Keeping Ukraine online | Mississippi’s equal pay deal | NCAA Showdown

Plus: Billionaire Trader Ken Griffin Navigates A Flock Of Black Swans

Good morning.

The besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol was able to stay online thanks to a dedicated team of engineers. Now they are missing and the city has gone dark amid Russian shelling. Mississippi has become the final state to propose equal pay legislation, but campaigners are calling for a veto of a bill riddled with loopholes. Duke and UNC’s March Madness showdown sets the stage for one of the biggest games in college basketball history. And finally, we hear from Wall Street titan Ken Griffin on how his $47 billion Citadel fund is making the best out of the worst of times.

In The News Today

Los Angeles police officers were “prepared” to arrest Will Smith following his physical attack on comedian Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony, but Rock told police he did not want them to intervene, according to Oscars producer Will Packer.

Ukrainian helicopters are claimed to have attacked a fuel storage facility in Russia, the first Ukrainian airstrike on Russian territory, and another step in President’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy counterattack against Russia’s invasion.

Top Take-Aways

The hunt for sanctioned oligarchs’ trophy assets continues with French authorities freezing two helicopters owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov on the French Riviera.

After weeks of Russian attacks halted classes throughout Ukraine, students across the country are going back to school online, as teachers and superintendents use Zoom and Google Meet both to resume lessons and to try to locate missing children.

Engineers who kept besieged Mariupol connected have gone missing or died, but hopes remain that Ukrainian cities knocked off the internet map will come back online fast once the shelling ends.

Mississippi has had the dubious distinction of being the last state in the nation to not have either an equal pay law or a non-discrimination statute that impacts employment. A new bill could change that, but loopholes mean it could be even harder for women to get equal pay.

Sticker shock at the pump has Americans hesitant to hit the road. Some employers are creating new perks to get them where they need to go.

The fiercest rivals in college basketball will meet in the NCAA tournament for the first time on Sunday. Carloads of diehard Duke and UNC fans are moving heaven and earth for tickets in what could be the biggest ever game for March Madness.

Today's Must Read

In Case You Missed It

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dropped its travel health notice for cruising, just over two years after the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Tips You Can Trust

When you’re busy being busy, it can be tough to take breaks during your work day, but hitting the pause button is actually a secret career weapon.

Happy people tend to be more productive at work. Here are six ways leaders can foster happiness in the workplace.

Today's Must Watch

Recommendations
From Beyond The Newsroom

A Forbes subscription illuminates, informs and inspires. Join today to gain unlimited access to all our journalism and a front-row seat at exclusive subscriber-only events.