Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia’s military to put its deterrence forces, which include nuclear weapons, on “special alert”. He told defence chiefs it was because of “aggressive statements” by the West, amid widespread condemnation of his invasion of Ukraine. The announcement does not mean Russia intends to use the weapons. The US immediately condemned his decision calling it an “unacceptable escalation”. Last week, Mr Putin had warned that “whoever tries to hinder us” in Ukraine would see consequences “you have never seen in your history”. Those words were widely interpreted as signalling a threat to use nuclear weapons if the … Continue reading #Russianinvasion: Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert

Ukraine’s army is trying to repel a full-scale Russian invasion, with fierce battles taking place close to the capital Kyiv. Fighting is raging at an airfield on the outskirts of the city, and it could become a springboard for the Russian army into Kyiv if its troops seize it. The Russian assault is being fought on several fronts after it attacked from the east, north and south on Thursday. Ukraine says dozens of people have been killed, while thousands have fled. Moscow launched the offensive in the early hours of the morning, shortly after President Vladimir Putin declared war in … Continue reading Update: Fighting rages near Kyiv after Russia invasion of Ukraine

Russian military forces have seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian officials say. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said the “totally pointless attack” on Thursday amounted to “one of the most serious threats in Europe today”. An explosion at Chernobyl in 1986 led to the worst nuclear disaster in human history, both in cost and casualty. Ukraine’s president warned such a disaster could happen again if Russia continued its invasion. “Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote earlier on Twitter. “This is a declaration of war … Continue reading Russian forces seize Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Spot gold jumped as much as 2% higher on Thursday as Russian forces attacked Ukraine on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. At 8:20 a.m. in London, gold was trading at $1,942.10 per ounce, up 1.88% on the previous day and the highest since late 2020, as investors piled into safe haven assets and equity markets globally tumbles into the red. Oil and soft commodity prices are sharply higher, international benchmark Brent crude surpassed $100 for the first time since 2014. U.S. gold futures were up 1.85% at $1,945.80 per ounce. The price of gold is up about 8% in February … Continue reading #Russianinvasion: Gold jumps to highest level in more than a year

Copenhagen skyline with wind turbines in the background, Denmark. Copenhagen was named the world’s safest city by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for the first time on Monday. The capital of Denmark overtook Tokyo and Singapore – the usual frontrunners of the index. The EIU has undertaken the survey every two years since 2015. To come up with the rankings, it evaluates 76 indicators across digital, health, infrastructure, environmental, and personal security sectors. In 2019, when the survey was last completed, Tokyo took the top spot, Singapore placed second, and Osaka was ranked third. This year, Copenhagen, Toronto, and Singapore ranked first, second, and … Continue reading Amazing: Copenhagen has been named the world’s safest city

Czech President Milos Zeman has been criticised after saying he thinks transgender people are “disgusting” in a TV interview. “If you undergo a sex-change operation you are basically committing a crime of self-harm,” he said at the weekend. Mr Zeman was responding to a question about a controversial law in Hungary banning the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality among under-18s. He said he backed the legislation, which has been condemned by EU leaders. Mr Zeman is a divisive figure with a history of making controversial remarks. He has a tendency of expressing his views, which are often at variance with … Continue reading What? Czech president calls transgender people ‘disgusting’

Global food prices have jumped at their fastest monthly rate in over a decade, according to the United Nations. The UN uses a broad index of global food costs, which have also climbed for 12 months in a row. Suppliers have been affected by disruptions to production, labour and transport during the pandemic. Concerns are growing about broader inflation and how higher grocery bills will impact the world’s economic recovery. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index tracks prices around the world of a range of food including cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar. On an … Continue reading Cost of food rises at fastest pace in over a decade according to the UN

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe at the 69th annual pageant, which was delayed last year due to Covid-19.Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe onstage at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The competition was held in Hollywood, Florida, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. “Access Hollywood’s” Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo, the 2012 Miss Universe, co-hosted the event, which also featured a performance by Luis Fonzi. Meza beat 73 other women, including Miss Brazil Julia Gama, who was runner-up, and Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo, who was second runner-up. “I am so honored … Continue reading Mexico’s Andrea Meza crowned Miss Universe

Singer-songwriter Joy Chapman, from Surrey, British Columbia, set a new Guinness World Record for the “lowest note ever sung by a female.” In February, Chapman recorded a C1 note, the lowest one on a piano and she ended up striking a chord with the officials at Guinness who enshrined her in their famous book. Her note not heard around the world clocked in at 34.21 hertz (cycles per second) Singing unique notes is nothing new to Chapman and early on in her life, she noticed the versatility in her voice. “I was in choirs throughout school and church, but when … Continue reading Canadian singer sets record for lowest note ever sung by woman

American astronaut Michael Collins, who as pilot of the Apollo 11 command module stayed behind on July 20, 1969, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin travelled to the lunar surface to become the first humans to walk on the moon, died on Wednesday at age 90, his family said. A statement released by his family said Collins died of cancer. Often described as the “forgotten” third astronaut on the historic mission, Collins remained alone in the command module for more than 21 hours until his two fellow astronauts returned in the lunar module. He lost contact with mission control in Houston, … Continue reading Michael Collins, astronaut of Apollo 11, dies at 90

Four of the world’s five top executioners in 2020 were Middle East states, Amnesty International says. Iran, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia accounted for 88% of the 483 reported executions worldwide, according to a report by the human rights group. It accuses them of displaying “a ruthless and chilling persistence” in putting people to death despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global total was the lowest in a decade, but it did not include China. China is believed to execute thousands of people each year, but the true extent of its use of the death penalty is unknown … Continue reading Middle East states dominate list of top executioners in 2020 – Amnesty

Pop group BTS have been named the best-selling artists of 2020 by the IFPI, the organisation that represents the global recorded music industry. The accolade caps a stellar year for the Korean boyband, who released two chart-topping albums in 2020 – Map of the Soul: 7 and Be. The boyband beat Taylor Swift, who took the crown last year, into second place. They are the first non-Western act to win, and the first whose songs are not predominantly sung in English. The award is calculated according to an artist or group’s worldwide sales, downloads and streams, covering their whole body … Continue reading BTS named world’s best-selling artists of 2020