Russia will send army medics to a region in the Urals hit by a surge in COVID-19 cases. President Vladimir Putin described the situation in some regions as alarming, speaking at a meeting with senior officials on Wednesday.

COVID-19: Russia to send army medics to Ural region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his&nbsp;support for banning a&nbsp;comparison between&nbsp;the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with Hitler's Germany.

The announcement comes after the publication of two foreign books in Russia that were comparing the leadership of both the USSR and Nazi Germany.

Elena Yampolskaya, the&nbsp;head of the Russian Parliament's committee on culture and a member of the governing United Russia party had put forward the suggestion on Tuesday saying ''the Soviets were worse than the Nazis."

Without naming the two books she added ''Unfortunately, we translate and publish such impudent, unsubstantiated books in our country. The first book had 45,000 copies published, and the second 80,000. Both are popular with young people.''

In response, Putin said, ''I agree with your suggestions. We need to be careful, but of course, do it.''

We will be exposing any attempts to distort history and to let the spirit of alliance and of combat brotherhood be consigned to oblivion,” he added.

Earlier this year, the official Twitter account of the White House in Washington DC had stirred a debate in the wake of guaranteeing that the US and England won World War 2, totally precluding the commitment of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his support for banning a comparison between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with Hitler's Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his support for banning a comparison between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with Hitler's Germany. The announcement comes after the publication of two foreign books in Russia that were comparing the leadership of both the USSR and Nazi Germany. Elena Yampolskaya, the head of the Russian Parliament's committee on culture and a member of the governing United Russia party had put forward the suggestion on Tuesday saying ''the Soviets were worse than the Nazis." Without naming the two books she added ''Unfortunately, we translate and publish such impudent, unsubstantiated books in our country. The first book had 45,000 copies published, and the second 80,000. Both are popular with young people.'' In response, Putin said, ''I agree with your suggestions. We need to be careful, but of course, do it.'' We will be exposing any attempts to distort history and to let the spirit of alliance and of combat brotherhood be consigned to oblivion,” he added. Earlier this year, the official Twitter account of the White House in Washington DC had stirred a debate in the wake of guaranteeing that the US and England won World War 2, totally precluding the commitment of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces support for ban on comparing USSR with Hitler's Germany

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.S. voting infrastructure.

The discovery of the hacks came as U.S. intelligence agencies, infiltrating Russian networks themselves, have pieced together details of what they believe are Russia’s plans to interfere in the presidential race in its final days or immediately after the election Nov. 3. Officials did not make clear what Russia planned to do, but they said its operations would be intended to help President Donald Trump, potentially by exacerbating disputes around the results, especially if the race is too close to call.

FBI and Homeland Security officials also announced Thursday that Russia’s state hackers had targeted dozens of state and local governments and aviation networks starting in September. They stole data from at least two unidentified victims’ computer servers and continued to crawl through some of the affected networks, the agencies said. Other officials said that the targets included some voting-related systems and that they may have been collateral damage in the attacks.

So far, there is no evidence that the Russians have changed any vote tallies or voter registration information, officials said. They added that the Russian-backed hackers had penetrated the computer networks without taking further action, as they did in 2016. But U.S. officials expect that if the presidential race is not called on election night, Russian groups could use their knowledge of the local computer systems to deface websites, release nonpublic information or take similar steps that could sow chaos and doubts about the integrity of the results, according to U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence. Such steps could fuel Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the vote is “rigged” and that he can be defeated only if his opponents cheat.

Some U.S. intelligence officials view Russia’s intentions as more significant than the announcement Wednesday night by the director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, that Iran has been involved in the spreading of faked, threatening emails, which were made to appear as if they came from the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group.

The Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against Iraj Masjedi, a former general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the country’s ambassador to Iraq. The department said Masjedi had overseen training of pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq and directed groups responsible for killing U.S. forces there.

Officials briefed on the intelligence said that Ratcliffe had accurately summarized the preliminary conclusion about Iran. But Iran’s hackers may have accomplished that mission simply by assembling public information and then routing the threatening emails through Saudi Arabia, Estonia and other countries to hide their tracks. One official compared the Iranian action to playing single A baseball, while the Russians are major leaguers.

Nonetheless, the Iranian and the Russian activity could pave the way for “perception hacks,” which are intended to leave the impression that foreign powers have greater access to the voting system than they really do. Federal officials have warned for months that small breaches could be exaggerated to prompt inaccurate charges of widespread voter fraud.

Officials say Russia’s ability to change vote tallies nationwide would be difficult, given how disparate U.S. elections are. The graver concern is the potential effect of any attack on a few key precincts in battleground states.

Russian hackers recently obtained access “in a couple limited cases, to election jurisdiction, an election-related network,” Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said Thursday. But he was careful to note that the breaches had “nothing to do with the casting and counting” of votes.

The hackers believed to be operating at the behest of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB — the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB — have infiltrated dozens of state and local computer networks in recent weeks, according to officials and researchers. But Krebs said the attacks appeared to be “opportunistic” in nature, a scattershot break-in of vulnerable systems rather than an attempt to zero in on key battleground states.

But officials were alarmed by the combination of the targets, the timing — the attacks began less than two months ago — and the adversary, which is known for burrowing inside the supply chain of critical infrastructure that Russia may want to take down in the future.

The officials fear that Russia could change, delete or freeze voter registration or pollbook data, making it harder for voters to cast ballots, invalidating mail-in ballots or creating enough uncertainty to undermine results.

“It’s reasonable to assume any attempt at the election systems could be for the same purpose,” said John Hultquist, director of threat analysis at FireEye, a security firm that has been tracking the Russian group’s foray into state and local systems. “This could be the reconnaissance for disruptive activity.”

Krebs said so far Russia was not as active as Iran, and its targeting was imprecise. “They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities, and they’re working opportunistically,” he said.

Current and former officials said there was little doubt that Russia remained a greater threat and questioned why the focus was on Iran on Wednesday, though they acknowledged that Iran’s interference was real and troubling.

Administration officials said the news conference reflected the urgency of the intelligence about Iran. But some saw politics at play. Ratcliffe’s focus on Iran would potentially benefit Trump politically.

“It is concerning to me that the administration is willing to talk about what the Iranians are doing — supposedly to hurt Trump — than what the Russians are likely doing to help him,” said Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration. “If the Russians have in fact breached voter registration data, then the American people deserve to know from their government what it believes the Russians are doing with that data.”

A senior official briefed on the intelligence said U.S. spy agencies had been tracking the Iranian group responsible for the spoofed emails for some time. As a result, the government was able to quickly debunk the falsified Proud Boys emails and identify Iran as the culprit.

Iran’s hackers appear to have scanned or penetrated some state and local networks, government officials said Thursday. But security experts said the Proud Boys email campaign that the government attributed to Iran did not appear to be based on hacked materials and instead relied on publicly available information that Florida officials regularly distribute.

“This was an email sent from a nonexistent domain using publicly available information,” said Kevin O’Brien, chief executive of GreatHorn, a cybersecurity firm. “There was no hack here. Your name, your party affiliation, your address and email address are all, generally speaking, public information.”

O’Brien said the information presented publicly had not persuaded him that Iran was culpable.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi also voiced scepticism of Ratcliffe’s announcement. “Russia is the villain here,” she said before a briefing from intelligence officials. “From what we have seen in the public domain, Iran is a bad actor but in no way equivalent.”

So far, the FSB’s hackers have not zeroed in on swing states, where a hack that affects digital disenfranchisement could have maximum effect; they have taken a scattershot approach instead, hitting systems in multiple states, including some battlegrounds. Experts said they might be just testing to see where they could get in, like a thief trying every doorknob in the neighborhood.

“My concern is not that they are pinpointing individual races but are gaining access where they can for some disruption down the road,” Hultquist said.

The threat is similar to the one that officials have highlighted from ransomware attacks, which hold data hostage until victims pay to have access restored. Likewise, officials and researchers believe the Russian attacks would not necessarily change vote tallies but could make voter data inaccessible or delete or change voters’ registration data to disenfranchise voters or cause the kind of confusion and delays that would undermine U.S. confidence in the election.

In recent years, Homeland Security officials have made a concerted effort to secure voter registration systems and to ensure that election officials have paper copies of voter information in case of disruptions.

But they have further to go. In Gainesville, Georgia, this week, a ransomware attack held city systems hostage, including an online map with polling locations and the database used to verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots.

Officials and experts believe the greatest defense against a coordinated cyberattack on the election is not so much how secure these voting system are but how disparate.

“You can’t just ‘hit the election,’” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, now part of Broadcom, which was among the first to detail the Stuxnet attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran’s nuclear program a decade ago. “The soft targets are really the state and local election committees, local websites that provide information about polling places and hold voter registration data.”

&nbsp;

