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• Canadian province British Columbia plans to re-criminalize public hard drug use, partially reversing a January 2023 policy aimed at addressing a severe opioid crisis. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Urging the Canadian government to reverse the initiative, province Premier David Eby said "keeping people safe" was his highest priority. Bloomberg (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• British Columbia had decriminalized possession of small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA, reportedly to stem the overdose death toll. ABC News
• Under an exemption granted by Health Canada within the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the province's pilot program allowed adult drug users to use up to 2.5 grams of drugs in public without facing drug-related charges. CBC
• However, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson said that, according to front-line police officers, "unchecked public drug use" had "unintended ramifications" on the "well-being of neighbourhoods." The Globe and Mail
• This comes as an opioid crisis is sweeping through North America. The US recorded a new high of over 112K fatal overdoses in 2023, while British Columbia witnessed over 2.5K deaths. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Narrative A:

• British Columbia's decriminalization of public hard drugs use was a justified attempt to stem a deadly and tragic opioid crisis. Though the program may have faced opposition and ultimately failed, it was a step in the right direction toward distigmatizing what should be treated as a health — not criminal — matter.
  BBC NEWS (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Narrative B:

• BC's decriminalization policy failed to meet expectations and faced legal challenges due to understandable concerns over harm to vulnerable populations. Balancing public safety and addiction support requires sensible regulation and additional measures like safer drug supply and designated consumption spaces, not a free-for-all.
  THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 62% chance that at least 62 countries will, at least in some form, decriminalize possession of all Schedule I drugs for personal use by 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain in prison in Moscow for at least another two months, a court ruled on Tuesday, rejecting his latest appeal to end his pre-trial detention in an alleged espionage case. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• The First Appeal Court in Moscow ruled that the March 26 order to extend the "preventative measure" should remain in place. Gershkovich's appeal followed an earlier ruling to keep him in custody until at least June 30, pending a trial. France 24
• In a statement, the Wall Street Journal termed Gershkovich's continued detention "outrageous" and called on Washington to work for the immediate release of its "wrongfully detained" correspondent in Russia. wsj.com (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Without presenting evidence for its claim, Moscow said that the 32-year-old reporter had been caught "red-handed" in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg while trying to obtain defense secrets for US intelligence. Times
• Gershkovich, who had previously worked for AFP and the Moscow Times in the Russian capital, is the first Western journalist to be charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War. He, his employer, and the US government deny the accusations. The Moscow Times
• In jail in Moscow's Lefortovo prison for over a year, Gershkovich is one of two American journalists imprisoned in Russia. The Russian-US dual citizen Alsu Kurmasheva, charged with failure to register as a foreign agent, has remained in custody since October 2023. Voice of America

Pro-Russia narrative:

• While the hypocritical West exploits the Gershkovich case for its anti-Russian propaganda, it's worth taking a closer look at the matter. After all, it's no secret that the CIA recruited dozens of US journalists as spies during the Cold War, and there's little reason to believe that this practice was abandoned — as the Gershkovich case suggests. Secretly collecting classified information is still considered espionage, and the Russian judiciary will make an appropriate judgment.
  RT INTERNATIONAL

Anti-Russia narrative:

• That the Moscow court has also rejected Gershkovich's latest appeal is further proof of the Putin regime's arbitrary rule. Moscow is holding Gershkovich hostage under the bogus and politically motivated pretext of espionage and wants to trade him for Russian criminals imprisoned abroad. Journalism must never be instrumentalized or silenced through persecution and intimidation, and if the regime has any last sense of justice, Gershkovich must be released immediately.
  VOICE OF AMERICA

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 10% chance that there will be a US-Russia war before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Conservative news website The Gateway Pundit has declared bankruptcy as it fights multiple lawsuits over its claims questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 US presidential election. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Founder Jim Hoft announced on the website Wednesday that The Gateway Pundit's parent company, TGP Communications, decided to seek Chapter 11 protection in the Southern District of Florida due to alleged "progressive liberal lawfare attacks" against the outlet. The Gateway Pundit
• Two Georgia poll workers — Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss — sued the St. Louis-based site in 2021 after the website accused them of illegally counting ballots in the 2020 election, claiming that the accusations were defamatory and caused them emotional distress. STLtoday.com
• The plaintiffs recently won a $148M defamation verdict against Rudy Giuliani, who himself claimed that The Gateway Pundit was "patient zero" in the accusations against the workers. STLtoday.com
• TGP Communications said it has between $500K and $1M in assets. It's also one of several pro-Trump outlets facing lawsuits from election technology companies Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, with the latter having won a $787M settlement from Fox News. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Hoft said that the Chapter 11 filing, which pauses lawsuits against debtors, was not an admission of guilt, but rather a "common tool for reorganization." The Gateway Pundit will continue publishing during its bankruptcy. US News & World Report

Anti-Trump narrative:

• The Gateway Pundit was one of many right-wing outlets that peddled lies and conspiracy theories on behalf of Donald Trump, and it is facing repercussions for its continued lying. The outlet has been a fixture of the conspiratorial right for many years, but it went a bridge too far after the 2020 election, defaming poll workers and Dominion Voting Systems. As a news outlet, The Gateway Pundit cannot peddle lies about individuals and companies without facing lawsuits. They are simply getting what they signed up for.
  NPR ONLINE NEWS (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Trump narrative:

• The double standard against pro-Trump media outlets and figures is on display yet again as Jim Hoft and The Gateway Pundit get buried by left-wing lawfare. It is especially concerning to see hit pieces coming from "news" websites like NPR and CNN, which pushed the Russiagate hoax for years with impunity. Like many other independent outlets on the right, The Gateway Pundit is facing an onslaught from the left-leaning establishment for challenging the mainstream agenda. This injustice must end.
  JEFF CLARK ON X

