China censors online Ukraine debate, bars calls for peace March 10, 2022 at 01:42AM

China's censors, who quietly determine what can be discussed on the country's buzzing social media platforms, are silencing views of citizens protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In the days after Russia's Feb. 24 attack, comments on Chinese social media platforms Weibo, WeChat and Douyin broadly backed Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Many posts challenging that, or even advocating peace, quickly disappeared from view.

New Zealand to merge public TV and radio as audiences shift March 10, 2022 at 12:59AM

Noting the rapid changes taking place in how people consume news and entertainment, New Zealand's government on Thursday said it would merge its public television and radio broadcasters into a single new organization it hopes will be better placed to reach younger audiences. The merger represents a major shakeup to the nation's media landscape, potentially affecting about 1,000 employees across TVNZ and RNZ.

Italy's Draghi speaks to Congo president on energy cooperation March 10, 2022 at 12:47AM

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke to the Congo Republic President Dénis Sassou Nguesso to discuss the strengthening of energy ties, the prime minister's office said on Thursday. Imports account for more than 90% of Italy’s gas needs and last year Russian gas made up around 40% of those imports.

Attack on Ukraine hospital kills 3, wounds 17, officials say March 09, 2022 at 11:34PM

An airstrike on a hospital in the port city of Mariupol killed three people, including a child, the city council said Thursday, as Russian forces intensified their siege of Ukrainian cities, as the top Russian and Ukrainian diplomats met for the first time since the war began. The attack a day earlier in the besieged southern port city wounded 17 people, including women waiting to give birth, doctors and children buried in the rubble.

Top Russian, Ukrainian diplomats meet for first time since invasion March 09, 2022 at 10:58PM

Russia accuses US of funding biological weapons research in Ukraine March 09, 2022 at 10:52PM

Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, as Moscow stepped up its campaign to gain control of key Ukrainian cities. Konashenkov claimed the ministry had obtained documents detailing US military-biological activities in Ukraine, including on the transfer of Ukrainians' biomaterial abroad.