Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the introduction of “military-political work” in the country’s National Guard, paving the way for Soviet-style ideological political education within its ranks.

The Arktika, Russia’s new nuclear-powered icebreaker championed by the Kremlin as the largest and most-powerful of its kind in the world, has set sail on its maiden voyage to the Arctic as part of the country’s efforts to tap the region’s commercial potential.

Turkey is preparing a large-scale offensive in Syria in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo.