US Secretary Blinken arrives in Kazakhstan to reaffirm US support for Central Asia

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived on his first official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 28, reported the U.S. Department of State.

EU extends sanctions on Belarus over Ukraine for one year

The EU said Monday that it had extended by one year sanctions on Belarus over Minsk's continued repression of the opposition and its support for Russia's war on Ukrainem AFP reports.

Iranian schoolgirls targeted in spate of poisoning attacks

A recent spate of mass illnesses at girls’ schools in Iran was caused by deliberate poisoning using “chemical compounds,” a senior Iranian health official told the semi-official Fars news agency, Bloomberg reports.

US Energy Department assesses Covid-19 likely resulted from lab leak

The US Department of Energy has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely came from a laboratory leak in China, according to a newly updated classified intelligence report, CNN reports.

Washington: Crimea is Ukraine, but Kiev must decide how to return it

The US State Department, in a statement marking the ninth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, emphasized that "Crimea is Ukraine", reports CNN, quoted by the BBC.

Zelensky vows to bring the Ukrainian flag back to Crimea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his country's claim to the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia back in 2014, DPA reports.

China's EU ambassador says EU leaders may visit China by mid-2023

Chinese ambassador to the European Union Fu Cong said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel may visit China in the first half of 2023, China's state-backed Global Times reported, Reuters reports.

Canada announced new military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia

The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced new military support for Ukraine and new sanctions against the authorities in Moscow. Canada has stood in solidarity with Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict and will remain so, the Canadian Prime Minister said during a briefing in Toronto.

Turkey earthquakes: Collapsed buildings investigation widens

More than 600 people are now being investigated in Turkey over buildings that collapsed in the deadly earthquake on 6 February, the government has said, BBC reports.

Several explosions were reported in the Ukrainian city of Kherson

Several explosions were reported Sunday morning in the Ukrainian city of Kherson, with locals reporting an artillery duel between Ukrainian defenders and Russian occupiers, writes RBC. Explosions were heard both during the night and on Sunday morning, some very strong ones being reported around 09:00.

EU has announced additional sanctions against the Wagner Group

The European Union has announced additional sanctions against the Russian-backed Wagner Group for violating human rights in several African countries, reports the BBC. The mercenary organization had already been sanctioned by the EU in 2021.

G7 leaders aim to strengthen coordinated sanctions against Russia and step up support for Ukraine

In a joint statement issued on Friday, February 24, G7 leaders pledged to step up "diplomatic, financial and military support for Ukraine" as well as "increase the costs for Russia and those who support its war effort", reports caleeuropeana.ro.