newsinsightplus.com
- 2023Russia
- 2023Top
- April 14, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine Russia war: BBC Russian journalist Ilya Barabanov branded ‘foreign agent’Published1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Personal archive/BBCImage caption, Asya Kazantseva and Ilya BarabanovBy Laurence PeterBBC NewsThe Russian justice ministry has labelled two prominent journalists – BBC Russian correspondent Ilya Barabanov and science reporter Asya Kazantseva – as “foreign agents”.Barabanov has written extensively about Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group. The BBC condemned the ministry’s move against him.”The BBC strongly rejects the decision,” a BBC statement said.The “foreign agent” label has very negative connotations in Russia.The government has used it to marginalise not only critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine but also voices challenging other Kremlin policies, including prominent cultural figures, media organisations and civil society groups.One of Russia’s most popular novelists – Boris Akunin – was put on the list in January. He is a long-standing critic of President Vladimir Putin.The term “foreign agent” recalls the Soviet-era campaign against “enemies of the people”. “Foreign agents” have to identify themselves as such on social media and in other publications, and face burdensome financial reporting requirements.Both Barabanov and Kazantseva are now living abroad. Kazantseva signed an open letter from Russian scientists and science journalists demanding that Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine. She left Russia in January, saying she was being harassed by pro-war figures and seeing her lectures and book presentations cancelled.The justice ministry accused Barabanov – now based in Latvia – of “spreading false information” about Russian government decisions and policies, and of opposing the war in Ukraine.The BBC statement condemned the move, stressing that “the BBC has a global reputation as a trusted and independent source of news”.It went on: “BBC News Russian has been a vital source of accurate and impartial news to Russian-speakers for 80 years. We are incredibly proud of all our journalists and our priority right now is to support Ilya and all his colleagues to ensure that all are able to continue their jobs reporting on Russia at such an important time.” Related TopicsWar in UkraineMediaRussiaVladimir PutinMore on this storyRussia designates popular author ‘a foreign agent’Published13 JanuaryRussia labels ex-PM Kasyanov ‘foreign agent’Published25 November 2023Russia labels Nobel winner Muratov ‘foreign agent’Published1 September 2023Top StoriesLive. Israel shoots down 300 Iranian drones and missiles with US help, says IDFIran launches aerial attack on Israel in major escalationPublished1 hour agoSydney police identify knife attacker who killed sixPublished2 hours agoFeaturesBeing blind helps me connect with people, says diplomatThe 276 schoolgirls whose kidnap shocked the world’I felt anger hearing my dad’s experience of racism’The first ladies no longer happy to sacrifice careers for their husbandsThe trafficked war babies looking for their long-lost familiesWorld watches nervously to see what Iran does nextUkraine could face defeat in 2024. Here’s how that might lookDifficult hunt for 12 impartial jurors to sit on historic Trump trialListen: The Liz Truss Memoir. AudioListen: The Liz Truss MemoirAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCWhat went disastrously wrong at Pontins?An investigation into the state of three holiday parks before their sudden closure…AttributioniPlayerA life-changing declutter!Stacey Solomon and her crack team help families transform their homesAttributioniPlayerFound on every continent and in every oceanSir David Attenborough reveals how mammals have conquered the EarthAttributioniPlayerFancy a film tonight?There’s something for everyone on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Sydney police identify knife attacker who killed six2Boy, 7, died from Aids after doctor ignored rules3Iran launches aerial attack on Israel in major escalation4UK jets deployed to shoot down Iran drones – MoD5New ‘Gen Z’ Scrabble: ‘It feels a bit like cheating’6Russian double-tap strikes hit civilians then rescuers too7Iran’s drone ‘swarm’ and Sydney knife ‘rampage’8British theatre gears up for big night at Oliviers9Are Rayner’s troubles a sign of what’s to come for Labour?10What is Israel’s Iron Dome missile system?
