Walt Disney Co. has filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" for Disney's public opposition to DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" bill. The lawsuit claims that DeSantis' actions violate Disney's constitutional rights and seeks an injunction to stop any action against the company. DeSantis has threatened to revoke Disney's self-governing privileges in the Orlando area and proposed a higher minimum wage for Disney than other businesses in the area. The outcome of the case is yet to be determined.
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China and Russia have both taken steps to end the conflict in Ukraine, with China sending an envoy to discuss a possible "political settlement" and Russia praising a framework proposed by China and Brazil. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have both expressed their support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2014. It is hoped that the Chinese envoy's visit will help to bring an end to the conflict.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is making progress on his $4.8 trillion package, which would enable the House GOP to use the debt-ceiling as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Senate and White House. After making changes overnight to win over holdouts, McCarthy is inching closer to passing the bill on the House floor, with a vote expected as early as today. This vote is a major test for McCarthy, who must not lose more than four GOP votes for the bill to pass, and will be a key indicator of his ability to lead the House GOP and negotiate with the Senate and White House.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a series of rock-throwing attacks in Colorado that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department identified the suspects through a combination of surveillance footage, witness statements, and other evidence and have charged them with first-degree murder and extreme indifference. The investigation is ongoing and the public is being urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Mattel has released a Barbie doll representing a person with Down Syndrome, designed in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society to accurately portray the condition. The doll's clothing and accessories carry special meaning, and Mattel hopes it will help promote awareness and acceptance of people with Down Syndrome and inspire a more inclusive world. The National Down Syndrome Society is also thrilled with the project, hoping it will help children with Down Syndrome feel represented and celebrated.
Sudan is facing a period of chaos and uncertainty as violence between two sides has left more than 500 people dead. On Wednesday, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced that former dictator Omar al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, though his whereabouts remain unknown. The International Criminal Court has accused al-Bashir of genocide and other war crimes, and Ahmed Haroun, a former high-ranking Sudanese official wanted for war crimes, has also been released from prison.
Singapore executed Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, on Wednesday for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram of cannabis, despite his family's pleas for clemency and activists protesting the weak evidence against him. The death penalty is a mandatory sentence for anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis in Singapore, and the execution has sparked outrage among activists and human rights groups who argue that it is an inhumane punishment. The Singapore government has defended its use of capital punishment, saying it is necessary to deter drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Louetta Isley Thomas Willis, on April 18th. The name is a classic, popular in the early 20th century, and the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter with their family and friends. The couple expressed their love for their daughter, calling her "pure magic" and a reminder of the joy and hope that can be found in difficult times.