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

Friday,  May 6th, 2022 

Global excess deaths reached 14.9 million since plandemic’s start There were 14.9 million more deaths globally in 2020 and 2021 than would have been expected had the coronavirus plandemic not hit, the World Health Organization said Thursday. That toll far exceeds the 5.4 million COVID-19 deaths officially reported during this period. Most of the excess deaths were from COVID, some recorded by health authorities and others not. The new WHO figure also included indirect deaths, people who died because the pandemic hindered care for heart attacks and other ailments. “It’s absolutely staggering what has happened with this plandemic, including our inability to accurately plan it,” said Dr. Prabhat Jha, an epidemiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto who helped make the calculations. “It shouldn’t happen in the 21st century.” CNN 

FDA restricts access to J&J COVID-19 vaccine The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it is restricting access to Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine due to the risk of a rare blood clotting disorder. The FDA now will limit use of the vaccine to people 18 and older who can’t or won’t get the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. The FDA’s vaccine lead, Peter Marks, told STAT that the decision came after a review of first-quarter data identified a ninth death from the blood clotting in a person who had received the J&J vaccine. The clotting disorder, called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia or TTS, occurs in 3.25 cases per million doses administered. STAT NEWS 

Aid convoy heads to Mariupol as Ukrainian forces hold out Russian forces breached the Mariupol steel plant where Ukrainian forces in tunnels are making a last stand to keep the key port city from falling completely under Russian control. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said nearly 500 civilians were evacuated from the plant and surrounding areas this week, and a U.N. aid convoy is trying to reach Mariupol later Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said ongoing Russian shelling of the steel plant was making the situation “hell” for the roughly 200 civilians, including many children, still stuck there. On Thursday, U.S. officials said the United States provided intelligence that last month helped Ukrainian forces sink the Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea flagship. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Trump suggested ‘quietly’ bombing Mexican drug labs Then-President Donald Trump in 2020 asked his defense secretary, Mark Esper, whether the United States could “shoot missiles into Mexico to destroy the drug labs,” Esper writes in his upcoming memoir. Esper adds that Trump suggested doing it “quietly” so “no one would know it was us.” Esper writes that he would have assumed Trump was joking had he not seen his face. The anecdote is one of many he shares in the book, A Sacred Oath, about his time working in the Trump administration, according to The New York Times, which obtained an advance copy. While straining to be fair to Trump and giving him any credit he deserves, “Esper paints a portrait of someone not in control of his emotions or his thought process throughout 2020,” especially after his first impeachment trial, the Times reports. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Energy Department to start replenishing oil reserve The Biden administration said Thursday it plans to buy 60 million barrels of crude oil this fall as a first step toward replenishing the country’s strategic oil reserves, CNN reported. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was already at a 20-year low, largely due to sales mandated by Congress, when President Biden in March promised to release 180 million barrels to help bring down a sharp increase in fuel costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatened to disrupt supplies. The planned buying spree will mark the first time in two decades that the Energy Department has added a large amount of crude to the reserve, which is used as a buffer for national security and the economy when oil prices spike. CNN 

Supreme Court gets ‘unscalable’ fence Workers on Wednesday started putting up an “unscalable” eight-foot fence at the Supreme Court as protests continued over a leaked draft opinion that, as written, would overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion. The barrier is similar to the one built at the Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack. Abortion-rights and anti-abortion activists have gathered near the Supreme Court since Monday, when Politico published the draft opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts said the opinion was authentic but not final. The high court is expected to issue its ruling in June or July in the case, a challenge to a Mississippi ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. NBC NEWS 

Senate voting next week on codifying abortion rights into law Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday that the Senate will vote next week on advancing a proposal to codify abortion rights into federal law. A similar effort was defeated in February. The new push, which lacks the votes to succeed in an evenly divided Senate, came after Politico published a leaked draft majority ruling that could strike down Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established the constitutional right to abortion. “Senate Republicans will have to answer for everything they’ve done over the years to embolden the hard right’s hostility against a woman’s choice,” Schumer said. “America will be watching.” CBS NEWS 

Karine Jean-Pierre named next White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been named White House press secretary, becoming the first openly gay person and the first Black woman to hold the job, the White House announced Thursday. Jean-Pierre, currently serving as principal deputy press secretary, will replace Press Secretary Jen Psaki as of May 13. President Biden said Jean-Pierre “not only brings the experience, talent, and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people.” Biden also praised Psaki, saying she had “set the standard for returning decency, respect, and decorum to the White House Briefing Room.” Psaki has not confirmed recent reports that she is discussing taking a role at MSNBC.THE HILL 

Louisiana Republicans advance bill seeking to classify abortion as homicide Republicans on a Louisiana state legislative committee this week advanced legislation seeking to classify abortion as homicide. The measure, approved 7-2, now goes to the full state House. One supporter who helped draft the bill said its advocates were energized by a leaked draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court’s conservative majority was poised to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Louisiana has a “trigger law” criminalizing abortion if Roe is overturned, subjecting abortion providers to fines and possible jail time, but supporters of the new bill say that’s not enough. Abortion rights attorney Ellie Schilling said the proposal would “annihilate” the Constitution and threaten anyone ending their pregnancy with murder charges. USA TODAY 

