Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 

Germany announces the delivery of 50 ex-Bundeswehr Gepard anti-air tanks to Ukraine, the first heavy weaponry supplied by Germany since the start of the invasion. (Reuters) 

Russia insinuates that it can strike military targets inside the territory of NATO countries supplying weapons to Ukraine and specifically singles out the United Kingdom. In a statement, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova says that “Russia can strike military targets on the territory of those NATO countries that supply arms to the Kiev regime” and “As far as I understand, Britain is one of those countries.” (Mirror)  

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that weapons supplied to Ukraine “will be a legitimate target for Russia’s military” and further stating “storage facilities in western Ukraine have been targeted”. Lavrov also stated that “NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war.” (Al Jazeera)  

Russia shuts off gas to Poland, Bulgaria Russian state-run gas company Gazprom said Wednesday it cut off natural-gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, escalating tensions with the West over Ukraine. The move followed weeks of threats that Russia would suspend gas deliveries unless buyers pay in roubles. Poland’s PGNiG gas company confirmed the shutoff, but said it was still supplying customers. The United States and allies agreed in Germany on Tuesday to send more heavy weapons to Ukraine despite Russia’s warning that further support for Ukrainian fighters could provoke nuclear war. Russia said its forces had “liberated” the Kherson region in southern Ukraine and other areas. Explosions in neighboring Moldova’s breakaway pro-Russian state of Transnistria raised concerns the war could spill over. REUTERS 

British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab says that Russian threats to target Britain are “unlawful” and are only adding to the “pariah status” of Vladimir Putin‘s regime. (Sky News) 

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss states that Russian forces must be pushed out of “the whole of Ukraine” including territory Russia captured eight years ago, in what the BBC describes as “the clearest statement yet of Britain’s war aims”. (BBC News) 

The Ukrainian Air Force strikes the Kherson TV Tower with a missile temporarily forcing Russian television off-air in the occupied Kherson Oblast. (Canadian Press via Yahoo News) 

Russia says that it has struck 59 Ukrainian weapon facilities during the night, including a depot in Zaporizhzhia Oblast which is being used to store weapons from the United States and Europe. (Reuters) 

Russia says that its air defences have shot down a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Kursk Oblast, while several explosions and a fire at an ammunition depot are reported in Belgorod Oblast. Ukraine describes the explosions in Russia as “payback” and “karma” for Moscow’s invasion. (Reuters) 

Gazprom announces that it has “completely suspended gas supplies” to the gas companies of Poland and Bulgaria “due to [the] absence of payments in roubles“. Bulgaria, Poland, and the European Union condemn the suspension. (Reuters)  

The suspension of gas to Poland and Bulgaria causes natural gas prices to increase and also causes the Russian ruble to reach a 2 year high against the Euro in Moscow trade. (Reuters)  

Transnistrian authorities say that several UAVs originating from the direction of Ukraine have been spotted near the Cobasna ammunition depot. However, this claim cannot be independently verified. (RFE/RL) 

Russia imposes sanctions on 287 members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in response to sanctions on members of its State Duma. Senior cabinet ministers and House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle are among those sanctioned. (BBC News) 

Russia announces its withdrawal from the World Tourism Organization ahead of a vote on its suspension from the UN specialized agency. (RFE/RL) 

A Palestinian teenager is killed and three more are injured as Israeli soldiers raid a refugee camp in Jenin. Fifteen others are arrested during raids in other parts of the West Bank. (Al Jazeera)  

The 27-foot Soviet-era bronze statue under the People’s Friendship Arch in Kyiv, representing Russian–Ukrainian friendship, is removed by order of Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko. (NDTV) 

Prince Andrew, Duke of York is stripped of his Freedom of the City of York following an unanimous vote by city councillors. The council also calls on the Prince to relinquish his title as Duke of York. (BBC News) 

The European Commission proposes lifting all tariffs for Ukrainian produce not covered by the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement for one year, while easing trade conditions for other goods. The temporary suspension will need to be approved by the European Parliament and the member states. (Reuters) 

