Russian President Putin signs ‘foreign agent’ media law
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that allows the government to list any foreign media operating in the country as a foreign agent.
Russia
FBI failed to warn US targets of Russian hackers
The FBI failed to notify scores of US officials that Russian hackers were trying to break into their personal Gmail accounts despite having evidence for at least a year that the targets were in the Kremlin’s crosshairs, The Associated Press has found.
Trump Revealed Israel’s Secret Raid to Russian Diplomats
The intelligence that President Donald Trump leaked to top Russian officials in an Oval Office meeting in May concerned a highly sensitive Israeli special forces mission, it has been revealed. The operation, which took place in February 2017, involved commandos infiltrating an area under the control of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), to place a surveilance device. The intelligence obtained through the device prompted a short-term ban on laptops on flights from several majority-Muslim countries to the US and the UK.
Russia declares ‘death’ of body probing Syria chemical attacks
Russia’s UN ambassador said Wednesday the expert body that has determined responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria ‘is dead’ — but Moscow is ready to discuss ‘a new mechanism.’
Putin holds summit with Turkey, Iran to discuss Syria peace deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in talks with leaders of Turkey and Iran to end the civil war in Syria that has been raging since 2011.
Iran’s plans in Syria hint at goal of establishing powerful Shiite ‘Red Crescent’
Iran’s top military officer signed agreements in Syria last month that will keep Iranian forces there indefinitely with a pledge to help the Bashar Assad regime rebuild damaged military bases, according to the main opposition group to Tehran’s Islamic rulers.
Putin’s plan to end Syrian war strengthens Russian influence in Middle East
Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed President Trump by phone Tuesday on Moscow’s plans for ending Syria’s 6-year-old civil war, a development that likely will keep U.S. foe Bashar Assad in power in Damascus and underscores Russia’s growing influence in the Middle East.
On surprise Russia trip, Assad and Putin talk post-war Syria
On a surprise trip to Russia, Syria’s Bashar Assad discussed potential new peace initiatives for post-war Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin who declared that Russia’s two-year military campaign in Syria is wrapping up, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump discuss Syria, Ukraine, North Korea in hour-plus call
US President Donald Trump described the conversation with the Kremlin chief as a ‘great call’ and said the two leaders spoke ‘very strongly about bringing peace to Syria.’
US investigator Mueller probing Kushner’s contacts with Israelis — report
US special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is investigating senior White House adviser Jared Kushner over contacts with Israeli officials, according to a Wall Street Journal report Tuesday.
Netanyahu presses Putin on keeping Iran out of Syria
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone about a ceasefire deal in the Syrian civil war and Iranian presence near Israel’s borders with the war-torn country, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Fusion GPS paid journalists, court papers confirm
Newly filed court documents confirm that Fusion GPS, the company mostly responsible for the controversial ‘Trump dossier’ on presidential candidate Donald Trump, made payments to three journalists between June 2016 until February 2017.
Russia Admits Mysterious Radioactive Cloud Is From Nuclear Plant Pollution
A mysterious radioactive cloud hovering above Europe came from Russian nuclear plant pollution, the nation admitted Monday, according to the South China Morning Post. Russia’s meteorological service confirmed there were ‘extremely high’ concentrations of radioactive isotopes in the air in September.
Uranium One deal informant sued to recoup more than $700K lost in bribes
A FBI informant who gave the government information about a Russian bribery plot implicated in the sale of U.S. uranium rights tried unsuccessfully last year to recover upwards of $700,000 in bribes he said he was authorized to pay as part of the FBI investigation.
Russia vetoes U.S. resolution to probe chemical attack in Syria
Russia used its U.N. Security Council veto power on Thursday to stop a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have extended an investigation into allegations that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his own people earlier this year.
Russian long-range bombers strike Islamic State targets in Syria
Six Russian long-range bombers struck Islamic State targets near the town of Albu Kamal in Syria’s Deir al-Zor Province on Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
UN to vote on rival resolutions on chemical weapons in Syria
The United States is calling for a vote Thursday on a resolution that would extend the mandate of experts working to determine who was responsible for chemical attacks in Syria, which is likely to face Russian opposition.
US, Russia headed for showdown over Syria chemical weapons probe
Russia and the United States were on a collision course ahead of a UN Security Council vote Thursday on the fate of a UN-led probe to determine who is behind chemical attacks in Syria’s six-year war.
Justice Dept. explores probe of Clinton Foundation, Obama’s Russia uranium deal
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday he’s considering appointing a special counsel to look at whether the FBI properly handled the investigation into Russia’s purchase of uranium rights and donations to the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton led the State Department.
Trump says he backs U.S. intelligence agencies, clarifies Putin’s denial of election meddling
President Trump clarified Sunday that he believes the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in last year’s presidential election, but also said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is ‘sincere’ in his denials of interference.