WASHINGTON, July 7. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to rescind the designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally, according to a corresponding statement published by the press service of the White House on Wednesday. Biden is “providing notice of the intent to rescind the designation of Afghanistan as...
KYIV/KRAMATORSK, July 7 (Reuters) – Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said attempts by the West to punish a nuclear power such as Russia for the war in Ukraine risked endangering humanity, as the near five-month conflict leaves cities in ruins and thousands homeless. Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most serious crisis...
SLOVIANSK, Ukraine/KYIV, July 6 (Reuters) – Russian troops are engaged in heavy fighting supported by widespread artillery fire as they launch a major offensive for Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Ukrainian officials said, a day after Moscow declared victory in the neighbouring province of Luhansk. Donetsk and Luhansk comprise the Donbas, the industrialised eastern part of Ukraine...
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, July 6 (Reuters) – The dollar stood tall on Wednesday, holding at a 20-year peak against the euro and multi-month highs against other major peers as higher gas prices and political uncertainty renewed recession fears and sent investors scrambling to the safe-haven currency. In Asia, the euro was at $1.025, only a fraction...
WASHINGTON, July 6. /TASS/. The US approach to the Ukrainian crisis remains unchanged, and its efforts are focused on strengthening Kiev’s positions at possible talks with Moscow, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. When asked whether Washington was planning to review its position on the conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s latest advancements, she replied:...
HOUSTON, July 5 (Reuters) – More than 5 million barrels of oil that were part of a historic U.S. emergency oil reserves release aimed at lowering domestic fuel prices were exported to Europe and Asia last month, according to data and sources, even as U.S. gasoline and diesel prices touched record highs. The export of...
KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) — A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in seizing an eastern Ukraine province essential to his wartime aims, a city in the path of Moscow’s offensive came under sustained bombardment, its mayor said Tuesday. Mayor Vadim Lyakh said in a Facebook that “massive shelling” pummeled Sloviansk, which had a population of...
LUGANO, Switzerland (AP) — A top U.S. diplomat on Tuesday urged allies of Ukraine to help the war-battered country meet its “immediate and urgent” needs — not only longer-term rebuilding — as scores of countries wrapped up a two-day conference aimed at helping Ukraine recover from Russia’s war, when it ends one day. Scott Miller, the...
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain is increasing military spending as it works toward meeting a NATO commitment by dedicating 2% of gross domestic product to defense, the government said Tuesday. Cabinet members approved a one-off expenditure of almost 1 billion euros (around $1.04 billion) for Spain’s Defense Ministry that the government said was needed to cover unexpected...
MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected on Tuesday previous reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping allegedly refused President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to visit Russia. “This is completely not true,” he said adding that all mutual presidential visits would be paid after the Chinese side started gradually lifting anti-COVID restrictions. “The matter...