Greta Thunberg dragged by police from climate protest blocking Swedish parliament (www.independent.co.uk)
After boots on the ground comment, French PM doubles down: 'Putins troops are already in our country', pointing at Le Pen (www.lemonde.fr)
By raising for the first time the idea of sending troops to Ukraine, the French leader “has taken a further step toward belligerence,” blasted his rival Marine Le Pen, of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party. She accused him of “posing an existential risk to 70 million French people, and more particularly to our...
Netanyahu dismisses Hamas ceasefire proposal, insists on total victory (www.reuters.com)
DOHA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday total victory in Gaza was within reach, rejecting the latest offer from Hamas for a ceasefire to ensure the return of hostages still held in the besieged enclave....
China’s yuan replaces US dollar as ‘primary’ currency for Russia’s foreign trade (www.scmp.com)
Evergrande, the massive Chinese real estate developer with $300 billion in debt, is ordered to liquidate by a Hong Kong court (www.businessinsider.com)
A Hong Kong court on Monday ordered the liquidation of real-estate developer China Evergrande Group....
Ukraine says it has uncovered major arms corruption (www.bbc.com)
Ukraine’s security service says it has uncovered corruption in an arms purchase by the military worth about $40m (£31m)....
Runner in China who chain-smoked throughout marathon banned for two years (www.independent.co.uk)
Top German court strips financing of extreme-right party (www.dw.com)
Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that the extreme right-wing NPD should have its state subsidies withdrawn and its tax relief canceled for six years....
Fascist salute not a crime unless a risk to public order, Italy’s top court says (www.theguardian.com)
South Korea passes law banning dog meat trade (www.bbc.com)
Israel 'stealing organs' from bodies in Gaza, alleges rights group (www.euronews.com)
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said on Sunday it had “concerns” about possible organ theft from Palestinian corpses, following reports by medical professionals in Gaza who examined some bodies after they were released by Israel....
Russia Plans to Mobilize Ukrainian Children in Occupied Territories (www.kyivpost.com)
Documents from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) – now supposedly incorporated into Russia by Putin’s decree – showed the Kremlin’s plans to conscript children born in 2007 for its upcoming mobilization, reported Petro Andryushchenko, adviser to the mayor of Mariupol....
Gas, drones and convict recruits: Ukrainian soldiers describe Russia’s deadly surge on the frontlines (www.cnn.com)
The front lines where Ukraine and its allies had hoped for a summer breakthrough now epitomize the bleak, dark winter ahead — of Russian resurgence and Kyiv’s mounting losses....
Pornhub among porn sites to be policed by strict EU digital rules (www.euronews.com)
Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos will need to abide by the European Union’s strictest digital regulations after they were designated “very large online platforms” (VLOPs) by the EU executive on Wednesday....
Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny declared missing (www.independent.co.uk)
Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been declared missing by his lawyers and allies just days after Vladimir Putin announced he would run for a fifth presidential term next year....
Canada's surging cost of living fuels reverse immigration (www.reuters.com)
The dream of making it big in Canada is turning into a battle for survival for many immigrants due to the high cost of living and rental shortages, as rising emigration numbers hints to newcomers being forced to turn their back on a country that they chose to make their adopted home....
‘Everything indicates’ Chinese ship damaged Baltic pipeline on purpose, Finland says (www.politico.eu)
BRUSSELS — As the investigation into damage to Baltic Sea critical infrastructure continues, Finland’s Minister of European Affairs Anders Adlercreutz said it’s hard to believe sabotage to the undersea gas pipeline was accidental — or that it happened without Beijing’s knowledge....
Russia approves record spend for its military in new 2024 budget (www.euronews.com)
European and Arab ministers meet in Barcelona to discuss the future of Gaza and Palestine (english.elpais.com)
Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan will present the positions of Islamic countries in the absence of Israel, which has declined to attend the summit
In rare announcement, US says guided missile sub has arrived in Middle East, a message of deterrence to adversaries (www.cnn.com)
In a rare announcement, the US military said a guided missile submarine has arrived in the Middle East, a message of deterrence clearly directed at regional adversaries as the Biden administration tries to avoid a broader conflict amid the Israel-Hamas war....
Uncontacted Tribe Confronts Developers in Dramatic Video (greekreporter.com)
Members of the uncontacted Hongana Manyawa tribe in Indonesia have been filmed recently confronting developers who tear up their forest....
Israeli forces attack Gaza's main city from two directions (www.reuters.com)
Ozone hole goes large again (www.esa.int)
Leo Varadkar: Israel breaching international law by ‘targeting civilians’ and cutting off electricity and water (m.independent.ie)
“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Israel’s decision to cut off electricity, water and food supplies into Gaza is “not acceptable”. Mr Varadkar also said that due to Israel “targeting civilians and cutting off civilian infrastructure” they were in “breach of international humanitarian law”....