GOOD DOBRA

Russian Controversial War Film to be Screened in Toronto Despite 'Threats'

Focusing on Moscow's invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of Russian soldiers, the film will have two screenings at the TIFF Lightbox cultural center in Toronto, the festival said.

by AFP | September 17, 2024, 

Still from the trailer "Russians at War". 2024. YouTube screenshot


The controversial documentary "Russians at War" will be shown in Toronto on Tuesday, after the city's film festival organizers had halted screenings due to "significant threats" over their decision to feature the film.

Focusing on Moscow's invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of Russian soldiers, the film will have two screenings at the TIFF Lightbox cultural center in Toronto, the festival said.

The documentary has sparked outrage since it was first shown in Venice earlier this month, with some calling it a pro-Kremlin film that seeks to whitewash and justify Moscow's assault on its neighbor.


The Toronto International Film Festival, which ended on Sunday, announced last week it was pulling the film due to threats -- calling the decision an "unprecedented move."
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Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine's ambassador to Canada, on Monday condemned the festival for reinstating the screenings, saying its "persistence to serve as a platform to share Russian propaganda is beyond imaginable."

Canadian regional public broadcaster TVO, which had helped fund the documentary through the Canadian Media Fund, has pulled its support for the film and said it would not be airing it as planned in the coming months.

Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova has rejected the criticisms, telling AFP it was "an anti-war film" that showed "ordinary guys" who were fighting for Russia and treated as cannon fodder.

A Ukrainian FPV drone operator, speaking to Kyiv Post, described this tactic as dubious, though some Ukrainian media argue that it’s worth paying attention to.

The soldiers depicted appear to have little idea of why they have been sent to the front, and are shown struggling to make Soviet-era weapons serviceable.

Musk deletes post joking about assassinating Biden and Harris amid heavy criticism

After second apparent attempt on Republican candidate Trump’s life, X owner wrote that ‘no one is even trying to assassinate’ the Democratic incumbent and nominee

By Barbara Ortutay

Today,

AP — Elon Musk deleted a post on his social media platform X in which he said “no one is even trying to assassinate” US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the wake of an apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump while he was playing golf.

Musk, who has nearly 200 million followers on the social media site he bought for $44 billion in 2022, has increasingly embraced conservative ideologies in recent years and endorsed Trump for president.

While he has removed posts in the past, Musk has also kept up and even doubled down on other such inflammatory comments. Last week, he made a joke about impregnating Taylor Swift after the singer posted an endorsement for Harris.
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Early Monday, after taking down the post about the apparent Trump assassination, the 53-year-old billionaire wrote on the platform: “Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X.”

The original post was in response to DogeDesigner, one of the 700 accounts that Musk follows, who asked: “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?”

Musk’s reply was quickly condemned by many X users, and “DeportElonMusk” began trending on X on Monday morning.

“Violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates in response to Musk’s post. “This rhetoric is irresponsible.”

The Tesla CEO has previously posted conspiracy theories and feuded with world leaders and politicians. X is currently banned in Brazil amid a dustup between Musk and a Brazilian Supreme Court judge over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation.
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He’s also received criticism in the past for what critics said were posts encouraging violence.

Last month, for instance, the British government called on Musk to act responsibly after he used X to unleash a barrage of posts that officials said risked inflaming violent unrest gripping the country.

Musk said when he bought the platform then known as Twitter that protecting free speech — not money — was his motivation because, as he put it, “having a public platform that is maximally trusted and broadly inclusive is extremely important to the future of civilization.”

Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute, noted that Musk has long been trying to “push the boundaries of free speech, in part by engaging in impulsive, unfiltered comments on a range of political topics.”

France uses tough, untested cybercrime law to target Telegram boss Pavel Durov

Telegram has said it 'abides by EU laws', and that it's 'absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform'

Reuters Paris Published 17.09.24,

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel DurovFile picture

When French prosecutors took aim at Telegram boss Pavel Durov, they had a trump card to wield - a tough new law with no international equivalent that criminalises tech titans whose platforms allow illegal products or activities.


