Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 

Yoon Suk-yeol is sworn in as the 13th President of South Korea. (CNN) 

The operator of Ukraine’s natural gas system GTSOU announces that it will stop shipments of Russian gas through the Sokhranivka route on Wednesday. (Reuters) 

In a rare public rebuke, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticizes China’s “Zero-COVID” policy as “unsustainable”, advising the Chinese government to change its strategy. (Al Jazeera) 

E.U. lifts mask mandate in airports and on planes European Union authorities announced Wednesday they will no longer require masks at airports and on planes, the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions in the trading bloc. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said the move is “a big step forward in the normalization of air travel.” The aviation regulator made the decision jointly with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The updated guideline reflects the latest pandemic developments, “in particular the levels of vaccination and naturally acquired immunity, and the accompanying lifting of restrictions in a growing number of European countries,” the agencies said in a joint statement. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

James Cromwell protests Starbucks by gluing his hand to counter That’ll do, James. That’ll do. Actor James Cromwell superglued his hand to a counter at a Starbucks in Manhattan on Tuesday as a part of a PETA demonstration against charging more for vegan milk. “Starbucks claims that it wants to be more sustainable, but it discourages customers from choosing sustainable products,” Cromwell shouted while sitting on the counter, video showed. Wearing a shirt that read “Free the Animals,” the actor also joined protesters who chanted, “Save the planet, save the cows, end the vegan upcharge now!” Cromwell ultimately unglued himself from the counter after police arrived at the store. The actor has participated in PETA protests before, and he’s been a vegan ever since appearing in the movie Babe. In a 2018 ad for PETA, he said going vegan is the “best way to end animals’ suffering.”  TMZ 

Protesters throw red paint on Russia’s Poland ambassador Ukraine-war protesters threw red paint in the face of Russia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev, as he arrived at a Warsaw cemetery to pay respects to Soviet soldiers who died fighting Nazi Germany in World War II. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau condemned the incident, which occurred during Victory Day celebrations commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of the Nazis, calling it “highly deplorable.” Hundreds of protesters met Andreev at the cemetery waving Ukrainian flags and chanting, “Fascists!” and “Murderers!” Some Russian commentators said Poland should have provided more protection, and suggested Moscow might pull its ambassador out of Poland and ask the Polish ambassador in Russia to leave. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Biden slams ‘ultra-MAGA’ GOP, calls fighting inflation his top priority President Biden on Tuesday defended his administration’s efforts to fight inflation, telling Americans that reining in rising prices is his top domestic priority. “I know families across America are hurting because of inflation,” Biden said. “I understand what it feels like.” The White House has said inflation was being fueled by pandemic-caused supply-chain bottlenecks and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted oil markets and drove up costs. Biden accused “ultra-MAGA” Republicans of exploiting frustration over inflation to push their “extreme agenda.” Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said Biden appeared to be “living in an alternate reality,” blaming him and his fellow Democrats for rising prices. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Biden calls fighting inflation his top domestic priority President Biden on Tuesday defended his administration’s efforts to fight high inflation, telling Americans that reining in rising prices is his top domestic priority. “I know families across America are hurting because of inflation,” Biden said. “I understand what it feels like.” The White House has said inflation is being fueled by pandemic-caused supply-chain bottlenecks and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted oil markets and drove up costs. Biden also accused “ultra-MAGA” Republicans of exploiting frustration over inflation to push their “extreme agenda.” Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said Biden appears to be “living in an alternate reality,” blaming him and his fellow Democrats for rising prices. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Gas prices reach all-time U.S. high Gasoline prices hit an all-time high on Tuesday, without adjusting for inflation. The average U.S. price for a gallon of regular gas hit $4.37. But oil prices were down about 10 percent since the weekend and by 20 percent since March as COVID-19 lockdowns slowed China’s economy. Many traders expect slowing global economic activity to bring some relief at the pump, unless high demand in the summer driving season keeps prices high. “I think the consumer will get a bit of a break here,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service. “Just watch out for July and August. I think the consumer will drive this summer whether it’s $4 a gallon or $6 a gallon.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Gun homicide rate rises to highest level since 1994 The firearm homicide rate in the United States hit its highest level since 1994, jumping by 35 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, according to data published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rates among Black boys and men ages 10 to 44, and among American Indian or Alaska Native men ages 25 to 44, showed the largest increases. “The COVID-19 pandemic might have exacerbated existing social and economic stressors that increase risk for homicide and suicide, particularly among certain racial and ethnic communities,” CDC researchers wrote in the report. Seventy-nine percent of homicides and 53 percent of suicide involved guns. CNN 

Ukraine reclaims areas Russia had seized near Kharkiv Ukraine said Tuesday that a counteroffensive by its forces has taken back four villages Russia had seized near the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city. Russia continued its heavy bombing of Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odessa, in an expansion of Moscow’s effort to disrupt Western arms shipments to Ukrainian troops fending off its ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine. A U.S. intelligence assessment found that Russia appears to be preparing for a “prolonged conflict” that could become “more unpredictable and escalatory” due to a “mismatch” between what Russian President Vladimir Putin wants and what his military can deliver, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testified Tuesday. REUTERS 

