Russia Gives Citizenship to Ex-NSA Contractor Edward Snowden
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that former US security contractor Edward Snowden would be granted citizenship. Putin allegedly singed a decree on Monday that offered 75 foreign citizens Russian citizenship. The decree has since been published on an official government website. Snowden has been residing in Russia
Russia sees room for diplomacy
Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s EU ambassador, has told the BBC that his country still believes diplomacy can help de-escalate the crisis over Ukraine. Mr. Chizhov stated that Russia had no intention of invading its neighbor, however, it warned the EU not to provoke Russia into changing its mind. The announcement comes
UK Foreign Office Subjected to “Serious Cybersecurity Incident”
BBC reported that the UK Foreign Office was the target of a serious cybersecurity incident after the office accidentally published a sensitive document to the government’s website. The BBC stated that the document revealed that unidentified hackers were able to infiltrate the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) systems. The
Kim Jong-un vows to build ‘invincible military’
Kim Jong Un has vowed to build an invincible military due to hostile policies originating from the United States, according to recent state media reports. Kim Jong Un clarified that the weapons development was for self-defense purposes. The remarks were made at a defense exhibition in which Kim Jong Un
Both North and South Korea fire ballistic missiles as tensions rise on peninsula
On Wednesday, both North and South Korea tested ballistic missiles as tensions rise between the neighboring countries. Pyongyang fired the first missiles, sending two into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. The missiles were fired just minutes apart around 12:30 p.m. local time. Seoul followed the launch
CIA Chief William Burns Met With Senior Taliban Figure in Kabul
William Burns, CIA Director, met secretly with the Taliban’s top figure in Kabul on Monday, according to new reports from US officials. The meeting came amid efforts to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies and controversy over whether to extend the operation beyond the August 31 deadline set by the
Canadian citizen loses appeal against Chinese death penalty
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian national, has lost his appeal against a death sentence in China that he received due to charges of drug smuggling. The Chinese court upheld the sentence due to the evidence against him being deemed sufficient. Schellenberg was initially sentenced to 15 years in jail, however,
Chinese Officials Blame U.S. for Stalemate in High-Level Talks
Earlier today, senior US and Chinese officials disputed over several key topics, including Covid-19, human rights, and cybersecurity. The tense exchange occurred during the highest-level meetings between the two countries on Chinese soil since the inauguration of US President Joe Biden. Following the meetings, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng
Iran-Backed Militias Threaten Revenge After U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria
On Monday, Iran-backed militias vowed to take revenge against the US after the country conducted overnight airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. The event underscores Iraq’s inability to rein in the groups that have been responsible for attacks on American troops in the past. The US strikes allegedly killed four members
Afghan Government Could Collapse Six Months After U.S. Withdrawal, New Intelligence Assessment Says
Last week, the US intelligence community concluded that the government of Afghanistan could collapse as soon as six months after the US fully withdrew troops from the country. The conclusion comes after careful assessments conducted by officials with knowledge of the current climate in Afghanistan, particularly as it pertains to