Sunday, April 3rd, 2022 

Hundreds of civilians are found dead on a street in Bucha after the city is recaptured by Ukrainian forces. Journalists and Ukrainian forces say that they have uncovered evidence of war crimes by the Russian military. (Times of Israel) (The Guardian) (The Kyiv Independent) 

Streets found strewn with corpses as Ukrainian troops reclaim Kyiv suburbs Ukrainian troops re-occupying the Kyiv region after Russian forces pulled back during the weekend found the streets strewn with the bodies of civilians, 280 of whom were buried in a mass grave in the suburb of Bucha. One photo circulating online shows the body of a man with his hands bound and an open Ukrainian passport on the ground beside him. The Russian Defense Ministry dismissed the photos and videos as “fake” while also attempting to blame the civilian deaths on Ukrainian air strikes. Ukrainian government sources have accused Russia of war crimes. THE NEW YORK POST 

Withdrawing Russian troops left mines near homes and corpses, Zelensky says Russian forces placed land mines around homes, abandoned equipment, and even corpses as they pulled back from around Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday. Zelensky said these mines are creating a “catastrophic” situation for civilians who might want to return to their homes. “There are a lot of trip wires, a lot of other dangers,” he added. Russia is a signatory to the international Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which prohibits placing mines or booby traps on or near “sick, wounded, or dead persons.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Large explosions are reported in the port city of Odessa as residents are urged to seek shelter. Ukrainian officials say the Russian Air Force has fired missiles at the city, and that some missiles have been intercepted. (BBC News)  

Human Rights Watch, an independent human rights group, says that it has documented allegations of war crimes perpetrated by Russian forces in Ukraine against civilians, including rape, summary execution, and looting of civilian properties. (CNN) 

United States, European Union, and NATO leaders react to emerging reports of the massacre in Bucha, accusing the Russian Armed Forces of war crimes and calling for more sanctions against Russia. (BBC News) 

Russia threatens to pull out of International Space Station unless ‘illegal sanctions’ are lifted Dmitry Rogozin, the director of Russian space agency Roscosmos, tweeted Saturday that Russian cosmonauts cannot cooperate in operating the International Space Station until sanctions against Russia are removed. “I believe that the restoration of normal relations between partners in the International Space Station and other joint projects is possible only with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions,” Rogozin wrote. The ISS is a joint project of Roscosmos, NASA, and the space agencies of Japan, Canada, and the European Union. Russia operates one section of the station, while the remaining partners operate the other. The station cannot function without the cooperation of both sections. REUTERS 

Hungarians head to polls as opposition alliance seeks to unseat Orbán Hungarian voters cast their ballots on Sunday to determine whether controversial leader Viktor Orban will serve a fourth consecutive term as prime minister. Ahead of the election, Orban’s Fidesz party held a slight lead in the polls over United for Hungary, a six-party coalition created to oppose Fidesz that includes liberals, greens, and even the far-right Jobbik party. Orban has centralized power in the hands of his government, refused to join in European Union sanctions against Russia, and pursued a socially conservative nationalist agenda. REUTERS 

Prime Minister Sanna Marin says a decision on Finland joining the NATO military alliance must be made before summer this year, saying “Russia is not the neighbour we thought it was”. (Yle) 

Voters in Hungary head to polls to elect a new National Assembly. (The Guardian) 

Voters in Serbia head to polls to vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections. (DW) 

Six people are killed and ten others injured during a mass shooting at a popular nightlife area in Sacramento, California, United States. No suspects are in custody. (ABC News) 

Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolves the National Assembly after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri refused to hold a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was widely expected to lose. Khan previously accused the United States of conspiring with the opposition to remove him due to his opposition towards US foreign policy, which the US denies. (BBC News) 

Qatar bans gay symbols in its events for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (Euronews)  

