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Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is flying to Moscow in the hopes of securing assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin to reduce tensions over Ukraine. Prior to his trip on Monday, Macron stated that he expects to "address the terms of a de-escalation" with Putin. Following his visit to Moscow, Macron will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, on Tuesday for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia has amassed a force of 100,000 troops near its Ukrainian border, demanding security guarantees from the US and NATO, including the rejection of Ukraine as a member and a halt to any eastward expansion. It denies, however, that an invasion of Ukraine is in the works. The US and NATO have labeled Russia's demands as non-starters, and Washington has sent thousands more troops to Eastern Europe. Putin might authorize an attack on Ukraine within days or weeks, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. However, Macron – who spoke w

In a carefully-managed interview aired this week to allay global fears about her personal safety in China, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai took back her sexual assault charges against a top Chinese official and announced her retirement from competitive tennis. In a conversation sponsored by the Chinese Olympic Committee, she told French sports publication L'Equipe, "I never alleged anyone sexually attacked me." "Sports and politics should not be used to bring up my personal life." Peng's first sit-down interview since accusing retired Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual abuse following a years-long on-again, off-again romantic engagement last November. The charges have elicited no public response from Zhang. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced shortly after L'Equipe's interview that its president, Thomas Bach, had supper with the Chinese tennis player in Beijing on Saturday, where they are both attending the Winter Olympic Games

In the civil sex assault action against him, Prince Andrew is scheduled to testify under oath in London next month. On March 10, the Duke of York will appear in court for a deposition in a neutral site in the capital. Despite "multiple demands," Virginia Giuffre, the royal's accuser, has yet to commit to a date or location for her deposition, according to a source close to the royal. The Telegraph was the first to reveal Andrew's deposition date, which falls on the eve of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The king will become the first British monarch to surpass the milestone of 70 years on the throne on Sunday. According to the Telegraph, Andrew's deposition will be conducted by Ms Giuffre's solicitors, David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, and will span two days. Mr. Boies earlier stated that his client and legal team were looking forward to "confronting" Andrew at his deposition and trial concerning his "denials and attempts to blame Ms Giuffre fo

Late last month, Russian forces conducted training in the Rostov region. According to US authorities, Russia has gathered roughly 70% of the military capacity required for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the next weeks. From mid-February onwards, the ground is likely to freeze and solidify, allowing Moscow to bring in more heavy equipment, according to the unidentified officials. Russia is estimated to have over 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders, but the country denies any plans to attack. The US officials did not present any evidence to back up their claims. According to US media reports, they stated that the information was based on intelligence but that they were unable to provide specifics owing to the sensitivity of the material. According to US media reports, they stated that the information was based on intelligence but that they were unable to provide specifics owing to the sensitivity of the material. Officials also stated that they did not know if Russian Presiden

Former US Vice President Mike Pence, in a stinging rebuke of his former boss, said on Friday that Trump was mistaken in believing Pence had the capacity to overturn the conclusion of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump has erroneously claimed was stolen from him. After losing his re-election effort to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020, Republican Trump pressed Pence to withhold congressional certification of the results on January 6, 2021, while presiding over the proceedings. During Trump's chaotic four-year presidency, Pence, a devoted subordinate, chose not to prevent certification. In an address to the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Pence declared, "President Trump is mistaken." "I had no legal authority to annul the election." "The presidency belongs to the people of the United States, and the people of the United States alone." And, frankly, no thought is more un-American than the ide

Several Cabinet ministers are said to have told Boris Johnson to fire Rishi Sunak. It comes just days after the Prime Minister was chastised by the Chancellor for a personal assault on Sir Keir Starmer. On Monday, Mr Johnson, 57, criticised Sir Keir for having failed to charge the paedophile Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions. The Chancellor responded by saying that he would not have used such rhetoric in response to Mr Johnson's statement. "To be honest, I wouldn't have said it, and I'm delighted the Prime Minister clarified what he meant," Mr Sunak added. Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, concurred with the Chancellor, saying that Labour leader Ed Miliband "deserves praise for taking on such a major public job and achieving well." The positions chosen by both against their own Prime Minister, however, did not sit well with the public. One senior minister demanded Sunak's dismissal, while two others accused the chancellor of b

Boris Johnson's leadership has been further strained by the resignation of four of his top advisers from Number 10 in the wake of the partygate controversy. Dan Rosenfield, the prime minister's chief of staff, and Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson's principal private secretary, have both announced their departures from Number 10. Two more important advisors to the prime minister have resigned: press secretary Jack Doyle and policy director Munira Mirza. Following the furore over his comments this week regarding Jimmy Savile and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rishi Sunak - generally seen as a possible successor to the prime minister - put pressure on Mr Johnson. Sunak on PM's Savile remark: 'I wouldn't have said it.' Mr Sunak attempted to put distance between himself and Mr Johnson during a Downing Street press conference, in which the PM accused Mr Starmer of "failing to pursue Jimmy Savile" while he was director of public prosecutions. "

Households are facing the biggest financial squeeze in the UK's history, as the chancellor warned that energy costs could rise again in the autumn and Ofgem granted itself new powers. Energy prices are likely to jump £693 to a median £1,971 per year, putting pressure on families. However, the regulator Ofgem's announcement of a 54 percent increase may not be the only one to strike households this year. Rishi Sunak has cautioned Britons to expect substantially higher energy expenses in the autumn, as the £1,971 price cap is expected to grow much higher. To combat market volatility, Ofgem is revising the price cap on bills twice as frequently. Currently, the cap on how much energy suppliers can charge is only raised every six months, and dozens of energy suppliers have gone out of business in that time. The failures were triggered by a significant increase in the price that energy companies had to pay for the gas that they supplied to consumers. Because the price restriction set

A Lincolnshire family is outraged about a burial plot error. After discovering that someone had been buried close to their father in a plot prepared for their mother, the Lincolnshire family stated they were "distressed." Widow Penny Robinson purchased a twin spot at St Leonard's Churchyard so that she may be buried next to her husband Trevor. When son Benjamin Robinson visited to place flowers on his father's grave last week, he noticed the error. The parish council has issued an apology and stated that it is seeking counsel. Mr Robinson told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that there was no longer enough room for his mum to be buried alongside her husband. It was difficult to break the news to my mother, and the family was greatly upset "he stated. "My mother is still upset about it." His brother, Luke Robinson, stated that the family was seeking an explanation from the council and that the error be corrected as quickly as possible. He explained, "They

Donations to truck drivers opposing vaccine regulations in Canada have been halted on GoFundMe. By Wednesday afternoon, donations to the "Freedom Convoy 2022" page had topped C$10 million ($7.9 million; £5.8 million), with roughly C$1 million going to organizers. A number of officials have proposed that the site be sued in order to prevent more monies from being released. The protest began over a week ago over a law requiring Covid vaccines to cross the US-Canada border. On Wednesday, a notification on the Freedom Convoy donations website stated, "This fundraiser is presently suspended and under evaluation to ensure it conforms with our terms of service and applicable laws and regulations." "Our crew is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is doing all possible to protect both organizers and donors. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your patience." "We strictly prohibit user content that reflects or promotes behavior in support of viole