USA
Domestic
Why the Mueller Investigation Failed?, 29 June 2020
Robert Mueller submitted his final report as the special counsel more than a year ago. But even now—in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the Administration’s tragically bungled response to it, and the mass demonstrations following the killings by police of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others—President Trump remains obsessed with what he recently called, on Twitter, the “Greatest Political Crime in the History of the U.S., the Russian Witch-Hunt.” In the past several months, the President has mobilized his Administration and its supporters to prove that, from its inception, the F.B.I.’s investigation into possible ties between his 2016 campaign and the Russian government was flawed, or worse. Attorney General William Barr has directed John Durham, the United States Attorney in Connecticut, to conduct a criminal investigation into whether F.B.I. officials, or anyone else, engaged in misconduct at the outset. Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also convened hearings on the investigation’s origins. Click here to read....
Donald Trump’s Big Problem with Senior Voters, 27 June 2020
The standard way of looking at Donald Trump’s narrow Electoral College victory, in 2016, is through the realm of geography: by eking out victories in the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, he overcame a deficit of about 2.9 million ballots in the popular vote. This narrative is perfectly accurate, but it isn’t the only way to analyze what happened. Another key to Trump’s success was his strong support among older voters, who tend to turn out in large numbers, despite being a relatively small part of the electorate.
Among voters aged forty-four and under, Hillary Clinton bested Trump by fourteen percentage points, according to exit polls. But Trump carried voters between the ages of fifty and sixty-four by eight percentage points, and voters aged sixty-five or older by seven points. State by state, the numbers varied. He led Clinton among voters aged sixty-five and over by four points in Michigan, by ten points in Pennsylvania, and by one point in Wisconsin. Given the thin margins of victory that Trump enjoyed in these states, support from seniors was essential to the majority he achieved in the Electoral College. Click here to read....
Where things stand in 13 battleground states, 27 June 2020
The polls in battleground states are getting worse for President Trump.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is pulling away in four of the six core battlegrounds that represent each candidate’s likeliest path to the White House.
States that did not begin the cycle as competitive — Iowa and Ohio — are suddenly too close for comfort for Republicans. Trump and Biden are also running neck and neck in Texas and Georgia, two states that Democrats have long dreamed of turning blue.
The Trump campaign had hoped to flip a trio of states that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 — Minnesota, New Hampshire and New Mexico — but there is no evidence to suggest that those states are competitive.
A lot could change with just more than four months until Election Day. But at the moment, Biden has a wide path to the White House, and polls indicate that Trump could potentially face a wipe-out that would do significant harm to the GOP’s efforts to hold the Senate. Click here to read....
Trump touts ratings for rally, Fox News town hall: 'These are the real polls', 27 June 2020
President Trump on Saturday morning touted the television ratings from his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., last weekend and his town hall with Fox News's Sean Hannity this week.
Trump asserted in a pair of tweets that the ratings "are the real polls" after a series of recent pubic surveys showed him trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden both nationally and in key swing states.
"Do not believe the Fake News Media. Oklahoma speech had the highest Saturday television ratings in @FoxNews history. @seanhannity dominated T.V. with my interview on Thursday night, more than @CNN & MSDNC COMBINED," Trump tweeted. "These are the real polls, the Silent Majority, not FAKE POLLS!"
Trump on Friday night also retweeted a post about the town hall ratings.
Fox reported that Trump's sit-down with Hannity Thursday night drew 5.1 million viewers, while MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" and CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" — which were on at the same time — drew 3.1 million and 1.8 million viewers, respectively, according to Nielsen data. Click here to read....
White House goes through dizzying change in staff, 27 June 2020
President Trump has replaced his chief of staff, press secretary, legislative affairs director and domestic policy adviser and retooled his communications shop in a span of about three months and will soon bid goodbye to two top economic advisers.
Trump’s White House has experienced a dizzying amount of staffing changes that began following his impeachment acquittal and seemed to accelerate with the arrival of new chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Trump has presided over a record amount of turnover in the Cabinet and senior levels of his administration, demonstrating a penchant for removing and replacing top officials as well as swapping existing staff into new roles.
