History won’t forgive this hypocrisy: Turkey blasts UAE for betraying Palestinian cause to seal deal with Israel

The UAE has betrayed Palestinians in pursuit of selfish interests when it decided to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a scolding statement. … Read More >History won’t forgive this hypocrisy: Turkey blasts UAE for betraying Palestinian cause to seal deal with Israel

‘Strategic stupidity & dagger in the backs of Muslims’: Iran denounces UAE-Israel deal on ‘normalization’ of relations

Tehran has blasted the Israel-UAE agreement to establish diplomatic ties as a “dangerous” step, and warned that it would only bolster the Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. … Read More >‘Strategic stupidity & dagger in the backs of Muslims’: Iran denounces UAE-Israel deal on ‘normalization’ of relations

US seizes 4 Iranian gas tankers en route to Venezuela after threatening to disrupt deliveries – WSJ

Washington has captured four Iranian cargo vessels on the high seas, taking hold of several fuel tankers on their way to Venezuela “without the use of military force,” the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials. … Read More >US seizes 4 Iranian gas tankers en route to Venezuela after threatening to disrupt deliveries – WSJ

$600 billion: Despite Covid-19 crisis & falling oil prices, Russia’s gold & foreign exchange reserves reach all-time high

The value of Russia’s gold and foreign currency holdings has risen by almost $9 billion in a week. This means it’s sitting on $600 billion in forex reserves – an all-time record beating August 2008’s previous high of $598 billion. … Read More >$600 billion: Despite Covid-19 crisis & falling oil prices, Russia’s gold & foreign exchange reserves reach all-time high

Extensive foreign interference in Belarus attempting to ‘destabilize’ country, but it’s not coming from Moscow – Russian MFA

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman said on Thursday that Moscow has seen evidence of outside meddling in the unrest currently engulfing neighboring Belarus. But Maria Zakharova said Russia is not one of the guilty parties. … Read More >Extensive foreign interference in Belarus attempting to ‘destabilize’ country, but it’s not coming from Moscow – Russian MFA

As Covid-19 economic pain bites, Russia loses coveted status of having more cash on hand than it owes in liabilities

If you think Covid-19 has only affected the pocket of Joe Public, think again. With high spending and dwindling national assets, the Russian government now owes more money than the sum total of reserves in the country’s coffers. … Read More >As Covid-19 economic pain bites, Russia loses coveted status of having more cash on hand than it owes in liabilities

From Poland with love: Right-wing MEP calls for sanctions on Moscow to protect Belarus from ‘interference’ & ‘annexation’

A prominent Polish MEP has made a bizarre call for the European Union to sanction Russia, due to the allegedly falsified Belarusian election and the subsequent protests that have broken out across the country. … Read More >From Poland with love: Right-wing MEP calls for sanctions on Moscow to protect Belarus from ‘interference’ & ‘annexation’

Russia’s prison population falls to a record low – still large by European standards, but far smaller than US’

Russia’s prison numbers have been falling for two decades, due to the liberalization of the penal system and use of alternative penalties. For the first time, fewer than 500,000 in the world’s largest country are now incarcerated. … Read More >Russia’s prison population falls to a record low – still large by European standards, but far smaller than US’