Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Dozens of Nigerians protested outside the Russian embassy in the capital Abuja, calling for an end to the invasion of Ukraine.
- AMERICAS: The US State Department called on citizens to consider leaving Russia immediately as an increasing number of airlines canceled flights in and out of the country.
- ASIA: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the US to take steps to improve ties, as tensions simmer over Taiwan, trade, and other issues.
- EUROPE: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gained further power after a referendum in which around 65% of votes were cast in favor of changing the country’s constitution, and 10% voted against the change.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iran said that reviving the 2015 nuclear deal is possible if Western powers take a political decision to resolve three remaining issues, as indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington enter a crucial stage.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: A hacking group used Facebook to target a handful of public figures in Ukraine, including prominent military officials, politicians and a journalist.
Top Story
- Global: Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Begin on the Belarusian Border.
- Talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials began on the Belarusian border as Russia faced deepening economic isolation four days after invading Ukraine in the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two.
- Ukraine demanded an immediate Russian ceasefire and troop withdrawal as its delegation arrived in Belarus for talks with Russian negotiators on the fifth day of the Kremlin’s offensive.
- Ukraine said its delegation included the country’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak and David Arakhamia, leader of Zelensky’s party in parliament.
- The Russian delegation will be led by Putin’s adviser on culture, an unlikely envoy for ending the war and a sign of how Moscow views the talks.
- As the fifth day of war dawned, air raid sirens sounded in Ukraine and strikes were reported in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv, amid deep concern after Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert.
- Reuters, AFP, FT, AP, Politico
Africa
- DR Congo: Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 20 civilians in the northeast overnight. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: Dozens of citizens protested outside the Russian embassy in the capital Abuja, calling for an end to the invasion of Ukraine. (BBC)
- South Africa: News outlets are reporting sharp differences between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor over Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine. (BBC)
- Sudan: The groups leading protests against a military coup in October published a political charter for the first time setting out key demands they hope will unify civilian factions. (Reuters)
- Zimbabwe: At least one person was killed, and 10 others injured in skirmishes at an opposition party rally in Kwekwe. (BBC)
Americas
- Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, while departing from his government’s official stance at the United Nations to say the country would remain neutral. (Reuters)
- Canada: Major TV providers pulled Russian state television network RT from their output. (AFP)
- Colombia: The National Mining Agency (AMN) said an explosion at a coal mine in Boyaca province killed 11 people and left four missing. (Reuters)
- Mexico: Police are investigating reports of a deadly attack on a wake in a town in western Michoacán state. (BBC)
- United States: The State Department called on citizens to consider leaving Russia immediately as an increasing number of airlines canceled flights in and out of the country. (Independent)
Asia
- China: Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the US to take steps to improve ties, as tensions simmer over Taiwan, trade, and other issues. (AP)
- New Zealand: The country is ending a requirement that incoming travelers isolate themselves. (AP)
- North Korea: Pyongyang carried out a test of “great significance” for developing a reconnaissance satellite a day after Seoul said it had detected a ballistic missile launch. (AFP)
- Singapore: The city’s top court dismissed the latest challenge to a law banning sex between men, but gay rights campaigners pledged to fight on and get the legislation overturned. (SCMP)
- South Korea: The country will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination or negative tests to enter any indoor space starting Tuesday. (AP)
Europe
- Austria: Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the country will “do everything” it can to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas imports. (Reuters)
- Belarus: President Alexander Lukashenko gained further power after a referendum in which around 65% of votes were cast in favor of changing the country’s constitution, and 10% voted against the change. (DW)
- Bulgaria: Prime Minister Kiril Petkov sacked his defense minister over his restrained stance on Ukraine, notably stopping short of calling the conflict a “war.” (AFP)
- Germany: The country aims to fulfill all its electricity needs with supplies from renewable sources by 2035, compared to its previous target to abandon fossil fuels “well before 2040.” (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: The country hit Russia’s central bank with new sanctions and relaxed visa rules for Ukrainians but dismissed President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear readiness alert as sabre-rattling. (AFP)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: The Taliban clamped down on people leaving the country as their forces continued a massive security sweep, going house-to-house across the capital in a “clearing operation”. (AFP)
- Iran: The country said that reviving the 2015 nuclear deal is possible if Western powers take a political decision to resolve three remaining issues, as indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington enter a crucial stage. (Reuters)
- Israel: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call he would offer to mediate and broker a ceasefire between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Axios)
- Qatar: Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called for a diplomatic settlement to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev that would preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty within its internationally-recognized boundaries. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed in a phone call with French President Macron the kingdom’s keenness on the stability and balance of oil markets and its commitment to the OPEC+ agreement. (AlJazeera)
Tech & Communications
- Media: A hacking group used Facebook to target a handful of public figures in Ukraine, including prominent military officials, politicians and a journalist. (Reuters)
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 28FEB22)
- Confirmed cases: 435,483,792
- Deaths: 5,950,144
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 28FEB22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (01MAR22)
- Global: G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (virtual).
- Global: 75th anniversary of the IMF.
- Global: World Ocean Summit Virtual Week. (to 04MAR)
- Argentina: Carnival Tuesday.
- Belize: CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
- China: Pilot scheme expanded for wealth management companies to more cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, and allow more industry participants.
- Cuba: US continues National Emergency.
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets ECB President Christine Lagarde.
- Italy: COVID-19-related entry restrictions softened for visitors from non-EU countries.
- Japan: The country will raise the number of permitted inbound visitors (excluding tourists) and begin accepting Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for entry requirements.
- Malaysia: Borders reopen to fully-vaccinated travelers.
- Pakistan: Indian delegation to visit for annual Indus Waters Treaty meeting.
- Paraguay: Day of Heroes.
- Poland: Most COVID-19 restrictions lifted.
- Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Watch says blogger Raif Badawi could be released from prison.
- Saudi Arabia: Initial public offering of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co. to end as the country privatizes state-backed industries to draw in investment.
- South Korea: March 1st Movement Day.
- Thailand: “Test-and-Go” entry requirement for vaccinated travelers resumes.
- United States: Mardi Gras.
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee top secret briefing on U.S. hostage policy.
- United States: House Armed Services Committee hearing on engagement with allies and partners.
- United States: US Chamber of Commerce hosts Colombia – US Investment Roadmap launch.
- United States: Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on ‘global security challenges and strategy’.
- Wales: Saint David’s Day.
END