The Central African Republic adopts bitcoin as legal tender, after its legislature unanimously approved the law. (BBC News) 

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, servicing most of Greater Los Angeles, declares a water shortage emergency and requires agencies to enforce restrictions on non-essential water usage as of June 1. This comes amid a drought which worsened as the 2021–22 California winter season was the driest on record. (AP) 

Eleven people are killed and more than a dozen others are injured after a chariot in a Hindu religious procession catches fire in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. (Reuters) 

American Marine Trevor Reed and Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko are freed in a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. (AP) 

Three people are killed in a mass shooting in Biloxi, Mississippi. The shooter is later killed in a standoff with police. (ABC News) 

The Peruvian government declares a state of emergency at Las Bambas copper mine after a week of camping by indigenous people. The government suspends civil liberties, including the right of assembly and protest. (Reuters) 

Oleksandr Kobets is appointed as the de facto mayor of the city of Kherson, which has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2. (Ukrinform) 

Tesla shares dive after news of Musk’s Twitter takeover Tesla shares plunged by 12 percent Tuesday as investors dumped shares on concerns that CEO Elon Musk might sell a significant number of shares to fund his $44 billion Twitter takeover. The decline reduced Tesla’s valuation by about $126 billion. The electric-car maker’s market capitalization is now down more than $275 billion since Musk revealed that he had become Twitter’s biggest shareholder. The value of Musk’s 17 percent Tesla stake is now down more than $40 billion. Tesla shares also have been dragged down by a broader selloff fueled by high inflation and slowing economic growth, and by anticipation of Federal Reserve interest hikes. BLOOMBERG 

Harvard pledges $100 million to redress slavery ties Harvard University announced Tuesday that it was pledging $100 million to research and redress the school’s “extensive entanglements with slavery” in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Harvard released a report detailing how it profited from slavery through its donors. The document said faculty and staff members at the Ivy League school enslaved more than 70 Black people from the school’s founding in 1636 until Massachusetts outlawed slavery in 1783. “Enslaved men and women served Harvard presidents and professors and fed and cared for Harvard students,” the report said. “The truth is that slavery played a significant part in our institutional history,” Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said in a letter Tuesday to the university community. CNN 

Kim Jong Un vows to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to expand his country’s nuclear stockpile “at the fastest possible speed,” and threatened to use it “if any forces, regardless of who they are, try to infringe upon our fundamental interests,” The Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing North Korean state media. Kim’s remarks during a Monday night military parade indicated that he likely will “continue provocative weapons tests in a pressure campaign to wrest concessions from the U.S. and other rivals,” the AP wrote. During the parade, Pyongyang showed off its largest intercontinental ballistic missile — the Hwasong-17 — which it claimed to have test-fired last month. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Harris tests positive for COVID-19 Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19, her press secretary, Kirsten Allen, said in a statement Tuesday. Harris, 57, was not suffering any symptoms. She is the highest level Biden administration official to be infected with the coronavirus in a recent wave of cases. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tested positive in March. Harris had not seen President Biden since April 18 and was not considered a “close contact.” Before she tested positive, she had been scheduled to join the President’s Daily Brief meeting at the White House on Tuesday. Harris, who is working from home, said she was “grateful to be both vaccinated and boosted.”  FOX NEWS 

Cawthorn caught with gun at airport, again Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) was caught Tuesday trying to board a flight at North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport with a loaded gun, the Transportation Security Administration said. Charlotte police identified Cawthorn, 26, as the owner of the 9 mm Staccato C2 pistol, and issued him a citation for possessing a dangerous weapon on city property. Officers confiscated the handgun. It was the second time the controversial lawmaker has been caught with a gun at an airport. A TSA crew found Cawthorn with an unloaded Glock 9mm handgun in his carry-on at the Asheville, North Carolina, airport in February 2021, although he wasn’t charged. He also has been accused of bringing knives to several schools. USA TODAY 

