Sunday, April 10th, 2022 

Russia appoints new general to oversee Ukraine invasion Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, who commands Russia’s southern military district and “has a lot of experience” from “Russian operations in Syria,” to oversee the war in Ukraine, a Western official said Friday. This reorganization comes after Russia’s military withdrew from the Kyiv region, having failed to take the capital. Prior to Dvornikov’s appointment, Western intelligence officials reportedly believed there was no single Russian commander overseeing the war. Decisions, one official said, were made by a number of high-ranking generals and officials in Moscow. Several Russian generals have died on the frontlines as they attempted to untangle tactical and logistical problems that arose due to the lack of proper coordination. BBC

Satellite images show 8-mile-long Russian military convoy in eastern Ukraine  Satellite images released Saturday by Maxar Technologies show an eight-mile-long Russian military convoy moving through a town near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday. The convoy, which reportedly includes “armored vehicles, trucks with towed artillery, and support equipment,” could signal that a major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine is about to begin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that his country’s military will face a “hard battle” as Russian forces withdrawing from around Kyiv are redeployed to eastern Ukraine. “Yes, [Russian] forces are gathering in the east [of Ukraine],” Zelensky said. “This will be a hard battle. We believe in this fight and our victory.” AXIOS 

S&P Global Ratings lowers its rating of Russian obligations to “SD” (selective default), saying that Russia is very unlikely to pay out external debt coupons in US dollars and will instead pay them out in rubles, which is in breach of the bond terms. However, S&P expects that Russia will still meet its other payment obligations. (Reuters) 

Russia’s invasion threatens ‘the whole European project,’ Zelensky says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address late Saturday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens “the whole European project” and is “a catastrophe that will inevitably hit everyone.” He also warned his people to brace for a major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine while also pledging to continue looking for “diplomatic ways to put an end to this war.” It seems, however, that Zelensky is committed to negotiating from a position of strength. Mykhailo Podolyak, one of the Ukrainians engaged in negotiations with Russia, said Zelensky does not plan to meet one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin until Ukrainian forces have defeated Russia’s new campaign in the east. BBC

Ukraine and Russia exchange prisoners for 3rd time since war began Russia and Ukraine swapped prisoners on Saturday in the third such exchange since the war began on Feb. 24. “On the order of President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, the third prisoner exchange took place today. 12 of our servicemen are returning home, including one female officer,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova confirmed the exchange on Sunday, claiming that among the Russian nationals who returned home on Saturday were 14 sailors who had been held at the port of Mariupol, several soldiers, and four employees of Russia’s Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation. REUTERS 

Boris Johnson meets with Zelensky during secret trip to Ukraine United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson met in person with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Saturday. A spokesperson for Johnson said that the meeting was intended as a “show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people” and that the two leaders discussed the U.K.’s “long-term support to Ukraine” as well as “a new package of financial and military aid.” The U.K. pledged additional military aid to Ukraine after a Russian missile attack on a train station in eastern Ukraine killed at least 52 civilians on Friday. THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 

The Dnipro International Airport is completely destroyed by a Russian missile strike. Five people are injured. (Reuters) 

The Israel Defence Forces perform a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Two brothers of dead Palestinian militant Raad Hazem are injured. (The Jerusalem Post) 

An Israel Border Police officer is injured at the entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in a stabbing attack. The person responsible is killed.(The Jerusalem Post) 

A Palestinian woman is killed in a clash with the Israel Defence Forces in Husan. (The Jerusalem Post) 

A Palestinian man is shot dead and an officer is injured during an attack in Ashkelon.(Times of Israel) 

A man is killed after purportedly throwing a molotov cocktail at Israeli forces in Al-Khader, Bethlehem Governorate. (Times of Israel) 

The Polisario Front suspends all relations with Spain. (Reuters) 

Voters in France go to polling stations to elect their next President. (The New York Times) 

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins the first round with 28.1% of the vote and will face Marine Le Pen, who has obtained 23.3% of the vote, in the second round on April 24. (elDiario.es) 

Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Rōki Sasaki throws a perfect game, the first in 28 years and the 16th in NPB history, tying the existing NPB record by striking out 19 batters, and setting a new one for 13 in a row. (Kyodo News) 