Musk says he would let Trump back on Twitter Elon Musk said Tuesday that Twitter will reverse its permanent ban of former President Donald Trump if Musk completes his deal to buy the social media company for $44 billion. He has promised to make Twitter a bastion of unregulated speech. The Tesla CEO said virtually at an auto conference that Twitter’s decision to shut down Trump’s account after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol for violating its policy on inciting violence was a “morally bad decision” that was “foolish in the extreme.” He said taking down harmful content and temporary bans are appropriate, but permanently banning Trump “alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

House passes $40 billion Ukraine aid package The House on Tuesday approved a $39.8 billion military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. The 368-57 vote, with only some Republicans voting no, sends the package to the Senate. House Democrats increased the plan beyond the $33 billion President Biden requested. The legislation includes $6 billion for defense assistance, including arms and training, and $4.4 billion for emergency food aid in Ukraine and around the world. Democrats avoided speed bumps by abandoning the idea of linking the Ukraine aid to a stalled $10 billion COVID-19 mitigation package. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the vote was a “critical step” in demonstrating U.S. support for Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Palestinian-American reporter killed in West Bank clash A Palestinian-American reporter, Shireen Abu Akleh, died Wednesday after being shot in the head while covering Israeli raids in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Palestinian authorities and Al Jazeera accused Israeli forces of shooting the 51-year-old longtime Al Jazeera correspondent. Al Jazeera said Israeli forces shot Abu Akleh “in cold blood” even though she had been “clearly wearing a press jacket that identifies her as a journalist.” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel had gathered information suggesting Palestinian militants “firing indiscriminately” were responsible for the journalist’s death. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a second journalist, Ali Al-Samudi of the Jerusalem-based Al Quds newspaper, also was wounded by gunfire. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Boston judge finds chef Mario Batali not guilty of indecent assault A Boston municipal court judge on Tuesday found celebrity chef Mario Batali not guilty of indecent assault and battery. The verdict followed a quick trial after the former Food Network personality waived his right to a jury trial. The allegations stemmed from a 2017 encounter in a bar, where a Boston woman said Batali aggressively kissed and groped her while they took a selfie. Boston Municipal Court Judge James Stanton agreed with claims by Batali’s lawyers that the picture showed the incident was amicable, and that the woman had credibility issues. “Pictures are worth a thousand words,” he said. The judge rebuked Batali but said he had paid “a high cost” in damage to his reputation. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Peloton shares fall on biggest quarterly loss as a public company Peloton shares dropped 9 percent on Tuesday after the interactive-exercise equipment maker reported its biggest quarterly loss yet as a public company. Peloton said it had raised $750 million to help keep the business going as losses mount and demand weakens. Chief Executive Barry McCarthy, who took over in February, said the company was short on capital partly because it was stuck with unsold bikes and treadmills. Peloton is among the companies that thrived early in the pandemic, as people worked and played more online, but are struggling now that the coronavirus crisis has eased and people are resuming normal activities. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Tuesday,  May 10th, 2022 

Sri Lanka prime minister resigns after protests Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned Monday after weeks of protests blaming him and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for the country’s devastating economic crisis. The prime minister tweeted that he had submitted his resignation to the president, although the president’s office made no immediate comment. Protests have spread across the country in recent weeks, but the prime minister’s resignation came after government supporters violently attacked a group of demonstrators and his government was bracing for a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The military deployed armed troops around the capital, Colombo, to restore calm. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Stocks plunge to lowest level in 2022 U.S. stocks plunged to their lowest level of 2022 on Monday in an ongoing sell-off fueled by concerns about the highest inflation in decades, and Federal Reserve interest rate hikes intended to tame it. The tech-heavy Nasdaq took the hardest hit, falling 4.3 percent. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.2 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Economists and investors are growing increasingly worried that the Fed won’t be able to raise rates and cut its bond holdings fast enough to bring down inflation without tipping the economy into a recession. U.S. stock futures rebounded early Tuesday, with the major indexes rising more than 1 percent. CNBC 

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wins Philippines presidency by landslide Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the Philippines’ presidential election in a landslide on Monday. With 95 percent of the vote counted, Marcos, known by his childhood nickname Bongbong, had 30 million votes. His main rival, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, trailed far behind with 14 million. Voters waited in long lines to vote for Marcos, the son and namesake of the country’s late dictator, in a show of support for his family. His father, Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted from power in the 1980s and accused of stealing billions from the government. Marcos Jr. made his bid for the presidency after working for years in lower positions, trying to rehabilitate the family name. REUTERS 

Former Senator of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos, son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is expected to become the next President of the Philippines, based on partial and unofficial counts. Marcos has more than twice as many votes as current Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo. The victory will be officially ratified by the Congress of the Philippines in late May. (BBC News) 

The Sri Lankan Defense Ministry authorizes the Army and police force to “shoot to kill” and to arrest protesters without warrants in response to yesterday’s violence. (Al Jazeera) 

The Seimas of Lithuania unanimously votes to designate Russia as a terrorist state and to classify Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide. (NPR) 

Crown Prince of Kuwait Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah accepts the resignation of the Government of Kuwait, after the request had been submitted more than a month ago. No timeline is given for when the next election will occur. (Reuters) 

Katalin Novák takes office as the first female President of Hungary. (Al Jazeera) 

