24 since April .
Facebook and Twitter began labeling state-affiliated media accounts this summer , months after Alphabet ’ s YouTube introduced similar labels .
“ The urgency in adopting the draft law , ” says a Reuters translation of the explanatory note , “ is due to numerous cases of unjustified restriction of Russian citizens ’ access to information in the Russian media.
” The Kremlin said a mechanism is needed to counter the perceived discrimination of Russian content but stopped short of endorsing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients of these services have taken place , ” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters , according to Bloomberg .
“ This must be countered , ” Peskov said .
Lawmakers in the lower house of Russia ’ s parliament , the State Duma , and the upper-house Federation Council need to approve the draft bill before President Vladimir Putin can sign it into law .
Currently , Moscow levies relatively small fines against Facebook and Twitter for not complying with a 2015 law requiring social media companies to store Russian users ' data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LinkedIn for violating that law in 2016 .
Russia attempted to block the popular Telegram messaging app in 2018 for not sharing encryption keys with the security services .
Roskomnadzor , the media watchdog , joined Telegram this week after the failed two-year effort to ban it .
Last year , Russia passed a “ sovereign internet ” law tightening state control of web traffic in response to what Moscow called an aggressive U.S. cybersecurity strategy .
Free speech activists criticized the law , saying it could allow the authorities to restrict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan cheered on the latest bill but criticized the “ laughable ” fines of up to 3 million rubles ( $ 39,000 ) , calling them “ more of an annoyance than a threat to Google and the likes.
” If the bill is passed , Russian authorities would also be able to throttle traffic to the offending platforms .

The draft bill explains that the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Foreign Ministry would be able to identify foreign platforms they view as violating Russians’ rights by restricting content. That designation would allow Russia’s federal media watchdog Roskomnadzor to fully or partially block the platform.
Russia could block YouTube and other major U.S. social media platforms for “censoring” content from Russian state media, according to draft legislation submitted to parliament Thursday.
The bill’s explanatory note singles out YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for having “censored” the accounts of Russian state-run news outlets including RT, RIA Novosti and Crimea 24 since April. Facebook and Twitter began labeling state-affiliated media accounts this summer, months after Alphabet’s YouTube introduced similar labels.
“The urgency in adopting the draft law,” says a Reuters translation of the explanatory note, “is due to numerous cases of unjustified restriction of Russian citizens’ access to information in the Russian media.”
The Kremlin said a mechanism is needed to counter the perceived discrimination of Russian content but stopped short of endorsing the restrictions.
“Discriminatory actions against Russian clients of these services have taken place,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Bloomberg.
“This must be countered,” Peskov said.
Lawmakers in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, and the upper-house Federation Council need to approve the draft bill before President Vladimir Putin can sign it into law.
Currently, Moscow levies relatively small fines against Facebook and Twitter for not complying with a 2015 law requiring social media companies to store Russian users' data on Russian servers. Russia blocked access to LinkedIn for violating that law in 2016.
Russia attempted to block the popular Telegram messaging app in 2018 for not sharing encryption keys with the security services. Roskomnadzor, the media watchdog, joined Telegram this week after the failed two-year effort to ban it.
Last year, Russia passed a “sovereign internet” law tightening state control of web traffic in response to what Moscow called an aggressive U.S. cybersecurity strategy. Free speech activists criticized the law, saying it could allow the authorities to restrict access to information at will.
RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan cheered on the latest bill but criticized the “laughable” fines of up to 3 million rubles ($39,000), calling them “more of an annoyance than a threat to Google and the likes.”
If the bill is passed, Russian authorities would also be able to throttle traffic to the offending platforms.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-19--St. Petersburg Opposition Official Questioned By Police After Ripping Putin Portrait

