International

Zelensky says Russia wants to ‘erase’ Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday accused Russia, which has launched an invasion of his country, of seeking to “erase” Ukrainians, their country and their history. In a video address, the Ukrainian leader said a missile strike on a target at the site of a Holocaust massacre shows that “for many people in Russia our Kyiv is completely foreign.” The attack on Tuesday night damaged Kyiv’s main television mast, which was […]

Russian military says has control of Ukraine’s Kherson

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) – The Russian army claimed on Wednesday it had taken control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson as Moscow’s invasion of the pro-Western country entered its seventh day. “The Russian divisions of the armed forces have taken the regional centre of Kherson under full control,” defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in televised remarks. He claimed that public services and transport were operating as usual. “The city is not experiencing shortages […]

UN General Assembly to vote on demand for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

by Philippe RATER UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — After more than 100 countries spoke during two days of extraordinary debate, the UN General Assembly was poised to vote Wednesday on whether it will vigorously deplore Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demand Moscow withdraw troops immediately. The vote on the draft resolution is being touted by diplomats as a bellwether of democracy in a world where autocracy is on the rise in countries from Myanmar […]

Biden seeks US unity through Russia crisis

  by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden won standing ovation upon standing ovation Tuesday in a rousing State of the Union speech seeking to transform bipartisan support for confronting Russia into momentum for broader unity as the United States finally emerges from the Covid pandemic. The entire first section of Biden’s one hour speech to the joint session of Congress was devoted to the bloody Russian invasion […]

Russian airborne troops land in Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv: army

  KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian airborne troops landed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, the Ukrainian army said, adding that there were immediate clashes. “Russian airborne troops landed in Kharkiv… and attacked a local hospital,” the army said in a statement on messaging app Telegram. “There is an ongoing fight between the invaders and the Ukrainians.” Kharkiv, a largely Russian-speaking city near the Russian border, has a population of around 1.4 […]

Australians flee floods as toll rises to 12, Sydney on alert

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Floodwaters crashed into more towns on Australia’s east coast as a deadly storm front barrelled south on Wednesday towards Sydney, where the main dam began to spill water. The death toll rose to 12 in a week-long disaster that has washed cars from roads and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes as waters lapped at balconies and roofs. “This is terrible. This is terrible. One life lost […]

Biden says US will contribute half of 60 million emergency oil barrel release

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will contribute half of the 60 million barrels of oil International Energy Agency (IEA) countries agreed to release Tuesday to stabilize global markets after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden said. “I can announce the United States has worked with 30 other countries to release 60 million barrels of oil from reserves around the world. America will lead that effort, releasing 30 million barrels of oil,” […]

Airstrike hits Kyiv’s main television tower, kills five

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — A video published on the Telegram channel of Kyiv’s Mayor Vitaly Klitschko shows the moment an airstrike hits Kyiv’s main television tower in the heart of the Ukrainian capital, knocking out some state broadcasting capabilities but leaving the structure intact. Ukrainian emergency services say five people died and five were injured in the missile strike.

Biden warns ‘dictator’ Putin, oligarchs as Russia bombards Ukraine

by Frankie Taggart with Dave Clark in Kyiv WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a “dictator” Tuesday and warned Russia’s billionaires that he was coming after their yachts and private jets, as Russian air strikes pummeled Ukraine in a bid to crush the US ally’s resistance. Despite sanctions and warnings of a humanitarian crisis, Moscow launched a fresh assault on a residential block in Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv as […]

Biden’s big speech to lay out fight against Russia — and inflation

by Sebastian Smith President Joe Biden will try to rally Americans in a State of the Union speech Tuesday hailing his role shaping Western unity against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and promising to overcome soaring inflation and crime at home. The twin focuses come as Biden tries to battle back from approval ratings in the low 40 percent range and lead a deeply divided country from its coronavirus pandemic slump. The Russian invasion of Ukraine […]

ExxonMobil says withdrawing from key Russian oil field

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – US oil giant ExxonMobil announced Tuesday it will begin a phased withdrawal from the major oil field it operates in Russia on behalf of a consortium including Russian, Indian and Japanese companies, citing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “In response to recent events, we are beginning the process to discontinue operations and developing steps to exit the Sakhalin-1 venture,” the group said in a statement. The group added that it […]

Biden touts Western strength as Russia bombards Ukraine

by Frankie Taggart with Dave Clark in Kyiv President Joe Biden hailed the steadfast Western alliance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday as air strikes pummeled populated areas in the heart of the US ally’s second city, raising the civilian toll of the week-old war. Despite sanctions and warnings of a humanitarian crisis, the fresh assaults on a residential block in Kharkiv came as the US leader was preparing to steel the American public’s […]