Russia on Saturday reinforced its naval presence in the Black Sea and sent two warships. These warships transited the Bosphorus on Saturday along with 15 smaller vessels. These monoeuvres have come at a time when Russia-Ukraine relations are strained over Russian military presence on its border with the country.

Moscow calls the huge troop buildup a temporary defensive exercise.

The Russian warships that transited the Bosphorus are Ropucha-class landing ships from Russia's Northern fleet. The ships are capable of carrying tanks and troops for the coastal assault.

More Russian naval reinforcements in the form of two more landing ships, this time from Russia's Baltic Fleet, are expected to imminently transit the Bosphorus.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-may-acquire-nuclear-weapons-amid-conflict-with-russia-diplomat-suggests-378137">Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons amid conflict with Russia, diplomat suggests</a>

The RIA news agency on Saturday also reported that 15 smaller vessels from Russia's Caspian Flotilla have completed their transfer to the Black Sea as part of an exercise.

In a further sign of heightened tensions in the region, a ship carrying logistics trucks and equipment for NATO forces in Romania transited the Bosphorus on Friday evening. This was reported by Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Saturday reinforced its naval presence in the Black Sea and sent two warships. These warships transited the Bosphorus on Saturday along with 15 smaller vessels.

Russia on Saturday reinforced its naval presence in the Black Sea and sent two warships. These warships transited the Bosphorus on Saturday along with 15 smaller vessels. These monoeuvres have come at a time when Russia-Ukraine relations are strained over Russian military presence on its border with the country. Moscow calls the huge troop buildup a temporary defensive exercise. The Russian warships that transited the Bosphorus are Ropucha-class landing ships from Russia's Northern fleet. The ships are capable of carrying tanks and troops for the coastal assault. More Russian naval reinforcements in the form of two more landing ships, this time from Russia's Baltic Fleet, are expected to imminently transit the Bosphorus. Also Read | Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons amid conflict with Russia, diplomat suggests The RIA news agency on Saturday also reported that 15 smaller vessels from Russia's Caspian Flotilla have completed their transfer to the Black Sea as part of an exercise. In a further sign of heightened tensions in the region, a ship carrying logistics trucks and equipment for NATO forces in Romania transited the Bosphorus on Friday evening. This was reported by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia sends two warships to Black Sea amid tensions with Ukraine

Russia said on Friday it would ban a string of top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration from entering the country.

Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the foreign ministry said.

ALso read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tit-for-tat-russia-to-expel-us-diplomats-sanction-officials-378028" hreflang="en">'Tit-for-Tat': Russia to expel US diplomats, sanction officials</a>

Also on the list were Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-head of the CIA James Woolsey.

The ministry said the officials had "participated in the anti-Russian push" of US politics.&nbsp;

Lists of officials banned from entry are usually kept secret, but the ministry said it was revealing the names due to the "unprecedented nature" of the current tensions with Washington.&nbsp;

Russia said on Friday it would ban a string of top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration from entering the country. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the foreign ministry said.

Russia said on Friday it would ban a string of top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration from entering the country. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the foreign ministry said. ALso read | 'Tit-for-Tat': Russia to expel US diplomats, sanction officials Also on the list were Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-head of the CIA James Woolsey. The ministry said the officials had "participated in the anti-Russian push" of US politics. Lists of officials banned from entry are usually kept secret, but the ministry said it was revealing the names due to the "unprecedented nature" of the current tensions with Washington.

Russia bans FBI head, other top US officials

Russia said on Friday that it would ban FBI chief Christopher Wray from entering the country. The list of US officials who would be banned from entering Russia includes top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration.&nbsp;

Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the Russian foreign ministry said.

Also on the list were Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-head of the CIA James Woolsey.

Russian foreign ministry said that the officials had "participated in the anti-Russian push" of US politics.

The Russian move has come as a 'tit-for-tat' after US expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the country on Thursday.

"We will respond to this measure in a tit-for-tat manner. We will ask ten US diplomats in Russia to leave the country," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the reporters earlier on Friday.

He also said that President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, had recommended that US envoy John Sullivan leave for Washington to conduct "serious consultations."

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-russia-expels-10-diplomats-377760">expelled 10 Russian diplomats</a> from the country and also slapped economic sanctions on Russia. The US said that this action was taken as a retaliation for&nbsp;Kremlin's interference in US elections and other hostile activities including a massive cyber attack.

The White House on Thursday had said that US President Joe Biden's executive order on sanctions "sends a signal that the United States will impose costs in a strategic and economically impactful manner on Russia if it continues or escalates its destabilising international action".

Russia under pressure

Russia saw itself under increasing international pressure as France, Germany and Ukraine called on it to pull back troops from the Ukrainian border to reduce tension.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-russia-expels-10-diplomats-377760">US slaps sanctions on Russia, expels 10 diplomats over poll meddlling, cyber attack</a>

Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "shared concerns about the build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and in the illegally annexed Crimea. They called for the reduction of these troop reinforcements in order to bring about a deescalation of the situation," said the German leader's spokesman in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia said on Friday that it would ban FBI chief Christopher Wray from entering the country. The list of US officials who would be banned from entering Russia includes top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration.

Russia said on Friday that it would ban FBI chief Christopher Wray from entering the country. The list of US officials who would be banned from entering Russia includes top officials from US President Joe Biden's administration. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the Russian foreign ministry said. Also on the list were Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-head of the CIA James Woolsey. Russian foreign ministry said that the officials had "participated in the anti-Russian push" of US politics. The Russian move has come as a 'tit-for-tat' after US expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the country on Thursday. "We will respond to this measure in a tit-for-tat manner. We will ask ten US diplomats in Russia to leave the country," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the reporters earlier on Friday. He also said that President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, had recommended that US envoy John Sullivan leave for Washington to conduct "serious consultations." On Thursday, US President Joe Biden expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the country and also slapped economic sanctions on Russia. The US said that this action was taken as a retaliation for Kremlin's interference in US elections and other hostile activities including a massive cyber attack. The White House on Thursday had said that US President Joe Biden's executive order on sanctions "sends a signal that the United States will impose costs in a strategic and economically impactful manner on Russia if it continues or escalates its destabilising international action". Russia under pressure Russia saw itself under increasing international pressure as France, Germany and Ukraine called on it to pull back troops from the Ukrainian border to reduce tension. Also Read | US slaps sanctions on Russia, expels 10 diplomats over poll meddlling, cyber attack Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "shared concerns about the build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and in the illegally annexed Crimea. They called for the reduction of these troop reinforcements in order to bring about a deescalation of the situation," said the German leader's spokesman in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

'Tit-for-tat': Russia bans FBI chief, threatens to expel US diplomats

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process.

"India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues... India is a welcomed partner in our efforts to secure solutions for security and stability and predictability in and around Afghanistan,"&nbsp;Russian envoy to Delhi, Nikolay Kudashev, said.

This has come after India was not invited for troika plus talks on Afghanistan, which were hosted by Moscow. Russia, the US, China and Pakistan were the main countries at the Troika plus talks that took place last month on March 18.

In response to WION's question of&nbsp;whether India will be invited for future troika talks on Afghanistan, Kudashev said, "India was never denied an opportunity to be in troika but otherwise there is still a larger and&nbsp;more comprehensive format where India is the most welcome part. Thus, the problem should not be seen from the point of view of denial, but rather from the point of view of the multiplicity of choice."&nbsp;

Russia has been holding Moscow format talks on Afghanistan. India has been invited for this format of talks that involved Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran.

This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit.

Ahead of the visit that will take place towards the end of 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi in April. During Lavrov's visit, in which the Russian special envoy on Afghan Zamir Kabulov was also present, a considerable discussion took place on Afghanistan.

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process. "India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues.

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process. "India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues... India is a welcomed partner in our efforts to secure solutions for security and stability and predictability in and around Afghanistan," Russian envoy to Delhi, Nikolay Kudashev, said. This has come after India was not invited for troika plus talks on Afghanistan, which were hosted by Moscow. Russia, the US, China and Pakistan were the main countries at the Troika plus talks that took place last month on March 18. In response to WION's question of whether India will be invited for future troika talks on Afghanistan, Kudashev said, "India was never denied an opportunity to be in troika but otherwise there is still a larger and more comprehensive format where India is the most welcome part. Thus, the problem should not be seen from the point of view of denial, but rather from the point of view of the multiplicity of choice." Russia has been holding Moscow format talks on Afghanistan. India has been invited for this format of talks that involved Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran. This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit. Ahead of the visit that will take place towards the end of 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi in April. During Lavrov's visit, in which the Russian special envoy on Afghan Zamir Kabulov was also present, a considerable discussion took place on Afghanistan.

'India is a welcomed partner', says Russian envoy on Moscow led engagement on Afghan peace process

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help. &nbsp;

"At the operational level, we need measures which will deter Russia and which will contain its aggressive intentions. This could be ... a new round of sanctions which would raise the price of Russian aggression," Kuleba told a news conference at NATO alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.&nbsp;

"This could be direct support aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Because we do know that Russia spares no effort to prevent third countries from cooperating with Ukraine in the defence sector. Russia is working hard to undermine our defence capabilities."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the Western alliance, and not Moscow, would decide whether Ukraine joins in the future.&nbsp;

"It is for the 30 NATO allies to decide when Ukraine is ready for membership. No one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process," Stoltenberg told a news conference alongside Kyiv's top diplomat.&nbsp;

"Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbours can do," Stoltenberg said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help.

NATO and the West must act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, saying further sanctions against Moscow and more military help to Kyiv could help. "At the operational level, we need measures which will deter Russia and which will contain its aggressive intentions. This could be ... a new round of sanctions which would raise the price of Russian aggression," Kuleba told a news conference at NATO alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. "This could be direct support aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Because we do know that Russia spares no effort to prevent third countries from cooperating with Ukraine in the defence sector. Russia is working hard to undermine our defence capabilities." Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the Western alliance, and not Moscow, would decide whether Ukraine joins in the future. "It is for the 30 NATO allies to decide when Ukraine is ready for membership. No one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process," Stoltenberg told a news conference alongside Kyiv's top diplomat. "Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbours can do," Stoltenberg said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine minister calls for military help, more sanctions on Russia 

Historic Russian factory goes up in flames in St Petersburg

A huge fire broke out at a historic factory in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Monday. The fire has sent clouds of black smoke over the city. As per the emergencies ministry, the fire has broken out on several floors of Nevskaya Manufaktura, a red-brick building on the Oktyabrskaya Embankment of the Neva River&nbsp;

The ministry added that forty people had been evacuated and two firefighters had been hospitalised.

The enormous factory, founded as a cloth manufacturer in 1841, was engulfed in flames, AFP journalists at the scene said.

During the Soviet period, the factory was nationalised and run as a state entity. It was privatised in 1992.

In recent years parts of the building continued to operate manufacturing cloth, while others were rented out as office space and some areas had been abandoned.

