A demand to end war – USA TODAY

The United Nations voted to condemn Russia. President Joe Biden tackled domestic and international issues in his State of the Union address. And a cargo ship with thousands of luxury cars sank to the ocean floor. 

Hi! It’s Abbey and Julius, with Wednesday’s news. 

But first, where are the ashes on Ash Wednesday from? Traditionally, ashes used on Ash Wednesday are gathered after palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

UN votes to condemn Russia

United Nations General Assembly voted to demand Russia halt the war in Ukraine in its first emergency session in a quarter century. The U.N. General Assembly’s vote on Wednesday was 141 to 5, with 35 abstentions. “The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear: End hostilities in Ukraine now,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said after the vote. “Silence the guns now. Open the door to dialogue and diplomacy now.” The U.N. human rights office has reported 136 civilian deaths, but the true toll is likely much higher. Ukrainian emergency services, meanwhile, say more than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have died. Observers say Russian troops have killed hundreds of civilians, including more than a dozen children.

• Tracking the invasion: Satellite images, surveillance footage, social media posts show the latest on the war in Ukraine
• Fact check roundup: What’s true and what’s false about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

📬 Want the latest? Everything you need to know about the situation in Ukraine, straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

A world of change 

For President Biden, his State of the Union address Tuesday night was dominated by issues he had scarcely mentioned in his first speech to a joint session of Congress a year ago – issues of inflation at home and Russian aggression abroad, on which his presidency will be judged. That was not the speech the White House had in the works weeks ago, one that was supposed to reset a struggling presidency. Though Biden pointed to historic job creation and robust economic growth, the highest levels of inflation in decades have sapped the confidence of many Americans. Confidence in Biden has sagged, too, to 39% approval, the lowest of any president at this point in his term except Donald Trump. By 2-1, Americans say Biden is not a strong leader.

• Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene heckle Biden during State of the Union
• ‘Rip-roaring reasonableness’: Stephen Colbert, more late night TV hosts weigh in on SOTU

What everyone’s talking about

• Biden’s ‘fund the police’ comment draws backlash from some BLM activists, support from others
• Hawaii is ditching entry requirements: No more COVID-19 tests, vaccine proof or quarantines
• ‘Test to treat’: Biden administration unveils COVID-19 preparedness plan
• Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich confirms he will sell the team, with sanctions looming
• Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers censured by Senate after calling for public hangings, attacking Ukraine’s president

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

What happens next in the MLB lockout?

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it was canceling Opening Day and the first two series of the 2022 season due to the ongoing lockout, with players and owners unable to come to a deal on a new labor agreement before the league-imposed deadline. When will the lockout end? There’s no immediate end in sight. April 7 will be the earliest possible date for an “Opening Day” should a deal be reached in the near future, but that could get pushed back as negotiations drag on. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the two sides could meet again as soon as Thursday.

• How the MLB lockout has already changed baseball for fans, players and owners
• Won’t get fooled again? Players are on to devil in MLB bargaining details | Opinion

The ship has sunk

The cargo ship carrying thousands of luxury cars sank to the ocean floor after 13 days afloat. The 650-foot-long, 60,000-ton cargo ship transporting Porsches, Bentleys and Audis sank Tuesday in the mid-Atlantic, the ship’s manager and the Portuguese Navy confirmed. The cargo ship first caught fire Feb. 16. Authorities haven’t confirmed the cause, but lithium batteries used in electric vehicles could be to blame. The ship was carrying 2,200 tons of fuel and 2,200 tons of oil, leading officials to fear it would cause ocean pollution. But the Portuguese Navy said in a statement that only a few pieces of wreckage and a small patch of oil were visible where the ship went down. Tugboats broke up the patch with hoses, it said.

• No injuries reported: Watch the crew be rescued from the burning ship 

Real quick

• Russia’s wealthiest man hit by EU sanctions due to ties to Putin and Russian officials
• Is Apple launching a new budget iPhone? All will be revealed at their new event  March 8
• Republican Abbott, Democrat O’Rourke secure nominations for governor in Texas primary elections
• The ‘chill girl’ persona isn’t aspirational. But it shouldn’t be mocked either, experts say.
• Prosecutors open first Jan. 6 jury trial by casting armed Texas man as assault leader

Fed still poised to hike interest rates to fight inflation, Powell says

Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a sliding stock market, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress Wednesday that the central bank plans to raise its key interest rate from near zero this month to fight a historic surge in inflation. Powell said he’ll propose a quarter point hike, rather than a half point, suggesting that’s likely what the Fed’s policymaking committee will approve. He also noted, however, that the Fed is prepared to possibly lift rates more sharply, depending on the effects of the Ukraine war and other developments. “Inflation is too high – we understand that,” Powell said. “It’ll take some time, but we’re going to get it under control.” 

• Best investments in inflation? An adviser studied 95 years of returns to find an answer

A break from the news

• 🛣️ Hit the road this spring: The best 2022 travel deals on hotels, flights, cruises and more
• 🧾 Tax deadline is fast approaching: 5 items you may not know are deductible
• 📙 Happy Read Across America Day! 13 life lessons from Dr. Seuss

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.