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The inquiry came despite repeated denials by President Joe Biden’s administration that the U.S. was behind any nefarious activities in laboratories that officials say reduce the threat of biological harm to the population, rather than instigate it. But days after Russia brought the issue to the United Nations (U.N.) to no avail, Moscow’s ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, told Newsweek that “the risks posed by biological agents, including their falling into the wrong hands or a laboratory leakage, are on a par with nuclear and chemical proliferation....

Ekaterina Gubareva, the deputy head of the Russian-installed Kherson regional administration, has been missing since Tuesday afternoon, her husband Pavel Gubarev, said on his Telegram channel. Gubarev said he hasn’t been able to contact his wife since 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. “The last place where she was seen was the building of the government of the Kherson region in Genichesk,” he wrote. According to Latvia-based Russian independent news outlet Meduza, Russian-appointed officials moved to Genichesk after the retreat of troops from Kherson city....

The authorities said they sent a request to Facebook and parent company Meta to request that the “restrictions” be removed and have them explained, which Facebook rejected. Russia and Facebook have had a contentious relationship for years, as have Russia and other American tech companies like Twitter and Google. Russia has repeatedly fined the companies for alleged failures to delete “illegal content” from their platforms, CNN Business reported. Meta Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications Nick Clegg said Russian authorities asked Facebook on Thursday to stop the independent fact-checking and labeling of misinformation that has become standard on the platform....

In recent weeks, Russian forces have continued to construct extensive defensive positions along the front line, with the majority of its efforts likely focused around the town of Svatove in the Luhansk region. Defensive lines built by Russia recently follow traditional military plans for entrenchment, “largely unchanged since the Second World War,” the U.K. ministry said in its daily intelligence update on the war in Ukraine. The defense ministry said such constructions haven’t been used by the majority of Western armies in decades, and are likely to be vulnerable to modern, precision indirect strikes from Ukraine....

After the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its largest interest rate hike for nearly three decades, in an attempt to curb surging inflation, Moscow’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected Biden’s claims that the war is having a big impact on Americans’ pockets. Biden has repeatedly blamed the war for soaring prices. Last week he told a press conference in San Pedro, California, that May’s 8.6 per cent spike in inflation year-on-year, the fastest increase since 1981, “confirms what Americans already know—Putin’s price hike is hitting America hard....

The social network said Thursday that it would label outlets that are “wholly or partially under editorial control of governments,” prompting a response from a channel described by the U.S. as being Russia’s “principal international propaganda outlet.” “A U.S. company long in bed with the U.S. establishment, telling the entire rest of the world what it can and cannot say, is the definition of a technological dictatorship and censorship,” an RT spokesperson said after the announcement....

Both sides are tied on six points at the top of Group H and will be looking to get one over the other and maintain their solid form. Russia suffered a disappointing group-stage exit from Euro 2020 after picking up three points from nine games. They return to the World Cup qualifiers, where they have been in solid form. They have picked up six wins from their first three games, beating Slovenia and Malta....

Roscosmos published a document on the country’s state procurement website calling for a study into how such a mission to Earth’s neighbor might work. Moscow was behind the launch of the first manmade object to orbit the Earth, Sputnik 1 in 1957. The United States’ Apollo 11 was the first crewed mission to land on the Moon, on July 20, 1969, effectively winning the so-called space race. While there are many Soviet and Russian space achievements, such as the first successful flyby of the moon with Luna 1 and Luna 2 being the first human artifact to reach it, Russia has never put a human on the surface of the natural satellite....

On Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby was asked about Russia’s claims that it had successfully tested a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile. Russia’s Defense Ministry had earlier said that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate had successfully test-fired the missile. Fired from Russia’s Arctic region, it reached a speed of Mach 7 and hit a surface target about 217 miles away, on the coast of the Barents Sea, Tass news agency reported on Monday....

Western NATO forces were worried about the buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine and strongly urged the Kremlin to withdraw its forces. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the drawdown last week and said the Western reaction was inappropriate. “Some even warned us that our activities on our own territory will have consequences,” Shoigu said. “I would like to emphasize that we don’t see such warnings as acceptable and will do everything that is necessary to ensure the security of our borders....

