Hunter Biden found guilty on weapons charges
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, was found guilty of three felony counts of lying on a federal firearms application. The verdict is a personal blow for President Biden as he enters the final months of his re-election campaign.
The maximum possible sentence could be up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. But sentencing guidelines call for a fraction of that penalty, and first-time offenders who did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime generally receive no prison time. No sentencing date was set. Here is some background on the charges.
Biden’s gun case is widely considered the less serious of the two federal indictments brought against him last year. He still faces serious tax charges stemming from his years of excessive crack cocaine use, alcohol and excessive spending.
Context: The trial brought public Biden’s crack addiction, reckless behavior and ruinous spending, recounted by three former romantic partners, including his brother’s widow, Beau Biden.
The president’s reaction: Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were proud to see Hunter Biden be “so strong and resilient in the recovery.” The president has said that he will not grant clemency to his son.
Hamas and Israel face pressure to agree to ceasefire agreement
A day after the U.N. Security Council endorsed a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza, it was unclear whether Israel and Hamas would formally accept it. This is how it would work.
An Israeli official said the proposal “allows Israel to achieve” its war goals, including destroying Hamas’ capabilities and releasing all hostages in Gaza, but stopped short of saying 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 “treated positively” the proposal. Yesterday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the fate of the deal depended on Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, who has not said whether he supports it.
Hostage rescue: The Israeli military said that when a truck carrying some of the hostages broke down and was surrounded by militants, Israel ordered an airstrike that killed many Palestinians. Read the full story of the attack.
Rafa: The Israeli army said four of its soldiers were killed and several more wounded after militants blew up a building where troops were operating.
Nigeria’s growing economic crisis
Millions of people in Nigeria are struggling to buy food, fuel and medicine as the country faces its worst economic crisis in a generation. It’s a steep drop: Two years ago, Nigeria was Africa’s largest economy and this year it will fall to fourth place.
The crisis is believed to have its roots in the elimination of some fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the currency, two changes established by a president elected 15 months ago. Punishing inflation means poverty rates are expected to rise even further.
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Tenjen Lama Sherpa, one of the most famous mountain guides of his generation in Nepal, died in an avalanche last year while trying to help an American climber set a record. An older brother also died last year, on a rescue expedition to Mount Everest.
His last brother wants to quit mountaineering. But he will return this season, to earn a living and try to recover Lama’s body.
Viewing the Russian invasion through a colonization lens
Young Ukrainians are trying to rebuild their identity free of Russian influence. Often, that means reexamining Russia’s history in Ukraine and highlighting its colonial imprint.
Mariam Naiem, a researcher and podcaster, has become a leading voice in those efforts. Calling Russia a colonial empire defies decades of scholarship, but Naiem and others point to Russia’s long efforts to impose its language on Ukraine, occupy its territory, and rewrite its history.
He said the war was necessary for Ukrainians to begin “decolonizing,” pointing to those who switched from speaking Russian to speaking Ukrainian. “This is exactly a decolonial act,” she said.