The allegation comes amid mass raids by the SBU and anti-corruption agency in Zaporozhye Region
Ukrainian officials in the eastern Zaporozhye Region are being investigated for allegedly stealing massive amounts of humanitarian aid sent to them. They are accused of looting hundreds of freight cars’ worth of goods.
Raids at offices and addresses associated with the suspected embezzlers were reported on Tuesday. Agents of the SBU, Ukraine’s successor to the KGB, and the anti-corruption agency NABU conducted the operations, according to a statement by the agencies.
The Zaporozhye Region is mostly controlled by Russian forces, but its capital Zaporozhye and some of the surrounding areas are under Kiev’s control. The raids targeted the Kiev-appointed administration and members of the city council, according to the SBU and NABU. The agencies also reported confiscating what they believe to be narcotics and illegal firearms while searching the premises.
While the official statement offered few details, a more comprehensive account of the ongoing probe came from Ukrainian public figure Evgeny Shevchenko, who is widely described by the local media as an unpaid agent for the NABU. The agency had previously confirmed working with him.
According to his post on Facebook, the suspected grifters made off with “almost all humanitarian aid” sent to the region, selling the goods through local retail chains. The total volume of what was stolen amounts to 22 sea transport containers, 389 freight train cars and 220 trucks, Shevchenko claimed.
The activist named several senior officials in Zaporozhye Region as suspects and shamed them for posing as Ukrainian patriots while profiting at the expense of the country.
Shevchenko is a controversial figure in Ukraine. He emerged from the radical wing of the so-called Maidan protests of 2013-2014 and made a name for himself as an associate of militia commander and former MP Konstantin Grishin, who prefers to be called by his nom de guerre Semyon Semenchenko.
Last year, Shevchenko and Semenchenko were arrested on allegations of involvement with an illegal militia. The arrests came after Shevchenko had accused the office of President Vladimir Zelensky of derailing an intelligence operation aimed at luring a group of Russian security contractors to Ukraine and detaining them.
Shevchenko believes that his arrest and that of Semenchenko were an act of revenge by Zelensky’s chief-of-staff, Andrey Ermak. In his post about the raids in Zaporozhye Region, he linked the suspects with the president and the head of his office, pointing out that the officials targeted had been appointed by Kiev.
Read more
August 31, 2022 at 12:54AM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
Researchers say it could provide increased protection to the lungs
The researchers behind Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine have published the results of animal tests for the nasal version. The report says the alternative form of administration could provide enhanced protection for the lungs.
On Wednesday, the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced the publication of an article on the nasal version of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in the international peer reviewed medical journal Emerging Microbes & Infections. The piece details the tests conducted by Russian researchers on mice and Goeldi’s marmosets to determine its efficacy.
According to the article, not only did the nasal form elicit a powerful and lasting immune response, comparable to that seen in the intramuscularly administered vaccine, but also provided especially strong protection to the nasopharynx and the lungs.
This effect, if replicated in humans, could come in particularly handy in the fight against new Covid-19 strains, which typically enter the body via the nose and affect the lungs, the researchers said. The piece also stated that the nasal form of Sputnik V is as effective in minimizing fatality rates in patients as its conventional, intramuscular version.
Read more
August 31, 2022 at 12:24AM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
The late Mikhail Gorbachev led the country through difficult and “dramatic” times, the Russian president said
Mikhail Gorbachev, the late last leader of the Soviet Union and architect of perestroika, led the country through “dramatic” and challenging times, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Gorbachev passed away at the age of 91 on Tuesday.
“Mikhail Gorbachev was a politician and statesman who made a profound impact on the course of world history,” Putin wrote in a condolence letter to Gorbachev’s family.
He led our country through a period of difficult, dramatic changes, and large-scale external, economic and societal challenges. He understood deeply that the reforms were necessary and strived to offer solutions to urgent problems.
After becoming the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, Gorbachev launched sweeping reforms aimed at the liberalization of the economy and public life. His tenure saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War. He resigned at the end of 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
Dynamo Moscow teenager Arsen Zakharyan has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League
Russian midfielder Arsen Zakharyan’s planned move to Premier League giants Chelsea has hit a snag because of issues involving the English FA and Barclays bank, reports in Russia have claimed.
Zakharyan, 19, has been heavily tipped to make a move to the English capital in recent weeks in a transfer which would see the Stamford Bridge club activate the youngster’s €15 million release clause at Dynamo.
