The world surpasses half a billion known cases of the novel coronavirus, but it's most likely an undercount. / Axios According to Merriam-Webster, "Covid-19" was the fastest term ever to be accepted in the dictionary. / The Los Angeles Review of Books Millions of people in
Putin's war in Ukraine has spurred Finland and Sweden to push for NATO membership. / The Washington Post Experts say there's little evidence—so far, at least—to show Russia used chemical weapons in Mariupol. / The Guardian "I never understood how people got so moved by
The White House is worried over Marine Le Pen, a Putin sympathizer, possibly winning France's presidential election. / POLITICO See also: Macron and Le Pen have advanced in the first round of voting in France, and will enter an April 24 runoff for the presidency. / CBS News British prime
With today's conclusion of the 2022 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes, your TMN editors really need to take a nap. This newsletter will resume publishing Monday, April 11. Declassified intelligence suggests Russia's Vladimir Putin is being given less than truthful information from his advisers.
We had a link error in yesterday's newsletter regarding the story about Covid-19 deaths in red and blue states. Here's the proper link. Residents in half of Shanghai brace for the second phase of a citywide lockdown. / The Guardian Three-quarters of children worldwide who
Russia says it will "fundamentally cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv" prior to peace talks in Turkey. / The Guardian G7 countries agree to ignore Moscow's demand to pay for Russian natural gas in rubles. / PBS Headline of the week (darkly): "
Ukraine and Russian officials prepare to meet in Turkey for peace talks. / Reuters Meanwhile, Ukraine says it won't open humanitarian corridors from its cities due to warnings of Russian "provocations" on routes. / BBC News Vladimir Putin's cult of war is a mix of "
The United States and the European Union announce a landmark gas deal, in an attempt to cut Europe's reliance on Russian energy. / BBC News US volunteers have been seen fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine. / The Guardian See also: "Inside Ukraine's army of misfits, veterans,
The latest version of the coronavirus, BA.2, now accounts for as much as 70 percent of new infections in many parts of the United States. / Kaiser Health News New Covid trial results may point toward quicker, cheaper ways to study medicines. / STAT Alex Tabarrok: Operation Warp Speed was a
Russia's combat power in Ukraine is said (by the United States) to have declined below 90% of its pre-invasion levels. / The Guardian Joel Simon: For journalists, Ukraine is all about Whats App, Signal, and Telegram. / The Columbia Journalism Review A Russian philosopher asks what everyday Russians are