Nerd narrative:

• There’s a 50% chance that Trump would win a 2024 presidential election matchup with Biden, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• The University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has begun human trials for an mRNA vaccine for the skin cancer melanoma, which impacts around 132K around the world annually. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• The vaccine, which uses the same technology as some of the COVID vaccines, is made by Moderna, as well as Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD). It's personalized, meaning it's built to target only the specific genetic makeup of an individual's tumor. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The jab, called mRNA-4157, carries the coding for up to 34 neoantigens that activate anti-tumor immune responses. It's personalized by taking a piece of a tumor during surgery and using artificial intelligence (AI) to sequence the DNA. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• This follows phase two trials that found a 49% decrease in death and chances of cancer returning after three years when using both the vaccine and the drug Keytruda. This was in comparison to those who only used Keytruda. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Phase three seeks to study 1.1K patients globally, including 60-70 in the UK. Patients will receive the 1 mg doses of the vaccine every three weeks for a maximum of nine doses, as well as 200 mg of Keytruda every three weeks for about a year — for up to 18 doses. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Dr. Heather Shaw, the national leader of the trials, said the vaccines are also being tested for lung, bladder, and kidney cancers. Evening Standard

Narrative A:

• This groundbreaking news out of the UK shows that mRNA technology can be used to prevent several types of deadly cancers. Scientists have gotten this far with very little funding, so imagine the benefits if they received a major boost in their funding to help move these treatments into the global medical market.
  CANCER RESEARCH UK

Narrative B:

• Questions surrounding the need for immense amounts of funding should prompt further questions about how people will afford these mRNA vaccines once they're on the market. According to sources close to the research, these trials have cost £400K ($500K) per patient. Cancer research is incredibly important, but so is making medicine affordable.
  DAILY MAIL (LR: 5 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's an 80% chance that an inorganic nanoparticle-enabled cancer therapy will be approved by the US FDA before Jan. 1, 2041, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday that at least 155 people have been killed and more than 200K people affected after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the East African country. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Majaliwa told parliament that El Niño — a naturally occurring climate pattern — had exacerbated the current rainy season and "caused significant damage," including the destruction of roads, bridges, and railways. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Adding that more than 51K households are affected, Majaliwa urged residents of low-lying areas to move to higher ground and ordered district officials to ensure relief supplies reach the needy. Flooded schools were closed, and rescue operations are underway. Africanews
• The prime minister claimed the ongoing flooding in Tanzania was a result of "environmental degradation," which he said included deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, and uncontrolled livestock grazing. Channels Television
• Weeks of heavy rains and torrential flooding also hit neighboring countries, including Kenya, where at least 32 people have reportedly died and some 103.5K people have been affected. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Kenya's Deputy Pres. Rigathi Gachagua has said that a multi-agency emergency center has been created to manage the developing situation, warning that the country would see above-average rainfall in the coming days. Dw.Com

Narrative A:

• This disaster, which affects the whole of East Africa, results from a fatal combination of different factors. The effects of environmental destruction, deforestation, and unsustainable agriculture are amplified by climate change, which disrupts the climate system and exacerbates natural phenomena such as El Niño. Tanzania is taking the necessary measures to overcome the challenges, but industrialized countries must do their part and finally take global climate protection seriously.
  THE CHANZO

Narrative B:

• These are not the first torrential rains to hit East Africa in recent times, and although climate change is a significant factor, this latest disaster is primarily home-grown. Environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, and poor drainage systems are major contributors to the devastating effects of the El Niño-triggered heavy rains. Climate change is a fact, and East African countries need to address this reality to reduce or prevent such flooding.
  NEW YORK TIMES (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 15% chance that an East African Federation will exist and govern before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Police have arrested hundreds of protesters at college campuses across the US as encampments and demonstrations allegedly inspired by the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University spread across the country. www.axios.com
• At least 108 arrests were made on Thursday at Emerson College in Boston, 93 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, and 34 at the University of Texas in Austin. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Protesters at several campuses have called for their universities to divest from companies linked to the Israeli government or military. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Boston police removed tents set up by student protesters at Emerson, while the Los Angeles police detained a person at USC on allegations of assault with a deadly weapon. TheTimesofIsrael
• Meanwhile, Columbia has warned students that if their encampments aren't moved by Friday, it will "consider options for restoring calm to campus." USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The arrests come after the New York police disbanded a tent encampment and arrested more than 100 demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University. Verity

Narrative A:

• Colleges have long been sites for open dialogue, debate, and exchanging ideas. However, recent incidents across the US have demonstrated that universities are far more interested in economics and optics than in freedom of speech. Students across the country are standing in solidarity with the Palestinians, and they should be able to peacefully protest without facing enormous overreactions by law enforcement and administrators.
  VOX (LR: 1 CP: 3)

Narrative B:

• Universities are responsible for maintaining the order and security of their students and campuses. While freedom of speech is an important right in the US, many of these campuses are private property, and university administrators are well within their bounds to call for law enforcement support to disperse unruly protesters. Colleges are, first and foremost, places of learning, and students should be able to study without fear.
  THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 50K Palestinian civilian deaths in the Israel-Gaza conflict before July 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• ByteDance, social media platform TikTok's Chinese parent company, Thursday denied a report from The Information saying it was exploring a sale of the app to a US-based company. Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• In a post on Toutiao, a media platform owned by ByteDance, the company said it has no intentions to sell despite US Pres. Joe Biden this week signing a law requiring a sale of TikTok to a US entity within 270 days under threat of a ban. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• Previously, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew promised a prolonged legal fight by the company to challenge the law. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• Meanwhile, Reuters reported ByteDance would rather shut down the app than sell it if it loses in the courts. Sources close to ByteDance said in the report that it would be less harmful for the company to shut down TikTok than to sell it with its algorithm. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• TikTok launched in 2017 and its unique algorithm is considered advantageous to those of its competitors. Other social media platforms, including Instagram and X (previously known as Twitter), have reportedly tried to copy its design by incorporating similar functionality. Independent (LR: 2 CP: 3)

