March 24, 2022

*) 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 subm