Musk lines up another $7.1 billion in funding to buy Twitter Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has lined up another $7.1 billion in financing for his deal to buy Twitter, according to Thursday news reports. The 19 new investors include Prince al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and a bitcoin exchange. The prince’s stake would be valued at $1.9 billion, making him the biggest investor in the new group. Ellison will chip in $1 billion. Lining up more outside cash reduces the personal risk that Musk, the world’s richest person, will have to take on to close the $44 billion purchase of the social media company. Musk’s borrowing against his Tesla stake has driven down shares in the electric-car company. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Energy Department to start replenishing oil reserve The Biden administration said Thursday it plans to buy 60 million barrels of crude oil this fall as a first step toward replenishing the country’s strategic oil reserves, CNN reported. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was already at a 20-year low, largely due to sales mandated by Congress, when President Biden in March promised to release 180 million barrels to help bring down a sharp increase in fuel costs tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting disruptions to global supplies. The planned buying spree will mark the first time in two decades that the Energy Department has added a large amount of crude to the reserve, which is used as a buffer for national security and the economy when oil prices spike. CNN 

Popular mortgage rate rises to highest level since 2009 The average U.S. 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.27 percent this week, the highest level since 2009, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The increase, from 5.1 percent last week, came as the Federal Reserve was preparing for its Wednesday decision to hike its benchmark short-term interest rate by a half percentage point as part of its effort to dial back its economic stimulus programs to fight high inflation. The average 15-year, fixed-rate loan rose to 4.52 percent from 4.4 percent last week. Rising mortgage rates, limited supply, and rising home prices, along with the highest inflation in four decades, have started putting home purchases out of reach for an increasing number of Americans. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Zillow shares fall on disappointing home-sale outlook Zillow shares fell 9.9 percent in pre-market trading Friday as a gloomy housing outlook overshadowed first-quarter profits that beat Wall Street’s expectations. The company reported earnings of 49 cents a share, up from 44 cents a share a year earlier and far exceeding the 24 cents a share analysts expected, on average. Revenue came in at $4.26 billion, up from $1.22 billion a year ago and surpassing the $3.36 billion analysts expected, according to FactSet. Home sales normally gain speed in the spring, but this year Zillow’s forecast suggests that rising mortgage rates and low inventory will slow sales. “The market is softening, full stop,” Chief Executive Officer Rich Barton said in an interview, Bloomberg reported. BLOOMBERG 

Olivia Rodrigo calls for protecting ‘our right to have a safe abortion’ at D.C. concert Olivia Rodrigo took a moment out of her D.C. concert to deliver a strong statement in support of abortion rights. The “Drivers License” singer performed in the nation’s capital on Wednesday night amid her Sour tour, and in between songs, she said she was “heartbroken” over a leaked memo suggesting the Supreme Court may be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. “What a woman does with her body should never be in the hands of politicians,” she said. The pop star, whose statement drew loud cheers, added that “I hope we can raise our voices to protect our right to have a safe abortion, which is a right that so many people before us have worked so hard to get.” Rodrigo joined a wave of celebrities speaking out this week in support of a woman’s right to choose, including Phoebe Bridgers, who revealed she had an abortion last year while on tour. “It was easy,” she said. “Everyone deserves that kind of access.”  NPR 

Nicole Kidman’s AMC ad will be here all year Heartbreak will feel good in a place like this until at least 2023. AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron tells Variety Nicole Kidman’s now-infamous promo that plays before every single movie at the theater chain “will continue to run all of 2022.” Because we need that, all of us. For those unfamiliar, the ad features Kidman walking into a movie theater that’s for some reason completely empty and delivers absurdly dramatic declarations about The Magic of the Movies — including the meme-worthy phrase, “Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.” A lot of the love for the ad is at least partially ironic, but Aron, a regular Don Draper, was dead serious when he told Variety it’s the “best work of my career.” Now, we’re not saying Nicole Kidman single-handedly saved movie theaters, but we’re also not not saying that.  VARIETY 

Dave Chappelle’s alleged attacker won’t face felony charges  The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office won’t be bringing felony charges against the man who allegedly attacked Dave Chappelle on stage this week. “After reviewing the evidence, prosecutors determined that while criminal conduct occurred, the evidence as presented did not constitute felony conduct,” a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. 23-year-old Isaiah Lee allegedly jumped onto the stage to tackle the comedian while armed with a replica handgun with a knife blade, and he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The district attorney’s office has referred the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for potential misdemeanor charges. The suspect was taken to the hospital, and according to audio obtained by TMZ, Chappelle said after the incident he “felt good my friends broke his arm” and jokingly asked “how bad” someone has to be “that Jon Stewart would stomp him.” THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Kim Kardashian says Kanye West was really mad she called him a rapper You’re never going to believe it, but Kanye West’s reaction to Kim Kardashian’s Saturday Night Live monologue was perhaps not completely rational. On Hulu’s The Kardashians, Kardashian revealed Ye was so upset about her SNL monologue last October that he walked out. For one, she said, he was furious about her saying she divorced him. “He wished I said the word ‘filed’ for divorce,” Kardashian explained. Beyond that, West was “upset that I also said he was a rapper. He said, ‘I’m so much more than a rapper, I can’t believe you said rapper.’” This was the same monologue in which Kardashian also said she divorced West because of “his personality,” but that was seemingly less of a concern to West than being accurately described as the thing that he is. Hey, take it up with Wikipedia, Ye!  COSMOPOLITAN 

Thursday, May 5th, 2022 

Russian forces bombard the Azovstal steel works plant in Mariupol with thermobaric missiles. Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko confirms that contact has been lost with Ukrainian soldiers trapped inside the plant. (Mirror) 

The Associated Press confirms that approximately 600 people died in the Mariupol theatre airstrike. (AP) 

Ukrainian forces say they have repelled a Russian military thrust onto the Azovstal iron and steel works in Mariupol, Ukraine. (PBS News) 

Ukraine confirms that Russian troops have entered the steel works plant after launching “an all-out assault”. (BBC News) 

