Russia ordered the U.S. Friday to reduce its diplomatic staff in the country to 455 and seized two American diplomatic properties, in retaliation for similar steps ordered by the Obama administration last December and a sweeping sanctions bill approved this week by the U.S. Congress.“The Russian side is suspending as of August 1 the use by the...

Jul28

Saakashvili’s Options Limited After Losing Ukrainian Citizenship

Friday, July 28 , 2017 - 14:25 (EEST) Section: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (USA)

What’s next for Mikheil Saakashvili — the former Georgian president who is now effectively stateless after being stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship? …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...

Jul28

Russia orders cut in US diplomats in reaction to sanctions

Friday, July 28 , 2017 - 13:40 (EEST) Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday ordered a reduction in the number of U.S. diplomats in Russia and said it was closing down a U.S. recreation retreat in response to fresh sanctions against Russia. The U.S. Senate approved a new package of stiff financial sanctions Friday against Russia, Iran and North Korea and sent it to...

Jul28

Ukrainian Inventor Builds Wooden “Robots”

Friday, July 28 , 2017 - 13:25 (EEST) Section: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (USA)

Ukrainian Dmitry Balandin operates a construction crane for a living. And for fun, he builds elaborate robot-like models out of hundreds of wooden parts. (Reuters) …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...

Jul28

Fishermen’s Brexit and the Next Moon Landing: The Week in Global-Affairs Writing

Friday, July 28 , 2017 - 12:25 (EEST) Section: The Atlantic (USA)

Shifting Current Matthew Bremner | Roads & Kingdoms“There are now only 4,000 active fishermen in Scotland, down from 8,000 in 1970. Since 1996, the size of the Scottish fleet has been reduced by more than 219 boats, and where there were once 20 flourishing harbors scattered across its coast, there are now only three. The problem, fishermen...

Jul28

4 House Republicans Seek Answers on FBI Probe of Clinton Email

Friday, July 28 , 2017 - 0:25 (EEST) Section: The Daily Signal (USA)

As President Donald Trump calls for the Justice Department to probe the actions of his vanquished opponent, Hillary Clinton, four Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee want another look at the FBI’s investigation of the Clinton email scandal. The four Republican lawmakers–Florida’s Matt Gaetz, Arizona’s Andy Biggs,...

Jul27

Ukraine’s President Sidelines Opponent by Stripping His Citizenship

Thursday, July 27 , 2017 - 23:40 (EEST) Section: The New York Times (USA)

Mikheil Saakashvili, a former Georgian president who moved to Ukraine to help fight corruption, went from being President Petro O. Poroshenko’s ally to his opponent. …read more Source: The New York...

Jul27

Don’t just fear the power-grid hack. Fear how little the U.S. knows about it

Thursday, July 27 , 2017 - 23:25 (EEST) Section: The Bellingham Herald (USA)

The robust and agressive takedown of part of Ukraine’s power grid by hackers served as a wakeup call for cyber experts and exposed just how much America does not know … Click to Continue » …read more Source: The Bellingham...