French reactor using full core of recycled uranium fuel

The Cruas-Meysse plant (Image: EDF)

Unit 2 of the Cruas-Meysse nuclear power plant in south-eastern France was recently restarted with its first full core of recycled uranium fuel. The move marks a major milestone in France's efforts to revive its domestic uranium reprocessing industry.

Reprocessed uranium (RepU) is derived from used fuel from nuclear reactors that has been processed at Orano's La Hague reprocessing plant. Once enriched, this uranium can be used again to fuel nuclear power reactors.

In France, only the four reactors at the Cruas-Meysse plant in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are certified to use Enriched Reprocessed Uranium (ERU).

Historically, the enrichment process, requiring centrifuges solely dedicated to RepU, was carried out for industrial and economic reasons by Russia's Rosatom at its Seversk site. However, the new geopolitical situation since the onset of the war in Ukraine may lead to a reevaluation of these contracts.

For many years, EDF's Fuel Division has been developing a strategy for the management, recycling and reprocessing of used nuclear fuel assemblies, as well as the diversification of sources of supply, to ensure energy independence and the preservation of natural resources.

On 5 February, Cruas 2 was restarted with its first entirely recycled uranium fuel load.

"A decade-long effort has been made to revive a uranium reprocessing sector, which was suspended in 2013 (and resumed in 2018), and has just reached a historic milestone," Cédric Lewandowski, Senior Executive Vice-President, Nuclear and Thermal at EDF, said on LinkedIn.

He noted: "Reprocessing spent fuel to extract the energy-potential material (which constitutes 96% of the spent fuel's mass composition), namely uranium, for its second use is a circular economy approach that will save 25% of natural resources in the coming decades. Moreover, this sector emits 30% less CO2 than the natural uranium sector and reduces environmental impact."

Fuel containing RepU has the same general characteristics as natural uranium fuels. Worldwide, 75 reactors have used, or currently use, RepU.

Lewandowski said EDF's goal was to be able to reuse RepU in certain 1300 MWe reactors by 2027, aiming for over 30% RepU usage in the French nuclear fleet by the 2030s.

In May 2018, Framatome signed a contract to design, fabricate and supply fuel assemblies using enriched reprocessed uranium to EDF between 2023 and 2032. The fuel assemblies were to be produced at Framatome's facility at Romans-sur-Isère in the Drôme region of France.

EDF studied the possibility of recycling reprocessed uranium in pressurised water reactors in the early 1980s. The utility has demonstrated the use of reprocessed uranium in its 900 MWe power plants. The first enriched reprocessed uranium manufacturing campaign took place at Romans in 1987 on behalf of EDF. Precursor fuel assemblies were loaded into Cruas unit 4 from 1987 to 1990 and a first enriched reprocessed uranium fuel reload was introduced in the same reactor in 1994. EDF used RepU between 1994 and 2013 in the four Cruas reactors, allowing 4000 tonnes of RepU to be recycled.

EDF has made provision to store reprocessed uranium for up to 250 years as a strategic reserve. Currently, reprocessing of 1100 tonnes of EDF used fuel per year produces 11 tonnes of plutonium (immediately recycled as mixed-oxide fuel) and 1045 tonnes of reprocessed uranium converted into stable oxide form for storage.

According to Orano, there are currently nearly 34,000 tonnes of RepU being held in interim storage on the Tricastin site.Researched and written by World Nuclear News. French reactor using full core of recycled uranium fuel : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

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Fuel loading begins at Indian fast breeder reactor : New Nuclear

Modi was briefed about features of the reactor during his tour to the PFBR site (Image: Narendra Modi)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the start of fuel loading at the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. Fast breeder reactors form the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme.

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been developed by BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), a government enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) which was set up in 2003 to focus on fast breeder reactors. Construction of the PFBR began in 2004, with an original expected completion date of 2010.

India has adopted a three-stage nuclear power programme, with the long-term goal of deploying a thorium-based closed nuclear fuel cycle. The first stage involves the use of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), fuelled by natural uranium, and light water reactors. The second stage involves reprocessing used fuel from the first stage to recover the plutonium to fuel FBRs. In stage 3, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) will burn thorium-plutonium fuels and breed fissile uranium-233.

The PFBR will initially use a core of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, surrounded by a uranium-238 'blanket', with plans to use a blanket of uranium and thorium to "breed" plutonium and U-233 for use as driver fuels for AHWRs.

