WORLD

Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that almost 15 million deaths globally were directly or indirectly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of 2021. According to the WHO’s estimates, the full COVID-19 death toll, or “excess mortality,” was approximately 14.9 million between …

United Nations | Xinhua | China is firmly opposed to NATO provocating bloc confrontations around the world, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations said Thursday during the Security Council briefing on Ukraine. “Clinging to the anachronistic doctrine of security and keen to provoke bloc confrontations and create tensions in Europe …

Beijing, China | Xinhua | Facts have already proved that sanctions cannot bring peace but only make the world economy worse, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian also said that the United States, as the world’s largest economy, should do more that is conducive to the recovery …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | A recent leak on abortion rights from the U.S. Supreme Court has given Democrats a cause to rally around, which could energize the party’s base for the midterm elections in November. Earlier this week, a leaked document said that the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | A Russian Il-80 aircraft, which will serve as a strategic command post in the “doomsday” of a nuclear war, participated in a rehearsal of the upcoming Victory Day parade on Wednesday. Together with strategic bombers and fighters, the Il-80 escorted by two MiG-29 jets flew over …

Rome, Italy | Xinhua | European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the European Union (EU) will phase out Russian supply of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year. However, Italy-based analysts said the move — if adopted — would …

Kiev, Ukraine | Xinhua | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev will not agree to any deal that would lead to a “frozen conflict” with Russia, the Ukrinform news agency reported on Wednesday. “We will not settle for a frozen conflict… I am against it. We will definitely not have …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Any vehicle of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that arrives in Ukraine with weapons or material for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces is considered by Russia as “a legitimate target for destruction,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday. Shoigu made the remarks …

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 …

Kiev, Ukraine | Xinhua | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country may put the issue of neutral status on a nationwide referendum, the Ukrinform news agency reported Tuesday. If Russia’s desire for Ukraine’s neutral status is one of the provisions of the agreements on ending the conflict, “we are …