COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand New Zealand reports a record 23,894 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (ABC News Australia)
Due to the panic buying of nickel futures, whose prices have increased above the $100,000 per tonne mark for the first time, and which doubled for the second consecutive day, the London Metal Exchange suspends all trading of nickel. (Reuters) (Reuters 2)
Gunmen ambush a team of vigilantes in Kebbi State, killing a reported 62 people. (Reuters)
New Zealand reports a record 23,894 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (ABC News Australia)
The Albanian consulate in Kharkiv is destroyed during Russian shelling. No casualties are reported. (Euractiv)
The death toll from the floods in Queensland and New South Wales increases to 20. (GlobalNews)
A Russian airstrike destroys a maternity ward and a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, killing three people and injuring at least 17 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that many people are unaccounted for. (Business Insider) (AP) (The Chicago Tribune) (Sky News)
Eastern Ukraine offensive Siege of Mariupol A Russian airstrike destroys a maternity ward and a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, killing three people and injuring at least 17 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that many people are unaccounted for. (Business Insider) (AP) (The Chicago Tribune) (Sky News) Battle of Kharkiv Ukrainian forces announce that they have regained control of Derhachi, a city located in the Kharkiv Raion district of the Kharkiv Oblast. (Ukrinform)
Siege of Mariupol A Russian airstrike destroys a maternity ward and a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, killing three people and injuring at least 17 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that many people are unaccounted for. (Business Insider) (AP) (The Chicago Tribune) (Sky News)
Fitch Ratings downgrades Russia from "B" to "C", one grade above default, and warns that Russian default on its obligations is "imminent". (BBC News)
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War Russia–United States relations Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells the United States to "await its response" to the "economic war" being waged against Russia. (Reuters) Russia–United Kingdom relations The UK bans all Russian aircraft from landing in its territory and travelling in its airspace, impounding a Russian oligarch-owned private jet at Farnborough Airport. The UK also bans all exports of aviation and space industry-related goods and services. (Reuters)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells the United States to "await its response" to the "economic war" being waged against Russia. (Reuters)
Russia–Ukraine relations Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Ankara, Turkey, for upcoming talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. (Reuters) Ukrainian foreign policy aide Ihor Zhovkva says that Ukraine is open to holding talks discussing Russia's demand of Ukraine's neutrality as long as Ukraine is given security guarantees. However, Zhovkva warned that Ukraine will not give up any of its territories. (Bloomberg)
Russia–United States relations Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells the United States to "await its response" to the "economic war" being waged against Russia. (Reuters)
The Ukrainian state grid operator warns that Russian forces, which are in control of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, have disconnected the plant from the electricity grid, which the operator says will impact nuclear fuel cooling, and which also caused a blackout in the nearby city of Slavutych. The nuclear plant previously suspended all communications with the IAEA, the United Nations-based organisation specialising in nuclear energy production. (The Independent) (Interfax Ukraine)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that reserve diesel generators that cool spent nuclear fuel can only last for another 48 hours and that a radiation leak from Chernobyl is "imminent" if power is not restored immediately. Kuleba also says that "Putin's barbaric war" puts all of Europe in danger. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency says there is "no critical impact on security" imminent. (Times of Israel) (Reuters)
Ukrainian foreign policy aide Ihor Zhovkva says that Ukraine is open to holding talks discussing Russia's demand of Ukraine's neutrality as long as Ukraine is given security guarantees. However, Zhovkva warned that Ukraine will not give up any of its territories. (Bloomberg)
2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout Major League Baseball postpones opening day to April 14 after failing to reach a deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association. (Bleacher Report) (ABC News)
2022 eastern Australia floods Prime Minister Scott Morrison declares a national emergency in Australia in response to the ongoing floods in Australia. (ABC News Australia)
2022 Major League Baseball season 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout Major League Baseball postpones opening day to April 14 after failing to reach a deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association. (Bleacher Report) (ABC News)
Austria suspends its universal COVID-19 vaccine mandate one week before fines of up to €3,600 were scheduled to take effect for those who did not comply with the mandate. The suspension of the mandate will be reviewed in three months. (Politico)
Battle of Kharkiv Ukrainian forces announce that they have regained control of Derhachi, a city located in the Kharkiv Raion district of the Kharkiv Oblast. (Ukrinform)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Austria suspends its universal COVID-19 vaccine mandate one week before fines of up to €3,600 were scheduled to take effect for those who did not comply with the mandate. The suspension of the mandate will be reviewed in three months. (Politico)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Austria suspends its universal COVID-19 vaccine mandate one week before fines of up to €3,600 were scheduled to take effect for those who did not comply with the mandate. The suspension of the mandate will be reviewed in three months. (Politico) COVID-19 pandemic in Romania Romania lifts all COVID-19-related restrictions including requiring a digital COVID pass to access institutions and the obligation to wear protective masks both indoors and outdoors. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania Romania lifts all COVID-19-related restrictions including requiring a digital COVID pass to access institutions and the obligation to wear protective masks both indoors and outdoors. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 342,446 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 Hours. (CNA)
