Ukraine war: Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Group
Russia appears to have moved to take direct control of Wagner, after months of infighting between defence officials and the private military group.
Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said on Saturday "volunteer formations" will be asked to sign contracts directly with the ministry of defence.
The vaguely worded statement is widely believed to target the group.
But in a furious statement on Sunday, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces would boycott the contracts.
The private military group has played a major role in the war in Ukraine, fighting on the side of Russian forces. read more
Russia appears to have moved to take direct control of Wagner, after months of infighting between defence officials and the private military group.
Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said on Saturday "volunteer formations" will be asked to sign contracts directly with the ministry of defence.
The vaguely worded statement is widely believed to target the group.
But in a furious statement on Sunday, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces would boycott the contracts.
The private military group has played a major role in the war in Ukraine, fighting on the side of Russian forces. read more
‘Your car will be confiscated’: Iran women defy hijab law despite threats
Women in Iran are defying fresh attempts by authorities to use technology to enforce the compulsory dress code that has been a focus of continuing protests across the country.
In April, national police chief Ahmad Reza Radan announced the launch of a "smart" programme involving surveillance cameras to identify women failing to cover their hair or wear loose-fitting clothing in public despite the threat of fines or imprisonment.
He warned that those caught breaking the hijab law for a second time would be referred to courts, that cars carrying female passengers with uncovered hair would be confiscated, and that businesses turning a blind eye would be closed. read more
Women in Iran are defying fresh attempts by authorities to use technology to enforce the compulsory dress code that has been a focus of continuing protests across the country.
In April, national police chief Ahmad Reza Radan announced the launch of a "smart" programme involving surveillance cameras to identify women failing to cover their hair or wear loose-fitting clothing in public despite the threat of fines or imprisonment.
He warned that those caught breaking the hijab law for a second time would be referred to courts, that cars carrying female passengers with uncovered hair would be confiscated, and that businesses turning a blind eye would be closed. read more
Silvio Berlusconi's death leaves 'huge void', allies say
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian former PM who bounced back from sex scandals and corruption cases, has died aged 86.
He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. In April, he was treated for a lung infection linked to leukaemia.
Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void", Italy's defence minister said. A flamboyant billionaire media tycoon, he first came to political office in 1994.
He led four governments until 2011, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italy.
Last September, Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. read more
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian former PM who bounced back from sex scandals and corruption cases, has died aged 86.
He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. In April, he was treated for a lung infection linked to leukaemia.
Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void", Italy's defence minister said. A flamboyant billionaire media tycoon, he first came to political office in 1994.
He led four governments until 2011, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italy.
Last September, Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. read more
Yaccarino: Twitter to be 'most accurate real-time info source'
The new boss of social media firm Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, has outlined her plans for "Twitter 2.0.", after taking over from Elon Musk a week ago.
She says the company is "on a mission to become the world's most accurate real-time information source".
Since Mr Musk bought Twitter last year, it has faced criticism over its approach to tackling disinformation.
In the last month, the company lost its head of trust and safety and pulled out of the EU's disinformation code.
In a series of tweets, which was also emailed to employees, Ms Yaccarino echoed Mr Musk's goal, that Twitter must transform the "global town square". read more
The new boss of social media firm Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, has outlined her plans for "Twitter 2.0.", after taking over from Elon Musk a week ago.
She says the company is "on a mission to become the world's most accurate real-time information source".
Since Mr Musk bought Twitter last year, it has faced criticism over its approach to tackling disinformation.
In the last month, the company lost its head of trust and safety and pulled out of the EU's disinformation code.
In a series of tweets, which was also emailed to employees, Ms Yaccarino echoed Mr Musk's goal, that Twitter must transform the "global town square". read more
Donald Trump pleads not guilty in arraignment over classified documents
Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to historic charges of mishandling sensitive files at a federal court in Miami, Florida.
Mr Trump is the first US president - current or former - to be hit with a federal criminal indictment.
Arms crossed, in a dark suit and red tie, he sat in stone-faced silence for his second court appearance this year.
The Republican later travelled to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he addressed supporters.
Against a backdrop of American flags, Mr Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, told the assembled crowd he had "every right" to hold the classified documents, but "hadn't had a chance to go through all the boxes". read more
Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to historic charges of mishandling sensitive files at a federal court in Miami, Florida.
Mr Trump is the first US president - current or former - to be hit with a federal criminal indictment.
Arms crossed, in a dark suit and red tie, he sat in stone-faced silence for his second court appearance this year.
The Republican later travelled to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he addressed supporters.
