themoscowtimes--2020-09-21--Chinese Authorities Find Coronavirus on Frozen Squid From Russia

Authorities in China ’ s eastern Jilin province have discovered traces of coronavirus on packages of frozen squid imported from Russia , China ’ s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday .
All individuals who came into contact with the packages in Changchun were identified and tested negative for Covid-19 , Xinhua reported .
At least 10 kilograms of squid from the same batch were imported to the nearby city of Fuyu before the virus was detected .
All Fuyu residents who have purchased and eaten squid from this batch between Aug. 24 and 31 have been urged to report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The squid manufacturer has not been identified and it is unclear whether disciplinary action will be taken against the company .
Russian authorities have not yet commented on the incident .
China has carried out widespread routine screenings on imported seafood and meat products since June , when an outbreak in Beijing was linked to a wholesale food market .
Earlier this month , Chinese authorities found Covid-19 particles on frozen seafood packages imported from Indonesia .
The World Health Organization has said that Covid-19 can not multiply on the surface of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this packaging .
Russia has confirmed over 1.1 million Covid-19 infections and over 19,400 deaths overall , with new daily cases rising above 6,000 in recent days after hitting a low of 4,600 last month .
China , the country where the pandemic originated , tightened security along its border with Russia this spring in an effort to prevent a second wave of the virus entering the country from its northern neighbor .

Authorities in China’s eastern Jilin province have discovered traces of coronavirus on packages of frozen squid imported from Russia, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday.
All individuals who came into contact with the packages in Changchun were identified and tested negative for Covid-19, Xinhua reported.
At least 10 kilograms of squid from the same batch were imported to the nearby city of Fuyu before the virus was detected. All Fuyu residents who have purchased and eaten squid from this batch between Aug. 24 and 31 have been urged to report to the authorities and take Covid-19 tests.
The squid manufacturer has not been identified and it is unclear whether disciplinary action will be taken against the company. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
China has carried out widespread routine screenings on imported seafood and meat products since June, when an outbreak in Beijing was linked to a wholesale food market. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities found Covid-19 particles on frozen seafood packages imported from Indonesia.
The World Health Organization has said that Covid-19 cannot multiply on the surface of food packaging and does not encourage disinfecting this packaging.
Russia has confirmed over 1.1 million Covid-19 infections and over 19,400 deaths overall, with new daily cases rising above 6,000 in recent days after hitting a low of 4,600 last month.
China, the country where the pandemic originated, tightened security along its border with Russia this spring in an effort to prevent a second wave of the virus entering the country from its northern neighbor.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-21--Putin Allies Moved ‘Millions’ in Murky Deals, Massive Leak Says

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ( ICIJ ) and BuzzFeed News said that big banks flagged $ 2 trillion worth of suspicious transactions between 1999-2017 .
The FinCEN Files investigation , led by 108 media outlets from 88 countries , is based on more than 2,100 leaked suspicious activity reports ( SARs ) submitted by banks to the U.S. Treasury ’ s financial law enforcement agency .
Russian tycoons close to President Vladimir Putin have used some of the world ’ s largest banks to move massive sums of allegedly dirty money , according to an international journalism investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation found suspicious banking activities by companies thought to be owned by Putin-linked tycoons Oleg Deripaska , Arkady Rotenberg , Alisher Usmanov and Alexei Mordashov , as well as the president ’ s childhood friend Sergei Roldugin : — Deripaska moved at least $ 3 billion in 2002-2016 through a little-known Latvian bank to pay for lobbyists in Washington and private jets as well as real estate in New York and Montenegro , the Baltic investigative journalism center Re : Baltica reported .
— Rotenberg-linked Advantage Alliance moved 60 million pounds ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barclays , with many transactions occurring after the Rotenbergs were sanctioned by the U.S. in 2014 , the BBC reported .
A U.S. Senate investigation accused Rotenberg this summer of dodging sanctions by buying expensive art through Barclays .
The bank closed the account in fall 2016 on concerns that it moved suspicious funds .
A spokesperson for Rotenberg on Monday told the RBC news website that the latest reports `` are nothing more than nonsense . ''
— An Usmanov-linked offshore holding company paid $ 6 million in “ service ” fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JP Morgan Chase Bank in 2006-2008 , the investigation said .
— Roldugin-linked Sandalwood Continental received $ 830,000 from Mordashov-linked Dulston Ventures to extend a loan agreement in 2010 , according to Russia ’ s iStories investigative news website .
Roldugin ’ s name previously appeared in ICIJ ’ s Panama Papers leak in 2016 which implicated the cellist and other members of Putin ’ s inner circle in a $ 2 billion money laundering scheme .

