US ‘feared nuclear attack’ as Pope criticised for ‘white flag’ comment

Pushed by poverty, now determined to return, Narendra Shrestha speaks with the households of males who enlisted to fund a greater life – solely to shortly uncover how simply they may lose the one they’ve.

Learn Narendra’s piece in full right here:

The previous two years have been the toughest and most tumultuous for European Union candidate Moldova in additional than three many years because it faces threats from Russia in a number of spheres of public life, the nation’s international minister says.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, its neighbor Moldova has confronted a litany of crises which have at occasions raised fears the nation can be in Russia’s crosshairs. These included errant missiles touchdown on its territory; a extreme vitality disaster after Moscow dramatically diminished gasoline provides; rampant inflation; and protests by pro-Russia events in opposition to the pro-Western authorities. Moldova has additionally taken within the highest variety of Ukrainian refugees per capita of any nation.

Massive NATO drills within the frigid fjords of northern Norway could also be simply battle video games meant to hone the preventing abilities of the newly expanded 32-nation navy alliance. However for troops participating, they’re very actual.

And that’s the entire level.

Russia has appointed Admiral Alexander Moiseev as performing commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, the Fontanka information outlet reported on Sunday, citing unidentified sources.

Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the Fontanka report which mentioned that Moiseev, 61, at present commander of the Northern Fleet, will quickly be appointed as naval commander-in-chief on a everlasting foundation.

Fontanka, a non-public information service based mostly in St Petersburg, didn’t point out any cause for the appointment. It mentioned the navy’s press service redirected its request for a remark to the defence ministry which didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, navy commander-in-chief since Might 2019, remains to be listed in that position on the defence ministry’s web site.

Ukraine has in current months stepped up assaults within the Black Sea and on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Kyiv has reported a sequence of strikes, together with the sinking of a giant touchdown ship by naval drones in mid-February and a patrol ship this week. Russia has not acknowledged any such losses.

Pulkovo airport in Saint Petersburg has resumed operations as Russian Defence Ministry mentioned a Ukrainian drone was shot down within the neighbouring Leningrad area on Sunday.

Alexander Drozdenko, the Leningrad area’s governor, adjoining to Saint Petersburg, mentioned on Telegram that airspace was sealed off because of the drone, which didn’t inflict any harm or casualties.

The airport and Rosaviatsia, the nation’s aviation watchdog, didn’t say why the restrictions had been imposed.

Ukraine’s international minister, responding to Pope Francis’s name to indicate “the braveness of the white flag” and negotiate an finish to the battle with Russia, mentioned on Sunday that Kyiv would by no means capitulate and informed the Vatican to pay particular heed to its position in World Conflict Two.

Francis made the feedback in an interview made out there partially on the weekend. He responded to a presenter’s suggestion by saying that when issues weren’t going effectively for a celebration to a battle “it’s a must to have the braveness to barter”.

International Minister Dmytro Kuleba, writing on social media platform X, mentioned that the sturdy particular person in any dispute “stands on the aspect of excellent moderately than making an attempt to place them on the identical footing and name it ‘negotiations’”.

“Our flag is a yellow and blue one,” Kuleba wrote in English, referring to the Ukrainian nationwide flag. “That is the flag by which we dwell, die, and prevail. We will by no means increase some other flags.”

Kuleba additionally pointed to allegations that Pope Pius XII did not take motion in opposition to Nazi tyranny in World Conflict Two.

“On the similar time, with regards to the white flag, we all know this Vatican’s technique from the primary half of the 20 th century,” he wrote.

“I urge (the Vatican) to keep away from repeating the errors of the previous and to assist Ukraine and its folks of their simply battle for his or her lives.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday dismissed Pope Francis’s name for talks with Russia as “digital mediation” from a distance.

Zelensky, in his nightly video tackle, didn’t refer on to Francis or his remarks, however mentioned the pope’s concepts had nothing to do with efforts by non secular figures in Ukraine to assist the nation.

“They assist us with prayer, with their dialogue and with deeds. “That is certainly what a church with the folks is,” Zelensky mentioned.

“Not 2,500 km away, someplace, digital mediation between somebody who desires to dwell and somebody who desires to destroy you.”

Two extra troopers of the Georgian Legion, preventing Russian forces, have been killed in Ukraine, in response to the drive.

A Georgian Legion Fb publish introduced the deaths of Nodar Nasirov and Giorgi Gogiashvili on Sunday.

It’s unknown the place on the entrance line they had been killed.

A spokesman mentioned: “Nodar Nasirov and Giorgi Gogiashvili troopers of the Georgian Legion, died whereas performing fight duties on the entrance line.

“The Georgian Legion expresses its condolences to the households of the deceased. Glory to the heroes!”

Russia has appointed Admiral Alexander Moiseev as performing commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, the Fontanka information outlet reported on Sunday, citing unidentified sources.

Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the Fontanka report which mentioned that Moiseev, 61, at present commander of the Northern Fleet, will quickly be appointed as naval commander-in-chief on a everlasting foundation.

Fontanka, a non-public information service based mostly in St Petersburg, didn’t point out any cause for the appointment. It mentioned the navy’s press service redirected its request for a remark to the defence ministry which didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, navy commander-in-chief since Might 2019, remains to be listed in that position on the defence ministry’s web site.

Ukraine has in current months stepped up assaults within the Black Sea and on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Kyiv has reported a sequence of strikes, together with the sinking of a giant touchdown ship by naval drones in mid-February and a patrol ship this week. Russia has not acknowledged any such losses.

Pinchas Goldschmidt, the chief Rabbi of Moscow, witnessed first-hand the rise of Putin, writes Adam Luck. Now that he’s fled the nation after criticising the Ukraine battle, he has a stark warning for the West – the Russian chief has his sights set on extra than simply Kyiv…

When the chief rabbi of Moscow was summoned by Putin’s FSB brokers to Sadovnicheskaya Avenue police station in 2003, they’d one objective: to show him right into a Russian agent.

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, who had been chief rabbi for the earlier decade, was in a position to withstand the Russian state of their efforts to show him. However when Russia invaded Ukraine two years in the past, his time was up.