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Screenshot from Chinese state television. AP 

 

Russian invasion China's role 

Lukashenko: Responsibility is needed to avoid global war  

 

Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko is behind China's twelve-point proposal for peace in Ukraine. He says this in connection with the visit to Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, several media reports. 

 

According to AFP, the Putin-allied president says "unorthodox" measures and "responsible political decisions" are needed to prevent a major global conflict.  

 

Belarus has not officially taken an active role in the war, but Russian troops were allowed to attack Ukraine from within the country at the start of the large-scale invasion. China's peace proposal has been rejected by the US and NATO, and criticized because China did not condemn Russia's invasion. 

 

The US has also hinted that China may be about to sell arms to Russia. On Tuesday, however, Ukraine's intelligence chief said that no such signs had been seen.  

Mao Ning. Liu Zheng/AP  

 

The coronavirusCovid research  

China dismisses FBI chief's statement: "Manipulation" 

 

China dismisses FBI director Christopher Wray's statement that the corona pandemic was "most likely" caused by a lab leak in Wuhan, Reuters reports. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calls the statements "political manipulation" of the facts. 

 

- Those conclusions have no credibility at all, she says and calls on the US to "respect science and facts". 

 

The US Department of Energy concluded this weekend that a lab leak is the most likely cause of the spread of the virus, which the FBI also concluded in 2021. In contrast, four other US authorities make the assessment that the virus came from an animal. 

 

Berlin. Pavel Golovkin / AP  

 

ECB vs inflation 

German inflation higher than expected – pressures the ECB 

 

German inflation remained at 8.7 percent annualized in February, which was the same level as the month before. A CPI figure of 8.5 percent was expected, according to Trading Economics.  

 

Price increases in the service sector accelerated to 4.7 percent, compared to 4.5 percent in January.  

 

Bloomberg writes that the inflation report puts additional pressure on the ECB ahead of future interest rate meetings. Earlier this week, both France and Spain reported higher than expected CPI figures. 

 

Michael Probst / AP  

 

ECB vs inflation ECB 

summit: More significant hikes even after March  

 

The European Central Bank may need to raise key interest rates significantly even after the monetary policy meeting in March. This is what ECB councilor Joachim Nagel says on Wednesday, according to Direkt. 

 

- One thing is clear: The interest rate increase for March will not be the last. Significant increases may be necessary even after that, he says.  

 

Nagel, who is also head of the Bundesbank, also said that German inflation will be around 6-7 percent this year. A noticeable decline can only be expected in the second half of the year.  

 

Image from Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 1. Eranga Jayawardena / AP  

 

The crisis in Sri Lanka  

Doctors defy the president: "Strong measures are required" 

 

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has used his executive power to prevent strikes in vital industries, writes AFP.  

 

Anyone who violates the order risks losing their job, but Haritha Aluthge of a union for government-employed doctors has no plans to stop striking. Wednesday's symbolic one-day strike is not enough, he says. 

 

- We must take strong measures.  

 

Employees in several sectors have gone on strike in protest against the government's measures to secure crisis support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The dissatisfaction concerns, among other things, large tax increases.  

 

Vanuatu, 2015. Devastation after cyclone. Nick Perry / Ap  

 

Climate threatGlobal challenges  

Task: Australia supports Vanuatu's climate initiative  

 

Australia will stand behind a proposal from the small island nation of Vanuatu, which aims to make countries that cause major climate damage to be held accountable before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). That according to The Guardian's data.  

 

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu is expected to present such a resolution to the UN General Assembly soon. Among other things, the country leans towards the Paris Agreement from 2015.  

 

Vanuatu is one of the world's countries that is hardest hit by climate-related natural disasters such as cyclones. It is also seen as a pioneering country with ambitious climate promises.