Russia on Friday threatened Moscow-based British media with retaliation after London's media watchdog imposed a heavy fine on the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT. &nbsp;

"British media working in Russia should be prepared to face the consequences of London's actions," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The fine is an "act of censorship", it added.

Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, fined RT £200,000 (225,000 euros) for "serious failures" in its coverage of last year's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/parents-of-novichok-victim-ask-why-uk-settled-ex-spy-in-salisbury-197770">Salisbury nerve agent</a> poisoning and the Syrian conflict.&nbsp;

Russia said the fine "far exceeded" those imposed on other media, adding RT had been unfairly singled out.&nbsp;

"Once again we are witnessing how British authorities are trying to limit the activity of Russian media in the country," it said, claiming that this was part of an "anti-Russian campaign" in Britain.&nbsp;

In the statement, the ministry also accused UK media of "regularly" misreporting news on Russia.&nbsp;

RT denounced the fine as "astonishing" and said it was "very wrong" for Ofcom to issue it while the case was still under judicial review.

Ofcom initially found RT in breach of Britain's strict media rules last December, and RT has appealed that decision.

Relations between London and Moscow sharply deteriorated after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Soviet-era nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury in March 2018.&nbsp;

Russia on Friday threatened Moscow-based British media with retaliation after London's media watchdog imposed a heavy fine on the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT. "British media working in Russia should be prepared to face the consequences of London's actions," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia on Friday threatened Moscow-based British media with retaliation after London's media watchdog imposed a heavy fine on the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT. "British media working in Russia should be prepared to face the consequences of London's actions," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The fine is an "act of censorship", it added. Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, fined RT £200,000 (225,000 euros) for "serious failures" in its coverage of last year's Salisbury nerve agent poisoning and the Syrian conflict. Russia said the fine "far exceeded" those imposed on other media, adding RT had been unfairly singled out. "Once again we are witnessing how British authorities are trying to limit the activity of Russian media in the country," it said, claiming that this was part of an "anti-Russian campaign" in Britain. In the statement, the ministry also accused UK media of "regularly" misreporting news on Russia. RT denounced the fine as "astonishing" and said it was "very wrong" for Ofcom to issue it while the case was still under judicial review. Ofcom initially found RT in breach of Britain's strict media rules last December, and RT has appealed that decision. Relations between London and Moscow sharply deteriorated after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Soviet-era nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury in March 2018.

Britain unfairly singled out RT television channel: Russia

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britain-asks-chemical-watchdog-to-extend-novichok-probe-157630">UK government</a> for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury.

Stan and Caroline Sturgess, whose daughter <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/novichok-victim-recalls-oily-substance-in-perfume-bottle-154283">Dawn</a> died after coming into contact with a nerve agent allegedly used in last year's poisoning of Sergei Skripal, said they believed British authorities were withholding details of the incident.

"If anyone, I blame the government for putting Skripal in Salisbury," Stan Sturgess told The Guardian newspaper in the family's first interview since her death last July.

"I want justice from our own government. What are they hiding? I don't think they have given us all the facts."

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on March 4 slumped unconscious on a park bench in the centre of the quiet cathedral city Salisbury in southwest England.

Britain and Western allies have accused Russia of carrying out the poisoning using a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok, but Moscow has furiously denied any involvement.

The Skripals survived but Sturgess died after her partner gave her a discarded perfume bottle several months later that police think had been used to hold the toxin, and she sprayed it on her skin.

Stan Sturgess said the family have complicated feelings towards Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence colonel who was found guilty of passing state secrets to Britain and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006.&nbsp;

He was pardoned by then-president Dmitry Medvedev and released as part of a spy swap with the West in 2010, leading an apparently quiet life in Salisbury until last March.

"I don't know where Skripal is and I don't know what I'd do if I met him. He's still got his daughter," said Sturgess of the ex-spy, who has not been seen publicly in Britain since the attack.

Caroline Sturgess, Dawn's mother and a retired civil servant, told The Guardian the former spy's past made him a more legitimate target than their entirely innocent daughter.

"I can't take it personally," she said of the loss.

"It's sad they ended up in a coma but they weren't the true victims.

"He [Skripal] took risks -- he must have known there was a chance people were still after him."

