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Urban warfare 'nightmare' looms if Russia enters Ukraine cities
The next step in Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to urban warfare, an immense challenge for even numerically superior armies with deadly consequences for civilians caught up in the fighting, experts say.

Heineken, Universal Music join Russia exodus
Dutch brewer Heineken and Universal Music Group have become the latest Western firms to halt operations in Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

IS suicide bomber of Pakistan mosque was Afghan: police
An Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber who killed 64 people at a Shiite mosque in northwest Pakistan last week was an Afghan exile who returned home to train for the attack, police said Wednesday.

How Russian 'safe corridors' worked in bitter Syria war
Russia's offer of "humanitarian corridors" for civilians to flee the Ukrainian cities it has besieged is a well-tried approach Moscow adopted during Syria's devastating civil war.

Ukraine refugee influx sparks rare EU unity
The flood of refugees escaping war in Ukraine for the European Union has sparked a rare show of unity from the bloc's 27 nations after years of disputes over the sensitive issue of migration.

Israel's president flies to Turkey in bid to 'restart' ties
Israel's president left for Turkey Wednesday to meet his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first visit by an Israeli head of state since 2007, as the countries seek to mend fractured ties.

Fresh evacuation efforts for devastated Ukraine cities
Russia and Ukraine agreed to open more humanitarian corridors on Wednesday to evacuate terrified civilians from bombarded cities as Moscow said some progress was being made in talks with Kyiv.

'Big threat': air defences take centre stage at Saudi arms show
Air defence systems have been front and centre at Saudi Arabia's first defence show as drone and missile attacks increase in the energy-rich Gulf.

Harris heads to Poland as US rejects fighter-jet offer
US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Poland on Wednesday to discuss how to provide "military assistance" for Ukraine, White House officials said, hours after Washington rejected Warsaw's offer of Soviet-era fighter jets.
Stock markets mixed, oil extends gains with focus on Ukraine
Equities were mixed Wednesday as three days of painful losses gave way to a semblance of stability, though oil prices extended gains after the United States and Britain moved to ban imports of Russian crude.

South Korea votes in tight presidential race with inequality top concern
South Koreans are voting Wednesday in a tightly fought presidential election with the deciding votes set to be cast by young people, whose top concerns are economic inequality and unemployment -- not recent sabre-rattling from the nuclear-armed North.

Lacking oversight, Telegram thrives in Ukraine disinformation battle
Two days after Russia invaded Ukraine, an account on the Telegram messaging platform posing as President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his armed forces to surrender.

In fractured Bosnia, Croats call for change
In deeply divided Bosnia, the country's Croats have unleashed new calls for sweeping electoral reforms along with threats of a potential boycott of upcoming polls, sparking fears that a new period of instability awaits the impoverished Balkan nation.

Asian markets rally fades, oil extends gains with focus on Ukraine
Asian equities were mixed Wednesday as three days of painful losses gave way to a semblance of stability, though oil prices extended gains after the United States and Britain moved to ban imports of Russian crude.

Two Americans released from Venezuelan prison after US officials visit
Two Americans, including a former executive of oil giant Citgo, were released from prison in Venezuela Tuesday, just days after a high-level US delegation met with President Nicolas Maduro.

South Korea chooses new president with inequality key concern
South Koreans were at the polls electing a new president Wednesday with economic inequality a top concern especially among young swing voters, despite growing sabre-rattling from the nuclear-armed North.

Putin nuclear threats 'extremely dangerous', 'blackmail': ICAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin is using nuclear "blackmail" to keep the international community from interfering in his Ukraine invasion, the head of the Nobel prize-winning group ICAN said.

Now a refugee, Eurovision's Jamala lifts Ukraine spirits from abroad
When her husband woke her up at 5:00 am saying Russia had invaded, Ukraine's Eurovision winner Jamala didn't know what to do first: pack, find their passports or take care of her two toddlers.

