A few days ago, a Russian driver froze to death when his car broke down on an infamous road between the&nbsp;Yakutsk and Magadan cities. Following that, Google Maps has decided to make sure such an incident never happens again.

After an 18-year-old boy and his friend had gone missing, the local police searched the cold areas for almost a week and later found him stuck in his car which was covered in snow as the temperature had climbed down to -50 Celsius.

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The two friends were found on an infamous&nbsp;Road of Bones, which the locals claim is a dangerous and abandoned road in the area. As the driver froze to death, his passenger was rushed to the hospital and treated for frostbite who later explained how they got stuck and the radiator of their car had malfunctioned.

Since this incident, Google Maps has decided to remove the path from its system to avoid any such future incidents, especially in the winters. The approximate time shown between the two cold cities was usually 31 hours. However, after re-routing to avoid the dubbed 'Road of Bones', the approximate time taken to commute between the two cities has increased to 34 hours, adding three hours to the travel time.

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The decision has also been taken as the condition of the road becomes hazardous due to lack of snow clearing equipment and scarcity of traffic in the area during winters.

This incident has also given a boost to the debate of whether Google Maps can be trusted, or should Russians rely on the locally-based mapping service called&nbsp;Yandex. Many believe&nbsp;Yandex provides more local feed which enables locals to assess the risk and take reliable routes. Many locals took to social media platforms to complain about the lack of reliability in Google Maps.

However, some locals also argued for Google Maps claiming it might have been yet another case of teenagers trying their luck for the sake of extra risk and adventure.

A few days ago, a Russian driver froze to death when his car broke down on an infamous road between the Yakutsk and Magadan cities. Following that, Google Maps has decided to make sure such an incident never happens again.

A few days ago, a Russian driver froze to death when his car broke down on an infamous road between the Yakutsk and Magadan cities. Following that, Google Maps has decided to make sure such an incident never happens again. After an 18-year-old boy and his friend had gone missing, the local police searched the cold areas for almost a week and later found him stuck in his car which was covered in snow as the temperature had climbed down to -50 Celsius. Also read| Climate change is making winter ice more dangerous The two friends were found on an infamous Road of Bones, which the locals claim is a dangerous and abandoned road in the area. As the driver froze to death, his passenger was rushed to the hospital and treated for frostbite who later explained how they got stuck and the radiator of their car had malfunctioned. Since this incident, Google Maps has decided to remove the path from its system to avoid any such future incidents, especially in the winters. The approximate time shown between the two cold cities was usually 31 hours. However, after re-routing to avoid the dubbed 'Road of Bones', the approximate time taken to commute between the two cities has increased to 34 hours, adding three hours to the travel time. Also read| She stalked her daughter’s killers across Mexico, one by one The decision has also been taken as the condition of the road becomes hazardous due to lack of snow clearing equipment and scarcity of traffic in the area during winters. This incident has also given a boost to the debate of whether Google Maps can be trusted, or should Russians rely on the locally-based mapping service called Yandex. Many believe Yandex provides more local feed which enables locals to assess the risk and take reliable routes. Many locals took to social media platforms to complain about the lack of reliability in Google Maps. However, some locals also argued for Google Maps claiming it might have been yet another case of teenagers trying their luck for the sake of extra risk and adventure.

Google Maps removes 'Road of Bones' route after Russian driver freezes to death

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region.

The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected".&nbsp;

A spokesman for Russian peacekeeping forces told RIA Novosti press agency that requests to respect ceasefire had been sent to both parties after "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons". &nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Karabakh forces announced that three of their fighters had been wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani forces.&nbsp;

Azerbaijani troops attacked Armenian fighters on Friday evening and "three were wounded in the ensuing firefight", the territorial defence ministry said.

Six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which left thousands dead on both sides, ended in a rout for the Armenian military.

The Moscow-sponsored deal in November handed territorial gains to Azerbaijan and allowed for some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed to the region.

(With AFP inputs)

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region. The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected". A spokesman for Russian peacekeeping forces told RIA Novosti press agency that requests to respect ceasefire had been sent to both parties after "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons". Earlier in the day, Karabakh forces announced that three of their fighters had been wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijani troops attacked Armenian fighters on Friday evening and "three were wounded in the ensuing firefight", the territorial defence ministry said. Six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which left thousands dead on both sides, ended in a rout for the Armenian military. The Moscow-sponsored deal in November handed territorial gains to Azerbaijan and allowed for some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed to the region. (With AFP inputs)

Ceasefire breached in Karabakh, says Russian army

The United States is poised to impose sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition last year of Russian S-400 air defence systems, a report said.

According to Reuters, this move is likely to worsen already problematic ties between the two NATO allies.

The long-anticipated step, which is likely to infuriate Ankara and severely complicate relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, could be announced any day.

The sanctions would target Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries and its head, Ismail Demir, sources have said. They would be damaging but narrower than the severe scenarios some analysts have outlined.

US sanctions could harm a Turkish economy struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown, double-digit inflation and badly depleted foreign reserves.

The decision will have repercussions far beyond Turkey, sending a message to US partners around the world who might consider buying Russian military equipment and have been warned repeatedly about US sanctions.

Trump long opposed US sanctions against Turkey despite the advice of advisors. Officials in his administration internally recommended sanctions against Ankara in July 2019, when the Turkish government started taking delivery of the S-400s, Reuters said.

But sanctions appeared likely even if Trump did not act.

The US State Department could still change plans and widen or narrow the scope of planned sanctions against Turkey. However, sources said the announcement of the sanctions in their current form was imminent.

The final version of the $740 billion annual US defence authorisation legislation, which the Senate is expected to vote on as early as this week, would force Washington to impose sanctions within 30 days.

Russia delivered the ground-to-air S-400s last year and Turkey tested them as recently as October. Ankara said they would not be integrated into NATO systems and pose no threat, and has called for a joint working group on the issue.

But the United States maintained that the S-400 does pose a threat, and announced last year it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program over Ankara's decision.

(with inputs from Reuters)

The United States is poised to impose sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition last year of Russian S-400 air defence systems, a report said. According to Reuters, this move is likely to worsen already problematic ties between the two NATO allies.

The United States is poised to impose sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition last year of Russian S-400 air defence systems, a report said. According to Reuters, this move is likely to worsen already problematic ties between the two NATO allies. The long-anticipated step, which is likely to infuriate Ankara and severely complicate relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, could be announced any day. The sanctions would target Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries and its head, Ismail Demir, sources have said. They would be damaging but narrower than the severe scenarios some analysts have outlined. US sanctions could harm a Turkish economy struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown, double-digit inflation and badly depleted foreign reserves. The decision will have repercussions far beyond Turkey, sending a message to US partners around the world who might consider buying Russian military equipment and have been warned repeatedly about US sanctions. Trump long opposed US sanctions against Turkey despite the advice of advisors. Officials in his administration internally recommended sanctions against Ankara in July 2019, when the Turkish government started taking delivery of the S-400s, Reuters said. But sanctions appeared likely even if Trump did not act. The US State Department could still change plans and widen or narrow the scope of planned sanctions against Turkey. However, sources said the announcement of the sanctions in their current form was imminent. The final version of the $740 billion annual US defence authorisation legislation, which the Senate is expected to vote on as early as this week, would force Washington to impose sanctions within 30 days. Russia delivered the ground-to-air S-400s last year and Turkey tested them as recently as October. Ankara said they would not be integrated into NATO systems and pose no threat, and has called for a joint working group on the issue. But the United States maintained that the S-400 does pose a threat, and announced last year it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program over Ankara's decision. (with inputs from Reuters)

US set to sanction Turkey over Russian defence system

Some things just read bizarre. The irony is so much that you can't decide whether to laugh or feel sorry. Russia may no longer be a superpower as it was in Soviet times but the country still packs a major punch and has massive influence in world affairs.

A country like this apparently must be able to protect its most valuable assets with peak alertness and impunity right?

Apparently not.

Russia's Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome aircraft, also known to be 'doomsday jet' or 'Kremlin in the sky' due to its ability to withstand a nuclear attack has seen a theft.

In a major security breach, radio equipment was stolen from the aircraft as it was undergoing upgrade and maintenance in Russian city of Taganrog.

As the maintenance work was going on, 'unknown persons opened the hatch' and stole radio equipment, said Russia's state-run news outlet RIA Novosti.

As per news reports, 39 pieces of equipment were stolen.

The equipment contains precious materials such as gold and platinum so this may well be a motive. But it appears unlikely that a gang of robbers would risk targetting a mightly, nuclear-attack-proof defence aircraft just to earn quick money.

Investigators have obtained fingerprints and shoe prints from inside the aircraft and are hoping to nab the culprits.

Some things just read bizarre. The irony is so much that you can't decide whether to laugh or feel sorry. Russia may no longer be a superpower as it was in Soviet times but the country still packs a major punch and has massive influence in world affairs.

Some things just read bizarre. The irony is so much that you can't decide whether to laugh or feel sorry. Russia may no longer be a superpower as it was in Soviet times but the country still packs a major punch and has massive influence in world affairs. A country like this apparently must be able to protect its most valuable assets with peak alertness and impunity right? Apparently not. Russia's Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome aircraft, also known to be 'doomsday jet' or 'Kremlin in the sky' due to its ability to withstand a nuclear attack has seen a theft. In a major security breach, radio equipment was stolen from the aircraft as it was undergoing upgrade and maintenance in Russian city of Taganrog. As the maintenance work was going on, 'unknown persons opened the hatch' and stole radio equipment, said Russia's state-run news outlet RIA Novosti. As per news reports, 39 pieces of equipment were stolen. The equipment contains precious materials such as gold and platinum so this may well be a motive. But it appears unlikely that a gang of robbers would risk targetting a mightly, nuclear-attack-proof defence aircraft just to earn quick money. Investigators have obtained fingerprints and shoe prints from inside the aircraft and are hoping to nab the culprits.

Someone stole radio from 'doomsday jet', Russia's nuclear attack-proof aircraft

A bombshell&nbsp;report by NATO has blamed Russia for compromising Western interests from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic, as General Jens Stoltenberg, the bloc's secretary-general calls for individuals to heighten their essence on the nation's fringes.&nbsp;

The examination, distributed on Wednesday, contended that Moscow takes part in "self-assured strategies and forceful activity," which has "adversely affected the security of the Euro-Atlantic territory." "In the long haul until 2030, Russia is probably going to remain the primary military danger toward the North Atlantic Alliance," the creators of the report said.&nbsp;

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It added that Moscow regularly arranges "intimidatory military tasks in the prompt region of NATO." The remarks come only two days after the top of the association, Jens Stoltenberg, told a public interview that individuals need to additionally reinforce their quality on Russia's outskirts on the Crimean promontory and the Black Sea, and discussed a need to expand their maritime presence in the district.&nbsp;

As a component of rising strains, a week ago the US-led a progression of rocket-dispatch tests during NATO practices in Romania, firing long-range missiles with the capability to hit Russian territory into the Black Sea. Reacting to the drill, the appointee top of the Public Chamber of Crimea, Alexander Formanchuk, told correspondents that Russian military had conveyed progressed equipment on the promontory, which would kill any "shock rocket assault."&nbsp;

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The lawmaker contended that the activities fit inside a more extensive example of heightening, saying that "incitements against Crimea have gotten more incessant. Tragically, we are seeing a further compounding of global relations and the worldwide circumstance. What's more, the subject of Crimea is an advantageous explanation behind raising such incitements."&nbsp;

Recently, the Russian Navy took steps to smash an American warship, the USS 'John S. McCain', which it says was captured two kilometers inside Russian waters in the Sea of Japan, off the shore of the Far East capital of Vladivostock.&nbsp;

In his location to pioneers on Tuesday, Stoltenberg added that "we see Russia disregarding and subverting arrangements." Moscow has, notwithstanding, communicated comparable worries after the US singularly rejected various peaceful accords, including the Cold War-time Open Skies agreement that took into consideration straightforwardness over the developments of troops and military equipment on the landmass.&nbsp;

A year ago, President Donald Trump's White House additionally destroyed the Reagan-time Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that had restricted various exceptionally dangerous weapons with scopes of somewhere in the range of 500km and 5,500km. At that point, Washington likewise blamed Russia for breaking the states of the agreement, while Moscow unequivocally denied the claims.

A bombshell report by NATO has blamed Russia for compromising Western interests from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic, as General Jens Stoltenberg, the bloc's secretary-general calls for individuals to heighten their essence on the nation's fringes.