Trump stumps for candidates who accept his stolen election claims at Michigan rally Former President Donald Trump hosted a rally outside Detroit on Saturday in which he endorsed Republican candidates for attorney general and secretary of state who accept his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. For attorney general, Trump endorsed political neophyte Matt DePerno, who pushed for an audit of the 2020 vote in Michigan’s Antrim County. For secretary of state, Trump backed Kristina Karamo, who also lacks political experience and who claimed to have witnessed ballot fraud on election night. Trump said his endorsements were “about making sure Michigan is not rigged and stolen in 2024.” THE GUARDIAN 

Around 25 million residents in Shanghai are ordered to undergo COVID-19 testing in a effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. (South China Morning Post) 

Sarah Palin announced run for Congress after meeting with Trump Before announcing her bid for Alaska’s sole seat in the House of Representatives, former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin reportedly met with former President Donald Trump, who encouraged her to run. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) called for the special election after Rep. Don Young (R), who had held Alaska’s at-large House seat since 1973, died last month. Palin barely filed her paperwork in time for the Friday deadline, joining a field of more than 40 candidates competing in the June nonpartisan primary. The top four vote getters will advance to the general election, which will be held on Aug. 16. FOX NEWS 

Pakistani prime minister calls early elections after deputy speaker blocks no-confidence vote Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan narrowly survived an attempt to remove him from power on Sunday after the deputy speaker of Pakistan’s parliament blocked a no-confidence vote, declaring it unconstitutional. Khan said Saturday, when his ouster seemed like a foregone conclusion, that he would not accept the results of vote. He also told reporters the vote was an American attempt to implement “regime change” in Pakistan. After the vote was blocked, Khan called for early elections in an attempt to shore up his power. No Pakistani prime minister has completed a full five-year term since the country gained independence in 1947. CNN 

McConnell pressuring GOP senators to oppose Jackson confirmation Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is urging his fellow Senate Republicans to vote against confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. According to a report published Saturday, McConnell said his opposition is not based on “race or gender,” but on concerns about Jackson’s judicial philosophy and her history of being soft on crime. Despite McConnell’s vote whipping, it is unlikely Republicans will be able to block Jackson’s confirmation. Even if all 50 Republican senators vote against Jackson, Vice President Kamala Harris can still break the tie in the nominee’s favor. THE HILL 

UNC and Kansas advance to NCAA championship as Coach K ends storied career The University of North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Duke Blue Devils 81-77 on Saturday. Duke’s loss marked the end of the 47-year career of beloved Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, also known as “Coach K.” In a press conference after the game, Krzyzewski congratulated UNC on their victory and said his own players were “crying on the court” as they realized the game would be his last. Also on Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks beat the Villanova Wildcats 81-65. The championship game between college basketball powerhouses Kansas and UNC will take place Monday night in New Orleans. NPR 

‘Ginni Thomas’ calls herself ‘the Yoko Ono of the Supreme Court’ in new SNL cold open Saturday Night Live began its latest episode with another Fox News parody, this time featuring Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy (Alex Moffat), Ainsley Earhardt (Heidi Gardner) and Brian Kilmeade (Mikey Day) interviewing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (Kenan Thompson) and his wife, Ginni Thomas (Kate McKinnon). In response to questions about her involvement in the campaign to overturn the 2020 election, McKinnon-as-Ginni said, “I take my duty as the Yoko Ono of the Supreme Court very seriously. All I want is a tidal wave of biblical vengeance to wash away the Biden crime family all the way to Gitmo, and then we release the Kraken.” NBC NEWS 

The Ukrainian flag is raised over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant following its recapture from Russian forces. A ceremony is held to honour the staff at the former plant who continued to work under Russian occupation. (CNN) 

Fighting erupts near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, leading to four Palestinians being arrested by Israel Police for rioting. (Times of Israel) 

Australia and India sign a A$12.6 billion trade deal aimed at strengthening India’s manufacturing sector by allowing access to more raw materials, and to also reduce Australia’s dependence on China after China placed sanctions on some Australian goods following several political disputes. (South China Morning Post) 

Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 

Ukraine retakes full control of the Kyiv Oblast as the last Russian troops return to Belarus. (Reuters) 

Ukrainian forces recapture the city of Irpin after driving out the last Russian troops. Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn confirms that the city has been fully liberated. (BBC News) 

