themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Russia Finds Wiretaps in Foreign-Made Clothing Irons – Trade Official

Vasily Shpak warned that bugged appliances and electronic devices are a commonplace reality but did not specify the countries in @ @ @ @ @ manufactured nor the potential motives for wiretapping .
Russian authorities have discovered pre-installed wiretap devices @ @ @ @ @ the Industry and Trade Ministry ’ s top radioelectronics industry official said Wednesday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ have seen a couple of irons with [ pre-installed ] microphones .
They look ordinary @ @ @ @ @ ] but there must be a [ transmitting ] mechanism , ” the state-run TASS @ @ @ @ @ saying at a press conference .
Under a Russian law adopted in 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ transmit or store personal information without the owner ’ s consent is punishable by up @ @ @ @ @ .
Shpak also advised iPhone users to avoid storing sensitive information on their devices .
@ @ @ @ @ ] is inherent for iPhones .
While the [ manufacturer 's ] intentions are good @ @ @ @ @ is paved with good intentions , ” Shpak said .

Vasily Shpak warned that bugged appliances and electronic devices are a commonplace reality but did not specify the countries in which the irons were allegedly manufactured nor the potential motives for wiretapping.
Russian authorities have discovered pre-installed wiretap devices inside imported clothing irons, the Industry and Trade Ministry’s top radioelectronics industry official said Wednesday.
“They are bugged. We have seen a couple of irons with [pre-installed] microphones. They look ordinary from the outside [...] but there must be a [transmitting] mechanism,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Shpak as saying at a press conference.
Under a Russian law adopted in 2019, the distribution of devices that can transmit or store personal information without the owner’s consent is punishable by up to four years in prison.
Shpak also advised iPhone users to avoid storing sensitive information on their devices.
“This [surveillance technology] is inherent for iPhones. While the [manufacturer's] intentions are good, the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” Shpak said.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Far East Russian Region Fights the Blues With ‘Happiness Ministry’

The Kremlin-backed governor said the new agency , officially called the “ ministry of social welfare and family policy , ” is part of ongoing administrative reforms .
Russia ’ s easternmost territory of Kamchatka will establish a so-called “ ministry of happiness ” to improve its residents ’ well-being , the region ’ s recently elected governor Vladimir Solodov announced Thursday .
“ In short , it ’ s about happiness , ” Solodov said of the new ministry at a regional forum .
“ It ’ s important for me to make this transition away from the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Of course we ’ ll work with people in difficult situations , but we need to make them prosperous and happy , not just deal with the problems that have become painful.
” Solodov , 38 , is a Moscow transplant who assumed the post overseeing the region after winning more than 80 % of the vote in last month ’ s regional elections .
Solodov ’ s ambitious development goals include taking Singapore ’ s mantle of a major international transport hub , making tourism more affordable and reducing alcohol consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His establishment of a “ ministry of happiness ” comes as Russia has seen its position in global happiness rankings fall for two years .
Analysts attribute the drop to Russians ’ lack of observable life improvement and a sense of injustice toward themselves .
“ The main criterion for achieving big results to me , albeit somewhat philosophically , is the people ’ s happiness , ” Solodov said .
“ It might sound a little pompous and declarative coming from us , but I think the head of a region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .

The Kremlin-backed governor said the new agency, officially called the “ministry of social welfare and family policy,” is part of ongoing administrative reforms.
Russia’s easternmost territory of Kamchatka will establish a so-called “ministry of happiness” to improve its residents’ well-being, the region’s recently elected governor Vladimir Solodov announced Thursday.
“In short, it’s about happiness,” Solodov said of the new ministry at a regional forum.
“It’s important for me to make this transition away from the ‘ministry of the offended and the disadvantaged.’ Of course we’ll work with people in difficult situations, but we need to make them prosperous and happy, not just deal with the problems that have become painful.”
Solodov, 38, is a Moscow transplant who assumed the post overseeing the region after winning more than 80% of the vote in last month’s regional elections.
Solodov’s ambitious development goals include taking Singapore’s mantle of a major international transport hub, making tourism more affordable and reducing alcohol consumption amid rising rates of alcohol-related traffic accidents.
His establishment of a “ministry of happiness” comes as Russia has seen its position in global happiness rankings fall for two years. Analysts attribute the drop to Russians’ lack of observable life improvement and a sense of injustice toward themselves.
“The main criterion for achieving big results to me, albeit somewhat philosophically, is the people’s happiness,” Solodov said.
“It might sound a little pompous and declarative coming from us, but I think the head of a region can’t have any other motivation,” he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Russian Scientist Accused of Passing Tech Secrets to China – Reports

Federal Security Service ( FSB ) officers from Moscow reportedly searched the apartment of Alexander Lukanin , 64 , in the city of Tomsk 3,500 kilometers east of the Russian capital .
Lukanin is currently in pre-trial detention , his friend Nikolai Krivopalov told MBKh Media .
A Russian scientist has been arrested in southern Siberia on suspicion of passing tech secrets to China , the MBKh Media news website reported Thursday .
“ As far as we understand , [ Lukanin is accused of ] something like treason , that he transferred some technologies to the Chinese , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China after his retirement and worked on high-voltage power supplies , fracture mechanics and other forms of engineering at Shenyang University , Krivopalov said .
According to the Tomskpolit Telegram channel , Lukanin returned to Russia over the New Year holidays and , after being unable to travel back to China due to the coronavirus pandemic , took up a job at Tomsk State University .
“ As we understand it , there ’ s nothing in [ the charges against Lukanin ] that relates to defense , ” Krivopalov told MBKh Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academic to be accused or convicted of cooperating with foreign states in recent years .
Critics have dismissed the charges as manifestations of the state ’ s paranoia .