Biden pardons 3, reduces sentences for 75 President Biden on Tuesday announced pardons for three convicted felons and reduced sentences for 75 non-violent drug offenders in his first use of his clemency powers. Biden pardoned Abraham Bolden Sr., Betty Jo Bogans, and Dexter Eugene Jackson. Bolden, 86, was the nation’s first Black Secret Service agent on a presidential detail, protecting the late President John F. Kennedy. The Chicago resident, who served three years in prison, has tried to clear his name, saying he was falsely accused of trying to sell a Secret Service investigative report in 1964 because he had spoken out against racist and unprofessional behavior in the Secret Service.CHICAGO TRIBUNE 

Pfizer asks FDA to authorize boosters for kids 5 through 11 Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize giving their coronavirus booster shots to children ages 5 through 11. The companies gave the FDA test data showing that their low-dose COVID-19 booster for children in that age group could provide protection against the highly contagious Omicron variant, and renew waning immunity that has left other age groups vulnerable to Omicron and other variants. “Over time, immunity to the vaccine wanes,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a Stanford infectious disease researcher who has helped test Pfizer’s vaccine. Skeptics questioned whether younger kids need a booster after the initial two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine. NPR 

Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to 5 years on corruption charge A court in military-ruled Myanmar on Wednesday found civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi guilty in the first of 11 corruption cases against her and sentenced her to five years in prison, Reuters reported, citing a source with knowledge of the proceedings. Suu Kyi, 76, won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her opposition to military rule, and led the country for five years during its effort to install democracy. She has been in custody since the military took power in a February 2021 coup. She has been held at an undisclosed location and previously was sentenced to six years for minor alleged offenses, which critics say were politically motivated. REUTERS 

Pfizer asks FDA to authorize boosters for kids 5 through 11 Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize giving their coronavirus booster shots to children ages 5 through 11. The companies gave the FDA test data showing that their low-dose COVID-19 booster for children in that age group could provide protection against the highly contagious Omicron variant, and renew waning immunity that has left other age groups vulnerable to Omicron and other variants. “Over time, immunity to the vaccine wanes,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a Stanford infectious disease researcher who has helped test Pfizer’s vaccine. Skeptics questioned whether younger kids need a booster after the initial two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine. NPR 

Google-parent Alphabet revenue rises but misses expectations Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported Tuesday that its first-quarter profit slipped despite a 23 percent increase in revenue over the same period last year. Alphabet shares fell about 3 percent in after-hours trading, as the company’s earnings and revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations. Earnings came in at $24.62 per share, compared to the $25.91 expected, according to Refinitiv. YouTube ad revenue came in below expectations, after benefiting earlier in the pandemic as people stuck at home due to coronavirus restrictions streamed more video. The miss also came as rival TikTok grabbed a growing share of social-media video users. THE VERGE 

Walmart increases fuel discount for Walmart+ subscribers Walmart announced Wednesday that it is increasing its fuel discount for Walmart+ members from 5 to 10 cents a gallon, effective immediately, and allowing members to use the discount at 12,000 Exxon and Mobil stations. The change, intended to boost subscriptions and renewals at a time of high fuel prices, sweetens a key perk in Walmart+ membership, which the retail giant launched in September 2020 in a challenge to Amazon’s Prime subscription service. Other features of the $98 per year, or $12.95 per month, service include unlimited free delivery and a Scan & Go option for in-store shopping. USA TODAY 

‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ will hit theaters on the same day Ready for the weirdest double feature ever? Warner Bros. has revealed our first look at Margot Robbie as Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie, also giving the film its release date: July 21, 2023. If that date rings a bell, it might be because it’s the same day Christopher Nolan is releasing his next film, Oppenheimer, about the creation of the atomic bomb. Somewhat infamously, the Dark Knight director had a messy breakup with his longtime buddies at Warner Bros. Last year, their decision to prioritize HBO Max ticked the theater-loving Nolan off so badly that he took Oppenheimer to a rival studio, Universal. Not that the films share much of the same audience, but is putting Barbie up against Oppenheimer Warner Bros.’ subtle revenge? We like to think so. Either way, both boast absurdly stacked casts, so pretty much every working actor alive now has a film opening that day. The premieres may need a designated survivor.  VARIETY 