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.S. voting infrastructure. The discovery of the hacks came as U.S. intelligence agencies, infiltrating Russian networks themselves, have pieced together details of what they believe are Russia’s plans to interfere in the presidential race in its final days or immediately after the election Nov. 3. Officials did not make clear what Russia planned to do, but they said its operations would be intended to help President Donald Trump, potentially by exacerbating disputes around the results, especially if the race is too close to call. FBI and Homeland Security officials also announced Thursday that Russia’s state hackers had targeted dozens of state and local governments and aviation networks starting in September. They stole data from at least two unidentified victims’ computer servers and continued to crawl through some of the affected networks, the agencies said. Other officials said that the targets included some voting-related systems and that they may have been collateral damage in the attacks. So far, there is no evidence that the Russians have changed any vote tallies or voter registration information, officials said. They added that the Russian-backed hackers had penetrated the computer networks without taking further action, as they did in 2016. But U.S. officials expect that if the presidential race is not called on election night, Russian groups could use their knowledge of the local computer systems to deface websites, release nonpublic information or take similar steps that could sow chaos and doubts about the integrity of the results, according to U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence. Such steps could fuel Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the vote is “rigged” and that he can be defeated only if his opponents cheat. Some U.S. intelligence officials view Russia’s intentions as more significant than the announcement Wednesday night by the director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, that Iran has been involved in the spreading of faked, threatening emails, which were made to appear as if they came from the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group. The Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against Iraj Masjedi, a former general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the country’s ambassador to Iraq. The department said Masjedi had overseen training of pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq and directed groups responsible for killing U.S. forces there. Officials briefed on the intelligence said that Ratcliffe had accurately summarized the preliminary conclusion about Iran. But Iran’s hackers may have accomplished that mission simply by assembling public information and then routing the threatening emails through Saudi Arabia, Estonia and other countries to hide their tracks. One official compared the Iranian action to playing single A baseball, while the Russians are major leaguers. Nonetheless, the Iranian and the Russian activity could pave the way for “perception hacks,” which are intended to leave the impression that foreign powers have greater access to the voting system than they really do. Federal officials have warned for months that small breaches could be exaggerated to prompt inaccurate charges of widespread voter fraud. Officials say Russia’s ability to change vote tallies nationwide would be difficult, given how disparate U.S. elections are. The graver concern is the potential effect of any attack on a few key precincts in battleground states. Russian hackers recently obtained access “in a couple limited cases, to election jurisdiction, an election-related network,” Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said Thursday. But he was careful to note that the breaches had “nothing to do with the casting and counting” of votes. The hackers believed to be operating at the behest of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB — the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB — have infiltrated dozens of state and local computer networks in recent weeks, according to officials and researchers. But Krebs said the attacks appeared to be “opportunistic” in nature, a scattershot break-in of vulnerable systems rather than an attempt to zero in on key battleground states. But officials were alarmed by the combination of the targets, the timing — the attacks began less than two months ago — and the adversary, which is known for burrowing inside the supply chain of critical infrastructure that Russia may want to take down in the future. The officials fear that Russia could change, delete or freeze voter registration or pollbook data, making it harder for voters to cast ballots, invalidating mail-in ballots or creating enough uncertainty to undermine results. “It’s reasonable to assume any attempt at the election systems could be for the same purpose,” said John Hultquist, director of threat analysis at FireEye, a security firm that has been tracking the Russian group’s foray into state and local systems. “This could be the reconnaissance for disruptive activity.” Krebs said so far Russia was not as active as Iran, and its targeting was imprecise. “They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities, and they’re working opportunistically,” he said. Current and former officials said there was little doubt that Russia remained a greater threat and questioned why the focus was on Iran on Wednesday, though they acknowledged that Iran’s interference was real and troubling. Administration officials said the news conference reflected the urgency of the intelligence about Iran. But some saw politics at play. Ratcliffe’s focus on Iran would potentially benefit Trump politically. “It is concerning to me that the administration is willing to talk about what the Iranians are doing — supposedly to hurt Trump — than what the Russians are likely doing to help him,” said Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration. “If the Russians have in fact breached voter registration data, then the American people deserve to know from their government what it believes the Russians are doing with that data.” A senior official briefed on the intelligence said U.S. spy agencies had been tracking the Iranian group responsible for the spoofed emails for some time. As a result, the government was able to quickly debunk the falsified Proud Boys emails and identify Iran as the culprit. Iran’s hackers appear to have scanned or penetrated some state and local networks, government officials said Thursday. But security experts said the Proud Boys email campaign that the government attributed to Iran did not appear to be based on hacked materials and instead relied on publicly available information that Florida officials regularly distribute. “This was an email sent from a nonexistent domain using publicly available information,” said Kevin O’Brien, chief executive of GreatHorn, a cybersecurity firm. “There was no hack here. Your name, your party affiliation, your address and email address are all, generally speaking, public information.” O’Brien said the information presented publicly had not persuaded him that Iran was culpable. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also voiced scepticism of Ratcliffe’s announcement. “Russia is the villain here,” she said before a briefing from intelligence officials. “From what we have seen in the public domain, Iran is a bad actor but in no way equivalent.” So far, the FSB’s hackers have not zeroed in on swing states, where a hack that affects digital disenfranchisement could have maximum effect; they have taken a scattershot approach instead, hitting systems in multiple states, including some battlegrounds. Experts said they might be just testing to see where they could get in, like a thief trying every doorknob in the neighborhood. “My concern is not that they are pinpointing individual races but are gaining access where they can for some disruption down the road,” Hultquist said. The threat is similar to the one that officials have highlighted from ransomware attacks, which hold data hostage until victims pay to have access restored. Likewise, officials and researchers believe the Russian attacks would not necessarily change vote tallies but could make voter data inaccessible or delete or change voters’ registration data to disenfranchise voters or cause the kind of confusion and delays that would undermine U.S. confidence in the election. In recent years, Homeland Security officials have made a concerted effort to secure voter registration systems and to ensure that election officials have paper copies of voter information in case of disruptions. But they have further to go. In Gainesville, Georgia, this week, a ransomware attack held city systems hostage, including an online map with polling locations and the database used to verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots. Officials and experts believe the greatest defense against a coordinated cyberattack on the election is not so much how secure these voting system are but how disparate. “You can’t just ‘hit the election,’” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, now part of Broadcom, which was among the first to detail the Stuxnet attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran’s nuclear program a decade ago. “The soft targets are really the state and local election committees, local websites that provide information about polling places and hold voter registration data.”

Russia poses greater election threat than Iran, many US officials say

Russian parliament on Wednesday approved a bill which would allow the country to trespass international rulings. In essence, country’s laws would take precedence over international treaties, and would protect the country from international bodies, especially if those come in conflict with the country’s constitution.

Russia has had a very delicate relationship with rights groups, and this bill is expected to receive flak from activists and activist groups alike. In fact, every year, hundreds of Russians flock to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to seek justice, which according to them, is unattainable at home.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/russia-foreign-minister-self-isolates-after-exposure-to-coronavirus-case-338405" hreflang="en">Russia foreign minister self-isolates after exposure to coronavirus case</a>

Russia’s lower House of Parliament - The State Duma in a statement claimed that the bill was proposed by President Vladimir Putin, and that lawmakers had voted in favour in approving the bill.

According to the law, the country’s legislation would come with a provision “stating that the decisions of interstate bodies ... contradicting the constitution of the Russian Federation are not subject to execution in Russia”, as reported by Reuters.

The bill still needs approval from the upper house of Russian parliament, and will need to be signed by Putin. Analysts don’t expect resistance to the bill, and believe it would be passed.

Also read: R<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/russia-seeks-accelerated-who-registration-for-virus-vaccine-338380" hreflang="en">ussia seeks accelerated WHO registration for virus vaccine</a>

Even then, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russia remains committed to international law, and that all of its commitments under international treaties will continue to be honoured.

Putin first toyed with the idea in January, during his state-of-the-nation address.

Earlier this year, Russia had adopted many changes in the constitution. Now, Putin can run for president twice after his term expires in 2024.

Russian parliament on Wednesday approved a bill which would allow the country to trespass international rulings. In essence, country’s laws would take precedence over international treaties, and would protect the country from international bodies, especially if those come in conflict with the country’s constitution.

Russian parliament on Wednesday approved a bill which would allow the country to trespass international rulings. In essence, country’s laws would take precedence over international treaties, and would protect the country from international bodies, especially if those come in conflict with the country’s constitution. Russia has had a very delicate relationship with rights groups, and this bill is expected to receive flak from activists and activist groups alike. In fact, every year, hundreds of Russians flock to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to seek justice, which according to them, is unattainable at home. Also read: Russia foreign minister self-isolates after exposure to coronavirus case Russia’s lower House of Parliament - The State Duma in a statement claimed that the bill was proposed by President Vladimir Putin, and that lawmakers had voted in favour in approving the bill. According to the law, the country’s legislation would come with a provision “stating that the decisions of interstate bodies ... contradicting the constitution of the Russian Federation are not subject to execution in Russia”, as reported by Reuters. The bill still needs approval from the upper house of Russian parliament, and will need to be signed by Putin. Analysts don’t expect resistance to the bill, and believe it would be passed. Also read: Russia seeks accelerated WHO registration for virus vaccine Even then, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russia remains committed to international law, and that all of its commitments under international treaties will continue to be honoured. Putin first toyed with the idea in January, during his state-of-the-nation address. Earlier this year, Russia had adopted many changes in the constitution. Now, Putin can run for president twice after his term expires in 2024.

Russia's approves new bill allowing the country to trump international treaties, angering rights groups

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.

Putin's rejection of US President&nbsp;Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden family business comes with almost a week to go for the US election 2020 on November 3.

Trump, who is trailing behind Biden in opinion polls, has used the debates to make accusations that&nbsp;Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-election-2020-opinion-polls-show-joe-biden-holding-substantial-lead-337842/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Putin, who has praised Trump in the past for saying he wanted better ties with Moscow, has said Russia will work with any US&nbsp;leader while noting what he called Joe Biden's "sharp anti-Russian rhetoric".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-hit-trump-team-slams-failure-biden-337891" hreflang="en">Covid-hit Trump team slams 'failure' Biden</a>

Putin&nbsp;appeared less friendly towards Trump in remarks broadcast by Russian state TV on Sunday. In what may be seen by some analysts as an attempt to try to curry favour with the Biden camp, he took the time to knock down what he made clear he regarded as false allegations from Trump about the Bidens.

"Yes, in Ukraine he (Hunter Biden) had or maybe still has a business, I don't know. It doesn't concern us. It concerns the Americans and the Ukrainians," said&nbsp;Putin.

"But well yes he had at least one company, which he practically headed up, and judging from everything he made good money. I don't see anything criminal about this, at least we don't know anything about this (being criminal)."

Putin&nbsp;also reacted with visible irritation when asked about comments Trump has made concerning&nbsp;Putin's ties to the former mayor of Moscow, and to an alleged payment made to Hunter Biden by the ex-mayor's widow.&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;said he knew nothing about the existence of any commercial relationship between Hunter and the woman. Joe Biden says the accusation about his son is not true.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies concluded that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election to tilt the contest in Trump's favour, an allegation Moscow has denied.

Russia has also dismissed accusations by US&nbsp;intelligence agencies of trying to interfere with this year's election too.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business. Putin's rejection of US President Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden family business comes with almost a week to go for the US election 2020 on November 3. Trump, who is trailing behind Biden in opinion polls, has used the debates to make accusations that Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited. Putin, who has praised Trump in the past for saying he wanted better ties with Moscow, has said Russia will work with any US leader while noting what he called Joe Biden's "sharp anti-Russian rhetoric". Also read: Covid-hit Trump team slams 'failure' Biden Putin appeared less friendly towards Trump in remarks broadcast by Russian state TV on Sunday. In what may be seen by some analysts as an attempt to try to curry favour with the Biden camp, he took the time to knock down what he made clear he regarded as false allegations from Trump about the Bidens. "Yes, in Ukraine he (Hunter Biden) had or maybe still has a business, I don't know. It doesn't concern us. It concerns the Americans and the Ukrainians," said Putin. "But well yes he had at least one company, which he practically headed up, and judging from everything he made good money. I don't see anything criminal about this, at least we don't know anything about this (being criminal)." Putin also reacted with visible irritation when asked about comments Trump has made concerning Putin's ties to the former mayor of Moscow, and to an alleged payment made to Hunter Biden by the ex-mayor's widow. Putin said he knew nothing about the existence of any commercial relationship between Hunter and the woman. Joe Biden says the accusation about his son is not true. US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to tilt the contest in Trump's favour, an allegation Moscow has denied. Russia has also dismissed accusations by US intelligence agencies of trying to interfere with this year's election too.

