#1:Sri Lanka:
Some calm was restored in Sri Lanka’s capital after protesters had stormed the residence of the president and prime minister, and other government buildings. The president resigned and left the country, and the prime minister, Mr. Wickremesinghe, was sworn in on Friday as the interim president. The country’s Parliament will elect a successor to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa soon.
People celebrated in the streets with the hope that the change in leadership will lead to solutions for the devastating economy that many believe were caused by corruption and mismanagement. People in the 22 million population nation are suffering with the inability to pay for food, fertilizer, medicine and fuel.
Part of Wickremesinghe’s plan is to curb “insurgency” and unrest.
#2: Brittney Griner:
Caught in Russia in February in possession of vape canisters and cannabis oil in her luggage, Brittney Griner, an American two-time Olympic gold medalist, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. Although in court, Griner pleaded guilty but said it was without criminal intent to smuggle drugs, at her drug possession trial on Friday her lawyer submitted a doctor’s letter recommending she use medical cannabis to treat pain.
#3: Steve Bannon:
The criminal contempt trial of Steven Bannon may be scheduled as early as next week. US District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a request by Bannon’s lawyers to delay the trial, which is scheduled to start Monday with jury selection. The lawyers believe the media coverage caused by the January 6 Committee Hearings will have a negative effect on jurors.
Bannon is being charged for defying a subpoena from the January 6 Committee, which requested his testimony and records. He was indicted in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress.
#4: Biden Meets Israeli Prime Minister:
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid met on Thursday during Biden’s four-day visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia, and agreed that they would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. They disagree, however, on how to achieve that.
Biden believes that Iran is willing to negotiate. Israel wants to take a tougher stand.
“I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome,” Biden said. He stressed the importance of improving ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors, on his first trip to the Middle East since becoming president.
#5: Ukraine:
Russian missiles stuck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 23 residents and wounding several others, far from the front lines of the battles. The city is 167 miles southwest of Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials said Ukraine’s president continues to accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilians. Cruise missiles fired from a Black Sea Russian ship damaged offices, stores and residential buildings in the city. Ukrainian air defenses were successful in bringing down two of the four missiles.
