More than 21 months into the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II, fighting rages with no end in sight and neither side has landed a telling blow on the battlefield.

Russia has been accused of forcibly deporting thousands of Ukrainian children from schools, hospitals and orphanages in parts of the country controlled by its forces.

Kathmandu has urged Moscow to send any Nepali mercenaries still fighting in the Russian army back home. It did not specify where, how or when the six were killed.

Vladimir Putin was shown a simulation of the ‘nuclear button’ as he toured a vast exhibition of Russian achievements in what looked like a warm-up for a re-election campaign.

The Russian president has rarely travelled abroad in recent years, and mostly to states of the former Soviet Union. His last trip beyond those countries was to China in October.

Russia has likely seen up to 350,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence said, but stressed that was just an estimate.

The British government has responded to a report that cyber groups had hacked Sellafield networks.

The Biden administration sent Congress an urgent warning that the US will run out of funding to send weapons and help to Ukraine by the end of 2023.

Reports said Kyiv’s spy agency struck two trains loaded with fuel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline in Siberia.

Oil prices are likely to be range-bround after Opec members agreed on smaller than expected production cuts

Authorities have now accused him of vandalism, which could add up to another three years to his sentence of 19 years.

A highway tunnel under construction in China’s Xinjiang region is expected to be the world’s longest, and serve as a symbol of stronger ties with Central Asia.

Saudi Arabia is extending its voluntary cut of 1 million barrels per day, Russia will slash exports by 500,000 barrels, with other members to make smaller cuts.

The Supreme Court ruled that activists should be listed as ‘extremists’, a designation that has served in the past as a prelude to arrests

The bloc will push the Chinese president to act against 13 companies, and may name and shame the firms if they do not secure a firm commitment.

A shift in international attention to the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel in Gaza has played into Russia’s hands, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Readers discuss the continuing efforts to realise a smoke-free Hong Kong, Russia’s own version of the Belt and Road Initiative, a possible role for museums, and the power of appreciation.

As China finishes its rotating leadership of the UN Security Council, the foreign minister repeats his call for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and eventual two-state solution.

The US citizen was punched in the face and forced to defend himself at a sewing workshop in a high-security penal colony, his brother says.

The draft legislation would force foreigners to sign a “loyalty agreement” forbidding them from criticising state policy, Soviet history, or contravening traditional family values.

Ukrainian officials say almost all deals Kyiv entered since the collapse of the Soviet Union were scrapped by Moscow, and sitting down with Russia is pointless at best and dangerous at worst.

The Rason Special Economic Zone was a dream destination for North Koreans before tighter sanctions and pandemic-era border closings choked off nearly all trade and tourism.

The Nordic country is facing an influx of asylum seekers from third countries, in what it says is a hybrid attack orchestrated by Moscow.

The spy chief is a hated figure in the Russian media, and has himself been the target of several attempts on his life, including a botched car bombing.

A Russian court extended the pre-trial detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, until January 30.

Almost two years into a grinding war with Russia, Ukrainians are coming to terms with the prospect of a much longer and costlier conflict than they had hoped for.