(With AFP inputs)

A huge fire broke out at a historic factory in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Monday. The fire has sent clouds of black smoke over the city. As per the emergencies ministry, the fire has broken out on several floors of Nevskaya Manufaktura, a red-brick building on the Oktyabrskaya Embankment of the Neva River The ministry added that forty people had been evacuated and two firefighters had been hospitalised.

A huge fire broke out at a historic factory in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Monday. The fire has sent clouds of black smoke over the city. As per the emergencies ministry, the fire has broken out on several floors of Nevskaya Manufaktura, a red-brick building on the Oktyabrskaya Embankment of the Neva River The ministry added that forty people had been evacuated and two firefighters had been hospitalised. The enormous factory, founded as a cloth manufacturer in 1841, was engulfed in flames, AFP journalists at the scene said. During the Soviet period, the factory was nationalised and run as a state entity. It was privatised in 1992. In recent years parts of the building continued to operate manufacturing cloth, while others were rented out as office space and some areas had been abandoned. (With AFP inputs)

Russia: Huge fire in historic factory in St Petersburg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday met Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul amid growing tension between Ukraine and Russia. The long-running conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region is one of the reasons why Ukraine-Russia relations are strained currently.

Bilateral talks between Zelenskiy and Erdogan were to&nbsp;be followed by a cooperation meeting and a joint news conference.

NATO member Turkey has forged close cooperation with Russia over conflicts in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as in the defence and energy areas. But it has criticised Crimea's annexation and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity. It has also sold drones to Kyiv in 2019.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-can-be-provoked-due-to-russian-aggression-376675">Ukraine: Can be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call with Erdogan on Friday (April 9), accused Ukraine of "dangerous provocative actions" in Donbass.

Ukraine has been raising alarm over buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine-Russia border.

Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday that his country could be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'.&nbsp;

The minister, Andrii Taran, said Russian accusations about the rights of Russian speakers being violated could be the reason for the resumption of armed aggression against Ukraine.

"At the same time, it should be noted that the intensification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is possible only if an appropriate political decision is made at the highest level in the Kremlin," he said in a statement.

(With Reuters inputs)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday met Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul amid growing tension between Ukraine and Russia. The long-running conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region is one of the reasons why Ukraine-Russia relations are strained currently.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday met Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul amid growing tension between Ukraine and Russia. The long-running conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region is one of the reasons why Ukraine-Russia relations are strained currently. Bilateral talks between Zelenskiy and Erdogan were to be followed by a cooperation meeting and a joint news conference. NATO member Turkey has forged close cooperation with Russia over conflicts in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as in the defence and energy areas. But it has criticised Crimea's annexation and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity. It has also sold drones to Kyiv in 2019. Also Read | Ukraine: Can be provoked due to Russian 'aggression' Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call with Erdogan on Friday (April 9), accused Ukraine of "dangerous provocative actions" in Donbass. Ukraine has been raising alarm over buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine-Russia border. Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday that his country could be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'. The minister, Andrii Taran, said Russian accusations about the rights of Russian speakers being violated could be the reason for the resumption of armed aggression against Ukraine. "At the same time, it should be noted that the intensification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is possible only if an appropriate political decision is made at the highest level in the Kremlin," he said in a statement. (With Reuters inputs)

Ukraine-Turkey hold dialogue amid Donbass tension with Russia

The European Union's top diplomat said on Sunday, Russia and China were hampering a united international response to Myanmar's military coup and that the EU could offer more economic incentives if democracy returns to the country.&nbsp;

"It comes as no surprise that Russia and China are blocking the attempts of the UN Security Council, for example to impose an arms embargo," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog post.&nbsp;

"Geopolitical competition in Myanmar will make it very difficult to find common ground," said Borrell, who speaks on behalf of the 27 EU member states. "But we have a duty to try."&nbsp;

Borrell said security forces have killed more than 550 unarmed protesters, including 46 children, in a bloody crackdown since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup. &nbsp;

"The world watches in horror, as the army uses violence against its own people," he said.&nbsp;

China and Russia both have ties to Myanmar's armed forces, as the first and second largest suppliers of weapons to the country, respectively.&nbsp;

The UN Security Council last week called for the release of Suu Kyi and others detained by the military but stopped short of condemning the coup.&nbsp;

The EU is preparing fresh sanctions on individuals and companies owned by the Myanmar military. The bloc in March agreed a first set of sanctions on 11 individuals linked to the coup, including the commander-in-chief of the military.&nbsp;

While EU economic leverage in the country is relatively small, Borrell said the EU could offer to increase its economic ties with Myanmar if democracy is restored. That could include more trade and investments in sustainable development, he said.&nbsp;

EU foreign direct investment in Myanmar totalled $700 million in 2019, compared with $19 billion from China.&nbsp;

The military says it staged the coup because a November election won by Suu Kyi’s party was rigged. The election commission has dismissed the assertion.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The European Union's top diplomat said on Sunday, Russia and China were hampering a united international response to Myanmar's military coup and that the EU could offer more economic incentives if democracy returns to the country.

The European Union's top diplomat said on Sunday, Russia and China were hampering a united international response to Myanmar's military coup and that the EU could offer more economic incentives if democracy returns to the country. "It comes as no surprise that Russia and China are blocking the attempts of the UN Security Council, for example to impose an arms embargo," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog post. "Geopolitical competition in Myanmar will make it very difficult to find common ground," said Borrell, who speaks on behalf of the 27 EU member states. "But we have a duty to try." Borrell said security forces have killed more than 550 unarmed protesters, including 46 children, in a bloody crackdown since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup. "The world watches in horror, as the army uses violence against its own people," he said. China and Russia both have ties to Myanmar's armed forces, as the first and second largest suppliers of weapons to the country, respectively. The UN Security Council last week called for the release of Suu Kyi and others detained by the military but stopped short of condemning the coup. The EU is preparing fresh sanctions on individuals and companies owned by the Myanmar military. The bloc in March agreed a first set of sanctions on 11 individuals linked to the coup, including the commander-in-chief of the military. While EU economic leverage in the country is relatively small, Borrell said the EU could offer to increase its economic ties with Myanmar if democracy is restored. That could include more trade and investments in sustainable development, he said. EU foreign direct investment in Myanmar totalled $700 million in 2019, compared with $19 billion from China. The military says it staged the coup because a November election won by Suu Kyi’s party was rigged. The election commission has dismissed the assertion. (With inputs from agencies)

China, Russia undermine international Myanmar response: EU's top diplomat  

Russia`s Soyuz MS-18 Yu spacecraft carrying one NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts of the Russian space agency Roscosmos docked to the International Space Station (ISS) at 7:05 am Eastern Time Zone (EDT) while both spacecraft were flying about 262 miles above northern China, NASA said.

The spacecraft launched ahead of the 60th anniversary of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, took Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, and US astronaut Mark Vande Hei to the ISS, Sputnik reported. Gagarin`s name and portrait are painted on the rocket hull.

NASA informed that the hatches between the International Space Station and the newly arrived Soyuz spacecraft officially opened at 9:20 am EDT as they flew 270 miles above the South Pacific.

The arrival of three new crew members to the existing seven people already aboard for Expedition 64 temporarily increases the station`s population to 10, NASA said.NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts arrived on the Soyuz MS-18 after a two-orbit, three-hour flight following their launch from Kazakhstan at 3:42 am EDT.

Russia`s Soyuz MS-18 Yu spacecraft carrying one NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts of the Russian space agency Roscosmos docked to the International Space Station (ISS) at 7:05 am Eastern Time Zone (EDT) while both spacecraft were flying about 262 miles above northern China, NASA said.

Russia`s Soyuz MS-18 Yu spacecraft carrying one NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts of the Russian space agency Roscosmos docked to the International Space Station (ISS) at 7:05 am Eastern Time Zone (EDT) while both spacecraft were flying about 262 miles above northern China, NASA said. The spacecraft launched ahead of the 60th anniversary of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, took Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, and US astronaut Mark Vande Hei to the ISS, Sputnik reported. Gagarin`s name and portrait are painted on the rocket hull. NASA informed that the hatches between the International Space Station and the newly arrived Soyuz spacecraft officially opened at 9:20 am EDT as they flew 270 miles above the South Pacific. The arrival of three new crew members to the existing seven people already aboard for Expedition 64 temporarily increases the station`s population to 10, NASA said.NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts arrived on the Soyuz MS-18 after a two-orbit, three-hour flight following their launch from Kazakhstan at 3:42 am EDT.

Russia's Soyuz rocket placed into orbit with 3 astronauts on board

Tension on the Russia-Ukraine border is high as Russia has sent thousands of its soldiers on the frontier. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demanded that Russia stops the build-up of troops. Ukraine President is visiting the eastern part of the country. Meanwhile, a scientific discovery about sub-atomic particles called muons is being touted to be capable of leading to groundbreaking advances in the field of Physics. Read this and more in our top 10 news of day.

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<img alt="Putin Merkel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a588dbb4-96a9-4e81-b660-bfc9a6a6c044" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Putin%20Merkel.JPG" />

Both Putin and Merkel voiced concern over the rising tensions in the southeast of Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-to-visit-frontline-amid-tensions-with-russia-376118">Ukraine president to visit frontline amid tensions with Russia</a>

<img alt="Zelensky" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1189a379-56b4-4123-bf49-005709ffc2e4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Zelensky.JPG" />

In recent weeks, fighting between Ukrainian army and separatists has intensified. This has raised fears of a major escalation in conflict over the majority Russian-speaking Donbas region

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/military-junta-seized-london-embassy-in-coup-says-myanmar-ambassador-to-the-uk-376129">Military Junta seized London embassy in 'coup', says Myanmar ambassador to the UK</a>

<img alt="Myanmar military" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a4ebcfc-5784-4677-b53a-2a084c4726e1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Myanmar%20military.JPG" />

The ambassador, Kyaw Zwar Minn, said the defence attache had taken over the mission in "a kind of coup", an extraordinary diplomatic standoff that comes two months after the military seized power in Myanmar.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-the-uk-sheltering-wanted-criminals-after-hong-kong-asylum-ruling-376135">China says the UK sheltering 'wanted criminals' after Hong Kong asylum ruling</a>

<img alt="China Hong Kong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0599cfe6-6f78-4201-bdc9-417390313bc3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China_12.JPG" />

Law said Wednesday he had been granted asylum in Britain, after fleeing semi-autonomous Hong Kong following the introduction of sweeping new security law.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wobbly-subatomic-particles-muons-may-drastically-change-our-understanding-of-physics-376143">Wobbly subatomic particles 'muons' may drastically change our understanding of Physics</a>

<img alt="Muons" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e580a3a-27f5-40ef-a3a4-438bed91797e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/muons.JPG" />

In plain words, muons have been found defying laws of Physics. This has huge implications

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-denies-it-snubbed-eu-chief-during-ankara-visit-376109">Turkey denies it snubbed EU chief during Ankara visit</a>

