China provides over 2.1 bln doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally

China has provided over 2.1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for more than 120 countries and international organizations, Guo Weimin, a spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Thursday.

Ukrainians feeling weight of war (Photo Feature)

In village streets, city basements and train stations, the faces of Ukrainians reflected the steep emotional toll a week into Russia’s invasion of their country. Thousands of Ukrainians have been fleeing the city through the sprawling railway complex. The United Nations said more than 870,000 people have fled Ukraine in a mounting refugee crisis on the European continent.

Refugee count tops 1 million; Russians besiege Ukraine ports

The number of people sent fleeing Ukraine by Russia’s invasion topped 1 million on Wednesday, the swiftest refugee exodus this century, the United Nations said, as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the country’s second-biggest city, Kharkiv, and laid siege to two strategic seaports.

IAEA says Ukraine has requested help safeguarding nuclear plants

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has received a request from Ukraine's nuclear power authority "to provide immediate assistance in coordinating activities in relation to the safety of the Chornobyl (Chernobyl) NPP and other nuclear facilities."

Russian troops control Kherson, defense officials claim

Russian troops have taken full control of the city of Kherson, Russian state media reported Wednesday, citing defence ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov.

Five things new IPCC climate change study tells us

A new report released this week by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) looks at the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change. The report gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all living things on Earth. Here are five things we learnt from it.

Biden vows to check Russian aggression, fight inflation

Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.

Russia says it won't yield to sanctions pressure over Ukraine

Western sanctions will never make Russia change its position on Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Responding to a barrage of Western sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "They are counting on forcing us to change our position. This is out of the question."

Russia must stop Ukraine acquiring nuclear weapons - Russian foreign minister

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Switzerland that it is time for US nuclear weapons in Europe to go home.

'Russia has 75% of forces inside Ukraine'

Russia has moved from having 40% of its forces inside Ukraine to around 75%, a military academic says. The 75% figure has also been cited by a senior US defence official.

40-mile Russian convoy threatens Kyiv; shelling intensifies

A 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles threatened Ukraine’s capital Tuesday as an intense shelling attack targeted the country’s second-largest city, and both sides looked to resume talks in the coming days aimed at stopping the fighting.

Ukraine-Russia talks start in Belarus, Belarusian minister welcomes delegations

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Belarus began just before 1 p.m. Ukrainian time (6 a.m. ET) on Monday.

Russian military announces "safe" corridor for Kyiv residents to leave

"We appeal to the people of Kyiv. All civilians in the city can freely leave the capital of Ukraine along the Kyiv-Vasilkov (Vasylkiv) highway. This route is open and safe," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, said in a statement.

How the pandemic changed sexuality

Dating app Bumble surveyed more than 4,000 users in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada in August 2020 (data reviewed by BBC Worklife), and 21% said they were planning to “express their sexuality differently… compared to a year ago.” Another Bumble survey showed 14% shifted their sexual desires during the pandemic, opting, for example, for the same-sex relationships when they’d previously only been with those of another gender.

World's largest plane destroyed in Ukraine

The world's largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225, has been destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, generating alarm and sadness among the aviation world in which it occupies almost cult status.

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating worries

President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated East-West tensions by ordering Russian nuclear forces put on high alert Sunday, while Ukraine’s embattled leader agreed to talks with Moscow as Putin’s troops and tanks drove deeper into the country, closing in around the capital.

Australia to send lethal weapons to Ukraine

The Australian government’s announcement Monday gave no details on what material it may be sending. The move follows an offer on Friday of non-lethal military equipment, medical supplies and a $3 million contribution to a NATO trust fund for support of the besieged country.

More than 200,000 have fled Ukraine: UN

The United Nations’ refugee agency says the latest count of Ukrainians arriving in neighbouring countries now exceeds 200,000.

Russian delegation arrives in Belarus for potential talks, state media reports

A Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for notional talks with Ukrainian representatives, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti.

Ukrainian oil and gas facilities burn as West prepares new sanctions

Russian forces have attacked oil and gas facilities in Ukraine, sparking huge explosions, officials said on Sunday, as Western allies prepared new sanctions, including banishing key Russian banks from the main global payments system.