Erdogan urges parties to seize ‘window of opportunity’ on Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged parties to take advantage of recent contacts to strike a deal toward peace in Ukraine, after speaking with the country's leader.
European Space Agency suspends joint Mars mission with Russia
A Russian-European mission to land a rover on Mars has been suspended due to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Space Agency announced Thursday, as Moscow said it regretted the “bitter” decision. The ExoMars mission had been set to use a Russian launcher later this year to send a...UAE foreign affairs minister stresses peaceful resolution of Ukraine conflict
The ministers of UAE and Russia discussed cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance the bilateral strategic partnership in various fields. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met today with Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in...US Fed raises interest rate in battle against high inflation
Markets are expecting a total of seven rate hikes this year, and while the US Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee typically moves in quarter-point steps, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said it could be more aggressive if needed.Ukraine invasion shows democracy is shaking: Artist
What Ai Weiwei calls the current "crisis of human rights and freedom of speech" is portrayed in a life-size replica of the cell where he was held after his 2011 arrest by the Chinese police.IEA cuts oil demand outlook, fears Russia supply ‘shock’
The International Energy Agency cut its world oil demand forecast for 2022 on Wednesday, warning that sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine could spark a global supply "shock". "Faced with what could turn into the biggest supply crisis in decades, global energy markets are at a crossroads," the...Slovakia approves NATO deployment on Ukraine’s doorstep
Ninety-six out of 134 lawmakers present voted in favour of the move on Tuesday, while 15 voted against. .Biden to assert ‘iron-clad commitment’ on NATO trip
US president will travel to Brussels to attend an EU summit to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine.German WWII ghosts loom large in Ukraine crisis
World War II still looms large in Germans' living memory and public discourse, shaping the perception of the Ukraine invasion.‘The enemy is the same, the goal same’: Syrian protestors at pro-Ukraine rally
Moscow is currently recruiting thousands of fighters in Syria, from the regular army and from militia groups, to be put on standby for possible deployment in Ukraine.Russia drafts thousands in Syria to fight in Ukraine war
Russia has drawn up lists of 40,000 fighters from Syrian army and allied militia ranks to be put on standby for deployment in Ukraine, a war monitor reported Tuesday.Ukraine launches website for cryptocurrency donations
On the “Aid for Ukraine” website, users can currently offer donations in 10 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, ether, tether and dogecoin.Deadly strikes rock Ukraine despite talks with Russia
With Russia threatening to take ‘full control’ of several major cities in Ukraine, the fourth round of talks failed to deliver a breakthrough on the 19th day of the invasion, even as the US tried to talk down China from helping its neighbor.Power restored at Ukraine’s Chernobyl: IAEA
Power has been restored at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power station, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986, the International Atomic Energy Agency said late Monday. Separately, Ukraine's state nuclear operator Energoatom accused the Russian military of detonating ammunition at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in the country's...Instagram no longer accessible in Russia
The move comes after Facebook and Twitter were blocked in early March as part of sweeping efforts by Moscow to control information available to Russians.Russia and Ukraine to hold talks as troops edge closer to Kyiv
Russia and Ukraine were set for a new round of talks Monday as Moscow's invading forces maintain their devastating assaults across the former Soviet state. The discussions come as Russian troops edge closer to Kyiv and keep up their relentless bombardment of the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, where...Chechen strongman Kadyrov says he is in Ukraine
Kadyrov posted a video on Telegram of himself in military uniform studying plans around a table with soldiers in a room.Rising food prices shake North Africa as Ukraine war rages
Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya, along with several other Arab countries, import much of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia.Qatar may dislodge Russia to be Germany’s energy supplier
In order to lower its dependence on Russian oil and gas, Germany is looking toward Qatar to fulfill its energy needs.Ukraine war to ‘deeply destabilise’ food supply in Europe, Africa: Macron
“Europe and also Africa will be very deeply destabilised as regards food because of what can’t be planted right now in Ukraine,“ Macron told reporters.Deutsche Bank exits Russia
Bank’s move came in protest against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.UN dismisses Russia claim of Ukraine-US bioweapons
Russia called a meeting of the 15-member Security Council to repeat its previously made, unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine, with US help, had operated a network of 30 laboratories carrying out ‘very dangerous biological experiments’ aimed at spreading ‘viral pathogens’ from bats to people.Saudi World Defence Show sees tensions between Russia, Ukraine
Maxim Potemkov, sales director of one of the exhibiting Ukrainian companies, said there was a wall of silence between the two sides.UNSC to hold emergency meeting on Russia’s request
Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine.Qatar third Gulf country to become major non-NATO ally of US
Qatar became the third country in the Gulf region after Kuwait and Bahrain to be designated by the United States a major non-NATO ally. A declaration issued by US President Joe Biden on Thursday afternoon formally designated Qatar as a non-NATO ally, weeks after a pledge he made to Qatari...Facebook allows calls for violence against ‘Russian invaders’
Facebook has temporarily eased its policy on violent speech after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, allowing statements like "death to Russian invaders" but not credible threats against civilians, the tech giant said Thursday. Moscow's internationally condemned attack on its neighbor has provoked unprecedented sanctions from Western governments and businesses, but also...IMF expects to cut global growth forecast due to Ukraine war
The IMF in January cut the global growth forecast for 2022 to 4.4 percent due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, after worldwide GDP rose 5.9 percent last year.Russia, Ukraine fail to make progress at ‘difficult’ Turkey talks