A bombshell report by NATO has blamed Russia for compromising Western interests from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic, as General Jens Stoltenberg, the bloc's secretary-general calls for individuals to heighten their essence on the nation's fringes. The examination, distributed on Wednesday, contended that Moscow takes part in "self-assured strategies and forceful activity," which has "adversely affected the security of the Euro-Atlantic territory." "In the long haul until 2030, Russia is probably going to remain the primary military danger toward the North Atlantic Alliance," the creators of the report said. Also read: Russia defies West sanctions after NATO's emergency meeting over Navalny It added that Moscow regularly arranges "intimidatory military tasks in the prompt region of NATO." The remarks come only two days after the top of the association, Jens Stoltenberg, told a public interview that individuals need to additionally reinforce their quality on Russia's outskirts on the Crimean promontory and the Black Sea, and discussed a need to expand their maritime presence in the district. As a component of rising strains, a week ago the US-led a progression of rocket-dispatch tests during NATO practices in Romania, firing long-range missiles with the capability to hit Russian territory into the Black Sea. Reacting to the drill, the appointee top of the Public Chamber of Crimea, Alexander Formanchuk, told correspondents that Russian military had conveyed progressed equipment on the promontory, which would kill any "shock rocket assault." Also read: Russia-backed hackers running anti-NATO fake news campaign: Report The lawmaker contended that the activities fit inside a more extensive example of heightening, saying that "incitements against Crimea have gotten more incessant. Tragically, we are seeing a further compounding of global relations and the worldwide circumstance. What's more, the subject of Crimea is an advantageous explanation behind raising such incitements." Recently, the Russian Navy took steps to smash an American warship, the USS 'John S. McCain', which it says was captured two kilometers inside Russian waters in the Sea of Japan, off the shore of the Far East capital of Vladivostock. In his location to pioneers on Tuesday, Stoltenberg added that "we see Russia disregarding and subverting arrangements." Moscow has, notwithstanding, communicated comparable worries after the US singularly rejected various peaceful accords, including the Cold War-time Open Skies agreement that took into consideration straightforwardness over the developments of troops and military equipment on the landmass. A year ago, President Donald Trump's White House additionally destroyed the Reagan-time Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that had restricted various exceptionally dangerous weapons with scopes of somewhere in the range of 500km and 5,500km. At that point, Washington likewise blamed Russia for breaking the states of the agreement, while Moscow unequivocally denied the claims.

NATO calls 'intimidating' Russia 'biggest threat' to bloc; plans to send warships to Black Sea

A bomb attack slightly wounded Russian embassy staff in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Russian's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

An improvised explosive device exploded not far from the embassy as one of their cars was driving past, it said. Several embassy staff on board were slightly hurt.

An initial assessment suggests the attack had been intended for the Afghan security forces, the statement continued. But they had not ruled out that embassy staff were in fact the target, and the embassy was tightening its security.

The ministry also called on the Afghan authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of the Russian embassy staff there.

Violence has also surged in Kabul in recent weeks, with more than 50 people killed in two assaults on educational centres and a rocket attack.&nbsp;

And a suicide car bomb attack Sunday killed at least 30 security personnel at an army base on the outskirts of Ghazni city, capital of the eastern province of Ghazni, one of the deadliest attacks targeting government forces in months.

A bomb attack slightly wounded Russian embassy staff in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Russian's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. An improvised explosive device exploded not far from the embassy as one of their cars was driving past, it said.

A bomb attack slightly wounded Russian embassy staff in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Russian's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. An improvised explosive device exploded not far from the embassy as one of their cars was driving past, it said. Several embassy staff on board were slightly hurt. An initial assessment suggests the attack had been intended for the Afghan security forces, the statement continued. But they had not ruled out that embassy staff were in fact the target, and the embassy was tightening its security. The ministry also called on the Afghan authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of the Russian embassy staff there. Violence has also surged in Kabul in recent weeks, with more than 50 people killed in two assaults on educational centres and a rocket attack. And a suicide car bomb attack Sunday killed at least 30 security personnel at an army base on the outskirts of Ghazni city, capital of the eastern province of Ghazni, one of the deadliest attacks targeting government forces in months.

Afghanistan blast injures Russian embassy staff

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district.

AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement.

Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war.&nbsp;

Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes.

Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames.

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Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border.&nbsp;

'Nowhere to go'

The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia.

The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear.&nbsp;

Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure.

"Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead.&nbsp;

The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists.&nbsp;

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The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert.

Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return.

The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha.

While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go.

In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind.

"I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP.

Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself.

Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back.

Russia's role grows

Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement.&nbsp;

France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group.

The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved.&nbsp;

Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home.

Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation.

Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting.

While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses.

More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district. AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement. Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war. Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes. Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames. Also read| Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border. 'Nowhere to go' The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia. The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear. Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure. "Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said. Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead. The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists. × The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert. Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return. The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha. While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go. In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind. "I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP. Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself. Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back. Russia's role grows Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement. France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group. The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state. Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved. Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home. Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation. Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting. While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses. More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces enter last district handed over by Armenia

As per reports, Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has been assassinated. He&nbsp;was known as the 'father'&nbsp;of Iran's nuclear program. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has kept up the heat on Vladimir Putin as he urged the European Parliament to target oligarchs around Putin. In Africa, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed has assured African envoys that he will protect civilians in Tigray region. Read this and much more in top 10 World news.

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Iranian media reported that the high-level nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh referred to as "Iran’s Robert Oppenheimer" was killed on Friday.

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Kremlin has denied allegations that it was behind Navalny's poisoning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-israel-saudi-arabia-cool-tensions-jordans-custodianship-of-al-aqsa-mosque-under-scrutiny-345856">As Israel, Saudi Arabia cool tensions, Jordan's custodianship of al-Aqsa mosque under scrutiny</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-israel-saudi-arabia-cool-tensions-jordans-custodianship-of-al-aqsa-mosque-under-scrutiny-345856"><img alt="Al Aqsa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="47802f22-88a4-4072-afb5-0bd719793851" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Al%20Aqsa.JPG" /></a> 
Last month, a UAE delegation had visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, a move which was criticised by Palestinian PM Muhammad Shtayyeh.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-clamps-down-on-corruption-in-major-drive-345883">Saudi Arabia clamps down on corruption in major drive</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-clamps-down-on-corruption-in-major-drive-345883"><img alt="Saudi Corruption" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad0a48c4-a768-4f14-8fe2-d0fabc16466f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Saudi_1.JPG" /></a> 
 
The individuals in the net are involved with many ministries in Saudi Arabia

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scottish-leader-nicola-sturgeon-warns-uk-wants-referendum-early-in-next-parliament-345873">Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon warns UK; wants referendum 'early in next parliament'</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scottish-leader-nicola-sturgeon-warns-uk-wants-referendum-early-in-next-parliament-345873"><img alt="Scotland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a442a20a-8e8d-4952-b87a-edf4de13ab93" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Scotland.JPG" /></a> 
Sturgeon said the UK government's current opposition to the independence referendum, indyref2, was 'unsustainable'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-doctors-jailed-for-harvesting-of-organs-from-patients-345835">Chinese doctors jailed for harvesting of organs from patients</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-doctors-jailed-for-harvesting-of-organs-from-patients-345835"><img alt="China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f245ac95-dcfe-4937-b9c8-62e3fd35ea99" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/chinese%20doctor.JPG" /></a> 
 
Families in Anhui territory in China were fooled into marking counterfeit assent structures for organ harvesting

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-pm-tells-african-envoys-he-will-protect-civilians-in-tigray-345885">Ethiopian PM tells African envoys he will protect civilians in Tigray</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-pm-tells-african-envoys-he-will-protect-civilians-in-tigray-345885"><img alt="Ethiopia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89596df6-9e94-49bd-b664-f9d0f598b071" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Abiy%20Ahmed.JPG" /></a> 
 
A statement issued after their meeting made no mention of talks with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to end fighting&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-african-american-cardinal-readies-for-princehood-345881">First African-American cardinal readies for 'princehood'</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-african-american-cardinal-readies-for-princehood-345881"><img alt="Cardinal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb52be51-2f85-48d5-8bed-acc8ce372657" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/cardinal.JPG" /></a> 
 
The 72-year old Washington archbishop, who is currently under quarantine ahead of the big day in the Vatican on Saturday, shows no sign of pre-ceremony nerves

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-to-dig-up-zombie-mink-that-resurfaced-from-mass-graves-345916">Denmark to dig up 'zombie mink' that resurfaced from mass graves</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-to-dig-up-zombie-mink-that-resurfaced-from-mass-graves-345916"><img alt="Denmark" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6eca1f1b-3268-4f33-b92f-190dd47ae32a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Denmark_0.JPG" /></a> 
 
Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-3-billion-people-affected-by-water-shortages-report-345894">More than 3 billion people affected by water shortages: Report</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-3-billion-people-affected-by-water-shortages-report-345894"><img alt="Water" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="458fd2a3-d3a3-46a5-87d1-da7902aede03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/water.JPG" /></a> 
 
A report titled 'The State of Food and Agriculture 2020:Overcoming water challenges in agriculture' by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations published on Thursday shows fresh water available for each person has plunged by a fifth over two decades

As per reports, Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has been assassinated. He was known as the 'father' of Iran's nuclear program. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has kept up the heat on Vladimir Putin as he urged the European Parliament to target oligarchs around Putin.

As per reports, Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has been assassinated. He was known as the 'father' of Iran's nuclear program. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has kept up the heat on Vladimir Putin as he urged the European Parliament to target oligarchs around Putin. In Africa, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed has assured African envoys that he will protect civilians in Tigray region. Read this and much more in top 10 World news. Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated Iranian media reported that the high-level nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh referred to as "Iran’s Robert Oppenheimer" was killed on Friday. Target oligarchs around Putin, Navalny to European Parliament Kremlin has denied allegations that it was behind Navalny's poisoning. As Israel, Saudi Arabia cool tensions, Jordan's custodianship of al-Aqsa mosque under scrutiny Last month, a UAE delegation had visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, a move which was criticised by Palestinian PM Muhammad Shtayyeh. Saudi Arabia clamps down on corruption in major drive The individuals in the net are involved with many ministries in Saudi Arabia Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon warns UK; wants referendum 'early in next parliament' Sturgeon said the UK government's current opposition to the independence referendum, indyref2, was 'unsustainable' Chinese doctors jailed for harvesting of organs from patients Families in Anhui territory in China were fooled into marking counterfeit assent structures for organ harvesting Ethiopian PM tells African envoys he will protect civilians in Tigray A statement issued after their meeting made no mention of talks with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to end fighting First African-American cardinal readies for 'princehood' The 72-year old Washington archbishop, who is currently under quarantine ahead of the big day in the Vatican on Saturday, shows no sign of pre-ceremony nerves Denmark to dig up 'zombie mink' that resurfaced from mass graves Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels More than 3 billion people affected by water shortages: Report A report titled 'The State of Food and Agriculture 2020:Overcoming water challenges in agriculture' by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations published on Thursday shows fresh water available for each person has plunged by a fifth over two decades

Top 10 world news: Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated, Navalny on Putin, and more!

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

After meticulously writing down a car's registration number in a large notebook, a soldier stands aside to let the driver pass and wishes him a good journey.

"When the peacekeepers arrived, the situation became calmer than during the war. It's reassuring," says Erik Tovmasyan, who is driving from Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to the Armenian capital Yerevan for eye surgery.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/azerbaijan-slams-french-senates-vote-on-nagorno-karabakh-urges-removal-from-mediation-345660">Azerbaijan slams French Senate's vote on Nagorno-Karabakh; urges removal from mediation</a>

For Armenians still reeling from defeat in recent fighting with Azerbaijan, the peacekeepers who deployed under a Moscow-brokered peace deal are a welcome presence.

But with the region surrounding the road set to be handed back to Azerbaijan next week, many here are facing an uncertain future.

Russia has sent 2,000 peacekeepers to the region under the deal that ended six weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan's control in a war in the 1990s.

Fresh clashes over Karabakh erupted in late September and ended after Azerbaijani forces had reclaimed large areas from Armenian control.

The peacekeepers have deployed between the two sides including along a 60-kilometre (35-mile) stretch connecting Stepanakert with the Armenian border in the south.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-probes-war-crimes-during-the-conflict-345376">Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan probes war crimes during the conflict</a>

Strategic road

The strategic road runs through the Lachin district, the third and last territory near Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia will cede to Azerbaijan on December 1 under the peace deal.

Two other districts — neighbouring Kalbajar and Aghdam to the northeast — were returned to Azerbaijan earlier this month.&nbsp;

In its northern part, the Lachin corridor diverges towards Shusha, a strategic and historic town overlooking Stepanakert that was captured by Azerbaijan in a pivotal moment of the war.&nbsp;

The small road leading to Shusha is blocked by soldiers from Baku, who are positioned close to the Russians.

AFP journalists passing nearby could hear Azerbaijani songs and music broadcast over loudspeakers from their position.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/karabakh-peace-deal-fuels-confusion-anxiety-over-new-borders-344611">Karabakh peace deal fuels confusion, anxiety over new borders</a>

"They do it from time to time," says one of Moscow's soldiers.&nbsp;

At another checkpoint on a road leading into the town, an Azerbaijani special forces captain tells AFP that the situation inside is calm.&nbsp;

"There are only soldiers in Shusha," says the officer, who will not give his name. "Civilians (Azerbaijanis) come from time to time only to repair infrastructure" damaged in the fighting.

