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'Very tense' situation as floods in Russia see thousands evacuated

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'Very tense' situation as floods in Russia see thousands evacuated

More than 100,000 people have fled their homes in Russia and neighbouring Kazakhstan.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called the situation in Russia and Kazakhstan “very, very tense” as fast-melting snow and ice swell rivers in Russia’s southern Urals and northern Kazakhstan.

Both countries have declared a state of emergency after battling the rising rivers for over five days.

Kazakhstan has evacuated 96,272 people since the start of the floods. Russia itself has evacuated more than 7,000, mostly from the Orenburg region.

The floods in Orenburg began with the collapse of a dam on Saturday. Although President Vladimir Putin is frequently shown on Russian state television meeting officials and traveling across the country, the Kremlin said he is not yet planning to visit the flood-hit region.

The river’s water level in the city of Orenburg was above 10 metres on Wednesday, state news agency Ria Novosti reported, citing the regional governor. Photos shared by Russian news outlets showed roads covered in water, submerged fields and partially submerged houses.

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The water was approaching high-rise buildings, Ria Novosti said, and more than 300 homes were flooded overnight, according to state news agency Tass.

People in the city of Orsk gathered in a rare protest Monday, calling for compensation after their homes were damaged. Protests are unusual in Russia, where authorities have consistently cracked down on any form of dissent following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

 Hundreds of people gathered in front of the administrative building in Orsk on Monday, and videos posted on Russian social media showed people chanting “Putin, help us!” and “Shame!”

Other videos on social media showed angry Russians refusing to leave the areas near their homes because they said thieves were looting abandoned houses with boats.

A criminal probe has been launched to investigate suspected construction violations that may have caused the dam to break. Local authorities said the dam could withstand water levels up to 5.5 metres. On Sunday, the level in Orsk reached 9.7 meters, according to Russia’s water level information site AllRivers.

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The Ural River, about 2,428 kilometres long, flows from the southern section of the Ural Mountains into the north end of the Caspian Sea, through Russia and Kazakhstan.

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Ukraine strikes major Russian ammo depot with ‘Flamingo’ missile as Trump urges Zelenskyy to move on deal

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Ukraine strikes major Russian ammo depot with ‘Flamingo’ missile as Trump urges Zelenskyy to move on deal

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Video released this week shows Ukraine launching domestically produced FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles, as Kyiv pushes deeper strikes on Russian military infrastructure nearly four years into the war.

Ukraine’s military said the missiles were used in an overnight attack on February 11 to 12 targeting a missile, ammunition and an explosives arsenal near the settlement of Kotluban in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast, describing the facility as belonging to Russia’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, known as GRAU, and said it was among the largest ammunition storage hubs used by Russian forces. 

Ukrainian officials said powerful explosions and secondary detonations were recorded at the site, while the extent of damage was still being assessed.

RUSSIAN ATTACK ON KHARKIV WIPES OUT YOUNG FAMILY, LEAVING PREGNANT MOTHER AS SOLE SURVIVOR

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Ukraine launches domestically produced long-range FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles toward targets in Russia. (East2West)

Russian regional authorities acknowledged an incident at a Defense Ministry facility in the same area. Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov said air defenses repelled a missile attack and that falling debris triggered a fire at a military facility near Kotluban. He said an evacuation of nearby residents was ordered during firefighting because of the threat of detonation. Anadolu Agency reported that buses were prepared to move residents to temporary accommodation centers.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has also publicly referenced the Flamingo system. In a daily update carried by Russian state media, the ministry said its air defenses shot down five Flamingo long-range cruise missiles over the previous 24 hours. The ministry did not provide evidence in the statement, and Kyiv has not confirmed how many missiles were intercepted.

BATTERED IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA RACES TO REARM — BUT QUESTIONS LINGER OVER ITS MILITARY STRENGTH

Footage shows the launch of Ukraine’s homegrown long-range “Flamingo” cruise missiles during a strike on Russian military infrastructure. (East2West)

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Ukraine has increasingly highlighted indigenous long-range capabilities, including the FP-5. An East-to-West News agency video report previously cited Ukrainian officials describing the missile’s range as 3,000 kilometers, or about 1,864 miles, and said officials claim accuracy within about 14 meters, though battlefield performance is difficult to independently verify.

In response to a reporter’s question on Friday on the talks between the sides, President Donald Trump put the onus back on President Zelenskyy to make a deal. 

“Well, Zelenskyy is going to have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelenskyy is going to have to get moving otherwise, he’s going to miss a great opportunity. He has to move,” he said.

A new round of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine is expected in Geneva next week, even as fighting persists along the more than 1,200-kilometer front line.

