Russia-Ukraine
Putin says Russia will not attack NATO, but F-16s will be shot down in Ukraine (Reuters)
House Speaker Mike Johnson is committed to advancing Ukraine aid. But it will be a difficult task (AP)
For over a month, House Speaker Mike Johnson has sat on a funding package that would send desperately needed ammunition and weaponry to Ukraine, mulling how best to gain a grasp of what is expected to be a difficult lift in the House.
The Republican speaker has indicated he will attempt to push for approval of tens of billions in wartime funding for Ukraine, as well as Israel, once the House returns in April. Yet it will be perhaps his most difficult task since he took the speaker’s gavel late last year.
China
Boao Forum for Asia Holds Opening Plenary in Hainan (CCTV)
China will be a driving force for the world economic recovery, official says (Reuters)
China aims to be strong driving force for the world economic recovery this year, opening its markets wider to foreign investors and promoting high quality growth, the country's top legislator Zhao Leji said on Thursday.
China will make tech innovation a new point of economic growth and is willing to collaborate with other countries on it, Zhao, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said at the opening plenary of the annual gathering of the Boao Forum for Asia.
Xi Jinping lieutenant calls for Asia to ‘jointly’ manage its own security (Financial Times)
Chinese leader Xi issues a positive message at a meeting with US business leaders as ties improve (AP News)
Israel-Palestine
Palestinian fighters battle Israeli forces around Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital (Reuters)
The World Court on Thursday unanimously ordered Israel, accused by South Africa of genocide in Gaza, to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the enclave's Palestinian population and halt spreading famine.
But Gaza's Hamas rulers said a ceasefire was needed to halt the humanitarian crisis.
The order from the International Court of Justice came as Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters battled in close combat around Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital, where the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they attacked Israeli soldiers and tanks with rockets and mortar fire.
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