2021–2022 global energy crisis U.S. President Joe Biden orders the release of up to one million barrels of crude oil per day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the next six months in an attempt to contain inflation. (The Guardian)
Micronesian president David Panuelo urges Solomon Islands to not sign a security pact with China, citing "grave security concerns" and arguing that the Pacific islands would be "the epicenter of major confrontation" between major powers. (Reuters)
The acting Australian Information Commissioner orders the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to comply with a request by The Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, which the PMO had previously rejected, and search the mobile phone of Prime Minister Scott Morrison for correspondence with Morrison's friend and QAnon conspiracy theorist Tim Stewart. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has alleged that Stewart influenced Morrison's use of the term "ritual abuse" in a speech to survivors of child sexual abuse in 2019. (The Guardian)
Siege of Mariupol Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says that Ukraine has sent buses to Mariupol in an effort to evacuate citizens from the city. (BBC News)
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says that Ukraine has sent buses to Mariupol in an effort to evacuate citizens from the city. (BBC News)
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola travels to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and subsequently addresses the Verkhovna Rada. Metsola becomes the first EU official to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. (Times of Malta)
Ukraine–European Union relations President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola travels to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and subsequently addresses the Verkhovna Rada. Metsola becomes the first EU official to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. (Times of Malta)
2022 Sri Lankan protests The Sri Lankan government imposes a state of emergency after the Mirihana Presidential Residence is targeted by local civilian protesters. (BBC News)
Sri Lankan economic crisis 2022 Sri Lankan protests The Sri Lankan government imposes a state of emergency after the Mirihana Presidential Residence is targeted by local civilian protesters. (BBC News)
The Sri Lankan government imposes a state of emergency after the Mirihana Presidential Residence is targeted by local civilian protesters. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Nauru President Lionel Aingimea announces Nauru's first positive cases of COVID-19 in two asymptomatic people who travelled from Brisbane on March 31. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nauru President Lionel Aingimea announces Nauru's first positive cases of COVID-19 in two asymptomatic people who travelled from Brisbane on March 31. (RNZ)
President Lionel Aingimea announces Nauru's first positive cases of COVID-19 in two asymptomatic people who travelled from Brisbane on March 31. (RNZ)
Enlargement of NATO Prime Minister Sanna Marin says that a decision on Finland joining the NATO military alliance must be made before this summer, stating that "Russia is not the neighbor we thought it was". (Yle)
Prime Minister Sanna Marin says that a decision on Finland joining the NATO military alliance must be made before this summer, stating that "Russia is not the neighbor we thought it was". (Yle)
2022 Serbian general election Voters in Serbia head to the polls to vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections. (DW) President Aleksandar Vučić is re-elected with 60.0% of the vote, and his party Serbian Progressive Party wins the most votes in the National Assembly at 42.9% though fail to win an overall majority of seats. (Reuters)
Voters in Serbia head to the polls to vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections. (DW)
2022 Costa Rican general election Voters in Costa Rica head to the polls to vote in the second round of the presidential election. (TSE) Rodrigo Chaves Robles is elected President of Costa Rica. (Reuters)
2022 Hungarian parliamentary election Voters in Hungary head to the polls to elect a new National Assembly. (The Guardian) Fidesz, the party of current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, wins most of the seats and retains its parliamentary supermajority, while opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay loses his home district of Hódmezővásárhely. (CNN)
64th Annual Grammy Awards During the ceremony, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a video appearance and delivers a pre-taped speech urging viewers to support his country during the invasion in "any way" they can. (The Hollywood Reporter) (The Washington Post)
Voters in Costa Rica head to the polls to vote in the second round of the presidential election. (TSE)
Fidesz, the party of current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, wins most of the seats and retains its parliamentary supermajority, while opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay loses his home district of Hódmezővásárhely. (CNN)
President Aleksandar Vučić is re-elected with 60.0% of the vote, and his party Serbian Progressive Party wins the most votes in the National Assembly at 42.9% though fail to win an overall majority of seats. (Reuters)
Rodrigo Chaves Robles is elected President of Costa Rica. (Reuters)
2022 Sri Lankan protests The entire cabinet of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns following days of economic protests in Sri Lanka. (BBC News)
The entire cabinet of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns following days of economic protests in Sri Lanka. (BBC News)
Voters in Hungary head to the polls to elect a new National Assembly. (The Guardian)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Bucha U.S. President Joe Biden calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face trials for war crimes after more images emerge of the Bucha massacre. (CNN) Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that peace talks will continue despite the Bucha massacre. (BBC News)