When Armenian separatists gained control of these districts three decades ago, local Azerbaijanis fled the territories and Armenians moved in.&nbsp;

Now, it is the Armenians who are deciding whether to abandon their homes, fearing what will happen when Azerbaijanis return.

'Nowhere to go'

In the town of Lachin, at the heart of the five-kilometre-wide (three-mile-wide) corridor, the manager of a grocery store is wondering what to do.&nbsp;

"We have no information about whether we should leave," says the man who does not wish to give his name, adding that he hopes to keep his store.

In front of his shop, 81-year-old Margarita Khanagyan leans on her cane as she stands next to an armoured vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeepers.

"I left during the war, then we were told to come back and I came back. Now we have to leave again, but to where?"

Uncertainty also looms over the village of Aghavno, the last residential area before the border with Armenia where several dozen houses were built 10 years ago, just below the road.&nbsp;

Men here are always carrying rifles, prepared to defend themselves at any moment.

"They can't scare us," says village head Andranik Chavushyan, 39. "We will still be living here."

Standing next to him, Narine Rasoyan begins to cry.

Pregnant with her sixth child, Rasoyan lost her husband in the recent fighting.&nbsp;

"I have nowhere to go with my five children, where would I stay?" she says through her tears. "Let them give me a house and I will leave."

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh. After meticulously writing down a car's registration number in a large notebook, a soldier stands aside to let the driver pass and wishes him a good journey. "When the peacekeepers arrived, the situation became calmer than during the war. It's reassuring," says Erik Tovmasyan, who is driving from Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to the Armenian capital Yerevan for eye surgery. Also read| Azerbaijan slams French Senate's vote on Nagorno-Karabakh; urges removal from mediation For Armenians still reeling from defeat in recent fighting with Azerbaijan, the peacekeepers who deployed under a Moscow-brokered peace deal are a welcome presence. But with the region surrounding the road set to be handed back to Azerbaijan next week, many here are facing an uncertain future. Russia has sent 2,000 peacekeepers to the region under the deal that ended six weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan's control in a war in the 1990s. Fresh clashes over Karabakh erupted in late September and ended after Azerbaijani forces had reclaimed large areas from Armenian control. The peacekeepers have deployed between the two sides including along a 60-kilometre (35-mile) stretch connecting Stepanakert with the Armenian border in the south. Also read| Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan probes war crimes during the conflict Strategic road The strategic road runs through the Lachin district, the third and last territory near Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia will cede to Azerbaijan on December 1 under the peace deal. Two other districts — neighbouring Kalbajar and Aghdam to the northeast — were returned to Azerbaijan earlier this month. In its northern part, the Lachin corridor diverges towards Shusha, a strategic and historic town overlooking Stepanakert that was captured by Azerbaijan in a pivotal moment of the war. The small road leading to Shusha is blocked by soldiers from Baku, who are positioned close to the Russians. AFP journalists passing nearby could hear Azerbaijani songs and music broadcast over loudspeakers from their position. Also read| Karabakh peace deal fuels confusion, anxiety over new borders "They do it from time to time," says one of Moscow's soldiers. At another checkpoint on a road leading into the town, an Azerbaijani special forces captain tells AFP that the situation inside is calm. "There are only soldiers in Shusha," says the officer, who will not give his name. "Civilians (Azerbaijanis) come from time to time only to repair infrastructure" damaged in the fighting. When Armenian separatists gained control of these districts three decades ago, local Azerbaijanis fled the territories and Armenians moved in. Now, it is the Armenians who are deciding whether to abandon their homes, fearing what will happen when Azerbaijanis return. 'Nowhere to go' In the town of Lachin, at the heart of the five-kilometre-wide (three-mile-wide) corridor, the manager of a grocery store is wondering what to do. "We have no information about whether we should leave," says the man who does not wish to give his name, adding that he hopes to keep his store. In front of his shop, 81-year-old Margarita Khanagyan leans on her cane as she stands next to an armoured vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeepers. "I left during the war, then we were told to come back and I came back. Now we have to leave again, but to where?" Uncertainty also looms over the village of Aghavno, the last residential area before the border with Armenia where several dozen houses were built 10 years ago, just below the road. Men here are always carrying rifles, prepared to defend themselves at any moment. "They can't scare us," says village head Andranik Chavushyan, 39. "We will still be living here." Standing next to him, Narine Rasoyan begins to cry. Pregnant with her sixth child, Rasoyan lost her husband in the recent fighting. "I have nowhere to go with my five children, where would I stay?" she says through her tears. "Let them give me a house and I will leave."

Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh

In a bid to steal valuable data related to Coronavirus vaccine research, government-linked hackers China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are engaged in concerted attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine secrets.

Calling it an intellectual property war security experts said that hackers are trying to obtain trial results early and seize sensitive information about mass production of drugs.

China and Russia are also racing to develop a vaccine, bringing together its state, military and private sectors to combat a disease that has killed over 1.39 million people worldwide.

Earlier this month, A report by Microsoft revealed that hackers for the Russian and North Korean governments have targeted more than half a dozen of organisations involved in the COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research from around the globe.

In this report by Microsoft, the tech giant stated that a Russian hacking group, known as 'Fancy Bear', and a pair of North Korean actors called "Zinc" and "Cerium", by Microsoft, were implicated as they tried to break into the networks of nearly seven pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers in fice countries, namely, Canada, France, India, South Korea, and the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a bid to steal valuable data related to Coronavirus vaccine research, government-linked hackers China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are engaged in concerted attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine secrets.

In a bid to steal valuable data related to Coronavirus vaccine research, government-linked hackers China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are engaged in concerted attempts to steal coronavirus vaccine secrets. Calling it an intellectual property war security experts said that hackers are trying to obtain trial results early and seize sensitive information about mass production of drugs. China and Russia are also racing to develop a vaccine, bringing together its state, military and private sectors to combat a disease that has killed over 1.39 million people worldwide. Earlier this month, A report by Microsoft revealed that hackers for the Russian and North Korean governments have targeted more than half a dozen of organisations involved in the COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research from around the globe. In this report by Microsoft, the tech giant stated that a Russian hacking group, known as 'Fancy Bear', and a pair of North Korean actors called "Zinc" and "Cerium", by Microsoft, were implicated as they tried to break into the networks of nearly seven pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers in fice countries, namely, Canada, France, India, South Korea, and the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Intellectual property war: Hackers try to steal Covid vaccine secrets

President Emmanuel Macron on&nbsp;Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media.

"We must not be naive on this subject: many of those who speak, who make videos, who are present in the French-speaking media are funded by Russia or Turkey," he told Jeune Afrique magazine, accusing Moscow and Ankara of seeking "to play on post-colonial resentment" in Africa.

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Macron's latest statement comes amid&nbsp;increasing conflict with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had asked him for getting&nbsp;''mental health check-ups'' due to his stance on the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.
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France wants international supervision to implement a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict amid concerns in Paris that Russia and Turkey could strike a deal to cut out Western powers from future peace talks, the presidency said on Thursday.

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Macron ruled out negotiating with jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Africa, where France has a thousands-strong force deployed, in an interview published Friday.

"We don't talk with terrorists. We fight," Macron told the Jeune Afrique magazine, as debates intensify in France and Africa over the long-term strategy of the Barkhane force.

In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused Guinea's President Alpha Conde of organising a referendum on constitutional changes "solely to be able to keep power", adding that the situation in the country was "serious" following post-election unrest.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media. "We must not be naive on this subject: many of those who speak, who make videos, who are present in the French-speaking media are funded by Russia or Turkey," he told Jeune Afrique magazine, accusing Moscow and Ankara of seeking "to play on post-colonial resentment" in Africa. × Macron's latest statement comes amid increasing conflict with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had asked him for getting ''mental health check-ups'' due to his stance on the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad. France wants international supervision to implement a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict amid concerns in Paris that Russia and Turkey could strike a deal to cut out Western powers from future peace talks, the presidency said on Thursday. Macron ruled out negotiating with jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Africa, where France has a thousands-strong force deployed, in an interview published Friday. "We don't talk with terrorists. We fight," Macron told the Jeune Afrique magazine, as debates intensify in France and Africa over the long-term strategy of the Barkhane force. In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused Guinea's President Alpha Conde of organising a referendum on constitutional changes "solely to be able to keep power", adding that the situation in the country was "serious" following post-election unrest.

Turkey and Russia promoting anti-France sentiment, says Emmanuel Macron

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control.

Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries.

Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections on Wednesday, which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-monitor-virus-cases-no-cash-handout-for-second-time-finance-minister-taro-aso-344016" hreflang="en">Japan to monitor virus cases, no cash handout for second time: Finance Minister Taro Aso</a>

"The number of new cases is rising... and what's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing," Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television.&nbsp;

Health authorities Wednesday also reported a new record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours.&nbsp;

Russia's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries, raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-deliveries-could-begin-before-christmas-344012" hreflang="en">Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine deliveries could begin before Christmas</a>

Data published by Russia's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher.

Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions.&nbsp;

Putin acknowledged Wednesday that several regions were experiencing medicine shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation.

He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation, noting that "it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine".&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-coronavirus-death-toll-crosses-250000-as-several-cities-shut-down-schools-343988" hreflang="en">US coronavirus death toll crosses 250,000 as several cities shut down schools</a>

"We went through this in the spring. We know what and how it needs to be done," Putin said, adding that vaccines are on the way.

Russia in August registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V -- named after the Soviet-era satellite -- but before beginning large-scale clinical trials.&nbsp;

Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92 percent effective, slightly lower than its international competitors.

Last month, Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control. Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control. Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries. Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections on Wednesday, which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world. Also read| Japan to monitor virus cases, no cash handout for second time: Finance Minister Taro Aso "The number of new cases is rising... and what's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing," Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television. Health authorities Wednesday also reported a new record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours. Russia's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries, raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis. Also read| Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine deliveries could begin before Christmas Data published by Russia's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher. Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions. Putin acknowledged Wednesday that several regions were experiencing medicine shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation. He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation, noting that "it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine". Also read| US coronavirus death toll crosses 250,000 as several cities shut down schools "We went through this in the spring. We know what and how it needs to be done," Putin said, adding that vaccines are on the way. Russia in August registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V -- named after the Soviet-era satellite -- but before beginning large-scale clinical trials. Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92 percent effective, slightly lower than its international competitors. Last month, Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona.

Putin 'alarmed' by Russia's spike in virus deaths

Russia's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed in its first reading a bill that would grant former presidents immunity once they leave office.

The legislation, published on the lower house State Duma website, is among constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote and will allow President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;to again run for office when his fourth term ends in 2024.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-submits-bill-to-grant-ex-presidents-immunity-from-prosecution-340857">Russia submits bill to grant ex-presidents immunity from prosecution</a>

If passed, the bill grants former presidents and their families immunity from persecution for crimes committed during their lifetime. They will also be exempt from searches, arrests or questioning.&nbsp;

Currently, former presidents are only immune from persecution for crimes committed while in office.

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The State Duma on Tuesday approved the bill in the first of three readings.&nbsp;

To be passed into law the bill will need approval from the upper house,&nbsp;the Federation Council,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Putin's signature.&nbsp;

Under the bill, a former president could be stripped of immunity if accused of treason or other grave crimes and the charges are confirmed by the Supreme and Consitutional courts.

Then both chambers of parliament must support the motion by a two-thirds majority.

Lawmaker Pavel Krasheninnikov, one of the bill's authors, told state news agency RIA Novosti that the new legislation will not apply to Mikhail Gorbachev, who was president of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.

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As&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;is still in office, Dmitry Medvedev -- who was head of state between 2008-2012 -- is Russia's only living former president.

The State Duma on Tuesday also passed in its first reading another bill that will grant ex-presidents a lifetime seat in the Federation Council, a position that also provides immunity from prosecution.&nbsp;

The bills have sparked rumours that&nbsp;Putin, 68, is planning to step down, but the Kremlin denied this saying he is in good health.

Russia's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed in its first reading a bill that would grant former presidents immunity once they leave office. The legislation, published on the lower house State Duma website, is among constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote and will allow President Vladimir Putin to again run for office when his fourth term ends in 2024.

