Wanderlust

Tag: Russia

  • Zuckerberg: Fb is in ‘arms race’ with Russia

    Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Protesters indignant on the Cambridge Analytica revelations attended the listening to

    in the course of the hearing, Mr Zuckerberg also stated:

    “It’s clear now that we didn’t do sufficient to prevent those gear from getting used for hurt” “on reflection it was clearly a mistake” to consider Cambridge Analytica deleted data, with out further exam He doesn’t “really feel like” Facebook has a monopoly That there may at all times be a unfastened model of Fb, leaving open the possibility of a paid, advert-loose model of the social network coping with hate speech routinely has “a higher blunders price than i am proud of” He used to be for my part fascinated about the likelihood of political bias on the company

    By Way Of the primary break in complaints, Fb’s proportion worth had risen through nearly FIVE%, as markets reacted favourably to Mr Zuckerberg’s efficiency, increasing his net price by means of an predicted $3bn.

    What is the Cambridge Analytica scandal approximately?

    the company is better known for its association with Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, and has claimed it performed “an necessary phase” in Mr Trump’s victory.

    But It says none of the data eager about the new scandal was used to assist the Trump marketing campaign.

    The news that a persona quiz evolved by way of an academic, Aleksandr Kogan, had accrued data not only from the folk who used it but additionally from their Facebook buddies was once revealed by means of newspaper investigations. Mr Kogan then offered the information to Cambridge Analytica.

    Both corporations lay the blame on Mr Kogan. Facebook says that even though customers gave permission to Mr Kogan’s app to gather their data, promoting it on was against the phrases of provider.

    Cambridge Analytica, meanwhile, claims it did not understand the guidelines were acquired improperly. All Through Mr Zuckerberg’s appearance, the firm tweeted it was “advising” information media – thru its legal professionals – approximately coverage.

    (more…)

  • Russia lambasts Poland over bikers ban

    Night Wolves leader Aleksandr Zaldostanov (right, on a bike) his colleagues before the start of their rally in Moscow, Russia. Photo: 29 April 2016 Symbol copyright EPA Image caption Night Time Wolves participants describe their highway commute as a “Victory rally”

    Russia has summoned the Polish envoy in Moscow to protest in opposition to a ban on Russian bikers from getting into Poland as a part of International Conflict commemorations.

    Russia’s foreign ministry stated it used to be a “cynical” transfer geared toward intentionally harming bilateral ties.

    Poland said it acted to verify “the protection of public order”.

    The bikers – together with the professional-Kremlin Evening Wolves workforce – need to experience through Poland as a part of a Moscow-Berlin travel to mark the end of WW2.

    In a press release (in Russian), the Russian international ministry stated Warsaw’s decision “mocked the reminiscence of those killed preventing towards fascism” through the war.

    Image copyright AFP / getty photographs Image caption The Night Time Wolves have gained lively reinforce from President Putin

    The nationalist Night Wolves staff has shut links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has taken phase in their rides.

    The Night Time Wolves are subject to US sanctions for alleged energetic involvement in Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and for helping to recruit separatist fighters for Russian-sponsored rebels in eastern Ukraine.

    Russian TV outrage – BBC Monitoring

    The story options prominently on the entire main Russian TELEVISION channels.

    State-owned Rossiya 1 TELEVISION leads its main afternoon bulletin with the summoning of the Polish ambassador.

    It highlights the Russian foreign ministry’s commentary announcing the ban is a “particularly cynical and sick-intentioned gesture”.

    State-owned rolling information channel Rossiya 24 additionally pegs its report to the overseas ministry’s “robust protest” over the ban.

    Different TELEVISION channels – state-managed Channel One, Gazprom-owned NTV and privately owned REN TV – file that some 30 bikers have already left Moscow for Berlin.

    The hashtag “Dorogi Pobedy” (“Roads of Victory”) is among the top 10 trending on Russian Twitter for the reason that mid-afternoon.