Russia accuses Ukraine of daring airstrikes on fuel depot in Belgorod, Russia  Officials in Belgorod, a Russian city near Kharkiv, Ukraine, say Ukrainian military helicopters were responsible for explosions and subsequent fires at a fuel depot early Friday. “The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike coming from two helicopters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which entered the territory of the Russian Federation flying at a low altitude,” Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram. “There are no victims,” though two workers were injured. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the strikes on the fuel depot can’t “be perceived as creating conditions comfortable for the continuation of negotiations.” CNN 

Russia claims that the Ukrainian Air Force conducted an airstrike on Belgorod, hitting several fuel facilities. Videos on social media show low-flying attack helicopters firing rockets at a fuel depot in the city. (AP) 

Residents say that Russian authorities have violently dispersed a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Enerhodar. Several protesters are arrested and Russian troops are alleged to have used explosions to disperse the crowd. (Reuters) 

Defense Department announces $300 million in military aid to Ukraine The U.S. will send Ukraine up to $300 million worth of military supplies, including armed drones, laser-guided rocket systems, machine guns, armored off-road vehicles, night vision and thermal imaging devices, and more, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby announced late Friday. “This decision underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in support of its heroic efforts to repel Russia’s war of choice,” Kirby said in a statement. Since the beginning of the Biden administration, the U.S. has provided over $2.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and a spending bill signed last month includes an additional $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid for the embattled country. NBC NEWS 

Twenty civilians are found dead on a street in Bucha after the city is recaptured by Ukrainian forces. (Times of Israel) 

Ceasefire talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations resume via video link. (Times of Israel) 

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola travels to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and subsequently addresses the Verkhovna Rada. Metsola becomes the first EU official to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. (Times of Malta) 

The Ukrainian flag is raised over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant following its recapture from Russian forces. A ceremony is held to honour the staff at the former plant who continued to work under Russian occupation. (CNN) 

More than 170 people are detained in anti-war protests across Russia. (The Moscow Times) 

Three Palestinian Islamic Jihad members are killed and four Israeli soldiers are wounded during a gunfight near Jenin in the West Bank. (BBC News) 

Staten Island Amazon workers vote to unionize In a historic and stunning win for workers (and a first for Amazon), employees at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island on Friday voted 2,654 to 2,131 to unionize. Employees will be represented by Amazon Labor Union, which won the tally by roughly 10 percentage points. Over 8,300 workers at the fulfillment center were eligible to vote. Organizers’ demands include longer breaks, paid sick leave, paid time off for injuries sustained at work, and higher wages. When the results of the vote were official, workers and organizers celebrated on the streets of downtown Brooklyn by screaming, jumping, hugging, and even popping champagne. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Red Cross to attempt Mariupol evacuation after failed attempt Friday A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross will launch a new effort on Saturday to lead a convoy of civilians out of Russian-encircled Mariupol after failing to do so on Friday due to “impossible” conditions, the group said. Another Red Cross attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol failed in early March. Mariupol, which had over 400,000 inhabitants before the war began in late February, is strategically located on a “land bridge” that would connect the Donbas, which is controlled by Russian-backed separatists, with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. After failing to quickly capture major cities, Russia has made taking Mariupol a major focus of its “special military operation” against Ukraine. REUTERS

Jen Psaki reportedly to leave the White House and join MSNBC White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki plans to leave the White House around May for a job at MSNBC. The report published Friday says a deal hasn’t been closed but is nearly final. Psaki would reportedly appear on various MSNBC shows and host a show on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock. She would not be replacing host Rachel Maddow, as some initially speculated. Psaki would be the latest White House press secretary to get a cable news gig after Kayleigh McEnany, who was hired by Fox News as a commentator. Symone Sanders, Vice President Kamala Harris’ former spokesperson, was also recently tapped to host her own show on MSNBC and Peacock. AXIOS

