NATO’s latest large-scale European exercise will only reveal that it is not up to the task of defending itself

European Defender 2021, NATO’s 28,000-person exercise in military muscle flexing, is supposed to be an example of deterrence through strength. In reality, it is just another demonstration of military impotence. … Read More >NATO’s latest large-scale European exercise will only reveal that it is not up to the task of defending itself

More than half of people living in democracies believe their freedoms have been overly restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic

A survey has shown that 53% of citizens living in democracies feel their freedoms are being infringed upon by their government’s response to Covid-19, and the dissatisfaction has grown since last year. … Read More >More than half of people living in democracies believe their freedoms have been overly restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic

Israeli PM Netanyahu misses deadline to form government coalition, President Rivlin to decide next move

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to secure a governing coalition despite weeks of negotiations after the March election, leaving President Reuven Rivlin to decide whether to pass the job to another candidate. … Read More >Israeli PM Netanyahu misses deadline to form government coalition, President Rivlin to decide next move

At least 1 dead in reported Israeli strike on ‘civilian plastic warehouse’ in Syria’s Latakia

Explosions could be heard in the Syrian coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus, where Russian forces are based, as air defenses reportedly responded to Israeli missiles striking further inland, the state news agency SANA has said. … Read More >At least 1 dead in reported Israeli strike on ‘civilian plastic warehouse’ in Syria’s Latakia

Extinction Rebellion activists chain themselves to gates of French parliament in protest at scope of new climate bill (VIDEOS)

A dozen activists from the Extinction Rebellion ecological activism group chained themselves to the gates of France’s National Assembly in Paris ahead of the approval of new climate legislation on Tuesday. … Read More >Extinction Rebellion activists chain themselves to gates of French parliament in protest at scope of new climate bill (VIDEOS)

Iraq’s health minister resigns in wake of devastating hospital fire caused by exploding oxygen tank

Iraqi health minister Hassan al-Tamimi has formally resigned from the government over a deadly fire that took the lives of 82 people after an oxygen tank exploded at a Baghdad hospital that was treating Covid patients. … Read More >Iraq’s health minister resigns in wake of devastating hospital fire caused by exploding oxygen tank

Politically motivated crimes are ‘on the rise’ in Germany; far-right offenses hit record numbers in 20 years – Interior Minister

Germany has seen its highest number of politically motivated crimes in a decade in 2020, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said, calling it a “very worrying” trend and adding that more than a half of them were far-right offenses. … Read More >Politically motivated crimes are ‘on the rise’ in Germany; far-right offenses hit record numbers in 20 years – Interior Minister