Russian army launches massive strikes on Ukrainian critical infrastructure Last week, air raid alerts sounded all over Ukraine, from Kyiv to Odessa, from Kharkov to Lvov. Rockets exploded near the buildings of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) and the Security Service of Ukraine. They hit the thermal power plant, communication centers and large warehouses of equipment and ammunition. The Russian army hit seven of the 29 critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, and is also gradually gaining control of them....

“We see a default as the most likely scenario,” Simon Waever, Morgan Stanley’s head of emerging-market sovereign credit strategy, wrote in a note on Monday, according to a Bloomberg report. The Russian economy is reeling from tough international sanctions, many of them targeting the country’s financial sector. Some of Russia’s banks have been cut off from the SWIFT international payments system and its currency, the ruble, went into free fall....

The U.S. midterm elections are in full swing, with control of the House of Representatives and Senate up for grabs in what has been an intense cycle. Polls have long indicated a strong chance the Republicans will take control of the House, while Democrats have kept a steady edge in maintaining the Senate. In a Daily Beastreport released on Election Day, Julia Davis, an expert on Russian media, revealed the ways in which Russian state-run television has been pulling for Republican victories in the midterms....

The auction is set to take place on Tuesday in the British-controlled territory of Gibraltar, a narrow peninsula on Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast, BBC News reported. Dubbed the “Axioma,” the 72.5-meter yacht belonged to billionaire Dmitry Pumpyansky, owner of a major steel pipe manufacturer in Russia. The yacht is valued at about $74 million, with the auction under JPMorgan. The vessel boasts five levels, an infinity swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa, gym and 3D-ready home theater system....

The Moscow City Court ruled last month that bobsledder Alexander Zubkov — who carried the Russian flag at the Sochi opening ceremony — could keep his medals because a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to uphold his disqualification wasn’t valid in Russia. That was a challenge to the authority of CAS and the International Olympic Committee. The ROC said on Thursday the CAS ruling was valid under international law and that ignoring it could lead to more sanctions against Russia from the IOC — even potentially threatening Russia’s place at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo....

Paris Saint-Germain have made contract in regards to a move for Fiorentina striker Federico Bernardeschi, reports TalkSport. Manchester United and Chelsea have long-standing interest in the Serie A forward, who has struck nine goals in 18 appearances in the Italian top flight this season, but the French champions have made the first move. Bernardeschi, who has seven senior caps for the Italian national side, has scored 19 goals for Fiorentina in his 79 appearances to date....

RELATED: Old School RuneScape: 7 Pro Tips For Ironman Mode (Pay-To-Play) What makes receiving a completionist cape so difficult is the sheer amount of requirements. Even just one of the requirements is a long-term achievement for most players. The amount of achievements required is ever-expanding, and will most likely grow even in 2021. While the list of achievements may look daunting, they can be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals....

Namely, while Runescape may have received new builds and tech updates over the years, much of its community isn’t that eager to start playing an all-new experience after sticking with the original for so long. The developer, Jagex, has supported this part of the community too, it’s worth pointing out, but one of the issues that have come up recently is that the studio didn’t have a proper backup system in place back in the day....

Calicut Heroes and U Mumba Volley battled it out in an engaging clash that saw the Heroes win in a closely-fought encounter with a 3-2 score, to register their second win on the bounce. Heroes’ Ajith Lal C (16 points) and skipper, Jerome Vinith (14 points) were the key men behind the win, leading their side to the top of the standings. The first set of the match saw the two sides start positively keeping and the match evenly poised....

The Lakers icon was speaking prior to the game against the Warriors, and unlike his generic tweets, this time he did not mince words when it came to Westbrook. “If we don’t [make the Play-In], this trade could go down as the worst trade in Laker history,” Johnson said as ESPN’s broadcast team looked on in bewilderment. “If we don’t get out the Play-In game, that’s what’ll happen.” NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)...