    Members Of The Family between Poland and Russia are lately difficult, the BBC’s Adam Easton in Warsaw reports.

    Poland has strongly criticised Russia’s movements in Ukraine in latest years.

    the former Polish executive known as remaining year’s planned bike rally a planned provocation via the Kremlin, and greater than 10,000 Poles signed up to a petition in opposition to it on social media, our correspondent says.

    In latest months, Moscow has also complained to Warsaw about the dismantling in Poland of a couple of WW2 Pink Military memorials.

  • Russia protests: Lots rally over plan to raise pension age

    Russian Communist party supporters along with activists of the country's left-wing movements rally against the government's proposed reform to raise the pension age, Moscow, 28 July 2018 Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Business unions warn that many Russians won’t reach the brand new pension age

    Hundreds of individuals have taken section in protests in cities throughout Russia to specific their anger at govt proposals to lift the pension age.

    Demonstrators in the capital, Moscow, carried banners studying: “we want to continue to exist our pensions, no longer die at paintings.”

    the government says it needs to boost the pension age from 60 to 65 for men, and from 55 to 63 for women, to assist cope with a shrinking workforce.

    But unions warn many of us will not are living long sufficient to claim a pension.

    Russian males have a life expectancy of just 66, whilst for ladies it’s SEVENTY SEVEN, the arena Well Being Organization says.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Thousands of Russian Communist Celebration supporters and trade unionists marched in Moscow

    Protesters say the government have to be taking the money from the wealthy and not “stealing” it from ordinary working other folks.

    Some three million people have signed a petition against the pension reform proposals, that have been subsidized by means of President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party.

    the federal government’s transfer has been defined as the most dangerous and unsafe reform of President Putin’s 20-12 months rule.

    Mr Putin, who did not point out the pension reform plan ahead of his re-election in March, has noticed public believe in his presidency fall from 80% in Might to 64% this month, in line with the state pollster VTsIOM.

  • Why wildfires are breaking out in the ‘wrong’ international locations

    Firefighters tackle a blaze in Greece Symbol copyright Getty Photographs

    No Less Than EIGHTY people have been killed in wildfires in Greece, with blazes also pronounced as far aside as the US, Sweden, Canada and the united kingdom. it is a summer time that has seen an strangely high number of fires in a few nations.

    An house comparable to twice the size of the united kingdom is burnt via wildfires in an ordinary year.

    Most are in faraway areas such because the savannah grasslands of Africa and South America, or the boreal forests which stretch from western Alaska to japanese Siberia.

    However we rarely listen about wildfires in such isolated places. It tends to be those which threaten lives, infrastructure, or herbal resources that hit the headlines.

    Indeed, in Europe, the choice of fires up to now this yr is easily above reasonable – but no longer within the international locations which can be on a regular basis worst affected.

    there were 427 blazes between 1 January and 24 July, when put next with a typical of 298 for the similar duration within the earlier decade.

    However, very importantly, the realm they burned is purely about half what is on a regular basis noticed – 55,SEVEN-HUNDRED hectares, compared with 112,000 hectares.

    In the u.s., the selection of fires this yr is slightly below average. Then Again, there has been a small increase within the space burned, from simply over 1.4m hectares to almost 1.6m hectares.

    The most important amendment isn’t how many fires there have been, but where they are burning. The north-west of Europe is experiencing a rare heatwave.

    This has introduced strangely dry stipulations that have allowed large fires in areas which typically see very few.

    In the united kingdom the realm burned thus far – 13,888 hectares – is greater than four instances the common of the past decade. The fires have incorporated an area of peatland near Manchester and grassland in London.

    In Sweden, the determine, 18,500 hectares, is an remarkable 41 instances the 10-year average. Dozens of fires have burned from the Arctic Circle all the way down to the Baltic Sea.

    Other northern European nations including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany and Latvia have noticed among 20 and 2 HUNDRED instances the traditional space burned.