Trump endorses Dr. Oz for Senate Former President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of author, TV star, retired surgeon, and Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz on Saturday. “This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our Country,” Trump said, describing Oz as “brilliant and well-known” as well as “popular, respected, and smart.” Recent polling has Oz in a close primary race with hedge fund CEO David McCormick, who was also vying for Trump’s endorsement. If elected, Oz would be the country’s first Muslim senator. NBC NEWSCNN 

Macron and Le Pen jockey for first place as French voters head to polls Centrist French President Emmanuel Macron and right-wing challenger Marine Le Pen are vying for the top spot in the first round of France’s presidential election Sunday. Just one month ago, Macron held a commanding lead over Le Pen, who he soundly defeated in 2017, but voters’ concerns about rising costs of living have wiped it out entirely. The two are polling dead even for both rounds of voting and are all but certain to face each other two weeks from now in the runoff election. Polls opened at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. in most places and at 8:00 p.m. in some of France’s larger cities. THE WEEKNPR 

Pakistan ousts prime minister with no-confidence vote Pakistan’s parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan with a vote of no confidence on Sunday, potentially bringing a peaceful and orderly end to a political standoff many feared would result in Khan’s arrest or a military coup. The vote was originally scheduled to take place a week earlier, but Khan’s allies in parliament blocked the vote in a move Pakistan’s Supreme Court later ruled unconstitutional. Ahead of the vote, Khan repeatedly accused the United States of plotting to overthrow him and said he would not step down if he lost the vote. On Monday, Pakistan’s parliament is expected to elect Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to replace Khan.   THE WEEKAL JAZEERA 

More than a dozen states are considering versions of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill Florida’s parental rights in education law — referred to by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill — that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed last month is already inspiring imitators in red states across the country, accoridng to a report published Sunday. The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Bills with similar language have been proposed in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Ohio. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said a Florida-style education bill will be a top priority in the next legislative session. NPR 

Saturday, April 9th, 2022 

Russian missile strike on train station kills at least 52 civilians awaiting evacuation, Ukraine says Two Russian missiles struck the train station in Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk oblast, as thousands of civilians were gathered Friday awaiting evacuation to safer regions of the country, Ukrainian authorities said. “The rocket hit the temporary waiting room, where hundreds of people were waiting for the evacuation train,” Donetsk regional police said. The strike reportedly killed at least 52 people. Ukrainian leaders have been warning of a major Russian offensive in the Donbas, the eastern region that includes Donetsk and Luhansk, and strongly encouraged civilians to leave while there is still safe passage out. THE WASHINGTON POST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is still ready to continue peace negotiations with Russia. (RTÉ) 

Four people in Vuhledar and one person in Novomykhailivka, Marinka Raion, are killed by Russian shelling. Two people are injured. (Times of Israel) 

Ukrainian Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk announces that President Zelenskyy has ordered a third prisoner exchange with Russia, with 12 Ukrainian soldiers and 14 civilians returning to Ukraine. (RFerl) 

Israeli soldiers raid the refugee camp in Jenin where the perpetrator of the Tel Aviv shooting lived. A Palestinian Islamic Jihad member is killed and 13 other people are injured. (Times of Israel) 

In retaliation for the Israeli raid, a group of around 100 Palestinian rioters vandalize Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. The gravestone and some other objects are damaged in the attack. (The Jerusalem Post) 

The state-owned Syrian Arab News Agency says that Israeli airstrikes have hit the northwestern city of Masyaf. No casualties have been reported. (Times of Israel) 

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announces that Saudi Arabia will lift their COVID-19 restrictions on the hajj and will allow 1 million people to participate in the event for the first time since 2019. (Al Arabiya) 

Azerbaijani Healthcare Minister Teymur Musayev announces that Azerbaijan will develop their own domestic vaccines to combat COVID-19. (AzerNews) 

EU High Representative Josep Borrell announces that the European Union and Italy will resume their diplomatic operations in Kyiv after temporarily relocating to Lviv. (The Hill) 

Iran sanctions 15 Americans with ties to the Trump administration. (IRNA) 

Libyan Army officials in Eastern Libya announce their refusal to take part in the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, urging warlord Khalifa Haftar to cut off oil exports and transport to the Western half of the country. (Reuters) 

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government are ousted in a no-confidence vote put forward by the country’s political opposition. (AP) 

Noble Yeats, ridden by jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, wins the 2022 Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, England. Noble Yeats was a surpise victor at 50–1, beating the favourite Any Second Now. (The Telegraph) 