Against a backdrop of American flags, Mr Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, told the assembled crowd he had "every right" to hold the classified documents, but "hadn't had a chance to go through all the boxes". read more
Greece boat disaster leaves at least 79 dead and hundreds missing
At least 79 people have died and more than 100 have been rescued after their fishing vessel capsized off the coast of southern Greece.
But survivors and Greek officials say that hundreds more migrants were on board.
The government says this is one of Greece's biggest migrant tragedies, and has declared three days of mourning.
The boat went down about 80 km (50 miles) south-west of Pylos after the coastguard said it had refused help.
The coastguard said the boat had been spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft belonging to EU border agency Frontex. No-one on board was wearing life jackets, it added. read more
At least 79 people have died and more than 100 have been rescued after their fishing vessel capsized off the coast of southern Greece.
But survivors and Greek officials say that hundreds more migrants were on board.
The government says this is one of Greece's biggest migrant tragedies, and has declared three days of mourning.
The boat went down about 80 km (50 miles) south-west of Pylos after the coastguard said it had refused help.
The coastguard said the boat had been spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft belonging to EU border agency Frontex. No-one on board was wearing life jackets, it added. read more
iPhone maker Foxconn to switch to cars as US-China ties sour
iPhone maker Foxconn is betting big on electric cars and redrawing some of its supply chains as it navigates a new era of icy Washington-Beijing relations.
In an exclusive interview, chairman and boss Young Liu told the BBC what the future may hold for the Taiwanese firm.
He said even as Foxconn shifts some supply chains away from China, electric vehicles (EVs) are what will drive its growth in the coming decades.
As US-China tensions soar, Mr Liu said, Foxconn must prepare for the worst.
"We hope peace and stability will be something the leaders of these two countries will keep in mind," 67-year-old Mr Liu told us, in his offices in Taipei, Taiwan's capital. read more
iPhone maker Foxconn is betting big on electric cars and redrawing some of its supply chains as it navigates a new era of icy Washington-Beijing relations.
In an exclusive interview, chairman and boss Young Liu told the BBC what the future may hold for the Taiwanese firm.
He said even as Foxconn shifts some supply chains away from China, electric vehicles (EVs) are what will drive its growth in the coming decades.
As US-China tensions soar, Mr Liu said, Foxconn must prepare for the worst.
"We hope peace and stability will be something the leaders of these two countries will keep in mind," 67-year-old Mr Liu told us, in his offices in Taipei, Taiwan's capital. read more
Finns Party: Far-right set for key role in new Finnish coalition
Finland's far-right Finns Party has agreed to enter a coalition government with the centre-right National Coalition Party and two other groups.
The Party, which secured second place in April's election, had sought drastic cuts to immigration during talks.
The minority-language Swedish People's Party and the Christian Democrats will be the other two parties in government.
The new coalition sees outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her centre-left party ousted from government. read more
Finland's far-right Finns Party has agreed to enter a coalition government with the centre-right National Coalition Party and two other groups.
The Party, which secured second place in April's election, had sought drastic cuts to immigration during talks.
The minority-language Swedish People's Party and the Christian Democrats will be the other two parties in government.
The new coalition sees outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her centre-left party ousted from government. read more
Ukraine war: Putin confirms first nuclear weapons moved to Belarus
Russia has already stationed a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Vladimir Putin says.
Russia's president told a forum they would only be used if Russia's territory or state was threatened.
The US government says there is no indication the Kremlin plans to use nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine.
"We don't see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after Mr Putin's comments.
Belarus is a key Russian ally and served as a launchpad for Mr Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
Mr Putin said transferring the tactical nuclear warheads would be completed by the end of the summer. read more
Russia has already stationed a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Vladimir Putin says.
Russia's president told a forum they would only be used if Russia's territory or state was threatened.
The US government says there is no indication the Kremlin plans to use nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine.
"We don't see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after Mr Putin's comments.
Belarus is a key Russian ally and served as a launchpad for Mr Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
Mr Putin said transferring the tactical nuclear warheads would be completed by the end of the summer. read more
Ukraine war must end, South African President Ramaphosa tells Putin
The war in Ukraine must end, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Russia's leader Vladimir Putin.
Mr Ramaphosa's remarks came as he met Mr Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday as part of a peace mission with six other African countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the delegation on Friday that he would not enter talks with Russia while they occupied Ukrainian land.
Mr Putin told the African leaders Ukraine had always refused talks.
