Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 

An outburst of the Tau Herculids meteor shower, caused by debris from the 1995 breakup of comet 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, peaks over North America. (Space) 

Economic confidence falls to lowest point since 2009 Americans’ economic confidence fell in May to its lowest point since early 2009, when the Great Recession was ending, according to Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index. The index measures Americans’ perceptions of current economic conditions and the economy’s future. Possible scores range from +100 (if all say the economy is excellent or good and improving) to -100 (if all say it is poor and worsening). The ECI hit -45 in May, down from -39 in March and April. Twenty percent of respondents said the economy was improving; 77 percent said it was getting worse. In Feb. 2020, before COVID-19 lockdowns, the ECI stood at +41. The lowest score on record is -72 in 2008. GALLUP 

Ukraine says that Russian forces have taken control of most of Sievierodonetsk after launching a full-scale assault on the city. Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai says that 60% of structures in the city have been destroyed in the fighting. (Reuters) 

An airstrike hits a tank filled with nitric acid in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast, prompting the region’s governor to ask residents to remain inside bomb shelters due to the risk of exposure to toxic fumes. (Reuters) 

Shanghai eases COVID-19 restrictions after 2-month lockdown Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming said full bus and subway service, and rail connections to other parts of China, would be restored Wednesday as the country’s largest city reopens after a two-month COVID-19 lockdown that has damaged China’s economy and worsened supply-chain problems around the world. Schools will partially reopen. Shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores will reopen slowly, at up to 75 percent of capacity. Movie theaters and gyms will remain closed. “The epidemic has been effectively controlled,” Zong said. Officials said in early May they were aiming for a June 1 reopening. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Biden, Powell discuss plans to fight inflation President Biden met Tuesday with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to discuss Biden’s plan to fight high inflation, which he explained in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Monday. Biden said bringing down inflation had become his top domestic priority and that he would not “interfere” in the Fed’s role in containing rising prices. “My plan to address inflation starts with the simple proposition: Respect the Fed, respect the Fed’s independence, which I have done,” Biden told reporters during his meeting with Powell, who was recently confirmed to a second term. Republicans blame Biden for inflation and the threat of a recession. Biden says the root of the problem is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has driven up oil prices. NBC NEWS 

Unilever gives activist investor Nelson Peltz a board seat Unilever is adding activist investor Nelson Peltz to its board as it faces intensifying pressure to restore sales growth as its stock price slipped this year, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Peltz’s Trian Fund Management is one of the Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise maker’s biggest investors, with a 1.5 percent stake. Peltz said Tuesday he wanted to work with the company to tap “significant potential.” Peltz has served on boards at Procter & Gamble, Kraft Heinz Co., and Oreos maker Mondelez International. Unilever Chairman Nils Andersen said Peltz’s experience with consumer goods companies would be helpful to Unilever’s board. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Director Cary Fukunaga accused of inappropriate behavior on set  No Time to Die director Cary Fukunaga is facing new allegations of inappropriate behavior. A Rolling Stone exposé published Tuesday cited almost a dozen sources who accused Fukunaga of using “his sets as an opportunity to meet younger women and openly pursue multiple female cast and crew members at once during production,” which “bordered on workplace harassment.” According to the report, it was openly discussed among the cast and crew that Fukunaga used his sets “as a personal pickup bar,” and one crew member said colleagues had to keep an eye on her after she grew uncomfortable with his advances. “I believe completely that he was abusing his power,” she said, and another source said she feared possible career repercussions for rebuffing his advances. Fukunaga’s attorney told Rolling Stone there is “nothing salacious about pursuing friendships or consensual romantic relationships with women” and that he has “befriended men and women, young and old” on set.  ROLLING STONE 

Tuesday,  May 31st, 2022 

The United Kingdom and the European Union agree to implement a ban on insuring Russian oil tankers, which will be phased in beginning in 6 months. This will effectively render the vast majority of oil tankers uninsurable as most institutions conducting insurance are located in Western Europe. (Financial Times) 

Mexico bans the sale of electronic cigarettes. (The Washington Post) 

A major cyberattack hits the Costa Rican Social Security Fund of Costa Rica, forcing the ministry to shut down its digital database and endangering the country’s healthcare system. (Reuters) 

At least 8 die in mass shootings over holiday weekend There were at least 12 mass shootings across the United States over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, The Washington Post reported Monday. The shootings — defined as events with four or more victims shot or killed — left at least eight dead and 55 injured in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fresno, California; Malabar, Florida; Chicago; Taft, Oklahoma; and elsewhere, according to the Post. President Biden, just back from a trip to console families of the 19 children and two teachers killed in last week’s deadly Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, repeated his call for tougher gun-control laws, saying banning assault-style weapons like the one the attacker used in Uvalde, Texas, would be a “rational” place to start. NBC NEWS 