Tuesday,  April 26th, 2022 

Russia hits Ukraine rail and fuel facilities Russia hit Ukrainian rail and fuel facilities with airstrikes on Monday, damaging key infrastructure across the country while focusing its ground war on eastern Ukraine. On Russia’s side of the Ukraine border, two fires erupted at oil facilities, although it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the blazes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday after he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv that the U.S. hoped “to see Russia weakened” by the war so it couldn’t threaten other countries. He later met with European military leaders in Germany, saying Russia “never imagined that the world would rally behind Ukraine so swiftly and surely.”  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Moldova‘s Supreme Security Council convenes an emergency meeting after yesterday’s attacks in the breakaway Transnistria. President Maia Sandu says that the attacks were aimed at “destabilising the situation in the region”, and also says that the military will improve combat readiness and increase patrols on the border with Transnistria. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom‘s Armed Forces Secretary James Heappey says that Ukraine can strike targets inside Russia with British weapons, saying that it is “completely legitimate” in order to disrupt attacks on Ukraine. (The Guardian) 

The Russian Defence Ministry accuses the UK of “provoking Ukraine” into attacking Russian territory, and warns of a “proportional response” should any attacks occur. (BBC News) 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visits Moscow in order to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Before the meeting, Guterres calls for a ceasefire to end the war. (The Hindu) 

Putin says that Russia and Ukraine are continuing ceasefire talks online. (Reuters) 

A Russian missile strike destroys a strategic bridge across the Dniester Estuary in Odessa Oblast, according to Ukrainian authorities. (AP) 

Biden picks career diplomat as new Ukraine ambassador President Biden will nominate career diplomat Bridget Brink to be his ambassador to Ukraine, the White House announced Monday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Brink, who currently serves as ambassador to Slovakia, is “deeply experienced in the region” and “will be a very strong representative for the United States in Ukraine.” Washington has been without a confirmed ambassador in Kyiv since 2019, when then-President Donald Trump abruptly removed Marie Yovanovitch from the job after she was criticized by Trump allies who believed she was undermining Trump’s effort to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, Trump’s rival in the 2020 election. Trump’s effort to pressure Zelensky to investigate Biden triggered his first impeachment. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Bad Bunny joins Sony’s Spider-Man universe Can Sony’s Spider-Man universe get any more baffling after Morbius? It sure can! The studio has announced a standalone movie about the extremely obscure wrestler character El Muerto, and it’s set to star Bad Bunny. “To bring El Muerto to life is just incredible … so exciting,” the rapper declared. That will make this the first live-action Marvel movie centered around a Latino actor, though if you’ve never heard of El Muerto, you’re not alone. The character, who once came across Spider-Man at a wrestling match, has only ever appeared in the comics twice, according to Comicbook.com. But Deadline reports that Sony’s “rush to get this film into development had a lot to do with Bad Bunny’s persistence in finding that right superhero property for himself.” If anything inspires confidence in a movie, it’s the phrase “rush to get this film into development,” r ight? DEADLINE 

Viola Davis: ‘Critics absolutely serve no purpose’ Viola Davis wants her critics to know they’ve wasted their lives. The actress has responded to backlash over her portrayal of Michelle Obama in The First Lady, telling BBC News, “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty either.” Davis faced brutal online reactions to her take on Obama in the Showtime series, with some criticizing how often she purses her lips and suggesting the performance is overly exaggerated. The backlash mostly came from random social media users, though some professional critics also felt she was miscast. Davis, appearing to respond more to the former group, told BBC it’s “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work,” and she suggested these critics “always feel like they’re telling you something that you don’t know” but are just taking advantage of “an opportunity to be cruel.” If only someone had advice on what to do when they go low.  BBC 

Three Chinese citizens and their Pakistani driver are killed and four others are injured when a Balochistan Liberation Army suicide bomber blows herself up near their van in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. (BBC News)  

