Sunday, May 15th, 2022 

Russia launches missile strikes from the Black Sea on “military infrastructure” in Yavoriv Raion, Lviv Oblast, located near Ukraine’s western border with Poland. The target was “completely destroyed”, according to the region’s governor Maksym Kozytskyy. (Reuters) 

Russia has lost a third of its invasion force, U.K. intelligence says United Kingdom military intelligence said Sunday that Russia has lost around one-third of the ground forces it deployed when the invasion began in February and that its offensive in the Donbas had “lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule.” After driving Russian troops back from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Ukrainian forces launched another counteroffensive on Sunday near Russian-held Izium, around 75 miles southeast of Kharkiv. Russian forces, meanwhile, made some advances in the Donbas but continue to suffer from “low morale and reduced combat effectiveness,” according to U.K. intelligence. REUTERS 

Ukraine ‘appears to have won the Battle of Kharkiv,’ think tank says A Ukrainian counteroffensive seems to have driven Russian forces back from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. A senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday that Ukraine had reclaimed towns and villages in the vicinity of Kharkiv. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said that Ukraine “appears to have won the Battle of Kharkiv” and that Russian high command has “likely decided to withdraw fully” due to Ukrainian counterattacks and the “limited availability of reinforcements.” THE WASHINGTON POST 

Saudi Aramco profits jump more than 80 percent thanks to soaring gas prices The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, known as Saudi Aramco, posted a record quarterly profit of $39.5 billion on Sunday, up 82 percent in the first three months of 2022. This spike is the result of high oil prices, which have risen more than 45 percent since the beginning of the year and have stayed consistently above $100 per barrel. “Against the backdrop of increased volatility in global markets, we remain focused on helping meet the world’s demand for energy that is reliable, affordable and increasingly sustainable,” Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser said Sunday. On Wednesday, Aramco surpassed Apple to become the world’s most valuable company, with a market value of over $2.4 trillion. CNBC 

Finland formally announces intent to join NATO Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin formally announced on Sunday that Finland is seeking to join NATO. Parliament will vote to ratify the membership proposal on Monday and could submit a formal application the following day. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, support for NATO membership in Finland has tripled to around 75 percent. Sweden’s governing Social Democrats are likely to drop their longstanding opposition to joining NATO at a meeting Sunday, with an application to follow soon after. THE GUARDIAN 

RAO Nordic, a subsidiary of Russian energy company Inter RAO, announces it will suspend deliveries of electricity to Finland, saying it has not been paid for prior deliveries. The suspension comes as Russia threatens retaliation if Finland joins NATO. (BBC News) 

Sweden’s governing Social Democratic Party approves the country joining NATO. The official government decision is expected in the coming days. (Politico) 

Romania MEP Cristian Terheș loses his status as a member of the Christian Democratic National Peasants’ Party and the position that he holds in the party. (Stiri din Romania) 

Voters in Switzerland approve three measures in a referendum. These measures will require streaming services to invest 4% of their revenue in Switzerland into domestic filmmaking; allow the government to increase the Swiss contribution in Frontex, the EU border agency; and change the default system of organ donation from explicit to presumed consent. (Swissinfo) 

Lebanese voters head to the polls to elect a new session to Parliament. Preliminary counts show the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies, who won in the previous election, losing seats while the Saudi-backed Lebanese Forces made gains. (Reuters) 

Dr. Oz condemns ‘Islamophobic’ comments from surging Kathy Barnette Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is running for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat as a Republican and would be the country’s first Muslim senator if elected, slammed primary opponent Kathy Barnette on Saturday for her history of posting Islamophobic tweets. “We must stop interacting with them as if they r rational human beings. There is nothing rational about Islam,” Barnette tweeted in 2015. She also shared an article with the headline “Pedophilia is a Cornerstone of Islam.” Oz said he considers Barnette’s “Islamophobic” remarks to be “disqualifying.” Despite her huge disadvantage in funding, Barnette is polling neck-and-neck with Oz ahead of Tuesday’s primary. THE NEW YORK POST 

Musk says Twitter accused him of violating a non-disclosure agreement Elon Musk said Saturday that Twitter had accused him of violating a non-disclosure agreement after he revealed the process Twitter uses to calculate the percentage of bot accounts on the platform. “Twitter legal just called to complain that I violated their NDA by revealing the bot check sample size is 100! This actually happened,” Musk tweeted. On Friday, Musk announced that his planned purchase of Twitter was “temporarily on hold pending details supporting” Twitter’s claim that bot accounts represent less than five percent of users on the platform. Musk suggested Sunday that the number could be as high as 90 percent of daily active users. FOX BUSINESS 

