Hyper News Cycle

 As one who sorts through the news every morning, I am stunned by the sheer volume of stories coursing through the global information pipeline right now. From a daily list averaging about 30 top stories over the past two years, I suddenly am now compiling at least twice as many, and it could easily be three times the way things are trending.

The first major land war in Europe in 30 years is the main driver, of course, as media organizations like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, NHK, Reuters, the AP, Washington Post and New York Times devote substantial resources to covering various angles of the unfolding crisis.

As the Post explains: “With seven staff reporters, videographers and photographers on the ground across Ukraine, The Post has more people covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine than any conflict since the Arab Spring. Our team is spread across the country, led by Moscow correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan, a fluent Russian speaker who is now in Kharkiv. Their coverage is supported by journalists around the world working to deliver 24-hour live updates.”

Note that 24-hour reference. This is the first major war since the maturing of digital media with its 24/7 news cycle guaranteeing that the headlines will just keep coming night and day. It is exhausting for the reporters involved but also for the news-consuming public.

We already have a Covid-weary population reeling from two years of relentless pandemic reporting. And a fiercely divided population along political lines in most major countries squabbling needlessly over things like public health policies, school mandates and crime rates. 

Why needlessly? Because nobody wants more sickness and death, worse education and increased ignorance, or more crime. There is 100 percent agreement on those issues but pitched battles rage nonetheless, stoked by political partisans.

From the perspective of a regular citizen, there has been so much to worry about for so long that many people are fed up and want a break from it all.

Into this cauldron of anxiety and anger come headlines like Putin threatening to use nuclear weapons, the increased radiation detected from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site now occupied by Russian troops, and indications that Ukraine’s major cities may soon fall with its President killed or captured by the invading forces.

No, these are not easy times for any citizen trying to make sense of the news. And sadly there is no relief in sight.

TODAY’s HEADLINES (60):

1. Kyiv residents told to make Molotov cocktails as they await Russian assault (Reuters)

2. Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian saboteurs had entered Kyiv and that intelligence found “the enemy has identified me as the number one target.” [AP]

3. At great risk for Ukraine and Russia, Putin signals a dark endgame (WP)

4. VIDEO: Protesters Rally Against Russian Invasion of Ukraine (AP, Reuters)

5. Anti-war demonstrations broke out in major cities across Russia, including Moscow, where videos show a significant security force deployed to quell dissent, as well as Putin’s hometown of St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained Thursday, at least 957 of them in Moscow. [HuffPost]

6. Prominent Russians join protests against Ukraine war amid 1,800 arrests (Guardian)

7. Protests resume as Russia seeks to quash invasion critics (AP)

8. ‘Almost not possible’ for Ukraine to win without West's help, Ukraine official says (Politico)

9. Russia-Ukraine latest news: Kyiv ‘ready to talk about ceasefire’; explosions heard in capital (Guardian)

10. Russia Batters Ukraine With Artillery Strikes as West Condemns Invasion (NYT)

11. VIDEO: Zelensky Says He Is Russia’s ‘Target No. 1’ (Reuters)

12. President Joe Biden unveiled new sanctions against Russia and condemned President Vladimir Putin, saying, “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences." Biden said the U.S. and its partners would cut off vital imports for Russia; make it much harder for the country to operate in American dollars and a range of other currencies; and sanction powerful Russians close to Putin. [HuffPost]

13. Sanctions Aim to Disrupt Russia’s Economy (WSJ)

14. Zelensky to EU leaders: "This might be the last time you see me alive" (Axios)

15. Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine aimed at key cities, decapitating central government (WP)

16. Missiles pounded Ukraine's capital as Russian forces pressed their advance and authorities in Kyiv said they were preparing for an assault aimed at overthrowing the government. (Reuters)

17. An entire garrison of 13 Ukrainian border guards was killed in the first day of fighting on the nation’s Snake Island after the soldiers refused to surrender to invading Russian forces, Zelenskyy said. Audio released by Ukraine's interior ministry documented the soldiers' defiance as the warship approaches. [HuffPost