<img alt="Turkey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1a89514c-70af-40de-8dfb-b1f7dac5fd99" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Turkey_7.JPG" />

The unequal seating arrangements prompted social media allegations of sexism or a purposeful affront against the commission.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-order-to-target-ghost-guns-in-reforms-against-increasing-gun-violence-375987">Biden's order to target 'ghost guns' in reforms against increasing gun violence</a>

<img alt="Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a30dae66-740b-4808-9a32-7573ea0c7e27" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Biden_8.JPG" />

Joe Biden will be focusing more on ‘ghost guns’ which are homemade weapons as they cannot even be traced when found on crime scenes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-national-charged-with-smuggling-undocumented-individuals-into-the-us-376153">Pakistani national charged with smuggling undocumented individuals into the US</a>

<img alt="Pakistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="477512ae-a05b-451b-9c9a-06c3e95a2c30" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pakistani%20youth.JPG" />

Abid Ali Khan, between January 2015 and December 2020, allegedly organised, led, and worked, with others in his Pakistan-based smuggling network to facilitate the travel of undocumented individuals to the United States, federal prosecutors alleged on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boy-crashes-bike-during-tiktok-livestream-viewer-saves-his-life-376134">Boy crashes bike during TikTok livestream, viewer saves his life</a>

<img alt="TikTok" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8cf27adc-244a-4994-85aa-e1a07943fa71" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/TikTok_0.JPG" />

The incident has helped underline the far-reaching effect of social media that can come handy in critical situations

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-first-southern-us-state-to-legalise-marijuana-376123">Virginia first southern US state to legalise marijuana</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-first-southern-us-state-to-legalise-marijuana-376123"><img alt="Marijuana" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="877eb12d-a6b0-4338-be2e-01875de9b33d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Virginia.JPG" /></a> 
 
Several other states in the US including New York and Colorado have approved measures on similar lines. However, Virginia has become first state to do so in socially and politically conservative US south.

Tension on the Russia-Ukraine border is high as Russia has sent thousands of its soldiers on the frontier. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demanded that Russia stops the build-up of troops.

Tension on the Russia-Ukraine border is high as Russia has sent thousands of its soldiers on the frontier. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demanded that Russia stops the build-up of troops. Ukraine President is visiting the eastern part of the country. Meanwhile, a scientific discovery about sub-atomic particles called muons is being touted to be capable of leading to groundbreaking advances in the field of Physics. Read this and more in our top 10 news of day. Russia-Ukraine border crisis: Merkel demands Putin reduce Russian troops around Ukraine Both Putin and Merkel voiced concern over the rising tensions in the southeast of Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement. Ukraine president to visit frontline amid tensions with Russia In recent weeks, fighting between Ukrainian army and separatists has intensified. This has raised fears of a major escalation in conflict over the majority Russian-speaking Donbas region Military Junta seized London embassy in 'coup', says Myanmar ambassador to the UK The ambassador, Kyaw Zwar Minn, said the defence attache had taken over the mission in "a kind of coup", an extraordinary diplomatic standoff that comes two months after the military seized power in Myanmar. China says the UK sheltering 'wanted criminals' after Hong Kong asylum ruling Law said Wednesday he had been granted asylum in Britain, after fleeing semi-autonomous Hong Kong following the introduction of sweeping new security law. Wobbly subatomic particles 'muons' may drastically change our understanding of Physics In plain words, muons have been found defying laws of Physics. This has huge implications Turkey denies it snubbed EU chief during Ankara visit The unequal seating arrangements prompted social media allegations of sexism or a purposeful affront against the commission. Biden's order to target 'ghost guns' in reforms against increasing gun violence Joe Biden will be focusing more on ‘ghost guns’ which are homemade weapons as they cannot even be traced when found on crime scenes Pakistani national charged with smuggling undocumented individuals into the US Abid Ali Khan, between January 2015 and December 2020, allegedly organised, led, and worked, with others in his Pakistan-based smuggling network to facilitate the travel of undocumented individuals to the United States, federal prosecutors alleged on Wednesday. Boy crashes bike during TikTok livestream, viewer saves his life The incident has helped underline the far-reaching effect of social media that can come handy in critical situations Virginia first southern US state to legalise marijuana Several other states in the US including New York and Colorado have approved measures on similar lines. However, Virginia has become first state to do so in socially and politically conservative US south.

Top 10 World News: Russia-Ukraine tension, Myanmar latest, and more

New Delhi is in a dilemma.&nbsp;Russia is India's biggest&nbsp;defence&nbsp;partner&nbsp;and the US&nbsp;is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific.&nbsp;So far,&nbsp;India has carefully built an independent relationship with both countries.&nbsp;But as the friction between the Kremlin and the White House increases,&nbsp;India is walking a diplomatic tightrope.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kremlin,&nbsp;a cold war ally&nbsp;and&nbsp;White House&nbsp;is&nbsp;an Indo-Pacific partner.&nbsp;

One has been a critical source of military equipment&nbsp;and&nbsp;the other is crucial for safeguarding strategic interests.&nbsp;In maintaining one partnership,&nbsp;India has been careful not to damage the other.&nbsp;

It has enjoyed an independent relationship with both Moscow&nbsp;and&nbsp;Washington.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This has been the state of play for several years.&nbsp;But the US-Russia&nbsp;acrimony is entering a new phase.&nbsp;

A new president is in the White House&nbsp;and&nbsp;he is trying to distinguish himself from his predecessor&nbsp;and assert&nbsp;America's&nbsp;place in the world.&nbsp;

Words have been flying like missiles&nbsp;and&nbsp;in this growing friction between the two super-powers,&nbsp;India faces the real test.&nbsp;Which way will it tilt?&nbsp;So far,&nbsp;New Delhi has successfully struck a balance.&nbsp;In&nbsp;February,&nbsp;India's&nbsp;foreign secretary travelled to Moscow for a&nbsp;two-day visit.&nbsp;In March,&nbsp;US&nbsp;defence&nbsp;secretary&nbsp;Lloyd&nbsp;Austin&nbsp;visited&nbsp;India.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now,&nbsp;the US climate envoy John Kerry&nbsp;is in New Delhi&nbsp;and so is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.&nbsp;India is actively engaged with both countries&nbsp;but one bargain hangs above India-US ties like the sword of&nbsp;democracies.&nbsp;

The S-400 deal!&nbsp;New Delhi's decision to purchase this anti-aircraft missile system from Russia&nbsp;has raised the risk of US sanctions.&nbsp;America&nbsp;has imposed sanctions on Turkey for a similar deal with Russia.&nbsp;

The delivery in India is due in December&nbsp;and the Pentagon has not indicated that it won't impose sanctions on India.&nbsp;

On the other hand,&nbsp;Moscow's biggest worry is&nbsp;India's&nbsp;growing security ties with the&nbsp;US.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi attended the first-ever Quad summit last month.&nbsp;Signs of discomfort have surfaced at Kremlin.&nbsp;

Russia along with China is proposing a new regional security bloc aimed at countering any US-led blocs.&nbsp;

It already seems to be laying the groundwork.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lavrov will be visiting Islamabad after his India visit.&nbsp;This will be the first such visit by a Russian Foreign Minister in nine years.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;the challenge before India is quite complex&nbsp;and it comes at a crucial time.&nbsp;

Right across the Himalayas,&nbsp;Chinese still pose a significant threat to&nbsp;India's&nbsp;security.&nbsp;New Delhi will have to choose wisely.&nbsp;It will have to ask serious questions about American reliability in the face of this potent threat&nbsp;and align its approach in the Indo-Pacific in a way that does not damage the Delhi-Moscow dynamics.&nbsp;As the stakes go higher,&nbsp;the balancing act will only become tougher for India.&nbsp;

New Delhi is in a dilemma. Russia is India's biggest defence partner and the US is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific. So far, India has carefully built an independent relationship with both countries.

New Delhi is in a dilemma. Russia is India's biggest defence partner and the US is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific. So far, India has carefully built an independent relationship with both countries. But as the friction between the Kremlin and the White House increases, India is walking a diplomatic tightrope. Kremlin, a cold war ally and White House is an Indo-Pacific partner. One has been a critical source of military equipment and the other is crucial for safeguarding strategic interests. In maintaining one partnership, India has been careful not to damage the other. It has enjoyed an independent relationship with both Moscow and Washington. This has been the state of play for several years. But the US-Russia acrimony is entering a new phase. A new president is in the White House and he is trying to distinguish himself from his predecessor and assert America's place in the world. Words have been flying like missiles and in this growing friction between the two super-powers, India faces the real test. Which way will it tilt? So far, New Delhi has successfully struck a balance. In February, India's foreign secretary travelled to Moscow for a two-day visit. In March, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin visited India. Now, the US climate envoy John Kerry is in New Delhi and so is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. India is actively engaged with both countries but one bargain hangs above India-US ties like the sword of democracies. The S-400 deal! New Delhi's decision to purchase this anti-aircraft missile system from Russia has raised the risk of US sanctions. America has imposed sanctions on Turkey for a similar deal with Russia. The delivery in India is due in December and the Pentagon has not indicated that it won't impose sanctions on India. On the other hand, Moscow's biggest worry is India's growing security ties with the US. Prime Minister Modi attended the first-ever Quad summit last month. Signs of discomfort have surfaced at Kremlin. Russia along with China is proposing a new regional security bloc aimed at countering any US-led blocs. It already seems to be laying the groundwork. Lavrov will be visiting Islamabad after his India visit. This will be the first such visit by a Russian Foreign Minister in nine years. So, the challenge before India is quite complex and it comes at a crucial time. Right across the Himalayas, Chinese still pose a significant threat to India's security. New Delhi will have to choose wisely. It will have to ask serious questions about American reliability in the face of this potent threat and align its approach in the Indo-Pacific in a way that does not damage the Delhi-Moscow dynamics. As the stakes go higher, the balancing act will only become tougher for India.

India walking on a diplomatic tightrope? 

India and Russia are discussing the possibility of ‘additional’ production of Russian military equipment in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday while on a visit to New Delhi.

Lavrov and India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar&nbsp;assessed ‘positively’ the economic cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow and noted new opportunities in the Russian far east during the discussion.&nbsp;

In a joint appearance with Lavrov, Jaishankar said they both talked about connectivity, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor.

Earlier in the day, Lavrov, who is on a two-day visit, held delegation-level talks with Jaishankar. Much of the discussion between the two ministers covered the preparations for President Vladimir Putin’s visit for the annual summit to be held in India later this year.&nbsp;

"Our bilateral cooperation remains energetic and forward-looking. We talked about the longstanding partnership in the nuclear space and defence sectors. We assess positively our economic cooperation noting new opportunities in the Russian far east. We spoke of connectivity including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor," Jaishankar said.

"We also found an appetite for greater investment in each other by both the countries. Russian support for our Gaganyaan programme has progressed for which deeply appreciate. Our defence requirement in the past year was expeditiously addressed," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

India and Russia are discussing the possibility of ‘additional’ production of Russian military equipment in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday while on a visit to New Delhi.