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the UK government for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury.

The parents of a British woman who died in an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian double agent criticised Saturday the UK government for settling the ex-spy in the English city Salisbury. Stan and Caroline Sturgess, whose daughter Dawn died after coming into contact with a nerve agent allegedly used in last year's poisoning of Sergei Skripal, said they believed British authorities were withholding details of the incident. "If anyone, I blame the government for putting Skripal in Salisbury," Stan Sturgess told The Guardian newspaper in the family's first interview since her death last July. "I want justice from our own government. What are they hiding? I don't think they have given us all the facts." Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on March 4 slumped unconscious on a park bench in the centre of the quiet cathedral city Salisbury in southwest England. Britain and Western allies have accused Russia of carrying out the poisoning using a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok, but Moscow has furiously denied any involvement. The Skripals survived but Sturgess died after her partner gave her a discarded perfume bottle several months later that police think had been used to hold the toxin, and she sprayed it on her skin. Stan Sturgess said the family have complicated feelings towards Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence colonel who was found guilty of passing state secrets to Britain and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006. He was pardoned by then-president Dmitry Medvedev and released as part of a spy swap with the West in 2010, leading an apparently quiet life in Salisbury until last March. "I don't know where Skripal is and I don't know what I'd do if I met him. He's still got his daughter," said Sturgess of the ex-spy, who has not been seen publicly in Britain since the attack. Caroline Sturgess, Dawn's mother and a retired civil servant, told The Guardian the former spy's past made him a more legitimate target than their entirely innocent daughter. "I can't take it personally," she said of the loss. "It's sad they ended up in a coma but they weren't the true victims. "He [Skripal] took risks -- he must have known there was a chance people were still after him."

Parents of Novichok victim ask why UK settled ex-spy in Salisbury

Britain and Bulgaria are investigating a possible third suspect in the Salisbury chemical attack who has also been linked to a 2015 poisoning in Bulgaria, the British ambassador to Sofia said Monday.

Emma Hopkins made the comments after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and chief prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov.

"We will continue in close partnership together with a joint team looking into the factual underpinning of these allegations," Hopkins said at a televised news conference.

A report published last week by the investigative website Bellingcat identified a hitherto unknown possible third suspect in last year's attack in the English city of Salisbury on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Both had to be hospitalised after being exposed to the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok in an attack the British government says was "almost certainly" approved by the Russian state.

According to Bellingcat, the possible new suspect is a Russian military intelligence officer known under the alias "Sergey Fedotov".

The site said Fedotov had arrived in Britain two days before the Skripals were poisoned and could have been involved in the attack.

'Insecticide used'

Bellingcat has already used open-source techniques to identify two Russian military intelligence officers, Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin, accused by Britain of carrying out the attack.

Despite Russian denials that they were involved, both men are now the subject of EU sanctions.

Bellingcat also argues that "Fedotov" may have been involved in the poisoning of Bulgarian arms manufacturer Emiliyan Gebrev, his son and a company executive in 2015.

Following Bellingcat's report and others in Bulgarian media, the prosecutor Tsatsarov on Monday said that "Fedotov" had travelled to Bulgaria three times in 2015; in February, again in April -- arriving shortly before Gebrev's poisoning -- and finally in May.

Tsatsarov said that the 2015 poisoning was "most probably" carried out using the insecticide Chlorpyrifos, traces of which were found on the coffee machine in Gebrev's home.

Gebrev collapsed at a reception he was hosting in Sofia on 28 April 2015 and fell into a coma. His son and one of his company executives were also treated for poisoning symptoms although all three recovered.

Tsatsarov said the probe into the Gebrev poisoning had been reopened in October 2018, and that the British authorities had "been provided with full access to all the documents and materials on this case".

Bulgarian media reports said Gebrev could have been targeted by Russia for exporting arms to Ukraine.

"European partners take very seriously allegations in relation to activities on European jurisdiction of Russian intelligence officers," Hopkins said. The Skripal case had given the UK experience of investigating such allegations, she added.

The Salisbury attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, caused an international outcry and prompted a mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western nations -- but not by Bulgaria.

