Ministers did not do enough to fully probe claims of Russian meddling

Russia ‘tried to influence 2014 Scottish independence referendum but didn’t interfere in the Brexit vote’, long-awaited report on Moscow’s meddling in UK elections will reveal MPs and peers on Intelligence and Security Committee carried out investigation  Expected to say not enough was done in Whitehall to establish if Russia meddled Also questions if enough was … Read more

Putin ‘almost certainly’ knew about Covid hacking, says former intelligence chair

Vladimir Putin must have known his spies were trying to steal groundbreaking British research into a coronavirus vaccine, a former chair of UK joint intelligence committee said today. Lady Neville Jones told the BBC she is ‘almost certain’ that the Russian President will have been aware that his operatives launched cyber attacks on Oxford University and … Read more

Vladimir Putin may have to be investigated in Salisbury inquest

A Coroner may have to ask Vladimir Putin for evidence if the family of a Salisbury novichok victim win their legal battle to widen the scope of her inquest, the High Court heard today. The daughter of Dawn Sturgess, 44, has taken action after Senior Coroner for Wiltshire David Ridley placed limits on which issues would be … Read more

Russian village is evacuated ‘due to tests of Putin’s new hypersonic missile’

‘Danger zone’ Russian village is evacuated ‘due to tests of Putin’s new hypersonic missile’ – a year after seven people were killed in explosion linked to the Zircon weapon 500 locals in the military village of Nyonoksa were told to evacuate for 36-hours The evacuation is linked to testing of Putin’s new 6,000 mph Zircon … Read more

Putin mocks rainbow flag outside US embassy in Moscow

Putin mocks rainbow flag outside US embassy in Moscow and suggests it reflected on the diplomats’ sexual orientation Putin mocked a rainbow LGBT pride flag hung from the US embassy in Moscow  He implied the flag was suggestive of the sexual orientation of the staff  ‘Let them celebrate. They’ve shown a certain something about the … Read more

Insiders compare Donald Trump’s private calls with Vladimir Putin to ‘two guys in a steam bath’

President Donald Trump’s private calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin sometimes have the tone of ‘two guys in a steam bath,’ according a bombshell account that portrays Trump as bending over backward to win the strongman’s approval. Putin ‘just outplays’ Trump during their one-on-one interactions, according to a CNN report published Monday by legendary Watergate … Read more

Vladimir Putin is set to win referendum vote that will allow him to rule Russia until 2036

Concern is rising over election fraud in Vladimir Putin’s controversial constitutional referendum which would allow him to rule Russia until the age of 83 in 2036. Pictures show Russians voting in bizarre makeshift polling stations on tree stumps, in car boots, at children’s playgrounds and on park benches as the poll goes ahead during the pandemic. … Read more

Troops prepare to parade through Red Square as Putin whips up patriotic fervour ahead of vote

Columns of tanks and troops are parading through Red Square today as President Vladimir Putin oversees grand World War II commemorations to stir up patriotic fervour ahead of a vote on extending his rule. Forced to postpone the country’s traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations by the coronavirus pandemic, Putin rescheduled the parade for just a … Read more

Putin raises income tax from 13% to 15% for wealthy Russians

Putin raises income tax from 13% to 15% for wealthy Russians on more than £58,000 to pay for coronavirus measures Putin said the tax increase would bring in 60billion roubles (£700million)  It is the first tax hike on wealthy Russians since flat tax was introduced in 2001 Russia faces its worst economic crisis since 2009 … Read more

Putin brags that Russia is dealing better with coronavirus than US

Vladimir Putin has boasted of Russia’s success in handling the coronavirus pandemic and attacked America’s response – despite his country having the third-largest outbreak in the world.   Putin said in an interview with state TV: ‘We are exiting the coronavirus situation steadily with minimal losses, God willing, in the States it isn’t happening that way.’ The … Read more