*) Attacks across Ukraine as dozens die

Russian missiles have rained down on Ukrainian cities after Moscow announced a military operation. About 100,000 people have been displaced.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 137 Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, were killed after the first day of fighting.

He called up conscripts and reservists nationwide to fight in a general mobilisation.

*) US announces sanctions against Russia

The United States has imposed harsh sanctions on Russia. But Washington and allies have stopped short of enacting even tougher measures.

The fresh sanctions cut off Russia's two largest banks from US dollar transactions.

The allies also imposed export controls on high-tech items aimed at crippling Russia's defence and aerospace sectors.

Energy giant Gazprom and other major companies will not be able to raise financing in Western markets.

*) IMF, World Bank chiefs warn of global impacts

Leaders of the World Bank and IMF have signalled that they are ready to help Ukraine, and warned that the conflict will have repercussions for the global economy.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the fighting "adds significant economic risk for the region and the world".

World Bank President David Malpass said that "the devastating developments in Ukraine will have far-reaching economic and social impacts".

*) Deadly quake strikes Indonesia's Sumatra island

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Two people died and 20 were injured in West Pasaman when the quake hit the island's north at a depth of 12 kilometres.

No tsunami warning was issued. There were no immediate reports of serious damage.

The quake was felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore.

And finally …

*) Djokovic loses world number one ranking

Novak Djokovic has lost his Dubai quarter-final and his world number one ranking in one go.

He suffered an upset at the hands of Czech player Jiri Vesely on Thursday.

Daniil Medvedev replaced him at the top of the rankings.

Medvedev became the first man since 2004 outside the "Big Four" to occupy the number one ranking.

*) Putin launches 'military operation' in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In a surprise address, Putin justified the move by claiming Kiev was overseeing a "genocide" in eastern Ukraine. He called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms.

US President Joe Biden urged world leaders to speak out against Putin's "aggression" and vowed Russia would be held accountable.

*) Explosions in Ukraine as Russia targets military infrastructure

Explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, and several other cities on Thursday.

Ukrainian border guards reported being under attack along the Russian and Belarusian frontiers.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Facebook post that Russia was attacking his country's "military infrastructure". He urged citizens not to panic and vowed victory.

His foreign minister said Ukraine will defend itself and will win.

*) UAE plans to buy Chinese aircraft after attacks by Yemen rebels

The United Arab Emirates has said it plans to buy a dozen Chinese L15 aircraft.

The move comes at a time when it is seeking to bolster its defences after a series of attacks by Yemeni rebels.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced sanctions against what it said were members of an international financing network for Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

*) US truckers launch convoy in pandemic protest

Hundreds of truckers and their supporters have set off from southern California on a convoy to protest against pandemic restrictions.

"The People's Convoy" began its journey on Wednesday and is expected to reach the Washington DC area on March 5.

The organisers say they want an end to mask mandates, vaccination requirements and business shutdowns.

The protest is inspired by demonstrations that crippled Canada's cities for weeks.

*) Neolithic-era ritual complex found in Jordan desert

Archaeologists deep in the Jordanian desert have discovered a 9,000-year-old ritualistic complex.

The Stone Age shrine site was used by gazelle hunters and features carved stone figures, an altar and a miniature model of a large-scale hunting trap.

The Neolithic-era ritual site was discovered inside a larger campsite last October by a joint French-Jordanian team.

Similar structures of two or more stone walls have been found in deserts across Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye and Kazakhstan.

*) US sanctions Russia after its recognition of breakaway regions

US President Joe Biden has announced tough new sanctions on Russia.

They include steps to starve Russia of financing and target financial institutions and the country's so-called elites.

The move came after the sanctions announced by Britain and the European Union.

But Biden left the door open to a final effort at diplomacy to avert a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel republics in Ukraine has sent tensions soaring.

*) Germany halts Nord Stream 2 project

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he is suspending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia.

Scholz said he ordered a halt to the review process by the German regulator for the pipeline.

The move is seen by Western partners and Kiev as a bargaining chip in the stand-off with Russia.

Nord Stream 2 was set to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea.

Berlin's allies argue that the project would give Moscow too much leverage by increasing Germany's energy dependence.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy had demanded an immediate halt to the project.

*) Iran nuclear talks in Vienna about to cross finish line

Talks on restoring a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme and ease sanctions are nearing conclusion.

Several Iranian officials said some minor technical issues were being discussed in Vienna.

While a deal is expected before the end of the week, the officials said "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed".

Sources close to the negotiations also said a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is expected soon.

