Kyiv ends flow of Russian gas to Europe after denying transit agreement
Ukraine cut off access to a crucial Russian natural gas line running through the country and parts of Europe on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The move marks the end to more than 60 years of Moscow‘s control over European energy markets.
The gas kept flowing for the past three years despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Kyiv expectedly declined to renew a transit agreement with Russia, ending access to the pipeline.
The last remaining European Union nations buying Russian gas through Ukraine, including Slovakia and Austria, will now lean on alternative energy supplies.
Hungary will continue to rely on Russian natural gas via Turkey through the TurkStream pipeline underneath the Black Sea. Other regions are not as fortunate.
Transnistria, a pro-Moscow region of Ukraine’s neighbor Moldova, relies on the Russian pipeline. Now, the region no longer has access to heat or hot water amid freezing temperatures. Only hospitals and critical infrastructure are being supplied with heat and hot water.
Electricity remains flowing for now, but the region’s main power plant already switched to coal. Authorities said there is only enough fuel supply left for 50 days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the end of the transit agreement was “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats,” calling on the United States to supply more gas to Europe. He added that it’s Europe’s “joint task” to support Moldova “in this period of energy transformation.”
Russia embraces Bitcoin to bypass Western sanctions in global trade
Russia is using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for international trade to counter Western sanctions, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. He stated Russian companies have already begun conducting cross-border payments in bitcoin under new legislation.
Siluanov indicated that bitcoin use is expected to expand next year to address trade challenges with key partners like China and Turkey. Financial institutions in these countries are reportedly hesitant to process Russian transactions due to pressure from Western regulators.
The Kremlin recently established a legal framework for cryptocurrency mining, allowing miners to use bitcoin for international trade. As one of the world’s largest bitcoin miners, Russia has also eased regulations for energy companies to sell power to mining operations, further integrating cryptocurrency into its trade mechanisms.
President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. for using the dollar as a political tool, claiming it has pushed many nations to explore alternatives like bitcoin. He emphasized bitcoin’s decentralized nature places it beyond the control of any single government.
However, challenges remain. Not all countries have clear regulations allowing bitcoin payments, and pressure from Western financial authorities could slow adoption. Economists caution it’s too early to determine how Russia’s reliance on cryptocurrencies will affect global trade dynamics.
Biden admin rushing billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine: Reports
The Biden administration plans to rush billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine before President Biden leaves office in January, according to multiple reports. The goal is to make sure Ukraine’s government is in a good place when president-elect Trump takes office.
“The administration plans to push forward…to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible” before its term ends in January, a senior administration official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Politico reports, “The plan, described by two administration officials who were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters, is the only option the White House has to keep sending equipment to Ukraine to fight off continued Russian offensives. But the problems are immense. It normally takes months for munitions and equipment to get to Ukraine after an aid package is announced, so anything rolled out in the coming weeks would likely not fully arrive until well into the Trump administration, and the next commander-in-chief could halt the shipments before they’re on the ground.”
Trump has been critical of the scale of the U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Vladamir Putin and Russia.
In April, the Republican-controlled House approved more aid for Ukraine, eight months after Biden first asked for additional assistance. The aid included an allocation for weapons. However, more than $6 billion in aid that has been set aside for Ukraine has not made it there yet.
Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly but has not specified how.
US pauses shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns over Rafah operation
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns over an invasion in Rafah. Stormy Daniels testifies in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, prompting a bid for a mistrial by his legal team. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
US pauses shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns over Rafah operation
The Biden administration confirmed Tuesday, May 7, that it paused ammunition shipments to Israel last week due to concerns about a major ground operation in Rafah, a Gaza border city. U.S. officials said the shipment included 3,500 bombs, some weighing 2,000 pounds, others weighing 500 pounds. This marks the first time the administration has delayed an arms delivery to Israel since the war began following Hamas’ terror attack in October.
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The pause in arms shipments occurred hours after the Israeli military sent tanks into Rafah in what the U.S. and Israel described as a “limited” operation. Israel forces seized control over the crossing with Egypt, a vital corridor for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The U.S. has repeatedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a major offensive in Rafah, where over one million Palestinians have relocated.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized, R-La., the decision to withhold weapons, stating it does not reflect the “will of Congress” following the passage of the latest foreign aid bill last month.
President Joe Biden, speaking at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the Capitol, did not mention the delay but addressed the surge of antisemitism in America and around the world. He reaffirmed America’s support for Israel.
“To the Jewish community, I want you to know,” Biden said. “I see your fear, your hurt and your pain. Let me reassure you. As your president, you’re not alone. You belong. You always have, and you always will. And my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad even when we disagree.”