Federal Security Service (FSB) officers from Moscow reportedly searched the apartment of Alexander Lukanin, 64, in the city of Tomsk 3,500 kilometers east of the Russian capital. Lukanin is currently in pre-trial detention, his friend Nikolai Krivopalov told MBKh Media.
A Russian scientist has been arrested in southern Siberia on suspicion of passing tech secrets to China, the MBKh Media news website reported Thursday.
“As far as we understand, [Lukanin is accused of] something like treason, that he transferred some technologies to the Chinese,” he said.
Lukanin had moved to China after his retirement and worked on high-voltage power supplies, fracture mechanics and other forms of engineering at Shenyang University, Krivopalov said.
According to the Tomskpolit Telegram channel, Lukanin returned to Russia over the New Year holidays and, after being unable to travel back to China due to the coronavirus pandemic, took up a job at Tomsk State University.
“As we understand it, there’s nothing in [the charges against Lukanin] that relates to defense,” Krivopalov told MBKh Media.
Lukanin is the latest elderly Russian academic to be accused or convicted of cooperating with foreign states in recent years. Critics have dismissed the charges as manifestations of the state’s paranoia.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Putin, Macron Call for 'Complete' Halt to Karabakh Fighting – Kremlin

`` Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the warring sides to halt fire completely and as soon as possible , de-escalate tensions and show maximum restraint , '' the Kremlin said .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French leader Emmanuel Macron called for a `` complete '' halt to fighting in Karabakh and said they were ready to intensify diplomatic efforts to help solve the conflict .
In a telephone conversation that came at Macron 's initiative , the two leaders discussed `` concrete parameters of further cooperation , first and foremost within the framework of the OSCE Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The leaders expressed `` readiness '' to see a statement made on behalf of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group — Russia , France and the U.S. — that would call for an `` immediate '' end to fighting and start of talks , the Kremlin added .
Putin also told Macron that any attempts to meddle in affairs of a third country were `` unacceptable '' as the two discussed Belarus , the Kremlin said .
Putin noted Russia 's `` principled position '' that `` any attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and outside pressure on legitimate authorities are unacceptable , '' the Kremlin said .
The phone call between the two leaders came after Macron met Belarusian opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Vilnius on Tuesday .
The Kremlin statement made no mention of the meeting .
Belarus has seen weeks of protests following an election in which strongman Alexander Lukashenko was declared a landslide winner but the opposition says was rigged .
France under Macron has pursued a policy of dialogue with Russia , a position that has sometimes put him at odds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently started to match Berlin 's tougher rhetoric , with the French foreign ministry describing the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a `` criminal act . ''
Last week , the French daily Le Monde reported that in a phone call when Macron demanded that Putin shed light on the incident , the Russian leader had suggested that Navalny may have taken the poison himself `` for a non-specified reason . ''

"Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron called on the warring sides to halt fire completely and as soon as possible, de-escalate tensions and show maximum restraint," the Kremlin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French leader Emmanuel Macron called for a "complete" halt to fighting in Karabakh and said they were ready to intensify diplomatic efforts to help solve the conflict.
In a telephone conversation that came at Macron's initiative, the two leaders discussed "concrete parameters of further cooperation, first and foremost within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group," the Kremlin said in a statement.
The leaders expressed "readiness" to see a statement made on behalf of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group — Russia, France and the U.S. — that would call for an "immediate" end to fighting and start of talks, the Kremlin added.
Putin also told Macron that any attempts to meddle in affairs of a third country were "unacceptable" as the two discussed Belarus, the Kremlin said.
Putin noted Russia's "principled position" that "any attempts to interfere in internal affairs of a sovereign state and outside pressure on legitimate authorities are unacceptable," the Kremlin said.
The phone call between the two leaders came after Macron met Belarusian opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Vilnius on Tuesday. The Kremlin statement made no mention of the meeting.
Belarus has seen weeks of protests following an election in which strongman Alexander Lukashenko was declared a landslide winner but the opposition says was rigged.
France under Macron has pursued a policy of dialogue with Russia, a position that has sometimes put him at odds with EU allies.
But it has recently started to match Berlin's tougher rhetoric, with the French foreign ministry describing the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a "criminal act."
Last week, the French daily Le Monde reported that in a phone call when Macron demanded that Putin shed light on the incident, the Russian leader had suggested that Navalny may have taken the poison himself "for a non-specified reason."


