themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Bike Sales Spike in Movement-Starved Russia

Overall , Russia ’ s largest online retailer said sporting goods sales jumped sixfold on May 1-24 compared with the same period in 2019 .
Russia ’ s bicycle sales have spiked by 6,000 % so far this month as Russians gradually emerge from self-isolation after more than six weeks of nationwide coronavirus lockdown , the online retail giant Wildberries told state media Wednesday .
Wildberries sold 60 times more bicycles , 10 times more jump ropes and skateboards and eight times more scooters in that period , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency ’ s economic desk reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bike , scooter and roller skate rentals has led to a surge in purchases of sports equipment , ” it quoted Wildberries ’ press service as saying .
President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide “ non-working ” period to slow the spread of Covid-19 in late March , closing non-essential businesses and ordering employers to continue paying staff .
He ordered to lift the “ non-working ” period six weeks later on May 12 , authorizing regional leaders to start easing restrictions according to the local epidemiological situation .
Major Russian cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside their homes since then , according to data collected by Russian tech giant Yandex .
Wildberries has launched online sales training sessions for entrepreneurs , focusing on sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak , including entertainment , fitness , culture , education and restaurants .

Overall, Russia’s largest online retailer said sporting goods sales jumped sixfold on May 1-24 compared with the same period in 2019.
Russia’s bicycle sales have spiked by 6,000% so far this month as Russians gradually emerge from self-isolation after more than six weeks of nationwide coronavirus lockdown, the online retail giant Wildberries told state media Wednesday.
Wildberries sold 60 times more bicycles, 10 times more jump ropes and skateboards and eight times more scooters in that period, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency’s economic desk reported.
“The temporary closure of fitness clubs, bike, scooter and roller skate rentals has led to a surge in purchases of sports equipment,” it quoted Wildberries’ press service as saying.
President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide “non-working” period to slow the spread of Covid-19 in late March, closing non-essential businesses and ordering employers to continue paying staff. He ordered to lift the “non-working” period six weeks later on May 12, authorizing regional leaders to start easing restrictions according to the local epidemiological situation.
Major Russian cities have seen increasing numbers of people going outside their homes since then, according to data collected by Russian tech giant Yandex.
Wildberries has launched online sales training sessions for entrepreneurs, focusing on sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, including entertainment, fitness, culture, education and restaurants.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Russian Communist Leader Links Coronavirus Vaccine to Microchip Conspiracy Theory

The leader of Russia ’ s Communist Party said he believes that an eventual vaccine against the new coronavirus is part of a capitalist plot to implant microchips into humans and ensure their “ digital enslavement , ” wading into a viral social media conspiracy theory .
The false claims allege that U.S. billionaire Bill Gates plans to use microchip implants to show who has been tested for or vaccinated against the coronavirus .
Earlier this month , Russian prosecutors shot down speculation that Covid-19 was artificially created to implant microchips .
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov , in a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic Russians , attacked “ capitalist globalism ” for what he called an attempt to “ subject all national cultures to a single cosmopolitan and , in fact , anti-cultural standard.
” “ The globalists are ready to use the most sophisticated technologies of digital enslavement : Among them , a covert mass chip implantation under the pretext of a mandatory vaccination against coronavirus , ” Zyuganov said .
“ The ideologues of digital fascism have allies among the owners of major corporations , bank executives and high-ranking officials , including in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 14 screed on the party ’ s media website .
Zyuganov ’ s remarks followed a high-profile controversy in Russia over a popular film director ’ s show which accused Gates of trying to inject microchips into people to control the population .
The director , Nikita Mikhalkov , accused the state-run Rossia 24 broadcaster of censorship after it pulled reruns of his show .
“ The ‘ fifth column ’ whose representatives were named in the show outed themselves and confirmed : Mikhalkov was spot on !
” Zyuganov said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law punishing those who spread “ intentionally false ” information about the coronavirus with up to five years in prison .
A number of Russian social media users have been fined and several anti-lockdown protesters have been charged under the law .

