WORLD

London, UK | Xinhua | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday a range of sanctions against Russia in response to the latest development in Ukraine. Johnson told the House of Commons that Russian President Vladimir Putin had violated the Minsk agreements by recognizing the “Lugansk People’s Republic” and the …

Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union (EU) is set to adopt the first set of sanctions against Russia on after Moscow recognized the independence of eastern Ukraine’s Lugansk and Donetsk regions. The EU member states’ foreign ministers met in Paris on Tuesday for an extraordinary informal session to discuss …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The U.S. national emergency beginning almost two years ago will be extended beyond March 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced. “There remains a need to continue this national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public …

Moscow, Russia | THE INDEPENDENT & XINHUA |  Russia President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has just ordered troops into Ukraine for what he described as a “peacekeeping mission” in Donetsk and Luhansk. In text of a presidential order he signed February 22, Putin is recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. He has …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that President Joe Biden “accepted in principle” a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Psaki’s confirmation of a potential Biden-Putin summit followed a statement by the Elysee Palace in France saying the two presidents have “accepted in principle” …

Tehran, Iran | Xinhua | Iranian parliament members said in a statement on Sunday that the government should not strike a nuclear deal with the Western countries unless they guarantee not to pull out of it, official news agency IRNA reported. The statement, signed by 250 lawmakers, addressed to President …

Jerusalem, Israel | Xinhua| Israeli cabinet approved on Sunday the appointment of the former general Gaby Portnoy as the country’s head of cyber at the National Cyber Directorate. A statement issued by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office said the ministers voted in favor of the appointment. Portnoy, a 52-year-old former …

London, UK | Xinhua | Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday. The queen is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week, the palace said. “She will continue to receive medical attention and will …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russia’s Investigative Committee said Saturday that it has initiated a criminal case against an attempted murder after “Ukrainian paramilitaries” shelled the border area of Russia’s Rostov region. From 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. local time (0200 to 0300 GMT) on Saturday, unidentified persons on the territory of …

Munich, Germany | Xinhua | German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday warned against guessing or assuming Russia’s decisions on Ukraine, after the United States warned of an imminent invasion. “We do not know yet if an attack has been decided on,” said the minister on the sidelines of the Munich …