Russian forces spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner Group seized the centre of the eastern city of Bakhmut during the 58th week of the war. Yet Ukrainian defenders were still holding the Russian army at bay, and their commanders said the Russian offensive was now clearly waning. At the same time, pro-Russian civilians were evacuating southern occupied regions as thousands of Ukrainian soldiers completed their overseas training for a counteroffensive that could come later this month. Wagner mercenaries made advances into the centre of Bakhmut on March 31. Geolocated footage showed them within 400 metres (1,300 feet) of the town…
Author: National Tone
Throughout the Ukraine war, Kazakhstan has walked a delicate line. The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation has stopped short of outrightly criticising Russia, its traditional ally, and regularly called for peace. It has largely opted to abstain, rather than side with Russia, in United Nations votes on the war. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has maintained contact with not only Russian President Vladimir Putin, but also his Ukrainian and Western counterparts. He has provided shelter for Russians fleeing mobilisation and refused to recognise occupied Ukrainian lands as Russian territory. And in several Ukrainian cities, “invincibility” yurts set up by Kazakhs are powerful symbols…
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 407th day, we take a look at the main developments.Here is the situation as it stands on Thursday, April 6, 2023: Diplomacy Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a rare trip outside the country to meet his Polish counterpart and close ally Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. Zelenskyy secured promises of more military support and was awarded Poland’s top honour, the Order of the White Eagle. French President Emmanuel Macron said China had a “major role” in finding a path to peace in Ukraine due to its close relationship with Russia as he kicked off a three-day…
Kane Williamson is unlikely to be fit for the World Cup in October after he ruptured his ACL playing in the Indian Premier League. The 32-year-old injured his knee while fielding for the Gujarat Titans, and New Zealand Cricket has confirmed the severity of his injury. Scans earlier this week revealed the rupture and Williamson is now a major doubt for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year.”I’ve received great support over the past few days and want to thank both the Gujarat Titans and New Zealand Cricket for that,” Williamson said.”Naturally, it’s disappointing to get such an…
Shandong carrier reported off east coast as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen flies home after meeting US House Speaker.China’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, is engaged in an exercise in the western Pacific amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait over a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters on Thursday that the aircraft carrier was 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwan’s east coast. The Shandong, China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier, sailed through the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan and into the Pacific on Wednesday…
Pyongyang’s state media publishes warning as United States and South Korea continue joint military exercises.North Korea has accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions “to the brink of nuclear war” through their joint military drills and promised to respond with “offensive action,” according to state media KCNA. A commentary published by KCNA on Thursday criticised the continuing exercises as “a trigger for driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to the point of explosion.” Attributed to Choe Ju Hyon, an international security analyst, the article added: “The reckless military confrontational hysteria of the US and its followers…
The attack took place in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina and left multiple children dead and injured.A man armed with a small axe has attacked a daycare in southern Brazil, killing four young children in a tragedy that Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a “monstrosity”. The attack occurred on Wednesday when a 25-year-old man scaled the wall of a private daycare in Blumenau, a city in the state of Santa Catarina. Once inside, he killed four children estimated to be between the ages of four and seven and injured several others, according to the local Hospital…
Iga Swiatek (left) has repeatedly shaken hands with Russian player Daria Kasatkina (right) since the war in Ukraine startedA ban on Russian and Belarusian players by tennis authorities would have sent a strong message, says world number one Iga Swiatek.Players from the two countries were banned from Wimbledon in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but were allowed to compete elsewhere on the ATP and WTA Tours under a neutral flag.Wimbledon has now reversed its decision for the 2023 Grand Slam tournament. But Poland’s Swiatek says tennis could have done better “from the beginning”. “I heard that after World War…
Members of Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church say they faced unbearable harassment in China and sought asylum in the United States.More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand after receiving UN refugee status will be deported by next week, probably to a third country, according to officials. Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn said on Wednesday that representatives of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Bureau were holding talks with the UN Refugee Agency and the US Embassy to discuss the fate of the 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church who…
The UN said that it cannot accept a Taliban decision to bar Afghan female staffers from working at the agency.The UN has said that it cannot accept a Taliban decision to bar Afghan female staffers from working at the agency, calling it an “unparalleled” violation of women’s rights. The statement on Wednesday came a day after the UN said it had been informed by Afghanistan’s governing Taliban that Afghan women would no longer be allowed to work for the world body. That announcement came after the UN mission in the country expressed concern that its female staffers were prevented from…