Russia's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed in its first reading a bill that would grant former presidents immunity once they leave office. The legislation, published on the lower house State Duma website, is among constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote and will allow President Vladimir Putin to again run for office when his fourth term ends in 2024. Also read: Russia submits bill to grant ex-presidents immunity from prosecution If passed, the bill grants former presidents and their families immunity from persecution for crimes committed during their lifetime. They will also be exempt from searches, arrests or questioning. Currently, former presidents are only immune from persecution for crimes committed while in office. The State Duma on Tuesday approved the bill in the first of three readings. To be passed into law the bill will need approval from the upper house, the Federation Council, and Putin's signature. Under the bill, a former president could be stripped of immunity if accused of treason or other grave crimes and the charges are confirmed by the Supreme and Consitutional courts. Then both chambers of parliament must support the motion by a two-thirds majority. Lawmaker Pavel Krasheninnikov, one of the bill's authors, told state news agency RIA Novosti that the new legislation will not apply to Mikhail Gorbachev, who was president of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. × As Putin is still in office, Dmitry Medvedev -- who was head of state between 2008-2012 -- is Russia's only living former president. The State Duma on Tuesday also passed in its first reading another bill that will grant ex-presidents a lifetime seat in the Federation Council, a position that also provides immunity from prosecution. The bills have sparked rumours that Putin, 68, is planning to step down, but the Kremlin denied this saying he is in good health.

Russia's lower house of parliament approves bill to give Putin lifetime immunity

It has been almost a year since the coronavirus pandemic took over the world and affected millions of lives around the globe. While the world is getting used to the new normal now and hoping for a coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible, Russian scientists have discovered another version of the virus.

A Russian consumer health watchdog has recently observed mutations in the coronavirus in Siberia.&nbsp;“We see certain changes...in Siberia which allow us to assume that in this region it is forming its own version with specific mutations,” Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, was quoted as saying by news agencies.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/human-to-human-transmission-of-rare-chapare-virus-in-bolivia-confirmed-by-scientists-343728">Human-to-human transmission of rare 'Chapare virus' in Bolivia confirmed by scientists</a>

However, the scientists have not yet released details about this mutation and the new version of the novel coronavirus. As of now, it is not clear how contagious or deadly the mutation is considered to be. Although, it is being believed that this mutation will not make the virus more dangerous.&nbsp;Mutations of the coronavirus could not influence the vaccine’s effectiveness, the Vector Institute’s director general, Rinat Maksyutov, was quoted as saying by TASS.

This claim has come a few months after a US study had found very little evidence of mutations in this virus could make it deadlier. The report had claimed, in September, that the disease caused by the coronavirus was linked to the patients' existing medical conditions.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mouthwash-can-kill-coronavirus-within-30-seconds-study-343609">Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds: Study</a>

The new report, released on Tuesday, has come at a time when Russia has started the final phase of testing of the COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, which is being hailed as world's first coronavirus vaccine. Countries such as India have started the Phase 2 human trials, while a few others have started the Phase 3 trial on human beings.

Meanwhile, Russia is struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The European country recorded nearly 442 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday. People have been advised to stay home as much as they can and only step out in case of emergencies with proper precautions.

It has been almost a year since the coronavirus pandemic took over the world and affected millions of lives around the globe. While the world is getting used to the new normal now and hoping for a coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible, Russian scientists have discovered another version of the virus.

It has been almost a year since the coronavirus pandemic took over the world and affected millions of lives around the globe. While the world is getting used to the new normal now and hoping for a coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible, Russian scientists have discovered another version of the virus. A Russian consumer health watchdog has recently observed mutations in the coronavirus in Siberia. “We see certain changes...in Siberia which allow us to assume that in this region it is forming its own version with specific mutations,” Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, was quoted as saying by news agencies. Also read| Human-to-human transmission of rare 'Chapare virus' in Bolivia confirmed by scientists However, the scientists have not yet released details about this mutation and the new version of the novel coronavirus. As of now, it is not clear how contagious or deadly the mutation is considered to be. Although, it is being believed that this mutation will not make the virus more dangerous. Mutations of the coronavirus could not influence the vaccine’s effectiveness, the Vector Institute’s director general, Rinat Maksyutov, was quoted as saying by TASS. This claim has come a few months after a US study had found very little evidence of mutations in this virus could make it deadlier. The report had claimed, in September, that the disease caused by the coronavirus was linked to the patients' existing medical conditions. Also read| Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds: Study The new report, released on Tuesday, has come at a time when Russia has started the final phase of testing of the COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, which is being hailed as world's first coronavirus vaccine. Countries such as India have started the Phase 2 human trials, while a few others have started the Phase 3 trial on human beings. Meanwhile, Russia is struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The European country recorded nearly 442 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday. People have been advised to stay home as much as they can and only step out in case of emergencies with proper precautions.

Coronavirus mutations appearing in Siberia: Russian scientists

As Russian peacekeepers entered&nbsp;Nagorno-Karabakh&nbsp;in trucks and armoured personnel carriers even as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenia-arrests-opposition-leaders-as-protests-erupt-over-nagorno-karabakh-deal-with-azerbaijan-342662">Armenia</a> said that over 2,000 fighters were killed in clashes against Azerbaijan.

Russia has deployed over 2,000 peacekeepers after a peace deal was struck between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/armenians-and-azerbaijanis-live-in-harmony-in-georgian-village-342606/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Armenia's health ministry spokeswoman Alina Nikoghosyan said: "To date, our forensic service has examined the corpses of 2,317 dead servicemen, including unidentified ones."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenians-flee-homes-as-takeover-by-azerbaijan-looms-343031">Also Read:&nbsp;Armenians flee homes as takeover by Azerbaijan looms</a>

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would involve the United Nations for humanitarian purposes.

Lavrov said Russia was in contact with UN High Commissioner for Refugees office, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN development programme in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

However, the peace deal was met with large scale protests on the streets of Armenia with demonstrators crying out &nbsp;"Nikol is a traitor!" as reports indicated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenia-and-azerbaijan-agree-on-a-deal-with-russia-to-end-conflict-342031">Azerbaijan</a> had made clear gains in territorial claims after weeks of fighting.

Russian guards have reportedly placed five posts in Nagorno-Karabakh with two on the border with Iran. Russia now has troop presence in nine former Soviet republics including Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Nagorno-Karabakh row between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been festering since the 90s after the break-up of the former Soviet Union. At least 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict which ended in an uneasy truce in 1994.

As Russian peacekeepers entered Nagorno-Karabakh in trucks and armoured personnel carriers even as Armenia said that over 2,000 fighters were killed in clashes against Azerbaijan.

As Russian peacekeepers entered Nagorno-Karabakh in trucks and armoured personnel carriers even as Armenia said that over 2,000 fighters were killed in clashes against Azerbaijan. Russia has deployed over 2,000 peacekeepers after a peace deal was struck between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Watch: Armenia's health ministry spokeswoman Alina Nikoghosyan said: "To date, our forensic service has examined the corpses of 2,317 dead servicemen, including unidentified ones." Also Read: Armenians flee homes as takeover by Azerbaijan looms Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would involve the United Nations for humanitarian purposes. Lavrov said Russia was in contact with UN High Commissioner for Refugees office, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN development programme in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis. However, the peace deal was met with large scale protests on the streets of Armenia with demonstrators crying out "Nikol is a traitor!" as reports indicated Azerbaijan had made clear gains in territorial claims after weeks of fighting. Russian guards have reportedly placed five posts in Nagorno-Karabakh with two on the border with Iran. Russia now has troop presence in nine former Soviet republics including Nagorno-Karabakh. The Nagorno-Karabakh row between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been festering since the 90s after the break-up of the former Soviet Union. At least 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict which ended in an uneasy truce in 1994.

Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence

A report by Microsoft revealed that hackers for the Russian and North Korean governments have targeted more than half a dozen of organisations involved in the COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research from around the globe.

In this report by Microsoft, the tech giant stated that a Russian hacking group, known as 'Fancy Bear', and a pair of North Korean actors called "Zinc" and "Cerium", by Microsoft, were implicated as they tried to break into the networks of nearly seven&nbsp;pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers in fice countries, namely, Canada, France, India, South Korea, and the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-russias-covid-19-vaccine-sputnik-v-arrives-in-india-342873" hreflang="en">Watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India</a>

While the majority of the break-in attempts failed, a few unspecified numbers of attempts succeeded. Majority of these attacks were aimed at medical organisations that were involved in the process of testing the COVID-19 vaccine. However, Microsoft has declined to publically identify the companies that were targetted by Rusian and North Korean hackers. The software company has also refused to provide a timeline of these attacks.

The Russian embassy in Washington, however, has declined all such accusations in the past. This time, too, the officials said there was "nothing that we can add" to the previous statements of denials.

This report came as several countries in the world are competing to produce and distribute the first COVID-19 vaccine to the world, as a lot of countries have now stepped into the second wave of coronavirus.

Microsoft also urged that a new&nbsp;set of global rules and regulations barring digital intrusions aimed at healthcare providers should be set up.

Microsoft executive Tom Burt said in a statement his company was timing its announcement with Microsoft President Brad Smith's appearance at the virtual Paris Peace Forum, where he would call on world leaders "to affirm that international law protects health care facilities and to take action to enforce the law."

A report by Microsoft revealed that hackers for the Russian and North Korean governments have targeted more than half a dozen of organisations involved in the COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research from around the globe.

A report by Microsoft revealed that hackers for the Russian and North Korean governments have targeted more than half a dozen of organisations involved in the COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research from around the globe. In this report by Microsoft, the tech giant stated that a Russian hacking group, known as 'Fancy Bear', and a pair of North Korean actors called "Zinc" and "Cerium", by Microsoft, were implicated as they tried to break into the networks of nearly seven pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers in fice countries, namely, Canada, France, India, South Korea, and the United States. Watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India While the majority of the break-in attempts failed, a few unspecified numbers of attempts succeeded. Majority of these attacks were aimed at medical organisations that were involved in the process of testing the COVID-19 vaccine. However, Microsoft has declined to publically identify the companies that were targetted by Rusian and North Korean hackers. The software company has also refused to provide a timeline of these attacks. The Russian embassy in Washington, however, has declined all such accusations in the past. This time, too, the officials said there was "nothing that we can add" to the previous statements of denials. This report came as several countries in the world are competing to produce and distribute the first COVID-19 vaccine to the world, as a lot of countries have now stepped into the second wave of coronavirus. Microsoft also urged that a new set of global rules and regulations barring digital intrusions aimed at healthcare providers should be set up. Microsoft executive Tom Burt said in a statement his company was timing its announcement with Microsoft President Brad Smith's appearance at the virtual Paris Peace Forum, where he would call on world leaders "to affirm that international law protects health care facilities and to take action to enforce the law."

Hackers from Russia, North Korea targeted COVID-19 vaccine: Microsoft

Russia has supported India that bilateral matter should not be raised at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) forum. The development comes after Pakistan has been attempting to raise India-Pakistan matters at the Beijing Headquartered organization.

Russian Deputy Envoy to Delhi, Roman N Babushkin in response to WION question said, “This is a part of SCO charter and SCO basic documents not to bring the bilateral issue into the agenda. It has been made clear to all members states that it should be avoided...for the sake of the progress of multilateral cooperation."

Adding, "The importance of SCO is to deal with regional challenges, to promote economic, financial, humanitarian partnership among member states in order to keep the momentum...we not interfere in bilateral issues despite such kind of India Pakistan... Our position remains consistent and unchanged. We hope such kind of instances will not appear."

Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi had also raised the matter at the SCO head of state meeting earlier this week. He said, "It is unfortunate that many attempts are being made to unnecessarily bring bilateral issues into the SCO agenda. This is a violation of SCO charter and Shanghai spirit".

In the run-up to the SCO virtual summit, a number of SCO meetings happened. In the SCO NSA virtual meet, the Pakistani NSA has put a map of Pakistan that violated the territorial integrity of India drawing a strong response from New Delhi.

SCO is a grouping of 8 countries--India, Pakistan, Russia, China, and 4 central Asian countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India will be hosting SCO heads of government virtual meet on 30th November which focus on economic cooperation.

Russia has supported India that bilateral matter should not be raised at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) forum. The development comes after Pakistan has been attempting to raise India-Pakistan matters at the Beijing Headquartered organization.

Russia has supported India that bilateral matter should not be raised at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) forum. The development comes after Pakistan has been attempting to raise India-Pakistan matters at the Beijing Headquartered organization. Russian Deputy Envoy to Delhi, Roman N Babushkin in response to WION question said, “This is a part of SCO charter and SCO basic documents not to bring the bilateral issue into the agenda. It has been made clear to all members states that it should be avoided...for the sake of the progress of multilateral cooperation." Adding, "The importance of SCO is to deal with regional challenges, to promote economic, financial, humanitarian partnership among member states in order to keep the momentum...we not interfere in bilateral issues despite such kind of India Pakistan... Our position remains consistent and unchanged. We hope such kind of instances will not appear." Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi had also raised the matter at the SCO head of state meeting earlier this week. He said, "It is unfortunate that many attempts are being made to unnecessarily bring bilateral issues into the SCO agenda. This is a violation of SCO charter and Shanghai spirit". In the run-up to the SCO virtual summit, a number of SCO meetings happened. In the SCO NSA virtual meet, the Pakistani NSA has put a map of Pakistan that violated the territorial integrity of India drawing a strong response from New Delhi. SCO is a grouping of 8 countries--India, Pakistan, Russia, China, and 4 central Asian countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India will be hosting SCO heads of government virtual meet on 30th November which focus on economic cooperation.