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Lebanon Seeks Arrest of 2 Russians Linked to Beirut Port Explosion – Reports

Businessman Igor Grechushkin was reported to have owned the ship that had brought fertilizer that caused the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port , which killed more than 190 people and wounded thousands more .
Boris Prokoshev was said to have been the captain of the Moldova-flagged ship that had carried nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate before Lebanese authorities confiscated the explosive fertilizer in 2014 .
Lebanon has issued arrest warrants in absentia for two Russian nationals as part of an investigation into the explosion that devastated Beirut two months ago , the state-owned National News Agency ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NNA , a judge transferred two arrest warrants to prosecutors requesting Interpol to issue an international warrant for the Russian nationals ’ arrest .
The agency reported that a Lebanese judicial and security delegation had visited Cyprus , where Grechushkin resides , and that Cypriot authorities had previously taken his testimony in coordination with Lebanon .
AFP reported that Cypriot police questioned Grechushkin in August , but an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project named the ship 's ultimate owner as Charalambos Manoli , a Cypriot shipping magnate — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected an international investigation into the country 's worst peace-time disaster , but its probe is being aided by foreign experts , including from the FBI and France .
It has so far arrested 25 people as part of the ongoing probe , including top port and customs officials .

Businessman Igor Grechushkin was reported to have owned the ship that had brought fertilizer that caused the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port, which killed more than 190 people and wounded thousands more. Boris Prokoshev was said to have been the captain of the Moldova-flagged ship that had carried nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate before Lebanese authorities confiscated the explosive fertilizer in 2014.
Lebanon has issued arrest warrants in absentia for two Russian nationals as part of an investigation into the explosion that devastated Beirut two months ago, the state-owned National News Agency (NNA) reported Thursday.
According to NNA, a judge transferred two arrest warrants to prosecutors requesting Interpol to issue an international warrant for the Russian nationals’ arrest.
The agency reported that a Lebanese judicial and security delegation had visited Cyprus, where Grechushkin resides, and that Cypriot authorities had previously taken his testimony in coordination with Lebanon.
AFP reported that Cypriot police questioned Grechushkin in August, but an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project named the ship's ultimate owner as Charalambos Manoli, a Cypriot shipping magnate — a claim denied by Manoli.
Lebanon has rejected an international investigation into the country's worst peace-time disaster, but its probe is being aided by foreign experts, including from the FBI and France.
It has so far arrested 25 people as part of the ongoing probe, including top port and customs officials.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Karabakh Main City Struck as Armenia Says 'Ready' for Mediation

Yerevan said it was ready to work with mediators for a ceasefire but Azerbaijan fired back that Armenia must first withdraw its troops .
Armenia accused Azerbaijani forces of striking the main city in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Friday as fighting raged for a sixth day .
Several explosions heard in Khankedi/Stepanakert as Azerbaijan army targeting central areas https : //t.co/aS960ZAhBp # Caucasus pic.twitter.com/5VVlUidBeV International calls for the two neighbors to halt fire and begin talks are intensifying as fears grow that the clashes could expand into a multi-front war sucking in regional powers Turkey and Russia .
French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey — which backs Azerbaijan — against the alleged deployment of militants from Syria to the Karabakh conflict .
Baku and Yerevan have for decades been locked in a simmering conflict over the ethnic Armenian province that broke away from Azerbaijan in a bitterly fought war in the 1990s .
New fighting that erupted on Sunday has been the heaviest in decades and has claimed nearly 200 lives , including more than 30 civilians .
Armenia said Azerbaijani forces on Friday struck Stepanakert , the main city in Karabakh , wounding `` many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The separatist government in Stepanakert said Azerbaijani forces had destroyed a bridge linking Armenia to Karabakh .
'Why should we be afraid ? '
Local residents said they were getting used to the shelling and fierce clashes nearby .
`` We are Soviet people .
Why should we be afraid ?
These drones are like toys to us . ''
He said he did not want the two sides to enter talks , describing negotiations with Azerbaijan as `` nonsense '' and insisting the enemy should be crushed .
In Azerbaijan , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are not afraid .
We do not have a lot of wounded , '' Anvar Aliyev , a 55-year-old taxi driver , told AFP in the country 's Fizulinsky district .
`` We have to return to our lands . ''
Yerevan on Friday expressed its readiness to work with international mediators to bring a halt to the fighting .
Armenia `` stands ready to engage '' with France , Russia , and the United States — which co-chair the OSCE group of mediators — `` to re-establish a ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yerevan said .
But it said that talks could not begin unless fighting is halted .
`` The immediate priority is to cease hostilities and restore a ceasefire regime established in 1994-1995 , '' foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Nagdalyan told AFP .
But Azerbaijan retorted that Armenia must first withdraw its troops .
`` If Armenia wants to see an end of this escalation of the situation ... Armenia must end its occupation '' of Karabakh , presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters .
At an EU summit on Thursday , Macron issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all NATO partners to face up to the behavior of a NATO member . ''
Macron said intelligence reports had established that 300 fighters from `` jihadist groups '' in Syria had passed through Turkey en route to Azerbaijan , saying `` a red line has been crossed '' and demanding an explanation .
The defense ministry of Karabakh 's separatist government on Friday reported the deaths of 54 more of its troops .
It said there was fighting all along the frontline after `` a relatively calmer night . ''
Armenian defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using `` cluster munitions '' prohibited by international law .