Freedom's choice for Afghans: Over the wall or through the desert
Amid a roar of engines and clouds of dust, Sattar Amiri clambers into a pickup truck with his wife and infant son in a remote Afghan frontier town, ready for a perilous drive through the desert.

Boric begins Chile presidency alongside student comrades
Former student leader Gabriel Boric will take on Chile's greatest challenge since the end of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship when he is sworn in as the youngest president in his country's history on Friday.

Airbnb users send money to Ukraine through reservations
Thousands of Airbnb users have booked vacation rentals in war-battered Ukraine, not to visit but to provide aid to local hosts struggling to survive the Russian invasion.

McDonald's, Coca-Cola join US firms halting Russia operations
McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Starbucks on Tuesday bowed to public pressure and suspended their operations in Russia over Moscow's internationally condemned invasion of Ukraine.

Oil prices surge as US bans Russian energy imports
Crude oil prices surged Tuesday as the United States banned Russian energy imports, while nickel prices rocketed to a record peak on Russian supply fears.

Ukrainian former beauty queen calls for help in Russia onslaught
A former Miss Ukraine on Tuesday called for global support for her country in the face of Russian attacks, highlighting the plight of mothers and children as the world marked International Women's Day.

US intel paints Putin as aggrieved, angry over Ukraine war
US intelligence chiefs on Tuesday branded Russia's Vladimir Putin an "angry," isolated leader grappling for global clout, frustrated about how his Ukraine invasion has not gone to plan, and lobbing provocative nuclear threats at the West.

Ukraine's First Lady condemns Kremlin's 'mass murder'
The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, on Tuesday condemned the Kremlin's "mass murder" of civilians, including children, in an open letter to the global media on the Russian invasion.

Starbucks says it will suspend operations in Russia
Coffee chain Starbucks said Tuesday that it would halt operations in Russia -- the latest fallout in the corporate world over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

War forces Kyiv mums to raise kids deep underground
The Ukrainian families who spend their nights sheltering from the threat of Russian bombs in metro stations are adapting to life underground -- and so are their kids.

S. Korea chooses new president with inequality key concern
South Koreans will vote for a new president Wednesday with economic inequality a top concern despite growing sabre-rattling from the nuclear-armed North.

More than two million flee Ukraine in 12 days: UN
More than two million people have now fled Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, according to the latest data from the United Nations on Tuesday.

BBC to resume English-language reporting from Russia
The BBC announced on Tuesday that it was resuming English-language broadcasting from Russia, after suspending reporting as it examined tough new media laws.

Near Black Sea, civilians flee southern Ukrainian city
In Ukraine's southern city of Mykolaiv under Russian fire, Vitaliy Sobolev's apartment block stands punctured on one side, a metal door blown off and windows gaping empty.

Channelling Churchill, Ukraine leader vows: 'We will fight to the end'
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, invoking the wartime defiance of British prime minister Winston Churchill, vowed Tuesday to "fight to the end" in a historic virtual speech to UK lawmakers.
US bans Russian oil as Ukrainians flee cities
US President Joe Biden banned imports of Russian oil on Tuesday to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine as desperate civilians fled besieged cities and fresh fighting raged.

Oil prices surge as US bans Russian oil imports
Crude prices surged Tuesday as the US banned Russian oil imports, while nickel prices rocketed to a record peak on Russian supply fears.

In nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membership
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine, a delicate issue that was one of Russia's stated reasons for invading its pro-Western neighbor.

Make membership easier, Kosovo PM tells NATO, EU
Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti pressed his country's case for EU and NATO membership, telling AFP that Russia's invasion of Ukraine meant that both organisations needed to make it easier -- and faster -- for candidate countries to join.

On edge of war: Russian missiles chink away at Kyiv's southern flank
The tinny Ukrainian voice in the supermarket's loudspeaker urged exiting shoppers to rush home and switch off the gas.

Russian generals face peril as Ukraine invasion intensfies
The death in battle of at least one top Russian general in the invasion of Ukraine has shown that the military elite feel pressure to be personally present on the frontline, observers say.