The leader of Russia’s Communist Party said he believes that an eventual vaccine against the new coronavirus is part of a capitalist plot to implant microchips into humans and ensure their “digital enslavement,” wading into a viral social media conspiracy theory. The false claims allege that U.S. billionaire Bill Gates plans to use microchip implants to show who has been tested for or vaccinated against the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Russian prosecutors shot down speculation that Covid-19 was artificially created to implant microchips.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, in a recent column on the “crisis” facing ethnic Russians, attacked “capitalist globalism” for what he called an attempt to “subject all national cultures to a single cosmopolitan and, in fact, anti-cultural standard.” “The globalists are ready to use the most sophisticated technologies of digital enslavement: Among them, a covert mass chip implantation under the pretext of a mandatory vaccination against coronavirus,” Zyuganov said. “The ideologues of digital fascism have allies among the owners of major corporations, bank executives and high-ranking officials, including in our country,” he wrote in the May 14 screed on the party’s media website.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Russia Surpasses 370K Coronavirus Cases as New Infections Stabilize

The number of new cases has been steadily dropping and authorities have begun easing lockdown measures in some parts of @ @ @ @ @ been eased in many areas though hard-hit Moscow remains on a strict lockdown until at @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , President Vladimir Putin made a rare lockdown appearance in the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ residence outside Moscow for weeks .
Russia 's reported mortality rate is much lower than @ @ @ @ @ rates of infection , leading critics to accuse authorities of under-reporting deaths to minimize the @ @ @ @ @ Health officials say one reason is that Russia counts only those deaths directly caused by @ @ @ @ @ countries that count all deaths of people infected .

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--'I Am Healthy,' Chechen Chief Says After Virus Hospitalization Rumors

Kadyrov appeared in an Instagram-streamed interview with his aide Akhmed Dudayev , who heads the regional channel Grozny.TV , days after his own popular account was deleted from the platform .
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday said he is `` healthy , '' even demonstrating that his arms do n't have IV marks , after rumors that he was hospitalized with possible coronavirus .
Russian news agencies said last week that 43-year-old Kadyrov was flown to Moscow and hospitalized due to suspicions of a coronavirus infection .
He reappeared in public on Tuesday holding a government meeting in Grozny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video from the meeting , which was later erased , showed a catheter on his hand .
During the Instagram chat in the countryside over a table laden with sweets and fruit , Kadyrov stretched his arms out and turned his palms up and down , when his interviewer said there was rumored `` evidence of medical intervention . ''
But he did n't seem to directly deny having been in hospital , even saying he can get ill like any other person .
`` Even if I got sick , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , tens of thousands have died ... am I not human , have I no right to get sick ? ''
he said in the interview , which was mostly in the Chechen language .
`` People are most interested in one question .
I can say that I am healthy , '' Kadyrov later wrote on his Telegram account .
Kadyrov , who took power in Chechnya after his father Akhmad was killed in a 2004 bomb attack , is a loyal ally of President Vladimir Putin and has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Caucasus region .
He was unusually absent during last weekend marking the end of Ramadan , only posting a message with views of Grozny on his social networking page .
During the epidemic , Kadyrov has suggested people who broke quarantine should be `` killed '' while doctors who complained of having no protective gear should be fired .

Kadyrov appeared in an Instagram-streamed interview with his aide Akhmed Dudayev, who heads the regional channel Grozny.TV, days after his own popular account was deleted from the platform.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday said he is "healthy," even demonstrating that his arms don't have IV marks, after rumors that he was hospitalized with possible coronavirus.
Russian news agencies said last week that 43-year-old Kadyrov was flown to Moscow and hospitalized due to suspicions of a coronavirus infection.
He reappeared in public on Tuesday holding a government meeting in Grozny.
The independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta said a video from the meeting, which was later erased, showed a catheter on his hand.
During the Instagram chat in the countryside over a table laden with sweets and fruit, Kadyrov stretched his arms out and turned his palms up and down, when his interviewer said there was rumored "evidence of medical intervention."
But he didn't seem to directly deny having been in hospital, even saying he can get ill like any other person.
"Even if I got sick, there are millions infected with the coronavirus in the world, tens of thousands have died... am I not human, have I no right to get sick?" he said in the interview, which was mostly in the Chechen language.
"People are most interested in one question. I can say that I am healthy," Kadyrov later wrote on his Telegram account.
Kadyrov, who took power in Chechnya after his father Akhmad was killed in a 2004 bomb attack, is a loyal ally of President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of wide-ranging rights violations in his North Caucasus region.
He was unusually absent during last weekend marking the end of Ramadan, only posting a message with views of Grozny on his social networking page.
During the epidemic, Kadyrov has suggested people who broke quarantine should be "killed" while doctors who complained of having no protective gear should be fired.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Russia Seizes 40 Tons of Embargoed European Cheeses

