The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden met with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies on Thursday morning to map out more severe measures against Russia after President Vladimir Putin launched what Biden called "a premeditated war" against Ukraine.

At least five explosions were heard in the separatist-held eastern Ukraine city of Donetsk early on Thursday, a Reuters witness said.

Ukraine mobilised its military reserve yesterday and urged its citizens to leave Russian territory as Moscow sharpened its demands, increasing fears of all-out war.

The United Nations yesterday slammed baby formula makers for “unethical” marketing strategies, accusing them of aggressively targeting expecting parents

Gambia yesterday urged judges at the World Court to reject a challenge by Myanmar to a case brought to halt alleged acts of genocide against its Rohingya minority, saying the West African state was “no one’s proxy”.

After weeks of threats, the West imposed its first sanctions on Russia, but for the moment the actions will have limited impact on both the Russian and Western economies.

Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and told its citizens in Russia to flee, while Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy in the latest ominous signs for Ukrainians who fear an all-out Russian military onslaught.

Several Ukrainian state websites, including the government and foreign ministry home pages, were inaccessible on Wednesday.

Dutch police ended a hostage taking in an Apple flagship store in Amsterdam after a man armed with two guns held at least one person hostage for hours, police said on Wednesday.

Russia faced a furious global diplomatic and economic backlash yesterday after President Vladimir Putin ordered his “peacekeeping” forces into Ukraine to secure two breakaway regions, but division among European allies raised questions how far West can go against Moscow.

The UN warned yesterday that authorities and aid workers were racing against the clock to protect people as Madagascar braces for its fourth tropical storm in as many weeks.

Nearly 600 migrants packed into overcrowded fishing boats in bad weather were rescued overnight off the coast of Calabria, Italy’s coastguard said yesterday,

Less than 10 percent of the plastic used across the world is recycled, the OECD said yesterday, calling for “coordinated and global solutions” ahead of expected talks on an international plastics treaty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that he does not plan to restore Russia’s empire, a day after he ordered Russian troops to be sent to eastern Ukraine and questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The Kremlin warned yesterday there are no concrete plans for a summit between the Russian and US leaders, as diplomats scrambled to head off the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The United States has warned the United Nations it has information that Russia has lists of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” in the event of an invasion, according to a letter sent to the UN rights chief and obtained by AFP Sunday.

Last-ditch diplomatic efforts were underway yesterday to prevent what Western powers warn could be the imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine and a catastrophic European war.

Britain’s 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday but her symptoms are “mild” and she intends to continue with light duties at her Windsor Castle residence, aides said.

Russia is preparing to plunge Europe into its worst conflict since World War II, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, warning that any invasion of Ukraine would freeze Moscow out of global finance.