At the meeting in St Petersburg, Mr Ramaphosa also called for both parties to return their prisoners of war, and said children removed by Russia should be returned home. read more
The war in Ukraine must end, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Russia's leader Vladimir Putin.
Mr Ramaphosa's remarks came as he met Mr Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday as part of a peace mission with six other African countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the delegation on Friday that he would not enter talks with Russia while they occupied Ukrainian land.
Mr Putin told the African leaders Ukraine had always refused talks.
At the meeting in St Petersburg, Mr Ramaphosa also called for both parties to return their prisoners of war, and said children removed by Russia should be returned home. read more
Antony Blinken begins talks in Beijing during high-stakes visit to China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing at the start of two days of talks with Chinese officials.
The visit is the first by an American diplomat to China in almost five years.
US officials say the main goal of the talks is to stabilise a relationship that has become extremely tense.
It comes nearly five months after an earlier Blinken visit was postponed, following the flight of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in US airspace.
Mr Qin greeted Mr Blinken on Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, a lavish estate that typically hosts visiting dignitaries. read more
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing at the start of two days of talks with Chinese officials.
The visit is the first by an American diplomat to China in almost five years.
US officials say the main goal of the talks is to stabilise a relationship that has become extremely tense.
It comes nearly five months after an earlier Blinken visit was postponed, following the flight of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in US airspace.
Mr Qin greeted Mr Blinken on Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, a lavish estate that typically hosts visiting dignitaries. read more
Switzerland referendum: Voters back carbon cuts as glaciers melt
Voters in Switzerland have backed a new climate bill designed to cut fossil fuel use and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government says the country needs to protect its energy security and the environment, as glaciers melt rapidly in the Swiss Alps.
The law will require a move away from dependence on imported oil and gas towards the use of renewable sources.
In Sunday's referendum 59.1% of voters backed the green energy proposals.
Opponents had argued the measures would push up energy prices. read more
Voters in Switzerland have backed a new climate bill designed to cut fossil fuel use and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government says the country needs to protect its energy security and the environment, as glaciers melt rapidly in the Swiss Alps.
The law will require a move away from dependence on imported oil and gas towards the use of renewable sources.
In Sunday's referendum 59.1% of voters backed the green energy proposals.
Opponents had argued the measures would push up energy prices. read more
Iraq: displays 2,800-year-old stone tablet returned by Italy
A 2,800-year-old stone tablet has gone on display in Iraq after being returned by Italy following nearly four decades.
The artefact is inscribed with complete cuneiform text - a system of writing on clay in an ancient Babylonian alphabet.
Italian authorities handed it over to Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid in the city of Bologna last week.
It is not clear how the tablet was found - or how it made its way to Italy where it was seized by police in the 1980s.
Iraqi Culture Minister Ahmed Badrani said that it might have been found during archaeological excavations of the Mosul Dam, which was built around that time.
Iraq, often described as the "cradle of civilisation", is known, among others, for the world's first writing. read more
A 2,800-year-old stone tablet has gone on display in Iraq after being returned by Italy following nearly four decades.
The artefact is inscribed with complete cuneiform text - a system of writing on clay in an ancient Babylonian alphabet.
Italian authorities handed it over to Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid in the city of Bologna last week.
It is not clear how the tablet was found - or how it made its way to Italy where it was seized by police in the 1980s.
Iraqi Culture Minister Ahmed Badrani said that it might have been found during archaeological excavations of the Mosul Dam, which was built around that time.
Iraq, often described as the "cradle of civilisation", is known, among others, for the world's first writing. read more
Titanic tourist submersible: Rescuers scan ocean as clock ticks
US and Canadian search teams are racing against time to find a tourist submarine that went missing during a dive to the Titanic's wreck on Sunday.
Five people were onboard when contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.
The rescue operation is continuing overnight in the mid-Atlantic but there has been no sign so far of the vessel.
Government agencies, both countries' navies and commercial deep-sea firms are all helping the rescue operation.
As of Monday afternoon, it was thought the crew members had roughly four days-worth of oxygen left. Among them is the British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. read more
US and Canadian search teams are racing against time to find a tourist submarine that went missing during a dive to the Titanic's wreck on Sunday.
Five people were onboard when contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.
The rescue operation is continuing overnight in the mid-Atlantic but there has been no sign so far of the vessel.
Government agencies, both countries' navies and commercial deep-sea firms are all helping the rescue operation.
As of Monday afternoon, it was thought the crew members had roughly four days-worth of oxygen left. Among them is the British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. read more
US-China tensions: Biden calls Xi a dictator day after Beijing talks
US President Joe Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator at a fundraiser in California.