Yerevan said it was ready to work with mediators for a ceasefire but Azerbaijan fired back that Armenia must first withdraw its troops.
Armenia accused Azerbaijani forces of striking the main city in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Friday as fighting raged for a sixth day.
Several explosions heard in Khankedi/Stepanakert as Azerbaijan army targeting central areas https://t.co/aS960ZAhBp #Caucasus pic.twitter.com/5VVlUidBeV
Baku and Yerevan have for decades been locked in a simmering conflict over the ethnic Armenian province that broke away from Azerbaijan in a bitterly fought war in the 1990s.
New fighting that erupted on Sunday has been the heaviest in decades and has claimed nearly 200 lives, including more than 30 civilians.
Intermittent shelling and ambulance sirens were heard in Stepanakert, the main city in Karabakh, throughout the day, an AFP team reported.
Armenia said Azerbaijani forces struck Stepanakert, wounding "many" people, but some locals said they were not afraid.
"There is no fear. We have our pride," Arkady, a 66-year-old resident, told AFP. "There will be victims. A war is a war."
Separatist authorities said ten emergency response workers had been injured when Azerbaijan struck.
International calls for the neighbors to halt clashes and begin talks have intensified as fears grow that the fighting could expand into a multi-front war sucking in regional powers Turkey and Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned NATO member Turkey — which backs Azerbaijan — against the alleged deployment of militants from Syria to the Karabakh conflict.
Macron said intelligence reports had established that 300 fighters from "jihadist groups" in Syria had passed through Turkey en route to Azerbaijan, stressing "a red line has been crossed."
'Caught in the crossfire'
The separatist government in Stepanakert said Azerbaijani forces had destroyed a bridge linking Armenia to Karabakh and vowed a counterstrike.
"There will be a proportionate response," said Vagram Pogosyan, a spokesman for the separatist leader.
Azerbaijan retorted for its part Armenian forces were shelling a number of its settlements including the town of Terter.
In among the chaos, civilians were bearing the brunt of the surge in violence, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned.
"They are caught in the crossfire and deeply fearful for their safety and future," the advocacy group said, adding hundreds of homes as well as schools and hospitals had been destroyed.
Residents on both sides said they were getting used to the sound of war and spoke out against negotiations.
Arkady in Stepanakert, said he did not want the two sides to enter talks, describing negotiations with Azerbaijan as "nonsense" and insisting the enemy should be crushed.
In Azerbaijan too some expressed little appetite for talks.
"We are not afraid. We do not have a lot of wounded," Anvar Aliyev, a 55-year-old taxi driver, told AFP in the country's Fizulinsky district.
"We have to return to our lands."
'Ready to engage'
Yerevan expressed its readiness to work with international mediators to halt the fighting.
Armenia "stands ready to engage" with France, Russia, and the United States "to re-establish a ceasefire regime," the foreign ministry in Yerevan said.
But it said that talks could not begin unless clashes are halted.
Azerbaijan retorted that Armenia must first withdraw its troops.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--China Restricts Russian Seafood Imports After Coronavirus Found on Packaging

China , the destination for 60 % of Russia ’ s seafood exports , has so far placed restrictions on four Russian companies , Russian Fishery Industries Association president German Zverev told Vedomosti .
Chinese authorities have restricted seafood imports from Russia after finding traces of the coronavirus on the seafood ’ s outer packaging , the Vedomosti business daily reported Thursday .
China previously sent several warnings to Russia ’ s phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor , including after two Chinese stevedores contracted the virus , the watchdog ’ s press service quoted its deputy head Konstantin Savenkov as saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ found during the initial screening of Russian vessels , Chinese authorities linked the infections to packages that arrived from Russia , Savenkov was quoted as saying .
Russian fish exporters view China ’ s actions as part of an “ undeclared trade war ” rather than a safety precaution , Zverev said , as they come amid increasing attempts by Chinese traders to lower the price they pay for Russian seafood .
The price of Russian pollock exports has already fallen by 20 % compared to 2019 , Vedomosti quoted him as saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the pollock fishing season that begins in January , the Russian fish industry could sustain additional losses of up to $ 100 million , Zverev warned .
According to Rosselkhoznadzor , Russian fish producers will likely be able to resume normal exports after implementing additional steps for testing their packaging for the coronavirus .
Zverev told Vedomosti that Russian authorities should pressure China to introduce more transparent testing-on-arrival mechanisms and allow Russian companies to dispute test results .
Last week , Chinese state-run media reported that coronavirus traces had been found on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though all individuals who came into contact with the packaging tested negative for Covid-19 .
Russia confirmed 9,412 new coronavirus cases Friday , the highest number in four months .
The World Health Organization maintains that the coronavirus can not multiply on food packaging surfaces and does not encourage disinfecting packaging .

