June 10, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 107 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested yesterday that the battle for the eastern Donbas region city of Severodonetsk could be the determining factor in the outcome of the war. Reports say Russian forces have gained control of most of the city, but that Ukrainian resistance continues. [more]
• Two British citizens and a Moroccan man were sentenced to death yesterday by a pro-Russia court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine for fighting with Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion. [more]
• U.K. officials have warned that the Russian-occupied southern Ukraine port city of Mariupol is at risk of a major cholera outbreak due to unavailability of sanitation and medical services in the city. [more]

JANUARY 6 | In last night's first public hearing by the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Representatives Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney presented a timeline of the assault, along with what they said was then-President Donald Trump's role in precipitating and encouraging the attack. A second public hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 13, at 10 a.m. Eastern. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | Police say an employee of Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg, Maryland, opened fire at the business yesterday, killing three co-workers. The as-yet unnamed man was later apprehended following a shootout with police. [more]

GUN LEGISLATION | The U.S. House of Representatives passed a so-called "red flag" bill yesterday that would allow families, police, and others to ask federal courts to order the removal of firearms from people considered at risk of harming themselves or others. The measure is not expected to be approved by the Senate. [more]

MONKEYPOX | World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday that more than 1,200 cases of monkeypox have been detected worldwide in the ongoing outbreak of the disease and that the window of opportunity to contain the outbreak is closing. [more]

MICHIGAN | Prosecutors in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filed second-degree murder charges yesterday against police officer Christopher Schurr, who is accused of killing motorist Patrick Lyoya following a traffic stop in April. [more]

CIVIL RIGHTS | The U.S. Justice Department announced yesterday that it has opened a civil rights investigation into the Louisiana State Police to determine if the police force uses excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory police practices against Black and other people of color. [more]

UVALDE| In an interview published yesterday, Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo said he did not consider himself the person in charge at the scene of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.  Arredondo stated that he assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response and that he did not issue any instruction that police should not attempt to breach the building. [more]

NATO | NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana said in a speech yesterday that he is confident applications from Sweden and Finland to join the alliance will be approved despite objections from Turkey. [more]

GAS PRICES | Travel company AAA says the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. rose to $4.97 this week, up 25 cents from last week. California had the highest average price at $6.40 per gallon, while Georgia had the lowest at $4.41 per gallon. [more]

ABORTION | A new law goes into effect in West Virginia today that bans women from getting an abortion in the state because of beliefs that their child will be born with a disability. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Government data on May consumer inflation is scheduled to be released later this morning. Economists predict the data will show that core consumer prices rose 5.9% in May, down from a 6.2% rate in April. [more]

EUROPEAN ECONOMY | The European Central Bank announced yesterday that it will raise interest rates by 25 basis points on July 1 and that it will also end its 20-billion-euros a month bond-buying program next month. [more]

TRAVEL | Japan began easing its COVID-related tourist restrictions today, accepting visa applications for tourists on guided package tours who agree to follow mask mandates and other antivirus measures. [more]

NCAA SOFTBALL | Oklahoma defeated Texas, 10-5, last night to win its second straight NCAA softball championship title. [more]

GOLF | The PGA Tour announced yesterday that it is suspending member players who are taking part in the rival LIV Golf Invitational series. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1940, Italy, under the rule of Benito Mussolini, declared war against France and Great Britain, entering World War II. [more history]