John Deere announces that it will suspend shipments to Russia and Belarus following the invasion. (WBTV-TV)
Major League Baseball postpones opening day to April 14 after failing to reach a deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association. (Bleacher Report) (ABC News)
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs a legislation banning the state from doing business dealings with Belarus and Russia. (Patch.com)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison declares a national emergency in Australia in response to the ongoing floods in Australia. (ABC News Australia)
Romania lifts all COVID-19-related restrictions including requiring a digital COVID pass to access institutions and the obligation to wear protective masks both indoors and outdoors. (Reuters)
Russia–United Kingdom relations The UK bans all Russian aircraft from landing in its territory and travelling in its airspace, impounding a Russian oligarch-owned private jet at Farnborough Airport. The UK also bans all exports of aviation and space industry-related goods and services. (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Ankara, Turkey, for upcoming talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. (Reuters)
South Korea reports a record 342,446 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 Hours. (CNA)
The British Army confirms that a number of active-duty soldiers have disobeyed orders and gone AWOL, and have likely gone to Ukraine to fight against the Russian military. Defence Minister Ben Wallace says that the serving members are "breaking the law and will be prosecuted" when they return to the United Kingdom. (Sky News)
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announces that China will provide 5 million yuan ($790,000) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. (South China Morning Post)
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development proposes a draft nationalisation bill that will impose receivership for up to 3 months on assets of companies that boycotted the Russian market due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine if the ownership share by legal entities from "unfriendly countries" exceeds 25%. If the companies still do not resume their business in the country, their assets will be auctioned. More than 300 companies that left Russia or suspended operations in Russia could be targeted. (TASS)
The UK bans all Russian aircraft from landing in its territory and travelling in its airspace, impounding a Russian oligarch-owned private jet at Farnborough Airport. The UK also bans all exports of aviation and space industry-related goods and services. (Reuters)
The United Kingdom's Defence Ministry says that it is sending another 1,615 MBT LAWs, and a small number of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian army. More small arms, body armour and medical supplies have also been sent. (BBC News)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says over two million Ukrainians have now fled the country since the invasion began. Most have gone to neighbouring Poland, with Hungary, Romania and Slovakia also taking in several hundred thousand refugees each. (DW)
Ukrainian forces announce that they have regained control of Derhachi, a city located in the Kharkiv Raion district of the Kharkiv Oblast. (Ukrinform)
Ukrainian refugee crisis The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says over two million Ukrainians have now fled the country since the invasion began. Most have gone to neighbouring Poland, with Hungary, Romania and Slovakia also taking in several hundred thousand refugees each. (DW)
2022 Hungarian presidential election Fidesz's Katalin Novák is elected the first female president of Hungary by the National Assembly. (Bloomberg)
2024 United States presidential election Former Montana Secretary of State and State Senator Corey Stapleton announces that he will form a "test the waters" political action committee in preparation to seek the nomination for the Republican Party for the upcoming 2024 election. (Great Falls Tribune)
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War Russian President Vladimir Putin admits that the sanctions have created problems for Russia. However, he also called the sanctions illegitimate and warned the West that Russia will emerge stronger and solve the problems. (Reuters) (Sky News)
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War The British government sanctions Russian oligarch and Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich, freezing all his assets in the United Kingdom. The sanctions mean that Premier League club Chelsea will not be able to sell any more tickets for games, its merchandise store will be closed, and it will be unable to buy or sell players on the transfer market until the club is sold. (BBC News)
Reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War The British government sanctions Russian oligarch and Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich, freezing all his assets in the United Kingdom. The sanctions mean that Premier League club Chelsea will not be able to sell any more tickets for games, its merchandise store will be closed, and it will be unable to buy or sell players on the transfer market until the club is sold. (BBC News)
Russian President Vladimir Putin admits that the sanctions have created problems for Russia. However, he also called the sanctions illegitimate and warned the West that Russia will emerge stronger and solve the problems. (Reuters) (Sky News)
The Russian government abolishes penalties for theft of patents if they are held by natural or legal persons from countries considered by the Russian government as "unfriendly". The decriminalisation of the piracy of software from "unfriendly" countries is also being considered. (Euractiv) (The Register)
The Ukrainian parliament begins to debate a new law which would allow the forced seizure of all assets belonging to Russians citizens as well as Ukrainians deemed by the courts or the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to be Russian collaborators. Last week, a bill was approved that allowed forced seizure of assets owned by the Russian government and Russian companies. (Ekonomichna Pravda)
Fidesz's Katalin Novák is elected the first female president of Hungary by the National Assembly. (Bloomberg)