[ad_1] A leading science journalist – Asya Kazantseva – also gets the label used to silence Kremlin critics.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael ‘can handle’ any threat from Iran, says military chiefPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, Israel’s military has bolstered its troop numbers in preparation for a possible attackIsrael’s military has said it is prepared for any Iranian threat, as tension builds after Monday’s attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack, which Iran said killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers. An Iranian official said on Sunday that Israel’s embassies were “no longer safe”, as it prepares a response.US and Israeli forces in the region have been put on high alert in anticipation of a possible attack.Reports in the US media suggest Iran’s retaliation could take place in the coming days. “The IDF [Israel Defence Forces] can handle Iran,” Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said in a televised statement. “We can act forcefully against Iran in places near and far.” Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran had a “legal and legitimate right” to respond to Monday’s strike.”The embassies of the Zionist regime are no longer safe,” he told Iran’s Isna news agency. He did not provide further detail as to what shape Iran’s response would take.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The Iranian embassy (left) does not appear to have been damaged in the strike on the next door consulate buildingIn a statement, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the defence establishment had completed preparations to respond to any possible scenario. The IDF has halted all leave for soldiers serving with combat units and called up reservists to bolster air defence.Israel has also blocked GPS signals across swathes of the country in order to disrupt missiles and drones. Media outlets in Israel have reported that some of the country’s embassies were evacuated over potential Iranian attacks. The BBC has not independently verified those reports and Israel has not confirmed them.In an apparent effort to prevent panic, a spokesman for the Israeli army said there was no need for people to buy generators, gather food or withdraw money.How might Iran seek to hurt Israel after general’s killing?Syria’s defence ministry said Israeli aircraft targeted the Iranian consulate building at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Monday.Syrian air defences shot down some of the missiles, but others made it through and “destroyed the entire building, killing and injuring everyone inside”, the ministry added.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that seven of its officers were killed in the strike, including Brig-Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Brig-Gen Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi.Photos and videos from the scene showed smoke rising from the remains of the collapsed building. Hours after the strike, people in Tehran burned Israeli and US flags in protest. On the day after the attack, Ayatollah Khamenei said Israel would “regret this crime”, while President Ebrahim Raisi insisted it would “not go unanswered”.Israel and its closest ally, the US, have been anticipating an Iranian attack ever since. In the wake of the attack, the Israeli military said it did not comment on foreign media reports.But an unnamed senior Israeli official told Reuters news agency that those killed had “been behind many attacks on Israeli and American assets and had plans for additional attacks”. They also insisted that the embassy “was not a target”.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Iranian consulate in Syria destroyed following deadly air strike.Israel has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of strikes in recent years on targets in Syria that it says are linked to Iran and allied groups which are armed, funded and trained by the Revolutionary Guards.Iran has said the guards were sent to Syria to “advise” President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the country’s civil war, but it has denied they have been involved in combat or established bases.Israel’s strikes have reportedly been stepped up since the start of the war in Gaza in October last year, in response to cross-border attacks on northern Israel by Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Syria.Iran has avoided direct confrontation with Israel during the conflict so far, but Monday’s attack is seen as a serious escalation.