"In line with the true spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, PFBR has been fully designed and constructed indigenously by BHAVINI with significant contribution from more than 200 Indian industries including MSMEs," the DAE said. "Once commissioned, India will only be the second country after Russia to have a commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor."

Aatmanirbhar Bharat translates to 'self-reliant India'. MSMEs are micro, small and medium enterprises.

The DAE describes the PFBR as an "advanced third generation reactor with inherent passive safety features" which, since it recycles material recovered from used fuel from the first stage of the programme, "offers great advantage in terms of significant reduction in nuclear waste generated, thereby avoiding the need for large geological disposal facilities".

"Upon completion of the core loading, the first approach to criticality will be achieved, leading to generation of power subsequently," it added.

The Prime Minister's 4 March visit included a tour of the reactor vault as well as the control room (Image: DAE)

In January, Modi formally dedicated to the nation the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (ICGAR) in Kalpakkam, a precursor to large-scale plants for the reprocessing of fast reactor fuel, and in February, he visited the Kakrapar plant in Gujarat for the dedication of the first two Indian-designed and built 700 MWe PHWRs. The second of those units - Kakrapar 4 - was connected to the grid just days later.

A fast breeder test reactor has been in operation at IGCAR since 1985, although it did not reach its full 40 MWt design capacity until 2022.

"The growth of the Indian nuclear power programme is imperative to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development," the DAE said. "As a responsible nuclear power with advanced technology, India remains committed to expand peaceful applications of nuclear technology, both in power and non-power sector, while ensuring the security of nuclear and radiological materials."Researched and written by World Nuclear News Fuel loading begins at Indian fast breeder reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

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Women in Moldova are less likely to hold leadership positions, though Moldova has a woman president

Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash. Used under an Unsplash license.

Written by Daria Dergacheva, GV Contributor

• Independent Moldovan online media outlet NewsMaker published an article based on the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova's data about women living in Moldova today. Global Voices translated and edited the article for clarity with permission from the NewsMaker.
• There are more women than men in Moldova, and they live longer
• In Moldova, there are more women than men. According to the data presented, there are 90 men for every 100 women. However, this ratio varies depending on age. For example, up to the age of 14, there are 106 men for every 100 women. Over the age of 65, it's only 61.
• Women live on average 8.6 years longer. This gap is due to a higher level of premature mortality among men, especially those of working age. Also, according to the bureau, the average lifespan of rural residents (both men and women) is about two years less than that of city dwellers.
• Women in Moldova marry earlier, are more educated and earn less
• The average age of women entering their first marriage in 2022 was 26 years, compared to 29 years for men. Even so, women aged 25–64 have a higher level of education compared to men of the same age. For example, 25.1 percent of women versus 19 percent of men aged 24-65 have higher education. Nonetheless, men earn on average 15.5 percent more than women. According to the data, in 2022, the average earnings of men were 11,380 lei (644 USD), while for women — 9,618 lei (544 USD). Meanwhile, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, there are 7.9% fewer working women than men.
• Men hold 55.4 percent of leadership positions, while women hold 44.6 percent. At the beginning of 2022, the women's share of seats in the Parliament of Moldova was 40.4 percent. At the same time, about 25 percent of law enforcement officers are women, but more than 50 percent of judges are women.
• Despite this, Moldova boasts a female president. Maia Sandu, born on May 24, 1972, has served as Moldova's president since December 24, 2020. Before her presidency, she founded and led the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), also serving as Moldova's prime minister from June 8, 2019, to November 14, 2019. Sandu secured the presidency through a decisive victory in the 2020 elections, marking her as Moldova's first female president. She is a vocal advocate for Moldova joining the European Union, playing a pivotal role in achieving candidate status for the country, and aligns with pro-Western ideals. Sandu has openly criticized Russia's military actions in Ukraine, actively working to lessen Moldova's economic reliance on Russia while offering steadfast support and solidarity with Ukraine.

Source: https://globalvoices.org/2024/03/12/women-in-moldova-are-better-educated-but-earn-less-and-marry-earlier/ Under: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Visa waiver for five countries to boost tourism

Citizens of China, Russia, India, Thailand, and Indonesia are to benefit from new move as per Cabinet proposal

In a joint effort to reinvigorate its tourism industry, the Government has tabled a ground-breaking proposal for free tourist visas targeting visitors from five countries.

