*) Zelenskyy outlines agenda of fresh talks with Russia

Ukraine's priorities at the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Türkiye this week will be "sovereignty and territorial integrity," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

"We are looking for peace, really, without delay," he says, adding there is an opportunity and a need for a face-to-face meeting in Türkiye.

Ukraine is prepared to consider declaring neutrality and offering security guarantees to Russia including nuclear-free status, he said, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin must meet with him to seek an end to the fighting.

*) Russia gains ground around Ukraine’s Mariupol

Russia has been continuing to gain ground around the devastated city of Ukraine's Mariupol. That's according to UK military intelligence that's been monitoring the situation since the conflict began.

Russian firepower has been focused on Mariupol since day one. More than half that city's population of 400-thousand has fled, but thousands are still trapped there. Fighters and residents in Mariupol have denied Russia an outright victory.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the situation a 'humanitarian catastrophe', and accused Russia of kidnapping children across Ukraine and transporting them back to Russia.

*) China’s Shanghai in lockdown

China has launched a new lockdown of its largest city and financial hub - Shanghai. It will carry out mass Covid-19 testing on 26 million residents.

The testing drive will take nine days. The eastern parts of the city have already been locked down, with public transport also suspended. The western side will follow suit on Friday.

This is the biggest Covid-related disruption ever for Shanghai. It is currently facing a record wave of infections, with more than 34-hundred asymptomatic cases on Saturday.

*) Pakistan’s Imran Khan addresses huge public rally

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has addressed a huge public gathering in the capital Islamabad.

The rally was held ahead of a crucial no-confidence vote against him in parliament later today.

Speaking to supporters, he said the vote is part of an international conspiracy trying to topple his government. But critics of Khan's PTI party accuse it of corruption and mismanaging a growing economic crisis.

And, finally...

*) Will Smith wins Oscar

Hollywood has just closed its 94th Academy Awards. Streaming TV drama "CODA" took home the top prize for best picture. While Jane Campion became the third woman to win best director for 'The Power of the Dog'.

But in a viral moment that shocked attendees and viewers alike, Will Smith smacked the host, comedian Chris Rock, who made a joke about his wife's appearance.

Smith later won the best actor-- for his role in the film 'King Richard'. The Academy Awards released a statement on Twitter saying it "does not condone violence of any form".

🇺🇸 Joe Biden visits near Ukraine border in show of solidarity

🇺🇦 Zelenskyy: Ukraine held back all main directions of Russian attacks

🇰🇵 North Korea's Kim oversees test of Hwasong-17 'monster missile'

🇾🇪 Bread prices soar in Yemen due to Ukraine conflict

🎾 Trophies won by tennis star Boris Becker auctioned to pay his debts

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) NATO leaders discuss Ukraine in Brussels

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a “big mistake” by invading Ukraine.

Stoltenberg was speaking in Brussels, where leaders have gathered to discuss overhauling the alliance’s eastern defences.

Stoltenberg said the leaders of the US-led military alliance would “address the need for a reset of our deterrence and defence in the longer term”.

Earlier, in an emotional speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the alliance to provide "effective and unrestricted" support to Ukraine.

*) Russian army 'taking defensive positions' in Ukraine: Pentagon

A senior Pentagon official has said that the Russian army has retreated more than 30 kilometres east of Kiev in the past 24 hours and is establishing defensive positions on several fronts in Ukraine.

The official, who requested anonymity, told reporters that the Ukrainians have managed to push the Russians back 55 kilometres east and northeast of Kiev.

He said the Russian forces were actually not trying to advance right now.

*) North Korea fires 'unidentified projectile': South's military

South Korea’s military has said North Korea has fired an "unidentified projectile."

The Yonhap news agency reported that it was a "suspected long-range ballistic missile", citing Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

South Korea and the United States have recently warned that Pyongyang appears to be preparing to test-fire an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

*) China continues search for second black box from crashed plane

Recovery crews continue to search for a second black box from a China Eastern Airlines passenger plane that plunged with 132 people on board.

It was revealed that the first black box found on Wednesday was the cockpit voice recorder, a Civil Aviation Administration of China official said based on an early assessment.

It is being sent to Beijing for analysis, the official added.

And, finally...

*) Türkiye submits bid to host UEFA EURO 2028

The Turkish Football Federation has submitted its bid to host the 2028 European Football Championship.

As of Wednesday, there are now three official candidates to host the 18th edition of the tournament.

The UK and the Republic of Ireland have submitted a joint bid and the Russian football federation has registered its interest in hosting the competition in either 2028 or 2032.

All Russian clubs and national teams are suspended from both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice in response to Russia's war on Ukraine.

