In Other Brews…
Japan is saying sayōnara to Prime Minister Kishida. The PM is stepping down and will not seek reelection when his term ends next month. The decision follows a series of scandals within his political party, including allegations that it rerouted donations to lawmakers as kickbacks. Kishida said his departure was the first step in showing the party would “change.”
Ukraine keeps pushing into Russia. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy credited soldiers with capturing their largest Russian city yet: Sudzha (prewar population 5,000). Meanwhile, the Biden administration is reportedly “open” to sending long-range cruise missiles to beef up Ukraine’s air power. For now, Ukraine is not authorized to use U.S.-gifted missiles within Russia.
Another Ivy League president is #OpenToWork. Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik is resigning following opposition to her handling of on-campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. She faced criticism for authorizing the arrests of protestors and for her House testimony on the University’s handling of antisemitism. The presidents of Harvard and Penn resigned for similar reasons, earlier this year.
Sweet and (now) salty: Candy giant Mars (Snickers and M&M'S) is acquiring Kellanova (Cheez-Its and Pringles) for $36B in cash. Mars plans to harness the new partnership to expand both companies’ business in Africa and China. In other (bitter)sweet news, Wally Amos (88), the man who made Famous Amos cookies famous, died from complications related to dementia.
Five people have been charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death last year, including two doctors and the actor’s live-in assistant. Prosecutors allege they took advantage of Perry’s addiction to enrich themselves, once selling the Friends star $12 worth of ketamine for $2,000 after his regular doctors refused to prescribe him more. Three defendants—including his assistant—have pleaded guilty.