Putin: Russia ready for talks with NATO, but against reporting on national military drills

“It is true that we recently held military drills, the Zapad-2021 , and it was a large-scale military exercise. I reiterate that we are holding our [military] exercises on the territory of our own country,” the Russian President stressed … Read More >Putin: Russia ready for talks with NATO, but against reporting on national military drills

Nord Stream 2 pipeline won’t face further sanctions now construction is complete, as US backtracks on policy, Politico reports

A wave of new impending sanctions aimed at Moscow will reportedly not target the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline, with the Kremlin expressing hope that relations with the US could recover in the wake of negotiations. … Read More >Nord Stream 2 pipeline won’t face further sanctions now construction is complete, as US backtracks on policy, Politico reports

Taiwan will ‘meet enemy full on’ if it must, but won’t start a war, defense minister says, amid heightened tensions with Beijing

The Taiwanese defense minister has vowed that the island won’t be the one instigating conflict amid a spike in tensions with Beijing, which recently staged beach war drills in a nearby province. … Read More >Taiwan will ‘meet enemy full on’ if it must, but won’t start a war, defense minister says, amid heightened tensions with Beijing

EU summons Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish officials over concerning reports of migrants stuck on Belarus border

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has ordered a meeting with officials from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland on the “dire situation” of migrants stuck waiting at the bloc’s borders with Belarus. … Read More >EU summons Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish officials over concerning reports of migrants stuck on Belarus border

Death toll in Beirut’s heavy gunfire rises to 5 as violent protests against port blast judge sweep capital, Lebanese army deployed

Violent clashes involving heavy gunfire have claimed at least five lives in Beirut amid protests against the lead judge investigating last year’s deadly port blast. The Lebanese army has been deployed to quash the unrest. … Read More >Death toll in Beirut’s heavy gunfire rises to 5 as violent protests against port blast judge sweep capital, Lebanese army deployed

Death toll rises to 46 with dozens injured after fire engulfs Taiwan ‘ghost building’ overnight

At least 46 people have died and dozens have been taken to hospital after a 13-story building caught fire in the early hours of the morning in Taiwan. The blaze was described as “extremely fierce” while the source remains unknown. … Read More >Death toll rises to 46 with dozens injured after fire engulfs Taiwan ‘ghost building’ overnight