Daily Skimm: Ukraine, Daylight Saving Time, and March Madness

Calls for Backup

The Story

The EU’s getting closer to Ukraine.

How so?

Yesterday, prime ministers from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia arrived in Kyiv to show support. It’s the first time foreign leaders have entered Ukraine since Russia invaded last month. Ukraine’s been calling on the West — including the US and NATO — to help out. Think: asking for a no-fly zone and military support. All as Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been killed and more have been wounded.

Tell me more.

Slovenia’s PM says the goal of the trip is to remind the European Union that Ukraine deserves to be accepted. But the trip isn’t without risks. It’s reportedly being classified as independent considering the dangers. One analyst says Russian President Vladimir Putin could take it as NATO crossing the line. Meanwhile, Russia has continued bombarding Kyiv — destroying residential buildings. But the three PMs aren't the only ones traveling.

Who else?

President Biden. He’s meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels next week to talk about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It could mean more sanctions against Russia. And today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be virtually addressing Congress at 9am ET. He’s expected to call on US lawmakers for additional fighter jets and military weapons. Here’s how to watch.

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Ukraine has been bombarded for 21 days. And Ukraine’s call for international help is growing louder. It seems that sanctions aren’t stopping Russia and many are wondering ‘what’s next?’

And Also...This

Who's singing 'now I see daylight'…

Senators. Yesterday, they voted unanimously to make daylight saving time permanent. Since as far back as 1918, Americans have tweaked their clocks twice a year in a failed attempt to save energy. (Fun fact for everyone but farmers: they had nothing to do with it.) But studies show the ritual is linked to things like higher rates of heart disease, car accidents, and depression. Still, for over a century everyone's kind of just gone along with it. But yesterday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) — fresh off one less hour of sleep than usual probably — said 'enough is enough.' As he put it, "we don't have to keep doing this stupidity anymore." Everyone in the Senate agreed. Next up: the House and President Biden have to take the bill up. Meanwhile, sleep specialists are saying 'noooo' — and that it should be standard time instead.

Where tensions might be rising…

India. Yesterday, a court in southern India upheld a ban on wearing the hijab in schools. Earlier this year, a government-run school in Karnataka restricted students wearing headscarves from attending class. It launched protests and counter-protests that ultimately led to school closures. Now, the court has upheld the ban, saying the hijab isn't an "essential" principle of Islam. The move is raising concerns that other states could follow suit, restricting freedom of religion and exacerbating Hindu-Muslim tensions.

• Islamophobia: The ruling comes the same day that the UN approved a resolution making March 15 the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Lynchings and hate speech targeting Muslims in India have gone up since 2014 — when Indian PM Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party gained power.

What's taking a shot at ending plastic waste...

Starbucks. The company is planning to do away with its iconic disposable cups. And wants customers to BYO mug or borrow one from the store by 2025. That’s one way to eliminate a latte waste.

Who’s going to ball out…

Women’s college basketball.