National

New unemployment claims are beginning to tick up again, according to new data released by the Labor Department on Thursday. 

Driving the news: The number of jobless claims rose by 21,000 to 218,000 for the week ending May 14. The uptick brought the four-week rolling average to 199,500, the department reported. 

Yes, but: Despite the increase, the total number of Americans receiving continued unemployment benefits was at a 53-year low for the week ending May 7, the department said. 

The economy added 428,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6%. 

Our thought bubble, via Axios' chief economic correspondent Neil Irwin: The weekly numbers are volatile, so it's a bad idea to read too much into a small surge. The figures are still far below what you would expect to see in a recession. 

That said, claims are usually the earliest indication that something is changing in the labor market.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show the economy added 428,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6%. It did not add 266,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate did not rise to 6.1%.

New jobless claims start to climb again

Despite the increase, the total number of Americans receiving continued unemployment benefits was at a 53-year low for the week ending May 7.

Now hiring signs are displayed in front of restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on March 19. Photo: Stefani Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images

Jobs

Economy & Business

Under a new law that took effect this week, the Food and Drug Administration can crack down on vaping companies that use synthetic nicotine, the AP reports. 

Driving the news: The new law closed a loophole that certain companies had exploited to avoid oversight of their products, including flavored e-cigarette company Puff Bar.

Background: Originally, FDA oversight of cigarettes and related products pertained solely to tobacco-based nicotine. Some companies pivoted to using synthetic nicotine in e-cigarette liquid cartridges and nicotine pouches.

The change, which Congress passed in March, gives the FDA the authority to regulate all forms of nicotine. 

While the measure doesn’t outlaw synthetic nicotine products automatically, companies are now required to register with the FDA and submit their products for review within 30 days.

The new law also subjects synthetic nicotine products to the same age limit and sales restrictions as natural tobacco products.

The FDA banned all flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes except menthol and tobacco in 2020. However, the ban didn’t apply to disposable e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

What they’re saying: FDA Commissioner Robert Califf tweeted that the new law gave the agency the authority to "hold e-cigarette companies using synthetic nicotine to the same public health standards we’ve implemented for other tobacco products.”

FDA increasing oversight of synthetic nicotine products

The new law closed a loophole that certain companies had exploited to avoid oversight of their products.

A photo illustration of Puff Bar e-cigarettes

Puff Bar E-Cigarette products sit on a counter. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

E-cigarette

Vaping

Under a new law that took effect this week, the Food and Drug Administration can crack down on vaping companies that use synthetic nicotine, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the AP reports" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-9c60b331e2d31236e94848cbdb3fcae7" data-vars-content-id="2a77def0-e4d4-445c-b263-50274d3548ff" data-vars-headline="FDA increasing oversight of synthetic nicotine products" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-9c60b331e2d31236e94848cbdb3fcae7" target="_blank">the AP reports</a>. Driving the news: The new law closed a loophole that certain companies had exploited to avoid oversight of their products, including flavored e-cigarette company Puff Bar.

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

Health

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN reports.

Driving the news: McConnell is the latest high-ranking U.S. official to visit the country amid Russia's ongoing invasion. The trip comes as the Senate is weighing a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine that the House has already passed.

It was unclear if the meeting took place Saturday and if the delegation is still in Kyiv, CNN writes. 

Joining McConnell on the trip were Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), according to a short video Zelensky posted to this Instagram page.

The trip comes about two weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) led a group of six congressional Democrats to meet with Zelensky. 

First lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to the country and met with Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, last Sunday.

What they’re saying: In a post on his Instagram account, Zelensky said that the trip "is a strong signal of bipartisan support for Ukraine from the United States Congress and the American people."

"Thank you for your leadership in helping us in our struggle not only for our country, but also for democratic values and freedoms,' he added. "We really appreciate it."

Go deeper…  Live updates: Russian invasion of Ukraine

McConnell leads delegation to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky

The trip comes as the Senate is weighing a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Mitch McConnell leads a delegation to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with a U.S. delegation led by Mitch McConnell in Kyiv on May 14. Photo: Andrij Sybiha, Office of the President of Ukraine via Facebook

Ukraine

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNN reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-14-22/h_ae24ab4b05907fae5ef3e84e868c540d" data-vars-content-id="4843c25d-52e5-4651-b195-a6dcda6277d7" data-vars-headline="McConnell leads delegation to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-14-22/h_ae24ab4b05907fae5ef3e84e868c540d" target="_blank">CNN reports</a>.Driving the news: McConnell is the latest high-ranking U.S. official to visit the country amid Russia&#x27;s ongoing invasion. The trip comes as the Senate is weighing a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine that the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="House has already passed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/11/house-passes-40-billion-ukraine-bill" data-vars-content-id="4843c25d-52e5-4651-b195-a6dcda6277d7" data-vars-headline="McConnell leads delegation to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/11/house-passes-40-billion-ukraine-bill" target="_self">House has already passed</a>.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

In a first since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, prosecutors on Thursday filed criminal charges against 10 Russian soldiers accused of war crimes in Bucha, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Driving the news: The soldiers were “involved in torture of peaceful civilians” while occupying Bucha, Ukraine's General Prosecutor Iryna Venediktova said in a social media post. Ukraine said more than 300 people were found dead there this month after Russian forces withdrew from the suburb of Kyiv at the end of March. 

