US President Barack Obama signed the Pentagon’s 2017 budget into law, which expanded the use of the Magnitsky Act on accountability in the area of human rights. Henceforth, the act applies to all countries in the world and will enable Washington to impose sanctions against individuals involved in corruption and human rights violations. Previously, the act applied solely to Russian citizens, Deutsche Welle reported.

The document, in particular, allows the US president to "impose sanctions …

Russia successfully tested a new anti-ballistic missile, created in the framework of the research and development initiative Nudol. This was reported by the Washington Free Beacon, citing Pentagon sources. The launch of the missile took place at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. According to Pentagon specialists, Nudol missiles are capable of intercepting satellites.

The article notes that the missile launch took place on December 16th. This test was the fifth in a row and the third successful one for …

Moldovan President Igor Dodon, who was sworn in on Friday, will visit Moscow after the New Year holiday, as stated by the Russian Ambassador in Chisinau, Farit Mukhametshin, TASS reported.

Dodon, a pro-Russian politician and former leader of the Moldovan Party of Socialists, beat his pro-European rival Maia Sandu in a run off vote on November 13th.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin, when congratulating Dodon, invited him to Moscow. The visit is planned for mid-January. The date and program of …

A Russian military police battalion has arrived in Aleppo, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, as reported by Russia's Interfax news agency.

"At the present time, the division has marched from the Khmeimim air base to the city of Aleppo to perform tasks as part of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in the Syrian Arab Republic,” the Ministry’s website stated.

As part of the territorial departments of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides, the …

Ukraine's Ukroboronprom State Concern agreed to cooperate with Poland's WB Electronics S.A. on the developmet of  anti-aircraft and anti-missile technology, according to a Ukroboronprom press release.

"The leadership of the Ukroboronprom State Concern and Polish company WB Electronics S.A. signed a cooperation agreement on December 22nd, 2016. Ukroboronprom subsidiaries, SFTE Spetstehnoexport and SJSHC Artem, are the direct participants of the cooperation agreement,” the statement read.

"The …

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order to expand the territory of the Russian naval base in the Syrian City of Tartus, the Kremlin announced in a statement on Friday.

"Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the signing of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic to expand the territory of the naval base of the Russian Federation in the area of the port of Tartus and also to allow the future visits of Russian military ships in the territorial sea, …

Ukrainian armed forces have taken control of the town of Novoluhanske situated along the Svitlodarsk salient. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian servicemen have set up a check point on the outskirts of the town.

“This will allow us to supply almost 4,000 residents of the town with food and necessary consumer goods, restore medical services and delivery of required raw materials and fuel to the local factories. This will also make it easier for the residents of …

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the Syrian government’s victory in Aleppo, as stated by the Kremlin’s press service on Friday.

"This success was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of all those who rallied in the fight against international terrorism in Syria," the press release stated.

"Vladimir Putin emphasized that at the moment, the main task is to focus on issues relating to the promotion of the peaceful settlement, in particular, …