The countries set to benefit from this potential visa waiver program are China, Russia, India, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The initiative, as outlined in a statement from the Tourism Ministry, seeks to draw a significant influx of tourists, positioning Sri Lanka as a leading global travel destination. The proposal, jointly presented at the most recent Cabinet meeting, reflects the collaborative endeavour of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry.

This forward-thinking measure aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s overarching strategy to revive the tourism sector, which has grappled with multiple challenges in recent times, since 2019. By waiving tourist visa fees, the Government anticipates a surge in visitor numbers, projecting positive impacts on economic growth and employment opportunities within the tourism industry. The authorities have set their sights on increasing arrivals to 5 million by 2029 and earning an impressive $ 21.6 billion within seven years. As part of its long-term strategy to welcome 5 million visitors, it hopes to lift the average spending per visitor to $ 4,000, with 2.5 million of them spending over $ 500 per day, indicating a concentration on luring high-end tourists. Visa waiver for five countries to boost tourism | Daily FT

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France, US hail PM Modi's advice to Putin over Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hailed at the United Nations General Assembly for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, by the US and France at the UNGA meeting in New York. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had said "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday (local time) welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," Macron said. Sullivan in a White House statement said: "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end". Apart from the UNGA, PM Modi's statement became popular and was praised by international media. American network CNN praised PM Modi's hold on world politics and reported, "Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war." While another US publication The Washington Post's headline was "Modi rebukes Putin over the war in Ukraine". "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War," The New York Times said in its headline. It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had said that he knows about India's position on the Ukraine conflict. "I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin said. "But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed... that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there," he added. "The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides," the Post said. Putin said that relations between Russia and India are in the nature of a privileged strategic partnership and continue to develop very rapidly. Copyright © Jammu Links News Source: Jammu Links News

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Missing Russian plane with 28 people ‘crashes’ into sea

The missing Russian Antonov AN-26 plane with 28 passengers on board is believed to have crashed into the sea. Several rescue ships have already been sent to the scene.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Tuesday that the Antonov AN-26 had lost contact with the control room in Kamchatka on its way from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskyto to Palana.

It was initially thought to be missing as the aircraft did not respond on time after the flight.

A spokesman for the country’s emergency services said the plane had six crew and 22 passengers, including a child, on board. A helicopter and troops are preparing to search and rescue the plane.

A statement from the regional government said all emergency services had been notified. Two helicopters and a plane are searching the area.

Source: Sputnik News, Reuters, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

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Russia to expand defence co-operation with India

• India and Russia have decided to expand their military cooperation with additional production of Russian military equipment in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s `Make-in-India’ programme, visiting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Tuesday.
• The two countries also decided to pursue bilateral cooperation despite dissuations caused by regional and global developments. Moscow and New Delhi also reassured themselves that neither threats of sanctions from the United States nor military threat posed by China will stand in the way of bilateral trade and defence ties.
• Lavrov said talks touched on manufacturing of state-of-the-art weapon systems, even as he noted that Russia is the only partner that transfers cutting-edge military technology to India.
• “In this strategically important area, Russia is a major foreign contractor for New Delhi. I am sure deepening of Russian Indian military cooperation serves the national interest of both countries,” said Lavrov.
• Lavrov said military ties with India were deepening while ruling out any military alliance with China. The statement is significant considering the India-China military standoff for nearly a year in East Ladakh.
• Speaking alongside Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Lavrov also spoke of Russia manufacturing 750 million doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine in India. Discussions about the manufacture of the Bharat Biotech in Russia are on, he said .
• The two foreign ministers also discussed the Afghanistan situation and agreed on the involvement of the Taliban and other regional powers, without which any solution would be "unsustainable."
• Lavrov also said that Moscow respected India's decision to diversify the purchase of military weapons from other countries, a reference to the United States and France, adding that Russia has assurances that there was no plan for an Asian NATO.
• Denying that he had said US exercises pressure on India, Lavrov said there were no discussions on statements from the US against arms trade with Russia.
• Both sides also touched on cooperation in energy, including nuclear, peaceful exploration of space and manned programs, rocket engine building, satellite navigation, the Russian Far East and the Arctic.Fresh from a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month, Lavrov said though Russia-China relations at the summit-level are at their highest levels in history; there are no discussions on a military alliance. Whether it was a Russia-China military alliance or talks of a Middle East NATO or an Asian NATO, “we believe it is counterproductive. Our Indian friends have the same position,” he observed. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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Vladimir Putin may visit India in first half of 2021, says Russian envoy

