TODAY’s HEADLINES:
Ukraine Tensions Spike as West Accuses Russia of Lying About Troop Withdrawal — As Russia stoked hopes of a diplomatic solution and claimed to be pulling back forces from the Ukrainian border, U.S. and NATO officials accused Moscow of building up troops instead. (NYT)
Russia has added as many as 7,000 troops near the Ukraine border in recent days, contrary to claims by President Vladimir Putin that troops would be pulled back from the region, a senior Biden administration official said. The U.S. official said there has been a marked increase in false claims by Russians. [AP]
Ukraine: Satellite images show Russian military activity (BBC)
Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces have traded accusations that each had fired across the ceasefire line in eastern Ukraine, adding to a growing concern over the prospect of a wider war. While Moscow denies it is planning an invasion, Western countries warn Russia's military build-up near Ukraine is growing, not shrinking. (Reuters)
Russia expels the No. 2 American diplomat in Moscow, State Department says (WP)
Blinken Challenges Russia to Commit That It Won’t Invade Ukraine (WSJ)
On the Edge of a Polish Forest, Where Some of Putin’s Darkest Fears Lurk — A U.S. missile facility in Poland is at the heart of an issue animating the Kremlin’s calculations over whether to go to war against Ukraine. (NYT)
VIDEO: C.D.C. Prepping New Guidance as Omicron Wave Recedes (AP)
The politics of getting to the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic (NPR)
Covid-19 Death Reports in U.S. Begin to Drop as Omicron Surge Fades (WSJ)
As Hong Kong battles a surge of Covid cases, the government has said it plans to make up to 10,000 hotel rooms available for patients, and will also make testing compulsory from March for the 7.5 million people who live in the city. Daily infections have surged by more than 40 times since the start of February. (Reuters)
Hong Kong Can’t Live With the Virus. It Can’t Stop It, Either. — An Omicron surge has exposed the weaknesses of a system that was once a world leader in containing the coronavirus. (NYT)
As a growing number of U.S. states have begun to ease Covid restrictions as cases decline, U.S. health officials say they are preparing for the next phase of the pandemic, including shoring up testing capacity and updating mask-wearing guidance. Still, officials cautioned that while mask-wearing guidance may change, people will still have to wear masks in certain situations, such as when experiencing Covid symptoms. (Reuters)
WHO says global case decline affected by drop in testing, deaths still very high (WP)
As BA.2 subvariant of Omicron rises, lab studies point to signs of severity (CNN)
Estimated 73% of US now immune to omicron: Is that enough? (AP)
'Where is my office anyway?' As COVID recedes, remote workers prepare to head back (NPR)
Canadian police vow to ‘take back’ Ottawa downtown in standoff with ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters (WP)
Truck drivers protesting in the Canadian capital Ottawa were warned blockading the downtown core could lead to them being arrested unless they departed. The three-week-old protest over Covid restrictions led to a ripple of copycat protests across the globe, and has been a challenge for law enforcement since day one. (Reuters)
Truckers hold their ground despite threats of crackdown (AP)
Trudeau Says Emergency Powers Needed to Counter Protests (WSJ)
Dow drops 622 points for worst session of 2022 because Ukraine fears are rising again (MarketWatch)
Jim Clyburn saved Biden’s candidacy — and now has his ear on Court picks
The South Carolina lawmaker has made clear he wants Biden to appoint U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs to the Supreme Court. (WP)
National Guard deploys for new emergency: Teacher shortages (AP)
Biden Rejects Trump’s Claim of Privilege for White House Visitor Logs — The president informed the National Archives that it should turn over the logs sought by the Jan. 6 committee within 15 days. (NYT)
The frantic texts sent to Trump’s White House chief of staff on Jan. 6 (WP)
For Trump, a Perilous Exclamation Point to Years of Wealth Inflation — The former president has spent decades inventing facts and figures to suit his needs. Now, dropped by his accountants, he is making new claims. (NYT)
Trump must testify in New York investigation, judge rules (AP)
NY Supreme Court justice orders the Trumps to testify under oath (NPR)
An alleged Chinese interference plot stirs fears — and smears — ahead of Australian elections (WP)
Afghans who bet on a fast path to the United States are facing a closed door. (NYT)
Fear runs through Afghanistan’s ‘hazardous’ media landscape (AP)
The NFL has hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to defend it in a bombshell racial discrimination lawsuit filed this month by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, one of the few Black coaches in the league. Flores is represented by New York trial lawyer Douglas Wigdor, who spearheaded high-profile gender discrimination cases against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and Fox News. [HuffPost]
Book bans signal the dangerous direction society is moving (WP)
CNN probe complete, yet mysteries on Cuomo, Zucker remain (AP)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said she wants to extend proposals to ban stock trading among members of Congress to all state lawmakers, building on growing momentum in Washington to rein in the financial dealings of elected officials. “Public officials should remove all conflicts of interest — whether you’re at the federal or the state level,” Warren said. [HuffPost]
As midterms near, Democratic backlash against far-left plans is growing (WP)
Brains do not slow down until after age of 60, study finds (Guardian)
Mexico’s avocados face fallout from violence, deforestation (AP)
The animals that detect disasters (BBC)
Agent Orange killed my father. Did it also kill my sisters? Like a detective, I set out to discover the truth. (Current Affairs)
The Biggest Galaxy Ever Found Has Just Been Discovered, And It Will Break Your Brain (Science Alert)
Ex-NY Times columnist ineligible to run for Oregon governor (AP)
Man Short-Circuits After Cashier Hands Him Change, Bag, Receipt At Same Time (The Onion)
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