But the recent staffing shake-ups have been striking particularly because of the proximity to the 2020 presidential election. Officials working in past administrations have been informally urged to hold off on leaving their roles in an election year until the ballots are cast in November. Click here to read....
US hits 2.5M coronavirus cases as states tally record one-day highs, 27 June 2020
The U.S. reached over 2.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday as several states experience record-breaking spikes of infections amid efforts to reopen the economy.
According to a count by Johns Hopkins University, as of Saturday, 2,501,244 have tested positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. and 125,435 people have died.
Globally, 9,891,727 people have tested positive and 496,075 people have died.
Since April, the U.S. has been the worst-affected country in the world. Public health officials estimate the actual numbers are much higher, considering some people who contract the disease are asymptomatic and others lack access to coronavirus tests.
The newest U.S. tally also comes as the nation faces multiple crises: mitigating the coronavirus and confronting police brutality and structural racism. Nationwide protests erupted in late May after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day. Click here to read....
Senate advances $740 billion defense bill, stage set for Confederate battle, 26 June 2020
The U.S. Senate voted 90-7 on Thursday to debate the annual National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, setting the stage for a battle between Democrats and President Donald Trump’s Republicans over changing the names of military bases named after Confederate generals.
The $740 billion NDAA, which sets policy for the Pentagon, is one of the few pieces of major legislation passed by Congress ever year. This year would be the 60th in a row that the bill has passed.
Members of Congress seek to use it for a wide range of policy measures, not just governing what arms and equipment the Pentagon purchases and how much the troops are paid, but for a wide range of broader policy issues. Click here to read....
How Do We Change America?, 8 June 2020
The national uprising in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd, a forty-six-year-old black man, by four Minneapolis police officers, has been met with shock, elation, concern, fear, and gestures of solidarity. Its sheer scale has been surprising. Across the United States, in cities large and small, streets have filled with young, multiracial crowds who have had enough. In the largest uprisings since the Los Angeles rebellion of 1992, anger and bitterness at racist and unrestrained police violence, abuse, and even murder have finally spilled over in every corner of the United States.
More than seventeen thousand National Guard troops have been deployed—more soldiers than are currently occupying Iraq and Afghanistan—to put down the rebellion. More than ten thousand people have been arrested; more than twelve people, mostly African-American men, have been killed. Curfews were imposed in at least thirty cities, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Omaha, and Sioux City. Solidarity demonstrations have been organized from Accra to Dublin—in Berlin, Paris, London, and beyond. And, most surprisingly, two weeks after Floyd’s death, the protests have not ended. Last Saturday saw the largest protests so far, as tens of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall and marched down the streets of Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Click here to read....
White House denies it was briefed about Afghan militant bounties, 27 June 2020
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied a Friday report from The New York Times that President Trump and Vice President Pence were briefed on American intelligence findings that Russian military operatives offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan, including US troops, amid peace talks.
Citing White House officials briefed on the matter, the Times reported that Trump and Pence were briefed on the intelligence findings and that the White House's National Security Council held a meeting about the issue in late March.
McEnany denied any such briefing, saying in a statement Saturday, “While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence.” Click here to read....
International
East Asia
U.S. "salami slicing" attempts to undermine China's sovereignty "sheer pipe dream": spokesperson , 24 June 2020
A Chinese military spokesperson Wednesday said the "salami slicing" attempts made by the United States to undermine China's sovereignty are a "sheer pipe dream."
Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a question about the recent frequent interactions between the United States and China's Taiwan.
Noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no external interference, Wu said the Chinese People's Liberation Army has been on high alert, and has the firm resolve, full confidence and sufficient capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Click here to read....
US remains focused on denuclearizing North Korea: Pentagon official , 25 June 2020
The United States remains focused on denuclearizing North Korea amid Pyongyang's increased provocations against Seoul, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday.
David Helvey, acting assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said the North's recent actions underscored the importance of maintaining a strong readiness posture between Washington and Seoul, with Pyongyang threatening to take military action before suspending such plans on Wednesday.
"Korea remains the hardest of hard targets," he said during a virtual seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's hard to determine tactically what North Korea is going to do on a day to day basis, even though I think we'd all agree that strategically, North Korea, particularly under Kim Jong-un, is very predictable and understandable."