China, the destination for 60% of Russia’s seafood exports, has so far placed restrictions on four Russian companies, Russian Fishery Industries Association president German Zverev told Vedomosti.
Chinese authorities have restricted seafood imports from Russia after finding traces of the coronavirus on the seafood’s outer packaging, the Vedomosti business daily reported Thursday.
China previously sent several warnings to Russia’s phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, including after two Chinese stevedores contracted the virus, the watchdog’s press service quoted its deputy head Konstantin Savenkov as saying.
While no traces of the coronavirus were found during the initial screening of Russian vessels, Chinese authorities linked the infections to packages that arrived from Russia, Savenkov was quoted as saying.
Russian fish exporters view China’s actions as part of an “undeclared trade war” rather than a safety precaution, Zverev said, as they come amid increasing attempts by Chinese traders to lower the price they pay for Russian seafood.
The price of Russian pollock exports has already fallen by 20% compared to 2019, Vedomosti quoted him as saying. If current restrictions remain in place through the pollock fishing season that begins in January, the Russian fish industry could sustain additional losses of up to $100 million, Zverev warned.
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, Russian fish producers will likely be able to resume normal exports after implementing additional steps for testing their packaging for the coronavirus. Zverev told Vedomosti that Russian authorities should pressure China to introduce more transparent testing-on-arrival mechanisms and allow Russian companies to dispute test results.
Last week, Chinese state-run media reported that coronavirus traces had been found on packages of frozen squid from Russia, though all individuals who came into contact with the packaging tested negative for Covid-19.
Russia confirmed 9,412 new coronavirus cases Friday, the highest number in four months.
The World Health Organization maintains that the coronavirus cannot multiply on food packaging surfaces and does not encourage disinfecting packaging.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Putin Tells Trump His 'Vitality' Will Help Fight Off Virus

`` I am convinced that your vitality , good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus , '' the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying in the message .
Russian President Vladimir Putin wished Donald Trump a speedy recovery in a telegram on Friday , saying he was sure the U.S. leader 's qualities would help him fight off the coronavirus .
Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier wished Trump `` a speedy and easy recovery '' on behalf of the Kremlin .
Peskov said Putin was considering whether to be vaccinated against the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had developed a vaccine named `` Sputnik V '' after the historic Soviet-era satellite .
`` When he does it , we will announce it , '' Peskov said .
Russia has prided itself on registering the world 's first coronavirus vaccine , although it is still undergoing large-scale clinical trials after promising results in early trials .
Numerous high-profile figures including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin have already had the vaccine .
In a speech to the United Nations last month , Putin offered to inoculate those working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He earlier said that one of his daughters had been vaccinated .

"I am convinced that your vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying in the message.
Russian President Vladimir Putin wished Donald Trump a speedy recovery in a telegram on Friday, saying he was sure the U.S. leader's qualities would help him fight off the coronavirus.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier wished Trump "a speedy and easy recovery" on behalf of the Kremlin.
Peskov said Putin was considering whether to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after Russia announced in August that it had developed a vaccine named "Sputnik V" after the historic Soviet-era satellite.
"When he does it, we will announce it," Peskov said.
Russia has prided itself on registering the world's first coronavirus vaccine, although it is still undergoing large-scale clinical trials after promising results in early trials.
Numerous high-profile figures including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin have already had the vaccine.
In a speech to the United Nations last month, Putin offered to inoculate those working at the international organization for free.
He earlier said that one of his daughters had been vaccinated.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--2 in 5 Russians Don’t Believe Navalny Was Poisoned – Poll

The findings come as Navalny ’ s approval ratings have more than doubled in the past year , the survey said .
Two out of five Russians don ’ t believe that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned , according to the results of an independent Levada Center poll published Friday .
Navalny fell violently ill on a domestic flight on Aug. 20 and was flown to Berlin in a coma for treatment two days later .
Germany says it has unequivocal proof that Navalny was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok , while Russian authorities have rejected the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Levada Center ’ s results published by the Open Media news website , 42 % of Russian respondents said they don ’ t believe that Navalny was deliberately poisoned .
One-quarter ( 25 % ) said they do believe “ in one way or another ” that Navalny was deliberately poisoned .
Of those who believe that he was poisoned , only 30 % blamed the Russian authorities , while 8 % blamed either Western intelligence or the subjects of Navalny ’ s anti-corruption investigations .
Nearly half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altogether , Open Media said .
Meanwhile , Navalny ’ s approval rating doubled from 9 % last year to 20 % , according to Levada .
His disapproval rating has also doubled , from 25 % in 2019 to 50 % in 2020 .
Navalny ’ s critics often dismiss his labeling as Russia ’ s opposition leader , citing previous polls placing his approval rating at around 3 % .
The Kremlin belittled Navalny ’ s political significance as “ quasi and marginal ” Thursday , pushing back on the opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his poisoning in his first media interview since being discharged from hospital .
Levada Center conducted the phone survey among 1,605 Russians between Sept. 25-30 .