Wednesday, May 8, is the deadline for the State Department to report to Congress on whether Israel’s use of U.S. weapons in Gaza is violating international humanitarian laws. Reuters reports the department is likely to miss this deadline. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is also expected to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee today, where he will likely face questions about the administration’s policies.
Russian airstrikes damage Ukrainian energy facilities
Russian missiles and drones struck nearly a dozen Ukrainian infrastructure sites early Wednesday, May 8, damaging three Soviet-era thermal power plants. Ukrainian officials reported that the strikes injured three people and impacted energy facilities, homes and public transportation across several regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, which occurred on the same day Ukraine celebrates Victory Over Nazism in World War II. He called for global recognition of the threat posed by modern Nazism.
Russia has not immediately responded to these latest strikes.
Judge denies Trump’s motion for mistrial after Stormy Daniels’ testimony
The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York denied the former president’s legal team’s motion for a mistrial on Tuesday, May 7. Trump’s attorneys called for a mistrial as they argued that testimony by adult film star Stormy Daniels was “extraordinarily prejudicial.”
During her testimony, Daniels detailed an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, leading to numerous objections from the former president’s team. Trump’s attorneys argued her testimony was not relevant to the case, where Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments his former lawyer made to Daniels amid the 2016 presidential election.
While dismissing the motion for a retrial, the judge noted, “It would have been better if some of these things had been left unsaid,” but argued that Trump’s team should have raised more objections. Trump has denied the encounter with Daniels ever happened and has pleaded not guilty in the case.
Daniels is scheduled to return to the stand for further cross-examination on Thursday, May 9, when the trial resumes.
Body of 6th victim in Baltimore bridge collapse recovered
Crews have recovered the body of the final missing worker from the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, as they prepare to demolish the wreckage.
The worker was among six killed when the container ship Dali lost power, struck a support column, and caused the bridge to collapse, halting most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s port.
Panera discontinuing Charged Lemonade following wrongful death lawsuits
Panera Bread announced it will discontinue its Charged Lemonade beverages nationwide following lawsuits linking the drink’s high caffeine content to at least two deaths.
A company spokesperson confirmed the decision on Tuesday, May 7, stating the drink is being discontinued as part of Panera’s “menu transformation,” but did not address the wrongful death lawsuits.
In October, the family of a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition filed a lawsuit alleging she died after consuming the beverage. In December, the family of a Florida man with a chromosomal deficiency disorder also filed a lawsuit after his death, which they claim was caused by the drink.
Following reports of the lawsuits, Panera updated its warnings, advising that the lemonade was not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or people sensitive to caffeine.
Panera has previously stated it stands by the safety of its products.
OpenAI partners with publisher of People magazine
OpenAI has partnered with Dotdash Meredith, the publisher of People magazine, to enhance its ChatGPT system. Dotdash Meredith said the collaboration will incorporate “trusted content” from the company’s array of brands — including “Better Homes and Gardens,” “Food and Wine,” and “InStyle” — providing ChatGPT with access to recipes, health information, entertainment coverage and product reviews.
As part of the licensing agreement, ChatGPT users will soon find links to the publisher’s various sites in relevant responses. Additionally, OpenAI will collaborate with Dotdash Meredith to develop new AI products for its readers and improve its ad-targeting tools.
Russia fires warning shots at cargo ship in Black Sea as ruble falls
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The ministry said the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail.
According to the ministry, Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force it to stop after the ship’s captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection.
Ukraine condemned Russia’s firing of warning shots at the cargo ship on Monday, Aug. 14, calling the move “provocative.”
“We call on the international community to take decisive action to prevent Russian Federation’s actions that impede the peaceful passage of vessels through the Black Sea,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov added “In order to avoid provocations, we recommend that masters of vessels sailing to/from Ukrainian seaports sail as close as possible to the coast of the northwestern part of the Black Sea, through the territorial waters of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria.”
Ukraine’s condemnation of the Russian warning shots came the day Russia’s ruble hit its lowest value since the early weeks of the invasion. On Monday, the ruble hit 101.04 per U.S. dollar, meaning 1 ruble is worth less than a penny.
The ruble has lost around a quarter of its value since the invasion began. While the Bank of Russia has blamed the drop on a shrinking balance in trade, President Vladimir Putin’s economic adviser said it was due to loose monetary policy from the bank.
The warning shots and the drop in the ruble’s value comes amid a backdrop of attacks in southern Ukraine.
At least three people were wounded in two waves of Russian drone and missile attacks overnight Monday on the port city of Odesa. The attacks followed Russian shelling that killed seven people and wounded at least 22 in Ukraine’s southern region of Kherson.