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelIranSyriaMore on this storyHow might Iran seek to hurt Israel after general’s killing?Published3 days agoGPS disabled as Israel raises alert over Iran threatPublished2 days agoIran vows to avenge Syria strike blamed on IsraelPublished5 days agoIran accuses Israel of killing generals in SyriaPublished5 days agoTop StoriesIsrael reduces troop numbers in southern GazaPublished1 hour agoJeremy Bowen: Obstacles to peace seem larger than everPublished15 hours agoManhunt after mum pushing baby in pram stabbed to deathPublished4 hours agoFeaturesThe eclipse’s 4-minute window into the Sun’s secretsWhere in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?7 lessons from my first series of University ChallengeThe comics legend lurking in a British basementIndigenous deaths in custody haunt AustraliaSix months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?Why these singer-songwriters are pop’s new breakout starsPath of darkness – scroll every mile of total eclipse’A game of Jenga’: Inside the perilous Baltimore bridge clean-upElsewhere on the BBCGet a job, pay the bills. Sounds simple, right?Fresh, surreal comedy from the mind of Lucia KeskinAttributioniPlayerThis family bonds over Race Across the WorldThese are the the things we love on the BBCAttributioniPlayerOne of the most talented bands to never make it…Why did trailblazers Microdisney fail to achieve the commercial success they deserved?AttributioniPlayerDid you know these scenes were filmed in… Glasgow?!Ali Plumb travels through the city’s silver screen sightsAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?2Manhunt after mum pushing baby in pram stabbed3’Radiographer started crying during my cancer scan’4’He was one of us’: Memorial ride for Hairy Biker5Speaker left ‘devastated’ by father’s death6Hardest Geezer: Runner completes Africa challenge7Former Wimbledon manager Kinnear dies aged 77AttributionSport8Israel reduces troop numbers in southern Gaza9Man stabbed to death near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium10Post Office bosses earned millions despite scandal](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/1DA5/production/_133098570_b27535c77a1912e7c8437a08e4a2b012dac589310_175_5472_30781000x563.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEvan Gershkovich: Waiting for her brother, Putin’s ‘bargaining chip’ in Russian jailPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, National Press ClubImage caption, Danielle Gershkovich’s brother Evan has been detained in a Russian prison for a yearBy Steve RosenbergRussia EditorOne year ago Danielle Gershkovich got a call from her mother. She could hardly believe the news. Her younger brother, Evan, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal, had just been arrested: he was the first US journalist in Russia since the Cold War to be charged with espionage. The maximum possible punishment: 20 years in prison. “It’s been a really difficult year,” Danielle tells me by video call from Washington. “The uncertainty is very hard to deal with.” Writing letters helps. The jailed American journalist has been sending plenty from prison.”The best way to support one another is to keep things light,” Danielle says. “We have a lot of sibling banter back and forth, a lot of teasing with love.”I recently asked him if it’s OK for me see the Dune movie, the sequel. I felt guilty about seeing it, because he can’t. Image source, National Press ClubImage caption, Evan and his sister Danielle stay in contact by writing lettersEvan’s ordeal began one thousand miles from Moscow in the city of Yekaterinburg. On a reporting trip there, he was detained by the FSB, Russia’s domestic security service. The Russian authorities say the American was “caught red-handed” with “classified information”. He, his employer and the US authorities fiercely deny the spying charge.Locked away in a Russian jail, Evan is still managing to surprise his family.”On International Women’s Day he arranged for the women in his life to receive bouquets. We want him to focus on himself and there he was taking care of us. He supports the people in his life. We really miss him.”Since Evan Gershkovich’s arrest, here in Moscow we have had few opportunities to see him. True, he has made several court appearances in the last 12 months. And sometimes the media is allowed in to film him.For no longer than a minute.For us, that is just enough time to get a rough sense of how Evan is holding up. For Evan, it is a chance to spot some familiar faces.Image source, ReutersImage caption, There have been few opportunities to see Evan since he was detained a year agoBut when Evan appeared in court this week no journalists were let in. No explanation was given. Instead, the Moscow City Courthouse filmed and released its own footage of the American journalist as he stood in the courtroom in a glass cage. That video was just six seconds long. At the end of the hearing a judge ruled that Evan Gershkovich must stay in pre-trial detention.”It’s just complete, total and utter nonsense. Evan is not a spy. He’s a journalist,” Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, tells me.”Like a lot of reporters a year ago, people were already wary about reporting from Russia. News outlets had begun to withdraw correspondents. They were treading very carefully. So, the arrangement with Evan was that he was based in London and was going in [to Russia] for two or three weeks at a time, and then coming out again.”He’d been writing a lot of interesting reports on the state of the Russian economy in light of the Ukraine war. This was the sort of piece he was doing.”Evan Gershkovich is being kept in Moscow’s Lefortovo jail. Built in Tsarist