The cheese was found at a port near the northwestern city of St. Petersburg in four containers labeled as a component used to produce rubber .
Russia on Wednesday seized 40 tons of European cheeses smuggled into the country in breach of an embargo on EU food imports , the customs service said .
The shipment included Dorblu blue cheese and Italian hard cheeses such as Grana Padano , the customs service said .
It published a video of a sniffer dog eagerly running up to piles of boxes , with an officer opening them to reveal round packaged cheeses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chocolate biscuits and washing-up liquid , pictures showed .
Russia in 2014 banned wholesale imports from the European Union of most types of fresh foods .
This was in response to EU sanctions over Russia 's actions in Ukraine including the annexation of Crimea .
The customs operation also involved FSB security services , the customs service said in a statement .
They are now searching for those behind the smuggling operation .
Russia 's dairy association has said that the domestic cheese-making industry grew by a third between 2013 and 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from European companies .
However the quality of mass-produced Russian cheese is often low , while artisanal cheese is very expensive .

The cheese was found at a port near the northwestern city of St. Petersburg in four containers labeled as a component used to produce rubber.
Russia on Wednesday seized 40 tons of European cheeses smuggled into the country in breach of an embargo on EU food imports, the customs service said .
The shipment included Dorblu blue cheese and Italian hard cheeses such as Grana Padano, the customs service said.
It published a video of a sniffer dog eagerly running up to piles of boxes, with an officer opening them to reveal round packaged cheeses.
The containers also contained instant coffee, chocolate biscuits and washing-up liquid, pictures showed.
Russia in 2014 banned wholesale imports from the European Union of most types of fresh foods.
This was in response to EU sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine including the annexation of Crimea.
The customs operation also involved FSB security services, the customs service said in a statement.
They are now searching for those behind the smuggling operation.
Russia's dairy association has said that the domestic cheese-making industry grew by a third between 2013 and 2018, helped by the lack of competition from European companies.
However the quality of mass-produced Russian cheese is often low, while artisanal cheese is very expensive.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Russia Postpones BRICS, SCO Summits in July Over Pandemic

Officials responsible for the BRICS and SCO summits `` decided to postpone '' both events scheduled for July 21-23 in Russia 's second city , according to a statement on the Kremlin website .
Russia announced on Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic has forced it to postpone two international summits set for St. Petersburg in July .
The decision was made `` taking into account the global coronavirus pandemic and the associated temporary restrictive measures , '' it added .
The summits would have brought together leaders of BRICS countries , an association of five emerging economies — Brazil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa .
The last BRICS summit was held November in Brazil , before the outbreak of the pandemic .
It would have also convened leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries , which include Russia , China , India , Pakistan and several Central Asian countries .
The Kremlin said new dates would be decided depending on the virus situation of countries participating in the summits `` and in the world as a whole . ''
President Vladimir Putin said this week the peak of the pandemic had passed in Russia and official figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the second day in a row .
With 370,680 total infections , Russia has the third-highest number of cases after the United States and Brazil .

