themoscowtimes--2020-08-06--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 870K

Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 870K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow , the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the @ @ @ @ @ rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow could @ @ @ @ @ authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military @ @ @ @ @ nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power @ @ @ @ @ were initially postponed due the epidemic .
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 @ @ @ @ @ masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets .
@ @ @ @ @ working on a coronavirus vaccine .
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials on a group of volunteers .
The trials are ongoing , and the @ @ @ @ @ to be fully completed in the coming weeks .

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--2020-08-06--U.S. Offers $10M Reward Against Russian Election Interference

The reward marks one of the most public signs that members of President Donald Trump 's administration are taking election meddling seriously , despite anger by Trump himself over findings that Russia has assisted him .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday offered a $ 10 million reward aimed at preventing foreign interference in the November election , as the State Department accused Russia of waging an increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaign .
Pompeo pointed to efforts by `` Russia and other malign actors '' as he announced the effort to stop election interference .
The United States `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who , acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government , interferes with U.S. elections by engaging in certain criminal cyber activities , '' Pompeo told reporters .
U.S. intelligence concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to support Trump , especially through manipulation of social media , although it did not find that his campaign colluded with Moscow .
Trump has been outraged by the `` Russia hoax '' and in February removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing to lawmakers that found that Russia appeared to want Trump to win a new term on Nov. 3 .
Last month four top Democratic lawmakers with access to intelligence said they were `` gravely concerned '' about a new `` foreign interference campaign , '' but their joint statement was notably not signed by members of Trump 's Republican Party .
Trump at a notorious 2018 joint press conference appeared to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin 's denials of meddling .
Trump 's former national security advisor , John Bolton , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed that any talk of interference discredited his victory .
U.S. officials have also warned less specifically about election efforts by China .
The State Department 's Global Engagement Center , which is in charge of studying and countering foreign propaganda , warned in a report Wednesday that Russia has invested `` massively '' in disinformation efforts on the internet .
`` The Kremlin bears direct responsibility for cultivating these tactics and platforms as part of its approach to using information as a weapon , '' it said .
The report , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that Russia has relied on proxy voices to amplify messages that boost propaganda goals such as stirring up opposition to the United States .
One favorite topic was the coronavirus pandemic , with Russian sites active in promoting unfounded narratives that Covid-19 was planted by the CIA or Microsoft billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates , the study said .

The reward marks one of the most public signs that members of President Donald Trump's administration are taking election meddling seriously, despite anger by Trump himself over findings that Russia has assisted him.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday offered a $10 million reward aimed at preventing foreign interference in the November election, as the State Department accused Russia of waging an increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaign.
Pompeo pointed to efforts by "Russia and other malign actors" as he announced the effort to stop election interference.
The United States "is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who, acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, interferes with U.S. elections by engaging in certain criminal cyber activities," Pompeo told reporters.
U.S. intelligence concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to support Trump, especially through manipulation of social media, although it did not find that his campaign colluded with Moscow.
Trump has been outraged by the "Russia hoax" and in February removed the director of national intelligence over a briefing to lawmakers that found that Russia appeared to want Trump to win a new term on Nov. 3.
Last month four top Democratic lawmakers with access to intelligence said they were "gravely concerned" about a new "foreign interference campaign," but their joint statement was notably not signed by members of Trump's Republican Party.
Trump at a notorious 2018 joint press conference appeared to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials of meddling. Trump's former national security advisor, John Bolton, in an explosive memoir wrote that the mogul believed that any talk of interference discredited his victory.
U.S. officials have also warned less specifically about election efforts by China.
Network of 'proxy' sites
The State Department's Global Engagement Center, which is in charge of studying and countering foreign propaganda, warned in a report Wednesday that Russia has invested "massively" in disinformation efforts on the internet.
"The Kremlin bears direct responsibility for cultivating these tactics and platforms as part of its approach to using information as a weapon," it said.
The report, which did not focus specifically on election meddling, said that Russia has relied on proxy voices to amplify messages that boost propaganda goals such as stirring up opposition to the United States.
One favorite topic was the coronavirus pandemic, with Russian sites active in promoting unfounded narratives that Covid-19 was planted by the CIA or Microsoft billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates, the study said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-06--Cyprus Police Question Russian Over Lebanon Disaster

