Russia and Ukraine held the fourth round of peace talks amid an escalation on the ground. Both sides signalled optimism before the negotiations began. After 19 days of fighting, is diplomacy pulling through? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Ukraine, Russia optimistic about round 4 of talks

North Korea is upset with Pakistan. On March 7, the Pakistani police raided the North Korean Embassy. It was looking for a huge stash of illegal liquor but did not find any. Pyongyang now wants Pak to punish the cops. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: North Korea is upset with Pakistan: Here's Why

British border guards turned away Ukrainian refugees in Calais citing 'incomplete paperwork'. In France, right-wing leaders want to expel Arab refugees and welcome Ukrainians. Palki Sharma tells you how racism is shaping Europe's refugee policy.

Gravitas: Britain turns away Ukrainian refugees

Turkey has decided to mediate in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. For Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this crisis presents an opportunity. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Turkey taking advantage of war in Ukraine?

Ukraine's Presidential Adviser says only China benefits from the war. How? Beijing has struck a deal with Saudi Aramco. Chinese companies are mulling investments in Russian oil firms. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Ukraine invasion: How China is benefitting

Russia's deputy Prime Minister reached out to India's petroleum minister seeking more investments in Russia's energy sector. Will India agree to buy more Russian oil? Can New Delhi help Russia blunt western sanctions? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Putin bets on India's help to rescue energy sector

European Union leaders dashed Ukraine's hopes for a fast-tracked membership despite support from the Baltic states. Why is Europe opposed to admitting Ukraine? Has Brussels abandoned Kyiv after promising full support? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: No fast-tracked EU membership for Ukraine

Is the Russian Air Force failing in Ukraine? The West claims Moscow has still been unable to dominate Kyiv's skies. Why? Is it because Russia is deliberately restraining itself? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Russia's Air Force 'missing in action'

Russian forces are relentlessly bombing Ukrainian cities. The convoy close to Kyiv has spilt up. Russian soldiers are now in "firing positions" near Ukraine's capital. Will Russia target Kyiv next? Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Ukraine invasion: Russian Soldiers in firing position near Kyiv

Yoon Suk-Yeol has been elected as South Korea's new President. A self-proclaimed anti-feminist, he wants to abolish South Korea's Ministry for Gender Equality. He also plans to adopt a tougher line on China. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: South Korea elects 'anti-feminist' conservative as President

PM Modi's BJP won elections in 4 out of 5 Indian states that went to polls last month. Arvind Kejriwal's AAP emerged as the biggest challenger to the BJP. A 37-year-old record was broken in Uttar Pradesh and all traditional analysis flopped. Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: Big takeaways from India's state election results

Newly published documents from the US embassy in China reveal that US officials were aware of China's cover-up in Wuhan. They flagged China's incomplete health bulletins in January 2020. Did Fauci and US officials hide the reality in Wuhan? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: US officials knew about China's Wuhan cover-up?

Hong Kong's latest Wuhan virus outbreak has become a nightmare for residents. Many are choosing to leave the city. In the last three weeks, over 60,000 people could have left Hong Kong. Palki Sharma tells you about the mass exodus.

Gravitas: Hong Kong's Covid-19 outbreak triggers mass exodus

The onset of spring & melting snow is reportedly slowing the Russian military down. The west claims Russian tanks are getting stuck in muddy roads & are unable to move forward. Is their merit to these claims? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Have 'muddy roads' slowed Russian troops?

The US is hoping Boris Johnson can convince Saudi Arabia to pump more oil after the kingdom's royal snub for Joe Biden. Can the west convince Arab nations to increase output? Or will the solidarity of OPEC+ prevail? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Decoding the bouncing oil prices

Foreign ministers from Russia and Ukraine held talks in Turkey. US Vice President Kamala Harris met Poland's President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. Leaders of the European Union are huddling for a summit in Versailles. Can this flurry of diplomacy end the war in Ukraine? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Three big meetings to end Russia-Ukraine war

The conflict in Ukraine is escalating. A Russian strike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol killed 3 people. Ukraine says a radiation leak from Chernobyl is imminent. US and UK fear Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Will Russia launch a chemical attack on Ukraine?

Hundreds of women gathered in Istanbul to protest against the Uighur genocide in China. Will the public outcry reverse Erdogan's silence on Uighurs? Palki Sharma tells you why Erdogan's recent criticism of China is superficial.

Gravitas: Protests against Uighur genocide in Istanbul

At a massive road-show in Islamabad, Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vowed to send the Imran Khan govt packing. The Pak govt say his efforts are being funded by 'foreign conspirators'. Palki Sharma gets you the details of this political slugfest.

Gravitas: Bilawal Bhutto vows to 'dethrone' Imran Khan

Has Joe Biden's oil embargo on Russia fractured western unity? EU-nations say they can't ban Russian oil imports. They say they're too 'dependent' on Moscow for energy supplies. Is Biden's decision then a symbolic move? Here's what Palki Sharma has to say.

Gravitas: Biden's oil ban 'fractures' West's unity

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is "no longer interested in a NATO membership." In response, Russia said it doesn't want to overthrow the Ukraine government. Is a truce in sight? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Zelensky willing to give up NATO membership bid?

Leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are reportedly ignoring phone calls from US President Joe Biden. Has Biden failed to rally US allies against Russia? Despite a 50-year career in politics, what explains Biden's foreign policy shortcomings? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Saudi Arabia, UAE ignore phone calls from Biden

Did Volodymyr Zelensky bet on direct intervention by NATO? Did he over-estimate Ukraine's strategic importance to the West? Palki Sharma explains Zelensky's 3 big miscalculations that gave Russia the upper hand.

Gravitas: Zelensky's three big miscalculations

The US has banned Russian oil exports. Moscow has threatened to cut gas supplies - if the oil ban goes ahead. Will Europe continue to bankroll Russia's Ukraine invasion? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Will Europe still bankroll Russia's Ukraine invasion?