Officials responsible for the BRICS and SCO summits "decided to postpone" both events scheduled for July 21-23 in Russia's second city, according to a statement on the Kremlin website.
Russia announced on Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic has forced it to postpone two international summits set for St. Petersburg in July.
The decision was made "taking into account the global coronavirus pandemic and the associated temporary restrictive measures," it added.
The summits would have brought together leaders of BRICS countries, an association of five emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The last BRICS summit was held November in Brazil, before the outbreak of the pandemic.
It would have also convened leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, which include Russia, China, India, Pakistan and several Central Asian countries.
The Kremlin said new dates would be decided depending on the virus situation of countries participating in the summits "and in the world as a whole."
President Vladimir Putin said this week the peak of the pandemic had passed in Russia and official figures Wednesday showed a decrease in active cases for the second day in a row.
With 370,680 total infections, Russia has the third-highest number of cases after the United States and Brazil.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--‘It’s All Bullsh*t,’ Russia’s Coronavirus Information Chief Says of Virus Fears

Doctor and television presenter Alexander Myasnikov was appointed in April to his new role of informing Russians about coronavirus treatment and prevention methods and to battle “ fake news ” about Covid-19 .
After calling the country ’ s reported low death rate a “ Russian miracle , ” Myasnikov said last week that “ those meant to die will die ” from it .
Russia ’ s head of coronavirus information has suggested that global anxiety over the pandemic is misplaced , his latest controversial comment after saying that the infection would kill as many people as it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Myasnikov gestured for the cameras to stop running and said candidly : “ It ’ s all bullsh*t. ” “ It ’ s all exaggerated .
It ’ s an acute respiratory disease with minimal mortality , ” he told television personality Ksenia Sobchak in the interview for her YouTube project .
“ Why has the whole world been destroyed ?
That I don ’ t know , ” Myasnikov said , adding that he ’ s more concerned about a second wave that he claimed “ we 're unprepared for.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out in defense of one ’ s honor , recounting the story of a longtime friend who had served 20 years in jail for double murder .
“ He hadn ’ t killed a person to steal their watch or stab someone on the sly .
He was defending his honor and dignity , ” Myasnikov said .
“ No jail or threat of punishment will stop me , that ’ s 100 % .
”

Doctor and television presenter Alexander Myasnikov was appointed in April to his new role of informing Russians about coronavirus treatment and prevention methods and to battle “fake news” about Covid-19. After calling the country’s reported low death rate a “Russian miracle,” Myasnikov said last week that “ those meant to die will die ” from it.
Russia’s head of coronavirus information has suggested that global anxiety over the pandemic is misplaced, his latest controversial comment after saying that the infection would kill as many people as it needs to.
In an interview that aired Wednesday, Myasnikov gestured for the cameras to stop running and said candidly: “It’s all bullsh*t.”
“It’s all exaggerated. It’s an acute respiratory disease with minimal mortality,” he told television personality Ksenia Sobchak in the interview for her YouTube project.
“Why has the whole world been destroyed? That I don’t know,” Myasnikov said, adding that he’s more concerned about a second wave that he claimed “we're unprepared for.”
Myasnikov also appeared to advocate murders carried out in defense of one’s honor, recounting the story of a longtime friend who had served 20 years in jail for double murder.
“He hadn’t killed a person to steal their watch or stab someone on the sly. He was defending his honor and dignity,” Myasnikov said. “No jail or threat of punishment will stop me, that’s 100%.”


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Moscow to Start Easing Coronavirus Restrictions After Flattening Curve

Sobyanin had extended the Russian capital ’ s strict lockdown — including its controversial digital pass system — until May 31 even as Putin ended the nationwide “ non-working ” period aimed at slowing the spread of the infection two weeks ago .
The epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak with roughly half of its over 370,000 cases , Moscow has seen its new coronavirus cases decrease from a peak of 6,703 in early May to fewer than 3,000 in recent days .
Moscow is ready to open non-food shops and certain service-sector businesses as well as begin allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday at a videoconference with President Vladimir Putin .
“ The measures we took after opening construction and other industries on May 12 with strict sanitary measures have not only allowed us to improve but also take further steps in this crisis , ” Sobyanin said .
Sobyanin suggested “ testing over the next week or two ” a staggered system of allowing people outside their homes using a timetable system for specific addresses and areas .
“ This is a very difficult decision , ” the mayor of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m concerned if we let everyone walk where they want and as much as we want , we ’ ll have something akin to a May Day demonstration in Moscow , ” Sobyanin told Putin .
The president lauded the Russian capital ’ s efforts at controlling its outbreak and ordered Sobyanin to send medical backup to other hard-hit regions , including the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan .
“ Compared with the early-May peaks , the number of detected coronavirus infection cases has halved while testing volumes are growing , ” Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's consumer protection watchdog said the capital is ready to enter the first phases of lifting its coronavirus restrictions .
Since March 30 , Muscovites have only been permitted to leave their homes for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy , to take out the trash , to walk their pets or to seek emergency medical care .
Those who violate these rules are subject to fines .