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was earlier scheduled to visit India in late 2020, may visit the country during the first six months of the next year, said Russia's ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev, on Monday. "It became more difficult to maintain contacts due to the pandemic. It has affected the frequency of face-to-face meetings, but the Russian-Indian political and economic dialogue has not become less intense. Summits are the highest point of the dialogue. The summit was due to be held in October. There have been large-scale preparations, but it has been decided by mutual agreement to postpone the meeting until the next year. When will the meeting take place? The sooner the better. I hope we will receive the Russian president in India in the first half of the coming year," Sputnik quoted Kudashev as saying. Kudashev further said that the bilateral commission for military cooperation between the two nations could be convened during early 2021. According to Sputnik, the Russian envoy also informed that a free trade deal may be signed next year between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which comprises of countries like Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. "If we talk about which documents and agreements were decisive for the trade and economic agenda and which agreements and documents need to be formalized next year, then I would probably mention the following -- well, first of all, there is an interesting agreement on formalizing a deal on a free trade zone between India and the EAEU ... Several rounds of technical negotiations took place," said the ambassador. Kudashev also said that Moscow and New Delhi may sign several bilateral agreements in 2021 that includes a deal on protecting and promoting investment, while adding that the two countries also plan to update the current deal on avoiding double taxation. ///(Economictimes) Source: Defenseblog-njs.blogspot.com: 

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No drinking for two months after COVID-19 vaccine, Russia tells citizens

DEC 09, 2020 MOSCOW: Russian officials are warning citizens to avoid alcohol for two months after receiving the country's COVID-19 vaccine - tough-to-swallow news for one of the world's heaviest-drinking countries. The warning came from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova, who said in an interview that Russians will have to observe extra precautions during the 42 days it takes for the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to become effective. "[Russians] will have to refrain from visiting crowded places, wear face masks, use sanitizers, minimize contacts and refrain from drinking alcohol or taking immunosuppressant drugs," Golikova told TASS News Agency. Anna Popova, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's consumer safety watchdog, echoed the sentiments in an interview with Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda, as reported in the Moscow Times. "It's a strain on the body. If we want to stay healthy and have a strong immune response, don't drink alcohol," she said. According to the World Health Organization, Russia is the fourth-largest consumer of alcohol per person in the world. The average Russian consumes 15.1 liters (almost 4 gallons) of alcohol a year, according to the agency. Russia's efforts to vaccinate its population began in earnest over the weekend in Moscow. Health authorities in the country estimate that 100,000 people have already been inoculated. "By the end of the week, all regions of the country will join this campaign," Golikova said. Russian health officials say the Sputnik V vaccine is over 90 percent effective, but reports say medical workers who have taken the shot have come down with COVID-19. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly refused to take it. Western experts have expressed skepticism at the speed at which the purported vaccine was developed and Russia hasn't provided any data to back up its claims for the shot. Russia has recorded 2.4 million coronavirus cases, as well as over 42,000 deaths from the disease. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source: Jammu Links News

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7 die after drinking hand sanitiser

The hand sanitiser was 69 percent methanol and has been sold during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Collected

Seven people have died after drinking hand sanitiser when the alcohol ran out at a party in Russia. Two more are in a coma in an intensive care ward. 

The incident took place in Tomtor village in the Tattinsky district of the country's largest region, Yakutia.

The antiseptic hand sanitiser was 69 percent methanol and has been sold during the coronavirus pandemic. Health officials warned locals not to drink the antiseptic, which was made in Russia. 

A 41-year-old woman and two men aged 27 and 59 were the first three to die before a medical evacuation aircraft flew six others to regional capital Yakutsk. On Friday three more men died, aged 28, 32 and 69. One more death was reported on Saturday. 

In a statement, the federal public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said: ‘Nine cases of poisoning with sanitiser have been registered, including seven that were fatal.’ 

‘The poisoning took place as a result of drinking sanitiser,’ the regional state prosecutor said: A criminal case has been opened. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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Suicide bomber injures six police in Russia

A suicide bomber blew himself up in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Karachay-Cherkessia Friday, injuring six law enforcement officers, the country’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said.

An unidentified person tried to break into an area where police were conducting searches and triggered the bomb when they tried to arrest him, the committee said, adding that six officers were slightly injured in the blast.

