Thursday morning news - May 19, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Russian soldier pleads guilty to war crime » A 21-year-old Russian soldier pleaded guilty to war crimes on Wednesday for gunning down an unarmed civilian. He is the first Russian soldier to do so.

Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin could get life in prison for shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian man in the head through an open car window. It happened in the northeastern Sumy region on Feb. 28th, just four days into the invasion.

Ukrainian prosecutors say they’re readying war crimes cases against 41 Russian soldiers. The offenses include bombing civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, rape, and looting.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday said Russia’s invasion has upended the global order.

HARRIS: Fundamental principles are under threat, principles that are well grounded in the belief that sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations must be respected.

Sweden, Finland leaders meet with Biden as they seek NATO membership » Meantime, in Washington, leaders from Finland and Sweden are meeting with President Biden today.

Both countries decided to apply for NATO membership after generations of remaining neutral.

Swedish Ambassador to the United States Karin Olofsdotter said…

OLOFSDOTTER: The attack on the Ukraine on the 24th of February changed everything for us. We realized that the security arrangements that we have had and that we have built up for so long, they are not enough anymore.

But to add new members to the security alliance, all existing members must agree unanimously. Turkey is the only member voicing an objection.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken met with his counterpart from Turkey about the issue on Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sent mixed messages during the meeting at UN headquarters.

He affirmed his country’s support for NATO’s “open-door” policy in allowing new members. But he also repeated President Recep Tyyip Erdogan’s demands that Sweden and Finland address his security concerns.

White House National security adviser Jake Sullivan said he believes it will all work out.

SULLIVAN: We’re confident that at the end of the day, Finland and Sweden will have an effective and efficient accession process, that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed. Finland and Sweden are working directly with Turkey to do this, but we’re also talking to the Turks to help facilitate.

Erdogan says Finland and Sweden have not been tough enough on Kurdish militias, which Turkey considers to be terrorist groups.

It’s unclear exactly what changes Turkey might demand in exchange for approving the NATO applications.

Ex-cop pleads guilty in Floyd case » A former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge related to the death of George Floyd. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Thomas Lane struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to plead guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

As part of that deal, the state will drop a count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder.

Lane and former Officers J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao have already been convicted on federal counts of willfully violating Floyd's rights.

In May 2020, Lane and Kueng helped to restrain Floyd, who was handcuffed. Lane held down Floyd’s legs and Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back.

Thao kept bystanders from intervening.

The state and Lane's attorneys agreed to a recommended sentence of three years, which is below state sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors also agreed to allow him to serve that sentence at the same time as any federal sentence he might get in a pending case.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

PA Republican Senate primary still undecided » In Pennsylvania, it could be weeks before Republicans declare a winner in Tuesday’s Senate primary.

Celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was backed by Donald Trump, leads by two-tenths of one percent over Dave McCormick.

But thousands of absentee ballots are still trickling in. And the race is likely headed to a recount.

That could push the process into early June.

South Carolina passes ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ » South Carolina’s governor has signed a bill preventing student athletes who are biologically male from competing against females in school sports. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown has that story.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN, REPORTER: Republican Gov. Henry McMaster this week signed the Save Women’s Sports Act into law.

It prevents transgender athletes who are biologically male from taking part in girls’ and women’s school sports in South Carolina.

GOP leaders in the state say the law is aimed at ensuring a fair playing field for girls and women.

GOP state Representative R.J. May said, “Men have a biological advantage on the sports playing field, their bones are bigger, their lungs have more capacity, they’re built differently.”

He added, “We’ve seen this in the increasing examples of males dominating girls’ athletic competitions when competing as females, capturing championships, and shattering long-standing female track records.”

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

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

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