    In contrast, Mediterranean Europe – which typically sees a large choice of fires – has had a relatively cool and rainy spring and early summer.

    In Italy and Croatia the area burned is definitely under average.

    Spain and Portugal, which usually have fire injury over a greater area than some other Eu nations, have suffered slightly few fires – with best 12% and FIVE% of the average area burned, respectively.

    On The Other Hand, hearth season is not over and there’s a danger that robust crops enlargement in portions of the Mediterranean may gas fires later in the coming months.

    Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A firefighter tackles wildfires in Lancashire

    Even As no unmarried issue explains sizzling weather around the global, professionals say climate amendment is bringing better and more widespread weather extremes.

    It isn’t that the 2018 fires in the uk and Sweden will be the “new standard”, however they’ll be extra commonplace.

    Upper temperatures around the world increase the danger of wildfires in many areas, but other elements are also vital.

    To explain hearth, scientists and firefighters use something called the “fireplace triangle”: an ignition source, plus fuel reminiscent of dry plants and oxygen to maintain going.

    Wildland firefighters additionally use the “30-30-30 rule” under which excessive hearth conditions are expected whilst temperatures are above 30C, relative humidity is under 30% and winds are greater than 30km according to hour (18.6 mph).

    Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Wildfires have blazed throughout Sweden this summer, with sizzling climate and persistent drought brought up because the primary causes

    Drought-troubled vegetation, such as the Swedish forests and the British moorlands, catches and incorporates fire extra simply than it might in a wetter year.

    In different words, there may be more “fuel” available when the plants is dry.

    Oxygen is instantly to be had within the air – in particular when wind fanatics the fires.

    And resources of ignition are considerable the place there are folks, whether or not that may be a campfire, a spark from a power line, or arson.

    In photos: Wildfire devastation ‘A friend died in the sea’ – Eyewitness bills How wildfires start and how to prevent them Reality Check: Mapping the global heatwave

    Herbal ignition by means of lightning is common in some regions, such as the North The Us boreal forest, but in Europe the vast majority of fires are human-brought about.

    The deadly fires in Greece are a primary example of climate being only one important issue.

    Till a couple of days ago, Greece had experienced fewer fires than is conventional.

    But, in a densely-populated region near Athens, the presence of villages and cities amid extremely-flammable pine forests and shrubland has had tragic results.

    Building Up of “megafires”

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Spanish firefighters battle a wooded area fire in Portugal in 2017

    Unfortunately, such events have happened before.

    Extra than ONE HUNDRED people were killed via wildfires in Portugal most effective closing yr and 173 people died within the Black Saturday Fires in Australia in 2009.

    In recent a long time, there has been a rise of “megafires”.

    Those are too big and fierce to be stopped, without reference to the efforts and instruments thrown at them.

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    While local weather amendment will have made extra gas to be had for such fires, human behaviour has also played a role.

    In many rural areas of Europe land has been abandoned – resulting in the expansion of extra vegetation on the subject of and amongst houses. Other Folks steadily enjoy living or holidaying in woodland spaces, which also increases the danger of being in an instant suffering from fire.

    Fortunately, it’s imaginable to cut back the risks this poses – by clearing “gas” with reference to homes and building fireplace shelters in spaces where the inhabitants may need them.

    Educating people about the dangers and having evacuation plans in place can also reduce the threat to human lives and the economy.

    We wish to adapt and be told the right way to coexist with fireplace.

    Fire has been remodeling the Earth’s landscapes and plants for hundreds of thousands of years.

    It is not going to move away.

    About this piece

    This research piece was once commissioned by way of the BBC from mavens running for an outdoor organisation.

    Prof Stefan H. Doerr is a geography professor at Swansea School and editor-in-chief of the International Magazine of Wildland Fire.

    Dr Cristina Santín is senior lecturer and analysis fellow within the biosciences department at Swansea School.