The findings come as Navalny’s approval ratings have more than doubled in the past year, the survey said.
Two out of five Russians don’t believe that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned, according to the results of an independent Levada Center poll published Friday.
Navalny fell violently ill on a domestic flight on Aug. 20 and was flown to Berlin in a coma for treatment two days later. Germany says it has unequivocal proof that Navalny was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok, while Russian authorities have rejected the claims and demanded to see evidence of poisoning.
According to the Levada Center’s results published by the Open Media news website, 42% of Russian respondents said they don’t believe that Navalny was deliberately poisoned.
One-quarter (25%) said they do believe “in one way or another” that Navalny was deliberately poisoned.
Of those who believe that he was poisoned, only 30% blamed the Russian authorities, while 8% blamed either Western intelligence or the subjects of Navalny’s anti-corruption investigations.
Nearly half of the respondents declined to answer the question altogether, Open Media said.
Meanwhile, Navalny’s approval rating doubled from 9% last year to 20%, according to Levada. His disapproval rating has also doubled, from 25% in 2019 to 50% in 2020.
Navalny’s critics often dismiss his labeling as Russia’s opposition leader, citing previous polls placing his approval rating at around 3%.
The Kremlin belittled Navalny’s political significance as “quasi and marginal” Thursday, pushing back on the opposition figure after he blamed President Vladimir Putin for his poisoning in his first media interview since being discharged from hospital.
Levada Center conducted the phone survey among 1,605 Russians between Sept. 25-30.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Yandex vs. Sberbank: Battle of the Russian Tech and Finance Giants Begins

Yandex and Sberbank ’ s fight to gain control of Russia ’ s finance and technology industries is being billed as the corporate showdown of the decade .
“ Sberbank versus Yandex : The battle of the super platforms has begun , ” declared Russian business daily Vedomosti last week .
Novaya Gazeta went further , dubbing it a “ war of the ecosystems.
” The clash — which has been brewing in the background for years — took center stage last week when Yandex announced it had struck a deal to buy upstart online challenger bank Tinkoff .
Less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it called the “ biggest transformation in its history , ” unveiling a suite of technology products , and dropping the word “ bank ” from its corporate branding .
The developments mean the two are now either competing directly against each other , or through their subsidiaries and joint ventures , in areas as diverse as banking and fintech , ridesharing , driverless cars , artificial intelligence , food delivery , virtual assistants , media streaming and cloud data services .
Both firms plan to lean on their established profit centers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the reasons for the two most recent developments — Yandex agreeing to buy Tinkoff and Sberbank launching an aggressive push into tech — are different , analysts say .
For Yandex , the takeover of Tinkoff is an aggressive expansion bringing in a potentially lucrative source of new profits and helping to cut transaction costs for its other retail operations — especially e-commerce , which is still in the early stages of development in Russia .
“ Yandex will take quite an aggressive stance towards grabbing the opportunity , ” said VTB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that according to its calculations Yandex accounted for just 1 % of the e-commerce market in 2019 through its Yandex Market platform .
VTB forecasts that Yandex Market ’ s revenues will rapidly rise to almost 200 billion rubles ( $ 2.6 billion ) by 2024 — more than the company ’ s entire income last year .
In that sense , Yandex ’ s push into the fintech space is in line with global trends in the tech industry , said a recent report by Alfa Bank .
“ The largest global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of their banking and financial digital services .
Considering that Yandex ’ s transaction volume could reach 1.6 trillion rubles ( $ 21 billion ) by 2023 , it has an urgent need to create its own financial platform , ” Alfa Bank analysts said .
Meanwhile , Sberbank ’ s pivot to become a tech player is a defensive move .
Sberbank ’ s “ ecosystem strategy is largely a client retention tool , ” said VTB Capital analyst Mikhail Shlemov , citing low fees for its new “ Sber Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lock in customers it might otherwise lose .
Other market players agree .
After Sberbank ’ s presentation of its new tech products and services , Telecoms businessman and former CEO of Euroset Alexander Malis told Forbes : “ It is unlikely that these will lead to new customers for Sberbank .
But they can help form a stronger connection with the existing ones , forcing them to use the new features in the ‘ Sber ’ ecosystem.
” Some have questioned what Sberbank ’ s unveiling of new products means for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major rival , Mail.Ru .
The bank controls around a fifth of the voting shares in Mail.Ru and the two have a joint venture to run some of the more well-developed non-financial products Sberbank has been involved in : ride hailing , food delivery and express groceries .
Shortly after the Sberbank presentation last week Oleg Tinkov , Tinkoff Bank ’ s billionaire founder , wrote on Instagram : “ If we had such financial opportunities , we would certainly do the same and even faster .
In their place , we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Both Mail.Ru and Sberbank pushed back against that idea , but analysts are convinced the two will now deepen their cooperation to fight off the threat from a combined Yandex-Tinkoff .
“ As the tempo of competition in the ecosystem is rising , with Yandex-Tinkoff going after the Sber retail business cash cow ... a closer tie-up between Sber and Mail.Ru is far more likely , ” VTB Capital ’ s Shlemov said .
Markets have shown more enthusiasm for the Yandex-Tinkoff tie-up than Sberbank ’ s flashy tech presentation .
Yandex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fastest-growing most-innovative banking firms , and a huge source of cash flow .
Tinkoff ’ s profits came in at more than $ 500 million in 2019 , compared to $ 180 million at Yandex .
Analysts point to close matches in terms of the two ’ s “ entrepreneurial DNA , ” focus on customers and deep expertise in technology and innovation as raising the prospects of a successful integration .
Sberbank ’ s technology speciality is less obvious , although it has been on a huge hiring drive in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including its former head of experimental products to run Sberbank ’ s smart devices arm .
Reflective of the state-owned bank ’ s hierarchical structure , some analysts say the push towards technology flows from the top , and question how far down it reaches .
“ Sberbank 's activity in the digital segment is highly dependent on the existing management team , ” Alfa Bank wrote .
“ We do not rule out that the situation may change after 2023 if German Gref is not re-elected for another term as CEO.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle is size — both in terms of reach and resources .
The balance sheets of the two empires are not comparable .
Even combined , Yandex and Tinkoff only managed to record as much profit over the whole of 2019 as Sberbank made in an average three-week period — an annual $ 13.7 billion compared with $ 760 million .
Sberbank ’ s network of customers — more than 96 million retail clients at the end of 2019 — also means it could gain huge market share in areas like streaming , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if only a fraction of its current customers take up the offer .
The average customer already uses more than four different Sberbank products or services , according to its data .
Gref ’ s ambitions should also not be underestimated .
Sberbank officials have said they want to boost the share of non-financial products from under 2 % to as much as 30 % of its income .
In 2019 that would have been the equivalent of $ 7.5 billion — almost three times Yandex ’ s entire revenue .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-owned monopoly could also be Sberbank ’ s biggest drawback .
The Russian government obliges Sberbank to distribute at least half its profits in dividends , eating away at a potential source of capital .
Accordingly , the bank announced Russia ’ s highest ever corporate dividend payout last week .
There are also questions about how much energy and management resources are being diverted to these new experimental business lines — and what that means for the core banking operations .
Maintaining a 14,000-strong branch network around the country is still the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many younger clients , outdated — model that gave the opportunity for challenger banks like Tinkoff to pounce .