Canadian government proposes ban on military-style rifles, handgun sales  Canada’s government on Monday proposed a ban on handgun sales and possession of “military-style assault weapons.” The legislation includes a buyback program to encourage people to comply and hand over banned guns. The moves would add to already strict firearm controls that the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been tightening since a gunman killed 22 people in rural Nova Scotia in 2020, the deadliest shooting rampage in the nation’s history. “As a government, as a society, we have a responsibility to act to prevent more tragedies,” Trudeau said Monday. “We need only look south of the border to know that if we do not take action, firmly and rapidly, it gets worse and worse and more difficult to counter.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Holiday weekend travel jumps but remains below pre-pandemic levels Travel jumped over the Memorial Day weekend, rebounding from a sharp drop in the last two years during a holiday weekend marking the unofficial start of summer. “We’re approaching pre-pandemic numbers,” said Andrew Gobeil, a spokesperson for Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. Los Angeles International Airport expected about 200,000 passengers per day, a 40 percent increase over the 2021 holiday weekend but still down 25 percent compared to 2019. “We’re not back to normal here,” said Heath Montgomery, an airport spokesperson. More than 39 million Americans are expected to travel at some point over the weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Labor shortage to force many businesses to cut summer hours  A chronic labor shortage is forcing many businesses — including tourist restaurants, hotels, and summer camps — to reduce operations or shut down this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Less than half of Phoenix’s public pools are opening because of a lifeguard shortage, and coastal Maine beach trolleys are shutting down because of a lack of drivers, according to the Journal. The hiring troubles, which started a year ago as COVID-19 vaccinations became available and businesses reopened, are pushing up “labor costs, adding to inflationary pressure on items including airfares and beach menus,” the Journal said. “It’s like, ‘what, no one is applying?’” said Mark Lawrence, owner of Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour in Mashpee, Massachusetts, a Cape Cod town. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

EU agrees to Russian-oil embargo European Union leaders agreed Monday to ban most imports of Russian oil. The embargo covers oil delivered by sea, with an exemption for crude transported by pipelines that secured landlocked Hungary’s support to win the required unanimity. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the move, intended to punish Russia for invading Ukraine, would “effectively cut around 90 percent of oil imports from Russia to the EU by the end of the year.” Europe gets about a quarter of its oil from Russia. U.S. crude futures jumped by more than 3 percent early Tuesday after the agreement was announced. Prices had already surged to a two-month high as China tentatively lifted COVID-19 shutdowns in Shanghai, signaling increased demand. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

The Platinum Jubilee could shave half a point off the U.K.’s GDP  The bank holiday celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne could reduce the United Kingdom’s second-quarter gross domestic product by a half-percentage point, tipping the country’s economy into a contraction, Bloomberg Economics estimated, based on previous holidays, in a report released Monday. The cost of the Thursday holiday marking the queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be compounded by the drag of people who will take Friday off to have a four-day weekend. The U.K. economy will shrink by 0.4 percent in the quarter, according to the forecast by economist Dan Hanson, but offices and factories will make up lost output in later months, helping to stave off a recession, according to the report. BLOOMBERG 

Workers of the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) decide to go on a general strike from 27 June amid disciplinary dismissal of the leader of the trade union representing ZUS and general poor conditions of employment. (Rzeczpospolita) 

An AIDC AT-3 crashes in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, killing the pilot. The Taiwanese Air Force temporarily suspends training operations. (Reuters)  

Monday,  May 30th, 2022 

Memorial Day 

Pelosi’s husband charged with DUI House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol early Sunday in Napa County, California. He also was charged with driving with a blood-alcohol content level of 0.08 or higher, according to TMZ, which first reported the news. Both charges are misdemeanors. Paul Pelosi, 82, was arrested just before midnight Saturday and released a few hours later on $5,000 bail. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “will not be commenting on this private matter which occurred while she was on the East Coast,” Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said in a statement. Speaker Pelosi delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree at Brown University on Sunday. TMZ 

https://theweek.com/briefing/1013959/whats-up-with-long-covid

Russia begins exporting grain from the occupied Kherson Oblast in Southern Ukraine to Russia. Russian-occupying administration official Kirill Stremousov says the administration was also “working on the supplies of sunflower seeds to local and Russian processing plants”. Ukraine accuses Russia of stealing its grain. (Reuters) 

Russia steps up eastern Ukraine offensive as Zelensky visits front lines Russian and Ukrainian forces fought in close combat Sunday as Russia intensified its shelling of cities in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow focused its invasion after being pushed back in other parts of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first visit to front-line troops in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, to assess the strength of his country’s forces after they pushed back Russian troops several weeks ago. He said Ukrainian troops were facing an “indescribably difficult” situation in Sievierodonetsk, a strategically important city Russian forces stormed after bombarding it and trying unsuccessfully to surround it. Ukrainian officials said 90 percent of the city’s buildings had been damaged. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Ukrainian authorities say that Russian forces have entered Sieverodonetsk, in Luhansk Oblast, leaving the city without water. (Al Jazeera) 

