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☆ U.S. ambassador to Russia visits jailed reporter Gershkovich
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ambassador Lynne Tracy visited Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in a Moscow prison on Friday, the embassy said, as he prepares for a new appeal next week against his pre-trial detention on spying charges that he denies. Gershkovich was arrested on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up 20 years in prison. Gershkovich is the first U.S. reporter to be accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War. His latest appeal against his detention is due to be heard next Tuesday, but previous ones have been rejected. The United States has designated both men as "wrongfully detained", meaning it considers the charges against them to be bogus and politically motivated.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Evgenia, Lynne Tracy, Gershkovich, Mikhail, Evan, Tracy, Paul Whelan, Mark Trevelyan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Wall Street, UN, U.S, United Nations, United, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Yekaterinburg, U.S, Washington, Ukraine, American, Russian, United States

☆ Russian c.bank governor speaks against reintroducing currency restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Elvira Nabiullina, Governor of Russian Central Bank, speaks to the media during the conference "10 years of the Megaregulator: yesterday, today, tomorrow" in Moscow, Russia September 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina spoke out against reintroducing currency controls after hiking rates to 13% on Friday, warning that such steps were inefficient and ultimately would be circumvented. Nabiullina said that discussions about currency restrictions were underway, but were largely for the government to decide. "Administrative restrictions, if they are effective... then they are usually effective only for a limited time," Nabiullina said. Similarly, she said, repatriating FX revenues from foreign banks to Russian ones would have no impact on the rouble rate.

Persons: Elvira Nabiullina, Evgenia, Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina, Vladimir Putin, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Vladimir Soldatkin, Anastasia Lyrchikova, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Russian Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Russian Central Bank Governor, Bank of Russia, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia

☆ The pigeon keepers of Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/13]Anatoliy Seliverstov, 67, holds pigeons outside his dovecote in Moscow, Russia. Pigeon houses have decreased in number as breeders, mostly elderly people, face pressure from the authorities and real estate developers. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaMOSCOW, RUSSIA

Persons: Anatoliy Seliverstov Organizations: REUTERS Locations: Moscow, Russia, Evgenia, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

☆ U.S. reporter Gershkovich appeals latest extension of detention in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March while on a reporting trip and accused of espionage, stands behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his detention, in Moscow, Russia June 22, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina Acquire Licensing RightsAug 26 (Reuters) - U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich has appealed against the latest extension of his pre-trial detention in Moscow on spying charges that he denies, Russian state media said on Saturday. TASS news agency quoted a Moscow court as saying it had received the appeal from the defence team of the Wall Street Journal reporter. Gershkovich was arrested on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on spying charges that carry up to 20 years in prison. No date has been set for his trial, and on Thursday his detention in Moscow's Lefortovo prison was extended by three months to Nov. 30.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Evgenia, Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Mark Trevelyan, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, TASS, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Yekaterinburg, Moscow's, United States, Ukraine, Washington, U.S, Russian

The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. Moscow already demands a 50% discount on all foreign deals after consultants selected by the Russian government have valued the business. But three people familiar with the exit process for foreign companies said that some deals are facing demands for additional discounts before the government gives a green light. Another person, who works on M&A transactions and with foreign companies, said deals exceeding $100 million were at particular risk of being denied. In its biannual financial stability review, the central bank said foreign companies under pressure to leave Russia were doing so on "unfavourable" terms.

Persons: Evgenia, Carlsberg's, Intesa, Vladimir Putin's, Suren Gortsunyan, Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Alexey Kupriyanov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Victor Goury, Josephine Mason, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Heineken, Arnest, Companies, Nasdaq, Russia, Dyakin, Partners, Aspring, Nato, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, MOSCOW, Russian, London, Laffont, Gdansk

☆ Russian stocks retreat from pre-invasion high as rouble rebounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Alexander Marrow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: A board showing currency exchange rates of the U.S. dollar and euro against Russian rouble is on display in a street in Moscow, Russia, August 12, 2023. By 1510 GMT, the rouble was 1% stronger against the dollar at 98.45 , firming back below the 100 threshold. Stocks on Monday briefly hit their highest since before Moscow launched what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, before falling back. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index was 0.1% higher at 3,157.1 points. A trader at a large Russian bank told Reuters the market was confused: “Everyone is ready for the inflow of revenues from expensive oil, but it seems to be hanging somewhere, and our regulators are somehow indifferent, there is nothing to rely on.”

