A minimum of 17 opposition-minded citizens were detained in Belarus on Friday during the celebration of Independence Day, the Vesna human rights center, unregistered by the republic's authorities, said on Saturday

White House staffers are set to interview all political appointees at the Defense Department over the coming weeks, the Foreign Policy magazine reports, citing officials who said that the interviews may be used to gauge loyalty to Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming US presidential election

A high-ranking North Korean diplomat said Pyongyang has no interest in restarting negotiations with the United States and is shocked at the suggestion that talks can be held under present strain in bilateral relations

For the first time in over 25 years of his almost indisputable leadership, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko faces a tough time in the upcoming presidential election as the public support for his candidacy has significantly declined, while the country suffers from deep economic problems, which may cast a shadow over his possible sixth presidential term, experts told Sputnik

The recent naval incident between France and Turkey has put NATO to another test as the former finally halted participation in the alliance's naval mission after failing to see due support in the wake of a dangerous encounter with Turkish vessels in the Mediterranean