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)
Russia announces that it will withdraw from the Council of Europe. (The Moscow Times) (TASS)
Russia in the Council of Europe Russia announces that it will withdraw from the Council of Europe. (The Moscow Times) (TASS)
Russia introduces retaliatory sanctions against most foreign countries, with the exception of members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. The export of more than 200 items, mostly of technical and agricultural appliances, will also be banned until the end of the year. (Interfax Russia)
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)
Scotland reports a record 14,387 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Herald)
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 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)
The International Monetary Fund no longer considers Russian default "improbable", and the World Bank also considers Russia's and Belarus's default likely. (Reuters) (Reuters 2)
The Israeli Knesset votes 45–15 to bar Palestinian spouses of Israelis from obtaining citizenship if they came from the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, and blocks family reunification of Israelis and their spouses if they came from "enemy countries" such as Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. This replaces a similar emergency order that was in place from 2003 to last year, when it failed to receive enough votes to be annually renewed. (Reuters)
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia condemns the arrest of the chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front, Dawud Ibsa Ayana, as illegal. The National Electoral Board also said it would investigate the reported arrest of opposition politicians from several other regions including Benishangul Gumuz, South Ethiopia, South West Ethiopia, Sidama, Oromia, and Addis Ababa. (AfricaNews)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov says that Ukraine is willing to accept Russia’s surrender “with understanding”. (Ukrinform)
Video game companies Nintendo and Sony Interactive Entertainment suspend all product sales in Russia. Sony's online PlayStation Store will also no longer be available in Russia. (CNBC)
Internet censorship in Russia Russia blocks access to Instagram in response to Meta Platforms allowing "calls to violence" toward Russian soldiers in Ukraine as well as death threats toward Russian president Vladimir Putin. (BBC News)
Russia blocks access to Instagram in response to Meta Platforms allowing "calls to violence" toward Russian soldiers in Ukraine as well as death threats toward Russian president Vladimir Putin. (BBC News)
Anti-war protests in Russia Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny renews calls for anti-war and anti-Putin protests in cities across Russia. (Reuters)
Around 104 Russian soldiers are taken as prisoners of war in Sumy. (Ukrinform)
Battle of Sumy Around 104 Russian soldiers are taken as prisoners of war in Sumy. (Ukrinform)
Belarus–Russia relations In a meeting with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, President Putin says that there are "positive shifts" and progress during talks with Ukraine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia The government of British Columbia lifts the provincial mask mandate for most indoor public settings, citing a decreased number of hospitalizations and high vaccination rates. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry says that masks will remain mandatory in healthcare settings and federally-regulated areas such as airports, and local businesses have the discretion of continuing to require the usage of masks. British Columbia will also repeal their vaccine card mandate on April 8. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia The government of British Columbia lifts the provincial mask mandate for most indoor public settings, citing a decreased number of hospitalizations and high vaccination rates. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry says that masks will remain mandatory in healthcare settings and federally-regulated areas such as airports, and local businesses have the discretion of continuing to require the usage of masks. British Columbia will also repeal their vaccine card mandate on April 8. (CBC)
Gabriel Boric is sworn-in as President of Chile, becoming the youngest person to serve as President. (Reuters)
In a meeting with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, President Putin says that there are "positive shifts" and progress during talks with Ukraine. (Reuters)
Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts The Pakistani military says that a surface-to-surface missile hit near Mian Channu, Punjab. India later admits to accidentally firing a missile into Pakistani territory. No casualties were reported by either side. (BBC News) (Reuters) (The Washington Post)
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov says that Russian president Vladimir Putin is open to holding a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Ukraine News Today)
Northeastern Ukraine offensive Battle of Sumy Around 104 Russian soldiers are taken as prisoners of war in Sumy. (Ukrinform)
Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Anti-war protests in Russia Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny renews calls for anti-war and anti-Putin protests in cities across Russia. (Reuters)
