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Today’s Big Stories

110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide

110 million people have been forced from their homes because of war, persecution, or human rights violations according to a report released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The big picture: Last year, 19 million people were forcibly displaced including 11 million who fled during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The mass exodus was the fastest and largest displacement of people since World War II.

• Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Myanmar were also responsible for uprooting 1 million people in each country in 2022.

• The war in Sudan has displaced 2 million more people since April.

Where do they go? The UNHCR report said that many displaced people “never cross an international border.” Internal displacement made up 58% of all displaced people at the end of 2022.

• Most refugees and people in need of international protection are hosted in low to middle-income countries in Asia and Africa.

• Countries hosting the most included Turkey (3.6 million), Iran (3.4 million), Colombia (2.5 million), Germany (2.1 million), and Pakistan (1.7 million).

At the same time, asylum requests spiked to 2.6 million in 2022 with the U.S. receiving 730,400 claims.

• However, Filippo Grandi, who leads the U.N. refugee agency said the U.S. is the nation with the largest backlog in its asylum system.

• This is evident as the U.S.-Mexico border where people are turned away daily because the current systems can’t handle the influx of asylum-seekers.

Looking ahead: Grandi said he celebrated the fact that the number of resettlements doubled in 2022 to 114,000, but admitted it was just a “drop in the ocean” and that there must be worldwide commitment to make a lasting impact.

Eggs are affordable again

You no longer have to take out a second mortgage on your home to afford eggs.

What happened? The price of a dozen eggs was $2.67 on average in May, down from $3.27 in April, and much lower than the January peak of $4.82 according to the latest Consumer Price Index data.

• The 14% drop in price is the largest month to month decline since 1951.

Catch up: Eggs prices have been sky-high because of an outbreak of H5N1, or bird flu.

• The outbreak started in 2022 and grew into the largest in U.S. history.

• As of April 2023, 58 million birds have died, with the poultry industry suffering big losses.

• In Iowa, two massive egg laying operations had to kill more than 5 million birds in a single incident last year.

Looking ahead: Eggs are back, for now. Wild populations of birds still carry the flu and egg-laying chickens could be affected again once migration season picks up in the fall.

Quick Bites

Business & Economy

U.S. stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P +0.08%, Nasdaq +0.39%, Dow -0.68%) ~ The Fed said they would pause rate hikes for now but to expect at least two more hikes before the end of the year.

A U.S. judge temporarily blocked Microsoft’s acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard late Tuesday night.

340,000 UPS drivers are on track to get air conditioned trucks for the first time in company history.

World

Belarus said on Wednesday that it has begun taking delivery of Russian nuclear weapons, some of which are rumored to be three times more powerful than the atomic bombs the U.S. dropped on Japan in 1945.

At least 78 people died after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Greece on Wednesday. Officials say there could have been as many as 750 people on board and expect the death toll to rise.

Russian airstrikes killed six people in Odessa, Ukraine on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian efforts to take back Russian-occupied territory have been slow moving.

US News, Politics, & Government

Southern Baptists voted on Wednesday to uphold an earlier decision to expel two churches because they have women pastors.

A former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School is being charged for allegedly stealing, selling, and shipping human body parts.

Donald Trump raised $2 million in campaign funding just hours after his arraignment on Tuesday.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

The U.S. Open begins today, golf’s third major championship of the year. See the full T.V. schedule here. 

Gustav Klimt’s last portrait is expected to sell for over $80 million at Sotheby’s auction. 

Legendary Marvel cartoonist John Romita Sr. - known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man and co-creating the Wolverine - died on Wednesday at 93.

Science, Health, & Tech

Frozen fruit sold in Walmart, Costco, and H.E.B. is being recalled due to the possibility of Hepatitis A contamination.

Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells without needing sperm or eggs.

Reddit communities with millions of followers plan to extend their blackouts indefinitely in protest of Reddit’s new expensive API pricing changes.

Extras

A 28-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday for posing as a 17-year-old boy to learn English at a Louisiana high school.

Taco Bell and Crocs team up for a limited edition collab.

Ranked: The most affordable U.S. cities for homebuyers.

Watch: A hammock gets the best of three bears.