World news

Zelenskyy: We are ready for counteroffensive

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is ready for a counteroffensive as of now.

Swiss parliament blocks German, Dutch, Danish plan to supply over 100 tanks to Ukraine

The Swiss House of Representatives has rejected a proposal to authorise re-exporting Swiss-made war materiel to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy says Ukraine ready to launch counteroffensive

Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview published on Saturday.

Rastafari gain sacramental rights to marijuana in Antigua and Barbuda, celebrate freedom of worship

For decades, members of the Rastafari community have been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic marijuana use. But the islands of Antigua and Barbuda recently became one of the first Caribbean nations to grant Rastafari official sacramental authorization to grow the herb. Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his government took this step to try to bring respect to the Rastafari faith. Members of the island’s Rastafari community spoke to the AP in their sacred grounds, where they worship and grow food and marijuana. As public opinion and policy continues to shift across the world toward legalization of marijuana, Rastafari are clamoring for freedom of worship and the curtailing of persecution.

Greenland unveils draft constitution in push for complete independence from Danish control | PBS NewsHour

After six years of work, the world’s biggest island has finally unveiled a draft of its constitution. Greenland gained autonomy from Denmark in 1979, but the former colonial power still has control of the island’s most important affairs. As special correspondent Malcom Brabant reports, Greenlanders are now seeking greater influence in the world, and a future free of Denmark.

PM Viktor Orbán receives Russian Order of Glory and Honour

The Patriarch of Moscow awarded the First Degree of the Order of Glory and Honour to Viktor Orbán. Kirill said that thanks to the PM...

Ukraine’s cross-border tactics are aimed at destabilizing Russia. Judging by the response, they’re working

German far right surges in polls, alarming mainstream parties

Alternative for Germany rejects claims that it is linked to extremists, but head of domestic intelligence has warned of 'astonishing parallels' with the 1920s and 1930s

At least 120 dead, 800 injured in train accident in Odisha, India

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena was quoted as saying early on Saturday morning that 207 people had died in the accident.

Scientists Successfully Transmit Space-Based Solar Power to Earth for the First Time

Caltech's recent breakthrough has moved us closer to achieving the transformative potential of space-based solar power.

Swiss capital city wants to test controlled sale of cocaine

Switzerland's capital city, Bern, has signalled its intent to conduct a scientific pilot trial of controlled cocaine sales.

Moscow loses a cultural battle as Degas’ ‘Russian dancers’ recognized as Ukrainian

Museums such as the National Gallery and the Metropolitan have agreed to retitle works described in their catalogs as Russian amid an offensive against the Russification of Ukrainian history

Belarus’ Lukashenko: ‘The only mistake we made’ was not finishing off Ukraine with Russia in 2014

Belarusian dictator completes transformation into Putin’s puppet.

Anti-Kremlin rebels are back marauding inside Russia and triggering fears Putin's forces can't defend the homeland

Another border raid inside Russia threatens to widen the rift between Russian leaders and the pro-war nationalists they depend on.

Russia used "starvation tactics" against Ukraine civilians, investigators claim in new war crime allegation

Investigators say they found evidence of a "deliberate plan" by Russia to subject Ukrainian civilians "to inhumane living conditions."

Russia deployed its feared thermobaric missile launcher on its own territory to repel an attack by insurgents, UK intel says

Russia said it deployed at least one thermobaric missile launcher on its own territory, per the UK MOD. Russia said it was to repel attacks, as Russian

Blinken says no Ukraine cease-fire without a peace deal that includes Russia's withdrawal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Washington won’t support peace talks in the war in Ukraine until Kyiv holds the upper hand, possibly after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that appears to be taking shape. Blinken said in Finland on Friday that heeding calls from Russia and others for a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war now would result in a “Potemkin peace” that wouldn’t secure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or enhance European security. “Potemkin Village” was a tactic Russia’s 18th century government minister Grigory Potemkin used to build brightly painted village fronts to create an illusion of prosperity for Russia’s empress. Ukrainian officials have given confusing signals about whether a counteroffensive is coming or already underway.

More than 800m Amazon trees felled in six years to meet beef demand

Investigation involving Guardian shows systematic and vast forest loss linked to cattle farming in Brazil

Zelenskyy: Counteroffensive is not cinema, I won’t tell you when it happens, but you will feel it

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that the outcome of the counteroffensive must be the liberation of Ukrainian territories, and when it occurs, it will be tangible.