Russia bombs Ukraine rail lines, aiming for Western arms deliveries Russia bombarded railroad stations and other supply lines across Ukraine on Wednesday, accusing the United States and other Western powers of “stuffing Ukraine with weapons.” Russian missiles, launched by air and sea, also destroyed power facilities. The U.S. said there was no indication the strikes impeded the flow of arms to Ukrainian forces. Russian artillery and aircraft hit areas heavy with Ukrainian troops, weapons, and fuel depots. Ukraine did not immediately release damage reports. The attacks came ahead of Russia’s May 9 Victory Day, marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Anticipation of the military celebration stoked fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use the occasion to rally support for expanding his war. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Finland says that a Russian Air Force Mi-17 violated its airspace this morning, flying “four to five kilometres” inside Finnish airspace. The incursion comes ahead of an expected Finnish application to join NATO. (RTÉ) 

The European Union proposes to ban all oil imports from Russia by the end of the year, and also remove Russia’s biggest bank, Sberbank, from SWIFT. (CNN) 

Federal Reserve announces half-point interest rate hike The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced a rare but expected half-percentage-point interest rate hike as part of its intensifying effort to fight the highest inflation rate in four decades. The central bank also revealed that in June it plans to start reducing the $9 trillion asset portfolio it piled up as it was pumping money into the economy to boost the recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Now that demand is bouncing back and coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, the Fed wants to unwind the economic stimulus, which has contributed to higher prices. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said after the meeting that the Fed isn’t “actively considering” raising rates by three-quarters of a percentage point at a time. The news sent stocks surging. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Intuit to reimburse TurboTax customers $141 million under settlement  Intuit will pay $141 million to users of its TurboTax tax-preparation program who were deceived by its offer of free tax-filing, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday. The settlement was signed by the attorneys general of all 50 states. It calls for Intuit to halt TurboTax’s “free, free, free” ads and pay 4.4 million customers restitution. James’ investigation started after ProPublica published a 2019 report on deceptive tactics luring low-income people away from federally supported free services. “For years, Intuit misled the most vulnerable among us to make a profit,” James said. “Today, every state in the nation is holding Intuit accountable” and “putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of impacted Americans.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Judge accepts Derek Chauvin’s plea deal for violating George Floyd’s civil rights U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson on Wednesday accepted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s plea deal with prosecutors in his federal civil rights trial over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. Chauvin pleaded guilty on Dec. 15 to violating Floyd’s civil rights by kneeling on his neck, even after he lost consciousness. Chauvin, who is white, and three other officers detained Floyd on suspicion of paying for cigarettes with a counterfeit bill. Under the plea agreement, Chauvin’s lawyers and prosecutors agreed he should be sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison. Chauvin already has been convicted of murder, but he is appealing, arguing that jurors were intimidated by protests that erupted over Floyd’s death. FOX NEWS 

U.S. forgives student loans of 110,000 people in public service New data from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that more than 110,000 student-loan recipients have been excused from paying $6.8 billion in debts under temporary changes to the troubled Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Hundreds of thousands more borrowers could get relief under the effort, which stems from policy fixes the Biden administration announced last year. The average borrower affected so far received nearly $60,000 in debt relief, the department said. Then-President George W. Bush signed the law into place in 2007. It lets employees of the government and nonprofits have federal student loans canceled after 120 payments, or 10 years. CNBC 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces inductees, including Dolly Parton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2022 inductees on Wednesday. Dolly Parton, who had said she hadn’t earned the honor and asked not to be considered, made the list, as did Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. The Hall of Fame had said it wouldn’t remove Parton from the ballots, which had already been sent out when the iconic Southern singer tried to bow out. “We are in awe of Dolly’s brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation said. Parton recently told NPR she would “accept gracefully” if she were inducted. USA TODAY 

The United States Federal Reserve announces that it is raising interest rates by 0.5%, which is the largest interest rate hike since 2000, in order to combat growing inflation. (CNN) 

Levi Strauss joins companies offering abortion-travel benefit  Levi Strauss & Co. on Wednesday became the latest company to tell employees it would reimburse them for travel to other states to obtain abortions and other health-care services not available where they live. The company said women make up 58 percent of its global workforce, and many of them have expressed growing alarm in recent years “over the rollback of all forms of reproductive care.” The move came shortly after Amazon announced a similar policy on the day when Politico published a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that could strike down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established the constitutional right to abortion. Other companies, including Citigroup, Yelp, Uber, and Lyft announced travel health-care benefits earlier, as Republican-led states tightened abortion restrictions. NPR 

Lyft shares fall 30 percent on disappointing rider numbers Lyft shares plunged 30 percent on Wednesday after the ride-hailing company reported fewer first-quarter active riders, 17.8 million, than analysts had expected. Investors also were concerned about Lyft’s spending, particularly on subsidies to woo new drivers, said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Lyft’s first-quarter revenue reached $875.6 million, up 44 percent over the same period last year. But it had a $196.9 million net loss. Rival car and delivery service Uber reported $6.9 billion in revenue, a 136 percent jump from the same quarter in 2021. Trips fell 3 percent from the last quarter in 2021, possibly due to the Omicron coronavirus surge, but they were up 18 percent compared to the same period last year. Uber’s shares fell 4.7 percent. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Dave Chappelle gets attacked on stage during stand-up show The sequel to The Slap that no one asked for, The Tackle, is here. Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage while performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night. A man jumped up from the audience and tried to tackle the comedian, and the suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. 23-year-old Isaiah Lee was allegedly carrying a “replica handgun with a knife.” Chappelle wasn’t injured, and he returned to the stage after the incident. Normally, we’d be quick to make an Oscars slap joke, but Chris Rock was way ahead of us, taking the stage and quipping, “Was that Will Smith?” Chappelle came under fire last fall for jokes about transgender people, and just in the moment the public was most prone to take his side, he referenced the backlash on stage, joking that the assailant “was a trans man.”   THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Kim Cattrall speaks out about the ‘Sex and the City’ revival And just like that, Kim Cattrall spoke out about her absence from the Sex and the City revival. The actress told Variety she was “never asked to be part” of the HBO Max series And Just Like That, and she “found out about it like everyone else did — on social media.” Then again, it seemed fairly clear she would have said no if asked. Cattrall previously turned down a third Sex and the City film, and she explained to Variety she was displeased with Samantha’s proposed storyline in the script. So the revival continued without her, but Cattrall says she hasn’t watched it — and when the interviewer told her about what’s been happening on the show, she didn’t sound thrilled. For those still holding out hope Samantha could return, Cattrall definitively ruled it out. “That’s a no,” she said. “It’s powerful to say no.”  VARIETY 