Apple announces it will discontinue sales of the iPod Touch, officially ending the iPod line of portable media players after more than 20 years. (The Verge) 

 

Tesla sharply cuts production at Shanghai factory Tesla has halted most production at its Shanghai electric-car factory because of difficulties obtaining parts, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing an internal memo. Shanghai is in its sixth week of an intensifying COVID-19 lockdown. Tesla’s sales in China were already down 98 percent in April compared to March. The company said in the memo that it planned to produce fewer than 200 vehicles at the Shanghai facility on Tuesday, down from the target of 1,200 units per day it reached shortly after reopening the factory following a 22-day closure. Tesla did not immediately respond to Reuters‘ request for comment. REUTERS 

Biden signs law speeding aid to Ukraine  President Biden on Monday signed a law that will speed up military aid to Ukraine as Russia intensified its offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine. Biden urged Congress to “immediately” pass a separate bill to provide Ukraine with $33 billion in military and humanitarian aid. Congressional Democrats plan to add another $7 billion to the package. About two-thirds of the aid will go toward security and military assistance as Ukraine fights invading Russian forces. Russia hit the city of Odessa in southern Ukraine with missiles, including three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, a Ukrainian military official said. The Pentagon said Russian forces lack the capacity to attack the Black Sea port by land or sea. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Senators back more security for Supreme Court justices’ families Senators on Monday quickly passed a bill to expand security for the families of Supreme Court justices after weekend abortion-rights protests outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that President Biden “strongly believes in the constitutional right to protest, but that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism.” Judges “perform an incredibly important function” and “must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety,” she added. The statement came after Republicans criticized the administration for not condemning the protests over the weekend in the initial White House response. There were no reports of violence or vandalism during Saturday’s protests. CNN 

Alabama fugitives caught in Indiana U.S. Marshals on Monday caught an escaped confessed murderer and the corrections officer who fled an Alabama jail with him, after a police car chase that ended in a crash in Evansville, Indiana. The corrections officer, Vicky White, 56, died in a hospital after apparently shooting herself in the head as law enforcement officers closed in. The inmate, Casey White, 38, was behind the wheel of the Cadillac during the chase, and was injured in the crash. Authorities said the Whites, who were not relatives, had a “jailhouse romance” before they disappeared from the Lauderdale County Detention Center on April 29. Vicky White was due to retire on the day they fled. USA TODAY 

The Washington Post wins the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its coverage of the 2021 United States Capitol attack. The New York Times wins the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting on the War on Terror’s failed bombing campaigns and the most awards overall. (NPR) 

Biden announces deal to expand internet access President Biden announced Monday that his administration has reached an agreement with 20 internet providers — including AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon — to provide discounted high-speed internet service to low-income Americans. “Over the last few months, my administration has worked closely with internet providers — this is a case where big business stepped up — urging them to cut their prices and raise their speeds,” Biden said. “I’m trying to get others to do the same thing with inflation, but these guys are the best.” Biden has repeatedly blamed high inflation rates on corporate greed. Biden said low-income families could select a provider and get “high-speed internet at no cost in most cases.” THE WASHINGTON POST 

‘A Strange Loop’ leads Tony nominations with 11 A Strange Loop got 11 Tony Award nominations on Monday, more than any other show. The new musical, written by Michael R. Jackson, looks at the doubts of an aspiring writer. It already has won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. In the closely watched best-new-musical category, it is competing with: MJ, a biographical jukebox musical about Michael Jackson; Paradise Square, about race relations in 19th-century New York; Six, about Henry VIII’s wives; Girl From the North Country, about a Depression-era Minnesota boarding house; and Mr. Saturday Night, a stage remake of the Billy Crystal film. The 2022 Tonys will be the first to honor shows that opened after the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters and other public spaces in 2020. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Bitcoin dips below $30,000 for 1st time since mid-2021 Bitcoin fell below $30,000 for the first time since mid-2021 before rebounding by as much as 5.4 percent to $31,904 early Tuesday. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency has been falling since a rally peaked in November. Digital currencies are increasingly trading in line with technology stocks, which have been falling in recent months as interest rates rise, increasing borrowing costs. Bitcoin is now down nearly 55 percent from its November high, and 40 percent of people who have invested in the digital currency are now underwater, CNBC reports, citing new data from Glassnode. The figure is much higher among people who invested in the last six months, when bitcoin was closer to its peak of around $69,000. CNBC 

White House says it’s working to address baby-formula shortage White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Biden administration officials were “working around the clock” to ease a nationwide shortage of baby formula. Pandemic-related supply disruptions started the problem, and it intensified in February when Abbott Laboratories had to recall baby formulas, including certain Similac products, made at a key plant after several cases of bacterial infections in babies. The “out-of-stock” rate for baby formula has jumped from 2-8 percent in early 2021 to 30-40 percent in recent weeks. “In six states — Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee — more than half of baby formula was completely sold out during the week starting April 24,” CNN Business reports. CNN 