US election 2020: Vladimir Putin rejects Donald Trump's criticism of Hunter Biden's business

Multiple reports claimed of Russian interference in the United States presidential election in 2016 and analysts say that Moscow is still trying its best to give Donald Trump another term despite the setback.&nbsp;

Russia was expecting better ties with the US when Trump was elected in 2016 as the relations during the term of Barack Obama were deteriorating.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="Has Trump team announced its surrender to the pandemic?">Has Trump team announced its surrender to the pandemic?</a>

US intelligence said Moscow in order to boost Trump campaign started attacking Democrats.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-accuses-joe-biden-of-spreading-hatred-against-russia-with-threat-talk-338048">Kremlin accuses Joe Biden of spreading hatred against Russia with threat talk</a>

On Wednesday, US director of national intelligence accused Russia and Iran of getting US voter details and doing acts to influence public opinion in Nov. 3 election-- accusations the Kremlin rejected as "completely groundless."

Trump also raised eyebrows in 2018 when he said "I don't see any reason why it would be" Russia to meddle with US election.&nbsp;

However, since then, Washington took actions that were in odds with Moscow, including increasing military deployment in Syria and pulling out of centrepiece arms treaty.&nbsp;

In an interview in early October, Russian president complained that since the start of Trump's four-year rule, Russia has been sanctioned 46 times.

However, analysts believe that the screws will be tightened even more under Biden.&nbsp;

"After the usual rhetoric of the Democrats, which everybody heard in the past four years, it would be logical if they demanded tougher sanctions," said Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Centre in Moscow, as reported by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

The Democrat-run Congress is also making things difficult for Moscow by imposing sanctions.

Analyst Alexander Shumilin of the Russian Academy of Sciences adds that Trump will be Moscow's preference as has shown "he is not ready to strengthen sanctions and even tried to soften them". 
&nbsp;

Multiple reports claimed of Russian interference in the United States presidential election in 2016 and analysts say that Moscow is still trying its best to give Donald Trump another term despite the setback.

Multiple reports claimed of Russian interference in the United States presidential election in 2016 and analysts say that Moscow is still trying its best to give Donald Trump another term despite the setback. Russia was expecting better ties with the US when Trump was elected in 2016 as the relations during the term of Barack Obama were deteriorating. Also read | Has Trump team announced its surrender to the pandemic? US intelligence said Moscow in order to boost Trump campaign started attacking Democrats. Also read | Kremlin accuses Joe Biden of spreading hatred against Russia with threat talk On Wednesday, US director of national intelligence accused Russia and Iran of getting US voter details and doing acts to influence public opinion in Nov. 3 election-- accusations the Kremlin rejected as "completely groundless." Trump also raised eyebrows in 2018 when he said "I don't see any reason why it would be" Russia to meddle with US election. However, since then, Washington took actions that were in odds with Moscow, including increasing military deployment in Syria and pulling out of centrepiece arms treaty. In an interview in early October, Russian president complained that since the start of Trump's four-year rule, Russia has been sanctioned 46 times. However, analysts believe that the screws will be tightened even more under Biden. "After the usual rhetoric of the Democrats, which everybody heard in the past four years, it would be logical if they demanded tougher sanctions," said Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Centre in Moscow, as reported by news agency AFP. The Democrat-run Congress is also making things difficult for Moscow by imposing sanctions. Analyst Alexander Shumilin of the Russian Academy of Sciences adds that Trump will be Moscow's preference as has shown "he is not ready to strengthen sanctions and even tried to soften them".

Despite no favours, Russia still backs Trump as next US president, say analysts

Not just Putin, meet political leaders who had body doubles

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations.

Seven people were arrested during skirmishes between opposing sides in Manhattan, where Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer and the city’s former mayor, encountered protesters targeting a caravan of cars organized by a group that identifies itself as Jews for Trump.

In one video, Giuliani could be seen on the passenger side of a vehicle with the window rolled down as anti-Trump protesters screamed at him.

In an interview, Giuliani said that he had encountered the caravan and the protesters while driving down Fifth Avenue after taping his radio show.

“I would love to have had a campaign commercial of it and put it on in the middle of America and say, ‘Who would you prefer for the next four years?” he said. “This group of foul-mouthed people who don’t seem to have a vocabulary beyond three words, or these very nice Jewish people who are driving in the car and not saying anything back and not doing anything other than exercising their right to say they’re for Donald Trump.”

According to the police, the pro-Trump caravan passed through Times Square, where it converged with a group of anti-Trump protesters who had marched from Brooklyn. The cars in the convoy were then blocked by counterprotesters, and some drivers got out of their cars to confront the anti-Trump demonstrators.

The two sides hurled political slurs — calling each other “fascists” and “anarchists”— traded blows, and fought over the Trump supporters’ flags before police broke them apart, according to videos posted online.

In some videos, a group of people can be seen yelling expletives and throwing eggs and other projectiles at passing cars flying pro-Trump flags in midtown, while in another, a group of people holding pro-Trump banners march on one side of the street as people across the street yell, “New York hates you.”

The clashes came as the Police Department was preparing for more possible unrest as Election Day approached, including days or weeks of protests in the aftermath of the vote. Hundreds of police officers have been assigned to polling stations for both early voting and Election Day, with thousands more on standby for protests.

Top police officials have stressed the need for officers to remain neutral, despite their unions’ open embrace of Trump. But officials said an officer crossed the line late Saturday when he used a police loudspeaker to voice support for the president while arguing with a man on the street in Flatbush, Brooklyn, who called him a “fascist.”

“Trump 2020,” the officer responded. “Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.”

The officer, whose name the police withheld, was suspended without pay Sunday after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Department policy prohibits officers from engaging in political activity on duty or in uniform, including endorsing a candidate or party.

“One hundred per cent unacceptable. Period,” Commissioner Dermot F. Shea commented on one of the videos of the suspended officer on Twitter. “Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police.”

The Police Benevolent Association, the officer’s labour union, declined to comment.

It is unclear whether two other officers who were with the suspended officer will face discipline.

His suspension is the beginning of a disciplinary process that can take months or even years to play out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio promised quick action.

“ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated.”

State Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, expressed concern over the incident, noting that police officers transport ballots from poll sites to the Board of Elections.

“There must be swift consequences and protections against election interference,” he said.

Despite the directives from the top, the city’s biggest police unions have heartily embraced Trump, whose law and order message resonates with those who feel Democrats have made the city too soft on crime. Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, endorsed the president in a speech before the Republican National Convention. Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has appeared at the White House and regularly praises Trump in his official messages to officers.

The demonstrators detained in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, five men and two women, were expected to be charged with disorderly conduct, police said. Investigators were also looking for at least two people seen throwing projectiles at a pro-Trump caravan as it travelled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

The caravan, organized by Orthodox Jewish leaders, consisted of dozens of cars and trucks whose participants rode from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday. Drivers honked their horns and passengers waved American flags.

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations.

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations. Seven people were arrested during skirmishes between opposing sides in Manhattan, where Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer and the city’s former mayor, encountered protesters targeting a caravan of cars organized by a group that identifies itself as Jews for Trump. In one video, Giuliani could be seen on the passenger side of a vehicle with the window rolled down as anti-Trump protesters screamed at him. In an interview, Giuliani said that he had encountered the caravan and the protesters while driving down Fifth Avenue after taping his radio show. “I would love to have had a campaign commercial of it and put it on in the middle of America and say, ‘Who would you prefer for the next four years?” he said. “This group of foul-mouthed people who don’t seem to have a vocabulary beyond three words, or these very nice Jewish people who are driving in the car and not saying anything back and not doing anything other than exercising their right to say they’re for Donald Trump.” According to the police, the pro-Trump caravan passed through Times Square, where it converged with a group of anti-Trump protesters who had marched from Brooklyn. The cars in the convoy were then blocked by counterprotesters, and some drivers got out of their cars to confront the anti-Trump demonstrators. The two sides hurled political slurs — calling each other “fascists” and “anarchists”— traded blows, and fought over the Trump supporters’ flags before police broke them apart, according to videos posted online. In some videos, a group of people can be seen yelling expletives and throwing eggs and other projectiles at passing cars flying pro-Trump flags in midtown, while in another, a group of people holding pro-Trump banners march on one side of the street as people across the street yell, “New York hates you.” The clashes came as the Police Department was preparing for more possible unrest as Election Day approached, including days or weeks of protests in the aftermath of the vote. Hundreds of police officers have been assigned to polling stations for both early voting and Election Day, with thousands more on standby for protests. Top police officials have stressed the need for officers to remain neutral, despite their unions’ open embrace of Trump. But officials said an officer crossed the line late Saturday when he used a police loudspeaker to voice support for the president while arguing with a man on the street in Flatbush, Brooklyn, who called him a “fascist.” “Trump 2020,” the officer responded. “Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.” The officer, whose name the police withheld, was suspended without pay Sunday after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Department policy prohibits officers from engaging in political activity on duty or in uniform, including endorsing a candidate or party. “One hundred per cent unacceptable. Period,” Commissioner Dermot F. Shea commented on one of the videos of the suspended officer on Twitter. “Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police.” The Police Benevolent Association, the officer’s labour union, declined to comment. It is unclear whether two other officers who were with the suspended officer will face discipline. His suspension is the beginning of a disciplinary process that can take months or even years to play out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio promised quick action. “ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated.” State Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, expressed concern over the incident, noting that police officers transport ballots from poll sites to the Board of Elections. “There must be swift consequences and protections against election interference,” he said. Despite the directives from the top, the city’s biggest police unions have heartily embraced Trump, whose law and order message resonates with those who feel Democrats have made the city too soft on crime. Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, endorsed the president in a speech before the Republican National Convention. Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has appeared at the White House and regularly praises Trump in his official messages to officers. The demonstrators detained in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, five men and two women, were expected to be charged with disorderly conduct, police said. Investigators were also looking for at least two people seen throwing projectiles at a pro-Trump caravan as it travelled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The caravan, organized by Orthodox Jewish leaders, consisted of dozens of cars and trucks whose participants rode from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday. Drivers honked their horns and passengers waved American flags.