Battle of Bucha U.S. President Joe Biden calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face trials for war crimes after more images emerge of the Bucha massacre. (CNN)
Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that peace talks will continue despite the Bucha massacre. (BBC News)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Bucha U.S. President Joe Biden calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face trials for war crimes after more images emerge of the Bucha massacre. (CNN) Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that peace talks will continue despite the Bucha massacre. (BBC News)
Centerra Gold announces that they have reached an agreement with Kyrgyzstan to hand control of the Kumtor Gold Mine to the Kyrgyz government. (Mining.com)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that peace talks will continue despite the Bucha massacre. (BBC News)
2022 Peruvian protests President Pedro Castillo imposes a curfew in Lima amid protests against inflation caused by rising fuel and fertiliser costs. (BBC News)
President Pedro Castillo imposes a curfew in Lima amid protests against inflation caused by rising fuel and fertiliser costs. (BBC News)
Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian war Russia says it will end its invasion if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to conditions set during negotiations, specifically a legal guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO by changing the Ukrainian constitution to include such a provision. Russia also says it suspended operations in Kyiv as a "goodwill gesture" in order to promote peace talks. (Hindustan Times)
Former President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaoré is found guilty of complicity in the murder of the country's first president, Thomas Sankara, and is sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment. Compaoré has been in exile in Ivory Coast ever since resigning to the presidency following the 2014 Burkina Faso uprising. (The Guardian)
Russia says it will end its invasion if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to conditions set during negotiations, specifically a legal guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO by changing the Ukrainian constitution to include such a provision. Russia also says it suspended operations in Kyiv as a "goodwill gesture" in order to promote peace talks. (Hindustan Times)
The governing coalition of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett loses its majority in the Knesset after coalition whip Idit Silman of the Yamina party defects to the opposition Likud party, raising the possibility of new elections in Israel for the fifth time in four years. (Axios)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that Minsk should be included in negotiations aimed at ending the war. (The Moscow Times)
Economic consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian War Boycott of Russia and Belarus The United States House of Representatives votes 420–3 to pass legislation to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine. Following this, the Senate also votes 100–0 to pass the legislation, sending it to U.S. President Joe Biden for approval. (San Francisco Chronicle) (Fox Business) The Russian ruble goes above the pre-war level after falling as low as 150 rubles per US dollar in early March. (Bloomberg)
Former German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum file a complaint with German federal prosecutors accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin, all 32 members of the Security Council of Russia, and members of the Russian Armed Forces of committing war crimes in Ukraine. (ABC News)
Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that Minsk should be included in negotiations aimed at ending the war. (The Moscow Times)
Russo-Ukrainian War International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine The emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, with 93 votes in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. Russia is the second country to be suspended from the council, after Libya in 2011 during the final year of Muammar Gaddafi's rule. (CNN) Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that Minsk should be included in negotiations aimed at ending the war. (The Moscow Times)
War crimes in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Former German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum file a complaint with German federal prosecutors accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin, all 32 members of the Security Council of Russia, and members of the Russian Armed Forces of committing war crimes in Ukraine. (ABC News)
2022 Peruvian protests The government of Pedro Castillo announces that they have deployed the Peruvian Army to highways amid protests against inflation in the country. (Reuters)
The government of Pedro Castillo announces that they have deployed the Peruvian Army to highways amid protests against inflation in the country. (Reuters)
International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine The emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, with 93 votes in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. Russia is the second country to be suspended from the council, after Libya in 2011 during the final year of Muammar Gaddafi's rule. (CNN)
The emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, with 93 votes in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. Russia is the second country to be suspended from the council, after Libya in 2011 during the final year of Muammar Gaddafi's rule. (CNN)
Government and intergovernmental reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Japan–Russia relations Japan expels eight Russian diplomats. (Jerusalem Post)