Fred Savage fired from ‘The Wonder Years’ reboot Fred Savage is standing up and walking out on the Wonder Years reboot — or, more accurately, being escorted out. The actor has been fired from his role as producer and director for ABC’s The Wonder Years. The studio, 20th Television, said the decision came after an investigation into “allegations of inappropriate conduct” by Savage, who starred in the original The Wonder Years. The allegations weren’t detailed, but Deadline reports they “included verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior.” Savage was previously sued for allegedly attacking and harassing a woman on the set of the Fox show The Grinder in 2015. He denied those allegations, calling them “absolutely untrue.” The Wonder Years star Alley Mills also said in 2018 the original series was canceled after a “completely ridiculous sexual harassment suit” was brought against Savage.  DEADLINEPEOPLE 

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid mass protests over the government’s handling of the economic crisis. (BBC News) 

Pro-government supporters storm a major protest site in Colombo, clashing with police and protesters. A total of 78 people are injured. (Al Jazeera) 

Two people are killed and eight more are injured as police open fire against a group of protestors who were trying to set fire to the Pradeshiya Sabha chairman’s residence in Weeraketiya. (Ada Derana) 

MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala opens fire against protestors who were blocking his vehicle in Nittambuwa, killing one man and injuring another. Athukorala then escaped into a nearby building, before being found dead alongside his security officer. (Al Jazeera) 

Nigeria’s airlines say that they have cancelled a plan to suspend domestic flights, a decision they had previously made due to an increase in the cost of aviation fuel. (BBC News) 

The Swedish Social Democratic Party announces that it will decide on May 15 whether to pursue a course of action to join NATO. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is expected to also announce Finland’s intention to join NATO on May 12. (Al Jazeera) 

A prison riot in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, kills 44 inmates. (ABC News) 

The End Tuesday 

Monday,  May 9th, 2022 

Putin defends Ukraine invasion in Victory Day speech Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with a speech in Red Square defending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as necessary to protect “the homeland.” He proclaimed eastern Ukraine to be Russian territory. Russia also marked Victory Day in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, though without a parade. Russia has gained control of most of Mariupol after bombing it to rubble. Ukraine’s last fighters there, holed up in tunnels under a destroyed steel plant, said in an online news conference they would fight to the death after the last of the more than 300 civilians who had been sheltering there were evacuated. REUTERS 

Gas prices rise closer to record level set in March The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline rose by 15 cents to $4.38 over the last two weeks, industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday. The highest average price was $5.85 per gallon in the San Francisco Bay area. Tulsa, Oklahoma, posted the lowest average, $3.80 per gallon. Diesel prices jumped 43 cents in the last two weeks, reaching $5.58 per gallon. The national record average price for regular-grade gas reached $4.43 per gallon on March 11. The Biden administration has blamed the increase on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which accounts for 8 percent of U.S. oil imports. THE ASCENT 

G-7 commits to slashing Russian oil, gas imports The Group of Seven nations on Sunday agreed to ban or phase out Russian oil and gas imports in response to Moscow’s Ukraine invasion. “This will hit hard at the main artery of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war,” the G-7 said in a statement. The G-7 includes the U.S., Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Britain, the seven largest “advanced” economies. The U.S. has already announced plans to ban importing Russian oil, gas, and coal, but European nations that rely more heavily on Russian energy are moving more slowly. The White House also announced broader sanctions against Russian industries crucial to Russia’s military. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Nigeria’s airlines say they have called off a plan to ground domestic flights from Monday in protest at the spiraling cost of aviation fuel. (BBC News) 

Iranians in Moldova are urged to leave due to rising tensions in pro-Russian Transnistria and spillover effects from the war in Ukraine. (Tasnim) 

The Swedish Social Democratic Party announced it will decide on May 15 whether to pursue a course of action to join NATO. The Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is expected to also announce his intention to join NATO on May 12. (Al Jazeera) 

U.S. diplomats visit Kyiv in step toward reopening embassy Top U.S. diplomats returned to Kyiv on Sunday in the latest step toward fulfilling Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s promise to reopen the U.S. embassy in Ukraine. U.S. diplomats returned to Lviv last month. U.S. Charge d’Affaires Kristina Kvien and members of her team went to the U.S. embassy but won’t stay in Kyiv on this trip. Kvien and her group made the brief trip to mark the 77th Victory in Europe Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany by the United States and its allies in World War II. Russia celebrates its Victory Day on Monday. REUTERS 

Jill Biden makes unannounced trip to Ukraine First lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday, meeting with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, who had not been seen in public since Russia invaded her country on Feb. 24. “I wanted to come on Mother’s Day,” Biden said as the two sat in a former school now housing displaced Ukrainians in Uzhhorod in the country’s southwest corner. “The people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine.” Zelenska thanked Biden for entering Ukraine during a war, calling her trip “a very courageous act.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also traveled to Ukraine. He talked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reopened the Canadian embassy in Kyiv. CNN 

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned amid mass protests at the government’s handling of the economic crisis. (BBC News) 

Protestors storm a major protest site in Colombo, clashing with police and pro-government supporters. A total of 78 people are wounded. (Al Jazeera) 

MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala is killed in Nittambuwa while trying to gain refuge after shooting and critically wounding two protestors. (NDTV) 

Gunmen open fire at two polling stations in Buluan and Lanao del Sur, Philippines, killing three guards and a voter and wounding another guard and two voters, amid the presidential elections. (Al Jazeera) 

Filipinos head to the polls to elect officials in the Presidential, Senate, House of Representatives, Gubernatorial, and other local elections. (The Guardian) 

