'SNL' returns from hiatus with a powerful tribute to Ukraine

"Saturday Night Live" returned from a nearly monthlong hiatus without a cold open. Instead of a funny satirical sketch, the NBC variety show chose to present a powerful tribute to the country of Ukraine.
Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/27/media/snl-cold-open-ukraine-tribute/index.html?source=Snapzu

Europe open its doors as 368,000 flee Ukraine in just over three days

Neighbouring countries such as Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have all made an unconditional welcome to those feeling the Russian invasion. #EuropeNews
Read more: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/02/26/ukraine-war-european-nations-open-their-doors-as-nearly-120-000-ukrainian-refugees-flee?source=Snapzu

Russia’s cyberattacks foreshadow the future of war

On February 24, the Russian military invaded Ukraine, attacking the nation’s capital and other major cities from the air, ground, and sea. “A full-scale war in Europe has begun,” Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the Associated Press.
Read more: https://www.freethink.com/technology/ukraine-russia-cyberattacks?source=Snapzu

Elon Musk responds to Russia’s threat

Elon Musk has said SpaceX will rescue the International Space Station if Russia tries to drop it from orbit after threats by Vladimir Putin’s space chief.
Read more: https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/elon-musk-responds-to-russias-international-space-station-threat/news-story/d03f0165b2779929d3ae1a09af542da7?source=Snapzu

Ukraine asks Apple to stop product sales and block App Store access in Russia | Engadget

Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister wrote a letter to Tim Cook asking for Apple's support..
Read more: https://www.engadget.com/ukrain-apple-stop-product-sales-block-app-store-access-russia-060539622.html?source=Snapzu

Hiding Art in Basements, Returning Loans, Reopening as Bomb Shelters: How Ukraine's Museums Are Handling the Russian Invasion

As Ukraine defends itself against invading Russian forces, the nation's museums find themselves in a dire situation.
Read more: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ukrainian-museums-under-invasion-2078113?source=Snapzu

Soccer-Poland, Sweden refuse to play World Cup match with Russia

Poland and Sweden said they would not play their soccer World Cup qualifiers against Russia in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the governing bodies of both national teams said on Saturday.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/poland-will-not-play-world-cup-match-with-russia-polish-fa-head-2022-02-26/?source=Snapzu

Russian vigilante hacker: 'I want to help beat Ukraine from my computer'

A group of "patriotic" Russian hackers say they revel in causing chaos with cyber-attacks on Ukraine.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60528594?source=Snapzu

Ukrainian leader calls on Tim Cook to block Russian users from the App Store

In an open letter published Friday afternoon, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, called on Apple to stop supplying products and services to Russian users as a response to the country’s ongoing invasion. “I appeal to you,” Fedorov wrote in the letter, published through his Twitter account, “to stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to App Store!”
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/25/22951413/ukraine-russia-apple-app-store-block-fedorov?source=Snapzu

U.S. Officials Repeatedly Urged China to Help Avert War in Ukraine

Over three months, senior Biden administration officials held half a dozen urgent meetings with top Chinese officials in which the Americans presented intelligence showing Russia’s troop buildup around Ukraine and beseeched the Chinese to tell Russia not to invade, according to U.S. officials.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/us/politics/us-china-russia-ukraine.html?source=Snapzu

Surveillance firm says Apple is 'phenomenal' for law enforcement

Secret recordings of a surveillance firm's presentation show how much iCloud data Apple surrenders to law enforcement with a warrant — though it's Google and Facebook that can track a suspect to within three feet. PenLink is a little-known firm from Nebraska which earns $20 million annually from helping the US government track criminal suspects. PenLink also sells its services to local law enforcement - and it's from such a sales presentation that details of iCloud warrants has emerged.
Read more: https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/02/25/surveillance-firm-says-apple-is-phenomenal-for-law-enforcement?source=Snapzu

