Putin Signs ‘Fake News,’ ‘Internet Insults’ Bills Into Law
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial set of bills that make it a crime to ‘disrespect’ the state and spread ‘fake news’ online, Russian media reported on Monday.
World Headlines
First supermoon on the spring equinox in 19 years
Assuming spring showers stay at bay, sky-watchers in the Northern Hemisphere will get to see a cosmic triple play on March 20, as a “super worm moon” lights up the vernal equinox. According to astronomy website EarthSky.org, a full moon has not landed this close to the first day of spring since the year 2000, and the two celestial events won’t happen less than a day apart again until 2030.
Construction of new Iranian nuclear plants going well, atomic chief says
Construction of two new nuclear plants in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only current working nuclear power station, is on schedule and going to plan, the Islamic Republic’s atomic chief said on Monday.
EU leaders could avoid final call on Brexit delay this week
European Union leaders could hold off making any final decision on any Brexit delay when they meet in Brussels later this week, senior diplomats in the bloc said, depending on what exactly British Prime Minister Theresa May asks them for.
US, Russia to hold talks on Venezuela in Rome
U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Rome this week to discuss the crisis in Venezuela.
Cyclone Idai: Death toll ‘could reach 1,000’
The death toll in Mozambique following tropical cyclone Idai could reach 1,000, the country’s president said on Monday.
Iran Executes Massive Drone Exercise With the Code Name ‘Towards Jerusalem’
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) reportedly launched a massive military drone exercise codenamed ‘Towards Jerusalem 1.’
Russia Vows To Respond To Fresh EU Sanctions
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced Moscow will respond to fresh sanction action by the European Union.
Cyclone Idai hits Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, killing 140
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been hit by a vicious cyclone that has killed more than 140 people, left hundreds more missing and stranded tens of thousands who are cut off from roads and telephones in mainly poor, rural areas.
Multiple deaths in shootings at 2 New Zealand mosques
Multiple people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers, as New Zealand police warned people to stay indoors as they tried to determine if more than one gunman was involved.
Secret Mossad files show underground Iran nuke facility older than admitted
New evidence disclosed in Iran’s secret nuclear files taken by the Mossad show that its underground Fordow nuclear facility is older than it has admitted, according to a think-tank report.
US Military Attacks al-Shabab for Third Time This Week
The U.S. military has carried out three airstrikes against al-Shabab militants in Somalia in less than a week, continuing a rapid pace that could triple last year’s record-setting strike numbers.
Defying Trump, Senate votes to end US support for Saudi-led Yemen war
The US Senate on Wednesday dealt a stinging bipartisan rebuke to Donald Trump’s foreign policy and his alliance with Riyadh, voting to end support for the bloody Saudi-led war effort in Yemen.
European Parliament votes to suspend Turkey’s EU membership bid
The European Parliament has voted to formally suspend EU accession talks with Turkey, citing severe political and democratic backsliding under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Woolly mammoth nuclei come alive inside mouse cells
Researchers in Japan have activated woolly mammoth cell nuclei transplanted in mouse cells.
Turkey says it is discussing Syria offensive with Russia, U.S.
Turkey is discussing with Russia and the United States a potential military offensive in a region of northeast Syria controlled by Kurdish fighters, a Turkish defense official was cited as saying by state media on Tuesday.
U.S. envoy: United States, Taliban reach draft agreement in peace talks
The United States and the Taliban have reached a draft agreement on counter-terrorism assurances and troop withdrawal in a step toward ending the 17-year-long war, U.S. presidential envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday.
U.S. Senate to vote Wednesday on Saudi Yemen war resolution
The U.S. Senate will vote on Wednesday on a resolution to end Washington’s support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen, as lawmakers push President Donald Trump to toughen his policy toward the kingdom.
Venezuela Blames U.S. for Record Blackout and Orders American Diplomats to Leave
With resentment percolating over a record-setting blackout, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the U.S., blaming the U.S. for the country-wide outages and ejecting American diplomats from the country on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
Russian defense ministry boasts about revived military power
Russia’s defense minister says the military has commissioned more than 1,000 new aircraft and thousands of tanks in the past few years.