NATO chief sees room for "cautious optimism" amid standoff with Russia

The chief of the NATO defence alliance says there are grounds for cautious optimism amid the standoff between Moscow and the West over a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine.

But the alliance boss one also warned he had seen no sign of de-escalation from the Russian side. Moscow says it has no plans to invade Ukraine.

From Brussels, where NATO is headquartered, Rosie Birchard reports. 

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Trump's real estate business dropped by accounting firm

An accounting firm handling former U.S. President Donald Trump's business says it no longer stands behind a decade of statements, and has dropped the company as its client.

Caroline Malone reports.

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Protestors defiant in face of Canadian emergency measurers

Protestors occupying a section of downtown Ottawa outside the nation's
parliament say they won't back down despite fresh warnings from Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau.

On Monday the Emergencies Act was invoked for the very first time
granting authorities greater powers in a bid to dislodge anti Covid-19
restriction demonstrators.

William Denselow reports from Ottawa.

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GERMAN CHANCELLOR UNMOVED ON NS2 SANCTIONS POSITION

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says there are parts of Russia's security demands worth discussing.

At a press conference after meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two discussed energy security, trade, and the completed but not-yet-operational Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, as other Western leaders push for it to be used as a lever in military deescalation negotiations.

Stuart Smith reports.

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NYC vaccine mandate: 1,430 municipal workers fired

More than a thousand municipal workers in New York City have been
fired for failing to comply with a Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

Last Friday was the deadline for staff to prove they had received at
least two doses of the vaccine.

Sarah Walton reports

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UK Foreign Secretary calls for "full-scale removal" of Russian troops from border with Ukraine

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says western allies need to see a "full-scale" drawdown of Russian forces at the country's border with Ukraine.

She was responding to comments by Russian officials on Tuesday, saying some units have "completed their missions" and are pulling back from the border.

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Some schools reopen in Indian state following hijab row

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Some schools are reopening in the south Indian state of Karnataka this week after they closed amid protests triggered by students being barred from wearing the hijab - a headscarf worn by many Muslim women - in the classroom.

The issue has sparked anger within the minority Muslim community in the country.

Rebecca Bundhun has this report from Mumbai.

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Hong Kong to use hotels to isolate COVID-19 patients as cases surge

 The Hong Kong government is set to start using hotels and public housing estates as COVID-19 quarantine centers, as hospitals overflow with new coronavirus patients. 

The city recorded a record daily high of more than two thousand cases on Monday, and there’s expectations the caseload will continue to rise this week. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.

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Canada invokes Emergencies Act as protests continue

Canada's Prime Minister has announced that the Emergencies Act has
been invoked for the first time in the country's history.

The move is a bid to grant authorities greater powers to respond to
blockades formed by protestors calling for an end to Covid-19
restrictions.

William Denselow reports from Ottawa.

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BREAKING: Trudeau invokes Canada's "Emergencies Act" to clear Ottawa streets of Freedom Convoy protestors

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the country's Emergencies Act in an effort to clear the streets of Ottawa of protestors who have besieged the Canadian capital.

He says the so-called "Freedom Convoy" is "illegal and dangerous", and requires the use of emergency measures to restore order.

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Ukraine-Russia tensions prompt losses on Wall Street

Markets ended the day lower in the US as investors monitor
developments in Ukraine.

There is also rising concern about the Federal Reserve plan to
increase interest rates.

Sarah Walton reports

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US closing Kyiv embassy over Russian invasion fears

The US is closing its embassy in the Ukrainian capital over fears of
an imminent Russian invasion.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced embassy staff and
operations are moving from Kyiv to Lviv [PRON: luh-VEE-vuh].

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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Iran "in a hurry" to agree nuclear deal

Iran says it is "in a hurry" to agree a new nuclear accord with the US
as talks resume in Vienna.

However, the country's foreign minister made it clear any new
agreement must be in Tehran's national interests.

As US correspondent Nick Harper reports.

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Ontario plans to ease covid restrictions amid continuing protests

Ontario is dropping a proof of vaccine requirement and is moving up a timetable to ease other covid-19 restrictions.

This comes as anti-mandate protestors continue to blockade parts of downtown Ottawa.

William Denselow reports from Ottawa.

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Hate crimes trial begins for three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery

Opening arguments began on Monday in the federal hate crimes trial against the three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

It's the first recent high profile case involving the murder of a Black person, in which prosecutors are saying the accused were motivated by racism.

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Putin says he'll give diplomacy more time

Russian President Vladimir Putin says diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over Ukraine and the Kremlin's security demands are not yet exhausted and he believes they should be intensified.

The Russian leader was speaking during a meeting with his foreign minister and other government advisers.

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz has visited President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv today and will meet President Putin at the Kremlin tomorrow.

In Kyiv, some foreign nationals are leaving the country but residents say there is no great sense of panic.

Vasil Filipchuk is a Ukrainian diplomat and former spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv.

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Ukrainian diplomat Vasil Filipchuk says many people in the country's capital do not believe that the Russian President would risk a full-scale invasion.

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Trial begins for US banker charged in connection with 1MDB scandal

The trial is set to begin for a former Goldman Sachs banker charged
with helping to launder millions of dollars from Malaysia.

The money was stolen from the country's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.

Sarah Walton reports

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Traffic flows again over previously blockaded bridge between US and Canada

Vehicles are once again crossing a bridge between the U.S. and Canada
after protestors blocked it for almost a week.

But demonstrators calling for an end to Covid-19 restrictions continue
to blockade a section of downtown Ottawa.

William Denselow reports from the Canadian capital.

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UK petrol prices hit record high

Petrol prices in the UK have hit record highs, the latest example of the surging cost of living.

Inflation in the UK has risen to 5.4% in recent weeks, pushing up prices for everything from the weekly supermarket shop to energy bills.

Giles Gibson reports from London.

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RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS

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The United Nations Peacekeeping force says armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo recruited more than 470 children in their ranks last year.

The UN mission says the recruitment was carried out in the country's east where an ongoing conflict has claimed many lives. Chris Ocamringa reports from Kinshasa...

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