WEATHER ALERT
Russian lawmakers endorse bill to ban adoptions by gender-transition countries
Read full article: Russian lawmakers endorse bill to ban adoptions by gender-transition countriesRussia’s upper house of parliament has endorsed a bill banning adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal.
Russian lawmakers give initial approval to a bill targeting those who advocate not having children
Read full article: Russian lawmakers give initial approval to a bill targeting those who advocate not having childrenRussia’s lower house of parliament has given a quick initial approval to a bill outlawing the promotion of material that discourages people from having children.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy lands in Saudi Arabia to push for peace and a POW exchange with Russia
Read full article: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy lands in Saudi Arabia to push for peace and a POW exchange with RussiaUkrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy has arrived to Saudi Arabia and met the kingdom’s powerful crown prince to push for a peace plan and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.
Russian lawmakers approve confiscating the assets of people who discredit the army
Read full article: Russian lawmakers approve confiscating the assets of people who discredit the armyThe lower house of Russia's parliament has approved a bill that would allow authorities to confiscate money, valuables and other assets from people convicted of spreading “deliberately false information” about the country’s military.
Russia will consider property confiscations for those convicted of discrediting the army
Read full article: Russia will consider property confiscations for those convicted of discrediting the armyA senior lawmaker says Russia's parliament will consider a law allowing for the confiscation of money and property from those deemed to spread “deliberately false information” about Moscow's military actions.
Russia's parliament approves budget with a record amount devoted to defense spending
Read full article: Russia's parliament approves budget with a record amount devoted to defense spendingRussia's parliament has approved a federal budget that increases spending by around 25% in 2024-2026 and devotes a record amount to defense.
Russian lawmakers will consider rescinding ratification of global nuclear test ban, speaker says
Read full article: Russian lawmakers will consider rescinding ratification of global nuclear test ban, speaker saysThe speaker of the Russian parliament says lawmakers will consider revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban.
With fast-track passports, Russia extends clout in Ukraine
Read full article: With fast-track passports, Russia extends clout in UkraineSince 2019, some 720,000 residents of areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed rebels have received Russian passports in a fast-track procedure widely seen as an attempt to underscore Russia’s influence in the region.
Russia backs away from unpopular anti-coronavirus measures
Read full article: Russia backs away from unpopular anti-coronavirus measuresThe Russian government has decided to delay a controversial bill requiring QR codes confirming vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 to access public places, despite surging cases and warnings from top officials about the highly infectious omicron variant.
Kremlin chafes at Navalny team taking suspected evidence
Read full article: Kremlin chafes at Navalny team taking suspected evidenceNavalny's colleagues revealed Thursday that they removed the bottle and other items from the hotel room in Siberia and brought them to Germany as potential evidence. “Regrettably, what could have been evidence of poisoning was taken away,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Members of the Navalny team said they searched his hotel room in the city of Tomsk upon learning that he collapsed on the flight home. The German government had no comment Friday on the Navalny team’s statement that Novichok was found on the water bottle taken from Russia. The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also is having samples from Navalny tested.
Regional governor in Russia arrested on murder charges
Read full article: Regional governor in Russia arrested on murder chargesIn this image distributed by Russian Investigative Committee, Sergei Furgal, the governor of the Khabarovsk region is escorted by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB, Soviet KGB successor) and Russian Investigative Committee agents in Khabarovsk, Russia, Thursday, July 9, 2020. Sergei Furgal, the governor of the Khabarovsk region along the border with China, was arrested in Khabarovsk and was flown to Moscow and has been arrested on charges of involvement in multiple murders. (The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation via AP)MOSCOW A provincial governor in Russia's far east has been arrested on charges of involvement in multiple murders, officials said Thursday. Sergei Furgal, the governor of the Khabarovsk region along the border with China, was arrested in Khabarovsk and was flown to Moscow. The Investigative Committee said that four of Furgal's suspected accomplices were also arrested.
Putin orders amendments extending his rule into constitution
Read full article: Putin orders amendments extending his rule into constitutionMOSCOW President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered amendments that would allow him to remain in power until 2036 to be put into the Russian Constitution after voters approved the changes during a week-long plebiscite. The amendments come into force. They come into force, without overstating it, at the people's will, Putin said after he signed a decree to have the constitution revised. the Russian president said during a video-conference with lawmakers who worked on drafting the amendments. According to a copy of the decree released by the Russian government on Friday, the amendments will come into force on Saturday.