GLOBAL DIARY
“For 30 years we have been trying to agree with NATO on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe, and we have constantly faced with either cynical deception and lies, or attempts at pressure and blackmail” – VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE Russia has launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin demanded Kyiv’s army lay down its weapons. The US, EU and Western allies have ramped up sanctions against Russia, targeting banks, oil refineries, and military exports. Russia launched a military assault on Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February. Western leaders had warned of this possibility for weeks did little to cushion the shock. President Putin announced what he characterised as a “special military operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine, and made a barely coded threat of nuclear strikes upon any outside power that might come to its aid. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to not surrender and continue fighting to defend his country. At least 100,000 Ukrainians have already reportedly fled their homes – with many crossing into neighbouring countries, underlining the regional nature of this growing crisis.
SERGIO MATTARELLA REELECTED ITALY’S PRESIDENT
mandate with 759 votes, far exceeding the threshold of 505, after being persuaded to stay on in the role after ruling party leaders failed to reach an agreement on a candidate who could secure broad support from the 1,009 parliamentarians and regional representatives electing the president.
Sergio Mattarella has been reelected as Italy’s president, ending days of a farcical parliamentary voting process that has exposed deep divisions within the country’s governing coalition. Mattarella won a second seven-year
BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS 2022 After 16 days and 109 events, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics officially ended with the traditional closing ceremony. A small, but enthusiastic, group of spectators sat in the stands at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium during the bitterly cold night in the host city. Some did the wave and cheerfully waved the Chinese flag while waiting for the night’s festivities to start. Chinese President Xi Jinping sat next to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in the stands, watching the ceremony unfold. With all 109 medal events decided, competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing was officially completed. After three weeks of dominance, Norway stands alone atop the chart with the most total medals (37) and the most gold medals
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