Protests against the Russo-Ukrainian war Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Anti-war protests in Russia Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny renews calls for anti-war and anti-Putin protests in cities across Russia. (Reuters)
Russia allows foreign volunteers to join its armed forces to fight the war against Ukraine. Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu says that he has received around 16,000 applications, mostly from people in the Middle East. (AP)
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny renews calls for anti-war and anti-Putin protests in cities across Russia. (Reuters)
Stock prices increase in the United States and other global markets after Russian president Vladimir Putin said that there was progress during talks with Ukraine. Following Putin's reports, the DOW increased by 300 points. (Nasdaq) (Reuters) (MarketWatch)
The government of British Columbia lifts the provincial mask mandate for most indoor public settings, citing a decreased number of hospitalizations and high vaccination rates. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry says that masks will remain mandatory in healthcare settings and federally-regulated areas such as airports, and local businesses have the discretion of continuing to require the usage of masks. British Columbia will also repeal their vaccine card mandate on April 8. (CBC)
2020–2023 global chip shortage Two Ukrainian semiconductor-grade neon gas producers, making about half of the world's supply of the gas, have shut down their operations due to the invasion. This will likely worsen semiconductor shortages that started with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
2022 EB5, a small 0.8-2 meter asteroid discovered by the Konkoly Observatory, explodes in a harmless fireball over the Arctic Ocean south of Jan Mayen at 21:22 UTC. This is the smallest asteroid to be discovered before impact. (Minor Planet Mailing List)
A large convoy of Russian military vehicles, including tanks and self-propelled artillery, begins "fanning out" to forests and towns near Kyiv as it prepares to advance on the capital. (BBC News)
Air Astana suspends all flights to and from Russia, citing the "withdrawal of insurance coverage for commercial flights". (Kazinform)
Asteroid impact prediction 2022 EB5, a small 0.8-2 meter asteroid discovered by the Konkoly Observatory, explodes in a harmless fireball over the Arctic Ocean south of Jan Mayen at 21:22 UTC. This is the smallest asteroid to be discovered before impact. (Minor Planet Mailing List)
Battle of Melitopol Russian troops capture the mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov, and take him to an unknown location after he refused to cooperate with Russian occupation forces. Fedorov's capture is confirmed by Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry official Anton Herashchenko. (BBC News)
Boycott of Russia and Belarus Kazakhstan–Russia relations Air Astana suspends all flights to and from Russia, citing the "withdrawal of insurance coverage for commercial flights". (Kazinform)
Censorship by YouTube YouTube blocks all accounts associated with Russian state-funded media outlets for violation of YouTube's policy of denialism or trivialisation of well-documented violent events. (Reuters)
China orders a lockdown of Changchun amidst a rise of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya Kenya lifts its remaining COVID-19-related restrictions including a ban on large indoor gatherings, mandatory mask wearing, and a requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test for arriving air passengers as the number of new cases declined. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education Shanghai will close their primary, middle, and high schools due to a rise of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters) (Business Standard) Shanghai will also close their cinemas and imposes a reduced capacity and partial restrictions for visitors at the Shanghai Disneyland to combat the spread of COVID-19. (Variety) Shanghai Disney Resort will also require visitors to show a negative nucleic acid test. (Shanghai Daily)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Filipino FDA announces that the Philippines has approved the use of Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 drug. (The Philippine Star)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education Shanghai will close their primary, middle, and high schools due to a rise of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters) (Business Standard)
Iranian nuclear deal re-negotiations have reached an impasse because of Russian demands for their own sanctions exemption. (Reuters) (Politico)
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Iranian nuclear deal re-negotiations have reached an impasse because of Russian demands for their own sanctions exemption. (Reuters) (Politico)
Kazakhstan–Russia relations Air Astana suspends all flights to and from Russia, citing the "withdrawal of insurance coverage for commercial flights". (Kazinform)
Kenya lifts its remaining COVID-19-related restrictions including a ban on large indoor gatherings, mandatory mask wearing, and a requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test for arriving air passengers as the number of new cases declined. (Reuters)
Kyiv offensive A large convoy of Russian military vehicles, including tanks and self-propelled artillery, begins "fanning out" to forests and towns near Kyiv as it prepares to advance on the capital. (BBC News)
