May 11, 2022

*) Ukrainians make gains in east Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian troops are being pushed away from Ukraine's second city Kharkiv. In his nightly address, Zelensky said "the occupiers are gradually being pushed away" from the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian authorities in the region said four villages near Kharkiv were cleared from Russian troops. "Fierce battles" were ongoing in the region, and that the city itself was under heavy fire, they added. *) US lawmakers approve $40B military, economic aid for Ukraine US lawmakers have voted to send a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine. The defence, humanitarian and economic funding passed the House of Representatives by 368 votes to 57. It will likely pass the Senate by the end of the week or next week. All the dissenting votes came from the Republican ranks. *) Israeli troops shoot dead Al Jazeera journalist in occupied West Bank Israeli forces have shot dead an Al Jazeera reporter in the occupied West Bank. Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while reporting on a raid in the city of Jenin, Palestinian officials said. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a second reporter, Ali Samodi, working for the Jerusalem-based Al Quds newspaper had been wounded. Israeli army confirmed that it had conducted an operation in Jenin refugee camp, saying that reporters were hit “possibly by shoots fired by Palestinian gunmen." The occupied West Bank city of Jenin has seen intensified army raids in recent weeks as violence in the region has surged. *) UN urges restraint, calls for dialogue to quell deadly Sri Lanka unrest The UN has condemned the spiralling violence in Sri Lanka, calling on authorities to prevent further unrest and pursue “meaningful dialogue.” “I am deeply troubled by the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka after supporters of the prime minister attacked peaceful protesters in Colombo” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said. Eight people, including a parliamentarian, have been killed and over 250