A French journalist is killed by Russian shelling in Luhansk Oblast, according to the region’s governor Serhiy Haidai. (Reuters) 

A car bomb is detonated in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, injuring at least three people. Russian authorities blame pro-Ukrainian residents of being responsible. (Reuters) 

The Mona Lisa’s protective glass enclosure in the Louvre, Paris, France, is vandalized by an environmentalist protesting against climate change. The vandal was arrested at the scene. (ABC News Australia) 

Two people are killed and 20 injured after a car crashes into a crowd in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. (AP) 

Former Minister for Defence Peter Dutton is elected unopposed as Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia and, by extension, Leader of the Opposition following former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s resignation. (The Guardian) 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is removed as Leader of the National Party of Australia in a leadership spill and replaced by his former Deputy and former Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud. (The Guardian) 

As vote counting continues, the Australian Labor Party achieves a majority in the House of Representatives. (The Guardian) 

Colombia presidential election headed to June runoff Colombia’s Sunday presidential election appeared headed to a June runoff between left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernandez, the populist former mayor of Bucaramanga. Petro, a former guerrilla fighter and mayor of Bogota, led in pre-election polls, and had just over 40 percent of the vote with 98 percent of the ballots counted, falling short of the 50 percent needed to win outright. Hernandez was in second with 28 percent, followed by right-wing candidate Federico “Fico” Gutierrez with 23 percent. The South American nation has been struggling with economic setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic and a deteriorating security situation, but there were no reports of violence during the election. CNN 

Tensions rise during Israeli nationalist flag march in Jerusalem Thousands of Israelis marched through east Jerusalem on Sunday in an annual Jerusalem Day flag-waving procession commemorating Israel’s unification of east and west Jerusalem after the 1967 Six-Day War. The crowds started out from the Damascus Gate, the main entry to the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, with some nationalist marchers dancing and chanting “the nation of Israel lives” and “death to Arabs.” Israeli police in riot gear blocked surrounding streets and forcibly removed some Palestinian protesters. Seventy-nine Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets and pepper spray, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said. One reportedly was hit by live fire. Despite threats, Palestinian militants fired no rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, as they did last year. CNN 

Celtics beat the Heat to advance to NBA finals against Warriors The Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 in Game 7 to win the Eastern Conference finals 4-3, earning a spot in the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 26 points. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart added 24 apiece. The Celtics never trailed in the game, but had to hold off a frantic rally by the Heat, cheered by a home crowd. Tatum, who was named MVP of the conference finals, and Brown have each made it to NBA conference titles several times, but this was the first time either made it to the championship series. The finals start Thursday in San Francisco. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ gives Tom Cruise his biggest opening weekend ever Top Gun: Maverick vaulted into the top spot at the domestic box office over the weekend, bringing in $124 million in its first weekend in North America. By the end of the four-day Memorial Day weekend break, it is expected to have a total of a better-than-expected $151 million in ticket sales, according to estimates from measurement firm Comscore. That would be the biggest debut ever for star Tom Cruise, who returns to his iconic role as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a fighter pilot from the 1986 action film Top Gun. Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness slipped to No. 2, adding $16.4 million in its fourth weekend to bring its North American total to $370.8 million. LOS ANGELES TIMES 

The End

Sunday, May 29th, 2022 

Marcus Ericsson wins the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. Ericsson is the first Swedish driver to win the event since 1999. (Yahoo!) 

Russian forces announce they have captured the city of Lyman. (AP) 

Ukrainian troops fight to maintain foothold in Luhansk Russian forces launched an assault on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Sunday, hoping to capture one of the last pockets of Ukrainian-controlled territory in Luhansk Oblast. Luhansk Governor Sergiy Haidai said the Russian shelling was so intense that it was not possible for Ukrainian forces to assess their losses. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk estimated that around 1,500 civilians had been killed. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the bloody close-quarters battle for Sievierodonetsk shows Russia’s desperation to “squeeze at least some result” out of its largely unsuccessful invasion. REUTERS 

Chairperson of the African Union Macky Sall calls for dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda amid rising tensions between the two countries over the resurgence of the M23 rebels. Rwanda calls it an “internal DR Congo conflict” and also calls for the release of two “kidnapped” Rwandan soldiers along its border with DR Congo. (Reuters) 

Colombians go to the polls to vote in the presidential election. (NPR) 

Left-wing candidate, former 19th of April Movement guerrilla and former Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro, and populist former Bucaramanga mayor Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, win 40% and 28% of the vote respectively. They will face off in the second round in June. (CNN) 

Pope Francis appoints twenty-one new cardinals. Most of the cardinals are from outside Europe. (AP) 

A stampede breaks out at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York following a false alarm of an active shooting situation. Around 10 people are injured in the stampede. (NBC News)  