Anti-China narrative:

• TikTok as currently constituted is a national security risk because ByteDance, like other Chinese companies, is legally required to submit data to the PRC government. ByteDance must divest its ownership in order to keep users' data privacy secure.
  NEW YORK TIMES (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Pro-China narrative:

• This US law isn't about national security, it's about commercially undermining China. ByteDance will fight this in the courts, and if it loses it might shut down the app and let the US deal with the backlash of a world without TikTok.
  HONG KONG FREE PRESS HKFP

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 30% chance that TikTok US will be sold to a US entity before Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned the US on Friday against crossing the country's "red lines" in terms of sovereignty, security, or development, and warned of a "downward spiral" in bilateral relations. South China Morning Post
• Wang told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that while relations were stabilizing, they were being tested by some issues and claiming that China's development was being suppressed and its primary national interests challenged. Pakistan Today
• Blinken reportedly stressed the importance of responsibly managing the "most consequential relationship" for both countries and people around the world, given the global impact of PRC-US ties. Firstpost
• Following his talks with Wang, Blinken met with China's President Xi Jinping, who said that the US and China should be "partners rather than adversaries" calling on Washington to view China's development in a positive light. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Xi warned against "vicious competition" and called for seeking collaboration amid tense bilateral relations over issues including the South China Sea, Taiwan, and Beijing's backing of Russia's Ukraine war. ft.com
• Blinken's three-day trip comes as the US is reportedly considering sanctioning PRC companies for supplying Russia's defense industry and tariffs due to what Washington sees as overcapacity in Chinese production. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Anti-China narrative:

• China's actions, such as maritime disputes with the Philippines and military activities near Taiwan and India, are prompting neighboring countries to bolster defenses and form alliances. China's aspirations as a dominant power are reshaping regional dynamics, leading to a rise in defense spending and security cooperation among smaller nations. It is, therefore, China that is turning itself into the world's enemy.
  THE TELEGRAPH

Pro-China narrative:

• The strained US-China relationship, marked by trade tariffs and security alliances, has complicated their ties. The US-China dynamic reflects power struggles and differing ideologies. To foster collaboration, a shift from confrontation to cooperation may be necessary, considering China's economic challenges and global pressures. Beijing hopes that Washington will begin to see the PRC more favorably.
  XINHUA

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 95% chance that China will have placed 5 or more US companies onto its Unreliable Entities List before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Ukraine has pulled its remaining M1A1 Abrams tanks from the frontlines of the conflict with Russia, according to two US officials who spoke with the Associated Press on Thursday. Associated Press (a) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The US agreed to send Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks last year — each worth roughly $10M. According to the report, five tanks have since been destroyed. It cited advances in Russian drone warfare as the reason behind sidelining the US-provided gear for the time being, suggesting tanks were currently susceptible to Russian attacks. Associated Press (a) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• While US Pres. Joe Biden this week signed into law a bill that will ultimately provide Ukraine with $61B of weaponry — $1B of which will be unlocked immediately — US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said it will take time for the weapons to reach the frontlines and that Russia may still make more gains. Associated Press (b) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• According to the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank that tracks battlefield progress in the war, Russia is doing just that. Near the Donetsk city of Avdiivka, captured by Russian troops earlier this year, the ISW said that Russian forces had advanced 3.1 miles (5 km) since April 18 and warned that more advances could be coming. Understandingwar
• Although Russian forces have not advanced near the Dontesk city of Chasiv Yar in the last 24 hours, the ISW further warned that it was where Russia was likely to focus its efforts, stating that an "offensive operation to seize Chasiv Yar offers Russian forces the most immediate prospects for operationally significant advances." Understandingwar
• Meanwhile, with Ukraine still waiting for new weapons and ammunition to arrive, both it and Russia reported intense clashes across the entirety of the frontlines over the past day — though both gave differing accounts as to the extent of damage and the success of their relative missions. Ukrainska Pravda

Pro-establishment narrative:

• In addition to the $1B of military aid that's already been unlocked, Washington will soon announce the biggest shipment of arms to Ukraine so far — exceeding that of any previous package in the two-year conflict. It will provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense missiles, artillery ammunition, as well as drones and counter-drone weapons, among other items needed to overthrow Russia's invasion.
  POLITICO

Pro-Russia narrative:

• When you look at the fine print of what the US pledges to do, it becomes clear that Washington is only pledging to send money to American arms companies. The US admits that these contracts will take time to fulfil and that it could be years before Ukraine sees any of the weapons. These moves by the US will only escalate the conflict and do nothing to help the Ukrainian people.
  TASS

