April 6, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 42 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates [more]:

• European Council president Charles Michel suggested today that the EU should consider offering asylum to Russian soldiers who are willing to defy orders and abandon battlefields in Ukraine. [more]
• The U.S., EU, and G7 are expected to announce new sanctions against Russia following allegations of war crimes committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. [more]
• Addressing the U.N. Security Council yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Council should act immediately to end Russian atrocities in Ukraine or dissolve the Council altogether. [more]
• U.S. military officials have announced an additional $100 million in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total of such aid to over $1.7 billion. [more]
• Ukrainian officials are urging civilians in the eastern Luhansk region to evacuate the area as Russian ground forces and air strikes increasingly concentrate on new offensives in the region. [more]

ABORTION | The Oklahoma House yesterday passed legislation that would make performing an abortion in the state a felony offense, with related penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The Oklahoma Senate passed the bill last year. [more]

EDUCATION | Reports say the Biden administration intends to extend the current pause on payments of federally backed student loans through at least August. [more]

HUNGARY | The European Commission has launched proceedings against Hungary for reported breaches of EU rule-of-law standards. The EC action could result in the loss of EU funding payments to Hungary. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Police in Sacramento have arrested a second suspect in connection with the recent mass shooting that took place in the city’s downtown entertainment district. [more]

HEALTH | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules yesterday that would ban nearly all remaining uses of asbestos in the United States. [more]

MEDICINE | A new clinical study published in Cancer Discovery has found that the HIV therapy drug lamivudine shows significant action against the spread of metastatic colorectal cancer. [study results] [more]

WEAPONRY | The U.S., U.K., and Australian have announced plans to cooperate on the development of hypersonic missile systems, counter-hypersonic defense platforms, and electronic warfare capabilities. [more]

SUDAN | Pro-democracy groups in Sudan called today for mass protests against the country’s military leadership in the latest move to support a return to civilian-led government. [more]

GREECE | A 24-hour general strike in Greece today has severely limited public transportation, hospital operations, and other public services. [more]

SRI LANKA | At least 40 legislators left Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition yesterday amidst the country’s ongoing economic crisis and calls for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign. [more]

ISRAEL | The ruling coalition government in Israel has lost its majority following the resignation of coalition chairwoman Idit Silman today. [more]

DARKNET | Authorities in Germany, with cooperation from several U.S. agencies, have taken down the darknet-based Hydra Market — a Russian language online marketplace for drugs, forged documents, and other illegal materials. [more]

GOLF | Tiger Woods said yesterday that he intends to play in this year’s Masters tournament, which begins tomorrow. This would be Woods’ first top-level tournament since 2020 and mark a significant recovery from back injuries and surgery following a car crash that derailed his playing career. [more]

R.I.P. | Singer and actor Bobby Rydell died yesterday at age 79 from complications of pneumonia. Rydell was a 1960s-era star whose musical hits included “Wild One” and “Volare,” and who starred in the hit musical film “Bye Bye Birdie” opposite Ann-Margret. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | Pierre, baron de Coubertin, a founder of the International Olympic Committee and its president from 1896 to 1925, realized his goal of reviving the Olympics when the first modern Games opened in Athens on this date in 1896. [more history]