Gazprom announces that it will stop delivering natural gas to Poland via the Yamal–Europe pipeline and to Bulgaria as both countries rejected Russia‘s demand to pay for the fossil fuel supply in Russian rubles. Poland does not expect to experience disruptions from the suspension of natural gas deliveries. However, the suspension of Russian gas deliveries to Bulgaria “poses a serious challenge to the security of supply to the country” as Bulgaria is almost completely dependent on Russian gas. (Deutsche Welle)  

SpaceX to provide Hawaiian Airlines with Starlink inflight internet service Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has reached a deal to provide Hawaiian Airlines flights with its Starlink satellite internet service, The Verge reported on Monday. SpaceX recently made a similar deal with charter carrier JSX. Both carriers said they planned to offer the Starlink-provided in-flight WiFi for free. Delta Air Lines has meanwhile begun running “exploratory” Starlink tests on its carriers in a further sign of a potential broad expansion of in-flight WiFi. The market has been dominated by slow-moving Viasat and Gogo. Starlink aims to disrupt the market with zippier download speeds up to 200 mb/s. THE VERGE 

Twitter accepts Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover offer Twitter announced Monday that it would accept Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $44 billion offer to buy the social media company and take it private. Musk launched his hostile takeover bid after scooping up about 9 percent of Twitter stock to become its biggest shareholder. He will pay Twitter investors $54.20 in cash for every share of their stock, a 38 percent premium over the price on the day he revealed his stake in the company. Twitter initially resisted but reexamined the offer after Musk announced he had lined up more than enough financing. He vowed to “unlock” the company’s “tremendous potential” and reduce restrictions on free speech. CNN 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk reaches an agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion. (The Verge) 

A staff member and two children are killed, and another staff member is injured in a shooting at a kindergarten in Veshkayma, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia. The gunman later kills himself. (Reuters) 

Twenty Islamic worshippers are killed during riots in Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. (Reuters)  

In the morning, the Moon, Jupiter, and Venus are seen aligning with each other. (Space.com) 

Texas appeals court delays execution of Melissa Lucio A Texas appeals court on Monday delayed the execution of Melissa Lucio to allow a lower court time to review new evidence she claims will exonerate her. Lucio, 53, had been scheduled for lethal injection on Wednesday. The execution stay was announced just minutes before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was scheduled to review her application for clemency.  “I am grateful the Court has given me the chance to live and prove my innocence,” Lucio said in a statement. Lucio was convicted on charges that she fatally beat her 2-year-old daughter. Her lawyers say new evidence indicates the child died from a fall down stairs. THE ASSOCIATED PRESSABC NEWS 

DeSantis signs Florida law creating election police Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday signed voting reform legislation that creates an election police force that will give his administration greater power to investigate alleged election crimes. The law makes the Sunshine State the first in the nation to establish a law enforcement unit focused on voter fraud, a crime that is extremely rare but has become a key issue for Republicans following President Biden’s decisive victory over former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. “I don’t think there is any other place in the country where you should have more confidence that your vote counts,” said DeSantis, who is up for re-election this year and is considered a possible candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. CNN 

Michigan police confirm name of officer who killed Patrick Lyoya Grand Rapids, Michigan, Police Chief Eric Winstrom on Monday confirmed the name of the officer, Christopher Schurr, who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed Black man, during an April 4 traffic stop. Winstrom said he was confirming the officer’s identity, which had already been publicly circulating, “in the interest of transparency, to reduce ongoing speculation, and to avoid any further confusion.” Schurr is on administrative leave without police powers pending an investigation by Michigan State Police. Lyoya’s family and civil rights groups have been calling for identifying the officer and charging him in connection Lyoya’s death. “It took them three weeks to the day of the shooting to release his name,” Lyoya family attorney Ven Johnson said. THE DETROIT NEWS 

