🇰🇵 DPRK’s latest missile test constituted a “regular and planned self-defensive step for defending the country’s security and regional peace from the US’ direct military threats that have lasted for more than half a century,” a spokesperson from North Korea’s National Aviation Administration announced Saturday.

The tests do not “pose any threat [or] harm to the safety of not only civil aviation but also the neighboring countries and region,” the spokesperson added, dismissing a recent statement by the International Civil Aviation Organization condemning the missile launches.

The spokesperson dismissed the ICAO’s criticism as “a political provocation of the US and its vassal forces aimed to infringe upon” Pyongyang’s sovereignty.

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❗️Russian Foreign Ministry: US signals in the context of what is happening in Ukraine combine provocative belligerence and hints at the possibility of dialogue

“They’re firing at us civilians”: Pensioners in Rubezhnoye, LPR on the tactics of Ukrainian forces.

❗The attack on the Crimean Bridge takes the security crisis over Ukraine to a dangerous new level, with both sides likely to expand attacks against civilian infrastructure, political observers, journalists and academics have told Sputnik.

⚡During a protest in Kishinev there was an attempt to break into the Russian Embassy - Diplomatic mission in Moldova

▪️Moscow expects those responsible for the "hostile trick" against the Russian Embassy in Moldova to be found and punished, the diplomatic mission said;

▪️The Russian Embassy in Moldova reported that it sent a note of protest to Kishinev in connection with the hostile action at the diplomatic mission

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A video showing an attempt by protesters to storm the Russian Embassy in Moldova has emerged online

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❗️The actions of firefighters on the Crimean bridge made it possible to save the railway from more serious damage, only 9 of 59 carriages burned down – Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations

🇷🇺🇨🇳🇮🇳 Russia's trade with China and India is increasing due to a growing number of goods categories, despite Western sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"Our trade with China for eight months increased by a third, the trade with India for six months grew by 120%," Lavrov told Russian weekly newspaper Argumenty i Fakty.

Sanctions are not an obstacle to the development of economic relations between the countries, the minister noted. "And it is quite natural. Many foreign companies are trying to fill in niches after Western businesses left the Russian market," Lavrov said.

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🇰🇵 North Korea reportedly fires unidentified ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan

❗️Railway traffic on the Crimean bridge has been restored - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin

Protesters have gathered in Paris demanding the resignation of French President Emmanuel Macron, a Sputnik correspondent reports from the scene

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🇳🇬 Nigeria facing worst flooding in a decade

More than 40 people have died as floods hit several Nigerian states, destroying dozens of homes and facilities.

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🇰🇷🇰🇵 NKorea launches 2 missiles toward sea after US-SKorea drills

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Sunday, the latest in its barrage of weapons tests in recent days, after the North warned against the US redeployment of an aircraft carrier for a new round of drills with South Korean warships.

The drills involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group, which returned to the area after North Korea fired a powerful missile over Japan last week to protest the carrier group’s previous training with South Korea.

On Saturday, North Korea’s Defense Ministry warned that the Regan’s redeployment was causing a “considerably huge negative splash” in regional security. The Japanese coast guard said it has warned ships around the country’s coasts about falling objects and urged them to stay away.

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🇨🇳 China lashes out at latest US export controls on chips

China on Saturday criticized the latest US decision to tighten export controls that would make it harder for China to obtain and manufacture advanced computing chips, calling it a violation of international economic and trade rules that will “isolate and backfire” on the US

The tensions have impacted semiconductor companies in the US and globally which either export chips or manufacture chips in China. Semiconductor companies such as Nvidia and AMD has seen a 40% decline in stock price over the past year.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that the US “weaponization and politicization” of science and technology as well as economic and trade issues will not stop China’s progress.

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🇷🇺 Russia Building Up Export Potential, Ready to Assist Poorest Countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Russians on Agriculture and Processing Industry Workers’ Day, emphasizing that Russia’s export potential is getting stronger and it is ready to help developing nations.

"We are fully meeting the domestic demand for basic, essential products and providing reliable food security. Moreover, we are building up our export potential, and – I’d like to emphasize this – we are ready to make our contribution to overcoming global food challenges and provide the necessary assistance to the poorest, developing nations," Putin said in a Sunday statement.

Disruptions in supply chains have led to higher fuel and food prices across the EU, driving inflation to record levels and causing the cost of living to soar.

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🇬🇧 Latest in string of strikes brings most UK trains to a halt

Most train services across the UK were canceled Saturday as thousands of rail workers staged the latest in a string of strikes over jobs, pay and working conditions.

The 24-hour walkout by 40,000 cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff was the third in a week, and part of a surging wave of strikes from workers seeking pay raises to keep up with inflation that is running at almost 10%. Only about 20% of train services were expected to operate across the UK on Saturday, according to infrastructure operator Network Rail, with disruption spilling over into Sunday morning.

Britain is seeing a growing number of strikes amid the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Unions accuse the government of preventing train companies — which are privately owned but heavily regulated — from making a deal. 

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🚀 SpaceX delivers Russian, Native American women to station

A Russian cosmonaut who caught a US lift to the International Space Station arrived at her new home Thursday for a five-month stay, accompanied by a Japanese astronaut and two from NASA, including the first Native American woman in space.

The SpaceX capsule pulled up to the station a day after launching into orbit. The linkup occurred 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the Atlantic, just off the west coast of Africa. It was the first time in 20 years that a Russian hitched a ride from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the result of a new agreement reached despite friction over the Ukraine conflict.

Until Elon Musk’s SpaceX started launching astronauts two years ago, NASA was forced to spend tens of millions of dollars every time an astronaut flew up on a Soyuz.

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‼️ WATCH Sputnik Correspondent Wyatt Reed is reporting from Donetsk after Ukrainian forces carried out an artillery strike on the Donbass Palace Hotel.