March 8, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 13 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates [more]:

• Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak suggested today that global oil prices could double to more than $300 per barrel if Western nations move forward with proposed bans on Russian oil.
• Ukrainian military intelligence officials say Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, the deputy commander of Russia's 41st Army, was killed in fighting near the city of Kharkiv today.
• Multinational technology corporation IBM has suspended its business operations  in Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, according to company CEO Arvind Krishna.
• Automaker Nissan has announced plans to halt production at its plant in Russia, citing "logistical challenges" as the reason for the move.
• The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to meet Thursday in Turkey. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says he will propose direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents at the meeting.
• Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the U.N. Security Council yesterday that a cease-fire to be implemented today at 10am Moscow time will allow citizens of Kyiv, Chernigov, Sumy and Mariupol to flee the cities safely.
• The Associated Press cites an unnamed U.S. Senate aid as saying that an agreement has been reached by Congressional leaders on legislation that would ban imports of Russian oil to the U.S. and end Russia's permanent normal trade relations status with the United States.
• All four of the so-called Big Four global accounting firms have announced plans to suspend operations in Russia. The firms include Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Pricewaterhousecoopers and KPMG.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed an executive order on Monday allowing for NATO troops to be stationed on Hungarian territory in response to the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

CIVIL RIGHTS | The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, officially designating lynching a federal hate crime. The measure was passed in the House last week, and is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden in the coming days. [more]

U.S. SUPREME COURT | The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected appeals from Republican officials in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to block state redistricting maps selected by each state's Supreme Court. The ruling, which allows the congressional districting maps to be in effect for the November 2022 elections, is seen as favoring Democrats. [more]

CRYPTO | Reports say U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order later this week that is aimed at establishing a framework for U.S. agencies, including the Treasury Department, to develop policies and regulations on digital currencies. [more]

TEACHER STRIKE | Teachers in the Minneapolis School District are on strike today after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, a move that will idle some 29,000 students in one of Minnesota's largest school districts. [more]

HEALTH | A study published in the  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences yesterday concludes that about half of U.S.-born people who were adults in 2015 were exposed to harmful levels of lead as children. Childhood lead exposure has been linked to impaired cognitive development and increased risks for developing hypertension and heart disease. [more]

ECONOMY | World stock markets fell to a one-year low today, according to the MSCI world equity index, which tracks share prices and market performance in 50 countries. The index was down 0.2% this morning and has lost 10% since early February. [more]

MIDDLE EAST | Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to visit Turkey tomorrow at the invitation of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in what would be the most senior Israeli visit since 2008 as the regional rivals work to mend years of strained ties. [more]

IRAN | Iranian state media reported yesterday that Iran's Revolutionary Guard has launched its second satellite into low Earth orbit, but did not specify when the launch took place.  [more]

HAWAII | The U.S. Department of Defense said Monday that it will remove all fuel from, and permanently close, the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii that leaked chemicals into Pearl Harbor's tap water. [more]

NFL | Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for the 2022 NFL season yesterday by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell for betting on NFL games while on leave from the Falcons last year. [more]

NBA | Gregg Popovich tied Don Nelson's NBA record with his 1,335th career victory as a coach in the San Antonio Spurs' 117-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night. [more]

COUNTRY MUSIC | Miranda Lambert was named Entertainer of the Year at last night's Academy of Country Music Awards. Morgan Wallen won the Album of the Year award for "Dangerous: The Double Album." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1817, the New York Stock Exchange was formally created, starting its journey to becoming one of the world's largest marketplaces for securities and other exchange-traded investments. [more history]