2022 Pakistani political crises Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government are ousted in a no-confidence vote put forward by the country's political opposition. (AP)
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Economic impact of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022 Russian financial crisis S&P Global Ratings lowers its rating of Russian foreign obligations to "SD" (selective default) since the Russian government decided to use rubles to pay off its bondholders instead of using U.S. dollars as stipulated. However, S&P expects that Russia will still meet its other payment obligations. (Reuters)
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government are ousted in a no-confidence vote put forward by the country's political opposition. (AP)
Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is still ready to continue peace negotiations with Russia. (RTÉ)
S&P Global Ratings lowers its rating of Russian foreign obligations to "SD" (selective default) since the Russian government decided to use rubles to pay off its bondholders instead of using U.S. dollars as stipulated. However, S&P expects that Russia will still meet its other payment obligations. (Reuters)
Ukrainian Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk announces that President Zelenskyy has ordered a third prisoner exchange with Russia, with 12 Ukrainian soldiers and 14 civilians returning to Ukraine. (RFerl)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is still ready to continue peace negotiations with Russia. (RTÉ)
Azerbaijani Healthcare Minister Teymur Musayev announces that Azerbaijan will develop their own domestic vaccines to combat COVID-19. (AzerNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hajj The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announces that Saudi Arabia will lift their COVID-19 restrictions on the hajj and will allow 1 million people to participate in the event for the first time since 2019. (Al Arabiya) COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Healthcare Minister Teymur Musayev announces that Azerbaijan will develop their own domestic vaccines to combat COVID-19. (AzerNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Healthcare Minister Teymur Musayev announces that Azerbaijan will develop their own domestic vaccines to combat COVID-19. (AzerNews)
Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins the first round with 28.1% of the vote and will face Marine Le Pen, who has obtained 23.3% of the vote, in the second round on April 24. (elDiario.es)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Siege of Mariupol Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces that the city of Mariupol has been "completely destroyed", stating the death toll as "tens of thousands". (Washington Examiner) Governor of Donetsk Oblast Pavlo Kyrylenko says that three people have been killed and eight more injured by rocket attacks in the region. (Reuters)
In response to the S&P's lowering of Russian foreign debt rating to "SD" (selective default), Finance Minister Anton Siluanov tells pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia that the government is preparing to sue in order to force the investors to accept their payments. (CNN)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine U.S. President Joe Biden calls the Russian war in Ukraine a "genocide". (AP)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine U.S. President Joe Biden calls the Russian war in Ukraine a "genocide". (AP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are fined for breaching the COVID-19 lockdown rules in the country. (The Guardian)
Cameroon–Russia relations Jeune Afrique reveals that the defence ministers of Russia and Cameroon sign a new military cooperation agreement, renewing a similar agreement signed in 2015. (Jeune Afrique)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Partygate British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are fined for breaching the COVID-19 lockdown rules in the country. (The Guardian)
Jeune Afrique reveals that the defence ministers of Russia and Cameroon sign a new military cooperation agreement, renewing a similar agreement signed in 2015. (Jeune Afrique)
Partygate British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are fined for breaching the COVID-19 lockdown rules in the country. (The Guardian)
Kyiv offensive The Russian defence ministry says it will begin to target Ukrainian "decision-makers", including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and command centres in the capital Kyiv if Ukrainian forces continue to attack Russian territory. (NDTV)
The Russian defence ministry says it will begin to target Ukrainian "decision-makers", including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and command centres in the capital Kyiv if Ukrainian forces continue to attack Russian territory. (NDTV)
Enlargement of NATO Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin says Finland will decide on NATO membership within "weeks", after Russia warned the country against joining the Western military alliance. (BBC News)
Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin says Finland will decide on NATO membership within "weeks", after Russia warned the country against joining the Western military alliance. (BBC News)
Foreign aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War The United States says that it is sending an additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine, as well as heavy weapons, including artillery systems, artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers, Mi-17 helicopters transferred from Afghanistan, 300 Switchblade drones and unmanned surface vehicles for coastal defence. (Reuters) Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov says U.S. and NATO vehicles transporting weapons on Ukrainian territory are "legal military targets". (Reuters)