Judge blocks Biden plan to end Title 42 A federal judge in Louisiana, Trump appointee Robert Summerhays, on Monday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from ending the pandemic-era public health policy Title 42, which turned back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border without giving them a chance to apply for asylum to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Attorneys general in three states — Missouri, Arizona, Louisiana — sued the Biden administration earlier this month to keep the measure in place, arguing that lifting it would spark a wave of migrants and create “an unprecedented crisis” at the southern border. More than a dozen mostly Republican-led states joined the lawsuit. Biden administration officials have noted Title 42 was a public-health measure, not an immigration policy. AXIOSCBC NEWS 

World’s oldest person dies in Japan at age 119 The world’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka of Japan, has died, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare said Monday. She was 119. Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903, and died on April 19, the ministry said. Guinness World Records in 2019 helped confirm Tanaka as the oldest person alive, and it confirmed her death. “She became the oldest living person in January 2019 at the age of 116 years and 28 days,” Guinness World Records said in a statement. “She is also the second oldest person ever recorded, behind only Jeanne Calment who lived to the age of 122.” Tanaka married a rice shop owner at age 19, and worked in the family business until age 103. She twice survived cancer, and lived through the 1918 Spanish flu and the devastating first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but had been “in and out” of hospitals recently. CNN 

Ford CEO says automaker scaling up electric-pickup production Ford CEO Jim Farley told CNBC on Monday that the company plans to scale up production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup to 150,000 units in the next year or so, up from an initial 40,000-vehicle target. If Ford pulls it off, it will become the first automaker to produce a mainstream full-size electric pickup, and its output will far out-pace Rivian Automotive, General Motors, and other companies aiming for production not to exceed tens of thousands of electric pickups. “In this market, being a first mover is a very, very important move,” Farley told CNBC. “We didn’t know we’d be first, but we worked fast in case we were, and it’s worked out that way. I think it could be one of the most important advantages we have.” CNBC 

Megan Thee Stallion gives tearful interview about alleged Tory Lanez shooting Megan Thee Stallion has given her first interview about allegedly being shot by rapper Tory Lanez almost two years ago. The “Savage” artist tearfully described to CBS Mornings how, after an argument, Lanez allegedly yelled “dance, b—h” and shot her in the feet. “I was really scared because I had never been shot at before,” she said. She recalled looking down at her feet and realizing, “Oh my God, I’m really bleeding,” and alleged Lanez offered her $1 million not to say anything. “I’m like, what are you talking about?” she said. “[Why] are you offering me money right now? Help me!” Initially, she says she told police that she stepped on glass because “I didn’t want them to kill us.” Lanez has denied her allegations, but Megan says he’s “trying to deflect from the fact that he committed a crime.”  VARIETYENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 

Lea Michele reveals the TMI way she and Jonathan Groff ‘became so close’ A new documentary about Spring Awakening might deserve the title Spring Awakening: TMI. In an HBO documentary about the Broadway show, Lea Michele discusses the way she and co-star Jonathan Groff “became so close” working together and “were so intertwined.” She could have just left it there, but instead, she makes this head-turning revelation: “At one point, I literally showed him my whole vagina.” Michele explained that Groff, who is gay, told her he’s “never seen a woman’s vagina before” and asked, “Would you show me?” So, naturally, she “took a desk lamp … and showed him.” Groff confirmed this is true, though Michele added, “But I’ve never seen Jonathan naked. I’ve never seen his penis.” Good to know! We’re gonna have to exit stage right on this whole situation.  PEOPLEENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ director defends Chris Pratt against ‘utterly false beliefs’ Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord is here to stay. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn is jumping to the actor’s defense after some fans called for him to recast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In response to Pratt showing up in the trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder, one fan suggested he should be replaced with Patrick Wilson. But Gunn wrote back on Twitter, “For what? Because of your made-up, utterly false beliefs about him? For something that someone else told you about him that’s not true?” Pratt has previously denied allegations that the church he goes to is “anti-LGBTQ,” and Gunn defended him against that claim, saying, “I know the church he currently goes to.” The director also went further by promising that should Pratt ever be replaced in the MCU, the Guardians of the Galaxy crew would “all be going with him.” Chris Pratt defense force, activate!  SCREENRANT 

