Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, March 2nd. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, The Washington Post updates us that, last night, Biden delivered a speech unifying the country against war, inflation and the pandemic. Towards the end of his address, the US president said, “We fought for freedom, expanded liberty, defeated totalitarianism and terror. We built the strongest, freest and most prosperous nation the world has ever known.”

Next, let’s look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Forbes tells us that The United States has blocked its airspace from Russian planes. By doing this, Biden aims to further sanctions against Russia. This publication also stated that this conflict is impacting the global economy. The stock market plunged yesterday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen roughly 600 points. Furthermore, oil prices have surged to a seven-year high.

The New York Times reports that Israel’s Supreme Court handed a partial victory yesterday to Palestinian families whose impending eviction from their homes in East Jerusalem led to the tensions that resulted in last year’s 11-day Gaza war.

Within India, The BBC states that since the election of the U.P. in 2014, discrimination against Muslims has become far more prominent. Muslims constitute nearly 20% of the country's population; however, one retired professor of theology in India said, “Muslims have been living in fear. Whenever our children go out, our women pray for their safe return."

Reuters tells us that the Libyan parliament has approved a new government. However, the current prime minister voted against this and vowed not to cede power. This crisis raises the risk of fighting among armed factions or territorial partition between rival administrations.

Finally, regarding the climate crisis, The Washington Post reports that The United States is launching a new satellite to provide constant monitoring over the Western hemisphere. This new satellite should help track fires, hurricanes, lightning, smoke plumes, coastal fog, landslides, atmospheric rivers, dust storms and more. The satellite series delivers 60 times more imagery than previous generations and can help track severe storms.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, March 1st. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s start by looking at Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters updates us that, as the Russian military approached Kyiv, Russian rockets killed 70 Ukrainian soldiers. The Guardian reports that a rocket attack in Kharkiv has killed over nine civilians and left many injured. The city’s mayor has stated that this attack showed, “that it’s not just a war, this is a massacre of Ukrainian people.” Forbes announced that Disney is pausing theatrical releases of its upcoming movies in Russia. Many companies, from Airbnb to Netflix, have announced action against Russia. The Guardian adds that the rush from oil companies, like BP and Shell, to disinvest from Russia makes it clear that there is no going back.

Within a Sacramento Church, Forbes states that five are dead in a murder-suicide shooting that involved three children. A man shot and killed his three daughters and their chaperone before taking his own life.

After the invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan stepped up its alert level due to wariness China would try and strike while the West was distracted. Reuters reports that today Biden sent a delegation of former senior U.S. defence and security officials. This is a move denounced by China.

Finally, the New York Times informs us that the recent IPCC report warns that the impacts of climate change are occurring far faster than expected. The United Nations secretary-general has said that the report is, “an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership.”

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Monday, February 26th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, let’s look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The BBC reported on the rising number of civilians dying in the conflict. On Sunday, the human rights commissioner in Ukraine stated that the number of civilian victims alone is 210; this includes several children. The New York Times updates us that Ukraine and Russia are preparing for talks as the fighting continues. The Ukrainian president said that these talks had little hope in ending the conflict and explained that Ukraine will push “an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops.” Reuters further states that Russian forces have seized two cities in South-Eastern Ukraine. According to the U.N. Relief Agency, nearly 400,000 civilians have fled the country. The Guardian informs us that this invasion has impacted the Russian economy as the Russian Reubel has fallen nearly 30% to an all-time low. Furthermore, Forbes tells us that British Petroleum is exiting its 19.75% ownership of Rosneft, a Russian state-owned oil firm that supplies Russia, after pressure from the British government,

Next, The New York Times reported on Covid-19 updates. Within New York City, school mask mandates and vaccine requirements for restaurants, gyms and movie theatres are being eliminated by March 7th.

Finally, The Washington Post states that an AAA study revealed that unsafe drivers made up a larger share of motorists during the pandemic. The AAA study was prompted by research showing that, in 2020, traffic deaths were up, despite driving being down by 20% during much of 2020.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Friday, February 25th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, let’s look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal updates us that Russian forces have closed in on the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv came under renewed bombing in the early hours of Friday when President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed not to surrender. The Washington Post adds that over one residential building in the city caught fire after being hit by rocket debris. The Guardian states that US President Joe Biden has responded to this attack by taking aim at Russia’s largest banks and companies and effectively cutting them off from Western financial markets. Biden has further warned that Putin wishes to recreate the former Soviet Union. Furthermore, the European Union has approved “massive sanctions” on Russia. Forbes tells us that these will attempt to restrict Russia’s access to European capital markets and raise its borrowing costs.

