Hunter Biden was convicted on gun charges
The president’s son, Hunter Biden, was convicted of three felony counts of lying on a federal firearms application, a major personal blow to the president as he enters the final stages of his re-election campaign.
He faces up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. But the sentencing guidelines specify only a fraction of that punishment, and first-time offenders who don’t commit violent crimes with weapons typically don’t receive any prison time. A sentencing date has yet to be set. Here’s some background on the charges:
Biden’s gun case is widely viewed as the least severe of two federal charges filed against him last year. He still faces heavy tax charges stemming from years of drug, alcohol and spending habits.
context: The trial laid bare Biden’s crack cocaine addiction, reckless behavior and destructive spending, and three former girlfriends, including the widow of his brother Beau Biden, testified against him.
Presidential response: Biden said he and First Lady Jill Biden were proud to see Hunter Biden “so strong and resilient in his recovery.” The president has said he does not intend to grant his son a pardon.
Hamas and Israel face pressure to accept ceasefire deal
The day after the UN Security Council approved a US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan, it remained unclear whether Israel and Hamas would formally accept it. Here’s how it would work:
Israeli officials said the proposal would “achieve” Israel’s war objectives, including destroying Hamas’ power and freeing all hostages in Gaza, but declined to say whether Israel would accept the deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly refused to take a firm stance on the plan.
A senior Hamas official said the group had “responded positively” to the proposal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that the fate of the deal rested with Hamas’ supreme leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, who has not said whether he would support the deal.
Hostage Rescue: The Israeli army said a truck carrying some of the hostages broke down and became surrounded by militants, leading Israel to order airstrikes that killed a number of Palestinians. Full details of the attack can be found here.
Rapha: The Israeli army said militants blew up the building where the army was operating, killing four soldiers and wounding several more.
Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis
Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with millions struggling to buy food, fuel and medicine. The situation is drastic: Two years ago, Nigeria was Africa’s largest economy, but this year it is expected to fall to fourth place.
The crisis is believed to be rooted in the partial removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the currency – two reforms implemented by a president elected 15 months ago. Severely punishing inflation means poverty rates are expected to rise further.
Other top news stories
Tenjen Lama Sherpa, one of Nepal’s best-known mountain guides of his generation, was killed in an avalanche last year while trying to help an American climber set a record, and his brother died last year during a rescue expedition on Mount Everest.
The youngest brother wants to give up climbing, but he plans to return this season to earn a living and to retrieve the llama’s body.
Viewing Russian aggression from a colonial perspective
Young Ukrainians are trying to rebuild their identity free from Russian influence, which often means reexamining Russia’s history in Ukraine and highlighting its colonial legacy.
Mariam Nayem, a researcher and podcaster, has emerged as a leading voice in this effort. Calling Russia a colonial empire challenges the boundaries of decades of research, but Nayem and others point out that Russia has long tried to impose its language on Ukraine, occupy territory and rewrite history.
She said it took the war for Ukrainians to start “decolonizing” themselves, pointing to people switching from Russian to Ukrainian. “This is truly an act of decolonization,” she said.