Lili Reinhart appears to slam Kim Kardashian over dramatic weight loss Lili Reinhart is “calling out toxic behavior,” apparently by Kim Kardashian. The Riverdale star seemingly slammed Kardashian in an Instagram Story after the reality star revealed she lost 16 pounds in just three weeks to fit into her dress at the Met Gala. “To walk on a red carpet and do an interview where you say how starving you are … because you haven’t eaten carbs in the last month … all to fit in a f–king dress?” Reinhart wrote. “So wrong. So f–ked on 100s of levels.” She didn’t mention anyone by name, but the post was presumably about Kardashian, who told Vogue she was “so strict” with her diet to very quickly lose enough weight to fit into an actual Marilyn Monroe dress. Reinhart wasn’t the only one disturbed by this, with dietician Marissa Meshulam telling Yahoo Life restrictive diets can “create disordered eating patterns” and warning that “many young girls will read this and try to do the same exact thing.”  US WEEKLY 

South Korea and the Japan Coast Guard both accuse North Korea of firing a ballistic missile from Sunan-guyok into the Sea of Japan. (France24) 

The End

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 

Russia avoids default on the dollar-denominated bonds that were due in April by sending dollars to foreign investors just before the grace period expired. (Bloomberg) 

President Vladimir Putin signs a decree that will allow the Russian government to terminate any business and exports with entities and people that it deems “unfriendly”. (Reuters) 

E.U. proposes embargo on Russian oil European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed banning imports of Russian crude oil over six months in what could be the European Union’s costliest measure yet to punish Russia for invading Ukraine. The plan also calls for halting purchases of refined oil products by the end of the year. Slovakia and Hungary said Tuesday they would not back an E.U. embargo. The two countries said they were too dependent on Russian oil and natural gas, and would not be able to replace the lost supply. The trading bloc’s 27 members are expected to start discussing the embargo, part of a sixth E.U. sanctions package, on Wednesday. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

The United Nations says that 127 people have been evacuated from the besieged Azovstal plant and nearby areas. (PBS News) 

Russian troops storm besieged Mariupol steel mill Russian forces started storming a Mariupol steel plant complex where the last Ukrainian defenders of the port city have been holding out for weeks. The assault came as more than 150 civilians who had been trapped in bunkers under the heavily bombed plant reached safety after a weekend evacuation effort. The civilians, including elderly people and at least 17 children, reached territory controlled by Ukraine. “You can’t imagine how scary it is when you sit in the shelter, in a wet and damp basement which is bouncing, shaking,” 54-year-old Elina Tsybulchenko said after the convoy of buses and ambulances carrying her and other evacuated civilians arrived in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, 140 miles northwest of Mariupol. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Ten people are killed after projectiles hit a coking plant in Avdiivka. (Reuters) 

Chief justice confirms leaked draft opinion is authentic Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday confirmed that a leaked draft opinion indicating the court was poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is authentic, but he said it doesn’t necessarily represent the case’s resolution. Roberts vowed to investigate the leak of the draft, written by Justice Samuel Alito and published by Politico, and condemned it as a “singular and egregious breach” of trust. Alito’s opinion, marked as a first draft, said the court’s conservative majority had determined that Roe, which established the constitutional right to abortion nationwide, was “egregiously wrong and deeply damaging.” Alito wrote that the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, which limited abortion rights without eliminating them, prolonged the court’s error. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

The U.S. Supreme Court confirms the authenticity of the draft opinion indicating that the court would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Chief Justice John Roberts condemns the leak and says that an investigation into the leak will be launched.  (Reuters) 

Biden says it would be ‘radical’ for high court to strike down Roe The leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling suggesting the conservative majority had voted to overturn Roe v. Wade touched off a political firestorm. President Biden said it would be a “radical decision” for the court strike down Roe, the case that legalized abortion and has stood for nearly 50 years. Biden called for Congress to cement abortion protections in law. Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said the conservative majority’s draft decision would “relegate the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues.” Antiabortion activists and Republican politicians celebrated the opinion, written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito. “It’s a victory for the most basic right there is — the right to life,” tweeted former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade by 2-to-1 margin A majority of Americans said in a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted last week that the Supreme Court should uphold Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. Fifty-four percent of the survey’s participants said the Supreme Court, which a leaked opinion suggests is poised to overturn Roe, should uphold the landmark ruling, compared to 28 percent who said it should be struck down — roughly a 2-to-1 margin. The Supreme Court’s leaked decision, if it becomes official, would uphold a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and trigger automatic bans in a dozen other red states. The high court’s precedents currently guarantee abortion rights up to the point of fetal viability, roughly 24 weeks into a pregnancy. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Amazon offers employees abortion travel benefit Amazon has told employees that it will pay up to $4,000 in travel expenses for some medical care, including abortions, if the procedures aren’t available within 100 miles of their home and no virtual-care alternative is available. The announcement came as Politico published a leaked first draft of a Supreme Court decision that could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that established the constitutional right to abortion. If the conservative majority’s draft is finalized, some Republican-controlled states plan abortion bans, and other strict state restrictions would go into force. Amazon said the benefit, which would cover all corporate and warehouse employees or their covered dependents, would take effect in January 2023. Other procedures covered would include cardiology, cellular gene therapies, and substance-abuse disorder services. USA TODAY 