The Washington Post informs us that the former Minneapolis police officers who were at the scene of George Floyd’s murder were convicted yesterday of violating Floyd’s civil rights. This event will likely increase observation of how officers are trained to intervene with rogue colleagues.

Regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic, The Wall Street Journal states that, on Friday, Federal officials are planning to release updated mask guidelines.

The New York Times reports that the significant winter storm that began last night in the Southern Plains up to the Ohio Valley is predicted to move over to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Meteorologists have said that this could result in dangerous travel conditions and the risk of widespread power outages.

Finally, Elon Musk and his brother are under investigation for alleged insider trading. This comes after Kimbal Musk sold Tesla shares the day before his brother asked Twitter if he should sell, which sent stocks spiralling. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has reportedly opened an investigation into whether or not they violated insider trading rules.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Thursday, February 24th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Reuters reports that today an all-out invasion took place from Russia into Ukraine. Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities and columns of troops poured across the border. This started the biggest attack of one state against another in Europe since World War Two. Meanwhile, Guardian states that, while Russia invaded, members of the UN security council were discussing how to prevent war. The Washington Post tells us that global leaders are criticizing Putin’s actions. Biden called the military assault an “unjustified attack” that signals “a premeditated war.” Russian invasion has dramatically influenced the global economy. Reuters updates us that European stocks dropped 2.75% and oil prices broke above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. Forbes further notes that today Bitcoin fell below $35,000 for the first time since January.

Next, let’s take a look at the Covid-19 pandemic. The New York Times explains that in the first year of the pandemic the number of American women who died during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth increased sharply. Health officials have attributed this partly to Covid and pandemic-related disruptions. This study also showed that black women were the group that experienced the most deaths. Regarding the anti-vaccine mandate trucker protests in Canada, The Washington Post reports that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revoked the use of emergency powers against the protesters. The Canadian leader said that this was because they believed the situation was no longer an emergency.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, February 23rd. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at the Ukraine crisis. The New York Times updates us that Biden has condemned Russian troops moving into Eastern Ukraine as an “invasion”. The Washington Post reports that U.S. and European allies have announced the first wave of sanctions on Russia. The sanctions include Russian banks and limit the country’s access to financial markets. Trump has openly praised Putin’s aggressive move into Ukraine. Forbes states that Trump called the Russian leader’s move “genius” and criticized Biden by saying the president had “no response” sanctions. Markets are starting to sound an alarm over this crisis. Axios tells us that investors unloaded stocks today as the Russian troops invaded.

Regarding the trial of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery, The Washington Post reports that a federal jury found the three white men guilty of committing a hate crime and other violations. The conviction is a victory for the U.S. Department of Justice, which had previously vowed to more aggressively prosecute hate crimes. All three men are sentenced to life in prison.

Next, let’s look at the Washington DC truckers’ demonstration against pandemic restrictions. The Guardian informs us that in response to the planned protests, the Pentagon is expected to approve the deployment of 700 to 800 unarmed national guard troops to the nation’s capital.

Finally, The New York Times updates us on Covid-19 news. As New York State Officials are lifting certain pandemic restrictions, a new poll has shown that 60% of New York voters want more data on the pandemic before lifting the state school mask mandate. Forbes adds that a country official said that Los Angeles is expected to ease indoor mask mandates this week.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, February 22nd. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at the Russia and US tensions. Forbes updates us that the UN Security Council Members have condemned Russia’s recent moves. This is after Putin defied international law by recognizing two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and deployed Russian troops to them. The New York Times adds that it is unclear whether these Russian troops will stay in the regions controlled by separatist republics. Nevertheless, The Washington Post reports that Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the recognition as “a clear attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Next, let’s look at US weather warnings. Forbes states that a “major winter storm” is forecast this week impacting areas from Minnesota to California. The storm is warned to drive temperatures up to 30 degrees below the average. This weather has been linked to climate change.

Within Columbia, The Guardian tells us that women’s reproductive rights campaigners are celebrating a “historic victory” after the country decriminalised abortion in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. This decision came after rulings in Argentina and Mexico which made access to abortions easier.

Reuters reports that civil groups are saying that under EU laws, users should be able to sue US tech giants. This request calls to curb these companies’ power. Despite EU lawmakers being open to the demand, EU countries have so far ignored it.

Trump’s new social media platform, Truth Social, has now launched on Apple’s app store. However, Forbes informs us that the start has been glitchy as many are shown error messages and others were put on a waitlist.

