THE WORLD TURNS ITS BACK ON RUSSIA

From online video channels to television stations and shipping companies, the world’s biggest names are turning their back on Russia as the country continues to invade Ukraine.

Russian media channels RT and Sputnik have been banned by YouTube in Europe. The video-sharing platform said on Tuesday that it’s “taking into account the ongoing war in Ukraine”.

In an email to AFP, YouTube said that “we are blocking the YouTube channels of RT and Sputnik in the whole of Europe with immediate effect. Our systems need a little time before being fully operational”.

Social media giant Facebook said on Monday that it started to block content published by RT and Sputnik in the European Union.

News24 reports that Danish shipping giant Maersk said on Tuesday that it would stop taking new non-essential orders to and from Russia, due to sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Citing the impact of sanctions, “bookings to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended, with exception of Foodstuffs, Medical and Humanitarian supplies”, Maersk said in a statement.

Maersk highlighted that it would try to honour bookings that were placed before the sanctions were imposed.

Volvo said on Monday that it is stopping sales and halting production at its Kaluga plant while Ericsson, the telecoms giant, confirmed that it would halt deliveries to its Russian clients.

The Russian Grand Prix has been taken off the F1 calendar while the national Russian team and its clubs have been suspended from all UEFA and FIFA games until further notice.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ignored calls from the United Nations as well as several countries across the world to pull its troops from Ukraine and has instead put the country’s nuclear forces on high alert.

Image credit: Outlook India