Tensions flare in Jerusalem ahead of Israeli nationalist march Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday as tensions built ahead of an annual Israeli nationalist march through the Old City. The flag-waving procession commemorates Israel’s capture of Jerusalem’s Old City during the 1967 Six-Day War. Police reportedly locked some Palestinians inside a mosque on the Temple Mount as Jewish visitors arrived for daily tours. The Palestinians hurled rocks and shot fireworks at Israeli police, who threw stun grenades in response. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett rejected calls for the parade to be postponed or relocated in order to reduce tensions.  REUTERS 

Democratic governors push new gun control legislation With new gun control legislation unlikely to pass at the federal level, Democratic Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Gavin Newsom of California have all proposed tougher firearms restrictions. Murphy has urged state legislators to raise the minimum age for purchasing long guns from 18 to 21 and to pass a bill exposing gun manufacturers to civil lawsuits. Hochul wants to make it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase an AR-15-style rifle. In California, one bill would restrict the marketing of firearms to minors while another would allow victims of gun violence to sue gun makers and sellers. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Russian ambassador to the U.K. says reports of war crimes are ‘a fabrication’ Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin dismissed reports that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine as “a fabrication” during an interview with journalist Clive Myrie that aired Sunday on BBC. Kelin also said his country will not use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine. “We have very strict provision on the issues of the use of tactical nuclear weapon, and it is mainly when the existence of the state is endangered,” Kelin said, adding that Russia can achieve its objectives in Ukraine with a “limited conventional operation.” BBC 

Shanghai to ease COVID lockdowns Shanghai’s vice mayor said Sunday that “unreasonable” COVID restrictions on businesses will be removed on June 1, allowing the city of 25 million to move back toward normalcy after a harsh two-month lockdown that led to widespread mental health issues and made it difficult for residents to obtain food and other basic necessities. The city will also reduce taxes on car purchases, expedite approvals of construction projects, and speed up the issuance of government bonds in order to boost the local economy. “We will fully support and organize the resumption of work and production of enterprises in various industries and fields,” Shanghai Vice Mayor Wu Qing told reporters. REUTERS 

Saturday, May 28th, 2022 

Russian troops enter the strategic city of Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast with heavy street-to-street fighting underway. Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai says that Ukrainian forces may have to retreat from the city in order to avoid capture. (Reuters) 

Ukraine confirms that it has received shipments of Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark, and self-propelled howitzers from the United States in order to counter the Russian invasion. (Reuters) 

Russia battles for control of Luhansk as civilian death toll tops 4,000 Luhansk Governor Sergiy Haidai said Saturday that the city of Sievierodonetsk is “not cut off,” even as Russian troops continue to attack from three sides. Sievierodonetsk and its twin city, Lysychansk, represent one of the last pockets of Ukrainian resistance in Luhansk Oblast. On Tuesday, Haidai told civilians trapped in Sievierodonetsk that there was no time left to evacuate. The United Nations said Friday that 4,031 civilians, including 261 children, have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24. CNN 

The Iranian IRGC Navy boards and seizes two Greek ships after the Supreme National Security Council condemned the US seizure of a Russo-Iranian ship. (VOA)  

U.S. sanctions Russian banks over North Korean missile tests The United States imposed new sanctions on two Russian banks on Friday after North Korea reportedly conducted three ballistic missile tests on Tuesday. The two banks, Far Eastern and Sputnik, have been accused of doing business with U.S.-sanctioned North Korean entities. North Korea has conducted 23 ballistic missile tests since the beginning of the year. The U.S. imposed sanctions after Russia and China used their United Nations Security Council vetoes on Thursday to block further sanctions on North Korea. ABC NEWS 

Blinken confident Finland and Sweden ‘will soon be NATO members’ despite Turkish opposition  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that he believes Turkey’s concerns about Finland and Sweden joining NATO can be addressed. “The United States fully supports Finland and Sweden joining the alliance and I continue to be confident that both will soon be NATO members,” Blinken said during a joint news conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who was visiting Washington, D.C. “We look forward to being able to call Finland and Sweden our allies.” Haavisto said he expects Turkey’s objections to be fully resolved before the late-June NATO summit in Madrid. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

The Bulgarian government approves adopting the euro as the country’s currency on January 1, 2024, replacing the lev. (Reuters) 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wins the presidential primary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party and officially becomes the party’s nominee for the February 2023 general election. Abubakar, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and was the PDP’s 2019 presidential nominee, defeated Nyesom Wike, Bukola Saraki, and nine other candidates to win the primary. (Premium Times) 

In association football, Real Madrid win a record 14th UEFA Champions League title after defeating Liverpool 1–0 in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France near Paris, with Vinícius Júnior scoring the winning goal. Kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes due to ticketed fans being prevented from entering the stadium. French police fire tear gas at Liverpool supporters. UEFA blamed the disorder on Liverpool fans trying to enter the stadium with fake tickets and blocking the turnstiles. (The Guardian)  

