INFOGRAPHIC: Africa: Russia's New Military Ally?
VISUAL REPORTS
Policing The Police: Romanian Journalist Defies Death Threats
Senior Romanian police officers have resigned after claims that they ordered death threats against a journalist probing plagiarism at the Police Academy.
Russian Censors Cut Sex Scenes From Elton John Biopic
All intimate same-sex scenes have been removed from the Russian release of Rocketman, a new biographical film based on the life of British rock star Elton John.
Uzbek Women Evicted Back Into Hardship After Presidential ‘Giveaway’
When Uzbek officials told eight women in Andijon that they and their families would receive newly constructed townhouses to mark a visit by President Shavkat Mirziyoev, the news seemed too good to be true. It was.
Soviet Vintage Cars Star In Homecoming Parade
Over 250 owners have shown off their vehicles in a parade of classic Soviet-era cars produced by the GAZ car company in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. The cars were all produced there between 1932 and 1988 and have been painstakingly restored.
OTHER NEWS
U.S. Warns Turkey Of 'Devastating' Consequences Of Russian Weapons Deal
A top Pentagon official has again warned Turkey about the consequences of purchasing a missile-defense system from Russia, turning up the pressure despite Ankara’s stated determination to go through with the deal.
Russia Calls U.S. Accusation Of Nuke-Treaty Violation A 'Smear'
Russia has reacted angrily to an assertion by a top U.S. defense official that Moscow "probably" violated an international nuclear test ban treaty, calling it a "crude provocation" and an attempt “to smear” the country.
Pentagon Cites Cybersecurity In New Ban On Russian Satellite Services
The U.S. Department of Defense has included Russia in the list of countries whose services may not be used by U.S. companies for satellite launches, effective December 31, 2022. The list also includes China, DPRK, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
France, Germany Call For Resumed Ukraine Peace Talks
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a resumption of stalled peace talks for the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, following what they described as an “exceptionally good discussion” on May 30 in Kyiv with new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Russian Rights Group Says Golos Activist Is A Political Prisoner
Russia’s Memorial human rights center on May 30 declared Roman Udot, a detained board member of the independent Golos (Voice) election-monitoring group, a political prisoner.
Moscow To Launch Facial Recognition System With 200,000 Cameras
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that his administration will announce a competition to create a facial recognition system incorporating more than 200,000 surveillance cameras, on a par with China’s, he said. Moscow has so far tested facial recognition systems in the city’s metro system and in some residential buildings. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russia Confirms Plans To Build Nuclear Power Plant In Uzbekistan
Russian state-run company Rosatom has confirmed plans to begin construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan’s central Jizzakh region around 2020-2021. Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said during a trip to the country with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that he was hopeful all licenses would be obtained by the end of next year. (In Russian, Current Time)
Ukrainian Lawmakers Refuse To Dismiss PM
Ukraine's parliament has rejected Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman's resignation after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on May 20 called on the government to step down, underscoring the challenge the new president faces from the very start of his five-year term.
Kosovo Says It Is Banning Serbian PM Over ‘Racist’ Comments
In a further escalation of tensions over recent days, Kosovo's government says it is banning Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic from entering the country after comments she made that Pristina took as being "racist." During the handover of a European Commission progress report in Belgrade, Brnabic referred to Kosovo's leaders as people who "literally came out of the woods."
Hungary Detains Ukrainian Captain Of Ship Tied To Deadly Accident
Police in Hungary have detained and questioned the Ukrainian captain of a cruise ship that smashed into a sightseeing boat on the Danube River, killing at least seven people and leaving 21 people missing with little hope of rescue.
Pope Visit Romania In Effort To Strengthen Religious Ties
Pope Francis has arrived in Romania for a three-day visit as he continues efforts to bolster ties between Orthodox Christians and Catholics in Eastern Europe. Catholics make up about 5 percent of Romania’s population of 20 million people.
Massive Kyrgyz Corruption Scheme Implicates Former Customs Service Official
RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service has disclosed a corruption scheme in which $700 million was taken out of the country between 2011 - 2017, including in cash and gold. The investigation has focused on the family of the State Customs Service Deputy Chairman Raiymbek Matraimov. (in Russian, Kyrgyz Service)
COMMENTARY: Of Mosque And State In Central Asia