US flies strategic bombers over NATO’s eastern flank
RT World News (RSS)

The jets carried out a training mission amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The Pentagon sent B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to Germany and Romania on Friday as a show of force during Russia’s continued campaign in Ukraine.

The aircraft took off from RAF Fairford in Britain and flew to Germany, where they were used in close air support and integration mission training. They were then flown to Romania to take part in a similar exercise.

General Jeff Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces in Europe, said such bomber exercises...

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Gript
ON THIS DAY: 5 MARCH 1867: Fenian Rising of 1867

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Luxury brands halt sales in Russia
RT - Daily news (RSS)

Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier have ceased operations in the country amid the Ukrainian conflict

A number of major luxury brands announced late on Friday that they would be closing their stores and halting their operations in Russia. They cited logistical difficulties and concern for staff safety amid the invasion of Ukraine.

The Kering Group said it would be temporarily shuttering its boutiques, including those of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, “due to growing concerns regarding the current situation in Europe.”

LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury company by sales, with a stable of more than 75...

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Serena Williams claims she’d be ‘in jail’ if she lashed out like male star
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The US tennis star claimed there were 'double standards' as she waded into Alexander Zverev row

Serena Williams has bemoaned what she sees as 'double standards' in tennis, claiming that she would have received a far harsher punishment that Alexander Zverev after the German was expelled from a tournament last month after violently lashing out at a chair umpire.

German world number three Zverev was removed from the field at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco, Mexico, and hit with a $40,000 fine after he struck the umpire's chair on several occasions with his racket in protest at what he saw a...

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Russia to host own events after Beijing ban
RT - Daily news (RSS)

Athletes will have a chance to compete despite being barred from the Beijing Paralympic Games

Russia will hold a series of events for its Paralympic athletes after they were shunned from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, officials have said, with competitions most likely to take place in Sochi.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in China on Thursday – just one day before the Winter Games formally began.

The move came after the IPC had initially cleared athletes from the two nations to participate as neutrals,...

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Russia and Belarus suspended from Council of the Baltic Sea States
RT - Daily news (RSS)

The group says the temporary ban will remain until it’s possible to resume cooperation ‘based on respect’ for international law

Russia and Belarus have been suspended from the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in response to what the body called the “unprovoked and illegal war” against Ukraine.

Members of the Council, a regional forum for cooperation among the 11 Baltic Sea states and the EU, voted to suspend the two countries’ membership on Friday.

“...

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Crude could hit $200 in case of Moscow energy embargo – US shale boss
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The head of Pioneer Natural Resources warns that the US won’t be able to replace Russia’s shortfall

Global prices for crude may surge to $200 per barrel if Russian oil and gas are banned, warns Scott Sheffield, the chief executive of the US’ biggest shale oil operator, Pioneer Natural Resources.

“The only way to stop Putin is to ban oil and gas exports,” Sheffield said, as quoted by the Financial Times. “[But] if the Western world announces that we’re going to ban Russian oil and gas, oil is going to go to $200 a barrel, probably – $150 to $200 easy.”

Sheffield...

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PayPal shuts down operations in Russia
RT - Daily news (RSS)

The online payment service joins other tech and finance companies withdrawing amid the Ukraine conflict

PayPal Holdings Inc. halted its operations in Russia on Saturday morning. The online payments company has followed other finance and technology firms in leaving the country due to the military conflict in Ukraine.

“Under the current circumstances, we are suspending PayPal services in Russia,” Chief Executive Dan Schulman said, adding that the company “stands with the international community in condemning Russia’s violent military aggression in Ukraine.”

A representative announced that the s...

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Twitch halts payments for Russian streamers
RT - Daily news (RSS)

The platform has banned transactions in compliance with international sanctions

Online streaming platform Twitch banned Russian streamers from transferring their money to Russian bank cards on Saturday, gamers reported.

The decision was made known by Russian streamer Alexei Gubanov, also known as JesusAVGN, on his Telegram account. The streamer uploaded a screenshot of an official Twitch response about the issue....

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Russian F1 star responds to axing by claiming there was ‘no process’
RT - Daily news (RSS)

Nikita Mazepin insisted he had been willing to accept sanctions on Russian athletes including a ban from racing in the UK

American Formula One team Haas "completely ignored" axed driver Nikita Mazepin's acceptance of sanctions placed on Russian drivers before ending his contract without following any termination process, the shocked star has claimed.

Within 24 hours of calling reports of the Moscow-born racer's exit inaccurate, Haas announced it had fired Mazepin and ended its deal with lead sponsor Uralkali, a Russian potash fertilizer producer.

Newcomer Maze...

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Declassified papers reveal extent of US military aid to Ukraine – media
RT - Daily news (RSS)

Washington has gone to great lengths to prepare Kiev “to wage a hybrid war against Russia,” a major US news outlet has said

The US has drastically increased its shipments of lethal aid to Ukraine since late last year, including weapons and gear for urban combat, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, after viewing declassified accounting for transfers and sales.

According to the Pentagon's paperwork, from as early as December Washington had been actively equipping the Kiev government with shotguns, spec...

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Ukraine ‘postpones’ civilian evacuation from besieged Mariupol
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Officials accuse Russia of violating the temporary ceasefire

Officials halted the planned evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian-controlled Azov Sea port city Mariupol on Saturday, accusing Russia of continued shelling despite a promise to provide safe passage.

Russia recognizes Mariupol as part of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), which broke away from Ukraine shortly after the 2014 coup in Kiev. However, the city itself has been held by Ukraine.

Moscow announced a temporary ceasefire to allow residents to leave the city, which is blockaded by Russian forces, through a...

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