What the U.S. wants from peace talks with Ukraine, marking five years of COVID-19, and Kate Middleton's Commonwealth Day outing
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NEED TO KNOW
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What the U.S. wants from peace talks with Ukraine
Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia today ahead of a high-stakes meeting in Saudi Arabia with U.S. officials to discuss ceasefire terms.
The strikes: Russian officials said 337 Ukrainian drones were shot down, including 91 over Moscow, marking the largest drone attack on the city since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. At least two people were killed, and airports were temporarily shut down. [USA Today]
In Saudi Arabia: Ukraine's delegation and U.S. officials are expected to discuss a limited ceasefire and prisoner release. Ukraine also signaled it was ready to sign a deal to give the U.S. access to rare earth minerals, which President Trump has been eager to secure. [AP]
Outlook: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped for 'practical outcomes' amid a pause in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested both Ukraine and Russia would have to make concessions. [Reuters]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT👑 Kate's royal homage
Kate Middleton returned to the U.K.'s annual Commonwealth Day celebration yesterday for the first time since 2023, wearing a red Catherine Walker dress and pearl jewelry in nods to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. [People/Us Weekly]
⚖️ ICE deportation blocked
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting Palestinian activist and U.S. resident Mahmoud Khalil and scheduled a hearing for later this week, during which Khalil's lawyer will challenge his detention. [Yahoo News]
🏛️ DOGE ruling
Another federal judge yesterday ruled that Elon Musk's DOGE records will likely have to be revealed to the public. The ruling comes as Musk said DOGE is planning to double its staff and is working in nearly every federal agency. [Politico/NBC News]
⛪ The pope's health
In a statement yesterday, the Vatican said Pope Francis was no longer in imminent danger of death from double pneumonia after doctors lifted their prognosis. He'll remain in hospital for several more days. [AP]
☀️ America's happiest cities
What makes a city the happiest? New research compared several factors, including income growth, life expectancy and how people spent their leisure time. The city that topped the list: Fremont, Calif. See which other cities made the list. [Fortune]
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY
📖 On bookshelves: Dylan Mulvaney's Paper Doll, in which she talks about the backlash to her 2023 partnership with Bud Light, is out today. [TheWrap]
🎥 Now streaming: Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, a documentary about the Rust cinematographer who died on set, is on Hulu. [Yahoo Entertainment]
📺 Taking the stage: Iliza Shlesinger's comedy special, A Different Animal, dropped overnight on Prime Video. Watch a clip in which she stands up for millennials. [Deadline]
🏀 On the court, the Pistons' Malik Beasley will have a Steph Curry-level milestone in his sight when his team plays the Wizards at 7 p.m. ET on NBA League Pass. [Detroit Free Press]
🏒 In the rink, the Panthers — without Aaron Ekblad, who's suspended for 20 games — will face the Bruins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. [Hockey News]
☀️ And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Illustration: Yahoo News; photo:In 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, warning that COVID-19 cases, deaths and affected countries would continue to rise. Read an oral history of that day. (More on the pandemic below.) [Yahoo News]
3 QUESTIONS
...about COVID's impact
I asked Yahoo News reporter Dylan Stableford to talk about his reporting on this day five years ago and about the pandemic's lasting impact.
Divya: What are some of the moments that stand out to you from this day in 2020?
Dylan: It was the day COVID became real for many Americans. Trump banned travel from Europe, the NBA suspended its season and Tom Hanks announced he and his wife had tested positive. Until then, the virus was still largely thought of as someone else's problem. By the end of the day, it was here.
Divya: Five years later, how are we still seeing the effects of the pandemic?
Dylan: Millions of people still deal with long COVID or disability from the virus. The pandemic also brought on stubborn inflation, and 35% of people still do some or all their work from home. My colleague Mike put these charts together to show these changes, and more.
Divya: You recently asked readers about their favorite and least-favorite pandemic purchases. What did they say?
Dylan: A lot! People bought things to make being stuck at home more enjoyable: pets, an indoor garden, a kayak and even a bidet. Some stuck, others not so much — that six-person inflatable hot tub one person bought is still in its box in their garage.
Their other regrets? Meta VR goggles, cheap toilet paper and much more.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
John Whitaker
Ken Whitaker recently went viral on TikTok after he let his grandson win in Twister by faking a fall — accidentally triggering a 9-1-1 call from his smartwatch. Watch him try to explain himself to the dispatcher. [People]
Have a great day. See you tomorrow!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Keeping math and reading skills sharp can slow age-related cognitive decline. Doing a crossword every day can help. [Yahoo Life]
About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News.
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Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the University of Mississippi's Center for Air and Space Law, told Newsweek in an email: "Certainly, there are other launch service providers but SpaceX remains dominant and the time it would take to replace all services would delay many important missions and strategic plans, including the proposed Golden Dome." She added that "U.S. reliance on SpaceX is not borne of favoritism but of necessity and efficiency." Aspects Of The Space Program Space research and exploration go beyond science. They are central to U.S. national security. The Department of Defense holds multiple contracts to launch satellites used for GPS, intelligence gathering and military coordination. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union fiercely competed for dominance in space, viewing it as a critical domain of defense. "Space is important as an end in itself in terms of exploring and gaining new knowledge. But it also is taking on a defense role, because space is getting militarized. There are both offensive and defensive weapons that could be put into space," West said. "There's a lot riding on this relationship. People are worried if there is a major war, adversaries could shoot down our satellites and destroy our GPS systems and mobile communications." Beyond high-profile rocket launches and missions to the ISS, the U.S. space program encompasses a wide range of activities, including deploying space-based science observatories, launching lunar landers and preparing crewed and uncrewed missions to the moon and other planets, among other initiatives. What Happens Next When Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment on Friday, it was referred to NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens' statement, which was emailed to Newsweek. "NASA will continue to execute upon the President's vision for the future of space," Stevens said. "We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President's objectives in space are met." Given the volatile nature of their feud, it remains unclear whether Trump will attempt to cancel existing contracts or limit future deals, or whether Musk could pull SpaceX out of its government commitments altogether.
