News digest for 02/12/2021
Russia is ready to break off relations with the European Union if Brussels imposes sanctions on sensitive sectors of the Russian economy. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with journalist Vladimir Solovyov, a fragment was published on his Telegram channel.
"We proceed from the fact that we are ready [to break off relations with the European Union] if we see again, as we have already felt more than once, that sanctions are being imposed in some areas that create risks for our economy, including the most sensitive areas, «Lavrov said.
The minister stressed that Russia does not want to isolate itself from the rest of the world, but it is necessary to be ready for this.
"If you want peace, prepare for war," he explained.
Moscow is ready to break off relations with the European Union if Brussels is the initiator, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The meaning of Lavrov's statements about the EU was distorted: the Russian Federation wants to develop relations with the European Union, does not want to break them off and will not initiate this — Peskov
The EU took note of the words of the Russian Foreign Minister on relations with the European Union and the Kremlin's explanations in this regard — Borrell's representative
Nebenzya accused Paris and Berlin of complicity in crimes in Donbass
Germany and France have become rather complicit in the crimes committed by Kiev in the Donbass, and not mediators in the settlement of the conflict. This was stated by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, speaking on February 11 at a meeting of the Security Council held on the Russian initiative in connection with the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Minsk agreements.
He drew attention to the fact that in December 2020, representatives of Berlin and Paris avoided participating in an informal meeting of the UN Security Council with the participation of representatives of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.
Putin commented on the possible annexation of Donbass to Russia
The Russian leader answered the question of Margarita Simonyan about the annexation of Donbass. He considers this process difficult and important. The decision on this process should be made in accordance with the opinion of the citizens of Russia.
«No, we will not abandon Donbass,» Russian President Vladimir Putin is quoted as saying by Kommersant.
Simonyan, during a meeting between Putin and representatives of the Russian media, said that the residents of Donbass want to join Russia. She mentioned the «Russian spring» and hinted at the annexation of the territory to the Russian Federation.
The United States will never recognize Crimea as Russian territory
The United States will never recognize Crimea as Russian territory and will not lift its sanctions against Russia until it changes its policy towards Ukraine, a representative of the American mission, Rodney Hunter, said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
Russia is reliably protected from international terrorism
"We receive signals about certain designs, plans of militants, terrorists, members of terrorist organizations with a certain regularity. But the Russian special services, law enforcement agencies, primarily the Federal Security Service, have accumulated vast experience in combating international terrorism, and it is fair to say that Russia quite reliably protected from this evil, «said the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin.
Smart people switched to push-button devices long ago
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko criticized the owners of smartphones: smart people, according to him, have long since switched to push-button devices.
«I'm not talking about the twelfth smartphones and iPhones, for God's sake, call. Do you want the Americans to track you every minute where you are and what you are doing there on these iPhones. Buy if you do not hear what I am telling you», — Lukashenka said.
DPRK leader Kim Jong-un fired chief economist
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fired the chief economist and criticized the work of his cabinet for the lack of new ideas to save the economy, the Associated Press reported, citing North Korean media.
The Associated Press notes that Kim Jong-un is in the worst crisis in his nine years in office. Diplomatic efforts to lift US sanctions have gone nowhere, the pandemic has closed borders and natural disasters have destroyed much of the crop. In addition, DPRK's trade with China is going through a difficult period.
Lukashenka on the prospects of political amnesty
there are no political articles in the Criminal Code of Belarus, as well as political prisoners in the republic
Durov gave clarifications on advertising on Telegram:
there will be no ads in chats, it can only appear in large channels that do not work on other platforms
Telegram will not collect user data for targeting ads, ads in large channels will be contextual based on channel topics
in fact, we are talking about optimizing existing advertising, for which many third-party applications are now used
channel owners will be able to opt out of advertising
in addition to advertising tools, Telegram is developing the possibility of donations and subscriptions
Biden closed the project to build a wall on the border with Mexico
US President Joe Biden has instructed to conduct a thorough analysis of all resources allocated to the project to build a wall on the border with Mexico, according to the press service of the White House.
It was found that the declaration of a state of emergency was unfounded. It is my administration's policy to no longer use US taxpayer funds to build the border wall, "the president said in a statement.