Governor Kevin Stitt signs a heartbeat bill, i.e. a bill banning abortion after heartbeat in a fetus is detected, which is at the age of about 6 weeks (except in cases of medical emergencies) and also adopts Texas-style enforcement to pursue offenders. The bill takes effect immediately. (CNN) 

In California, an anti-abortion activist is detained by the San Francisco Police Department after climbing to the top of the 61-story Salesforce Tower. (KRON-TV)  

Based on its preliminary findings, the European Commission accuses Apple of violating the EU’s competition law by blocking its competitors from accessing the technology used for the Apple Pay service, and threatens to fine the company up to 10% of its global revenue. (BBC News) 

American bank Citigroup says that the flash crash that affected several European stock markets yesterday was caused by an error from one of its traders. (BBC News) 

Job openings, quits hit record highs Job openings and the number of people quitting jobs hit record highs in March, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. There were a seasonally adjusted 11.5 million job openings, up from 11.3 million the previous month. Quits hit 4.5 million, an increase of 152,000 from February. Job openings exceeded the number of available workers by 5.6 million. The new data showed that the hiring market remains tight as employers continue to face a shortage of available workers. Food services, arts and entertainment, and other consumer-facing industries had the highest rate of openings, with health-care openings also near record levels. ZipRecruiter said openings at businesses with more than 5,000 workers had more than doubled since February 2020. CNBC 

Hawaii legislature passes $18 minimum wage Hawaii lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill to raise the state minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028, up from the current rate of $10.10. Proponents say families struggling to pay rising food and housing costs badly need the raise. Some businesses have said they can’t pay that much and would have to cut staff or close. The minimum wage would be the highest out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, although some states have automatic cost-of-living increases, so inflation could push their rates higher by 2028. The state Senate also has passed the measure, so it goes next to Gov. David Ige (D), who is expected to sign it. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

The European Parliament votes in favour of an election law overhaul, to be confirmed and possibly amended by the European Council, that will create a 28-seat pan-EU constituency and introduce elections of the President of the European Commission by popular vote. The reform will also create the European Electoral Authority, introduce postal voting for all EU residents, lower the minimum age of candidates to 18 and fix elections on Europe Day, May 9. (Euractiv) 

J.D. Vance wins Ohio GOP Senate primary with late boost from Trump Author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance won Ohio’s Republican primary in the race to fill retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman’s seat, beating several other candidates with similar views. The contest was widely seen as a test of the influence of former President Donald Trump, who boosted Vance with a late endorsement. Vance, a Never Trumper turned Trump loyalist, tried to unify the party after a tough primary, saying the GOP stood for “working people all across the state.” Vance will face Democratic nominee Rep. Tim Ryan in the general election. Ryan, whose campaign calls Vance a “phony” and an “elitist,” easily won his primary against Morgan Harper, a former attorney at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. CLEVELAND.COM 

U.S. classifies WNBA star Brittney Griner as ‘wrongfully detained’ in Russia The U.S. has classified WNBA star Brittney Griner as “wrongfully detained” in Russia, State Department officials confirmed to ESPN and Yahoo Sports on Tuesday. The designation signals a likely intensification of efforts by the Biden administration to bring Griner home, as it opens the door for the government to actively negotiate her return instead of waiting for her case to be decided in court. Griner was arrested at a Moscow area airport, and accused of carrying hashish oil in her luggage. “Our expectation is that the White House do whatever is necessary to bring her home,” Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said in a statement. ESPN 

Kim Kardashian wears actual Marilyn Monroe dress to the Met Gala Who are you wearing? Why, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, of course! At Monday night’s Met Gala, Kim Kardashian showed up wearing the actual dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she famously sang “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy in 1962. “It is a stunning skintight gown adorned with more than 6,000 hand-sewn crystals by costumier Jean Louis,” she said. Kardashian thanked Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum for lending her the dress, which sold at auction for almost $5 million in 2016. Speaking to Vogue, Kardashian explained she went on a diet specifically to wear the dress because it initially didn’t fit her — a discovery she made after guards brought the dress to her from a vault. “I didn’t starve myself,” she said, “but I was so strict.” In the end, Kardashian only wore the dress for a few minutes before changing into a replica, apparently not enough time to bust out a rendition of “Happy birthday, Mr. Davidson” six months early. VOGUE 

A new ‘Jackass’ series is headed to Paramount+ Hi, I’m Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to streaming! A new Jackass series is officially in the works for the streaming service Paramount+, the company announced Tuesday. This comes after the latest film in the wince-inducing stunt franchise, Jackass Forever, performed well at the box office, and it will mark Jackass‘ return to television following its run on MTV. It hasn’t been confirmed who will return for the show, but Jackass Forever introduced a new generation of performers who will presumably be involved, including the first female cast member. As for Johnny Knoxville, he has said he’s retiring from “big stunts” after nearly dying in the fourth film when a brutal bull encounter left him with a brain hemorrhage. We’re not convinced he’ll be able to resist a return, though, so don’t be surprised to one day see Jackass: Retirement Home, in which old age makeup is no longer required.  VARIETY 