*) Kherson facing ‘humanitarian catastrophe’

Some 300,000 people stranded in the Ukrainian city of Kherson face a “humanitarian catastrophe” as they run dangerously low on supplies under a Russian blockade.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson warned that “food and medical supplies have almost run out, yet Russia refuses to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians”.

Oleg Nikolenko said “Russia’s barbaric tactics must be stopped before it is too late!”

*) Russia seized relief workers in Mariupol convoy

Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of seizing 15 rescue workers and drivers from a humanitarian convoy trying to get vital supplies into the besieged port city of Mariupol.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the Russians seized 11 bus drivers and four rescue workers along with their vehicles, adding that their fate was unknown.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of blocking the aid convoy despite agreeing to the route ahead of time in his nightly video address.

*) US changes tone over Iran nuclear deal

US optimism that a deal to restore the 2015 agreement to limit Iran's nuclear development has soured, with Washington now warning it was headed toward "Plan B" if Tehran doesn't budge.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that an agreement is neither imminent nor is it certain.

He said the onus is on Tehran to make decisions that it might consider difficult.

Just a week ago Washington officials were hopeful that an agreement that aimed to halt Iran's march toward nuclear weapons capability was within reach.

*) Navalny's sentence extended to nine years in jail

A Russian court has found jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny guilty of additional embezzlement and contempt of court charges and extended his sentence to nine years.

Having been behind bars for over a year, Navalny's defence team said he will serve his sentence for another eight years in a higher security prison.

Navalny, who will also have to pay a fine of $11,500, has denied the charges against him, saying they were punishment for challenging President Vladimir Putin.

And, finally...

*) Top-ranked Ash Barty quits tennis

Top-ranked tennis player Ash Barty has announced her shock retirement from the sport in a social media post, saying she will “step away and chase other dreams”.

"Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis," 25-year-old Barty said in an emotional video.

She had held the highest WTA rank for 114 consecutive weeks before her retirement.

*) Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to discuss deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Zelenskyy repeated his call for direct talks with Russian President Putin and said that unless he meets with Putin, it is impossible to understand whether Russia even wants to stop the war.

The Ukrainian president also said that Kiev will be ready to discuss the status of Crimea and the eastern Donbass region after a cease-fire and steps toward providing security guarantees.

*) Biden says Putin is weighing use of chemical weapons in Ukraine

US President Biden has said, without evidence, that Russia’s accusations that Kiev has biological and chemical weapons are false and indicate that Putin is considering using them himself.

"Now he's talking about new false flags he's setting up including, asserting that we in America have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe, simply not true," Biden said.

"They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That's a clear sign he's considering using both of those."

*) No survivors found in China Eastern plane crash

No survivors have been found as rescuers searched the wreckage of a China Eastern plane carrying 132 people that crashed in southern Guangxi.

The Boeing 737-800 was flying at 8,840 metres when it entered a steep, fast dive around 0620GMT, according to data from FlightRadar24.com.

A rescue worker speculated that passengers and their belongings had been "totally incinerated" from the intensity of the blaze.

*) Rohingya praise US for recognising their genocide in Myanmar

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have welcomed the announcement by the United States that it considers the violent repression of their largely Muslim ethnic group in Myanmar a "genocide."

As news of the announcement by the US spread across the sprawling camps in Bangladesh that are now home to about one million Rohingya, many residents expressed their enthusiasm.

Refugees say the path to take action by the international community against the Myanmar military has opened up because of the declaration.

The US made the determination based on confirmed accounts of systematic, mass atrocities on civilians by Myanmar's military.

And, finally...

*) Study: Most Syrian refugees in Türkiye happy, don’t feel marginalised

A new study has found that most of the Syrians who fled the civil war in their country and are living in Türkiye are happy and don't want to go back home.

Syrians do not feel excluded or discriminated against in Türkiye, said Murat Erdogan, director of the Ankara-based Research Centre on Asylum and Migration.

Türkiye hosts around four million Syrians, the largest refugee population in the world.

The report, now in its third edition, is based on face-to-face surveys and set to be released next week.

*) Ukraine says no question of surrendering city of Mariupol

Kiev has rejected a Russian ultimatum to surrender the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk dismissed the early morning deadline, saying Moscow should instead allow hundreds of thousands of trapped Mariupol residents to escape.

"We can't talk about surrendering weapons," Vereshchuk said, "we have already informed the Russian side about it."

The announcement followed Russia’s demand for Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms in the besieged city.

*) No agreement reached to evacuate Mariupol civilians

Staying in Ukraine, an agreement has been reached on creating eight humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged Ukrainian towns and cities.

However, the city of Mariupol was not among them, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Vereshchuk said efforts to reach Mariupol with humanitarian supplies continued to fail.

