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Stock markets dip, oil surges as Ukraine worries return

European and US stock markets headed lower while oil prices shot higher on Wednesday as investors tracked developments surrounding the Ukraine crisis and awaited fresh clues about the US Federal Reserve's interest rate plans.

Putin hails Brazil ties after Bolsonaro talks in Moscow

Russian leader President Vladimir Putin welcomed "constructive" talks Wednesday with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was on his first official trip to Moscow, defying US concerns amid the Ukraine crisis.

Nepal arrests dozens in protest against US grant

Nepali police fired tear gas and water cannon and arrested 77 demonstrators in the capital Kathmandu as several hundred people protested against a $500-million US grant, authorities said.

French language watchdog warns of English infiltration

The centuries-old language watchdog Academie Francaise has warned that growing use of English by public and private bodies risks poor communication and could even undermine social cohesion.

Outspoken British Olympian Kenworthy 'treads lightly' in Beijing

Outspoken British Olympian Gus Kenworthy said Wednesday that he is biting his tongue while in Beijing because of the "very real risks" of criticising hosts China.

Ukraine marks 'Day of Unity' as NATO warns on Russia pullback

Ukraine staged military drills and defiant displays of flag-waving patriotism on Wednesday as NATO warned Russia is continuing to mass forces for a possible invasion.

Burkina junta chief sworn in as president

Burkina Faso strongman Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated as president on Wednesday, just over three weeks after he led a coup to topple elected head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

French public spending watchdog warns about post-Covid debt

France's public accounts watchdog warned Wednesday about the state of the country's finances, which have deteriorated dramatically in the last two years due to a massive Covid-19 rescue package, tax cuts and spending commitments.

China has expanded statist economic policies over 20 years in WTO: US

China has not adopted the rules of the World Trade Organization even after 20 years' membership, the United States said Wednesday, adding that the world's second-biggest economy had "retained and expanded" its statist approach to the detriment of businesses and workers globally.

Markets rally on hopes for easing Russia-Ukraine tensions

Asian markets rebounded Wednesday and Europe extended gains on hopes that Russia will not invade Ukraine after Moscow said some of its troops on the countries' border had started pulling back.

Markets rally, oil holds losses on Russia-Ukraine hopes

Asian markets rebounded and oil held most of the previous day's steep losses Wednesday on hopes that Russia will not invade Ukraine after Moscow said some of its troops on the countries' border had started pulling back.

Wheat and corn prices ride the Ukrainian rollercoaster

The crisis between Ukraine and Russia, two of the world's biggest wheat and corn producers, has sent the commodities' prices on a wild ride -- with anything from a diplomatic statement to rumor of a maritime blockade roiling markets.

China may take advantage of Ukraine crisis: US general

China may take advantage of the Ukraine crisis and do something "provocative" in Asia while Western powers are focused on defusing tensions with Russia, a US general warned Wednesday.

North Korea marks ex-leader's birthday with snowy celebration

North Korea marked the 80th birthday of leader Kim Jong Un's late father with a mass outdoor meeting in sub-zero temperatures, state media reported Wednesday, but no missiles or military parade.

Russian army, Putin's favoured foreign policy tool

Whether they have been camped out on Ukraine's borders or moving tanks across the vast country, Russia's battle-hardened troops have made the world listen to Vladimir Putin, who wants to redefine European security.

Ukraine's comedian-turned-president stars in crisis

He was the comic from Ukrainian TV who implausibly became president.

Ukraine marks 'Day of Unity' as US warns Russia may yet attack

A defiant Ukrainian leader urged citizens to celebrate a "Day of Unity" on Wednesday, as Washington warned once again that Russia remains poised to launch a devastating assault.

Online privacy and profit clash with fortunes at stake

Facebook and Google are under growing pressure to better balance privacy and ad-targeting -- with their fortunes at stake as users rebel, regulators loom and Apple pounces on the moment to polish its image.

Tigray rebels gang-raped women and girls in Ethiopia war: Amnesty

Tigrayan fighters deliberately killed civilians and gang-raped dozens of women and underage girls in two towns in Ethiopia's Amhara region last year, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, the latest example of the horrific toll exacted by the 15-month war.