Fights erupt during ‘Jews for Trump’ rally in Manhattan

In a thinly-veiled attack on the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is not afraid of war. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at a possible Russia-China military alliance in the future. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping says China is not afraid of war

President Donald Trump had a preelection plan to show he had gotten something out of his mysteriously friendly relationship with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

In the weeks before the election, the two men would announce that they had reached an agreement in principle to extend New START, the last remaining major arms control agreement between the two countries. It expires Feb. 5, two weeks after the next presidential inauguration.

Trump has long refused to sign off on a clean five-year extension of the agreement, a step that both leaders could take without Senate approval. He has described the Obama-era treaty as deeply flawed — the same thing he said about the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Iran nuclear accord — because it did not cover all of Russia’s nuclear arms or any of China’s.

But if Putin is really rooting for Trump to be reelected, he is not acting like it.

On Tuesday, Marshall Billingslea, Trump’s lead negotiator, announced that the two leaders had an “agreement in principle, at the highest levels of our two governments, to extend the treaty.” Billingslea described an added “gentleman’s agreement” to cap each country’s stockpile of weapons not currently deployed on missiles, submarines or bombers. Details needed to be worked out, he cautioned, including the tricky work of verifying compliance.

It sounded like a promising solution, for a few hours.

Then the Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei A. Ryabkov, shot back that this was a figment of someone’s election-season imagination.

“Washington is describing what is desired, not what is real,” he said in a statement.

For example, he said, Moscow would not freeze the number of tactical weapons it possesses.

With less than three weeks to Election Day, it seems that no agreement is in the offing, and Trump administration officials are saying that, after the election, the price will go up. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee who was involved in the negotiation of the original agreement in 2010, has indicated that, if elected, he will agree to a straightforward, immediate extension of the accord for five years, the maximum allowed under the current terms, and then work to expand its scope.

As a result, Putin, looking at the polls, may be calculating that there is no reason to agree to any additional limits. But it also suggests that despite the CIA’s conclusion that the Russian leader has a preference for Trump, Putin may also be hedging his bets — or betting that Trump will be a private citizen by the time the treaty runs out.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to put the best face on the Russian rejection.

“I am hopeful that the Russians will find a way to agree to an outcome that, frankly, I think is in their best interest,” he said at a news conference at the State Department.

But Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, joined the Kremlin’s dismissal of prospects for an agreement before the election, saying that the Trump administration’s one-sided announcement of a nuclear limitation deal was an “unclean” diplomatic maneuver.

“I personally don’t see such a possibility,” he said in an interview with state radio, when asked about a deal on the strategic arms treaty. “My colleagues, who work in an interagency format and meet with the American delegation, also don’t see such a possibility.”

The Russian pushback echoed across the government. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said the “position of the Russian side is well-known and consistent. And for now, we can’t speak of any concrete agreements.” Then the Russian Information Agency, a state news outlet, ran an article saying the Russian foreign ministry “called the American announcement of a New START agreement with Russia nonsense and a setup.”

It was not the first time that Putin, who worked so hard on Trump’s behalf in 2016, has shown possible signs of backing away from the president.

Earlier this month, he hinted in an interview with state television at an effort to reach out to Democrats. While his goals were unclear, and with U.S. officials cautioning that Russian disinformation may be at work, Putin spoke warmly of the Democratic Party and suggested that he could work with Biden on arms control.

Analysts in Russia saw in the rejection of a preelection nuclear deal the Kremlin preparing the ground in case Trump loses.

“As the chances of a Trump reelection are increasingly remote,” Pavel Felgenhauer, a military commentator for the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, said in a telephone interview, “why should we bend over backward?”

Putin’s position all year has been that the New START agreement, which limits both countries to 1,550 deployed nuclear weapons, should be extended for five years. But there are no limits on stockpiled weapons, which are essentially in storage. And that is why fears of a resumed arms race have arisen, as the United States and Russia move to improve their arsenals with new, more sophisticated weapons.

Putin has taken pride in developing new weapons, some of which have apparently run into trouble in testing, leading to a major accident in the summer of 2019. The current strategic arms treaty does not limit such work — or put limits on tactical weapons.

Trump has pulled out of a series of arms control treaties, including the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, widely known as the INF. And now Russia has no incentive to negotiate on tactical warheads, which it has preserved and expanded in recent decades while the United States abolished most of its arsenal, save for small numbers stored around Europe.

“Russia has an advantage in tactical weapons,” Felgenhauer said. “It doesn’t make any sense for Russia to negotiate.”

There is little question that Russia had been cheating on the INF treaty’s limits and placing medium-range missiles, which appear to be armed with the tactical weapons, on its borders with Europe. The Obama administration considered abandoning the INF, before deciding against it. Trump went ahead, arguing that the treaty’s restrictions were keeping Washington from countering on similar weaponry that China was deploying in the Pacific.

China was not a party to either New START or the INF, and Trump has argued that the treaties need to be updated to account for Beijing’s arms buildup. But the Chinese counter that they have around 300 nuclear weapons deployed — a fifth of the number that Russia and the United States are limited to under the treaty — and that they would have no interest in any restrictions. Some Chinese officials, somewhat facetiously, have suggested that Trump’s initiative could lead them to quintuple their arsenal and then enter into arms control talks.

On Beijing entering into nuclear arms talks, Pompeo expressed hopes Wednesday “that the Chinese Communist Party will come to see that this is how mature nations deal with these issues,” but he acknowledged that Chinese leaders have “refused to join the conversation.”

Biden’s advisers say nothing is wrong with the idea of bringing China into arms control agreements. But they have said that abandoning New START in a failing effort to accomplish that goal would only destroy the last remaining significant limits on deployed nuclear weapons.

If Biden wins, it is possible Russia could get what it wants, a straightforward extension before the February expiration, in a quick deal immediately after a Biden inauguration.

“If we don’t take Trump’s proposal now, it doesn’t mean we lose New START,” Felgenhauer said. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump had a preelection plan to show he had gotten something out of his mysteriously friendly relationship with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

President Donald Trump had a preelection plan to show he had gotten something out of his mysteriously friendly relationship with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. In the weeks before the election, the two men would announce that they had reached an agreement in principle to extend New START, the last remaining major arms control agreement between the two countries. It expires Feb. 5, two weeks after the next presidential inauguration. Trump has long refused to sign off on a clean five-year extension of the agreement, a step that both leaders could take without Senate approval. He has described the Obama-era treaty as deeply flawed — the same thing he said about the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Iran nuclear accord — because it did not cover all of Russia’s nuclear arms or any of China’s. But if Putin is really rooting for Trump to be reelected, he is not acting like it. On Tuesday, Marshall Billingslea, Trump’s lead negotiator, announced that the two leaders had an “agreement in principle, at the highest levels of our two governments, to extend the treaty.” Billingslea described an added “gentleman’s agreement” to cap each country’s stockpile of weapons not currently deployed on missiles, submarines or bombers. Details needed to be worked out, he cautioned, including the tricky work of verifying compliance. It sounded like a promising solution, for a few hours. Then the Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei A. Ryabkov, shot back that this was a figment of someone’s election-season imagination. “Washington is describing what is desired, not what is real,” he said in a statement. For example, he said, Moscow would not freeze the number of tactical weapons it possesses. With less than three weeks to Election Day, it seems that no agreement is in the offing, and Trump administration officials are saying that, after the election, the price will go up. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee who was involved in the negotiation of the original agreement in 2010, has indicated that, if elected, he will agree to a straightforward, immediate extension of the accord for five years, the maximum allowed under the current terms, and then work to expand its scope. As a result, Putin, looking at the polls, may be calculating that there is no reason to agree to any additional limits. But it also suggests that despite the CIA’s conclusion that the Russian leader has a preference for Trump, Putin may also be hedging his bets — or betting that Trump will be a private citizen by the time the treaty runs out. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to put the best face on the Russian rejection. “I am hopeful that the Russians will find a way to agree to an outcome that, frankly, I think is in their best interest,” he said at a news conference at the State Department. But Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, joined the Kremlin’s dismissal of prospects for an agreement before the election, saying that the Trump administration’s one-sided announcement of a nuclear limitation deal was an “unclean” diplomatic maneuver. “I personally don’t see such a possibility,” he said in an interview with state radio, when asked about a deal on the strategic arms treaty. “My colleagues, who work in an interagency format and meet with the American delegation, also don’t see such a possibility.” The Russian pushback echoed across the government. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said the “position of the Russian side is well-known and consistent. And for now, we can’t speak of any concrete agreements.” Then the Russian Information Agency, a state news outlet, ran an article saying the Russian foreign ministry “called the American announcement of a New START agreement with Russia nonsense and a setup.” It was not the first time that Putin, who worked so hard on Trump’s behalf in 2016, has shown possible signs of backing away from the president. Earlier this month, he hinted in an interview with state television at an effort to reach out to Democrats. While his goals were unclear, and with U.S. officials cautioning that Russian disinformation may be at work, Putin spoke warmly of the Democratic Party and suggested that he could work with Biden on arms control. Analysts in Russia saw in the rejection of a preelection nuclear deal the Kremlin preparing the ground in case Trump loses. “As the chances of a Trump reelection are increasingly remote,” Pavel Felgenhauer, a military commentator for the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, said in a telephone interview, “why should we bend over backward?” Putin’s position all year has been that the New START agreement, which limits both countries to 1,550 deployed nuclear weapons, should be extended for five years. But there are no limits on stockpiled weapons, which are essentially in storage. And that is why fears of a resumed arms race have arisen, as the United States and Russia move to improve their arsenals with new, more sophisticated weapons. Putin has taken pride in developing new weapons, some of which have apparently run into trouble in testing, leading to a major accident in the summer of 2019. The current strategic arms treaty does not limit such work — or put limits on tactical weapons. Trump has pulled out of a series of arms control treaties, including the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, widely known as the INF. And now Russia has no incentive to negotiate on tactical warheads, which it has preserved and expanded in recent decades while the United States abolished most of its arsenal, save for small numbers stored around Europe. “Russia has an advantage in tactical weapons,” Felgenhauer said. “It doesn’t make any sense for Russia to negotiate.” There is little question that Russia had been cheating on the INF treaty’s limits and placing medium-range missiles, which appear to be armed with the tactical weapons, on its borders with Europe. The Obama administration considered abandoning the INF, before deciding against it. Trump went ahead, arguing that the treaty’s restrictions were keeping Washington from countering on similar weaponry that China was deploying in the Pacific. China was not a party to either New START or the INF, and Trump has argued that the treaties need to be updated to account for Beijing’s arms buildup. But the Chinese counter that they have around 300 nuclear weapons deployed — a fifth of the number that Russia and the United States are limited to under the treaty — and that they would have no interest in any restrictions. Some Chinese officials, somewhat facetiously, have suggested that Trump’s initiative could lead them to quintuple their arsenal and then enter into arms control talks. On Beijing entering into nuclear arms talks, Pompeo expressed hopes Wednesday “that the Chinese Communist Party will come to see that this is how mature nations deal with these issues,” but he acknowledged that Chinese leaders have “refused to join the conversation.” Biden’s advisers say nothing is wrong with the idea of bringing China into arms control agreements. But they have said that abandoning New START in a failing effort to accomplish that goal would only destroy the last remaining significant limits on deployed nuclear weapons. If Biden wins, it is possible Russia could get what it wants, a straightforward extension before the February expiration, in a quick deal immediately after a Biden inauguration. “If we don’t take Trump’s proposal now, it doesn’t mean we lose New START,” Felgenhauer said.