But after Zakharyan’s agent said that an agreement was “very close,” reports in recent days in the Russian media have suggested that the likelihood of a deal is diminishing because of issues with the transfer of funds.
According to Sport24, citing a source close to the negotiations, the specific “stumbling block” surrounds the English FA and Barclays bank, although no further details were provided.
Both Dynamo and Chelsea are said to be working on a resolution to the issue, according to a Championat report on Tuesday.
The clock is ticking for an agreement to be reached as the current summer transfer window closes at 11pm UK time on September 1.
Attacking midfielder Zakharyan is widely considered among the brightest young prospects in world football.
He has won four caps for the Russian national team and has made 53 appearances across all competitions for club side Dynamo, scoring 13 times and providing 16 assists, according to Transfermarkt stats.
Read more
August 31, 2022 at 12:09AM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
The key pipeline to the EU has been shut down for 72-hour maintenance
European spot prices for natural gas rose in early trading on Wednesday after Russian energy major Gazprom shut down supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
According to the Intercontinental Exchange data, the price of October gas futures on the TTF hub in the Netherlands rose 5.5% to €280 ($280) per megawatt-hour, or $2,906 per thousand cubic meters, at around 07:00 GMT, after falling below $2,600 the day before.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gazprom confirmed the temporary halt of natural gas deliveries to Europe via Nord Stream 1 due to scheduled maintenance. Unless there are technical setbacks, the gas flow will be resumed on September 3, with supply volumes restored to 33 million cubic meters per day, or roughly 20% of the pipeline’s full capacity.
Following Gazprom’s announcement on August 19 regarding the temporary suspension, gas prices reacted sharply. Last week, the price of September futures exceeded $3,500 per thousand cubic meters.
However, after German Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced that the country’s underground gas storages were 85% filled ahead of schedule, the gas price rally somewhat subsided.
France and Germany have reportedly formulated plans on how the EU could influence Russians
TikTokers and YouTubers could help the EU drive a wedge between the Russian government and the people, Germany and France reportedly told other members of the bloc.
Ideas on how the EU could influence Russian citizens were formulated in a document circulated within the bloc ahead of this week’s high-level meeting in Prague, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The plan is meant for discussion behind closed doors, but the news agency said it had studied the document.
Berlin and Paris suggested enrolling popular video bloggers on platforms including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, and VK to help disseminate EU-funded teaching courses on “media literacy,” according to Bloomberg. The courses will supposedly explain to Russians why they should dismiss “Russian propaganda” and trust “independent information” that counters what the Russian government says.
The EU should also target Russian-speaking minorities in other nations with content that serves the same goal, the report says. There is also a proposal for an “Internet Censorship Circumvention Hub” for Russians.
After Russia attacked Ukraine in late February, the EU significantly ramped up its efforts to silence Russian media within the bloc. Government-funded outlets RT and Sputnik were banned from broadcasting, while US-based tech giants such as Facebook stopped showing content from the news organizations on their platforms to EU residents. Brussels justified the censorship by the need to counter ‘Russian propaganda’.
Moscow also imposed restrictions on media, blacklisting some Western outlets in retaliation and introduced punishment for slander against Russia’s armed forces.
Read more
August 29, 2022 at 11:02PM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
Stefanos Tsitsipas exited in the first round on Monday
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas has suffered a shock first-round exit from the US Open as the Greek went down to Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in four sets on Monday.
Galan capitalized on a disastrous showing from Tsitsipas to win 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5, taking the contest on the ninth match point. At one stage, Tsitsipas lost 11 straight games to his world number 94 rival.
While the 24-year-old Greek has typically fared better at the Australian and French Opens down the years – reaching the semifinals three times in Melbourne and last year’s final in Paris – he was still expected to challenge into the second week in New York.
But that will not be the case as Galan, 26, set up a second-round meeting with Australia’s Jordan Thompson for what will be the first time the Colombian has ever reached this stage at Flushing Meadows.
“Definitely one of the best moments of my career,” Galan said afterwards.
“Definitely the best match of my career, not only because of the circumstances, also the opponent. I’m really happy.”
Tsitsipas, meanwhile, has suffered two first-round exits in his five US Open appearances, and produced 57 unforced errors in one of his worst displays in recent memory.
