Moscow residents should prepare for a sharp deterioration in weather conditions. Temperatures are not expected to exceed +12-15°C, accompanied by intense rainfall and wind gusts reaching up to 17 meters per second. This abrupt change is attributed to the rapid movement of a North Atlantic cyclone.
This stormy weather, bringing up to 16 liters of rain per square meter, is set to hit Moscow on Monday, June 30th. Such low temperatures in late June have only been recorded once before, fifty years ago.
The culprit is the North Atlantic Cyclone «Cornelius,» quickly approaching the capital region. Evgeny Tishkovets, a leading specialist at the Fobos weather center, provides details:
«Autumn is arriving in Central Russia. We anticipate anomalous precipitation and stormy winds. Currently, the weather in the capital is holding on thanks to a clear anticyclone ridge, keeping temperatures around +15°C. However, thick clouds will cover the sky during the day, and intense rains will begin in the afternoon. Barometer readings will fall rapidly today, which will negatively affect weather-sensitive people. And there`s more to come. On the final day of June, the capital will be as cold as it was half a century ago. On Monday, it will pour heavily in Moscow, and the wind will intensify with gusts up to a stormy 17 meters per second, meaning things could potentially be knocked over. The air temperature tonight in Moscow will drop to +9-12°C, and tomorrow during the day, it`s expected to be only +12-15°C, which corresponds to the climatic norm for early autumn. Let me reiterate: the last time it was this cool in late June in the city was in 1962. Furthermore, high humidity and strong winds will make it feel three to four degrees colder than the actual temperature. Meanwhile, atmospheric pressure will plummet by 15 units in a day – this will be a baric low and a record low atmospheric pressure for the end of June throughout history. The previous minimum for June 30th stood since 1980. Over the upcoming week, Moscow could see up to 42 millimeters of precipitation – about half of the total monthly rainfall. The Moscow region could be even more affected, with 50-60 millimeters. The lion`s share of the rain will fall in the next two to three days. The reason for all this is the North Atlantic Cyclone named `Cornelius,` which, moving southeast, will cover 1000 kilometers in a day. Tomorrow, the center of this atmospheric vortex will be circling over the Upper Volga region. So, let`s not forget umbrellas, raincoats, and dress warmly.»
Nighttime temperatures in the capital are forecast at +9-12°C, with daytime highs reaching only +12-15°C. This aligns with the climatic norm for the beginning of autumn.
New Fraud Scheme Exploits Betting Accounts
A new method for conducting illegal operations has emerged among fraudsters amidst efforts to combat «dropper» cards. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, which reported on an instance involving one of its employees, scammers are now utilizing Russian citizens` accounts in betting companies.
The scheme reportedly begins with fraudsters calling, impersonating marketplace representatives, and requesting a verification code from an SMS to receive an order via courier. However, the code is actually from a betting company. The fraudster then confirms the victim`s full name and date of birth to register an account on the bookmaker`s website. To deposit or withdraw funds from this electronic wallet, further verification is required through Gosuslugi (State Services) or CUPIS (Unified Center for Accounting for Bets), which involves providing passport data.
According to experts, this passport data can be obtained from databases previously leaked online or through social engineering tactics to extract it from the victim. Subsequently, the perpetrators can route stolen money through the electronic wallet. However, experts doubt this method will gain significant popularity among fraudsters, states Fedor Muzalevsky, technical department director at RTM Group and information security expert:
«In reality, the theft of betting accounts has existed as long as betting accounts themselves. Using them to withdraw money is very strange because ultimately, the money is still withdrawn to some card. That is, it`s actually an extra step for fraudsters. Accounts are stolen to steal the money *from* them. Since the number of such accounts in the country is relatively small, and the people who use them are often quite paranoid about security, it`s unlikely this scheme will become widespread.»
Previously, fraudsters would create electronic wallets in other people`s names to receive «freebets,» which are bonuses offered by bookmakers to clients. Financial expert and author of the CardReview Telegram channel, Andrey Chirkov, explains:
«In our country, to place legal online sports bets on the internet, it must only be done through a wallet of the unified CUPIS. This is the Center for Accounting for Transfers and Bets, based on the NKO `Mobilnaya Karta,` designated by presidential decree as the authorized organization. People can open electronic wallets in their name, fund them, and then place bets and receive winnings through them. To open this wallet in the simplest case, you just need to register any phone number, provide passport details (full name, date of birth, passport number) and either an INN (tax ID) or SNILS (pension ID). As you know, this data has been leaked from various organizations, which was previously actively used by gamblers. Knowing the passport details of a client who hadn`t yet registered with this CUPIS, they would register electronic wallets in people`s names to get the welcome bonus in the form of an additional credit to their account, spend it, and then abandon the wallet. Now, due to the crackdown on fraudsters and droppers, this opportunity to open wallets in a simplified form has seemingly attracted fraudsters as well. However, such a simplified wallet has significant restrictions on the maximum single amount that can be processed through it. Therefore, schemes may be used to link this wallet, already opened in your name, to Gosuslugi. This identification through Gosuslugi allows fraudsters to expand the capabilities of using this wallet. I recommend all citizens to use the tax service website`s function `request certificates.` There is a certificate about bank accounts and electronic payment methods opened in your name with credit organizations in the Russian Federation. If you discover electronic payment methods not opened by you there, particularly NKO `Mobilnaya Karta,` which is precisely this wallet for bets, in this case, I recommend sending a claim through the Central Bank`s website form stating that this wallet does not belong to you and that it must be closed.»
