12: World Bank President David Malpass, tapped by former President Donald Trump, announced Wednesday that he’ll step down this summer, roughly 12 months before his term expires. Malpass has been mired in controversy in recent months after he refused to say whether fossil fuels are warming the planet. (Malpass spoke to GZERO Media amid the controversy, saying he’s not a climate change denier.)
6: Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko has been handed a six-year jail sentence for posting on social media that Russian planes were responsible for an attack last March on Ukrainian civilians hiding in a theater in Mariupol. Following the verdict, Ponomarenko, a mother of two, said: “No totalitarian regime has ever been as strong as before its collapse."
5.6 billion: The UN said Wednesday that $5.6 billion is needed to provide humanitarian aid to the tens of millions of Ukrainians impacted by the war, including around 4 million who have resettled in Eastern Europe. But with the situation in Turkey and Syria continuing to deteriorate, Ukraine fundraisers could now have a tougher time securing Western aid dollars.
90: Ahead of general elections on Feb. 25, a whopping 90% of Nigerians say that the country is headed in the wrong direction, the worst outlook ever recorded. For a look at what’s at stake in the election, see this primer.
3: After more than three years in action, the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracker will stop updating its data on March 10. The dashboard started publishing global pandemic statistics in Jan. 2020 and has been viewed more than 2.5 billion times since. We won’t miss you, Johns Hopkins tracker.As America celebrates 250 years, Bank of America is proud to honor our shared history. Discover our commitment.
Microsoft released its 2026 Environmental Sustainability Report, outlining how the company is advancing its environmental commitments while expanding the infrastructure needed to support AI growth. The report highlights progress across energy, water, waste, and ecosystem goals, including matching 100% of annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy and achieving net positive water replenishment. Read the full report here.
In his latest Quick Take, Ian Bremmer argues that the war between the United States and Iran has entered a more dangerous phase, with both sides demonstrating they can sustain military and economic pressure without forcing the other to back down. The question is, will this standoff bring them back to the table before the conflict escalates further?
Competitive pay. 401(k) contributions upon employment and 6% company match once eligible. Up to 16 weeks of combined paid maternity and parental leave. These benefits and more inspire generations – Daidrian’s 18-year Walmart journey motivated her son Jonothan to launch his own career as a Walmart associate. Learn more.