Finally, The New York Times updates us on Covid-19 news. Studies are now suggesting that three doses of the vaccination, or even two, are enough to protect most people from serious illness and death for a long time. This suggests that we are unlikely to need another booster shot for months or even years.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Monday, February 21st. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, The Washington Post reports that the hate-crimes trial of Arbery’s killer has spotlighted everyday racism and gun culture. For example, federal prosecutors have focused on the men’s prolific racism online as it likely led them to target Arbery for being black.

Trump’s new social media network, Truth Social, is expected to launch in March. The Guardian tells us that this right-wing Twitter alternative originally was meant to launch today. The platform was the former US president’s response to being permanently banned from Twitter.

Next, let’s look at Russia and US tensions. The Washington Post updates us that Biden has agreed ‘in principle’ to a summit with Putin, but only if Ukraine is not invaded. This occurred as the window for a diplomatic solution seemed to be closing. The New York Times tells us that the United States government claims that they have “credible information” supporting the idea Russian forces have created a list of Ukrainian citizens to be killed or sent to detention camps following a Russian invasion. The targets most likely will be those opposed to Russian actions, for example, dissident migrants from Russia, journalists and members of the LGBTQ+ community. This publication added that Putin is holding an unscheduled meeting of his Security Council today as Russia declared that “tensions are rising”.

Within the US immigration system, the Guardian states that courts are struggling amid understaffing and a backlog of over 1.6 million cases. Judges, scholars and attorneys are all in fear that immigrants may not even receive a notice before their hearing leading them to be absent.

Finally, regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Forbes reports that Queen Elizabeth and Justin Beiber have both tested positive with the virus. The news source noted that the risk for the Queen is roughly 340 times greater.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Friday, February 18th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off today’s briefing by looking at the Russia and Ukraine tensions. The Washington Post updates us that Biden is meeting with other Western leaders today to talk about the crisis. This is occurring as widespread shelling takes place in Eastern Ukraine and Moscow continues to build up troops on the border. Furthermore, the Guardian adds that the US Secretary of State will meet with the Russian foreign minister next week. This meeting was agreed upon on the basis that Russia would not invade Ukraine.

Next, let’s look at Spotify. The New York Times reports that the company’s deal with Joe Rogan is now estimated to be worth around $200 million. This deal has not only brought Spotify to prominence as a podcasting giant, but also catapulted them into a discussion over free speech and misinformation.

The BBC tells us that a judge has ruled that former US president Donald Trump and his two children must answer questions under oath in a New York investigation. This is after New York's attorney general accused the Trump Organization of obtaining tax breaks and loans from "fraudulent or misleading asset valuations". The Guardian adds that the Trump family has been attempting to fend off demands for documents, information and testimony.

Regarding the Canadian anti-vaccine mandate border protests, The Washington Post reports that two of the “Freedom-Convey” organizers have been arrested. This came hours after Canadian law enforcement vowed to bring an “imminent” end to the demonstrations.

Forbes reports that a new study has found that the brains of astronauts who spent nearly six months in space were found to be changed for months after they returned to Earth. This allows us to better understand the impact of Space on astronauts' health.

Regarding the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, The New York Times tells us that Eileen Gu, the 18-year-old Californian who is competing in free skiing for China, has won gold. This is the third medal Gu won for China. Finally, Forbes states that the International Olympic Committee president criticized Russian skater Kamila Valieva’s coaches for showing “tremendous coldness” towards the young skater after she failed to reach the podium.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Thursday, February 17th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s start by looking at the Russia and US standoff. The New York Times reports that tensions are rising after the West accused Russia of lying. The Guardian updates us that US officials have said that Russia is deploying over 7000 troops to the Ukrainian border. This report is supported by others that contradict Putin’s claim of a partial withdrawal. Axios adds that the Pentagon has said that three U.S. Navy patrol aircraft "experienced unprofessional intercepts" by Russian planes as they flew in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea.

Regarding the anti-vaccine mandate protests on the Canadian border, Reuters states that police have threatened the truck drivers taking part with arrest. The Federal Public Safety Minister has accused extremist groups of helping organize protests in Ottawa and at U.S. border crossings.

Furthermore, within Covid-19 news, Forbes tells us that many US voters, particularly Democratic politicians’ constituents, believe that it is “too early” to lift mask and vaccine mandates. This publication further noted that a new study has found that people with Covid-19 are far more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder or be prescribed a mental health-related drug up to one year after infection. This is even the case with milder infections.

Within Saudi Arabia, The Guardian reports that women are applying in their thousands to drive trains. This event has indicated the demand for loosened restrictions on women’s employment.

Finally, let’s take a look at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Axios tells us that the Canadian women’s hockey team has won gold, beating the defending champion America. The New York Times reports that American skier Mikaela Shiffrin was again disqualified in her final solo event. This has been the third race she has failed to finish in the last two weeks.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.