*) US to declare Rohingya repression in Myanmar a ‘genocide’

Washington is set to declare that Myanmar’s years-long repression of the Rohingya Muslim population is a genocide.

The designation does not in and of itself portend drastic new measures against Myanmar’s military-led government.

But it could lead to additional international pressure on the government.

More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a clearance operation.

*) Pakistan lawmakers to vote on motion to oust PM Imran Khan next week

Pakistan's parliament will convene next week to take up a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The lower house speaker's office said that the vote will take place on March 25.

An alliance of opposition parties filed the motion against Khan this month, saying he had lost his parliamentary majority after over a dozen defections from his party, raising the risk of political turmoil.

And, finally…

*) Motor racing Leclerc wins Bahrain opener in Ferrari one-two

Charles Leclerc has won Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in a Ferrari one-two finish with teammate Carlos Sainz.

Mercedes's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton took a surprise third place after a nightmare for Red Bull and reigning champion Max Verstappen who failed to score.

The result put Leclerc, who also set the fastest lap and was voted driver of the day by fans, in the overall lead of the drivers' standings.

*) Ukraine theatre sheltering over 1,000 civilians bombed

Ukraine has claimed that Russia destroyed a theatre harbouring more than a thousand people in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, with the toll still unknown.

Officials posted images that appeared to show the once gleaming whitewashed three-storey theatre hollowed out and ablaze, with bricks and scaffolding piled high.

Russia's defence ministry denied it had targeted the theatre, instead claiming that the building had been mined and blown up by members of Ukraine's far-right Azov Battalion.

*) Biden calls Putin a ‘war criminal’

President Joe Biden has said Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a war criminal" for attacking Ukraine.

In an exchange with a reporter at the White House, Biden said, "oh I think he is a war criminal" after initially responding with a "no" to a question about whether he was ready to call Putin that.

That is the first time Biden has publicly branded Putin with that phrase.

The Kremlin condemned Biden's remark, saying it is "unacceptable and unforgivable".

*) Four dead after powerful Japan earthquake

Four people have been reported dead and more than 100 injured in Japan after a powerful overnight earthquake rattled large parts of the east coast and prompted a tsunami warning.

The 7.4-magnitude quake that hit the coast of Fukushima derailed a bullet train, opened cracks in highways and threw products from shelves in shops.

Later, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted its low-risk advisory for a tsunami along the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures.

*) US Fed raises interest rate in battle against high inflation

The Federal Reserve escalated its battle against the wave of price increases battering the US economy, raising the benchmark interest rate.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee announced a quarter-point rate hike, the first since 2018 and since it cut the rate to zero at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Global stocks surged after the Fed announced the hike despite the risks posed by the conflict in Ukraine.

*) Netflix to begin charging for shared accounts

Netflix has begun testing on charging a fee to subscribers who share their accounts with people who don't live in their homes.

The US-based streaming service has long taken a relaxed approach to users sharing passwords with family or friends, but recently saw stock dive on quarterly results that showed cooling subscriber growth.

In the coming weeks, Netflix will begin offering subscribers in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru the option to add as many as two people to "sub-accounts" at a monthly fee of $2 to $3.

*) Ukraine sees room for compromise in talks with Russia

Ukraine has said it sees possible room for compromise in talks with Russia despite Moscow's stepped up bombardment of Kiev and new assaults on the port city of Mariupol.

After delegations from Ukraine and Russia met again via video, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s demands were becoming "more realistic".

The two sides were expected to speak again.

The fast-moving developments on the diplomatic front and on the ground came as Moscow's offensive neared the three-week mark.

*) Ukraine says another Russian general killed in fighting

Ukraine has said a fourth Russian general has been killed in fighting.

Major General Oleg Mityaev died during the storming of Mariupol, said Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko, who published a photo on Telegram of what he said was the dead officer.

46-year-old Mityaev commanded the 150th motorised rifle division and had fought in Syria, Gerashchenko said. There was no confirmation of the death from Russia.

*) Syrians mark uprising anniversary with message for Ukraine

Thousands of protesters in Syria's opposition and rebel enclave of Idlib have marked 11 years since the start of an anti-regime uprising.

Gathered on the main square in the northwestern city of Idlib, more than 5,000 people took part in one of the largest rallies the beleaguered region has seen in months.

Many of the demonstrators hoped the attack launched by the Syrian regime's main backer Russia in Ukraine would rekindle interest in their cause.

*) UN declares March 15 International Day to Combat Islamophobia

The UN General Assembly has adopted by consensus a resolution declaring March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

The resolution, introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, recognises "with deep concern" what it said is an "overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence".

