Russia planned to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine Tuesday for civilians to flee besieged cities, but Kyiv insisted the move was a publicity stunt and people would not be able to escape.

Fears of an energy war between Russia and the West grew on Tuesday after the United States pushed its allies to ban Russian oil imports as punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, where talks on humanitarian corridors made little progress.

Tens of thousands of Sydney residents have been told to evacuate their homes as severe storms and flash flooding inundated swathes of Australia's largest city Tuesday.

The World Bank said its executive board on Monday approved a $723 million package of loans and grants for Ukraine, providing desperately needed government budget support as the country battles a Russian invasion.

Moscow said yesterday it would provide corridors for residents of Ukraine’s two main cities to flee to Russia and Belarus, a move Ukraine called an “immoral” stunt to exploit the suffering of civilians under Russian bombardment.

Russian authorities have blocked several independent media outlets including news site Mediazona as the Kremlin seeks to control coverage of its war in Ukraine, a rights group said.

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda yesterday warned Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken that a failure to stop Russia’s aggression in Ukraine would lead to a global conflict.

A Kremlin offer to open escape routes for civilians trapped by the fighting is rejected by Kyiv because several lead to Russia or its ally Belarus.

Russia has told Ukraine it is ready to halt military operations "in a moment" if Kyiv meets a list of conditions, the Kremlin spokesman said on Monday.

Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association today formally requested the shipping ministry to form a committee to probe the “mismanagement” of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation in ensuring the safety of the ship "Banglar Samriddhi” that faced rocket attack in the Ukrainian port of Olvia leading to the death of a crewman.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the military to step up the use of law in military engagement with foreign countries, state television CCTV reported on Monday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba have agreed to meet at a forum in southern Turkey on Thursday, the first potential talks between the top diplomats since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

European Union leaders will discuss Ukraine's application to join the 27-nation bloc in the coming days, the chairman of EU summits Charles Michel said in a tweet on Monday.

Russia announced new "humanitarian corridors" on Monday to transport Ukrainians trapped under its bombardment - to Russia itself and its ally Belarus, a move immediately denounced by Kyiv as an immoral stunt.

Former US president Donald Trump has once again hit the headlines with a novel idea to "bomb Russia" – by putting Chinese flag on US fighter jets and deploying those to the mission.

Russia boycotted hearings at the UN's highest court on Monday during which Ukraine is seeking an emergency order to halt hostilities, arguing that Moscow has falsely applied genocide law in justifying its invasion. read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today proposed a direct conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying this may “greatly assist the peace efforts”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Monday for new international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, proposing a boycott of Russian oil and other Russian exports and a halt of exports to Russia.

Lithuania has cancelled its decision to provide Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh after the country abstained during the United Nations General Assembly vote on condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Several Western countries, including the UK and the United States, have called on Interpol to suspend Russia from the international law enforcement organisation, according to British Home Secretary Priti Patel.