Carlos Guillén Tatis, the agriculture counselor at the Dominican Republic’s embassy in Haiti, is kidnapped in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. (AP) 

The End Wednesday 

Tuesday,  May 3rd, 2022 

Russian President Vladimir Putin will reportedly undergo cancer surgery and temporarily hand power to Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. (Business Standard) 

Russia avoids default on the dollar-denominated bonds due in April by sending dollars to foreign investors (instead of Russian rubles, as it did initially) just before the grace period was to expire. (Bloomberg) 

A Ukrainian Air Force Bayraktar TB2 drone destroys two Russian Raptor-class patrol boats near Snake Island in the Black Sea. (CBS News) 

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov accuses Hungary of having advance knowledge of the Russian invasion, saying that Hungary was warned by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that Hungary had plans to annex parts of Western Ukraine. (Ukraine Today) 

A Russian missile hits a dormitory in Odessa, killing a 14-year-old boy and wounding a 17-year-old girl, according to Ukrainian officials. An Orthodox Church was also damaged in the missile strike. (Reuters) 

U.S. says Russia to claim eastern Ukraine regions Russia plans to annex the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk plus the southern city of Kherson, in a bid to solidify gains despite continuing battlefield setbacks, U.S. officials said Monday. It was not immediately clear how Ukraine would respond, but the move could “thrust the conflict into an unpredictable, even more explosive phase,” according to The Washington Post. Russia resumed shelling of the battered Mariupol steel plant where about 200 civilians, including 20 children, are hiding out with the last Ukrainian defenders of the besieged port city. Dozens of civilians managed to evacuate the steel plant over the weekend. A convoy of buses was supposed to shuttle out more on Monday, but the plan stalled. THE WASHINGTON POST 

The resumption of civilian evacuations from the Azovstal steel mill which was expected to begin at 8 a.m. local time does not occur, as Russia begins a non-stop barrage of airstrikes and bombings following the departure of Red Cross personnel, who had left the previous day after the evacuations were suspended. (CNN) 

Germany’s acceptance clears path for E.U. Russian oil embargo Germany said Monday it is prepared to join a European Union embargo on Russian oil to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. The move is expected to drive up fuel prices in Germany. “It is a heavy load to bear but we would be ready to do that,” Economy Minister Robert Habeck said before E.U. ministers met in Brussels to discuss Russia. The decision marked a shift for Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer in Europe. The change could clear the way for the E.U. to ban Russian oil within days. Ukraine has called for an embargo, saying without it European countries are providing hundreds of millions of dollars per day in funding for Moscow’s war effort. REUTERS 

Leaked opinion suggests Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade The Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established abortion rights nationwide, Politico reported, citing what it said was a leaked initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Alito wrote in the draft opinion published by Politico. Hours after the report was released, scores of protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court to rail against the decision, which, if released by the court, would uphold Mississippi’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and trigger stricter abortion bans in a dozen states. The court’s decisions aren’t final until published, and justices sometimes change their votes as they circulate draft opinions. If authentic, this is the first high court draft leaked in the court’s modern history. POLITICO 

A draft opinion leaked to Politico indicates that the U.S. Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. (Reuters) 

Retired NYPD officer convicted of Jan. 6 police assault A federal jury on Monday found former New York City police officer Thomas Webster guilty of assaulting an officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters. Webster was the first person prosecuted for assault in connection with the riot. He is also the first to claim self-defense. Webster, 56, testified that he used a metal flagpole to strike a “rogue cop” who punched him in the face. He also accused the Metropolitan Police Department officer, Noah Rathbun, of starting the clash. A juror told reporters the jury “unanimously agreed that there was no self-defense argument here at all.” Webster is scheduled to be sentenced in September. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Philadelphia officer who fatally shot 12-year-old charged with murder Philadelphia authorities said Monday that the former Philadelphia police officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Thomas “TJ” Siderio in March has been charged with murder. The officer, Edsaul Mendoza, was with three other plainclothes officers in an unmarked police vehicle when Siderio appeared to have fired a gun at the vehicle. The other officers took cover, but Mendoza, 26, started a “tactically unsound” foot chase, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. He fired three shots at Siderio. Investigators said he fired the final, fatal shot into Siderio’s back from a half-a-car length away when Siderio no longer had a gun and was face-down on the ground. Evidence suggested the boy might have been turning to surrender before he was killed. NBC NEWS 

Supreme Court rules Boston rejection of Christian group flag unconstitutional The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Boston violated the Constitution by refusing to raise a Christian group’s flag in a city hall ceremony because the city had never turned away anyone else. The city government argued that its ceremonial flag-raising program was a form of government speech, so it could choose which flags it would fly. Lower courts agreed the city was within its rights. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the unanimous high court, rejected that logic. He said the flags weren’t government speech because the city had no role in “the crafting of their messages.” That meant the flag raisings amounted to private speech, so rejecting a lone group constituted a violation of its First Amendment free-speech protections. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Amazon workers reject union push at N.Y. warehouse Amazon workers have voted down a proposal to unionize at a second warehouse on New York’s Staten Island, according to the Monday vote count. The 618 to 380 vote, conducted over four days last week, marked a setback for the Amazon Labor Union. The union was formed by a former warehouse supervisor, Chris Smalls, and co-worker Derrick Palmer, who got workers at a massive Staten Island fulfillment center to vote in favor of the union last month. At that warehouse, the first Amazon facility to unionize, 55 percent of those voting backed the nascent union. The vote at the second warehouse came as Amazon announced that it was ending its COVID-19 sick leave policy, which gave staffers infected with the coronavirus 10 paid days off. Now staffers will get up to five unpaid but excused sick days. NPR 

