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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