Friday morning news - April 29, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kristen Flavin. 

UN chief visit Ukraine amid increased shelling in the Donbas » U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres toured parts of war-torn Ukraine on Thursday.

GUTERRES: Ukraine is an epicenter of unbearable heartache and pain. I witnessed that very vividly today around Kyiv. The senseless loss of life, the massive destruction, the unacceptable violations of human rights and the laws of war.

Before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Guterres toured areas outside the Ukrainian capital that have suffered damage during the Russian offensive.

Guterres said the UN position remains clear: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of its territorial integrity and the UN charter. He said the UN would continue to look for ways to reduce suffering and find a path to peace.

GUTERRES: I want Ukrainian people to know that the world sees you, hears you and is in awe of your resilience and resolve. I also know that words of solidarity are not enough. I am here to zero in on needs on the ground and scale up operations.

Shortly after Guterres and Zelenskyy held a joint press conference in Kyiv, two explosions rocked the city and sparked fires in at least two high-rise buildings. Kyiv has largely escaped heavy shelling as Russia moves its focus to the south and east.

Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region reported increased Russian bombardment on Thursday. Analysts say Vladimir Putin may be pushing for a major battlefield victory ahead of a Russian holiday on May 9th. Shelling was especially intense near Kharkiv. Capturing the city is seen as a key to Russia’s offense in the Donbas.

Biden asks for additional aid and sanctions » Meanwhile in Washington, President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for an additional $33 billion dollars to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion.

BIDEN: We need to contribute arms, funding, ammunition, and the economic support to make their courage and sacrifice have purpose, so they can continue this fight and do what they’re doing.

The proposal includes more than $20 billion in military assistance for Ukraine and neighboring countries, and $8.5 billion in economic aid. It also includes $3 billion for food and humanitarian programs around the world.

BIDEN: This funding’s going to help ease rising food prices at home as well, and abroad, caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. It’s going to help support American farmers produce more crops, like wheat and oil seed, which is good for rural America, good for the American consumer, and good for the world.

If approved by Congress, the new aid package would more than triple the initial U.S. investment in the conflict.

Biden also asked Congress for new powers to seize and repurpose assets like homes and luxury yachts owned by Russian oligarchs. Proceeds from the sale of those assets could help offset some U.S. aid costs.

In another strike at Putin’s supporters, Biden asked lawmakers to expand criminal penalties for activities related to evading sanctions.

Moderna asks FDA to approve vaccine for young children » Drugmaker Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for young children. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has that story.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: On Thursday, Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve a low-dose, two shot course of the vaccine for babies and children up to age 6.

Although trials showed the Moderna shot does offer some protection, it’s not as high as health experts would like. Moderna says two doses were 40 to 50 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in trial participants.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, three-quarters of American children have had COVID-19 already. Since the start of the pandemic, 475 children under the age of 5 have died after catching the virus.

Health officials say young children need a vaccine, but it’s not clear how many parents agree. Less than one-third of children ages 5 to 11 have had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine since it became available late last year. Nearly 60 percent of children ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Economy shrinks in first quarter GDP report » The U.S. economy shrank in the first three months of the year, according to a government report released Thursday. It was the first quarterly decline in gross domestic product since the initial pandemic crash in 2020.

Soaring imports and fewer exports drove the 1.4 percent decline in gross domestic product. Businesses also spent less restocking their shelves than they did at the end of 2021.

Speaking at a Brookings Institution conference, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the economic turbulence did not come as a surprise.

YELLEN: Most recently the global pandemic and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscore the likelihood of large economic shocks and disruptions that must be addressed. Downturns are likely to continue to challenge the economy.

But analysts say the drop in GDP does not signal a looming recession. Americans continue to spend at high rates, thanks in part to rising wages. And higher profits have encouraged an increase in business investment.

The job market continues to remain strong, with the unemployment rate near a 50-year low of 3.6 percent. But inflation remains a significant concern. Last month, prices jumped 8.5 percent from a year earlier, the fastest such rise in four decades.

I’m Kristen Flavin. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.

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