18. US, Europe agree to freeze assets of Russia’s Putin, Lavrov (AP)

19. The Ukrainian refugee crisis has already begun (Vox)

20. With the Ukraine Invasion, NATO Is Suddenly Vulnerable (NYT)

21. Biden locks into battle with enigmatic Putin (The Hill)

22. The government of Ukraine is asking for volunteers from the country's hacker underground to help protect critical infrastructure and conduct cyber spying missions against Russian troops, according to people involved in the project. (Reuters)

23. Russians Now See a New Side to Putin: Dragging Them Into War (NYT)

24. Putin calls on Ukrainian military to seize power to better negotiate with Russia (Reuters)

25. Putin’s Historic Miscalculation May Make Him a War Criminal (New Yorker)

26. Zelensky Steps Into a Role Few Expected: Ukraine’s Wartime President (NYT)

27. The fallout for the global aviation industry from Russia's invasion of Ukraine is spreading beyond the airspace closings over the conflict zone as airlines, lessors and manufacturers face up to growing risks of doing business with Russia. (Reuters)

28. Beyond Ukraine, the Target Is What Putin Calls America’s ‘Empire of Lies’ (NYT)

29. Russia has spent the past seven years building up formidable financial defences, yet in the long run, its economy is unlikely to withstand the onslaught of coordinated sanctions from the West. (Reuters)

30. All US senators will have a classified briefing on the Ukraine invasion on Monday (CNN)

31. Ukraine conflict: Gunshots heard at Kyiv train station as crowds flee (BBC)

32. Polish people help Ukrainians arriving across border (NHK)

33. Sorting fact, disinformation after Russian attack on Ukraine (AP)

34. Trump Praises Putin, Leaving Republicans in a Bind (NYT)

35. How Republicans moved from Reagan’s ‘evil empire’ to Trump’s praise for Putin (WP)

36. Ukraine: Woman confronts armed Russian soldier (BBC)

37. China could be Russia’s key to surviving tech sanctions (Politico)

38. Putin’s attack on Ukraine echoes Hitler’s takeover of Czechoslovakia (WP)

39. Putin waves nuclear sword in confrontation with the West (AP)

40. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens global recovery (Financial Times)

41. Russia Probably Won’t Cut Off Europe’s Gas, Because It’s ‘Essentially an Act of War’ (Atlantic)

42. New studies bring BA.2 variant into sharper focus (CNN)

43. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calls for more 'political will' on Covid, future pandemics (Politico)

44. CDC Eases Mask Guidelines, Reflecting Covid-19’s Retreat (WSJ)

45. CDC Says Waiting Longer Between COVID Vaccine Doses Could Reduce Myocarditis (NBC)

46. Secret Service beefs up White House security ahead of State of the Union trucker convoy (Yahoo News)

47. It’s not clear that pro-"freedom" convoys of U.S. truckers will be nearly as disruptive as their Canadian brethren were, but there is reason for concern: Many of the same far-right groups that fomented the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol are now activated around these convoys. They may be easy to laugh at, but there is deep support for them among far-right activists and media. [HuffPost]

48. Americans divided over whether first Black female justice will make a difference, Post-ABC poll finds (WP)

49. Biden nominates Jackson, first Black woman, to Supreme Court (AP)

50. How Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden’s Supreme Court pick, found a path between confrontation and compromise(WP)

51. MLB will cancel regular season games if no union deal is struck by Monday, source says (CNN)

52. ‘If Trump doesn’t run, I think everybody runs’: Hawley and Cruz choose their paths (Politico)

53. 4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisis (NPR)

54. Key inflation gauge hit 6.1% in January, highest since 1982 (AP)

55. Florida Moves to Restrict Teaching About Sexual Orientation (WSJ)

56. The next challenge for Afghan refugees is finding affordable housing and jobs (NPR)

57. “A Genealogy for All of Humanity” – University of Oxford Researchers Create Largest Ever Human Family Tree (SciTechDaily)

58. The Democratic County Central Committee, which is rarely unanimous on anything, voted 20-2 Wednesday to oppose the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. — The only two people voting to support the recall were Suzy Loftus and Nancy Tung, both of whom ran against him for the job. (48 Hills)

59. The ‘Wordle!’ app predated ‘Wordle’ by 6 years. Then Josh Wardle’s game went viral. (WP)

60. Biden Addresses Ukrainian Crisis With Speech About Perfect Malted Milkshake He Once Drank In 1957 (The Onion)

Putin's Last War?

 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):

1. Ukraine deaths as battles rage after Russia invasion (BBC)

2. 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]

3. Zelenskiy bans Ukrainian men aged 18-60 from leaving the country after invasion (Guardian)

4. U.S., allies stiffen sanctions against Russia following Ukraine invasion (WP)

5. Fighting rages near Kyiv after Russia invasion (BBC)

6. Ukraine fights for its survival as Putin presses forward (Guardian)

7. Attack Is Putin’s Most Aggressive Move Yet to Restore Russia’s Place in the World (WSJ)

8. Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest Ukraine attack (AP)

9. Wall St rallies as West hits Russia with new sanctions (Reuters)

10. NATO ‘more united and determined than ever’ after Russia’s ‘brutal act of war’ on Ukraine (WP)

11. BBC Ukraine editor: There is no safe place any more (BBC)

12. Ukraine crisis reshaping Biden’s presidency (AP)

13. U.N. Security Council to vote Friday on condemning Russia (Reuters)

14. Russian forces take Chernobyl zone, Ukraine says, raising fears of ‘ecological disaster’ (WP)

15. Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting for Chernobyl disaster site (Reuters)

16. White House condemns Russia over report of hostage-taking at Chernobyl nuclear site (Politico)

17. Why China matters in the Ukraine conflict (BBC)

18. Putin’s Useful Idiots — Too many Republicans who know better are serving as mouthpieces for the Kremlin. (Atlantic)

19. In Ukraine, the road to war was paved by the failure of diplomacy (NPR)

20. New U.S. sanctions on Russia mainly hit banks, miss energy sector (Politico)

21. Russian Nobel Peace laureate Muratov opposes invasion of Ukraine (NHK)

22. Ukraine-Russia invasion: Europe prepares for wave of refugees (BBC)

23. Social media platforms on the defensive as Russian-based disinformation about Ukraine spreads (Politico)

24. What Americans Should Do to Prepare for Russian Cyberattacks (Atlantic)

25. Taiwan warns Chinese aircraft in its air defence zone (Reuters)

26. How China Under Xi Jinping Is Turning Away From the World (NYT)

27. Two prosecutors leading Manhattan criminal probe of Trump business practices have resigned (WP)

28. 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]

29. 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]

30. Biden’s economic warning shot on Russia disappoints critics but rattles investors (WP)

31. The U.S. keeps turning to sanctions despite their mixed record (NPR)

32. 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]

33. SEC Probes Trades by Elon Musk and His Brother (WSJ)

34. A strain of bird flu detected in the U.S. could mean problems for your groceries (NPR)

35. New Zealand Protest, an Echo of Canada’s, Digs In and Turns Ugly (NYT)

36. 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)

37. 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)

38. 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)

39. Postal Service finalizes plans to buy mostly gas-powered delivery vehicles (WP)

40. 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)

41. Life-threatening floods forecast for Queensland as Sydney records wettest summer in 30 years (Guardian)

42. 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)

43. Cities and farms could see drastic effects of water shortages this year (SFC)

44. The world's insect population is in decline — and that's bad news for humans (NPR)

45. 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]

46. SF police chief has to back down, agrees to let deal with DA’s Office stay in place (48 Hills)

47. Texas clinics battle strict abortion law as legal hopes dim (AP)

48. More than half of U.S. abortions done by medication as of 2020 -report (Reuters)

49. Surge in Oil Prices Could Drive Inflation Even Higher (WSJ)

50. How the U.S. benefits when China turns its back on Bitcoin (NPR)

51. FBI reports at least 57 bomb threats to HBCUs, other institutions since January (WP)

52. 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)

53. 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)

54. Serious COVID cases growing among people in 40s and 50s in Japan (NHK)

55. CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday (AP)

56. Looks like non-mRNA vaccines can be as good as Pfizer and Moderna in certain scenarios (NPR)

57. Publishers Move to Abandon Google-Supported Mobile Web Initiative (WSJ)

58. What to say to kids when the news is scary (NPR)

59. Russian Forces Instantly Shrink To Size Of Ants After Seizing Chernobyl (The Onion)

Trump's Hand in the War

 (Remember why he was impeached?)