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and BuzzFeed News said that big banks flagged $2 trillion worth of suspicious transactions between 1999-2017. The FinCEN Files investigation, led by 108 media outlets from 88 countries, is based on more than 2,100 leaked suspicious activity reports (SARs) submitted by banks to the U.S. Treasury’s financial law enforcement agency.
Russian tycoons close to President Vladimir Putin have used some of the world’s largest banks to move massive sums of allegedly dirty money, according to an international journalism investigation published Sunday.
In Russia, the investigation found suspicious banking activities by companies thought to be owned by Putin-linked tycoons Oleg Deripaska, Arkady Rotenberg, Alisher Usmanov and Alexei Mordashov, as well as the president’s childhood friend Sergei Roldugin:
— Deripaska moved at least $3 billion in 2002-2016 through a little-known Latvian bank to pay for lobbyists in Washington and private jets as well as real estate in New York and Montenegro, the Baltic investigative journalism center Re:Baltica reported.
— Rotenberg-linked Advantage Alliance moved 60 million pounds ($77.7 million) in 2012-2016 through London-based Barclays, with many transactions occurring after the Rotenbergs were sanctioned by the U.S. in 2014, the BBC reported.
A U.S. Senate investigation accused Rotenberg this summer of dodging sanctions by buying expensive art through Barclays. The bank closed the account in fall 2016 on concerns that it moved suspicious funds.
A spokesperson for Rotenberg on Monday told the RBC news website that the latest reports "are nothing more than nonsense."
— An Usmanov-linked offshore holding company paid $6 million in “service” fees to influential Putin adviser Valentin Yumashev through JP Morgan Chase Bank in 2006-2008, the investigation said.
— Roldugin-linked Sandalwood Continental received $830,000 from Mordashov-linked Dulston Ventures to extend a loan agreement in 2010, according to Russia’s iStories investigative news website.
Roldugin’s name previously appeared in ICIJ’s Panama Papers leak in 2016 which implicated the cellist and other members of Putin’s inner circle in a $2 billion money laundering scheme.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-21--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

The opposition leader ’ s health update came as one of three Soviet-era scientists involved in the secret program to create the Novichok nerve agent offered his “ profound apologies ” to Navalny for playing a role “ in this criminal business.
” Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said he has difficulty performing everyday functions and that he faces a “ long road ” to recovery after his Novichok poisoning which left him in a coma .
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters defied heavy security presence to march in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday , the day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a women ’ s march .
More than 100 people were arrested on the sidelines of the “ March of Justice ” demonstration and similar protests in other major cities , the rights group Viasna said .
The opposition movement has kept up a wave of mass demonstrations every Sunday since President Alexander Lukashenko won a disputed victory in Aug. 9 polls .
Several allies of President Vladimir Putin , including tycoons Arkady Rotenberg , Alisher Usmanov and Alexei Mordashov , were involved in moving massive sums of allegedly dirty money through some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years , according to an international investigation .
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ( ICIJ ) investigation , which was led by 108 media outlets from 88 different countries , is based on thousands of suspicious activity reports ( SARs ) submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department 's financial law enforcement agency , FinCEN , by banks from around the world .
Russian jets conducted 30 raids on the outskirts of northwestern Syria ’ s rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in the biggest strikes since a Turkish-Russian ceasefire in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed six Bradley fighting vehicles , around 100 additional troops and radar systems and stepped up fighter jet patrols in a “ clear signal ” to Russia to avoid unsafe and provocative interactions .
Residents of the central Russian town of Balakovo reported seeing dozens of dead crows strewn across a local highway , leading some to speculate about the origins of the mysterious sighting .