His remarks come a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Mr Xi for talks in Beijing, which were aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers.
Mr Xi said some progress had been made in Beijing, while Mr Blinken indicated both sides were open to more talks.
China is yet to respond to Mr Biden's comments.
President Biden, at the fundraiser on Tuesday night local time, also said Mr Xi was embarrassed over the recent tensions around a Chinese spy balloon that had been blown off course over the US. read more
US President Joe Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator at a fundraiser in California.
His remarks come a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Mr Xi for talks in Beijing, which were aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers.
Mr Xi said some progress had been made in Beijing, while Mr Blinken indicated both sides were open to more talks.
China is yet to respond to Mr Biden's comments.
President Biden, at the fundraiser on Tuesday night local time, also said Mr Xi was embarrassed over the recent tensions around a Chinese spy balloon that had been blown off course over the US. read more
Titan sub: What happens next after sounds detected in search
News that noises have been picked up in the hunt for a missing submersible has offered a glimmer of hope that the five men on board are alive.
The sounds were recorded by sonar buoys in a massive rescue operation, which is racing against time to find the Titan in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was lost on a deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreck three days ago.
Underwater operations have been relocated to investigate the noises, the US Coast Guard has said, but so far they haven't found anything.
And with oxygen supplies expected to run out at around 11:00 GMT on Thursday, the next few hours are critical.
US authorities say the noises were heard at half hour intervals for about four hours on Tuesday, according to reports by several outlets. read more
News that noises have been picked up in the hunt for a missing submersible has offered a glimmer of hope that the five men on board are alive.
The sounds were recorded by sonar buoys in a massive rescue operation, which is racing against time to find the Titan in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was lost on a deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreck three days ago.
Underwater operations have been relocated to investigate the noises, the US Coast Guard has said, but so far they haven't found anything.
And with oxygen supplies expected to run out at around 11:00 GMT on Thursday, the next few hours are critical.
US authorities say the noises were heard at half hour intervals for about four hours on Tuesday, according to reports by several outlets. read more
Islamic State: Woman jailed in Germany for keeping Yazidi woman as slave
A German woman who joined the Islamic State (IS) group has been jailed for nine years for crimes including keeping a Yazidi woman as a slave.
The defendant was also found guilty of crimes against humanity and membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
A court in the western city of Koblenz said the 37-year-old had abused the young Yazidi woman for three years while they lived in Syria and Iraq.
It also found she had encouraged her husband to rape and beat the woman.
"All of this served the declared purpose of IS, to wipe out the Yazidi faith," said prosecutors at the start of the trial in January.
In 2014, IS fighters stormed into the ancestral heartland of the Yazidi people in northern Iraq. read more
A German woman who joined the Islamic State (IS) group has been jailed for nine years for crimes including keeping a Yazidi woman as a slave.
The defendant was also found guilty of crimes against humanity and membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
A court in the western city of Koblenz said the 37-year-old had abused the young Yazidi woman for three years while they lived in Syria and Iraq.
It also found she had encouraged her husband to rape and beat the woman.
"All of this served the declared purpose of IS, to wipe out the Yazidi faith," said prosecutors at the start of the trial in January.
