Turning Off the Taps

Start your day smarter with the most important world news, plus intriguing and offbeat stories. www.ozy.com [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Presidential Daily Brief]( Start your day smarter with a dossier on the most important world news, rounded off with a shot of intriguing and offbeat stories. Like the president, you deserve no less. Apr 27, 2022 Today Russia cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria in a move the European Commission chief called “an instrument of blackmail.” Aung San Suu Kyi was handed a five-year jail term by Myanmar’s military junta. Tensions rose in Moldova as the separatist region of Transnistria on the Ukrainian border came under attack. And Harvard pledged $100 million toward a “Legacy of Slavery Fund.” All this and more in today’s PDB. IMPORTANT ‘Gas Blackmail’ Moscow Cuts Gas Supplies to Poland and Bulgaria In the Kremlin’s toughest response yet to Western sanctions, Gazprom halted the flow of gas “due to absence of payments in rubles” — a move European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called “an instrument of blackmail.” The Russian energy giant warned that transit via Poland and Bulgaria — home to pipelines supplying Germany, Hungary and Serbia — would be cut if they took any gas for themselves. To solve his cash flow problems, President Vladimir Putin has demanded that “unfriendly” nations open accounts at Gazprombank, but Europe is having none of it, with Poland saying it won’t extend its contract with Gazprom next year. (Sources: [BBC](, [Reuters]() ‘Kangaroo Court’ Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption A judge in capital city Naypyitaw handed down the sentence moments after convening court and gave no explanation, according to an anonymous source familiar with the closed-door proceedings. Suu Kyi, 76, who led Myanmar for five years before being ousted by a military coup in February 2021, denies the “absurd” allegation that she accepted bribes of gold and cash and will appeal the sentence. The government, meanwhile, is pushing forward with 10 other cases that could sentence her to 190 years in jail. “Myanmar’s junta and the country’s kangaroo courts are walking in lockstep,” said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. (Source: [Reuters]() Troubles in Transnistria Jitters in Moldova as Blasts Hit Separatist Region Near Ukraine If you’ve never heard of Transnistria, better start [brushing up](. The strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine, which has been controlled by Moscow-sympathizing separatists since 1992, was racked by explosions Monday and Tuesday. Leaders of the breakaway region, which hosts 1,500-2,000 Russian troops, blamed Kyiv for the “terrorist” attacks. But Moldovan President Maia Sandu — Transnistria’s official leader — said the explosions were an attempt to destabilize the region. “We condemn any … attempts to lure the Republic of Moldova into actions that could jeopardize peace in the country,” said Sandu, insisting “on a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.” (Sources: [Balkan Insight](, [AP]() #HarvardToo University Commits $100 Million to ‘Legacy of Slavery Fund’ Like a deadline-averse freshman, Harvard has finally submitted a 134-page report into its 400-year ties to slavery. The report includes the first names of 70 people enslaved at the Ivy League institution and also details how “well into the 19th century, the university and its donors benefited from extensive financial ties to slavery.” Harvard’s governing corporation pledged to spend $100 million on various redresses including tracing modern-day descendents of those enslaved and forging partnerships that will improve schools in the West Indies. “It feels like they’re hopping on a bandwagon,” said Jordan Lloyd, a descendent of a Harvard slave. (Source: [NYT]() Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: Bomber identified. Pakistani officials confirmed a 30-year-old woman was responsible for the suicide attack on Karachi’s Confucius Institute that killed three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver Tuesday. (Source: [Al Jazeera]() More arrests. The number of people arrested in El Salvador since a state of emergency was declared last month has risen to 17,000. The defense minister says the measures are having a “positive” impact on the war on gangs. (Source: [BBC]() Freedom Day? Today South Africa celebrates 28 years since its first democratic elections — but little has changed for many poor, Black people in the country. (Source: [Sowetan Live]() INTRIGUING Decolonizo-Saurus The Brazilian Dinosaur That’s Helping to Decolonize Paleontology In December 2020 a paper describing Ubirajara jubatus wowed the world’s paleontologists. As the first Southern Hemisphere dinosaur with precursors to modern feathers, the beast was fantastic — but even more remarkable was the fact that while it was discovered in Brazil decades earlier, no Brazilian scientist had ever heard of it. Paleontological colonialism is nothing new, but this time the “[wretched of the earth](” fought back. Using the hashtag #UbirajaraBelongstoBR, Brazilian researchers managed to get the paper withdrawn and repatriation negotiations are underway. Now Latin American paleontologists have joined forces, inspiring colleagues in Africa and Asia to stand up for local fossils. (Source: [Nature]() They Grow Among Us Pawpaws Grow Wild Across North America: Why Don’t We Eat Them? We might know the folk song about “pretty little Suzie … way down yonder in the pawpaw patch” but that seems to be where our knowledge of North America’s [largest native edible fruit]( ends. Pawpaws grow wild across a swath of 26 states and up into Ontario, Canada. The 3-5-inch fruit, with a custardy texture and a taste like bananas, originated in the South American tropics, but it’s grown up north since the time of mammoths and mastodons. It’s “an incredible native fruit that rivals the most sought-after exotic specimens we ship in from around the world,” said chef Taylor Knapp. (Source: [BBC]() You Found … What? ‘Unprecedented’ Phoenician Necropolis Unearthed in Southern Spain Workers in the Andalucian town of Osuna are used to coming across ruins, but these usually date back to the Roman age. The discovery of a 2,500-year-old necropolis where Phoenicians laid their dead is “unprecedented in inland Andalucía,” said the regional government. Previous discoveries of Phoenician ruins in Spain have been restricted to coastal Cádiz. The Osuna find is also spectacular for its quality: “To find a necropolis from the Phoenician and Carthaginian era with these characteristics — with eight well tombs, atriums and staircase access — you’d have to look to Sardinia or even Carthage itself,” said lead archaeologist Mario Delgado. (Source: [The Guardian]() ‘You Came After the Wrong Mom’ Michigan Democrat’s Viral Speech Is Just What America’s Left Needed State Sen. Mallory McMorrow was “livid” when she discovered that her Republican colleague, Sen. Lana Theis, sent a fundraising email accusing her of wanting to “groom and sexualize” young children. After sitting “in the feelings for the day,” the 35-year-old “straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom” went on offense. In a [now-viral speech]( she ripped Theis for advancing a “hollow, hateful scheme” and dismissed the notion that “learning about slavery or redlining or systemic racism” is bad for white kids as “absolute nonsense.” McMallory has raised $250,000 and is being touted as a future star of the Democratic Party. (Source: [NYT]() Seven-Goal Thriller Man City Wins First Leg, But Benzema Keeps Madrid in the Hunt After scoring two goals in the first 11 minutes of their Champions League semifinal at Etihad Stadium, Manchester City threatened to run away from 12-time champions Real Madrid. But 22 minutes later Karim Benzema clawed one back with what Trevor Sinclair described as an “outrageous” goal that took him to 40 goals for the season. After the break, City twice restored their two-goal cushion — but on both occasions Madrid closed the gap to one, with Benzema scoring from the spot in the 82nd minute to finish the match 4-3. City will travel to Madrid next Wednesday for the second leg. (Sources: [talkSPORT](, [BBC]() Catch the Newest Episodes of The Carlos Watson Show, Season 4! COMMUNITY What else are you curious about? 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