The so-called LOPMI law, enacted in January 2023, has placed France at the forefront of a group of nations taking a sterner stance on crime-ridden websites. But the law is so recent that prosecutors have yet to secure a conviction.

With the law still untested in court, France's pioneering push to prosecute figures like Durov could backfire if its judges balk at penalising tech bosses for alleged criminality on their platforms.

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Telegram CEO makes first public comments since French authorities targeted him and his app

A French judge placed Durov under formal investigation last month, charging him with various crimes, including the 2023 offence: "Complicity in the administration of an online platform to allow an illicit transaction, in an organised gang," which carries a maximum 10-year sentence and a 500,000 euro ($556,300) fine.

Being under formal investigation does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to trial, but indicates judges think there's enough evidence to proceed with the probe. Investigations can last years before being sent to trial or dropped.

Durov, out on bail, denies Telegram was an "anarchic paradise." Telegram has said it "abides by EU laws," and that it's "absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."

In a radio interview last week, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau hailed the 2023 law as a powerful tool for battling organised crime groups who are increasingly operating online.

The law appears to be unique. Eight lawyers and academics told Reuters they were unaware of any other country with a similar statute.

"There is no crime in U.S. law directly analogous to that and none that I'm aware of in the Western world," said Adam Hickey, a former U.S. deputy assistant attorney general who established the Justice Department's (DOJ) national security cyber program.

Hickey, now at U.S. law firm Mayer Brown, said U.S. prosecutors could charge a tech boss as a "co-conspirator or an aider and abettor of the crimes committed by users" but only if there was evidence the "operator intends that its users engage in, and himself facilitates, criminal activities."

He cited the 2015 conviction of Ross Ulbricht, whose Silk Road website hosted drug sales. U.S. prosecutors argued Ulbricht "deliberately operated Silk Road as an online criminal marketplace ... outside the reach of law enforcement," according to the DOJ. Ulbricht got a life sentence.

Timothy Howard, a former U.S. federal prosecutor who put Ulbricht behind bars, was "sceptical" Durov could be convicted in the United States without proof he knew about the crimes on Telegram, and actively facilitated them - especially given Telegram's vast, mainly law-abiding user base.


"Coming from my experience of the U.S. legal system," he said, the French law appears "an aggressive theory."

Michel Séjean, a French professor of cyber law, said the toughened legislation in France came after authorities grew exasperated with companies like Telegram.

"It's not a nuclear weapon," he said. "It's a weapon to prevent you from being impotent when faced with platforms that don't cooperate."

Tougher laws

The 2023 law traces its origins to a 2020 French interior ministry white paper, which called for major investment in technology to tackle growing cyber threats.

It was followed by a similar law in November 2023, which included a measure for the real-time geolocation of people suspected of serious crimes by remotely activating their devices. A proposal to turn on their devices' cameras and mouthpieces so that investigators could watch or listen in was shot down by France's Constitutional Council.

These new laws have given France some of the world's toughest tools for tackling cybercrime, with the proof being the arrest of Durov on French soil, said Sadry Porlon, a French lawyer specialized in communication technology law.

Tom Holt, a cybercrime professor at Michigan State University, said LOPMI "is a potentially powerful and effective tool if used properly," particularly in probes into child sexual abuse images, credit card trafficking and distributed denial of service attacks, which target businesses or governments.

Armed with fresh legislative powers, the ambitious J3 cybercrime unit at the Paris prosecutor's office, which is overseeing the Durov probe, is now involved in some of France's most high-profile cases.

In June, the J3 unit shut down Coco, an anonymized chat forum cited in over 23,000 legal proceedings since 2021 for crimes including prostitution, rape and homicide.

Coco played a central role in a current trial that has shocked France.

Dominique Pelicot, 71, is accused of recruiting dozens of men on Coco to rape his wife, whom he had knocked out with drugs. Pelicot, who is expected to testify this week, has admitted his guilt, while 50 other men are on trial for rape.