Today’s top story comes from Politico, which reminds us of the key role played by Donald Trump in the development of the tragic global peace-shattering war in Ukraine:

“(T)he House impeached (Trump), alleging he held hostage hundreds of millions of dollars in security aid in order to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, including his eventual successor, Joe Biden. The aid was eventually provided, but not before a crisis that rattled two continents and desperate pleas by Zelenskyy’s government for help fending off the very Russian aggression that now threatens to topple him from power in Ukraine.”

Ukraine is Europe’s largest country by area and has a population of 44 million, with an army of one million.

Following is the largest aggregation of stories from the world’s leading media on the war and its impacts taht you will find anywhere.

TODAY’s NEWS (65):

1. US military believes Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the largest conventional conflict in Europe since WWII (CNN)

2. Missiles rain down around Ukraine (Reuters)

3. Putin launches a war the West saw coming but was powerless to stop (Reuters)

4. How far will Putin go against Ukraine? | Inside Story (Al Jazeera)

5. Roads blocked in Kyiv as residents flee (The Hill)

6. Putin shatters peace in Europe as Russia storms Ukraine (Financial Times)

7. 'The world will hold Russia accountable': Leaders react to 'horrific events' in Ukraine (USA Today)

8. Biden’s Stark Warning to Putin (BBC)

9. US Expects Kyiv to Fall in Days as Ukraine Source Warns of Encirclement (Newsweek)

10. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Says Russia Plans To Encircle Kyiv By Morning (India Today)

11. UN urges restraint at Ukraine nuke facilities (AP)

12. Zelensky warns of new iron curtain as Russia invades (BBC)

13. Putin's troops 'seize control' of Chernobyl nuclear disaster site (Sky News)

14. Chernobyl no-go zone targeted as Russia invades Ukraine (AP)

15. Russia intends to replace Ukraine government, US official says (MSN)

16. ‘The worst sunrise in my life’: Ukrainians wake to attack (AP)

17. War on Ukraine Ends Europe’s Dream of Russia as a Friend (WSJ)

18. What's really behind Putin's invasion of Ukraine? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, broke off diplomatic relations with Russia and said that Ukraine had a millions-strong army ready to defend the country. He called on the international community to prepare an anti-Putin front to force Russia out of Ukraine. (EuroNews)

19. Ukraine's U.N. ambassador pleads at the Security Council for war to stop (NPR)

20. Putin claims he was 'forced' to invade Ukraine (The Hill)

21. China says it understands Russia's 'reasonable security concerns' over Ukraine (NHK)

22. Putin's Ukraine assault confounds Biden's strategy and puts his leadership to the test. How Biden handles this crisis is expected to have profound implications for his political fortunes and U.S. relations with the world. (Reuters)