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction South Korea says that it has detected new activity at the closed Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, via satellite imagery, stating that the North appears to be restoring tunnels that were demolished in 2018 when the site was shut down. (Reuters)
Russia–European Union relations The EU announces that it will ban all imports of iron and steel goods from Russia, ban the export of luxury goods to Russia, and freeze Russia's cryptocurrency assets. (Reuters)
Russian troops capture the mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov, and take him to an unknown location after he refused to cooperate with Russian occupation forces. Fedorov's capture is confirmed by Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry official Anton Herashchenko. (BBC News)
Russian Wikipedia editor Mark Bernstein is detained in Belarus after being doxxed on Telegram. (Zerkalo)
Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi is released after spending a decade in prison. (Al Jazeera)
Shanghai Disney Resort will also require visitors to show a negative nucleic acid test. (Shanghai Daily)
Shanghai will also close their cinemas and imposes a reduced capacity and partial restrictions for visitors at the Shanghai Disneyland to combat the spread of COVID-19. (Variety)
Shanghai will close their primary, middle, and high schools due to a rise of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters) (Business Standard)
Siege of Chernihiv Ukrainian Ground Forces launch a counter-offensive in Chernihiv Oblast, regaining control of five settlements from Russian forces, and seizing two Russian armoured personnel carriers and ammunition. (Ukrinform)
South Korea says that it has detected new activity at the closed Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, via satellite imagery, stating that the North appears to be restoring tunnels that were demolished in 2018 when the site was shut down. (Reuters)
Southern Ukraine offensive Battle of Melitopol Russian troops capture the mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov, and take him to an unknown location after he refused to cooperate with Russian occupation forces. Fedorov's capture is confirmed by Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry official Anton Herashchenko. (BBC News)
The Central Bank of Russia orders all banks not to take any commission for the withdrawal of foreign-denominated cash from bank accounts of natural persons. Additionally, all remittances from abroad can only be withdrawn after they are converted to rubles. (Meduza)
The EU announces that it will ban all imports of iron and steel goods from Russia, ban the export of luxury goods to Russia, and freeze Russia's cryptocurrency assets. (Reuters)
The Filipino FDA announces that the Philippines has approved the use of Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 drug. (The Philippine Star)
The wildfires in Uljin County increase to 24,000 hectares, becoming the most destructive wildfires in South Korean history. (Korea Herald)
Two Ukrainian semiconductor-grade neon gas producers, making about half of the world's supply of the gas, have shut down their operations due to the invasion. This will likely worsen semiconductor shortages that started with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Ukrainian Ground Forces launch a counter-offensive in Chernihiv Oblast, regaining control of five settlements from Russian forces, and seizing two Russian armoured personnel carriers and ammunition. (Ukrinform)
Wildfires in 2022 The wildfires in Uljin County increase to 24,000 hectares, becoming the most destructive wildfires in South Korean history. (Korea Herald)
YouTube blocks all accounts associated with Russian state-funded media outlets for violation of YouTube's policy of denialism or trivialisation of well-documented violent events. (Reuters)
2022 Turkmenistan presidential election A presidential election is held in Turkmenistan, with Serdar Berdimuhamedow expecting to be elected President of Turkmenistan to succeed his father, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. (Al Jazeera)
A presidential election is held in Turkmenistan, with Serdar Berdimuhamedow expecting to be elected President of Turkmenistan to succeed his father, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. (Al Jazeera)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Russian soldiers have damaged the Sviatohirsk Lavra, a popular Orthodox pilgrimage site under the jurisdiction of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, at around 22:00 local time. (Kyiv Independent) (Ukrayinska Pravda) Russia warns that it could fire on any future NATO armaments shipments to Ukraine, saying that the weapons shipments are "legitimate military targets" for its military. (Financial Times)
Anti-war protesters gather in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, to listen to a videotaped speech by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Reuters)
Economic consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian war Boycott of Russia and Belarus Pokémon Go suspends operations in Russia and Belarus following the invasion. (Gamerant.com) The Central Bank of Russia announces that stock trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange will remain suspended until at least March 18 due to the fallout from the Russian invasion. (The Wall Street Journal)
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War Italian police seize sailing yacht A at the Port of Trieste after its owner, Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko, was sanctioned by the European Union. (The Guardian)