Monday,  April 25th, 2022 

Oil prices fall as China outbreak, rising rates threaten demand Oil prices fell nearly 5 percent early Monday as China’s coronavirus lockdowns and the prospect of rising U.S. interest rates stoked fears of decreased demand. Authorities in Shanghai erected fences outside residential buildings in areas touched by a local outbreak, increasing complaints about lockdowns that have shut down factories in China’s most populous city. Prices of international benchmark Brent crude fell 4.6 percent to $101.74 per barrel after going as low as $101.20, the lowest point since April 12. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate dropped 4.9 percent. “It seems that China is the elephant in the room,” said Jeffrey Halley, an analyst at brokerage OANDA. “The tightening COVID-zero restrictions in Shanghai, and fears Omicron has spread in Beijing, torpedoed sentiment today.” REUTERS 

Macron wins re-election in France French President Emmanuel Macron won re-election to a second term on Sunday, beating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen. The election runoff was a rematch of their 2017 race, when the center-right Macron ran as a fresh face and trounced Le Pen 66.1 percent to 33.9 percent. Sunday’s vote was closer but still decisive, with Macron, now running with a clear record, winning 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent. Macron said his re-election was a win for “a more independent France and a stronger Europe,” although he called it his duty to “respond effectively” to “the anger that has been expressed” in the campaign. Le Pen conceded defeat but said French voters showed they wanted a “strong counter power” to Macron. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Zelensky meets with top U.S. officials Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Sunday night with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the highest-level U.S. visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded two months ago. Zelensky pressed the Biden administration officials for more powerful weapons to help Ukrainian forces fight back against Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine, a Zelensky adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, said on Ukrainian TV. Zelensky had said Saturday when he announced plans for the visit that he would push for more military aid. “This was an important time to be there” and talk face-to-face, Blinken said Monday morning in Poland near Ukraine’s border. He said Ukraine is “succeeding” and Russia is “failing” in the war. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

U.S. to resume diplomatic operations in Ukraine Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after their three-hour Sunday trip to Ukraine that they had told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States would resume diplomatic operations in Ukraine this week. The move would mark a first step toward reopening the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Washington closed the embassy ahead of Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, but Blinken said the U.S. aims to reopen it within weeks. The Biden administration also plans this week to announce the nomination of career diplomat Bridget Brink as the new ambassador to Ukraine. There has been no confirmed U.S. ambassador to the country since Marie Yovanovitch was ousted in 2019. THE WASHINGTON POST 

The office of the Transnistrian Ministry of State Security in Tiraspol is attacked with grenade launchers by unknown assailants. There is damage reported to the building, but there are no reports of casualties. (Reuters) 

The office of the Transnistrian Ministry of State Security is blown apart. Transnistrian officials say that the building was attacked with grenade launchers by unknown assailants. (Reuters) 

According to Ukraine, Russian missile strikes hit numerous train stations across Ukraine. (The Guardian) 

Two large fires occur at an oil refinery and a military depot in Bryansk, Russia. (The Guardian) 

Kherson mayor Ihor Kolykhaiev announces that Russian forces have taken control of the Kherson City Council. (Ukrinform) 

A person is killed after Russia bombs the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery in Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast. (Reuters)  

Regional authorities say that five people have been killed by airstrikes on Zhmerynka and Koziatyn, Vinnytsia Oblast. (Reuters) 

California man accused of threatening Merriam-Webster over gender-identity language  Federal authorities last week arrested Jeremy David Hanson of Rossmoor, California, on allegations that he made threats against Merriam-Webster Inc. for using gender-inclusive language, NBC News and other news outlets reported Sunday. Hanson is scheduled to appear in federal court in Massachusetts on April 29 to face one charge of interstate communication of threats to commit violence. He is accused of posting threats on the dictionary company’s website, including one on Oct. 2, 2021, under the username “@anonYmous,” in which he commented on the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry for the term “female,” saying: “There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.” NBC NEWS 

A rocket is fired from Lebanon into Matzuva, Israel. Israel responds by firing at targets in Lebanon. (Times of Israel) 