The blast occurred in the village of Uchkeken in the Karachay-Cherkessia area of the volatile, mainly-Muslim region.

No civilians were hurt and authorities were trying to establish the identity of the assailant.

In the 1990s Moscow fought two brutal wars against separatists in Chechnya, a neighboring North Caucasus region to Karachay-Cherkessia.Although attacks on police have decreased in recent years in the North Caucasus, Moscow remains in conflict with militants from across the region. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

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Iran, Russia have US voter information: Intelligence

The United States national security officials found that Iran and Russia have obtained "some voter registration information", National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe said. 

The National Intelligence Director also said the US officials have reported Iran was responsible for sending threatening emails to Democratic voters.

The emails appeared to come from a far-right pro-Trump group and were meant to "incite unrest", Ratcliffe said. 

The announcement comes 13 days before the presidential election.

The unusual intelligence briefing this close to the vote is seen as a testament to the government's concerns over voting interference and disinformation campaigns from foreign actors. 

Ratcliffe said Iran's "spoof emails" claimed to be sent by the Proud Boys in order to "intimidate voters, incite unrest and damage" President Donald Trump. 

He added that the voter data could be used in attempts to "communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will sow confusion chaos and undermine your confidence in American democracy".

Ratcliffe said officials "have not seen the same actions from Russia", but are aware they have some voter information. 

In many states, voter data is available upon request, though each state has different requirements on who can request voter information, what data is available and how this data might be used, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"If you receive an intimidating or manipulative email in your inbox, don't be alarmed and do not spread it," Ratcliffe said, calling the actions to influence US voters "desperate attempts by desperate adversaries". 

FBI Director Christopher Wray joined Ratcliffe at the news conference. He said that US election systems were still secure and "resilient".

" You should be confident that your vote counts," Wray said. "Early, unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of scepticism." 

The officials did not offer further details on how the voter data was obtained or what the Russians may be doing with the information.

US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Kremlin-backed hackers were behind an effort to undermine Hillary Clinton's presidential run, using both cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media.

Iran has not managed to successfully hack US systems. 

The emails in question were addressed to registered Democratic voters in several states, including the key battleground of Florida, and urged them to vote for Mr Trump - or else.

"You will vote for Trump on Election Day or we will come after you," the emails said, according to US media. "Change your party affiliation to Republican to let us know you received our message and will comply."As of Wednesday, over 40 million Americans have cast early votes in the presidential contest between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

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Russian vaccine arrives in India for human clinical trial

The Russian 'Sputnik V' vaccine for Covid-19 has arrived in India following the nod to Pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories to conduct an adaptive phase 2/3 human clinical trial for the vaccine in the country.

In a video that surfaced on media, containers with logos of Dr Reddy's and Sputnik V being unloaded from a small truck was seen.

On Wednesday, Russia's National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced that the Sputnik V vaccine demonstrated high efficacy -- 92 per cent.

On September 4, The Lancet, one of world's leading medical journals, published a research paper on the results of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of the vaccine that showed no serious adverse events and effective immune response of those vaccinated.

Requests for more than 1.2 billion doses of Sputnik V vaccine came from over 50 countries. The vaccine supplies for the global market will be produced by RDIF's international partners in India, Brazil, China, South Korea and other countries

Earlier this October, Dr Reddy's and Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct an adaptive phase 2/3 human clinical trial for the Sputnik V vaccine in India.

"The government is committed to fast-track clinical development of COVID vaccine candidates and provide facilitation to accelerate market readiness of a suitable vaccine," said Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT and Chairperson, BIRAC.

On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world's first registered vaccine against Covid-19 based on the human adenoviral vector platform. Source: https://southasiamonitor.org/

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India, Russia in talks on `Sputnik-V' vaccine coproduction: report

