TheNewsGuru

Tag: Russia

  • BREAKING: All crew members die in fatal An-26 plane crash

    BREAKING: All crew members die in fatal An-26 plane crash

    The Health Ministry of Russia’s Khabarovsk region, has confirmed that all crew members of crashed An-26 aircraft were killed.

    The ministry assured on Thursday that doctors were ready to provide psychological assistance to families.

    The An-26 plane, carrying out a technical flight to check ground-based radio-technical support equipment, disappeared from radars on Wednesday with six people on board.

    Its wreckage was found near a ski resort in the Khabarovsk region.

    Emergency services told Sputnik that all six crew members were killed in the incident.

    “Regional rescue teams arrived at the An-26 crash site.

    “All the crew members died. We extend our condolences to the relatives of the victims.

    “Our doctors are ready to provide psychological support to families,’’ the regional health ministry said in a statement.

  • COVID-19: Russia President Vladimir Putin proceeds on self-isolation

    COVID-19: Russia President Vladimir Putin proceeds on self-isolation

    President Vladimir Putin will self-isolate after coronavirus cases were detected in his inner circle, the Kremlin said Tuesday, as Russia struggles with stubbornly high COVID-19 infection rates.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin was “absolutely healthy”.

    When asked whether Putin had taken a coronavirus test and if it was negative, Peskov replied: “Undoubtedly”.

    Putin had been due to travel to Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe for a regional summit later this week but in a call with President Emomali Rakhmon said he would not be able to attend in person.

    “Putin said that in connection with identified coronavirus cases in his circle, he will observe a self-isolation regime for a certain period of time,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

    “Self-isolation doesn’t directly affect the president’s work, there will just be no in-person events for some time,” Peskov told journalists.

    He did not specify how long the 68-year-old president will be self-isolating for and declined to say who in Putin’s entourage had tested positive.

    Later on Tuesday, Putin was due to meet with the leadership of the ruling United Russia party ahead of parliamentary polls on 17-19 September.

    It is unclear whether he will be in self-isolation throughout the election week-end.

    Russian authorities have taken exceptional measures to protect Putin — who says he has been vaccinated with Russia’s homegrown Sputnik V jab — since the start of the pandemic.

    Foreign leaders, journalists and officials have all been required to self-isolate in advance of being in contact with Putin and a disinfection tunnel was installed at his residence outside Moscow.

    The Russian leader said in late June that he was vaccinated with Sputnik after months of secrecy around the issue, but the Kremlin did not show images of the inoculation.

    In recent months, the longtime Russian leader had resumed his work trips and face-to-face meetings, but many of his contacts are still required to spend two weeks in quarantine.

    Putin on Monday met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and with Russian athletes returning from the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

  • Massive brawl between Russian football fans leaves at least 7 injured

    Massive brawl between Russian football fans leaves at least 7 injured

    Chaos erupted in the streets of the Russian city of Tver on Saturday night after fans from competing football teams started a massive brawl which left at least seven injured.

    More than 60 people were part of the fighting which broke out after Zenit St Petersburg’s reserve team tied with FC Tver, the state news agency TASS reported.

    Videos said to be from the brawl in central Tver showed injured men lying in the street with blood on their clothes.

    There was also that of a hooded man kicking another man in the head and then punching someone.

    Those involved fled the scene when police arrived, according to Russian sports media outlets.

    Police are investigating the incident and are especially focused on why Spartak Moscow fans had travelled to Tver even though their team was not playing there.

  • U.S. VP Harris accuses Beijing of coercion in disputed sea

    U.S. VP Harris accuses Beijing of coercion in disputed sea

    U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday accused China of coercion and intimidation in the disputed South China Sea.

    “Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules-based order,’’ she said while speaking in Singapore.

    China’s sweeping claim to most of the resource-rich sea overlaps with those of several other nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, a U.S. ally.

    Harris had opened her remarks by saying the U.S. was “laser focused’’ on evacuations from Kabul’s international airport after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban a week ago.

    “I am fully aware that the eyes of the world are on Afghanistan,’’ she said.

    She described the U.S. withdrawal from the country as a courageous and right decision.

    “We had achieved what we went there to do,’’ she said, doubling down on U.S. President Joe Biden’s justification for the withdrawal.

    In spite of the retreat from Afghanistan, Harris said the U.S. aimed at pursuing a free and open Indo Pacific, based on what she said were her country’s enduring interests in the region.

    Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday on the first leg of a South-East Asia visit that would also take her to Vietnam on Tuesday.

    Her Asia itinerary was arranged before the Taliban group gained control of Afghanistan just over a week ago and follows Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent visits to Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam.

    During the visits, Austin had also criticised China’s claim to the South China Sea.

  • Russia fines Google again for failing to remove banned content

    Russia fines Google again for failing to remove banned content

    A Moscow court on Thursday fined Alphabet Inc’s Google (GOOGL.O) 6 million roubles (or $80,881) for failing to delete content that Russia deemed illegal.

    The fine is the second such penalty to be imposed on the U.S. tech giant in less than a week.

    Amid a wider standoff with Big Tech, Russia has hit Google and other companies with a series of small fines in the past year, some concerning banned content and others for failing to localise user data on Russian territory.

    In a move to compel foreign technology firms to open offices in Russia, President Vladimir Putin on July 1, signed a law that obliges foreign social media giants to open offices in the country.

    The move was the latest attempt by Moscow to exert greater control over Big Tech.

    The Russian authorities are keen to strengthen their control of the internet and to reduce their dependence on foreign companies and countries.

    In particular, they have objected in the past to political opponents of the Kremlin using foreign social media platforms to organise what they say are illegal protests and to publicise politically-tinged investigations into alleged corruption.

    The Tagansky District Court in Moscow said on Thursday Google had been handed three administrative fines of 2 million roubles each.

    Google confirmed the fines, but offered no further comment.

    The penalty was in addition to fines totalling 14 million roubles on Tuesday for the same offence.

    Google is also the subject of a Moscow court order obliging it to unblock a YouTube account owned by a sanctioned Russian businessman.

    An appeal hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.

  • Envoy urges Nigerians in Russia to project good image of Nigeria

    Envoy urges Nigerians in Russia to project good image of Nigeria

    The Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Prof. Abdullahi Shehu, has urged Nigerians in Russia to project the good image of the country and to be of their best behaviour.

    Speaking when he met with the Executive Council members of the Nigerian Community in Moscow, Amb. Shehu expressed gratitude to the community for the warm reception accorded to him on his arrival.

    A statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow on Monday, said that the Envoy expressed his commitment to the cardinal duty of the embassy which was to serve Nigerians.

    Shehu who has concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Belarus, said that the service to Nigerians in the host country will also include their welfare and the provision of consular and other services as the case may be.

    He reminded them that all Nigerian citizens are the Ambassadors of Nigeria, who should project the good image of the country, on the streets, in the schools, in clubs, businesses and in all activities they are involved in their country of residence.

    The Ambassador assured them of his close cooperation, hoping that such meetings with the Nigerian community will be regular to better understand and address citizens’ concerns within the framework of Nigeria’s citizens’ diplomacy as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    On his part, the President of the community, Dr Maurice Okoli on behalf of the EXCO and other members expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the excellent services and attention they have been receiving from the Embassy.

    He reassured the Ambassador of their total support and Cooperation in promoting Nigeria’s national interest in Russia.

  • Brave Denmark into Euro 2020 round of 16 after spanking Russia

    Brave Denmark into Euro 2020 round of 16 after spanking Russia

    Denmark produced a sensational 4-1 win over Russia in their last group stage match at Euro 2020 on Monday to secure emotional progress into the last 16.

    The Danish side are level with Finland and Russia in Group B on three points but advanced for having the better goal difference in matches between the teams.

    Denmark were stunned when team star Christian Eriksen had a cardiac arrest in their opener against Finland and had to be revived on the pitch.

    The game was resumed after around two hours and the Finish side took the victory.

    But backed by an emotional 25,000 fans in Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium, they completed a remarkable turnaround after they lost their second game 2-1 to Belgium.

    Mikkel Damsgaard broke the deadlock for Denmark with a stunning goal shortly before the break and Yussuf Poulsen got a second after a huge blunder in the Russian defence.

    Artem Dzyuba pulled one back from the penalty kick spot after Aleksandr Sobolev was fouled in the box.

    But a brave Denmark sealed the deal with two late goals from Andreas Christensen and Joakim Maehle.

    Finland, who were defeated by group winners Belgium 2-0, wait to see if they are among the four best third-placed for a spot in the knock-out stage, while Russia are out.

