António Guterres Putin split meeting
UN official speaks out after meeting with Putin
02:39 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

Get '5 Things' in your inbox

  • If your day doesn’t start until you’re up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the ‘5 Things’ newsletter.

    The wild home-selling blitz is cooling down in the US, but home prices are still ludicrously high. The average home price last month was up 14.9% from a year ago.

    Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

    (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

    1. Coronavirus

    President Joe Biden unveiled tough new sanctions against Moscow yesterday in response to Russian military actions currently unfolding in Ukraine. Calling the events “the beginning of a Russian invasion,” Biden laid out sanctions that would effectively cut off Russia’s financial institutions and oligarchs from Western finance. Biden also announced he is moving additional troops and equipment to “strengthen” US allies in the region. US officials say they’re holding out hope for the possibility of diplomacy to avert an all-out war, but also made it clear Biden is ready to go much further should an invasion of Ukraine escalate. The UK, Japan and Australia also plan to impose sanctions against Russia, and Germany has stopped the progression of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline – the $11 billion project that would boost deliveries of gas directly from Russia to Germany.

    2. Debt ceiling

    Moderna said yesterday it is seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA for its Covid-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years of age. To date, no Covid-19 vaccines have been authorized for children younger than 5 in the US – about 18 million people – and a timeline to potential authorization is not yet clear. However, Moderna officials have said the FDA is expected to move fast, and a Pfizer official suggested its vaccine for younger children could also be available in June, if authorized. This comes days after Pfizer asked the FDA to green-light a booster dose of its vaccine for children ages 5 through 11. Experts say vaccines for children are high priority following studies that have shown that vaccine efficacy has waned significantly in children amid the spread of the Omicron variant.  

    Dr. Gupta
    Dr. Gupta reacts to Moderna's recommendation for kids under 6
    03:33 - Source: CNN

    3. Immigration

    America’s economy unexpectedly shrank in the first quarter of 2022. Gross domestic product declined at an annual rate of 1.4% during the first three months of the year — the worst quarter for the American economy since the pandemic turned the world upside down in the spring of 2020. However, economists say don’t panic, because this is not an indicator of an immediate recession. “The negative GDP number is a surprise, but not a material one,” Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi told CNN. “The economy continues to grow strongly and at a pace that continues to bring down unemployment.” Also on the positive side, consumer spending – the main driver of the US economy – accelerated during the first three months of the year. Business investment also surged at an annual rate of 9.2% in the first quarter, up from 2.9% during the fourth quarter.

    The logo of German giant Deutsche Bank is seen on their headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on February 4, 2021.
    3 reasons why Deutsche Bank is forecasting a recession
    01:21 - Source: CNNBusiness

    4. Policing

    5. France

    Uganda has proposed steep penalties for anti-vaxxers that include fines and imprisonment as the country doubles down on its coronavirus vaccine mandate. The proposed bill states that those who do not get vaccinated against Covid-19 will be fined 4 million Ugandan shillings (around $1,137) or receive a jail term of six months. A parliamentary health committee said yesterday it is considering the proposed legislation to “ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.” The East African country of around 45 million people has grappled with a series of lockdowns to manage the pandemic amid misinformation and hesitancy toward vaccines. Uganda has recorded more than 163,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,500 deaths, according to the latest government figures.

    BREAKFAST BROWSE

    After an 8-year wait, the US men’s soccer team will once again compete in a World Cup

    I mean, who wouldn’t want to live on an island and work from the beach every day? Learn about the company’s new permanent flexibility policy here.

    Jacksonville Jaguars choose Travon Walker as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft

    Emotions are running high for players who are receiving life-changing calls from NFL teams this weekend. Cheers to fulfilling childhood dreams!

    James Corden leaving ‘The Late Late Show’ in 2023

    *Sigh* At least there’s one more season of Carpool Karaoke to sing along to.

    One ticket wins the $473.1 million Powerball jackpot

    A very lucky person in Arizona has a lot to celebrate! What would be your first purchase if you held this massive winning ticket?

    Camera captures ‘jaw-dropping’ view inside of a shark’s mouth

    Otter takes surfer’s board

    QUIZ TIME

    Twitter agreed to be bought by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk this week. How much is the deal worth?

    A. $4.4 million

    B. $440 million

    C. $4.4 billion

    D. $44 billion

    Take CNN’s weekly news quiz to see if you’re correct!

    TODAY’S NUMBER

    That’s the percentage of LGBTQ adults who identify as transgender. Today, March 31, is International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day for allies to show support for the transgender community and consider the state of trans representation. This year’s observance comes at an especially important time for advocates and activists who are fighting against rising numbers of anti-LGBTQ laws that specifically target trans people. 

    20 quadrillion

    TODAY’S QUOTE

    “I’m still kind of processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that s***. And it’ll be serious and it’ll be funny, but right now I’m going to tell some jokes.”

    “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions.”

    TODAY’S WEATHER

    friday svr wx
    Extreme fire threat continues in the Southern Plains and severe storms for the Midwest
    02:35 - Source: CNN

    Check your local forecast here>>>

    AND FINALLY

    Pickle sandwich. Pickle sandwich? Pickle sandwich! 

    Happy Peace Day