Helvey said the Department of Defense has worked to maintain an effective deterrent in support of the diplomatic efforts aimed at the "final and fully verified denuclearization" of the North.
"Our policy, as I've said, remains very much focused on denuclearization," he said. "It's a denuclearization that we believe can only realistically be obtained through a diplomatic process. I mean, that's certainly our strong, strong preference." Click here to read....
US names North Korea worst human trafficking nation for 18th year , 26 June 2020
The U.S. State Department on Thursday designated North Korea as one of the worst human trafficking nations for the 18th consecutive year.
The department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report said the North Korean government did not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and did not make significant efforts to do so, leaving it in the lowest category of Tier 3.
"During the reporting period, there was a government policy or pattern of forced labour in mass mobilizations of adults and children, in prison camps as part of an established system of political repression, in labour training centres, and through its imposition of forced labour conditions on DPRK overseas contract workers," the report said, referring to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"It used proceeds from state-sponsored forced labour to fund government functions, as well as other illicit activity. The government did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking," it added. Click here to read....
US Watching if Beijing Declares Air Defense Zone in South China Sea, 24 June 2020
The United States is closely watching reports that Beijing is planning to declare a so-called Air Defense Identification Zone in the skies above the disputed South China Sea, the American air force commander in the Pacific told reporters Wednesday.
A Chinese move to claim an ADIZ in the sea region could have a negative impact on the ability of nations to fly, sail and operate in a free and open Indo-Pacific “wherever international law allows,” Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. said during a special teleconference briefing from Hawaii.
“It really goes against the rules-based international order, and that’s concerning not only for PACAF and the United States, but I would say many of the nations in the region,” Brown said, referring to a potential Chinese ADIZ in the South China Sea, while he fielded questions from reporters across the region about a range of issues related to his Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) command.
“And this kind of impinges upon some of the international airspace, and it impacts not just the PACAF, but all the nations in the region,” he added. “And so, it’s important for us to pay attention to something like this.”
The air force commander said he was also “concerned by increasing opportunistic activity by the PRC [People’s Republic of China] to coerce its neighbours and press its unlawful maritime claims while the region and the world is focused on addressing the COVID pandemic.” Click here to read....
US bases in Japan now vulnerable to missile attacks, 29 June 2020
Japan’s cancellation of the two Aegis Ashore missile defense systems was not caused by local complaints about the basing of the missiles, despite what Japanese politicians claim.
It looks more and more as if Japan does not want to be “caught in the middle” in a confrontation between the United States and North Korea, or a confrontation with China.
According to Japan’s defense minister, the country will rely on Patriot and ship-mounted Aegis for missile defense and protection of critical base and infrastructure assets in Japan.
Patriot is not an answer to protecting either Japanese or American forces and their bases. Patriot is a poor point defense system and Japan does not have enough of them, even if they worked perfectly to protect all Japanese and American bases.
Today, the US maintains major airbases at Misawa, Yokota and Kadena on Okinawa. Japan bases its F-35s at Misawa and will soon become the world’s second-largest F-35 operator. There also is a US Naval air facility at Atsugi and the large US naval base at Yokosuka, which is the forward-deployed base for the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Click here to read....
Trump administration claims Huawei 'backed by Chinese military', 25 June 2020
The US Defense Department has determined that 20 top Chinese firms, including Huawei, are either owned by or backed by the Chinese military.
The list, seen by US media, features video surveillance firm Hikvision, China Telecoms, China Mobile and AVIC.
The determination could lay the groundwork for new US financial sanctions against the firms.
It comes as the US has pressured other countries, including the UK, to bar Huawei for national security reasons.
The BBC understands that the list has been published in order to inform congressional committees, US businesses, investors and other potential partners of Chinese firms about the role such firms may play in transferring sensitive technology to the Chinese military. The list is also likely to grow.
Under US law, the Defense Department is required to track firms "owned or controlled" by China's People's Liberation Army that are active in the US. Click here to read....
Ambassador highlights trust in Vietnam-US relations, 23 June 2020
Trust and mutual respect play a key role in supporting the relationship between former foes Vietnam and the U.S., its ambassador to Hanoi said.