    Edited by way of Duncan Walker

  • Trump ‘open’ to Moscow consult with after Putin extends invite

    Trump and Putin shake hands at the Helsinki summit Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Trump has referred to as the Helsinki summit a hit and was the first to invite Mr Putin to the u.s.

    US President Donald Trump is “open” to traveling to Moscow after a marvel invite from Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White Space has stated.

    Mr Putin stated on Friday he’s able to trip to the us under the fitting conditions and has invited Mr Trump to Moscow for a 2d assembly.

    The pair met closing week for closed-door talks in Helsinki.

    The invite comes days after the White House mentioned it might delay Mr Putin’s autumn seek advice from till next yr.

    “President Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the 12 months, and he is open to traveling Moscow upon receiving a proper invitation,” Mrs Sanders stated in an announcement on Friday.

    Image Copyright @PressSec @PressSec

    File

    Twitter post by @PressSec: In Helsinki, @POTUS agreed to ongoing working level dialogue between the two security council staffs. President Trump asked @Ambjohnbolton to invite President Putin to Washington in the fall and those discussions are already underway. Image Copyright @PressSec @PressSec

    File

    The announcement of a second summit seemed to come as a wonder to Mr Trump’s director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, who said he still did not know what the 2 leaders had discussed all over their assembly.

    The Kremlin didn’t straight away widespread Mr Trump’s first be offering. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov informed Reuters that it appeared likely a second assembly may occur at a world experience both leaders would attend.

    On Wednesday, National Security Adviser John Bolton mentioned that the president as an alternative “believes that the next bilateral assembly with President Putin will have to happen after the Russia witch hunt is over,” relating to US different suggest Robert Mueller’s research into allegations of Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election and whether there was collusion some of the Trump campaign team.

    Both Mr Putin and Mr Trump deny the allegations.

    Mr Bolton urged the meeting could as a substitute take place in 2019.

    How do Russia tensions evaluate to Soviet generation?

    Amid talks of a summit sequel, US Secretary of Protection Jim Mattis stated on Friday he is “considering” talks along with his Russian counterpart.

    Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Mr Mattis stated: “I’m considering meeting with my counterpart, however there’s been no determination.”

    If these talks do pan out, they would be the primary since 2015.

    (more…)

  • Former Trump adviser Carter Page has a story that doesn’t always add up

    Carter Page speaks after testifying to a US House of Representatives committee Image copyright Getty Pictures

    Carter Page, a FORTY SIX-12 months-vintage energy business consultant with longstanding ties to Russia, has develop into one of the quirkier figures to emerge from the ongoing investigations into conceivable ties between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and the Russian govt.

    Web Page says he first reached out to the Trump marketing campaign in 2015 through Ed Cox, the chair of the new York Republican Birthday Celebration and son-in-law of former US President Richard Nixon.

    Web Page met with Mr Trump’s then-marketing campaign supervisor Corey Lewandowski in January 2016. Through March 2016, Mr Trump recognized Page as one in all a handful campaign international policy advisers, together with George Papadopoulos (who has on the grounds that pleaded in charge to mendacity to the FBI approximately his contacts with Russia and is recently co-running with Robert Mueller’s independent recommend investigation).

    Web Page won public notoriety when he used to be mentioned within the so-referred to as Trump file, a collection of intelligence stories assembled through former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. The dossier subject material, which was bankrolled first through a deep-pocketed conservative donor after which through Democrats, alleges that Page served as an intermediary among Russian officers and the Trump marketing campaign as they labored to increase Mr Trump’s presidential efforts.

    That is an assertion Web Page adamantly denies.

    Image copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Congressman Adam Schiff is the top Democrat at the Area intelligence committee

    Page additionally emailed 3 Trump marketing campaign officers – manager Lewandowski, communications director Hope Hicks and national safety director JD Gordon – in case they had issues.

