Tag Archives: first

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu conducted their first phone call since the start of Moscow’s operation in Ukraine in late February. The news was confirmed by both sides on Friday. Austin has called for an “immediate ceasefire in Ukraine,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby …

North Korean officials have confirmed several deaths in a mysterious fever outbreak, including one person who tested positive for Covid-19 – reportedly the country’s first verified coronavirus case since the pandemic began. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fallen ill with an unknown ailment in recent weeks, the state-run …

Leonid Makarovich Kravchuk, the first president of the post-Soviet Ukraine, has passed away at the age of 88.  Kravchuk died on Tuesday afternoon “after a long illness,” his family told the Ukrainian News Agency. The former president was hospitalized in June 2021 and placed in intensive care after heart surgery.  …

Sinn Fein’s leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, has called for an “honest debate” on Irish reunification, after her party emerged from elections the largest party in Northern Ireland, a first in the history of the British-ruled territory. However, consensus is required, and may be difficult to obtain. Sinn Fein …

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a statement on Friday supporting the secretary-general’s efforts to search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, in the first such display of unity since February 24. Russia’s agreement demonstrated Moscow’s readiness for diplomacy, said Mexico, which co-authored the statement. “The Security …

The world’s most popular cryptocurrency – Bitcoin – has become legal tender in the Central African Republic. Lawmakers unanimously voted to adopt Bitcoin alongside the country’s traditional currency, the CFA franc, and the country’s President signed the measure into law on Wednesday, the president’s office said in a statement. The …

The UK government is weighing the feasibility of opening a new coal mine to reduce dependence on Russian energy, according to a report by the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, citing sources in the Conservative Party. According to the sources of the publication, Michael Gove, the UK’s housing and regional development …

Novak Djokovic has doubled down on remarks he made regarding Wimbledon’s ban on Russian players amid reaching his first final this year at the Serbian Open. The 34-year-old initially said that the decision, made this week by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) as a response to Russia’s military operation …

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video showing the crew of the Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva, which sank on Thursday following a fire on board. The soundless video, which was posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel on Saturday, shows several dozen sailors lined up during a meeting …

French President Emmanuel Macron and populist firebrand Marine Le Pen have set the stage for a head-to-head battle to determine the presidency  later this month after emerging as the leaders from Sunday’s first round at the polls. Projections by polling firms showed that Macron garnered as much as 28.4% of …