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Ukraine fires six FP-5 Flamingo missiles in a night strike on Russia’s 117th GRAU arsenal in Kotluban, Volgograd region. Feb. 11, 2025. (East2West)

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Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks across Ukraine continue, saying on Friday that a Russian drone assault on port infrastructure near Odesa killed one person and injured six others, while a separate strike near the eastern front line killed three brothers, including an eight-year-old and wounded their mother and grandmother.

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Macron says Europe must redesign security, cites nuclear deterrence

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Macron says Europe must redesign security, cites nuclear deterrence

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Emmanuel Macron told the Munich Security Conference on Friday that Europe will have to redesign its security architecture on its own terms as it faces an aggressive Russia.

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The French president said the current security framework won’t hold in the future and Europeans must set out new parameters in their own terms. Macron said that it may include a more “holistic” approach to nuclear deterrence among European allies.

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Macron said plans for “a day after” implying a future coexistence with Russia must be drafted by Europeans independently due to their geographical reality and a “bloated” Russian army on what the French leader described as a belligerent “sugar high.”

“We have to be the ones to negotiate this new architecture of security for Europe for the day after because our geography will not change,” he said.

“We will live with Russia in the same place, and the Europeans at the same place, and I don’t want this negotiation to be organised by someone else,” he said in an apparent reference to the United States and their direct talks with Moscow.

Macron told the gathering in Munich, which focuses on security and brings together world leaders, future parameters of security may include a new, more holistic nuclear deterrence among European allies. Until now, deterrence has been a strictly national domain and a highly delicate issue because of its implications on sovereignty.

The French leader teased a “new strategic dialogue” on nuclear arms.

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“We have engaged a strategic dialogue with Chancelor Merz and (other) European leaders in order to see how we can articulate our national doctrine” with special cooperation and common security interests in some key countries, he said.

“This dialogue is important because it’s a way to articulate nuclear deterrence in a holistic approach of defence and security. This is a way to create convergence in our strategic approach between Germany and France,” he added.

Earlier, Merz had told the conference he had engaged in “confidential talks” on European nuclear deterrence.

“We Germans are adhering to our legal obligations. We consider this strictly within the context of our nuclear sharing within NATO and we will not allow zones of differing security to emerge in Europe,” Merz said.

The comments are significant as it shows Europeans are beginning to think of a future security that relies on their own capabilities, becoming less dependent on the US umbrella for the first time since the end of the Cold War.

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The French president said he would deliver more details in the coming weeks.

‘Europe is vilified, but it should be proud’

Macron sought to rally support for a stronger and proud Europe, which often lacks self-confidence despite its many strengths, according to the French President, who suggested Europeans are being vilified through false claims amplified on social media.

“We need a much more positive mindset. There has been a tendency in this place and beyond to overlook Europe and sometimes to criticise it outright,” Macron said.

“Caricatures have been made, Europe has been vilified as an aging, slow, fragmented construct sidelined by history. As an overregulated economy that shuts innovation, as a society preyed by migration that would corruption its precious traditions.

“And most curiously yet, in some quarters, as a repressive continent,” he added.

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In his remarks, Macron appeared to push back at the US administration which urged Europe to reverse course or face “civilisational erasure” citing excessive regulation, illegal migration and repressive social media policies curtailing free speech.

“Everyone should take a cue from us, instead of trying to divide us,” he said.

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James Van Der Beek’s Family Earns $2 Million After His Death as Friends Thank GoFundMe Donors: ‘It Reminds Us That Love Is Real’

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James Van Der Beek’s Family Earns  Million After His Death as Friends Thank GoFundMe Donors: ‘It Reminds Us That Love Is Real’

A GoFundMe campaign for James Van Der Beek’s family has raised $2 million after his death at 48.

Van Der Beek, who starred as Dawson Leery on the hit WB series “Dawson’s Creek,” died on Feb. 11 following a battle with colorectal cancer. Shortly after the news broke, friends launched a GoFundMe to support his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children.

“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the message on the GoFundMe reads. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”

The friends who created the page thanked fans on Feb. 12 for their donations, saying, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up for James and his beautiful family. Your kindness has meant more than we can put into words. In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that James’s spirit continues to bring people together.”

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They added that the family is spending time together to mourn and asked for privacy. “Your respect and understanding will give them the room they need to heal,” the statement continues. “Please continue to keep James’s wife and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for honoring his life with compassion, generosity, and love.”

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and publicly shared his diagnosis the following year. In 2025, he partnered with Propstore to auction memorabilia from “Dawson’s Creek” to help cover the costs of his treatment. He later expanded the effort by selling jerseys from the 1999 film “Varsity Blues,” raising funds for his own medical costs and to help other “families walking the same path.”

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