“He dominated the match, I just couldn't get into it,” Tsitsipas said of his loss to Galan.
Elsewhere, there was another upset in the men’s draw as American 10th seed Taylor Fritz came undone in four sets against compatriot Brandon Holt, who is the son of two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin.
Holt, 24, came through qualifying to reach the main draw and next faces Pedro Cachin of Argentina in the second round.
Top seed and defending champion Medvedev negotiated his first-round match at Flushing Meadows on Monday, defeating Stefan Kozlov of the US in straight sets to earn a match-up with Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Wednesday.
Read more
August 29, 2022 at 11:01PM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
The move would lack the necessary support from member states, the bloc’s foreign policy chief has said
A full visa ban for all Russians, in response to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, is unlikely to receive unanimous support in the EU, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Sunday.
Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Borrell noted that some EU foreign ministers will be reluctant to endorse the measure when they meet later this week in Prague.
“I don’t think that to cut the relationship with the Russian civilian population will help and I don’t think that this idea will have the required unanimity,” he said.
The EU foreign policy chief believes the bloc should embrace a more selective approach.
“I think that we have to review the way that some Russians get a visa, certainly [not] the oligarchs. We have to be more selective. But I am not in favor of stopping delivering visas to all Russians.”
Any ban would require all ministers to reach an agreement, which might be difficult given that several EU member states do not back the measure, including Germany, Hungary, Cyprus, and Portugal. Earlier this month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the Ukraine conflict “is not the war of the Russian people,” calling on his Western colleagues to distinguish between the people of Russia and the nation’s leadership.
However, on Sunday, the Financial Times reported that EU foreign ministers plan to back a suspension of the 2007 EU-Russia visa facilitation deal. As a result, the process of applying for EU visas might become more complicated and expensive, and the waiting time could increase.
“It is inappropriate for Russian tourists to stroll in our cities, on our marinas,” a senior EU official told the newspaper at the time. “We have to send a signal to the Russian population that this war is not OK, it is not acceptable.”
Earlier, a number of countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia, stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas argued last week that Russian tourists pose a security threat to the country.
Commenting on the visa ban proposals discussed at the EU level, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that such initiatives “don’t smell too good,” expressing hope that common sense would eventually prevail.
Read more
August 29, 2022 at 12:06AM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
There will be no more economic partnership between London and Beijing if Liz Truss wins, sources told the pape
Liz Truss could label China a ‘threat’ to the UK for the first time ever if she wins the race to become prime minister, her allies told The Times.
The move would see Beijing given the same status as Moscow, which is described in Britain’s Integrated Review as an ‘acute threat’ to London, the paper said in a report on Monday.
The review, which sets out the UK’s priorities in diplomacy and defense for the next decade, was published last year.
It classified China as a ‘systemic competitor’, arguing that Britain should remain open to trade and investment from the Asian powerhouse, but remain wary of the risks to national security.
Truss, the front-runner in the race to replace Boris Johnson as PM, promised to reopen the review and change some of its provisions if she becomes the head of the government.
“There will be no more economic partnerships” between the UK and China under Truss, one of her allies told The Times.
Another unnamed member of Truss’ team said, “Liz has toughened the UK’s stance on Beijing since becoming foreign secretary [in September 2021] and would continue to take a hawkish stance as PM.”
“She’s been active in calling out China’s economic coercion, working with G7 and other allies to mobilize investment into low and middle-income countries as a counter to China’s Belt and Road initiative,” he added.
Truss had previously branded Chinese tech giants a security risk and urged for more weapons to be sent to the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as part of its territory.
She will face off against former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak in the final round of the race to become the Tory leader and – automatically – the new prime minister.
A Nottingham Forest player didn't appreciate Richarlison showing off
Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison was brutally taken out when a Nottingham Forest rival demonstrated what he thought about his provocative showboating in their Premier League match on Sunday.
Spurs maintained their unbeaten run and held on to third in the English top flight table with a 2-0 away win at the new boys' City Ground thanks to a Harry Kane double.
In the dying minutes, Richarlison started to do 'keepy ups' on the wing by juggling the ball to jeers from the home fans, whose honor was defended by Brennan Johnson.
As the Brazilian palmed the ball off and then got it back, Johnson came in all guns blazing and decked the former Everton man with a strong slide tackle.
