Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border were “poised to strike.”As Western nations fear the start of one the worst conflicts since the Cold War, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russian forces were beginning to “uncoil and move closer” to the border with its former Soviet neighbour.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“We hope he steps back from the brink of conflict,” he told a news conference on a visit to Lithuania, saying an invasion of Ukraine was not inevitable.Russia ordered the military build-up while demanding NATO stop Ukraine ever joining the alliance but says predictions it is planning to invade Ukraine are wrong and dangerous. It says it is now pulling back while Washington and allies insist the build-up is mounting.Russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine earlier declared a full military mobilization, a day after ordering women and children to evacuate to Russia, citing the threat of an imminent attack by Ukrainian forces.Kyiv flatly denied the accusation and Washington said it was part of Russia’s plan to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.Multiple explosions could be heard on Saturday morning in the north of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a Reuters witness said. The origin was not immediately clear. Ukraine said earlier that one of its soldiers had been killed.US President Joe Biden, who has given regular warnings of an impending invasion, said on Friday he now believes the capital Kyiv would be targeted by Russia but that he does not think Putin is even remotely contemplating using nuclear weapons.“We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days,” Biden told reporters at the White House.“As of this moment, I am convinced that he has made the decision.”The exercises by Russia’s nuclear forces on Saturday involve the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles, the defense ministry said.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exercises were part of a regular training process and Putin was likely to take part from a “situation center.”Russia’s Ria news agency quoted the Kremlin on Saturday as saying the exercises had started.Read more:Ukraine records 12 ceasefire violations by pro-Russian separatistsRebels evacuate residents from east Ukraine; US says Russia creates pretext for warScholz says Russian attack on Ukraine would be 'serious mistake'
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Putin launches nuclear drills as US says Russia poised to invade Ukraine
Turkish hit song goes viral as it promises Erdogan’s era ‘will be over’
The song “Geccek” (“It will pass”) by superstar Tarkan was released on YouTube at 1800 GMT on Thursday. By 1030 GMT on Friday it had hit over four million YouTube views..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkish hit song goes viral as it promises Erdogan’s era ‘will be over’
Tunisia powerful labour union re-elects Taboubi as leader
Taboubi re-election took place at the union’s congress, a meeting held every five years..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tunisia powerful labour union re-elects Taboubi as leader
Hezbollah’s drone threat is now on display – analysis
The Lebanese terror orginization is increasingly showing that it can make drones and use them to harass Israel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hezbollah’s drone threat is now on display - analysis
How God, Martin Luther King brought a ‘Bishop of Israel’ to the Holy Land
Meet Bishop Glenn Plummer, a man on a mission to bring Black American Christians to Israel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How God, Martin Luther King brought a ‘Bishop of Israel’ to the Holy Land
Ukraine leader proposes meeting with Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, facing a sharp spike in violence in and around territory held by Russia-backed rebels and increasingly dire warnings that Russia plans to invade, on Saturday called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him and seek resolution to the crisis. “I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, so I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky said at the Munich Security Conference, where he also met with US Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelensky said Russia could pick the location for the talks.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Ukraine will continue to follow only the diplomatic path for the sake of a peaceful settlement.”There was no immediate response from the Kremlin.Zelensky spoke hours after separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilization on Saturday while Western leaders made increasingly dire warnings that a Russian invasion of its neighbor appeared imminent.In new signs of fears that a war could start within days, Germany and Austria told their citizens to leave Ukraine. Violence in eastern Ukraine has spiked in recent days as Ukraine and the two regions held by the rebels each accused the other of escalation. Russia on Saturday said at least two shells fired from a government-held part of eastern Ukraine landed across the border, but Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba dismissed that claim as “a fake statement.”Read more:Lufthansa to suspend flights to Kyiv, Odessa from MondayRussia says shell hit building near Ukraine borderPutin launches nuclear drills as US says Russia poised to invade Ukraine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine leader proposes meeting with Putin
Ukraine reports two soldiers killed in separatists shelling
The Ukrainian military said two soldiers were killed and four wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine on Saturday, where a flare up of violence this week has sparked fears it could be the trigger for Russian military action.The Ukrainian military said on its Facebook page it had recorded 70 ceasefire violations by separatists since the start of the day compared with 66 cases over the previous 24 hours.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Separatists opened fire on more than 30 settlements along the front line using heavy artillery, which has been prohibited by agreements aimed at cooling the long-running conflict, the military said.A group of lawmakers and foreign media visiting the conflict zone came under fire and had to be evacuated to a shelter, a spokesperson for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party said in a separate statement on Saturday.Separatist officials accused Ukraine on social media site Telegram of shelling separatist-controlled areas and said they had to respond accordingly.Incidents of shelling across the line dividing government forces and separatists increased sharply this week, in what the Ukrainian government called a provocation. It strongly denied suggestions by Russia that Kyiv could launch an offensive in eastern Ukraine.Read more:Russia says shell hit building near Ukraine borderMortars explode as Ukraine minister tours frontlinePutin launches nuclear drills as US says Russia poised to invade Ukraine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine reports two soldiers killed in separatists shelling
Iran's top diplomat says 2015 nuclear deal revival depends on US political decision
Iran made it clear that if a deal was to fail, it would be the fault of Western powers.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran's top diplomat says 2015 nuclear deal revival depends on US political decision
Less than 10% of European medieval literature has survived the centuries – study
Events such as library fires and bans of many kinds of books have contributed to the shortage of literature published in the Middle Ages.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Less than 10% of European medieval literature has survived the centuries - study
Iran’s top diplomat says ready for immediate prisoner swap with US
Iran is ready to swap prisoners with the United States, Iran’s foreign minister said in Germany on Saturday, adding the West would be to blame if talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal fail as Tehran is ready to reach a good agreement.“We believe prisoner swaps is a humanitarian issue... unrelated to the nuclear accord. We can do it immediately,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a panel at the Munich Security Conference.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“If the nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers fail in Vienna, Western powers will be responsible for it because we want a good deal.”When asked whether Tehran was ready to hold direct talks with Washington, Amir-Abdollahian refrained from ruling it out by saying: “We need to see tangible steps of goodwill by Washington such as freeing Iran’s frozen assets abroad.”Read more:Iran nuclear deal could be agreed very soon, EU official saysIran nuclear deal draft puts prisoners, enrichment, cash first, oil comes laterKhamenei says Iran not seeking nuclear weapons amid talks with world powers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran’s top diplomat says ready for immediate prisoner swap with US