Thursday, May 19 top stories

It is Thursday, May 19. Here are today’s top stories.

U.S. case of monkeypox in Massachusetts

There are news reports about a viral illness called monkeypox. On Wednesday health authorities in Massachusetts confirmed that a man was infected with monkeypox, which is the first case in the U.S. this year. There have been over 12 cases confirmed in the U.K. and more cases in other European countries.

The Washington Post explained that monkeypox can be passed to animals and humans and is usually found in Central and West Africa.

The virus was first identified in 1958 when it spread among monkeys kept for research. The virus is most commonly found in rodents.

An infection from monkeypox lasts two to four weeks and causes flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and bumps filled with fluid to spread across the skin. Some strains of the virus can kill about one out of ten people, but other strains are less deadly with about 1 out of 100 people dying.

The virus spreads through contact with animals, infected people, or materials used by infected people. Health officials said a number of recent cases involve men who have sex with other men.

The Massachusetts man had recently traveled to Canada. There are 13 suspected cases currently being investigated in Quebec, Canada.

Health authorities around the world are working on getting more information on how the monkeypox cases have been spreading. The smallpox vaccine may have some effect in preventing infection.

U.S. reopens embassy in Kyiv; Ukraine updates

The U.S. has reopened its embassy in Kyiv. It was closed three months ago shortly before the Russian invasion. The American flag was raised at the embassy and American diplomats are back in the building.

The U.S. Senate today approved a $40 billion package to send emergency aid to Ukraine.

The battle at the Azovstal steel factory in southeast Ukraine is drawing down. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered to Russia and are now prisoners of war. The International Committee of the Red Cross said they have registered hundreds of the POWs. The soldiers may be swapped with Russian POWs or they may face Russian courts. There are still Ukrainian soldiers in the steel plant and some have vowed they would continue fighting.

Today the leaders of Sweden and Finland met with President Biden at the White House after they submitted their NATO membership applications. Biden said he supports their entry in the military alliance. But there may be a barrier to Sweden and Finland’s entry because Turkey and its president have accused the countries of harboring members of a separatist militant group called Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK). Biden said he believes the issues will be resolved. NATO requires all of its member states to approve any new members, so it’s now being discussed.

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Covid-19 cases rising in almost all states

Axios reported that there is a new Covid-19 infection wave across the U.S. with a 53% jump in cases. This is happening in a time where many Americans believe the pandemic is over.

Most of the cases are in the northeast. The U.S. is currently averaging about 100,000 new cases a day and 300 deaths from the coronavirus a day. The U.S. coronavirus death toll reached the 1 million mark this week.

The Biden administration urged Americans who live in communities with high rates of Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations to voluntarily wear masks indoors and take other steps to protect themselves.

Buffalo supermarket shooter indicted on murder

Buffalo supermarket shooting suspect Payton Gendron appeared in court today after he was indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge that covers all 10 deaths.

A person in the courtroom shouted, “Payton, you’re a coward!”

Gendron pleaded not guilty, is being held without bail, and faces life in prison if convicted.

Law enforcement are investigating hate crime and terrorism charges and may add it on top of his murder charge.

Gendron posted on several social media pages that he planned the shooting after becoming radicalized by white supremacist ideology he read online. He wrote that he decided to target a Buffalo zip code that was 200 miles away from his home because it had a predominately African-American community. All of the 10 victims were Black.

New York Gov. Hochul said she has requested the state attorney general to investigate the social media platforms that Gendron used.

Ford recalling SUVs due to engine fire risk

Ford Motor Co. said owners of 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigators should park their vehicles outside due to a risk of an engine fire, even if the engine is off. It is not known what is causing the fires. Most fires happened in rental vehicles. Ford has recalled 39,000 of those types of SUVS so they can be repaired.

Ford is also recalling 310,000 heavy-duty trucks because the airbag may not deploy in a crash. The trucks are 2016 F-250, 350, 450, and 550 trucks.

That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/18/politics/us-embassy-kyiv-reopens/index.html

https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1526986866184138753/photo/1

https://twitter.com/i/events/1483255084750282753

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/18/ukraine-mariupol-azovstal-soldiers-russia

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-19-22/index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/18/monkeypox-faq/

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61506562

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/monkeypox-canada-quebec-europe-us-outbreak-1.6458523

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/05/18/927043767/rare-monkeypox-outbreak-in-u-k-and-europe-what-is-it-and-should-we-worry

https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/covid-cases-rise-in-almost-every-state