Russia

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Russia Launches Twitter War on US Ambassador

Twitterverse battle does little damage

(Newser) - Russia is unleashing its latest weapon in a standoff with the US: Twitter. A barrage of critical tweets attacked US ambassador Michael McFaul for his "unprofessional" speech to Moscow economic students concerning the two nations. An "ambassador's job is to improve bilateral ties, not to spread blatant...

Houla Massacre Survivors Recount the Horror

Syrians say they either hid or played dead

(Newser) - Survivors of the horrific Houla massacre have described the event to reporters, saying the army and dreaded shabiha militiamen were behind the door-to-door assault. Many witnesses said they played dead or hid in order to survive, the BBC reports. "We were in the house, they went in, the shabiha...

Putin: Jack Protester Fines to Hulking $9.5K

Measure could become law next week

(Newser) - Basking in his re-election glow, Vladimir Putin yesterday backed a move to jack up the fine for illegal protesting—to a hefty $9,500, reports the New York Times . Despite furious opposition, the measure could become law as early as next week. "We must protect people from extreme radical...

12 Bodies Found at Russian Jet Crash Site

All 45 passengers on Sukhoi Superjet-100 thought dead

(Newser) - Searchers have found 12 bodies at the site of a Russian plane crash on an Indonesian volcano. The jet had been carrying 45; all are believed dead, the AP reports. The steep mountainside has proved a challenge to searchers, who climbed through a jungle toward the plane's wreckage using...

Putin Pulls Out of G8 Meeting, Stuns US

Re-elected Russian prez sending Medvedev to Camp David

(Newser) - Looks like the relationship between President Obama and President Putin might be off to a rocky start. The Russian leader has surprised the White House by saying he won't be attending the G8 summit at Camp David next week, reports the New York Times . Putin was recently elected for...

Russian Jet Vanishes Mid-Flight

It may have crashed or been hijacked: Indonesian officials

(Newser) - A Russian Sukhoi SuperJet-100 disappeared during a demonstration flight in Indonesia today, vanishing from radar screens while it was still at high altitudes and failing to land at its appointed time. The plane was last heard from when it requested, and was granted, permission to descend from 10,000 feet...

Vladimir Putin: Hockey Star
 Vladimir Putin: Hockey Star 

Vladimir Putin: Hockey Star

Russian president takes the ice against hockey legends, beats them

(Newser) - Is there anything Vladimir Putin can't do? Russia's old/new president celebrated his inauguration by lacing up his skates for an amateur hockey team and scoring the winning goal against a team of hockey legends, Russia Today reports. The game was a season-ending exhibition between select members of the...

Today's Shocker: Medvedev Approved as Russia PM

Job swap with Putin now complete

(Newser) - Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin completed their long-anticipated job swap today, with Russia’s parliament approving Medvedev as prime minister, as had been expected. Medvedev, who received a 299-144 vote, will serve under Putin, who was inaugurated for his third term as president yesterday and quickly nominated Medvedev as PM.

Russia Inaugurates Vladimir Putin Third Time

Heralds 'new phase' for Russia

(Newser) - Calling for a "single, united" nation, Vladimir Putin has begun his third term as Russia's president—a term set to make him Russia's longest-serving leader since Stalin. Following protests yesterday , Putin was sworn in at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in a $664,000 ceremony. In...

Russia Busts Opposition Leaders

On eve of Putin's inauguration

(Newser) - Police in Moscow have arrested top opposition figures along with demonstrators after a protest march on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration as president tried to reach the Kremlin. The march by about 20,000 people to an island adjacent to the Kremlin proceeded peacefully this afternoon until a...

Putin's Wife AWOL as Rumors Swirl

Lyudmila Putin rumored pregnant, or shuffled off in favor of Anna Chapman

(Newser) - Virgins everywhere might have Vladimir Putin's back, but as the Russian strongman prepares to assume the presidency in two weeks, wife Lyudmila has been conspicuously absent from his side—and tongues are wagging furiously. Is she locked away in a monastery, wonders the Daily Mail ? Or shall...

