The Taliban takes pains to reassure Russia;
Biden demands Russia crack down on cybercrime...again;
Nord Stream II set for completion next month;
Putin's vision for unity with Ukraine;
Russian COVID deaths continue to surge;
Extra coaching for Tokyo

Price hikes and possible shortages ahead;
Exploiting Crimea's cultural heritage;
Bard College branded "undesirable";
Russian hackers continue to test the U.S.
Russia supports ASEAN on Myanmar;
Tajikistan looks to Russia to secure border with Afghanistan

Russia, China renew friendship treaty;
More journalists harassed by police;
Putin eyes an "unfriendly" Ukraine;
Kremlin hunts for Navalny ally;
Russia refuses to open Syrian aid crossing;
Cruz plays hardball over Nord Stream II

A confrontation off Crimea;
Torture on the peninsula; 
Forgery industry booming over vaccination requirements;
Russian military flexes its muscles in the middle east;
Moscow versus the western order

OSCE concerned about human rights in Crimea;
Russia's GAZPROM behind massive methane leak;
Putin seeks to bolster United Russia;
Germany arrests Russian researcher accused of spying;
Major cities hammered by COVID