The Supreme Court of Russia's Tatarstan region on December 12 confirmed a lower court's decision to hold veteran RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in custody but reduced her detention term by one day, until February 4.
Over the last couple of years, Europe has become more open-minded about medical and recreational marijuana. Here are some of the latest cannabis developments from Malta, Greece, the United Kingdom and Ukraine,
The Finnish government on December 12 said it plans to reopen two border crossings with Russia by January 14. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the large Vaalimaa crossing in southeast Finland and one near Niirala further north will be reopened to traffic.
A declassified U.S. intelligence report assessed that the Ukraine war has cost Russia 315,000 dead and injured troops, or nearly 80 percent of the personnel it had when the conflict began, a source familiar with the intelligence said on December 12.
European Council President Charles Michel said he is still working on "Plan A" when it comes to giving the green light to opening accession talks with Ukraine at a crucial EU summit in Brussels this week despite a repeated threat by Hungary to block the process.