Bloomberg L.P.

Lithuania calls on NATO allies to urgently shift to a war economy, increasing defense spending to at least 2% of GDP and expanding military production to deter Russia.

Lloyd Austin, the head of the Pentagon, opposed Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries, advising Ukraine to focus on strikes that have a direct impact on the war.

The foreign ministers of russia and China met in Beijing to discuss further deepening of cooperation between the two countries and the development of Sino-russian relations.

In March 2023, RMB trading on the Russian foreign exchange market reached a record high of 53%, illustrating the growing importance of the Chinese currency in the Russian economy as it is disconnected from Western financial systems due to sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

More than 3,750 patients have died in South Korea since 2017 due to hospitals' refusal to provide medical care, highlighting the major problems of the healthcare system ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.

China denies trying to benefit from Russia's war against Ukraine and regulates the export of dual-use goods in accordance with laws and regulations.

U. S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Chinese banks and exporters of "significant consequences" if they help strengthen Russia's military capabilities or help Moscow evade sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.

Thailand is proposing to introduce a single tourist visa valid in six Southeast Asian countries - Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar - to increase tourism revenues.

Russia's use of North Korean missiles in Ukraine gives North Korea a rare chance to test its weapons in combat and learn lessons to improve their effectiveness.

China has significantly increased its military support for russia in the war with Ukraine, providing geospatial intelligence data, microelectronics, optics and missile fuel.

Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine's thermal and hydroelectric power plants to damage its economy, causing significant damage to electricity generation and transmission facilities, with losses already measured in billions of hryvnias.

Ukraine's Energy Minister does not rule out an increase in electricity tariffs. In July and August, Ukrainians will be asked to save electricity as much as possible.

Trade between Turkey and Russia has been shrinking due to Western sanctions, and Turkish exporters of engineering products are facing a potential $1 billion drop in sales to Russia this year as sanctions lists are rapidly expanding to target goods that could be used for military purposes.

Norway plans to nearly double its defense spending to $56 billion by 2036, focusing on strengthening its navy and air defense due to threats from russia.

The White House calls on Russia to support a UN resolution banning the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, hoping that Russia will vote in favor.

Futures prices for cocoa fell 8% in three days after hitting a record $10,000 per tonne due to profit-taking and liquidation of companies despite supply problems.

The U. S. House of Representatives is unlikely to vote on aid to Ukraine until at least mid-April, and possibly later, as Speaker Mike Johnson tries to overcome Republican opposition by considering conditions such as turning aid into a loan, confiscating Russian assets, and lifting the moratorium on new liquefied natural gas export licenses.

Putin is planning a war of attrition in Ukraine, determined to conquer it through a sustained offensive and outlast Kyiv on the battlefield.

China's manufacturing activity grew at the fastest pace in 13 months, driven by an increase in new orders from domestic and foreign customers, which helped boost business confidence to an 11-month high.

Three Russian Sokol oil tankers are anchored near Indian ports, indicating that Russian oil trade with India has resumed despite US sanctions.

The United States agrees with South Korea to impose restrictions on the export of semiconductor technology and equipment to China, similar to those already imposed by the United States, as part of efforts to hinder the development of the Chinese semiconductor industry for national security reasons.

Ukraine is working to limit the functionality of Starlink for Russians while continuing to use it, as Russians have begun illegally obtaining Starlink terminals from third countries.

Ukraine has a stable supply of Starlink terminals thanks to effective coordination between the Fedorov and Musk teams, while Russia's access to Starlink will be limited.

Russia plans to cut exports of diesel fuel by sea in April to the lowest level in 5 months due to Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries and seasonal maintenance that reduces crude oil processing.

Russia's growing isolation in the world is forcing it to consider less stable and illiquid currencies other than the Chinese yuan for its reserves due to the tightening of Western sanctions.

Despite the sanctions, Russian billionaires have earned $18. 3 billion since the beginning of the year, with the largest increase in wealth of Andrei Melnichenko, co-founder of Eurochem and SUEK, by $5.29 billion.

OpenAI has introduced a new audio tool that can imitate different voices while reading text, raising concerns about potential counterfeiting risks.

The US and UK are investigating more than $20 billion in cryptocurrency transfers to Russia through the Russian exchange Garantex using Tether, suspected of facilitating financial crimes and illegal transfers.

The Philippines will take countermeasures against "dangerous attacks" by Chinese ships and is negotiating with allies to protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea dispute.

Colombia expelled Argentine diplomats after Argentine President Javier Milei repeatedly insulted Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling him a "murderer, terrorist and communist. "