Cypriot police said Thursday they had questioned a Russian over alleged links to a ship and its cargo of ammonium nitrate said to have caused the devastating explosion in Beirut .
`` Lebanese authorities asked us to locate the individual and ask him some questions which we did , '' a Cypriot police spokesman told AFP .
`` His response has been sent back to Lebanon . ''
The police spokesman said Igor Grechushkin was not arrested , but asked specific questions relating to the ship 's cargo as requested via Interpol Lebanon .
`` We have done what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Earlier on Thursday , Cyprus ' Interior Ministry denied media allegations that Grechushkin also held a Cypriot passport , but said it would offer assistance to Lebanon .
Cypriot daily newspaper Politis said Grechushkin is a resident of the southern port city of Limassol -- one of the world 's largest ship management centers .
In 2013 , around 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate came into Lebanon on board the Rhosus ship , sailing from Georgia and reportedly bound for Mozambique , a Lebanese security official told AFP , asking not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized to speak on the issue .
Grechushkin had leased the ship , which docked at Beirut port with a small hole in its hull , The New York Times and other media have reported .
Marine Traffic , a ship tracking platform , said the Moldova-flagged vessel first arrived in Beirut 's port , the country 's busiest , on November 20 , 2013 and never left .
According to Lebanese law firm Baroudi & Associates , which represented the vessel 's crew , the Rhosus ship had faced `` technical problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it temporarily docked at the port but was later seized by authorities following a lawsuit filed by a Lebanese company against the shipowner .
Port authorities unloaded the ammonium nitrate and stored it in a rundown port warehouse with cracks in its walls , and the ship sank sometime later because of damage , the officials said .
The warehouse started to exude a strange odour , which led security forces to launch a 2019 investigation that concluded that the `` dangerous '' chemicals needed to be removed from the premises .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warehouse were unsound , urging the port authorities to repair them .
It was not until this week that workers were dispatched and began repair works , in what might have possibly triggered the blast .
The explosion on Tuesday killed at least 137 people , wounded thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage .
The blast was felt as far as Cyprus , some 240 kilometres ( 150 miles ) away .

Cypriot police said Thursday they had questioned a Russian over alleged links to a ship and its cargo of ammonium nitrate said to have caused the devastating explosion in Beirut.
"Lebanese authorities asked us to locate the individual and ask him some questions which we did," a Cypriot police spokesman told AFP. "His response has been sent back to Lebanon."
The police spokesman said Igor Grechushkin was not arrested, but asked specific questions relating to the ship's cargo as requested via Interpol Lebanon.
"We have done what was requested from us," the official said.
Earlier on Thursday, Cyprus' Interior Ministry denied media allegations that Grechushkin also held a Cypriot passport, but said it would offer assistance to Lebanon.
Cypriot daily newspaper Politis said Grechushkin is a resident of the southern port city of Limassol -- one of the world's largest ship management centers.
In 2013, around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate came into Lebanon on board the Rhosus ship, sailing from Georgia and reportedly bound for Mozambique, a Lebanese security official told AFP, asking not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the issue.
Grechushkin had leased the ship, which docked at Beirut port with a small hole in its hull, The New York Times and other media have reported.
Marine Traffic, a ship tracking platform, said the Moldova-flagged vessel first arrived in Beirut's port, the country's busiest, on Nov. 20, 2013 and never left.
According to Lebanese law firm Baroudi & Associates, which represented the vessel's crew, the Rhosus ship had faced "technical problems."
Several security officials told AFP that it temporarily docked at the port but was later seized by authorities following a lawsuit filed by a Lebanese company against the shipowner.
Port authorities unloaded the ammonium nitrate and stored it in a rundown port warehouse with cracks in its walls, and the ship sank sometime later because of damage, the officials said.
The warehouse started to exude a strange odor, which led security forces to launch a 2019 investigation that concluded that the "dangerous" chemicals needed to be removed from the premises.
The agency also noted the walls of the warehouse were unsound, urging the port authorities to repair them.
It was not until this week that workers were dispatched and began repair works, in what might have possibly triggered the blast.
The explosion on Tuesday killed at least 137 people, wounded thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage.
The blast was felt as far as Cyprus, some 240 kilometers (150 miles) away.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-06--Court Jails Young Russians for 'Plotting to Overthrow Putin'

A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced three young activists to long jail terms for plotting to overthrow President Vladimir Putin in a case that has sparked protests and allegations of police overreach .
In 2018 , authorities detained 10 people accusing them of belonging to an anarchist cell called the `` New Greatness '' that was plotting an uprising against the government .
The group 's supporters say the case was fabricated by the FSB security service and that agents infiltrated the group , financed operations and coerced its members into renting office space and creating a charter .
Prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young men and women political prisoners .
A judge in a Moscow court sentenced 27-year-old Ruslan Kostylenkov to seven years in a penal colony , 34-year-old Pyotr Karamzin to 6.5 years and 22-year-old Vyacheslav Kryukov to six years for creating an extremist group .
All three had been in pre-trial detention since March 2018 .
Four others received suspended sentences of 4 to 6.5 years on the same charge , according to an AFP journalist in the courtroom .
Police arrested at least three people outside the court protesting against the trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the throat of a mannequin before being wrestled to the ground by police .
`` We all know that an illegal act is being committed in this court , '' the demonstrator shouted .
`` We all know that the state only wants blood . ''
The ruling comes as critics of Putin cry foul over an increasing number of high-profile terror and treason cases deemed to be politically motivated by activists and human rights monitors .
In February , seven young anarchists and anti-fascists were sentenced to between six and 18 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after saying they were tortured in custody .
The FSB security services detained a respected ex-journalist Ivan Safronov last month on treason charges , while another journalist , Svetlana Prokopyeva , was found guilty of justifying terrorism .

