Kyiv mayor orders air raid shelters to be open 24 hours after death of child; Ukraine claims to have shot down 15 cruise missiles and 21 drones
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Russia-Ukraine war: two wounded after Belgorod strike, says governor; investigation into ‘locked’ shelter in Kyiv – as it happened
Governor of Russian border town says drone fell on road way; claims that three people killed in capital sought safety in locked shelter
Wires are also posting new photos from the Russian city of Shebekino in the Belgorod border region, which Russian officials say was shelled for the fourth time this week by Ukrainian forces.
Continue reading...Zelenskiy hails ‘powerful support’ for Ukraine at Moldova summit
Ukrainian president speaks of the importance of overturning Russia’s air supremacy with Patriot missiles and F-16s
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had received “powerful support” from allies attending a summit in Moldova as it emerged F-16 fighter jets could be made available to Ukraine within six months.
Closing the conference of 46 European leaders held at a castle 12 miles (19km) from the border with Ukraine, the country’s president spoke of the importance of overturning Russian’s supremacy in the air with a “sky shield” involving a combination of Patriot missiles and F-16s.
Continue reading...Kyiv strikes: three die in early morning attack by Russia
Girl and her mother reportedly among the dead from falling debris after short-range missiles intercepted
Three people including a child were killed and at least 11 people were injured in an early morning missile attack on Kyiv that hit apartment buildings, two schools and a children’s clinic, according to city authorities.
The attack, on what is International Children’s Day in many post-Soviet countries, reportedly involved 10 Iskander short-range missiles, and there was only a few minutes’ warning before they hit. Most of the damage appeared to be from falling debris after the incoming missiles were intercepted by the capital’s air defences.
Continue reading...Woman in Malta charged in court for having abortion
Pro-choice groups condemn rare enforcement of country’s total ban on terminations
A woman in Malta has been charged in court for having an abortion, in a rare enforcement of the country’s total ban on terminations.
The Women’s Rights Foundation of Malta said: “What should have never happened [has] happened today: a Maltese woman was brought to court facing charges of having a medical abortion at home.”
Continue reading...Commission exposes injustices against Norway’s Indigenous people
Parliament hopes report examining historic treatment of Sámi and Kvens will raise awareness and encourage reconciliation
A Norwegian parliamentary commission has published a damning report on historic injustices against Sámi, Kvens and other Indigenous groups.
Norway’s parliament set up the truth and reconciliation commission in 2018 to examine authorities’ historic policies and activities relating to Indigenous people, including attempts to assimilate them.
Continue reading...Ukrainian sanctions on media tycoon Alexander Lebedev revealed
The Russian businessman is the father of Evgeny Lebedev, who was given a peerage by Boris Johnson
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Alexander Lebedev – the former KGB intelligence officer whose son Evgeny sits in the House of Lords – in connection with Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The national security and defence council in Kyiv imposed sanctions on Lebedev Sr last October. The decision – first reported by Tortoise media – emerged on Thursday and follows a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Continue reading...Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 463 of the invasion
Macron says negotiated peace might take priority over Putin war crimes trial; US announces $300m arms package but ‘don’t use on Russian soil’
Continue reading...Novak Djokovic defiant despite warning not to repeat political message
- French sports minister insists on ‘neutrality’ at Roland Garros
- ‘I would say it again,’ says Serbian world No 3
Novak Djokovic has insisted that he would not hesitate to opine on Kosovo and the clashes between Kosovo authorities and ethnic Serbs again, even as the backlash to his comments continues to grow.
“I don’t mind saying that. I mean, I would say it again,” Djokovic said. “But I don’t need to because you have my quotes if you want to reflect on that. Of course I’m aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is. It’s something that I stand for.”
Continue reading...US announces $300m arms package for Ukraine – with a caveat
The shipment comes with a warning that the weaponry should not be used to attack within Russia
The United States has announced a new $300m arms package for Ukraine, including air defense systems and tens of millions of rounds of ammunition – but warned Kyiv that US weaponry should not be used to attack within Russia.
“We have been very clear with the Ukrainians privately – we’ve certainly been clear publicly – that we do not support attacks inside Russia. We do not enable and we do not encourage attacks inside Russia,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Continue reading...Moldova to press for accelerated EU membership process at leaders’ summit
Meeting in Chișinău is opportunity to show country is ‘fit for EU membership’, foreign minister says
Moldova wants to start formal talks on becoming a EU member state and will use the a summit of all 50 EU and non-member European leaders in its capital, Chișinău, on Thursday to underline its desire to accelerate the accession process, the country’s foreign minister said.
