Fighting in the Donbas continued to intensify this week, with Pres. Zelenskyy saying that at least 50-100 Ukrainian soldiers are dying in the region daily. Meanwhile, at least 14 civilians were reportedly killed and 15 injured in Luhansk and Donetsk on Tuesday alone. Russia is also reportedly continuing to make steady gains in its goal of encircling Severodonetsk the last major city in the Luhansk still under Ukrainian control launching its first direct assault on the city on Friday. Also on Friday, Gov. Gaidai said only 5% of the Luhansk region remained under Ukrainian control. On Thursday, Ukraine called for more heavy weapons as 40 Donbas towns were reportedly shelled in the morning. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the World Bank warned the war in Ukraine could trigger a global recession. On Sunday, new satellite images appeared to show a Russian ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain arriving in Syria over the weekend, as fears of a global food crisis increase..

Former US Sec. of State Kissinger suggested Ukraine should cede territory to Russia in exchange for peace, North Korea fired another ICBM, Finland and Sweden held talks with Turkey over their NATO bids, and the Quad leaders held a summit. Meanwhile, a drone downed in Yemen killed at least three, Syria said the US must pay for civilians killed in a strike last year, and a congressional commission recommended changing Confereracy-era names of nine US Army bases..

Marcos Jr was proclaimed the next president of the Philippines, Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Australia's new PM, Turkey's foreign minister visited the West Bank and Israel, and Biden launched a new Indo-Pacific trade pact just days after vowing to defend Taiwan if China attacks. Meanwhile, Philippine Pres. Duterte criticized Putin, files detailing alleged abuse of Uyghurs were leaked as the UN's High Commissioner visited Xinjiang, China, and a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed. In other news, El Salvador extended its anti-gang state of emergency, lawyers added Abu Akleh to Palestinian journalists International Criminal Court case, a Russian diplomat quit over the Ukraine war, and Starbucks said it will leave Russia. In the UK, Sue Gray's long-awaited Partygate report was released after which conservative MP Paul Holmes announced his resignation, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe accused the UK Foreign Office of being complicit in obtaining a forced confession, the government announced plans to restrict industrial action for railway workers, and British law enforcement raided a Russian businessman's mansion..

Trump and Pence backed opposing candidates in Georgia's primary and Trump's candidate lost, Liz Cheney officially filed for re-election, and a report found five GOP governor candidates in Michigan may be ineligible. Meanwhile, a NYT report revealed how senior Trump officials transitioned from politics to profits in the Middle East, Madison Cawthorn fell under investigation by the House Ethics Panel, Trump paid a $110K contempt fine, the former president lost his appeal and must testify in a New York civil investigation, and the trial of Clinton Campaign lawyer Sussman entered its second week, with closing statements on Friday. In other news, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki joined MSNBC, new congressional maps were approved in NY, and Rep. Jim Jordan demanded concessions from the Jan. 6 Committee in response to a subpoena..

In the US, 21 were killed in an elementary school shooting in Texas, another man was killed on a NYC subway, an Iraqi citizen was arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate George W. Bush, and a new report found that Southern Baptist leaders mishandled sexual abuse allegations. Meanwhile, the DOJ introduced an order requiring officers to intervene if they witness abuse, and NYC paid $7M to an exonerated man. Elsewhere, the former director of the Louvre museum was charged in connection with the trafficking of antiquities from the Middle East, while, in Ukraine, a Russian soldier was sentenced to life in prison for war crimes..

The NRA began its annual convention in Texas, the Taliban began enforcing a face-covering order for female TV presenters, and Ricky Gervais came under fire for a trans joke..

Analysts weighed the risks of a US recession, Russia cut its benchmark interest rate, and the UK announced a 21B package to support British households. In other news, Airbnb announced plans to close in China..

A US military plane landed with baby formula, Jif peanut butter was recalled after a salmonella outbreak, Kim Jong-un held a large funeral amid the country's COVID outbreak, and the WHO reported 650 probable global cases of the mysterious children's hepatitis..

California introduced a bill to allow parents to sue over social media addictions, Musk pledged an additional $6.25B for his Twitter purchase, and Jack Dorsey stepped down from the Twitter board as the social networking site was fined $150M on accusations of deceptive practices..

The UK approved the sale of Chelsea FC, the Yankees' Josh Donaldson was suspended and fined by the MLB, and Colin Kaepernick trained with the Raiders after five years out of the NFL..

Another sandstorm shut down much of Iraq, at least six were killed during storms in Canada, a report said South Asia heatwaves are 30x more likely because of climate change, and G7 countries met to keep climate action on track..

The UN said 1.1M Afghan children under five could face severe malnutrition this year..