Politics

Bloomberg Russia has turned more destructive artillery, including “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles, against Ukrainian cities, a top Ukrainian aide said. “Kinzhal & Bastion systems are used against peaceful cities,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on Twitter. It was the first official response from Ukraine to Russia’s claims that it has fired the powerful missiles ...

  Bloomberg South Korea convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to discuss North Korea’s launch of a short-range projectile, according to the presidential office. North Korea appears to have fired from its multiple rocket launcher this morning, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a text message to reporters. The military has been maintaining defense readiness while ...

  Bloomberg Three in four Japanese people worry that China may take military action against Taiwan or a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea, according to a survey by the Kyodo News. They are concerned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could induce China to make similar offensives, respondents said in the poll conducted over the weekend. Public ...

Bloomberg For all the success of the US-led campaign to isolate Russia on the world stage, India has stood out as one major democracy that has been reluctant to criticise Vladimir Putin — and billions of dollars in weapons purchases mean that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is facing more pressure from fellow members of ...

  Bloomberg The head of Somalia’s oil-rich Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, announced that he’s running for Somalia’s 2022 presidency, following a meeting with new members of parliament elected from that region. The leader, who is a critic of incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, made the announcement in Garowe, the state’s regional capital in a televised speech. “I’m running for Somalia’s ...

  Bloomberg Australia is stepping up military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine to assist in its war against Russia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government will offer an additional $15.6 million of military support for Ukraine, including unspecified material from the Australian Defence Force’s stocks. It’s also pledging another A$30 million in humanitarian assistance as well as at least 70,000 tonnes ...

Bloomberg US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping began a closely watched phone call on Friday, their first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month. The call, which started shortly after 9 am Washington time, is an opportunity for Biden to assess where Beijing stands on the war and how Xi views his country’s role, after some Chinese ...

Bloomberg China’s muted response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has hardened views within the Biden administration that President Xi Jinping may be moving closer to supporting Moscow as the conflict continues, according to several people familiar with the matter. Even as the Chinese government publicly voices some support for the Ukrainian people and calls for a peaceful solution, top American ...

Bloomberg Military commanders from Nato countries are working the phones with their Russian counterparts to make sure the US and its allies don’t get dragged into a war over a misunderstanding on the Ukrainian border. In the past 24 hours, Russian missiles landed near Lviv, the city in western Ukraine that has been a gathering point for people fleeing the ...

Bloomberg Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has driven commodity prices higher, dealing a double blow to global hunger: more people in need, and smaller portions to feed them. The attack on Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe, has pushed already elevated crop prices to unprecedented heights. That’s accelerating food insecurity worldwide, including in Ukraine itself. With energy bills also accelerating, ...