• Russian Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik-V, has received green light for post-registration trials and vaccination trials may begin in mid-September, even as reports said Russian authorities are in talks with the Indian government for vaccine coproduction. 
• The government also on Tuesday said India and Russia were in communication on the Sputnik-V Covid vaccine developed by Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
• Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, co-chair of the national Covid-19 vaccine administration task force, confirmed the dialogue on a day when Russia is learnt to have formally approached India for collaboration to produce Sputnik-V and for approval to conduct phase-3 human trials in India.
• “The two countries are in communication. Initial information has been shared. Some details are awaited,” said Bhushan, indicating India had asked Russia for additional safety data.
• Russia tested and registered Sputnik-V in record time, raising safety concerns with phase-3 trials that are yet to be concluded. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the registration on the new Covid-19 vaccine on 11 August. There were also reports that one of Putin’s daughters had been administered the dose and the vaccine provided “stable immunity and was effective”.
• However, the WHO on Monday said the real test would be in phase-3 trials during which 30 per cent protection at population level needed to be established.
• Russian authorities claimed that the jab had undergone all the necessary checks and had proven to be ‘safe and effective’. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, claimed that his own parents had been vaccinated with the vaccine and had not shown any side effects.
• “We get a lot of questions about the vaccine, including the platform on which it was developed. RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute strive for maximum transparency about the details of the vaccine’s development, which is why we post all information about adenovirus vaccines at sputnikvaccine.com. We would like to thank everyone for their interest in “Sputnik V” both in Russia and abroad - the vaccine website has already been visited by representatives of more than 200 countries. We plan to add new content to the site with new details on the vaccine in the future,” RDIF's official website cited Dmitriev as saying. 
• The Indian drug regulator has, so far, approved only one foreign vaccine candidate for phase-2 and 3 human trials in India. This is the Oxford University and Serum Institute of India collaborative candidate being administered to 1,700 Indians.
• Government sources said Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev had contacted Principal Scientific Adviser K Vijay Raghavan for vaccine-making partnership and the matter was before the national vaccine task force.
• Bhushan today said 172 UN member nations had joined COVAX, the multi-lateral vaccine procurement system developed by the WHO jointly with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative and global vaccine giant GAVI. Source: https://www.domain-b.com

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announces world’s first COVID-19 vaccine

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday launched the country's first coronavirus vaccine, touted as the first in the world too. News agency Reuters reported that Putin's daughter received a shot of the vaccine. Earlier, it was reported that the country would register its vaccine candidate on Wednesday, August 12. The country has registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine early Tuesday, August 11, amid widespread concerns about the rapidly developed vaccine's safety. Last week, the Health Ministry announced that it plans to begin mass production in September and launch a mass vaccination drive in October. The vaccine developed by the state-run Gamaleya research institute entered phase 3 clinical trials last week. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source: Jammu Links News

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Russian court sentences North Korean fisherman to 4 years in prison

• A Russian court sentenced a North Korean fisherman to four years in prison for assaulting Russian border guards at sea.
• A court in the city of Nakhodka in the Russian Far East recently found the North Korean national guilty of assaulting at least three Russian officers with a wooden baton, Radio Free Asia's Korean service reported Wednesday.
• Two other North Korean defendants charged with resorting to violence against Russian authorities are to go on trial in September, according to Tass news agency.
• "Three of the defendants struck the troops with sticks in various parts of the ship, using violence harmful to life and health," the prosecutor's office in the Primorye region said, the Moscow Times reported.
• Last September, Russian authorities said North Korean fishermen on two large ships, and others on board 11 smaller fishing vessels, clashed with Russian guards who confronted the boats at Quito-Yamato Bank, which Russia claims as part of its territorial waters.
• A North Korean fisherman died in Russian custody following clashes, and about half a dozen fishermen showed various degrees of injury after resisting arrest, according to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation: Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr 

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US slaps new sanctions on Russian individuals, entities

The United States slapped a new round of sanctions on Russia on Friday, targeting Russian business elite and senior government officials, a move that may further damage the already soured ties between Washington and Moscow.

The U.S. Treasury announced that it has imposed sanctions on seven Russian business leaders, who were referred to as "oligarchs," along with 12 companies owned or controlled by them.

The blacklist also included 17 senior Russian government officials and the state-owned Russian weapons trading company, Rosoboronexport, and its subsidiary, Russian Financial Corporation Bank.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin accused the Russian government in the statement of engaging in "a range of malign activity" around the world, including its involvement in the Ukrainian and Syrian issues, and "attempting to subvert Western democracies, and malicious cyber activities."

The sanctions will freeze any assets the individuals or entities punished hold in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with them.

The punitive act was also believed to discourage international financial institutions from doing business with persons and entities on the list.

The Russian Embassy in the United States shot back on Friday by claiming that the new sanctions targeted Russian business leaders "who refused to play by Washington's rules."

"The US made another erroneous step to destroy the freedom of entrepreneurship and competition, integration processes in the world economy," said the embassy in a statement.

