Estonia Blocks Russian Student Visas

Estonia said Thursday it would block Russian nationals from obtaining temporary residence permits or visas to study in Estonia. “The continuation of sanctions against Russia is essential to ensuring relentless pressure on the country,” Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in a statement. “If the sanctions help in stopping Russian aggression, a positive effect on our own security…

Deadly Russian Strikes Target Military Bases in Central Ukraine

Russian strikes on military facilities and residential buildings across war-scarred Ukraine Thursday left several dead in attacks President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “missile terrorism.” The deadliest attacks, which struck the central Kirovohrad region, came as the country was marking its first Day Of Ukraine Statehood that was announced by Zelensky earlier. Russia’s invasion has morphed…

Russia Fines Ex-State TV Producer for ‘Discrediting’ the Army

A former Russian state television producer has been fined on charges of “discrediting” the Russian military, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday.   Marina Ovsyannikova, 44, became famous for protesting the war in Ukraine on a live newscast by her former employer, Channel One, in March.  Prosecutors say the journalist “discredited” the Russian Armed…

Russia Fines WhatsApp, Snapchat, Tinder for Data Law Violations

A Russian court fined U.S. tech giants WhatsApp, Snapchat and Tinder on Thursday for refusing to store the personal data of Russian users inside the country, Interfax news agency reported.  U.S. company Meta, the owner of messaging service Whatsapp, was ordered by Moscow’s Tagansky District Court to pay 18 million rubles ($298,136), according to Interfax,…

Kremlin Says Holding Prisoner Exchange Talks With U.S. 

The Kremlin confirmed that Russia is in talks with the United States to exchange prisoners held by each country after the U.S. state secretary disclosed a “substantial proposal” for a possible swap.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Washington made the proposal “weeks ago” to facilitate the release of basketball star Brittney Griner…

Samsung Smartphones Disappear From Russian Stores

Samsung smartphones have disappeared from store shelves in some areas of Russia, media outlet RBC reported Thursday, as overall smartphone sales reached a decade low.  Customers in some major Russian cities are being asked to wait up to five days for deliveries, according to RBC.  Western electronics manufacturers Samsung and Apple suspended shipments to Russia…

Israeli Delegation Heads to Moscow as Jewish Agency Faces Closure

An Israeli delegation will sit down with talks with Russian officials Thursday as tensions simmer over Russian threats to close a veteran Jewish immigration agency, according to Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz. The Kremlin initially did not approve the meeting on Sunday and the delegation’s trip was delayed, Haaretz reported. The Israeli-Russian negotiations will take place…