Trump thought he had a nuclear deal with Putin. Not so fast, Russia said.

Russia celebrated President Vladimir Putin's birthday with a hypersonic missile test. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: On Putin's birthday, Russia tests hypersonic missile

&nbsp;

Every country pays respect and show their love for their leaders in different ways. Russia, too, decided to do something special for the 68th birthday of their leader Vladimir Outin.

The Russian Chief of the army's general staff,&nbsp;Valery Gerasimov, shared the news of successfully testing&nbsp;Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile in the leader's birthday.

The strike was carried out from the Admiral Gorshkov vessel which was located in the White Sea in northern Russia. The target was a spot&nbsp;in the Barents Sea, which the officials were successful to aim at. The target has been hit&nbsp;at a distance of 450 kilometres (280 miles) in four and a half minutes after reaching hypersonic speeds of more than Mach 8.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russian-leader-vladimir-putin-turns-68-254334">Have a look:&nbsp;Russian leader Vladimir Putin turns 68</a>

“This is a big event not only for the life of the armed forces, but also for all of Russia, for the whole country,” Putin told Gerasimov.

Putin was seemingly happy with the latest success of the test launch. The launch was carried out as a move to push towards Putin's promise of increasing Russia's military presence in the Arctic during his 2018 speech.

This launch has come at time when the relations b between Russia and the US are at rocks.&nbsp;The Tsirkon test comes amid tensions over arms control between Russia and the United States. New START, the last major nuclear arms pact in place between the two countries, is due to expire in February.

The Chief has reported that the tests will continue till the officials are satisfied, and thereafter the submarines and vessels will be armed with this missile.

Every country pays respect and show their love for their leaders in different ways. Russia, too, decided to do something special for the 68th birthday of their leader Vladimir Outin.

Every country pays respect and show their love for their leaders in different ways. Russia, too, decided to do something special for the 68th birthday of their leader Vladimir Outin. The Russian Chief of the army's general staff, Valery Gerasimov, shared the news of successfully testing Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile in the leader's birthday. The strike was carried out from the Admiral Gorshkov vessel which was located in the White Sea in northern Russia. The target was a spot in the Barents Sea, which the officials were successful to aim at. The target has been hit at a distance of 450 kilometres (280 miles) in four and a half minutes after reaching hypersonic speeds of more than Mach 8. Have a look: Russian leader Vladimir Putin turns 68 “This is a big event not only for the life of the armed forces, but also for all of Russia, for the whole country,” Putin told Gerasimov. Putin was seemingly happy with the latest success of the test launch. The launch was carried out as a move to push towards Putin's promise of increasing Russia's military presence in the Arctic during his 2018 speech. This launch has come at time when the relations b between Russia and the US are at rocks. The Tsirkon test comes amid tensions over arms control between Russia and the United States. New START, the last major nuclear arms pact in place between the two countries, is due to expire in February. The Chief has reported that the tests will continue till the officials are satisfied, and thereafter the submarines and vessels will be armed with this missile.

Russia tests hypersonic cruise missile on Putin's birthday

Russian leader Vladimir Putin turns 68

BALASHIKHA, Russia — Take any of the many highways out of the Russian capital and you can dissect the country’s strata like rings on a tree. Sentinel apartment towers replace the bustling illuminated center, then the belt of auto dealerships and box stores drifts by. Gradually, the landscape becomes sparse, with villages and towns sporadically punctuating the stretch of meadows and forests for thousands of miles in every direction.

Russia is the biggest country on Earth and both the state and the people take pride in the size of its territory — “from the southern seas to the polar fringes,” as the current national anthem goes. That quiet emptiness, the enormity of Russia, has been infiltrated in recent decades by an alien force: the giant hogweed.

This invader, an exceptionally tall plant with a toxic sap that can cause third-degree burns and blindness, has come to symbolize the fate of rural Russia: malign neglect by the government. While Russia may be vast, most economic activity — and much of life in general — is concentrated in a handful of cities. And after various Soviet-era attempts to develop land through centralized planning, there is evidence that the current government is doing the exact opposite. Enter the hogweed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-journalist-dies-after-setting-herself-on-fire-332243">Also read|&nbsp;Russian journalist dies after setting herself on fire</a>

In the summer, the giant hogweed assumes the look of dill on steroids; its coffee-table sized leaves create thickets impossible to pass without a hazmat suit. In the winter, it desiccates into a brown skeleton. Outside Moscow, the hogweeds are often the only visible landmarks over white fields, ominous umbrellas standing in the snow like War of the Worlds troops poised to march. Officials have begun to refer to overgrown areas as “contaminated.”

Giant hogweeds grow naturally in the Caucasus Mountains. Evolving to thrive on shifting soils, they compete with other high-altitude herbage by yielding extraordinary seed counts — up to 100,000 per plant. The plant’s Latin name, Heracleum, hints at its extraordinary strength. In Central Russia, where typical meadow grasses are much shorter, it quickly overpowers all local species.

“Our plants cannot compete with it,” Dmitry Geltman, the director of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told me. “It takes over deserted fields because it likes unstable soil. For any alien species, it is easier to infiltrate a fluctuating community.”

Mr. Geltman speaks in botanical terms, but he could be talking about life in rural Russia, which has experienced a relentless population exodus since the 1990s. Russia has some 222 million hectares of agricultural land, nearly 100 million of which are unused, according to a 2016 census.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-is-behind-the-crime-alexei-navalny-claims-in-interview-331654">Also read|&nbsp;'Putin is behind the crime': Alexei Navalny claims in interview</a>

Much of this vast territory — 386,000 square miles, about twice the size of Spain — was abandoned after the breakup of the Soviet Union because it was unprofitable to farm. As humans left, the hogweed advanced.

It seems the government doesn’t know what to do with the land, or the people on it: Rural Russians are twice as poor and jobless as those living in urban areas. Research has shown that the number of farms in the country halved between 2006 and 2016. The top 1 percent of all agricultural companies receive two-thirds of all investment — just 61 companies collectively own over 14 million hectares of farmland and prefer to use seasonal migrant labor. Rural Russians are shut out of economic opportunity.

Vasily Melnichenko, a straight-talking farmer from the Ural Mountains who heads a movement for rural development, says President Vladimir Putin’s government’s policy toward rural Russia has been awful. Rural people are seen as a “burden,” he said, sapping budget funding for roads, electricity and health care.

“It has gone on too long to be a mistake, but if it’s done on purpose, then that would mean we’re governed by enemies,” Mr. Melnichenko told me. “There have been dozens of road maps and national projects, but nobody can carry them out. There is a complete inability to understand the territory.”

Another 20 years of the same, he said, and all the remaining residents will die out, ending the Russian village as a form of life.

The giant hogweed is what happens when a land loses its stewards. The weed is expanding its coverage by about 10 percent every year. It now creeps to the margins of forests and rivers, even near urban areas. Even the heavily built-up Moscow region had almost 270 square miles contaminated with giant hogweed this summer, according to the regional government. In the Tver region, which lies between Moscow and St. Petersburg and is the size of Austria, the hogweed has permeated a third of towns and villages.

The invasion is one of the many environmental disasters brought on by Soviet centralized planning. After World War II, Soviet agronomists, keen to quickly rebuild the country’s agriculture industry, thought that the plant’s impressive biomass could make it a good crop to feed livestock. Seeds were distributed throughout the country.

Hogweed contains a high concentration of furanocoumarins, substances that cause severe burns and blisters when affected areas of skin are exposed to sunlight. Even so, the plant was grown nationwide. By the 1980s, when the plant began infiltrating central Russia’s wilderness, tests showed that cows fed on hogweed produced poor-tasting milk. Efforts to make the plant less toxic failed.

The plague could not be contained. While some regional governments now try to spray problem zones with pesticides, Moscow hasn’t paid the problem any attention or sought to understand its scope. Tatarstan, the only region to monitor its spread, has pleaded for federal help, saying that the area overtaken by the hogweed grew tenfold in the past eight years, with thousands of burn victims and even fatalities.

Some activists and scientists are experimenting with solutions, ranging from hogweed-eating snails to moonshine production.

One evening I joined an activist, Maria Popova, on a hogweed raid outside the Russian capital. We equipped ourselves with gloves, goggles and large kitchen knives on the edge of a field that is part of the popular Losiny Ostrov National Park — a large nature area close to Moscow.

“If you don’t interfere, the hogweeds multiply at a crazy rate and soon there is nothing but them,” she said as we hiked through the tall grass. Ms. Popova started patrolling the nearby fields when she came across “plantations” of hogweed on one of her walks. The national park, which is tasked with protecting biodiversity, has ignored the problem, she said. She called hogweed “a symbol of neglect.”

“At the national level, the government does nothing,” she said, rising up on tiptoes and hacking off giant umbrella-like flowering structures on stalks three meters in the air. It’s a trustworthy method to prevent the weed from seeding — one activist in a hogweed-fighting social networking group confessed to arming herself with a machete on cycling trips.

But urban activists are more likely to mobilize online, while in the provinces, there simply aren’t enough people who care, said Darya Grebenshchikova, a writer living in a shrinking village in Tver region.

“The hogweed is not perceived as a problem because there is no population here to perceive it as a problem,” she told me. “I have lost hope in some kind of renaissance of the village. The government has decided it’s too much hassle to keep the rural areas alive, so they are turning it into a desert.”

BALASHIKHA, Russia — Take any of the many highways out of the Russian capital and you can dissect the country’s strata like rings on a tree. Sentinel apartment towers replace the bustling illuminated center, then the belt of auto dealerships and box stores drifts by.