While Skripal and his daughter survived the attack, a British woman died last June after her partner picked up a discarded perfume bottle that investigators believe was used to carry the Novichok.

Britain and Bulgaria are investigating a possible third suspect in the Salisbury chemical attack who has also been linked to a 2015 poisoning in Bulgaria, the British ambassador to Sofia said Monday.

Britain and Bulgaria are investigating a possible third suspect in the Salisbury chemical attack who has also been linked to a 2015 poisoning in Bulgaria, the British ambassador to Sofia said Monday. Emma Hopkins made the comments after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and chief prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov. "We will continue in close partnership together with a joint team looking into the factual underpinning of these allegations," Hopkins said at a televised news conference. A report published last week by the investigative website Bellingcat identified a hitherto unknown possible third suspect in last year's attack in the English city of Salisbury on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Both had to be hospitalised after being exposed to the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok in an attack the British government says was "almost certainly" approved by the Russian state. According to Bellingcat, the possible new suspect is a Russian military intelligence officer known under the alias "Sergey Fedotov". The site said Fedotov had arrived in Britain two days before the Skripals were poisoned and could have been involved in the attack. 'Insecticide used' Bellingcat has already used open-source techniques to identify two Russian military intelligence officers, Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin, accused by Britain of carrying out the attack. Despite Russian denials that they were involved, both men are now the subject of EU sanctions. Bellingcat also argues that "Fedotov" may have been involved in the poisoning of Bulgarian arms manufacturer Emiliyan Gebrev, his son and a company executive in 2015. Following Bellingcat's report and others in Bulgarian media, the prosecutor Tsatsarov on Monday said that "Fedotov" had travelled to Bulgaria three times in 2015; in February, again in April -- arriving shortly before Gebrev's poisoning -- and finally in May. Tsatsarov said that the 2015 poisoning was "most probably" carried out using the insecticide Chlorpyrifos, traces of which were found on the coffee machine in Gebrev's home. Gebrev collapsed at a reception he was hosting in Sofia on 28 April 2015 and fell into a coma. His son and one of his company executives were also treated for poisoning symptoms although all three recovered. Tsatsarov said the probe into the Gebrev poisoning had been reopened in October 2018, and that the British authorities had "been provided with full access to all the documents and materials on this case". Bulgarian media reports said Gebrev could have been targeted by Russia for exporting arms to Ukraine. "European partners take very seriously allegations in relation to activities on European jurisdiction of Russian intelligence officers," Hopkins said. The Skripal case had given the UK experience of investigating such allegations, she added. The Salisbury attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, caused an international outcry and prompted a mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western nations -- but not by Bulgaria. While Skripal and his daughter survived the attack, a British woman died last June after her partner picked up a discarded perfume bottle that investigators believe was used to carry the Novichok.

Britain and Bulgaria to probe report of new Skripal suspect

The world's chemical weapons agency on Monday agreed to add Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, used in last year's Salisbury attack against a former Russian agent, to its list of banned substances, diplomats said Monday.

A joint proposal by Canada, the Netherlands and the United States was adopted by the 41-member executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, they said.

London blamed Moscow for the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the city of Salisbury, and said Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, was used.&nbsp;

The OPCW executive council agreed to add two families of highly toxic chemicals, including the agent used in Salisbury, to the Chemical Weapons Convention, tweeted Sabine Nolke, Canada's envoy to the OPCW.

"Russia dissociated itself from consensus but did not break. Thanks to all states who supported!" she said.

Member states now have 90 days to object before Novichok is formally added to the list, she said.

The Dutch foreign ministry also confirmed the decision.

British ambassador Peter Wilson said it was a "good start to the OPCW year."

Russia has strongly denied any involvement in the Salisbury attack and insists it has destroyed all of its chemical weapons.

The OPCW has confirmed that Novichok was used in the April attack and that it also poisoned a British couple exposed several months later to a perfume bottle in which the substance was allegedly stored.

British prosecutors have announced charges against two Russian officers of the GRU military intelligence service over the Salisbury attack.

The Netherlands in April last year expelled four alleged GRU agents suspected of trying to hack into the OPCW, using electronic equipment hidden in the boot of a vehicle parked outside a nearby hotel.

