5 things you need to know this morning: Aug. 4, 2022

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. China brands Pelosi 'manic' and 'irresponsible'

China has accused US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of being "manic, irresponsible and irrational" after the high-ranking Democrat visited Taiwan. It comes as China conducts large-scale military drills around Taiwan in response to Pelosi's trip.

China foreign minister calls Pelosi's Taiwan visit 'manic', 'irrational' https://t.co/smGv8VRoZa pic.twitter.com/nIRu0vTqAI

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 4, 2022

2. Man accused of violent Lady Gaga dog robbery re-arrested

A man accused of the armed and violent theft of Lady Gaga's bulldogs has been arrested again after he was mistakenly released from custody earlier this year. Gaga's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was shot in Feb. 2021 during the alleged robbery.

Police re-arrest suspect in shooting of Lady Gaga's dog walker after accidental release https://t.co/xOsqcwRF21 pic.twitter.com/NhJnXE6OsI

— New York Post (@nypost) August 4, 2022

3. Batgirl directors 'saddened and shocked' by axing of movie

The directors of the cancelled Batgirl movie have said they are "saddened and shocked" by the news. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah added that it is "critical that our work be shown to audiences."

The directors of the superhero film 'Batgirl' say they are "saddened and shocked" that Warner Bros. will shelve their movie instead of releasing it in theaters or distributing it on HBO Max. https://t.co/tFUmbLV3FC

— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 4, 2022

4. Russian prosecutors seek 9.5-year sentence for US basketball player

Prosecutors in Russia are seeking a nearly 10-year sentence for US basketball player Brittney Griner. Griner, an Olympic gold medallist, has pleaded guilty to drug charges, but denied deliberately breaking the law.

BREAKING: Russian prosecutors asked a court to sentence U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to 9 1/2 years in prison on cannabis possession charges. Closing arguments in the trial are taking place, nearly six months after her arrest at a Moscow airport. https://t.co/pqF9LgrTp7

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 4, 2022

5. UN secretary general brands energy companies' profits 'immoral'

The secretary general of the United Nations has said it is "immoral" for oil and gas companies to profit from a surge in commodity prices precipitated by the Ukraine war. Antonio Guterres said energy firms should face a special tax.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply criticized the “grotesque greed” of oil and gas companies on Wednesday for making record profits from the energy crisis on the back of the world’s poorest people, “while destroying our only home"https://t.co/DzKDsEDZ5x

— TIME (@TIME) August 4, 2022

And lastly...

In happier news, a 62-year-old Frenchman has been rescued after surviving alone at sea for 16 hours. The sailor – who was in the Atlantic Ocean – used an air bubble inside his capsized boat to stay alive, something divers said was "verging on the impossible."

French man, 62, survives 16 hours in capsized boat in Atlantic Ocean before rescue 'verging on the impossible' https://t.co/viW6Tjvheb

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 4, 2022