 Trump, Cruz deliver remarks at NRA convention just days after Uvalde shooting Former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) both delivered speeches at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association in Houston on Friday. “The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens,” Trump said, refusing to endorse new gun control measures after a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, killed 21 people on Tuesday. Cruz also doubled down, arguing that if gun bans worked, “Chicago wouldn’t be the murder hellhole that it has been for far too long.” Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had been scheduled to speak but delivered his address by prerecorded video instead. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Inflation could be slowing down, new report suggests The personal consumption expenditures price index, also known as “the Fed’s favorite inflation measure” rose 6.3 percent in April from a year ago, in a sign that inflation might be slightly moderating, per the Commerce Department. Though still elevated, April’s number represents the first slowdown since November 2020, and clocks in just below a four-decade high set in March. Consumer spending also rose a healthy 0.9 percent from March to April. CBS NEWS 

Biden’s reported student debt forgiveness plan ‘won’t do anything,’ NAACP says President Biden is planning to cancel $10,000 in student debt per borrower, according to a report published Friday. Biden had hoped to announce this student loan plan as soon as this weekend in a speech at the University of Delaware but delayed it due to the recent shooting in Texas. The plan reportedly involves limiting debt forgiveness to those who made less than $150,000 the previous year, or $300,000 for married couples. NAACP President Derrick Johnson also slammed the reported plan, saying canceling $10,000 in student debt would be “like pouring a bucket of ice water on a forest fire. In other words, it won’t do anything, especially for the Black community.” THE WASHINGTON POST 

Jury begins deliberations in Johnny Depp-Amber Heard libel trial Lawyers for Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard delivered their closing arguments to the jury on Friday, bringing the six-week libel trial to an end. The jury began deliberations at around 3:00 p.m. on Friday, finished for the day at around 5:00 p.m., and will resume on Tuesday. Depp sued Heard for $50 million over a Washington Post op-ed in which Heard identified herself as a survivor of domestic abuse. “We’re asking you to finally hold this man responsible,” Heard lawyer Elaine Bredehoft told the jury, pressing Heard’s counterclaim. “He has never accepted responsibility for anything in his life.” Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez told the jury Heard’s allegations, which Depp denies, had “ruined his life.” NPR 

The Mexican energy regulatory commission fines Spanish electric utility Iberdrola for US$467 million for violating local regulations that prohibit selling electricity to third parties. (Al Mayadeen) 

An icefall kills two mountain climbers and injures nine others in the Alps of Valais, Switzerland. (AP) 

The Federal High Court in Yenagoa rules that former President Goodluck Jonathan is allowed to run in the next presidential election, stating that a 2018 amendment prohibiting vice presidents from serving more than one full-term upon succession did not apply to Jonathan. (Reuters)  

Jodie Foster to star in ‘True Detective’ season 4 Clarice Starling is ready to get back in the field. Jodie Foster has been cast in the fourth season of HBO’s True Detective, titled True Detective: Night Country. The Silence of the Lambs star plays the lead role of Detective Liz Danvers, who alongside detective Evangeline Navarro must “solve the case of six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanishing without a trace,” according to Deadline. Foster is also producing the show, as is Barry Jenkins, the acclaimed director of Moonlight. True Detective was last on the air in 2019 with a third season led by Mahershala Ali, which was generally seen as an improvement on an underwhelming second season but not as good as the iconic first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. There’s no word yet on who will play Foster’s partner, but might we suggest a full-on Panic Room reunion with Kristen Stewart? Time is a flat circle, after all. DEADLINE 

Kendall Jenner makes another attempt at cutting a cucumber Will Kendall Jenner one day be able to accomplish the simple task of cutting a vegetable without incident? The 26-year-old Kardashians star went viral earlier this month after looking completely ill-equipped to simply cut a cucumber in an episode of the Hulu show. Almost immediately after she starts doing so, she says she’s “kind of scared,” and her mom, Kris Jenner, calls out for help from their chef. “Kendall Jenner trying to cut a f–king cucumber is the most tragic thing I’ve ever witnessed,” a fan wrote at the time, to which Jenner responded, “Tragic!” Weeks later, Jenner took to Instagram to share a photo of a cucumber and a knife in her kitchen along with the caption “here we go again” — without actually showing herself successfully slicing up said cucumber. Hey, no pressure Kendall, feel free to take the rest of the year mentally preparing yourself for this taxing assignment.  PAGE SIX 