Death toll in Cuba hotel explosion rises to 30 The death toll from an explosion in a Havana, Cuba, hotel that was under renovation rose to at least 30 on Sunday, as crews found three more bodies while continuing to sift through the ruins. The Cuban Health Ministry said 84 people were injured, 24 of whom remained hospitalized. Two years of work at the Hotel Saratoga, a five-star 96-room hotel in Old Havana, was nearing completion, and the staff was preparing to reopen the inn soon, but there were no guests in the building when the blast tore off the facade. Authorities are investigating but suspect a gas leak caused the explosion. Several nearby structures, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church, also sustained damage. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

U.S. monitoring investigation of 3 American deaths at Bahamas resort The State Department said Sunday it is “closely monitoring” Bahamian authorities’ investigation of the deaths of three Americans at the Sandals Emerald Bay Resort on Great Exuma island. Staff found the body of one man in one villa, and the bodies of a man and woman in another. A fourth person was hospitalized. The Royal Bahamian Police did not release any details about the causes of death. Two of the people had received medical treatment after reporting feeling ill. The State Department told USA Today it will not immediately provide any further information “out of respect for the privacy of the families.” USA TODAY 

‘Doctor Strange’ has 2nd biggest pandemic-era opening  Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness dominated the weekend box office, bringing in an estimated $185 million in ticket sales in its debut in the United States and Canada, the Walt Disney Co. said Sunday. It was the second-biggest opening of the pandemic, after Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s $260.1 million, and the sixth-biggest opening ever. The first Doctor Strange made $85 million in its 2016 debut. The new movie, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a powerful sorcerer, has made an estimated $265 million internationally since its Wednesday opening. It got a boost from the title character’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which opened in December and is now the third-highest grossing movie ever. DEADLINE 

Providers to help offer low-income households high-speed internet AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and 17 other carriers committed to helping offer low-cost, high-speed internet to millions of households under the bipartisan infrastructure law. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to unveil the effort on Monday with telecom executives, lawmakers, and others. A current $30-a-month subsidy is available to help low-income households get internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program will offer plans with speeds of at least 100 Megabits per second for no more than $30. “High-speed internet service is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity,” the White House said. “But too many families go without high-speed internet because of the cost or have to cut back on other essentials to make their monthly internet service payments.” NPR 

The End

Sunday, May 8th, 2022 

The Airline Operators of Nigeria announces that all of their airlines will suspend their domestic flights beginning on Monday, in protest of rising fuel prices caused by the war in Ukraine. (BBC News) 

Frank Langella says he’s ‘been canceled’ after Netflix firing Frank Langella has penned an essay on being fired by Netflix, and it takes no more than three words before cancel culture comes up. “I have been canceled,” he opens a piece for Deadline. “Just like that.” The Oscar-nominated actor was fired from Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher after allegedly being accused of misconduct on set. In the essay, he admits he ignored instructions from the intimacy coordinator and touch a female co-star’s leg during a love scene in a way they hadn’t agreed upon. “Legislating the placement of hands, to my mind, is ludicrous,” he claims. Langella says he was advised to show contrition and apologize in the wake of his firing, advice he also ignored by promptly complaining about cancel culture instead. “Cancel culture is the antithesis of democracy,” he writes. If the actor hasn’t already been contacted to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience, the invitation is surely coming.  DEADLINE 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is open to continue peace talks with Russia if they guarantee the restoration of preinvasion borders, return the Ukrainians who were forcefully evacuated to Russia, and if Russian troops withdraw from the country. (Axios) 

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko claims that the Russian frigate Admiral Makarov was struck with Neptune anti-ship missiles off of Snake Island. Russia denies having any information of the strike. (Newsweek) 

Four Russian missiles strike the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. (Reuters) 

Thirty-five civilians are killed during an attack on a gold mine by CODECO rebels in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters) 

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly make an unannounced visit to Kyiv to meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (CTV News) 

U.S. First Lady Jill Biden makes an unannounced visit to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, and holds a Mother’s Day meeting with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.  (CNN) 

The European Union recommends that the United States remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps from their terrorist organization blacklist. (Times of Israel) 

The office of Wisconsin Family Action, an anti-abortion group in Madison, Wisconsin, catches fire and is looted. Police discover a molotov cocktail and begin an arson investigation.  (ABC News) 

John Lee is elected as the 5th Chief Executive of Hong Kong. (The New York Times) 

Carlos Alcaraz defeats defending champion Alexander Zverev to win the men’s singles tennis title at the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open. (BBC Sport) 

Up to 60 feared dead after Russia bombed Ukrainian school, local governor says  As many as 60 people may have been killed when Russian forces bombed a Ukrainian school, the local governor said Sunday. The school, located in Bilohorivka in the Russian-claimed Luhansk Oblast, was reportedly bombed on Saturday afternoon as around 90 people took shelter inside. “The fire was extinguished after nearly four hours, then the rubble was cleared, and, unfortunately, the bodies of two people were found,” Governor Serhiy Gaidai wrote on Telegram. The full death toll will not be known until the rubble is cleared. As of Sunday morning, 30 people had been rescued. REUTERS 