times, it has held some of Russia’s most high-profile inmates over the years, including political prisoners and dissidents. During the Great Terror of Joseph Stalin, torture and execution were commonplace. Former inmates have spoken of an unnerving sensation of total isolation. “He is managing. He is in good health,” says US ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, one of the few people allowed to visit Evan in Lefortovo.”One of the things that has really struck me is how important correspondence has been for him. Corresponding with his family, friends and people he has never met before has really energised him. It gives him focus and something to work for in terms of the day when he gets out.”Image source, National Press ClubImage caption, Evan (pictured with his family) is being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo jailThe US government has designated Evan Gershkovich “wrongfully detained.””The insinuation that he was somehow engaging in some kind of criminal activity is just flat-out false,” insists Ambassador Tracy. “The message is: release him now.”Referring to Evan Gershkovich last month, Vladimir Putin said that he would “like him to go home eventually. I say this sincerely.”But there is a “but”. From the unsubtle hints Moscow’s been dropping, it is clear that the Kremlin wants something – or rather someone – in return. That someone is thought to be FSB security service officer Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.Image caption, US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy is one of the few people who has been given access to Gershkovich in prisonThe Russian authorities barely hide the fact that they see Evan Gershkovich as a bargaining chip. “I think it’s pretty clear that [Evan] was picked up in order to be traded,” believes Emma Tucker.”It’s often referred to as hostage diplomacy, which I absolutely hate because there’s nothing diplomatic about what’s going on. Evan is a hostage. He is a bargaining chip. Putin is holding him as currency. And that is just the brutal reality of it. It makes it very difficult for governments to know how to approach this. Because there’s a lot at stake here, including what might happen in the future.””Russia is stockpiling Americans in its jails in order to be able to trade them at a later date,” says Emma Tucker.And Russia knows that America trades.One example. In December 2022 Washington and Moscow carried out a prisoner exchange, trading US basketball player Brittney Griner, who had been sent to a Russian penal colony for having cannabis oil in her luggage, for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Image source, AFP/ReutersImage caption, Paul Whelan has been held in Russia since 2018 and Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested last OctoberAmong the Americans currently in prison here is former marine Paul Whelan. In 2020 he was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony. As in the case of Evan Gershkovich, US officials have designated Mr Whelan “wrongfully detained”. Last year Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with Prague-based Radio Free-Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was arrested in Russia. Ms Kurmasheva holds American and Russian passports. She was making a short trip to Russia to visit her ailing mother.She was initially fined for failing to declare her US citizenship. But the accusations grew more serious. She has now been charged with spreading “false information” about the Russian armed forces over a book she helped to edit, which contains criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If convicted Alsu Kurmasheva could face up to 15 years in prison. Her friends and family maintain the case against her is politically motivated. They are calling on the US authorities to designate her, too, “wrongfully detained”. The ordeal of those behind bars is shared by their families. “To me, this will always be about my brother, getting him home,” Danielle Gershkovich tells me. “He’s an innocent man. His friends and family miss him so much. But, of course, it’s also about journalism and freedom of speech. The world needs him too.”Related TopicsPress freedomFreedom of expressionRussiaUnited StatesMore on this storyPutin names Navalny and claims he agreed swapPublished18 MarchRussia extends US journalist Gershkovich’s detentionPublished26 JanuaryUS citizens jailed by Putin left hostage to a dealPublished20 December 2023Top StoriesSecret papers show Post Office knew case was falsePublished5 hours agoBus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45Published7 hours agoTop UN court orders Israel to allow aid into GazaPublished2 hours agoFeaturesWaiting for Evan, Putin’s ‘bargaining chip’ in Russian jailThe Papers: Water bosses a ‘disgrace’ and Easter honours ‘row’Why is Thames Water in so much trouble?Weekly quiz: How much did Kate’s Titanic piece of wood sell for?’We’ve won £80k by entering 50 competitions a day’Could artificial intelligence benefit democracy?Vice, Vice, Baby: Who’ll be Trump’s running mate?AttributionSoundsLife after Pontins swapped tourists for tradespeopleI’m not ashamed