Coco's owner, Isaac Steidel, is suspected of a similar crime as Durov: "Provision of an online platform to allow an illicit transaction by an organised gang."


Steidel's lawyer, Julien Zanatta, declined to comment.

Earthquake Takes Moldova President Maia Sandu By Surprise During Television Interview

Sep 17, 2024  #moldova #moldovaearthquake #indiatoday

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Moldova was caught live on television as the country's president was giving an interview.

Maia Sandu was seen talking to a Moldova 1 TV show host when the room suddenly began to shake leaving Sandu looking stunned but calm.

The 5.2-magnitude tremor happened at 17:40 local time (14:40GMT), 62 kilometres (38 miles) northwest of Buzau, in Romania.

It could be felt in Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

Ukraine has both the highest mortality rate and the lowest birth rate in the world, says CIA 

The mortality rate in Ukraine is currently three times higher than the birth rate. The UN forecasts that the population will fall from its Soviet peak of 51mn in 1991 to a mere 15mn by 2100 if nothing changes. / bne IntelliNews

By Ben Aris in Berlin September 15, 2024

Ukraine currently holds the grim distinction of having both the highest mortality rate and the lowest birth rate in the world, according to the latest data from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) factbook.

The updated World Factbook reports that Ukraine's death rate stands at 18.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, placing it at the top of the global rankings. Lithuania follows with 15.02 deaths per 1,000 people, while Serbia is third with 14.9. In contrast, Qatar has the lowest mortality rate, recording just 1.4 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.

Additionally, Ukraine has the lowest birth rate worldwide, with only 6 births per 1,000 people. The French territories of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon occupy the second-lowest spot, with a birth rate of 6.4 per 1,000 people. Niger, by comparison, has the highest birth rate at 46.6 births per 1,000 inhabitants.

In 2024, Ukraine’s mortality rate is expected to be three times higher than its birth rate, with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and Kyiv recording the majority of both newborns and fatalities.

As bne IntelliNews reported, the war in Ukraine with Russia has caused a demographic catastrophe that is the worst example of a wider demographic crisis that is sweeping Europe and will take Emerging Europe population levels back to the early 20th century.

“The ever-present proximity of death or Russian occupation, family separation, and financial as well as physical insecurity is having a dire effect on Ukraine's already-declining birth rate,” the World Bank said in a report last year.

Ukraine's birth rate has already plummeted to a 300-year low as the country's population collapses. Ukraine’s population shrank to 29mn last year from 45mn pre-war, according to Ukraine Business News, with just 187,000 births recorded (including in Russian-occupied territories). This is the lowest annual figure in recorded history over the last 300 years, exacerbating an already dire population catastrophe facilitated by economic turmoil and war.

Ukraine's demographic crisis dates back to the Soviet collapse in 1991, when the country’s population stood at a record 51.9mn. Economic crises and labour migration saw the country’s total fertility rate plummet to 1.4 births per woman (well below the replacement level of 2.1) by 2022 and possibly as low as 0.7 by the following year, according to Ukraine’s Institute of Demography and Social Studies.

And the population will not recover quickly even if the war ends tomorrow. The latest UN median forecast for Ukraine's population by 2100 is for it to more than halve from its pre-war levels to a mere 15.3mn people, according to UN's 2024 Revision of World Population Prospects.

“The popular TV ad of the early 90s "We are 52mn" used to be part of the identity of Ukrainians of my generation. Now even the most optimistic scenarios predict twice as few. "Towards the abyss" visualised,” Volodymyr Ishchenko, a research associate at the Institute of East European Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin.

Demography is a problem across all of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Europe, but ironically, Russia is performing the best of any major economy at the moment, thanks to Putin’s babies, consistent natal and maternity reforms that the Russian president launched during his first term of office in 2000. The Kremlin has also been promoting larger families with a raft of generous financial and tax benefits over the last two decades.

As detailed in bne IntelliNews’ latest despair index – the sum of the rate of unemployment, inflation and poverty – Russia continues to suffer from high inflation but unemployment is at an all-time low and its poverty rate of only 8% is one of the lowest in Europe. Although not part of the despair index, Russia’s fertility rate of 1.49 is one of the higher rates in Europe and it continues to rise.

