Russian bid for joint investigation into spy poisoning rejected

An international chemical weapons watchdog has rejected Russia's proposal for a joint investigation into the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent, the BBC reports. Russia reportedly acknowledged in a press conference following the vote that the poisoning was a "terrorist attack."

Why it matters: Russia lost the vote by a 15-6 margin, while 17 member states abstained. It's another rejection of Moscow's claims of innocence in the attack, which led some two dozen countries to expel Russian diplomats, though China and Iran were among those backing Russia's motion.