July 8, 2022

JAPAN | Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot while giving a campaign speech in Nara, Japan. Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 135 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Speaking before the Russian parliament yesterday, President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine should accept the Kremlin's terms for peace and warned that "we haven’t even yet started anything in earnest." [more]
• Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the U.K., said in an interview today it would be difficult to see Russian and Russia-backed forces withdrawing from southern Ukraine following a future end to active fighting in the area. [more]
• Reports say Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov walked out of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers today in Indonesia as statements from Western nations condemning the invasion of Ukraine were being given. [more]

U.K. | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation yesterday amidst large-scale resignations by members of his government. Johnson said he would step down immediately as Conservative Party leader, but would remain as a caretaker prime minister until a successor is chosen. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | The Labor Department reported yesterday that initial claims for unemployment benefits in the week ended July 2 rose to 235,000 -- up 4,000 from the previous week, and that the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits for the week ended June 25 was 1,375,000. Today the Department is scheduled to report on hiring in the U.S., with economists predicting a gain of 275,000 jobs last month, which would be the lowest monthly gain of the past year. [more]

ABORTION | U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order today aimed at protecting access to abortion services. Among the items expected to be included in the order are ensuring access to federally approved abortion medication, protecting the ability to travel across state lines to access clinical abortion services, and efforts to protect privileged patient information regarding abortion services. [more]

JANUARY 6 | Former Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone is scheduled to give sworn testimony today to the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. [more]

ESPIONAGE | A federal grand jury in Brooklyn yesterday indicted one current and one former employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on charges of working with China to spy on and discredit pro-democracy Chinese dissidents living in the United States. Similar indictments were returned against three other people in March. [more]

AFGHANISTAN | The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that unseasonal rains and flooding have killed at least 10 people and injured 11 others this week in the northern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan. [more]

GHANA | Two suspected cases of the Ebola-like Marburg virus disease have been detected in the West African country of Ghana, according to the World Health Organization. If confirmed, the cases would be the first-ever detected in Ghana. [more]

COVID-19 | Authorities in Beijing, China, have reportedly cancelled plans to impose coronavirus vaccine mandates for people who wish to enter crowded venues such as libraries, cinemas, and gyms. Entrance into such areas would still require proof of a negative COVID test, according to the state-backed Beijing Daily newspaper. [more]

THERANOS | Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani was convicted by a California jury on 12 counts of fraud yesterday in connection with his role in defrauding investors and patients about the company's blood testing technology. [more]

MEDAL OF FREEDOM | U.S. President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people yesterday, including gymnast Simone Biles, late Senator John McCain, and gun-control advocate Gabby Giffords. [full list of awardees] [more]

R.I.P. | Oscar-nominated actor James Caan died this week at the age of 82, according to statements from his manager and his family. Caan was best known for his roles in "The Godfather," "Brian's Song," and "Misery." [more]

TENNIS | Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Wimbledon tournament yesterday due to an abdominal injury. Nadal was to play a semi-final match today against Nick Kyrgios, who will now face either Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie in Sunday's final. [more]

MORE TENNIS | Tunisia's Ons Jabeur defeated Tatjana Maria yesterday at Wimbledon to become the first African woman to advance to a Grand Slam final. Jabeur will face Elena Rybakina in tomorrow's women's final. [more]

SOCCER | The U.S. women's national soccer team qualified for next year's World Cup with last night's 5-0 win over Jamaica in the CONCACAF W Championship. [more]

ROBOCALLS | The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said yesterday that it has ordered phone carriers to stop delivering spam auto warranty robocalls, saying the calls are a top complaint from consumers. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1497, Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, with a fleet of four vessels, ultimately opening a sea route from western Europe to Asia by way of the Cape of Good Hope. [more history]