Saturday, May 14th, 2022 

Ten people are killed and three others injured after a gunman opens fire in a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in Buffalo, New York, United States. The shooter, a self-described white supremacist, is taken into custody. (AP) 

Venezuela announces that it will sell 5–10% shares in state-owned companies to private investors in order to help fund state enterprises. (AP) 

India bans wheat exports with immediate effect after the heat wave causes yields to be lower than expected. Exceptions will be made if wheat is requested by governments, or for food security needs. (Bloomberg) 

Outgoing South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov announces that a referendum on joining Russia will be held on July 17. (Reuters) 

The Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates appoints Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the country’s new president, who also inherits the Emirate of Abu Dhabi after the death of his half-brother Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. (AP) 

Abortion rights protests kick off planned ‘summer of rage’ Organizers of nationwide abortion rights protests said they expect hundreds of thousands of people to show up on Saturday at events in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other major cities. Abortion rights groups have reportedly organized more than 300 “Bans off Our Bodies” marches to protest the leaked draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade (1973). “For the women of this country, this will be a summer of rage. We will be ungovernable until this government starts working for us, until the attacks on our bodies let up, until the right to an abortion is codified into law,” Women’s March President Rachel Carmona said. REUTERS 

Child abuse investigations into parents of trans kids can resume, Texas court rules The Texas Supreme Court unanimously ruled Friday that child abuse investigations into the parents of transgender children can continue, but that the governor and attorney general cannot directly order such investigations. The ruling came after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the family of a 16-year-old transgender girl identified as “Mary Doe.” Abbott had called on state officials to consider medically accepted treatments for transgender youth — such as hormones, puberty suppressants, and gender-affirming surgery — as potential abuse in cases involving minors. Mary Doe’s family filed a lawsuit when investigators began requesting medical records related to their daughter’s treatment. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Elon Musk temporarily suspends his $44 billion takeover deal of Twitter as he seeks to confirm the company’s calculations that spam bots and fake accounts constitute less than 5% of the user base. (Reuters) 

Elon Musk says he’s ‘still committed’ to buying Twitter but deal is now ‘temporarily on hold’ Elon Musk’s deal to buy Twitter is now on hold, according to the Tesla CEO. On Friday, Musk tweeted that his planned purchase on Twitter is “temporarily on hold pending details supporting” a calculation that spam and fake accounts represent less than five percent of users on the platform. Twitter’s stock quickly took a hit after Musk’s announcement, which he followed up by saying he is “still committed” to the acquisition. Last month, Musk said that spambots were the “single most annoying problem on Twitter.” The social media company in April accepted Musk’s offer to purchase it for about $44 billion, $54.20 per share, but the deal hasn’t officially been completed.REUTERS 

Jen Psaki delivers final press briefing before leaving to join MSNBC White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki shed tears on Friday as she delivered her final press briefing before leaving to join MSNBC. During her farewell, Psaki said she first met President Biden and first lady Jill Biden after the 2020 election. “[W]hat we talked about for the majority of our conversation was the importance of returning integrity, respect, and civility to the White House,” she said. She also warned her successor, Karine Jean-Pierre, that the job of press secretary “can be repetitive” and advised her to “always provide the context and all the details because you never want to be a meme with one line.”AXIOS 

Draft decision leak shattered trust on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas says  Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday that the leak of a draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade (1973) was “tremendously bad” and had damaged the atmosphere of trust on the Supreme Court. “The institution that I’m a part of, if someone said that one line of one opinion would be leaked by anyone, you’d say, ‘Oh, that’s impossible. No one would ever do that,’” Thomas said at a conference in Dallas hosted by the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute. Thomas cited the close friendship between ideologically opposed Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsberg as an example of the “family” the court once resembled. “This is not the court of that era,” he added.CNN 

