Russia Detains Returning Kremlin Critic Navalny
Russia’s prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport Sunday after returning from Germany, where he received medical treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
Putin
Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan hold talks on reopening regional transportation routes
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Kremlin Monday, to discuss the reopening of transportation routes that were shut down amid the decades-long regional conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Associated Press reports. The meeting follows the November 10, 2020 peace deal brokered by Russia which ended 44 days of renewed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Russia Rushes Vaccines As COVID-Cases Spread
Russia says over 800,000 people have been vaccinated with its new jab against the coronavirus. More than 1.5 million vaccine doses were dispatched across the country as the nation increases its vaccination drive over the New Year period despite controversy about its Sputnik V vaccine.
In Response To Kremlin, U.S. Reiterates Proposed Extension Of New START Treaty
The United States has responded to Russia’s call to continue negotiations on the New START arms-control treaty by reiterating a U.S. proposal and saying the Russians have “rejected” attempts to restart the talks.
America Blames Russia For Massive Cyberattack
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Russia for one of the largest cyberattacks on American government agencies and private companies in recent memory. Russia has denied involvement in the scandal.
Putin: Arms race with US ‘has already begun’
An arms race between Washington and Moscow “has already begun,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Chinese scientists say they’ve achieved a quantum computing breakthrough
Chinese scientists claim to have built a quantum computer that is able to perform certain computations nearly 100 trillion times faster than the world’s most advanced supercomputer, representing the first milestone in the country’s efforts to develop the technology.
Russia Launching Coronavirus Vaccine Despite Controversy
Russia has become the first country to officially launch a massive immunization effort against the coronavirus, despite concerns about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Russia provides the vaccine for free to people aged 18 to 60 who don’t suffer from chronic illnesses and aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
California asks Supreme Court to ignore churches’ appeal as more speak out against coronavirus restrictions
California’s attorney general on Monday urged the Supreme Court to reject a petition from a group of California churches disputing the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
Germany Wants Controversial Coronavirus Vaccines To Reach Poor Nations
After Pope Francis urged “solidarity”, German Chancellor Angela Merkel demands the distribution of controversial coronavirus vaccines among poorer nations. Her appeal comes as countries rush to start with coronavirus vaccinations before Christmas, despite fresh concerns they impact people’s behavior and DNA.
Trump Fires DHS Cyber Official, Disputing His Evaluation of the 2020 Election
President Trump in a Tuesday evening tweet fired the head of the Department of Homeland Security division responsible for election security, drawing strong criticism from Democrats, and an unapologetic response from the targeted official himself.
Azerbaijan President Pledges To Protect Churches As Armenians Flee Nagorno-Karabakh
The president of Azerbaijan has pledged that Christian churches will be protected when his strongly Muslim nation takes over control of areas in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ilham Aliyev spoke as thousands of predominantly Christian Armenians fled several areas in the enclave leaving behind torched homes.
Russian Peacekeepers Arrive In Nagorno-Karabakh
Hundreds of Russian peacekeeping troops have arrived in the contested enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, after Russia brokered a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Prayers As Armenia, Azerbaijan Claim Violations of U.S.-Brokered Truce
Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating the latest ceasefire over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a historic church is among the many damaged targets. The accusations came minutes after it came into effect on Monday with the support of the United States.
EU Awards Top Rights Prize To Belarus Opposition
The European Union has awarded its top human rights prize to the Belarus opposition movement and its leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. They received the Sakharov Prize for their challenge to what EU leaders view as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s long, hard-line reign.
U.S. Rejects Putin’s Proposal On Nuclear Disarmament Treaty As ‘Nonstarter’
The United States says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the New START nuclear disarmament treaty without freezing nuclear warheads is a “nonstarter.”
Ceasefire Armenia and Azerbaijan Overshadowed By Reported Clashes
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a ceasefire in their battle over the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh. But, shortly after the agreement came into force, both sides already accused each other of breaking it.
Netanyahu and Putin discuss security and coronavirus
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone Wednesday to discuss cooperation in fighting COVID-19 as well as security matters in relation to Iran and Syria, World Israel News (WIN) reports.
Pence and Harris in Fierce U.S. Vice-Presidential Debate
Millions of Americans and many more worldwide watched U.S. Republican Vice- President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris facing off in one of the most meaningful vice presidential debates in recent memory.
Russia Says It Successfully Test-Launched Hypersonic Missile
The Russian military says it has successfully test-launched a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile off Russia’s northern coast, in what President Vladimir Putin hailed as a “big event” for the country.