"Trust is the foundation of every good relationship and if we look back the past 25 years I think it’s remarkable how far we have come and how much trust we have built," said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.
For Vietnam and the U.S., it is a friendship and partnership built on the foundation of trust and mutual respect, he told the press at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.
What the two nations have been working on is apparently building a strong future with a broad area of cooperation, from economics and trade to security and people-to-people ties, but it needs to keep in mind that in order to have the foundation of trust, it needs to be responsible for issues of the past. Reconciliation has remained a key aspect in the relationship between the two former war enemies, he said. Click here to read....
US shifting military to face Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asia: Mike Pompeo, 25 June 2020
The Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asia is one of the reasons the United States is reducing its troop presence in Europe, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday in response to a question at the Brussels Forum virtual conference.
Pompeo was asked why the US had reduced the number of troops it has based in Germany. The US Secretary of State said that if US troops were no longer there, it was because they were being moved to face other places. The actions of the Chinese Communist Party meant there were “threats to India” and countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and the South China Sea. The US military is “postured appropriately” to meet these “challenges of our time”, he said.
Pompeo noted that the Trump administration had carried out a long overdue strategic posture review of the US military two years ago. The US had carried out a fundamental relook at the threats it faced and how it should allocate its resources, including intelligence and military and cyber. Click here to read....
Trump Says He Will Move Some U.S. Troops To Poland From Germany, 24 June 2020
President Trump on Wednesday said he would remove some U.S. troops from Germany and relocate them to Poland and other European and U.S. locations, a reaction to his long-standing complaint that Germany falls short on defense spending obligations to NATO.
Trump made the announcement after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to normal diplomatic events in March.
"Poland is one of the few countries that are fulfilling their obligations under NATO, in particular their monetary obligations. And they asked us if we would send some additional troops. They're going to pay for that. They'll be paying for the sending of additional troops, and we'll probably be moving them from Germany to Poland. We're going to be reducing Germany very substantially," Trump said, describing about a 50% reduction in the number of troops now posted there. Click here to read....
Europe
Politics and Society
European Commission adopts White Paper on foreign subsidies in the Single Market, 17 June 2020
The European Commission has adopted a White Paper dealing with the distortive effects caused by foreign subsidies in the Single Market. The Commission now seeks views and input from all stakeholders on the options set out in the White Paper. The public consultation, which will be open until 23 September 2020, will help the Commission to prepare for appropriate legislative proposals in this area. Click here to read....
Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the recent developments at the India-China border, 17 June 2020
The official statement read as follows: “The EU encourages both sides to show restraint and to engage in military de-escalation…India and China are two very important partners of the European Union, and are crucial actors for regional and global stability. We trust that both the Indian and Chinese authorities will look to continue their dialogue in order to find peaceful solutions to their differences. This is crucial for building trust and preserving peace and stability in the region”. Click here to read....
Hungary ends emergency powers, but new law opens up potential to re-apply them, 17 June 2020
The Hungarian Parliament has ended the nation's state of emergency, revoking a controversial law that handed extra powers to Viktor Orbán's government to fight the spread of coronavirus without a predefined end date. But human rights groups say the bill terminating the "state of danger" in Hungary still makes it easier for the government to rule by decree and will erode the rule of law in the EU country. The new law leaves the possibility for the government to declare another state emergency granting it extra powers to handle an epidemic. Click here to read....
European Commission adopted Report on the Impact of Demographic Change in Europe, 17 June 2020
The report shows long-term demographic trends in Europe's regions - from longer life expectancy, to lower birth rates, ageing societies, smaller households and increasing urbanisation. It also shows Europe's declining share of global population - expected to account for less than 4 percent of the world's population by 2070. The report illustrates the considerable differences in demographic change across regions, as well as the need to address its impact on growth and sustainability, employment, health and long-term care in different parts of Europe. Click here to read....
Thousands take to the streets in Europe for fourth consecutive weekend of anti-racism protests, 21 June 2020
Thousands took to the street for another weekend of protest against racism and police brutality. Rallies were held in the UK and France, with authorities urging people to respect social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read....