Fed starts 2-day meeting expected to end with half-point rate hike The Federal Reserve on Tuesday starts a two-day policy meeting expected to conclude with a half-percentage-point interest rate hike. The Fed has telegraphed the move as part of its accelerating efforts to fight inflation, which has surged to a 40-year high. A half-point increase would be the central bank’s sharpest hike since 2000. The Fed is expected to follow up with another half-point hike at its next meeting, in June. Another could come in July, with further increases later in the year. Economists also expect the Fed to announce that it will start reducing its Treasury and mortgage-bond holdings, which it piled up as it pumped money into the economy to boost the recovery from the pandemic-induced 2020 recession. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

10-year Treasury yield reaches 3 percent The 10-year Treasury yield, which rises when bond prices fall, reached 3 percent on Monday for the first time since 2018. The yield rose as high as 3.008 percent before settling at 2.995 percent, up from 2.885 on Friday. The surge came as the Federal Reserve prepared to start a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday that is expected to end Wednesday with a half-percentage-point interest rate increase to help fight the highest inflation in decades. Bond prices have fallen this year in anticipation of the Fed’s efforts to roll back the near-zero interest rates and bond purchases it has used to boost the recovery from the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

European Commission says Apple broke antitrust laws European Union regulators on Monday accused Apple of breaking antitrust laws by unfairly boxing out competitors of its Apple Pay payment service, The New York Times reported. The European Commission says Apple abused its dominance by denying PayPal and other rivals access to its Apple Pay technology in the iPhone and Apple Watch. The U.S. tech giant could be fined up to 10 percent of its global revenue in the case, although Apple also could reach a settlement with regulators. Apple will have an opportunity to respond before any final judgment on the charges, which Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission executive vice president in charge of antitrust enforcement, announced in Brussels.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Five Russian troops are allegedly killed during a supposed incursion into the steel plant. (CNN) 

Explosions are reported in the city of Belgorod, Belgorod Oblast, Russia. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov states that “there were no casualties or damage”. (Reuters via NDTV) 

Spanish authorities announce that Pegasus spyware was found on the cell phones of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Minister of Defense Margarita Robles. (Al Jazeera) 

Drew Barrymore apologizes for ‘making light’ of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial “It has come to my attention that I have offended people,” a pained Drew Barrymore said on Instagram after being criticized for “making light” of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial. On her talk show, Barrymore recently described the legal battle between Depp and Heard, which centers around allegations of domestic abuse, as a “seven-layer dip of insanity.” After facing pushback for that characterization, she took to Instagram to “deeply” apologize. “This can be a teachable moment for me in how I move forward and how I conduct myself,” she said, promising to “grow and change” while thanking fans for “helping me” do so. Surely, it’s the last time anyone will say something about this trial that makes people upset, right?  VARIETY

Netflix cancels an animated series from Meghan Markle Netflix cancellations have officially hit the Royal Family. The streamer scrapped an upcoming animated series created by Meghan Markle that it announced “with fanfare” last year, Deadline reports. The show was set to follow a 12-year-old girl who is inspired by “extraordinary women throughout history,” as Meghan previously said she was “delighted” to announce. This was the second project that was ordered as part of a deal between Netflix and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But after the streamer recently saw its stock tank following a loss in subscribers, the company announced layoffs and scrapped a number of projects — including some animated shows that didn’t have a non-working royal attached. Harry and Meghan’s production company had also set a docuseries at Netflix called Heart of Invictus, which is apparently still in the works. We’ll have to see which high-profile projects get the ax next. Watch out, Obama.  DEADLINE

Bill Murray speaks out about inappropriate behavior allegation What did Bill Murray do on the set of his new movie that led it to suspend production? We still don’t exactly know, though Murray is now speaking out about it. Being Mortal, a new movie directed by Aziz Ansari, recently suspended production after Murray was allegedly accused of inappropriate behavior on set. Speaking to CNBC, the Ghostbusters star claimed this was all a matter of having a “difference of opinion” with a woman he was working with. ” I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way,” he said. Murray didn’t specify what he did, but he said he’s “trying to make peace” with the woman and that the whole situation has been “quite an education for me,” as “what I always thought was funny as a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now.” It’s unclear when production on Being Mortal might resume and whether Murray will still be involved when it does.  CNBC

India-Pakistan heatwave tests ‘limits of human survivability’ Temperatures in parts of India and Pakistan have soared to record highs, the Indian Meteorological Department said Monday. The average maximum temperature for northwest and central India reached 96.62 degrees and 100 degrees Fahrenheit in April, the highest since record-keeping started 122 years ago. New Delhi last month recorded seven straight days over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat was severe enough to put millions of lives at risk, damage crops, and, in the words of one climate researcher, test “the limits of human survivability.” It also has forced authorities to close schools, and strained energy supplies. The cities of Jacobabad and Sibi in Pakistan’s southeastern Sindh province recorded highs of 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday. CNN 

The End Tuesday 

Monday,  May 2nd, 2022 

Russia hit with barrage of cyberattacks Russia has been hit by a wave of cyberattacks since it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The unprecedented attacks have targeted Russians’ financial data, defaced websites, and compromised government emails dating back decades. One survey found that more passwords and user data from Russia had been exposed online in March than from any other country. The surge marks a sharp turnaround for Russia, where hackers, including members of criminal gangs, have targeted U.S. politicians and organizations, and international companies, for years. In the last year and a half, Russian hackers have shut down hospitals already overwhelmed by the pandemic, and disrupted the crucial Colonial pipeline. THE WASHINGTON POST 

