Putin and Xi seek to build closer economic ties
The Presidents of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, have agreed to enhance their countries' economic cooperation, with Russia set to supply natural gas to China and Beijing to invest in Russian infrastructure.
These pledges are expected to strengthen bilateral economic ties and, importantly, may serve to insulate both countries against continuing Western sanctions.
Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has been visiting Ukraine to show Japan's support.
This stands in direct contrast to the increasing cooperation between Russia and China as both nations attempt to revive the Silk Road trade route.
Global justice ministers discuss support for ICC after Putin warrant
Justice ministers from around the world met in London to discuss scaling up support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The ICC accused Putin of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, a charge that Moscow denies, calling the move unacceptable and saying it has no legal force in Russia, which is not an ICC member.
The UK is boosting its financial support for the court to £1 million this year, and other countries are also expected to commit to financial and practical assistance.
The conference was opened by British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, where justice ministers from more than 40 countries gathered to discuss the issue.
Karim Khan KC, the prosecutor of the ICC, demanded that Russia "return" children to Ukraine as alleged war crimes were detailed.
Russian Mercenary Group Reportedly Warns of Ukrainian Attack
Reports suggest that the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force has warned the country's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, that Ukraine is planning an imminent attack aimed at cutting off the invading army from the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
According to the New York Post, Yevgeny Prigozhin sent the letter to the defense minister as Vladimir Putin toured the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch and a close confidant of Putin who oversees 50,000 fighters in Ukraine, including convicts enlisted for the war.
US envoy praises deal between Kosovo and Serbia on normalization of relations
The US envoy for the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, Gabriel Escobar, has described the recent deal between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti as "important and historic.
" The agreement sets the conditions for normalization between the two countries on European terms.
The EU had facilitated the deal, which calls for maintaining good neighborly relations, recognition of official documents and national symbols, and preventing Belgrade from blocking Kosovo's attempts to gain membership in the United Nations and other international organizations.
German Federation Cancels Fencing Event After Russia's Return
Germany's fencing federation has canceled a women's foil World Cup event due to Russia and Belarus being allowed back into international competitions.
The ban on both countries was originally implemented after Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict last February.
Derby named as headquarters of Great British Railways
The UK government has confirmed that Derby will be the headquarters of the Great British Railways (GBR) public sector body, which will take over the rail infrastructure, procure passenger services and set most fares and timetables.
The Department for Transport announced that Derby was chosen after winning a public vote and a government assessment process against five other shortlisted locations in the Midlands and northern England.
Russia warns of nuclear war over threat of Putin’s arrest
A security official in Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, has warned that any attempt to arrest President Putin, including through an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, would be regarded by the Kremlin as a declaration of war.
Medvedev stated that the threat of a "nuclear apocalypse" has not decreased, but has grown.
The articles highlight his view that providing Ukraine with foreign weapons is bringing a nuclear war closer.
Further, it was reported on The Times of Israel that Medvedev accused the US and NATO allies of destructive efforts to break up and destroy Russia.
Slovakia delivers four fighter jets to help Ukraine in conflict with Russia
Slovakia has delivered four Soviet-designed fighter jets to Ukraine, with the remaining jets expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
This follows Poland's pledge to send MIG-29 fighters to aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
However, many of Slovakia's aging jets are in need of repairs and their arrival is not expected to significantly impact the battlefield dynamics.
Finnish President says Sweden isn't vulnerable if Finland joins NATO first
Finnish President, Sauli Niinistö said that Sweden won't be in a vulnerable position even if Finland joins NATO first, as both Nordic countries negotiate bilateral military pacts with the United States.
Niinistö also commented on Finland's decision to ratify Turkey's offer, stating that it would be crazy to refuse it.
This move highlights the tension between Turkey and NATO over Turkey's recent military actions in Syria.
EU Leaders Meet to Discuss Aid to Ukraine Amid Demands for Modern Weapons
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss aid to Ukraine, against the backdrop of growing military demands from Kyiv as it continues to defend itself in a war with Russia that has no end in sight.
EU leaders are set to endorse a deal aimed at sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery shells within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia's invasion forces.
However, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has demanded the supply of modern weapons, particularly jet fighters and long-range missile systems, warning that delays could extend the war.
Mystery object found on seabed could provide clue to who blew up Nord Stream pipeline
It come six months after sections of the pipeline were sabotaged
UK accused of sending "nuclear" tank rounds to Ukraine
UK's Ministry of Defence was caught in the middle of the crossfire between Russia and Ukraine after the announcement that the country is sending armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine to aid in their conflict against Russia.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin accused the West of not being interested in reaching a deal and said that if the UK sends depleted uranium tank ammunition to Ukraine, Russia will "respond accordingly".
However, the spokesperson from UK's MoD have dismissed Putin's remark as "deliberate misinformation" and that depleted uranium is a "standard component" of the armour-piercing shells with "nothing to do with nuclear weapons".
Ukraine's Grain Export Deal Extended Amidst Conflict with Russia
Ukraine has extended a deal that allows the country to export millions of tonnes of grain from the Black Sea region to developing nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The deal was secured with the help of Turkey and the UN in July of last year.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and control over its access to ports in the Black Sea threatened global food crisis, as the country is one of the largest producers of grain.