The latest move was among a series of the Trump administration's confrontations against "Russian activities that threaten our institutions, our interests, or our allies," said the White House in a statement on Friday.

On March 15, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on five entities and 19 individuals, including Russian intelligence services, for their alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. elections and engagement in "malicious" cyber attacks.

At the end of January, Washington published a list of Russian officials and business tycoons eligible for sanctions for alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential elections. The list incorporated 114 senior Russian political personages and 96 "oligarchs."

So far the Trump administration has punished 189 Russian-related people and entities with sanctions under various programs, said a senior U.S. government official on the condition of anonymity at a briefing on Friday.

The new sanctions were seen as another blow on the already sinking ties between Washington and Moscow.

In March, the United States expelled 60 Russian diplomats and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle in a concerted action with Britain and other Western nations over a poisoning case involving a former Russian spy.

Washington's actions have been met with countermeasures from Russia, which categorically denies these allegations and demands solid evidence.

Meanwhile, Trump has kept from launching from direct verbal attack against Moscow over the poisoning attack. Source: China.org.cn

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Russia-China partnership at best level in history: Putin

President Vladimir Putin said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is developing at the best level in history and the prospect is very good.

"There is no need to re-define Russian-Chinese relations. In fact,Russia and China have established a fairly good strategic partnership," said Putin in response to a question from He Ping, editor-in-chief of the Xinhua News Agency during a joint interview by several major international media outlets in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday.

Putin spoke highly of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, which he said had created more favorable conditions for further development of bilateral ties in the long run.

"The latest decisions of the Congress had made our relations more stable and predictable not only in the medium period but in the distant future," he said.

Putin said that with China's active efforts to push forward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and its vital role in resolving related issues, the situation on the peninsula has improved noticeably.

On the economic front, Putin expressed his satisfaction with the current momentum of bilateral trade relations.

"China is our largest trading partner and we have over 86-billion-U.S.-dollar trade value each year. We are very satisfied with this," said Putin, adding that bilateral trade volume is expected to expand to as many as 100 billion U.S. dollars in a year.

Noting that Russia increased export of engineering products to the Chinese market last year, Putin hailed the diversification and improvement in the trade structure as "encouraging."

Putin mentioned oil and gas, nuclear energy, renewable energy, machinery manufacture, space technology, aircraft building, chemical industry and agriculture as the major fields where the two countries can carry out cooperation in the near future.

The president said the Chinese renminbi (RMB) is expected to become an international reserve currency in a wider scope and the two countries are pushing forward home currency transaction in bilateral trade. He hoped that the two sides could continue to boost mutual investment and jointly exploit markets.

Noting that this year marks the China-Russia year of local cooperation, Putin stressed that vibrant communication at local level has offered even greater impetus for bilateral ties.

"More and more infrastructure, roads and bridges are under joint construction by our two countries. People from different regions of Russia and China has made even closer contacts in recent years," Putin said.

"All this progress shows our relations enjoy very good prospects," said Putin, adding that Russia will work closely with China to push forward bilateral ties in the future.

Putin Friday was jointly interviewed by major international media outlets including Xinhua, AP and TASS on the sidelines of the ongoing St. Petersburg International Economic Forum which was kicked off on Thursday. Source: China.org.cn

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Putin sworn in for fourth term as Russia President

AFP, Moscow: 

Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia’s President for a fourth term Monday, extending his almost two-decade rule by another six years at a time of high tension with his Western rivals.

The 65-year-old, in power since 1999, is on course to become the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin after his victory in March’s elections.

Putin won nearly 77 percent of the vote in polls which his most vocal opponent was banned from running in.

He has promised to use his fourth term to revitalise the country’s economy. But he also faces a host of delicate international disputes. “I consider it my duty and my life’s aim to do everything possible for Russia, for its present and for its future,” Putin said at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, with his hand on the Russian constitution.

Elite guests lining the red carpet filmed Putin on their smartphones as he arrived for the swearing-in ceremony in the ornate Andreyev Hall, part of the Kremlin palace complex.

The car that brought him to the inauguration was a black Russian-made limousine — a change from previous ceremonies when he used a Mercedes.

“I feel strongly conscious of my colossal responsibility,” he said, thanking Russians for their “sincere support” and “cohesiveness.” “We have revived pride in our fatherland,” Putin said.

“As head of state I will do all I can to multiply the strength, prosperity and fame of Russia.”