The opposition leader’s health update came as one of three Soviet-era scientists involved in the secret program to create the Novichok nerve agent offered his “profound apologies” to Navalny for playing a role “in this criminal business.”
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said he has difficulty performing everyday functions and that he faces a “long road” to recovery after his Novichok poisoning which left him in a coma.
March of justice
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters defied heavy security presence to march in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday, the day after police officers detained hundreds of demonstrators at a women’s march.
More than 100 people were arrested on the sidelines of the “March of Justice” demonstration and similar protests in other major cities, the rights group Viasna said. The opposition movement has kept up a wave of mass demonstrations every Sunday since President Alexander Lukashenko won a disputed victory in Aug. 9 polls.
Dirty money
Several allies of President Vladimir Putin, including tycoons Arkady Rotenberg, Alisher Usmanov and Alexei Mordashov, were involved in moving massive sums of allegedly dirty money through some of the world’s largest banks for years, according to an international investigation.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) investigation, which was led by 108 media outlets from 88 different countries, is based on thousands of suspicious activity reports (SARs) submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department's financial law enforcement agency, FinCEN, by banks from around the world.
Syria strikes
Russian jets conducted 30 raids on the outskirts of northwestern Syria’s rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in the biggest strikes since a Turkish-Russian ceasefire in March.
In eastern Syria, U.S. forces deployed six Bradley fighting vehicles, around 100 additional troops and radar systems and stepped up fighter jet patrols in a “clear signal” to Russia to avoid unsafe and provocative interactions.
Rain of crows
Residents of the central Russian town of Balakovo reported seeing dozens of dead crows strewn across a local highway, leading some to speculate about the origins of the mysterious sighting.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-20--Tens of Thousands Protest in Belarus Capital Against Lukashenko

They held placards with slogans such as `` Cowards beat up women '' and `` Get out ! ''
.
People holding red-and-white protest flags gathered at the `` March of Justice '' that occupied the whole of a central avenue and walked towards the heavily guarded Palace of Independence , where Lukashenko has his offices .
The opposition movement has kept up a wave of large-scale demonstrations every Sunday since President Alexander Lukashenko won a disputed victory in August 9 polls .
The protest came a day after officers detained hundreds of demonstrators at a women 's march in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition supporters marched in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday despite authorities deploying a heavy police presence .
Before the march , police and internal troops had positioned military trucks and armored personnel carriers in the city center and set up barbed wire .
Riot police in black balaclavas sporadically detained protesters carrying flags and signs at the start , while some people took shelter in a shopping mall and in a fast-food restaurant to escape arrest .
The Viasna rights group said at least 16 had been detained in Minsk as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities .
The government ordered a reduction in mobile internet coverage during the event while central metro stations were closed .
The mass protest came after riot police cracked down on peaceful women demonstrators on Saturday who were wearing shiny accessories for their so-called `` Sparkly March . ''
They dragged protesters into vans , lifted some women off their feet and carrying them .
Belarusian interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova said Sunday that police had detained 415 people on that march in Minsk and 15 in other cities for breaking rules on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been released .
The scale of Saturday 's detentions prompted the opposition 's Coordination Council to warn of a `` new phase in the escalation of violence against peaceful protesters . ''
Among those detained was one of the most prominent faces of the protest movement , 73-year-old activist Nina Baginskaya , although she was later released .
The aggressive police tactics prompted an opposition Telegram channel , Nexta , which has more than 2 million subscribers , to publish what it said was a list of the names and ranks of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expose the identity of police who appear at demonstrations in plain clothes or in uniforms without insignia or name badges , trying to pull off their masks and balaclavas .
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who claimed victory over Lukashenko in the polls and has taken shelter in Lithuania , on Saturday said Belarusians were ready to strip police obeying `` criminal orders '' of anonymity .

