Hamas releases second group of hostages: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/second-group-of-hamas-hostages-released-as-gaza-cease-fire-holds/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/palestinians-count-losses-on-second-day-of-gaza-cease-fire-454899ab . The group includes another 13 Israeli hostages and 4 Thai hostages. Israel released another 39 Palestinians as part of this release. To update the counts in yesterday’s newsletter, Hamas has now released 26 of the promised 50 hostages, while Israeli has released 78 of the promised 150 Palestinians in response. The separate deal involving the Thais released 15 of the 21 total hostages.
This leaves 24 Hamas hostages to be released, with Israel to release 72 Palestinian prisoners in response. Three Americans are expected to be released in the remaining 24 to be released. The pattern suggests the remaining 5 Thai hostages will also be released. Again, Israel has offered to extend the ceasefire by one day for each 10 hostages released beyond the initial 50. This could add up to 17 days to the ceasefire.
WSJ: Bayer continues to sink: https://www.wsj.com/business/bayer-ceo-says-breakup-wouldnt-fix-all-of-the-companys-ills-5e6d4a3d . As this newsletter has said previously, the acquisition of Monsanto was perhaps the stupidest acquisition in history. Everyone knew the risk, but Bayer did not appropriately quantify it.
WSJ: Why Credit Suisse failed: https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/behind-credit-suisses-fall-a-chairmans-lasting-mark-on-the-culture-4dbb222c . Simply put, management was incompetent. There was an utter failure of risk analysis and control.
WSJ: Russia mounts drone attack against Ukraine’s power grid: https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-targets-ukrainian-cities-with-waves-of-explosive-drones-2cdee448 .
Could Romney endorse Biden?: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4327061-romney-democrat-upgrade-over-trump-in-2024/ . It’s entirely possible, but on its own would have virtually no impact.
Why Hall sued Oates: https://variety.com/2023/music/news/hall-oates-restraining-order-solved-selling-share-primary-wave-1235808326/ .
No answers yet in car explosion at border: https://www.aol.com/news/us-canada-border-explosion-may-152042580.html .
Should Florida State be in the college football playoffs?: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/paul-finebaum-doesnt-think-florida-state-should-make-college-football-playoff . No. And the author published this article before FSU staggered to a fourth-quarter win over Florida, which finishes Florida’s season at 5-7. Also, please stop talking about Alabama getting in if they beat Georgia next week. Alabama beat Auburn (now 6-6) on a bizarre last play of their game. New Mexico State (who?) crushed Auburn last week 31-10.
Michigan beat Ohio State 30-24, but in my view neither team looked very good. They both also looked slow in relation to most Pac-12 teams. I expect Ohio State to drop out of the Top 4. One-loss #6 Oregon should replace them after Oregon’s dominating win over the Beavers, but East Coast bias will likely move up FSU even without their quarterback for the remainder of the season. Too much emphasis on an undefeated season just encourages teams to schedule weaker opponents. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/michigan-ohio-state-harbaugh-college-football-playoff-73e0ae32 .
Elsewhere, #4 Washington beat Washington State on a field goal on the last play of the Apple Cup. Oregon should be the favorite to beat Washington in next week’s Pac-12 championship, as two of the top Heisman contenders quarterback their respective teams.