Worldwide

U.S. approves emergency summer higher-ethanol gasoline sales to curb soaring fuel prices

Agriculture Secretary hails move as step toward American Energy Dominance supporting domestic biofuel demand

Japan initiates largest-ever strategic oil release as gasoline prices hit record 190.80 yen

State reserves drawdown equals 30 days of demand roughly 8.5 million kiloliters scheduled through April end

Japan’s Prime Minister meets with IEA’s Birol to request further coordinated release of oil reserves

Birol noted the IEA is actively consulting with governments across Europe and Asia regarding release of additional stockpiles 

ECB President Lagarde signals potential rate hikes to counter energy shock

Lagarde stated that a moderate overshoot of the inflation target could justify measured tightening 

EU awards $3.1 billion to 54 net-zero projects to avoid 210 million tonnes of COâ‚‚

Projects span 17 countries and 17 sectors reflecting diverse pipeline of scalable clean technologies

China implements first fuel price control since 2013 to mitigate global oil volatility 

New price caps save chinese drivers hundreds of dollars per tonne

EU and Australia reach trade deal to eliminate up to 99 percent of tariffs, secure critical mineral supplies

Deal grants EU enhanced access to Australian critical minerals like lithium manganese and aluminum

Reserve Bank of Australia lifts interest rates to 10-month high on rising inflation risks

The central bank lifted its benchmark rate to 4.1 percent, marking its second hike this year following a similar move in February

U.S. trade deficit plummets to $54.5 billion as exports surge in January

Trade gap fell from a revised $72.9 billion in December 

South Korea to inject $350 billion into U.S. AI, quantum computing, semiconductors

Legislation completes major portion of trade agreement intended to mitigate U.S. tariff strains on Korean goods 

U.S. stock futures slip following 0.3 percent rise in February Consumer Price Index

CPI rose 2.4 percent annually while investors assessed the Fed outlook 

World food prices rise in February 2026, ending five-month downward trend: FAO

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9 percent from its revised January level, while still 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier

EU Commission President moves to provisionally apply Mercosur deal despite court review

Deal called consequential for Europe’s trade diversification despite opposition and legal challenges

Eurozone inflation drops to 1.7 percent in January 2026, lowest level in 12 months

France recorded 0.4 percent annual inflation; Romania registered the highest rate at 8.5 percent

China Spring Festival 2026 draws record 596 million trips, $116.7 billion tourism spend

Hainan saw 12.32 million visits with duty free sales in Sanya jumping more than 214 percent

NASA’s Artemis II clears final fueling test for March 2026 launch, first moon mission since 1972

The 322-foot rocket was filled with over 700,000 gallons of supercold liquid hydrogen and oxygen 

Germany and India sign strategic AI Pact at New Delhi Summit to drive economic growth

The pact fosters joint initiatives in industry energy healthcare and agriculture to integrate AI economically

China’s luxury market shows signs of stabilization after two years of decline

Bain estimates that 65 percent of luxury purchases occurred within mainland China in 2025, compared with 35 percent overseas

U.S. and Taiwan finalize trade deal with 15 percent tariff, $500 billion in semiconductor and AI investments

Agreement exempts more than 2,000 export items from reciprocal tariffs, cutting average duty to 12.33 percent 

U.S. job growth likely picked up in January as layoffs ease, but labor market remains sluggish

Economists point to lingering uncertainty over import tariffs as a key factor dampening business confidence and hiring decisions

Pakistan pledges $1 billion investment in Artificial Intelligence to modernize digital economy by 2030

AI funding will modernize sectors like agriculture, industry, and trade enhancing national productivityÂ