BALASHIKHA, Russia — Take any of the many highways out of the Russian capital and you can dissect the country’s strata like rings on a tree. Sentinel apartment towers replace the bustling illuminated center, then the belt of auto dealerships and box stores drifts by. Gradually, the landscape becomes sparse, with villages and towns sporadically punctuating the stretch of meadows and forests for thousands of miles in every direction. Russia is the biggest country on Earth and both the state and the people take pride in the size of its territory — “from the southern seas to the polar fringes,” as the current national anthem goes. That quiet emptiness, the enormity of Russia, has been infiltrated in recent decades by an alien force: the giant hogweed. This invader, an exceptionally tall plant with a toxic sap that can cause third-degree burns and blindness, has come to symbolize the fate of rural Russia: malign neglect by the government. While Russia may be vast, most economic activity — and much of life in general — is concentrated in a handful of cities. And after various Soviet-era attempts to develop land through centralized planning, there is evidence that the current government is doing the exact opposite. Enter the hogweed. Also read| Russian journalist dies after setting herself on fire In the summer, the giant hogweed assumes the look of dill on steroids; its coffee-table sized leaves create thickets impossible to pass without a hazmat suit. In the winter, it desiccates into a brown skeleton. Outside Moscow, the hogweeds are often the only visible landmarks over white fields, ominous umbrellas standing in the snow like War of the Worlds troops poised to march. Officials have begun to refer to overgrown areas as “contaminated.” Giant hogweeds grow naturally in the Caucasus Mountains. Evolving to thrive on shifting soils, they compete with other high-altitude herbage by yielding extraordinary seed counts — up to 100,000 per plant. The plant’s Latin name, Heracleum, hints at its extraordinary strength. In Central Russia, where typical meadow grasses are much shorter, it quickly overpowers all local species. “Our plants cannot compete with it,” Dmitry Geltman, the director of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told me. “It takes over deserted fields because it likes unstable soil. For any alien species, it is easier to infiltrate a fluctuating community.” Mr. Geltman speaks in botanical terms, but he could be talking about life in rural Russia, which has experienced a relentless population exodus since the 1990s. Russia has some 222 million hectares of agricultural land, nearly 100 million of which are unused, according to a 2016 census. Also read| 'Putin is behind the crime': Alexei Navalny claims in interview Much of this vast territory — 386,000 square miles, about twice the size of Spain — was abandoned after the breakup of the Soviet Union because it was unprofitable to farm. As humans left, the hogweed advanced. It seems the government doesn’t know what to do with the land, or the people on it: Rural Russians are twice as poor and jobless as those living in urban areas. Research has shown that the number of farms in the country halved between 2006 and 2016. The top 1 percent of all agricultural companies receive two-thirds of all investment — just 61 companies collectively own over 14 million hectares of farmland and prefer to use seasonal migrant labor. Rural Russians are shut out of economic opportunity. Vasily Melnichenko, a straight-talking farmer from the Ural Mountains who heads a movement for rural development, says President Vladimir Putin’s government’s policy toward rural Russia has been awful. Rural people are seen as a “burden,” he said, sapping budget funding for roads, electricity and health care. “It has gone on too long to be a mistake, but if it’s done on purpose, then that would mean we’re governed by enemies,” Mr. Melnichenko told me. “There have been dozens of road maps and national projects, but nobody can carry them out. There is a complete inability to understand the territory.” Another 20 years of the same, he said, and all the remaining residents will die out, ending the Russian village as a form of life. The giant hogweed is what happens when a land loses its stewards. The weed is expanding its coverage by about 10 percent every year. It now creeps to the margins of forests and rivers, even near urban areas. Even the heavily built-up Moscow region had almost 270 square miles contaminated with giant hogweed this summer, according to the regional government. In the Tver region, which lies between Moscow and St. Petersburg and is the size of Austria, the hogweed has permeated a third of towns and villages. The invasion is one of the many environmental disasters brought on by Soviet centralized planning. After World War II, Soviet agronomists, keen to quickly rebuild the country’s agriculture industry, thought that the plant’s impressive biomass could make it a good crop to feed livestock. Seeds were distributed throughout the country. Hogweed contains a high concentration of furanocoumarins, substances that cause severe burns and blisters when affected areas of skin are exposed to sunlight. Even so, the plant was grown nationwide. By the 1980s, when the plant began infiltrating central Russia’s wilderness, tests showed that cows fed on hogweed produced poor-tasting milk. Efforts to make the plant less toxic failed. The plague could not be contained. While some regional governments now try to spray problem zones with pesticides, Moscow hasn’t paid the problem any attention or sought to understand its scope. Tatarstan, the only region to monitor its spread, has pleaded for federal help, saying that the area overtaken by the hogweed grew tenfold in the past eight years, with thousands of burn victims and even fatalities. Some activists and scientists are experimenting with solutions, ranging from hogweed-eating snails to moonshine production. One evening I joined an activist, Maria Popova, on a hogweed raid outside the Russian capital. We equipped ourselves with gloves, goggles and large kitchen knives on the edge of a field that is part of the popular Losiny Ostrov National Park — a large nature area close to Moscow. “If you don’t interfere, the hogweeds multiply at a crazy rate and soon there is nothing but them,” she said as we hiked through the tall grass. Ms. Popova started patrolling the nearby fields when she came across “plantations” of hogweed on one of her walks. The national park, which is tasked with protecting biodiversity, has ignored the problem, she said. She called hogweed “a symbol of neglect.” “At the national level, the government does nothing,” she said, rising up on tiptoes and hacking off giant umbrella-like flowering structures on stalks three meters in the air. It’s a trustworthy method to prevent the weed from seeding — one activist in a hogweed-fighting social networking group confessed to arming herself with a machete on cycling trips. But urban activists are more likely to mobilize online, while in the provinces, there simply aren’t enough people who care, said Darya Grebenshchikova, a writer living in a shrinking village in Tver region. “The hogweed is not perceived as a problem because there is no population here to perceive it as a problem,” she told me. “I have lost hope in some kind of renaissance of the village. The government has decided it’s too much hassle to keep the rural areas alive, so they are turning it into a desert.”

A toxic alien is taking over Russia

A Russian journalist died on Friday after setting herself on fire in front of the local branch of the interior ministry in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, a day after her apartment was searched by police, her news outlet said.

Prior to her self-immolation, Irina Slavina wrote on her Facebook page: “I ask you to blame the Russian Federation for my death.” She worked as editor-in-chief at Koza Press, a small local news outlet that advertised itself as having “no censorship, no orders ‘from above’”.

A day before her death, she wrote on Facebook that police officers and investigators had searched her apartment, writing that they were looking for “brochures, leaflets and accounts” from the Open Russia opposition group, which is financed by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

She said they seized notebooks, her laptop and other electronics, as well as her daughter’s laptop and her husband’s mobile phone.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was opening a preliminary inquiry after a woman self-immolated in Nizhny Novgorod, a city of 1.3 million around 400 km (250 miles) east of Moscow. It did not name Slavina in its statement.

The committee’s local branch in the Nizhny Novgorod region later said that Slavina’s self-immolation had nothing to do with the searches carried out at her apartment on the previous day.

It said she was only a witness in the criminal case for which the searches were being carried out.

Members of Russia’s opposition said Slavina had been under pressure from the authorities.

“Over the past years security officials have subjected her to endless persecution because of her opposition (activities),” opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov wrote on Instagram.

“What a nightmare,” Ilya Yashin, another Kremlin critic, wrote on Twitter. “All of these cases of police amusing themselves, these shows of men in masks - these are not games. The government is truly breaking people psychologically.”

A Russian journalist died on Friday after setting herself on fire in front of the local branch of the interior ministry in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, a day after her apartment was searched by police, her news outlet said.

A Russian journalist died on Friday after setting herself on fire in front of the local branch of the interior ministry in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, a day after her apartment was searched by police, her news outlet said. Prior to her self-immolation, Irina Slavina wrote on her Facebook page: “I ask you to blame the Russian Federation for my death.” She worked as editor-in-chief at Koza Press, a small local news outlet that advertised itself as having “no censorship, no orders ‘from above’”. A day before her death, she wrote on Facebook that police officers and investigators had searched her apartment, writing that they were looking for “brochures, leaflets and accounts” from the Open Russia opposition group, which is financed by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. She said they seized notebooks, her laptop and other electronics, as well as her daughter’s laptop and her husband’s mobile phone. Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was opening a preliminary inquiry after a woman self-immolated in Nizhny Novgorod, a city of 1.3 million around 400 km (250 miles) east of Moscow. It did not name Slavina in its statement. The committee’s local branch in the Nizhny Novgorod region later said that Slavina’s self-immolation had nothing to do with the searches carried out at her apartment on the previous day. It said she was only a witness in the criminal case for which the searches were being carried out. Members of Russia’s opposition said Slavina had been under pressure from the authorities. “Over the past years security officials have subjected her to endless persecution because of her opposition (activities),” opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov wrote on Instagram. “What a nightmare,” Ilya Yashin, another Kremlin critic, wrote on Twitter. “All of these cases of police amusing themselves, these shows of men in masks - these are not games. The government is truly breaking people psychologically.”

Russian journalist dies after setting herself on fire

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Top 10 world news: Armenia-Azerbaijan clash, Navalny's allegations against Putin, and more

As world leaders urge restraint, Erdogan is on a warpath. The Turkish President has decided to jump into the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. What explains the Turkish president's move that risks Putin's wrath? WION's Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Armenia - Azerbaijan clash: Erdogan wades into the dispute

Putin called for a reset between Russia and the United States and said he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace.

Putin says Russia and US should not meddle in each other's polls

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Russian writer Sergey Komkov.

As many suspected Kremlin was behind this nomination, the&nbsp;Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov cleared the air by saying Kremlin did not nominate the President.

"You all know that completely different people are nominated for this award, this is an initiative of those submitting the nomination. In this case, [the nomination was submitted by] the aforementioned writer," he said.

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"If this decision is made (to award Putin the prize - TASS) - great, if not, it’s no problem as well," Peskov said.

The nomination has been submitted by a group of Russian public figures, including the famous writer&nbsp;Sergey Komkov. As per the group, the nomination was sent to Oslo on September 10.

The nomination comes during a critical time when the leader has been accused of poisoning his opponent&nbsp;Alexei Navalny, which was confirmed by laboratories in Germnay, France and Sweden, but denied by Russian experts and government.