A limestone statue of the Canaanite goddess Anat from 2,500 BC is found in the Gaza Strip. (ABC News) 

Authorities in Beijing begin COVID-19 testing for millions of residents after a recent increase in COVID-19 cases. (BBC News) 

The U.S. FDA formally approves the Gilead Sciences drug Remdesivir, commonly known as Veklury, for young children with COVID-19. (MarketWatch) 

Russia‘s foreign ministry expels 40 German diplomatic staff in a retaliatory move after Germany expelled the same number of Russian diplomats. (Reuters) 

Former Iranian MP Ali Motahari says the Iranian nuclear program initially aimed for a secret nuclear weapon and nuclear deterrence. (Iran International) 

Four people are killed during a mass stabbing at a house in Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom. (BBC News) 

Four people are stabbed to death in Bermondsey, South London, UK. (BBC News) 

Ukrainians celebrate Orthodox Easter as war hits 2-month mark Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on Sunday as the country continued to fight Russian forces who invaded two months ago. The celebrations took place under a curfew barring residents of all 24 of Ukraine’s regions from going outside overnight. In parts of eastern Ukraine, where Russia is conducting a new offensive, Ukrainian officials urged Orthodox worshipers to attend services virtually to avoid possible Russian “provocations.” Hundreds of people, including soldiers, gathered around St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in the capital, Kyiv, with baskets to be blessed. President Volodymyr Zelensky attended a different service in the city and soothed worshipers, telling them: “All of us believe our sunrise will come soon.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Beijing coronavirus cases surge as China’s zero-COVID policy tested Public health officials in Beijing said the Chinese capital confirmed 22 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the most yet in a single day this year. Shanghai, China’s most populous city, said 39 COVID-19 patients died on Saturday, a three-fold increase from the previous day. Although the rates of coronavirus infections and deaths remain low in China compared to many other countries, the rising numbers raised concerns about the ability of Chinese authorities to stamp out the surge with their zero-COVID policy. Under the policy, China effectively contained an outbreak in Jilin province with six weeks of lockdowns, but cases have been rising in Jiangsu and Hebei, the provinces surrounding Shanghai and Beijing. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Supreme Court revisits case of coach who wanted to pray on football field The Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in the case of a Washington state high school football coach who lost his job for praying on the 50-yard-line in violation of school district orders. It will be the second time the case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, has been considered by the high court. When the court first took up the case a couple of years ago, it decided it was premature to rule on it. Four justices expressed sympathy for the free-speech arguments of former Bremerton High School assistant coach Joseph Kennedy, who said he should be allowed to say a post-game prayer of gratitude at midfield. Now the court has a newly expanded 6-3 conservative majority that has been strongly protective of religious rights. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez headline Amazon-union rally Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) participated in a rally outside Amazon’s JFK8’s warehouse on Staten Island, New York, on Sunday, criticizing Amazon co-founder and CEO Jeff Bezos and urging the company to formally acknowledge the warehouse’s newly formed Amazon Labor Union. Sanders called for Bezos, “who owns a $500 million yacht,” to think about his workers when he’s sailing. “Working people are sick and tired of falling further and further behind while billionaires like Bezos become much richer,” Sanders said. The rally came as employees at Amazon’s LDJ5 warehouse, also on Staten Island, prepare to vote Monday on whether to become the second Amazon facility to unionize. Amazon did not immediately comment. NEW YORK POST 

Beijing coronavirus cases surge as China’s zero-COVID policy tested Public health officials in Beijing said the Chinese capital confirmed 22 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the most yet in a single day this year. Shanghai, China’s most populous city, said 39 COVID-19 patients died on Saturday, a three-fold increase from the previous day. Although the rates of coronavirus infections and deaths remain low in China compared to many other countries, the rising numbers raised concerns about the ability of Chinese authorities to stamp out the surge with their zero-COVID policy. Under the policy, China effectively contained an outbreak in Jilin province with six weeks of lockdowns, but cases have been rising in Jiangsu and Hebei, the provinces surrounding Shanghai and Beijing. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

The End