ads by Clixsense

Monday, February 20, 2023

Biden's dramatic, secret trip to Ukraine

President Joe Biden made his first visit to war-torn Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion a year ago this week. It's Monday's news. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
usatoday.com

The Short List
 
Monday, February 20

President Joe Biden made his first visit to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion a year ago this week. And earthquake-shattered Turkey was rocked by another massive tremor. 

πŸ‘‹ Hey! Laura Davis here. It's about time for Monday's news!

🧟‍♀️ But first, it's 'like a Stephen King movie': It's too early to say for sure whether Florida will get hit by a massive blob of destructive seaweed this summer, but it's out there in the ocean... growing.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

πŸ‘€ Did you know we have newsletters available exclusively for subscribers? Take advantage of our Presidents Day sale for unlimited access to nationwide news and more.

Biden makes surprise trip to Ukraine

While most of the United States was sleeping, Biden arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, around 8 a.m. local time Monday. The dramatic display of solidarity was the culmination of months of planning – and a final decision came in an Oval Office meeting Friday to move forward with a secret trip to the war-torn nation ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion. There are few, if any, examples of U.S. presidents traveling to an active war zone where there is no U.S. troop presence.  So, how did they pull off the extraordinarily risky mission? Find out more.

πŸ‘‰ 'Americans stand with you': Biden walks streets of Kyiv, meets Zelenskyy.

Live updates: Japan rolls out aid and Putin faces 'people's court.'
They counted the days until they could return to Ukraine. Now, they're not sure they'll go back.
February 20, 2023:  President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral on a surprise visit, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Kyiv.
President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral on a surprise visit on Monday in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Evan Vucci, AP

US sees worst weekend for gun violence of the year so far

Nine children were shot at a Georgia gas station.

Six people were killed in a Mississippi town.

Eleven people were shot in Memphis, Tennessee.

Five people were injured near a parade in New Orleans.

Six people were shot on a Chicago expressway.

That's just half of the reported mass shooting violence over the weekend. 

There were 10 mass shootings from Feb. 17 through Feb. 19 – the most of any weekend so far this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. That's considering all shootings from Friday to Sunday in which four or more people were shot, not including the shooter or shooters. Keep reading.

'There's no way we're ready': Michigan State students return to class a week after shooting.
Police work the scene of a shooting at the Krewe of Bacchus parade on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.  Five people were shot, including a young girl, during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, police said, and a suspect was in custody.  (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP) ORG XMIT: LAORS103
Five people were shot, including a young girl, during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Sunday, police said, and a suspect was in custody.
DAVID GRUNFELD, AP

What everyone's talking about

Elite, white New Orleans: Mardi Gras has not freed itself from vestiges of racism.
150 feral cattle to be shot from sky in New Mexico national forest.
Rebel Wilson gets engaged to girlfriend in matching sweaters.
More airline passengers are getting bumped. Know your rights if it happens to you.
Why the New York Times was criticized for its reporting on trans issues.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Another quake strikes shattered Turkey

Just two weeks after the region was devastated by massive earthquakes and strong aftershocks, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey's Hatay province Monday, injuring or trapping people inside already-damaged buildings. While official damage or injury reports were not immediately available from the scene, the mayor of Hatay said multiple buildings collapsed and Syria's state news agency reported at least six people were injured by falling debris in Aleppo.  Live updates.

February 20: People carry their belongings from their homes in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of February 6, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and have killed more than 40,000 people.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Feb. 6, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and have killed more than 41,000 people.
Burak Kara, Getty Images

Art fair visitor accidentally destroys Jeff Koons balloon dog sculpture

More balloon drama! At least this one isn't suspected to be a spy. It's just broken. A balloon sculpture by famous artist Jeff Koons, valued at more than $40,000, was reduced to scraps when an art fair attendee accidentally knocked it over. Koons' piece "Balloon Dog (Blue)" was on display at a contemporary art fair in Miami, when an (unnamed) art collector accidentally kicked the pedestal, which was enough to cause the porcelain sculpture to fall and shatter. Koons' animal figures are some of the most well-known, expensive sculptures in the contemporary art world. Keep reading

An art collector accidentally broke a $42,000 Jeff Koons sculpture at Art Wynwood in Miami.
An art collector accidentally broke a $42,000 Jeff Koons sculpture at Art Wynwood in Miami.
Courtesy of CΓ©dric Boero, Bel-Air Fine Art Contemporary Art Galleries

A break from the news

πŸ› Presidents Day is here: Shop the best Amazon deals now on Apple, Lego, Winix and Waterpik.
🏺 Have your antiques appraised by 'Antiques Roadshow' during this river cruise.
πŸ€” How is your Emoji-nal intelligence? A guide to the melting face emoji, other misused symbols.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this?  Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here.

A bundled-up walker circles the path in Washington Park after a winter storm packing single-digit temperatures combined with a light snow crossed over the intermountain West Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Denver.
Winter storm warnings blanket West amid 'major outbreak of Arctic air'
The Pacific Northwest and Rockies will be hit with heavy snow and strong winds Monday in a storm that is expected to move east later this week.
Alec Baldwin charges downgraded in 'Rust' shooting: What it means
This handout image courtesy of Santa Fe County She
Critics accuse Roald Dahl's book publisher of 'absurd' censorship
Books by Roald Dahl are displayed at the Barney's
Arrest made in the shooting death of Los Angeles Catholic bishop
An image of Bishop David O'Connell is posted on th
New Jersey superintendent still being paid despite quitting after...
Triantafillos Parlapanides in front of Central Reg
Company fined for employing over 100 minors who cleaned meat...
A worker wearing PSSI attire.
As a doctor, I'm impressed by Jimmy Carter's work in health and...
OPINION
Former President Jimmy Carter discusses his cancer
4-foot alligator found in lake at New York City park, officials say
This 4-foot-long alligator was found in Brooklyn's
Blue Jays manager plays hero at Florida restaurant – and gets free...
Blue Jays manager John Schneider keeps a close eye
NFL mock draft: Race for QBs heats up in top 10 picks
Former Alabama QB Bryce Young (9) and OLB Will And
 

Problem viewing email? View in browser

Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights Privacy Notice Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy Feedback

No comments:

Post a Comment