US senators send 'message of solidarity' to Ukraine

US senators joined together Tuesday to express a "message of solidarity" to the Ukrainian people and a warning to Russia's Vladimir Putin, although the chamber failed to agree on drafting sanctions against Moscow.

Russian diplomat tells West to see doctor for 'paranoia' over Ukraine

Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday told western leaders they should see a doctor for their "paranoia" over fears that the 100,000 or so Russian troops massed on Ukraine's borders might invade.

'Hold the line': Canada truckers dig in despite new police powers

Trucker-led protesters occupying the Canadian capital showed no sign of backing down Tuesday, despite a newly-invoked state of emergency granting wide new powers to end their weeks-long protest over Covid rules.

Sites of Ukraine defence ministry, state banks under cyberattack

Ukraine said on Tuesday that the websites of the country's defence ministry and armed forces as well as two state banks had been hit by a cyberattack of possibly Russian origin.

US regulator, not Boeing, to do final certification on new 787s

US air safety regulators said Tuesday they will perform final inspections on new Boeing 787 planes, retaining an authority normally granted to jet manufacturers.

Long shot: Putin's giant table sparks jokes -- and speculation

White, glistening and six metres long: the table chosen for Vladimir Putin's meeting with world leaders has sparked a flurry of memes -- and a slew of speculation about its symbolism.

French case closed over plane attack that sparked Rwanda genocide

France's top court on Tuesday confirmed that a probe should be closed into the shooting down of a presidential plane that triggered the 1994 Rwanda genocide, ending a two-decade legal saga.

Israel PM meets Bahrain king, Jewish community on landmark visit

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain's king on a landmark visit Tuesday to the small, oil-rich Gulf country, 17 months after they ended decades of tensions to normalise ties.

At new fraud trial, Navalny vows to fight on against Kremlin

Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said Tuesday he would keep challenging Russia's leadership during the opening of a new fraud trial that could extend his jail term by more than a decade.

West sees 'positive signs' as Russia says some troops pull back

Western leaders said Tuesday they were seeing positive signs that Russia was looking to ease tensions over Ukraine, after Moscow announced it was pulling back some of the troops deployed on its neighbour's borders.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian in W. Bank

A Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank Tuesday, both sides said, during what witnesses described as a confrontation between protesters and Israeli troops.

Kyiv residents resolute as Russia signals pullback

At 80 years old, Kyiv retiree Yuriy Mykhailin has seen Ukraine battle through a lot to forge its own path in the world, and he's not going to let Russian pressure daunt him now.

Putin, Scholz begin talks in Moscow over Ukraine security

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz began in Moscow Tuesday, the latest meeting in weeks of diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over Ukraine.

Macron expected to announce Mali withdrawal

French President Emmanuel Macron this week will announce that French troops will be withdrawn from Mali and redeployed elsewhere in the Sahel following a breakdown in ties with the country's military regime, concurring sources say.

European stocks rebound, oil slides on easing Ukraine fears

European stock markets rebounded and oil prices tumbled Tuesday on hopes that Ukraine and Russia would avoid a full-blown conflict.

Japan PM calls Ukraine leader over Russia tensions

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke Tuesday with Ukraine's president to back the country's territorial integrity in the face of a possible Russian invasion and urge a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off.

Israel PM meets Bahrain's Jewish community on landmark visit

Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Bahrain's Jewish community Tuesday after arriving for the first visit by an Israeli head of state to the Gulf country, 17 months after they defied decades of tensions to normalise ties.

Asia markets drop but signs of easing Ukraine tensions lift Europe

Asian markets mostly fell again Tuesday on fears that Russia is about to invade Ukraine, but early signs that tensions could be easing boosted European stocks and sent oil prices down.

US urges its citizens to immediately leave Belarus

The United States has urged its citizens to immediately leave Belarus, citing a buildup of Russian troops along the border with neighboring Ukraine.

New trial against Kremlin critic Navalny starts

A new trial against jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny began Tuesday inside the penal colony outside Moscow where he is held, in a case that could see his jail time extended by more than a decade.

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