Persons: Evgenia, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, firming, Stocks, Yulia Goldina, ” Goldina, “, Brent Organizations: Reuters, U.S ., Russian, REUTERS, Investments, Sinara Investment Bank, BCS Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Russian

[1/2] The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. Maksut Shadaev, the head of Russia's ministry of digital affairs, told parliament in December that around 100,000 IT specialists had left Russia in 2022. It is not yet clear whether Volozh's comments may have any bearing on how Russia decides to proceed with the company. One of the sources said "hawks" in state companies believed nothing at all should be paid to foreigners. Two sources said VTB had never been a serious option as a buyer, given sanctions on the state lender.

Persons: Yandex, Maksut Shadaev, Ramzan Kadyrov, Arkady Volozh, Andrei Kostin, VTB, Alexei Kudrin, Alexander Marrow, Polina Devitt, Mike Collett, White, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, nationalising Nasdaq, Reuters, Yandex NV, Yandex, U.S, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, nationalising, Ukraine, Serbia, Yandex

☆ Finland and Norway ban Yandex from transferring data to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoHELSINKI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Finnish and Norwegian regulators said on Tuesday they had banned Russian tech group Yandex (YNDX.O) and its Netherlands-based partner Ridetech International from transferring to Russia any personal data of customers of Yandex's Yango ride-hailing app. The Yango ride-hailing service, which operates in 14 countries including Finland and Norway, is one of many services offered by Yandex, often dubbed "Russia's Google". "There is an acute risk to privacy as Russian authorities could potentially monitor the movements of Norwegian citizens via Yango," the Norwegian Data Protection Authority said in a separate statement. It said it processes data in strict compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and EU legislation.

Persons: Evgenia, Yango, Arkadi Volozh, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Alexander Marrow, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Ridetech, Finnish DPA, Federal Security Service, Russian Federation, Yandex, Norwegian Data Protection Authority, General Data Protection, Nasdaq, EU General Data, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian, Netherlands, Finnish, Finland, Norway, Yango, Yandex's New York, Ukraine, Oslo, London

☆ Russia's war is coming home as drone strikes hit Moscow. What does it mean for the conflict?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

London CNN —Ukrainian drone strikes taking place inside Russia once seemed an unthinkable prospect. A string of drone strikes have peppered Russian cities including Moscow throughout the summer. A damaged building in Moscow following last weekend's drone strikes. But anecdotal accounts at least speak to the impact of drone strikes on those in the vicinity of the attacks. But after almost eighteen months of disorganization and discord, the reality that Russia’s military plans are flailing has been increasingly hard to deny.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ”, Evgenia Novozhenina, ” Douglas Barrie, Mykhailo Fedorov, ” Keir Giles, we’ve, ” Giles, Barrie, ” Barrie, Stringer, Yurii, “ There’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Yuri Kochetkov, Shutterstock, June’s Wagner, Russia –, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: London CNN, Kyiv, Kremlin, Reuters, Military Aerospace, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, Transformation Ministry, “ Army, Drones, Chatham House, “, West, NATO, Getty, Russia Kyiv, Ukraine’s Air Force, Institute for Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Reuters Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, AFP, Kremlin, Russian, United States

Navalny, 47, President Vladimir Putin's fiercest domestic critic, is already serving sentences totalling 11-1/2 years on fraud and other charges that he says are also bogus. What is called 'Stalinist'," said Navalny, who is able to post on social media via his supporters and lawyers. Who expect it and who are willing to make sacrifices for its birth," Navalny said, according to a text supplied by his aides. Putin, in power since 1999, is expected to run for another six-year presidential term in 2024. His supporters cast Navalny as a Russian version of South Africa's Nelson Mandela who will one day be freed from prison to govern the country.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Evgenia, Vladimir Putin's, Navalny, Putin, Africa's Nelson Mandela, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones, Conor Humphries Organizations: IK, REUTERS, Prosecutors, MOSCOW, Russia, West, CIA, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Pokrov, Moscow, Russia, Melekhovo, Ukraine, Germany, Soviet

