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UKRAINE | Today is day 1097 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Following meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said the war in Ukraine could end within weeks and that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as a part of a negotiated end to the conflict. [more]
• The U.N. General Assembly voted yesterday to adopt two resolutions marking the third anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; one drafted by Ukraine and Europeans and one drafted by the U.S. that was amended by the assembly to include its long-held language supporting Ukraine. The U.S. joined 18 other countries, including Russia, North Korea, and Israel in voting against the Ukraine- and E.U.-backed resolution. Later, the Security Council voted to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution that takes a more neutral position on the conflict, decrying the loss of life in the war and urging a swift end to the fighting. [more]

U.S. FEDERAL WORKERS | After the Office of Personnel Management said yesterday that responding to a weekend Department of Government Efficiency e-mail demanding an accounting of recent work and accomplishments by federal workers was voluntary, Elon Musk and President Donald Trump continued to suggest last night that not responding could result in loss of employment. Reports cite Trump as saying that “if you don’t answer, like, you’re sort of semi-fired or you’re fired, because a lot of people aren’t answering because they don’t even exist.” [more]

U.S. PRESS FREEDOM | A federal judge yesterday declined to immediately order the White House to restore The Associated Press’ access to presidential events, which has been denied over the AP’s continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” rather than the presidentially-mandated “Gulf of America.” U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said the AP failed to demonstrate it was suffering irreparable harm from the White House decision, and scheduled a full hearing on the matter for March 20. [more]

U.S. FBI | Right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino was announced this week as President Donald Trump’s selection to serve as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bongino, who is also a former New York police officer and U.S. Secret Service agent, has historically been a vocal critic of the law enforcement agency that he will be helping to run. [more]

U.S. WEAPONS | The Washington Post and Reuters cite documents and sources as saying the Trump administration has rescinded the Biden-era National Security Memorandum-20, which required the government to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons by allies including Israel. [more]

U.S., CANADA, AND MEXICO | U.S. President Donald Trump signaled yesterday that, following a month-long suspension, he intends to impose 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico and Canada in March. [more]

CONGO | World Health Organization officials in Africa say more than 50 people in northwestern Congo have died from a yet-unidentified disease that appears to progress from onset of symptoms to death within about 48 hours. Reports say more than 500 people are thought to have been infected in the outbreak, which started in late January, and that symptoms appear to be similar to those seen in various hemorrhagic fever diseases. [more]

SYRIA | Some 600 representatives of communities and groups from across Syria are taking part in a national dialogue conference in Damascus today to discuss the future of the country following the ouster of former President Bashar Assad last year. The conference aims to come up with non-binding recommendations on the country’s interim rules ahead of the drafting of a new constitution and formation of a new government. [more]

VIETNAM AND CHINA | Just days after Vietnam announced new measurements marking what it considers its territory in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Chinese navy began a series of live-fire exercises in the body of water yesterday. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | At least four people are reported to have died today in the collapse of a highway bridge under construction in the city of Anseong, South Korea. Reports say at least six others were wounded in the incident, which remains under investigation. [more]

TECH INDUSTRY | Apple announced plans yesterday to invest more than $500 billion in new U.S.-based operations over the next four years. The company’s plans include hiring about 20,000 people and building a new server and data facility in Texas. [more]

COFFEE INDUSTRY | Starbucks announced plans yesterday to lay off about 1,100 corporate employees around the world as part of cost-saving and streamlining measures being undertaken by new CEO Brian Niccol. [more]

R.I.P. | Singer and pianist Roberta Flack, best known for her 1970s hits that included “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” died yesterday at the age of 88. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared to be in effect. [more] [more history]