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Russia introduces bill that curtails freedom of speech

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced a controversial bill that can reduce the freedom of speech to a level in which it is almost unrecognisable.

The newly introduced law empowers the country the right to register bloggers, journalists and social media users as foreign agents.

That simply means the Russians who use the social media platforms to criticise the Putin’s government are at the risk of falling into the list of foreign agents.

The bill is also a clear threat to the Russian journalists who do not buy the idea of the projection of Mr. Putin as a leader who should not be criticised.

Mr. Putin’s Russia is known for its opposition to the idea of the freedom of speech and expression.

The present Russia is one of the very few countries which are almost completely intolerant towards dissent.

It often suppresses dissent with force. The new bill is seen as a latest method to suppress the possibility of the emergence of dissent.


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Crime News

Serbia foils Russian spy attempt

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Serbia has claimed that it has foiled a spy attempt made by its neighbour Russia. The details of the aforesaid attempt have been publicised by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

He said that the incident would not affect the relation between his country, Serbia, and Russia.

Notably, the Serbian President has showed no interest to blame his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Instead of that, he has tried to give a clean chit to the Russian Supremo.

He said that the Russian President might not be aware about the plan made by the Russian spy agency.

The statement of the Serbian President is considered as a calculated move to avoid the ire of the Russian Supremo.

Serbia is located close to Russia. Serbia also has close ties with Russia – especially in the economic front.

It is not the first time an Russian spy attempt has been caught red-handed.

Anyway, what lies hidden in the statement of Serbia is a clear warning that it would not allow anyone to intrude into its internal affairs.


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Spy Swap: Norwegian spy Frode Berg freed by Russia

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Russia has released at least two Lithuanian spies and a Norwegian spy, Frode Berg, from their custody. In return, the country has managed to get at least two of its spies freed from the Lithuanian custody.

The three country spy swap deal is the most complicated deal the continent of Europe has witnessed in its recent history.

Norway is the one which has played a central role to get this deal materialised. Why they have gone that far is because the country was under severe pressure to get Mr. Berg, who was a high level officer, freed.

The family members of Mr. Berg have expressed their happiness in the deal. His daughter has already reached the city where he is expected to land within the next few hours.

Lithuania was an integral part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Since the independence of the country, the spies of Lithuania are on continuous battle with its Russian counterparts.

The case is not very different with Norway, though it has no direct link with either the erstwhile Soviet Union or its successor, the present Russia.

Russia, Norway and Lithuania are situated very close to each other. Both Norway and Lithuania see Russia situated close to them as a threat.


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International Relations News

Macron calls NATO “Dead Brain”

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French President Emanuel Macron has lashed out at the US-led NATO. He has called it a dead brain.

He has expressed his doubt on whether the US is still committed towards the North Atlatic Treaty Organisation or not.

He has alleged that the US had not consulted its European allies when they had pulled out the NATO troopers stationed in Syria.

Interestingly, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has supported the statement delivered by the French President.

Meanwhile, Germany has strongly denounced the statement made by its friendly neighbour, who is a prominent member of the European Union like the Europe’s most wealthy nation.

What France’s statement indicates is a clear shift in the way France sees the world’s most powerful country. It also speaks a lot about France’s disinterest towards the US’ present political style.

Anyway, the NATO has declined to speak anything about what has been triggered against it by France.

But, it has indirectly said that the organisation is very strong at this moment and will remain strong in the future also.


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News

Ukraine troops, separatists start pull back from crucial battle frontline

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The Ukraine troops, as well as the separatists invaded certain regions in the country near its Russian border, have began to move back from the frontline of a crucial battle ground between the two forces.

The pull back is a part of the deal that the Ukraine government reached with Russia and the separatists recently.

The step is expected to bring peace to the entire region. It is very crucial also, as the newly elected Ukraine President is scheduled to visit his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the near future, along with his French and German counterparts.

Peace in Ukraine is very important for the entire Europe, as the region is one of the main economic powers in the continent. Instability in Ukraine means uneasiness in Europe.

The regions close to the Russian borders in Ukraine is unstable since Putin-led country invaded Crimea.


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News

Russia inks deal with Turkey over Syria

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has inked a historic deal with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the issue of the Syrian Kurds, which recently suffered a military attack from Istanbul.