A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced three young activists to long jail terms for plotting to overthrow President Vladimir Putin in a case that has sparked protests and allegations of police overreach. In 2018, authorities detained 10 people accusing them of belonging to an anarchist cell called the "New Greatness" that was plotting an uprising against the government.
The group's supporters say the case was fabricated by the FSB security service and that agents infiltrated the group, financed operations and coerced its members into renting office space and creating a charter. Prominent Russian rights group Memorial has pronounced the young men and women political prisoners. A judge in a Moscow court sentenced 27-year-old Ruslan Kostylenkov to seven years in a penal colony, 34-year-old Pyotr Karamzin to 6.5 years and 22-year-old Vyacheslav Kryukov to six years for creating an extremist group. All three had been in pre-trial detention since March 2018. Four others received suspended sentences of 4 to 6.5 years on the same charge, according to an AFP journalist in the courtroom.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Russia Wants to Return to Venus, Build Reusable Rocket

Last week America 's first crewed spaceship to fly to the International Space Station in nearly a decade returned safely to Earth , splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico .
The head of Russia 's space agency said Friday that Roscosmos wants to return to Venus and bring back soil samples and build spacecraft that will surpass Elon Musk 's rockets .
The mission was carried out jointly by NASA and Musk 's SpaceX .
Its Falcon 9 rocket is semi-reusable .
`` We are making a methane rocket to replace the Soyuz-2 , '' Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency RIA Novosti .
He said it will be a reusable space complex , noting that it will be possible to use its first stage at least 100 times .
`` Of course we are looking at what our American colleagues are doing , '' said Rogozin .
`` But our engineers are trying to take a shortcut — not to repeat what our SpaceX colleagues are doing but surpass them . ''
Rogozin said he was not impressed with the SpaceX spacecraft , saying its landing was `` rather rough . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ landing — that 's exactly why American colleagues chose to land on the water the way it was done 45 years ago , '' Rogozin said .
Russia had for many years enjoyed a monopoly as the only country able to ferry astronauts , and the SpaceX launch meant the loss of a sizeable income .
A seat in the Soyuz costs NASA around $ 80 million .
Rogozin said he also wanted Russia to return to Venus .
`` It was always a 'Russian planet , ' '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have landed probes on the surface of Venus .
`` I believe that Venus is more interesting than Mars , '' Rogozin said , adding that studying Venus could help scientists understand how to deal with climate change on Earth .
Venus , whose atmosphere is made up nearly completely of carbon dioxide , is considered to be the hottest planet in the solar system .
`` If we do n't study what is happening on Venus then we wo n't understand how to prevent a similar scenario from happening on our planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in cooperation with Americans or by themselves — to bring back the surface materials of Venus .
`` It would indeed a breakthrough , '' Rogozin said .
`` We know how to do it , '' he added , saying Russian scientists were currently studying relevant Soviet-era documents .
But Roscosmos lamented that repeated budget cuts risked threatening many of the programs .
`` I do n't quite understand how to work in these conditions , '' he said .
`` We are seeing that leading foreign space agencies are increasing @ @ @ @

Last week America's first crewed spaceship to fly to the International Space Station in nearly a decade returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The head of Russia's space agency said Friday that Roscosmos wants to return to Venus and bring back soil samples and build spacecraft that will surpass Elon Musk's rockets.
The mission was carried out jointly by NASA and Musk's SpaceX. Its Falcon 9 rocket is semi-reusable.
"We are making a methane rocket to replace the Soyuz-2," Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with state news agency RIA Novosti.
He said it will be a reusable space complex, noting that it will be possible to use its first stage at least 100 times.
"Of course we are looking at what our American colleagues are doing," said Rogozin. "But our engineers are trying to take a shortcut — not to repeat what our SpaceX colleagues are doing but surpass them."
Rogozin said he was not impressed with the SpaceX spacecraft, saying its landing was "rather rough."
"It's not designed for ground landing — that's exactly why American colleagues chose to land on the water the way it was done 45 years ago," Rogozin said.
Russia had for many years enjoyed a monopoly as the only country able to ferry astronauts, and the SpaceX launch meant the loss of a sizeable income. A seat in the Soyuz costs NASA around $80 million.
'Return to Venus'
Rogozin said he also wanted Russia to return to Venus.
"It was always a 'Russian planet,'" he said.
The Soviet Union was the only nation to have landed probes on the surface of Venus.
"I believe that Venus is more interesting than Mars," Rogozin said, adding that studying Venus could help scientists understand how to deal with climate change on Earth.
Venus, whose atmosphere is made up nearly completely of carbon dioxide, is considered to be the hottest planet in the solar system.
"If we don't study what is happening on Venus then we won't understand how to prevent a similar scenario from happening on our planet."
He said he wanted Russians — in cooperation with Americans or by themselves — to bring back the surface materials of Venus.
"It would indeed a breakthrough," Rogozin said.
"We know how to do it," he added, saying Russian scientists were currently studying relevant Soviet-era documents.
But Roscosmos lamented that repeated budget cuts risked threatening many of the programs.
"I don't quite understand how to work in these conditions," he said. "We are seeing that leading foreign space agencies are increasing their budgets."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Belarus Fuels First Nuclear Plant Ahead of Presidential Poll