The military Keynesianism boost to the Russian economy from the war, coupled with record-high real disposable incomes of 9.6% in July, has fuelled a consumer boom this year, although there are increasing signs that the economy is cooling now as the war bump effects begin to wear off.

 

Russia, Bangladesh navigate stresses over nuclear power plant loan payments

Cooling towers / Pexels - Johannes Plenio

By bno - Chennai Office - Ananta Shesha September 16, 2024

According to Bangladeshi media reports, Russia has demanded that Dhaka pay over $630mn to settle accrued interest payments for a loan used to fund the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

Bangladesh which has recently seen its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ousted, is under the authority of an interim government led by advisors including Nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus. The interim government while inheriting the payment liabilities for the NPP are likely to not have been as familiar with the payment settlement mechanisms for the loan as its predecessor led by Hasina.

The interest payment due on September 15, is likely to be missed despite the funds being available, as the transaction requires careful circumvention of US sanctions on Russia. The loan extended by Russia under a government to government deal is a typical venture that the Russian state-owned nuclear power conglomerate offers to low income countries like Bangladesh.

‘Rosatom Overseas’ the subsidiary incharge of structuring the financing plan for Bangladesh’s first NPP, directed the funds via another Russian state-owned institution VEB.RF which functions as a hybrid between a state owned bank and investment fund. According to a report in The Business Standard, VEB.RF sent an official communique to Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division on August 21 2024, asking for all outstanding interest payments to be deposited in the Shanghai branch of Bank of China.

VEB.RF was also ready to accept the payment designated either in US dollars or Chinese yuan. Both Rosatom Overseas and VEB.RF are heavily sanctioned entities on the designated lists of the US government which in turn makes any entity handling cross border payments and transactions involving them a target for secondary US sanctions. In 2022, Russia and Bangladesh agreed to structure the payments for the loan partially to be repaid in yuan and Bangladesh’s own taka (BDT).

Following this, Dhaka has made several payments to Russia designated in yuan to service the loan, channelled through China’s analogue to the Western SWIFT payments messaging service, Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). However the payments have been a contributing cause to Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserve (forex) crisis whereby Dhaka was unable to keep a stock of foreign currencies than it was paying out to service its various international obligations.

The forex crisis had negative second order effects on Bangladesh’s domestic and international economic prospects as the country eventually sought a bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Navigating the political chaos and economic difficulties Bangladesh’s new interim government reportedly asked for an extension not only for the interest payments but also the first principal repayment instalment which is due in 2027. However, according to The Business Standard, the request for deferment was denied by VEB.RF.

The unsubstantiated narrative about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family embezzling $5bn with Russian complacency, from the funds earmarked for the Rooppur NPP has again surfaced in Bangladesh's press.

That said, counter narratives quoting Russian government press releases refuting the allegations have also been published prominently, which indicates that public opinion in Bangladesh has not yet fully turned against Russia.

ECOCIDE

Western Balkans coal power plants still pumping out toxic emissions

Sulphur dioxide emissions from Western Balkan coal power plants increased in 2023 compared to the previous year.

 / Janusz Walczak via Pixabay

By Clare Nuttall in Glasgow

 September 17, 2024
bne IntelliNews

Six years after the Western Balkans were required to meet new air pollution standards, coal power plants in the region continue to release harmful levels of pollutants, according to a new report by environmental watchdog CEE Bankwatch.

The study reveals that sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from these plants increased in 2023 compared to the previous year, while dust and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions remained consistently high, according to the latest Comply or Close report from Bankwatch.

In 2023, total SO2 emissions from plants included in the National Emissions Reduction Plans (NERPs) of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia were 5.7 times higher than allowed, exceeding the levels seen in 2022.

"The situation remains appalling," says the report, "Comply or Close: Six years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants". It highlights that emissions have not significantly decreased since the compliance deadline passed in 2018.