*) India donates wheat to Afghanistan after deal with Pakistan

India has dispatched wheat to Afghanistan to help alleviate food shortages.

Officials have flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2,500 metric tonnes of wheat at Attari in the northern state of Punjab.

The move came after Pakistan gave permission to allow the shipments across their shared border.

Indian Foreign Ministry termed it an "important milestone in India's humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people".

And finally …

*) Oscars will hand out eight awards ahead of broadcast

The Oscars are undergoing a radical slimming down.

Eight awards will be presented off-air during next month's telecast of the 94th Academy Awards.

The edited highlights will be added "seamlessly into the live televised show".

The Academy's latest move aims to boost interest and viewership in its flagship event.

The decision will free up more time for musical performances, comedy and tributes, Academy president David Rubin has said.

Television ratings for the Oscars have dramatically declined in recent years.

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

*) Russia recognises Ukraine breakaway regions as independent

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to move into Ukraine’s separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions, held by Russian-backed rebels, thus marking Moscow’s official recognition of the breakaway regions.

Putin claims the troops are “on a peacekeeping mission” and that Russian citizens there are “at risk of massacre” by the western-backed government in Kiev.

Following the development, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting, with the majority of members voicing support for Ukraine's sovereign integrity.

*) 'Significant progress' made in Iran nuclear deal

A revival of the Iran nuclear deal appears closer than it has been since Donald Trump withdrew the US from the pact in 2018.

Iran's Foreign Ministry says 'significant progress' has been made during talks in Vienna, but that Tehran needs guarantees.

One of those guarantees would be a promise from Western parties not to withdraw from a renewed pact or reinstate sanctions.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi is on a visit to Qatar, where he met with the Qatari emir. The leaders said they hope an agreement is close.

*) Scores killed in Burkina Faso gold mine explosion

About 60 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in an explosion at an informal gold mining site in southwest Burkina Faso, state television reports.

The cause of the explosion in Poni province was not yet known, Poni's high commissioner Antoine Douamba told state television.

Images showed a large blast site of felled trees and destroyed tin houses. Bodies could be seen on the ground covered in mats.

*) Saudi-led coalition destroys 'Houthi drone' in Saudi city of Jizan

Sixteen people, including foreigners, were wounded in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom destroyed a drone launched against an airport by Yemeni rebels.

"A drone launched in the direction of King Abdullah Airport in Jazan was destroyed, with debris falling inside the airport," the Saudi-led coalition says.

It is the second airport attack in less than two weeks blamed on or claimed by the Houthi insurgents.

*) Historical “caravanserai” in southeast Türkiye turns into a museum

An 800-year-old “caravanserai” belonging to the Ayyubid period in southeastern Sanliurfa province of Türkiye will be transformed into a pepper museum.

Han el Barur caravanserai, whose restoration was completed in the Harran district of the city in 2018, will serve as the "Isot Museum".

Named after isot, which is a special dried red pepper from southeastern Türkiye's Sanliurfa, the museum will showcase various spices from across the world, including India and China.

*) Biden, Putin agree to hold summit on Ukraine crisis

France says US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed - in principle - to hold a summit on Ukraine.

But Biden said the meeting would “only take place” if Russia does not invade Ukraine.

The summit is planned after the meeting of G7 leaders on February 24, which will also discuss the ongoing crisis. The announcement was made as new satellite imagery shows an increase of Russian troops on its border with Ukraine.

*) Iranian lawmakers lay out six condition to revive nuclear deal

Iran could reach a new nuclear deal with western countries soon.

Iran's parliament laid out six conditions to revive the deal. Tehran says it will reverse its nuclear steps but insists Washington must first lift sanctions on the country.

But Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is sceptical about the agreement. According to him, the new deal is weaker than the previous one in 2015.

*) Ethiopia begins producing power at Nile mega-dam

Ethiopia starts producing electricity from a controversial dam built on the Blue Nile, even as Sudan and Egypt continue their opposition to the project.

After inaugurating the dam on Sunday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will feed electricity to 60 percent of the population.

He also dismissed Egyptian and Sundanese concerns that the dam will hinder the flow of the Nile's water into their countries.

*) Erdogan visits African countires

Turkiye has donated 100-thousand Covid-19 vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Kinshasa as part of his four-day tour of central and west Africa.

He was received by his Congolese counterpart President Felix Tshi-sekedi.

At least seven bilateral agreements on defence, construction and transport were signed. Erdogan also thanked his host for supporting Turkiye's fight against terrorism.

On Monday, President Ergodan will visit Senegal and his trip will end in Guinea-Bissau.