EU-China Summit: Defending EU interests and values in a complex and vital partnership, 22 June 2020
The European Union and China held their 22nd bilateral Summit via videoconference on 22 June 2020. The EU-China summit had a comprehensive agenda addressing bilateral relations; regional and international issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. President von der Leyen said: “The COVID-pandemic and a number of major bilateral and multilateral challenges show clearly the EU - China partnership is crucial, be it in terms of trade, climate, technology, and the defence of multilateralism. But for our relations to develop further, they must become more rules-based and reciprocal, in order to achieve a real level playing-field.” Click here to read....
Commission signs aviation agreement with Japan, 22 June 2020
The EC and Japan signed an agreement on civil aviation safety-the bilateral civil aviation safety agreement (BASA) to boost the cooperation with Japan while strengthening the competitiveness of the EU's aviation industry. The deal is aimed at supporting EU manufacturers of aeronautical products to increase their trade and market share in the Japanese market. It is therefore expected to play an important role in the recovery of the sector from the current crisis. Click here to read....
European Union signs aviation agreement with the Republic of Korea, 25 June 2020
The European Union and the Republic of Korea have signed a Horizontal Aviation Agreement. This Agreement allows any EU airline to fly to the Republic of Korea from each EU Member State, which has a bilateral air services agreement with the Republic of Korea. The horizontal agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea marks another key deliverable under the Commission's Aviation Strategy for Europe – designed to generate growth for European businesses, foster innovation and let passengers profit from safer, cleaner and more affordable flights. Click here to read....
Germany takes over EU presidency with focus on Europe’s recovery, 30 June 2020
On 1 July 2020, Germany will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. During a six-month period, Germany will lead the work of the Council during the recovery from the corona virus crisis, building co-operation and agreement between member states. The overriding priority of the German presidency will be to fight the pandemic and its impact on the economy and society by a recovery plan. Planning the exit strategy is important and one of the first decisions to be taken already is the opening of EU’s external borders to travellers from 15 non-EU countries. Click here to read....
Economy
Commission opens investigations into Apple's App Store rules, 16 June 2020
The European Commission has opened formal antitrust investigations to assess whether Apple's rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the App Store violate EU competition rules. The investigations concern in particular the mandatory use of Apple's own proprietary in-app purchase system and restrictions on the ability of developers to inform iPhone and iPad users of alternative cheaper purchasing possibilities outside of apps. Click here to read....
EU leaders disagree over coronavirus rescue package, 19 June 2020
EU leaders have failed to agree on a €750bn recovery fund for the coronavirus crisis, but Germany called the talks "constructive".Chancellor Angela Merkel said "the bridges we still have to build are big, that's true, but it was a discussion in a very constructive atmosphere". Several northern European nations oppose the plan to pay out €500bn in EU grants. They insist on loans instead.Italy and Spain, worst-hit by Covid-19, would get the largest aid packages. Click here to read....
Health, Cyber and Environment
Interoperability solution for digital contact tracing in EU ready, 17 June 2020
The European Commission announced that the member states have agreed on a technical solution for the exchange of information between national contact tracing and warning apps that are installed voluntarily on smart phones. The solution is based on a decentralised architecture and is expected to be applied by the majority of existing or future tracing apps in the EU. Once the technical solution is deployed, such national apps will work seamlessly when users travel to another EU country which also follows the decentralised approach. Click here to read....
In Europe, climate change brings new crops, new ideas, 17 June 2020
As Europe's climate shifts in the coming decades, some regions will find it increasingly difficult to sustain traditional crops. But with new varieties and strategies, some farmers are planting with an eye to the future. Places in northern Europe could see agricultural benefits from climate change, including longer growing seasons and a shorter frost period "allowing the cultivation of new crops and varieties”. Suitable cropland around the Baltic Sea could more than double by 2100, from 32 percent of land area today to about 76 percent, with certain crops now common to southern Europe taking root further north. Click here to read....
Remdesivir becomes first COVID-19 drug put forward for use in the EU, 25 June 2020
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the anti-viral drug remdesivir be authorised for use to treat patients with COVID-19 in the European Union. EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) said it would be tested on adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with pneumonia who require supplemental oxygen. Click here to read....