Ukraine’s invasion underscores Europe’s deep reliance on Russian fossil fuels

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine spooked energy markets this week, amid fears that the escalating conflict and ensuing sanctions could disrupt global fossil-fuel supplies. Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of petroleum, natural gas, and coal, so any actions that curtail exports could have global ripple effects, pushing up prices and slowing economic growth. Western Europe is particularly vulnerable because it’s heavily dependent on Russia’s fossil fuels, despite determined efforts to switch to cleaner energy sources in recent years.
Read more: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/02/23/1046429/how-the-ukraine-invasion-could-accelerate-europes-clean-energy-shift?source=Snapzu

Louis C.K. not performing in Ukraine amid Russian invasion and war

Comedian Louis C.K. was scheduled to perform at the National Palace of Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine, this weekend amid Russia’s invasion and war with that country. However, in an email sent to all people who subscribe to his website’s mailing list, the 54-year-old comic announced that he is not coming to Ukraine after all.
Read more: https://nypost.com/2022/02/25/louis-c-k-wont-perform-in-ukraine-amid-russian-war/?source=Snapzu

Seth Meyers Reminds Trump: Ukraine's Invasion Isn't 'A F**king Real Estate Deal'

Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has shocked the whole world except apparently former President Donald Trump, Seth Meyers lamented Thursday night. “So, if you’re like most people, you were shocked and horrified,” he said. “But if you were Donald Trump, apparently you were at Mar-a-Lago watching it with a bunch of Palm Beach plastic surgeons and their third wives and thinking, ‘You really got to hand it to Vladimir Putin.’”
Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/seth-meyers-trump-ukraine_n_621866dde4b0afc668be0e1b?source=Snapzu

Plastic summit could be most important green deal since Paris accords, says UN

World leaders will come together online and in Nairobi, Kenya, next week, in what is described as a “critical moment” in progress towards the first ever global treaty to combat plastic waste. Inger Andersen, director of the UN Environment Programme, said an agreement at the UN environment assembly could be the most important multilateral pact since the Paris climate accord in 2015.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/25/plastic-summit-could-be-most-important-green-deal-since-paris-accords-says-un?source=Snapzu

Ukraine hit by internet outages and cyberattacks 'unambiguously' linked to Russia after attack

Ukraine has been hit by significant internet outages after a series of cyber attacks on its Government, banks and public authority websites in what the country has called “another act of cuber-aggression against Ukraine”.
Read more: https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/ukraine-internet-outages-cyber-attacks-russia-invasion-1479917?ITO=newsnow?source=Snapzu

Ukraine crisis could spark North Korean long-range missile testing, experts say

Conflict in Ukraine may provide cover for North Korea to conduct long-range missile testing free of punishment, analysts told NK News on Thursday, echoing South Korean presidential hopeful Yoon Suk-yeol’s remarks from earlier this week.
Read more: https://www.nknews.org/2022/02/ukraine-crisis-could-spark-north-korean-long-range-missile-testing-experts-say/?source=Snapzu

UK will not look away from Russia invasion in Ukraine

The UK "cannot and will not just look away" at Russia's "hideous and barbaric" attack on Ukraine, Boris Johnson has said. The PM said President Vladimir Putin had launched a "vast invasion by land, by sea and by air" without provocation. He said the UK and allies will launch a "massive package" of sanctions to "hobble" Russia's economy.
Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60508671?source=Snapzu

Apple Store Gunman Demanding €200 Million in Crypto Confirmed Dead

The robber caused a stir when it started a hostage situation in an Amsterdam-based Apple store, before demanding more than 200 million euros in crypto. 
Read more: https://cryptoadventure.com/apple-store-gunman-demanding-e200-million-in-crypto-confirmed-dead/?source=Snapzu

World expresses outrage, plans stronger Russia sanctions

World leaders Thursday reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with raw outrage — and vows of unprecedented sanctions — that shrouded a sense of powerlessness to defend Ukraine militarily without running the risk of a wider war in Europe.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-asia-europe-united-nations-8744320842fca825ae4e4ccae5acbe34?source=Snapzu