Yandex and Sberbank’s fight to gain control of Russia’s finance and technology industries is being billed as the corporate showdown of the decade. “Sberbank versus Yandex: The battle of the super platforms has begun,” declared Russian business daily Vedomosti last week. Novaya Gazeta went further, dubbing it a “war of the ecosystems.” The clash — which has been brewing in the background for years — took center stage last week when Yandex announced it had struck a deal to buy upstart online challenger bank Tinkoff. Less than 48 hours later Sberbank unveiled what it called the “biggest transformation in its history,” unveiling a suite of technology products, and dropping the word “bank” from its corporate branding. The developments mean the two are now either competing directly against each other, or through their subsidiaries and joint ventures, in areas as diverse as banking and fintech, ridesharing, driverless cars, artificial intelligence, food delivery, virtual assistants, media streaming and cloud data services. Battle for the future Both firms plan to lean on their established profit centers to fuel investments in their other projects. But the reasons for the two most recent developments — Yandex agreeing to buy Tinkoff and Sberbank launching an aggressive push into tech — are different, analysts say. For Yandex, the takeover of Tinkoff is an aggressive expansion bringing in a potentially lucrative source of new profits and helping to cut transaction costs for its other retail operations — especially e-commerce, which is still in the early stages of development in Russia. “Yandex will take quite an aggressive stance towards grabbing the opportunity,” said VTB Capital in a research note, adding that according to its calculations Yandex accounted for just 1% of the e-commerce market in 2019 through its Yandex Market platform. VTB forecasts that Yandex Market’s revenues will rapidly rise to almost 200 billion rubles ($2.6 billion) by 2024 — more than the company’s entire income last year. In that sense, Yandex’s push into the fintech space is in line with global trends in the tech industry, said a recent report by Alfa Bank.
“The largest global players .... are constantly expanding the range of their banking and financial digital services. Considering that Yandex’s transaction volume could reach 1.6 trillion rubles ($21 billion) by 2023, it has an urgent need to create its own financial platform,” Alfa Bank analysts said. Meanwhile, Sberbank’s pivot to become a tech player is a defensive move. Sberbank’s “ecosystem strategy is largely a client retention tool,” said VTB Capital analyst Mikhail Shlemov, citing low fees for its new “Sber Prime” subscription service as an obvious attempt to lock in customers it might otherwise lose. Other market players agree. After Sberbank’s presentation of its new tech products and services, Telecoms businessman and former CEO of Euroset Alexander Malis told Forbes: “It is unlikely that these will lead to new customers for Sberbank. But they can help form a stronger connection with the existing ones, forcing them to use the new features in the ‘Sber’ ecosystem.” The Mail.Ru angle Some have questioned what Sberbank’s unveiling of new products means for its partnership with Yandex’s other major rival, Mail.Ru. The bank controls around a fifth of the voting shares in Mail.Ru and the two have a joint venture to run some of the more well-developed non-financial products Sberbank has been involved in: ride hailing, food delivery and express groceries. Shortly after the Sberbank presentation last week Oleg Tinkov, Tinkoff Bank’s billionaire founder, wrote on Instagram: “If we had such financial opportunities, we would certainly do the same and even faster. In their place, we would have bought Mail.Ru a long time ago.” Both Mail.Ru and Sberbank pushed back against that idea, but analysts are convinced the two will now deepen their cooperation to fight off the threat from a combined Yandex-Tinkoff. “As the tempo of competition in the ecosystem is rising, with Yandex-Tinkoff going after the Sber retail business cash cow ... a closer tie-up between Sber and Mail.Ru is far more likely,” VTB Capital’s Shlemov said. Who will triumph? Markets have shown more enthusiasm for the Yandex-Tinkoff tie-up than Sberbank’s flashy tech presentation. Yandex will immediately gain one of Russia’s fastest-growing most-innovative banking firms, and a huge source of cash flow. Tinkoff’s profits came in at more than $500 million in 2019, compared to $180 million at Yandex. Analysts point to close matches in terms of the two’s “entrepreneurial DNA,” focus on customers and deep expertise in technology and innovation as raising the prospects of a successful integration. Sberbank’s technology speciality is less obvious, although it has been on a huge hiring drive in recent years — poaching key talent from Yandex, including its former head of experimental products to run Sberbank’s smart devices arm. Reflective of the state-owned bank’s hierarchical structure, some analysts say the push towards technology flows from the top, and question how far down it reaches.
“Sberbank's activity in the digital segment is highly dependent on the existing management team,” Alfa Bank wrote. “We do not rule out that the situation may change after 2023 if German Gref is not re-elected for another term as CEO.” Their main advantage in the looming battle is size — both in terms of reach and resources. The balance sheets of the two empires are not comparable. Even combined, Yandex and Tinkoff only managed to record as much profit over the whole of 2019 as Sberbank made in an average three-week period — an annual $13.7 billion compared with $760 million. Sberbank’s network of customers — more than 96 million retail clients at the end of 2019 — also means it could gain huge market share in areas like streaming, e-commerce and virtual home assistants, even if only a fraction of its current customers take up the offer. The average customer already uses more than four different Sberbank products or services, according to its data. Gref’s ambitions should also not be underestimated. Sberbank officials have said they want to boost the share of non-financial products from under 2% to as much as 30% of its income. In 2019 that would have been the equivalent of $7.5 billion — almost three times Yandex’s entire revenue. However, the benefits that come from being a state-owned monopoly could also be Sberbank’s biggest drawback. The Russian government obliges Sberbank to distribute at least half its profits in dividends, eating away at a potential source of capital. Accordingly, the bank announced Russia’s highest ever corporate dividend payout last week. There are also questions about how much energy and management resources are being diverted to these new experimental business lines — and what that means for the core banking operations. Maintaining a 14,000-strong branch network around the country is still the kind of expensive — and, for many younger clients, outdated — model that gave the opportunity for challenger banks like Tinkoff to pounce.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Russia’s New Coronavirus Cases Hit 4-Month High

