Smoke rises from a heavily damaged train station building in the town of Fastiv, Kyiv region, after an air attack, on December 6, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine
| Photo Credit: AFP

Moscow:

US President Joe Biden, who is in Brazil to attend the G-20 Summit, announced a multimillion-dollar plan to “reforest the Amazon” on Sunday. Biden held a press conference in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil’s Manaus, where he talked about conservation and the investments his administration has made in clean energy infrastructure. But, the US president took no questions about the United States’s just-announced decision to clear Ukraine to use long-range American missiles to strike inside Russia in a major escalation of the conflict.

Following this, RT, the Russian state-controlled international news television network, posted a video of the US President appearing to “wander off” into the Amazon rainforest, on X (formally Twitter) and asked, “Where you going Joe?”

Where you going Joe?

Biden finishes press conference, answers no questions, wanders off into the Amazon Jungle pic.twitter.com/r2Hl5NoUhi

— RT (@RT_com) November 18, 2024

The clip showed outgoing US president Biden standing at a podium in a loose-fitting blue outdoor shirt and sunglasses. He suddenly turns, waves, and appears to walk right into the forest, rather than following the path in front of him.

“Biden finishes press conference, answers no questions, wanders off into the Amazon Jungle,”  the Russian state media portal said in the post on X.

This was the second post on RT’s X handle in the last 24 hours, which seemed to be mocking Mr Biden’s decision, giving the green signal to Kyiv to use American missiles against military targets inside Russia. 

Earlier on Sunday, RT posted a screen grab of a media article on the Biden administration’s big move. A graphics interchange format (gif) image of a smiling US President was superimposed on the article. Posting the graphic, RT wrote, “Joe Biden planning his final vacation as US president be like”. 

Joe Biden planning his final vacation as US president be like pic.twitter.com/alvs3Elz2R

— RT (@RT_com) November 17, 2024

US Clears Kyiv To Use ATACMS Missiles

Acting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s long-standing demand for authorisation to use the powerful Army Tactical Missile System-known by its initials ATACMS-the Biden administration has lifted restrictions on Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles, allowing it to hit targets inside Russia. 

The move, which came weeks before Mr Biden left office, has angered the Kremlin. Accusing the US of “throwing oil on the fire”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the decision would mean Washington’s direct involvement in the conflict. 

Though there has been no official comment on the issue from the White House and incoming President Donald Trump, Mr Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, said: “The military-industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War III going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives.”

President-elect Trump, who is set to take office on January 20, repeatedly pledged during his election campaign to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war.
 

Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya holds a meeting with trade union members on the proposed employment-linked incentive (ELI) scheme, on Wednesday (August 28, 2024).
| Photo Credit: ANI

Telegram founder-CEO Pavel Durov charged, banned from leaving France

France on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief of Telegram, with a litany of violations related to the messaging app and banned him from leaving the country while allowing the billionaire to walk free after four days under arrest.

Centre agrees to further discussions with trade unions on Labour Codes

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has agreed to hold further discussions on the implementation of the four Labour Codes with the Central Trade Unions, union leaders said on Wednesday. The Minister’s assurance came during a round table meeting with the CTUs, where ten unions alleged that the Codes are in favour of big corporations.

Bengal bandh disrupts life as Trinamool takes on BJP

Normal life was paralysed in different parts of West Bengal on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) due to a 12-hour bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in protest against alleged police excesses on protesters during the march to the State Secretariat on Tuesday (August 27, 2024).

Probe into sexual abuse in Kerala film industry gathers pace

The sweeping investigation into the complaints of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Malayalam film industry gathered pace on Wednesday. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the accusations recorded the statement of the woman artist who had publicly accused veteran actor and former general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, Siddique, of raping her at a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram under the pretext of auditioning her for a movie project. 

Jharkhand police snooping on Champai Soren: BJP

Two Jharkhand police officers suspected of spying on former Chief Minister Champai Soren in the national capital were questioned by the Delhi police, officials said on Wednesday. According to Delhi police sources, the two sub-inspectors were staying at a five-star hotel in the city for the past few days and were taken to the Chanakyapuri police station for questioning.

India, Russia sign working plan to handle emergencies

India and Russia signed the working plan of the Joint Russian-Indian Commission on the Cooperation in the Field of Emergency Management for 2025-2026 on Wednesday (August 28, 2024). Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Kurenkov Aleksandr Vyacheslavovich, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of Russia) signed the agreement in Moscow. 

India signs repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 assault rifles, to be delivered by end-2025

The Ministry of Defence has signed a repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the U.S. and deliveries are expected to completed by end-2025.“The contract was signed in June 2024 and delivery is within 18 months of contract,” a defence official said. The Army has earlier procured and inducted 72,400 SIG-716 rifles from Sig Sauer of the U.S. through fast track procurement under a ₹700 crore contract signed in February 2019.

Cabinet approves ₹6,456 crore for three Railway projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three projects of Ministry of Railways with total estimated cost of approximately ₹6,456 crore. The three projects covering seven Districts in four States – Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 kilometres. 

With the latest elections, NDA crosses the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha

With the latest round of elections to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has reached the majority mark in the House, after adding 12 more members to its ranks. The BJP, which has been the single largest party in the Upper House for some time, has increased its strength to 96 and along with allies, six nominated members and two Independents, the NDA now has the support of 119 members.

EC notice to BJP for using a child in Saini’s campaign video

The Election Commission of India has taken a serious view of the BJP’s Haryana unit using a child in a social media campaign video and issued a notice the party’s State president. The post on X, which features Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini interacting with children at various social events, begins with a child saying, “Apki baar Saini sarkar (this time Saini government)”.