  • Euro 2020: Lukaku pays tribute to Eriksen after netting brace

    Euro 2020: Lukaku pays tribute to Eriksen after netting brace

    Romelu Lukaku paid tribute to his Inter Milan team-mate Christian Eriksen after scoring against Russia to help world number one side Belgium start Euro 2020 with a win.

    Denmark midfielder Eriksen collapsed on the pitch earlier on Saturday in the Group B game with Finland and received emergency treatment on the field.

    There was some doubt as to whether Belgium’s game with Russia – Denmark’s group rivals – in St Petersburg would go ahead as scheduled because of events in Copenhagen before it was given the all-clear after the Danish Football Association revealed Eriksen was “awake” in hospital.

    Lukaku opened the scoring after pouncing on a mistake by Andrey Semenov and celebrated his goal by shouting “Chris, Chris, I love you” in front of a television camera.

    Roberto Martinez’s side added to their lead before half-time after substitute Thomas Meunier – an early replacement for injured Leicester defender Timothy Castagne – slotted home when Anton Shunin failed to hold a cross.

    In-form Lukaku added a late third with a composed finish to seal a comfortable win.

    The victory put Belgium, one of the fancied teams at Euro 2020, top of the group, level on points with Finland, who beat Denmark in a game which was suspended following Eriksen’s collapse before being re-started.

     

  • Russian court fines Twitter for failure to remove illegal content

    Russian court fines Twitter for failure to remove illegal content

    A local court on Thursday fined Twitter 19 million rubles (about 259,000 U.S. dollars) for its failure to remove banned content.

    This includes calls for unauthorised protests, increasing fines on the company to 27.9 million rubles (380,000 U.S. dollars).

    Twitter was fined 8.9 million rubles (121,000 dollars) in early April for the same offence according to local media.

    On Tuesday, a Moscow court fined Facebook and Google on similar charges.

  • Putin reacts angrily to Biden’s ‘killer’ comments

    Putin reacts angrily to Biden’s ‘killer’ comments

    The Kremlin has reacted angrily to US President Joe Biden’s remarks that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is “a killer,” calling the comment unprecedented and describing the relationship between the two countries as “very bad.”

    In an interview with ABC that aired Wednesday, Biden said Putin “will pay a price” for his efforts to undermine the 2020 US election following a landmark American intelligence assessment that found the Russian government meddled in the 2020 election with the aim of “denigrating” Biden’s candidacy.
    When interviewer George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he thought Putin was “a killer,” the President said, “Mhmm. I do.”
    Responding to the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that “there hasn’t been anything like this in history.”
    He said it was clear that Biden “definitely does not want to improve relations” with Russia and that the relationship between the two countries is “very bad.” When asked how it can affect relations, Peskov said “it is absolutely clear how,” but refused to elaborate.
    “These are very bad statements by the President of the United States. He definitely does not want to improve relations with us, and we will continue to proceed from this,” Peskov said.
    Russia pulled its US ambassador on Wednesday in response to the comments. Peskov added he couldn’t say if Putin himself will react to the remark and he insisted the ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, has been “invited” back to Moscow to discuss Russia-US relations.
    Peskov said there are currently no plans for Putin to meet with Antonov, but if necessary Putin will have a discussion with him.
    In the interview, Biden also claimed he told Putin in 2011 he didn’t think Putin had a soul. Putin’s response, Biden recalls, was to say, “We understand one another.”
    “Look, most important thing dealing with foreign leaders, and I’ve dealt with a lot of them over my career, is just know the other guy,” Biden told ABC.
    The US intelligence community said in its Tuesday report that the Russian government meddled in the 2020 election with an influence campaign “denigrating” President Joe Biden and “supporting” former President Donald Trump, detailing a massive disinformation push that successfully targeted, and was openly embraced, by Trump’s allies.
    The report is the most comprehensive assessment of foreign threats to the 2020 elections to date, detailing extensive influence operations by US adversaries that sought to undermine confidence in the democratic process, in addition to targeting specific presidential candidates.
    The President wouldn’t provide more details to ABC on what “price” Putin will pay, but the Biden administration is expected to announce sanctions related to election interference as soon as next week, three US State Department officials have told CNN. The officials did not disclose any details related to the expected sanctions but said they will target multiple countries including Russia, China and Iran.
    Culled from CNN