And finally …

*) Beijing Winter Olympics closes with stunning ceremony

The Beijing Winter Olympics, which saw sporting drama and milestones but was tarnished by a Russian doping scandal, has ended with a stunning closing ceremony.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach hailed the Games as an "unforgettable Olympic experience".

The Games will be remembered for new stars such as Eileen Gu, but also for the doping controversy that had engulfed 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva.

The next Winter Olympics will be held in Milano-Cortina in 2026.

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

*) Blinken, Lavrov to meet next week if Russia doesn't invade Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accepted an invitation to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov next week.

The State Department has said the meeting will happen "provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine".

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will host a call on Friday about the Ukraine crisis.

The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the European Union and NATO will take part.

*) Police arrest Canadian trucker-led protest leaders

Canadian police have begun arresting leaders of a trucker-led protest that has choked Ottawa's streets for three weeks.

A video shared to Twitter showed protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber being taken into police detention.

Busloads of police officers have arrived near Parliament Hill to break up the demonstration against Canada’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Authorities have installed security barriers and restricted access to the downtown area occupied by protesters.

*) US, Iran can reach nuclear deal 'within days' if Tehran 'shows seriousness'

The United States has said "substantial progress" has been made during negotiations in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal.

It believes an "understanding on mutual return to full implementation" of the 2015 deal could be reached within days if Iran is serious.

The Vienna talks involve Iran, as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The United States is involved indirectly.

*) Boy trapped for three days in Afghan well has died

A five-year-old boy trapped for three days in an Afghan village well has died.

Taliban Interior Ministry senior adviser Anas Haqqani said “with great sorrow, young Haidar is separated from us forever".

On Tuesday, the child slipped to the bottom of a well being dug in Shokak, a village in Zabul province.

The incident took place around two weeks after a similar attempt to rescue a boy from a Moroccan well, which also ended with the child found dead.

And finally …

*) Eileen Gu makes history with third medal at Beijing Winter Games

Chinese superstar Eileen Gu has capped her successful Beijing Olympics by winning freeski halfpipe gold.

With this, the Californian-born Gu became the first action-sports athlete to pick up three medals at the same Winter Games.

Earlier, the 18-year-old claimed gold in Big Air and silver in slopestyle in Beijing.

*) US Treasury warns of global fallout if West sanctions Russia

US Treasury chief Janet Yellen is warning of "some global fallout" if the West sanctions Russia.

Yellen said President Joe Biden made it clear that the US intends “to impose very significant costs on Russia if they invade Ukraine".

Meanwhile, the US dismissed reports that Russia was withdrawing troops from Ukraine's border.

Instead, it’s accused Moscow of sending more soldiers as fears of an invasion grow.

*) Death toll from Brazil mudslides rises

Rescue workers are racing against time in their search for survivors after deadly flash floods hit Brazil’s Petropolis.

Over 180 firefighters and 400 soldiers are scrambling through the remains of houses that were washed away.

At least 94 bodies have been recovered so far, with 35 still unaccounted for.

*) Canadian police warn truckers to leave

A showdown may be shaping up in Ottawa’s siege between truckers protesting vaccine mandates and authorities.

Police are threatening to arrest and prosecute truckers, and also seize their vehicles and cancel their licences.

But big rigs remain parked outside Parliament, which is said to represent the movement's last stronghold.

*) EU top court clears way to cut billions of funds to Poland, Hungary

The European Union's top court has cleared the way to cut billions in funding to Poland and Hungary.

The rulers in these countries are accused by the bloc of violating democratic rights.

The EU has been pouring funds into former communist countries to help develop their economies since they joined in 2004.

*) Largest blue diamond to be auctioned off

Sotheby's says it will auction off the world’s largest blue diamond in Hong Kong in April.

The auction house said it expects the 15.10 carat De Beers Cullinan Blue diamond to sell for more than $48 million.

Sotheby's says the jewel is remarkable on many levels and is the largest internally flawless step cut vivid blue diamond that’s ever been graded.

Biden: Russian attack on Ukraine 'still very much a possibility'

President Joe Biden says the US is yet to confirm if Russia has withdrawn some of its troops from Ukraine's border, adding that an invasion is still possible.

He’s warning Moscow that the US is ready to "respond decisively" if an invasion goes ahead.

His comments come after Russia said it had started withdrawing some of its forces from the Ukraine border.

*) Police stations, checkpoints targeted in Somalia's Mogadishu

Police in Somalia have thwarted an assault by al Shabab militants who attacked a police station and checkposts in Mogadishu.