NYC subway shooting suspect indicted on terrorism charge Frank James, who allegedly shot 10 people in a New York City subway platform last month, has been indicted on two federal charges: committing a terrorist attack on a public transit system and discharging a firearm while committing a violent crime. Federal law considers violent attacks against mass transit to be inherently terroristic, meaning prosecutors will not need to prove a particular ideological motive. James could face life in prison for either charge. On his social media accounts, James said he struggled with mental health, criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to expand the presence of mental health professionals on the subway, and asked “black Jesus” to “kill all the whiteys.” CNN 

Muslim women in Afghanistan must wear head-to-toe coverings in public, Taliban orders The Taliban government of Afghanistan announced Saturday that Muslim women would be required to wear head-to-toe coverings in public. “This is not a restriction on women but an order of the Quran,” said Akif Muhajir, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The new rule only allows a woman’s eyes to be exposed, meaning women must either wear a burqa or combine a veil and headscarf with a long robe called an abaya. Punishments for breaking the rule will be inflicted not on the women, but on their male guardians. Observers note that the Taliban’s treatment of women could make it more difficult to secure badly needed foreign aid. NPR 

Abbott is ‘attacking the people of Texas,’ O’Rourke says after Houston abortion rights rally Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke attended a large rally in Houston on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court’s draft decision that would overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. Thousands of people gathered at Discovery Green, a park in downtown Houston. Speaking to journalists after the rally, O’Rourke accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who is running for a third term and supports the state’s near-total ban on abortion, of “attacking the people of Texas” and ignoring the will of “the vast majority of Texans” who “want to protect the right of every woman to make her own health care decisions.” ABC13 

Nationalist party Sinn Fein wins in Northern Ireland Sinn Fein on Saturday secured a plurality of seats in Northern Ireland’s legislative assembly, becoming the first Irish nationalist party to do so. The party, which originated as the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, took 27 of the assembly’s 90 seats with the Democratic Unionist Party — which supports remaining with the United Kingdom — in second place with 24. Sinn Fein plans to appoint party leader Michelle O’Neill as first minister and has no plans to take immediate steps toward unifying Ireland. In 2019, O’Neill said that the U.K.’s departure from the European Union would lead to Irish unification “within a generation” and that the “genie is out of the bottle on Irish unity.” THE EVENING STANDARD 

At least 32 dead and 19 still missing after Havana hotel explosion, Red Cross official says Workers spent Saturday night searching for survivors amid the rubble of Cuba’s Hotel Saratoga after an explosion ripped through the Havana landmark on Friday. Dr. Julio Guerra Izquierdo, an official from Cuba’s health ministry, said Saturday night that at least 27 people had been killed, while Gloria Bonnin of the Red Cross told state media the death toll was at least 32 and said 19 people were still missing. Izquierdo added that 81 people were injured and that among the dead were four children and a pregnant woman. Authorities say the explosion was caused by a gas leak. CNN 

Harris warns graduates of ‘unsettled’ world in commencement speech at HBCU Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the commencement address at Tennessee State University, a historically Black school, on Saturday. She told graduates that the “world that you graduate into is unsettled” and that “long-established principles now rest on shaky ground.” As examples, she cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade (1973), and the spread of online misinformation. She also praised graduates for persevering in their education during the COVID-19 pandemic and told them “there is no limit to your capacity for greatness.” ABC NEWS 

Security official who led crackdown on protesters wins rigged Hong Kong election John Lee, Beijing’s chosen candidate to replace Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, was elected to office on Sunday with more than 99 percent of the vote following an election in which he was the only candidate. Votes were cast by a 1,500-member committee, the members of which were carefully vetted by China’s central government. As a high-ranking security official, Lee led the crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in 2019 as the Chinese Communist Party sought to bring Hong Kong, which had continued to enjoy relative autonomy and Western-style freedoms since rejoining China in 1997, under direct control. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Rich Strike beats 80-1 odds to win Kentucky Derby Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, beating 80-1 odds to pull off the biggest upset since 1913. Rich Strike almost didn’t compete at all and was entered into the race only after another horse was “scratched out” — removed from competition due to signs of unsound condition — on Friday. Epicenter and Zandon finished second and third, respectively. Former President Donald Trump attended the race, where a super PAC supporting him was throwing a $75,000-a-head political fundraiser. Trump’s appearance on the big screen overlooking the track was greeted with cheers, boos, and a brief “U.S.A.” Chant. YAHOO! SPORTS 

Saturday, May 7th, 2022 

Ukrainian counteroffensive may drive Russians back from Kharkiv A Ukrainian counteroffensive could drive Russian forces back from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to the Institute for the Study of War. “The Ukrainian counteroffensive north and east of Kharkiv city secured further gains in the last 24 hours and may successfully push Russian forces out of artillery range of Kharkiv in the coming days,” the U.S.-based think tank said Friday, adding that the Ukrainian operation “is developing into a successful, broader counteroffensive — as opposed to the more localized counterattacks that Ukrainian forces have conducted throughout the war.” Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, has been under constant threat since the war began. CNBCINSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR 

Ukraine says that all women, children, and elderly have been evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant. (Reuters) 