Erdoğan: Turkey does not support Finland, Sweden joining NATO The government of Turkey does not support Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday. “We are following the developments regarding Sweden and Finland, but we are not of a favorable opinion,” Erdoğan said in Instanbul. “Scandinavian countries are guesthouses for terrorist organizations,” he added. Erdoğan’s comments throw a potentially huge wrench in both Finland and Sweden’s possible membership, considering all 30 NATO allies must approve a candidate country’s application. Sweden has not yet made final its intention to apply, though a decision is expected soon. Finland announced its plans to move forward with accession on Thursday.AXIOS 

Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia extended for another month Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia has been extended once again. The WNBA star’s lawyer said Friday that her pre-trial detention has been extended by one month following a hearing in Moscow. The attorney, Alexander Boykov, said this extension suggested the case may soon go to trial. A court most recently extended Griner’s detention another two months in March. Boykov also said Friday the court denied an appeal to transfer Griner to house arrest. In February, Griner was detained at the airport in Russia after cannabis vape cartridges were allegedly found in her suitcase. The United States recently classified her as being “wrongfully detained.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Friday,  May 13th, 2022 

Israeli riot police beat pallbearers and mourners at the funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, which was attended by thousands of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and the deputy speaker for UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the images of the attacks “deeply disturbing”. (AP) 

The Croatian Parliament votes 117–13 to officially replace the kuna with the euro on 1 January. (RTÉ) 

The Sky Bridge 721 opens in Dolni Morava, Czech Republic. Spanning 721 metres (2,365 ft), it is longest simple suspension bridge in the world. (Reuters) 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that Turkey will oppose Sweden and Finland’s applications to join NATO, asserting that the countries are “guesthouses for terrorist organisations”. (Reuters) 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin holds talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the first meeting between the two since the start of the invasion. (Reuters) 

Anti-government demonstrations occur in multiple cities in Iran that are experiencing Internet shutdowns. (Fox News) 

President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies at the age of 73. (Gulf News) 

The End

Friday,  May 13th, 2022 

Kevin Spacey cast in his biggest movie since assault allegations Supposedly-canceled Kevin Spacey has just booked another movie role. The disgraced actor is set to star in a new historical drama called 1242 – Gateway to the West, which will be up for sale at the Cannes Market, Deadline reports. The film revolves around Batu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, who in 1242 “is confronted by a deeply spiritual man,” played by Spacey. The cast also includes Eric Roberts, Christopher Lambert, and Terence Stamp, and it will shoot in Hungary and Mongolia this October. The news comes a year after Spacey landed his first film role since he faced sexual assault allegations, joining a low-budget Italian film about a man wrongly accused of sexual abuse. Well, if this all keeps him too busy to release more weird Christmas Eve videos, at least that’s one upside. DEADLINE 

Ten soldiers are killed and nine more injured after a rocket attack targets a bus in Aleppo, Syria. (Reuters) 

Israeli police commando Noam Raz is killed in a shootout with Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen in Jenin. (Times of Israel) 

Elon Musk temporarily halts the $44 billion takeover deal of Twitter as he seeks to corroborate the company’s calculations that spam bots and fake accounts constitute less than 5% of the user base. (Reuters) 

North Korea says that six people have died and 187,800 others have been quarantined due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak. (The New York Times) 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that Turkey will oppose Sweden and Finland’s entrance into NATO, asserting that they are “guesthouses for terrorist organisations.” (Reuters) 

Anti-government demonstrations occur in multiple cities in Iran with Internet shutdowns. (Fox News) 

Ukraine holds its first war crimes trial during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . (The Jerusalem Post) 

President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies at the age of 73. (Gulf News) 

Biden calls for more COVID funding at summit President Biden urged world leaders at a COVID-19 summit Thursday to renew their commitments to act aggressively against the coronavirus pandemic. Biden warned against complacency, and ordered flags flown at half-staff as the United States reached the “tragic milestone” of a million coronavirus deaths. “This pandemic isn’t over,” Biden said. “One million empty chairs around the family dinner table.” Official estimates put the death toll at more than 999,000 in the U.S. and 6.2 million or more globally. Biden called on Congress to approve $22.5 billion more in funding for testing, vaccines, and COVID-19 treatments, but lawmakers are balking at the cost. COVID infections and deaths are rising but remain far lower than in the winter surge. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Jan. 6 panel subpoenas 5 GOP lawmakers Five Republican lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), have been subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the panel announced Thursday. All five of the GOP lawmakers are closely allied with former President Donald Trump, whose supporters stormed the Capitol. McCarthy and the other Republicans — Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Mo Brooks (Ala.), and Scott Perry (Pa.) — are the first sitting lawmakers to be summoned to testify before the bipartisan committee. All five previously refused requests to testify voluntarily. Days after the riot, McCarthy was recorded telling colleagues he would ask Trump to step down. CNBC 