Ukrainian government calls on hackers to help defend against Russia

Cybersecurity firm seeks volunteers to help nation’s military conduct espionage operations against Russian forces
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/24/ukraine-hackers-defend-against-russia?source=Snapzu

'It's nothing short of a miracle' | Texas toddler wakes up parents, saves family from fire

Brandon Dahl woke up his mom, saying "Momma, hot!" she said. Because of that, the Dahl parents were able to grab their kids and get out of the burning house safely.
Read more: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hes-our-little-mini-hero-toddler-saves-texas-family-from-fire/287-0987edec-a83a-43d7-a788-900e72ce3b5e?source=Snapzu

Twitter accounts sharing video from Ukraine are being suspended when they’re needed most

Researchers fear removing the accounts will benefit Russia.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/23/22947769/twitter-osint-russia-ukraine-invasion-suspended-error?source=Snapzu

Russia Could Use Cryptocurrency to Blunt the Force of U.S. Sanctions

Russian companies have many cryptocurrency tools at their disposal to evade sanctions, including a so-called digital ruble and ransomware.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/business/russia-sanctions-cryptocurrency.html?source=Snapzu

The Supreme Court will hear a big case about whether religion is a license to discriminate

This is unlikely to go well for LGBTQ people.
Read more: https://www.vox.com/2022/2/22/22945657/supreme-court-religion-lgbtq-303-creative-elenis-colorado-discrimination?source=Snapzu

Putin announces a ‘military operation’ in Ukraine as the U.N. Security Council pleads with him to pull back.

The Russian president called on Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms in a speech at 5:50 a.m. in Moscow. The U.N. Security Council was meeting in New York. President Biden condemned the action and said he would speak to the American public on Thursday.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/23/world/russia-ukraine/putin-announces-a-military-operation-in-ukraine-as-the-un-security-council-pleads-with-him-to-pull-back?source=Snapzu

What Carl Sagan Might Think About NASA’s Current State Of Space Exploration

The last half century of space exploration has been a mixed bag of extraordinary achievements muted by moments of disaster and heartbreak. But all in all, our progress in making our way off this blue marble has been surprisingly slow as the late Carl Sagan would likely agree.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/23/what-carl-sagan-might-think-about-nasas-current-state-of-space-exploration/?source=Snapzu

Elon Musk accuses the SEC of leaking information against him

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's lawyer has accused the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or leaking information about a federal probe to retaliate against him, CNBC has reported. "It has become clearer and clearer that the Commission is out to retaliate against my clients for exercising their First Amendment rights—most recently by criticizing the Commission on the public docket and by petitioning this Court for relief," said Musk attorney Alex Spiro.
Read more: https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-accuses-the-sec-of-leaking-information-to-retaliate-against-him-101031796.html?source=Snapzu

Lithium-ion batteries are fueling the fire on a burning cargo ship full of Porsches

The cargo ship Felicity Ace is aflame from bow to stern with a lithium-ion battery fire that can’t be put out with water alone. The fire has been burning since Wednesday (Feb. 16), as the ship drifts in the Atlantic about 200 miles southwest of Portugal’s Azores Islands. Its 22-person crew abandoned ship and was rescued on Thursday.
Read more: https://qz.com/2130711/electric-vehicles-make-it-harder-to-quell-fire-on-felicity-ace-cargo-ship/?source=Snapzu

'Purge' Actress Lindsey Pearlman Confirmed Dead, Family Post Suicide Hotline Number Amidst Discovery

'Purge' actress Lindsey Pearlman's body has been identified and confirmed dead as family share number for Suicide Hotline.
Read more: https://radaronline.com/p/purge-actress-lindsey-pearlman-confirmed-dead-suicide/?source=Snapzu