India and Russia are discussing the possibility of ‘additional’ production of Russian military equipment in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday while on a visit to New Delhi. Lavrov and India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assessed ‘positively’ the economic cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow and noted new opportunities in the Russian far east during the discussion. In a joint appearance with Lavrov, Jaishankar said they both talked about connectivity, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor. Earlier in the day, Lavrov, who is on a two-day visit, held delegation-level talks with Jaishankar. Much of the discussion between the two ministers covered the preparations for President Vladimir Putin’s visit for the annual summit to be held in India later this year. "Our bilateral cooperation remains energetic and forward-looking. We talked about the longstanding partnership in the nuclear space and defence sectors. We assess positively our economic cooperation noting new opportunities in the Russian far east. We spoke of connectivity including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor," Jaishankar said. "We also found an appetite for greater investment in each other by both the countries. Russian support for our Gaganyaan programme has progressed for which deeply appreciate. Our defence requirement in the past year was expeditiously addressed," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

India, Russia discussing Moscow’s military manufacturing in India: Lavrov

Russia on Monday extended deadline for Twitter to remove illegal and 'banned' content from the social media platform. Russia has already slowed down Twitter within its territory. The new deadline to remove the content is in mid-May. Twitter is co-operating with Russian authorities.

State telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor imposed slowdowns on Twitter's services in mid-March, accusing it of failing to remove content related to child pornography, drug use and calls for minors to commit suicide.

The social media giant said at the time it had a "zero tolerance" policy regarding "child sexual exploitation" and did not promote suicide and self-harm.

The watchdog gave Twitter a month to remove the content or face a complete blockage in Russia.

Roskomnadzor said in a statement on Monday that after the slowdown, Twitter had deleted nearly 2,000 posts containing illegal content and was moving more quickly to take content down.

It said the slowdown measures would remain in place until May 15 but that a decision had been taken not to completely block Twitter because the US company had "for the first time" changed the way its content moderation service worked in Russia.

"Roskomnadzor will continue to cooperate with Twitter management until the social network completely deletes all banned information in the quickest possible manner," the statement said.

After the slowdown began last month, Twitter denounced Russia's attempts to "block and throttle online public conversation".

Russia has in recent months stepped up efforts to impose more control on online platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with President Vladimir Putin saying large tech companies have become so influential that they are "competing" with sovereign states.

(With AFP inputs)

Russia on Monday extended deadline for Twitter to remove illegal and 'banned' content from the social media platform. Russia has already slowed down Twitter within its territory.

Russia on Monday extended deadline for Twitter to remove illegal and 'banned' content from the social media platform. Russia has already slowed down Twitter within its territory. The new deadline to remove the content is in mid-May. Twitter is co-operating with Russian authorities. State telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor imposed slowdowns on Twitter's services in mid-March, accusing it of failing to remove content related to child pornography, drug use and calls for minors to commit suicide. The social media giant said at the time it had a "zero tolerance" policy regarding "child sexual exploitation" and did not promote suicide and self-harm. The watchdog gave Twitter a month to remove the content or face a complete blockage in Russia. Roskomnadzor said in a statement on Monday that after the slowdown, Twitter had deleted nearly 2,000 posts containing illegal content and was moving more quickly to take content down. It said the slowdown measures would remain in place until May 15 but that a decision had been taken not to completely block Twitter because the US company had "for the first time" changed the way its content moderation service worked in Russia. "Roskomnadzor will continue to cooperate with Twitter management until the social network completely deletes all banned information in the quickest possible manner," the statement said. After the slowdown began last month, Twitter denounced Russia's attempts to "block and throttle online public conversation". Russia has in recent months stepped up efforts to impose more control on online platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with President Vladimir Putin saying large tech companies have become so influential that they are "competing" with sovereign states. (With AFP inputs)

Russia extends deadline for Twitter to remove 'banned' content

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to begin his two-day bilateral visit to India on Monday, which will present an opportunity to discuss aspects of bilateral ties and review preparations for the pending India-Russia annual summit later this year.

"The visit will be a unique opportunity to discuss important aspects of our bilateral ties, also to review preparations for the next India Russia annual summit and also perhaps discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said.&nbsp;

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday had said the Russian Foreign Minister, during his visit, will hold talks with his counterpart External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.

"The heads of the foreign affairs agencies will discuss the current state of bilateral relations, the preparation of the upcoming high-level meeting this year, including cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, will consider key topics on the regional, global agenda, assess approaches to the interaction between Russia and India on the international arena, including at the UN, BRICS," Zakharova added.

After India, Lavrov will visit Pakistan from April 6-7. The foreign minister’s visit to India comes as Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited the country in February this year where he met Lavrov and discussed wide-ranging Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries and ways to further strengthen it.

Shringla had said they discussed some regional and international issues of interest including cooperation in the UN and UNSC where India is a non-permanent member now.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to begin his two-day bilateral visit to India on Monday, which will present an opportunity to discuss aspects of bilateral ties and review preparations for the pending India-Russia annual summit later this year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to begin his two-day bilateral visit to India on Monday, which will present an opportunity to discuss aspects of bilateral ties and review preparations for the pending India-Russia annual summit later this year. "The visit will be a unique opportunity to discuss important aspects of our bilateral ties, also to review preparations for the next India Russia annual summit and also perhaps discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday had said the Russian Foreign Minister, during his visit, will hold talks with his counterpart External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. "The heads of the foreign affairs agencies will discuss the current state of bilateral relations, the preparation of the upcoming high-level meeting this year, including cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, will consider key topics on the regional, global agenda, assess approaches to the interaction between Russia and India on the international arena, including at the UN, BRICS," Zakharova added. After India, Lavrov will visit Pakistan from April 6-7. The foreign minister’s visit to India comes as Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited the country in February this year where he met Lavrov and discussed wide-ranging Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries and ways to further strengthen it. Shringla had said they discussed some regional and international issues of interest including cooperation in the UN and UNSC where India is a non-permanent member now. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian Foreign Minister to begin two-day India visit tomorrow

Many countries shut down and went into another lockdown as the second wave of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> pandemic hit the world.

However, Russia was one of the few countries that didn’t initiate another lockdown, and it now seems to be paying a price for it.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-vaccinated-people-spread-the-virus-we-dont-know-scientists-say-374976" hreflang="en">Can vaccinated people spread the virus? We don’t know, scientists say</a>

Russia’s death toll from coronavirus increased to 24,369 in February, which is nearly double the initial tally.

The data released by the Federal Statistics Service, on Friday, included people who had contracted the deadly virus. However, whether or not the actual cause of death was COVId-19 has not been made clear yet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-study-finds-almost-one-in-seven-suffer-long-covid-symptoms-374862" hreflang="en">British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms</a>

Authorities also raised the overall deaths in Russia due to coronavirus to 225,572 after the death toll for January was revised to a higher number.

The increased death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has raised alarm and has also brought criticism for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who opted out of imposing a lockdown to help boost the economy.

However, Putin’s trial&nbsp;of cushioning the economy has led to Russia registering third-most deaths in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic — just after the US and Brazil.

Many countries shut down and went into another lockdown as the second wave of coronavirus pandemic hit the world. However, Russia was one of the few countries that didn’t initiate another lockdown, and it now seems to be paying a price for it.

Many countries shut down and went into another lockdown as the second wave of coronavirus pandemic hit the world. However, Russia was one of the few countries that didn’t initiate another lockdown, and it now seems to be paying a price for it. Also read | Can vaccinated people spread the virus? We don’t know, scientists say Russia’s death toll from coronavirus increased to 24,369 in February, which is nearly double the initial tally. The data released by the Federal Statistics Service, on Friday, included people who had contracted the deadly virus. However, whether or not the actual cause of death was COVId-19 has not been made clear yet. Also read | British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms Authorities also raised the overall deaths in Russia due to coronavirus to 225,572 after the death toll for January was revised to a higher number. The increased death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has raised alarm and has also brought criticism for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who opted out of imposing a lockdown to help boost the economy. However, Putin’s trial of cushioning the economy has led to Russia registering third-most deaths in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic — just after the US and Brazil.

Russia claims February Covid death toll double the initial number

The Russian government approved extending an agreement on cooperation in space with the United States until December 2030, news agencies cited the cabinet’s press service as saying on Saturday.

Moscow’s ties with Washington are at a post-Cold War low, with US President Joe Biden saying he believes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a killer, who deserves to be hit with sanctions for meddling in US politics, charges the Kremlin denies.

"The agreement ...on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes will be in place until December 31, 2030," the cabinet said in a statement carried by agencies.&nbsp;

The US Commerce Department last month said it was tightening sanctions on some exports to Russia, but was partially excluding certain items, such as those related to aviation and space.

Meanwhile, Russia and China unveiled plans earlier for a joint lunar space station, as Moscow seeks to recapture the glory of its space pioneering days of Soviet times, and Beijing gears up its own extraterrestrial ambitions.

Though Moscow was once at the forefront of space travel -- it sent the first man into space -- its cosmic ambitions have dimmed thanks to poor financing and endemic corruption.&nbsp;

It has been eclipsed by China and the United States, which have both clocked major wins in space exploration and research in recent years.&nbsp;

The Russian space agency Roscomos said in a statement that it had signed an agreement with China's National Space Administration (CNSA) to develop a ‘complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface and/or in the orbit of the Moon’.

The CNSA, for its part, said that the project was ‘open to all interested countries and international partners’ in what experts said would be China's biggest international space cooperation project to date.

Moscow is seeking to re-take the lead in the space race.&nbsp;

This year, it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Russia's first-ever manned space flight -- it sent Yuri Gagarin into space in April 1961, followed by the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, two years later.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The Russian government approved extending an agreement on cooperation in space with the United States until December 2030, news agencies cited the cabinet’s press service as saying on Saturday.