The agreement allows the Turkish forces to retain the regions they have already captured from the Syrian Kurds. And, moreover, it demands the removal of the Syrian Kurds far way from the Turkish border.

No Syrian Kurd leader has commented about the agreement yet. It remains unclear whether the Syrian Kurds will agree to the agreement reached between Russia and Turkey.

The agreement keeps largely silent over the matter of Qamishii, the most sensitive area which comes under the territory from which the agreement asks the Kurds to leave – where the Syrian Kurds are concentrated in large numbers, especially after the commencement of the Turkish offensive.

It is assumed that the Syrian Kurds is less likely to agree to an agreement which asks them to leave Qamishii.

The coming hours are very crucial. The agreement gives only 150 hours for the Syrian Kurds to act.


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Crime News

Russian youngsters accused of extremism slit wrist in court

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Two Russian youngsters, who was recently arrested on the charge of extremism, has slit their wrist, as their plea for house arrest has been denied by the court, which handles the case against the youngsters.

At this moment, it remains unclear how they have got hold of the sharp weapon that they have used to slit their hands.

Until now, no information about their health has been publicised.

The youngsters is said to be the members of an anarchist organisation. As per a report, there are ten members in the organisation. According to the report, most of them are youngsters.

Anyway, all of them are under custody now.

One of the members of the organisation, a lady, was recently shifted to her home from jail as her health deteriorated under custody.

The parents of the arrested youngsters have denounced the charges against their children. They have called the organisation as a study group.

Interestingly, the only witness in the case is an undercover policeman, who claimed that he managed to infiltrate into the closed circle of the group.


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News

Russia promises to support Syria to overcome Turkish threat

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Russia, which is the prime ally of the Syrian government, has promised to support Syria to overcome the threat posed by Turkey, which launched an offensive against the Syrian Kurds in the North Syria region recently.

Lately, the Syrian Kurds joined hands with their government to defend their country from Turkey.

Most western countries have denounced the aggression launched by Turkey against Syria in the name of creating a safe zone for the Syrian refugees who fled the Syrian war.

Actually, the aggression was launched exploiting the opportunity emerged due to the withdrawal of the US force, who was the main ally of the Syrian Kurds during the Syrian War, from Syria,

Russia’s promise has increased the confidence of the Syrian force who recently marched towards the northern region of the country to support the Syrian Kurds fighting against the Turkish aggressors.

As per a latest report, the Russian forces have already begun their work in the region.


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europe times
News

Paul Whelan claims set-up in Russia spy case

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Paul Whelan, the Former US marine, who was accused in Russia for spy works has said he is not a spy and that he was set up by a Russian friend.

Whelan (48), who is also a citizen of the UK, Canada and Ireland has said to the media that a friend had planted a hard drive on him without his knowledge.

Paul Whelan said, “A person turned up at my [hotel] room and put something in my pocket, then I was arrested”.

The Moscow court has denied his appeal against detention. Whelan was caught “red-handed” with state secrets last year, says the prosecutors.

The investigations came to an end now and the lawyers of Whelan have begun studying the evidence. Since this is an espionage case, all the information is classified.

The US ambassador in Moscow asked Russia to stop “playing games” with the case.

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europe times
News

Skeleton of Napoleon’s favourite general believed to be found in Russia

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Archaeologists have discovered a one-legged skeleton under a Russian dance floor, which is believed to be that of Napoleon’s favourite general.

It is believed that this would be a key to the centuries-old mystery, related to Charles-Étienne Gudin.

Charles-Étienne Gudin, the favourite general of Napoleon died at the age of 44, after he was hit by a cannonball during the French invasion of Russia in 1812.

Charles-Étienne Gudin

Though everything seems to be matching, it will be necessary to await the results of DNA analysis to confirm the discovery.

Gudin had to have his leg amputated and he died three days later from gangrene.

The discovery took place in Smolensk, 400 kilometers west of Moscow. The samples for DNA testing have been sent to France.

Marina Nesterova, the head of the archaeological team told AFP news agency, “As soon as I saw the skeleton with just one leg, I knew that we had our man”.

A press conference has been held in Moscow on Thursday, and the team of Russian and French archaeologists said that they are not able to provide a specific conclusion until the result from a laboratory in Marseille is obtained.

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