Russia pulls back from Kharkiv Russian forces have started withdrawing from around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, after Ukraine regained control of several towns near the northeastern city in a counteroffensive. Moscow appears to be shifting resources toward the southeast to the city of Izium, which it has turned into an operations center since capturing it last month. Russia has been making slow gains in the eastern Donbas region, where it concentrated forces last month after its first major withdrawal, from areas around the capital, Kyiv. Finland’s leaders said Thursday they will join the NATO alliance, and Sweden is expected to do the same. Russia responded by saying it would consider any such expansion a security threat and respond accordingly. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

At least 6 die as fever spreads ‘explosively’ in North Korea North Korean state media said Friday that six people had died and 350,000 were treated for a fever spreading “explosively” across the country. The news came a day after North Korea acknowledged a COVID-19 outbreak for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started more than two years ago. Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency said 162,200 of the 350,000 people hit with fevers since late April have recovered, with 18,000 new cases on Thursday. North Korea likely lacks the COVID-19 tests to confirm the cause of the fevers. “But a big outbreak of the coronavirus could be devastating in a country with a broken health care system and an unvaccinated, malnourished population,” The Associated Press says. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Senate confirms Fed Chair Jerome Powell to 2nd term The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to a second four-year term on Thursday. Powell this spring started a campaign of raising interest rates and trimming Fed asset holdings to slow growth and bring down the highest inflation in 40 years. The central bank has faced criticism for not taking action against rising prices sooner, but senators still backed Powell in a bipartisan 80-19 vote. Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) praised Powell and the three other new Fed leaders nominated by President Biden: Lael Brainard, named as the Fed’s No. 2; Lisa Cook, who will be the first Black woman to serve on the board; and economist Philip Jefferson. All have been confirmed. POLITICO 

Israel reportedly investigating whether soldier killed journalist The Israeli military is investigating whether one of its soldiers killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was fatally shot Wednesday during an Israeli raid in the West Bank, The Washington Post reports, citing an Israel Defense Forces official. The investigation concerns three different shooting incidents by Israeli soldiers, including one that possibly caused the death of Abu Akleh, a longtime correspondent for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel, and “the wounding of her producer in the Jenin Refugee Camp on Wednesday,” the Post writes. Israel initially said Abu Akleh was most likely hit by Palestinian fire. Al Jazeera and Palestinian authorities blamed Israel in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Powell says Fed might not be able to guarantee ‘soft landing’ Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged for the first time Thursday that high inflation and global economic problems might thwart the central bank’s efforts to prevent a recession. The Fed has started raising interest rates and plans to reduce its balance sheet after months of purchasing assets to boost the recovery from the coronavirus crisis. But those moves to curb inflation and keep the economy from overheating might be undercut by economic slowdowns in Europe and China, Powell said in an interview on NPR’s Marketplace on the day he was confirmed to a second term. “The question whether we can execute a soft landing or not — it may actually depend on factors that we don’t control,” Powell said. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Ashley Judd discloses details of Naomi Judd’s suicide  Actress Ashley Judd told Diane Sawyer in an interview that aired Thursday on Good Morning America that the family wants to be open about how her mother, singer Naomi Judd, killed herself at the end of April. “She used a weapon,” Ashley Judd said. “A firearm. So that’s the piece of information we are very uncomfortable sharing.” She and her sister Wynonna Judd previously disclosed that they lost their mother “to the disease of mental illness,” without offering further details. Naomi Judd died the day before she and Wynonna Judd, as the country music duo The Judds, were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Naomi Judd was 76. CNN 

Senate confirms Fed Chair Jerome Powell to 2nd term The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to a second four-year term on Thursday. Powell this spring started a campaign of interest rate hikes and asset sales in a bid to slow growth and bring down the highest inflation in 40 years. The central bank has faced criticism for not taking action against rising prices sooner, but senators still backed Powell in a bipartisan 80-19 vote. Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) praised Powell and the three other new Fed leaders nominated by President Biden: Lael Brainard, named as the Fed’s No. 2; Lisa Cook, who will be the first Black woman to serve on the board; and economist Philip Jefferson. All have been confirmed.  POLITICO 