Donald Trump Jr. was proposing ways to overturn the 2020 election early on, per text Texts obtained by CNN reveal that Donald Trump Jr. texted former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows two days after the 2020 presidential election, before results were finalized, and laid out strategies for keeping his father in power. The text message from the former president’s eldest son is among the documents obtained by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. “It’s very simple,” Trump Jr. reportedly texted Meadows on Nov. 5. “We have multiple paths We control them all,” he added later. A statement from Trump Jr.’s lawyer says that “given the date,” the message “likely originated from someone else and was forwarded.” CNN 

Jury acquits 2 men in plot to kidnap Michigan governor Two men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) were acquitted on Friday by a federal jury, which was unable to reach a verdict on similar charges against two other defendants in the case. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker declared a mistrial for Adam Fox and Barry Croft, while Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were found not guilty of kidnapping conspiracy. All four were facing up to life in prison if convicted. The verdict also seems to indicate that the jury agreed to at least some degree defense attorneys’ claims that the four men were entrapped by FBI agents. In response to the verdict, Whitmer’s office decried the “normalization of political violence.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Pakistani prime minister says he won’t accept results of delayed no-confidence vote Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said Friday that he will not step down if he loses an upcoming no-confidence vote. The vote, which Khan is expected to lose after several defections within his own party, was originally set for April 3rd but was blocked by the deputy speaker of Pakistan’s parliament, after which Khan attempted to call for new elections. The country’s Supreme Court subsequently ruled that blocking the vote was unconstitutional and ordered parliament to reconvene. The vote was scheduled for Saturday but appears to have been delayed again by Khan’s allies. Khan claims he is the victim of a regime change conspiracy orchestrated by the United States, a charge the U.S. denies. REUTERS

Romney, Collins, and Murkowski deserve credit for backing Jackson, Biden says GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), and Susan Collins (Maine), who voted alongside Democrats to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday, received praise from President Biden on Friday. “I want to thank three Republicans who voted for Judge Jackson,” Biden said during a celebratory event on the South Lawn of the White House, calling Collins and Murkowski women of “integrity.” Biden also commended Romney “whose dad stood up like he did. His dad stood up and made these decisions on civil rights,” alluding to how Romney’s father — a Republican governor — marched in support of the civil rights movement. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

White House worried about what a Le Pen victory in France means for Ukraine, NATO The White House has begun worrying about the possibility of a Marine Le Pen victory in France, concerned that a rebuke of incumbent Emmanuel Macron would upset the NATO military alliance and strengthen the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a report released Friday, U.S. officials are concerned that Le Pen, a far-right populist, could pull France out of the sanctions against Russia and destabilize the NATO alliance. The first round of elections begins Sunday, and polls suggest Macron and Le Pen will likely advance to a close two-person showdown on April 24.  POLITICO

DeSantis predicts ‘cold war’ between Florida and Georgia if Stacey Abrams becomes governor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said at a press conference Friday that if Democrat Stacey Abrams wins Georgia’s upcoming gubernatorial election, it will lead to serious tensions between the two states. “If Stacey Abrams is elected governor of Georgia, I just want to be honest, that will be a cold war between Florida and Georgia,” DeSantis said. “I can’t have Castro to my south and Abrams to my north, that would be a disaster. So, I hope you guys take care of that and we’ll end up in good shape.” Abrams is facing a rematch with Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who narrowly defeated her in 2018. FOX NEWSTHE HILL 

First all-civilian crew heads to International Space Station Axiom Space launched four private citizens into space Friday morning, marking the first time a crew consisting entirely of civilians has traveled to the International Space Station. Last September, SpaceX made history by launching the first all-civilian crew into orbit, a mission that involved the crew orbiting the Earth for three days. The civilian crew on the Ax-1 mission will “spend eight days working and living aboard” the International Space Station while “conducting research that lays the groundwork for a full realization of the possibilities in low-Earth orbit,” Axiom Space said. The mission will include former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría and three customers: Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe. NBC NEWS 

Will Smith banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday that Will Smith will not be allowed to attend any Academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years. The move comes in response to Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars over a joke about his wife. The Academy has faced criticism for not removing Smith during the event, and in a statement issued Friday, Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson acknowledged they “did not adequately address the situation in the room,” and “for this, we are sorry.” BUZZFEED NEWS

The End