23. Putin’s war imperils global security arrangements (AP)

24. US expands no-fly zone near Ukraine (CNN)

25. NATO to deploy rapid response force if necessary (NHK)

26. With Ukraine under attack, Kyiv's residents rush to stock up and reach safety(NPR)

27. Russia Aiming For 'Blitzkrieg' Destruction Of Ukraine's Forces (NDTV)

28. Nato chief responds to Russian invasion of Ukraine: 'Peace on our continent has been shattered' (Guardian)

29. European Sanctions Target Putin’s Inner Circle (NYT)

30. Ukraine’s Zelensky to Russians: ‘What are you fighting for and with whom?’(WP)

31. Ukraine shuts ports as conflict threatens grain supplies (Reuters)

32. VIDEO: China Dismisses Sanctions Against Russia as Ineffective (AP)

33. U.S. vows to hold Russia responsible after Ukraine attack (WP)

34. Macron: Sanctions will be proportionate to Russian military actions in Ukraine (NHK)

35. Many Russians Feel a Deep Unease Over Going to War (NYT)

36. Trump and his supporters praise Putin and dismiss Biden as crisis unfolds (WP)

37. How the Ukraine invasion connects to Trump's first impeachment — and where the players are now (Politico)

38. Global finance grapples with Ukraine crisis as shares slump (Reuters)

39. G7 leaders hold emergency talks after Russia attacks Ukraine (NHK)

40. U.S. Treasury Sanctions Russia's Two Largest Banks (WSJ)

41. Oil prices broke above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014, stock markets slumped and the rouble hit a record low on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine (Reuters)

42. Zelenskyy: Ukraine severs diplomatic ties with Russia (NHK)

43. In maps, videos and photos, how Russia’s attack on Ukraine is unfolding (WP)

44. The rouble tumbled to an all-time low against the dollar and euro in highly volatile trading after Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine. Russia's invasion saw investors scrambling for the safety of gold and the protection of inflation hedges. (Reuters)

45. People in the capital, Kyiv, have been hearing explosions and air-raid sirens throughout the day (BBC)

46. Russian Invasion Unfolds on Social Media (WSJ)

47. Protesters 'stand with Ukraine' across United States (Reuters)

48. Thousands join anti-war protests in Russia after Ukraine invasion (Guardian)

49. There are also renewed reports of explosions in the port city of Mariupol, home to half a million people (BBC)

50. McConnell to Biden: ‘Ratchet the Sanctions All the Way Up’ (WSJ)

51. Lloyds on 'heightened alert' for Russian cyberattacks on banks - CEO (Reuters)

52. Anti-war Protests in Russia — Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, protests erupted around the world—even in Russia, where hundreds gathered in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities to demonstrate against their government. (Atlantic)

53. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine plants a bomb under the Russian state — Aggressive foreign policy combined with tighter repression at home will fuel public discontent (Financial Times)

54. Ukrainian military: About 50 Russian troops killed (NHK)

55. Ukraine's president, dressed in military fatigues, vows to fight on, but acknowledges troop losses (BBC)

56. Dictators Aren’t Pretending Anymore (Atlantic)

57. Russia’s Strike Changes Not Just Ukraine but the World (WSJ)

58. Stocks drop, with the Nasdaq dipping into a bear market. (NPR)

59. Is Taiwan Next? Russia’s invasion of Ukraine makes the frightening possibility of China seizing control of the island more real. (Atlantic)

60. Global Companies Close Ukraine Offices, Factories After Russia Attack (WSJ)

61. Russia defense ministry: No strikes on Ukrainian cities, no threat to civilians (NHK)

62. How Ukraine Could Become a Nuclear Crisis (Atlantic)

63. Russia unleashed data-wiper virus on Ukraine, say cyber experts (Guardian)

64. Man stranded in Ukraine cuts interview short as tank approaches (BBC)

65. Putin has brought conventional, bloody warfare back to Europe (Financial Times)

WAR

So Putin as done it. He’s started a war against Ukraine, NATO, the EU, the US, and the entire world’s security in hopes of rebuilding the lost Soviet empire.

In this he will fail.

Also, this is the beginning of the end of Putin’s hold on power. Autocrats who overreach face terrible consequences and Putin’s day is coming.

It’s still the early hours of the conflict and more news will be coming, so I’ll leave it at that for now and let the news headlines tell the story. About half of them deal with the crisis.