Biden administration promises steps to ease baby-formula shortage The Biden administration said Thursday it will take steps to address a worsening baby formula shortage. The White House said after a meeting between Biden and retailers and manufacturers that the administration will push states to waive packaging regulations to help get formula into stores faster. The Federal Trade Commission and state authorities will take steps to discourage price gouging. Biden is also urging companies to impose buying limits to discourage hoarding. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce within days that the United States will start importing formula from Mexico, Chile, Ireland, the Netherlands, and other countries. Republicans complained that the Biden administration was sending formula to the border to feed migrant babies during the shortage. FOX NEWS 

Musk says Twitter deal ‘on hold’ until he sees info on fake accounts Elon Musk says he has put his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter “temporarily on hold” until he sees the calculations behind Twitter’s report that false or spam accounts made up less than 5 percent of its 226 million monetizable daily active users. “Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5 percent of users,” Musk tweeted. Twitter data hasn’t always checked out. The company said in an earnings report recently that it overcounted daily users by as much as 1.9 million each quarter for three years in a row, because a technical error caused Twitter to count multiple accounts tied to a single user as separate accounts. THE VERGE 

Powell says Fed might not be able to guarantee a ‘soft landing’ Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged for the first time Thursday that high inflation and global economic problems might thwart the central bank’s efforts to prevent a recession. The Fed has started raising interest rates and plans to reduce its balance sheet after months of purchasing assets to boost the recovery from the coronavirus crisis. But those moves to curb inflation and keep the economy from overheating might be undercut by economic slowdowns in Europe and China, Powell said in an interview on NPR’s Marketplace on the day he was confirmed to a second term. “The question whether we can execute a soft landing or not — it may actually depend on factors that we don’t control,” Powell said. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Stock futures gain but cryptocurrency investors panic U.S. stock futures rose early Friday after a mixed day on Thursday. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were up 0.7 percent and 1.1 percent at 6:30 a.m. ET. Nasdaq futures were up 1.6 percent. The Dow and the S&P 500 fell 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent on Thursday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.1 percent. After several volatile months, the S&P 500 is now down more than 18 percent from its record high, putting it close to bear-market territory, which is defined as a loss of 20 percent. Bitcoin bounced back above $30,000 on Friday despite continuing problems for stablecoin TerraUSD that have panicked cryptocurrency investors. The value of Luna, a token closely associated with UST, has fallen to $0. CNBC 

Thursday, May 12th, 2022 

Ukrainian forces repel an attempted Russian military crossing of the Donets river, west of Sievierodonetsk, in Luhansk Oblast. At least one Russian battalion tactical group is reportedly destroyed, as well as the pontoon bridge deployed in the crossing. (Reuters) 

The Russian Air Force launches around a dozen missiles at the city of Kremenchuk, including four at the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, in Poltava Oblast. (Ukrinform) 

Turkey says that five people were injured by Kurdish nationalists launching a missile attack into the country from Syria. (Reuters) 

One person is killed and thirteen others injured by a roadside bombing targeting a van in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. (AP) 

The cryptocurrency market loses US$200 billion following stablecoin TerraUSD’s collapse in value. Bitcoin and Ether fall to their lowest value in 16 and 11 months, respectively. (CNBC) 

Tibet Airlines flight 9833 veers off the runway and catches fire at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Yubei District, Chongqing, China. Forty people sustain minor injuries, with some being hospitalized. (Bangkok Post)  

North Korea announces its first COVID-19 outbreak. (AP) 

Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un orders a national lockdown. (Financial Times) 

Romania announces that beginning on 16 May, people over the age of 18 years can receive a fourth dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at vaccination centers and family medicine offices. (Stiri din Romania) 

Finland’s leaders declare that the country should apply for membership of NATO without delay. Finnish parliament will vote next week whether to apply. (CNBC)  

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs threatens to take retaliatory steps against Finland, including of a “military-technical” nature, if the country joins NATO. (BBC News) 

France summons the Iranian ambassador in response to the detainment of two French nationals. (Times of Israel) 

A team of scientists at the Event Horizon Telescope release the first ever image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. (BBC News) 

A team of scientists announces that they have grown plants on lunar soil, collected by Apollo missions, for the first time ever. (AP) 

Republicans block Senate Democrats’ abortion-rights bill Senate Democrats failed to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act, their bill seeking to codify abortion rights in federal law. The vote came as the Supreme Court’s conservative majority is poised to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established abortion rights nationwide. Democratic leaders knew they didn’t have enough support to get the legislation past a Republican filibuster, but they said they wanted to hold the vote so that every senator is on record about where they stand on ensuring women’s access to abortion. The vote was 49 to 51, with all 50 Senate Republicans opposing it, and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) joining them. NPR 

Ukraine files 1st war crimes charges against a Russian soldier Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, said Wednesday that her office had filed its first war crimes charge against a Russian soldier since Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Venediktova said prosecutors have evidence that 21-year-old Sgt. Vadin Shyshimarin, who served in a tank unit, shot out of a car window and killed an unarmed 62-year-old civilian riding a bicycle in the northeastern village of Chupakhivka four days into the war. Venediktova did not say when the trial would begin. Shyshimarin, who is in Ukrainian custody, could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Residents have told of numerous Russian atrocities, including killings and rape, since Russia withdrew from areas around Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, last month. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Finland’s leaders back joining NATO Finland’s prime minister and president said Thursday that their country “must apply for NATO membership without delay.” “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security,” President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a statement. “As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance.” The announcement was expected. They said the next steps should begin within days. Finland’s parliament must approve NATO membership before the country can apply. Public support for the move has risen dramatically since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Sweden, too, is considering joining NATO. Its leaders are expected to announce their position this weekend. BBC NEWS 

Inflation edged down in April but remained high The consumer price index rose 8.3 percent in April compared to a year earlier, slightly slower than the 8.5 percent pace recorded in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Prices were up 0.3 percent compared to the month before. In March, the month-to-month increase was 1.2 percent. Despite the slowdown, inflation remained near 40-year highs. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.6 percent in April, compared to a 0.3 percent increase in March. Economists warned that it’s hard to predict what will happen next due to uncertainty about interest rates and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NBC NEWS 

Overdose deaths hit 2nd straight annual record in 2021 A record number of people — nearly 108,000 — died from drug overdoses in the United States last year, an increase of 15 percent that followed a catastrophic 30 percent surge in 2020, according to preliminary new data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The surge brought total overdose deaths in the 21st century to more than a million, fueled in recent years by opioid abuse, the ever-worsening fentanyl crisis, and, starting in 2020, fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Drug overdoses long ago surpassed peak deaths from AIDS, car crashes, and gun violence. Drugs last year killed a quarter as many Americans as COVID-19. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

N.Y. judge orders Trump to pay $110,000, lifts contempt finding A New York judge on Wednesday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $110,000 in fines for failing to comply with a subpoena from New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is investigating the business practices of Trump and his company, the Trump Organization. Judge Arthur Engoron agreed to lift a civil contempt finding against Trump, provided he meets several conditions, including paying the fine, by May 20. The conditions also call for the Trump Organization to provide sworn statements describing its document retention and destruction policy, and complete the review of five boxes linked to Trump that were in an off-site storage facility. James said the contempt decision showed that “no one can evade accountability.” CNN 

Biden unveils plan to boost food production President Biden on Wednesday announced measures to boost domestic food production and reduce food costs to counter supply shortages caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted crucial Ukrainian grain shipments. Biden said his administration will push to double funding for domestic fertilizer production, provide technical assistance to farmers, and expand insurance for “double cropping” — harvesting two crops in the same field in the same year. “Right now, America is fighting on two fronts,” Biden said. “At home, it’s inflation and rising prices. Abroad, it’s helping Ukrainians defend their democracy, and feeding those who are left hungry around the world because Russian atrocities exist.” CNN 

North Korea reports its 1st acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak North Korea imposed a nationwide lockdown on Thursday after reporting its first acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak. The country had already banned tourists, diplomats, aid workers, and most overland trade with China, but insisted for the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic that it had not detected any infections. State media said the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus was discovered in a group of people from an unspecified organization in Pyongyang, all with fevers, triggering a “most serious national emergency.” The isolated country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said in a ruling party Politburo meeting that workplaces should be isolated by units to prevent transmissions. NPR 