His nomination came few weeks after the US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-2021-following-israel-uae-deal-326247">nominated</a> for the&nbsp;Nobel Peace Prize&nbsp;by a&nbsp;Norwegian lawmaker for facilitating peace agreements between countries of Middle East.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Russian writer Sergey Komkov. As many suspected Kremlin was behind this nomination, the Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov cleared the air by saying Kremlin did not nominate the President.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Russian writer Sergey Komkov. As many suspected Kremlin was behind this nomination, the Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov cleared the air by saying Kremlin did not nominate the President. "You all know that completely different people are nominated for this award, this is an initiative of those submitting the nomination. In this case, [the nomination was submitted by] the aforementioned writer," he said. Also read: Frozen poo, narcissists' eyebrows and alligator studies win spoof 'Ig Nobel' awards "If this decision is made (to award Putin the prize - TASS) - great, if not, it’s no problem as well," Peskov said. The nomination has been submitted by a group of Russian public figures, including the famous writer Sergey Komkov. As per the group, the nomination was sent to Oslo on September 10. The nomination comes during a critical time when the leader has been accused of poisoning his opponent Alexei Navalny, which was confirmed by laboratories in Germnay, France and Sweden, but denied by Russian experts and government. His nomination came few weeks after the US President Donald Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Norwegian lawmaker for facilitating peace agreements between countries of Middle East.

After Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated for Nobel Prize

Russian President&nbsp;Vladimir Putin on Friday called for agreement between his country and&nbsp;the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other's elections.

"(I propose)... exchanging guarantees of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, including electoral processes, including using information and communication technologies and high-tech methods," he said.

Putin statement comes&nbsp;ahead of the US&nbsp;presidential election on November&nbsp;3 when the relations between the two countries&nbsp;are at post-Cold War lows as the election looms.

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US&nbsp;intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election with the aim of tilting it in Donald Trump's favour, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.

Trump is currently campaigning for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden.

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"One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere," Putin said in the Kremlin statement.

"We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)."

He proposed the two countries reach an agreement to prevent major cyberspace incidents, something he compared to a 1972 US-Soviet treaty reached at the height of the Cold War to prevent incidents at sea and in the air from escalating.

He also called for the two countries to fully restore communication lines between their respective agencies to discuss key international information on security issues.

Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the 2020 US&nbsp;campaign, despite evidence to the contrary.

Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for agreement between his country and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other's elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for agreement between his country and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other's elections. "(I propose)... exchanging guarantees of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, including electoral processes, including using information and communication technologies and high-tech methods," he said. Putin statement comes ahead of the US presidential election on November 3 when the relations between the two countries are at post-Cold War lows as the election looms. Also read: Facebook suspends fake Russian accounts, warns of US election hack-and-leak threat US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election with the aim of tilting it in Donald Trump's favour, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge. Trump is currently campaigning for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden. Also read: Russian hackers targeted US conservative think tanks, says Microsoft "One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere," Putin said in the Kremlin statement. "We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)." He proposed the two countries reach an agreement to prevent major cyberspace incidents, something he compared to a 1972 US-Soviet treaty reached at the height of the Cold War to prevent incidents at sea and in the air from escalating. He also called for the two countries to fully restore communication lines between their respective agencies to discuss key international information on security issues. Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the 2020 US campaign, despite evidence to the contrary. Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.

Putin calls for agreement with US not to meddle in each other's elections

Russia has denied producing or researching nerve agents known as Novichok. Russia was once believed to possess thousands of tonnes of weaponised Novichok varieties and their precursors. Watch report.

Russia denies producing Novichok: West spreading misinformation

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday offered to provide its coronavirus vaccine free-of-cost&nbsp;to United Nations staff all over the world. He made the proposal during his pre-recorded address to United Nations General Assembly. Putin called Russian-developed coronavirus vaccine Sputnik-V 'safe, reliable and effective'

"Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance, in particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices. We have received requests from our UN colleagues in this respect, and we will respond to those," said Putin.

Sputnik-V vaccine has been developed by Gamaleya Institute in Russia. The vaccine has cleared Phase-2 trials. It is yet to clear Phase-3.

Although there have been claims from the Russian side that Sputnik-V prompts sufficient antibody response against coronavirus infection, critics remain skeptical about the vaccine. Mass trials of Sputnik-V vaccine have not been carried out but high ranking officials and ministers in the Russian Government have been given doses.

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Putin's own daughter has also been administered the vaccine but which of his two daughters was given the vaccine was a mystery when the news broke.

In his UN speech, Putin said Russia was open to co-operation with respect to Sputnik-V vaccine.

"I would like to reiterate that we are completely open to partner relations and willing to cooperate. In this context, we are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines," he added

Putin outlined Russia`s active contribution to global and regional counter-COVID-19 efforts, saying the country provided assistance to most affected nations both bilaterally and within multilateral formats. He called on the need to "qualitatively strengthen" the capability of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"...We first of all take into account the central coordinating role of the WHO, which is part of the UN system. We believe it essential to qualitatively strengthen WHO capability. This work has already begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it," the Russian President remarked.

(With agency inputs)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday offered to provide its coronavirus vaccine free-of-cost to United Nations staff all over the world. He made the proposal during his pre-recorded address to United Nations General Assembly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday offered to provide its coronavirus vaccine free-of-cost to United Nations staff all over the world. He made the proposal during his pre-recorded address to United Nations General Assembly. Putin called Russian-developed coronavirus vaccine Sputnik-V 'safe, reliable and effective' "Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance, in particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices. We have received requests from our UN colleagues in this respect, and we will respond to those," said Putin. Sputnik-V vaccine has been developed by Gamaleya Institute in Russia. The vaccine has cleared Phase-2 trials. It is yet to clear Phase-3. Although there have been claims from the Russian side that Sputnik-V prompts sufficient antibody response against coronavirus infection, critics remain skeptical about the vaccine. Mass trials of Sputnik-V vaccine have not been carried out but high ranking officials and ministers in the Russian Government have been given doses. Also Read | COVID-19: Death toll in United States passes 200,000; Trump blames China at UNGA Putin's own daughter has also been administered the vaccine but which of his two daughters was given the vaccine was a mystery when the news broke. In his UN speech, Putin said Russia was open to co-operation with respect to Sputnik-V vaccine. "I would like to reiterate that we are completely open to partner relations and willing to cooperate. In this context, we are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines," he added Putin outlined Russia`s active contribution to global and regional counter-COVID-19 efforts, saying the country provided assistance to most affected nations both bilaterally and within multilateral formats. He called on the need to "qualitatively strengthen" the capability of the World Health Organisation (WHO). "...We first of all take into account the central coordinating role of the WHO, which is part of the UN system. We believe it essential to qualitatively strengthen WHO capability. This work has already begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it," the Russian President remarked. (With agency inputs)

Russia offers to give free coronavirus vaccine for UN staff across globe

France President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday had strong words for Russain President Vladimir Putin and warned of consequences if Russia did not provide adequate explanation over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning. Macron called for "swift and flawless" clarification. He warned that France would not allow its red lines on the use of chemical weapons to be crossed.

"We will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons in Europe, in Russia or in Syria," Emmanuel Macron told the U.N. General Assembly.

"This clarification must be swift and flawless because we will enforce our red lines," Macron said.

Alexei Navalny, opponent and critic of Vladimir Putin was allegedly poisoned on August 20. It is suspected that he was poisoned before his flight from Tomsk to Moscow. He received medical care in Charite Hospital for several weeks and was discharged on Wednesday.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-hospital-releases-russian-leader-navalny-after-novichok-poisoning-329607">German hospital releases Russian leader Navalny after Novichok poisoning</a> 
 
Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident with Alexei Navalny.

Navalny said in his blog that independent laboratories in Sweden, France and Bundeswehr had confirmed that there was Novichok in his body. Novichok is a Soviet-era nerve agent.

Charite Hospital, where he received treatment, said that "complete recovery" was possible for Alexei Navalny.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

France President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday had strong words for Russain President Vladimir Putin and warned of consequences if Russia did not provide adequate explanation over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning.

France President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday had strong words for Russain President Vladimir Putin and warned of consequences if Russia did not provide adequate explanation over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning. Macron called for "swift and flawless" clarification. He warned that France would not allow its red lines on the use of chemical weapons to be crossed. "We will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons in Europe, in Russia or in Syria," Emmanuel Macron told the U.N. General Assembly. "This clarification must be swift and flawless because we will enforce our red lines," Macron said. Alexei Navalny, opponent and critic of Vladimir Putin was allegedly poisoned on August 20. It is suspected that he was poisoned before his flight from Tomsk to Moscow. He received medical care in Charite Hospital for several weeks and was discharged on Wednesday. Also Read | German hospital releases Russian leader Navalny after Novichok poisoning Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident with Alexei Navalny. Navalny said in his blog that independent laboratories in Sweden, France and Bundeswehr had confirmed that there was Novichok in his body. Novichok is a Soviet-era nerve agent. Charite Hospital, where he received treatment, said that "complete recovery" was possible for Alexei Navalny. (With inputs from Reuters)

Navalny poisoning: Macron demands answers from Russia, warns of consequences

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has now alleged that Western laboratories has found the traces of Novichok found 'in & on' his body. The Putin critic even demanded that Moscow should return his clothes.

Russia: Navalny says Novichok found 'in & on' his body, his clothes are important evidence

In Russia, the chemist who was part Soviet's programme to develop the Novichok agent has apologised to prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny after Novichok traces found in his body.

Russia: Novichok developer apologises to Navalny after Novichok traces found in his body

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was reportedly poisoned,&nbsp;is seen in a new picture where he is walking downstairs. He posted a photograph of himself on Instagram and said his path to recovery was "clear, although long."

He added he still has difficulties climbing stairs because his legs tremble.

Navalny, the leading opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell ill in Siberia last month and was airlifted to Berlin.&nbsp;The dissident is recovering in Germany but his press secretary has&nbsp;said that he intends to eventually return to Russia.