The country is launching its first ever nuclear plant to gain cheaper energy despite suffering severe radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and against strong opposition from neighboring Lithuania .
Belarus on Friday announced it had loaded fuel into its Russian-built nuclear power station as strongman Alexander Lukashenko prepares to contest a presidential poll on Sunday .
The energy ministry announced the plant 's physical launch before it begins generating energy as Lukashenko stands in a tense race against a popular opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
In an address to the nation this week he hailed the power station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' providing cheap electricity for a country heavily dependent on natural gas imports .
The power station was constructed by the Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom according to a Russian design and largely funded by a Russian loan .
On Friday , Belarus fueled up the first of two reactors , each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts .
The energy ministry said that power generation will begin in autumn and the station will ultimately supply a third of the country 's energy needs .
The power station has proved controversial due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 miles ) from the border with EU and NATO member Lithuania .
The Baltic state strongly opposes the power plant and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Friday called it a `` threat to our state 's national security , public health and environment . ''
Lithuania 's Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said he had warned the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) over what he called Minsk 's haste to launch the project .
`` The hurry of recent days is not compatible with nuclear safety standards , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block electricity imports from Belarus once the plant starts producing energy .
The IAEA sent a team of experts to Belarus in March .
Their statement said the country was `` close to completing the required nuclear power infrastructure . ''
Russia 's Rosatom says the plant `` fully meets post-Fukushima demands , '' referring to Japan 's 2011 nuclear accident , as well as `` international norms and IAEA recommendations . ''
Lukashenko said this week that Belarus was acutely aware of safety issues around radiation , as `` we ourselves know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are a Chernobyl republic , we lived through a lot , '' Lukashenko said .

The country is launching its first ever nuclear plant to gain cheaper energy despite suffering severe radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and against strong opposition from neighboring Lithuania.
Belarus on Friday announced it had loaded fuel into its Russian-built nuclear power station as strongman Alexander Lukashenko prepares to contest a presidential poll on Sunday.
The energy ministry announced the plant's physical launch before it begins generating energy as Lukashenko stands in a tense race against a popular opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
In an address to the nation this week he hailed the power station as a "breakthrough into the future," providing cheap electricity for a country heavily dependent on natural gas imports.
The power station was constructed by the Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom according to a Russian design and largely funded by a Russian loan.
On Friday, Belarus fueled up the first of two reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
The energy ministry said that power generation will begin in autumn and the station will ultimately supply a third of the country's energy needs.
The power station has proved controversial due to its location around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border with EU and NATO member Lithuania.
The Baltic state strongly opposes the power plant and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Friday called it a "threat to our state's national security, public health and environment."
Lithuania's Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said he had warned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over what he called Minsk's haste to launch the project.
"The hurry of recent days is not compatible with nuclear safety standards," he told reporters.
Lithuania has said it will block electricity imports from Belarus once the plant starts producing energy.
The IAEA sent a team of experts to Belarus in March. Their statement said the country was "close to completing the required nuclear power infrastructure."
Russia's Rosatom says the plant "fully meets post-Fukushima demands," referring to Japan's 2011 nuclear accident, as well as "international norms and IAEA recommendations."
Lukashenko said this week that Belarus was acutely aware of safety issues around radiation, as "we ourselves know the cost of the consequences."
Chernobyl's nuclear fallout contaminated around a quarter of Belarus's territory.
"We are a Chernobyl republic, we lived through a lot," Lukashenko said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Putin Says Russia Wants 'Stable' Belarus Ahead of Poll

The Kremlin released a statement after a phone call between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to discuss ties as Belarus ramped up tensions with its close ally ahead of the election .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he wants ex-Soviet neighbor Belarus to remain stable ahead of a presidential vote on Sunday , after Minsk accused Moscow of sending mercenaries to foment riots .
The Russian leader was described as stressing Moscow 's `` interest in retaining a stable domestic political situation in Belarus and holding the upcoming presidential poll in a calm atmosphere . ''
Lukashenko is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime from opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya whose campaign has seen thousands rally on the streets calling for an end to his 26-year-rule .
The Belarusian security service last week detained 33 Russians it described as members of Wagner , a shadowy private army reportedly controlled by a close Putin ally .
The Kremlin said the leaders had an `` exchange of opinions '' on the detentions .
It said they expressed `` confidence that the situation that has arisen will be resolved in the spirit of mutual understanding characteristic of cooperation between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men of seeking to destabilize the country by orchestrating mass disorder along with opposition leaders .
Russia has demanded that Belarus release the men whom it said had done nothing wrong .

The Kremlin released a statement after a phone call between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to discuss ties as Belarus ramped up tensions with its close ally ahead of the election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he wants ex-Soviet neighbor Belarus to remain stable ahead of a presidential vote on Sunday, after Minsk accused Moscow of sending mercenaries to foment riots.
The Russian leader was described as stressing Moscow's "interest in retaining a stable domestic political situation in Belarus and holding the upcoming presidential poll in a calm atmosphere."
Lukashenko is facing a strong challenge to his authoritarian regime from opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya whose campaign has seen thousands rally on the streets calling for an end to his 26-year-rule.
The Belarusian security service last week detained 33 Russians it described as members of Wagner, a shadowy private army reportedly controlled by a close Putin ally.
The Kremlin said the leaders had an "exchange of opinions" on the detentions.
It said they expressed "confidence that the situation that has arisen will be resolved in the spirit of mutual understanding characteristic of cooperation between the two countries."
Belarus has accused the men of seeking to destabilize the country by orchestrating mass disorder along with opposition leaders.
Russia has demanded that Belarus release the men whom it said had done nothing wrong.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Russian Indigenous Groups Call on Elon Musk to Boycott Company Behind Arctic Disasters