In an interview with bne IntelliNews, Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe energy policy officer at CEE Bankwatch, pointed to the lack of political will among governments in the region to take action to close old, highly polluting power plants or upgrade them to meet emissions reduction targets.

“Unfortunately, we don't see political will to make sure coal power plants 'comply or close'. So far, to the best of our knowledge, not a single one of the energy companies has even been fined for breaching the pollution rules,” Gallop said.

Little progress made

Despite having implemented some pollution control measures, the region’s power plants have not made significant progress in reducing harmful emissions. Serbia’s coal plants were the highest SO2 emitters in absolute terms, with 296,011 tonnes, followed by Bosnia with 181,807 tonnes.

Nor have efforts to install equipment to reduce emissions been successful. The worst offender in absolute terms was the Ugljevik power plant in Bosnia, which released 97,189 tonnes of SO2 in 2023. Despite its operator, an Elektroprivreda Republike Srpska subsidiary, spending €85mn on a desulphurisation unit funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the unit is not functioning correctly due to technical problems. The operator now admits it is not operational, calling it an "economic burden".

Similarly, Serbia’s Kostolac B, another repeat offender, saw its SO2 emissions increase nearly 5.8 times above the legal limit in 2023, reversing a brief period of improvement in 2021. The desulphurisation unit at this plant, financed by China Eximbank and installed by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), is either underused or underperforming.

"This … comes down to enforcement. Such units do use energy that could otherwise be sold, so there is no incentive for the companies to use them unless they are heavily penalised for not doing so. The fines have to be more expensive than continuing the breach. Yet none of the governments has issued any penalties at all that we are aware of,” said Gallop.

Dust ceilings broken

Dust emissions in the region only saw a slight decrease in 2023, at nearly 1.75 times the allowable levels, compared to 1.8 times in 2022. Kosovo, Bosnia and North Macedonia again exceeded their national dust ceilings. Kosova B2 in Kosovo was the highest absolute dust emitter, releasing 3,798 tonnes in 2023, which is 9.2 times the amount allowed under Kosovo’s NERP.

For NOx emissions, Kosovo and Bosnia exceeded their ceilings, joined by Serbia in 2023. The report attributes this to a lack of investment in NOx reduction and annually decreasing ceilings for NOx in the NERPs. Kosovo emitted 2.73 times its national ceiling of NOx.

The Energy Community Secretariat has taken steps in response to these breaches, initiating dispute settlement procedures against Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. However, the case against Serbia has not yet been escalated due to ongoing investments in pollution control measures.

The end of 2023 marked the deadline for the closure of the smallest and oldest coal power plants under the ‘opt-out’ limited lifetime derogation. However, all three countries in the Western Balkans with plants subject to this rule — Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia — are currently in breach, as all these plants are still operational.

Montenegro’s Pljevlja plant, along with several others operating under the opt-out provision, continues to breach pollution limits after its limited operational hours expired in 2020. In 2022, Bosnia's Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5, along with Serbia’s Morava, also became in violation. Serbia’s Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) plans to continue running Morava until 2026, along with another opt-out plant, Kolubara A.

Despite legal obligations to close these plants, none have ceased operations, contributing significantly to the region's air pollution in 2023.

Lack of political will

Far from being keen to close down coal power plants, according to Gallop, governments in the region would have liked to increase electricity generation from coal. This only didn’t happen, she told bne IntelliNews, because "they were largely unable to".

“The electricity import price rises in late 2021 and 2022 contributed to a multi-faceted crisis in the region, as in parallel several coal power plants had technical problems and went offline for extended periods, especially in Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo. Serbia and North Macedonia also had trouble securing enough coal and had to import from the other countries,” explained Gallop.

“This created a push to open completely new coal mines in the Republika Srpska part of Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro, but only in Republika Srpska has this actually happened so far.”

According to Gallop, this “made the governments very nervous about energy security and they used it as an excuse to close the smallest, oldest plants that they had promised to close by 2023”. She warns that the situation was misused as an excuse by Montenegro and Bosnia, despite the two countries not experiencing electricity crises.

