Africa

Russian oil companies are facing delays of up to several months in receiving payments from banks in China, Turkey, and the UAE due to heightened caution about possible secondary US sanctions that undermine the Kremlin's oil export revenues.

The draw ceremony for the 2024 Olympic football tournaments, in which the Ukrainian national team is a participant in the men's competition, will take place on March 20 at 9:00 PM Kyiv time in Saint-Denis, Paris.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani warns against the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, saying it threatens to spark World War III, while supporting the provision of military, economic and technical assistance to help Ukraine defend itself.

In the first two months of 2024, the volume of trade through the Suez Canal decreased by 50% and through the Panama Canal by 32%, disrupting supply chains and distorting key macroeconomic indicators, according to the IMF.

French troops are training intensively to fight a high-intensity war against a formidable foe like Russia, combining infantry, armored vehicles, artillery and new technologies such as drones to avoid costly frontal attacks and achieve the combat effectiveness of combined arms units.

In February, a record 8 million tons of cargo were exported through the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, of which 5. 2 million tons were products of Ukrainian farmers.

Ukraine has played an important role in ensuring global food security, exporting more than 70 million tons of agricultural products last year, according to Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.

Algeria inaugurated the largest mosque in Africa called the Grand Mosque of Algiers, which can accommodate more than 120,000 worshippers and has a 265-meter-high minaret, making it the third largest mosque in the world.

Germany is in secret talks with India to purchase ammunition from its stockpile to support Ukraine through intermediaries, as India maintains friendly ties with Russia.

Mauritius refused to allow disembarkation from a Norwegian cruise ship due to fears of a potential cholera outbreak.

russia is creating an "African corps" of mercenaries to support dictators in Togo, Libya, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, as well as to strengthen its influence in the Sahel and Central Africa.

Today, on February 22, everyone involved in the scouting movement in many countries around the world is joining the International Boy Scout Day and the Scouting Founders Day. The founder of the scouting movement, which quickly became incredibly popular in many countries, was British Colonel Robert Baden-Powell.

Ukraine's ambassador to the EU has called for a ban on the sale of Russian agricultural products in the European Union to help ease tensions among European farmers.

According to Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Polish protesters threw about 4 tons of grain out of two railcars in transit to Germany as another political provocation aimed at dividing Ukraine and Poland.

A new base for Wagner mercenaries is being built in southern Russia. The new base will also house a new volunteer corps of the Russian Guard.

The Foreign Minister said that Ukraine expects the EU to increase supplies of artillery shells as soon as possible.

World No Cell Phone Day was founded in 2001 by French writer Philip Marceau, who wrote the world's first SMS novel. Anyone who wants to join the event is encouraged to leave home without their cell phones, and, in general, to pretend that they do not exist.

In January, revenues from the Suez Canal were almost halved due to attacks by Yemeni Houthis on ships in the Red Sea, forcing major shipping companies to avoid this waterway.

Countries around the world celebrate World Cancer Day on February 4 to promote cancer research, treatment and prevention, and to mobilize efforts to fight the disease.

British intelligence reports that the Kremlin has incorporated the remnants of the Wagner group into the Russian Guard to strengthen its control over them.

Italy has unveiled a €5. 5 billion investment plan to strengthen relations with Africa, seeking to boost energy ties and address migration flows.

Maryna Bezrukova has been appointed Director of the Defense Procurement Agency of Ukraine. This is the first step in reforming the agency in line with NATO standards and preventing corruption in defense procurement.

The UK recorded the warmest January temperature on record: in some parts of Scotland, it reached 19. 6°C. This broke the previous January record of 18.3°C set in Scotland in 2003.