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 1% chance that Ukraine will sever the land bridge between Crimea and Russia before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• A civil defense team in Gaza on Thursday called for a UN investigation into mass graves found near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in which hundreds of bodies have reportedly been discovered. The team claimed that Israeli forces conducted summary executions at Nasser Hospital without immediately providing evidence. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Palestinian officials also said on Thursday that they had discovered 392 bodies at Nasser Hospital. A New York Times report claimed that, of the three mass grave sites at Nasser Hospital, satellite photos indicated that two were dug before Israeli forces raided the hospital in February. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Civil defense workers said that they believed that at least 20 people may have been buried alive at Nasser Hosptial. The US said that it wanted to see an investigation into the sites. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• The Israeli military claimed that, in search of the remains of hostages, it examined bodies that had been buried by Palestinians at Nasser Hospital, returning them "to their place" afterward in a "respectful manner." Israel has repeatedly denied that it has carried out any executions. The Times of Israel
• A US official, Dept. of State spokesperson Vedant Patel, would not say if Washington would support a UN probe into the mass grave sites. He said that the US "asked the government of Israel for additional clarity and information." Democracy Now (LR: 1 CP: 1)
• The World Health Organization said that shallow graves were also found around al-Shifa Hospital, adding that "many dead bodies were partially buried with their limbs visible." The UN human rights office said that there were 30 bodies buried in two graves at Shifa, 12 of which were identified. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Palestine narrative:

• Israel has demonstrated a consistent pattern of targeting civilians and medical infrastructure so that it can make Gaza virtually unlivable. Civil defense workers continue to unearth the bodies of Palestinians that Israeli forces either dumped or executed and the fact that this war has been allowed to continue after so many Israeli atrocities is shameful. The US, Israel's biggest ally, also has decided to cover for Israel, consistently lying about the war and Israel's intentions.
  AL JAZEERA (LR: 2 CP: 1)

Pro-establishment narrative:

• These grave sites must be investigated. However, Israel has never and will never intentionally target civilians, and, to demonstrate its commitment to its principles, Israel will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. The international community, especially as so many nations essentially forget Hamas' Oct. 7 atrocities, must remember that Israel did not want this war and it has been forced to take dramatic action to ensure its survival.
  CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Pro-Israel narrative:

• Once again, the media is falsely portraying the situation in Gaza, as the "mass graves" found over the weekend have a simple explanation. The military, while looking for the bodies of hostages, was forced to examine the bodies of Palestinians recently buried in the vicinity of the Shifa and Nasser hospitals, which it did with respect and dignity. The bodies were then returned to their rightful place. One should remember that Shifa was being used as a massive headquarters for Hamas militants, and Israeli forces neutralized as many as 200 terrorists there recently.
  JERUSALEM POST (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 2% chance that the Palestinian Authority/Fatah will have de facto power in the Gaza Strip on January 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted 3-2 along political-party lines (with Democrats in favor) to restore net neutrality — the policy that prohibits internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing traffic, or charging more to deliver content from certain sources. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Previously, the commission in October voted 3-2 to advance this proposal, which also gives the FCC oversight of broadband internet. These rules had been previously rescinded under Republican Pres. Donald Trump. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• By voting in favor of the new rules — known as "Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet" — and reclassifying ISPs as carriers under Title II of the Communications Act, the FCC now has authority over what Democratic FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called an "essential service." Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• ISPs, which say they never violate the concept of net neutrality, have long objected to being categorized under Title II for fears the FCC could regulate their pricing. The FCC, at this time, is not considering regulating rates. Verge (LR: 2 CP: 3)
• Net neutrality was originally passed in 2015 during Democratic Pres. Barack Obama's administration. It was rescinded in 2017. CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Democratic narrative:

• This decision should be celebrated from coast to coast. Net neutrality is popular and desperately needed. American people across the country and from all walks of life rely on internet service and shouldn't be subject to the whims of ISPs controlling speeds and access.
  RAW STORY (LR: 1 CP: 1)

Republican narrative:

• This is an unnecessary power grab by the government that will cause unexpected harm to customers in the future. The people cheering this decision were the ones howling over the end of internet neutrality seven years ago — but they were crying wolf. Luckily, the courts will likely overrule the FCC.
  FOX NEWS (LR: 4 CP: 4)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 50% chance that at least 71.2% of the world population will use the internet in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• The New York Times on Thursday released a statement claiming that US Pres. Joe Biden "has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors." FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
• The statement further claimed that "systematically avoiding interviews and questions" not only "undermine[s] an important norm" but also "establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use." The New York Times Company
• The statement coincided with a Politico report on an alleged tense relationship between Biden and the paper. The report said Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger was mad about a lack of access to the president and he "quietly encourages all the tough reporting on his age." Politico.com
• The report also said some reporters at the Times see the White House's anger with the paper as a "misguided effort to control its coverage." Politico.com
• This comes as Biden on Friday was interviewed by radio host Howard Stern, who asked mostly personal questions. The interview had not been noted on Biden's public schedule. The Hill

Right narrative:

• Even after being called out by the Times, Biden continued to duck hard questioning and instead sat down for a softball chat with Stern. By avoiding a wider array of established journalistic entities, Biden is ducking accountability for his policies and failing to prove he's competent to serve a second term. The left-leaning "paper of record" is late to a realization that has long been known.
  NEW YORK POST (LR: 5 CP: 5)

Left narrative:

• Biden isn't the only one running for president this year who's avoiding difficult interviews. Former Pres. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, also limits his accessibility to outlets he deems as friendly. Regardless of the effect this has on the election, it's simply a reality of the modern media landscape.
  AXIOS.COM