Russia supports India at SCO; says the bilateral matter should not be raised

Senate Republicans rehashed unproven allegations of corruption and bias at the FBI on Tuesday, attacking the bureau’s former acting director Andrew McCabe during a contentious Judiciary Committee hearing.

The hearing, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of President Donald Trump’s, was a recounting of perceived injustices that the president and his supporters have amplified over the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. They included the botched applications to wiretap former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, the treatment of former national security adviser Michael Flynn and a notorious dossier about purported Trump-Russia links.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas accused the FBI of going “rogue,” while Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said the bureau had a “culture of corruption and cover-up.” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri described the investigation as the “biggest scandal in the history of the FBI.”

McCabe repeatedly rejected Republican claims that the FBI’s actions were politically motivated.

“Let me be very clear: We didn’t open a case because we liked one candidate or didn’t like the other one,” he said in his opening statement. “We didn’t open a case because we intended to stage a coup or overthrow the government.”

McCabe, who testified remotely because of the pandemic, acknowledged serious FBI mistakes in the Page wiretap applications, one of which he signed. He said he would not have approved it knowing what he has learned since. “We’re all responsible for the work that went into that FISA,” McCabe said.

A Justice Department inspector general report issued in December found egregious errors and omissions in the applications to wiretap Page in the months after he left the Trump campaign, based on investigators’ suspicions about his ties to Russia.

Republicans pressed McCabe about who at the FBI was to blame for the problems. They wrongly insisted that no one had been held responsible; the inspector general’s report did assign blame, singling out an FBI agent assigned as “primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions.”

The FBI director, Christopher Wray, has said line-level employees who played a role in the Page wiretap applications were referred to the bureau’s office of professional responsibility, its disciplinary arm.

The inspector general report also found that the FBI had sufficient reason to open the Russia investigation and that investigators acted without political bias in doing so.

Democrats on the committee made clear they had little patience for Graham’s inquiry, believing it was a waste of time as they accused Attorney General William Barr of politicizing the Justice Department.

“This is a last-ditch, desperate undertaking to deal with President Trump’s grievances about that election,” said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., accusing the Republican-led committee of holding another “partisan hearing to advance President Trump’s theories.”

Before the hearing started, Trump took aim at McCabe, a frequent target. “Republicans, don’t let Andrew McCabe continue to get away with totally criminal activity,” the president wrote on Twitter. “What he did should never be allowed to happen to our Country again. FIGHT FOR JUSTICE!”

During the hearing, Graham repeatedly accused the FBI of treating Trump unfairly, saying he should have been warned about Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election on his behalf.

Graham pointed to a recently declassified document of unverified information that suggested that Russian intelligence had acquired information that Hillary Clinton had approved a plan for her 2016 campaign to “stir up a scandal” against Trump by tying him to the Russian hackers who had broken into Democratic servers.

Though Trump’s allies have promoted the document, other officials rejected its information after evaluating it, including the special counsel, Robert Mueller, and the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee.

McCabe said he had never seen the document before and it was not clear to him that the information alluded to criminal conduct.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a former federal prosecutor, defended the FBI for not investigating the claim, noting that even information related to a possible Clinton campaign strategy did not amount to a crime but rather to typical politics.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also brought up reports that advisers to President-elect Joe Biden were talking to foreign leaders and compared that to the FBI's scrutiny of Flynn in connection with his December 2016 calls with the Russian ambassador during Trump’s transition.

Cruz demanded to know whether Biden and his team were violating the Logan Act, a 1799 statute that says it is a crime for a private citizen to interfere with diplomatic relations between the United States and foreign governments. Cruz eventually pointed out that the Logan Act is widely considered to be unconstitutional, saying that Biden was therefore not violating it but that it was illegitimate to “go after” Flynn for the same thing.

In a heated exchange with Cruz, who repeatedly cut him off, McCabe said that “there were no discussions of the Logan Act” regarding Flynn, leading Cruz to suggest that he might be committing perjury. But permitted to complete his answer, McCabe clarified that agents opened the counterintelligence investigation into Flynn based on something else — a suspicion that he might be a conduit between the campaign and Russia.

Notes released in connection with the Justice Department’s attempt to drop the prosecution of Flynn, despite his guilty plea for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, have shown that there were discussions of the Logan Act in 2017.

In addition, on Tuesday a federal judge unsealed a set of search warrants in connection with the Flynn case in response to a news media request. They showed that by September 2017, when the bureau and Mueller’s office sought access to devices and email accounts from the Trump transition, it cited the Logan Act and false statements to a judge.

“The FBI is investigating whether Flynn corresponded with foreign government officials without the authority of the United States, with intent to influence the conduct of foreign governments, in violation of” the Logan Act, “and whether Flynn made materially false statements and omitted material facts to the FBI regarding his communications with those foreign government officials,” it said.

At the end of the hearing, Graham brushed off the complaints by Democrats that his investigation was pointless. “We are going to keep digging,” he said.

Senate Republicans rehashed unproven allegations of corruption and bias at the FBI on Tuesday, attacking the bureau’s former acting director Andrew McCabe during a contentious Judiciary Committee hearing.

Senate Republicans rehashed unproven allegations of corruption and bias at the FBI on Tuesday, attacking the bureau’s former acting director Andrew McCabe during a contentious Judiciary Committee hearing. The hearing, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of President Donald Trump’s, was a recounting of perceived injustices that the president and his supporters have amplified over the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. They included the botched applications to wiretap former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, the treatment of former national security adviser Michael Flynn and a notorious dossier about purported Trump-Russia links. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas accused the FBI of going “rogue,” while Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said the bureau had a “culture of corruption and cover-up.” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri described the investigation as the “biggest scandal in the history of the FBI.” McCabe repeatedly rejected Republican claims that the FBI’s actions were politically motivated. “Let me be very clear: We didn’t open a case because we liked one candidate or didn’t like the other one,” he said in his opening statement. “We didn’t open a case because we intended to stage a coup or overthrow the government.” McCabe, who testified remotely because of the pandemic, acknowledged serious FBI mistakes in the Page wiretap applications, one of which he signed. He said he would not have approved it knowing what he has learned since. “We’re all responsible for the work that went into that FISA,” McCabe said. A Justice Department inspector general report issued in December found egregious errors and omissions in the applications to wiretap Page in the months after he left the Trump campaign, based on investigators’ suspicions about his ties to Russia. Republicans pressed McCabe about who at the FBI was to blame for the problems. They wrongly insisted that no one had been held responsible; the inspector general’s report did assign blame, singling out an FBI agent assigned as “primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions.” The FBI director, Christopher Wray, has said line-level employees who played a role in the Page wiretap applications were referred to the bureau’s office of professional responsibility, its disciplinary arm. The inspector general report also found that the FBI had sufficient reason to open the Russia investigation and that investigators acted without political bias in doing so. Democrats on the committee made clear they had little patience for Graham’s inquiry, believing it was a waste of time as they accused Attorney General William Barr of politicizing the Justice Department. “This is a last-ditch, desperate undertaking to deal with President Trump’s grievances about that election,” said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., accusing the Republican-led committee of holding another “partisan hearing to advance President Trump’s theories.” Before the hearing started, Trump took aim at McCabe, a frequent target. “Republicans, don’t let Andrew McCabe continue to get away with totally criminal activity,” the president wrote on Twitter. “What he did should never be allowed to happen to our Country again. FIGHT FOR JUSTICE!” During the hearing, Graham repeatedly accused the FBI of treating Trump unfairly, saying he should have been warned about Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election on his behalf. Graham pointed to a recently declassified document of unverified information that suggested that Russian intelligence had acquired information that Hillary Clinton had approved a plan for her 2016 campaign to “stir up a scandal” against Trump by tying him to the Russian hackers who had broken into Democratic servers. Though Trump’s allies have promoted the document, other officials rejected its information after evaluating it, including the special counsel, Robert Mueller, and the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee. McCabe said he had never seen the document before and it was not clear to him that the information alluded to criminal conduct. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a former federal prosecutor, defended the FBI for not investigating the claim, noting that even information related to a possible Clinton campaign strategy did not amount to a crime but rather to typical politics. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also brought up reports that advisers to President-elect Joe Biden were talking to foreign leaders and compared that to the FBI's scrutiny of Flynn in connection with his December 2016 calls with the Russian ambassador during Trump’s transition. Cruz demanded to know whether Biden and his team were violating the Logan Act, a 1799 statute that says it is a crime for a private citizen to interfere with diplomatic relations between the United States and foreign governments. Cruz eventually pointed out that the Logan Act is widely considered to be unconstitutional, saying that Biden was therefore not violating it but that it was illegitimate to “go after” Flynn for the same thing. In a heated exchange with Cruz, who repeatedly cut him off, McCabe said that “there were no discussions of the Logan Act” regarding Flynn, leading Cruz to suggest that he might be committing perjury. But permitted to complete his answer, McCabe clarified that agents opened the counterintelligence investigation into Flynn based on something else — a suspicion that he might be a conduit between the campaign and Russia. Notes released in connection with the Justice Department’s attempt to drop the prosecution of Flynn, despite his guilty plea for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, have shown that there were discussions of the Logan Act in 2017. In addition, on Tuesday a federal judge unsealed a set of search warrants in connection with the Flynn case in response to a news media request. They showed that by September 2017, when the bureau and Mueller’s office sought access to devices and email accounts from the Trump transition, it cited the Logan Act and false statements to a judge. “The FBI is investigating whether Flynn corresponded with foreign government officials without the authority of the United States, with intent to influence the conduct of foreign governments, in violation of” the Logan Act, “and whether Flynn made materially false statements and omitted material facts to the FBI regarding his communications with those foreign government officials,” it said. At the end of the hearing, Graham brushed off the complaints by Democrats that his investigation was pointless. “We are going to keep digging,” he said.

McCabe rejects Republican accusations of FBI corruption in Russia inquiry

After opposition accused the ruling party of rigging tightly contested parliamentary elections thousands of opposition supporters rallied on streets of Georgia, an ex-Soviet country. The protesters gathered outside parliament in Georgian capital Tbilisi. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire ex-PM who leads ruling Georgian Dream party has denied accusations of electoral fraud. The party has won the elections with a margin of two per cent.

All of Georgia's opposition parties have refused to enter the new parliament sparking fears of another political crisis in the Black Sea nation where elections are often followed by accusations of fraud and mass demonstrations.

In an unprecedented show of unity before the vote, the country's main opposition force, exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM), agreed with smaller opposition groups to form a coalition government if elected.

"We demand the replacement of the totally discredited electoral administration and the holding of a fresh vote," one of the UNM's leaders, Salome Samadashvili, told AFP.

"This would allow for maintaining stability in the country," she said, adding that "Georgian Dream has failed to receive a democratic mandate to remain in power."

Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia of Georgian Dream has said the elections marked "another important milestone in Georgia's democratic development" and criticised the opposition for staging mass rallies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gakharia, who has tested positive for the virus, has been in self-isolation for a week and announced a nighttime curfew starting Monday. 
Georgia has seen a rapid daily increase in new virus cases after it lifted a lockdown in September aimed at containing the spread of the disease.&nbsp;

The electoral commission has yet to formalise early results that showed Georgian Dream had won 48 per cent of the proportional vote, against 46 per cent for opposition parties.

The proportional vote decides 120 of the 150 seats in the legislature.

With another 30 seats to be assigned in single-mandate constituencies requiring up to two rounds of voting, the final makeup of the new parliament may only become clear in late November.

(With AFP inputs)

After opposition accused the ruling party of rigging tightly contested parliamentary elections thousands of opposition supporters rallied on streets of Georgia, an ex-Soviet country.

After opposition accused the ruling party of rigging tightly contested parliamentary elections thousands of opposition supporters rallied on streets of Georgia, an ex-Soviet country. The protesters gathered outside parliament in Georgian capital Tbilisi. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire ex-PM who leads ruling Georgian Dream party has denied accusations of electoral fraud. The party has won the elections with a margin of two per cent. All of Georgia's opposition parties have refused to enter the new parliament sparking fears of another political crisis in the Black Sea nation where elections are often followed by accusations of fraud and mass demonstrations. In an unprecedented show of unity before the vote, the country's main opposition force, exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM), agreed with smaller opposition groups to form a coalition government if elected. "We demand the replacement of the totally discredited electoral administration and the holding of a fresh vote," one of the UNM's leaders, Salome Samadashvili, told AFP. "This would allow for maintaining stability in the country," she said, adding that "Georgian Dream has failed to receive a democratic mandate to remain in power." Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia of Georgian Dream has said the elections marked "another important milestone in Georgia's democratic development" and criticised the opposition for staging mass rallies amid the coronavirus pandemic. Gakharia, who has tested positive for the virus, has been in self-isolation for a week and announced a nighttime curfew starting Monday. Georgia has seen a rapid daily increase in new virus cases after it lifted a lockdown in September aimed at containing the spread of the disease. The electoral commission has yet to formalise early results that showed Georgian Dream had won 48 per cent of the proportional vote, against 46 per cent for opposition parties. The proportional vote decides 120 of the 150 seats in the legislature. With another 30 seats to be assigned in single-mandate constituencies requiring up to two rounds of voting, the final makeup of the new parliament may only become clear in late November. (With AFP inputs)

Thousands march in ex-Soviet Georgia after allegations of electoral fraud

Russia has&nbsp;submitted a bill to the parliament that can grant ex-presidents'immunity from criminal prosecution could be extended to any offences committed in their lifetimes, not merely while in office.

