World

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports food commodity prices have reached record highs, with grains rising 17.1% due to the Ukraine conflict. The war threatens millions with hunger in Africa and the Middle East by massively disrupting international food supply chains.

The European Union has agreed to ban Russian coal, marking its first sanctions on Russia's energy sector. While the move is estimated to cost Russia 4 billion euros annually, the EU struggles to impose similar restrictions on oil and natural gas due to potential economic risks.

The UN General Assembly suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council, citing horrific rights violations in Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called it a "historic moment" of accountability for Russia's unprovoked war.

Congress overwhelmingly approved suspending normal trade relations with Russia and banning its oil imports. The Senate unanimously passed the bills, which now go to President Biden for signature. This legislative action follows Biden's previous executive order to block Russian energy imports amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Germany unveils a comprehensive 600-page "Easter package" to dramatically boost renewable energy production, aiming to generate almost all electricity from wind and solar sources by 2035. The plan streamlines bureaucratic processes and declares renewable energy installations as a public interest priority, seeking to reduce dependence on Russian energy imports.

The United Nations will vote on suspending Russia from its Human Rights Council after discovering civilian casualties in Bucha, with U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield calling for Russia to be stripped of its seat.

Mariupol's mayor confirms over 5,000 civilian deaths as Ukraine documents Russian war crimes near Kyiv. Western allies prepare sanctions while Russia withdraws troops from northern regions. The conflict intensifies with potential decisive battle looming in Ukraine's industrial heartland.

The United States has launched a new wave of financial sanctions against Russia, focusing on President Vladimir Putin's family and two major Russian banks. The UK and EU are expected to follow, escalating economic pressure over the conflict in Ukraine.

Asia is investing heavily in liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, with over $350 billion in projects aimed at reducing coal dependency. While potentially helping lower emissions, these investments also raise concerns about long-term fossil fuel reliance and potential slowdown of renewable energy adoption.

In recent parliamentary elections, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic secured overwhelming victories, with Russian President Vladimir Putin among the first to congratulate them. Their wins reflect growing autocratic tendencies in Europe and demonstrate alignment with Russian political influence.