    “If you would like to go for your own, now not affiliated with the campaign, you know, that is high-quality,” Page says Lewandowski replied.

    Meanwhile, Gordon recently told CNN he discouraged the visit “as it was once a foul idea” – but that Page bypassed him.

    So why did Web Page make a decision to go to Moscow, even supposing a few within the campaign had issues that his go back and forth might be viewed negatively by means of Mr Trump’s critics?

    “Because I Am looking to reside my life,” Web Page instructed the congressional committee.

    A best Russian official praised Mr Trump whilst privately talking to Page

    All The Way Through his congressional testimony, Page mentioned that in his July 2016 Moscow visit he attended a speech by Russian Deputy Top Minister Arkady Dvorkovich and due to this fact exchanged pleasantries.

    Was it a private meeting, asked California Congressman Schiff.

    “Absolutely no longer,” Web Page replied.

    Then Mr Schiff learn from an electronic mail Page sent to the Trump marketing campaign in which he wrote: “In an individual dialog, Dvorkovich expressed robust strengthen for Mr Trump and a interact towards devising higher solutions in response to an unlimited range of present global issues”.

    When asked to explain the obvious discrepancy, Web Page mentioned he based totally that e-mail on what he heard from Dvorkovich’s speech.

    Page received ‘insights and outreach’ from other Russian officers

    In another email Page sent to marketing campaign officers all the way through his Moscow travel, he wrote that he had gained “a few unbelievable insights and outreach” from “a few Russian legislators and senior contributors of the presidential administration here”.

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Page writes that Russian Deputy Top Minister Arkady Dvorkovich “expressed robust make stronger for Mr Trump”

    Page denied that he had met every other Russian govt officials, alternatively, and asserts that the insights he defined were the result of observations in “public forums” and by way of reading the newspaper. As for outreach, he mentioned that “if I had began my non-public legal training prior to now, I most likely could have used a special phrase”.

    Mr Schiff did not seem to be shopping for that, then again.

    Web Page additionally says that he met Andrey Baranov, a prime-level legitimate from the state-run Russian energy company Rosneft, however the conversation used to be no longer substantive and didn’t care for repealing US sanctions on Russia or anything else associated with the Trump marketing campaign.

    “Past a shadow of a doubt, there was by no means any negotiations, or any quid pro quo, or any offer, or any request even, in any method related to sanctions,” Page stated.

    Web Page applauded a pro-Russian amendment to the Republican Birthday Celebration platform

    In the week before the Republican Nationwide Convention in July, the party’s platform committee discarded proposed language calling for the united states to provide weapons to the Ukrainian executive to help in its struggle towards Russian-backed separatists. partly because of at the back of-the-scenes lobbying efforts by the Trump campaign, that provision was once dropped from the platform. The transfer has been cited by way of some critics as proof of the Trump team’s professional-Russian sentiments.

    On 14 July, Web Page emailed Trump marketing campaign advisers – together with national security adviser Gordon – to tell them they did “excellent work” in killing the Ukrainian language.

    When asked about this email via congressional investigators, Web Page says he was once just expressing his non-public opinion.

    The FBI has spoken to Web Page – a lot

    According to Page, he has spoken to the FBI in connection to its Russia investigations “4 or five times” in 2017.

    He mentioned he was once not sure whether or not he had met FBI retailers in 2016, however, prompting a wry reaction from Republican Gowdy.

    Media playback is unsupported on your device

    Media captionWhite Area: “State-Of-The-Art assertion has not anything to do with the president”

    “it is not difficult for me to bear in mind the selection of occasions that the FBI has interviewed me in 2016 for the reason that answer could be 0,” the South Carolina congressman stated.

    Page also says he has been “in contact” with Mr Mueller’s impartial counsel research, even though he says he has not been informed that he’s in any criminal jeopardy.