Jury deliberations begin in Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial At long last, it’s almost time to move on from the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial. After six weeks, the closely watched trial in which Depp is suing his ex-wife for writing an article about being the victim of domestic abuse headed into jury deliberations on Friday after hours of closing arguments. Depp’s attorneys told jurors “there is an abuser in this courtroom, but it is not Mr. Depp,” calling the Pirates of the Caribbean star a “well liked man” whose life was destroyed by Heard’s “vicious lie” and was actually abused by her. Meanwhile, Heard’s team urged the jury to hold Depp “accountable for his actions,” “stand up for victims of domestic abuse everywhere who are suffering in silence,” and “give Amber Heard her life back.” They’ll have to decide whether her 2018 article meets the high standard for defamation, and a verdict could come as early as Tuesday — which, regardless of the outcome, might be a great day to take a social media hiatus.  NBC NEWS 

Kevin Spacey movie producers dismiss ‘negative press’ after new charges The producers of one of Kevin Spacey’s comeback films don’t seem too bothered by the fact that their star was just charged with sexually assaulting three men. The disgraced actor was hit with new sexual assault charges in the U.K. Thursday, which would seem to be terrible timing for Peter Five Eight, a movie starring Spacey that’s being shopped at Cannes. But in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, the film’s producers said it’s “unfortunate” but “expected” that the “increased negative press is timed with Kevin returning to work.” They went on to claim those who “wish for” Spacey “not to act” are “outnumbered by fans worldwide who await” his return, describing their movie as one for “fans who care more for the art than the scandal.” Based on the film’s extremely cheap looking trailer, though, it may also be for fans who feel the production value of SyFy original movies is a little too high.  ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is speeding toward a big opening weekend After all this time, do audiences still feed the need for speed? Boy, do they ever. Top Gun: Maverick grossed a massive $19.3 million in previews, which included Thursday night showings and some early Tuesday screenings. Not only is that the best preview number for a Paramount Pictures movie, but it’s also the biggest for a film released over Memorial Day weekend. Maverick should have a four-day opening of over $100 million, which would be the best of Tom Cruise’s whole career. The sequel’s release comes after an absurd number of pandemic delays, and it was pushed back so many times that the first trailer debuted five months before Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters. But critics say it was worth the wait, and some have even floated Maverick as a potential Best Picture nominee, possibly making it the only summer movie that will get that kind of buzz — though we won’t count out DC League of Super-Pets just yet.  THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

The End

Friday,  May 27th, 2022 

Winnie the Pooh goes on a rampage in new horror movie  Here’s … Winnie! A new horror movie in the works, called Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, will see the beloved cartoon bear made into a horrifying slasher villain. In one still image released from the movie, a woman is chilling in a jacuzzi while a blood-thirsty Pooh and Piglet stand behind her, preparing to go in for a Jason-like kill. Director Rhys Waterfield told Variety the film involves Pooh and Piglet “going on a rampage” after Christopher Robin abandons them, leading them to “become feral.” Obviously, Disney has zero role in this project, which is legal because the original Winnie the Pooh stories became public domain this past January. On a related note, Mickey Mouse is currently slated to enter public domain in 2024, at which point we’re anticipating R-rated Mickey movies will just become an entire, disturbing subgenre.  BLOODY DISGUSTING 

Students stage walkouts to protest gun violence Students at schools across the United States staged walkouts on Thursday to protest gun violence in response to this week’s mass shooting of 19 4th graders and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Students left classes for demonstrations at Oxford High School in Michigan, where four students died in a November shooting, and Saugus High School in California, where two died in a November 2019 shooting. Students from several Providence, Rhode Island, schools lay down for three minutes outside the Rhode Island State House. “Students don’t have to be quiet about it just because they’re a kid,” said Emma Janoff, a New York 11th grader and member of Students Demand Action, a national organization against gun violence. ABC NEWS 

‘Abbott Elementary’ creator slams people asking for ‘a school shooting episode’  The creator of Abbott Elementary will thankfully be ignoring fans’ absolutely awful idea for an episode. Quinta Brunson, who created and stars in the uplifting ABC sitcom set in an elementary school, said on Twitter it’s “wild how many people have asked for a school shooting episode” of the show in the wake of the horrific massacre that left 19 children and two teachers dead in Texas this week. “People are that deeply removed from demanding more from the politicians they’ve elected and are instead demanding ‘entertainment,’” Brunson wrote, and she shared a bizarre message she received from a fan suggesting the series should end with a shooting in order to “get our government to understand why laws need to pass” — something real tragedies can’t even accomplish, let alone fictional ones. “We’re not okay,” Brunson concluded. “This country is rotting our brains.” PEOPLE 

The United States Department of State approves the sale of the M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system to Australia. (Reuters) 

Seven people are killed by Russian shelling in downtown Kharkiv, according to local authorities. (Ukrinform) 

Russia expels five Croatian diplomats. (Reuters) 

The Russian defense ministry says that civil vessels are allowed to use a maritime humanitarian corridor to access the port of Mariupol, which Russia captured last week. (Reuters) 

The US seizes a Russian operated oil tanker carrying Iranian crude oil in Greece. The seizure is theorized to be part of US sanctions on Russian oil smuggling. (Reuters) 

British Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a 25% levy, a so-called windfall tax, on the profits of energy companies in order to help fund emergency economic support amid a cost of living crisis in the UK. The extra support includes increased welfare payments for low-income households, disabled people and pensioners, as well as a universal grant of £400 towards energy bills. (BBC News) 

Fiji announces that it will become the 14th member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific, amidst a visit by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to Kiribati. (Al Jazeera) 

New York court denies Trump appeal to avoid questioning A New York state appeals court ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump and two of his adult children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, must submit to questioning under oath as part of a civil investigation into their business practices. Trump’s lawyers had sought to block the testimony, arguing that the investigation being conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office was politically motivated. The legal team also said Trump and his children shouldn’t have to talk to James’ investigators because the operations of the family property business, the Trump Organization, are the subject of a criminal investigation as well. The court found that the Trumps were not being unfairly singled out. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

‘Goodfellas’ actor Ray Liotta dies at 67 Ray Liotta, the actor best known for his lead role in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, has died. He was 67. Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters. Authorities did not immediately release a cause of death. Liotta played gangster Henry Hill in the classic 1990 mob film Goodfellas, starring alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci less than 10 years after making his acting debut in The Lonely Lady. Liotta’s other notable films included Field of Dreams and Hannibal. More recently, he appeared in Marriage Story and The Many Saints of Newark. He also won an Emmy for a guest role on ER. DEADLINE 

Macy’s, Dollar Tree report strong sales Shares of major retailers surged on Thursday after Macy’s and Dollar Tree reported strong quarterly sales despite high inflation. Shoppers increased spending on clothes for work and special occasions, and bought necessities at discount stores to save as fuel and food costs jumped. Dollar General reported flat sales but raised its full-year outlook. Shares of Dollar General and Dollar Tree jumped 14 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Retailers said despite the strong quarter, rising prices remained a growing threat. “Consumers are still spending, but headwinds are getting increasingly fierce,” Macy’s Chief Executive Jeff Gennette told The Wall Street Journal. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Broadcom agrees to buy VMware in $61 billion deal Semiconductor maker Broadcom announced Thursday it has agreed to buy the software company VMware. The $61 billion deal would be the world’s second-biggest proposed acquisition of the year behind Microsoft’s $75 billion offer for video game maker Activision Blizzard, according to Dealogic data. Buying VMware would give Broadcom computing tools popular with many corporations, and give it a strong position in data-center and cloud computing technology. VMware has more than 500,000 global customers, including cloud-computing giants Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Home supply rises as owners rush to sell before market cools  The supply of homes for sale increased by 9 percent last week compared to the same time a year ago as sharply higher mortgage rates triggered a sudden drop in home sales, according to Realtor.com. “Rising mortgage rates have caused the housing market to shift, and now home sellers are in a hurry to find a buyer before demand weakens further,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at real estate brokerage Redfin. Numerous signs have indicated recently that the market is softening after people seeking more space during the pandemic took advantage of low mortgage rates and drove prices higher. Pending home sales dropped nearly 4 percent in April compared to March. CNBC 

The value of the Lebanese pound falls to 35,600 pounds against the U.S. dollar, its lowest value ever. (Al Jazeera) 

The US seizes a Russian owned oil tanker carrying Iranian crude oil in Greece and has transferred the cargo to another ship destined for the US. It is unclear if the seizure was due to US sanctions against Iran or US sanctions on Russia. (Reuters) 

Italian fossil fuel company Eni signs an agreement with Algerian state-owned company Sonatrach to both explore up to 3 billion cubic meters of gas and launch a pilot green hydrogen project in the Algerian desert. The agreement comes as Italy looks to decrease its dependence on Russian gas in light of the conflict in Ukraine. (Al Jazeera) 

Quebec will begin offering the Imvamune vaccine after 25 cases of monkeypox were confirmed in the province. (Montreal Gazette) 

The UK Health Security Agency says that it has procured 20,000 doses of a smallpox vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic as part of an effort to combat the increase in monkeypox cases. (Reuters) 

The Iraqi parliament prohibits all attempts at normalizing relations with Israel with the punishment of life imprisonment or capital punishment. The law was introduced by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party won the most seats in the last election. (Reuters)  

The Polish Parliament passes a law replacing the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court, established by a controversial judicial reform bill, with a new body, in order to allow the European Union to unfreeze €35 billion in COVID-19 recovery funds earmarked to the country. (Reuters) 

Thursday, May 26th, 2022 

Coronavirus vaccines offer limited help against long COVID Coronavirus vaccines may provide only limited protection against long COVID, according to a new paper published Wednesday in Nature Medicine. Six months after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis, vaccinated patients were 15 percent less likely than unvaccinated people to get long COVID, which the CDC says affects 1 in 5 adult U.S. COVID survivors. The research showed that vaccination reduced the risk of lung and blood clot disorders, but not other symptoms. “This was disappointing,” said lead author Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development service at VA Saint Louis Health Care System. “I was hoping to see that vaccines offer more protection.” The data confirmed that vaccination significantly reduced the risk of serious illness and death, though. THE WASHINGTON POST

