Politics Why Biden is hosting more than 100 countries to talk about democracy The White House wants to boost global commitments to human rights and fighting corruption. But as the summit convenes, American democracy itself is under pressure. Scott Detrow
Politics Biden voices deep concern to Putin over Russian military build up near Ukraine Biden told Putin in a call that if Russia invades Ukraine, the U.S. may levy economic sanctions and provide weapons and troops to NATO's eastern flank, said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Brian Naylor
World A Russian missile creates enough space junk to pose risk to astronauts for years The U.S. condemned the test, which blasted a cloud of debris into orbit, forcing astronauts aboard the ISS to spend two hours inside spacecraft that could return them to Earth in an emergency. Scott Neuman
Health With record-high deaths, Moscow and other parts of Russia enter a partial lockdown It marks an abrupt end to a sense of normalcy that had settled over Moscow. On Thursday, Russia reported 1,159 deaths in the previous 24 hours. The Kremlin blames Russians' reluctance to vaccinate. Charles Maynes
World We Asked Russia's 1980s Afghan War Vets To Judge The U.S. Exit. Here's What They Said Veterans of the Soviet Union's decade-long war in Afghanistan see parallels — and stark contrasts — with the U.S. experience and exit after two decades there. Charles Maynes
World U.S. Top Military Officer Talks Counterterrorism Support With Russian Counterpart The meeting between Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart in Finland comes at a crucial time in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Associated Press
Sports Once Again, Banned Russians Raise Questions About Doping At The Olympics Traditionally, doping at the Olympics is as much of the discussion as the soaring athletic achievements. In Tokyo, it's not been the issue it often is, because of the pandemic. But it's still there. Tom Goldman
World Russia's 'Foreign Agent' Law Targets Journalists, Activists, Even Ordinary Citizens The recently expanded law says that freelance journalists, YouTube bloggers and practically anyone else who receives money from abroad and voices a political opinion can be considered a foreign agent. Lucian Kim
Business Oil Prices Are In Turmoil Right Now. Here Are 5 Things You Need To Know Oil prices were surging, but a dramatic meeting of many of the world's crude producers has thrown things into a bit of turmoil. Camila Domonoske
World A Russian Man Has Been Charged In The Death Of U.S. Student Catherine Serou The 34-year-old student and former U.S. Marine went missing last week and was later found dead. Her mother says she received a text reading, "In a car with a stranger. I hope I'm not being abducted." Joe Hernandez
