Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni invited South Sudan’s leaders for talks on the peace process in their country.
- AMERICAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro assured Russian President Vladimir Putin of his “strong support” in a telephone call.
- ASIA: The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced that it would temporarily close its embassy in Kyiv and transfer operations to Lviv.
- EUROPE: The European Union approved new sanctions on Belarus for assisting Russia in its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
- MIDDLE EAST: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made his first visit to Israel amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and international efforts to forge a new Iran nuclear deal.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Apple Inc. announced it would halt all product sales in Russia as well as restrict access to services such as Apple Pay and Apple Maps.
Top Story
- Ukraine: The Second Round of Talks Between Kyiv and Moscow will Continue in Belarus as the Russian Army Claims to Take Control of Kherson.
- The Kremlin said that a Russian delegation is ready to continue peace talks with Ukraine as Moscow’s invasion of the country entered its seventh day.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is ready to hold talks at any moment once the Ukrainian Armed Forces lay down their arms.
- Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that holding more talks with Russia was under discussion and that a “substantial agenda” was needed.
- Meanwhile, the Russian army claimed it had taken control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
- After the first talks on Monday, both sides mentioned the Belarusian-Polish border as a place for negotiations.
- AFP, TASS, Reuters, Moscow Times, AP
Africa
- Region: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni invited South Sudan’s leaders for talks on the peace process in their country. (BBC)
- Nigeria: The government planned to start airlifting more than 1,000 citizens stranded in countries neighboring Ukraine after they fled the Russian invasion. (AFP)
- South Africa: The latest damning report into former president Jacob Zuma, laid out the most detailed roadmap yet into how to prosecute his fusion of state, party and private business. (AFP)
- South Sudan: Western diplomats urged the country to support a UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (BBC)
- Uganda: European Union (EU) diplomats condemned the powerful son of President Yoweri Museveni, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for expressing support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (BBC)
Americas
- Argentina: President Alberto Fernandez said the government will send an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to delay debt repayments to the South American country’s Congress this week for approval. (Reuters)
- Costa Rica: Former finance minister Rodrigo Chaves is emerging as the favorite in April’s presidential election runoff. (Reuters)
- Mexico: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the country will not impose economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. (Reuters)
- United States: The nuclear power industry is lobbying the White House to not sanction Russian uranium imports. (Reuters)
- Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro assured Russian President Vladimir Putin of his “strong support” in a telephone call. (AFP)
Asia
- Japan: The Foreign Ministry announced that it would temporarily close its embassy in Kyiv and transfer operations to Lviv. (Kyodo)
- Myanmar: Actor, singer and model Paing Takhon has been pardoned and released after being jailed for supporting pro-democracy protests. (AFP)
- New Zealand: Police moved to disperse anti-vaccine mandate protesters in the capital, towing vehicles and dismantling tents outside parliament. (Reuters)
- South Korea: UN Ambassador Cho Hyun called on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine and urged the UN to respond to the crisis. (Yonhap)
- Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-Wen said Democratic countries must not “turn a blind eye to military aggression”, warning her island faces threats similar to those confronted by Ukraine at a meeting with a delegation of former US security officials. (AFP)
Europe
- Region: Ukraine has hired US law firm Covington & Burling to pursue its claim against Russia at the International Court of Justice. (Reuters)
- Belarus: The European Union approved new sanctions on the country for assisting Russia in its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. (RFE/RL)
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a new Iran nuclear agreement “cannot be postponed any longer”, during a visit to Israel which staunchly opposes efforts to forge a deal. (AFP)
- Moldova: Vadim Krasnoselski, leader of the breakaway region of Transnistria, denied rumors that Ukrainian forces had invaded the region. (Interfax)
- Turkey: Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the country denied a request from Russia to sail several naval vessels through the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits. (AFP)
Middle East
- Iran: Prominent freedom of speech campaigner Hossein Ronaghi was detained after criticizing legislation being discussed in the parliament which if adopted would effectively cut the country off from the global internet. (AFP)
- Israel: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made his first visit to the country amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and international efforts to forge a new Iran nuclear deal. (AFP)
- Palestinian Territories: The Health Ministry said three citizens have been killed by Israeli forces in two different incidents in the occupied West Bank. (AlJazeera)
- Syria: Four were killed in a clash between regime troops and fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (AFP)
- United Arab Emirates: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan discussed the OPEC+ oil deal and pledged to continue coordination on global energy markets. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Apple Inc. announced it would halt all product sales in Russia as well as restrict access to services such as Apple Pay and Apple Maps. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to Report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to Report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to Report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to Report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 02MAR22)
- Confirmed cases: 438,870,727
- Deaths: 5,967,076
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 02MAR22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (03MAR22)
- Event: Wilson Center discussion on European responses to Russian aggression.
- Event: American Jewish Committee virtual event on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Global: IEA releases plan on how European countries can reduce Russian gas supply reliance.
- Global: World Wildlife Day.
- Global: World Ocean Summit Virtual Week. (to 04MAR)
- Asia: US-Thailand Cobra Gold military exercises. (to 05MAR)
- Brazil: Rio de Janeiro Carnival. (to 05MAR)
- Bulgaria: Liberation Day.
- Canada: Bank of Canada governor appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
- Europe: EU Interior Ministers conference in Brussels.
- France: Paris International Agriculture Show. (to 06MAR)
- Japan: Verdict expected in trial of Greg Kelly, former Nissan executive involved in Carols Ghosn case.
- Malawi: Martyrs’ Day.
- Switzerland: 20th anniversary of Switzerland voting to join U.N.
- Ukraine: UN Human Rights Council emergency debate on Ukraine.
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