GERMANY

Ukrainian on trial over Nord Stream bombing

A Ukrainian ex-military officer went on trial in Germany on Wednesday, accused of organizing the secret operation that blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022, severing western Europe from the biggest source of Russian natural gas. The suspect, identified under German privacy rules only as Serhii K, is accused of leading a group of Ukrainian agents including divers and an explosives expert to mount one of the biggest infrastructure sabotage operations of modern times. Prosecutors have alleged that Serhii K, who was arrested under an international warrant in Italy last year, worked with members of the Ukrainian military to plan the clandestine operation on behalf of unidentified Ukrainian state entities. Serhii K has denied any involvement in the blasts.

JAPAN

Citizens rally to protest crimes by US forces

Japanese citizens gathered near the US embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday evening to protest a recent case in which a US Marine stationed in Japan's Okinawa allegedly robbed and murdered a local woman, and to oppose an upcoming Japan-US joint military exercise. Protesters chanted slogans including "US military bases out of Okinawa" and "US military, stop killing". Police deployed officers and patrol cars to keep order, and at times there was pushing and shoving between officers and protesters.

AGENCIES-XINHUA