Apple has complied with Russian demands to show Crimea as part of Russian territory on its apps. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, in a move that was condemned by most of the global community.

The region is now displayed as Russian territory on Apple Maps and Weather, when viewed from inside Russia. However, Apple Maps and Weather do not show Crimea as part of any country, when viewed outside Russia. The State Duma, the Russian parliament’s lower house, said in a statement: “Crimea and Sevastopol now appear on Apple devices as Russian territory.”

Russia treats the naval port city of Sevastopol as a separate region. Apple had been in talks with Russia for several months over what the State Duma described as “inaccuracy” in the way Crimea was labelled. The tech giant originally suggested it could show Crimea as undefined territory – part of neither Russia nor Ukraine.

But Vasily Piskaryov, chairman of the Duma security and anti-corruption committee, said Apple had complied with the Russian Constitution. He said Russia was open to “dialogue and constructive co-operation with foreign companies”. Apple has not yet commented on the decision.(BBC)…[+]

A federal judge has ruled that White House staff can be made to testify before Congress, rejecting the Trump administration’s claims of immunity.

The ruling specifically compels former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify to an inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. But it also has major implications for the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

The justice department says it will appeal against the ruling. The impeachment inquiry is trying to establish whether Mr Trump pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. The Trump administration has refused to co-operate with the impeachment inquiry and other Democrat-led investigations, directing current and former White House officials to defy subpoenas for testimony and documents.

Mr McGahn, who left his post in October 2018, was called to appear before the House Judiciary Committee in May to answer questions about the president’s alleged attempts to impede the now-concluded Mueller investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election.(BBC)…[+]

Diamond-encrusted swords and intricately designed brooches stolen from a former royal palace in Germany may never be seen again, experts warn. The items, part of a collection created in 1723 by Saxony’s ruler, Augustus the Strong, are so recognisable that thieves are likely to break them up.

Artworks taken from the Dresden Green Vault are described as “priceless”.

The head of Dresden state museums, Marion Ackermann, said destroying the  artworks would be a “terrible idea”. “We are talking here about items of ines timable art-historical and cultural-historical value,” she said. “We cannot put an exact value on them because they are priceless.” Police have released a series of photos of the stolen jewels and appealed for witnesses.(BBC)…[+]