of who I am any more, says LionessElsewhere on the BBCHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerIf aliens existed, what would they look like?Let Brian Cox and Robin Ince guide you through the universe’s big questionsAttributionSoundsThe ultimate bromanceEnjoy the genius of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a journey through the archivesAttributioniPlayerThe deadly history of wallpaper…Discover the extraordinary stories of the ordinary items all around youAttributionSoundsMost Read1Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 452Questions raised over Temu cash ‘giveaway’ offer3Water bosses a ‘disgrace’ and Easter honours ‘row’4Man arrested after death of Gogglebox star5Beyoncé’s country album: The verdict6Tory donor and four Conservative MPs given honours7Secret papers show Post Office knew case was false8Charge of £90 to clear problem debt axed for poorest9Easter getaways hit by travel disruption10Top UN court orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/163C1/production/_133037019_reutersoctober20232.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEthiopia’s CBE bank recovers $10m taken during technical glitchPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, The bank lost more than $14m during the glitch on 16 MarchBy Kalkidan YibeltalBBC News, Addis AbabaEthiopia’s largest bank says it has recovered almost three-quarters of the $14m (£12m) it lost in a glitch that allowed customers to withdraw more money than they had in their accounts. Abe Sano, head of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) said on Tuesday about $10m has been recovered. Thousands of customers returned the cash voluntarily. Mr Sano warned those who had not will face criminal charges.Most of the money was withdrawn by university students.On 16 March, news of the glitch spread across universities – largely via messaging apps and phone calls – and long lines were seen at campus cash machines.The bank has never explained exactly what the problem was, but the CBE said the glitch was not the result of a cyber-attack and that customers should not be worried as their personal accounts were intact.Latest updates from the African continentAt least three universities released statements advising students to return any money not belonging to them that they may have taken from the bank.In an interview with the BBC’s Newsday programme last week Mr Abe said the CBE was already in the process of reporting customers to the police.”There is no way that they can escape because they are digital [transactions] and they are our customers. We know them. They are traceable and they are legally accountable for what they did,” he said.Initial reports said that more than $40m was lost in the technical glitch. A CBE employee told the BBC it was harder to find money transferred to other banks than to trace sums moved to another CBE account. A total of 490,000 transactions were made before CBE realised there was a problem.More than 38 million people hold accounts at the CBE, which was established 82 years ago.You may also be interested in:Listen to Abe Sano’s Newsday interview -s’No escape’ for bank clients who profited from glitchEA quick guide to Ethiopia country profileRelated TopicsEthiopiaAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastTop StoriesLive. Ship that collided with Baltimore bridge lost power – governorWatch: The critical moments before ship hit Baltimore bridge. VideoWatch: The critical moments before ship hit Baltimore bridgePublished3 hours agoLive. Israel claims UN ceasefire resolution has damaged negotiations with HamasFeaturesWhat we know about Baltimore bridge collapseIn pictures: Baltimore bridge collapseKate rumours linked to Russian disinformationWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?How do I know if my smart meter is broken?Striking kite-flying picture scoops top prizeHow much is the BBC licence fee and what does it pay for?Bowen: Biden has decided strong words are not enough19th Century law fires up anti-abortion pushElsewhere on the BBCConquering Everest’s ‘Death Zone’ on skisFind out how a Japanese alpinist became the first person to ski down Mount EverestAttributionSounds’You do feel like you’re invincible’Why are so many young men risking their lives on the UK’s roads?AttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsHow many big hits from 1995 will you remember?Featuring Ace of Base, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, David Bowie and many moreAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Two junior ministers quit government2North Korea censors Alan Titchmarsh’s trousers3Kate rumours linked to Russian disinformation4Russia blames West and Kyiv for Moscow jihadist attack5Thief sold stolen gems to at least 45 buyers, museum says6Tory’s mayoral contest ad showed New York not London7BBC to explore reform of licence fee8Assange judges seek no death penalty pledge from US9Papa Johns pizza to shut nearly a tenth of UK sites10What we know about Baltimore bridge collapse](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/CA45/production/_133018715_gettyimages-1824622564.jpg)