U.S. economy adds 431,000 jobs as unemployment rate declines to 3.6 percent  The U.S. economy added a solid 431,000 jobs in March as the unemployment rate dipped, the Labor Department said Friday. The number of job gains came in a bit below expectations, as economists forecasted 490,000 additions. The unemployment rate also declined to 3.6 percent. This comes after a strong report last month showed the economy added 678,000 jobs in February, although Friday’s report revised this number up to 750,000. Glassdoor Senior Economist Daniel Zhao said the “healthy” March report showed the “job market is still red hot,” adding, “If 2022’s pace of jobs growth continues, we would reach the pre-pandemic jobs benchmark as early as June.” CNBC 

DeSantis wants to strip Disney of ‘special privileges’ over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ opposition Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has expressed his support for stripping Disney of its “special privileges in the law” following the company’s opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill DeSantis signed Monday. “Disney has alienated a lot of people now,” DeSantis said. “And so the political influence they’re used to wielding, I think has dissipated. And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all? And I don’t think that we should.” Some Republican legislators in Florida have discussed repealing a 1967 law establishing the Reedy Creek Improvement District, allowing Disney to operate as its own government around Walt Disney World.  CNN

U.S. to lift COVID-era border policy restricting asylum The Biden administration announced Friday it would be lifting a COVID-era border policy originally enacted under former President Donald Trump on May 23. The measure, known as Title 42, has allowed the U.S. to expeditiously expel migrants at the southern border without permitting them to seek asylum for reasons of public health. The CDC has governed both the measure and how long it’s remained in place. Though critics of the policy have welcomed its rollback, others are worried about a resulting influx of migrants at the border. In some scenarios, officials have estimated 12,000 to 18,000 migrants entering U.S. custody daily. CNBC 

World Cup drawing pits U.S. against England and Iran The United States is officially set for a clash against England and Iran in this year’s World Cup. The drawing for the 2022 World Cup was held on Friday, and the U.S. was placed into Group B along with England and Iran, as well as either Scotland, Wales, or Ukraine, depending on the result of a playoff game. This will mark a return to the World Cup for the U.S. men’s national soccer team, which failed to make the cut in 2018. The United States secured a spot in the 2022 World Cup after a match with Costa Rica on Wednesday. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Will Smith resigns from Academy over Oscars slap Actor Will Smith announced Friday he’s stepping down from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that hands out the Oscars, after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at Sunday’s ceremony. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable,” Smith said. Smith slapped Rock at the Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke about his wife. Later in the ceremony, Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor. The Academy’s board of governors on Wednesday initiated disciplinary proceedings against Smith and said it would consider taking action against him, including suspending or expelling him from the organization.  VARIETY

Ukrainian forces recapture Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, from Russian troops. (Ukrinform) 

The body of Reuters journalist Maks Levin is found in the town of Huta Mezhyhirska, near Kyiv. Levin had already disappeared several days before and is the sixth journalist to be killed in the country since Russia invaded. (The Guardian) 

Mali says that it has killed 203 insurgents in a major nine-day military operation from 23 March to April 1. (The Guardian) 

A Palestinian man is shot dead by Israeli security forces in Hebron after attacking them with a molotov cocktail. (Jerusalem Post) 

The Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis agree to a UN-brokered nationwide truce, the first in years, for two months to mark the start of Ramadan. As part of the deal, fuel shipments will be allowed to enter the Houthi-controlled port of Al Hudaydah and commercial flights will resume in the capital of Sanaa. (Reuters) 

Four pilots are killed after two South Korean Air Force KAI KT-1 Woongbis crash into each other over a mountain northeast of Sacheon, South Korea. (Deutsche Welle) 

The Russian Health Ministry announces that Russia has registered the nasal spray form of the Sputnik V vaccine, making Russia the first country to register a nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine. (TASS) 

The U.S. CDC announces that the Biden administration will end the usage of Title 42, a series of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Trump administration in order to prevent migrants from entering the United States. The measure will take effect on May 23. (CNBC) 

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declares a state of emergency as civil unrest spreads across the country. Dozens of Sri Lanka Police officers have been injured in clashes with protesters and 52 people have been arrested. (Reuters) 

The End