The bill is one of several being introduced following constitutional reforms that, among other things, allow President Vladimir Putin to run again when his term ends in 2024.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/president-for-life-putin-to-stay-in-power-until-2036-285523/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The draft legislation is being carefully parsed for clues as to what Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for more than two decades, plans to do in 2024.

Former presidents already enjoy lifetime immunity for crimes committed in the office under legislation adopted after Russia's first post-Soviet president, Boris Yeltsin, handed the reins of power to Putin at the turn of the century.

The new bill would also make it harder to revoke ex-presidents' expanded immunity.

It would require the upper house of parliament to vote overwhelmingly to revoke it on the strength of accusations by the lower house that the president had committed treason or another serious crime.

The bill will become law if the lower house votes to approve it in three readings, the upper house backs it, and Putin then signs it.

Russia has submitted a bill to the parliament that can grant ex-presidents'immunity from criminal prosecution could be extended to any offences committed in their lifetimes, not merely while in office.

Russia has submitted a bill to the parliament that can grant ex-presidents'immunity from criminal prosecution could be extended to any offences committed in their lifetimes, not merely while in office. The bill is one of several being introduced following constitutional reforms that, among other things, allow President Vladimir Putin to run again when his term ends in 2024. The draft legislation is being carefully parsed for clues as to what Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for more than two decades, plans to do in 2024. Former presidents already enjoy lifetime immunity for crimes committed in the office under legislation adopted after Russia's first post-Soviet president, Boris Yeltsin, handed the reins of power to Putin at the turn of the century. The new bill would also make it harder to revoke ex-presidents' expanded immunity. It would require the upper house of parliament to vote overwhelmingly to revoke it on the strength of accusations by the lower house that the president had committed treason or another serious crime. The bill will become law if the lower house votes to approve it in three readings, the upper house backs it, and Putin then signs it.

Russia submits bill to grant ex-presidents immunity from prosecution

Voters in ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls on Sunday to elect a president under the watchful eye of Moscow which wants the polarised country to remain in its orbit amid political and security crises on Russia's borders.

Pro-Moscow president Igor Dodon is seeking a new four-year mandate, with his biggest challenge coming from longtime pro-Western rival&nbsp;Maia Sandu who wants Moldova to join the European Union.

Experts predict a second-round runoff on November 15, as neither Dodon nor Sandu are expected to secure an outright majority on Sunday. 
The impoverished country of 3.5 million has long been divided between those favouring closer ties with the EU and those who cling to Soviet-era relations with Moscow.

Although part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991, the tiny country between Ukraine and Romania has close historic ties with Romania and its main language is Romanian.

Many voters, wearing masks against the coronavirus, expressed disappointment with politicians as they cast their ballots in the rainy capital Chisinau.

"We have been waiting for a change for 30 years," Vasile Mardare, a 64-year-old physical education teacher, told AFP.&nbsp;

"I voted for the candidate who will bring Moldova closer to Western living standards."

In recent years, Moldova has been rocked by multiple political crises and a $1 billion bank fraud scheme equivalent to nearly 15 percent of the country's GDP.

Belarus scenario?

Some voters raised fears of post-election unrest like in fellow ex-Soviet republic Belarus, where protesters have mounted weeks of demonstrations after strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in an August election.

"We don't want things to happen like in Belarus, but if it continues like this I don't think there will be any another solution," said Maria Turcanu, a 55-year-old doctor in Chisinau, who said she was ready to protest.

Casting his ballot with his wife Galina, Dodon said the country was tired of upheaval.&nbsp;

"More than ever, Moldova must keep away from chaos," he said.&nbsp;"I have voted for a strong Moldova, for economic development and political stability."

Dodon, 45, came to power after beating Sandu in a 2016 election and is hoping to defeat her again.

Sandu is a 48-year-old centre-right politician who worked for the World Bank and briefly served as prime minister between June and November 2019.

"I voted for a state which works for its citizens, which creates employment opportunities and improves living conditions," she said while casting her vote.

"But for that we must drive out the corruption and incompetence of the presidency."

Six other candidates are contesting the vote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that Moldovan voters would back Dodon, noting their country's economy -- battered by the coronavirus outbreak -- is firmly linked to Russia.

With Lukashenko facing unprecedented protests in Belarus, Moscow is keen to avoid any further chaos among allies on its western borders, experts said.

Russia's 'strategic partner'

Valeriu Pasa, an analyst with the think tank WatchDog Moldova, compared the polls to a "referendum on Dodon's mandate" and said Moscow was seeking to maintain the status quo in Moldova.

"The current regime is fully subordinate to the Kremlin," Pasa told AFP.

Dodon, who served as economy minister under a Communist government between 2006 and 2009, has promised continued close ties with "strategic partner" Moscow and has said the Russian language should become compulsory in schools.

The economy relies in large part on remittances sent home by people working abroad.

Russia last week accused the United States of preparing a "revolution" in Moldova.

The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin alleged that Washington was inciting the Moldovan opposition to take to the streets after the vote to denounce its validity and demand a re-run.

Russia has troops in Moldova's Moscow-backed breakaway region of Transnistria, which broke away after a brief civil war following the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and is not internationally recognised.

Four hours before polls were due to close at 9:00 pm local time (1900 GMT), turnout was at 36 percent. First results expected overnight.

Voters in ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls on Sunday to elect a president under the watchful eye of Moscow which wants the polarised country to remain in its orbit amid political and security crises on Russia's borders.

Voters in ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls on Sunday to elect a president under the watchful eye of Moscow which wants the polarised country to remain in its orbit amid political and security crises on Russia's borders. Pro-Moscow president Igor Dodon is seeking a new four-year mandate, with his biggest challenge coming from longtime pro-Western rival Maia Sandu who wants Moldova to join the European Union. Experts predict a second-round runoff on November 15, as neither Dodon nor Sandu are expected to secure an outright majority on Sunday. The impoverished country of 3.5 million has long been divided between those favouring closer ties with the EU and those who cling to Soviet-era relations with Moscow. Although part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991, the tiny country between Ukraine and Romania has close historic ties with Romania and its main language is Romanian. Many voters, wearing masks against the coronavirus, expressed disappointment with politicians as they cast their ballots in the rainy capital Chisinau. "We have been waiting for a change for 30 years," Vasile Mardare, a 64-year-old physical education teacher, told AFP. "I voted for the candidate who will bring Moldova closer to Western living standards." In recent years, Moldova has been rocked by multiple political crises and a $1 billion bank fraud scheme equivalent to nearly 15 percent of the country's GDP. Belarus scenario? Some voters raised fears of post-election unrest like in fellow ex-Soviet republic Belarus, where protesters have mounted weeks of demonstrations after strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in an August election. "We don't want things to happen like in Belarus, but if it continues like this I don't think there will be any another solution," said Maria Turcanu, a 55-year-old doctor in Chisinau, who said she was ready to protest. Casting his ballot with his wife Galina, Dodon said the country was tired of upheaval. "More than ever, Moldova must keep away from chaos," he said. "I have voted for a strong Moldova, for economic development and political stability." Dodon, 45, came to power after beating Sandu in a 2016 election and is hoping to defeat her again. Sandu is a 48-year-old centre-right politician who worked for the World Bank and briefly served as prime minister between June and November 2019. "I voted for a state which works for its citizens, which creates employment opportunities and improves living conditions," she said while casting her vote. "But for that we must drive out the corruption and incompetence of the presidency." Six other candidates are contesting the vote. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that Moldovan voters would back Dodon, noting their country's economy -- battered by the coronavirus outbreak -- is firmly linked to Russia. With Lukashenko facing unprecedented protests in Belarus, Moscow is keen to avoid any further chaos among allies on its western borders, experts said. Russia's 'strategic partner' Valeriu Pasa, an analyst with the think tank WatchDog Moldova, compared the polls to a "referendum on Dodon's mandate" and said Moscow was seeking to maintain the status quo in Moldova. "The current regime is fully subordinate to the Kremlin," Pasa told AFP. Dodon, who served as economy minister under a Communist government between 2006 and 2009, has promised continued close ties with "strategic partner" Moscow and has said the Russian language should become compulsory in schools. The economy relies in large part on remittances sent home by people working abroad. Russia last week accused the United States of preparing a "revolution" in Moldova. The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin alleged that Washington was inciting the Moldovan opposition to take to the streets after the vote to denounce its validity and demand a re-run. Russia has troops in Moldova's Moscow-backed breakaway region of Transnistria, which broke away after a brief civil war following the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and is not internationally recognised. Four hours before polls were due to close at 9:00 pm local time (1900 GMT), turnout was at 36 percent. First results expected overnight.

Moldova elects president amid Russia-West tug of war

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said that a satirical magazine like Charlie Hebdo could not exist in Russia. At the same time, Peskov termed October 16 beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty a "horrifying tragedy". He was talking to Kommersant FM radio.

He further said that every faith lived in full respect of each other and stated it as the reason why a publication like Charlie Hebdo was not possible in Russia.

He declined to answer whether it was acceptable to caricaturise Prophet Mohammed.

Several teachings in Islam forbid the pictorial depiction of Prophet Mohammed. Charlie Hebdo's headquarters in Paris were targetted in a terrorist attack in 2015 after it caricaturised Prophet Mohammed.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspect-arrested-in-shooting-of-priest-in-frances-lyon-339322">Suspect arrested in shooting of priest in France's Lyon</a>

The debate has sprung up violently after Samuel Paty, the teacher was beheaded by a Chechen youth after he depicted Prophet Mohammed in the classroom. Days after the initial attack, a woman was beheaded and two other persons killed in an attack in a church in French city of Nice. On Saturday (October 31) a Greek Orthodox priest was shot at in Lyon.

The incidents, the debate and the political reactions have stirred the public all around the world especially in Muslim countries.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said that a satirical magazine like Charlie Hebdo could not exist in Russia. At the same time, Peskov termed October 16 beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty a "horrifying tragedy".

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said that a satirical magazine like Charlie Hebdo could not exist in Russia. At the same time, Peskov termed October 16 beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty a "horrifying tragedy". He was talking to Kommersant FM radio. He further said that every faith lived in full respect of each other and stated it as the reason why a publication like Charlie Hebdo was not possible in Russia. He declined to answer whether it was acceptable to caricaturise Prophet Mohammed. Several teachings in Islam forbid the pictorial depiction of Prophet Mohammed. Charlie Hebdo's headquarters in Paris were targetted in a terrorist attack in 2015 after it caricaturised Prophet Mohammed. Also Read | Suspect arrested in shooting of priest in France's Lyon The debate has sprung up violently after Samuel Paty, the teacher was beheaded by a Chechen youth after he depicted Prophet Mohammed in the classroom. Days after the initial attack, a woman was beheaded and two other persons killed in an attack in a church in French city of Nice. On Saturday (October 31) a Greek Orthodox priest was shot at in Lyon. The incidents, the debate and the political reactions have stirred the public all around the world especially in Muslim countries.

Magazine like Charlie Hebdo 'could not exist' in Russia, says Kremlin

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia.&nbsp; The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again."&nbsp;

The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party.&nbsp;"Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing.

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We’re baaaaaaack <a href="https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV">https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV</a> <a href="https://t.co/SkVtp4o9ew">pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew</a>
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New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban."

The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son.

The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation.&nbsp;"The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account. New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia. The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again." The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party. "Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing. We’re baaaaaaack https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew — New York Post (@nypost) October 30, 2020 × New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban." The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son. The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation. "The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

'We are back': New York Post returns to Twitter after account is unfrozen

A teenager has been shot dead by Russian police in a Muslim majority region on Friday. The incident was reported by the Russian police who have claimed that the teenager was shot dead as a defensive move.

The suspect is a 16-year-boy who was allegedly trying to set a police station on fire. When intervened by the local police officers, he stabbed a police officer on duty, and then was shot dead on the moment.

This incident happened in a Muslim dominant Tatarstan region. He has not been identified by the local authorities and media, as of now.

An investigation has started in the matter by the Russian police and will soon be released.

Russian incident has come a few hours after a terror attack took place in the Nice city of France where a man attacked the locals near a church and beheaded one woman. Several others were injured, and three victims in total lost their lives.

This is a developing story.

