UN demands Russia end Ukraine war

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 25 (AFP/Reuters): The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted by an overwhelming majority a new non-binding resolution that demands an "immediate" halt to Russia's war in Ukraine.
At UN headquarters in New York, 140 countries voted in favor, 38 abstained and five voted against the measure, with applause ringing out afterwards.
The vote came after the adoption of a similar non-binding resolution on March 2 that demanded Russia immediately cease its use of force-a vote that was approved by 141 countries.
On Wednesday Ukraine put forward the new resolution, originally prepared by France and Mexico, at an emergency session of the General Assembly.
A competing text by South Africa, which never mentioned Russia by name, received only 50 votes for, 67 against and 36 abstentions, and was therefore not adopted.

Putin says West trying to cancel Russian culture
President Vladimir Putin on Friday slammed the West for discriminating against Russian culture, which he likened to Nazi supporters burning books in the 1930s.
"Today they are trying to cancel a thousand-year-old country," Putin said during a televised meeting with Russian winners of culture-related prizes.
"I am talking about the progressive discrimination against everything connected with Russia, about this trend that is unfolding in a number of Western states, with the full connivance and sometimes with the encouragement of Western elites," Putin added.
"The proverbial 'cancel culture' has become a cancellation of culture," Putin said, adding that works by Russian composers were being excluded from concerts and books by Russian authors "banned".
"The last time such a mass campaign to destroy unwanted literature was carried out was by the Nazis in Germany almost 90 years ago... books were burned right on the squares," Putin said.

US has 'no intention' of using chemical weapons: White House
The United States has "no intention" of using chemical weapons under any circumstance even if Russia uses such weapons in Ukraine, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday.
"There will be a severe price if Russia uses chemical weapons. And I won't go beyond that other than to say the United States has no intention of using chemical weapons, period, under any circumstance," he told reporters on board Air Force One.

NATO says cannot allow 'security vacuum' in Arctic
NATO cannot allow a security vacuum to develop in the Arctic, where the alliance sees "growing strategic competition" from Russia and China, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.
"We cannot afford a security vacuum in the High North. It could fuel Russian ambitions, expose NATO and risk miscalculation and misunderstandings," Stoltenberg said. "We also see an increased Chinese interest in the region. China has defined itself as a near Arctic state and aims to build a presence here," he added.
Stoltenberg was speaking during a visit to the Bardufoss base in northern Norway, where the alliance is conducting large-scale military exercises, dubbed Cold Response.
Moscow had increased military activity in the Arctic in recent years, he told a press conference, modernising its existing bases and building new ones in a clear sign it intends to be a dominant player in the coveted region.