Latest news with #Европа
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin backs global Russian language center
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he fully backs the idea of creating a centralized organization to promote and support the use of the Russian language internationally. The idea was proposed by Nikita Gusev, the warden of the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, during meeting of the State Council on language promotion. 'It is a good suggestion. I think it must certainly be considered,' Putin, who chaired the meeting, said. The president added that he would instruct his administration and the Russian government to look into the project and provide support for it. Putin said the authorities in Moscow are already working on promoting the Russian language abroad 'through various channels,' but that these activities would further benefit from the creation of 'a dedicated center.' 'We must work diligently to strengthen the position of the Russian language and to enhance Russia's significance in the global cultural space,' the president told the participants of the video-conference. The meeting took place on the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, a 19th-century poet, novelist and playwright, considered the founder of modern Russian literature. 'One of the most effective ways to promote the Russian language and literature, both within our country and abroad, is through meaningful and wide-ranging celebrations of significant anniversaries linked to great Russian writers,' Putin stressed. According to the Pushkin Institute, Russian was the ninth most-widely used language in the world in 2014, with over 255 million people speaking it.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Putin Threatens to ‘Throttle' Big Tech Firms Like Zoom and Microsoft
Russian President Vladimir Putin said U.S. tech companies like Microsoft and Zoom should be 'strangled' and 'throttled' in his country, arguing that Russia should build domestic competitors instead. During a meeting with Russian company leaders to evaluate certain sectors and the domestic economy, a business leader expressed frustration to Putin that U.S. companies that have announced their exit from the country continue to operate. Microsoft said it was ending sales in the country in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, and Russian lawmakers have railed against Zoom for years. 'We need to strangle them. I completely agree,' Putin said, according to Turkey's Anadolu Agency. 'I say this without any embarrassment, because they are trying to strangle us. We need to reciprocate.' Microsoft and Zoom did not respond to immediate requests for comment from The Daily Beast. Putin also attacked McDonald's, which also exited the nation after Russia began its war in Ukraine, saying the battle did not align with its core values. 'It is impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,' McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski wrote at the time. 'And it is impossible to imagine the Golden Arches representing the same hope and promise that led us to enter the Russian market 32 years ago.' 'They put everyone in a difficult position, ran away, and now, if they want to come back, should we pave the way for them?' Putin said on Monday. 'Of course not.' McDonald's did not respond to an immediate request for comment. McDonald's reiterated its commitment to staying out of the country in a letter to a Ukrainian advocacy group last month. Putin also lamented that Western companies that left due to 'political pressures' have hurt Russian businesses. 'Some companies left their Russian partners in a difficult situation,' he said. Putin's remarks came after President Donald Trump attacked Putin in a statement on Truth Social on Sunday, saying the Russian leader had gone 'absolutely CRAZY' after killing Ukrainian citizens. 'He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,' he said. 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!'
Russia Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian tycoon reinstated as European Jewish Congress president
Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist Moshe (Vyacheslav) Kantor has been overwhelmingly re-elected as president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), securing nearly two-thirds of the vote in a general assembly held Tuesday in Jerusalem. Kantor, who previously served as EJC president from 2007 until 2022, was forced to step down during his fourth term after being placed on multiple international sanctions lists in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. With the European Union and Switzerland removing Kantor from their respective sanctions earlier this year, he returned to the race and defeated interim president Ariel Muzicant of Austria. Kantor, who also holds British and Israeli citizenship, emphasized the urgency of his return in light of growing antisemitism and increasing polarization in Europe. 'What we are witnessing is not only a threat to Jewish communities, it is a threat to the very foundations of European democracies,' Kantor told delegates. 'If left unchecked, this growing hatred will erode the social fabric of our societies. We are already seeing increased polarization as the extremes gain strength and moderation is pushed aside.' The EJC represents over 40 Jewish national organizations and more than two million Jews across Europe. Headquartered in Brussels, the organization engages in advocacy on issues ranging from antisemitism and Holocaust memory to interfaith dialogue and minority rights. Kantor pledged to expand the EJC's work, stressing the importance of unity with Israel and noting that the October 7 terrorist attack had reshaped how European Jews view their place in the world. 'After October 7, every Jew in Europe knows that his or her destiny is absolutely tied to the destiny of the Jewish state,' Kantor said. He reaffirmed that the EJC would remain fully supportive of Israel, stating: 'We will never criticize Israel in international media. We may have concerns, like any true friend. But we express them respectfully, privately and always with care.' Kantor also thanked his opponent Muzicant for 'his devoted leadership in these recent difficult years,' and called for renewed unity across the Jewish diaspora. Muzicant had urged Kantor not to run again due to his ongoing presence on certain national sanctions lists, such as those maintained by the UK, Poland, and Estonia. However, Kantor's supporters insisted he was the most experienced and impactful candidate to lead the organization. Kantor's net worth is estimated at $9.5 billion by Forbes, largely stemming from his leadership of Acron, a major Russian fertilizer producer. Beyond his EJC role, Kantor is known for decades of philanthropic and civic work. He founded the World Holocaust Forum and previously served on the boards of Yad Vashem and Tel Aviv University. He also led the Russian Jewish Congress from 2005 to 2009 and established the European Jewish Fund.
