Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union (EU) will phase out Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, announcing the sixth package of sanctions against Russia. “We now propose a ban on Russian …
Read More »Putin approves retaliatory sanctions over Russia-Ukraine conflict
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday on retaliatory sanctions against individuals and entities in response to their “unfriendly actions” over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The measures will be taken in retaliation to “the unfriendly actions of the United States, foreign states and international organizations …
Read More »Russia not to artificially complete military actions in Ukraine by V-Day: FM
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | The Russian military will not artificially adjust its actions during the special operation in Ukraine to any date, including Victory Day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday. “We will solemnly celebrate May 9, as we always do,” Lavrov said in an interview with Italy’s Mediaset …
Read More »Long-term peace and prosperity
We need new international systems embedded in nature and redesigned to improve the human condition COMMENT | MARGARET KUHLOW | Russia’s war in Ukraine is a humanitarian catastrophe that violates the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law, and has exacerbated socioeconomic and environmental crises around the world. It …
Read More »NATO chief offers quick admission for Finland, Sweden despite Russia’s objection
Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The applications by Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will be processed quickly should the Scandinavian countries choose to do so, the military alliance’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Thursday. “If they decide to apply, Finland and Sweden will …
Read More »UNWTO confirms Russia’s intention to withdraw
Madrid, Spain | Xinhua | The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) confirmed on Wednesday that Russia had announced its intention to withdraw from the organization. “Russia has announced its intention to withdraw from UNWTO,” explained the UNWTO in a tweet, adding that nevertheless Russia must “follow due process – and this will …
Read More »World Bank warns of rises in food, energy prices due to Russia-Ukraine conflict
Energy prices are expected to rise more than 50 percent in 2022 before easing in 2023 and 2024 Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The Russia-Ukraine conflict has dealt “a major shock” to commodity markets, altering global patterns of trade, production and consumption, the World Bank (WB) said in a report released …
Read More »Wheat price up 60 pct in Africa due to Russia-Ukraine conflict: AfDB chief
Abuja, Nigeria | Xinhua | The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict resulting in the disruption of wheat exports has pushed wheat prices higher by 60 percent in Africa, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwunmi Adesina said in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, on Tuesday. Adesina, in a meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu …
Read More »Russia to suspend natural gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria
Warsaw, Poland | Xinhua | Russia is to halt natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria from Wednesday, according to energy companies and authorities. Poland’s state oil and gas company PGNiG said on Tuesday that Russia’s energy corporation Gazprom will suspend its gas supplies to Poland from Wednesday evening. “PGNiG has …
Read More »Erdogan urges Putin for leaders’ summit to solve Ukrainian crisis
Ankara, Turkey | Xinhua | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday once again urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to hold a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During a phone talk, Erdogan told Putin that the “continuation of the positive momentum achieved in the Istanbul talks” to reach peace …
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