Russia and Ukraine on Thursday failed to find a breakthrough on a ceasefire and other humanitarian issues at the first high-level talks between the two sides since Moscow's invasion. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba met on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish resort...Egypt inflation hits 10 percent as Ukraine impact pushes food prices up
Egypt's inflation rate hit 10 percent in February, official figures showed Thursday, as the country heavily reliant on wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine braces for the full impact of their war. "The annual headline inflation rate recorded 10 percent for February 2022, compared to 4.9 for the same month...UAE reaffirms commitment to OPEC+ pact, production adjustments
The United Arab Emirates on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to OPEC+ alliance agreements, a day after an envoy said it would urge the cartel to boost oil output. "The UAE is committed to the OPEC+ agreement and its existing monthly production adjustment mechanism," Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei wrote on Twitter....Iran blames US for working to ‘complicate’ nuclear talks
Iran on Thursday accused the United States of working to "complicate" efforts to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, after new Russian demands linked to its invasion of Ukraine raised concerns of further delays.Brent oil rebounds 5 percent from slump as hopes of supplies rise
European benchmark Brent North Sea crude climbed 5.1 percent to $116.80 per barrel in morning deals. New York's WTI contract advanced 3.5 percent to $112.58. Both contracts had collapsed by more than 12 percent in value on Wednesday, as traders also seized on a glimmer of hope for peace talks...Russia accuses US of funding biological weapons research in Ukraine
Russia on Thursday accused the US of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, as Moscow stepped up its campaign to gain control of key Ukrainian cities. The defense ministry said Washington "planned to carry out research on bird, bat and reptile pathogens".Ukraine war affects green energy transition
The EU, IEA, and NGOs stress that the development of renewable energy sources and biogas must be accelerated.World clamors will air hit TV series starring Zelensky
The famous TV series shows Zelensky as a high school teacher propelled to the presidency after a student's video of him ranting about corruption in Ukraine went viral.US tells oil majors it needs more supply
The surge in energy costs is a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Washington and its European allies to impose tough sanctions on Moscow, including a US ban on Russian oil imports that was announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday.UAE says will urge OPEC to boost oil output
Brent had spiked to $139 on Monday — about $8 short of an all-time record — in expectation of the US embargo on Russian oil and gas.How Russian ‘safe corridors’ worked in bitter Syria war
Russia's offer of "humanitarian corridors" for civilians to flee the Ukrainian cities it has besieged is a well-tried approach Moscow adopted during Syria's devastating civil war.Protests rock Iraq’s southern area as food prices surge
Protests erupted Wednesday in Iraq's impoverished south over a rise in food prices that officials attributed to the conflict in Ukraine. For about a week, the price of cooking oils and flour have skyrocketed in local markets as government officials have sought to address growing anger with various statements and...France says ‘worried’ about ‘delays’ to Iran nuclear deal
France warned Tuesday that further delays could stymie a revived nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran, with the West at loggerheads with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, while Washington said it would cede nothing to Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has demanded written assurances from Washington that...Israel gives financial guarantees for its flights to Russia
Israel was poised Tuesday to extend financial guarantees for its airlines to fly into Russia, raising criticism in Kyiv as most Western airlines boycott Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.Russia to open Ukraine ‘humanitarian routes’, but fears persist
Russia planned to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine Tuesday for civilians to flee besieged cities, but Kyiv insisted the move was a publicity stunt and people would not be able to escape. Moscow's offer to evacuate residents was condemned because most of the routes led into Russia or its ally...IAEA reports second Ukraine nuclear facility damaged
The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday (Mar 7) it has received reports of artillery shells damaging a nuclear research facility in Ukraine's besieged second city Kharkiv, but there was no "radiological consequence". The Vienna-based UN body said Ukrainian authorities reported an attack took place on Sunday, adding that no...Israeli town welcomes fleeing Ukrainian Jews
Interior minister Ayelet Shaked estimated Sunday that about 15,000 Ukrainians could reach Israel by the end of March.UAE dispatches 30 tonne of aid to war-torn Ukraine
The United Arab Emirates said it flew 30 tonnes of aid and medical supplies to Poland for transportation to war-torn Ukraine Monday, to help relieve the "deteriorating humanitarian situation" after Russia's invasion.Bahrain pledges $1 million as aid for refugees fleeing Ukraine
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for resources to meet the increasing humanitarian needs in Ukraine.Remittances: Ukraine flows may rise by 8 percent, Central Asian countries hit
Remittances to Ukraine, which were around 12 percent of its GDP and nearly three times the size of foreign direct investment in 2021, will increase by 8 percent in 2022 despite the ongoing conflict, according to a report by Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD). The remittance flows...Blinken says new Russia demands on Iran nuclear deal ‘irrelevant’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday dismissed as "irrelevant" Russian demands for guarantees that new sanctions linked to Ukraine will not affect Moscow's rights under a reworked Iran nuclear deal. With the parties to the Iran agreement, which the US abandoned in 2018, now seemingly close to a...Brent crude nears $140 per barrel, headed towards all-time high
Brent North Sea crude oil for May delivery reached $139.13 shortly after electronic trading opened around 2300 GMT on Sunday.Ukraine is Europe’s ‘fastest growing refugee’ crisis since World War II
UN officials said they expected the wave of refugees to intensify further as the Russian army pressed its offensive, particularly toward the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Since Russia invaded on February 24, a total of 922,400 people have fled Ukraine to Poland. Hungary, Moldova, Romanian and Slovakia have also seen Ukrainian...Italy, Qatar discuss cooperation in energy sector amid Ukraine crisis
Italy and Qatar discussed greater cooperation in the energy field in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, in a meeting at Doha on Sunday. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and his Qatari counterpart Mohammad bin Abdelrahman Al-Thani represented their countries in the meeting. Saudi media reports said that “bilateral and...