The Russian government approved extending an agreement on cooperation in space with the United States until December 2030, news agencies cited the cabinet’s press service as saying on Saturday. Moscow’s ties with Washington are at a post-Cold War low, with US President Joe Biden saying he believes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a killer, who deserves to be hit with sanctions for meddling in US politics, charges the Kremlin denies. "The agreement ...on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes will be in place until December 31, 2030," the cabinet said in a statement carried by agencies. The US Commerce Department last month said it was tightening sanctions on some exports to Russia, but was partially excluding certain items, such as those related to aviation and space. Meanwhile, Russia and China unveiled plans earlier for a joint lunar space station, as Moscow seeks to recapture the glory of its space pioneering days of Soviet times, and Beijing gears up its own extraterrestrial ambitions. Though Moscow was once at the forefront of space travel -- it sent the first man into space -- its cosmic ambitions have dimmed thanks to poor financing and endemic corruption. It has been eclipsed by China and the United States, which have both clocked major wins in space exploration and research in recent years. The Russian space agency Roscomos said in a statement that it had signed an agreement with China's National Space Administration (CNSA) to develop a ‘complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface and/or in the orbit of the Moon’. The CNSA, for its part, said that the project was ‘open to all interested countries and international partners’ in what experts said would be China's biggest international space cooperation project to date. Moscow is seeking to re-take the lead in the space race. This year, it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Russia's first-ever manned space flight -- it sent Yuri Gagarin into space in April 1961, followed by the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, two years later. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia backs extending space cooperation deal with US to 2030: Report

Italy expelled two Russian diplomats on Wednesday after police said they had arrested an Italian navy captain caught passing documents to a Russian official in return for money at a clandestine meeting.&nbsp;

The Italian, a captain of a frigate, and the Russian, a military official accredited at the embassy, were accused of 'serious crimes tied to spying and state security' after their meeting on Tuesday night, Italian Carabinieri police said.&nbsp;

The suspects were not identified.&nbsp;

Italy immediately summoned the Russian ambassador Sergey Razov and expelled two Russian officials believed to be involved in what Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio called an 'extremely grave matter'.&nbsp;

The Italian navy captain was taken into custody. Officials did not say whether the Russian army official, who had met him was one of the two, who were expelled.

Meanwhile, Britain on Wednesday said it 'stands in solidarity'&nbsp;with Italy over its expulsion of two Russian officials accused over a spy scandal, calling Moscow's actions 'malign and destabilising'.

"The UK stands in solidarity with Italy and its actions today, exposing and taking action against Russia's malign and destabilising activity that is designed to undermine our NATO ally," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on Twitter.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a Russian lawmaker as saying Moscow would reciprocate for the expulsions, standard practice in such cases.&nbsp;

However, statements from Moscow suggested Russia was keen to play down the incident. The Russian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying that it regretted the expulsions, but that they did not threaten bilateral relations.&nbsp;

Earlier, the Kremlin said it did not have information about the circumstances of the case but hoped the two countries would maintain positive and constructive ties.&nbsp;

The incident was the latest in a series of spying accusations in recent months against Russians in European countries. Bulgaria expelled Russian officials on suspicion of spying in March, and the Netherlands did so in December.&nbsp;

NATO documents were among the files that the Italian passed to the Russian official, Ansa news agency said, raising potential security worries for other members of the Western military alliance.&nbsp;

The arrests were ordered by Rome prosecutors following a long investigation carried out by the Italian intelligence with the support of the military, the police force said.&nbsp;

Police did not specify where the arrests had taken place. No further comment would be made until a magistrate approves the arrest, they said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Italy expelled two Russian diplomats on Wednesday after police said they had arrested an Italian navy captain caught passing documents to a Russian official in return for money at a clandestine meeting.

Italy expelled two Russian diplomats on Wednesday after police said they had arrested an Italian navy captain caught passing documents to a Russian official in return for money at a clandestine meeting. The Italian, a captain of a frigate, and the Russian, a military official accredited at the embassy, were accused of 'serious crimes tied to spying and state security' after their meeting on Tuesday night, Italian Carabinieri police said. The suspects were not identified. Italy immediately summoned the Russian ambassador Sergey Razov and expelled two Russian officials believed to be involved in what Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio called an 'extremely grave matter'. The Italian navy captain was taken into custody. Officials did not say whether the Russian army official, who had met him was one of the two, who were expelled. Meanwhile, Britain on Wednesday said it 'stands in solidarity' with Italy over its expulsion of two Russian officials accused over a spy scandal, calling Moscow's actions 'malign and destabilising'. "The UK stands in solidarity with Italy and its actions today, exposing and taking action against Russia's malign and destabilising activity that is designed to undermine our NATO ally," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on Twitter. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a Russian lawmaker as saying Moscow would reciprocate for the expulsions, standard practice in such cases. However, statements from Moscow suggested Russia was keen to play down the incident. The Russian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying that it regretted the expulsions, but that they did not threaten bilateral relations. Earlier, the Kremlin said it did not have information about the circumstances of the case but hoped the two countries would maintain positive and constructive ties. The incident was the latest in a series of spying accusations in recent months against Russians in European countries. Bulgaria expelled Russian officials on suspicion of spying in March, and the Netherlands did so in December. NATO documents were among the files that the Italian passed to the Russian official, Ansa news agency said, raising potential security worries for other members of the Western military alliance. The arrests were ordered by Rome prosecutors following a long investigation carried out by the Italian intelligence with the support of the military, the police force said. Police did not specify where the arrests had taken place. No further comment would be made until a magistrate approves the arrest, they said. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy expels two Russian diplomats, arrests navy captain for spying  

President Joe Biden wants to forge an “alliance of democracies.” China wants to make clear that it has alliances of its own.

Only days after a rancorous encounter with U.S. officials in Alaska, China’s foreign minister joined his Russian counterpart last week to denounce Western meddling and sanctions.

He then headed to the Middle East to visit traditional U.S. allies, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as Iran, where he signed a sweeping investment agreement Saturday. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, reached out to Colombia one day and pledged support for North Korea on another.

Although officials denied the timing was intentional, the message clearly was. China hopes to position itself as the main challenger to an international order, led by the United States, that is generally guided by principles of democracy, respect for human rights and adherence to rule of law.

Such a system “does not represent the will of the international community,” China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, told Russia’s, Sergey Lavrov, when they met in the southern Chinese city of Guilin.

In a joint statement, they accused the United States of bullying and interference and urged it to “reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years.”

The threat of a U.S.-led coalition challenging China’s authoritarian policies has only bolstered Beijing’s ambition to be a global leader of nations that oppose Washington and its allies. It shows an increasingly confident and unapologetic China, one that not only refutes U.S. criticism of its internal affairs but that presents its own values as a model for others.

“They’re actually trying to build an argument like, ‘We’re the more responsible power. We’re not the spoilers or an axis of evil,’” John Delury, a professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, said of China’s strategy.

As result, the world is increasingly dividing into distinct if not purely ideological camps, with both China and the United States hoping to lure supporters.

Biden made that clear in his first presidential news conference Thursday, presenting a foreign policy based on geopolitical competition between models of governance. He compared Xi to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “who thinks that autocracy is the wave of the future and democracy can’t function” in “an ever-complex world.”

He later called the challenge “a battle between the utility of democracies in the 21st century and autocracies.”

China, for its part, argues that it is the United States dividing the world into blocs. Xi set the tone shortly after Biden’s inauguration, telling this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that multilateralism should be based on consensus among many countries, not a view advanced by “one or the few.”

“To build small circles or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to willfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangement will only push the world into division and even confrontation,” Xi said.

In pushing back on criticism of its policies in recent days, China has championed the primacy of international organizations like the United Nations, where Beijing’s clout has grown.

Wang noted that more than 80 countries at the U.N. Human Rights Council had expressed support for China’s actions in Xinjiang, the far western region where authorities have detained and interned Uyghur Muslims in a campaign the United States declared a genocide.

As a result, the world is increasingly dividing into distinct, if not purely ideological, camps, with both China and the United States hoping to lure in supporters. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Wang secured an endorsement of its Xinjiang policies, as well as its quashing of dissent in Hong Kong, from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, though a Saudi statement did not mention Xinjiang.

China’s most striking alignment is with Russia, where Putin has long complained about U.S. hegemony and its use — abuse, in his view — of the global financial system as an instrument of foreign policy.

The Russian foreign minister arrived in China on March 22 railing about U.S. sanctions and saying the world needed to reduce its reliance on the U.S. dollar.

China and Russia have drawn closer especially since Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 was met with international outrage and Western penalties. While the possibility of a formal alliance remains remote, the countries’ diplomatic and economic ties have deepened in common cause against the United States. So have strategic ties. The People’s Liberation Army and the Russian military now routinely hold exercises together and have twice conducted joint air patrols along Japan’s coast, most recently in December.

The two countries announced this month that they would build a research station on the moon together, setting the stage for competing space programs, one led by China and the other by the United States.

“The latest steps and gestures by the Biden administration, seen as hostile and insulting by the Russian and Chinese leaders, have predictably pushed Moscow and Beijing even deeper into a mutual embrace,” said Artyom Lukin, a professor of international studies at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia.

Chinese officials, like the Russians, have repeatedly said the United States lacks the standing to criticize other nations. They cite as evidence its military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and accuse it of instigating public protests against governments it opposes.

In his extraordinary confrontation with U.S. officials in Alaska, China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, cited racism and police brutality in the United States, along with mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, as evidence of the country’s decline.

China’s State Council released a report on human rights in the United States on Wednesday, using as an epigraph George Floyd’s plea to the police, “I can’t breathe.”

“The United States should lower the tone of democracy and human rights and talk more about cooperation in global affairs,” Yuan Peng, president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a government think tank, wrote the same day.

From that perspective, Xi’s outreach to North Korea and Wang’s visit to Iran could signal China’s interest in working with the United States to resolve disputes over those two countries’ nuclear programs.

Biden’s administration may be open to that. After the Alaska meetings, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned both as potential areas where “our interests intersect” with China’s.

In other areas, a chasm is widening.

Since Biden’s election, China has sought to prevent the United States from forging a united front against it. It appealed to the new administration to resume cooperation after the confrontations of the Trump years. It sealed trade and investment agreements, including one with the European Union, hoping to box out Biden.

It did not work. The first results of Biden’s strategy emerged last week, when the United States, Canada, Britain and the European Union jointly announced sanctions on Chinese officials over Xinjiang. China’s condemnation was swift.

“The era when it was possible to make up a story and concoct lies to wantonly meddle in Chinese domestic affairs is past and will not come back,” Wang said.

China retaliated with sanctions of its own against elected officials and scholars in the European Union and Britain. Similar penalties followed Saturday on Canadians and Americans, including top officials at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government body that held a hearing this month on forced labor in Xinjiang. All affected will be barred from traveling to China or conducting business with Chinese companies or individuals.

Theresa Fallon, director of the Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies in Brussels, said China’s sanctions on Europeans were an overreaction that would drive officials into an anti-China camp.

They could also jeopardize China’s investment deal with the European Union, as many of those penalized are members of the European Parliament, whose approval is required. So could new campaigns by Chinese consumers against major Western brands like H&amp;amp;M and Nike.

Until now, many EU nations have not wanted to explicitly choose sides, eschewing the kind of bipolar ideological divisions seen during the Cold War, in part because of deepening economic ties with China.

With each new twist in relations, however, clearer camps are emerging.

“The Chinese mirror all the time,” Fallon said. “They always accuse people of Cold War thinking because I think that’s really, deep down, how they think.”

President Joe Biden wants to forge an “alliance of democracies.” China wants to make clear that it has alliances of its own. Only days after a rancorous encounter with U.

President Joe Biden wants to forge an “alliance of democracies.” China wants to make clear that it has alliances of its own. Only days after a rancorous encounter with U.S. officials in Alaska, China’s foreign minister joined his Russian counterpart last week to denounce Western meddling and sanctions. He then headed to the Middle East to visit traditional U.S. allies, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as Iran, where he signed a sweeping investment agreement Saturday. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, reached out to Colombia one day and pledged support for North Korea on another. Although officials denied the timing was intentional, the message clearly was. China hopes to position itself as the main challenger to an international order, led by the United States, that is generally guided by principles of democracy, respect for human rights and adherence to rule of law. Such a system “does not represent the will of the international community,” China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, told Russia’s, Sergey Lavrov, when they met in the southern Chinese city of Guilin. In a joint statement, they accused the United States of bullying and interference and urged it to “reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years.” The threat of a U.S.-led coalition challenging China’s authoritarian policies has only bolstered Beijing’s ambition to be a global leader of nations that oppose Washington and its allies. It shows an increasingly confident and unapologetic China, one that not only refutes U.S. criticism of its internal affairs but that presents its own values as a model for others. “They’re actually trying to build an argument like, ‘We’re the more responsible power. We’re not the spoilers or an axis of evil,’” John Delury, a professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, said of China’s strategy. As result, the world is increasingly dividing into distinct if not purely ideological camps, with both China and the United States hoping to lure supporters. Biden made that clear in his first presidential news conference Thursday, presenting a foreign policy based on geopolitical competition between models of governance. He compared Xi to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “who thinks that autocracy is the wave of the future and democracy can’t function” in “an ever-complex world.” He later called the challenge “a battle between the utility of democracies in the 21st century and autocracies.” China, for its part, argues that it is the United States dividing the world into blocs. Xi set the tone shortly after Biden’s inauguration, telling this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that multilateralism should be based on consensus among many countries, not a view advanced by “one or the few.” “To build small circles or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to willfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangement will only push the world into division and even confrontation,” Xi said. In pushing back on criticism of its policies in recent days, China has championed the primacy of international organizations like the United Nations, where Beijing’s clout has grown. Wang noted that more than 80 countries at the U.N. Human Rights Council had expressed support for China’s actions in Xinjiang, the far western region where authorities have detained and interned Uyghur Muslims in a campaign the United States declared a genocide. As a result, the world is increasingly dividing into distinct, if not purely ideological, camps, with both China and the United States hoping to lure in supporters. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Wang secured an endorsement of its Xinjiang policies, as well as its quashing of dissent in Hong Kong, from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, though a Saudi statement did not mention Xinjiang. China’s most striking alignment is with Russia, where Putin has long complained about U.S. hegemony and its use — abuse, in his view — of the global financial system as an instrument of foreign policy. The Russian foreign minister arrived in China on March 22 railing about U.S. sanctions and saying the world needed to reduce its reliance on the U.S. dollar. China and Russia have drawn closer especially since Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 was met with international outrage and Western penalties. While the possibility of a formal alliance remains remote, the countries’ diplomatic and economic ties have deepened in common cause against the United States. So have strategic ties. The People’s Liberation Army and the Russian military now routinely hold exercises together and have twice conducted joint air patrols along Japan’s coast, most recently in December. The two countries announced this month that they would build a research station on the moon together, setting the stage for competing space programs, one led by China and the other by the United States. “The latest steps and gestures by the Biden administration, seen as hostile and insulting by the Russian and Chinese leaders, have predictably pushed Moscow and Beijing even deeper into a mutual embrace,” said Artyom Lukin, a professor of international studies at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. Chinese officials, like the Russians, have repeatedly said the United States lacks the standing to criticize other nations. They cite as evidence its military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and accuse it of instigating public protests against governments it opposes. In his extraordinary confrontation with U.S. officials in Alaska, China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, cited racism and police brutality in the United States, along with mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, as evidence of the country’s decline. China’s State Council released a report on human rights in the United States on Wednesday, using as an epigraph George Floyd’s plea to the police, “I can’t breathe.” “The United States should lower the tone of democracy and human rights and talk more about cooperation in global affairs,” Yuan Peng, president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a government think tank, wrote the same day. From that perspective, Xi’s outreach to North Korea and Wang’s visit to Iran could signal China’s interest in working with the United States to resolve disputes over those two countries’ nuclear programs. Biden’s administration may be open to that. After the Alaska meetings, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned both as potential areas where “our interests intersect” with China’s. In other areas, a chasm is widening. Since Biden’s election, China has sought to prevent the United States from forging a united front against it. It appealed to the new administration to resume cooperation after the confrontations of the Trump years. It sealed trade and investment agreements, including one with the European Union, hoping to box out Biden. It did not work. The first results of Biden’s strategy emerged last week, when the United States, Canada, Britain and the European Union jointly announced sanctions on Chinese officials over Xinjiang. China’s condemnation was swift. “The era when it was possible to make up a story and concoct lies to wantonly meddle in Chinese domestic affairs is past and will not come back,” Wang said. China retaliated with sanctions of its own against elected officials and scholars in the European Union and Britain. Similar penalties followed Saturday on Canadians and Americans, including top officials at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government body that held a hearing this month on forced labor in Xinjiang. All affected will be barred from traveling to China or conducting business with Chinese companies or individuals. Theresa Fallon, director of the Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies in Brussels, said China’s sanctions on Europeans were an overreaction that would drive officials into an anti-China camp. They could also jeopardize China’s investment deal with the European Union, as many of those penalized are members of the European Parliament, whose approval is required. So could new campaigns by Chinese consumers against major Western brands like H&amp;M and Nike. Until now, many EU nations have not wanted to explicitly choose sides, eschewing the kind of bipolar ideological divisions seen during the Cold War, in part because of deepening economic ties with China. With each new twist in relations, however, clearer camps are emerging. “The Chinese mirror all the time,” Fallon said. “They always accuse people of Cold War thinking because I think that’s really, deep down, how they think.”

An alliance of autocracies? China wants to lead a new world order.

Russia said on Monday that it was 'very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar. The comment has come two days after Myanmar saw bloodiest day as 114 people were killed by security forces on Saturday.

"We are very concerned by the growing number of civilian casualties," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia was developing ties with Myanmar but did not condone the violence.

The horrific killings on Saturday coincided with Armed Forces Day in the country that has seen citizens fiercely protest against military rule. The military toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1.

The big cities like Yangon and Mandalay saw largest number of killings At least 40 people, including a 13-year-old girl, were killed in Mandalay, and at least 27 people were killed in Yangon, as per the local media.

The international condemnation of military junta rule has grown shriller still. US President on Monday decried the bloodshed as "absolutely outrageous". He said that the US was working on sanctions against Myanmar.

(With agency inputs)

Russia said on Monday that it was 'very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar. The comment has come two days after Myanmar saw bloodiest day as 114 people were killed by security forces on Saturday.

Russia said on Monday that it was 'very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar. The comment has come two days after Myanmar saw bloodiest day as 114 people were killed by security forces on Saturday. "We are very concerned by the growing number of civilian casualties," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia was developing ties with Myanmar but did not condone the violence. The horrific killings on Saturday coincided with Armed Forces Day in the country that has seen citizens fiercely protest against military rule. The military toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1. The big cities like Yangon and Mandalay saw largest number of killings At least 40 people, including a 13-year-old girl, were killed in Mandalay, and at least 27 people were killed in Yangon, as per the local media. The international condemnation of military junta rule has grown shriller still. US President on Monday decried the bloodshed as "absolutely outrageous". He said that the US was working on sanctions against Myanmar. (With agency inputs)

'Very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar, says Russia

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.

"We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world".

On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night.&nbsp;

The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel.

Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change.&nbsp;

Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal.

(With AFP inputs)

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway. "We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world". On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night. The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel. Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change. Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal. (With AFP inputs)

Russia offers to help Egypt in freeing Suez Canal ship

Russian Soyuz rocket blasts off with 38 satellites

Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday approved sanctions over abuses in China, Myanmar and Russia. The EU is expanding measures targetting global human rights breaches. The European Union is set to place four Chinese officials and one state-run entity on a blacklist. This is being done over Beijing's crackdown on Uighur Muslims.

The highly symbolic move -- reported by EU diplomats and expected to be formally unveiled in the EU's official journal later Monday -- is the first time Brussels has hit Beijing over human rights abuses since it imposed an arms embargo in 1989 after Tiananmen Square

"This is a very important step which shows how committed we are," Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said.

China's foreign ministry has warned that Beijing will "react with a firm hand" against any punishment over its actions in the western Xinjiang region.&nbsp;

The measures are part of a package of human rights sanctions targeting a dozen people that also includes individuals in Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan and Libya, diplomats said.

The mechanism -- designed to make it easier for the bloc to target rights abusers -- was launched this month with sanctions on four Russian officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Fresh sanctions on Russia will target individuals behind abuses in Chechnya. The region is ruled with an iron-fist by Kremlin loyalist Ramzan Kadyrov.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, triggering a mass uprising that security forces have sought to crush with a campaign of violence and fear.&nbsp;

Diplomats have said businesses tied to the military will likely be placed under sanctions in the coming weeks.

(With AFP inputs)

Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday approved sanctions over abuses in China, Myanmar and Russia. The EU is expanding measures targetting global human rights breaches.

Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday approved sanctions over abuses in China, Myanmar and Russia. The EU is expanding measures targetting global human rights breaches. The European Union is set to place four Chinese officials and one state-run entity on a blacklist. This is being done over Beijing's crackdown on Uighur Muslims. The highly symbolic move -- reported by EU diplomats and expected to be formally unveiled in the EU's official journal later Monday -- is the first time Brussels has hit Beijing over human rights abuses since it imposed an arms embargo in 1989 after Tiananmen Square "This is a very important step which shows how committed we are," Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said. China's foreign ministry has warned that Beijing will "react with a firm hand" against any punishment over its actions in the western Xinjiang region. The measures are part of a package of human rights sanctions targeting a dozen people that also includes individuals in Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan and Libya, diplomats said. The mechanism -- designed to make it easier for the bloc to target rights abusers -- was launched this month with sanctions on four Russian officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Fresh sanctions on Russia will target individuals behind abuses in Chechnya. The region is ruled with an iron-fist by Kremlin loyalist Ramzan Kadyrov. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, triggering a mass uprising that security forces have sought to crush with a campaign of violence and fear. Diplomats have said businesses tied to the military will likely be placed under sanctions in the coming weeks. (With AFP inputs)

EU approves sanctions on China, Myanmar over rights abuses

Russia's ambassador to the United States landed in Moscow on Sunday after being recalled for emergency consultations over the worst crisis in relations with the United States in years.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on television earlier this week called the Russian leader a 'killer' spurring a terse quip from Vladimir Putin who responded that, 'it takes one to know one'.&nbsp;

The exchange pushed diplomatic relations to a new low even after Moscow's ties with Washington were already at rock bottom over election meddling allegations and the Kremlin's decision to jail opposition figure Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;

Russia's envoy to the United States Anatoly Antonov landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Sunday morning, Russian news agencies reported, after he was recalled last week over the spat. &nbsp;

Before takeoff in New York, he told agencies he would stay in Moscow 'as along as necessary' and that several meetings were scheduled.&nbsp;

"The Russian side has always stressed that we are interested in the development of Russian-American relations to the same extent as our American colleagues are," he was quoted as saying by TASS.&nbsp;

Moscow, which rarely returns ambassadors, last summoned its envoy in the US in 1998 over a Western bombing campaign in Iraq.&nbsp;

In 2014, after the US said Russia would face repercussions for annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, Putin held back on recalling Moscow's envoy, describing the measure as a 'last resort'. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia's ambassador to the United States landed in Moscow on Sunday after being recalled for emergency consultations over the worst crisis in relations with the United States in years.

