• A 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastates Turkey and northern Syria

• The U.S. effort to arm Ukraine starts in Scranton, Pennsylvania

💠 ON THE GRID

A devastatingly strong earthquake in Turkey and northern Syria

The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Turkey and Syria in the early hours Monday was particularly punishing for several reasons. The tremor — which matched the largest ever recorded in Turkey — hit several densely populated areas with large numbers of concrete and brick buildings vulnerable to collapse. It also struck a region that is home to the world’s largest population of Syrian refugees. And while the magnitude was high, the depth was relatively shallow, increasing the likelihood of death and damage. A second powerful quake of magnitude 7.5 struck nine hours later on a different branch of the area’s fault system, compounding the destruction.

These photos capture a sense of the damage in urban and rural areas, on both the Turkish and Syrian sides of the border. – Tom Nagorski and Mariana Labbate

💠 NEWS IN CONTEXT

The U.S. effort to arm Ukraine starts in Scranton, Pennsylvania

“For all the public focus on advanced weapons systems being sent to supply Ukraine’s military — from HIMARS to drones to Patriots and even Abrams tanks — the weapon that may prove most decisive in the country’s fight against Russia’s invasion is the humble 155-milimeter artillery shell,” Joshua Keating reports. 

“These 100-pound, explosive-filled steel canisters have been in the arsenals of Western militaries for over a century, and now the old-fashioned, artillery-heavy, trench warfare taking place in Ukraine has created a nearly inexhaustible need for them.”

Last week, Josh visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, for an inside look at the U.S. effort to produce ammunition for Ukraine – and why the city plays such an important role.

• Read his dispatch from the factory floor.

💠 MORE FROM GRID

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• The history of spy balloons: A Chinese surveillance balloon crossing the United States threw a wrench in U.S.-China relations, Lili Pike reported last week. (A U.S. fighter jet shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.) But as Khaya Himmelman reports, using spy balloons “as a means to gather intelligence is not new and definitely not rare.” The French military first used a balloon for observation back in the late 1700s – and military balloons have been used in wars through the present day. Read more about the surprising history of surveillance balloons. 

• Keeping abusers out of policing: Tyre Nichols’ death at the hands of Memphis police officers has raised many questions about policing and violence – including how to screen out potential officers with violent predispositions. But “most states, including Tennessee, fail to follow best practices in screening police candidates, experts told Grid,” Steve Reilly reports. Research has found that policing may attract candidates “with propensities for violence” – making the hiring and screening process critical. And as Steve notes, “Four of the five Memphis officers charged in Nichols’ death had previously faced reprimands or suspensions, including for violations relating to use of force.” Learn more about the research and what experts say needs to be done.

• An Indycar announcer embraces AI: What is it like to be an announcer calling the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a race featuring autonomous cars guided by AI algorithms? And how does an announcer “humanize” a race without human drivers for human fans? Benjamin Powers spoke with Ryan Myrehn, a longtime motorsports announcer, about how AI and technology is shaping how announcers call sports competitions.

• International intervention for Haiti?: According to a survey from January, nearly 70 percent of Haitians believe in support for an international force to combat the armed gangs who have taken control of as much of 60 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and expanded across the country. Last month, Joshua Keating reported on the increasingly dire situation in Haiti and whether international intervention is the answer.

💠 OUT OF THE INBOX

💠 GRID’S MOST READ TODAY

• Putin might lose the war. What would that look like for Russia, Ukraine and the world?

• The U.S. effort to arm Ukraine starts in Scranton, Pennsylvania

• A mass exodus from Christianity is underway in America. Here’s why.

• U.S. birth rates may be rising — but likely not for long. So who’s having babies?

👋 That’s all for today. See you tomorrow. –Cameron

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