International

Moscow, Kyiv plan ‘second round’ of conflict talks

  Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia will return to their capital cities for consultations and have plans for fresh talks, both sides announced Monday after meeting for their first talks since the outbreak of war last week. “The delegations are returning to their capitals for consultations and have discussed the possibility of meeting for a second round of negotiations soon,” Ukrainian negotiator Mikhailo Podolyak said. “We agreed to keep the negotiations going,” the Russian delegation […]

‘Liveable future’ at risk, UN climate report warns

by Kelly MACNAMARA / Marlowe HOOD A landmark UN report warned Monday that time had nearly run out to ensure a “liveable future” for all, detailing a horrifying “atlas of human suffering” and warning that far worse was to come. Species extinction, ecosystem collapse, insect-borne disease, deadly heatwaves and megastorms, water shortages, reduced crop yields — all are measurably worse due to rising temperatures, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said. In the last […]

Ukraine invasion getting ‘more and more ruthless’: EU

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is becoming increasingly merciless, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday, as strikes were reported on residential areas. “The Russian military campaign is becoming more and more ruthless and Ukrainian armed forces are fighting back with courage,” Borrell told journalists. “There are a lot of civilian casualties… and the flow of people looking for shelter, escaping the war is increasing.” The EU on Sunday unveiled a 450-million-euro ($500-million) package to […]

Russian army says Ukraine civilians can ‘freely’ leave Kyiv

  KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — The Russian army said Monday that Ukrainian civilians could “freely” leave the country’s capital Kyiv and claimed its airforce dominated Ukraine’s skies as its invasion entered a fifth day. “All civilians in the city can freely leave the Ukrainian capital along the Kyiv-Vasylkiv highway. This direction is open and safe,” Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in televised remarks. Vasylkiv is located to the southwest of Kyiv. Konashenkov hinted […]

Over 100 civilians killed in Ukraine war, including seven children: UN

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The UN human rights chief said Monday at least 102 civilians, including seven children, had been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded five days ago, warning true numbers could be far higher. Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet said her office had recorded 406 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 102 deaths, since Russia began its full-scale attack last Thursday. “Most of these civilians were killed by explosive weapons […]

Ukraine demands ‘immediate ceasefire’, Russian withdrawal

KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) – Ukraine demanded an immediate Russian ceasefire and troop withdrawal on Monday as its delegation arrived in Belarus for talks with Russian negotiators on the fifth day of the Kremlin’s offensive. Ukraine’s delegation is set to meet Russian representatives for the first talks since Moscow’s invasion, as the fighting for several Ukrainian cities continues and the Russian ruble collapses. The meeting will take place just across the border in neighbouring Belarus, a […]

Rooftop rescues in Australia as tens of thousands evacuated from floods

  BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Tens of thousands of Australians were ordered to flee their homes Monday, as torrential rain sent floodwaters to record levels, leaving residents stranded on the rooftops of their homes. Eight people have died, and the country’s weather bureau has warned further severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall will cause “life-threatening flash flooding” across a swathe of the central Pacific coastal region. In the country town of Lismore, resident Danika Hardiman woke […]

Virus-hit Hong Kong considering lockdown: health chief

  by Jerome TAYLOR Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong may impose a China-style hard lockdown that confines people to their homes, authorities signalled Monday, with the city’s zero-Covid strategy in tatters and bodies piling up in hospitals. Two years of strict zero-Covid policies kept the coronavirus largely bay but a breakthrough of the highly transmissible Omicron variant exposed how little authorities had done to prepare for a mass outbreak. Hong […]

Rare UN General Assembly session to have say on Russia

  UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — Russia will find out just how isolated it is on the world stage Monday as the United Nations holds a rare emergency special session of the General Assembly to discuss whether to condemn Moscow’s attack on Ukraine. All 193 members will have their say as the global body decides if it will support a resolution condemning Russia’s “unprovoked armed aggression” in Ukraine and demand its immediate withdrawal. It is only […]

US slams Putin nuclear order, says Russian forces have problems

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear forces alert Sunday, and said his conventional ground forces were experiencing logistical problems in their invasion of Ukraine. US officials said Putin’s stunning announcement, four days after his powerful military launched an assault on Ukraine, was dangerously escalatory and part of a pattern of fabricating excuses to justify aggression. Putin said he took the action in response to “aggressive” and […]

Putin orders nuclear alert as Ukraine fiercely resists Russian invasion

  by Dave CLARK with Sergey Bobok in Kharkiv, Ukraine Agence France Presse KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that his nuclear forces were on alert sparked outcry in the West as the invading troops faced stiff resistance on Monday. The UN General Assembly will hold a rare emergency session Monday to discuss the conflict, which has claimed dozens of lives and raised fears that it will displace millions of people. Ukraine […]