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Daily Briefing

Russia steps up attacks in Ukraine ahead of Victory Day, Sudan conflict displaces refugees and wealthy alike, and China's mystery spacecraft returns to earth.

Plus, after weight loss, Alzheimer's may be the next frontier for drugs like Ozempic.

By Kate Turton

Today's Top News

An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Russia launched a wave of drone, missile and air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, officials said, as Moscow stepped up attacks while preparing for its cherished Victory Day holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Read more of the latest news from Russia's war on Ukraine.
The Sudan crisis is forcing South Sudanese refugees back to their troubled home, with the UN reporting more than 30,000 have fled into South Sudan. Amid the waves of displacement caused by the war in Sudan, many of the country's well-off have fled the capital Khartoum and embarked on an expensive and grueling road journey to the border with Egypt.
Anti-monarchists criticized the policing of King Charles' coronation as heavy-handed, saying there was no longer a right to peaceful protest in Britain after dozens of protesters were arrested and detained into the night. The World News Podcast speaks to anti-monarchists who say a police crackdown on protests will only strengthen their cause.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan accused the opposition of being "pro-LGBT" at a rally in Istanbul, as he stepped up his rhetoric against his opponents a week before what is expected to be a tight election. Explainer: What's at stake in Turkey's landmark elections?

China's return to global stage

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said it is imperative to stabilize Sino-US relations after a series of "erroneous words and deeds" threw ties back into a deep freeze. In a meeting in Beijing with US ambassador Nicholas Burns, Qin stressed that the US must correct its handling of the Taiwan issue and stop the hollowing out of the "one China" principle.
An experimental Chinese spacecraft returned to Earth after staying in orbit for 276 days, China's state media reported, completing a landmark mission to test the country's reusable space technologies. No details were given on what the spacecraft was, what technologies were tested, how high it flew, and where its orbits had taken it since its launch.
China's increasing focus on its own security and intensifying rivalry with the United States threatens to turn its re-engagement with the world after years of COVID curbs into a new era of isolation from the West, analysts say.

Business & Markets

China is ground zero for the price war in electric vehicles and the battleground is shifting to SUV-styled EVs, the largest segment of the market, dominated by Tesla and BYD. The market, crowded with more than 90 models, is about to get even tighter with at least 20 new models of both Chinese and foreign brands launched in April.
President Joe Biden and top Republicans and Democrats from Congress are set to sit down this week to try to resolve a three-month standoff over the $31.4 trillion US debt ceiling and avoid a crippling default before the end of May.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance halted bitcoin withdrawals for several hours, citing heavy volumes and a surge in processing fees, before clearing them at a higher cost. The world's biggest crypto exchange shut bitcoin withdrawals saying there was a glut of pending transactions because it hadn't offered so-called miners a high enough reward to log the trades on the blockchain. Sign up here for the weekly Crypto Wire newsletter.
German industrial production fell more than expected in March, partly due to a weak performance by the automotive sector, once again spurring recession fears in Europe's largest economy. Production decreased by 3.4% on the previous month following a slightly revised increase of 2.1% in February.
Warren Buffett criticized the handling of recent tumult in the banking sector and said a debt ceiling showdown could bring "turmoil" to the financial system, even as he offered a vote of confidence in the United States and his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

After weight loss, Alzheimer's may be next frontier for drugs like Ozempic

Diabetes drugs that also promote weight loss such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, becoming a darling of celebrities and investors, are being studied to tackle some of the most difficult-to-treat brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.

Several scientists interviewed by Reuters pointed to mounting research supporting testing diabetes drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.

A sumptuous display of pageantry

King Charles and Queen Camilla, stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony. REUTERS//Henry Nicholls

Did you miss Saturday's celebrations? Click here for the scenes documented by Reuters' photographers at King Charles's coronation.

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