Headlines:

War could push 90% of Ukrainians into poverty, UN warns

We’ve been reporting on the growing food crisis in Ukraine and accusations that Russia is using food as a weapon of war, including by blocking ports in Ukraine’s Black Sea. Now, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that 90% of people within Ukraine could be pushed into poverty if Russia continues its assault. “We’re talking about nine … Read more

US Defense chief thanks Spain for supporting Ukraine following a bilateral meeting

US

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin thanked Spain for supporting Ukraine as Russia’s invasion of the country continues, noting their “important military contributions to deterrence along NATO’s eastern flank” and “direct security assistance and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine,” during opening remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles at the Pentagon … Read more

Russians continue to attack in Donetsk – Ukraine armed forces

General Staff

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has published its evening update on Facebook. It says: Russian forces’ main focus was on the Donetsk direction, where they used aircraft, artillery and mortars. It intensified offensive and assault operations in some areas. In the area of ​​Severodonetsk in Luhansk, Russian forces carried out assaults, suffered … Read more

Ukraine’s top military commander shares upbeat assessment about course of conflict with Russia

military

Ukraine’s most senior military figure has met with his NATO counterparts and given an upbeat assessment of the conflict. “Today, we are not just defending ourselves. We have conducted a series of successful counter-attacks,” General Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, said he had told the NATO Military Committee. Ukrainian forces had unblocked … Read more

Baby formula shortage: Experts urge parents not to make homebrews

Brandy Sloan

Brandy Sloan was close to tears. The 43-year-old mother of two had reached a breaking point in her desperate search for baby formula when the fifth grocery store she rushed into contained the same as the previous four: empty shelves. “You feel so defeated because you’re supposed to be able to feed your children and … Read more

Progress on Sweden and Finland Nato bids only possible with concrete action – Turkey

Progress

Progress on Finland and Sweden’s Nato membership bids will only be possible if concrete steps are taken to address Turkey’s national security concerns, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman has said. Ibrahim Kalin, who is Erdogan’s chief foreign policy adviser, held calls on Wednesday with counterparts from Sweden, Finland, Germany, the UK and the United States to … Read more

Former Russian colonel contradicts earlier statements criticizing Russia’s military operations in Ukraine

Russian colonel

Retired Russian colonel Mikhail Khodarenok said any talk about Ukraine being able to counterattack is a “big exaggeration,” just a day after he criticized Russia’s military operations in Ukraine saying the situation for Russia could “get worse.” Speaking to a Russian state TV channel on Wednesday, Khodarenok said, “When people talk about Ukraine acquiring the … Read more

Russia closing CBC’s Moscow bureau in retaliation for Canada banning Russian state TV

CBC

CBC ‘very disappointed’; Russia’s Foreign Ministry says it will cancel journalists’ visas Russia has moved to close CBC/Radio-Canada’s Moscow bureau and strip its journalists of their visas and accreditation, saying it was retaliating after Canada banned Russian state TV station RT. “It’s our response measure, which is taken because of the decision of the Canadian government … Read more

Russian Armoured Train Blown up in Occupied Ukraine -Territorial Defence

Russian

 Ukrainian fighters blew up an armoured train carrying Russian troops using an explosive device in the occupied southern city of Melitopol, the Ukrainian territorial defence force said on Wednesday. Reuters could not independently verify the claim. Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. The city of Melitopol in … Read more

Frankfurt beats Rangers in shootout to win Europa League

Frankfurt

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt 42-year wait for a European title ended Wednesday with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Rangers in the Europa League final. Rafael Borré converted the decisive penalty kick after Kevin Trapp saved Aaron Ramsey’s shot, giving the German club its first European trophy since the 1980 UEFA Cup, a … Read more

Ukraine launches new fundraising initiative, Zelensky says

Putin's officers

In his nightly address on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced an initiative called UNITED24.  UNITED24 was launched as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine, according to its website and Zelensky. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most … Read more

Zelensky lampoons Russia’s ‘laser weapons’ claim

Ukraine

In his nightly speech to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mocked Russia’s claim to be using sophisticated new laser weapons in its war against Ukraine. On Wednesday, a Russian government official tasked with military development said lasers were being used in Ukraine to burn up and disable drones. In his speech, Zelensky drew parallels … Read more

UN in ‘intense’ talks over restoring Ukraine grain shipments

UN

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said he is in “intense contact” with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the US and the EU to try to restore Ukrainian grain shipments and revive Russian fertiliser exports. Guterres warned of years of “mass hunger” if a growing global food crisis goes unchecked, as he urged Russia to release Ukrainian … Read more

Human skull dating back nearly 8,000 years found in Minnesota River

human skull

A human skull that’s about 8,000 years old was found in the Minnesota River south of Sacred Heart. The Renville County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday said two kayakers came across the bone in September 2021. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined the bone was human, and the FBI’s forensic anthropologist concluded the bone belonged to … Read more