In 2014, IS fighters stormed into the ancestral heartland of the Yazidi people in northern Iraq. read more
Families mourn passengers killed in sub implosion
- Tributes are flowing for the five men killed on board the Titan sub in what US officials say was a "catastrophic implosion"
- The victims were Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, 61
- Their families have expressed "profound grief" and paid tribute to their exploration endeavours
- A robotic diving vehicle found major fragments of the sub on the seafloor about 1,600ft (480m) from the Titanic shipwreck on Thursday
- It's emerged the US Navy originally detected “an acoustic anomaly consistent with an implosion” shortly after the Titan lost contact on Sunday
- Banging sounds reported earlier this week are now thought to have come from other ships in the area
- The sombre find ends a multinational five-day search which spanned more than 20,000 sq km of ocean
read more
- Tributes are flowing for the five men killed on board the Titan sub in what US officials say was a "catastrophic implosion"
- The victims were Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, 61
- Their families have expressed "profound grief" and paid tribute to their exploration endeavours
- A robotic diving vehicle found major fragments of the sub on the seafloor about 1,600ft (480m) from the Titanic shipwreck on Thursday
- It's emerged the US Navy originally detected “an acoustic anomaly consistent with an implosion” shortly after the Titan lost contact on Sunday
- Banging sounds reported earlier this week are now thought to have come from other ships in the area
- The sombre find ends a multinational five-day search which spanned more than 20,000 sq km of ocean
read more
Russia tightens security as Wagner chief accused of mutiny
- Security in Russia has been tightened following a dramatic escalation of infighting
- The head of the Wagner mercenary group is being investigated by security services for inciting mutiny
- Yevgeny Prigozhin claims his forces have crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine, but no evidence of this has emerged so far
- Earlier, he accused the Russian military of launching a deadly missile strike on his troops on Friday
- He said the "evil" in the military leadership must be stopped and vowed to "march for justice", but claimed he was not attempting a military coup
- The Kremlin has denied the missile strike and demanded Prigozhin halt "illegal actions"
- Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and is receiving "constant" updates, the Kremlin says
- Senior Russian generals have called on Wagner fighters to stand down, saying they are playing "into the enemy's hands"
read more
- Security in Russia has been tightened following a dramatic escalation of infighting
- The head of the Wagner mercenary group is being investigated by security services for inciting mutiny
- Yevgeny Prigozhin claims his forces have crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine, but no evidence of this has emerged so far
- Earlier, he accused the Russian military of launching a deadly missile strike on his troops on Friday
- He said the "evil" in the military leadership must be stopped and vowed to "march for justice", but claimed he was not attempting a military coup
- The Kremlin has denied the missile strike and demanded Prigozhin halt "illegal actions"
- Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and is receiving "constant" updates, the Kremlin says
- Senior Russian generals have called on Wagner fighters to stand down, saying they are playing "into the enemy's hands"
read more
What will Putin do next? And other key questions
In a startling 24 hours, Vladimir Putin faced the greatest challenge to his authority since coming to power more than two decades ago. While the immediate risk seems contained, Russia experts say Putin does not emerge looking strong, but rather badly bruised.
Mr Putin's widely-noted loathing of betrayal appeared reflected in his stern national TV address on Saturday morning, where he accused Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" and treason.
Russia's president has not been seen in public since, and no new presidential address was being planned in the near future. In a pre-recorded interview on state TV on Sunday - which appeared to have been conducted before the rebellion - Mr Putin said he was confident in the progress of the war in Ukraine.
Anti-terror security measures are still in place in Moscow, but it is unclear whether President Putin is even in the Russian capital at the moment. read more
In a startling 24 hours, Vladimir Putin faced the greatest challenge to his authority since coming to power more than two decades ago. While the immediate risk seems contained, Russia experts say Putin does not emerge looking strong, but rather badly bruised.
Mr Putin's widely-noted loathing of betrayal appeared reflected in his stern national TV address on Saturday morning, where he accused Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" and treason.
Russia's president has not been seen in public since, and no new presidential address was being planned in the near future. In a pre-recorded interview on state TV on Sunday - which appeared to have been conducted before the rebellion - Mr Putin said he was confident in the progress of the war in Ukraine.
Anti-terror security measures are still in place in Moscow, but it is unclear whether President Putin is even in the Russian capital at the moment. read more
Russia: Instability ratchets up pressure on Vladimir Putin
After a weekend of mayhem, I'm beginning to understand why Russia's national symbol is the double-headed eagle: two heads staring in opposite directions.
First, Yevgeny Prigozhin declares he's ready to "go all the way" in his mutiny against the Russian military. Then he makes a sudden U-turn and orders his Wagner fighters back to base.
In a TV address, President Vladimir Putin declares the rebellion "a criminal adventure… a grievous crime… treason… blackmail and terrorism." Yet just a few hours later, as part of an agreement with Prigozhin, it's revealed that all criminal charges against the Wagner leader are being dropped.
So much for "grievous crime".
The Kremlin leader's mixed messages have been raising eyebrows here and changing perceptions of President Putin. read more
After a weekend of mayhem, I'm beginning to understand why Russia's national symbol is the double-headed eagle: two heads staring in opposite directions.
First, Yevgeny Prigozhin declares he's ready to "go all the way" in his mutiny against the Russian military. Then he makes a sudden U-turn and orders his Wagner fighters back to base.
In a TV address, President Vladimir Putin declares the rebellion "a criminal adventure… a grievous crime… treason… blackmail and terrorism." Yet just a few hours later, as part of an agreement with Prigozhin, it's revealed that all criminal charges against the Wagner leader are being dropped.
So much for "grievous crime".
The Kremlin leader's mixed messages have been raising eyebrows here and changing perceptions of President Putin. read more