Global military spending reached an all-time high in 2022,the US and South Korea announced a new nuclear agreement,the US army temporarily grounded its aviation units after two fatal helicopter crashes,Iran seized an oil tanker headed for Texas,and an Iranian court ordered the US to pay $313M for two IS-claimed attacks in 2017.Meanwhile, Taiwan claimed a Chinese combat drone encircled the island,the Philippines reported a "confrontation" with Beijing in the South China Sea,the UK warned against China's military buildup,and Australia unveiled its biggest defense overhaul since World War II.In other news, Afghanistan's Taliban reportedly killed an IS leader,at least 33 soldiers were killed in an attack in Burkina Faso,and diplomats and foreign nationals were evacuated from Sudan amid ongoing fighting,as the World Health Organization warned of a biological hazard after forces seized a lab,and the nation's army claimed ousted Pres. Omar al-Bashir is being held in a military hospital after thousands escaped from the prison where he was detained.

On Monday, a report - citing CIA intelligence - claimed the US talked Ukraine down from carrying out a planned attack on Moscow on the anniversary of the war.On Wednesday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first phone conference since the conflict started with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.On the ground, a Russian drone attack on an apartment building reportedly killed at least 23 people in the Ukrainian city of Uman on Friday,and an alleged Ukrainian drone attack set a fuel storage site in Crimea ablaze on Saturday.While Ukraine didn't comment on the incident, Zelenskyy has said Ukraine aims to retake the peninsula as part of its spring counteroffensive.Meanwhile, after China's ambassador to France came under fire for saying that the issue of Crimea's status is complex, Beijing clarified its position, saying it respects the sovereign independence of all countries.

Russia hosted talks between Turkey and Syria,Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida,South Korea restored Japan's place on its "white list" of trusted trading partners,Chinese police questioned staff from US consultancy firm Bain & Co.,and South Africa backtracked on its suspected withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.Meanwhile, the EU sanctioned relatives of Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad,thousands rallied in support of Israel’s judicial overhaul,Palestine condemned the EU's Von Der Leyen's congratulatory message on Israel's 75th year of independence,and Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his election appearances after falling ill.In the UK, BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigned over claims of a potential conflict of interest,Labour MP Diane Abbott was suspended,a poll found that the British public's support for the Monarchy is at a historic low,Prince William reportedly made a secret settlement with the Murdoch firm,and the House of Commons approved a controversial asylum bill.Elsewhere, Spain exhumed the remains of its former fascist leader José Antonio Primo de Rivera.

SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts declined to testify about the court's ethical standards,former VP Mike Pence testified in the probe into former Pres. Donald Trump's actions after the 2020 elections,Trump's civil trial over allegations he assaulted writer Jean Carroll began,the Montana House censured transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr,and the Senate failed to advance the Equal Rights Amendment.Meanwhile, Pres. Joe Biden's team reportedly chose Julie Chavez Rodriguez to be his 2024 campaign manager,House Republicans passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling,and Biden admin outlined plans to open migrant centers in Latin America.

An Uyghur refugee died after nine years in a Thai immigration detention center,Singapore executed a man convicted of smuggling cannabis,Japan outlined a new goal to have women make up 30% of its top executives by 2030,and Pope Francis approved historic changes to allow women to vote at the next bishops meeting.In the US, North Dakota passed a strict abortion ban,two abortion bans in Nebraska and South Carolina failed to advance,and SCOTUS agreed to review whether public officials can block users on social media.

A man was shot dead in Jerusalem after ramming his car into a crowd,and Kenyan police recovered over 70 bodies while investigating a starvation cult.

US consumer confidence hit a nine-month low,a report found that half of New York City households face a cost of living crisis,over $100B was withdrawn from First Republic Bank in the first quarter of 2023,Credit Suisse said it lost $68B in assets last quarter,and the Bank of England said people need to accept economic stress.In other news, the UN forecast India's population to surpass China's by the end of April.

Tucker Carlson broke his silenceafter he parted ways with Fox News,CNN host Don Lemon left the network,longtime US talk show host Jerry Springer died,and Vice Media announced a restructuring plan.Meanwhile, Disney sued DeSantis over the loss of its special district,Twitter restored its blue tick to high-profile accounts for free,the UK rejected Microsoft's $75B deal to buy Activision Blizzard,Meta's first-quarter profits exceeded forecasts,and two senior Bud Light VPs were placed on leave.

A study forecast that the EU's plan to ban most toxic chemicals by 2030 is failing,and a report warned that climate change is fuelling rapid ocean warming.

A study found that the diabetes drug Tirzepatide helps with weight loss,a report claimed that the US' COVID response exposed a "collective national incompetence,"and a group of US lawmakers introduced legislation to incentivize the development of antibiotics.

Scientists released the sharpest-ever image of a supermassive black hole,a Swedish research rocket accidentally landed in Norway,and allegedly deceased actor Saint Von Colucci reportedly turned out to be the creation of artificial intelligence.

At least 17 were killed during explosions at a counter-terrorism office in Pakistan.

Nepal issued a record number of permits for climbers to summit Mount Everest this season..