In mid-June, amendments came into force introducing criminal liability for droppers, with potential imprisonment up to six years and fines from 300 thousand to a million rubles.
Experts do not rule out that an innocent victim of fraudsters, on whom a betting account was opened, could also be recognized as a dropper if their electronic wallet was used for the transit of stolen funds.
Mystery Surrounds Iran`s Missing Enriched Uranium
Over 400 kilograms of enriched Iranian uranium are reportedly missing from the oversight of international experts. Their location following Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites is unknown, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has admitted.
After the bombing of three sites in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, US President Donald Trump declared them «destroyed.» However, the IAEA emphasized that the exact damage inflicted remains unclear. Meanwhile, Tehran threatened to discontinue cooperation with the agency after the American strikes.
Reuters sheds light on the disappeared enriched uranium and the relationship between the IAEA and Iran:
The IAEA noted that Iran may possess additional equipment stored in locations unknown to the agency, potentially allowing Tehran to establish a new or secret nuclear facility and, according to IAEA head Rafael Grossi, begin enriching uranium within several months.
Adlan Margoev, an Iran expert and research fellow at MGIMO Institute of International Studies, comments on the situation:
«The IAEA failed to ensure the protection of nuclear facilities. To what extent was this possible? Under the IAEA safeguards agreements, a state voluntarily informs the agency that nuclear enrichment and the entire nuclear cycle are taking place at certain facilities, and IAEA inspectors can visit them to verify the declared activities and confirm that these activities are within the framework established in the declaration. That is, Iran regularly informs the agency about what it is doing, special trained people with special equipment come and check whether this is true or not. The question then arises, where was the material moved? If Iran now reveals the location of this material at a new facility, then the IAEA will have the opportunity to inspect it; they will go there in agreement with the Iranian authorities. But what Iran fears is that, according to IAEA resolutions, if a country declares its nuclear activity, no one has the right to militarily attack these facilities, because you voluntarily open up to the world and show what your nuclear program consists of. But the IAEA did not issue strong condemnations of the recent Israeli and American attacks; if we speak colloquially, they practically got popcorn and started watching which facilities were being destroyed and to what extent, according to open sources. And now the IAEA is demanding to be allowed access to the new facility, but the Iranians say they will not show these facilities because as soon as this information becomes available to IAEA inspectors, another episode of escalation may occur, and Israel and/or the United States will strike the new facility as well, and this creates unsafe conditions for Iran and for its interaction with the agency`s staff, which significantly complicates further verification, that is, further checking what Iran is or isn`t doing in the nuclear field.»
The so-called «E3» countries – France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – have called on Iran not to cease cooperation with the IAEA and to ensure the safety of its staff.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry noted that Tehran intends to continue negotiations with the E3 countries, although the date for the next round of consultations has not yet been set. They also reported that representatives of the US administration have offered to resume negotiations this week via intermediaries.
Russia Considers Hiking Fees for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Plates
The Ministry of Finance is proposing to increase several fees for motorists starting in September. According to Izvestia newspaper, the government commission is scheduled to review these amendments today, June 30th. If approved, the prices will change significantly. Obtaining an old-style driver`s license, currently costing 2,000 rubles, would rise to 4,000 rubles.
A new-style license, currently 3,000 rubles, would become 6,000 rubles. The fee for international licenses, currently 1,600 rubles, would double to 3,200 rubles. Dmitry Rogov, an auto expert, blogger, and author of the «Rogovmobil» project, states that this increase was anticipated as the fees haven`t changed for many years:
«The increase is more than overdue because, as far as I`ve followed the situation, the tariffs haven`t been raised for seven, maybe ten years, while opportunities to save have constantly existed. For example, when the `Gosuslugi` (State Services) project was launched, people were incentivized to pay through Gosuslugi rather than on the spot via receipts, and they were given a 20% or 30% discount, which I think was cancelled a couple of years ago, but the possibility existed. Additionally, there has always been quite a wide list of beneficiaries who receive discounts. As for myself, I`ve had my license for a long time, and it`s time for me to renew it, in fact, for the second time, but it was due for renewal in 2022, but its validity period is constantly being extended. So, if you renew it every 10 years, and mine was extended by three or four years, that`s also not a direct but an indirect discount if you divide it by the validity period. Meanwhile, over 10 years, currency exchange rates have changed, logistics chains, all materials have become more expensive, there were chip problems, infrastructure is developing, [services through] Gosuslugi, special applications are available, all this falls under state funds that must be at least minimally compensated somehow. Plus, the salaries of the people involved, civil servants who deal with production, inspectors who issue these licenses for 10 years, including salary indexation. So, everything has become more expensive, the fees for this duty haven`t been raised for a long time, and then suddenly it`s several times higher. If you divide this over many, many years and see how much the increase is, plus consider all the benefits we have, this is a topic that should have happened long ago, it`s surprising it didn`t happen sooner.»
The fee for issuing state vehicle license plates will increase from 2,000 to 3,000 rubles. For license plates on trailers and motorcycles, currently 1,500 rubles, the cost will rise to 2,250 rubles.
The certificate of vehicle conformity to safety requirements will triple in price, reaching 4,500 rubles. These changes are sensitive for motorists, says Anton Shaparin, Vice-President of the National Automobile Union:
«Of course, these are additional expenses, levied by the state for no other reason than the fact of interaction with the motorist. Undoubtedly, this is painful, especially for low-income segments of the population, for pensioners, who often already perceive a car as a luxury.»
According to the proposals, the changes are expected from September.