Somalia's minister for internal security said the assailants targeted the suburbs of Mogadishu early Wednesday morning.

The militants were pushed back, with police saying they'll release more details on the operation later today.

*) Erdogan wraps up visit to UAE

Tuesday marked the final day of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The trip was aimed at strengthening relations between the countries.

Erdogan also used the occasion to deepen economic ties, as he and the crown prince signalled an end to a years' long rift between the nations.

The Turkish president also visited the Turkish pavilion Dubai Expo 2020.

*) Ex-Honduras president arrested

The former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez has been arrested on drug charges, after the US requested his extradition.

Police surrounded his home for several hours to prevent his escape while they waited for an arrest warrant to be approved by the country's supreme court.

The former president is accused of being involved in a drug-trafficking ring.

And finally …

*) Emirati singer releases song to promote Türkiye-UAE ties

Renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi released a Turkish song as a gift to the people of Türkiye.

The song’s release coincided with the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the UAE.

The artist released a four-minute video of himself performing the song on his YouTube channel.

*) Russia says there’s 'chance' of a deal with West over Ukraine

Russia has held the door open to further talks on resolving its standoff with the West.

It says some of its military drills are ending, signalling a possible easing of the crisis over Ukraine.

Russia says US has offered to conduct dialogue on limits for missile deployments in Europe and other confidence-building measures.

*) Canada invokes emergency powers to quell blockades

Canada's PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers to end a truckers' protest that's disrupted life in capital Ottawa.

The demonstrations against vaccine mandates is entering its third week.

The Emergencies Act allows authorities to declare protests illegal, and police to tow away vehicles blocking roads.

*) Schools reopen In Karnataka after hijab ban protests

Schools in India's Karnataka reopen following protests over female students not being allowed to wear hijabs on campus.

Three schools in the state have banned the entry of hijab-wearing students in the past week.

Human rights advocates say the ban violates the students' rights and freedoms.

*) Türkiye, UAE sign 13 agreements to revive relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues his visit to the United Arab Emirates where he's signed a series of trade and bilateral agreements with the crown prince.

Over the past year, the two countries have been working to improve relations.

The countries have expressed their desire to leave disagreements in the past and forge a strong friendship.

And finally …

*) Ancient mummies of children found in Peru

Six mummified children thought to have been sacrificed hundreds of years ago, have been unearthed in a tomb near Lima.

The tiny skeletons, wrapped tightly in cloth, were found in a grave of possibly a political figure.

Archaeologists say the children were apparently sacrificed to accompany the man to the afterlife.

*) US warns Russia troops near Ukraine border tops 130,000

Ukraine's president has urged for calm amid intensified warnings of a possible Russian invasion within days, saying he had yet to see convincing evidence of that.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also invited his US counterpart Joe Biden to Kiev after the US reported that Moscow positioned more than 130,000 of its troops closer to Ukraine's borders.

Some EU airlines have cancelled flights to Kiev amid warnings of an invasion.

*) Israeli troops on home demolition mission kill Palestinian teen

Israeli troops have shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank.

Mohammed Abu Salah was shot and killed during clashes while trying to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home near the town of Jenin.

Palestine’s Health Ministry said at least 10 people were wounded during clashes.

*) Saudi-led coalition 'destroys' Houthi drone-control centre in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed a telecommunications system in Yemen's Sanaa used by Houthi rebels to control drones.

Ahead of Sunday's strike, the coalition asked civilians in Yemeni ministries and government institutions in the Houthi-controlled capital to immediately evacuate.

The coalition said Iran-backed Houthis used the system to launch hostile operations.

*) Key US-Canada bridge reopens after police clear protesters

The busiest US-Canadian border crossing reopened late Sunday after protests against Covid-19 restrictions closed it for almost a week.

The crossing normally carries 25 percent of all trade between the two countries.

Police in Windsor, Ontario, said that more than two dozen people had been peacefully arrested, several vehicles seized.

Canadian officials meanwhile held back from a crackdown on a larger protest that paralysed downtown Ottawa.

And finally …

*) New York Fashion Week kicks off amid Covid

Experimentation, play, and glitter: a coronavirus-impacted New York Fashion Week has begun with Fall/Winter 2022 shows by Proenza Schouler and Christian Cowan.

Cowan, who has dressed Lady Gaga and rappers Cardi B and Lil Nas X, presented his collection in the observatory atop the One World Trade Center skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers.

The show had the atmosphere of a nightclub, highlighting the British designer's taste for glitz and glamour.