Russia has denied targeting Ukrainian civilians, and the Kremlin dismissed photographic evidence of the atrocities in Bucha as staged. 

What they’re saying: Venediktova said in a "very short time, the investigation established that during the occupation of Bucha, they took unarmed civilians hostage, didn’t provide food and water to them, kept them on their knees with their hands tied and their eyes covered in duct tape, and they were mocked and beaten.”

She added: “Some were tortured for no reason at all.”

Details: By cross-referencing Russian military rosters and social media postings, investigators confirmed the identities of 10 soldiers in interviews with witnesses and victims of the alleged crimes. 

The 10 soldiers who prosecutors charged — four privates, four corporals and two sergeants — are a part of Russia’s 64th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the unit previously for its “great heroism and courage.”

What we’re watching: The charges could be the first of many brought over the atrocities in Bucha. Investigators say their work is ongoing. 

Ukraine wants to try all Bucha war crimes cases in its domestic courts, then present a wider case to the International Criminal Court, per WSJ.

Go deeper ... Live updates: Russian invasion of Ukraine 

Ukraine files first war crime charges for Bucha atrocities

The soldiers were “involved in torture of peaceful civilians," per Ukraine's General Prosecutor Iryna Venediktova.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova visits a mass grave in Bucha on April 13. Photo: Fadel Senna/ AFP via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

In a first since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, prosecutors on Thursday filed criminal charges against 10 Russian soldiers accused of war crimes in Bucha, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Wall Street Journal reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-brings-first-war-crimes-charges-against-russian-soldiers-in-bucha-11651148489?mod=e2fb" data-vars-content-id="5fc268b4-90ea-449c-aebe-d5f0e4e3d123" data-vars-headline="Ukraine files first war crime charges for Bucha atrocities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-brings-first-war-crimes-charges-against-russian-soldiers-in-bucha-11651148489?mod=e2fb" target="_blank">the Wall Street Journal reported</a>.Driving the news: The soldiers were “involved in torture of peaceful civilians” while occupying Bucha, Ukraine&#x27;s General Prosecutor Iryna Venediktova <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said in a social media post" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/VenediktovaIryna/posts/377459707725037" data-vars-content-id="5fc268b4-90ea-449c-aebe-d5f0e4e3d123" data-vars-headline="Ukraine files first war crime charges for Bucha atrocities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/VenediktovaIryna/posts/377459707725037" target="_blank">said in a social media post</a>. Ukraine said <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more than 300 people were found dead" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/zelensky-bucha-hundreds-ukrainians-killed-90973560-094b-48ab-8f1c-303e6a451d4c.html" data-vars-content-id="5fc268b4-90ea-449c-aebe-d5f0e4e3d123" data-vars-headline="Ukraine files first war crime charges for Bucha atrocities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/zelensky-bucha-hundreds-ukrainians-killed-90973560-094b-48ab-8f1c-303e6a451d4c.html" target="_self">more than 300 people were found dead</a> there this month after Russian forces withdrew from the suburb of Kyiv at the end of March.

Ukraine’s military has warned residents not to gather for Orthodox Easter after Russia rejected a ceasefire proposal for the religious holiday. 

Driving the news: Curfews will remain in effect for traditional vigils that typically take place on Saturday night and run into Sunday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement Saturday morning. 

The big picture: Ukrainians and Russians are commonly Orthodox Christians and celebrate Easter a week later than other Christian denominations. 

Orthodox Easter’s service typically begins late Saturday and lasts into Sunday morning, then is followed by a traditional meal. 

What they’re saying: “We must understand that the gathering of civilians at a predetermined time of all-night service can be a target for missiles, aircraft and artillery,” the statement said.

“Already, many religious communities, with the blessing of their leaders, have decided to postpone Easter services. We urge priests and the faithful to follow such decisions and choose an alternative time of night for liturgies.”

Go deeper...  Live updates: Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainians urged not to gather for Easter vigils

“We must understand that the gathering of civilians ... can be a target for missiles, aircraft and artillery."

Ukrainians walk in front of an Orthodox church on an Orthodox Good Friday. Photo: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

Ukraine’s military has warned residents not to gather for Orthodox Easter after Russia <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rejected a ceasefire proposal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/zelensky-russia-orthodox-easter-truce-rejection-fd2481f1-4fb1-46e4-bed0-235b978d9d41.html" data-vars-content-id="98427abb-e7ee-427a-b3da-cda1822427c4" data-vars-headline="Ukrainians urged not to gather for Easter vigils" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/zelensky-russia-orthodox-easter-truce-rejection-fd2481f1-4fb1-46e4-bed0-235b978d9d41.html" target="_self">rejected a ceasefire proposal</a> for the religious holiday. Driving the news: Curfews will remain in effect for traditional vigils that typically take place on Saturday night and run into Sunday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement Saturday morning.

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Stories

New jobless claims start to climb again

McConnell leads delegation to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky

Ukraine files first war crime charges for Bucha atrocities

Ukrainians urged not to gather for Easter vigils

FDA increasing oversight of synthetic nicotine products