Sofia Sapega, the girlfriend of Belarusian activist Roman Protasevich, with whom she was detained when their flight was diverted by the Belarusian Air Force last year, is sentenced to six years in prison for “inciting social hatred”. The exiled Belarusian opposition condemns the verdict. (Reuters) 

Russian forces bomb a school in Bilohorivka, Sievierodonetsk Raion, Luhansk Oblast. Only two deaths are confirmed but sixty people are believed to have been killed. (Reuters) 

Two colonels, two soldiers and four al-Qaeda insurgents are killed during clashes in Dhale Governorate, Yemen. (AP) 

Ten soldiers and one officer are killed during an attack at a checkpoint at a water pumping station in the Suez Canal, Egypt. (Reuters) 

Eight people are killed and 17 others injured during wildfires in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Siberia, Russia, that destroy hundreds of buildings in 16 settlements. The Federal Agency for Forestry blames high winds for worsening the fires and impacting firefighting efforts. (Reuters) 

The Taliban passes a law ordering all women in Afghanistan to cover their faces in public with a burqa. (Reuters) 

Iran preemptively shuts down the internet in Khuzestan province amid protests against a 200% increase in bread prices. (Iran International) 

One person is killed and six others injured in a mass shooting in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (AP) 

Irish republican party Sinn Féin win the most seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly with 29% of the first-preference vote, marking the first time that a unionist party did not win the most seats since Northern Ireland’s establishment in 1921. (The Guardian) 

Former president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announces his candidacy for the upcoming Brazilian presidential election in October, launching his candidacy with a message of “hope” and stating that he is ready to make “the greatest peaceful revolution” in the history of Brazil. (EFE) 

The 148th Kentucky Derby is held in Louisville, Kentucky with a full capacity for the first time since 2019 after two years of COVID-19 capacity restrictions. American thoroughbred Rich Strike wins the Derby in one of the largest upsets in history with an 80–1 odds to win. (CBS News)  

Trump wanted to kill Iranian military officer to boost reelection campaign, memoir alleges Former President Donald Trump wanted to kill a high-ranking military officer shortly before the 2020 election to boost his own campaign, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper alleges in his forthcoming memoir, Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Defense Secretary in Extraordinary Times. According to Esper, who served as defense secretary from July 2019 until just after the 2020 election, the proposed strike “was a really bad idea with very big consequences” and had likely been pitched to the president as a way to “create news” that would benefit him politically. Esper also claims Trump asked him if the U.S. military could “quietly” fire “missiles into Mexico to destroy the drug labs.” THE GUARDIAN 

U.S. economy added 428,000 jobs in April Amid inflation concerns, the U.S. economy added more jobs last month than expected. The Labor Department said Friday the U.S. added 428,000 jobs in April, more than the roughly 400,000 that experts were predicting. The unemployment rate stayed at 3.6 percent. “Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, in manufacturing, and in transportation and warehousing,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Last month, the Labor Department said 431,000 jobs were added in March, though this number was revised down on Friday to 428,000. Friday’s report was released in the wake of U.S. gross domestic product contracting 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022, the worst quarter since the pandemic began. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 

News stories about the U.S. sharing intel with Ukraine are counterproductive, Biden tells officials President Biden told senior intelligence and defense officials on Friday that news stories about the U.S. sharing intelligence with Ukraine to aid in the fight against Russia have been counterproductive and that the leaks should stop. On Thursday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson accused Biden administration officials of “bragging about” sharing intelligence that helps Ukraine kill Russian soldiers in order to intentionally escalate the war. “Why would you tell people you are doing that? There is only one reason: because you want war with Russia,” Carlson said. Some administration officials have also reportedly expressed concerns that public disclosures about intelligence sharing could provoke Russia. NBC NEWS 

Federal judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Twitter U.S. District Court Judge James Donato dismissed former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Twitter on Friday, though Trump’s lawyers will have a chance to submit an amended complaint by May 27. Trump sued Twitter for banning him from the platform after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, claiming that Twitter violated the First Amendment, that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is unconstitutional, and that Twitter engaged in “deceptive and misleading” practices. Trump said last month that he would not rejoin Twitter even if new owner Elon Musk offered to reinstate his account. FOX BUSINESS 

Battle for early-state status in Dems’ 2024 presidential primary begins  A number of states and at least one territory have submitted applications to the Democratic National Committee to be considered for coveted early-state status in 2024’s Democratic presidential primary. The 16 applicants include New Jersey, Washington, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico. Iowa, which has held the country’s first presidential nominating contest in every election since 1972, has applied to retain that slot. In shaking up the election’s early states, Democrats hope to eliminate caucuses and give more power to voters of color. POLITICO 

NLRB files complaint accusing Starbucks of over 200 violations at Buffalo stores  The National Labor Relations Board issued a compliant Friday accusing Starbucks of over 200 violations of federal labor law at its stores in Buffalo, home to the first Starbucks to unionize. “Starbucks will be held accountable for the union-busting minefield they forced workers to walk through in fighting for their right to organize. This Complaint fully unmasks Starbucks’ facade as a ‘progressive company,’” Starbucks Workers United said in a statement. The company denies that it broke the law. “We believe the allegations contained in the complaint are false, and we look forward to presenting our evidence when the allegations are adjudicated,” Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges said. CNBC 