Sobyanin had extended the Russian capital’s strict lockdown — including its controversial digital pass system — until May 31 even as Putin ended the nationwide “non-working” period aimed at slowing the spread of the infection two weeks ago. The epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak with roughly half of its over 370,000 cases, Moscow has seen its new coronavirus cases decrease from a peak of 6,703 in early May to fewer than 3,000 in recent days.
Moscow is ready to open non-food shops and certain service-sector businesses as well as begin allowing walks outside starting next Monday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday at a videoconference with President Vladimir Putin.
“The measures we took after opening construction and other industries on May 12 with strict sanitary measures have not only allowed us to improve but also take further steps in this crisis,” Sobyanin said.
Sobyanin suggested “testing over the next week or two” a staggered system of allowing people outside their homes using a timetable system for specific addresses and areas.
“This is a very difficult decision,” the mayor of the 12.7-million megapolis said.
“I’m concerned if we let everyone walk where they want and as much as we want, we’ll have something akin to a May Day demonstration in Moscow,” Sobyanin told Putin.
The president lauded the Russian capital’s efforts at controlling its outbreak and ordered Sobyanin to send medical backup to other hard-hit regions, including the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.
“Compared with the early-May peaks, the number of detected coronavirus infection cases has halved while testing volumes are growing,” Putin said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's consumer protection watchdog said the capital is ready to enter the first phases of lifting its coronavirus restrictions.
Since March 30, Muscovites have only been permitted to leave their homes for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, to take out the trash, to walk their pets or to seek emergency medical care. Those who violate these rules are subject to fines.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-27--Russian Army Deploys Field Hospitals in Virus-Hit Dagestan

Army doctors built a 100-bed facility in Botlikh village and `` medical staff are ready to receive and treat patients , '' the Defense Ministry said in a statement .
The Russian military announced Wednesday it had opened a field hospital in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan where authorities are struggling to contain a coronavirus outbreak .
The top cleric in the majority-Muslim region last week described the virus crisis in Dagestan as a `` catastrophe '' and begged the Kremlin to intervene .
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the situation was complicated , saying `` urgent '' measures needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst-hit region .
The military said it had dispatched 135 servicemen , including 72 medical specialists , to fight the pandemic in Dagestan on Putin 's orders .
Earlier this week , the army set up the first 100-bed field hospital in the town of Buinaksk , 100 kilometers east of Botlikh .
The Defense Ministry said Wednesday it has supplied Dagestan with 20,000 virus test kits that are being used in the field hospitals .
These are among `` the fastest and most accurate '' in the world , showing results within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military said it sent the same tests to Italy at the height of the pandemic there as part of an aid program that critics said was a PR stunt aimed at improving Russia 's global standing .
Touring the field hospital in Botlikh on Tuesday , Dagestan governor Vladimir Vasilyev thanked the military .
`` I 've seen here in Botlikh what I 've seen in modern medical centers in Moscow and other large Russian cities , '' he said .
`` There 's everything you need here . ''
Dagestan on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 24 hours , bringing the region 's total cases to 4,455 and 130 deaths , according to a government tally .
Yet the region 's health minister , Dzhamaludin Gadzhiibragimov , said earlier this month that up to 657 people had died of pneumonia , including 40 medics , raising fears that officials were under reporting virus deaths .
Medics working in Dagestan told AFP last week they were overwhelmed by the number of patients , while the lack of medical supplies had left people in the region feeling abandoned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic had passed in Russia and official figures Wednesday showed a decrease in active cases for the second day in a row .
With 370,680 total infections , Russia has the third-highest number of cases after the United States and Brazil , which officials say is due in large part to a massive testing campaign .

