Russia withdraws from INF nuclear arms pact, after US move

The Russian capital is decorated for the holidays despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Officers detain protesters at a demonstration in Moscow in support of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. He called the demonstrations after he was detained returning to Russia from Germany where he had been recovering from being poisoned with a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

Russia's capital Moscow has eased Covid restrictions, citing the improving health situation, even as many countries tighten anti-virus measures. Moscow bars, restaurants and nightclubs -- which previously were required to close by 11pm -- can remain open through the night, although they will still have to enforce social distancing and sanitary guidelines.

Since January, women have been allowed to operate trains in the Moscow metro system — a job that used to be one of several hundred that were forbidden for women in Russia. But the Russian Ministry of Labor has now reduced that list to 100.

Russia is offering its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for free to citizens. In Moscow, where infection rates are high, widespread vaccination is seen as the way out of pandemic restrictions. Muscovites can even get the jab on a shopping trip.

Some 200 people, including scores of opposition politicians, were detained during a meeting in Moscow. The police claim participants were breaking COVID-19 rules.

South Korea confirmed earlier US reports that Pyongyang tested short range missiles. Meanwhile, the North slammed recent EU sanctions.

North Korea fired what are suspected to be the first ballistic missiles on the Biden administration's watch. This was also the second missile launch in the past week.

The Russian foreign minister has arrived in Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders on how to salvage the nuclear agreement with world powers. Talks on EU sanctions and the 'cyber operation' at Natanz are also expected.

Moscow had promised to take "retaliatory measures" after the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats over a deadly explosion in 2014.

The move comes after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to limit the number of Russians employed at embassies of countries deemed to be "unfriendly."

North Korean state media has blasted the US decision to permit South Korea to develop unlimited range missiles, calling it evidence of a "hostile" US policy towards Pyongyang.