Russia , which has the world ’ s fourth-highest number of infections at 1,194,643 , has seen its daily caseload rise sharply from less than 5,000 to nearly 9,500 over the past month .
Russia confirmed 9,412 new coronavirus cases Friday , crossing the 9,000 mark for the first time in four months as the rising number of new infections across the country stokes fears of a new lockdown .
The last time Russia recorded more than 9,000 new coronavirus infections was on June 1 , when total cases were one-third of the current count .
Deaths nationwide also passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday — the most in two months and two weeks .
The Open Media news website reported Thursday that Russia broke its record for symptomatic cases — 6,519 — since the start of the pandemic .
The previous record stood at 6,418 on May 9 .
Moscow continues to lead all Russian cities and regions in daily recorded cases with 2,704 confirmed infections Friday .
The city 's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said it has seen more than 5,000 hospitalizations per week and more than 1,500 severe cases during its latest surge .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new lockdown measures , Sobyanin warned Thursday that he may reinstate tough measures if Muscovites fail to observe health guidelines .
He has already announced an extended two-week school break , forced offices to send one-third of their workforce home starting next Monday and strongly urged the elderly to stay indoors .
The Kremlin said Friday it was not yet discussing new restrictions in light of the Covid-19 surge .

Russia, which has the world’s fourth-highest number of infections at 1,194,643, has seen its daily caseload rise sharply from less than 5,000 to nearly 9,500 over the past month.
Russia confirmed 9,412 new coronavirus cases Friday, crossing the 9,000 mark for the first time in four months as the rising number of new infections across the country stokes fears of a new lockdown.
The last time Russia recorded more than 9,000 new coronavirus infections was on June 1, when total cases were one-third of the current count.
Deaths nationwide also passed the 21,000 mark with 186 fatalities confirmed Friday — the most in two months and two weeks.
The Open Media news website reported Thursday that Russia broke its record for symptomatic cases — 6,519 — since the start of the pandemic. The previous record stood at 6,418 on May 9.
Moscow continues to lead all Russian cities and regions in daily recorded cases with 2,704 confirmed infections Friday. The city's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said it has seen more than 5,000 hospitalizations per week and more than 1,500 severe cases during its latest surge.
Though health officials have sought to assuage fears of new lockdown measures, Sobyanin warned Thursday that he may reinstate tough measures if Muscovites fail to observe health guidelines.
He has already announced an extended two-week school break, forced offices to send one-third of their workforce home starting next Monday and strongly urged the elderly to stay indoors.
The Kremlin said Friday it was not yet discussing new restrictions in light of the Covid-19 surge.