It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 worshippers and wounding 40 others in the terror attack.

And finally …

*) Court slaps fine on Russian woman after on-air TV protest

A court has fined a Russian State TV employee around 300 US dollars after she protested against her country's assault on Ukraine.

On live television, Marina Ovsyannikova appeared on set, stood behind the anchor with a placard.

On it was written 'no war, stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here'.

It was reported that she was detained by security forces, and could face a jail sentence under new laws passed since the start of the Ukraine attack.

*) Russia pounds away at Ukraine as talks to continue

Russia's forces have continued to pound away at cities across Ukraine, including the capital, in a bombardment that deepened the humanitarian crisis.

Shortly before dawn, large explosions thundered across Kiev. Ukrainian emergency services said at least two people were killed after a strike on a 16-storey building in the capital.

Russia also pressed its advance on multiple fronts. But, a narrow diplomatic path stays open as Kiev and Moscow plan another round of talks.

*) UN chief: Russian offensive hurting poor countries

The United Nations chief has warned that Russia’s offensive on Ukraine is “hitting the poorest the hardest and planting the seeds for political instability and unrest around the globe.”

“Russia and Ukraine represent more than half of the world’s supply of sunflower oil and about 30 percent of the world’s wheat” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

He stressed that poor developing countries are now seeing their breadbasket “being bombed” as they face skyrocketing food, fuel and fertiliser prices.

*) Indian Karnataka state’s ban on hijab in class

An Indian court has upheld a ban on wearing of the hijab in classes in the southern state of Karnataka, a ruling that could set a precedent for the rest of the country.

"We are of the considered opinion that wearing of hijab by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practice," Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka said in the judgement.

Students who had challenged the ban in court had said wearing the hijab was a fundamental right guaranteed under India's constitution.

Critics of the ban say it's another way of marginalising Muslim community that accounts for about 13 percent of Hindu-majority country.

*) France shuts down another mosque

A mosque in southwestern France has been shut down for a six-month period amid an ongoing drive against Muslims and their places of worship.

The Al Farouk Mosque in Pessac district was closed for allegedly defending "radical Islam", the department governorate said in a statement.

The statement accused mosque authorities of giving sermons calling for non-compliance with French laws and legitimising terrorist attacks.

France has long been criticised by international organisations and NGOs for targeting Muslims.

And finally …

*) Elon Musk challenges Putin to fight over Ukraine

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a one-on-one fight to settle the fate of Ukraine.

The eccentric billionaire took to Twitter to see whether the Russian leader would test his mettle in person rather than through his country's forces fighting across the border.

"I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. Stakes are Ukraine,” Musk said.

"Do you accept this fight?" he added in Russian. There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin.

*) US warns China of consequences of helping Russia

The White House has warned Beijing of severe "consequences" if it helps Moscow evade sanctions as the Russian offensive in Ukraine widens.

"We will not stand by and allow any country to compensate Russia for its losses from the economic sanctions," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said ahead of talks with Beijing.

Russia reportedly asked China for military and economic aid for its assault on Ukraine just hours after Washington’s warnings.

*) UN urges Russia to stop attacking health facilities

Three UN agencies have called for an immediate end to Russian attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine, calling them “an act of unconscionable cruelty”.

The UN Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization and the UN Population Fund condemned the attacks on patients and health workers in a joint statement.

In 24 of the reported Russian attacks, health care facilities were damaged or destroyed, while in five cases, ambulances were hit.

A total of 12 people were killed and 34 injured, according to the UN agencies' statement.

*) Europe new ‘hotspot’ for arms imports

Europe has seen the world's biggest rise in arms imports in the past five years, according to a study published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

While arms exports declined globally by 4.6 percent in the 2017-2021 period compared with the preceding five-year period, Europe posted a 19-percent increase.

Researchers expect the trend to accelerate following recent rearmament commitments amid the Russian operation in Ukraine.

*) Iran condemns Saudi executions

Iran has strongly condemned Saudi Arabia’s mass execution of convicted criminals, saying the move violates "basic principles of human rights and international law”.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the mass execution of 81 men was carried out "without observing fair judicial processes”. More than half of those executed were Shia Muslims.

Tehran’s condemnation came hours after Iran temporarily suspended a fifth round of tension-easing talks with Saudi Arabia brokered by Iraq, which were set to resume on Wednesday after a long pause.

And finally …

*) ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘Dune’ reign at BAFTA

Dark Western "The Power of the Dog" has scooped the top two honours at the British Academy Film Awards, winning best film and director for Jane Campion, beating Denis Villeneuve to top prize.

Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic "Dune", on the other hand, had lead nominations with 11 nods and picked up the most prizes, winning five awards.