☆ Turkmen airline suspends Moscow flights over safety concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man checks the debris next to a damaged office building in the Moscow City following a reported Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow, Russia, August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaASHGABAT, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's flagship airline has suspended flights to Moscow, it said on Wednesday, citing safety concerns after Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital. "Due to the situation in the Moscow air zone, and based on a risk assessment in order to ensure flight safety, all Turkmenistan Airlines flights on the Ashgabat-Moscow-Ashgabat route will be suspended," the airline said in a statement. Turkmenistan Airlines said it would now fly instead to Kazan, which is more than 700 km (440 miles) east of Moscow. The drone attacks prompted Vnukovo, one of Moscow's airports, to close briefly but it later resumed full operations.

Persons: Vnukovo, Marat Gurt, Olzhas, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Turkmenistan Airlines, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Ukrainian, Russia, Evgenia, ASHGABAT, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Kazan, Ukraine

☆ Russia is getting hit at home, and Ukraine's spies say there's only one way to make it stop
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Moscow was hit by another suspected Ukrainian drone attack this week. A man checks the debris next to a damaged office building in the Moscow City following a reported Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow, Russia, August 1, 2023. After a May attack on Moscow, experts speculated that Ukraine aims to give Russia "a taste of its own medicine." Firefighters and a police officer stand next to a damaged building in the "Moscow City" business district after a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, early Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. "We have made clear we don't encourage or enable such attacks," a US State Department spokesperson told Insider on Tuesday after the most recent drone attacks.

Persons: Mykhailo Podolyak, Vladimir Putin, Russia —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it's Organizations: Moscow, Service, Russia, REUTERS, Presidential, Twitter, Firefighters, Ukraine, New York Times, US State Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Russia, Evgenia, Kyiv, Russia's

☆ Russian court jails top cyber security executive for 14 years in treason case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Andrew Osborn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] People, including supporters of founder of Group-IB cybersecurity firm Ilya Sachkov charged with treason, gather in a court building during a hearing in Moscow, Russia July 26, 2023. Sachkov, 37, who is no longer associated with Group-IB but owns a share in its former Russian business, was arrested in September 2021 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on treason charges in a case that was classified. Former colleagues who bought Group-IB's Russian business and renamed it F.A.C.C.T said in a statement that his legal team would appeal against his conviction and ask President Vladimir Putin to intervene. "This is a hard moment for all of us and a black day for the (Russian) cybersecurity market." Sachkov had ruffled official feathers a year before his arrest at an event attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Persons: Ilya Sachkov, Sachkov, F.A.C.C.T, Vladimir Putin, Ilya, Mikhail Mishustin, Putin's, Putin, Andrew Osborn, William Maclean Organizations: IB, REUTERS, TASS, Russia's Federal Security Service, Employees, Russian, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW, Russian

☆ Russia's Bolshoi, shunned in West, heads to Beijing for first tour since COVID
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] Principal dancers of the Bolshoi Theatre Elizaveta Kokoreva and Dmitry Smilevsky take part in a rehearsal in Moscow, Russia July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoMOSCOW, July 21 (Reuters) - Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet, grounded by COVID-19 and then shunned in the West since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, returns to international touring next week for the first time since the pandemic with a trip to Beijing. "I believe that we will perform again (in the West), and others will come to (Russia) to perform. Vladimir Urin, the Bolshoi's director, said in April that he was saddened by the loss of what had been regular creative cooperation with Western theatre companies and artists. Reporting by Reuters Writing by Lucy Papachristou Editing by Andrew Osborn and Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bolshoi Theatre Elizaveta Kokoreva, Dmitry Smilevsky, Evgenia, Makhar Vaziev, Empress Catherine the Great, Don Quixote, we'll, Elizaveta Kokoreva, Vladimir Urin, Lucy Papachristou, Andrew Osborn, Peter Graff Organizations: Bolshoi Theatre, REUTERS, Bolshoi Ballet, Reuters, London's Royal Opera House, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW, Ukraine, Beijing, China, Western, Italian, Minsk, Oman

☆ Chief of Russia’s Yandex faces court case for ‘LGBT propaganda'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Lucy Papachristou | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoJuly 5 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Nasdaq-listed internet company Yandex faces prosecution in a Russian court for alleged offences under the country’s so-called “LGBT propaganda” law, a notice on the court's website said on Wednesday. When contacted by Reuters, Yandex said it would appeal any court finding against its CEO. The court website gave no specific details of what alleged offences Savinovsky was being prosecuted for beyond that they relate to "LGBT propaganda". Last month a court fined the company 2 million roubles ($24,242) for repeatedly refusing to provide Russia’s security services with information about its users.

