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Xi, Biden to meet as Trump return looms

US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold their last meeting Saturday, a day after both leaders warned of turbulent times ahead as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Ukraine's Zelensky says wants to end war by diplomacy next year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through "diplomatic means", as both countries prepare for Donald Trump's return to the White House.

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Ukraine rallies UN allies to isolate Russia on international stage

From standing ovations for Ukrainian speakers to a diplomatic walkout as Russia's foreign minister begins to speak, Moscow has found itself very publicly isolated at the United Nations this week.

On Taiwan visit Pompeo says island must not suffer Ukraine's fate

Taiwan must not be allowed to go the same way as Ukraine, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday during a meeting with the island's president.

US experts: militarily, the Russian invasion is a disaster so far

The Russian military's initial invasion of Ukraine has been a surprising strategic and tactical blunder marked by food and fuel shortages, abandoned armored vehicles, aircraft losses and troop deaths, US experts say.

Russia seizes key southern Ukraine city after week of war

Russian troops have seized Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to fall in a devastating week-old war that has already created one million refugees.

Germany begins slow move away from Russian gas after Ukraine invasion

The invasion of Ukraine has thrown Germany's problematic dependence on Russian gas into stark relief, forcing Europe's largest economy to urgently reshape its energy mix.

Committee investigating Capitol assault believes Trump broke law

The legislative panel probing the assault on the US Capitol by a mob of then-president Donald Trump's supporters alleged in a court filing Wednesday that he and his allies took part in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.

China's Congress to focus on boosting slowing economy

A property downturn, slowing economy and war in Ukraine loom large over this week's annual convening of China's legislature, with policymakers expected to focus on shoring up faltering growth.

'Heavy hearts' as foreign players and coaches quit Russian clubs

As the invasion of Ukraine continues, foreign players and coaches are fleeing Russian football, handball and basketball clubs.

ICC to start 'active' probe into war crimes in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said Wednesday an active probe into possible war crimes in Ukraine "will immediately proceed" after his office received the backing of 39 countries.

Japan's Toyota suspends operations at Russia plant

Toyota said Thursday it would suspend operations at its only factory in Russia and stop shipping vehicles to the country, citing "supply chain disruptions" linked to Moscow's assault on Ukraine.

Venezuela's Maduro slams sanctions against Russia as 'madness'

President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela criticized Wednesday the barrage of Western sanctions slapped on Russia, bucking the global chorus of condemnation of its invasion of Ukraine.

Alarm at civilian toll on Russian assault's 'cruellest day'

The United States raised the alarm Wednesday over the "staggering" human cost of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as the apparent deployment of cluster bombs and other treaty-violating weapons raised fears of a brutal escalation in the week-old conflict.

Designer Rousteing sends love to Ukraine at Paris Fashion Week

French designer Olivier Rousteing admitted he felt uncomfortable presenting his latest collection for Balmain at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday in view of the war in Ukraine.

Roman Abramovich: the Russian tycoon who transformed Chelsea

Roman Abramovich rose from a penniless background in Russia's frozen north to become a multi-billionaire and a celebrity football tycoon who transformed the fortunes of one of England's most famous clubs.

Signings, sackings and success: How Abramovich transformed Chelsea

Roman Abramovich's decision to sell Chelsea has sent shockwaves throughout English football but he leaves with the club firmly established as one of the giants of the European game.

US fears for civilians as 'staggering' Ukraine toll grows

The United States raised fears Wednesday that civilians are being targeted by Russia in Ukraine, warning that Moscow is moving cluster munitions and other lethal weaponry into the country in a potentially dangerous new phase of the conflict.

Georgia to apply 'immediately' for EU membership

Georgia will "immediately" apply for EU membership, the Black Sea nation's ruling party said Wednesday, a day after the European Parliament backed war-torn Ukraine's bid to apply for EU membership.

Blinken calls Putin's nuclear rhetoric the 'height of irresponsibility'

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken called President Vladimir Putin's "provocative" nuclear rhetoric "the height of irresponsibility" Wednesday, days after the Russian leader put his strategic forces on alert after invading Ukraine.

