CONFLICTS

UN chief: Ukraine war hitting poor nations reliant on wheat

The United Nations chief, Antonio Guterres, warned Monday that Russia’s war on Ukraine is holding “a sword of Damocles” over the global economy, especially poor developing countries that face skyrocketing food, fuel, and fertilizer prices and are now seeing their breadbasket “being bombed.”

White House drafts TikTok stars to blame Putin for rising gas prices

The Biden administration tapped teenage TikTok influencers last week to coordinate messaging on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and blame Vladimir Putin for rising gas prices, according to a recording of a call between White House officials and the social media stars.