Explosion at hotel in Cuba leaves at least 22 dead and more than 60 hospitalized  At least 22 are dead and more than 60 have been hospitalized after a Friday explosion ripped through Havana’s iconic Hotel Saratoga. Witnesses described a “massive blast” that destroyed buses and cars outside. The explosion, which tore off the hotel’s facade, is believed to have been caused by a gas leak. “It was not a bomb or an attack. It was an unfortunate accident,” said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who has visited the site of the explosion. BBC 

Harry and Meghan aren’t invited to appear on Buckingham Palace balcony during queen’s Jubilee Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will officially return to the U.K. to attend Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee, but they won’t be joining her on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Buckingham Palace said Friday the queen has decided that when she and other members of the royal family make an appearance on the palace balcony during the celebration of her 70th year on the throne, only those “who are currently undertaking official public duties” on her behalf will join her. That means Harry and Meghan aren’t invited, nor is Prince Andrew, who stepped back from public duties over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and has been accused of sexual assault. THE WEEK 

Friday,  May 6th, 2022 

The Orlando Police Pension Fund files a class-action lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court against Twitter Inc and Elon Musk, seeking to delay the acquisition of Twitter to 2025. (Reuters) 

Two people are killed and eighteen others are injured when an explosion occurs in a residential building in Madrid, Spain. (AP) 

At least 26 people are killed and at least 74 others are injured by an explosion caused by a suspected gas leak at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba. (AP) 

Iran detains a Swedish man who was travelling as a tourist, allegedly in response to Sweden prosecuting Hamid Nouri, an Iranian official considered to be responsible for the mass killings of political prisoners in 1988. (AP) 

The U.S. Senate passes 62–33 a non-binding resolution barring the Biden administration from removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. (Haaretz) 

The Sri Lankan government declares a state of emergency in response to massive anti-government protests. (Reuters) 

Liam Neeson references his racism controversy in ‘Atlanta’ cameo Remember that time Liam Neeson casually admitted he once wanted to commit a racist murder? Allow him to remind you. On the latest episode of Atlanta, Neeson plays a fictional version of himself and has a conversation with Brian Tyree Henry’s character about “my transgression” — as in, that time the real Neeson in 2019 revealed that when a friend of his was raped by a Black man, he roamed the streets with a weapon hoping to get into a fight with a random Black person so he could kill them. In the episode, the fictional Neeson apologizes, but the scene takes a turn when Henry’s character forgives him and says it’s good to hear he doesn’t hate Black people. “No, no, no, no, I can’t stand the lot of you,” Neeson says. “Well, now I feel that way because you tried to ruin my career.” Clearly, poking fun at himself is included in Neeson’s very particular set of skills.  THE DAILY BEAST 

Kim Kardashian changed from Marilyn Monroe dress into a 2nd Marilyn Monroe dress Kim Kardashian is apparently going around assembling every dress that Marilyn Monroe ever wore like they’re Infinity Stones and she’s Thanos. The reality star made headlines when she went to the Met Gala this week in the actual dress Monroe wore when she sang “Happy Birthday” to JFK in 1962. But on Friday, Kardashian said she changed out of that dress into … another Marilyn Monroe dress, this time the one she wore to the Golden Globes in 1962. In her “quest” to find the “Happy Birthday” dress, Kardashian said she came across this other one — and, get this, she also got her hands on the Golden Globe award that Monroe received that night. Kardashian received a lock of Monroe’s hair, too, so it’s looking suspiciously like some sort of demonic ritual to bring her back to life is about to happen. PAGE SIX 

Kevin Hart says Chappelle attacker getting his ‘a– whipped’ sent an important message What happened with Dave Chappelle this week was “one of those things that needed to happen,” comedian Kevin Hart says. Wait, let him explain. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the comedian spoke about Chappelle getting attacked on stage while performing stand-up this week, declaring this is something that “needed” to happen — specifically, the attacker ending up in the hospital. “Somebody getting their a– whipped sends a message to other people that were like, ‘You know, I was thinking about doing that, but after seeing that, I don’t really want to do that,” Hart said. Chappelle, meanwhile, spoke about the incident again on Thursday night, revealing he has spoken with the alleged attacker and learned his motive was apparently to “draw attention to” gentrification. “At least you got smacked by someone of repute,” Chapelle also joked to Chris Rock. “I got smacked by a homeless guy with leaves in his hair.” Rock’s response? “I got smacked by the softest [N-word] that ever rapped.”  VARIETY 

Selena Gomez to make her debut as ‘SNL’ host Selena Gomez has her plans for next Saturday night set. The pop star and actress will make her debut as Saturday Night Live host on the May 14 episode, which will feature Post Malone as the musical guest. This will also be Post Malone’s first time on the show. “Mom … I think I’ve made it,” Gomez wrote on Instagram. “So grateful and so excited.” She’ll be following Benedict Cumberbatch, host of tomorrow night’s episode. The SNL appearance will come ahead of the second season of her Hulu comedy Only Murders in the Building, which teams her up with Steve Martin and Martin Short. Perhaps she can get some hosting advice from the former Martin, a member of the five-timers club? Last month, Gomez revealed she has been disconnected from the Internet for four years, so there’s a decent chance at least one joke of the Extremely Online variety goes slightly over her head.  DEADLINE 

The End