Catholic cardinal, 3 others arrested in Hong Kong Hong Kong national security police on Wednesday arrested Cardinal Joseph Zen, the city’s 90-year-old Roman Catholic bishop emeritus and an outspoken China critic. Three other pro-democracy activists — singer Denise Ho, lawyer Margaret Ng, and academic Hui Po-keung — were also arrested, in the latest sign of a Beijing-ordered crackdown on dissent. All four were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided legal aid to participants in violently suppressed 2019 pro-democracy protests. Zen and the other three democracy advocates were charged with suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger China’s national security, reportedly for calling for sanctions against Hong Kong. The U.S. and the Vatican condemned the arrests. All four were released on bail. CNN 

Consumer prices rose 8.3 percent in April The consumer price index rose 8.3 percent in April compared to a year earlier, down from the 8.5 percent pace recorded in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Prices were up 0.3 percent compared to the month before, down from a 1.2 percent increase in March. Despite the slowdown, inflation remained near 40-year highs. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.6 percent in April, compared to 0.3 percent in March. The April numbers were slightly higher than expected, fueling investors’ inflation fears. The three main U.S. stock indexes dropped on Wednesday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was hit hardest, falling 3.2 percent. Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures fell early Thursday. CNBC 

Disney+ adds more streaming subscribers than expected Disney said Wednesday it added 7.9 million Disney+ subscribers last quarter, beating Wall Street expectations of roughly 5 million new subscribers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Disney CEO Bob Chapek said the numbers “once again proved that we are in a league of our own.” The performance was especially notable as it came just weeks after video-streaming powerhouse Netflix reported it lost 200,000 subscribers in the quarter, its first subscriber loss in a decade. It was a big miss for Netflix, which projected it would gain 2.5 million subscribers, raising concerns that streaming companies that thrived early in the pandemic were in for hard times now that lockdowns and other coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Rivian reports loss but maintains production target Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive said Wednesday it is on track to meet its 2022 production target of building 25,000 vehicles. The company reported a quarterly loss of $1.43 per share, just under the $1.44 per share consensus estimate from Refinitiv. Rivian said it has received more than 90,000 reservations for its R1-series electric truck and SUV, up from 83,000 when it last updated in March. About 10,000 of the reservations have come since Rivian hiked prices in early March, bringing its average purchase price to more than $93,000 per vehicle. The company said planned production was down by about a quarter since the end of March due to shortages of semiconductor chips and other key components. CNBC 

Moderna fires new CFO after 1 day Moderna, maker of a key coronavirus vaccine, fired its new chief financial officer, Jorge Gomez, after one day on the job this week, after his former company launched an investigation into its books. Gomez’s former company, Dentsply Sirona, told the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing that its internal inquiry involved “allegations regarding certain financial reporting matters submitted by current and former employees.” Gomez will get $700,000 to cover 12 months of salary, but he will have to forfeit his $500,000 signing bonus, moving expenses, and other benefits, Moderna said in a filing. NEW YORK POST 

Beyond Meat shares fall below IPO price for 1st time Beyond Meat shares plunged 26 percent in after-hours trading on Wednesday after the plant-based meat producer reported a quarterly net loss of $100.5 million, compared to a $27.3 million loss in the same quarter a year earlier. The loss for the quarter came to $1.58 per share, far above the 97 cents a share expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Investments in products such as Beyond Meat Jerky cut into profits. The overnight stock drop came after the company’s shares fell 14 percent in regular trading on Wednesday. Beyond Meat shares are now priced below the company’s initial public offering price for the first time since its stock debuted three years ago. MARKETWATCH 

Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘luxury diaper’ turns out to be a PR stunt Even Goop has its limits. The lifestyle company founded by Gwyneth Paltrow on Wednesday unveiled “the Diapér,” a new luxury disposable diaper “lined with virgin alpaca wool and fastened with amber gemstones” that purportedly cost a whopping $120. It sounded too ridiculous to be true, and it was. Paltrow has now revealed the whole thing was just a PR stunt to protest the way diapers are taxed. “There was a lot of outrage” over the announcement of this “fake product,” the actress said. “Good. It was designed to piss us off, because if treating diapers like a luxury makes you mad, so should taxing them like a luxury.” When you’re a company that really does sell something called a “This Smells Like My Vagina Candle,” though, a gag product announcement doesn’t really have the same impact.  VICE 

