US, Russia meet to discuss nuclear arms pact
Negotiators from Russia and the United States met on Monday in Helsinki for a new round of nuclear arms control talks, Finnish officials say.
Russia
China, Russia, Cuba, Saudi Arabia on Track to be Ushered Back Onto UN Human Rights Council
The United Nations has confirmed the names of most of the candidates running for seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council in elections tentatively set for next week, and the expected return of the likes of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Cuba will draw attention once again to the justification given by the Trump administration in 2018 for its decision to withdraw.
Armenia Ready To Discuss Ceasefire As Conflict Escalates
Armenia says it is ready to discuss a ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in recent days has killed dozens and left scores wounded. The announcement comes amid international calls to end the most significant escalation in years.
John Brennan overruled CIA officers who disputed confidence in intelligence on Putin’s 2016 motivations
Former CIA Director John Brennan revealed he overruled two CIA officers who disagreed with him during the creation of the Intelligence Community Assessment of 2017 about his high level of confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in 2016’s presidential election with the specific goal of helping elect then-candidate Donald Trump.
U.S. President Trump In Hospital With Coronavirus Symptoms
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at a famed military hospital Friday after confirming that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Russia, France and the U.S. call for an immediate cease-fire in Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes
Russia, France, and the U.S. on Thursday issued calls for an immediate cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan as clashes between the two rivals sparked recently over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh killing dozens of people and threatening to drag nearby Turkey and Russia into a direct military confrontation.
EU consider deployment of military observers to Libya if a ceasefire holds
The European Union is considering the possible high-risk deployment of EU military observers to Libya in the event a ceasefire holds in the war-torn North African country, Politico reports. Libya has been the scene of a years-long civil war between Tripoli’s UN-backed Government of National Accord headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, and rebel General Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
U.S. intel referred Clinton campaign to FBI, alleging it concocted Russia collusion story
U.S. intelligence developed evidence from Russia in summer 2016 that Hillary Clinton had personally approved a plan to concoct the Russia collusion narrative in an effort to harm Donald Trump and distract from her email scandal, according to an explosive document made public Tuesday by the Director of National Intelligence.
US officials say former CIA director Brennan doctored 2016 intelligence to advance Trump-Russia “collusion” narrative
After learning that career analysts disputed there was Trump-Russia “collusion” in the run-up to the 2016 election, CIA Director John Brennan personally edited the intelligence report on Russian interference in the election in order to continue justifying the ongoing “collusion” probe, RealClearInvestigations (RCI) reported Thursday.
Russia Sends Troops to Belarus, Challenging NATO
Russian troops deployed to Belarus for military exercises last week have not yet left, potentially challenging the security of NATO countries in the Baltic region.
Belarus Admits Detaining Hundreds After Massive Rallies
Authorities in Belarus have admitted detaining hundreds of people in a weekend of massive protests against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko across the country.
Abbas to UN: No peace, no security, without resolution to Israel-Palestinian conflict
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene an international conference early next year to launch “a genuine peace process” between Israel and the Palestinians.
Prosecutor reviewing Mueller investigation also looking into FBI handling of Clinton Foundation allegations
The prosecutor appointed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to review the Mueller Russia investigation is also looking into how the FBI dealt with allegations of political corruption at the Clinton Foundation, the Hill reported Thursday. US Attorney John Durham reportedly requested documents and interviews related to the Bureau’s investigation of the non-profit led by former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, sources told the New York Times.
Steele dossier’s main source was investigated by FBI as ‘threat to national security’
U.S. Attorney John Durham discovered that the primary sub-source for British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s discredited dossier was investigated by the FBI as a possible “threat to national security,” but the bureau never told the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and used the dossier anyway.
Hunter Biden’s network of wealthy, corrupt foreigners stretched from Moscow to Beijing
The Senate Republican report this week on Hunter Biden shows he amassed a network of shady foreign clients who pumped millions of dollars into his bank accounts — all while his dad, Joseph R. Biden, served as vice president.
Flynn case bombshell: FBI analysts bought insurance fearing they’d be sued for misconduct
FBI analysts working on the Michael Flynn Russia investigation originally planned to end the inquiry in fall 2016 and eventually bought liability insurance fearing they could be sued after their bosses continued to keep the investigation open based on “conspiracy theories,” explosive new text messages showed Thursday.
Russia, China, Iran, and Others Begin Joint Military Drills in Southern Russia
Russia and China this week kicked off a large-scale military exercise in southern Russia along with troops from several other countries – including Iran – at a time when all three countries’ relations with the United States are chilly.
Senate GOP report: Obama administration ‘ignored the glaring warning signs’ of Hunter Biden’s dealings in Ukraine
The Senate Republicans’ controversial report on Joe and Hunter Biden was released on Wednesday, detailing allegations of problematic foreign business dealings by Biden’s son as the former vice president helped lead the Obama administration’s foreign policy. The report also pushes back on Democratic claims of Russian disinformation.
Pompeo threatens China with sanctions over Iran arms deals
President Trump will impose sanctions on China if Beijing authorizes arms sales to Iran following his move to dismantle the 2015 nuclear deal and renew international sanctions on Tehran.
US to deploy small number of additional troops to Syria
The US is sending around 100 extra troops to Syria to protect against increasing Russian aggression and signs of renewed activity from ISIS in the region, the New York Times (NYT) reported Friday. The newly deployed soldiers will be added to a contingent of some 500 American troops in Syria. Additional military hardware will also be sent and there will be more fighter jet patrols.