Politics

Climate activists from Indonesia to Europe and the US staged global protests, calling for stronger environmental policies and an end to the Ukraine war. The Fridays for Future movement, inspired by Greta Thunberg, organized demonstrations demanding systemic changes to combat climate change.

President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discuss reducing Europe's 40% reliance on Russian gas, driven by the Ukraine conflict. The deal aims to swiftly cut economic ties with Moscow and reshape energy dynamics in response to the ongoing war.

The United States and European Union have signed a preliminary data transfer agreement, allowing European personal information to be stored in the U.S. President Biden and European Commission President von der Leyen announced the breakthrough during Biden's Brussels visit, bringing relief to thousands of companies.

President Biden and Western allies announced new sanctions, humanitarian aid, and refugee support for Ukraine. The U.S. will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and provide $1 billion in critical supplies, while leaders discuss potential responses to escalating Russian aggression.

The US Trade Representative has reinstated 352 product exclusions from China tariffs, covering a range of industrial and consumer items. The exclusions, originally imposed during the Trump administration, will be effective retroactively from October 2021 through December 2022.

The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, targeting dozens of defense companies, hundreds of parliament members, and the chief executive of Russia's largest bank, escalating economic pressure over the Ukraine conflict.

Poland's Internal Security Agency has ordered the expulsion of 45 Russians identified as intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover. The state security spokesman stated these individuals were conducting intelligence activities against Poland, prompting the Foreign Ministry to request their immediate removal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia will require countries it considers unfriendly to pay for natural gas exports exclusively in rubles, criticizing Western nations for freezing Russian assets and undermining currency trust.

British inflation surged to 6.2% in February, the highest since 1992, with household energy bills rising almost 25% and food prices increasing across the board. The Office for National Statistics reports the unexpected spike, putting pressure on Finance Minister Rishi Sunak to address the economic squeeze.

Polish President Andrzej Duda draws stark comparisons between Russia's assault on Mariupol and Nazi bombing of Warsaw, highlighting civilian suffering as over 3.5 million Ukrainian refugees flee to neighboring countries