A teenager has been shot dead by Russian police in a Muslim majority region on Friday. The incident was reported by the Russian police who have claimed that the teenager was shot dead as a defensive move.

A teenager has been shot dead by Russian police in a Muslim majority region on Friday. The incident was reported by the Russian police who have claimed that the teenager was shot dead as a defensive move. The suspect is a 16-year-boy who was allegedly trying to set a police station on fire. When intervened by the local police officers, he stabbed a police officer on duty, and then was shot dead on the moment. This incident happened in a Muslim dominant Tatarstan region. He has not been identified by the local authorities and media, as of now. An investigation has started in the matter by the Russian police and will soon be released. Russian incident has come a few hours after a terror attack took place in the Nice city of France where a man attacked the locals near a church and beheaded one woman. Several others were injured, and three victims in total lost their lives. This is a developing story.

Teenager shot dead by Russian police for stabbing officer in Muslim-dominated region

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of not wanting "lasting peace" in Syria just two days after a Russian airstrike killed dozens of pro-Turkey rebels in Syria. On Monday, a Russian warplane hit a training centre for Turkish-backed fighters in northwestern Syrian province near Turkish border.

"Russia's attack on the training centre of the Syrian national army forces in the Idlib region shows it does not want lasting peace in the region," Erdogan said in a televised address.

Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike killed 78 fighters.

The pro-Ankara group, known as Faylaq al-Sham, retaliated by killing at least 15 Moscow-backed fighters, the monitor said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charlie-hebdo-caricatures-recep-erdogan-sparks-turkish-fury-338428">Charlie Hebdo caricatures Recep Erdogan; sparks Turkish fury</a>

Faylaq al-Sham is a Sunni Islamist group that has acted as Turkey's proxy during several Turkish military campaigns on Syrian soil, and has also been the source of pro-Ankara mercenaries sent to fight in Libya.

A truce at the start of the year brought an end to a Russia-backed Syria regime offensive that had killed more than 500 civilians and displaced almost one million people. 
It was one of the worst humanitarian crises of Syria's nine-year civil war.

The last major rebel stronghold covers around half of Idlib province as well as slivers of adjacent provinces.

(With AFP inputs)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of not wanting "lasting peace" in Syria just two days after a Russian airstrike killed dozens of pro-Turkey rebels in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of not wanting "lasting peace" in Syria just two days after a Russian airstrike killed dozens of pro-Turkey rebels in Syria. On Monday, a Russian warplane hit a training centre for Turkish-backed fighters in northwestern Syrian province near Turkish border. "Russia's attack on the training centre of the Syrian national army forces in the Idlib region shows it does not want lasting peace in the region," Erdogan said in a televised address. Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike killed 78 fighters. The pro-Ankara group, known as Faylaq al-Sham, retaliated by killing at least 15 Moscow-backed fighters, the monitor said. Also Read | Charlie Hebdo caricatures Recep Erdogan; sparks Turkish fury Faylaq al-Sham is a Sunni Islamist group that has acted as Turkey's proxy during several Turkish military campaigns on Syrian soil, and has also been the source of pro-Ankara mercenaries sent to fight in Libya. A truce at the start of the year brought an end to a Russia-backed Syria regime offensive that had killed more than 500 civilians and displaced almost one million people. It was one of the worst humanitarian crises of Syria's nine-year civil war. The last major rebel stronghold covers around half of Idlib province as well as slivers of adjacent provinces. (With AFP inputs)

Russian airstrike in Syria shows it does not want lasting peace, says Erdogan

Cybersecurity officials watched with growing alarm in September as Russian state hackers started prowling around dozens of American state and local government computer systems just two months before the election.

The act itself did not worry them so much — officials anticipated that the Russians who interfered in the 2016 election would be back — but the actor did. The group, known to researchers as “Dragonfly” or “Energetic Bear” for its hackings of the energy sector, was not involved in 2016 election hacking. But it has in the past five years breached the power grid, water treatment facilities and even nuclear power plants, including one in Kansas.

It also hacked into Wi-Fi systems at San Francisco International Airport and at least two other West Coast airports in March in an apparent bid to find one unidentified traveler, a demonstration of the hackers’ power and resolve.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/is-the-trump-campaign-colluding-with-russia-again-336750">Also read|&nbsp;Is the Trump campaign colluding with Russia again?</a>

September’s intrusions marked the first time that researchers caught the group, a unit of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, targeting states and counties. The timing of the attacks so close to the election and the potential for disruption set off concern inside private security firms, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

“One possible explanation is that they are calling in the real pros — the A Team — who is used to operating in this really sensitive critical infrastructure where you want to keep quiet until you don’t,” said Suzanne Spaulding, the former undersecretary for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure at the Department of Homeland Security.

In 2016, Russian hackers from other groups were unusually noisy in their efforts to penetrate some state election databases. “You could argue they didn’t care about being quiet,” Spaulding said. But now that Russia has been called out and punished for interfering in the election, President Vladimir Putin “may want to keep this quiet until the circumstances are set for their use in information operations,” she added.

American officials described the hackings in an advisory on Thursday as “opportunistic,” rather than a clear attack on election infrastructure, but conceded the group had targeted dozens of state and local systems and stolen data from at least two targets’ servers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thought-he-had-a-nuclear-deal-with-putin-not-so-fast-russia-said-335455">Also read|&nbsp;Trump thought he had a nuclear deal with Putin. Not so fast, Russia said.</a>

“They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities and they’re working opportunistically,” said Christopher C. Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which issued the warning along with the FBI.

That hardly reassured researchers who have tracked Energetic Bear for years. “This appears to be preparatory, to ensure access when they decide they need it,” said Adam Meyers, the head of threat intelligence at CrowdStrike, a security firm that has monitored the group.

Energetic Bear typically casts a wide net, then zeros in on a few high-value targets. In Germany and the United States, the group has infected websites popular in the energy sector, downloading malware onto the machines of anyone who visited the sites, then searching for employees with access to industrial systems.

In other attacks, it has hijacked the software updates for computers attached to industrial control systems. It has also blasted targets with phishing emails in search of employees, or co-workers, who might have access to critical systems at water, power and nuclear plants.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-elections-look-at-russia-china-and-india-its-filthy-says-trump-on-carbon-emissions-337317">Also read|&nbsp;US elections: Look at Russia, China and India, it's filthy, says Trump on carbon emissions</a>

And it has done so with remarkable success. A disturbing screenshot in a 2018 Department of Homeland Security advisory showed the groups’ hackers with their fingers on the switches of the computers that controlled the industrial systems at a power plant.

The group has thus far stopped short of sabotage, but appears to be preparing for some future attack. The hackings so unnerved officials that starting in 2018, the U.S. Cyber Command, the arm of the Pentagon that conducts offensive cyberattacks, hit back with retaliatory strikes on the Russian grid.

Some called the counterattacks the digital era’s equivalent of mutually assured destruction. But any hope that U.S. officials had that their strikes would deter Russia dissipated when the group started targeting American airports in March.

Officials at San Francisco International Airport discovered Russia’s state hackers had breached the online system that airport employees and travelers used to gain access to the airport’s Wi-Fi. The hackers injected code into two Wi-Fi portals that stole visitors’ user names, cracked their passwords and infected their laptops.

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The attack began on March 17 and continued for nearly two weeks until it was shut down. By then, officials at two other airports discovered their Wi-Fi portals had also been compromised. Researchers would not name the other victims, citing nondisclosure agreements, but said they were on the West Coast.

As pervasive as the attacks could have been, researchers believe Russia’s hackers were interested only in one specific person traveling through the airports that day.

“Ostensibly, hundreds of thousands of people could have been compromised,” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, who examined the attack. “But only 10 were.”

Chien’s team discovered that the hackers were “fingerprinting” the machines of anyone who logged onto the Wi-Fi network in search of one older version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. If they found a match, the hackers infected those laptops. If the Wi-Fi visitors used any other browser, the hackers left them alone.

“From what we could see, they were going after a specific individual,” Chien said.

In the government alert on Thursday, officials said that the Russian group was again targeting aviation systems. It did not name the targets but did suggest in some technical language that one could have been the airport in Columbus, Ohio.

In a previous homeland security warning about the group, officials said it “targets low security and small networks to gain access and move laterally to networks of major, high-value asset owners within the energy sector.”

Security researchers warned that the spate of attacks on American state and local systems could mirror the trajectory of those attacks: Russia’s hackers using their foothold in seemingly random victims’ networks to mine for more interesting targets closer to the election on Nov. 3. They could take steps like pulling offline the databases that verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots, or given their particular expertise, shutting power to key precincts.

“The most disconcerting piece is that it demonstrates Russia’s intent and ability to target systems near and dear to us, but that shouldn’t surprise us,” said Frank Cilluffo, the director of Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security.

By deputizing the FSB’s stealthiest infrastructure hackers to target state and local systems, some security experts believe Russia may be hedging its bets.

If, for example, Putin believes President Donald Trump will be reelected and wants to forge a better relationship with the United States, he may want to limit the degree to which Russia is seen as interfering.

Likewise, the experts said, if former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, is elected, Russia may try to use its foothold in the systems to weaken or delegitimize him, or it may hold back so as not to provoke the new administration.

“By doing this more quietly, you give yourself more options,” Spaulding said.

Cybersecurity officials watched with growing alarm in September as Russian state hackers started prowling around dozens of American state and local government computer systems just two months before the election.

Cybersecurity officials watched with growing alarm in September as Russian state hackers started prowling around dozens of American state and local government computer systems just two months before the election. The act itself did not worry them so much — officials anticipated that the Russians who interfered in the 2016 election would be back — but the actor did. The group, known to researchers as “Dragonfly” or “Energetic Bear” for its hackings of the energy sector, was not involved in 2016 election hacking. But it has in the past five years breached the power grid, water treatment facilities and even nuclear power plants, including one in Kansas. It also hacked into Wi-Fi systems at San Francisco International Airport and at least two other West Coast airports in March in an apparent bid to find one unidentified traveler, a demonstration of the hackers’ power and resolve. Also read| Is the Trump campaign colluding with Russia again? September’s intrusions marked the first time that researchers caught the group, a unit of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, targeting states and counties. The timing of the attacks so close to the election and the potential for disruption set off concern inside private security firms, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. “One possible explanation is that they are calling in the real pros — the A Team — who is used to operating in this really sensitive critical infrastructure where you want to keep quiet until you don’t,” said Suzanne Spaulding, the former undersecretary for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure at the Department of Homeland Security. In 2016, Russian hackers from other groups were unusually noisy in their efforts to penetrate some state election databases. “You could argue they didn’t care about being quiet,” Spaulding said. But now that Russia has been called out and punished for interfering in the election, President Vladimir Putin “may want to keep this quiet until the circumstances are set for their use in information operations,” she added. American officials described the hackings in an advisory on Thursday as “opportunistic,” rather than a clear attack on election infrastructure, but conceded the group had targeted dozens of state and local systems and stolen data from at least two targets’ servers. Also read| Trump thought he had a nuclear deal with Putin. Not so fast, Russia said. “They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities and they’re working opportunistically,” said Christopher C. Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which issued the warning along with the FBI. That hardly reassured researchers who have tracked Energetic Bear for years. “This appears to be preparatory, to ensure access when they decide they need it,” said Adam Meyers, the head of threat intelligence at CrowdStrike, a security firm that has monitored the group. Energetic Bear typically casts a wide net, then zeros in on a few high-value targets. In Germany and the United States, the group has infected websites popular in the energy sector, downloading malware onto the machines of anyone who visited the sites, then searching for employees with access to industrial systems. In other attacks, it has hijacked the software updates for computers attached to industrial control systems. It has also blasted targets with phishing emails in search of employees, or co-workers, who might have access to critical systems at water, power and nuclear plants. Also read| US elections: Look at Russia, China and India, it's filthy, says Trump on carbon emissions And it has done so with remarkable success. A disturbing screenshot in a 2018 Department of Homeland Security advisory showed the groups’ hackers with their fingers on the switches of the computers that controlled the industrial systems at a power plant. The group has thus far stopped short of sabotage, but appears to be preparing for some future attack. The hackings so unnerved officials that starting in 2018, the U.S. Cyber Command, the arm of the Pentagon that conducts offensive cyberattacks, hit back with retaliatory strikes on the Russian grid. Some called the counterattacks the digital era’s equivalent of mutually assured destruction. But any hope that U.S. officials had that their strikes would deter Russia dissipated when the group started targeting American airports in March. Officials at San Francisco International Airport discovered Russia’s state hackers had breached the online system that airport employees and travelers used to gain access to the airport’s Wi-Fi. The hackers injected code into two Wi-Fi portals that stole visitors’ user names, cracked their passwords and infected their laptops. × The attack began on March 17 and continued for nearly two weeks until it was shut down. By then, officials at two other airports discovered their Wi-Fi portals had also been compromised. Researchers would not name the other victims, citing nondisclosure agreements, but said they were on the West Coast. As pervasive as the attacks could have been, researchers believe Russia’s hackers were interested only in one specific person traveling through the airports that day. “Ostensibly, hundreds of thousands of people could have been compromised,” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, who examined the attack. “But only 10 were.” Chien’s team discovered that the hackers were “fingerprinting” the machines of anyone who logged onto the Wi-Fi network in search of one older version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. If they found a match, the hackers infected those laptops. If the Wi-Fi visitors used any other browser, the hackers left them alone. “From what we could see, they were going after a specific individual,” Chien said. In the government alert on Thursday, officials said that the Russian group was again targeting aviation systems. It did not name the targets but did suggest in some technical language that one could have been the airport in Columbus, Ohio. In a previous homeland security warning about the group, officials said it “targets low security and small networks to gain access and move laterally to networks of major, high-value asset owners within the energy sector.” Security researchers warned that the spate of attacks on American state and local systems could mirror the trajectory of those attacks: Russia’s hackers using their foothold in seemingly random victims’ networks to mine for more interesting targets closer to the election on Nov. 3. They could take steps like pulling offline the databases that verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots, or given their particular expertise, shutting power to key precincts. “The most disconcerting piece is that it demonstrates Russia’s intent and ability to target systems near and dear to us, but that shouldn’t surprise us,” said Frank Cilluffo, the director of Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. By deputizing the FSB’s stealthiest infrastructure hackers to target state and local systems, some security experts believe Russia may be hedging its bets. If, for example, Putin believes President Donald Trump will be reelected and wants to forge a better relationship with the United States, he may want to limit the degree to which Russia is seen as interfering. Likewise, the experts said, if former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, is elected, Russia may try to use its foothold in the systems to weaken or delegitimize him, or it may hold back so as not to provoke the new administration. “By doing this more quietly, you give yourself more options,” Spaulding said.