Syrian Military Doubles Down
 Syrian Military Doubles Down 

Syrian Military Doubles Down

Reinforcements arrive, as international community looks for answers

(Newser) - Shells exploded and gunfire rang through the streets in several Syrian neighborhoods today, and security forces raided homes in Damascus, opposition groups said. Far from withdrawing, as required under the supposed ceasefire, security forces sent reinforcements, the group said. At least nine people were killed, including a child in the...

Punk Band Faces 7 Years for Putin Protest

Women denied bail after 'blasphemous' church stunt

(Newser) - Three members of a feminist punk band are being harshly punished for mocking Vladimir Putin in a protest inside Russia's main Orthodox church. The trio were among five members of Pussy Riot who rushed to the pulpit during a service earlier this year, and chanted: "Mother Mary, drive...

Syria Changes Ceasefire, Shells Towns


 Syria Changes 
 Ceasefire, 
 Shells Towns 
WHAT DEADLINE?

Syria Changes Ceasefire, Shells Towns

Regime concocts new condition, demands monitoring mission

(Newser) - Today was supposed to be the ceasefire deadline in Syria, but Bashar al-Assad's regime has done anything but cease its fire. Instead, it suddenly laid out new conditions, demanding that the ceasefire coincide with a deployment of a new international monitoring mission, the Wall Street Journal reports. Syrian forces...

Russia Fumes Over 'Merchant of Death' Trial

Viktor Bout is an innocent man, says Moscow

(Newser) - Moscow isn't happy about the arrest and conviction of Russian arms dealer Victor Bout, MSNBC reports. This will “one of our top priorities in Russian-American relations," said a Russian official, a day after the so-called "Merchant of Death" was sentenced by a New York judge to...

Russian Plane Crashes in Siberia, 16 Confirmed Dead

 12 Survive Siberia 
 Plane Crash 
UPDATED

12 Survive Siberia Plane Crash

Turboprop plane goes down shortly after takeoff, killing 31

(Newser) - At least 31 people were killed when a Russian plane carrying 43 passengers and crew members crashed in Siberia this morning. The ATR-72 turboprop plane owned by UTair had just left Tyumen on a flight north to the oil town of Surget when it went down. The cause is unknown....

Obama Stands By Hot Mic Comments

Missile defense 'extraordinarily complex'

(Newser) - Asked about yesterday's "oops" when he and Dmitri Medvedev were overheard talking about European missile defense , the first thing President Obama said was, "Are the mikes on?" That got laughs, but Obama quickly turned serious, the Washington Post reports, calling missile defense "extraordinarily complex." He...

Turkey Closes Syria Embassy
 Turkey Closes Syria Embassy 

Turkey Closes Syria Embassy

And agrees with the US to provide 'nonlethal' aid

(Newser) - Turkey shut down its embassy in Syria today, and plans to join with the US to provide “nonlethal” aid to Syria's rebels. White House officials tell the New York Times that the two nations will provide things like communication equipment and medical supplies directly to opposition groups, and...

Obama Ready to Cut Nukes Again

President issues nuclear warnings to North Korea, Iran

(Newser) - President Obama still thinks we could stand to get rid of a bunch of our nukes, and has promised a renewed effort to cut American and Russian nuclear arsenals following 2010's START treaty . "We can already say with confidence that we have more nuclear weapons than we need,...

Inmate Busted in Taxi After Helicopter Escape

Russian's freedom short-lived after dramatic jailbreak

(Newser) - Freedom only lasted a couple of hours for a Russian murderer who made a Hollywood-style helicopter escape from prison. Alexei Shestakov's two accomplices hijacked a rented helicopter at gunpoint and lowered a rope ladder into the prison yard for the 34-year-old, who is halfway through a 24-year sentence, the...

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