The New Yorker has a story about what it is like for Ukrainian ex-pats to watch the destruction of their country from afar, unable to do anything to stop it.
Yesterday, I published a piece from my friend in Afghanistan, who has been watching the destruction of his ethnic minority, the Hazara, by the Taliban right in front of him but is powerless to do anything about it.
In both cases, the reality feels overwhelming to those directly affected, but the truth is that all of the rest of us — no matter how distant — are affected as well.
Events in Afghanistan and Ukraine may feel remote from our every day lives, but they really aren’t. In this age of digital technology, the world has shrunk to the extent that those two conflicts are essentially happening right next door.
In addition, our interlocking globalized economy binds every citizen on earth to every other. There is no escaping this truth, though many still will try to deny it.
The existential threats of climate change, nuclear war, and planetary destruction from a random cosmic event are still new enough to our consciousness that we are just learning how to cope with them.
My way of coping, I suppose, is to sort through the headlines every day, gathering them here into one of the largest non-algorithmic collections you will find anywhere online. Why do I do this?
Sorting the news is my method of trying to make sense of it. In the process, the human tragedies in Ukraine and Afghanistan and elsewhere naturally make me sad. But, given the choice of avoiding the news or confronting it directly, I don’t have any real choice.
My hope is that somehow by sharing a perspective on what is going on, I’m part of a process that may ultimately help our species solve some of the problems that are overwhelming us at present.
But of course there is still that old saying, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you.”
I fundamentally disagree with that concept. When it comes to the world beyond your home, what you don’t know about it can hurt you and sooner or later it almost certainly will.
TODAY’s NEWS (56)
Biden announces ban on US imports of Russian oil, warns gas prices will 'go up further' (Fox)
Wall St bounces in choppy session as U.S. bans Russian oil imports (Reuters)
Why Oil Prices Will Stay High -- and It's Not All About Russia (Motley Fool)
Western countries could face oil prices of over $300 per barrel and the possible closure of the main Russia-Germany gas pipeline if governments follow through on threats to cut energy supplies from Russia, a senior minister said. (Reuters)
Zelensky says Ukraine "will not give up" and receives standing ovation from UK House of Commons (CNN)
Zelensky vows to fight Russia in 'forests, fields and shores' (BBC)
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens for Ukrainians Trapped in Russia’s Onslaught (NYT)
Russian general killed near Kharkiv, say defenders (BBC)
U.S. says up to 4,000 of Putin’s soldiers have been killed (CNBC)
NATO Members Mount Huge Operation to Resupply Ukrainian Fighters (WSJ)
Russia is recruiting Syrians to fight on its behalf in the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official said. The Pentagon found it “noteworthy” that President Vladimir Putin “believes he needs to rely on foreign fighters to supplement what is a very significant commitment of combat power inside Ukraine as it is,” the official said. [HuffPost]
VIDEO: I.A.E.A. Officials Raise Concerns Over Ukrainian Nuclear Facilities (Reuters)
McDonald’s temporarily closes 850 restaurants in Russia, nearly 2 weeks after Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine (CNBC)
Hundreds of Ships Trapped by Ukraine War, Endangering Sailors and Global Supply Chain (WSJ)
“We Watch the News and We’re Crying” (New Yorker)
The World Health Organization said that attacks on hospitals, ambulances and other health care facilities in Ukraine have increased rapidly in recent days and warned the country is running short of vital medical supplies. Children with cancer are among patients needing urgent care. (Reuters)
As Russia’s Military Stumbles, Its Adversaries Take Note (NYT)
The European Commission has prepared a new package of sanctionsagainst Russia and Belarus that will hit additional Russian oligarchs and politicians and three Belarusian banks. (Reuters)
The United Nations said the number of refugees who have fled Ukraine had surged past 2 million, describing the flight as one of the fastest exoduses in modern times. (Reuters)
What Democracy’s Advocates Can Learn From Ukrainians (Atlantic)
What the war in Syria tells us about Russia's use of humanitarian corridors (NPR)
Effort to relieve encircled Ukrainian port put in jeopardy (AP)
Ukrainians boarded buses to flee the besieged eastern city of Sumy, the first evacuation from a Ukrainian city through a humanitarian corridor agreed with Russia. (Reuters)
Ukraine war highlights internal divides in Mideast nations (AP)
BBC News journalists resume broadcasts from Russia (BBC)
Why the Ukraine crisis is so bad for western populists (Financial Times)
The Information War Isn’t Over Yet — The online fight between Russia and Ukraine has already surprised propaganda experts. It may only get more chaotic. (Atlantic)
Ukraine said a separate convoy of 30 buses was also headed to Mariupol to evacuate residents from that southern port, which has been encircled without food, water, power or heat and subjected to relentless bombardment for a week. (Reuters)
Japan sending bullet-proof vests to Ukraine (NHK)
Russia’s AI industry faces collapse (Politico)
CIA director: Putin is 'angry and frustrated,' likely to 'double-down' (NPR)
The Smugglers’ Paradise of Afghanistan — For decades, the smuggling trade — of people, drugs and money — has dominated Nimruz Province. Now, as hundreds of thousands of Afghans try to flee, business has further boomed for those who hold the keys to the gate. (NYT)
Researchers Discover How the Human Brain Separates, Stores, and Retrieves Memories (SciTechDaily)
WHO says COVID boosters needed, reversing previous call (AP)
CDC director expects COVID-19 to become a 'seasonal virus' (Fox)
Congress to spend $15B on Covid, less than half of what administration originally wanted (Politico)
‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill passes in Florida, goes to governor (AP)
Florida legislature passes bill to restrict LGBTQ topics in elementary schools (WP)
Florida students participate in massive walkout to protest the 'Don't Say Gay' bill (CNN)
Disney employees furious the company won't denounce Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill (NPR)
The Idaho House voted 51-14 to approve legislation with the potential to fine librarians $1,000 and send them to jail for a year for checking out material to a minor that could harm them. Opponents say the law is so undefined and subjective as to be unconstitutional. The bill's Republican sponsor refused to answer whether a classic young adult novel by Judy Blume that included masturbation could land a librarian in jail. [AP]
VIDEO: Florida Wildfires Burn Thousands of Acres and Force Evacuations (AP)
Flood warnings stretched across Australia's east coast and tens of thousands of Sydney residents fled their homes as torrential rains again pummeled the country's largest city, flooding several big suburbs. (Reuters)
Farmers’ report warns climate crisis puts Australia’s food supply at increasing risk (Guardian)
Islam has a rich tradition around finance. Crypto is prompting new questions. (WP)
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio charged with conspiracy in US Capitol attack (CNN)
1st trial in Capitol riot ends with conviction all counts (AP)
It seemed like the most dangerous asteroid in a decade, but it definitely won't hit Earth (Space.com)
Cellular 'Rejuvenation' Experiment in Mice Reverses Signs of Aging, Scientists Say (ScienceAlert)
Aaron Rodgers, Packers agree to four-year deal as QB becomes highest-paid player in NFL history (CBS)
Oldest-known octopus relative lived 328 million years ago and had 10 arms (CNN)
Nation Could Really Use A Few Days Where It Isn’t Gripped By Something (The Onion)
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