Russia-Ukraine conflict: Uruguay endorses OAS statement against Russian invasion of Ukraine

MONTEVIDEO, Feb 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguay chose to join the list of Organization of American States (OAS) countries opposing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine after Friday’s initial decision not to sign the declaration in that regard. According to Montevideo’s daily El País, President Luis Lacalle Pou instructed Ambassador Washington Abdala “to…

President Museveni of Uganda gets Asian business leadership award

DUBAI (UAE), Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has been awarded the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) Award for exhibiting exemplary principle centred sustainable leadership. ABLF, in a statement, announced that Museveni will receive his award during a virtual event to be held in the United Arab…

At least 20 dead in boat fire at Congo River port

KINSHASA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 20 people have been reported dead and 11 others severely burnt after a vessel caught fire at a port on the Congo River, in DR Congo. Interior Minister, Didier Tenge, told a local radio station that the Sunday accident happened around 13:00 local…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Tech firms flock to Spain trade show in shadow of Russia war

BARCELONA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One of the technology industry’s biggest annual get-togethers is set to kick off in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Monday, under the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.   The Mobile World Congress, where smartphone and telecoms companies show off their latest products and…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Pres Putin orders nuclear alert as Ukraine fiercely resists Russian invasion

 KYIV, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that his nuclear forces were on alert sparked outcry in the West as the invading troops faced stiff resistance on Monday.   The UN General Assembly will hold a rare emergency session Monday to discuss the conflict, which has claimed…

In Bolivia, miners sacrifice llamas to appease ‘Lord of the Underworld’

ORURO (Bolivia), Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a dimly lit mine shaft in Bolivia, a man sharpens two knives next to a table laden with offerings: wine, beer and coca leaves. Waiting nearby are five white llamas.   The woolly animals’ blood and hearts are the preferred food of El…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: EU scrambles for Ukrainian refugee response

BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union moved to coordinate a welcome for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, talking notably about offering them temporary protectionstatus.   Around 400,000 Ukrainians have crossed into the EU since the start of the offensive on Thursday. Half of them…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russians queue for cash as West targets banks over Ukraine

MOSCOW/LONDON, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russians waited in long queues outside ATMs on Sunday, worried that new Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine will trigger cash shortages and disrupt payments. Moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT global payments system and freeze the Bank of Russia’s reserves are expected…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Britain widens Russian ‘dirty money’ crackdown with new law

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson LONDON, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain will intensify a crackdown on what Prime Minister Boris Johnson called “dirty money” by introducing the government’s Economic Crime Bill to parliament on Monday, a step brought forward in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The much-delayed legislation comes…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian rouble tumbles to record low

A vendor counts Russian rouble banknotes at a market in Omsk, Russia LONDON, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Russian rouble tumbled to a record low against the US dollar on Monday, after Western nations announced a harsh set of sanctions over the weekend to punish Russia for its invasion of…