Global Online Outages Impact US Airlines, Australian Banks
U.S. airlines and Australian banks are among firms around the world suffering online outages.
Russia
Ultraconservative cleric expected to win Iran’s presidential election
Iran may be about to take an even harder stance against the West, as it is expected ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi will replace “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani in the country’s presidential election on June 18, the Times of Israel reports. After three of the seven candidates dropped out of the race on Wednesday, the election is widely viewed as a foregone conclusion in favor of Raisi, and a record low turnout is anticipated.
Hungary Says Anti-LGBT Law Protects Children
Hungary’s conservative government says a new law prohibiting sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment is linked to its fight against pedophilia.
Biden Says US Could Strike Russia in “Cyber Way”
U.S. President Joe Biden says he has made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin he would not accept more cyberattacks and election interference. Biden suggested that America could respond in a “cyber way.”
Russia Denies Responsibility for Cyber Attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Russia was the source of the hacking onslaught and claimed the United States was the biggest offender. “Russia is not even on the list,” he said, adding that offenders also included Canada and Britain.
US, Russia Ambassadors Return To Posts; Talks “Constructive”
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he and U.S. President Joe Biden have agreed to return their ambassadors to their posts in a bid to lower tensions.
Belarus Parades Opposition Journalist At News Conference
Several journalists and diplomats left a news conference in Belarus after authorities unexpectedly paraded the detained opposition journalist Roman Protasevich at the briefing. With Protasevich appearing under duress, the uniformed officials gave their version of the Ryanair passenger plane diversion of May 23.
NATO Fears China’s Military Threat And Cooperation With Russia
Leaders of the NATO military alliance warned Monday that the military threat posed by China and its cooperation with Russia is a “systemic challenge.”
Russia Is Testing New Advanced ICBM’s
Thousands of missile troops are holding drills with Russia’s latest mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system and other “special hardware.”
US-Russia relations at lowest point in years, Putin warns
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with US broadcaster NBC ahead of his first meeting with US President Joe Biden, said relations between Moscow and Washington were at their lowest point in years.
EU talks up hope of breakthrough at Iran nuclear meetings
European Union negotiators said international talks that resumed Saturday on the Iran nuclear agreement were on track to revive the deal, which crumbled after the United States withdrew in 2018.
Russia to supply Iran with advanced satellite
Russia is preparing to provide Iran with an advanced satellite that would enable it to track potential military targets across the Middle East, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Biden Warns Russia, But Words Don’t Impress Moscow
U.S. President Joe Biden began his first official overseas trip Thursday with a warning to Russia, but his remarks didn’t impress Moscow.
Moscow Bans Kremlin Critic’s Network Ahead Of US-Russia Summit
A court in Moscow has banned political organizations linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ahead of a U.S.-Russia summit.
Biden to depart for jam-packed first foreign trip, including Putin meeting
Joe Biden will fight what he calls a “defining” battle for democracy on his first foreign presidential trip, meeting top US allies in Europe ahead of a tricky summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Russia Officially Pulls Out Of Open Skies Treaty
President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that formalizes Russia’s withdrawal from an international treaty allowing nations to collect information on one another’s military forces in order to increase transparency, following the departure from the accord by the United States late last year.
US spy agencies investigating if Putin knew about Russian cyber-attacks on Western targets
US intelligence officials are working to understand whether Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was aware of recent Russian cyberattacks on Western targets, Just the News reports. Some commentators have speculated the attacks were orchestrated by Putin to test US President Joe Biden’s resolve in dealing with Russia.
Hungary To Host Chinese Vaccine Factory
The Hungarian and Chinese governments have agreed to set up a factory in Hungary to produce the Chinese coronavirus vaccine in a move expected to raise eyebrows within the European Union.
US President Biden Halts Arctic Oil Drilling
The Biden administration has suspended oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, citing environmental concerns.
Showdown: U.S., NATO wage war games in Europe; Russia to send troops west
The U.S. and its NATO allies on Monday conducted a set of major war games across Europe, while Russia responded by announcing plans to send at least 20 new military units to its western border.