WORLD

The US has hit Russia with wide-ranging sanctions over what President Joe Biden called “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine”. “We’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing,” Mr Biden said. It came after Russian politicians authorised President Vladimir Putin to send troops into two rebel-held parts of …

“I want to die because I am tired and weak. Others are working all I do is sleep the whole day, yet I want to eat. I think death has forgotten me”. The above is a statement by a 106-year-old woman who is reminding death of her long existence. Having …

US President Joe Biden has agreed “in principle” to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the crisis over Ukraine. The talks proposed by France will only take place if Russia does not invade its neighbour, the White House said. The meeting could offer a possible diplomatic …

Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for coronavirus, Buckingham Palace has said. The palace said the monarch is experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” but expects to continue “light duties” at Windsor over the coming week. “She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said …

Ukraine’s president has said his nation will not respond to provocations amid a deadly escalation in fighting in rebel Russian-backed eastern territories. But Volodymyr Zelensky told world leaders Ukraine would defend itself against Russian aggression. Two Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on a third day of clashes between the Ukrainian …

Benin President Patrice Talon on Saturday will inaugurate an exhibition of historic artworks returned by France last year, nearly 130 years after they were stolen by colonial forces. The 26 pieces, some considered sacred in Benin, will be displayed from Sunday in a 2,000-square-metre (21,500-square-foot) space in the presidential palace …

A US patient is believed to be the third person in the world, and first woman, to be cured of HIV. The patient was being treated for leukaemia when she received a stem cell transplant from someone with natural resistance to the Aids-causing virus. The woman has now been free …

The UK could revoke over 2,000 so-called “golden visas” held by Russian citizens living in the country, Security Minister Damian Hinds said on Friday. The announcement comes a day after Boris Johnson’s government scrapped the visa programme for future applicants over concerns about the inflow of illicit Russian money into the country. …

A petrol tanker flipped and crashed into multiple stores causing a huge explosion and fire in Long Island, New York. The tanker, reportedly carrying around 42,000 litres of petrol, crashed into a vacant furniture store and a beverage store in the early hours of Wednesday morning.   The building was …

The US has added sites operated by Chinese technology giants Alibaba and Tencent to its “Notorious Markets List” of businesses it believes are involved with trading counterfeit goods. The list identifies 42 online sites and 35 physical stores, including e-commerce platforms, run by the firms. The US trade agency says …