China
US President Donald Trump mentioned China only once in his record-breaking speech to Congress, avoiding criticism ahead of his trip to Beijing. This is due to the weakening of the US position in trade negotiations and Trump's desire to strike a deal.
Friedrich Merz arrived in Beijing for a two-day visit, where he will discuss fair economic conditions for German companies and China's assistance in ending the Russian-Ukrainian war. He emphasized the importance of the European context of Germany's policy towards China.
US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Tammy Bruce, stated that China, North Korea, Iran, and Cuba are helping Russia. She called on these states to cease any assistance that contributes to the continuation of the war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin is synonymous with war, recalling conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, African countries, and Ukraine. He emphasized that Putin does not recognize the value of human life and human rights.
The US met with a Russian delegation in Geneva and plans to meet with a Chinese delegation to discuss a multilateral nuclear arms control treaty. This comes amid US calls for a broader agreement that includes China and Russia.
Businesses are constantly looking for ways to work and earn. It's not about superprofits, but rather about survival. Rostyslav Korobka, Vice President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about the main challenges facing entrepreneurs today and ways to overcome them.
Law enforcement officers exposed a criminal organization of 12 people, created by former 'overseers' of the Kyiv pre-trial detention center. They extorted money, committed robberies, and kidnapped a Chinese citizen.
Kim Jong Un re-elected as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. Pyongyang plans to redouble efforts to accelerate its military nuclear program.
The US Supreme Court canceled emergency tariffs, which eased trade pressure on China. This decision improves Beijing's negotiating position ahead of Trump's visit.
On Lake Baikal, a minibus with Chinese tourists fell through the ice. Seven foreigners and the driver died, one passenger was rescued.
86 states, including the US and China, have signed a declaration on creating "safe, secure, and trustworthy" artificial intelligence. The document does not contain regulatory obligations but provides for voluntary initiatives.
Vietnam has reached an agreement with the Donald Trump administration to access American technologies in the fields of AI and semiconductors.
U. S. President Donald Trump will visit Beijing from March 31 to April 2 for a meeting with Xi Jinping. The visit will take place after the U.S. Supreme Court repealed import tariffs imposed by Trump.
In January 2026, Georgia exported 4. 1 million liters of wine, which is 3.3% less than in January 2025. Export revenues fell to $12.1 million, while sales to Russia increased to $8 million.
Chinese refiners are actively buying Russian oil, replacing India as the main buyer. Russian crude oil supplies to China rose to 2.09 million barrels per day in February.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran of 10-15 days to prevent military action, coinciding with the IAEA meeting on March 2. This could lead to a new resolution and referral of the case to the UN Security Council.
Oleksandr Okipniuk took 10th place in the ski acrobatics final at the Olympic Games in Italy. He failed to make it to the super final, scoring 101 points.
Chinese drone exports to Russia are being carried out via Thailand. The volume of drone supplies from Thailand to Russia has sharply increased since 2022.
Relations between the US and Iran are escalating over Tehran's nuclear program, threatening a major war in the Middle East. Ukraine is interested in peace to avoid rising oil prices and the strengthening of the Russian Federation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the US against igniting a tariff war and expressed hope for a partnership with China. He plans to discuss this issue with Donald Trump in Washington and with Chinese leaders during a visit to China.
In China, on February 18, an explosion and fire at a fireworks store in Xiangyang city, Hubei province, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people. This is not the first such incident in the country recently.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw revealed new details of a nuclear test that China allegedly conducted in June 2020. A seismic station in Kazakhstan recorded an explosion with a magnitude of 2.75 near the Lop Nur test site.
The most extensive Baltic Sea ice in 15 years is restricting Russian exports, requiring icebreaker escort for vessels without an ice class. From March 1, ports may prohibit entry to such vessels if the ice thickness reaches 30-50 cm.
President Zelenskyy stated that the US had promised to provide licenses for the production of air defense missiles for Patriots, but ultimately refused. Ukraine proposed joint production in Europe, specifically with Romania and Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian missiles and drones contain thousands of components that Russia does not produce. These include parts from China, Europe, the USA, and Japan, which highlights the aggressor's dependence on foreign supplies.
The Ministry of Energy discussed the consequences of Russia's massive attack on infrastructure, especially in the Odesa region and on the left bank of Kyiv. Ukraine will receive 10 generators from Estonia, 32 boilers from Italy, and equipment from other countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to India, where he will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The main topics of discussion are cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and a potential contract for the supply of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
On February 17, global gold prices fell by 1% to $4948 per ounce. This happened due to a stronger dollar and low liquidity in Asian markets.
On February 17, 2026, a solar eclipse in Aquarius will occur, bringing reform, new technologies, and the destruction of old systems. This period promises a sharp leap forward, revolutionary sentiments, and the formation of new alliances.
A large review of 22 studies has shown that intermittent fasting is no more effective than traditional diets for weight loss. Participants lost approximately the same amount of weight, regardless of the method chosen.