Ukraine said the first commercial cargo ship has left the port through a "humanitarian corridor" after Moscow threatened to sink such vessels. The ship set sail despite a new bombardment along the Danube River.

BRICS countries will meet next week in Johannesburg as the bloc aims to widen its influence. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's absence is already causing a stir.

The organization, dedicated to Nobel Peace Prize winning rights activist Andrei Sakharov, was accused of illegally hosting conferences and exhibitions. It was created in Moscow almost three decades ago.

The Roscosmos space agency had earlier reported an "abnormal situation" on Luna-25, Russia's first moon probe in almost 50 years.

As the world economy reels from a global slowdown amid the Ukraine war, Brazil could benefit from the multiple crises.

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday that reports saying Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as a passenger on a private jet that crashed was not surprising.

The reporter has been held in pre-trial detention since his arrest in March. Moscow accuses Evan Gershkovich of espionage, which he and his newspaper deny.

Surrendered without a shot fired, the town of Kupyansk was one of the first Ukrainian territories to face Russian occupation. Under the facade of Moscow’s Russification strategy, a divided city was further broken.

Ukraine is known as one of Europe's biggest grain producers. But it also possesses highly valuable natural resources such as iron ore and coal — which Russia is keen to exploit.

A year ago, Russia stopped gas flows to the EU via the Nord Stream pipeline to inflict pain on the bloc for its overwhelming support for Ukraine. The weaponization of its gas supplies has ended up hurting Moscow more.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday an inquiry into a U.S. allegation that a Russian ship had picked up weapons in South Africa late last year found no evidence the vessel had transported weapons to Russia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging Russia to return to a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain, easing a global food crisis. However, Moscow is seeking concessions that only the West can offer.