Along with Ukraine, Moldova has official accession candidate status since last year but believes, like its larger neighbour, it can accelerate the years-long process to get a seat in Brussels in the face of continuing threats from Russia.
Continue reading...Russia-Ukraine war: only 500 of 70,000 residents left in Bakhmut, mayor says – as it happened
This live blog has now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage here
The drone attacks targeting Moscow early on Tuesday, which have been blamed on Kyiv, were by far the largest wave launched against Russia since the start of its war against Ukraine.
There has been speculation that at least one of the drones involved was a UJ-22 produced by the Ukrainian Ukrjet company, which Russia claims has been involved in at least one previous attack. Some other experts disagree, suggesting it is another model of drone, citing differences in appearance.
Continue reading...German mountaineer Luis Stitzinger found dead near Himalayan peak
Body found on Mount Kanchenjunga five days after he went missing shortly after reaching summit
A leading German mountaineer and extreme skier has been found dead on the world’s third highest mountain, in the Himalayas, five days after going missing.
The body of Luis Stitzinger was discovered on Tuesday on Mount Kanchenjunga at a height of 8,400 metres, the head Sherpa of the company that organised the climb to find him told the Himalayan Times.
Continue reading...Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 462 of the invasion
Drones strike at oil refineries within Russia; Medvedev calls UK an ‘eternal enemy’ which is de facto at war with Russia
Continue reading...EU accused of ‘staggering neglect’ after just 271 Afghans resettled across bloc
Many in need of permanent protection remain stuck in ‘prison-like’ camps on Greek islands, leading refugee charity says
Just 271 Afghans were resettled in the EU in 2022, 0.1% of the 270,000 identified as in need of permanent protection, it has emerged.
Leading charity the International Rescue Committee accused EU leaders of “staggering neglect” of Afghan refugees with many remaining trapped in “prison-like” conditions on Greek islands.
Continue reading...Macron to call for European ‘strategic awakening’ after Ukraine invasion
In speech in Bratislava, French president will warn of steady erosion of European strategic stability
Emmanuel Macron is to make a diplomatic push to reassure central and eastern European countries that France understands that the continent’s security environment has been permanently changed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Macron has often been viewed with suspicion across eastern Europe, especially in Poland, as someone who sees Russia as ultimately part of Europe’s security architecture and wants to use the war in Ukraine to boost European defence autonomy in a way that loosens Europe’s security ties to the US.
Continue reading...British paddleboarder killed by lightning strike was told to get out of water
Scott Seddon, 26, from Liverpool was being filmed by his partner as the tragedy happened off coast of Rhodes
The partner of a British tourist who died when he was struck by lightning while paddleboarding off Rhodes had beseeched him to return to shore when the storm hit.
Scott Seddon’s girlfriend repeatedly shouted “come out” when it became clear the 26-year-old from Liverpool was struggling in the waters off Agathi beach. The woman, who has not been named, was on land filming Seddon, an accomplished sportsman, with her mobile phone as the tragedy unfolded.
Continue reading...Kosovo: ‘fascist mobs’ guided by Serbia causing violence, says country’s PM
More than 30 Nato peacekeeping soldiers were injured in clashes on Monday after ethnic Albanian mayors took office
Kosovo’s prime minister has blamed violence in the north of the country on “fascist mobs” controlled by the government of neighbouring Serbia, and said he had rejected a US request to relocate recently installed mayors out of their official offices.
More than 30 Nato peacekeeping soldiers were injured in clashes on Monday, prompting the alliance to announce it would send another 700 troops to the country. Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vučić put his country’s army on high combat alert.
Continue reading...Ukrainian woman trying to reach godson detained in Russia and deported to Belarus
Olga Guruli was heading to occupied Kherson province to arrange repatriation of boy and his brother
A Ukrainian woman who travelled to Russia hoping to arrange the repatriation of her godson and his brother from Russian-occupied Kherson province was arrested, interrogated for two days and threatened with being sent to a penal colony before being deported to Belarus.
The detention of Olga Guruli was initially reported by Russian media outlets who wrongly suggested she was an employee of Save Ukraine, an NGO that has been helping relatives recover children illegally deported by Russia.
Continue reading...Nato to send 700 more troops to Kosovo to try to quell violence
Nato chief announces further measures as situation in Serb-majority north remains ‘fragile’
Nato has said it will send 700 extra troops to try to curb the violence in Kosovo a day after 30 alliance-led peacekeeping soldiers and more than 50 ethnic Serbian protesters were injured in clashes.
On Monday, Nato peacekeepers in riot gear had secured a town hall in the town of Zvecan as the situation remained tense.
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