Last month , the Tesla CEO urged global mining companies to ramp up nickel production as current costs of the metal , a key ingredient in electric car batteries , were hindering Tesla ’ s growth .
He said Tesla would offer a “ giant ” long-term contract to companies that produce nickel “ efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.
” Indigenous groups in Siberia and the Russian Far East have asked Elon Musk to boycott a mining giant linked to several recent environmental disasters in the Arctic .
Russia ’ s Norilsk Nickel , one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be considered ineligible for Musk ’ s offer because of its environmental pollution , the Aborigen Forum indigenous association said .
This summer , more than 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from a Nornickel subsidiary ’ s tank into a river near the city of Norilsk in what environmentalists called the worst-ever Arctic oil spill .
The company has also been linked to mass wastewater dumping and an industrial waste fire in the tundra in recent months .
Nornickel ’ s operations “ are all the more dangerous because they are carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environment is especially vulnerable and can take decades to recover from pollution , ” Aborigen Forum secretary Gennady Shchukin said in an open letter published on the Indigenous Russia website .
Shchukin said Tesla should boycott Nornickel products until it completes an independent assessment of environmental damage linked to nickel mining in the region ; compensates indigenous peoples living on these lands ; recultivates contaminated lands ; and revises its policies for engaging with indigenous groups .
He added that the group hopes Tesla will announce the boycott publicly .
The Taimyr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s far north , where most of Nornickel ’ s mining operations take place , are home to many indigenous groups including the Sami and Nenets .
“ A clean environment is a key factor for their survival in the harsh northern conditions , ” Shchukin wrote .

Last month, the Tesla CEO urged global mining companies to ramp up nickel production as current costs of the metal, a key ingredient in electric car batteries, were hindering Tesla’s growth. He said Tesla would offer a “giant” long-term contract to companies that produce nickel “efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.”
Indigenous groups in Siberia and the Russian Far East have asked Elon Musk to boycott a mining giant linked to several recent environmental disasters in the Arctic.
Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, one of the world’s top nickel producers, should be considered ineligible for Musk’s offer because of its environmental pollution, the Aborigen Forum indigenous association said.
This summer, more than 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from a Nornickel subsidiary’s tank into a river near the city of Norilsk in what environmentalists called the worst-ever Arctic oil spill. The company has also been linked to mass wastewater dumping and an industrial waste fire in the tundra in recent months.
Nornickel’s operations “are all the more dangerous because they are carried out in the Arctic region, where the environment is especially vulnerable and can take decades to recover from pollution,” Aborigen Forum secretary Gennady Shchukin said in an open letter published on the Indigenous Russia website.
Shchukin said Tesla should boycott Nornickel products until it completes an independent assessment of environmental damage linked to nickel mining in the region; compensates indigenous peoples living on these lands; recultivates contaminated lands; and revises its policies for engaging with indigenous groups.
He added that the group hopes Tesla will announce the boycott publicly.
The Taimyr Peninsula and the Murmansk region in Russia’s far north, where most of Nornickel’s mining operations take place, are home to many indigenous groups including the Sami and Nenets.
“A clean environment is a key factor for their survival in the harsh northern conditions,” Shchukin wrote.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--U.S. Spams Russians With Texts Offering Rewards for Election Meddling Info

Russians are receiving spam text messages offering huge rewards in exchange for information about their country ’ s efforts to @ @ @ @ @ ’ presidential election .
News of the SMS messages came after U.S. Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ 10 million reward in an attempt to prevent foreign interference in the November vote , @ @ @ @ @ Russia and other malign actors . ''
Screenshots of the texts , apparently sent by @ @ @ @ @ have been shared on social media by Russians living as far west as Yekaterinburg in @ @ @ @ @ far east as Vladivostok on the Pacific coast , the TJournal news website reported .
@ @ @ @ @ is offering up to $ 10 million for information about interference in the U.S. presidential @ @ @ @ @ message from an unknown sender reads in Russian .

Russians are receiving spam text messages offering huge rewards in exchange for information about their country’s efforts to interfere in the United States’ presidential election.
News of the SMS messages came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the $10 million reward in an attempt to prevent foreign interference in the November vote, pointing to efforts by "Russia and other malign actors."
Screenshots of the texts, apparently sent by the U.S. State Department, have been shared on social media by Russians living as far west as Yekaterinburg in the Urals region and as far east as Vladivostok on the Pacific coast, the TJournal news website reported.
“The U.S. State Department is offering up to $10 million for information about interference in the U.S. presidential election,” the text message from an unknown sender reads in Russian.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Twitter, Facebook Take Fresh Steps to Curb Election Manipulation

