News Wrap: Russian mercenaries claim control of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: The Justice Department announced it's reviewing the Memphis Police Department over use of force and other issues.

That follows the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in January. Six officers have been fired in the case, including five charged with second-degree murder.

President Biden will propose slowing the growth of federal deficits by $3 trillion over the next decade. The White House announced that today, ahead of releasing the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The plan is likely to rely on higher taxes for corporations and the wealthy, but it's unclear if Congress will go along.

On the war in Ukraine, mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group claimed today they have won control of eastern Bakhmut after six months of fighting in the ravaged city. At the same time, the group's own video showed fighters using up their ammunition. It underscored divisions between the mercenaries and Russia's military over strategy and supplies.

Ukraine's government is denying any role in last year's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. There's been a rash of reports that a pro-Ukrainian group was involved. The pipelines linking Russia to Germany were hit by explosions. But the German defense minister also counseled caution today about who was responsible.

Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister (through translator):

I know the reports about this investigation. And we have to distinguish clearly, yes, whether it was a Ukrainian group or a pro-Ukrainian one without the knowledge of the government, there is also talk that it could have been a so-called false flag operation.

Amna Nawaz:

Russia also questioned the findings. The Kremlin has accused the U.S. of staging the attack.

Strikes across France paralyzed parts of the country again today. Train and metro drivers, oil refinery employees and others stayed off the job to protest raising the official retirement age. They used trucks to block access to ports and oil refineries. The strike also snarled train and commuter rail service, leaving travelers struggling.

Tens of thousands of people also marched in Greece to protest country's worst train disaster. Students and labor unions organized the demonstrations to demand better rail safety measures after last month's crash that killed 57 people.

Stella Valavani, Greek Protester (through translator):

This crime should not be forgotten. Those at fault should be held accountable, and we are now demanding safety on all levels, on transport, and schools, in our very lives.

Amna Nawaz:

Greece's transport minister, along with several top railway officials, have resigned since the collision.

The world marked this International Women's Day with protests and celebrations. Around the globe, hundreds of thousands of people joined rallies carrying signs and chanting slogans demanding equal rights. They also hailed the many achievements of women. At the same time, the United Nations named Afghanistan's Taliban regime as the most repressive for women and girls.

Back in this country, employers posted 10.8 million job openings in January. That was down from December, but still more than expected.

And on Wall Street, worries about interest rates kept stocks mostly in check. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 58 points to close at 32798. The Nasdaq rose 45 points. The S&P 500 added five.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the Senate moves to override Washington, D.C.'s controversial crime law, with Biden's support; we examine deepening divisions in America, as politics become intertwined with personal identity; Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai discusses her Oscar-nominated film about overcoming hate; plus much more.