Perspective
The COVID-19 pandemic has a lesson for the EU: it can no longer be business as usual, 20 June 2020
It has taken a crisis of this magnitude to clearly demonstrate the negative impacts of cuts to health services, and to make abundantly clear that global value chains which are supported by intercontinental transport and do not include their environmental costs are extremely fragile. Competent management of the current situation can give the EU the authority and the capacity to consolidate the European project and be, moreover, the arbiter of the democracy needed to survive. Click here to read....
Russia
Kremlin comments on Ukraine’s new NATO partnership status, 16 June 2020
NATO steps to expand its sphere of influence on other countries does not ramp up stability and security in Europe, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov observed while commenting on NATO’s decision to recognize Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. This status grants Kiev better access to NATO programs, drills and information exchanges. However, the alliance stressed, "Ukraine’s status as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner does not prejudge any decisions on NATO membership." Ukraine became the sixth NATO partner after Georgia, Jordan, Australia, Finland and Sweden. Click here to read....
Russia-Serbia partnership does not depend on Belgrade’s dialogue with Brussels, 19 June 2020
Russian-Serbian partnership does not depend on Belgrade’s dialogue with Brussels, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Serbia, Sergey Lavrov and Ivica Dacic, said in a joint article published by Russia’s Rossiisakaya Gazeta and Serbia’s Kurir dailies. "Moscow and Belgrade are strategic partners. We are geared towards closer mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas. This approach does not depend on Serbia’s plans to negotiate accession to the European Union: it will continue to develop ties with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union," the ministers noted. Click here to read....
Russian-Polish relations at their lowest point, 20 June 2020
Russian-Polish relations are at their lowest point, which is against both countries’ interests, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday on Russia’s Channel One. Peskov added that Russia is disappointed by Warsaw’s confrontational policy. Click here to read....
Kremlin comments on Bolton’s ‘assessments’ of Putin, 22 June 2020
The evaluations about Russian President Vladimir Putin that Trump’s ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton provided in his recent memoir cannot be taken as a whole, since it is possible to agree with some but not all of them, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov also did not discuss the content of Bolton’s book entitled: The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, which touches on America’s internal policy. "We would like to refrain from making comments on his opinions regarding the internal political situation in the US. This is none of our business, and the characterization which Bolton gave his commander-in-chief, whom he had served under as an assistant for a year is none of our business, we will not [comment] on that," the Kremlin spokesman stated. Click here to read....
U.S. Ex-Marine Whelan Will Not Appeal Russian Espionage Verdict: Agencies, 23 June 2020
A former U.S. marine, Paul Whelan convicted of espionage in Russia will not appeal, his lawyer noted while adding that Whelan hopes instead to be exchanged in a prisoner swap. 50-year-oldWhelan is sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony despite diplomatic protests. His trial strained ties with Washington and fuelled speculation of a prisoner exchange with Russians detained in the United States, including a pilot and an arms dealer. Click here to read....
Parade marking 75th anniversary of Great Victory, 24 June 2020
President of Russia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin attended the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of Victory in the second world war. Click here to read....
Lavrov notes progress in Russian-Venezuelan energy and military cooperation, 24 June 2020
Russian-Venezuelan energy and military-technical cooperation is developing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. In March 2020, Rosneft announced that it would end its activity in Venezuela, selling all assets. A Russia-owned Roszarubezhneft company has acquired all assets of Rosneft in Venezuela, including shares in Petromonagas, Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria. Click here to read....
Russia Foreign Ministry: NYT article on Russia in Afghanistan fake from US intelligence, 27 June 2020
The New York Times publication that Russia allegedly offered secretly bounties to Afghan militants for killing coalition forces was fabricated by the US intelligence agencies, Russia’s Foreign Ministry told TASS on Saturday. The Russian Foreign Ministry also pointed to US intelligence agencies’ involvement in Afghan drug trafficking. Click here to read....
