Russia began three days of voting Friday in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule by six more years after he stifled dissent. The election takes place against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and prominent rights groups and given Putin full control … Read more
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces have completed their takeover of Avdiivka by eliminating the last pocket of resistance at the eastern Ukraine city’s huge coke plant, the Russian military said Monday, after the sheer weight of its troop numbers and greater firepower drove out Kyiv’s forces. Moscow officials announced Saturday said they had taken control … Read more
JERUSALEM — Chants of “Now! Now! Now!” ring out at nearly every protest in Israel imploring the government to do everything possible to win the immediate release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas. But a small group of hostages’ families is pushing a different message: Let the army first finish the job of defeating … Read more
Natalee Holloway’s life was ended in a sick and brutal way after she refused sexual advances from her killer, Joran van der Sloot. In legal docs, obtained by TMZ, van der Sloot admits to killing Holloway in a transcript of a confession made to his attorney … where he lays out the final minutes of … Read more