    Web Page has an unconventional view of Fifth Amendment protections

    In certainly one of the more odd portions of the interview, Congressman Schiff asks Web Page whether or not he is exercising his proper to avoid self-incrimination as set forth in the 5Th Modification to the u.s. Constitution.

    Web Page stated sure – and no. He stated he has withheld a few files that can be misinterpreted by way of investigators or, if they change into public, could open him to “extrajudicial punishment” – which appears to be a connection with demise threats and harassment he says he is received when you consider that his title become associated with the Trump file.

    Among the emails Web Page did not turn over to investigators were the ones he wrote to the campaign throughout his Moscow commute. They were acquired through the us govt as a result of the FBI surveillance – “illegally hacked from my computer systems”, Page said.

    Mr Schiff, a Harvard educated prosecutor, responded with incredulity.

    “Is it your place that you simply have a Fifth Amendment proper to supply nonincriminating emails or files to the committee but withhold incriminating documents from the committee and selectively conform to the subpoena?” he asked.

    Page mentioned that none of the guidelines he has is incriminating – in an effort to make his case for withholding it from the committee according to Fifth Amendment protections a hard one to make.

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  • Trump-Russia: Carter Web Page surveillance files launched

    Carter Page delivers a speech on the topic Symbol copyright EPA Symbol caption Carter Web Page was put beneath surveillance in October 2016

    The FBI believed Donald Trump’s international coverage aide Carter Page had “been taking part and conspiring with the Russian govt” during the 2016 election marketing campaign, in line with newly launched documents.

    Mr Web Page’s relationships with Russian intelligence officials are highlighted in court packages which resulted in him being put below surveillance.

    He has denied the accusations.

    Mr Trump has now said it seemed like his campaign used to be illegally spied on.

    The surveillance programs have been granted and renewed by means of several other judges sitting in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

    Image copyright EPA Symbol caption Mr Page labored for Donald Trump during the 2016 marketing campaign

    It additionally mentioned Mr Page “has established relationships with Russian govt officers, including Russian intelligence officers”.

    Mr Page advised The Hill he used to be “having trouble finding any small little bit of this record that rises above complete lack of awareness and/or insanity”.

    Who is Carter Web Page?

    Mr Web Page is an power business marketing consultant with longstanding ties to Russia. He first reached out to the Trump marketing campaign in 2015 sooner than assembly Mr Trump’s campaign supervisor, Corey Lewandowski, in January 2016.

    By March 2016, Mr Trump identified Mr Page as certainly one of a handful of campaign international policy advisers.

    Then Again, after allegations emerged in the so-known as Trump dossier that he served as an middleman between Russian officials and the president’s marketing campaign as they worked to strengthen Mr Trump’s presidential efforts, Mr Web Page resigned from his role.

    He denies the entire allegations against him.

    Learn extra: Former Trump adviser Carter Page has a story that doesn’t all the time upload up

    What did Mr Trump say?

    Mr Trump has, reasonably predictably, taken to Twitter to vent his frustrations with the newest development.

    Skip Twitter put up by means of @realDonaldTrump

    Congratulations to @JudicialWatch and @TomFitton on being a hit in getting the Carter Web Page FISA files. As same old they’re ridiculously heavily redacted but confirm with little doubt that the department of “Justice” and FBI misled the courts. Witch Hunt Rigged, a Rip-Off!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2018

    Document

    End of Twitter publish by way of @realDonaldTrump

    Skip Twitter post 2 by way of @realDonaldTrump

    Looking more & more like the Trump Campaign for President was illegally being spied upon (surveillance) for the political achieve of Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC. Ask her how that labored out – she did higher with Loopy Bernie. Republicans will have to get tricky now. An illegal Scam!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2018

    File

    End of Twitter post 2 by @realDonaldTrump

    In two tweets, despatched early on Sunday morning, he says the “ridiculously heavily redacted” files “ensure with little question that the department of ‘Justice’ and FBI misled the courts” – criticising his own agencies.

