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IMPORTANT
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Solidarity show
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Ukraine ‘not alone’ as Central European leaders visit Kyiv
As half of the city’s residents have fled and the Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital continues, the Polish, Slovenian and Czech prime ministers risked a perilous train journey to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday evening. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Ukrainians they were “not alone”, saying “Europe is on your side”. Next week, Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, will gather in Brussels for a NATO summit on the invasion. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Russian negotiations had become “more realistic” as he admitted Ukraine would not become a NATO member. (Source: The Guardian, PA, BBC, Business Intern)
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The War and the United States
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Russia sanctions Americans as Zelensky prepares to address Congress
As the Russian economy feels the sting of international sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has launched its own sanctions against White House officials as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Citing the “extreme Russophobic policy” of the Biden administration, Moscow issued a “shutdown list” blocking sanctioned Americans from the country. “None of us are planning tourist trips to Russia,” replied press officer Jen Psaki. Meanwhile, President Biden is expected to announce $800 million in new military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday as President Zelenskyy delivers a virtual address to a joint session of Congress this morning. (Source: NPR, The hill, ABC News)
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A striking cause
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Haitian health workers strike as kidnappers run rampant
Kidnappings for ransom have risen 180% in the island nation over the past year as gang violence and political instability threaten the daily lives of citizens. In response, health care workers staged a three-day strike starting Monday, closing public and private health facilities, with only emergency rooms accepting patients. Although the attacks did not target any profession in particular, the recent kidnapping of two doctors has raised fears among hospital staff. The situation in Haiti has become increasingly dire since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July, and the number of Haitians fleeing the country has skyrocketed in recent months. (Source: AlJazeera)
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Boosters for Baby Boomers
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Pfizer seeks approval for second COVID reminder for seniors
While for most people a three-shot inoculation still prevents hospitalization or death from COVID-19, immunity wanes over time. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced that it will ask the US Food and Drug Administration to allow a second round of boosters for adults 65 and older. But pharmaceutical companies and health experts are divided on the effectiveness of multiple boosters. Moderna chairman Stephen Hoge suggested they were needed for the elderly and immunocompromised, but doubted they were needed for all citizens. “Is it necessary? I think that’s a strong word,” Hoge said, adding, “I personally will get a booster every year. (Sources: NPR, Business Intern)
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Briefly
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Right here are some things you should know today:
The US Senate votes unanimously to make DST permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act still needs to be approved by the House and President Biden before it becomes law. (Source: PA) Suspect arrested in a series of murders of homeless people. Two days after a multi-state manhunt, in Washington, DC, police say they have a suspect behind bars. (Source: BBC) Sarah Bloom Raskin is stepping down from nomination to the Federal Reserve Board. Her decision came after it became clear she would not have enough votes to be confirmed in the Senate due to her stance on climate change. (Source: CNN)
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Catch the latest episodes of
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INTRIGUING
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Love (and learn) your neighbor
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Duolingo reports huge increase in users learning Ukrainian
The popular language app puts its money where its mouth is. All advertising revenue Duolingo makes from people learning to speak Ukrainian will be donated to relief efforts in the war-torn country for at least the next year. And that’s quite an admirable commitment, given that the number of Ukrainian learners has jumped 485% since the start of the war. This peak, however, is dwarfed by the 1,800% increase in Poland alone. The country has already hosted more than 1.8 million Ukrainian refugees and more and more Poles are welcoming Ukrainians into their homes every day. (Source: NPR)
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build it black
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First black architect wins Pritzker Prize
Francis Kéré grew up without running water or electricity in a rural town in Burkina Faso and his first project was a mud-brick school for his community. He is now the first black architect to win the highest honor in international architecture. While the prize is often seen as a kind of lifetime achievement award towards the end of an architect’s career, Kéré is just getting started. After making a name for himself with community-built schools and medical facilities in Africa, his upcoming works include the new Goethe Institute in Senegal, a museum in Rwanda and a civic center for a university in Munich. (The Guardian)
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More sun, more sneezes
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Global warming could be a nightmare for seasonal allergies
A new study in Nature Communication looks towards the end of the 21st century and foresees a great destiny for those of us who suffer from allergies each spring. Researchers at the University of Michigan used historical pollen data and various climate models to determine that if carbon emissions continue at the current rate, the pollen season could start 40 days earlier and last 19 days longer, increasing the amount of pollen released in the United States by almost 40%. This is in addition to the fact that the allergy season has already become longer and more intense over the past three decades. (Source: BNC News)
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The queen of Tejano lives on
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Selena’s new album is due next month, 26 years after her death
Selena Quintanilla Perez was an international superstar when she was tragically shot by the president of her own fan club on March 31, 1995, just a month before her 24th birthday. Now the Grammy-winning artist’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, has announced that a new 13-song album of his music will be released next month. It will include arrangements written by his brother, AB Quintanilla, and album art by his sister, Suzette Quintanilla. 13-year-old Selena’s voice has been digitally altered to sound like her more mature voice on one of the songs on the album. (Source: The hill)
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Amplify the madness
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March Madness betting set to hit record high this year
Nine states – Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming – have all launched legal sports betting markets since last year, giving an additional 29 million Americans the access to betting on this year’s March Madness. The American Gaming Association estimates that this could lead to 45 million Americans betting a total of $3.1 billion on the 2022 men’s college basketball tournament. Interestingly, 76% of the money wagered will go to bracket-free betting, signaling a move towards single-match betting outside of traditional bracket pools. Good luck, basketball fans: maybe this year is your year. (Source: Axios)
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COMMUNITY
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