Twitter unveiled new steps to prevent the spread of content from `` state-affiliated media '' used to advance a government 's political agenda — a move affecting key outlets from Russia and China .
Twitter and Facebook on Thursday announced moves to thwart efforts to deceive or divide voters as the U.S. nears a contentious presidential election .
Facebook , meanwhile , said it took down accounts running a deceptive campaign out of Romania pretending to be Americans supporting U.S. President Donald Trump .
The network targeted the U.S. with posts about the upcoming presidential election ; the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the far-right organization Qanon linked to conspiracy theories , according to Facebook .
San Francisco-based Twitter said it would add new labels to state-affiliated media accounts and would `` no longer amplify '' their tweets through its recommendation systems , in the latest move to identify and limit the spread of government-led influence campaigns .
A Twitter spokesperson said outlets affected by the new policy include Russian-based Sputnik and RT and China 's Xinhua , but did not provide a full list .
`` Unlike independent media , state-affiliated media frequently use their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political agenda , '' Twitter explained in a released statement .
Twitter said the decision would not affect `` state-financed media organizations with editorial independence , '' specifically citing the British-based BBC and U.S.-based National Public Radio .
Twitter 's announcement follows a similar action by Facebook earlier this year which labeled content from media which are editorially controlled by governments .
The moves come amid concerns over campaigns by governments aimed at influencing elections and public sentiment in other countries through media outlets that disguise their true origins .
State-led influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 U.S. elections and have been seen around the world .
A recent report by Oxford University researchers found disinformation and conspiracy theories spread by leading media outlets from Russia and China , as well as from Iran and Turkey — all of which are state-controlled or closely aligned to regimes in power .
Twitter also plans new authentication labels for `` key government officials '' authorized to speak on behalf of the state .
`` We believe this is an important step so that when people see an account discussing geopolitical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context on its national affiliation and are better informed about who they represent , '' the statement said .
Facebook removed 35 Facebook accounts , three pages , and 88 Instagram accounts as part of an ongoing fight against `` coordinated inauthentic behavior , '' according to security policy head Nathaniel Gleicher .
`` The people behind this network used fake accounts to pose as Americans , amplify and comment on their own content , and manage pages including some posing as President Trump fan pages , '' Gleicher said .
The Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Romania and focused on the U.S. '' We found this network as part of our investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior ahead of the 2020 election in the U.S. , '' Gleicher said .
The network often reposted stories by U.S. conservative news networks and from the Trump campaign , according to Facebook .
Facebook pages in the campaign had about 1,600 followers , while about 7,200 people followed one or more of its Instagram accounts , the California-based internet giant reported .
Coordinated deception such as this `` blurs the live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Gleicher said while briefing reporters .
`` We can only tackle one piece of what is a whole-of-society challenge ; it is increasingly clear no single organization can handle this alone . ''
He echoed a call from Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg for political leaders to establish clear rules regarding what kinds of contents or behaviors should not be tolerated by online platforms .
`` Even though it is hard to pin down motive , the behavior still violates our policies and we can take down the content , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what side they are on . ''

Twitter unveiled new steps to prevent the spread of content from "state-affiliated media" used to advance a government's political agenda — a move affecting key outlets from Russia and China.
Twitter and Facebook on Thursday announced moves to thwart efforts to deceive or divide voters as the U.S. nears a contentious presidential election.
Facebook, meanwhile, said it took down accounts running a deceptive campaign out of Romania pretending to be Americans supporting U.S. President Donald Trump.
The network targeted the U.S. with posts about the upcoming presidential election; the Trump campaign, conservative ideology, Christian beliefs and the far-right organization Qanon linked to conspiracy theories, according to Facebook.
San Francisco-based Twitter said it would add new labels to state-affiliated media accounts and would "no longer amplify" their tweets through its recommendation systems, in the latest move to identify and limit the spread of government-led influence campaigns.
A Twitter spokesperson said outlets affected by the new policy include Russian-based Sputnik and RT and China's Xinhua, but did not provide a full list.
"Unlike independent media, state-affiliated media frequently use their news coverage as a means to advance a political agenda," Twitter explained in a released statement.
Twitter said the decision would not affect "state-financed media organizations with editorial independence," specifically citing the British-based BBC and U.S.-based National Public Radio.
Twitter's announcement follows a similar action by Facebook earlier this year which labeled content from media which are editorially controlled by governments.
Distorting debate
The moves come amid concerns over campaigns by governments aimed at influencing elections and public sentiment in other countries through media outlets that disguise their true origins.
State-led influence campaigns were prominent on social media during the 2016 U.S. elections and have been seen around the world.
A recent report by Oxford University researchers found disinformation and conspiracy theories spread by leading media outlets from Russia and China, as well as from Iran and Turkey — all of which are state-controlled or closely aligned to regimes in power.
Twitter also plans new authentication labels for "key government officials" authorized to speak on behalf of the state.
"We believe this is an important step so that when people see an account discussing geopolitical issues from another country, they have context on its national affiliation and are better informed about who they represent," the statement said.
Thwarting 'inauthentic' content
Facebook removed 35 Facebook accounts, three pages, and 88 Instagram accounts as part of an ongoing fight against "coordinated inauthentic behavior," according to security policy head Nathaniel Gleicher.
"The people behind this network used fake accounts to pose as Americans, amplify and comment on their own content, and manage pages including some posing as President Trump fan pages," Gleicher said.
The Facebook security team determined that the activity originated in Romania and focused on the U.S.
"We found this network as part of our investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior ahead of the 2020 election in the U.S.," Gleicher said.
The network often reposted stories by U.S. conservative news networks and from the Trump campaign, according to Facebook.
Facebook pages in the campaign had about 1,600 followers, while about 7,200 people followed one or more of its Instagram accounts, the California-based internet giant reported.
Coordinated deception such as this "blurs the live between healthy public debate and manipulation," Gleicher said while briefing reporters.
"We can only tackle one piece of what is a whole-of-society challenge; it is increasingly clear no single organization can handle this alone."
He echoed a call from Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg for political leaders to establish clear rules regarding what kinds of contents or behaviors should not be tolerated by online platforms.
"Even though it is hard to pin down motive, the behavior still violates our policies and we can take down the content," he said. "It doesn't matter what side they are on."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Lukashenko: Soviet-Style Autocrat on Europe's Doorstep