Tinder Swindler's First Interview Since Release of Hit Netflix Series

The “Tinder Swindler,” as he’s become known around the world, wants everyone to know he’s not one. Shimon Hayut, also known as Simon Leviev, was the subject of the viral Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, which documented multiple women who claimed to have been duped out of thousands of dollars by Hayut after he allegedly pretended to be the heir to an Israeli diamond billionaire.
Read more: https://viralnewspot.com/2022/02/22/tinder-swindlers-first-interview-since-release-of-hit-netflix-series/?source=Snapzu

Supreme Court will decide whether web designer has a right to turn away same-sex couples

Lawyers who represented a Colorado baker are back in court defending a web designer who doesn't want to design sites for same-sex weddings.
Read more: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-02-22/supreme-court-free-speech-right-to-turn-away-same-sex-couples?source=Snapzu

Our outdated marijuana laws put Americans in danger. It's past time for federal cannabis reforms.

The simple truth is that continued federal cannabis prohibition is neither tenable nor the will of the American electorate.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/02/21/federal-marijuana-laws-cannabis-reform/6801358001/?source=Snapzu

President Biden wants to know more about cryptocurrencies before creating a digital dollar

The White House is set to start working on a strategy to study and regulate cryptocurrency, while also looking into developing its own central bank digital currency (CBDC). Coming off the back of a Federal Reserve report (PDF warning) into a digital dollar, and according to a report in Yahoo Finance, President Biden will issue an executive order on cryptocurrency oversight next week.
Read more: https://www.pcgamer.com/president-biden-wants-to-know-more-about-cryptocurrencies-before-creating-a-digital-dollar/?source=Snapzu

John Oliver Returns to Expertly Debunk the Right-Wing Panic Over ‘Critical Race Theory’

The comic kicked off the new season of ‘Last Week Tonight’ with a bang: breaking down exactly how the right-wing’s war on CRT is a load of bull.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/last-week-tonights-john-oliver-expertly-debunks-the-rights-critical-race-theory-panic?source=Snapzu

NBC's Ratings Fall At Winter Olympics Seen As A 'Disaster' For Network

There were many reasons to think NBC made a savvy business deal in 2014 when it locked up the American media rights to the Olympics through 2032 for $7.75 billion. As the Beijing winter games come to a close, it’s harder to see them now.
Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nbc-ratings-beijing-winter-olympics_n_6212234ee4b0f93b2619b86b?source=Snapzu

Justin Bieber Tests Positive for COVID-19, Postpones Las Vegas Concert

“Justin is of course hugely disappointed, but the health and safety of his crew and fans is always his number one priority,” the venue wrote.
Read more: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/justin-bieber-tests-positive-for-covid-19-postpones-las-vegas-concert-1235034060/?source=Snapzu

Trudeau Government Moves to Make Expanded Surveillance Powers over Financial Transactions ‘Permanent’

As all eyes were trained on the aggressive police sweep of the Ottawa trucker convoy this week, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s administration was quietly moving to implement a sweeping expansion of surveillance power at the federal level.
Read more: https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trudeau-government-moves-to-make-expanded-surveillance-powers-over-financial-transactions-permanent/?source=Snapzu

A restaurant in San Francisco that has a no tip-policy and instead shares profits with its staff says it wasn't hit by the labor shortage

Many independent restaurants across the US say they've been devastated by the labor shortage, with some shutting their dining rooms, cutting their opening hours, or even closing for good.
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/restaurant-san-francisco-no-tip-101000152.html?source=Snapzu

I was driven to kill by 'the voice' through walls, says Yorkshire Ripper

SUTCLIFFE always insisted that he killed because a voice in his head told him to. He was ­convinced it was from God. But what exactly was “the voice”? What did it sound like and what did it say? He…
Read more: https://www.the-sun.com/news/4732460/kill-murder-the-voice-god-yorkshire-ripper-peter-sutcliffe/?source=Snapzu