Persons: Evgenia, Artem Savinovsky, Yandex, Savinovsky, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Yandex's, Bridget Jones ’, ” Kinopoisk, Russia’s, Elena Bunina, Lucy Papachristou, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Nasdaq, Yandex, Reuters, State Duma, Novaya Gazeta, Kommersant, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, British, Ukraine

☆ Wagner merch soars in price after abortive mutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoMOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Online prices for merchandise bearing the insignia of Russia's Wagner group - a human skull against a black and red backdrop - have shot up since its abortive armed mutiny, with buyers posting five-star reviews and support for the mercenaries. A deal brokered by the leader of Belarus abruptly halted the mutiny late on Saturday. E-commerce leader Wildberries' weekly price breakdowns showed how costs have risen. On a review of a Wagner flag on Wildberries, one buyer, Vladimir, said: "The Wagner Private Military Company is the best. Under Saturday's deal that ended the mutiny, fighters of the Wagner group were allowed to join their leader Prigozhin in exile in Belarus, to be integrated into Russia's regular armed forces or to return to their families.

Persons: Wagner, Evgenia, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wildberries, Tatiana, Vladimir, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Alexey Navalny, Prigozhin, Alexander Marrow, Gareth Jones, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Mercenary, Private Military Company, Don, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Yefremov, Tula region, Russia, MOSCOW, Moscow, Belarus, Ukraine, Rostov, Russian, St Petersburg

☆ Senior Russian lawmaker calls for professional army of seven million
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who early in the 16-month war took part in peace negotiations with Ukraine, said that Russia needs a contract army of at least seven million military and civilian personnel, on top of the current conscript army. He said Wagner fighters can continue fighting with Russian army, go home or go to Belarus. At the end of 2022, Putin backed beefing up the army to 1.5 million combat personnel - including 695,000 contract soldiers - from 1.15 million. Creating a contract army of seven million would require a huge budget allowance. The Russian economy, crippled by the war and subsequent Western sanctions contracted 2.2% percent last year and is expected to rebound only marginally this year.

Persons: Leonid Slutsky, Sergei Lavrov, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Evgenia, weekend's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Lidia Kelly, Stephen Coates Organizations: Russia's, Russian, Qatari Deputy, Foreign, REUTERS, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, aborting, Belarus, Melbourne

CNN —Jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny appeared before a Russian court Monday to defend himself against fresh charges of extremism, in a trial that could extend his prison term by decades. In comments posted to his Twitter account, Navalny said the “absurd” charges could lead to him serving a further 30 years behind bars. Navalny’s team challenged judge Andrey Suvorov, and asked him to recuse himself, according to the team’s Telegram posts. Also present at the hearing is Daniel Kholodny, the former technical director of the Navalny Live YouTube channel, accused in the same extremism case. Putin himself said in December 2020 that if Russian security services had wanted to kill Navalny, they “would have finished” the job.

Persons: CNN —, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Navalny, Navalny’s, Vadim Kobzev, Olga Mikhailova, Svetlana Davyodva, Andrey Suvorov, Vladimir, ”, Daniel Kholodny, Evgenia Novozhenina, Lilia Chanysheva, Chanysheva, “, Novichok, Putin Organizations: CNN, TASS, IK, Journalists, Russian Security Service Locations: Melekhovo, Moscow, Russian, Ufa, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Berlin, Siberian, Omsk, Siberia

☆ Russia's McDonald's heir growing quickly, in for the long haul
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Olga Popova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) closed its Russian restaurants soon after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, eventually selling to a local licensee, Alexander Govor. The chain has sold more than 24 million of its Big Mac replacement burgers, the Big Hit, CEO Oleg Paroev said. Hamstrung by agreements with McDonald's, Vkusno & tochka, can not open restaurants in countries where McDonald's already has a presence. Russian authorities and Govor have said McDonald's has an option to buy back its Russia restaurants within 15 years. It would find a market where Vkusno & tochka is the master franchisee should it do so.