India-Russia: Russia agrees to quickly address urgent defence requirements sought by India, 28 June 2020
Russia has agreed to quickly address some urgent defence requirements sought by India and this was discussed during the recent trip of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Russia. The long-pending deals for AK-203 assault rifles and Ka-226T light utility helicopters were also discussed in a review of the entire gamut of defence cooperation. Click here to read....
President’s Address to the nation, 30 June 2020
Russian President, Vladimir Putin made a statement on constitutional amendments at the unveiling of a monument to a Soviet soldier in Rzhev on Tuesday, June 30. Transcript of his speech is available at the given link. Click here to read....
Russia to hold nationwide census in April 2021, 30 June 2020
The Russian government has postponed the 2020 national population census until April 1-30, 2021, the official legal information portal announced. The document notes that the population census will be held from October 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 on outlying and hard-to-reach territories. Click here to read....
Economy
Russian Central Bank lowers key rate to 4.5 percent, 19 June 2020
The Bank of Russia announced its decision to cut the key rate by 100 bp to 4.50 percent per annum. In its statement, it noted that “disinflationary factors have been more profound than expected due to a longer duration of restrictive measures in Russia and across the world. The effect of short-term pro-inflationary factors has been largely exhausted”. Click here to read....
Russia to Offer Simplified E-Visas to Tourists from 53 Countries in 2021, 29 June 2020
Russian has passed legislation that will allow foreign tourists from 53 countries to visit Russia with an electronic visa starting next year. Russia has previously introduced simplified e-visas for visitors to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and the Far East. While Russia closed its borders and stopped issuing visas to foreigners in March due to the Covid-19, tourism officials hope the e-visa expansion will inject much-needed revenue to a sector hit hard by the pandemic. Click here to read....
Health, Cyber and Environment
Clinical trials of Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine begin, 17 June 2020
The study of two forms of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology started on Wednesday in Russia. Two groups of 38 volunteers each are participating in the trials, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Health reported. The study of two vaccine forms, liquid and freeze-dried, will take place in two medical facilities in Moscow. The vaccine in the form of a solution for intramuscular injection will be tested at the Burdenko Military Hospital. The other vaccine in a powder form for intramuscular injection will be tested at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. Click here to read....
Significant damage to aquatic biological resources caused by Norilsk spill, scientists say, 18 June 2020
Scientists estimate the damage to aquatic biological resources due to the accident at CNPP-3 in Norilsk to be significant, the press service of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography noted. During a field survey from June 11 to 18, employees of the Krasnoyarsk and Tyumen branches of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography conducted research by taking hydrobiological samples at 15 stations at the mouth of the Ambarnaya River and in Lake Pyasino. Click here to read....
Hacker attack on Russian election website launched from US, UK, EU, and Ukraine, 26 June 2020
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolai Bulaev reported that according to preliminary data, a massive hacking attack on the CEC website on Friday was carried out from the territories of the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and a number of other countries. Click here to read....
Russia ready to supply coronavirus vaccine, medication to global market - health minister, 28 June 2020
Russia is ready to supply to the global market anti-viral medication, test systems and vaccine given the risk of the second wave of the coronavirus infection, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said a summit "Global Goal: Unite for the Future." "From the first days, Russia has been providing assistance to the countries in Europe, America and Asia, international institutions, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union and the World Health Organization. Given the risk of the second wave of the pandemic, Russia is ready to supply to the global market the means of direct anti-viral action, including medication for cytokine storm therapy, test systems and vaccines," he noted. Click here to read....
Russian Arctic Sets 'Fantastical' Heat Records: Weather Chief, 30 June 2020
The Russian Arctic set record temperatures in June that sparked abnormal tundra fires, the head of Russia's weather service Roman Vilfand said blaming climate change for the "fantastical" anomalies. Russia's northern territories, including parts of the republic of Sakha which borders the Arctic Ocean, have faced a heat wave in recent weeks, and villages in the remote tundra are battling wildfires with some districts declaring a state of emergency. Click here to read....
Perspective
How Russians are Reading Bolton and Trump, 25 June 2020
John Bolton suggests that Putin can play Trump like a fiddle. The truth is that under the forty-fifth U.S. president, the bilateral relationship with Russia is now as bad as at any time since the early 1980s. Click here to read....