Strongman Alexander Lukashenko , who has ruled over ex-Soviet Belarus for nearly three decades , is facing down the greatest challenge to his rule yet ahead of presidential elections on Sunday .
In the run-up to the vote in which Lukashenko will seek a sixth term , protests have erupted across the country straddling Russia and Europe , with 37-year-old stay-at-home-mother Svetlana Tikhanovskaya emerging as his toughest rival .
Critics have mocked Lukashenko , claiming his approval ratings have hit single digits and nicknamed the 65-year-old authoritarian leader `` Sasha 3 % . ''
One of Lukashenko 's would-be rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the famously mustachioed Lukashenko `` the cockroach '' and his supporters waved slippers at protests to symbolize stamping out his rule .
In response , Lukashenko , who is Europe 's longest-serving leader , jailed his main rivals including Tikhanovsky and told opponents not to call him names .
`` Insulting people is not allowed in any country in the world , '' he said at a meeting with Belarusians in late June .
`` Do you really believe that a sitting president can have a 3 % rating ? ''
During an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lukashenko wiped sweat from his brow as he accused the opposition of planning mass riots in the capital Minsk and urged voters to renew his tenure to stave off a revolution .
`` All kinds of arrows , poisoned and Covid-ridden , are targeted at Lukashenko in order to bring him down , humiliate him , stamp on him , and destroy him , '' he told the packed auditorium of officials , church leaders and military personnel .
He has spent the lead-up to the election touring military bases and overseeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not tolerate attempts to unseat him .
Yet the crackdown appears only to have energized the opposition .
Tikhanovsky 's wife Svetlana — who was allowed to register as a candidate — has joined forces with the wife of another Lukashenko opponent and the woman campaign chief of an ex-banker who was jailed and barred from running .
The president has however insisted that Belarus is not ready for a female leader .
A woman president `` would collapse , poor thing , '' he said .
Amnesty International has accused Lukashenko 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female activists with discriminatory tactics .
Lukashenko is known for his blunt-speaking folksiness and the former collective farm boss is routinely pictured in agricultural settings like tractor factories or potato fields .
Despite tens of thousands of coronavirus infections , he has dismissed the pandemic as a hoax and refused to introduce a lockdown or postpone the election .
He has offered dubious tips on avoiding the virus , recommending driving tractors in the countryside , drinking vodka and taking steam baths .
He has also advised Belarusian men to `` keep kissing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run after another woman . ''
In power since 1994 , Lukashenko has kept his landlocked homeland wedged between Russia and EU member Poland largely stuck in a Soviet time warp .
A quarter of a century after the collapse of the USSR the tightly-controlled eastern European nation still has a security service called the KGB , adheres to a command economy and looks to former master Moscow as its main ally , creditor and energy provider .
But Lukashenko has not been afraid to cross swords with the Kremlin as he nervously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has sought to mend fences with the West .
In February , Lukashenko welcomed to Minsk U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , during the first visit to Belarus by a U.S. Secretary of State since 1994 .
Despite recurring financial crises Lukashenko has stood firmly by Soviet-era economic policies .
He has also signed the country up to the Eurasian Economic Union , Russian President Vladimir Putin 's pet project .
But while Belarus remains the most closely aligned former Soviet republic to Moscow , Lukashenko insists he is no Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Belarusian to show his independence .
When Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine and was accused of sparking a rebellion after the February 2014 ouster of Kiev 's Moscow-backed leader , Lukashenko appeared wary of Russia 's aggressiveness .
He has rejected the idea of outright unification with Russia and has accused Moscow of meddling in the current presidential campaign .
Less than two weeks before the polls Belarus arrested more than 30 Russian `` militants , '' saying they were on a mission to destabilize the country .

The 65-year-old won a sixth term in Sunday polls, according to the official results, and brutally crushed protests by opponents who claim he rigged the vote.
Strongman Alexander Lukashenko has ruled over ex-Soviet Belarus for nearly three decades and says he cannot bear to part with his "beloved" country.
Ordinary Belarusians and independent observers accuse him of stealing the election from 37-year-old Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has emerged as the leader of the protest movement against his rule.
Critics call the mustachioed leader "the cockroach."
As Europe's longest-serving non-royal leader, he has held onto power since 1994.
He detained his main opposition rivals ahead of Sunday's poll and afterwards vowed he would not allow opponents to "tear the country apart."
During an animated address to the nation last week, Lukashenko wiped sweat from his brow as he accused the opposition of planning mass riots in the capital Minsk.
"We will not give the country to you," he said, speaking in front of a glum-faced audience of officials, church leaders and military personnel.
He likened Belarus to a woman, saying "You don't hand over your beloved."
'Why cry now?'
After post-election protests in which dozens were injured and a prominent rights group said that one man was killed, Lukashenko defended the use of force.
"Why weep and cry now?" he said.
A father of three, Lukashenko often attends official events with his youngest son, 15-year-old Nikolai. His latest election declaration said that he is still legally married although he is never seen in public with the wife he wed in 1975.
He has insisted that Belarus is not ready for a woman leader.
A female president "would collapse, poor thing," he said.
Amnesty International has accused Lukashenko's government of "misogyny" and targeting female activists with discriminatory tactics.
Lukashenko has been known for his blunt-speaking folksiness and the former collective farm director is routinely pictured in rural settings like tractor factories or potato fields.
Despite tens of thousands of coronavirus infections, he has dismissed the pandemic as a hoax and refused to introduce a lockdown or postpone the election.
He has offered dubious tips on avoiding the virus, recommending driving tractors in the countryside, drinking vodka and taking steam baths.
Between Russia and West
Lukashenko has kept his landlocked homeland wedged between Russia and EU member Poland largely stuck in a Soviet time warp.
A quarter of a century after the collapse of the U.S.S.R. the tightly controlled eastern European nation still has a security service called the KGB, adheres to a command economy and looks to former master Moscow as its main ally, creditor and energy provider.
But Lukashenko has not been afraid to cross swords with the Kremlin as he nervously eyed its intervention in neighboring Ukraine and has sought to mend fences with the West.
In February, he welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, making the first visit to Belarus by a U.S. Secretary of State since 1994.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--15-Year-Old Girl Dies in Monastery Captured By Rogue Priest