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday despite authorities deploying a heavy police presence. The protest came a day after officers detained hundreds of demonstrators at a women's march in the capital. The opposition movement has kept up a wave of large-scale demonstrations every Sunday since President Alexander Lukashenko won a disputed victory in August 9 polls. People holding red-and-white protest flags gathered at the "March of Justice" that occupied the whole of a central avenue and walked towards the heavily guarded Palace of Independence, where Lukashenko has his offices. They held placards with slogans such as "Cowards beat up women" and "Get out!".
news Belarus Police Detain Hundreds of Women at Protest Read more
Before the march, police and internal troops had positioned military trucks and armored personnel carriers in the city center and set up barbed wire. Riot police in black balaclavas sporadically detained protesters carrying flags and signs at the start, while some people took shelter in a shopping mall and in a fast-food restaurant to escape arrest. The Viasna rights group said at least 16 had been detained in Minsk as well as eight at protests in other cities. The government ordered a reduction in mobile internet coverage during the event while central metro stations were closed. The mass protest came after riot police cracked down on peaceful women demonstrators on Saturday who were wearing shiny accessories for their so-called "Sparkly March." They dragged protesters into vans, lifted some women off their feet and carrying them. Belarusian interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova said Sunday that police had detained 415 people on that march in Minsk and 15 in other cities for breaking rules on mass demonstrations. She said 385 had been released. 'Worth fighting for' The scale of Saturday's detentions prompted the opposition's Coordination Council to warn of a "new phase in the escalation of violence against peaceful protesters." Among those detained was one of the most prominent faces of the protest movement, 73-year-old activist Nina Baginskaya, although she was later released. The aggressive police tactics prompted an opposition Telegram channel, Nexta, which has more than 2 million subscribers, to publish what it said was a list of the names and ranks of more than 1,000 police. Protesters have sought to expose the identity of police who appear at demonstrations in plain clothes or in uniforms without insignia or name badges, trying to pull off their masks and balaclavas. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claimed victory over Lukashenko in the polls and has taken shelter in Lithuania, on Saturday said Belarusians were ready to strip police obeying "criminal orders" of anonymity.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-19--Belarus Police Detain Hundreds of Women at Protest

Riot police on Saturday detained hundreds of women , dragging many into vans , as opposition protesters marched through the Belarusian capital Minsk demanding an end to President Alexander Lukashenko 's rule .
The women were seized by riot police in black uniforms and balaclavas as well as officers in unmarked khaki uniforms and plain-clothed officers in face masks .
Police blocked the women and began pulling them into police vans as they stood with linked hands , swiftly detaining hundreds , an AFP journalist saw .
Police lifted some women off their feet in order to remove them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` Sparkly March '' , wearing shiny accessories and carrying red-and-white flags of the protest movement .
The march was the latest in a series of all-women protests calling for the strongman to leave following his disputed victory in elections last month .
His opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also claimed the victory .
Alleged police violence and torture of detainees following the elections have prompted the European Parliament to call for sanctions against Lukashenko and other members of his regime .
In a statement released ahead of the march , Tikhanovskaya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praised the `` brave women of Belarus '' .
`` They are marching despite being constantly menaced and put under pressure , '' she said .
The marchers chanted slogans such as `` Get out , you and your riot police ! ''
and `` We believe we can win ! ''
One of the placards read : `` Our protest has a woman 's face , '' a reference to the title of a popular book by the Belarusian Nobel prize winner Svetlana Alexievich , who has backed the opposition cause .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baginskaya , a 73-year-old activist who has become one of the best-known faces of the protest movement , known for her plucky antics and regularly celebrated with a chant of `` Nina !
Nina ! ''
.
Police took away the flag and flowers she was carrying as they pushed her into a van but released her outside a police station shortly afterwards .
Police detained so many protesters that they ran out of room in vans , releasing around 10 women .
Some women managed to run away and took shelter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site reported .
Ambulances were called after several women became unwell during the detentions .
The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that a journalist had been detained and had his nose broken .
Viasna rights group released an online list of names of 217 women detained in Minsk , saying the list was being updated .
Police have not yet given a number of detained .
The protest came as the opposition is due to hold mass demonstrations on Sunday and Tikhanovskaya will meet European Union foreign ministers and the bloc 's diplomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women 's protests began in Belarus after Lukashenko 's use of extreme violence against detained demonstrators .
Women began forming human chains and marching through Minsk and other cities wearing white clothes and carrying flowers in peaceful demonstrations that police initially allowed to go ahead .
Last weekend , police violently detained several dozen at a similar women 's protest .
Lukashenko last week warned of a possible `` war '' with some neighboring countries and has turned to Russia for support after refusing to step down .