Army doctors built a 100-bed facility in Botlikh village and "medical staff are ready to receive and treat patients," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Russian military announced Wednesday it had opened a field hospital in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan where authorities are struggling to contain a coronavirus outbreak.
The top cleric in the majority-Muslim region last week described the virus crisis in Dagestan as a "catastrophe" and begged the Kremlin to intervene.
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the situation was complicated, saying "urgent" measures needed to be taken in Russia's fifth worst-hit region.
The military said it had dispatched 135 servicemen, including 72 medical specialists, to fight the pandemic in Dagestan on Putin's orders.
Earlier this week, the army set up the first 100-bed field hospital in the town of Buinaksk, 100 kilometers east of Botlikh.
The Defense Ministry said Wednesday it has supplied Dagestan with 20,000 virus test kits that are being used in the field hospitals.
These are among "the fastest and most accurate" in the world, showing results within 30 minutes, it said.
The military said it sent the same tests to Italy at the height of the pandemic there as part of an aid program that critics said was a PR stunt aimed at improving Russia's global standing.
Touring the field hospital in Botlikh on Tuesday, Dagestan governor Vladimir Vasilyev thanked the military.
"I've seen here in Botlikh what I've seen in modern medical centers in Moscow and other large Russian cities," he said.
"There's everything you need here."
Dagestan on Wednesday registered an additional 161 coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, bringing the region's total cases to 4,455 and 130 deaths, according to a government tally.
Yet the region's health minister, Dzhamaludin Gadzhiibragimov, said earlier this month that up to 657 people had died of pneumonia, including 40 medics, raising fears that officials were under reporting virus deaths.
Medics working in Dagestan told AFP last week they were overwhelmed by the number of patients, while the lack of medical supplies had left people in the region feeling abandoned.
Putin said Tuesday the peak of the pandemic had passed in Russia and official figures Wednesday showed a decrease in active cases for the second day in a row.
With 370,680 total infections, Russia has the third-highest number of cases after the United States and Brazil, which officials say is due in large part to a massive testing campaign.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-28--Elon Musk’s Plan to Bomb Mars Is a Cover to Send Nukes Into Space, Russia’s Space Chief Says

The SpaceX founder and CEO has occasionally floated his controversial plan to terraform the Red Planet by setting off thermonuclear explosions above the planet ’ s polar caps and evaporating the frozen carbon dioxide stored there .
According to Musk , this would trigger the greenhouse effect , raising the planet ’ s average temperatures enough to support human life .
Tech billionaire Elon Musk ’ s plan to bomb Mars to make it suitable it for human life is a front to deploy nuclear weapons in space , Russia ’ s space chief said Wednesday .
“ We understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demagogy : This is a cover for the launch of nuclear weapons into space , ” Dmitry Rogozin , the head of Russian state space agency Roscosmos , said in a YouTube interview with pro-Kremlin television pundit Vladimir Solovyov .
He slammed Musk ’ s idea as “ inhumane , ” saying it would “ destroy ” the planet .
“ We see such attempts , we consider them unacceptable and we will hinder this to the greatest extent possible , ” he said , adding that Russia is readying a response and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any weapon into space .
Earlier this month , Roscosmos executive director for advanced programs and science Alexander Bloshenko told the state-run TASS news agency that Musk ’ s plan would require the detonation of more than 10,000 nuclear warheads .
Musk responded with a tweet that simply said “ No problem.
” Rogozin has traded barbs with the SpaceX CEO several times in the past , accusing him of trying to squeeze Moscow out of the carrier rockets market by lowballing prices for commercial space flights .
His comments come a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landmark launch of its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station over inclement weather .
If successful , the mission will signal that the U.S. is no longer dependent on Russia ’ s Soyuz rockets for access to space .