    It is unclear how he reached this end. However, he is backed through Tom Fitton – the president of Judicial Watch which fought to have the files launched – who mentioned in a tweet “they seem to make sure the FBI and DoJ misled the courts in withholding information approximately Clinton-DNC being behind the info used to get the Fisa warrant”.

    Democrat Area leader Nancy Pelosi has come to a unique conclusion.

    In a statement, she said: “Regardless Of President Trump’s repeated claims, these files supply transparent evidence of ‘Russia’s co-ordination with Carter Web Page,’ a high-rating Trump campaign professional, ‘to undermine and improperly and illegally affect the 2016 US presidential election’.”

    She introduced: “The GOP (Republican Celebration) should stop their assaults on our legislation enforcement and intelligence communities, and at last decide the place their loyalty lies.”

    How does this have compatibility into the broader image?

    The documents’ free up comes 9 days after 12 Russians had been charged with hacking Democratic officers in the 2016 US elections.

    The fees form part of Different Suggest Robert Mueller’s investigation into US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to tilt the election in Mr Trump’s favour, and whether or not any of his campaign aides colluded. Mr Trump has labelled the research a “witch hunt”.

    So far, the inquiry has indicted 32 other people – most commonly Russian nationals in absentia – as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers.

    Media playback is unsupported on your tool

    Media captionTrump on Putin: “As The leader of a country, you might need to dangle him responsible, yes”

    Simply days later, Mr Trump met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at a summit in Helsinki and was asked by way of reporters whether he believed Russia had meddled within the 2016 election,

    “President Putin says it isn’t Russia. i don’t see any this is why it could be,” he spoke back, appearing to again the Russians over his own agencies.

    The subsequent day, following well-liked outrage, he learn a pre-ready remark, saying he in truth intended “would not”.

    On Thursday, the White Area introduced it had invited Mr Putin to Washington in October – a press release which took director of National Intelligence Dan Coats through surprise.

    Mr Coats, who was speaking on the Aspen Safety Forum in Colorado, was filmed giggling, sooner than announcing “that’s going to be special”.

    He has since stated his “admittedly awkward response was once in no method intended to be disrespectful or criticise the actions of the President”.

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  • Russia fears spies have leaked hypersonic missile secrets to West

    Kinzhal missile carried by MiG-31 jet, 9 May 18 Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption A Kinzhal missile is seen right here carried through a MiG-31 jet over Moscow in Would Possibly

    Russia’s Federal Safety Carrier (FSB) has raided a space analysis facility after a suspected leak of hypersonic missile secrets and techniques to Western spies.

    The state area agency Roskosmos said its security body of workers have been co-running with FSB officers on a legal case.

    Russia’s Kommersant daily says approximately 10 workforce at a Roskosmos facility known as TsNIIMash are beneath suspicion. A director’s workplace used to be searched.

    On Thursday Russia launched video of new hypersonic missile methods.

    “It used to be based that the leak got here from a TsNIIMash worker,” a source told Kommersant.

    TsNIIMash is a best scientific subsidiary of Roskosmos, which runs Russian area programmes.

    Russia’s defence ministry has broadcast video of what it calls a brand new generation of hypersonic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. Some are launched through bombers, others are proven being introduced from silos or cell launch vehicles.

    President Vladimir Putin spoke about the systems in March, including the Kinzhal missile which can reach Mach 10 – about 12,000km/h (7,456mph), with a spread of two,000km.

  • Trump invites Putin to visit US

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Mr Putin mentioned he would meet the us “halfway” over get admission to to indictees

    US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer referred to as for Mr Trump to show what he mentioned with Mr Putin.

    “Until we all know what happened at that -hour meeting in Helsinki, the president will need to have not more one-on-one interactions with Putin. in the U.s.a., in Russia, or any place else,” he stated in a statement.