TODAY’s HEADLINES (69):

1. Russia attacks Ukraine; peace in Europe 'shattered' (AP)

2. Russian Airstrikes Hit Dozens of Ukrainian Cities — NATO chief calls Putin’s attack a ‘brutal act of war’(WSJ)

3. Many Ukrainians began to flee city centers or took refuge in subway tunnels as air sirens sounded across Kyiv after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an invasion. “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," U.S. President Joe Biden said. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it targeted Ukraine's airbases and rendered them and other military infrastucture "inoperable." Ukraine reported several dozen casualties. [HuffPost]

4. Ukraine calls up reservists, plans national emergency declaration as U.S. and allies hit Russia with new sanctions (CBS)

5. Russia evacuates embassy in Ukraine as crisis escalates (AP)

6. Russia moving some forces and tanks into eastern Ukraine, Latvian PM says (CNN)

7. U.S. and Allies Impose Sanctions on Russia as Biden Condemns Invasion of Ukraine (NYT)

8. Kremlin warns Americans will face financial consequences of U.S. sanctions — President Biden acknowledged the crisis could lead to higher gasoline prices, while U.S. businesses have been warned to prepare for possible cyber attacks. (WP)

9. The west is in danger of being outwitted by Putin yet again (Financial Times)

10. Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country, and U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders slapped sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks as the faceoff over Ukraine escalated. The U.S. views Putin’s move to bolster Russian-backed breakaway regions in Ukraine as an invasion. [AP]

11. Ukraine Prepares for War, Urges Citizens to Leave Russia (WSJ)

12. President Vladimir Putin has shifted the crisis into a new, more dangerous phase with a barrage of words and actions that suggest his ultimate aims go far deeper than extending Russian sway over two struggling separatist regions. So where will Putin stop? (Reuters)

13. Donald Trump gave Putin a bizarre rave review after Russian military forces began moving into Ukraine and threatening its civilians ― while simultaneously claiming nothing like that would have ever happened under his administration. “We could use that on our southern border,” he added, before continuing his flattery. “That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen." [HuffPost]

14. Trump sides with Putin as Biden tries to stop a war (CNN)

15. Satellite images show a new deployment of more than 100 military vehicles and dozens of troop tents in southern Belarus near the Ukraine border, a private U.S. company said. (Reuters)

16. Crisis Kicks Off New Superpower Struggle Among U.S., Russia and China — Beijing and Moscow now hold a stronger hand in confronting the West than during the Cold War. (WSJ)

17. World facing moment of peril over Ukraine - UN (BBC)

18. Nato accuses Russia of trying to ‘rewrite entire global security architecture’ (Guardian)

19. How Much Will the West Sacrifice for Ukraine? — The Western world will have to prove that it has not become all of the things Vladimir Putin has long believed it to be. (Atlantic)

20. It's Biden's sanctions vs. Putin's tanks (Politico)

21. Ukraine’s economy is another victim of Russia’s ‘hybrid war’ (AP)

22. Kenya's UN ambassador slams Russia and compares Ukraine crisis to Africa's colonial past (CNN)

23. Ukraine Enclaves Long Steeped in Conflict Face New Peril (NYT)

24. Uncertainty over what Putin will do next shakes up oil, natural gas markets (WP)

25. US to move additional troops to Baltic region amid rising Ukraine tensions (NHK)

26. As the U.S. and Europe impose sanctions, some in Latin America applaud Russia's Ukraine moves (Politico)

27. Ukrainian government and banking websites are hit by cyberattacks (NPR)

28. Stock correction deepens amid simmering Ukraine crisis (AP)

29. ‘Our army is ready’: Ukraine preps for full-blown conflict (Politico)

30. Russia-Ukraine Crisis Has Big Western Businesses Bracing for Sanctions Fallout (WSJ)

31. Business brisk at Kyiv gun shops as Ukrainians rush to buy arms (Guardian)

32. Biden can do little to stop Ukraine crisis from spiking fuel prices (Politico)

33. On Poland’s border with Ukraine, U.S. military helps plan for possible war refugees (WP)

34. The Coming Energy Shock — Beyond the imminent threat of violence, Russia is poised to upend the global energy market. (Atlantic)U.S. truckers plan pandemic protest, inspired by Canadian counterparts (Reuters)

35. US trucker convoys prompt National Guard deployment in Washington (BBC)

36. Troops would be used to assist with traffic control in Washington as the nation's capital prepares for trucker convoys that are planning to protest against pandemic restrictions beginning next week. Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada, separate truck convoys have been planned through online forums with names like the People’s Convoy and the American Truckers Freedom Fund. [AP]