The agreement was initially made for 12 months with one extension already granted.
Ukraine has requested a 120-day extension while Russia has urged a 60-day extension and warned against further requests unless Moscow's sanctions are softened.
Putin Visits Mariupol
President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, his first trip to the Donbas region since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict.
News of the visit comes two days after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest against Putin for war crimes.
Footage of the visit shows Putin speaking with residents, and visiting an art school and a children's center in the occupied city.
Some residents heckled Putin, while others were seen apparently being grateful to the Russian President.
UK should stay out of talks to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – Lord Owen
The former foreign secretary said Rishi Sunak should not talk to Vladimir Putin and any peace talks should be conducted by the two warring countries.
New viral video adds fuel to Vladimir Putin body double conspiracy theory
A video making the rounds on social media furthers the claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses body doubles — including on a recent visit to war-torn Ukraine.
Delta Air Lines to launch flight academy amid pilot shortage
Delta Air Lines has announced that it will be launching a flight academy to address the pilot shortage issue in the aviation industry.
The academy will partner with training provider, Skyborne Airline, and will begin training students in June at a facility based in Florida.
Delta's new initiative is expected to address the pilot shortfall that has been seen in the US, particularly since staff layoffs during the pandemic.
Delta is following in the footsteps of United Airlines, which purchased a flight training academy in Phoenix last year.
UK defence spending as share of GDP falls despite Russia's war in Ukraine
Despite the dip, Britain was one of only seven countries to meet the 2% minimum spending pledge set by NATO, with secretary general Jens Stoltenberg saying the alliance as a whole needs to invest more in defence, and fast.
International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Vladimir Putin
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
This development has created a stir in the international community, with Ukraine lauding the "historic decision" and the US President, Joe Biden, acknowledging that Putin has "clearly committed war crimes.
" However, the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC's arrest warrant as "outrageous and unacceptable", while stating that the ICC's decisions are "legally void."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis backpedals on his “territorial dispute” remark about Russian invasion
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faced widespread criticism after referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "territorial dispute".
He received backlash from his fellow Republicans, including The Wall Street Journal's editorial page and Washington Post columnist George Will.
DeSantis then sought to clear up his remarks in a Fox Nation interview by calling Vladimir Putin a "war criminal".
The opinions on DeSantis' comments differ in The Atlantic, where comments in favour of his pragmatism are made, and The Telegraph, where his recent stance against Putin is emphasised.
The Guardian and The Independent report on his reversal on calling Ukraine-Russia invasion as a "territorial dispute".
Welsh industrial firms pledge to reach net zero by 2040
The South Wales Industrial Cluster, consisting of 40 of the largest industrial firms in the region, including oil refineries, steel works, chemical plants and ports, has unveiled a roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2040, cutting Welsh emissions by 40%.
However, the plans could perpetuate prolonged use of fossil fuels and may be reliant on unproven technology.
Additionally, there are concerns due to the group's links to government freeports.
Ukraine Plans Counterattack as Russian Forces Falter
Ukraine's top ground forces commander has said that a counteroffensive will be launched very soon, as Russian Wagner mercenaries lose considerable strength and momentum in the fight for Bakhmut.
Ukrainian military also claims that 1,020 Russian troops have been killed in the past 24 hours after unsuccessful attacks on several towns.
The reports suggest that Russia's winter campaign is not yielding results as Ukraine is poised to take advantage of the waning energy of the Russian forces.
While there is little doubt that Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive, the differing accounts of the strength of the Russian forces suggest that the outcome could swing in either direction.
Ukrainian children 'deported' to Russia returned to their parents in Kyiv
A Ukrainian father whose three children were accidentally sent to Russia was among a group of 17 children returned to their parents in Kyiv after months of separation.
According to reports, the family of Denys Zaporojtchenko was living together in Kherson, in the occupied south of Ukraine, when Ukrainian forces recaptured the city.
Zaporojtchenko agreed to send his children to holiday camps further south in annexed Crimea to protect them from the fighting which he later realised was a mistake.
China's role in Ukraine conflict debated by US, NATO and Russia
The US and NATO are urging Chinese President Xi Jinping to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine as illegal before engaging with any moderation efforts.
Meanwhile, Russia's President Vladimir Putin welcomed China's proposals for peace in Ukraine during Xi's first visit to Moscow.
China released a plan last month, but it was criticized by the West for allowing Russia to "freeze" its territorial gains in the country.
The US requested China to press Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine and cease attacks on hospitals or schools.
On the other hand, Putin stated that the plan correlates with Russia's views and that Ukraine's allies have so far shown no interest in the proposal.
Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary-General, stated that China needs to openly condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine before engaging in any efforts to end the war.
Two sides of the Iraq War
The articles above explore two different facets of the Iraq war.
The New York Times discusses the lingering uncertainty about why the United States invaded Iraq in the first place, leading to catastrophic consequences, including the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and the rise of jihadism.
The Independent reflects on how, twenty years later, the Iraq war has faded from public consciousness, and how it hasn't left a cultural mark in the same way that the Vietnam War did.