Former Montana Secretary of State and State Senator Corey Stapleton announces that he will form a "test the waters" political action committee in preparation to seek the nomination for the Republican Party for the upcoming 2024 election. (Great Falls Tribune)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that the Russian economy is experiencing a "shock" following an "absolutely unprecedented" economic war being waged against the country. Peskov also says that "the economic war that has started against our country has never taken place before. So it is very hard to forecast anything". (Reuters)
Qatar–United States relations, Colombia–United States relations U.S. President Joe Biden designates Qatar as a Major non-NATO ally and announces his intention to designate Colombia with the same status. (The Jerusalem Post)
Russia–Ukraine relations Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hold talks in Ankara, Turkey. These are the highest level talks between the two nations since the invasion. No ceasefire is reached, but the possibility of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin was discussed. (Reuters) Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov says that Ukraine is willing to accept Russia’s surrender “with understanding”. (Ukrinform)
Russia's Ministry of Transport prepares a draft regulation which would allow airlines to not have to honour the request of the lessor to return leased aircraft unless a special government commission orders them to do so and would also allow companies to pay the lessor in rubles. The law comes amid EU sanctions which forces all lease contracts for Russian aircraft to be voided by late March and also forbids E.U. companies from insuring Russian aircraft. (Interfax Russia)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hold talks in Ankara, Turkey. These are the highest level talks between the two nations since the invasion. No ceasefire is reached, but the possibility of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin was discussed. (Reuters)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Siege of Mariupol Russian forces resume shelling the port city of Mariupol after yesterday's airstrike on a children's hospital which killed three people. A humanitarian aid convoy trying to reach the city is also forced to turn back due to heavy fighting. (BBC News)
The British government sanctions Russian oligarch and Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich, freezing all his assets in the United Kingdom. The sanctions mean that Premier League club Chelsea will not be able to sell any more tickets for games, its merchandise store will be closed, and it will be unable to buy or sell players on the transfer market until the club is sold. (BBC News)
2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout Major League Baseball reaches a labor collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to end the lockout and salvage a 162-game season. Opening day will begin on April 7 and training camp will begin tomorrow. (ESPN)
2022 Major League Baseball season 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout Major League Baseball reaches a labor collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to end the lockout and salvage a 162-game season. Opening day will begin on April 7 and training camp will begin tomorrow. (ESPN)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Siege of Mariupol Russian forces resume shelling the port city of Mariupol after yesterday's airstrike on a children's hospital which killed three people. A humanitarian aid convoy trying to reach the city is also forced to turn back due to heavy fighting. (BBC News)
2022 Zagreb Tu-141 crash A Tupolev Tu-141 reconnaissance drone crashes on the outskirts of Zagreb, Croatia, triggering a loud blast and forming a large crater, but causing no injuries. The unmanned aircraft flew through Hungarian airspace before crashing in Croatia and is likely to have severely malfunctioned. The aircraft, which travelled 560km, went undetected by both countries' air defences. (The Guardian) (ABC News)
A Tupolev Tu-141 reconnaissance drone crashes on the outskirts of Zagreb, Croatia, triggering a loud blast and forming a large crater, but causing no injuries. The unmanned aircraft flew through Hungarian airspace before crashing in Croatia and is likely to have severely malfunctioned. The aircraft, which travelled 560km, went undetected by both countries' air defences. (The Guardian) (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Niue Niue reports its first COVID-19 case since the pandemic began in a person who traveled from New Zealand and who had tested negative prior to departing. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announces that North Dakota will shift its COVID-19 approach from a pandemic to an endemic phase. The state health department will also end their COVID-19 updates. (AP) (KVRR-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Scotland reports a record 14,387 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Scotland reports a record 14,387 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Herald)
Eastern Ukraine offensive Siege of Mariupol Russian forces resume shelling the port city of Mariupol after yesterday's airstrike on a children's hospital which killed three people. A humanitarian aid convoy trying to reach the city is also forced to turn back due to heavy fighting. (BBC News)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The Transportation Security Administration and the Biden administration will extend the federal mask mandate for public transportation until April 18. (CNN)
Governor Doug Burgum announces that North Dakota will shift its COVID-19 approach from a pandemic to an endemic phase. The state health department will also end their COVID-19 updates. (AP) (KVRR-TV)
History of COVID-19 vaccine development Moderna begins a study and a phase 2 trial of a hybrid vaccine aimed at combating the Omicron variant with their current COVID-19 vaccine. (MarketWatch) (BNN Bloomberg)
Judiciary of Poland, Polish constitutional crisis The Constitutional Tribunal, the highest court in Poland, declares that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may not control the validity of the appointment of any judges in Poland. The Tribunal also wrote in its opinion that Poland is not obliged to implement four ECHR court rulings which found that the parties were denied a right to fair trial, as the relevant provision violates the Constitution of Poland when applied to control the judges' appointment. (Rzeczpospolita) (Euronews)
Major League Baseball reaches a labor collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to end the lockout and salvage a 162-game season. Opening day will begin on April 7 and training camp will begin tomorrow. (ESPN)
Moderna begins a study and a phase 2 trial of a hybrid vaccine aimed at combating the Omicron variant with their current COVID-19 vaccine. (MarketWatch) (BNN Bloomberg)
