Russian forces have intensified attacks on the Donbas region this week, with a particular focus on the city of Severodonetsk. Meanwhile, Russia claimed control of Mariupol after more than 2k Ukrainian soldiers holed up in the Azovstal steelworks plant had reportedly surrendered by Friday.Elsewhere, Ukraine continued to consolidate its defense of Kharkiv,while Russian missile attacks continued, reportedly destroying a military facility in Yavoriv and killing seven and injuring six in Donetsk on Tuesday. On Friday, seven people were reportedly injured in Lozova after a cultural center was struck.On Wednesday, the first war crimes trial of a Russian soldier commenced, with Vadim Shishimarin pleading guilty to killing a 62-year-old man.Elsewhere, European ministers pushed Hungary to support an oil embargo on Russia, and the Kremlin cut off natural gas to Finland.Finally, G7 countries met in Germany this week to discuss growing concerns of a food crisis and additional aid to Ukraine, as the US approved $40B in military and humanitarian aid.

Scott Morrison lost Australia's election, the Iran-backed Shi'a militant group, Hezbollah, lost its majority in Lebanon's elections,Somalia's former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to power, andSri Lanka's parliament reconvened as the new PM warned of hardship.In other news,Biden arrived in South Korea for his first presidential visit to Asia,Russia announced plans to build new military bases after Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO,Palestinians marked their 74th "Nakba Day,"and Yemen's Sanaa airport reopened to commercial flights.Meanwhile,the US eased restrictions on Cuba, approved the redeployment of up to 500 troops to Somalia, and conducted a successful hypersonic weapon test.In the UK,the Met police closed their investigation into "Partygate,"the British government announced plans to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol,an MP arrested on suspicion of rape was released on bail, anda statue of the late PM Margaret Thatcher was egged within hours of its unveiling.In other news,ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder left the board of a Russian oil company,a court considered whether the US can seize a Russian superyacht in Fiji, andMcDonald's is looking to exit Russia.

The US election primaries yielded mixed results for candidates endorsed by Trump,Madison Cawthorn was defeated in North Carolina,Gov. Little held off seven challengers in Idaho,John Fetterman won the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, despite having suffered a stroke days before, andElon Musk vowed to vote Republican in future elections.Meanwhile,the Jan. 6 Committee pressed Georgia GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk on Capitol tours, andRep. Cheney accused the House GOP of enabling white supremacy.In other news,Biden invoked the Defense Production Act amid baby formula shortages, asthe FDA reached an agreement with Abbott to reopen its Michigan plant,the DHS reportedly paused its Disinformation Governance Board,and a federal judge a blocked the lifting of Title 42.

The Archbishop of San Francisco banned Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion, a federal judge blocked part of an Alabama transgender youth bill,Florida Gov. DeSantis signed a bill banning protests outside of private residences,Nebraska Gov. Ricketts announced plans to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, andthe Oklahoma House passed a bill to ban nearly all abortions.Meanwhile, Starbucks announced that they will cover travel expenses for workers seeking abortions,and the NY State Division of Human Rights accused Amazon of discrimination.

The FBI opened a hate crime probe into a shooting at a Dallas hair salon,a Buffalo shooting suspect was indicted by a Grand Jury,a 911 dispatcher was accused of hanging up on a caller, andthe House passed a Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act.Meanwhile,former Minneapolis cop Thomas Lane pleaded guilty in a trial related to George Floyd's murder,the trial of Clinton's lawyer accused of lying to the FBI commenced, andone American and four Chinese officials were charged with spying.In other news, SpaceX reportedly paid $250K to settle a harassment claim against Musk, anda massive drug-smuggling tunnel was found linking Tijuana and San Diego.

UK inflation hit a 40-year high,gas prices averaged over $4 a gallon in every US state for the first time,Saudi oil giant Aramco's Q1 profits soared 80%, andcrypto markets are on edge after recent price collapses.

North Korea's suspected COVID outbreak surged to more than 2M infections,the CDC signed off on approval for kids 5-11 to receive COVID boosters,and an unusual monkeypox outbreak spread around the globe.

US soccer teams reached equal pay agreements,MLB suspended Matt Harvey for 60 games,and a Russian gymnast received a one-year ban for wearing a "Z" war symbol.

Congress held its first UFO hearing in fifty years, while Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station for the first time..