BJP MP Brij Bhushan moves Delhi HC against trial in local court

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has moved the Delhi High Court challenging the ongoing trial before a local court in relation to the sexxual harassment allegations against him levelled by women wrestlers.

On Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Kursk

The attack caught Moscow off-guard and raised questions of an intelligence failure. According to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the aim of the operation is to “create a buffer zone” that would prevent further attacks from Russia across the border

Paris Paralympics 2024 open in City of Light

The opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics got underway on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) in the centre of the French capital, firing the starting gun on 11 days of intense competition. Just as for the opening ceremony of the Olympics on the River Seine in July, it took place away from the main stadium for the first time at a Paralympics.

Gunman in Trump assassination attempt saw rally as ‘target of opportunity,’ says FBI official

The gunman in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump searched online for events of both Mr. Trump and President Joe Biden, looked up information about explosives over the last five years and eyed the Pennsylvania campaign rally where he opened fire last month as a “target of opportunity,” a senior FBI official said on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) Investigators who have conducted nearly 1,000 interviews do not yet have a motive for why 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at Mr. Trump during a July campaign rally but they believe that he conducted “extensive attack planning,” including looking up campaign events involving both the current President and former President, particularly in western Pennsylvania.

Moscow:

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Monday that its forces had taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine.

It was the second day in succession that Moscow has announced the capture of new localities. Ukrainian military statements have, at least in part, denied the Russian assertion.

The Russian ministry said in a statement that its forces were in control of the settlement of Stepova Novoselivka in Kharkiv region, and of Novopokrovske in Donetsk region.

The General Staff of the Ukraine’s Armed Forces, in an evening report, said its troops had repelled 17 attacks in the Kupiansk sector near Kharkiv, including by Stepova Novoselivka. It said fighting was raging near Synkivka, further west.

Russia has announced a string of incremental gains since capturing the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region in February.

Donetsk and Kharkiv regions remain focal points along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line in Ukraine’s east and south.

The Ukrainian military earlier said it had repelled Russian attacks near two towns in Donetsk region — Novooleksandrivka and Spirne, a day after Russian forces claimed control of them. The evening report said fighting continued near both localities.

The evening report identified the Pokrovsk front as the theatre of the fiercest fighting. Forty-four Russian assaults had been repelled in the last 24 hours, with 14 clashes still going on.

The military said Russia maintained a military presence across the border from Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv and Sumy regions, adding that Moscow’s forces were increasing the density of minefields and conducting sabotage activities.

That area is under scrutiny for any sign that Russia plans to open a new front to pressure Ukraine’s outnumbered defenders.

Russia launched an assault into the border areas of the northeastern region of Kharkiv in May, opening a new front in 28-month full-scale invasion.

The latest Ukrainian report said Kyiv’s troops controlled the area and turned back 11 Russian assaults near three towns, including Vovchansk, 5 km (3 miles) from the border.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Russian-installed authorities began holding regional elections on Thursday in parts of Ukraine Russia claimed as its own last year, seeking to cement Moscow’s authority in what it calls its “new territories” despite the ongoing conflict.

Russia does not fully control any of the four regions where the votes are being held – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Along with Crimea – annexed by Moscow in 2014 – they make up almost a fifth of Ukraine.

Three quarters of countries at the United Nations General Assembly condemned what they termed Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of the four regions in a vote last October.

Ukrainian officials say the elections are also illegal and show why it is impossible to hold any peace talks with Moscow until Russia withdraws all its troops from Ukrainian territory.

In all four regions, Moscow’s handpicked governors, a mix of veteran pro-Russian politicians and others known only locally, are seeking full terms of office in the polls, which conclude on Sept. 10, when Russia holds regional polls.

The governors are all running with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s endorsement having joined the Kremlin’s United Russia bloc with fanfare in recent months and they face only nominal opposition.

In the Donetsk region port city of Mariupol, which was taken by Russia in May 2022 after a grinding, months-long siege, Reuters saw electoral officials set up a temporary polling booth on Thursday in the courtyard of a residential complex.

A trickle of residents came out to cast their ballots, showing newly-distributed Russian passports to officials while police officers stood by.

Many people have fled Russian-occupied territory, which has suffered some of the worst damage of the conflict.

The exiled Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, told Reuters people from the city, which he escaped on Feb 26, 2022, two days after Russia’s invasion, had told him there were no voter lists and no candidate lists.

“It is clear that there is no trust from the people toward this process, which should be called a sham election,” he said in an interview in Kyiv, adding that he expected a repeat of what he said had happened in annexation votes last year.

“They (Russian-installed officials) are going to walk from apartment to apartment, as they did before, talking to people. There are two soldiers standing nearby, carrying machine guns, and they tell the people that they must vote,” he said.

Reuters could not immediately verify his account.

MOSCOW EXPECTS BIG WIN

Voting also began on Thursday in the Zaporizhzhia region, whose Russian-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky held talks with Putin in August shown on state television in which he said said the province would return an emphatically pro-Kremlin vote.

“We are sure that United Russia will receive the result it deserves in the elections,” said Balitsky, a former pro-Russian MP in the Ukrainian parliament whose region is at the forefront of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. Only around 80% of it is controlled by Russia.

Russian-installed authorities in the four regions extended voting over multiple days, saying it was necessary to reduce danger to voters.

Data published by a Kremlin-controlled pollster in early August showed United Russia candidates drawing at least 80% of the vote across all four regions. According to independent Russian news site iStories, only around half of United Russia’s candidates in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions are locals, with the balance being drawn from Russia itself.

Last year, Moscow said the four territories returned overwhelming votes in favour of annexation by Russia, in “referendums” Ukraine and its Western allies said were fraudulent.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)