Topic: Interfax International Group

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Five reasons why Syria may be at a tipping point

Since the start of the conflict in Syria, international observers have been watching the government of President Bashar al-Assad for signs that the once-feared regime might be vulnerable to overthrow. Despite Syrian efforts to crush the rebels and to stifle news out of the country, this past week has shown the strongest evidence yet that the end of the Assad regime may be near. Here are five signs that the Syrian conflict may finally be tipping in favor of the rebels.

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Terrorism & Security I spy, you spy: Russian officials downplay Fogle incident

Russian officials are avoiding inflammatory language as they talk about the case of Ryan Fogle, a US diplomat suspected of being a CIA agent.
Terrorism & Security Attacks in Russia's Dagestan grab international attention after Boston

Dagestan and the rest of the Caucasus republics of Russia have been the site of a long-running Islamic insurgency against Moscow and its local allies. A bombing and separate shooting killed six today.
Did someone fire missiles at a Russian jetliner flying over Syria?

Russian flights are being advised to avoid flying over combat zones after a passenger plane reportedly came under missile fire over Syria. But aviation experts are puzzled by the incident.
US, Russia missed chances to intercept Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Russia warned the US about the future Boston Marathon bomber back in 2011. But when Mr. Tsarnaev returned to Russia the next year, authorities there apparently left him alone.
Can US-Russia relations get back on track after human rights blacklists?

President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are hinting at hopes of getting past disputes over human rights to issues of mutual interest to the two powers, like missile defense.
World powers and Iran at a stalemate

After two days of talks over Tehran's nuclear program, the EU foreign policy chief said Iran and world powers remained far apart. A breakthrough deal will not be on the table.
'New' bacteria in Antarctic lake actually just contamination, say scientists

Last week, a Russian news outlet reported the discovery of a new type of microbe discovered in Antarctica's Lake Vostok. But now scientists say that the bacteria is just contamination.
Newly Russian, Gérard Depardieu tours his adopted homeland

But critics say that his high-profile, flamboyant appearances echo the old Soviet-era practice of using sympathetic foreign celebrities to reflect well on the government.
Adopted toddler's alleged death-by-abuse in Texas inflames Russia

A Kremlin ombudsman says that Russian 3-year-old Maxim Kuzmin was killed by his adoptive Texan mother last month. The accusation has stoked a new firestorm in Russia over US adoptions.
In wake of Russian meteor, a scramble for new windows

The meteor that exploded in Russia's frozen Chelyabinsk region Friday blew out windows in more than 4,000 buildings. Replacement is a top priority for a small army of recovery workers.
Nuke fast track? Iran plans to up uranium-enrichment capacity

In a letter to the UN's nuclear watchdog, Tehran announced it was planning to replace its centrifuges, which experts worry could significantly speed up development of a nuclear weapon.
Global News Blog Putin signs antiadoption law, throwing pending adoptions into confusion (+video)

About 1,000 Russian children were adopted by US families in 2011, and around 50 such adoptions are pending.
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On Saturday, about 2,000 people turned out for an unauthorized rally to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin's 13-year rule. Opposition leaders say they are also preparing for action in the spring.
Russia, NATO: Assad could lose Syria to rebels (+video)

Opposition fighters have seized large swaths of territory in northern Syria along the border with Turkey and appear to be expanding their control outside of Damascus.
Russia: Assad is losing control of Syria

Russia is the Syrian government's most powerful international ally. Its declaration that President Bashar al-Assad is losing control of Syria is a major blow to the regime.
Syria calls chemical weapon reports 'pretext for intervention' (+video)

Bashar al-Assad's deputy foreign minister said that even if Syria had chemical weapons, it would not use them on its own people. 'We would not commit suicide,' he said.
Scott Kelley: Longest space station sojourn will be test for Mars mission

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will spend an entire year aboard the International Space Station. The extended mission will help provide information about far-flung trips to asteroids and Mars.
US-Russian crew chosen for yearlong space voyage

American astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will launch on the one-year space station flight in spring 2015 and return to Earth in spring 2016.
Russian defense minister's sacking suggests political infighting (+video)

Anatoly Serdyukov is mired in a corruption scandal, but some experts say that he was driven out by conservatives unhappy with his military reforms.
Energy Voices Rosneft deal gives Russia control of world's largest oil company (+video)

Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil company, announced Monday it will purchase full stake of TNK-BP from BP and a group of Soviet-born billionaires. The deal will establish Roseneft as the world's largest oil producer.
Global News Blog Putin joins pajama workforce, decides to work from home

Vladimir Putin's motorcade can shut down Moscow's already jammed streets for hours, much to the chagrin of commuters. So he plans to do more work at the presidential residence.
Putin warns of growing terror risks as Kremlin arrests opposition leader

Putin says Russia faces real security threats in coming years as it hosts the World Cup and Olympics, but may also be conflating opposition leaders like Sergei Udaltsov with terrorists.
Terrorism & Security Turkey at odds with Moscow after grounding Russia-Syria flight

Turkey, already on the brink of a conflict with Syria, may now be facing tensions with Moscow after grounding a flight from Russia on suspicion that it was carrying weapons for the Syrian regime
Pussy Riot redux? Russia moves to block anti-Islam film.

Russia's communications minister and its top prosecutor are exploring options – including blocking YouTube – to prevent the film from being shown in Russia, home to 20 million Muslims.
In desecration of crosses, Russia's Orthodox church sees dark warning

The Russian Orthodox Church said an antireligious campaign – in sympathy with Pussy Riot punk band – was under way after four large wooden crosses were destroyed over the weekend.