Russia's ambassador to the United States landed in Moscow on Sunday after being recalled for emergency consultations over the worst crisis in relations with the United States in years. US President Joe Biden on television earlier this week called the Russian leader a 'killer' spurring a terse quip from Vladimir Putin who responded that, 'it takes one to know one'. The exchange pushed diplomatic relations to a new low even after Moscow's ties with Washington were already at rock bottom over election meddling allegations and the Kremlin's decision to jail opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Russia's envoy to the United States Anatoly Antonov landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Sunday morning, Russian news agencies reported, after he was recalled last week over the spat. Before takeoff in New York, he told agencies he would stay in Moscow 'as along as necessary' and that several meetings were scheduled. "The Russian side has always stressed that we are interested in the development of Russian-American relations to the same extent as our American colleagues are," he was quoted as saying by TASS. Moscow, which rarely returns ambassadors, last summoned its envoy in the US in 1998 over a Western bombing campaign in Iraq. In 2014, after the US said Russia would face repercussions for annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, Putin held back on recalling Moscow's envoy, describing the measure as a 'last resort'. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia's US envoy Anatoly Antonov returns to Moscow after 'killer' row 

Russia's ambassador to Britain has accused the UK government of breaking its international treaty commitments with a plan to increase the country's nuclear arsenal and said the political relationship between Moscow and London is 'nearly dead'.&nbsp;

In a foreign and defence policy review published on Tuesday and endorsed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain said it needed to increase its nuclear arsenal in the face of evolving global security threats.&nbsp;

Britain said it would raise the upper limit on its nuclear warhead stock to 260 from 180. The same report also classified Russia as 'the most acute threat to our security' in the Euro-Atlantic region.&nbsp;

The Kremlin said at the time that it regretted the British nuclear decision, which it suggested would harm international stability, while the Russian foreign ministry described the move as a serious blow to international arms control.&nbsp;

Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to Britain, went further in an interview due to be broadcast on the London-based LBC radio station on Sunday, saying the plan looked illegal.&nbsp;

"You are increasing the number of warheads by 40%. This is a violation of the treaty of non-proliferation and many, many other agreements that are saying only a decline or a reduction in the number of nukes," Kelin told LBC, according to a partial transcript on the radio station's website.&nbsp;

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which Britain has ratified, came into force in 1970. The UK government has said its plans do not violate the pact.&nbsp;

Russian news agencies cited Kelin as saying that political relations between London and Moscow, which have become strained from events from Russia's jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny to the poisoning in 2018 of a Russian double agent and his daughter, were 'nearly dead'.&nbsp;

They cited Kelin as saying that only cultural and economic ties remained, while LBC cited him as saying that the last time, he had spoken to British foreign minister Dominic Raab was in December 2019.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia's ambassador to Britain has accused the UK government of breaking its international treaty commitments with a plan to increase the country's nuclear arsenal and said the political relationship between Moscow and London is 'nearly dead'.

Russia's ambassador to Britain has accused the UK government of breaking its international treaty commitments with a plan to increase the country's nuclear arsenal and said the political relationship between Moscow and London is 'nearly dead'. In a foreign and defence policy review published on Tuesday and endorsed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain said it needed to increase its nuclear arsenal in the face of evolving global security threats. Britain said it would raise the upper limit on its nuclear warhead stock to 260 from 180. The same report also classified Russia as 'the most acute threat to our security' in the Euro-Atlantic region. The Kremlin said at the time that it regretted the British nuclear decision, which it suggested would harm international stability, while the Russian foreign ministry described the move as a serious blow to international arms control. Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to Britain, went further in an interview due to be broadcast on the London-based LBC radio station on Sunday, saying the plan looked illegal. "You are increasing the number of warheads by 40%. This is a violation of the treaty of non-proliferation and many, many other agreements that are saying only a decline or a reduction in the number of nukes," Kelin told LBC, according to a partial transcript on the radio station's website. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which Britain has ratified, came into force in 1970. The UK government has said its plans do not violate the pact. Russian news agencies cited Kelin as saying that political relations between London and Moscow, which have become strained from events from Russia's jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny to the poisoning in 2018 of a Russian double agent and his daughter, were 'nearly dead'. They cited Kelin as saying that only cultural and economic ties remained, while LBC cited him as saying that the last time, he had spoken to British foreign minister Dominic Raab was in December 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

UK nuclear arms plan is illegal: Russian envoy  

Russia said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an&nbsp;'irreversible deterioration'&nbsp;in relations.&nbsp;

"The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of&nbsp;analysing&nbsp;what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

The announcement came after President Joe Biden said Russia will&nbsp;'pay a price'&nbsp;for meddling in US elections and he agrees with the assessment that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a&nbsp;'killer'.&nbsp;

The Biden's statement has come after a 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, claimed that the Russian President likely directed efforts to try and sabotage Biden's chances of winning the US election 2020 against Donald Trump.&nbsp;

"Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval."&nbsp;

However, these claims were dismissed by Russia. "The document prepared by the US intelligence community is another set of groundless accusations against our country of interfering in American internal political processes. The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided,"&nbsp;the Russian Embassy in Washington said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Immediately after Biden's statement, Russia's lower house of parliament denounced the US President for agreeing that Putin is a 'killer'. Claiming that attacks on Putin are attacks on Russia, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel that "Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia said on Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations.

Russia said on Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations. "The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analysing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The announcement came after President Joe Biden said Russia will 'pay a price' for meddling in US elections and he agrees with the assessment that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a 'killer'. The Biden's statement has come after a 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, claimed that the Russian President likely directed efforts to try and sabotage Biden's chances of winning the US election 2020 against Donald Trump. "Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval." However, these claims were dismissed by Russia. "The document prepared by the US intelligence community is another set of groundless accusations against our country of interfering in American internal political processes. The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided," the Russian Embassy in Washington said on Wednesday. Immediately after Biden's statement, Russia's lower house of parliament denounced the US President for agreeing that Putin is a 'killer'. Claiming that attacks on Putin are attacks on Russia, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel that "Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement". (With inputs from agencies)

Russia recalls Washington envoy for consultations 

A decade of war in Syria with no hope in sight

The United States has called on Russia to release about 200 opposition activists, who were detained in Moscow on Saturday. About 200 opposition activists were detained in Moscow on Saturday, according to a statement from Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs. &nbsp;

The detentions are the latest in a series of crackdowns sustained by members of the opposition following Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny's arrest and imprisonment.&nbsp;

Taking to Twitter, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an end to the 'persecution of independent voices'.&nbsp;

"Today, the Russian government detained almost 200 municipal leaders and politicians, including political activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Yuliya Galyamina, on dubious grounds. We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices," Blinken wrote in a tweet.&nbsp;

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Today, the Russian government detained almost 200 municipal leaders and politicians, including political activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Yuliya Galyamina, on dubious grounds. We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1370888353256726529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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CNN reported that on Saturday, municipal deputies from Russia's regions gathered in the Russian capital to discuss parliamentary and local elections, which are scheduled for September, at a forum held by United Democrats, a project aimed at supporting competitive election, according to their website.&nbsp;

On February 2, a Moscow court substituted Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny's suspended sentence in corruption case with a real prison term of 3.5 years for multiple violations of his probation terms. &nbsp;

A Moscow city court reinstated the ruling but reduced the sentence to 2.5 years. For months, opposition activists have been met with a harsh show of force, demonstrated most clearly on January 31, when over 5,000 people were detained during nationwide protests in 85 cities in support of Navalny. &nbsp;

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that 'checks are being conducted' on the activists detained on Saturday, and that 'a decision will be undertaken in compliance with the law'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States has called on Russia to release about 200 opposition activists, who were detained in Moscow on Saturday. About 200 opposition activists were detained in Moscow on Saturday, according to a statement from Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The United States has called on Russia to release about 200 opposition activists, who were detained in Moscow on Saturday. About 200 opposition activists were detained in Moscow on Saturday, according to a statement from Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs. The detentions are the latest in a series of crackdowns sustained by members of the opposition following Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny's arrest and imprisonment. Taking to Twitter, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an end to the 'persecution of independent voices'. "Today, the Russian government detained almost 200 municipal leaders and politicians, including political activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Yuliya Galyamina, on dubious grounds. We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices," Blinken wrote in a tweet. Today, the Russian government detained almost 200 municipal leaders and politicians, including political activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Yuliya Galyamina, on dubious grounds. We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 14, 2021 × CNN reported that on Saturday, municipal deputies from Russia's regions gathered in the Russian capital to discuss parliamentary and local elections, which are scheduled for September, at a forum held by United Democrats, a project aimed at supporting competitive election, according to their website. On February 2, a Moscow court substituted Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny's suspended sentence in corruption case with a real prison term of 3.5 years for multiple violations of his probation terms. A Moscow city court reinstated the ruling but reduced the sentence to 2.5 years. For months, opposition activists have been met with a harsh show of force, demonstrated most clearly on January 31, when over 5,000 people were detained during nationwide protests in 85 cities in support of Navalny. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that 'checks are being conducted' on the activists detained on Saturday, and that 'a decision will be undertaken in compliance with the law'. (With inputs from agencies)

US calls on Russia to end persecution of independent voices  

Russian police detained around 200 people at a meeting of independent and opposition politicians in Moscow on Saturday, accusing them of links to an 'undesirable organisation', a monitoring group and a TV station said.&nbsp;

The detentions come amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin sentiment, following the arrest and imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who returned to Russia in January after recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in Siberia.&nbsp;

The forum, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, was a gathering of municipal deputies from all over the country, Andrei Pivovarov, the event's organiser and executive director of Open Russia, a British-based group founded by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, told radio station Echo Moskvy.&nbsp;

As the forum got underway, police entered the building and began detaining attendees and taking them to police vans waiting outside, video footage from TV Rain and Russian news agencies showed.&nbsp;

The Moscow branch of Russia's interior ministry said around 200 people had been detained and that an investigation was underway.

Police said those detained were not following the appropriate anti-coronavirus health measures even though footage showed most of them wearing masks. They said some of those attending the forum had links to an 'undesirable organisation'.

"A significant portion of participants lacked personal protective equipment," the police said. "Members of an organisation whose activities are considered undesirable on Russian territory were among the participants."

OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, published a list of more than 170 people, it said had been detained.&nbsp;

"The finale of the short forum was very symbolic: deputies in police vans and masked police twisting people's arms," one detainee, opposition politician Ilya Yashin, wrote on Facebook.

"But no one promised us freedom on a silver platter. Russia will still be free."

Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, shared a picture from the inside of a police van after he was detained.

TV Rain said Yevgeny Roizman, the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, and Moscow city councillor Yulia Galyamina were also detained.&nbsp;Open Russia is one of more than 30 groups that Moscow has labelled as undesirable and banned under a law adopted in 2015.

Rights advocates say the laws on 'undesirable' organisations and 'foreign agents' can be used to pressure and target civil society members. Russia denies that and says the laws are needed to protect its national security from outside meddling.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russian police detained around 200 people at a meeting of independent and opposition politicians in Moscow on Saturday, accusing them of links to an 'undesirable organisation', a monitoring group and a TV station said.

Russian police detained around 200 people at a meeting of independent and opposition politicians in Moscow on Saturday, accusing them of links to an 'undesirable organisation', a monitoring group and a TV station said. The detentions come amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin sentiment, following the arrest and imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who returned to Russia in January after recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in Siberia. The forum, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, was a gathering of municipal deputies from all over the country, Andrei Pivovarov, the event's organiser and executive director of Open Russia, a British-based group founded by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, told radio station Echo Moskvy. As the forum got underway, police entered the building and began detaining attendees and taking them to police vans waiting outside, video footage from TV Rain and Russian news agencies showed. The Moscow branch of Russia's interior ministry said around 200 people had been detained and that an investigation was underway. Police said those detained were not following the appropriate anti-coronavirus health measures even though footage showed most of them wearing masks. They said some of those attending the forum had links to an 'undesirable organisation'. "A significant portion of participants lacked personal protective equipment," the police said. "Members of an organisation whose activities are considered undesirable on Russian territory were among the participants." OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, published a list of more than 170 people, it said had been detained. "The finale of the short forum was very symbolic: deputies in police vans and masked police twisting people's arms," one detainee, opposition politician Ilya Yashin, wrote on Facebook. "But no one promised us freedom on a silver platter. Russia will still be free." Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, shared a picture from the inside of a police van after he was detained. TV Rain said Yevgeny Roizman, the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, and Moscow city councillor Yulia Galyamina were also detained. Open Russia is one of more than 30 groups that Moscow has labelled as undesirable and banned under a law adopted in 2015. Rights advocates say the laws on 'undesirable' organisations and 'foreign agents' can be used to pressure and target civil society members. Russia denies that and says the laws are needed to protect its national security from outside meddling. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia detains around 200 people, including opposition figures  

The Afghan government said on Saturday it would participate in two separate US- and Russian-backed peace conferences in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

The Russian-backed conference is scheduled for March 18, while the US-sponsored one will take place in Turkey next month, officials said.&nbsp;

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha have largely stalled.&nbsp;

"The Afghan government will take part in both the Moscow and Turkey conferences," Hamdullah Mohib, the country's national security council advisor told reporters in Kabul.&nbsp;

Mohammed Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban, said it had received an invitation from Moscow, but had not yet decided whether to attend or not. The Taliban has not made any comment about the proposed meeting in Turkey.&nbsp;

It comes at a crunch time for the peace process as a May 1 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan looms and the United States reviews its military commitments.&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a letter to President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month made a new urgent push for a United Nations-led peace effort and asked Turkey to host a senior-level meeting of 'both sides in the coming weeks to finalise a peace agreement'.&nbsp;

Blinken wrote to Afghan leaders that the United States is 'considering the full withdrawal of forces by May 1 as we consider other options'.&nbsp;

Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Afghan government and politicians to jumpstart the peace process as Washington's diplomacy ramps up.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Afghan government said on Saturday it would participate in two separate US- and Russian-backed peace conferences in the coming weeks. The Russian-backed conference is scheduled for March 18, while the US-sponsored one will take place in Turkey next month, officials said.

The Afghan government said on Saturday it would participate in two separate US- and Russian-backed peace conferences in the coming weeks. The Russian-backed conference is scheduled for March 18, while the US-sponsored one will take place in Turkey next month, officials said. Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha have largely stalled. "The Afghan government will take part in both the Moscow and Turkey conferences," Hamdullah Mohib, the country's national security council advisor told reporters in Kabul. Mohammed Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban, said it had received an invitation from Moscow, but had not yet decided whether to attend or not. The Taliban has not made any comment about the proposed meeting in Turkey. It comes at a crunch time for the peace process as a May 1 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan looms and the United States reviews its military commitments. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a letter to President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month made a new urgent push for a United Nations-led peace effort and asked Turkey to host a senior-level meeting of 'both sides in the coming weeks to finalise a peace agreement'. Blinken wrote to Afghan leaders that the United States is 'considering the full withdrawal of forces by May 1 as we consider other options'. Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Afghan government and politicians to jumpstart the peace process as Washington's diplomacy ramps up. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan government to attend both US, Russia-backed peace conferences 

Russia is waging a war on social media as it has sued America's big three tech giants. It is threatening to ban Twitter.&nbsp;

The story of social media regulations began with the arrest and sentencing of Kremlin critic&nbsp;Alexei Navalny, who was allegedly poisoned last year. It triggered a wave of protests in major Russian cities.

ALso read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/while-slowing-down-twitter-russia-ends-up-shutting-down-its-own-state-websites-reports-369506" hreflang="en">While slowing down Twitter, Russia ends up shutting down its own state websites: Reports</a>

Early on, the security forces were overwhelmed but they soon struck back. There was a crackdown and a large part of this mobilisation was done on social media. Twitter hashtags and Facebook groups were used to organise protests, to decide where to gather, what posters to bring and such.

It was a powerful tool in the hands of protesters, but Russia says it is being misused.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-is-russia-fighting-twitter-369527/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Local media alleged in unverified reports that a few social media posts encouraged children to join the public protests.

While inflammatory posts may have been the immediate trigger, Russia was always mulling a social media crackdown. The first indication came from President Putin himself who said the internet must respect not only formal laws but also moral ones.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-disrupting-twitter-over-illegal-content-369358">Russia says disrupting Twitter over 'illegal' content</a>

"We had discussions about certain restrictions on the internet. The internet has already penetrated into all spheres of our lives... It must obey not just the laws of formal, legal rules, but also the moral laws of the society in which we live, otherwise, this society will collapse from the inside. And there (online) we, unfortunately, encounter not only calls to take to the streets for unauthorised street actions," he said.&nbsp;

Twitter, Google and Facebook, each have three cases against them. The violations carry a fine of up to $54,000, which is negligible for the companies. However, it is not about the money, but about sending a message.

Even before the companies had time to respond, Russia had slowed down Twitter. Its operating speed was curbed in 100 per cent of all mobile devices and 50 per cent of all non-mobile devices. This time, the internet regulator gave a different reason. It claimed Twitter was reportedly ignoring Russia's requests to delete objectionable content including child pornography, graphic details of drug abuse and abetment of suicide.

There were 3,000 such posts and apparently repeated requests to remove them were ignored by Twitter, as per Russia.

Russians are used to policing on the streets, but digital policing is new and people are rightly worried. What they fear is a China-style crackdown on the internet. The Kremlin has assured that this is not the case.

However, the battle between the state and social media isn't new.&nbsp;While blocking inflammatory content is justified, using it as a cover for suppressing dissent is not. Similar Russian efforts in the past have ended in failure. In 2018, Moscow tried to ban Telegram, but in vain as the ban was lifted a year later.&nbsp;

The recent push to curb social media has been more successful. In December, the Russian parliament backed a new set of laws and called for big fines on social media platforms. Officials are also demanding so-called digital sovereignty, which is mostly along the lines of what President Putin said.

Russia's war on social media is a sign of changing times. Until a few years ago, containing dissent was about boots on the ground. Russia has more than enough of that but dissent has now gone digital. Narratives and stories decide the outcome of struggles, and the Kremlin wants to decide which stories to hear.

Russia is waging a war on social media as it has sued America's big three tech giants. It is threatening to ban Twitter. The story of social media regulations began with the arrest and sentencing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was allegedly poisoned last year.

Russia is waging a war on social media as it has sued America's big three tech giants. It is threatening to ban Twitter. The story of social media regulations began with the arrest and sentencing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was allegedly poisoned last year. It triggered a wave of protests in major Russian cities. ALso read | While slowing down Twitter, Russia ends up shutting down its own state websites: Reports Early on, the security forces were overwhelmed but they soon struck back. There was a crackdown and a large part of this mobilisation was done on social media. Twitter hashtags and Facebook groups were used to organise protests, to decide where to gather, what posters to bring and such. It was a powerful tool in the hands of protesters, but Russia says it is being misused. Watch | Local media alleged in unverified reports that a few social media posts encouraged children to join the public protests. While inflammatory posts may have been the immediate trigger, Russia was always mulling a social media crackdown. The first indication came from President Putin himself who said the internet must respect not only formal laws but also moral ones. Also read | Russia says disrupting Twitter over 'illegal' content "We had discussions about certain restrictions on the internet. The internet has already penetrated into all spheres of our lives... It must obey not just the laws of formal, legal rules, but also the moral laws of the society in which we live, otherwise, this society will collapse from the inside. And there (online) we, unfortunately, encounter not only calls to take to the streets for unauthorised street actions," he said. Twitter, Google and Facebook, each have three cases against them. The violations carry a fine of up to $54,000, which is negligible for the companies. However, it is not about the money, but about sending a message. Even before the companies had time to respond, Russia had slowed down Twitter. Its operating speed was curbed in 100 per cent of all mobile devices and 50 per cent of all non-mobile devices. This time, the internet regulator gave a different reason. It claimed Twitter was reportedly ignoring Russia's requests to delete objectionable content including child pornography, graphic details of drug abuse and abetment of suicide. There were 3,000 such posts and apparently repeated requests to remove them were ignored by Twitter, as per Russia. Russians are used to policing on the streets, but digital policing is new and people are rightly worried. What they fear is a China-style crackdown on the internet. The Kremlin has assured that this is not the case. However, the battle between the state and social media isn't new. While blocking inflammatory content is justified, using it as a cover for suppressing dissent is not. Similar Russian efforts in the past have ended in failure. In 2018, Moscow tried to ban Telegram, but in vain as the ban was lifted a year later. The recent push to curb social media has been more successful. In December, the Russian parliament backed a new set of laws and called for big fines on social media platforms. Officials are also demanding so-called digital sovereignty, which is mostly along the lines of what President Putin said. Russia's war on social media is a sign of changing times. Until a few years ago, containing dissent was about boots on the ground. Russia has more than enough of that but dissent has now gone digital. Narratives and stories decide the outcome of struggles, and the Kremlin wants to decide which stories to hear.

Social media coup: Russia slows down Twitter, files cases against Facebook and Google

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