Lawyers for ex-Irish soldier hit out at Facebook in IS terror case

Lawyers for a former Irish soldier accused of being a member of the so-called Islamic State jihadist group on Wednesday criticised Facebook for breaching users' privacy.

Target oligarchs 'enablers' says anti-corruption campaigner

Anti-corruption activist Bill Browder, who campaigned for laws against Russian human rights abusers around the world, on Wednesday called for Western governments to go beyond sanctioning pro-Kremlin oligarchs over the invasion of Ukraine.

G7 looks to stop cryptoassets use as Russia sanctions dodge

The Group of Seven industrialised nations are examining ways to stop individuals or companies targeted by Western sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine using cryptocurrencies to dodge the punitive measures, Germany's finance minister said Wednesday.

Dozens detained at anti-war rallies in Russia

Dozens of anti-war demonstrators were detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg Wednesday after jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny called on Russians to protest President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

UN General Assembly demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that "demands" Russia "immediately" withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful rebuke of Moscow's invasion by a vast majority of the world's nations.

Fleeing Ukrainians reach Moldova to escape Russian bombs

After spending several days in a basement in fear of Russian bombs in southern Ukraine, 15-year-old Arsen and his mother Irina reached Moldova. But the teenager is already longing to return home.

Previous wars point to Putin's tactics in Ukraine

From wars in Chechnya to Syria, Vladimir Putin has overseen military campaigns that have inflicted vast and often indiscriminate damage on civilian infrastructure, raising fears he might repeat the tactics in Ukraine, observers say.

Star designer Rousteing sends love to Ukraine at Paris Fashion Week

Superstar French designer Olivier Rousteing admitted he felt uncomfortable presenting his latest collection for Balmain at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday in view of the war in Ukraine.

US launches task force to pursue 'corrupt Russian oligarchs'

US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the launch on Wednesday of a multi-agency task force to pursue "corrupt Russian oligarchs" and violators of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Despair, hope as Ukrainian refugees arrive in Prague

Ukrainian men with worried looks, weary women and restless children, many staring into the distance, wait patiently in the long queue as Czech volunteers call out instructions left and right.

Cancelling Russian Grand Prix made no sense, says Ecclestone

The decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine "does not make sense", former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told AFP on Wednesday.

US Justice Dept launches task force to pursue 'corrupt Russian oligarchs'

US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the launch on Wednesday of a task force to pursue "corrupt Russian oligarchs" and violators of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia battles to shore up sanction-hit economy

Russian authorities are scrambling to stem panic as massive sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine delivered the worst economic shocks since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Nigeria to airlift hundreds stranded by Ukraine crisis

Nigeria's government on Wednesday planned to start airlifting more than 1,000 citizens stranded in countries neighbouring Ukraine after they fled the Russian invasion.

Russia pounds Ukraine as Kyiv rejects 'ultimatums'

Russian forces shelled several Ukrainian cities on Wednesday as troops battled in the streets of Kharkiv and Ukraine's president accused Moscow of wanting to "erase our country".

Russia's king of diplomacy becomes sanctioned pariah

When Russia's veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted his British counterpart Liz Truss for talks in Moscow in February in a doomed attempt to avert war, he had a trick up his sleeve.

Honduras repeals controversial secrecy law

Honduras has repealed a controversial secrecy law in a bid to battle corruption following a late-night parliamentary session Tuesday.

Built in wake of WWII, Kyiv metro offers shelter from Russian shells

The wounded Ukrainian soldier dropped his crutches to the Kyiv metro station floor and picked up his five-year-old son, first wiping tears from his shaking wife's face.

Covid has taken severe mental health toll: WHO

The Covid pandemic has taken a dire toll on mental health, the WHO said Wednesday, indicating that cases of anxiety and depression had swelled by over 25 percent globally.

Nearly 875,000 refugees have fled Ukraine conflict: UN

The number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine has surged to nearly 875,000, UN figures showed on Wednesday, as fighting intensified on day seven of Russia's invasion.

Top oil producers hold course despite Ukraine war

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other top oil producers on Wednesday agreed to hold firm on only gradually opening the taps despite Russia's assault on Ukraine sending prices spiralling.

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