Russia Orders Partial Evacuation After Ukrainian Drone Strike Ignites Fire in Tver Region
Russia orders partial evacuation in Tver region after Ukrainian drone attack ignites fire and fears of weapons depot hit.
A partial evacuation has been ordered in Russia's Tver region following a significant Ukrainian drone attack that ignited a fire in Toropets, suggests local governor Igor Rudenya. Unverified footage indicates a possible hit on a weapons depot, sparking preparations for evacuation, school, and kindergarten closures, as nearly 50 drones and two missiles were downed in other regions, with Ukraine's air defenses also active near Kyiv.
In other news, Saudi Arabia plans to celebrate its rich artisan heritage by declaring 2025 the "Year of Handicrafts." Supported by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and part of the broader Saudi Vision 2030, this initiative continues a tradition of cultural celebrations aimed at both preserving heritage and enhancing global appreciation of Saudi crafts.
Shifting gears to the Middle East, Hezbollah's hand-held radios detonated in southern Lebanon and Beirut, causing explosions near a funeral organized by the group. Following the previous day's detonation of thousands of pagers reportedly planted with explosives by Israel's Mossad, which left 12 dead and nearly 3,000 injured, Hezbollah has retaliated by launching rockets at Israeli artillery positions, escalating tensions and fears of a broader conflict.
Moving on to international relations, President Tayyip Erdogan announced Türkiye's intent to bolster ties with BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while maintaining its Western alliances. Emphasizing the nation's focus on new global economic and technological power centers, Erdogan assured that Türkiye, a NATO member, seeks to expand dialogue without straying from its Western commitments.
Meanwhile, Egypt has firmly rejected any changes to Gaza border security arrangements established before the Israel-Hamas conflict. During a meeting in Cairo with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed that Israel must withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and emphasize a Palestinian presence at the Rafah crossing to avoid hampering a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Lastly, the European Union is taking steps to reclaim millions of euros from Hungary after its refusal to pay a 200 million euro fine for violating EU asylum laws. As Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, continues non-compliance over migrant asylum restrictions, the EU plans to deduct the fine from Budapest's allocated funds and seeks additional fines, reaching 93 million euros so far.