    Trump prepares a sequel

    By the BBC’s Anthony Zurcher in Washington

    Donald Trump has tweeted that the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “great success” and people at “higher ends of intelligence” loved his Helsinki information convention. as though to underline that point, plans are already underneath manner for a sequel – this time in Washington DC.

    Never mind that the White Area has spent 3 days seeking to clean up the political fallout from the summit amid bipartisan criticism, or that the different counsel investigation into Russian meddling in 2016 keeps apace.

    Media playback is unsupported on your software

    Media captionTrump says he “misspoke” at Putin summit, but is it too late? Anthony Zurcher explains

    Mr Trump will have been encouraged by means of contemporary opinion polling appearing that at the same time as the general public at massive is uneasy with Mr Trump’s Russia insurance policies, his Republican base – through a extensive majority – is fine with his performance.

    The president campaigned on closer ties with Russia, a function that were thwarted all the way through his first 12 months in place of business. with his base still at the back of him, Mr Trump seems ready to press on along with his efforts.

    How did Trump reply to Putin’s suggestion?

    the united states president “disagrees” with a proposal made via Mr Putin that Russia be allowed to question US voters in return for access to 12 Russians indicted via the u.s. over alleged hacking and election interference.

    The White Area had earlier said it might believe the suggestion, which Mr Trump known as a “super” gesture.

    The concept of permitting a overseas power to quiz US electorate sparked outrage and the u.s. Senate voted NINETY EIGHT-0 against it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was once “not going to happen”.

    Media playback is unsupported in your software

    Media captionRussian ambassadors react to Trump remarks at Helsinki summit

    It comes after Mr Putin, requested in Helsinki whether or not he could extradite the 12 Russian intelligence retailers indicted in the u.s. for hacking Democratic Birthday Celebration computers, mentioned he could meet the us govt “midway”.

    Mr Putin stated Russia wanted to query US nationals the Kremlin accuses of “illegal movements”.

    US Deputy Legal Professional Basic Rod Rosenstein, who issued the indictments in opposition to the 12 Russians last week, stated on Thursday that the united states may are seeking for to warn the public in the long term when it believes overseas states are seeking to affect elections.

    The Russian attempt to steer the 2016 marketing campaign is just one tree in a rising woodland,” he said, talking at the Aspen Safety Forum.

    the u.s. electorate Russia would like to question are related to Moscow’s case towards the financier Bill Browder, a fierce Putin critic who was instrumental in the us implementing sanctions in 2012 on top Russian officials accused of corruption.

    Mr Browder instructed the BBC he used to be glad Mr Trump “isn’t going to hand me over to President Putin” and mentioned the u.s. chief must have immediately rejected the idea.

    Russia was once also looking to interview Michael McFaul, every other Putin critic who was once US ambassador to Moscow below President Obama.

    Skip Twitter publish through @McFaul

    When Trump says Russia is no longer targeting The United States, that ’s no longer how this American feels.Putin is most definitely focused on and intimidating me. And That I ’m an American.

    — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 19, 2018

    File

    Finish of Twitter post by @McFaul

    Allowing Russian officers to interview Mr McFaul would be a contravention of the longstanding custom that international diplomats have felony immunity.

    What else has took place for the reason that Trump-Putin summit?

    Following his summit with Vladimir Putin, President Trump has been combating accusations he failed to get up to the Russian chief.

    He clarified comments he made at a information conference after the meeting, by which he said he saw no for the reason that Russia may meddle in the 2016 US election – despite US intelligence concluding just that.

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    Media captionTrump on Putin: “Because The chief of a rustic, you may need to hang him accountable, sure”

    talking to CBS Information on Wednesday, Mr Trump stated he held Mr Putin individually chargeable for interfering within the election, and that he was once “very sturdy on the fact that we can’t have meddling”.

    Mr Putin has additionally described the summit as “successful” however warned “there are forces in the United States Of America which might be ready to casually sacrifice Russian-US members of the family”.

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