Section: Newsweek (USA)
Vladimir Putin’s Most Attention-Seeking PR Stunts
Russian President Vladimir Putin is ending 2016 on a high, with state polls showing his approval rating at nearly 87 percent—the highest it’s been all year, and only three points off his all-time record. Despite Russia’s financial crisis and controversy abroad, the Russian president continues to be personally the most trusted public...
Russia Accuses Obama of ‘Personal Hatred’ as U.S. Prepares to Announce New Sanctions
Moscow has accused U.S. President Barack Obama of “personal hatred” for Russia, after reports he will introduce new sanctions in light of allegations that Russian hackers interfered in the U.S. presidential election. Russian officials and state enterprises have been under several sets of sanctions since 2014, due to Moscow’s involvement...
Moscow Is Blaming Ambassador’s Killing on ‘Anti-Russian Propaganda’
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has blamed those propagating “anti-Russian propaganda” for the killing of their ambassador to Turkey, who was shot dead on December 19. Andrey Karlov was killed by an off-duty Turkish policeman during a gallery exhibition, who shouted “ “I am on the path of Syria, I am on the path of Aleppo,” ” as he...
Russia Can Expect Sanctions After Cyber Attacks, Says Sen. Lindsey Graham
Russia and its president Vladimir Putin should expect tough sanctions after cyber attacks during the presidential election won by Donald Trump, U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Republican and Democratic senators including Graham called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the...
Russia’s Biggest Bank Hails Donald Trump as ‘President of Change’
The head of Russia’s biggest bank, Herman Gref, has hailed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as the leader of “change,” suggesting he has hopes of a change in the sanctions on Russian state officials and enterprises. State lender Sberbank has been on the sanctions list since 2014, after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine and began...
Israel Summons Ambassadors to Issue Reprimand After U.N. Resolution
Israel summoned the ambassadors of 10 nations to Jerusalem to reprimand them on Sunday and had more harsh words for the Obama administration over a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an end to settlement-building. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put his personal imprint on the show of anger by repeating at the weekly cabinet meeting...
Good News Stories You Might Have Missed in the Madness of 2016
Deepening conflict in the Middle East; reverberations from the refugee crisis in Europe; political shocks in the U.S. and Britain; India’s ongoing currency crisis; Russia’s attempts to exercise influence as a great power…These and a host of other stories have made 2016 feel like a particularly bruising year. But however much a year...
Trump’s Nuclear Remarks Jeopardize Bid to Improve Russia Ties
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump upped the stakes on Friday in a back-and-forth exchange with President Vladimir Putin over nuclear weapons that tested the Republican’s promises to improve relations with Russia. Offering a glimpse of how he might conduct diplomacy after taking office on Jan. 20, Trump reportedly welcomed a nuclear arms...
Trump, Hacking and Doping: The Highlights of Putin’s Marathon Press Conference
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s marathon end-of-year press conference has finally come to a close, effectively drawing the curtain on Russia’s political year. The three-hour event was, as usual, a show of the Russian leader’s endurance and his charisma, as well as a display of just how much his viewpoint is in demand, both in...
Russian Hackers Tracked Ukrainian Artillery: Report
A hacking group linked to the Russian government and high-profile cyber attacks against Democrats during the U.S. presidential election likely used a malware implant on Android devices to track and target Ukrainian artillery units from late 2014 through 2016, according to a new report released Thursday. The malware was able to retrieve...