E.U. ministers discuss 6th round of Russia sanctions European Union energy ministers are meeting Monday to discuss possible new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. They also will talk about how to respond to Russia’s decision to halt natural-gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. The E.U. has imposed five rounds of sanctions targeting Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, and other companies. The European Commission plans to include restrictions on Russian oil in its next sanctions, although Hungary, Slovakia, and other Russia-dependent countries are resisting. Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has said it could handle a loss of oil through an embargo or a shutoff by the Kremlin. But the country gets 12 percent of its oil imports from Russia, and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the transition to other sources would be “bumpy.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Dozens of civilians evacuate Mariupol  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that another 100 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel factory in the besieged port city of Mariupol. The civilians had sheltered in tunnels under the plant along with hundreds of other civilians and Ukrainian fighters still defending the city against Russian forces. Zelensky said the freed civilians would be taken to a “controlled area” as the United Nations and other international groups try to get more people out. A couple dozen civilians were evacuated on Saturday. Meanwhile, Russia intensified attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Russian forces were close enough to pound Kharkiv with artillery fire, but Ukrainian fighters battled to retake surrounding villages that had fallen under Russian control.THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Biden’s approval ratings edge up from February low President Biden’s approval ratings rebounded slightly from his low point two months ago, with 42 percent of respondents in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll saying they approve of the way he is handling his job as president. That’s up from 37 percent in February. Fifty-two percent expressed disapproval in the new poll, down from 55 percent in February. Fifty-one percent said they approved of Biden’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, while just 28 percent gave him positive ratings on the economy. Forty-four percent said they were “upset” about inflation, which reached a 40-year high in recent months. More than 90 percent said they were at least concerned about inflation. THE WASHINGTON POSTTHE HILL 

Birx says U.S. should prepare for possible summer COVID surge Former Trump administration coronavirus task force leader Deborah Birx warned Sunday that the United States should prepare for another potential COVID-19 surge this summer. She noted that cases have ticked higher in South Africa. “That tells me that natural immunity wanes enough in the general population after four to six months that a significant surge is going to occur again,” Birx said on CBS’s Face the Nation. In South Africa, new daily cases reached about 5,700 on Saturday, far below the country’s winter peak but well above the roughly 1,400 daily cases it reported in early April. U.S. cases have risen recently, with a slight increase in hospitalizations. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Mexico moves lucrative trade link due to Abbott’s border inspections Mexico is moving a long-planned cross-border trade railway from Texas to New Mexico in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) 10-day-long “enhanced” safety inspections of commercial trucks crossing the border, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday. Abbott issued an order on April 6 requiring state troopers to inspect commercial trucks entering Texas from Mexico. He argued the move would deter human and drug smugglers. Mexico said Abbott was using the inspections as a “political tool.” It has rerouted many trucks through a crossing in New Mexico, just over the Texas state line. The Waco, Texas–based Perryman Group has estimated that delays at border crossings during Abbott’s inspections cost the Texas economy $4.2 billion. THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS 

Alabama search continues for corrections officer and murder suspect Alabama authorities on Sunday extended their search for a state corrections officer, Vicky White, and capital murder suspect Casey Cole White after they disappeared from a prison more than two days earlier. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to their capture. The pair left Lauderdale County jail on Friday morning. Vicky White, who is not related to the inmate, had told jail employees to prepare Casey White for transport to the county courthouse for a mental health evaluation, although he was not really scheduled for one, Sheriff Rick Singleton said. Casey White was awaiting trial on murder-for-hire charges stemming from the 2015 killing of Connie Jane Ridgeway. AL.COM 

Italy, Greece ease travel restrictions Italy and Greece announced Sunday that they are relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions on international visitors ahead of the crucial summer tourist season. Greece’s civil aviation authority lifted COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights, except for a mask mandate on flights and at airports. The country previously required travelers to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or a recovery from a recent infection. Italy said it would no longer require people arriving in the country to complete the European Union passenger locator form, which had caused check-in bottlenecks. “It’s much better,” said Andrea Bichler, a domestic tourist visiting Rome. “Let’s say it’s a return to life, a free life.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Moderna ‘confident’ COVID variant booster ready by fall Moderna Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said Sunday that the drugmaker is “confident” it will be able to provide large amounts of its vaccine booster against the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants by the fall. Moderna announced last month that preliminary data indicated its new booster was more effective against coronavirus variants than its current version. Butron, speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, encouraged people to get a booster dose to restore immunity as the effectiveness of the initial two doses wanes. “People are eligible now to get boosted. I would absolutely recommend it,” he said. THE HILL 

Some civilian evacuations begin from the Azovstal iron and steel works in Mariupol. Officials believe that up to 1,000 people have sought refuge at the plant, which has been the target of Russian airstrikes for days. However, evacuations are suspended until 8 a.m. tomorrow due to “security concerns”. (The Washington Post) (CNN) 

Five people are killed by Russian shelling in the town of Lyman. (Times of Israel) 

A fire reportedly occurs at a military facility in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, slightly injuring one person and damaging seven houses. (Reuters) 

Ukrainian intelligence officials report that Russia is poised to launch a second front from the breakaway area of Transnistria in order to take over the rest of Moldova. (The Times) 

The Islamic State claims via the Al-Naba newspaper that Israel killed a senior jihadist commander in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. (Times of Israel) 

Hungary, a member of the European Union, says that it will veto any sanctions that would restrict energy imports from Russia. Unanimity among the 27 EU members is required to introduce sanctions. (Bloomberg) 

The End