As Russia’s ill-fated invasion proceeds, the world reacts with a nearly unanimous negative consensus. Ever-opportunistic China’s support for Putin is lukewarm at best. The stock markets have begun to recover as it’s clear they had discounted the possibility of war well before it began, so the economic havoc he hoped to wreak may be averted.
Meanwhile, a united Europe stands behind Ukraine while protestors inside Russia have bravely demonstrated against the military action. There is no appetite inside Russia for this war — a fact that Putin in his arrogance overlooked and that may portend trouble for his future.
If internal opposition to Putin’s authoritarian rule becomes more open in the coming weeks and months, this will indeed mark the beginning of the end of his time in power.
That, at least, is my take.
TODAY’s NEWS (59):
Ukraine deaths as battles rage after Russia invasion (BBC)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia in an emotional overnight address to his nation. “The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” he said, in Russian. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.” [AP]
Zelenskiy bans Ukrainian men aged 18-60 from leaving the country after invasion (Guardian)
U.S., allies stiffen sanctions against Russia following Ukraine invasion (WP)
Fighting rages near Kyiv after Russia invasion (BBC)
Ukraine fights for its survival as Putin presses forward (Guardian)
Attack Is Putin’s Most Aggressive Move Yet to Restore Russia’s Place in the World (WSJ)
Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest Ukraine attack (AP)
Wall St rallies as West hits Russia with new sanctions (Reuters)
NATO ‘more united and determined than ever’ after Russia’s ‘brutal act of war’ on Ukraine (WP)
BBC Ukraine editor: There is no safe place any more (BBC)
U.N. Security Council to vote Friday on condemning Russia (Reuters)
Russian forces take Chernobyl zone, Ukraine says, raising fears of ‘ecological disaster’ (WP)
Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting for Chernobyl disaster site (Reuters)
White House condemns Russia over report of hostage-taking at Chernobyl nuclear site (Politico)
Why China matters in the Ukraine conflict (BBC)
Putin’s Useful Idiots — Too many Republicans who know better are serving as mouthpieces for the Kremlin. (Atlantic)
In Ukraine, the road to war was paved by the failure of diplomacy (NPR)
New U.S. sanctions on Russia mainly hit banks, miss energy sector (Politico)
Russian Nobel Peace laureate Muratov opposes invasion of Ukraine (NHK)
Ukraine-Russia invasion: Europe prepares for wave of refugees (BBC)
Social media platforms on the defensive as Russian-based disinformation about Ukraine spreads (Politico)
What Americans Should Do to Prepare for Russian Cyberattacks (Atlantic)
Taiwan warns Chinese aircraft in its air defence zone (Reuters)
How China Under Xi Jinping Is Turning Away From the World (NYT)
Two prosecutors leading Manhattan criminal probe of Trump business practices have resigned (WP)
Two prosecutors submitted their resignations after the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, expressed doubts about moving forward with a case examining allegations of tax evasion and fraud related to the Trump Organization's business practices. New York Attorney General Letitia James is continuing a civil investigation into the Trump Organization’s business practices. [HuffPost]
On Fox News, former President Donald Trump traced Putin's decision to invade Ukraine back to the 2020 presidential election. “He sees the weakness and stupidity of this administration,” Trump said of the Russian president. “As an American, I am angry and saddened. It happened because of a rigged election.” At an event at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he later said Putin was "pretty smart" for sparking the conflict. [HuffPost]
Biden’s economic warning shot on Russia disappoints critics but rattles investors (WP)
The U.S. keeps turning to sanctions despite their mixed record (NPR)
Three neo-Nazis have pleaded guilty to domestic terrorism charges related to a plot to attack power grids across the U.S. The plan involved damaging power grids in different regions across the country using rifles. Jonathan Frost, 24, Christopher Cook, 20, and Jackson Sawall, 22, believed the plan “would cost the cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region,” the Justice Department said. [HuffPost]
A strain of bird flu detected in the U.S. could mean problems for your groceries (NPR)
New Zealand Protest, an Echo of Canada’s, Digs In and Turns Ugly (NYT)
Florida's House of Representatives was expected to take a final vote on a Republican-backed bill that prohibits classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure Democrats denounced as being anti-LGBTQ. (Reuters)
A trucker demonstration that left California for Washington, D.C., on Wednesday appears to be tightly aligned with far-right organizations and activists. (Cal Today)
More than two dozen 18-wheeler trucks, along with some 50 pickups and recreational vehicles, left Adelanto, California. The self-styled 'People's Convoy' is beginning an 11-day trek to the Beltway, a major highway encircling the U.S. capital, to demand an end to COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements. (Reuters)
Postal Service finalizes plans to buy mostly gas-powered delivery vehicles (WP)
Courts in North Carolina and Pennsylvania approved new congressional districts that could bolster Democrats' chances of holding onto the U.S. House of Representatives in November, after Republican efforts to install more advantageous maps for their party failed in both states. (Reuters)
Life-threatening floods forecast for Queensland as Sydney records wettest summer in 30 years (Guardian)
Federal officials announced on Wednesday that they would not deliver water to farmers in the Central Valley, a major blow to the agricultural economy. (AP)
Cities and farms could see drastic effects of water shortages this year (SFC)
The world's insect population is in decline — and that's bad news for humans (NPR)
After a national uproar, the San Francisco Police Department will stop its practice of using victims' DNA to link them to unrelated crimes. Last week, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin expressed concerns that the practice could dissuade sexual assault survivors from coming forward. [HuffPost]
SF police chief has to back down, agrees to let deal with DA’s Office stay in place (48 Hills)
Texas clinics battle strict abortion law as legal hopes dim (AP)
More than half of U.S. abortions done by medication as of 2020 -report (Reuters)
Surge in Oil Prices Could Drive Inflation Even Higher (WSJ)
How the U.S. benefits when China turns its back on Bitcoin (NPR)
FBI reports at least 57 bomb threats to HBCUs, other institutions since January (WP)
A survey released on Thursday found that 16 percent of Americans believe in the QAnon conspiracy theory that thrived during the Trump administration, including that Satanist pedophiles control the government. (Cal Today)
A “sophisticated ghost gun factory” was found inside a San Jose home where residents have been accused of churning out high-powered, custom-ordered guns. (NBC)
Serious COVID cases growing among people in 40s and 50s in Japan (NHK)
CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday (AP)
Looks like non-mRNA vaccines can be as good as Pfizer and Moderna in certain scenarios (NPR)
Publishers Move to Abandon Google-Supported Mobile Web Initiative (WSJ)
Russian Forces Instantly Shrink To Size Of Ants After Seizing Chernobyl (The Onion)
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