WORLD

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday on new rules of natural gas trade with “unfriendly” countries and regions, vowing to halt existing contracts if these buyers refuse to pay in rubles. “Today I signed a decree … To purchase Russian natural gas, they …

Tehran, Iran | Xinhua | The commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has called on some Gulf states to halt the continuation of normalization relations with Israel, saying that it would endanger the security of the region, Press TV reported on Thursday. The establishment of political and security relations …

New York, U.S. | Xinhua | Oil prices dropped on Thursday as the United States announced a record release from the nation’s crude reserves. The West Texas Intermediate for May delivery lost 7.54 U.S. dollars, or 7 percent, to settle at 100.28 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | A Russian parliamentary commission held its first meeting on Thursday, announcing the establishment of four working groups to investigate U.S.-controlled biological laboratories in Ukraine. The commission heard information from the Russian Defense Ministry on the investigation into biological research by American specialists in Ukraine, the Russian …

Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is likely to keep evolving as transmission continues globally, but its severity will reduce due to immunity acquired by vaccination and infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. Speaking at an online briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros …

OFAC sanctioned an Iran-based agent & his network of companies that procured ballistic missile materials for the IRGC Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on an Iran-based person and his network of companies that Washington accused of facilitating Iran in its effort to get materials …

Vienna, Austria | Xinhua | The head of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday called on global leaders to uphold multilateralism to ensure “unhindered, stable and secure” energy flow to the global market. OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo made the remarks at a virtual meeting of the joint …

  Johannesburg, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Absa Group has announced the appointment of Arrie Rautenbach as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. The appointment Tuesday of the 56-year-old South African, follows a thorough recruitment and selection process completed by the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I am …

CNOOC Limited can issue no more than 2.99 billion shares in its IPO Beijing, China | Xinhua | China’s securities regulator has approved the initial public offering (IPO) application of CNOOC Limited. CNOOC Limited will be listed on the A-share market, the China Securities Regulatory Commission said in a statement on Wednesday. …

Beijing, China | Xinhua | The Ukraine crisis has entered its second month. In terms of security, economy, refugees, etc., Europe will pay a heavy price in the crisis. Since the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has pushed for five rounds of eastward expansion up …