The world's chemical weapons agency on Monday agreed to add Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, used in last year's Salisbury attack against a former Russian agent, to its list of banned substances, diplomats said Monday.

The world's chemical weapons agency on Monday agreed to add Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, used in last year's Salisbury attack against a former Russian agent, to its list of banned substances, diplomats said Monday. A joint proposal by Canada, the Netherlands and the United States was adopted by the 41-member executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, they said. London blamed Moscow for the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the city of Salisbury, and said Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, was used. The OPCW executive council agreed to add two families of highly toxic chemicals, including the agent used in Salisbury, to the Chemical Weapons Convention, tweeted Sabine Nolke, Canada's envoy to the OPCW. "Russia dissociated itself from consensus but did not break. Thanks to all states who supported!" she said. Member states now have 90 days to object before Novichok is formally added to the list, she said. The Dutch foreign ministry also confirmed the decision. British ambassador Peter Wilson said it was a "good start to the OPCW year." Russia has strongly denied any involvement in the Salisbury attack and insists it has destroyed all of its chemical weapons. The OPCW has confirmed that Novichok was used in the April attack and that it also poisoned a British couple exposed several months later to a perfume bottle in which the substance was allegedly stored. British prosecutors have announced charges against two Russian officers of the GRU military intelligence service over the Salisbury attack. The Netherlands in April last year expelled four alleged GRU agents suspected of trying to hack into the OPCW, using electronic equipment hidden in the boot of a vehicle parked outside a nearby hotel.

Chemical arms group agrees to ban Salisbury attack poison: Diplomats

French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince sceptical French of his latest move to quell "yellow vest" anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies.

Struggling to end the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron on Sunday set out over 30 questions to be debated in towns and villages across the country from January 15 to March 15.

"We won't agree on everything, that's normal, that's democracy. But at least we'll show we are a people who are not afraid to talk, exchange and debate," he wrote in his "letter to the French".

The missive followed a ninth consecutive Saturday of nationwide "yellow vest" rallies which saw an uptick in turnout but less violence than previous demonstrations.

Macron hopes that returning to more participative democracy -- a key feature of his 2017 grassroots election campaign -- will satisfy protester demands for a greater say in the running of the country.

"I intend to transform anger into solutions," he wrote, promising "a new contract for the nation".

'Extremely grumpy'

In the ranks of the "yellow vests" reactions were mixed, with some welcoming the prospect of dialogue but many calling it a government smoke-screen.

"A debate means discussing everything. When you say we're going to debate, but not about that, that, that and that... that's called 'shut up and listen to me'," Maxime Nicolle, one of the movement's most prominent figures, said in a YouTube video.

The leftwing Liberation daily said Monday the debate was an attempt by Macron "to save the three years he has left" as president, but warned that national mood is "extremely grumpy".

In an Odoxa-Dentsu poll published last week, 32 per cent of respondents said they would take part in the debate but 70 per cent said they did not believe it would lead to significant change.

The task of organising the public forums has fallen to local government minister Sebastien Lecornu and junior environment minister Emmanuelle Wargon, government sources told AFP.

But it remains unclear who will host and coordinate the discussions at the local level.

Three association of French mayors and local officials said in a statement Monday that they could act as "facilitators" but not organisers.

"People always turn to mayors when there are problems but we can't be held responsible," Michel Vergnier, mayor of the central French town of Gueret, told AFP.

Macron will get the ball rolling Tuesday by attending a debate at Bourgtheroulde, in Normandy, northwest of Paris.

Taxes, environment

The questions to be debated include: "Which taxes do you think should be lowered first?", "Should some public services that are out of date or too expensive be eliminated?" and "Should we use more referendums?"

While Macron assured there were "no forbidden questions", he has ruled out discussions on bringing back the death penalty, banning abortion or ending the right to seek asylum.

He also said he would not revisit steps taken "to encourage investment and make work pay more" -- seen as a slapdown of the "yellow vest" demand to reinstate the fortune tax on high earners he partly repealed last year.

The hard-left France Unbowed party, which has been vocal in support of the "yellow vests", accused 41-year-old Macron of pre-determining the outcome of the talks.

"The people may debate, but Jupiter decides," tweeted France Unbowed MP Eric Coquerel, referring to Macron mockingly by his nickname, the king of the gods in Roman times.