How Covid changed medicine for the future

The global pandemic sparked a huge superhuman effort to control coronavirus. But the billions spent have also had an unexpected impact on medicine and science
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/20/how-covid-created-a-vision-for-treating-disease?source=Snapzu

Fed approves rules banning its officials from trading stocks, bonds and also cryptocurrencies

Federal Reserve officials won’t be able to trade a slew of assets including stocks and bonds — as well as cryptocurrencies — under new rules that became formal Friday. Following up on regulations announced in October, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee announced that most of the restrictions will take effect May 1.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/18/fed-approves-rules-banning-its-officials-from-trading-stocks-bonds-and-also-cryptocurrencies.html?source=Snapzu

Actor Lindsey Pearlman found dead after going missing in LA

Actor Lindsey Erin Pearlman, who had roles in “General Hospital,” “American Housewife” and other shows, was found dead days after she was reported missing in Los Angeles, authorities said. Investigators had sought the public's help in finding Pearlman, 43, who was last seen around noon last Sunday, ABC 7 reported.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/actor-lindsey-pearlman-found-dead-missing-la-83003095?source=Snapzu

Google lowered its salaries in North Carolina. Now workers are protesting.

Google cut the pay of workers in some of its North Carolina offices. It's one of the places the firm is targeting for hiring a more diverse workforce.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/18/google-raleigh-hbcu-salary/?utm_source=reddit.com?source=Snapzu

Revealed: Credit Suisse leak unmasks criminals, fraudsters and corrupt politicians

Massive leak reveals Swiss bank’s accounts have been used by an array of high-risk clients over several decades
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/feb/20/credit-suisse-secrets-leak-unmasks-criminals-fraudsters-corrupt-politicians?source=Snapzu

Alec Baldwin may not have pulled trigger in deadly shooting on ‘Rust’ set: DA

Alec Baldwin may have fired the shot that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins without pulling the gun’s trigger, a New Mexico prosecutor says. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told Vanity Fair she had watched Alec Baldwin’s bombshell interview with ABC in December and was drawn to the actor’s claim that he did not pull the trigger.
Read more: https://nypost.com/2022/02/20/alec-baldwin-may-not-have-pulled-trigger-that-killed-rust-cinematographer-halyna-hutchins-da/?source=Snapzu

Facebook misled investors on scope of misinformation problems, whistleblower says

Since filing whistleblower complaints against Facebook last year, Frances Haugen hasn’t been sitting still. A report today says the Facebook (now Meta) whistleblower has filed two new complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission that allege the company internally acknowledged it was struggling with misinformation even while telling investors it had a handle on the problem.
Read more: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/02/facebook-misled-investors-on-scope-of-misinformation-problems-whistleblower-says/?source=Snapzu

Our immune systems are remembering COVID-19 and fighting against its variants, study finds

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers wanted to know how well human beings are holding up against an onslaught of new variants. But, to figure out if our immune systems are up to the task would require a mathematical feat. So researchers turned to sophisticated computer models to find the answer.
Read more: https://abc7.com/covid-variants-immune-system-vaccine-virus/11575669/?source=Snapzu

Ship carrying 1,100 Porsche and 189 Bentley luxury cars is burning and adrift in the ocean

A cargo ship carrying Porsche, Audi and Bentley cars caught on fire. The crew was saved, but the luxury vehicles are stuck in the Atlantic Ocean.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/02/18/ship-bentley-audi-cars-fire-atlantic-ocean/6842550001/?source=Snapzu

A YouTuber attracted more than 216,000 viewers by livestreaming planes trying to land at London's Heathrow airport in record-breaking storm winds

Jerry Dyer, the host of Big Jet TV, is commentating live as planes struggle to land at Heathrow Airport, while tens of thousands of watch online.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/youtuber-attracts-200k-viewers-streaming-planes-landing-heathrow-storm-uk-2022-2?source=Snapzu