Christopher Walken to play the emperor of the universe in ‘Dune: Part Two’ He’s got a fever, and the only prescription is more desert power! Christopher Walken is set to play the emperor of the universe in Dune: Part Two, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline report. The actor has landed the role of Emperor Shaddam IV in this second part of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, joining a cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem. The emperor role was previously played by Jose Ferrer in the 1984 David Lynch movie. Also joining the cast for Dune: Part Two is Florence Pugh as the emperor’s daughter, Princess Irulan, and fresh off his lead role in Elvis, Austin Butler will play Feyd-Rautha, nephew of Baron Harkonnen. The world will be blessed with the sound of Walken hopefully saying the word “spice” many times when the film hits theaters in October 2023.  DEADLINE 

Adam Driver to star in Francis Ford Coppola’s next film Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola’s first feature film in over a decade is coming together. Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Voight have all been cast in Megalopolis, the next movie from the director of The Godfather. It tells the “epic story of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love,” in which “the fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems,” the logline says. Deadline describes this as the 83-year-old director’s “final dream project,” which he’s been talking about making for years. Coppola is notably financing the movie himself with plans to commit around $100 million to it. “I couldn’t care less about the financial impact whatsoever,” he told GQ. “It means nothing to me.” He also told Deadline, “What’s the worst that can happen to me? I’m going to die and be broke? I’m not going to be broke.”  DEADLINE 

Ezra Miller to police: ‘I film myself when I get assaulted for NFT crypto art’ The Flash star Ezra Miller is back in the news, and no, they didn’t get arrested yet again. This time, it’s because TMZ obtained body camera footage from when Miller was arrested in March after allegedly becoming agitated at people singing karaoke in a bar. The footage shows the actor claiming to police they “got assaulted” and have video to prove it. “I film myself when I get assaulted for NFT crypto art,” Miller claims. The actor proceeds to repeatedly scream at the officers, “Tell me your name and your badge number!” Eventually, Miller calms down a bit while being handcuffed, claiming, “A guy in that bar declared himself as a Nazi, I have it on film, and he attacked me.” Miller was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, only to get arrested again weeks later in another incident. That was April 19, so can Miller maintain this streak of nearly a whole month without an arrest?  TMZ 

Russian forces continue to fire missiles at the Ukrainian port city of Odessa in an apparent attempt to cut supplies to the city. (AP) 

Ukrainian military forces recapture several settlements north of Kharkiv, driving Russian troops to less than a dozen miles from the Russian border. (MSN) 

Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is killed while covering a raid in Jenin. Palestinian sources say that Abu Akleh was shot by Israeli soldiers, while Israeli sources say that she was likely killed by indiscriminate fire by Palestinian militants. Another journalist and two other Palestinians are injured in the shooting. (NPR) 

Eight soldiers are killed and 13 others are injured during an ambush by Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Kpendjal Prefecture, Togo. The attack is believed to be connected to the current insurgency in Burkina Faso, making it the first Islamic extremist attack in Togo. (Reuters) 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that New Zealand will fully reopen its borders on July 31, two months before the government lifts all remaining pandemic restrictions. (Al Jazeera) 

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announce in a joint statement that, starting next week, masks are no longer required for flights or in airports. However, the EASA asks passengers to “behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them,” while the ECDC recommends that passengers continue to practice social distancing if it can be done in a non-disruptive manner. (Euronews) 

COVID-19 passes a threshold of 1 million confirmed deaths in the United States, according to a Reuters tally. Some news outlets declared that the 1 million mark was reached a week earlier. (Reuters)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs security agreements with Finland and Sweden, pledging British military assistance to both Scandinavian countries should they come under attack. (Reuters) 

A tentative settlement of $997 million is reached with the families of victims and survivors of the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, United States. However, the settlement is still subject to final approval. (AP) 

Ukraine starts the first trial of a Russian war crime during the invasion. A Russian soldier is accused of having shot to death a 62-year-old unarmed civilian who witnessed him and his fellow soldiers steal a car. (AFP via Le Devoir) 

Greece bans the practice of conversion therapy for minors as well as all advertisements promoting it. (Reuters) 

Hong Kong’s national security police arrest four people, including Cardinal Joseph Zen, Cantopop singer Denise Ho, and former legislative councilwoman Margaret Ng, in connection with a fund that provided aid to protesters. (The Guardian) 

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence says that it has arrested two European nationals for allegedly attempting to destabilize the nation in connection with foreign intelligence services. (Al Arabiya) 

The End

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