Daily Briefing: 'Exceptional' air attack on Kyiv
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No casualties were reported after Ukrainian air defenses staved off an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday. Also in the news: President Joe Biden will reconvene debt ceiling talks with Republican lawmakers and the curtain raises on the Cannes Film Festival amid strikes by Hollywood writers.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Watch this special moment one graduate shared with her immigrant parents.
Now, here we go with Tuesday's news.
Russia launches 'exceptional' air attack in Kyiv
Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as Russia attacked early Tuesday in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses, but Ukraine's forces thwarted the intense raid, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital.
Russia's attack was “exceptional in its density" the head of the Kyiv military administration said.
This is the eighth time this month that Russian air raids have targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine’s key wartime allies.
The attack came as leaders from across Europe are heading to Iceland Tuesday for a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe that will once more step up support for member state Ukraine.
More on Russia: A Justice Department special counsel sharply criticized the department and FBI for the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
New Mexico gunman who killed 3 randomly shot at cars and houses
An 18-year-old gunman killed three people and injured six others, including two police officers, in a rampage through a northwestern New Mexico community. In a video released late Monday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the gunman fired three weapons, including an AR-style rifle, shooting randomly at cars and houses. The shooting was "honestly one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community," Hebbe said. Read more
More news to know now
ChatGPT's CEO will appear at a Congressional hearing Tuesday to answer questions about AI.
A New Zealand hostel fire killed at least six people.
Two aides to Rep. Connolly were attacked with a baseball bat in his Virginia office.
A 78-year-old American citizen was sentenced to life in prison in China on spying charges.
On today's 5 Things podcast, the latest on debt ceiling talks. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Yellen's warning about debt ceiling deadline: 'Severe hardship to American families'
President Joe Biden is leaving the door open to stricter work requirements for federal aid including food stamps to get the support of Republicans in Congress to raise the debt ceiling as the president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy prepare to reconvene Tuesday at the White House. The meeting comes after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen issued another warning Monday in a letter to lawmakers that "it would cause severe hardship to American families" if Congress has not raised or suspended the debt limit by early next month, potentially defaulting as soon as June 1. Read more
Biden tapped a Harvard cancer surgeon to lead the National Institutes of Health.
Federal prosecutors move to dismiss charges against ex-Florida mayor Andrew Gillum
Federal prosecutors in the Andrew Gillum corruption case are moving to dismiss charges against the former Florida mayor and his political mentor. The charges against Gillum, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and former Tallahassee mayor, and his longtime advisor, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, involved the misuse of campaign funds. And after five days of deliberations earlier this month, jurors found Gillum not guilty of lying to the FBI about gifts he had received from undercover FBI agents in New York. Before the move is official, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor must issue an order completely dismissing the case. Read more
Are truckers boycotting Florida over DeSantis' new immigration law?
DeSantis signed a bill banning funding for diversity programs at Florida public colleges.
Rudy Giuliani has been sued for alleged sexual harassment.
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76th Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Johnny Depp film center stage
The Cannes red carpet springs to life again Tuesday as the 76th Cannes Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama “Jeanne du Barry,” with Johnny Depp. This year’s Cannes is unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system, meanwhile, a strike by screenwriters in ongoing in Hollywood. Read more
Vice Media has filed for bankruptcy: Three lenders are bidding for majority of the company.
Quick hits
A social media mogul was charged with bilking $2 million from lonely Americans in a ''romance scheme.''
A bill banning weight discrimination passed in New York City council.
Martha Stewart is stunning on Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit cover at 81.
''Sesame Street'' debuted the first Filipino American Muppet.
Photo of the day: Shohei Ohtani's historic night
In Monday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels became the first starting pitcher to reach base five times as a pitcher – he singled twice, walked, tripled and homered - since the New York Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre against the Washington Senators on Sept. 26, 1964. Read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, New Mexico shooting, ChatGPT, debt ceiling, Cannes: Daily Briefing