Riot police on Saturday detained hundreds of women, dragging many into vans, as opposition protesters marched through the Belarusian capital Minsk demanding an end to President Alexander Lukashenko's rule.
The women were seized by riot police in black uniforms and balaclavas as well as officers in unmarked khaki uniforms and plain-clothed officers in face masks.
Police blocked the women and began pulling them into police vans as they stood with linked hands, swiftly detaining hundreds, an AFP journalist saw. Police lifted some women off their feet in order to remove them.
Around two thousand women took part in the "Sparkly March", wearing shiny accessories and carrying red-and-white flags of the protest movement.
The march was the latest in a series of all-women protests calling for the strongman to leave following his disputed victory in elections last month.
His opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also claimed the victory.
Alleged police violence and torture of detainees following the elections have prompted the European Parliament to call for sanctions against Lukashenko and other members of his regime.
Protest with 'woman's face'
In a statement released ahead of the march, Tikhanovskaya, who has taken refuge in Lithuania, praised the "brave women of Belarus".
"They are marching despite being constantly menaced and put under pressure," she said.
The marchers chanted slogans such as "Get out, you and your riot police!" and "We believe we can win!"
One of the placards read: "Our protest has a woman's face," a reference to the title of a popular book by the Belarusian Nobel prize winner Svetlana Alexievich, who has backed the opposition cause.
Among those detained on Saturday was Nina Baginskaya, a 73-year-old activist who has become one of the best-known faces of the protest movement, known for her plucky antics and regularly celebrated with a chant of "Nina! Nina!".
Police took away the flag and flowers she was carrying as they pushed her into a van but released her outside a police station shortly afterwards.
Police detained so many protesters that they ran out of room in vans, releasing around 10 women.
Some women managed to run away and took shelter in a nearby nail bar, Tut.by news site reported.
Ambulances were called after several women became unwell during the detentions. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that a journalist had been detained and had his nose broken.
Viasna rights group released an online list of names of 217 women detained in Minsk, saying the list was being updated.
Police have not yet given a number of detained.
The protest came as the opposition is due to hold mass demonstrations on Sunday and Tikhanovskaya will meet European Union foreign ministers and the bloc's diplomatic chief in Brussels on Monday.
The women's protests began in Belarus after Lukashenko's use of extreme violence against detained demonstrators.
Women began forming human chains and marching through Minsk and other cities wearing white clothes and carrying flowers in peaceful demonstrations that police initially allowed to go ahead.
Last weekend, police violently detained several dozen at a similar women's protest.
Lukashenko last week warned of a possible "war" with some neighboring countries and has turned to Russia for support after refusing to step down.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-22--Russia's Giant Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker Makes Maiden Voyage

Designed to transport liquefied natural gas from the Arctic , the giant vessel is 173 meters ( 570 feet ) long and 15 meters high .
Russia 's nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika , touted as the most powerful of its kind and a symbol of Moscow 's Arctic ambitions , set off on its maiden voyage on Tuesday .
`` The unique domestically-built vessel will for the first time find itself in the extreme conditions of Arctic ice where it will have to confirm its status as the flagship of Russia 's icebreaker fleet , '' said its constructors , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arktika is expected to arrive at its future homeport of Murmansk in northwestern Russia in two weeks after undergoing tests of its performance en route .
Launched in 2016 , it is part of a planned fleet of nuclear icebreakers aimed at significantly boosting freight traffic along Russia 's Arctic coast , making the passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans navigable all year round .
According to its constructors , the Arktika can cut through ice that is 2.8 meters ( around 9 feet ) thick .
Economic development of the Arctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key goals .
The Arctic holds huge oil and gas reserves that are being eyed by Russia and other countries including the United States , Canada and Norway .

Designed to transport liquefied natural gas from the Arctic, the giant vessel is 173 meters (570 feet) long and 15 meters high.
Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika, touted as the most powerful of its kind and a symbol of Moscow's Arctic ambitions, set off on its maiden voyage on Tuesday.
"The unique domestically-built vessel will for the first time find itself in the extreme conditions of Arctic ice where it will have to confirm its status as the flagship of Russia's icebreaker fleet," said its constructors, the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg.
The Arktika is expected to arrive at its future homeport of Murmansk in northwestern Russia in two weeks after undergoing tests of its performance en route.
Launched in 2016, it is part of a planned fleet of nuclear icebreakers aimed at significantly boosting freight traffic along Russia's Arctic coast, making the passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans navigable all year round.
According to its constructors, the Arktika can cut through ice that is 2.8 meters (around 9 feet) thick.
Economic development of the Arctic is one of President Vladimir Putin's key goals.
The Arctic holds huge oil and gas reserves that are being eyed by Russia and other countries including the United States, Canada and Norway.