⏳ Thursday Fix: Double Fault?
Morning all,
There's a lot going on - Wimbledon has banned Russian players, A$AP Rocky has been arrested, a man has died following an assault in Sligo, and more than five million people have now fled Ukraine.
Until tomorrow,
Your Fixers
GOOD LISTENER?
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WEDNESDAY CATCH UP
Rapper A$AP Rocky was arrested at Los Angeles Airport on Wednesday "in connection to a November 2021 shooting" where the victim suffered a "minor injury".
He has since been released on a $550,000 bond, according to CNN. Based on multiple reports, it does not appear as if the media were aware of the shooting until after the arrest.
Not familiar with the rapper? He is currently expecting a child with his partner Rihanna. It is understood he was returning to LA following a visit to Barbados, the Caribbean island Rihanna is from.
An advert for a burger van in Yorkshire featuring photos of Madeleine McCann has been banned for being offensive.
The advert - published by the Otley Burger Company to coincide with Mother's Day - featured a photo of Madeleine McCann, who went missing in 2007, and her mother Kate. It read, “with burgers this good, you'll leave your kids at home. What's the worst that could happen?".
Reacting to the ban, the takeaway said the ad has had been removed and would not appear again.
A 49-year-old man pleaded guilty to posting a grossly offensive video of a model of Grenfell Tower burning on a bonfire.
Paul Bussetti, from South London, was found not guilty of the same charge in 2019 - but the Crown Prosecution Service appealed the verdict. On Wednesday, he was given a ten-week suspended sentence.
Context: In 2017, Grenfell Tower, a high-rise residential tower block in West London, caught fire - killing 72 people. In the video, filmed by Bussetti, references to the Grenfell disaster could be heard - including “who's jumping?" and "don't worry, stay in your flats".
A victim impact statement on behalf of the Grenfell victims said "the overall reaction of the Grenfell community was one of shock, horror and outrage”.
UKRAINE - WHAT'S THE LATEST?
- More than five million people have now fled Ukraine since the beginning of the war less than two months ago.
- More than 50% of accommodation pledges in Ireland for Ukrainians refugees have "failed to materialise", according to The Irish Times. The article went on to say between 29,000 and 33,000 people "could be seeking shelter" by the end of May as a result.
- In Germany, one of the country's top generals has said they cannot give more weapons to Ukraine as it would make them vulnerable to attack and unable to meet NATO commitments.
- According to Al Jazeera, the US is "set to announce another arms package for Ukraine".
ACE MOVE OR DOUBLE FAULT?
Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from participating in this year’s tennis championship, because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
"We recognise that this is hard on the individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime." - Chairman Ian Hewitt
The Guardian said the decision came after "nearly two months of deliberations". The ruling means US Open champion Daniil Medvedev will not be able to participate, as well as world #8 Andrey Rublev - who famously wrote “no war please” on a TV camera in March.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticised the ban, saying it was "unacceptable" to make the players "hostages of certain political prejudice".
Worth noting: The ATP - Association of Tennis Professionals - also criticised the decision, saying it was "unfair" and "has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game".
World number one Novak Djokovic slammed the ruling, saying it was "crazy".
"I will always condemn war, I will never support war being myself a child of war, I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history. However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy. When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good." - Novak Djokovic
#HaveYourSay: We asked you guys for your thoughts on our Instagram account. At the moment;
- 73% are in favour of Wimbledon's ruling
- 69% believe attendance at the championship should be subject to the players denouncing the war
- 60% think it is right to ban citizens because of the actions of their country's government
KEEPING AN EYE...
In Irish news, a man died early this morning following an assault in Sligo on Tuesday.
According to The Irish Times, the man was in his late thirties, and was hospitalised "for an apparent head injury". RTÉ News said no arrests have been made at this point.
MOST READ
- BBC News: Tory donor's 'link' to sanctioned oligarch's business
- The Guardian: US, UK and Canada walk out of G20 meeting over war in Ukraine
- The Financial Times: Netflix shares fall almost 40% after subscribers warning
- Al Jazeera: Biden to announce another sizeable weapons package for Ukraine
- The Irish Times: Legal challenge to Born na Móna use of turf stockpiles
WORTH A WATCH
If you watch one thing today, let it be this fascinating look at life for a family who live in the coldest village on earth - Yakutia, in eastern Russia.
It makes for such an interesting look at what life is like in a place where temperatures can reach as low as -71C, and has been viewed more than 15 million times in a month.
TODAY MARKS...
The Queen's 96th birthday.
Buckingham Palace released the photo below - which was taken last month on the grounds of Windsor Castle - to mark the occasion. According to The Guardian, the monarch will spend the day at the Sandringham Estate.
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ON A LIGHTER NOTE...
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