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 65% chance that, if Joe Biden is inaugurated as president in 2025, he will complete the full four-year term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Tech firms Google and Microsoft reported major profit increases for Q1 of 2024, driving up their respective stock prices and possibly indicating the viability of their heavy investment in artificial intelligence (AI). Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Alphabet, Google’s parent company, netted $23.7B in profit, up 57% from Q1 of last year, which Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said was largely fueled by AI text-to-image model Gemini. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s profits rose 20% from Q1 of 2023, as the company earned $21.9B. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Alphabet’s stock price shot up 10% on Friday in light of the report, prompting the company's first-ever dividend and a $70B buyback. The increase was the company's largest since 2015 and its 15% revenue growth, to $80.5B, was the fastest in two years. CNBC (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Microsoft’s revenue reached $61.9B, up 17%, with its cloud computing product, Azure, growing 31%. Its $13B partnership with OpenAI has allowed it to sell access to AI technology, and Microsoft looks to continue pursuing its AI investments. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also saw notable share price increases, and many other AI-related companies had similar results. However, the same wasn't true for Facebook's parent company Meta, which saw its share price tumble due to heavy AI investments. Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Different approaches to AI investment have spurred varying results, at least in the short-term, as Microsoft and Alphabet have focused on integrating AI while Meta has prioritized aggressive investment into its AI products. Cointelegraph

Narrative A:

• Recent market-shattering financial reports from Microsoft and Google further vindicate their decisions to invest heavily in AI. In just one year, revolutionary technology has fundamentally transformed the technological and financial landscape, and many companies are already seeing the benefits of their investments. Long-term investment in AI will certainly pay dividends for forward-looking companies. AI is the present and the future, and it's time for companies to embrace it before the ship leaves the dock.
  SILICON REPUBLIC

Narrative B:

• There's no denying that Microsoft and Google have reaped rewards from investment in AI. However, there's a major variable to consider before declaring AI investment as the key to prosperity for tech companies — Google and Microsoft don't represent the entire market. It's important to question whether large companies are benefiting from AI, or whether is AI growing because it's being propped up by tech giants. Regardless, it's not reasonable to make a final judgment on AI's position based on the results of a handful of established oligopolies.
  THE INFORMATION

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 50% chance that Microsoft's market cap (in 2021 USD) will be at least $4.33T, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• India on Thursday termed "deeply biased" a recent US government human rights report highlighting "significant" abuses, adding that it attached "no value to it." India Today
• Criticizing the US State Department's "2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India," New Delhi said it reflected "a very poor understanding" of the country. India News
• India's External Affairs Ministry brushed aside allegations of "significant human rights abuses" due to the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in India's Manipur state. Firstpost
• The report, which is released yearly by the US State Department, also mentions searches carried out at the BBC's offices soon after the TV channel showed a documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NDTV.com
• Robert Gilchrist, senior bureau official at the State Department, followed up on the report saying the US had urged India to uphold its human rights commitments. India Today
• In March, New Delhi dismissed US concerns over India's Citizenship Amendment Act, which allegedly targets the Muslim community, as "misplaced" and "unwarranted". Deccan Herald

Pro-establishment narrative:

• India's human rights situation is a matter of deep concern, involving deaths and displacement, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, overcrowded prisons, arbitrary detentions, and delays in legal proceedings. The latest US report also highlights issues like media freedom, internet shutdowns, and government actions against critics. It points to a complex and troubling landscape that warrants attention and action.
  EURASIA REVIEW

Establishment-critical narrative:

• Western criticism of India's democracy, including reports on human rights abuses and labeling India as an autocratising country, is misleading, and damaging to diplomatic relations. While concerns exist about democracy's evolution in India, external rebukes often trigger irritations and unite Indians against external criticisms. The Modi government's actions, including lack of Muslim representation and hate speeches, require internal discussions and improvements rather than external judgment and pressure.
  WASHINGTON POST (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 50% chance that India's score in the Democracy Index will be at least 6.3 in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• The Dow Jones slipped 375.12 points (.98%) to finish at 38,085.80 on Thursday after a troubling report by the Commerce Department showed gross domestic product (GDP) rising at a weaker pace than anticipated. CNBC (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US GDP expanded 1.6% in Q1 — considerably lower than the 2.4% expected by economists — while inflation increased at an annual pace of 3.4%. CNBC (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Thursday's report shows that GDP grew by 4.9% and 3.4% in Q3 and Q4 of 2023 respectively, while the annualized GDP chain price — a proxy for inflation — increased from 1.6% to 3.1%. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Earlier in the day, the Dow dropped by 690 points (1.8%), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.5% and 2.1%, respectively. It is predicted that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates at its next policy meeting. Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Meta's shares fell more than 10% after its disappointing sales forecasts and robust artificial intelligence spending plans raised investor concerns. However, treasury yields have jumped to a yearly high of 4.73%. Investopedia
• Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose at an annualized rate of 3.7%, above the expected 3.4%, while the PCE price index, which includes food and energy prices, went from 1.8% in Q4 to 3.4% in Q1. Investor's Business Daily

Establishment-critical narrative:

• The US economy has been in a bad state for years now, battling persistent inflation as well as a recession. Traditional indicators such as GDP and unemployment rate haven't told the whole story, but Thursday's report paints a scary picture that reflects reality for many Americans. High inflation and slow growth are bad by themselves, but a combination of the two could be catastrophic for an economy hoping to return to its former glory.
  ZEROHEDGE

Pro-establishment narrative:

• The US economy is chugging along just fine despite weaker-than-expected GDP growth, and many indicators show that it's firing on all cylinders. Underlying metrics suggest growth is robust, and the labor market is the strongest it's been in 50 years. Meanwhile, inflation continues to come down, balancing the economic picture. Balancing growth, employment, and inflation is the key to a strong economy, and the US is progressing in all three areas.
  CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 19% chance that the US will enter a recession before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Tech platform Meta's shares dropped nearly 19% Wednesday — wiping out around $200B in market value — after it increased its 2024 cost forecast to $35 -40B because of its ventures into artificial intelligence (AI) and its metaverse. Daily Mail (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• First quarter results for the Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram parent company showed its future spending rising from its earlier $30-37B range. Sky News
• During an update, Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg highlighted a $3B rise in AI spending alone, expressing confidence the company could become the globe's leading AI firm. Australian Financial Review
• While Meta reportedly beat market expectations by earning $4.71 a share on revenue of $36.5B, it ended up disappointing investors — including on its sales outlook. MarketWatch
• Meta has reportedly been enhancing its ad-buying products by integrating AI tools to increase revenue growth. It's also integrating AI into its social media, including chat assistants. BBC News
• Meta's shares have risen around 40% this year, partly due to extensive cost-cutting measures. Meta's ChatGPT rival, Llama, was recently unveiled to select users. Australian Financial Review

Narrative A:

• Overall, Meta stock has surged this year. There may be some volatility caused by Wednesday's update, but that's the cost of doing business. With ad sales expected to continue growing and Zuckerberg still at the helm, Meta has a bright future.
  INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

Narrative B:

• Zuckerberg and Meta's responsibility is to the shareholders, who aren't totally trustful of the near future and investment in AI. The company's lower-than-expected revenue and its announced increased spending on AI have Meta on shaky ground that may require a course correction.
  NEW YORK TIMES (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 20% chance that Meta will report 1B active users by Dec. 31, 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• According to the UN Global Report on Food Crises issued on Wednesday, acute hunger affected 282M people in 59 countries last year, which is 24M more than in 2022. The most severe decline in food insecurity was observed in Gaza and Sudan. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• 2023 marked the sixth year of increasing acute food insecurity, driven by conflict, extreme weather, and economic shocks. The report suggests a "bleak" global outlook for this year. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• The study was prepared by the Food Security Information Network, which includes UN agencies, the EU, governments, and nongovernmental organizations. In the preface, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote, "In a world of plenty, children are starving to death." Dw.Com
• 12 nations experienced deteriorating conditions resulting in the rise of populations suffering from food insecurity. Prolonged food shortages in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen added to the problem. The Daily Star
• The Network released its first report in 2016. Since then, the number of individuals lacking food security has increased from 108M to 282M. RFI
• The report also warned of worsening conditions in Haiti due to agricultural decline and political instability. It also cautioned that El Nino will continue to influence weather patterns in eastern and southern Africa. Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Narrative A:

• Conflict and climate change are currently the leading causes of famine. Ending hostilities is very important so humanitarian aid can be securely delivered to those in need. The world is spending historic amounts of money on weapons and military systems, yet only a fraction of that could be used to end world hunger. Therefore, more financing is required to meet the increasing demand for food aid.
  AL JAZEERA (LR: 2 CP: 1)

Narrative B:

• Nearly 300M people worldwide are starving. The issue is not that we aren't producing enough food — we are. There is enough food to go around, the difficulty lies in availability and/or pricing. The main issue is the high distribution costs resulting from issues like export restrictions, and people in affected areas simply don't make enough money to cover the high cost of food. The problem is political and economic, and we currently lack the resolve to eradicate starvation.
  FORTUNE EUROPE

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 15% chance that there will be fewer than 375M in extreme poverty by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• In a 4-3 decision, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, voted to overturn Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Weinstein was convicted of and sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexual assaults in 2006 and 2013. However, the court ruled his trial wrongly allowed witnesses to make accusations against him that didn't relate to the case. FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
• The court said the "trial court... compounded that error" by allowing a defendant with "no criminal history" to "be cross examined about those allegations as well as numerous allegations of misconduct that portrayed the defendant in a highly prejudicial light." NBC (LR: 2 CP: 4)
• While the trial court at the time said it was looking to see if the other female witnesses' testimonies would help the jurors find "intent," Weinstein's attorneys at the time argued that it would "prejudice" the jury. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• With the now thrown-out conviction, which was made during former Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Cyrus Vance's time in office, current DA Alvin Bragg will have to decide whether or not to retry Weinstein for the same charges. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Weinstein was also convicted of and sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2022. NBC (LR: 2 CP: 4)

Narrative A:

• Under the protection of the US Constitution, every American criminal defendant has the right to face only the specific charges laid against them in a particular trial. It is unfair, therefore, to include unrelated accusations of prior misbehavior. Due to these inadmissible testimonies included in the trial, Weinstein's right to testify under fair questioning was also violated.
  NYCOURTS

Narrative B:

• While the court's majority has laid out some reasonable legal claims, this ruling is a serious setback in the fight to protect women from dangerous sexual predators. Sex crimes are well known to be far more complex than other crimes, and it appears the court doesn't understand the nuanced nature of Harvey Weinstein's trial. This is a sad day for those who Weinstein victimized.
  WWW.AXIOS.COM

• The Associated Press has reported that political and scientific infighting, as well as a pattern of responsibility avoidance, have stalled efforts to trace the origins of COVID in China since at least Jan. 6, 2020. Associated Press (a) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The AP's investigation analyzed undisclosed emails and documents, leaked recordings, and dozens of interviews that suggest that scientists who published papers on the coronavirus ran into conflict with Chinese authorities. Associated Press (b) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Previously, US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra had said that COVID's origins can only be known if the PRC becomes more transparent. This prompted the Chinese Embassy (in the US) to stress cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO). Semafor
• Last year, the Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had urged Beijing to give full access to information on the still-unclear genesis of the coronavirus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Financial Times
• Meanwhile, the US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has subpoenaed Dr. David Morens, a former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, for potential private exchanges about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• While most federal intelligence agencies link COVID's origin to "natural exposure to an infected animal," the FBI and Department of Energy claim that a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the "most likely" cause. Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-establishment narrative:

• Whether SARS-CoV-2 accidentally leaked from the Wuhan lab or evolved naturally from an existing virus and spread from wild animals to humans at a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, there's no reason for China not to cooperate with the international community to understand how the virus came about. This discovery may help prevent pandemics in the future.
  DW.COM

Establishment-critical narrative:

• It is convenient for the West to take a 180-degree turn regarding China and the coronavirus pandemic's origins, from vindication to blame, now that tensions are mounting between Beijing and Washington. Evidence of a lab leak makes it clear that America is as responsible as the PRC for both the virus's creation and the subsequent cover-up of its origins.
  THE GATEWAY PUNDIT

Nerd narrative:

• There's an 8% chance that a majority of US Intelligence Community organizations will support a lab leak hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2 over a natural origin hypothesis by 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• According to a Human Rights Watch report published on Thursday, Burkina Faso's troops have killed 223 civilians in attacks on two villages accused of collaborating with suspected Islamist militants. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• The mass executions, which allegedly included 56 children, occurred in the Nondin and Soro villages in the northern Yatenga province on Feb. 25. Human Rights Watch
• The residents claim the killings were carried out in response to an Islamist militants' attack on a military camp outside the nearby provincial capital of Ouahigouya. However, the country's military junta hasn't commented on the allegations. Sky News
• The rights group contends the alleged massacre is part of the country's counterinsurgency campaign and called for international support to launch an investigation into "possible crimes against humanity." Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Last November, an army attack on another village reportedly killed at least 70 people. The military blamed the residents for colluding with Islamist militants to kill the soldiers. The Hindu
• Since jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group first attacked Burkina Faso nine years ago, over 20K people have been reportedly killed, and the junta has lost about half of the country's territory to suspected insurgents. ABC News

Narrative A:

• This latest massacre proves that Burkina Faso's military junta has lost all respect for protecting civilian well-being. Under the guise of fighting terrorism, the regime repeatedly carries out atrocities against civilians to demonstrate its power and intimidate the people. Meanwhile, violent Islamists are on the rise since the country turned away from the West and embraced Russia. The suffering population deserves the regime to be held accountable for its crimes against humanity.
  FIRSTPOST

Narrative B:

• Interestingly, Burkina Faso only makes the headlines when scores of people are killed in the conflict-ridden country. Western organizations then prefer to blame the government, although it's doing its utmost to protect the population from Islamist terror. It must also be noted that it was the West's military interventions in Libya and Mali that destabilized the entire region. Against all odds, Burkina Faso will continue to fight for the security and freedom of its people.
  WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 40% chance that Burkina Faso will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• A spokesperson for Argentina's Pres. Javier Milei reaffirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that the closure or defunding of public universities has never been on the agenda, stressing that authorities do plan to audit their spending. XINHUA
• This comes as thousands of Argentines rallied on Tuesday to demand increased funding for public universities, amid claims that the institutions could be forced to shut down in the upcoming months otherwise. BBC News
• Estimates of the crowd size at the protest in Argentina's capital city range from 150K to 800K, with local news outlet La Nación claiming that aerial and on-ground images suggest there were 450K people. EL PAÍS English
• This protest — one of the biggest since the libertarian president took office — comes as the government has frozen most of the budget for public universities, effectively cutting spending due to double-digit monthly inflation. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Some 2.2M people, including many from other Latin American countries, are enrolled in Argentina's free-of-charge state-run higher education system, which Milei has claimed indoctrinates students with socialism. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• On Monday, the country registered a fiscal surplus in the first quarter of the year for the first time since 2008, as the Milei administration focuses on eliminating fiscal deficit to end "once and for all" the inflationary crisis. Breitbart (LR: 5 CP: 3)

Narrative A:

• Argentines have been proud of their education system for generations, so it's no surprise that demonstrations for public universities have rocked the country. As the middle class has now set a red line for Milei's radical economic adjustment, he should act on that message sooner rather than later.
  BUENOS AIRES TIMES

Narrative B:

• Milei is taking the tough economic calls necessary in the current climate. On the brink of an economic collapse, Argentina must bring spending under control to restore fiscal responsibility. Whether the middle class likes it or not, sound finances are key to the country's recovery.
  THE NEW YORK SUN

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 14% chance that Argentina will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Former head of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Anthony Fauci is slated to testify again before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on June 3. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• This will be the first time Fauci publicly has testified about the government's response to COVID since he retired almost 1.5 years ago. He will be questioned by some of his most notable critics, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.). Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Fauci did testify in a private hearing in January, during which he stated that the "'6 feet a part' social distancing guidance...'sort of just appeared,'" according to committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio). FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
• Fauci is expected to answer similar questions surrounding social distancing, as well as the millions of dollars in NIAID grants given to EcoHealth Alliance to study the coronavirus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
• Wenstrup also said the committee will hold a separate hearing with EcoHealth Alliance Pres. Peter Daszak on May 1 to discuss the origins of COVID. FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
• Committee ranking member Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) has pushed back against his GOP colleagues, arguing that Fauci is a "dedicated public servant who stepped up" during the pandemic. He also claimed the Republicans' investigation was a wasteful "fishing expedition." Georgetown University

Narrative A:

• Anthon Fauci has prevented thousands of doctors from speaking the truth during the pandemic. The policies he pushed for that we now know were wrong include locking down schools, wearing masks, and demonizing potentially effective treatments. If the government believed in justice, it would investigate him for his deadly failures.
  NEW YORK POST (LR: 5 CP: 5)

Narrative B:

• Fauci was a hero throughout his nearly four decades at the helm of the NIAID. After beginning his career with groundbreaking work during the HIV/AIDS pandemic — which saved an estimated 25M lives globally — Fauci ended his tenure by orchestrating America's historic response to COVID. Through his push for rapid data collection and vaccine research, he guided the country through one of its darkest periods.
  GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 28% chance of recurring virus-driven lockdowns during the period 2030-2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• 18 people, including Rudy Giuliani, and former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday were indicted by an Arizona grand jury for their roles in an alleged attempt to overturn Pres. Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Among those in the indictment, which was released Wednesday, were Kelli Ward, who was state GOP chair up until last year, and state Sen. Anthony Kern, who's currently running for US Congress from the state. Trump wasn't charged but was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Eleven of the defendants, who are accused of taking part in the so-called "fake electors" scheme, face charges over signing documents claiming to be legitimate electors for Trump despite Biden's victory in the state, in addition to other charges. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Arizona Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes said the results of her 13-month investigation show she "will not allow American democracy to be undermined." CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Arizona is one of several states with similar cases, including Michigan and Georgia. In addition, Trump is in the midst of a trial over charges he falsified business documents in New York, and the US Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments over his claims of presidential immunity. Independent (LR: 2 CP: 3)

Anti-Trump narrative:

• The "fake electors" scheme is one of the most shocking political scandals of the millennium, and it's about time those who participated are having to face the music. In addition to Arizona and other states that have already indicted these would-be usurpers of democracy, there are several investigations ongoing in other states. These cases are important for preventing a similar scheme in the future.
  MSNBC (LR: 1 CP: 5)

Pro-Trump narrative:

• These defendants were earnestly exercising their right to object to an election result they believed was rigged and should not face criminal charges. But the Democrats are again weaponizing the legal system to target Trump and his allies just after a poll showing the former president soundly beating Biden in the battleground states. This witch hunt knows no bounds.
  BREITBART (LR: 5 CP: 3)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 33% chance that Trump will be convicted of at least one count in his federal court cases before the end of 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Jeffrey Donaldson appeared in court on Wednesday, for the first time since his arrest in March over accusations of rape and sexual assault. Bloomberg
• According to prosecutors, the former leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is facing 11 sex offense charges, including one count of rape. MSN
• The allegations span from 1985 to 2006 and involve two alleged victims. Donaldson appeared in court with his wife Eleanor Donaldson, who has been charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault, and two counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16. IrishCentral.com
• Neither Donaldson nor his wife entered pleas on Wednesday, and spoke only to confirm their names and affirm that they understood the charges. They were released on bail, with the court adjourned until May 22. Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Donaldson was arrested for "non-recent sexual offenses" on March 28, 2024. The DUP confirmed the following day that Donaldson had stepped down as leader and that he had been suspended from the party. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Donaldson was Northern Ireland's longest-serving parliamentary lawmaker — having first been elected in 1997 — and played a significant role brokering a deal with the British government over post-Brexit trade rules. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Narrative A:

• Donaldson has vigorously denied the allegations against him. The claims are awful, but he and his wife have not yet been convicted of the crimes they are accused of. Media outlets should avoid speculating on this case, as they could risk interfering with the trial and being in contempt of the court.
  BELFASTTELEGRAPH.CO.UK

Narrative B:

• The serious allegations of rape and sexual assault against Donaldson are not just upsetting in themselves, but they have also destabilized the politics of Northern Ireland. His arrest and subsequent charges have led to a leadership change within the DUP, highlighting the instability of the party. With the government in Northern Ireland just recently resuming, this abrupt change may cause unease amongst DUP supporters, which will make it difficult for the party to address urgent issues.
  ECONOMIST (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 50% chance that the DUP will win at least 5 seats in the next UK general election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)

• Earlier this month, Ukraine secretly received US-made, long-range missile systems that are capable of striking targets as far as 186 miles (300 km) away, American officials confirmed on Wednesday. BBC News
• The weapons, known as the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, have already been used in at least two attacks, US officials said — including the bombing of a Russian airfield in Crimea last week. Associated Press (a) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Ukraine had started receiving a more limited version of ATACMS as early as October 2023. However, those weapons — while capable of firing cluster munitions each carrying 950 bomblets — only have a 100-mile (160 km) range. IISS
• On Wednesday, US Dept. of State spokesman Vedant Patel made the announcement, stating, "I can confirm that the US provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS at the president's direct direction." The US "did not announce this at the onset in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request," he added. bbc.com
• The announcement came shortly after US Pres. Joe Biden signed into law a $95B military spending bill that will send $61B of weaponry to Ukraine, with the rest going to Israel, Taiwan, and other regions. Biden also authorized the immediate release of $1B in military aid to Ukraine. Associated Press (b) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, confirmed the latest package will also include long-range ATACMS. "We've already sent some, we will send more now that we have additional authority and money," he said. Associated Press (a) (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-establishment narrative:

• Ukraine has long sought after long-range ATACMS. Meanwhile, White House and military planners have carefully considered the risks associated with providing the weapon and they've decided this is the right time. If used properly, it can knock out Russian troops and logistics further back from the frontlines and turn around Ukraine's fortunes in the war.
  ASSOCIATED PRESS (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Russia narrative:

• Ukraine has already used more limited weapons to launch a series of terror attacks on Russian territory. Now that the US has provided Kyiv with long-range ATACMS, Russia can only expect these terror attacks to continue and escalate. Now, more Russian cities are in danger and Crimea is in range. Russia will have no choice but to respond, and it will have no impact on the mess that the US left Ukraine in.
  TASS

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 28% chance that there will be a large-scale armed conflict in Russia before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)