March 3, Thursday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.The International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office has received requests to investigate the situation in Ukraine from 39 member states of the ICC, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Ukraine is not an ICC member, but Khan said it has agreed to the investigation.
2.Ukraine and Russia are set for a second round of talks to end the ongoing crisis nearly a week into the invasion that has left hundreds dead on both sides. Senior US defense officials say the continued military aggression is frustrating. And they are seeking options to defuse the situation.
3.The International Paralympic Committee says it has banned athletes from the Russian Paralympic Committee and Belarus from the Beijing Winter Games, reversing an earlier decision that drew criticism from many countries.