Top eight today

National

With 5 new nominees, Biden marks 90 appointments to federal bench

President Joe Biden announced five new federal judicial nominees Wednesday, three for district court positions and two of them former Obama appointees now being vaulted to the appellate circuits.

Depp friend casts doubt on Heard abuse claims  

In an outburst from the witness stand Wednesday, a close friend of Johnny Depp accused the actor’s ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, of having “phony pictures” taken showing bruises on her face before presenting herself as a domestic abuse survivor.

CDC tacks 2 more weeks onto mask mandate for public transit

Covid-19 control measures have largely relaxed throughout the U.S. alongside a drop in cases in recent months, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it will extend its face mask requirement on public transit for an additional 15 days.

Regional

Wisconsin justices hear debate on election drop boxes, absentee voting

Wisconsin lawyers brought the heated dispute over drop boxes and other absentee voting rules to the state’s highest judicial body on Wednesday, as critical races for the state’s governorship and a U.S. Senate seat loom in the fall.

Subway shooting suspect arrested in Manhattan

The man accused of firing a gun into a subway car and injuring at least 23 people, leaving five in critical condition, is now in police custody and faces federal terrorism charges.

International

Mexico City artists resist borough’s attempt to tax public sale of their work

Members of Mexico’s Art Garden Association are defending their right to sell their work in public without being charged the tax the city imposes on artisans, food vendors and the multitude of others who make a living hawking on the streets of the capital. 

Troops surrender in Mariupol, Macron disagrees with Biden genocide charge

About 1,000 Ukrainian marines have surrendered in Mariupol as the southeastern port city falls under Russian control, according to Russia’s defense ministry. 

EU excess mortality fell 20% during 2022 omicron surge

Although excess mortality has climbed with each new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, the EU reported a significant drop in deaths at the beginning of the year even as omicron spread at record pace throughout the continent.

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