US set to place sanctions on Russia

Russia’s recognition of independence for two breakaway Ukrainian enclaves seen by White House as the onset of an invasion. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following US set to place sanctions on Russia [Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2022.] Credit: Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Russia The US is set to place sanctions on Russia over recent developments in Ukraine. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic — known collectively as the Donbas region, and backed by Moscow. Putin also signed decrees [ordering military forces into the region]( for what he called “peacekeeping” purposes. The White House, however, is calling the move the [onset of a full-scale invasion]( by Russian troops into Ukraine — a shift from its initial position that such a move would not be a new step since Russia has already had forces in that region since 2014. The recent developments have sent global markets tumbling and crude oil prices surging to $99 per barrel. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has [halted the approval process]( for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia. Colombia Colombia has become the latest country in Latin America to decriminalize abortion. The nation’s Constitutional Court voted to legalize abortions until the 24th week of pregnancy. It follows similar decisions by Mexico and Argentina over the past couple of years, in a region that has been historically known for its [Catholic faith and social conservatism](. Abortion rights advocates marched in celebration in the capital Bogota and other major cities, after having campaigned for this move for two decades. Abortions have been [permitted in Colombia since 2006]( only in the cases of rape, nonviable pregnancy and when the life or health of the mother was in danger. Switzerland Credit Suisse, one of the world’s largest private banks, is in hot water after leaked reports have revealed how it held [hundreds of millions of dollars]( for heads of state, intelligence officials, sanctioned businessmen and human rights abusers, among many others, some of them involved in torture, drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption and other [serious crimes](. The leak follows the Panama Papers of 2016, the Paradise Papers of 2017 and the Pandora Papers of 2021, that have shed light on secretive bank accounts, law firms and offshore financial-service providers giving protection to wealthy people and institutions. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [6 months after evacuation, thousands of Afghan families are waiting to reunite]( [Afghan refugees walk through an Afghan refugee camp at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey, on Sept. 27, 2021.]( Credit: Andrew Harnik/AP/File photo ​​​​​​​Ahmad Naem Wakili, who worked as a judge in Afghanistan, landed in Arizona after getting evacuated from the country last August. But a bureaucratic quagmire is still keeping his wife and daughter abroad. Thousands of others face a similar [legal limbo](. [How US sailors kicked off Barcelona's tourism industry in the 1950s]( [Ships of the US Navy 6th Fleet visit Barcelona, Spain, in 1956.]( Credit: US Navy/Public Domain At first, sailors with the US 6th Fleet brought in a flair of modernity and freedom. The fleet's arrival brought an [unexpected flow of cash]( to Barcelona’s poorest neighborhoods, kicking off leisure and entertainment businesses built around the young men. But over time, public opinion toward their influence in Spain changed. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Many people around the world are marking "Twosday" with today's date being Tuesday, 2/22/22. Some people have even planned special life events for this day, including [weddings](, considering it a day of good fortune. And when the date is written in the DD/MM/YYYY format, the pattern remains the same even when it's read upside-down! [Credit: Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [In case you missed it from The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.