Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting restrictions on granting political asylum to foreigners. The new decree allows asylum to be granted to persons prosecuted for actions that are considered crimes in Russia as well; those who left their native country for economic reasons; representatives of countries “with developed and well-established democratic institutions in the field of human rights protection”.

The Federal Open Market Committee of the US Federal Reserve decided to raise the base rate by 0.25 percentage points. Now it will be in the range of 2.25-2.5%. The increase in the base rate was expected by most economists and market participants. The rate increase was the third in 2018. The Fed has been consistently pursuing a policy of raising since 2015.

The US Treasury Department will lift sanctions on Rusal and En+ in 30 days. The department notified Congress of these plans in an official letter. The letter emphasizes that this will be done against the backdrop of a decrease in the share in the companies of businessman Oleg Deripaska (he remains on the sanctions list). In En+, its share will decrease from about 70% to 44.95%. As part of the company's agreement with the Ministry of Finance, the board of directors will also change.

The US Treasury Department added 18 individuals and four companies from Russia associated with the GRU and businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin to the sanctions list. The new version of the list includes Alexander Mishkin (Petrov) and Anatoly Chepiga (Ruslan Boshirov), whom the UK suspects of poisoning Sergei Skripal, as well as the Federal News Agency. US law enforcement agencies believe that the GRU coordinated an operation to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

In the capital region, on January 1, 2019, the fare for commuter trains will be increased. As explained in the department of economic policy and development of Moscow, in the future, during the year, tariffs will not be reviewed. The new fare for travel within Moscow will be 36 rubles (instead of 34), and within the same zone in the Moscow region - 23 rubles (instead of 22).

Vincennes Kraz, former head of the security service of the Republic Forward! French President Emmanuel Macron received 294,000 euros from Russian businessman Iskander Makhmudov to protect his property. This is stated in the investigation of the French online publication Mediapart. According to journalists, Kraz agreed to protect Makhmudov's relatives and his property in France. It is issued to companies registered in offshore Monaco, Luxembourg and Cyprus.

Update: On December 20, Russia’s Interior Ministry announced that it has decided to block the article in question, ruling that the text promotes illegal drug use. Lesya Ryabtseva, a controversial former editor at the radio station Ekho Moskvy , reported on Telegram that she filed a complaint with Roskomnadzor against the article. Batenka.ru later deleted the article itself, publishing a statement saying that it has complied with orders from Roskomnadzor.

Street artist Banksy posted a video of his new graffiti on Instagram. The drawing was made on the wall of the garage. It depicts a child catching snowflakes in his mouth. The background is painted with black paint, and at first it seems that it is night or evening. But then the camera shows the continuation of the graffiti, hiding around the corner of this garage. It becomes clear that this is not twilight and falling snow, but smoke and ash from a burning garbage can.

Roskomnadzor has asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to check for violations of the law an article on the website "Batya, da vy tranformer" about a woman using heroin. This was reported by Open Media, citing the press secretary of the department. After the conclusion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the department will consider the issue of blocking the site , follows from the message.

German authorities have detained 68-year-old Russian Vladimir D. for exporting dual-use goods to Russia in circumvention of sanctions imposed over the situation in Ukraine in 2014. We are talking about equipment that can be used in the aviation and space industry, worth 1.7 million euros. D. delivered it to Russia in 2014 and 2018.

Senator Andrei Klimov spent a round table in the Council of the Federation on the topic “The role of cultural aspects in ensuring state sovereignty”. At the meeting of Klimov, in particular, he spoke about the attempts of “overseas Russophobes”, “to transform citizens of the cultural superpower into asexual creatures, <...> eagerly absorbing ideologically toxic pseudo -cultural imported fast foods.” Other participants in the round table performed in the same spirit. Subscribe to our YouTube

Below are links to Vladimir Putin's statements on all issues that are in the game. In Russia, you need to plant for creating suicidal publics. In June 2017, Putin signed a law criminalizing “suicidal publics.” The draft law was introduced by a large group of State Duma deputies headed by Vice Speaker Irina Yarovaya. If a fight is inevitable, strike first This rule was taught to Putin by a Leningrad street 50 years ago.

Steve Jacobs / Ap / Scanpix / Leta The 25-year-old American Brittani Hawley has chronic pains. Therefore, for movement, she uses a wheelchair. A golden retriever named Gryffin takes care of her: he opens the door for her, turns off the light and brings the necessary things. Hawley met her friend thanks to the social program PAWS4PRISONS , in the framework of which prisoners teach dogs to help people with disabilities. PAWS4PEOPLE FOUNDATION PAWS4PRISON Program at St.

Thai police have charged YouTube host Wanchaleome Yamnepnphol with insulting a member of the royal family. According to The Guardian, the charges were brought because of criticism of the blue dress worn by Miss Universe 2018 Thailand contestant Sophida Kanchanarin. The dress was designed by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X).

The United States has begun preparations for an "immediate" withdrawal of troops from Syria , The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets reported, citing sources. It is unknown when exactly the withdrawal will begin. The decision was made by US President Donald Trump, CNN reports . Bloomberg clarifies that the corresponding order has already been given.