A 15-year-old girl living in a Russian Orthodox monastery controlled by a defrocked coronavirus-denying priest has died , Interfax reported @ @ @ @ @ ’ s monastery near Russia ’ s fourth-largest city of Yekaterinburg has been under the @ @ @ @ @ since he forced out its mother superior in June .
Since then , Russian media @ @ @ @ @ child abuse within the monastery .
The girl died from an unspecified disease , according @ @ @ @ @ Sverdlovsk region ’ s children ’ s rights ombudsman .
She lived at the monastery @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ There was no crime , ” Interfax quoted Morokov as saying .

A 15-year-old girl living in a Russian Orthodox monastery controlled by a defrocked coronavirus-denying priest has died, Interfax reported Wednesday.
The Sredneuralsk women’s monastery near Russia’s fourth-largest city of Yekaterinburg has been under the control of Father Sergei Romanov since he forced out its mother superior in June. Since then, Russian media outlets have reported alleged widespread child abuse within the monastery.
The girl died from an unspecified disease, according to Igor Morokov, the Sverdlovsk region’s children’s rights ombudsman. She lived at the monastery with her parents, he said.
“There was no crime,” Interfax quoted Morokov as saying.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-07--Rising Star Shakes up Belarus Strongman's Re-Election Bid

Belarus holds presidential polls on Sunday with a novice opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge in years to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko .
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has headed the ex-Soviet country bordering Russia since 1994 and Sunday 's polls could hand him his sixth term .
After appearing to guarantee himself a smooth path to victory by detaining and ejecting major opposition candidates , Lukashenko has been blindsided by the rapid rise of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , by far the strongest of his four rivals in voter surveys .
She has run an effective and stylish campaign , with open-air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , chanting `` change '' and `` freedom '' while waving lit-up cellphones to a song about breaking down prison walls .
The 37-year-old English teacher and translator by profession who calls herself `` an ordinary woman , mother and wife '' stepped into the race at great personal risk after the detention of her husband , a popular opposition blogger , who had hoped to stand himself .
Initially uncomfortable in the spotlight , Tikhanovskaya has attracted broad support with her promise to free detained opposition figures including her husband .

Belarus holds presidential polls on Sunday with a novice opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge in years to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko. The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has headed the ex-Soviet country bordering Russia since 1994 and Sunday's polls could hand him his sixth term. After appearing to guarantee himself a smooth path to victory by detaining and ejecting major opposition candidates, Lukashenko has been blindsided by the rapid rise of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, by far the strongest of his four rivals in voter surveys. She has run an effective and stylish campaign, with open-air rallies attracting thousands of Belarusians around the country, chanting "change" and "freedom" while waving lit-up cellphones to a song about breaking down prison walls. The 37-year-old English teacher and translator by profession who calls herself "an ordinary woman, mother and wife" stepped into the race at great personal risk after the detention of her husband, a popular opposition blogger, who had hoped to stand himself. Initially uncomfortable in the spotlight, Tikhanovskaya has attracted broad support with her promise to free detained opposition figures including her husband.
She also says that if she wins she will call fresh elections that will include the entire opposition. Her all-female campaign team includes the wife of one barred opposition chief and the campaign manager of another. Their T-shirts display their trio of symbols: a fist, a heart and a V for victory sign. Tikhanovskaya has urged voters to help ward off election fraud by not taking part in early voting and by voting late on the main polling day, Sunday. The result remains in little doubt, however. Belarus has not held polls judged free and fair since 1995 and this time Minsk has not invited observers from the European OSCE observer group for the first time since 2001. Warnings of plots In the run-up to Sunday's vote, Lukashenko has sought to galvanize support for his rule by warning of outside threats and raising the specter of violent mobs. The KGB security service announced detentions of a group of Russian mercenaries allegedly planning to destabilize the vote, saying they were from Wagner, a shadowy private army reportedly funded by a close associate of President Vladimir Putin. Adding further embarrassment for Russia, the men testified that they were en route to other countries including Venezuela. Belarus accused them of planning mass unrest along with detained opposition figures including Tikhanovskaya's husband. Lukashenko also gave non-specific warnings of a plotted massacre in Minsk and foreign-funded cyber campaigns aimed at inciting "color revolutions" in a televised address this week.