June 1, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 98 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• The Biden administration is expected to announce today that the U.S. will provide Ukraine with high-tech, medium-range rocket systems as part of a $700 million package of military aid that also includes helicopters, Javelin anti-tank weapon systems, and tactical vehicles. [more]
• Germany will provide Ukraine with modern anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems to aid in its fight against Russia, according to a statement from Chancellor Olaf Scholz today. [more]
• Reports say Russian forces are continuing to make slow progress in their attempt to take control of the city of Sievierodonetsk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. [more]
• Russian gas producer Gazprom has reportedly cut off gas supplies to Danish company Orsted and to Shell Energy as of today after the companies refused to agree to Russian demands that payments be made in rubles. [more]

UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING |

• Investigators say that, despite earlier reports to the contrary, a teacher did not leave the door through which the Robb Elementary gunman entered the school propped open. Reports say the door in question was closed, but not locked. [more]
• The first two funerals for victims of the Uvalde school shooting were held yesterday, with nineteen more scheduled for the next two-and-a-half weeks. [more]

SUPREME COURT | The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 yesterday to approve a request to put on hold a Texas law that aimed to prevent social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from moderating users' posts based on their viewpoints. [more]

EUROPEAN UNION | Voters in Denmark will decide in a referendum today whether to abandon the country's decades-old policy of opting out of the European Union’s common defense policy. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Officials in California are expected to release a report today on historical harms caused by the state to African American slaves and on possible ways to address those wrongs. [more]

COVID-19 | Many restrictions associated with Shanghai, China's strict two-month COVID lockdown are being lifted today.  The city's Communist Party committee released a letter online today saying the lockdown has been a success. [more]

MORE COVID-19 | The U.S. Justice Department filed court documents with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday asking the court to overturn a judge's decision last month declaring CDC orders for mask mandates on public transportation unlawful. [more]

U.K. | A four-day national bank holiday begins tomorrow in the United Kingdom to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's 70 years of service is the longest of any British monarch. [more]

MIDDLE EAST | The United Arab Emirates and Israel signed a trade agreement yesterday that aims to increase bilateral trade between the two countries to more than $10 billion over the next five years. The agreement is Israel's first such broad agreement with an Arab state. [more]

MEXICO | Officials in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca say Hurricane Agatha caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 11 people when it came ashore earlier this week. At least 20 people remain missing, according to reports. [more]

MYANMAR | At least one person was killed and nine others wounded when a bomb exploded yesterday in Yangon, Myanmar. Officials of Myanmar's military government and the People’s Defense Forces opposition movement traded accusations of responsibility for the bombing. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Michael Sussmann, former lawyer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, was acquitted yesterday of lying to the FBI regarding his testimony concerning allegations of ties between Donald Trump and Russia in the months leading up to the 2016 election. [more]

TURKEY | A court case involving charges of insulting public officials against Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political opponent of President Tayyip Erdogan, was adjourned until September by a Turkish court today. Reports say Imamoglu could be a strong challenger to Erdogan in upcoming national elections. [more]

RUSSIA | Military officials in Russia say they have completed testing of the country's new hypersonic Zircon cruise missile and will deploy it on a Northern Fleet frigate by the end of the year. [more]

HINKLEY | A federal court hearing tomorrow is expected to release John Hinkley, who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981, from all remaining restrictions under which he has been living later this month. [more]

TENNIS | Rafael Nadal defeated top-seeded Novak Djokovic today in the quarterfinals of the French Open. Nadal will face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. [more]

GOLF | Dustin Johnson is among 42 players announced as participants in next week's LIV Golf Invitational tournament -- a Saudi Arabia-backed event that is not PGA endorsed and for which PGA-associated players could face sanctions from the organization. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 2002, the Czech Republic became the first country to enact a law to address light pollution; all outdoor fixtures were required to have a shield that prevented light from extending above the horizontal.  [more history]