Less violence&nbsp;

The debate is the third prong of Macron's strategy for ending the "yellow vest" protests, which erupted in November over high fuel taxes before morphing into a widely supported revolt over inequality.

Macron has already opened the state's purse strings, scrapping fuel tax hikes as part of a 10-billion-euro ($11.5-billion) package of wage increases and tax relief for low earners.

At the same time, the government has vowed to crack down on troublemakers within the "yellow vest" movement following repeat scenes of rioting and arson.

But the revolt has shown no signs of dying down.

An estimated 84,000 people took part in Saturday's protests, which were significantly less violent than the previous week.

French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince sceptical French of his latest move to quell "yellow vest" anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies.

French President Emmanuel Macron faced a battle Monday to convince sceptical French of his latest move to quell "yellow vest" anger as he kickstarted a two-month national debate on his policies. Struggling to end the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron on Sunday set out over 30 questions to be debated in towns and villages across the country from January 15 to March 15. "We won't agree on everything, that's normal, that's democracy. But at least we'll show we are a people who are not afraid to talk, exchange and debate," he wrote in his "letter to the French". The missive followed a ninth consecutive Saturday of nationwide "yellow vest" rallies which saw an uptick in turnout but less violence than previous demonstrations. Macron hopes that returning to more participative democracy -- a key feature of his 2017 grassroots election campaign -- will satisfy protester demands for a greater say in the running of the country. "I intend to transform anger into solutions," he wrote, promising "a new contract for the nation". 'Extremely grumpy' In the ranks of the "yellow vests" reactions were mixed, with some welcoming the prospect of dialogue but many calling it a government smoke-screen. "A debate means discussing everything. When you say we're going to debate, but not about that, that, that and that... that's called 'shut up and listen to me'," Maxime Nicolle, one of the movement's most prominent figures, said in a YouTube video. The leftwing Liberation daily said Monday the debate was an attempt by Macron "to save the three years he has left" as president, but warned that national mood is "extremely grumpy". In an Odoxa-Dentsu poll published last week, 32 per cent of respondents said they would take part in the debate but 70 per cent said they did not believe it would lead to significant change. The task of organising the public forums has fallen to local government minister Sebastien Lecornu and junior environment minister Emmanuelle Wargon, government sources told AFP. But it remains unclear who will host and coordinate the discussions at the local level. Three association of French mayors and local officials said in a statement Monday that they could act as "facilitators" but not organisers. "People always turn to mayors when there are problems but we can't be held responsible," Michel Vergnier, mayor of the central French town of Gueret, told AFP. Macron will get the ball rolling Tuesday by attending a debate at Bourgtheroulde, in Normandy, northwest of Paris. Taxes, environment The questions to be debated include: "Which taxes do you think should be lowered first?", "Should some public services that are out of date or too expensive be eliminated?" and "Should we use more referendums?" While Macron assured there were "no forbidden questions", he has ruled out discussions on bringing back the death penalty, banning abortion or ending the right to seek asylum. He also said he would not revisit steps taken "to encourage investment and make work pay more" -- seen as a slapdown of the "yellow vest" demand to reinstate the fortune tax on high earners he partly repealed last year. The hard-left France Unbowed party, which has been vocal in support of the "yellow vests", accused 41-year-old Macron of pre-determining the outcome of the talks. "The people may debate, but Jupiter decides," tweeted France Unbowed MP Eric Coquerel, referring to Macron mockingly by his nickname, the king of the gods in Roman times. Less violence The debate is the third prong of Macron's strategy for ending the "yellow vest" protests, which erupted in November over high fuel taxes before morphing into a widely supported revolt over inequality. Macron has already opened the state's purse strings, scrapping fuel tax hikes as part of a 10-billion-euro ($11.5-billion) package of wage increases and tax relief for low earners. At the same time, the government has vowed to crack down on troublemakers within the "yellow vest" movement following repeat scenes of rioting and arson. But the revolt has shown no signs of dying down. An estimated 84,000 people took part in Saturday's protests, which were significantly less violent than the previous week.

Scepticism in France as Macron launches 'great national debate'

Salisbury Poisoning: Identity of second suspect revealed