“As for the long term, while some of the governments are trying to prolong the coal phase-out for as long as possible, there will be a limit to how much they are able to do this, due to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which will make electricity from coal-heavy countries unattractive for trading with EU countries from the beginning of 2026, because the importers will have to pay high fees for it,” said Gallop.

“Since domestic household consumers have very low, regulated prices, the utilities depend a lot on trading with neighbouring countries to cross-subsidise their businesses. With less demand from countries like Croatia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary, coal plants will have increasing financial difficulties as they will not be able to pass all their costs on to domestic consumers.”

“Governments and utilities are intent on squeezing every last kilowatt out of their aging coal power plants, regardless of the health costs. The countries’ national energy and climate plans (NECPs) must set out how and when coal will be phased out, but so far, most do not,” said Davor Pehchevski, Balkan energy coordinator at Bankwatch.

“In North Macedonia, closures are being delayed with no action being taken to address pollution in the meantime. Utilities can’t have it both ways—coal plants must either close immediately or comply until they close.”

On September 16, the day before the report was released, North Macedonia's Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Izet Mexhiti hinted that the country may postpone its coal phase-out deadline by 20 years, extending it to 2050.

The report stresses the urgent need for the Western Balkans to honor commitments made under the Large Combustion Plants Directive and take concrete actions to curb air pollution. “The Western Balkan governments must finally start to govern and stop letting energy utilities endlessly extend their own deadlines,” it says.

Meanwhile, however, governments are still looking to build new coal power capacity. Kostolac B3 in Serbia started test operations in August. Plans for several other new coal power stations have been dropped, but according to Bankwatch Bosnia’s Republika Srpska is also still planning two new plants: Ugljevik III and Gacko II.

“They are unlikely to go ahead due to a lack of available financing, among other reasons, but the ministry responsible for environment keeps issuing permits for Ugljevik III nevertheless,” said Gallop.

As emissions limits decrease further in 2024, larger breaches are anticipated unless immediate action is taken to reduce pollution from coal power plants. The report calls for the European Union to exert more pressure and provide additional support to ensure a sustainable, renewable energy transition in the region.

City that could have been: Untold story of Russia’s Vologda

If fate had played out differently, Russian city of Vologda might have been crowned capital of Russia

Elena Teslova |17.09.2024 - TRT/AA



MOSCOW

Far in the northwest of Russia lies Vologda, a city nestled in one of the country’s most authentically Russian regions and known for its developed industries and beautiful nature.

If fate had turned out differently, it might have been crowned the capital of Russia.

Vologda is as old as Moscow itself, with both cities born in 1147, according to ancient manuscripts. Throughout the turbulent centuries, as foreign invaders swept across the land, Vologda's geographical embrace shielded it from destruction.

By the 16th century, it had blossomed into one of the most vital hubs for Russia’s trade with England, Holland and other Western lands. In 1555, the British, drawn by its promise, opened their trading office in Vologda, and the first Russian ambassador to England, Osip Nepea, hailed from this storied city.

But the winds of history took a dramatic turn in 1564. Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, found himself beleaguered by both foreign invasions and the threat of rebellion. With turmoil brewing in Moscow, the tsar sought refuge in Vologda. Accompanied by his family, the royal treasury, priceless icons and symbols of power, he made his way to this northern city with dreams of forging a new capital.

Vologda, strategically positioned at the gateway of the Northern Sea Route, held immense promise. Its coat of arms, adorned with an open gate, symbolized an invitation to Europe, a pathway to the world beyond. The tsar envisioned fleets sailing from its shores, and in moments of peril, he imagined Vologda as a safe haven from which he could retreat.

"Without hesitation, Ivan IV set his grand plans into motion. He commanded the construction of a magnificent cathedral and a mighty kremlin, a fortress to rival even Moscow's Kremlin. Noble families, drawn by the tsar's vision, began to buy land and build their lives in Vologda's embrace," Larisa Gulneva, head of the Excursion and Educational Department of the Vologda Museum, said in an interview with Anadolu.