Rosneft reported on the results of 2020:
oil and condensate production -11.2% due to restrictions under the OPEC + deal, gas production -6.2%, oil refining -5.7%
capital expenditures -8.1% (up to 785 billion rubles), free cash flow -54.8% (up to 425 billion rubles)
EBITDA -42.6% (up to 1.209 trillion rubles), net profit -79.1% (up to 147 billion rubles)
profit for the year and, accordingly, the coming dividends provided a record fourth quarter — 324 billion rubles. thanks to transactions on the Vostok Oil project
Sia has released a new music album
Australian singer Sia has unveiled a new album for fans. The disc includes 14 tracks. Besides Sia, David Guetta, Labrinth, Burna Boy participated in the recording of the album. The disc was named Music.
In her Instagram, the singer announced that her film «Music» has become available on digital platforms. The main roles in the film were performed by Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Maddy Ziegler, Hector Elizondo and others. The tape is nominated for the Golden Globe Award.
Yakutia will check the data on the deputy minister who paid for the position in Moscow
An official check will be carried out in the cabinet of ministers of Yakutia because of information about the deputy minister of education and science of the republic, who allegedly paid for a position in the Moscow government, Vasily Ambrosiev, head of the department of information policy and mass communications of the administration of the head and government of the region, told RIA Novosti.
Russia will pay Navalny for detention on Bolotnaya Square in 2012
The Russian Ministry of Justice will not appeal against the decision to pay 8.5 thousand euros to the founder of the Anti-Corruption Fund, Alexei Navalny, by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
On November 10, 2020, the ECHR recovered from Russia in favor of Navalny 8.5 thousand euros of compensation for moral damage on a complaint in connection with his detention during a protest on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on May 6, 2012, leaving overnight at the police department and subsequent administrative condemnation.
Eco-activist on hunger strike ends up in intensive care
Eco-activist Konstantin Fokin, who was arrested for 28 days because of the rally in support of Navalny, was taken to intensive care after 18 days of hunger strike in a special detention center. Elena Filina, a deputy of the Vernadsky Prospect Municipal District, told about this to Novaya Gazeta.
Japan will introduce the post of Minister of loneliness
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, due to the increase in the number of suicides during the pandemic, ordered the creation of the post of minister to combat loneliness and isolation. Reported by Nikkei.
Czech company bought American arms manufacturer Colt
The Czech arms company (Сeska zbrojovka Group SE) became the owner of the American company, the manufacturer of the legendary pistols and revolvers, Colt Holding Company LLC. This was announced on Thursday, February 11, by the chairman of the board and general director of the Czech manufacturer Lubomir Kovarzhik. According to him, the merger is a strategic stage in the development of both companies. The deal amounted to $ 220 million. In addition, the former owner of Colt received more than a million shares of Ceska zbrojovka Group SE.
Instagram announced the deletion of accounts for insults in private messages
The social network Instagram has announced that it will delete the accounts of users who send offensive messages in personal correspondence. Moreover, for this it will not even be necessary to send them a complaint — the process of identifying such messages is automated.
It is noted that not only insults will be punished, but also messages inciting religious, racial hatred or violating other norms of public morality.
Russia proposes to ban events on Valentine's Day
In Russia, they propose to ban quick dates and public events dedicated to Valentine's Day. The corresponding appeal (at the disposal of NEWS.ru), the first deputy chairman of the Public Chamber of the Leningrad Region, Vladimir Petrov, sent to the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko.
Average salary complies with the established norm
The average salary of a researcher at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (excluding branches), the scientist from whom previously complained to the president about the low salary, is 67.2 thousand rubles. The management of the institute does not consider it right to interfere in the process of forming salaries at the level of an individual employee, the director of the institution, Alexey Kochetov, told reporters on Thursday
Earlier, Anastasia Proskurina, a senior researcher at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, complained to Russian President Vladimir Putin that her full-time salary was 25 thousand rubles, while, according to the May decrees, it should be 200% of the regional average, then there are about 80 thousand rubles.
The State Duma proposes to liquidate the Pension Fund of Russia
The departure of Maxim Topilin from the post of head of the Pension Fund and the possible optimization of the PFR caused a wave of discussions on social networks. Some users emotionally see off the official, whom they consider guilty of low pensions. Others are speculating about the possible future of the pension system.
The strange situation around the head of the Pension Fund of Russia is another reason to remind about the advisability of abolishing this very dubious office. They accumulate colossal funds of Russians, scrolling billions, and return pennies, — said State Duma Deputy Alexei Zhuravlev (Rodina) on Facebook.
