Kyiv Claims 'Astonishing' Advances in East Ukraine

"Kyiv said its forces were making lightning gains in the east of the country in a
shock counteroffensive to recapture territory that fell to Russia shortly after Moscow's February invasion.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock meanwhile arrived in the Ukrainian capital for a surprise visit, which she said was to demonstrate Berlin's support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia." MT

Germany ‘prepared’ for Russian gas shutdown

"Germany can cope with the current energy crisis, and is ready to deal with a potential Russian

natural gas shutdown, the Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

“We live in serious times… But we are prepared. Prepared, for example, for Russia to largely cut off gas supplies because of the war against Ukraine,” Scholz said in a video address.

“We have set up terminals on the north German coast to import liquefied natural gas. We have been saving gas. We are once again using the production capabilities of coal-fired power plants. At the beginning of next year we will have the opportunity to use the remaining southern German nuclear power plants if that is necessary… We have put together a comprehensive aid package to support those who cannot easily cope with such challenges financially,” the chancellor said." RT

Russian speakers protest ‘language genocide’ in Latvia

"Members of Latvia’s Russian-speaking community staged a peaceful protest in the country’s capital of Riga against a looming ban on teaching in Russian in educational institutions. 

Last month, the Education, Culture and Science Commission of the Latvian parliament, called the Saeima, supported amendments to education laws that would provide for a phased three-year transition to teaching only in Latvian, the state language, in kindergartens and schools." RT