Here is today’s selection of top stories from The Associated Press at this hour to begin your day. 

Today’s Headlines

Russia hits Ukrainian cities, pours more troops into war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia hurled its military might against Ukrainian cities and towns and poured more troops into the war, seeking to slice the country in two in a potentially pivotal battle for…Read More

Feds will appeal mask ruling only if mandate still needed

The Justice Department said Tuesday it will not appeal a federal district judge’s ruling that ended the nation’s federal mask mandate on public transit unless the Centers for Disease Control and…Read More

Russia’s Chernobyl seizure seen as nuclear risk ‘nightmare’

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine (AP) — Here in the dirt of one of the world’s most radioactive places, Russian soldiers dug trenches. Ukrainian officials worry they were, in effect, digging their own…Read More#

China looks to learn from Russian failures in Ukraine BANGKOK (AP) — With its ground troops forced to pull back in Ukraine and regroup, and its Black Sea flagship sunk, Russia’s military failings are mounting. No country is paying closer attention than…Read More

Widespread protests grip Sri Lanka after police shooting COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Thousands of people across Sri Lanka took to the streets on Wednesday, a day after police opened fire at demonstrators, killing one person and injuring 13 others, reigniting…Read More

Macron, Le Pen square off for decisive debate as vote looms PARIS (AP) — In the climax of France’s presidential campaign, centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right contender Marine Le Pen will meet Wednesday evening in a one-on-one television debate…Read More Cross Section Energy shift creates opening for ‘world’s largest batteries’ LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) — Sprawled like a gigantic swimming pool atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan is an asphalt-and-clay pond holding enough water to produce electricity for 1.6 million…Read More Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say LOS ANGELES (AP) — Every year, one of the world’s leading dance competition companies sells the dream of Hollywood fame to hundreds of thousands of ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on…Read More Netflix aims to curtail password sharing – and bring in ads SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An unexpectedly sharp drop in subscribers has Netflix considering changes to its service that it has long resisted: Minimizing password sharing and creating a low-cost…Read More