St. Petersburg police have questioned an opposition official after he tore up a portrait of President Vladimir Putin that replaced one of poet Alexander Pushkin , Russian media reported Thursday .
Five officers arrived at the Smolninskoye municipal district session Wednesday to investigate reports that deputy Nikita Yuferev ripped Putin ’ s portrait , according to the St. Petersburg-based Fontanka.ru news website .
It reported that Yuferev told police he was “ angered ” to discover that someone had replaced Pushkin ’ s portrait , which he had hung earlier this week , with the portrait of “ an unidentified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the Yabloko opposition party , which last year unseated pro-Kremlin deputies from the United Russia party in central St. Petersburg 's Smolninskoye district .
The reports did not indicate whether Yuferev would face criminal or other punishment .
Fellow municipal deputy Diana Seraya told the Znak.com news website that the tug-of-war over the Putin and Pushkin portraits was part of an ongoing confrontation with the local administration .
“ Every time we leave , they hang a portrait of Putin .
When we get back , we hang a portrait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was quoted as saying .
Video shared by Seraya on social media showed the arriving officers telling the deputies “ we got a message that the commander-in-chief ’ s photograph was ripped.
” She later posted a photo showing one of the officers filing a protocol with pieces of the Putin portrait scattered on the table .
Russian government and court buildings normally display Putin 's official portrait .
Russia made the “ blatant disrespect ” of government institutions including Putin a criminal offense in 2019 , with dozens of citizens prosecuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law as a form of censorship .

St. Petersburg police have questioned an opposition official after he tore up a portrait of President Vladimir Putin that replaced one of poet Alexander Pushkin, Russian media reported Thursday. Five officers arrived at the Smolninskoye municipal district session Wednesday to investigate reports that deputy Nikita Yuferev ripped Putin’s portrait, according to the St. Petersburg-based Fontanka.ru news website.
It reported that Yuferev told police he was “angered” to discover that someone had replaced Pushkin’s portrait, which he had hung earlier this week, with the portrait of “an unidentified man resembling” Putin. Yuferev is a member of the Yabloko opposition party, which last year unseated pro-Kremlin deputies from the United Russia party in central St. Petersburg's Smolninskoye district. The reports did not indicate whether Yuferev would face criminal or other punishment. Fellow municipal deputy Diana Seraya told the Znak.com news website that the tug-of-war over the Putin and Pushkin portraits was part of an ongoing confrontation with the local administration.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-19--Russia Starts Building $850M High-Speed Arctic Internet

The trans-Arctic underwater fiber optic cable will stretch across 10,000 kilometers from the northwestern port of Murmansk to the Pacific port of Vladivostok .
Russia has started building high-speed internet infrastructure in the Arctic to be used by large ports and oil and gas companies , the Federal Sea and River Transportation Agency announced Wednesday .
The Sea and River Transportation Agency ( Rosmorrechflot ) said it partnered with the Transportation Ministry and state-run port infrastructure firm Rosmorport to provide “ local communication line access to the Arctic zone 's largest ports and localities.
” The project also aims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production and transportation ” of fossil fuels and “ provide an alternative to satellite communications in northern latitudes , ” Rosmorrechflot said .
The RBC news website reported that the state is expected to allocate 65 billion rubles ( $ 850 million ) for the project .
The high-speed Arctic internet contract was reportedly signed in 2019 .
It added that the 12,500-kilometer line is expected to provide connection speeds of 52-104 terabits per second .
Andrei Kuropyatnikov , the head of Rosmorrechflot ’ s communications subsidiary Morsvyazsputnik , told RBC the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely international expansion and construction of additional lines .
Kuropyatnikov said the project is not expected to recoup its expenses .
RBC reported that the first leg of the underwater fiber optic communication line is expected to be laid down in 2021 .
The entire line will be fully built by 2026 , it added .
Russia has invested heavily in a shipping lane , known as the Northern Sea Route , that connects Europe and Asia in the fast-melting Arctic .