In the tsar’s grand design, the new fortress was to be twice the size of the Moscow Kremlin, which today stands as the largest active fortress in Europe. Vologda also became the spiritual heart of a new diocese, elevating the city to a place of religious significance, she said.

"Yet, as fate would have it, destiny had other plans. In 1571, as Ivan IV personally oversaw the construction of the grand Saint Sophia Cathedral, a mysterious omen appeared. A brick, or perhaps a piece of plaster, fell from the cathedral and struck the tsar. According to the chronicler Ivan Slobodsky, the tsar interpreted this as a sign — a rejection by the very ground on which he stood," she noted.

In Russian folklore, such signs were powerful, Gulneva emphasized, adding: "Holy places were believed to possess great spiritual energy, and for one to be rejected by such a place was an ill omen indeed, fraught with dire consequences. Whether it was superstition, paranoia or a deep-seated fear that drove him, Ivan IV decided that Vologda was not meant to be his capital. Mounting his horse, he left the city, never to return."

But Vologda’s story did not end there. The city thrived, bolstered by the tsar’s investment and vision, she said.

"In 1918, following the Great Russian Revolution, Vologda briefly became the "diplomatic capital of Russia," hosting embassies, consulates and missions as diplomats sought refuge from the advancing German troops. Though the diplomats eventually left, Vologda’s legacy remained," she added.

Today, the Vologda region is a beacon of prosperity, with thriving industries, rich agriculture and historic treasures. Its educational and sports centers are strong, and its people, the region's greatest asset, continue to shape its future.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, Vologda stands as the most mono-national city in Russia. Over 96% of its residents are Russian, their features reflecting the global image of the Russian people—blonde hair, blue eyes and freckled faces.

The region's nature is also quintessentially Russian, painted in soft hues of green, white, blue and violet, a serene palette that soothes the soul.

Vologda may not have claimed the title of Russia's capital, but its spirit remains indomitable. Its story is one of resilience and quiet strength, where the past and present weave together to create a city like no other. As head of the region Georgy Filimonov declares, Vologda’s success is a testament to its people — the true treasure of this northern land.

 

Iran’s nuclear chief meets senior officials from Russia, Hungary and Norway

Tehran, IRNA – Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami has held meetings with counterparts and senior officials from Russia, Hungary and Norway during his stay in Vienna where he is taking part in the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Eslami said in a post on his X page on Tuesday that he had discussed peaceful nuclear energy cooperation between Iran and Russia during a meeting with the Director General of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev, including issues related to the construction of second and third units at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. 

He said that he had discussed issues like training, nuclear regulation, and safety standards with the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.

Eslami said he and Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik had agreed in their meeting that the Western parties to a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers should comply with their commitments under the deal. 

The Iranian nuclear chief said he would hold further talks with officials of other countries during his stay in Vienna.

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Iran Releases Jailed Austrian Citizen After 2 Years

September 17, 2024

Nasser Atabati, the Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan province, announced that Weber was handed over to the Austrian ambassador following his release


Christian Weber, an Austrian citizen, has been released from prison in Iran's West Azerbaijan province after being jailed for around two years, according to local authorities.

Nasser Atabati, the Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan province, announced that Weber was handed over to the Austrian ambassador following his release.

Atabati said that Weber had been imprisoned "for committing crimes" in the province. However, specific details about the nature of these alleged crimes were not disclosed.

The Chief Justice indicated that the handover to the Austrian ambassador was to facilitate Weber's departure and transfer from Iran.

The Iranian state media has not reported additional information or context surrounding his imprisonment and subsequent release.

In 2022, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the arrest of one of its citizens in Iran.

At that time, they said that the arrest was unrelated to the nationwide protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Human rights groups have long criticized Iran for its criminal justice system's lack of due process, with foreigners and minorities often caught up in vague charges.

Western governments have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of taking dual and foreign nationals hostage for the sole purpose of using them in prisoner swaps or as a bargaining chip in international negotiations.

Many European countries have urged their nationals not to travel to Iran, warning that they face the risk of arbitrary arrest or unfair trial.