Russians who pose US election threat have hacked nuclear plants and power grid

After the simmering dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the origins of borscht, the reddish soup has recently emerged as the latest battleground in Ukraine’s struggle to assert an independent national identity and shake off centuries of Russian domination.

According to the encyclopedia, Borscht also spelled borsch, borsht, or bortsch, beet soup of the Slavic countries, is a humble, reddish beet soup, often served with a generous dollop of sour cream on top. Although borscht is important in Russian and Polish cuisines, Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin.

Ukraine claims borscht as its own it has added the soup to a list of intangible elements of Ukrainian culture.&nbsp;

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The goal is to declare Ukraine as the home of borscht for this, it will have to be listed as a UNESCO heritage item.&nbsp;

The origin of this campaign is quite interesting, it was led by Yevhen Klopotenko, a celebrity chef based in Kiev.

At one expert council meeting -- he arrived with 5 litres of borscht placed the bowl on the table and said -- we need to recognise this today but standing in Ukraine’s way is Russia.

Moscow claims the borscht as part of Russia’s national cuisine, it's unlikely to surrender its claim without a fight. Beneath this face-off for a soup is a clash of national identities. Ukraine has long opposed Russia’s dominant historical narratives.&nbsp;

Moscow often seeks to belittle Ukrainian culture and language so much so that President Putin once told George Bush that Ukraine is not a country. The cultural faultiness between Ukraine and Russia are not well-defined, both countries were part of the same regime through much of history.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the simmering dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the origins of borscht, the reddish soup has recently emerged as the latest battleground in Ukraine’s struggle to assert an independent national identity and shake off centuries of Russian domination.

After the simmering dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the origins of borscht, the reddish soup has recently emerged as the latest battleground in Ukraine’s struggle to assert an independent national identity and shake off centuries of Russian domination. According to the encyclopedia, Borscht also spelled borsch, borsht, or bortsch, beet soup of the Slavic countries, is a humble, reddish beet soup, often served with a generous dollop of sour cream on top. Although borscht is important in Russian and Polish cuisines, Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin. Ukraine claims borscht as its own it has added the soup to a list of intangible elements of Ukrainian culture. × The goal is to declare Ukraine as the home of borscht for this, it will have to be listed as a UNESCO heritage item. The origin of this campaign is quite interesting, it was led by Yevhen Klopotenko, a celebrity chef based in Kiev. At one expert council meeting -- he arrived with 5 litres of borscht placed the bowl on the table and said -- we need to recognise this today but standing in Ukraine’s way is Russia. Moscow claims the borscht as part of Russia’s national cuisine, it's unlikely to surrender its claim without a fight. Beneath this face-off for a soup is a clash of national identities. Ukraine has long opposed Russia’s dominant historical narratives. Moscow often seeks to belittle Ukrainian culture and language so much so that President Putin once told George Bush that Ukraine is not a country. The cultural faultiness between Ukraine and Russia are not well-defined, both countries were part of the same regime through much of history. (With inputs from agencies)

In culinary spat with Russia, Ukraine seeks UN status for 'borscht'

Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus will be tested on 100 volunteers in India. Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation`s Drug Controller General (DCGI) was quoted by Sputnik News in this regard. Dr Reddy's Laboratories has been granted permission to conduct the tests. Date and time of the tests however, will be determined by the company.

Sputnik quoted the organisation as saying that the vaccine will be tested in the second phase of its clinical trials before moving on to phase 3.

According to a government official, Dr Reddy`s Lab has stated that in phase 2 clinical trial--"would include 100 subjects and for phase 3, it would take 1400 subjects.

"Once the pharma company would submit the safety and immunogenicity data of phase 2, it would be analysed by the expert panel and then they can proceed for the phase 3 trial," the official added.

On October 13, ANI had reported that Dr Reddy`s Laboratories re-applied fresh protocol to DCGI in order to seek its approval for conducting phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine.It may be noted that on October 5, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) had done a thorough evaluation of the previous application submitted by Dr Reddy`s lab.&nbsp;

Thereafter, the SEC had directed the pharma company to apply with a revised protocol along with more information. The Indian drugmaker has joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine as well as its distribution. As per the RDIF, it will supply 100 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine to India drug company Dr Reddy`s Lab.

Last month, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, RDIF informed that Russia is in close dialogue with the Indian government and drug manufacturers of India regarding localisation of production of its Sputnik V vaccine in India.

Also, a prestigious medical journal The Lancet had published the results of clinical trials of Phase I-II of the Russian vaccine demonstrating its safety and efficacy.On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine candidate developed jointly by RDIF and the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world`s first registered vaccine against COVID-19.According to Russian researchers, Sputnik V is a human adenoviral vector vaccine that fights against coronavirus disease.

(With PTI inputs)

Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus will be tested on 100 volunteers in India. Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation`s Drug Controller General (DCGI) was quoted by Sputnik News in this regard.

Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus will be tested on 100 volunteers in India. Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation`s Drug Controller General (DCGI) was quoted by Sputnik News in this regard. Dr Reddy's Laboratories has been granted permission to conduct the tests. Date and time of the tests however, will be determined by the company. Sputnik quoted the organisation as saying that the vaccine will be tested in the second phase of its clinical trials before moving on to phase 3. According to a government official, Dr Reddy`s Lab has stated that in phase 2 clinical trial--"would include 100 subjects and for phase 3, it would take 1400 subjects. "Once the pharma company would submit the safety and immunogenicity data of phase 2, it would be analysed by the expert panel and then they can proceed for the phase 3 trial," the official added. On October 13, ANI had reported that Dr Reddy`s Laboratories re-applied fresh protocol to DCGI in order to seek its approval for conducting phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine.It may be noted that on October 5, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) had done a thorough evaluation of the previous application submitted by Dr Reddy`s lab. Thereafter, the SEC had directed the pharma company to apply with a revised protocol along with more information. The Indian drugmaker has joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine as well as its distribution. As per the RDIF, it will supply 100 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine to India drug company Dr Reddy`s Lab. Last month, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, RDIF informed that Russia is in close dialogue with the Indian government and drug manufacturers of India regarding localisation of production of its Sputnik V vaccine in India. Also, a prestigious medical journal The Lancet had published the results of clinical trials of Phase I-II of the Russian vaccine demonstrating its safety and efficacy.On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine candidate developed jointly by RDIF and the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world`s first registered vaccine against COVID-19.According to Russian researchers, Sputnik V is a human adenoviral vector vaccine that fights against coronavirus disease. (With PTI inputs)

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 will be tested on 100 Indian volunteers

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The efforts for a fresh truce were on. World powers are seeking to halt Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ministers are due to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday. They will meet Pompeo separately.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov arrived in Moscow for "consultations with the Russian side," the ministry said in a statement.

His Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was set to meet with Lavrov in Moscow "to discuss the situation in Karabakh and the implementation of a ceasefire agreement," ministry spokeswoman Anna Nagdalyan said.

It was not immediately clear if the two diplomats would meet Lavrov jointly or separately.

World powers including Russia and the United States have expressed dismay that there has been no let-up in more than three weeks of fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

A truce was agreed in Moscow earlier this month after 11 hours of talks, but the accord had next to no impact on the ground.

A second ceasefire agreed Saturday fell apart almost immediately.

Yerevan says 772 Armenian soldiers and 36 civilians have been killed in the flare-up of fighting.

Baku has reported 63 civilian casualties but has yet to disclose military losses.

Azerbaijan and the Armenian separatists who control its Karabakh region have been locked in a bitter impasse over the fate of the mountainous province since a war in the 1990s that left 30,000 people dead.

Their long-simmering conflict erupted again on September 27 in fierce clashes that raised the alarm over the failure of decades-long international mediation.

Along with France and Russia, the United States co-chairs the so-called Minsk Group of international mediators to the Karabakh peace talks since the 1994 ceasefire.

Baku says its forces have captured ground within Karabakh and that it also now controls Azerbaijani territory that had been held by Armenian forces.

(With AFP inputs)

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The efforts for a fresh truce were on. World powers are seeking to halt Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The efforts for a fresh truce were on. World powers are seeking to halt Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The ministers are due to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday. They will meet Pompeo separately. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov arrived in Moscow for "consultations with the Russian side," the ministry said in a statement. His Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was set to meet with Lavrov in Moscow "to discuss the situation in Karabakh and the implementation of a ceasefire agreement," ministry spokeswoman Anna Nagdalyan said. It was not immediately clear if the two diplomats would meet Lavrov jointly or separately. World powers including Russia and the United States have expressed dismay that there has been no let-up in more than three weeks of fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. A truce was agreed in Moscow earlier this month after 11 hours of talks, but the accord had next to no impact on the ground. A second ceasefire agreed Saturday fell apart almost immediately. Yerevan says 772 Armenian soldiers and 36 civilians have been killed in the flare-up of fighting. Baku has reported 63 civilian casualties but has yet to disclose military losses. Azerbaijan and the Armenian separatists who control its Karabakh region have been locked in a bitter impasse over the fate of the mountainous province since a war in the 1990s that left 30,000 people dead. Their long-simmering conflict erupted again on September 27 in fierce clashes that raised the alarm over the failure of decades-long international mediation. Along with France and Russia, the United States co-chairs the so-called Minsk Group of international mediators to the Karabakh peace talks since the 1994 ceasefire. Baku says its forces have captured ground within Karabakh and that it also now controls Azerbaijani territory that had been held by Armenian forces. (With AFP inputs)

Armenia-Azerbaijan hold truce talks again in Moscow

October 18 in history: USA takes Alaska from Russia, and more!

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-key-questions-about-the-mh17-trial-284521">In pictures: Five key questions about the MH17 trial</a> 
 
Calling the talks ‘meaningless’ Russia accused both the countries of not seeking to establish what happened. Russia said investigations conducted had been biased and politicised.

"Such unfriendly actions by the Netherlands make it meaningless to continue our participation in tripartite talks," the ministry said in a statement, calling the Dutch-led investigations into the downing "biased, superficial and politicised".

"Australia and the Netherlands did not seek to understand what really happened in the summer of 2014, but instead were aiming to get Russia to admit guilt and receive compensation for the victims' relatives," the ministry added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was surprised by Russia's unilateral decision to stop negotiations on its liability for the downing of flight MH17, as well as by the timing.

"This is painful for the next of kin," he told Dutch media in Brussels on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17.

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17. In pictures: Five key questions about the MH17 trial Calling the talks ‘meaningless’ Russia accused both the countries of not seeking to establish what happened. Russia said investigations conducted had been biased and politicised. "Such unfriendly actions by the Netherlands make it meaningless to continue our participation in tripartite talks," the ministry said in a statement, calling the Dutch-led investigations into the downing "biased, superficial and politicised". "Australia and the Netherlands did not seek to understand what really happened in the summer of 2014, but instead were aiming to get Russia to admit guilt and receive compensation for the victims' relatives," the ministry added. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was surprised by Russia's unilateral decision to stop negotiations on its liability for the downing of flight MH17, as well as by the timing. "This is painful for the next of kin," he told Dutch media in Brussels on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia pulls cooperation on MH17 probe, calls it 'meaningless'

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