Russia Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia's top IT companies enjoy huge surge in turnover
Russian IT companies have nearly doubled their revenue over the past three years, reaching a collective turnover of more than $80 billion amid rising domestic demand, according to a study published on Tuesday by Smart Ranking. The combined revenue of Russia's 100 largest IT firms surged by 95% since 2022, reaching 6.7 trillion rubles ($83.1 billion), according to the company's data. The top ten companies — including tech giant Yandex, social media platform VK, and state-controlled telecoms operator Rostelecom — accounted for 70% of the total, or 4.6 trillion rubles ($57 billion). Yandex's revenue rose by 110% during the period, hitting 1.95 trillion rubles. Tinkoff Bank recorded a 163% jump to 962 billion rubles, and online retailer Wildberries saw its revenue increase by 108% to 657.5 billion rubles. ICS Holding, the smallest among the top ten, reported a 198% rise to 140 billion rubles. The figures reflect revenue from digital products and services only, excluding sales from hardware, offline operations, or other unrelated areas, Smart Ranking said. Analysts cited several drivers of growth, including the departure of foreign tech companies from Russia due to the Ukraine conflict, an uptick in mergers and acquisitions, and increased demand for integrated IT services. Eight of the ten leading firms provide ecosystems that cover areas such as digital payments, ride-sharing, and food delivery. Dmitry Kalaev, head of the Internet Initiatives Development Fund Accelerator, noted that only 11 of the 100 companies are publicly listed. He described this as a sign of limited access to investment capital and pointed out that Russia has the potential for more public tech firms. Kalaev added that high interest rates are currently a barrier to IPOs. He also noted that Russian tech firms face obstacles in expanding globally, pointing to a lack of funding and the difficulty of developing competitive complex products.
Russia Today
18-05-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Russian researchers develop breakthrough cat allergy vaccine
Russian scientists have developed a new vaccine designed to protect against cat allergy, one of the world's most ubiquitous types of hypersensitivity, Moscow's Sechenov University has announced. The vaccine, created in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna, is currently in the preparatory stage for human trials. Allergies to cats – which can manifest with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and itchy eyes and skin – affect up to 20% of the world's population, according to various studies. The newly developed recombinant vaccine – the world's first for cat allergy – is expected to provide safer, more targeted treatment with fewer side effects than existing therapies, the researchers said. Recombinant vaccines are made using a small, harmless part of the virus or allergen – usually a protein – which is produced in a lab, rather than being taken directly from the actual virus, bacteria, or allergen source. The structure and development of a new class of recombinant vaccines were described by a group of scientists in an article published in the scientific journal Allergy in April. Preclinical efficacy tests of the vaccine were conducted on rabbits. Scientists found that the vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies that block up to 85% of the allergic reaction triggered by cat allergens, the scientists said, adding that existing drugs used for allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) showed weaker results during studies. The researchers have selected the two most promising vaccine designs for cat allergy based on the results of the study, the press service of Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University said in a statement earlier this week. 'The allergies can be treated using ASIT – a method that involves introducing the allergen into the body – to gradually build up resistance to its effects. However, the ASIT drugs currently available are extract-based vaccines, meaning the allergens are directly derived from cat fur,' Aleksandr Karaulov, the head of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology at Sechenov University, said. He noted that it is difficult to maintain the correct dosage of the allergen in these types of vaccines, adding that they do not cover the full range of allergenic proteins, require multiple injections, and can cause allergic side effects.