Germany says laboratory tests in three countries have determined he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, and Western governments have demanded an explanation from Russia.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUAPu8llSO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Давайте расскажу, как идёт мое восстановление. Это уже ясная дорога, хоть и неблизкая. Все текущие проблемы вроде того, что телефон в моих руках бесполезен, как камень, а налить себе водички превращается в целый аттракцион, - сущая ерунда. Объясню. Совсем недавно я не узнавал людей и не понимал, как разговаривать. Каждое утро ко мне приходил доктор и говорил: Алексей, я принёс доску, давайте придумаем, какое на ней написать слово. Это приводило меня в отчаяние, потому что хоть я уже и понимал в целом, что хочет доктор, но не понимал, где брать слова. В каком месте головы они возникают? Где найти слово и как сделать так, чтобы оно что-то означало? Все это было решительно непонятно. Впрочем, как выразить своё отчаяние, я тоже не знал и поэтому просто молчал. И это я еще описываю поздний этап, который сам помню. Сейчас я парень, у которого дрожат ноги, когда он идёт по лестнице, но зато он думает: «о, это ж лестница! По ней поднимаются. Пожалуй, надо поискать лифт». А раньше бы просто тупо стоял и смотрел. Так что много проблем ещё предстоит решить, но потрясающие врачи университетской Берлинской клиники «Шарите» решили главную. Они превратили меня из «технически живого человека» в того, кто имеет все шансы снова стать Высшей Формой Существа Современного Общества, - человеком, который умеет быстро листать инстаграм и без размышлений понимает, где ставить лайки.</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/navalny/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Алексей Навальный</a> (@navalny) on <time datetime="2020-09-19T09:09:24+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Sep 19, 2020 at 2:09am PDT</time>
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Navalny&nbsp;had earlier&nbsp;posted a photograph of himself on his hospital bed in Berlin.

Navalny was pictured alongside his family in the photo, which was posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday.

Putin has, meanwhile,&nbsp;called the accusations of Kremlin involvement in the incident with Navalny "unfounded" and "inappropriate."

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFJwV0Dly0Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Привет, это Навальный. Скучаю по вам 😍. Я все ещё почти ничего не умею, но вот вчера смог целый день дышать сам. Вообще сам. Никакой посторонней помощи, даже простейший вентиль в горле не использовал. Очень понравилось. Удивительный, недооценённый многими процесс. Рекомендую</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/navalny/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Алексей Навальный</a> (@navalny) on <time datetime="2020-09-15T09:38:01+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Sep 15, 2020 at 2:38am PDT</time>
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Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was reportedly poisoned, is seen in a new picture where he is walking downstairs. He posted a photograph of himself on Instagram and said his path to recovery was "clear, although long.

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was reportedly poisoned, is seen in a new picture where he is walking downstairs. He posted a photograph of himself on Instagram and said his path to recovery was "clear, although long." He added he still has difficulties climbing stairs because his legs tremble. Navalny, the leading opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell ill in Siberia last month and was airlifted to Berlin. The dissident is recovering in Germany but his press secretary has said that he intends to eventually return to Russia. Germany says laboratory tests in three countries have determined he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, and Western governments have demanded an explanation from Russia. View this post on Instagram Давайте расскажу, как идёт мое восстановление. Это уже ясная дорога, хоть и неблизкая. Все текущие проблемы вроде того, что телефон в моих руках бесполезен, как камень, а налить себе водички превращается в целый аттракцион, - сущая ерунда. Объясню. Совсем недавно я не узнавал людей и не понимал, как разговаривать. Каждое утро ко мне приходил доктор и говорил: Алексей, я принёс доску, давайте придумаем, какое на ней написать слово. Это приводило меня в отчаяние, потому что хоть я уже и понимал в целом, что хочет доктор, но не понимал, где брать слова. В каком месте головы они возникают? Где найти слово и как сделать так, чтобы оно что-то означало? Все это было решительно непонятно. Впрочем, как выразить своё отчаяние, я тоже не знал и поэтому просто молчал. И это я еще описываю поздний этап, который сам помню. Сейчас я парень, у которого дрожат ноги, когда он идёт по лестнице, но зато он думает: «о, это ж лестница! По ней поднимаются. Пожалуй, надо поискать лифт». А раньше бы просто тупо стоял и смотрел. Так что много проблем ещё предстоит решить, но потрясающие врачи университетской Берлинской клиники «Шарите» решили главную. Они превратили меня из «технически живого человека» в того, кто имеет все шансы снова стать Высшей Формой Существа Современного Общества, - человеком, который умеет быстро листать инстаграм и без размышлений понимает, где ставить лайки. A post shared by Алексей Навальный (@navalny) on Sep 19, 2020 at 2:09am PDT × Navalny had earlier posted a photograph of himself on his hospital bed in Berlin. Navalny was pictured alongside his family in the photo, which was posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday. Putin has, meanwhile, called the accusations of Kremlin involvement in the incident with Navalny "unfounded" and "inappropriate." View this post on Instagram Привет, это Навальный. Скучаю по вам 😍. Я все ещё почти ничего не умею, но вот вчера смог целый день дышать сам. Вообще сам. Никакой посторонней помощи, даже простейший вентиль в горле не использовал. Очень понравилось. Удивительный, недооценённый многими процесс. Рекомендую A post shared by Алексей Навальный (@navalny) on Sep 15, 2020 at 2:38am PDT ×

Kremlin critic Navalny pictured walking downstairs as he recovers from novichok poisoning

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 70th birthday and lauded his contribution to the strengthening of strategic partnership between India and Russia.

Modi expressed his warm appreciation for the gesture.

During the telephonic conversation, Modi thanked Putin for his personal commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with India, and said that he looked forward to welcoming President Putin in India for the next bilateral summit at a mutually convenient date.

Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to further strengthen the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and Russia, and expressed appreciation for the continued momentum in bilateral interactions despite the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

In this context, they referred to the recent productive visits to Moscow by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

PM Modi thanked Putin for the successful Russian Chairmanship of the SCO and BRICS this year. He conveyed his eagerness to participate in the forthcoming SCO and BRICS Summit later this year, as well as the Council of SCO Heads of Government to be hosted by India.

Prime Minister Modi, born on September 17 in 1950, turned 70 on Thursday.

Putin even wrote Modi a letter wishing him on his birthday.

In the letter to Modi, Putin said, “Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 70th birth anniversary.”

Praising Modi, Putin said his activity as India’s head of the government has earned him the well-deserved respect of compatriots and high international prestige. “Under your leadership India is successfully moving along the path of socio-economic, scientific and technical development,” he said.

“It is hard to overestimate your personal contribution to the strengthening of the special and privileged strategic partnership between our countries,” Putin noted in the letter uploaded on the website of the Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

The president said he values the kind, friendly relations that have developed between him and Modi.

“I look forward to continue constructive dialogue with you and work closely together on topical issues of the bilateral and international agenda. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health, happiness, well-being and every success,” he said.

(with inputs)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 70th birthday and lauded his contribution to the strengthening of strategic partnership between India and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 70th birthday and lauded his contribution to the strengthening of strategic partnership between India and Russia. Modi expressed his warm appreciation for the gesture. During the telephonic conversation, Modi thanked Putin for his personal commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with India, and said that he looked forward to welcoming President Putin in India for the next bilateral summit at a mutually convenient date. Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to further strengthen the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and Russia, and expressed appreciation for the continued momentum in bilateral interactions despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, they referred to the recent productive visits to Moscow by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. PM Modi thanked Putin for the successful Russian Chairmanship of the SCO and BRICS this year. He conveyed his eagerness to participate in the forthcoming SCO and BRICS Summit later this year, as well as the Council of SCO Heads of Government to be hosted by India. Prime Minister Modi, born on September 17 in 1950, turned 70 on Thursday. Putin even wrote Modi a letter wishing him on his birthday. In the letter to Modi, Putin said, “Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 70th birth anniversary.” Praising Modi, Putin said his activity as India’s head of the government has earned him the well-deserved respect of compatriots and high international prestige. “Under your leadership India is successfully moving along the path of socio-economic, scientific and technical development,” he said. “It is hard to overestimate your personal contribution to the strengthening of the special and privileged strategic partnership between our countries,” Putin noted in the letter uploaded on the website of the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. The president said he values the kind, friendly relations that have developed between him and Modi. “I look forward to continue constructive dialogue with you and work closely together on topical issues of the bilateral and international agenda. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health, happiness, well-being and every success,” he said. (with inputs)

PM Modi, Putin reiterate commitment to further strengthen India-Russia ties in telephonic conversation

Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged a $1.5 billion loan to Belarus during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko

Russia throws $1.5 billion credit lifeline to 'closest ally' Belarus

Talks between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi have ended. The talks lasted more than 4 hours. Putin has promised a $1.5 billion loan to Lukashenko.

Fineprint: Putin Promises $1.5 billion loan to Lukashenko

In an effort to fight Vladimir Putin’s electoral machine, Navalny and his team have urged Russians to vote tactically by backing the strongest candidates

Regional Election in Russia: Pro-Kremlin party set to claim victory

France's independent analysis has concluded that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style nerve agent Novichok in an attempted assassination.

President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement on Monday: "The president expressed his deep concern over the criminal act perpetrated against Alexei Navalany and the imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances and responsibilities of this attempted assassination."

According to the Elysee, Macron on Monday "expressed his full solidarity with Germany over the steps to be taken and the consequences to be drawn from the situation."&nbsp;

The president also urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to urgently shed light on Navalmy's "attempted murder", after French tests confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent, the Elysee said.

The German government had said earlier that laboratories in France and Sweden confirmed its own findings that Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

Macron told Putin in telephone talks that it is "imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances of this attempted murder and who is responsible," the French presidency said in a statement.

He also informed Putin that France's own analysis had confirmed Germany's conclusion that Navalny was poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent "in contravention of international norms on using chemical weapons."

France has been backing its ally Germany, which has already warned that blame for the poisoning will fall on Russian if it fails to explain what happened.

France's independent analysis has concluded that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style nerve agent Novichok in an attempted assassination.

France's independent analysis has concluded that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style nerve agent Novichok in an attempted assassination. President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement on Monday: "The president expressed his deep concern over the criminal act perpetrated against Alexei Navalany and the imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances and responsibilities of this attempted assassination." According to the Elysee, Macron on Monday "expressed his full solidarity with Germany over the steps to be taken and the consequences to be drawn from the situation." The president also urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to urgently shed light on Navalmy's "attempted murder", after French tests confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent, the Elysee said. The German government had said earlier that laboratories in France and Sweden confirmed its own findings that Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Macron told Putin in telephone talks that it is "imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances of this attempted murder and who is responsible," the French presidency said in a statement. He also informed Putin that France's own analysis had confirmed Germany's conclusion that Navalny was poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent "in contravention of international norms on using chemical weapons." France has been backing its ally Germany, which has already warned that blame for the poisoning will fall on Russian if it fails to explain what happened.

France's independent analysis concludes Navalny was poisoned; Macron speaks to Putin

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