A Russian actress who called for peace was fined for hosting an 'almost naked' party
A Moscow court has imposed a 50,000-ruble ($560) fine on a TV presenter and actress who gained notoriety for hosting an “almost naked” party, saying her social media posts calling for peace discredited the military.
Blinken begins key China visit as tensions rise over new US foreign aid bill
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a critical trip to China armed with a strengthened diplomatic hand following Senate approval of a foreign aid package that will provide billions of dollars in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as well as force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform -– all areas of contention between Washington and Beijing.
Russian veto brings an end to the UN panel that monitors North Korea nuclear sanctions
Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution in a move that effectively abolishes the monitoring by United Nations experts of U.N. sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, though the sanctions themselves remain in place.
The UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution demanding a Ramadan cease-fire
The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a resolution demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the United States warned the measure could hurt negotiations to halt Israeli-Hamas hostilities.
Feds move to seize Russian oligarch’s Bal Harbour condos ahead of Ukraine invasion anniversary
The U.S. government is moving to seize a Russian oligarch’s luxury South Florida condominiums as part of a series of arrests, indictments and civil forfeiture actions against Russian businessmen ahead of the two-year anniversary of the country’s Feb. 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine premier in Tokyo says his country needs missiles, but expects new US aid to come through
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said his country needs long-range missiles and other ammunition to end Russia’s invasion, and said he expects a U.S. aid package that’s stalled in Congress to come through, at a new conference in Tokyo a day after a conference on rebuilding Ukraine.
Oscar nomination for '20 Days in Mariupol,' AP's first, comes as bombs fall on filmmaker's hometown
“20 Days in Mariupol,” Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing chronicle of the besieged Ukrainian city and the international journalists who remained there after Russia invaded, has been nominated for best documentary at the Academy Awards.
Sinner withdraws from Paris Masters and slams organizers for lack of rest after early-morning finish
Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the Paris Masters in a rare scheduling protest with the fatigued Italian criticizing organizers for failing to give him enough time to rest following an early-morning finish in his previous game.
China is building up its nuclear weapons arsenal faster than previous projections, a US report says
A Pentagon report on China’s military power says Beijing is on track to significantly increase its nuclear weapons arsenal by 2030 and is “almost certainly” learning lessons from Russia’s war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might look like.
Political divide emerges on Ukraine aid package as Zelenskyy heads to Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington this week comes at a critical time as Republican leadership in the House and Senate diverge on the best way to get more military and humanitarian aid over the finish line.
Interpol at 100: A mixed legacy of hunting fugitives and merging police data from 195 countries
Interpol is turning 100 with a mixed legacy — as a misconstrued crime-fighting organization, a network that merges police data from authoritarian states and democracies, and a global adviser on how to handle criminal trends.
Belarus bans citizens from renewing passports abroad, spreading fear among those who fled repression
Belarus’ authoritarian president banned citizens from renewing their passports while staying abroad, which could force those who fled the country amid growing repression to return to maintain their travel documents.
Sweden, Finland and Switzerland are considering security links with US National Guard, general says
Switzerland, Finland and Sweden are considering joining the U.S. National Guard’s security partnership program in a further expansion of U.S. military ties across Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
UK homeowners get some respite as inflation falls by more than anticipated to a 15-month low
Inflation in the U.K. has fallen by more than anticipated to a 15-month low in a development that offered struggling homeowners hope that interest rates will not rise as much as feared over the coming months.
Top EU lawmaker says firewall against German far right stands, but willing to work with Meloni
The leader of the conservative bloc in the European Parliament says his party will not cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany but is willing to work with Italy’s far-right premier to curb migration.
West clashes with Russia and Iran at UN over Tehran's uranium enrichment and drones for Russia
The United States and its Western allies clashed with Russia and Iran at the U.N. Security Council over Tehran’s advancing uranium enrichment and its reported supply of combat drones to Moscow used to attack Ukraine.
Sánchez visits Kyiv on the day Spain starts EU presidency to underline bloc's support for Ukraine
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has started Spain’s six-month presidency of the European Union with a lightning visit to Kyiv to underline the bloc’s support of Ukraine in the face of the invasion by Russia.
US, UK, France demand UN investigate Russia's sanctions-busting use of Iranian drones in Ukraine
The United States, Britain and France are demanding that the United Nations urgently investigate Russia’s reported use of hundreds of Iranian-provided drones in the war in Ukraine, which would violate U.N. sanctions.
House rejects effort to censure and fine Democrat Adam Schiff over Trump-Russia investigations
The House has rejected an effort to censure California Rep. Adam Schiff, voting to turn aside a Republican attempt to fine the Democrat over his comments about former President Donald Trump and investigations into his ties to Russia.
Elizabeth Gilbert delays release of novel set in Russia, citing objections from Ukrainian readers
Author Elizabeth Gilbert is delaying publication of a novel she had set in Russia after she said she received an outpouring of “anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain” from Ukrainian readers who objected to releasing any work about Russia amid that country’s invasion of Ukraine.