Technology Russian court declares Facebook, Instagram extremist organizations The ruling amounts to an immediate ban of Facebook and Instagram in Russia, where both platforms are already blocked. WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, is still allowed. Alina Selyukh
World Putin's warning to anti-war Russians evokes Stalinist purges The Russian president's references to "cleansing" of "scum and traitors" evoked terrifying memories of the mass arrests of the Stalin era, when repression was justified for "cleansing" Soviet society. NPR Staff
Politics The House approves a bill to suspend trade relations with Russia and Belarus The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill suspending normal trade relations with the countries, another move to squeeze them economically in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. Deirdre Walsh
World Far from the front lines, Ukrainians guard checkpoints and wait for the war to come Checkpoints have sprung up across Ukraine since Russia's invasion. Men at a checkpoint near Lviv have Molotov cocktails ready. Even hundreds of miles from the battles, the war hangs over everything. Ryan Lucas Ryan Kellman
Health Russia's strike on Ukraine maternity hospital is part of a terrible wartime tradition The attack on the facility in Mariupol reflects an unfortunate trend in wars in Syria, Ethiopia and other countries. The impact on health care in the short-term and the long run is beyond devastating. Diane Cole
Technology Social media is flooded with information about Ukraine. SIFT through your sources first. As the war in Ukraine stretches toward its third week, misinformation about the invasion continues to cloud the airwaves in Russia and beyond. Libby Denkmann Noel Gasca
Business Fears are growing that Russia will default on its debt. Here's what you need to know Russia owes interest payments on two dollar-denominated bonds on Wednesday. If it doesn't pay, the country could go into default. David Gura
National Blinken sets a standard for lifting sanctions: an 'irreversible' Russian withdrawal In an interview with NPR, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the top U.S. diplomat, warns of the further devastation of Ukrainian cities. Steve Inskeep
World Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs Many of the sanctions the U.S. and EU have imposed on Russia are meant to target some of the country's wealthiest. But what's the difference between a "normal" billionaire and an "oligarch"? Wynne Davis
Politics White House tells China of its 'deep concerns' about providing assistance to Russia U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinese diplomats in Rome on Monday in what a senior administration adviser described as an "intense" seven-hour session. Windsor Johnston John Ruwitch