The SpaceX founder and CEO has occasionally floated his controversial plan to terraform the Red Planet by setting off thermonuclear explosions above the planet’s polar caps and evaporating the frozen carbon dioxide stored there. According to Musk, this would trigger the greenhouse effect, raising the planet’s average temperatures enough to support human life.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s plan to bomb Mars to make it suitable it for human life is a front to deploy nuclear weapons in space, Russia’s space chief said Wednesday.
“We understand that one thing is hidden behind this demagogy: This is a cover for the launch of nuclear weapons into space,” Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russian state space agency Roscosmos, said in a YouTube interview with pro-Kremlin television pundit Vladimir Solovyov.
He slammed Musk’s idea as “inhumane,” saying it would “destroy” the planet.
“We see such attempts, we consider them unacceptable and we will hinder this to the greatest extent possible,” he said, adding that Russia is readying a response and that international regulations ban the deployment of any weapon into space.
Earlier this month, Roscosmos executive director for advanced programs and science Alexander Bloshenko told the state-run TASS news agency that Musk’s plan would require the detonation of more than 10,000 nuclear warheads. Musk responded with a tweet that simply said “No problem.”
Rogozin has traded barbs with the SpaceX CEO several times in the past, accusing him of trying to squeeze Moscow out of the carrier rockets market by lowballing prices for commercial space flights.
His comments come a day after SpaceX was forced to delay the landmark launch of its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station over inclement weather. If successful, the mission will signal that the U.S. is no longer dependent on Russia’s Soyuz rockets for access to space.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-28--Russia in Talks With World Leaders to Attend June WWII Parade

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday announced the annual May 9 Victory Day parade would held in June after postponing the event last month to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Russia is coordinating with countries including France to invite their leaders to attend a massive military parade in Moscow on June 24 , the Kremlin said Thursday .
He said it was possible to reschedule the event because Russia had passed the peak of the pandemic .
The new date of June 24 is 75 years after the first victory parade in Red Square following Germany 's surrender to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's quite a short period for compiling the schedules of international leaders , '' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters , saying invitations would be `` coordinated on a case-by-case basis . ''
`` This will be coordinated with each country individually , '' he said , adding that Moscow was already in touch with France .
Peskov said invitations to several former Soviet countries were being renewed and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday confirmed its president would attend , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
A Foreign Ministry official told the state-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating countries including France were being issued `` repeat invitations . ''
The postponement of the mass event had been a blow to Putin , who had hoped to gather world leaders to watch thousands of troops march on Red Square to celebrate 75 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany .
China 's leader Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron of France were among the most high-profile confirmed attendees with invitations sent to other world leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump .
After peaking in mid-May at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , the number of daily infections in Russia has dropped below 9,000 .
The country has the third-highest number of cases at 379,051 after the United States and Brazil .

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday announced the annual May 9 Victory Day parade would held in June after postponing the event last month to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Russia is coordinating with countries including France to invite their leaders to attend a massive military parade in Moscow on June 24, the Kremlin said Thursday.
He said it was possible to reschedule the event because Russia had passed the peak of the pandemic.
The new date of June 24 is 75 years after the first victory parade in Red Square following Germany's surrender to Soviet commanders on May 9.
"It's quite a short period for compiling the schedules of international leaders," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, saying invitations would be "coordinated on a case-by-case basis."
"This will be coordinated with each country individually," he said, adding that Moscow was already in touch with France.
Peskov said invitations to several former Soviet countries were being renewed and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday confirmed its president would attend, the state-run TASS news agency reported.
A Foreign Ministry official told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency earlier Thursday that participating countries including France were being issued "repeat invitations."
The postponement of the mass event had been a blow to Putin, who had hoped to gather world leaders to watch thousands of troops march on Red Square to celebrate 75 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany.
China's leader Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron of France were among the most high-profile confirmed attendees with invitations sent to other world leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump.
After peaking in mid-May at more than 11,000 new coronavirus cases per day, the number of daily infections in Russia has dropped below 9,000.
The country has the third-highest number of cases at 379,051 after the United States and Brazil.