The oldest wind musical instrument
The sound of a musical hand-made instrument, which is eighteen thousand years old from a snail shell, is recognized as the oldest among instrument spirits, writes Science Advances.
A group of anthropologists led by Carol Fritz, a researcher at the University of Toulouse, examined photographs of painted shells of sea snails of the Charonia lampas species found in the 1930s and noticed that holes were made in the shells, and their tips were missing. With the help of computer simulations, it was possible to find out that the holes were made with the help of tools and are located in such a way that with their help it was possible to extract sounds similar to the notes of C, C sharp and D.
Permafrost emits more carbon dioxide than previously thought
An international team of researchers said that the planet will emit much more carbon dioxide than previously thought, reports Mediastream.
This is due to the accumulation of carbon in the permafrost. According to scientists, it was previously assumed that the soil holds such organics firmly and reliably. In addition, it must be bound by iron.
As noted by experts, more carbon dioxide is emitted from permafrost compared to all people on the globe. The authors of the scientific project explained that iron cannot store organic carbon
Rare Higgs boson decay recorded at the Large Hadron Collider
Scientists have become observers of a very rare decay of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider, writes Lenta.ru with reference to CERN. The phenomenon is known as Dalitz decay, in which the Higgs boson decays into two leptons (an electron or muon pair with opposite charge) and a photon.
The decay of the Higgs boson into three particles will allow physicists to better understand the causes of parity violation and, possibly, to find signs of the existence of New physics.
NGC 6397 is filled with small black holes
In the center of the globular cluster NGC 6397, astronomers have discovered a whole «cemetery» — many small black holes left after the death of massive and ancient stars.
One of the closest globular clusters to us — NGC 6397 — is only 7800 light years away and includes about 400 thousand stars. The cluster stands out at an age that is estimated at 13.4 billion years — slightly less than the Milky Way itself and the entire universe.
RCC «Progress» has suspended work on the design of a super-heavy rocket
The design of a super-heavy rocket has been suspended, Dmitry Baranov, Director General of the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RSC) (part of Roscosmos), told reporters on Wednesday.
Earlier, the RAS Space Council recommended that the leadership of the Academy of Sciences and Roscosmos contact the President of Russia on the issue of postponing the creation of a super-heavy rocket complex. The decision says that the project should work out the most breakthrough, promising and economically viable technologies.
The super-heavy launch vehicle being developed in the Russian Federation has received the name Yenisei; its first launch is planned for 2028. The carrying capacity of the first version of the rocket should be, according to Roskosmos, up to 103 tons for low-earth orbit. The rocket is also planned to be used for missions to the Moon, including landing astronauts on the surface of a natural satellite of the Earth.
UAE's first spacecraft successfully entered Mars orbit
The first spacecraft of the United Arab Emirates successfully entered Mars orbit, having covered almost 500 million km, the country's space agency reported.
Hyundai unveils multifunctional delivery robot
The Tiger-X concept is still under development, but small prototypes already exist and can be seen in the official video. The Tiger-X is a fully autonomous robot on wheels that is capable of not only driving but also walking.
Most of the actions Tiger-X performs independently, and for orientation it has a full set of sensors. Also, the robot can be controlled remotely. The presented all-terrain vehicle can deliver goods and people, and a copter has been created for it, which can deliver an autonomous Tiger-X to a certain point. When Tiger-X will become a commercial project is unknown.
LG Gram 2021 with Tiger Lake processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics go on sale
At the beginning of the year at the 2021 Consumer Electronic Show, LG unveiled a new line of LG Gram 2021 laptops, which are the lightest in their class. In total, the line includes five models that went on sale in the United States.
All laptops meet the requirements of the American military standard MIL-STD 810, that is, they are shockproof, support DTS X Ultra and Wi-Fi 6, have a built-in fingerprint reader, and some models also support a stylus.
Logins and passwords from approximately 3.2 billion email accounts of users of Gmail and Hotmail services were freely available. A large-scale data breach was reported by the BGR publication.
Google Chrome for iPhone learned to block «Incognito»
Google began testing an interesting innovation for the branded Chrome browser in the version for iPhone and iPad. In the beta version of Google Chrome for iOS, you can now lock tabs in Incognito mode using biometric authentication — Face ID or Touch ID fingerprint scanner