Johnson was understandably booked for the outburst, but won't have been chided by his manager Steve Cooper who criticized Richarlison for creating a highlight that has already been viewed eight million times online.
Richarlison showboating for no particular reason, Johnson beautifully hoofs him straight up in the air. Satisfying to watch.pic.twitter.com/5v2Cu4dJym
"I wouldn’t want my players to do that, what Richarlison did," Johnson said. "If that is accepted at Spurs that is nothing to do with me, but it wouldn’t be accepted here."
Suggesting he didn't clearly see the incident, though, Spurs boss Antonio Conte claimed innocence on the behalf of his charge.
"He juggled with the ball, no?" Conte tried to confirm. "It's a game and you are under pressure. I think it's OK. I don't think he wanted to show disrespect to Nottingham Forest, a really good team with a great history," the Italian added in reference to the East Midlands outfit's two European Cups under Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980.
In his role as a Sky Sports pundit, ex-Liverpool legend and ex-Everton fan Jamie Carragher returned to blasting Richarlison as seen in a row last season that had the 25-year-old telling the retired defender to "wash your mouth before you talk about me and Everton" when he was still playing for the club and adding "I don't respect you".
"It does wind people up. You can't do that. But what is he doing?" asked Carragher on Sunday, of the player who switched allegiances for £60 million ($70 million) this summer.
"He just winds people up that lad, Richarlison. He winds me up. What do you expect Johnson to do? You're not condoning that but...," Carragher trailed off.
Given that such showboating has sometimes started mass brawls during matches in his homeland, Richarlison should know better and can't be surprised by the response he received.
On Wednesday, he and his team head east across London to face West Ham in a derby encounter that should also prove feisty.
Read more
August 28, 2022 at 11:38PM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was reportedly set upon by thugs at his home
Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was targeted in a terrifying armed robbery at his home in the Spanish city in the early hours of Monday morning, according to local media.
El Pais reports that at least four men entered the football star’s garden at his complex in the plush Castelldefels region and threatened him with firearms and iron bars.
Citing police, the news outlet says Aubameyang was “beaten” in front of his wife, Alysha Behague, before the thugs escaped with jewelry after accessing a safe. The gang are said to have fled in a white Audi A3.
It was not immediately reported if Aubameyang and Behague’s two children – aged 11 and six – were at the property at the time of the ordeal.
Aubameyang, 33, was an unused substitute as Barcelona beat Valladolid 4-0 at Camp Nou just hours before the violent robbery.
The French-born Gabonese striker joined the Catalan club from Arsenal in January, but has already been linked with a move back to England with Chelsea said to be keen to hand Aubameyang a Premier League return.
Aubameyang is merely the latest Barca star to be targeted by criminals.
New signing Robert Lewandowski was the victim of a brazen robbery at the club’s training ground earlier this month when thieves reportedly snatched his €70,000 watch ($6,500) when he stopped to sign autographs.
El Pais noted that thugs targeting players while they were at home was not a common tactic.
However, Aubameyang’s Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, had his luxury Catalan pad ransacked back in 2018 while he was present but entirely unaware of the thieves at the property.
Read more
August 28, 2022 at 11:29PM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
The court ordered the vandal to seek psychiatric help and do community work
A district court in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg has reached a verdict in the case of a security guard who “fixed” a painting on display at a museum by adding eyes to the work’s faceless figures.
The defendant, Aleksandr Vasilyev, was ordered to seek psychiatric help. He will also serve 180 hours of community service for his act of vandalism, the court decided on Monday.
The incident happened in January, when Vasilyev, a war veteran employed by a private security firm, had just been hired at the Yeltsin Center museum. The 1930s painting ‘Three Figures’ by Anna Leporskaya, a student of world-renowned avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich, was on loan from the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Vasilyev said during the trial that he heard some visitors remarking that the three figures in the painting would look better with facial features, so he took out a pen and added eyes.
He claimed that he had thought the piece was a child’s work of little value. However, the owner estimated the damage done to the 75-million-ruble ($1.25mn) work of art at 250,000 rubles ($4,150).
His attorney sought to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor so the man would not have a criminal record. But the court declined the request due to the fact that the defendant insisted he did nothing wrong.
During the trial, several public figures, including the governor of the Urals region, where Ekaterinburg is located, called for clemency for Vasilyev.
Read more
August 28, 2022 at 11:03PM
from RT - Daily news
via IFTTT
