Strikingly, Russia was reportedly withdrawing in full from the Kyiv region as of Sunday April 3.This week saw Russian and Ukrainian negotiators travel to Turkey on Monday for another round of talks, held Tuesday. Some progress was made, with Russia promising to reduce military operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv, while Ukraine said it was ready to consider a neutral position.Another round of talks this time virtual was held on Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine was accused of bombing an oil depot in the Russian city of Belgorod, just north of the Ukrainian border near Kharkiv, earlier in the day, while Russia attacked a major oil refinery in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk on Saturday. More horrors of war have reportedly been uncovered in regions around Kyiv, which were retaken by Ukrainian forces over the weekend. On Sunday, reports of mass civilian graves and bodies littering the streets in Bucha led to calls for investigations into possible war crimes. Meanwhile, the UN this week said Ukraine's refugee crisis now exceeds the "worst case scenario..

El Salvador and Sri Lanka both declared states of emergency this week; the former after a record day of gang violence, while the latter in response to protests over the country's current economic crisis.Meanwhile, North Korea was accused of lying about a recent ICBM launch,the Solomon Islands defended a new pact with China,and a report claimed Venezuelan troops conducted a joint operation with Colombian rebels in Apure.In further news, Germany said it might criminalize the pro-Russia Symbol "Z",and US astronaut Vande Hei returned from the ISS on a Russian capsule, just days before Russia threatened to end ISS cooperation.Elsewhere, Israel hosted the US and Arab allies at a summit in the Negev desert, and Pakistan's prime minister rejected calls to resign.In the UK, Conservative Jamie Wallis became the first openly trans MP,Prince William said the choice of the people must be respected amidst Commonwealth criticism,and fines were issued for Downing Street's 'partygate' scandal.Meanwhile, the UN is seeking a record $4.4B for Afghans struggling under economic collapse.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called for SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas to resign,while reports say the Jan. 6 committee will likely seek testimony from his wife.Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins confirmed she'll support Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination for SCOTUS justice,Rep. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) hinted he's willing to discuss a new climate and economic bill,and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) faced backlash for comments on alleged D.C. party culture.In other news, the Biden admin. announced that it will lift the controversial 'Title 42' immigration policy,and Hunter Biden's hard drive was entered into the Congressional Record.

A US trial began for an alleged member of the IS group "Beatles,"Pope Francis apologized to former students of Canada's residential schools,and Biden signed a federal antilynching bill.Meanwhile, an attack in the central Israeli city of Hadera killed two, a gunman in a Tel Aviv suburb killed five, and a raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank killed two.Elsewhere,a Singaporean court upheld a death sentence for an intellectually disabled man.

LGBTQ+ legislation advanced across several US states this week, with Oklahoma Gov. Stitt signing a bill banning trans athletes from playing in women's sports,Arizona Gov. Ducey signing bills to limit abortions, trans athletes in women's sports, and sex reassignment surgery,Gov. DeSantis signing Florida's controversial Parents Rights bill,and the Biden admin. responding with new measures to support transgender people.Elsewhere, Canada's "Freedom Convoy" organizers faced new charges,a Finnish MP was cleared of hate speech charges,and Russia threatened to fine Google for not removing banned content.

FED economists warned of an upcoming housing bubble in the US,Tesla said it will request shareholder approval for another stock split,and Biden proposed support for student borrowers,along with a minimum income tax for billionaires.Meanwhile, the US announced its largest-ever strategic oil release,and hackers stole more than $600M from a Vietnam-based Blockchain project.

In COVID news, Biden declared a "new moment" in the pandemic, despitethe BA.2 Omicron subvariant continuing to spread across the globe,21 US states sued the CDC over mask mandates,and Shanghai was put under lockdown.Meanwhile, the US House passed a bill capping insulin costs at $35 a month,Walmart said it will stop selling cigarettes in some US stores,and plastics were found in human blood for the first time.In other news, scientists have finally finished decoding the full human genome, more than 20 years after starting.

CBS faced backlash for hiring former Trump Chief-of-Staff Mick Mulvaney, whileAriana DeBose became the first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar.

The US said it will help China download the cockpit voice recorder from a Boeing plane that crashed in March, after the second black box was found earlier in the week..