Persons: Alexander Govor, Govor, Oleg Paroev, Natalya Fadeeva, Evgenia, I've, McDonald's, Olga Popova, Alexander Marrow, Sharon Singleton Organizations: McDonald's Corp, Reuters, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, McDonald's, Belarus, Kazakhstan

☆ Putin's family owns lavish mansions in Moscow and France and has spent millions refurbishing them, leaks say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Proekt said the properties are located near Putin's Moscow mansion. The Russian president has long sought to keep secret the vast wealth he and his family own. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ex-wife Lyudmila enter a Moscow polling station, 02 December 2007, to cast their votes in Russia's parliamentary elections. Katerina Tikhonova, deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University and daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his rumored girlfriend and retired rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva (right).

Persons: Proekt, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Kiril Shamanov, Putin, Lyudmila Shkrebneva, Maria Vorontsova, Katerina Tikhonova, Tikhonova, Shamalov, Lyudmila, DMITRY ASTAKHOV, Vorontsova's, Alina Kabaeva, Sasha Mordovets, Juliana Kaplan Organizations: Service, Russian, Getty, Institute for Mathematical Research, Systems, Moscow State University, REUTERS, Shkrebneva, Tikhonova, Putin Locations: Russian, Putin's Moscow, Ogaryovo, Moscow, AFP, Biarritz, France, Sibur, Ukraine

☆ Russia's reaction to the drone attacks on Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He received direct information both via the Defence Ministry and via the relevant departments." He also received "information from the Mayor of Moscow, the governor of the Moscow region, the Ministry of Emergency Situations". RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY:"This morning, the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles on premises in the city of Moscow. Five more unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex in the Moscow region." RUSSIAN LAWMAKER ANDREI GURULYOV (UNITED RUSSIA)"I would not give in to panic about the drone attack on Moscow and the Moscow region.

Analysts say what may appear as mixed messaging is the result of President Xi Jinping's renewed focus on national security, steeled by rock-bottom relations with rival superpower, the United States. A later speech in March at the National People's Congress was more pointed: China's security is being challenged by U.S. attempts to contain its rise, he said. In his October speech, he added "external security" and "international security", in what analysts say signals a new focus to counter foreign threats, namely Washington. Asked for its response to a list of questions for this story, China's foreign ministry said it was "not aware of the situation". BUSINESS JITTERSChina's security focus also risks isolating the country economically.

☆ Siemens, SAP say EU draft Data Act puts trade secrets at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A sign with the logo of Siemens company is on display outside its office in Moscow, Russia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaBRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) - German business software maker SAP (SAPG.DE) and German engineering company Siemens (SIEGn.DE) have joined U.S. tech giants in criticising draft EU laws on the use of data generated by smart gadgets and other consumer goods. EU countries and EU lawmakers are working on the details of the Data Act, proposed by the European Commission last year before it can be adopted as legislation. U.S. criticisms have included that the proposed law is too restrictive, while the German companies say a provision forcing companies to share data with third parties to provide aftermarket or other data-driven services could endanger trade secrets. "Effectively, this could mean that EU companies will have to disclose data to third-country competitors, notably those not operating in Europe and against which the Data Act's safeguards would be ineffective," they said.

☆ False flag? Analysts says Russia 'likely staged' Kremlin drone attack it blamed on Ukraine and the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine denied any involvement in the incident, with officials saying it more likely signaled that Russia was planning a large-scale terrorist attack against Ukraine in the coming days. The Kremlin went further in its accusations on Thursday, claiming that Washington had helped Ukraine to plot and orchestrate the drone attack. CNBC contacted the Kremlin for a response to claims that it was likely behind the drone attack itself. A view of the roof of Senate Palace of the Kremlin from Red Square on May 3, 2023 in Moscow, Russia. The Kremlin said the drone attack had taken place "on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9th Parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned."

☆ Pictures of the month: April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March while on a reporting trip and charged with espionage, stands behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his...moreWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March while on a reporting trip and charged with espionage, stands behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his detention, in Moscow, Russia, April 18. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaClose

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