| |  |  | The Reuters Daily Briefing | Thursday, March 3, 2022 by Linda Noakes | Hello Here's what you need to know. Lavrov says Russia will continue the Ukraine war until 'the end', the tide of refugees grows, and France seizes an oligarch's superyacht | | | | | Today's biggest stories  Children sleep on the floor of a train station after fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zahony, Hungary, March 3, 2022 RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its second week as an apparent tactical failure so far, with its main assault force stalled for days on a highway north of Kyiv and other advances halted at the outskirts of cities it is bombing into wastelands.
The number of refugees who have fled Ukraine rose to more than 1 million, the United Nations said. Hundreds of Russian soldiers and Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and Russia itself has been plunged into isolation never before experienced by an economy of such size.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he believed some foreign leaders were preparing for war against Russia and that Moscow would press on with its military operation in Ukraine until "the end". Lavrov also said Russia had no thoughts of nuclear war.
The Chinese foreign ministry said that reports on Chinese and Russian coordination ahead of Russia's attack on Ukraine are "fake news". Senior Chinese officials told senior Russian officials in early February not to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the New York Times reported.
French customs have seized a yacht belonging to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin as it tried to leave the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat in a breach of EU sanctions on Russian oligarchs. At least five superyachts owned by Russian billionaires were anchored or cruising in Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.
The bells of major churches across Europe chimed in unison to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine, mourn those killed, and pray for peace.
Here's what you need to know about the conflict right now
In pictures: Inside the battle for Ukraine
|  Smoke rises from an oil depot, which according to local authorities was damaged by shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine, March 3, 2022 BUSINESS & MARKETS Oil prices soared again as the Ukraine war triggered a dash for commodities that could be in short supply, while stock markets slipped as investors worried about higher inflation and slowing economic growth. We explain why $100 oil could hurt the energy transition more than it helps.
Societe Generale can see an "extreme scenario" where Russia strips the bank of its local operations, it said, in one of the starkest warnings yet from a Western company about the potential fallout from the war in Ukraine. Regulators are preparing for a possible closure of the European arm of Russia's second-largest bank, VTB Bank, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Top Japanese automakers including Toyota were forced to halt production in Russia as sanctions scrambled logistics and cut supply chains. Toyota is Russia's top Japanese brand, producing about 80,000 vehicles at its St. Petersburg plant which employs 2,000 staff.
Business software giant Oracle said it has suspended all operations in Russia, while rival SAP announced it would pause all sales in the country. Here's our factbox on the companies cutting Russian operations and trade.
Russian businessman Roman Abramovich said he would sell Chelsea Football Club, 19 years after buying it and setting the team on a path to sporting glory, and promised to donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
|  NSW Police Rescue are seen patrolling in floodwater at Windsor, north west of Sydney, Australia, March 3, 2022 IN OTHER NEWS Authorities in Australia issued more orders for people to leave their homes after heavy rain triggered flash floods in its largest city, with officials warning of worse to come and some 500,000 people likely to face orders to evacuate.
The congressional committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol said former President Donald Trump may have engaged in criminal conduct in his bid to overturn his election defeat. In a court filing the panel said Trump potentially engaged in conspiracy to defraud the United States and may have obstructed an official proceeding.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen bestowed a presidential honor on former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his contribution to boosting relations with the island, as China's government lambasted his record as "despicable".
Hong Kong's subway operator, bus and ferry companies, and one of its biggest supermarket chains, are cutting back services due to a worsening COVID-19 outbreak that has seen daily infections explode this year.
A standoff between two rival governments in Libya looked set to worsen as the administration newly chosen by parliament accused the incumbent prime minister of using force to try to stop it being sworn in.
| | | | | | | | | Video of the day  Russians arrested at protest against Ukraine invasion Protesters in St. Petersburg were detained by police after attending a rally. | | | Thanks for spending part of your day with us. | | | | | |