The trans-Arctic underwater fiber optic cable will stretch across 10,000 kilometers from the northwestern port of Murmansk to the Pacific port of Vladivostok.
Russia has started building high-speed internet infrastructure in the Arctic to be used by large ports and oil and gas companies, the Federal Sea and River Transportation Agency announced Wednesday.
The Sea and River Transportation Agency (Rosmorrechflot) said it partnered with the Transportation Ministry and state-run port infrastructure firm Rosmorport to provide “local communication line access to the Arctic zone's largest ports and localities.”
The project also aims to “create a digital infrastructure for the production and transportation” of fossil fuels and “provide an alternative to satellite communications in northern latitudes,” Rosmorrechflot said.
The RBC news website reported that the state is expected to allocate 65 billion rubles ($850 million) for the project. The high-speed Arctic internet contract was reportedly signed in 2019.
It added that the 12,500-kilometer line is expected to provide connection speeds of 52-104 terabits per second.
Andrei Kuropyatnikov, the head of Rosmorrechflot’s communications subsidiary Morsvyazsputnik, told RBC the $850 million doesn’t account for likely international expansion and construction of additional lines.
Kuropyatnikov said the project is not expected to recoup its expenses.
RBC reported that the first leg of the underwater fiber optic communication line is expected to be laid down in 2021. The entire line will be fully built by 2026, it added.
Russia has invested heavily in a shipping lane, known as the Northern Sea Route, that connects Europe and Asia in the fast-melting Arctic.


themoscowtimes--2020-11-19--Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Top 2 Million

The national coronavirus caseload reached 2,015,608 after Russia confirmed more than 23,000 coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time since the start of the pandemic .
Russia ’ s coronavirus cases crossed the 2 million mark Thursday , according to an official tally of single-day infections and deaths , as officials acknowledge the deteriorating crisis but resist reinstating lockdown measures .
Russia ’ s coronavirus information center confirmed a total of 23,610 new coronavirus infections across the country 's 85 regions Thursday , twice as much as the first-wave peak of 11,656 recorded on May 11 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not exhibit symptoms .
Russia ’ s coronavirus death toll reached 34,850 , a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods , after a record 463 people died .
Infection rates per 100,000 people have more than doubled from 6.1 in October to 15.3 in November , Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said Wednesday .
Regional infection rates range from 1.8 per 100,000 people to 61.8 per 100,000 .
Government officials have been among those most affected by the virus , with at least 22 out of 85 regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duma lawmakers infected since the spring .
High-ranking officials including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov and several other ministers have contracted the virus this year .
While Moscow remains the epicenter of the pandemic within Russia , the virus has increasingly strained hospitals in the outer regions as the second wave has intensified , with severe shortages of hospital beds , staff and medicine reported across the country .
In recent weeks Russia has re-imposed a nationwide mask mandate and advised regional leaders to close late-night bars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off on wider lockdown measures , citing the need to keep businesses open .
Russian authorities have placed their hopes on the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine , which is currently undergoing Phase 3 trials involving 40,000 volunteers after being approved in August .
Golikova on Wednesday promised to produce 653,000 vaccines in November and 2.2 million vaccines in December .

The national coronavirus caseload reached 2,015,608 after Russia confirmed more than 23,000 coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Russia’s coronavirus cases crossed the 2 million mark Thursday, according to an official tally of single-day infections and deaths, as officials acknowledge the deteriorating crisis but resist reinstating lockdown measures.
Russia’s coronavirus information center confirmed a total of 23,610 new coronavirus infections across the country's 85 regions Thursday, twice as much as the first-wave peak of 11,656 recorded on May 11.
More than a quarter of those infected did not exhibit symptoms.
Russia’s coronavirus death toll reached 34,850, a figure widely believed to be undercounted due to tallying methods, after a record 463 people died.
Infection rates per 100,000 people have more than doubled from 6.1 in October to 15.3 in November, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said Wednesday. Regional infection rates range from 1.8 per 100,000 people to 61.8 per 100,000.
Government officials have been among those most affected by the virus, with at least 22 out of 85 regional governors and 130 out of 450 State Duma lawmakers infected since the spring. High-ranking officials including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov and several other ministers have contracted the virus this year.
While Moscow remains the epicenter of the pandemic within Russia, the virus has increasingly strained hospitals in the outer regions as the second wave has intensified, with severe shortages of hospital beds, staff and medicine reported across the country.
In recent weeks Russia has re-imposed a nationwide mask mandate and advised regional leaders to close late-night bars, nightclubs and other establishments but has held off on wider lockdown measures, citing the need to keep businesses open.
Russian authorities have placed their hopes on the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine, which is currently undergoing Phase 3 trials involving 40,000 volunteers after being approved in August. Golikova on Wednesday promised to produce 653,000 vaccines in November and 2.2 million vaccines in December.