World

The European Union and United Kingdom have expanded sanctions against Russia, focusing on luxury items like pure-bred horses and truffles, while blocking Russian access to global financial markets. The measures aim to economically isolate Russia and limit its ability to fund ongoing military actions.

Asian markets experienced significant losses as investors reacted to ongoing Ukraine war tensions, potential US interest rate hikes, and China's rising COVID-19 cases, reflecting broader economic uncertainty and market volatility.

Putin's attempt to create a China-like internet firewall is exposed by Western tech companies' withdrawal, leaving Russians with limited but critical information channels during the Ukraine invasion.

The United Nations reports 2.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine following Russian attacks, marking Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II. Strikes near the NATO-Poland border have intensified the exodus, with potential refugee numbers estimated to reach 5 million.

Around 30,000 protesters gathered in central Berlin, waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs reading "Stop Putin" and "Solidarity with Ukraine!" Demonstrators of all ages marched through the city, expressing support for Ukrainians and opposing the Russian military invasion.

Russian missiles hit a military training base in western Ukraine, killing 35 people near the Polish border. The attack targeted a facility less than 25 kilometers from NATO member Poland, signaling an escalation in the conflict and potential threat to Western military aid routes.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization cautions that the war in Ukraine could significantly escalate food shortages in northern Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Ukraine and Russia, key grain exporters, face disrupted agricultural activities, potentially driving up already high international food prices.

Russian forces widened their offensive in Ukraine, hitting airfields in the west and targeting industrial areas in the east. A previously stalled armored column near Kyiv is now moving, while cities like Mariupol face intense siege conditions. The U.S. and allies are preparing economic measures to isolate Russia.

A World Bank official says persistent high oil prices from the Ukraine war could reduce growth by a full percentage point for large oil-importing developing economies. The conflict further complicates economic recovery challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting vulnerable populations globally.

President Joe Biden declares a ban on Russian oil imports, aiming to cut off funding for Russia's war in Ukraine. Warning Americans of potential price increases, he emphasized the cost of defending freedom and stood in solidarity with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's plea for economic action.