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As the toll from Russia's invasion of Ukraine rises, the US says Beijing has a "duty to utilize leverage with Putin." President Joe Biden of the United States and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have began their first direct conversations since November, amid mounting US concerns over Beijing's connection with Russia and stance on the increasingly violent war in Ukraine. The White House said Biden and Xi began conversing at 13:00 GMT on Friday, amid warnings from Washington that China may consider giving military assistance to Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier in a briefing that Biden would use the call to "make plain that China will bear responsibility for any steps it takes to encourage Russia's aggressiveness," and that such acts would have "costs." "China, in particular, has a responsibility to utilize its clout with President Putin to protect the international standards and principles that it claims to uph

All remaining Covid travel restrictions for passengers entering the UK have now been abolished. Unvaccinated passengers will no longer be required to take tests as of 04:00 GMT (the rule had already been repealed for the vaccinated), and passenger locator forms will be phased out. It comes almost exactly two years after the UK implemented the first Covid lockout measures. Lifting the rules, according to travel executives, was the "ultimate game-changer." "Everything we've worked for - every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the entire country means that, finally, nearly two years later, we may all travel without bureaucratic constraints," Aviation Minister Robert Courts said. The move was scheduled to coincide with the Easter holidays, according to the government, but contingency measures have been made up to deal with any future Covid variants. Bookings have increased in recent months, according to Derek Jones, CEO of Kuoni, a tourism company. "T

Kanye West's Instagram account has been suspended for 24 hours after he made a racial slur in reference to comedian Trevor Noah. After saying Kanye's behaviors against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian were "terrifying," the rapper made a post about him. Kanye has been chastised for making disparaging remarks about Kim, their children, and her boyfriend Pete Davidson on social media. The rapper broke Instagram's hate speech and bullying regulations, according to Meta, which owns the platform. The business also stated that its harassment regulations had been broken. Despite the fact that his account is still visible, Kanye is unable to post, remark, or send direct messages. Kanye has also accused Kim of preventing him from seeing their children in recent posts, which she has disputed. Meta stated in a statement that if it sees more infractions of its regulations, it will take "additional steps." "We frequently take additional steps against accounts that con

Jussie Smollett, a black actor from Chicago, has been released on bond awaiting an appeal against his conviction for falsely claiming he was the victim of a hate crime. The former Empire actress, 39, was sentenced to 150 days in prison last week after being found guilty of lying to police. His lawyers filed an appeal after he was sentenced. Smollett has always maintained that the hoax incident in Chicago in 2019 was genuine. Prior to his release, he had to sign a $150,000 (£114,000) recognizance bail and made no statement as he walked out of the Cook County jail, flanked by security. According to CBS News, Smollett's defense team said they were "very, very thrilled" with the appeal courts' decision and that he was the victim of a racist justice system. His legal team contended that his incarceration - for what was classified as a low-level, non-violent offence - was excessive and that his health and safety were jeopardized while he was in custody. They also questioned

After years of captivity in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori have been reunited with their families in the United Kingdom. In the early hours of Thursday, the British-Iranian nationals were greeted by their loved ones at RAF Brize Norton. Gabriella, Mrs Zaghari-seven-year-old Ratcliffe's daughter, ran forward to hug her mother, whom she hadn't seen in years. Elika Ashoori, Mr Ashoori's daughter, expressed her joy upon seeing her father and shared a video of the two arriving. "Is that mummy?" Gabriella was heard asking. before her mother descended the plane's stairwell at the Oxfordshire airport. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 43, and Mr Ashoori, 67, were eventually allowed to leave Tehran on Wednesday after months of discussions. The couple's departure from Iran had been questionable until the last minute, but they were in excellent spirits, according to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Gabriella had asked MP Tulip Siddiq if her father Richard w

Paul Pogba, a player for Manchester United, claims his home was broken into during his team's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. After 67 minutes, the France player came on as the Spanish side triumphed 1-0. "Our family's biggest nightmare came true when our home was broken into... while our babies slept in their bedroom," Pogba added. Pogba has offered a prize to "anyone who has a clue to help us" because the family's nanny was at home at the time. Pogba's two children are three and one years old. Since re-joining United in a then-world-record £89 million signing from Juventus in 2016, the 29-year-old has stayed at Old Trafford. In the summer, his contract with the club will expire. Pogba continued, "My wife and I ran home without knowing if our children were safe and unhurt." "There is no worse feeling in the world for a father than not being able to defend his children, and I honestly hope that no one ever ha

With changes to policing, health, and education, the government has laid out its long-term goal for addressing racial inequality in the UK. The new "Inclusive Britain" action plan includes more than 70 measures. It includes increased oversight of how police employ stop and search powers, as well as adjustments to the way ethnicity data is collected. In reaction to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, Inclusive Britain was created. This prompted the creation of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities, which issued a series of reform proposals organized around three core themes: developing trust, promoting fairness, and empowering people. Among the new measures are: A new, national framework for police powers like stop and search, with increased local scrutiny. An automatic "opt-in" experimental program to assist ethnic minorities and others in receiving legal counsel while being detained by the police. A new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities h

As of Wednesday noon, the administration declared that providing public finance or financial help for trade with or investment in Belarus is illegal. Other limits apply to securities, loans, and deposit acceptance. Transactions with the Belarusian central bank have also been suspended. All dual-use items (civilian or military) as well as goods for the country's defense and security industry are prohibited from leaving the country. According to a government statement providing technical help, brokering services, or funding is also forbidden. Furthermore, Switzerland has expanded current import restrictions against Belarus to include wood products, rubber products, iron and steel, and cement. According to the government statement, exceptions are only permitted for humanitarian reasons. The measures are comparable to those that the EU and Switzerland have previously imposed on Russia, according to the administration. Last August, Switzerland imposed a prior set of sanctions against Be

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver a virtual speech to Congress on Wednesday, when he is likely to call for more help. Russia's demands are becoming "more reasonable," according to Zelenskyy, who stated there was still reason to be optimistic that negotiations with the Russian government may achieve an agreement. Both parties were scheduled to meet again later Wednesday. "Efforts and patience are still required," he added in a televised message to the nation. "Every battle comes to an end with an accord." According to a statement and photographs published by the Kyiv emergencies agency, shrapnel from an artillery shell slammed into a 12-story apartment building in central Kyiv Wednesday morning, obliterating the top floor and setting a fire. The neighboring structure was also harmed. The agency stated that there were two victims, but did not elaborate. According to the preside

Following a run of five shootings targeting homeless persons as they slept, police have apprehended and prosecuted a man. Gerald Brevard III, 30, is accused of committing five attacks in nine days in both New York and Washington, DC. Two of the men perished as a result of their actions. After being stabbed and shot, one man's tent was set on fire. Mr Brevard was apprehended in Washington, DC on Tuesday, two days after a multi-state manhunt began. He was charged with first-degree murder and assault. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City stated the perpetrator had targeted those living on the streets with "no respect for life." Mr. Brevard has a significant criminal past in Washington and the surrounding Virginia areas, and he is now on probation for assault and battery after pleading guilty. The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., had broadcast surveillance video of a guy they wanted to talk with and offered a reward of up to $70,000 (£53,668) for information l