**Top Stories:**.
**Russia-Ukraine War**.
* Russian forces launch new offensive in eastern Ukraine, targeting key cities such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk..
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges Western allies to provide more weapons and support..
* International condemnation grows as evidence of alleged war crimes emerges from Bucha and other Ukrainian towns..
**COVID-19 Pandemic**.
* Global cases and deaths continue to decline, but concerns remain over new variants and potential surges..
* China imposes partial lockdown in Shanghai as COVID-19 cases spike..
* WHO warns against complacency and urges continued vaccination efforts..
**Global Politics and Diplomacy**.
* US and China hold high-level talks amid escalating tensions over Taiwan and other issues..
* North Korea fires multiple missiles, prompting condemnation from the United Nations Security Council..
* Turkey blocks Finland and Sweden’s bid to join NATO, citing security concerns..
**Business and Economy**.
* Global stocks slide as investors worry about rising inflation and slowing economic growth..
* US Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates further to combat inflation..
* Companies announce layoffs and earnings downgrades amid economic uncertainty..
**Science and Technology**.
* Scientists discover new species of giant octopus in the deep sea..
* NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by 2025..
* Artificial intelligence advances lead to breakthrough in image recognition and natural language processing..
**Entertainment and Culture**.
* Oscars announce Best Picture nominees, including .