37. Dozens of migrants clashed with police in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, as frustration boiled over due to authorities keeping them waiting for months to be granted approval for free passage across Mexico to the U.S. border. Migrants, mostly from Haiti and Africa, have been demonstrating in Tapachula, near Mexico's border with Guatemala, for almost a month. (Reuters)

38. VIDEO: Hong Kong Mandates Covid-19 Testing for All Residents (AP)

39. Hong Kong to give out spending vouchers as Covid cases hit record level (Financial Times)

40. Poland, Slovakia and Iceland latest countries set to end most coronavirus restrictions (Guardian)

41. Schools Get Caught Between Parents, Health Authorities on Masks (WSJ)

42. The Los Angeles Unified School District dropped its outdoor mask mandate on Tuesday. (LAT)

43. Fast-Spreading Omicron Type Revives Questions About Opening Up (WSJ)

44. Is omicron leading us closer to herd immunity against COVID? — Probably not. (AP)

45. To Preserve Its Own Stability, Pakistan Must Stabilize Afghanistan First (NYT)

46. Impending Iran nuclear deal alarms Israel (AP)

47. Talks in Vienna on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers have reached a sensitive point and Western countries should take a realistic approach to settle remaining matters, Iran's foreign minister said. (Reuters)

48. The 2024 presidential race has already started online (Politico)

49. Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis’ (NYT)

50. Hot days lead to more mental health emergencies, study finds (Guardian)

51. A warming planet and changes to land use patterns mean more wildfires will scorch large parts of the globe in coming decades, causing spikes in unhealthy smoke pollution and other problems that governments are ill prepared to confront, according to a U.N. report being released today. It's not good news: areas once considered safe from major fires won’t be immune, including the Arctic, which the report said was “very likely to experience a significant increase in burning.” [AP]

52. The three white men convicted of chasing down and murdering a young Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, as he was out jogging in their suburban Georgia community, were found guilty of committing federal hate crimes and other offenses in the 2020 killing. We look at how Arbery's family fought for a trial that made racism central to his murder. (Reuters)

53. Abolition newspaper revived for nation grappling with racism (AP)

54. What Lies Beneath: Vets worry polluted California base made them ill (AP)

55. Spectacular Head-On Collision Between Two Galaxies Creates a Tsunami of Starbirth (SciTechDaily)

56. Day of Discovery: 7 Earth-Size Planets (NASA)

57. In the past few weeks, 1,036 beehives worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were reported stolen from orchards across California. Beekeepers are now struggling to protect their hives. (AP)

58. Anywhere from tens of millions to a billion people could become climate migrants by 2050, according to a report from the RAND Corporation. The number varies widely depending on the definition used. (NPR)

59. The asteroid that doomed the dinosaurs struck in springtime (CNN)

60. 'The Birds Outsmarted Us': Magpies Work Together To Give Scientists The Slip (HuffPost)

61. A rare fossil of a 170 million-year-old pterosaur with an 8-foot wingspan is found (NPR)

62. Almost all parents and pregnant women in China, Vietnam and the United Kingdom are exposed to "aggressive" formula milk marketing campaigns that breach global rules set up after scandals more than 40 years ago, according to a new report. (Reuters)

63. Rise in Non-Covid-19 Deaths Hits Life Insurers (WSJ)

64. Pregnancy-related deaths climbed in pandemic’s first year (AP)

65. New York crime: Will more police flatten a wave of gun violence? (BBC)

66. California Congressman Adam Schiff is asking federal investigators to step in after S.F. D.A. Chesa Boudin’s announcement that San Francisco police were submitting DNA collected from rape victims to crime databases. (SFC)

67. Does life flash before your eyes? Brain scan of dying man suggests it’s possible (Guardian)

68. Archaeologists find 9,000-year-old shrine in Jordan desert (AP)

69. Fourth-Grader’s Report On Anacondas Largely Rehashes Established Research (The Onion)