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny called on Russians to protest across the country on Saturday under the slogan “Not our Tsar”.

On Saturday nearly 1,600 protesters including Navalny were detained during nationwide rallies against Putin. The European Union condemned what it called “police brutality and mass arrests” during the protests.

Police in Moscow were helped by pro-Putin activists dressed as Cossacks, a paramilitary class who served as tsarist cavalrymen in imperial Russia.

The unrest revived memories of 2012, when authorities cracked down on rallies against Putin’s return to the Kremlin from the post of prime minister.

Navalny was barred from challenging Putin in the March election over a fraud conviction that his supporters say is politically motivated.

Russia’s ties with the West have been strained by Putin’s moves to annex Crimea from Ukraine and to launch a military campaign in Syria in support of its President Bashar al-Assad.

In recent months relations have soured further over accusations of the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain and of election meddling in the US.

“For Putin any concession is a sign of weakness, so there shouldn’t be any expectation of a change in foreign policy,” said Konstantin Kalachev, the head of the Political Expert Group think tank in Moscow.

But independent political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin said the President may find himself obliged to shift his approach to the international community over the next term.

“Russia hasn’t been so isolated since the Soviet war in Afghanistan” from 1979 to 1989, he said.

“Now his task isn’t to bring any new lands to Russia, but to force the world to consider Russia’s interests and accept its previous conquests.” Reports that Alexei Kudrin — a liberal former finance minister who is respected abroad — could return to the Kremlin in a reshuffle, suggest the president could be seeking a less confrontational approach.

The constitution bars Putin from running again when his fourth term ends in 2024. But he has remained silent on the issue of his succession.

Oreshkin said Putin would stay on for the full term but Kalachev suggested he could leave the Kremlin before he serves out the six years.

“He will stay in power, but not necessarily in the presidency,” he said. “For Putin to write his place in history, he needs to pick the right moment to go. Serving another six years is a road to nowhere. He will leave in a way that takes everyone by surprise.”

Putin has promised to use his fourth term to improve Russian living standards.

“People will live better,” he said.

“We need breakthroughs in all spheres of life. I am deeply convinced that such a breakthrough can only be achieved by a free society that accepts everything new and progressive, and rejects injustice.” Russian businesses are expecting wide-ranging reforms.

Putin has struggled to revive an economy that crashed after Moscow was hit with Western sanctions over Crimea and by a fall in global oil prices. Source: http://www.navhindtimes.in/

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Silicon Taiga can become a reality to drive Russia forward, Vladimir Putin urged

Novosibirsk State University. 

By The Siberian Times reporter: Country can gain ‘100-fold’ from radical proposals to boost science and technology in Siberia and the Russian Far East. The head of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Parmon unveiled an ambitious plan to boost science to the Russian president in Novosibirsk,

He called for ‘the accelerated development’ of the Novosibirsk and Tomsk Scientific centres. 

The focus was pure science but also the ‘creation of a powerful technological basis for Russia’.

‘We guarantee we can create 'Silicon Taiga' over a decade, he promised. 

The first tangible results will appear in three-to-five years, he said. 

Novosibirsk State University is one of the top five in Russia, he said. 

A view on the Novosibirsk State University, Akademgorodok and Ob reservoir. Picture: Slava Gelio

He told Putin: ‘We would like it to work more efficiently for the Siberian region and wish that Novosibirsk State University is given the same status as Moscow and St Petersburg state universities.

‘Evidently, we deserve it.’

If it is done the right way ‘the Siberians guarantee that everything will return 100-fold, including well-trained personnel’, he promised Putin. 

The president of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeyev stressed the need for action to bolster science on the country’s Pacific rim. 

The Far East region - now a key growth area for Russia - is suffering a long term democratic outflow, especially among educated professionals. 

‘What should we do to retain our young researchers? 

‘We must create good living conditions, a high salary and a comfortable urban environment. 

Tomsk State University.

‘But it is no less important to launch large anchor projects that will be interesting to them. 

‘These must be competitive and rapidly growing projects that are technologically better than in industrialised neighbouring countries.’

He made clear three such projects are on the launch pad. 

‘First, we propose creating a pilot nuclear medicine centre,’ he said.

'Second, a comprehensive project for the development of deep-water resources in the Pacific Ocean. 

‘And third, building a synchrotron on Russky Island.’

Far Eastern Federal University on the Russky Island.

Source: http://siberiantimes.com/

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