The US seizes a Russian operated oil tanker carrying Iranian crude oil in Greece. The seizure is theorized to be part of US sanctions on Russian oil smuggling. (Reuters) 

Russian lawmakers remove maximum age for military service Russian lawmakers on Wednesday rushed through a law eliminating the upper age limit for contractual military service. The State Duma, or lower house, passed the bill on three readings in a single session. The upper house, the Federation Council, promptly approved the bill, sending it to President Vladimir Putin for his signature. The move comes as Russian forces suffer heavy casualties in Ukraine, which Russia invaded three months ago. Until the change becomes official, only Russians aged 18 to 40 and foreigners aged 18 to 30 can enlist as professional Russian soldiers. The bill’s authors said the change would help attract medical personnel, engineers, and other specialists with “required skills.” REUTERSRADIO FREE EUROPE 

Fed minutes point to more rate hikes to tame inflation    Federal Reserve officials said in their policy meeting earlier this month that they might have to raise interest rates high enough to weaken the economy to accomplish their goal of bringing inflation down from a four-decade high, according to minutes of the meeting released Wednesday. Policymakers said they could “assess the effects” of rapid rate hikes after several months, and slow the pace of the increases, depending on the state of the economy. During the May 3-4 meeting, the Fed raised its benchmark short-term interest rate by a half-point, instead of the usual quarter-point shift. Most of the central bank’s leaders said further half-point hikes “would likely be appropriate” at June and July meetings. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Heavy fighting between DRC forces and the M23 movement continues in Rumangabo and Kibumba in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters) 

The Caliph of the Islamic State Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi is arrested in Istanbul, Turkey. (Bloomberg) 

Quebec will begin offering the Imvamune vaccine after 25 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the province. (Montreal Gazette) 

The UK Health Security Agency says that it has produced 20,000 doses of a smallpox vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic in an effort to combat the rise of monkeypox cases. (Reuters) 

American actor Kevin Spacey is charged by UK prosecutors with four counts of sexually assaulting four men. (Reuters) 

The Canadian national soccer team cancels a match with Iran following criticism because of the shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by the IRGC. (Sportsnet) 

CBO warns inflation will remain high through 2022 High inflation could ease but will likely remain uncomfortably high for the rest of 2022, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The nonpartisan agency forecasts that the consumer price index will rise 6.1 percent for the entire year, down from a current four-decade high of 8.3 percent. The CBO said the rate would slow to 3.1 percent in 2023, still above the 2.3 percent long-term baseline, and wouldn’t fall to targeted levels until 2024. “People’s desire to consume more goods than businesses can produce is leading to a rise in prices,” said Adam Ozimek, chief economist at the Economic Innovation Group. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Ex-reality TV star Josh Duggar sentenced to 12 years on child pornography charges A judge in Arkansas on Wednesday sentenced former reality TV star Josh Duggar, 34, to more than 12 years in prison for his convictions on federal child pornography charges. Duggar, who appeared on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, was arrested in 2021 and accused of downloading photos and videos of sexual child abuse. His legal team had requested a five-year sentence. Prosecutors had asked for 20 years. “While this is not the sentence we asked for, this is a lengthy sentence,” U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes said Wednesday. Duggar’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who appeared with their 19 children in the TV series from 2008 to 2015, said they will “never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him.” TODAY 

Wendy’s shares surge on news of possible sale, merger Wendy’s shares jumped 11 percent on Wednesday, a day after the burger chain’s chairman, Nelson Peltz, said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the company’s board would consider a possible sale or merger. Peltz’s management fund, Trian Partners, initiated the search for a potential deal. “Our board is committed to continuing to act in the best interests of the company and its stockholders,” Wendy’s said in a statement. “Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the board will carefully review any proposal submitted by Trian Partners.” Trian is Wendy’s largest shareholder, owning more than 19 percent of its shares. The stock is down 23 percent in the last 12 months. CNN

Big-city populations shrink further in pandemic migration Big-city populations continued to fall last year as Americans, many newly free to work remotely, moved to smaller towns where they could afford bigger homes, according to census figures released Thursday. In nine cities with more than one million residents, populations fell by 1.7 percent. New York City, the nation’s largest, lost 3.5 percent of its population. Los Angeles and Chicago, the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 cities, lost 1 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. In the large city category, only Phoenix and San Antonio gained residents. Midsize cities with 500,000 to one million people lost a smaller percentage of their populations, 0.7 percent. Growth was flat in cities with 250,000 to 500,000 people, while those with 100,000 to 250,000 grew 0.1 percent. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

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