POTUS on TX shooting: calls for an assault weapons ban and rails against lawmakers who block gun control reform
With disgust evident in his voice, President Joe Biden railed against lawmakers who consistently block gun control reform in the United States, and mourned the loss of at least 18 school children, recounting his experience as Vice President during the Sandy Hook shooting of 2012.
Biden arrived in Washington DC Tuesday night from his first trip to Asia as President, where he met with Asian leaders. He said he learned about this latest shooting on the flight back, and he questioned why these shootings are so frequent in America.
What struck me on that 17 hour flight...was these kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world. Why? They have mental health problems. They had domestic disputes in other countries. They have people who are lost. But these kinds of mass shootings never happen with the kind of frequency that happened in America,” he said
“Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God's name is our backbone to the courage to deal with -to stand up the lobbies. It's time to turn this pain into action,” Biden said.
Biden also called for an assault weapons ban, something he achieved during his tenure as a senator but has since been rolled back.
“We can’t and won’t prevent every tragedy. But we know they work and have positive impact. When we passed the assault weapons ban, mass shootings went down. When the law expired, mass shootings tripled. The idea that an 18 year old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons, it's just wrong. What in God's name do you need an assault weapon for accept to kill someone?” Biden said.
President Biden noted that it has been 3,448 days since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
“10 years since I stood up at a high school in Connecticut, a grade school in Connecticut where another gunman massacred 26 people including 20 first graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Since then, there have been over 900 incidents of gun fires reported on school grounds.”
The President listed a few of those shooting incidents including those at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and Oxford High School in Michigan.
“When you include mass shootings at places like movie theaters, houses of worship, as we saw just 10 days ago at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. I am sick and tired of it. We have to act and don't tell me we can't have an impact on this carnage,” he said.
The President closed his remarks by offering his prayers for the parents of the children who were killed today.
“Our prayer tonight, was for those parents, lying in bed and trying to figure out: Will I be able to sleep again? What do I say to my other children? What happens tomorrow?”
“May God bless the loss of innocent life on this sad day. And May the Lord be near the brokenhearted and save those crushed his spirit. Cause they're going to need a lot of help. A lot of our prayers. God love you.”
Source-ABC
Maverick City Music reigns as #1 on Billboard with "Jireh"
Contemporary gospel collective Maverick City Music remains in the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart with their 2019 hit song "Jireh."
Following its #1 debut in April, this week serves as the 59th time the song has landed on the chart, beating out its own 2020 hit, "Promises," which lands at #2, as well as Kanye's "Praise God" and "Hurricane" in the third and fourth spots, respectively.
"Jireh," the collaboration with North Carolina gospel collective Elevation Worship and featuring Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, is one of 13 songs on the 2021 album Old Church Basement. It went on to earn each group their first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Album at the 2022 ceremony.
Other Maverick City songs on the gospel chart include "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" featuring Chandler Moore & Cody Carnes and "Worthy Of My Song (Worthy Of It All)" featuring Phil Wickham, Chandler Moore and the Maverick City Gospel Choir.
Maverick City recently announced the Kingdom Tour with Kirk Franklin, set to kick off June 1 in Miami, and the duo's joint album, Kingdom Book 1, out Friday, June 17.
Speaking of the forthcoming album, Maverick City's Jonathan Jay said in a press release, "I think this album is for every fan that loves music, and our hope is that these songs and the stories behind them will serve as a way to raise awareness to the challenges that people face every day – many of which are forgotten about."
Source-ABC
Suriname calls for strategic partnership with United States
Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Ramdin says that after 46 years of diplomatic relations between Suriname and the United States, it is time for a strategic partnership between both countries.
Speaking during a recent bilateral dialogue with a delegation from the United States, Ramdin said the talks were “useful” and were held at a time when global and regional developments are taking place.
In referring to the situation in Eastern Europe, which shows that Europe is heavily dependent on energy from Russia, he said the partnership is needed to reduce the risks of energy supply.
“Energy is critical in our future relationship with the US,” minister Ramdin argued.
Also attending the meeting were US Ambassador Karen Williams and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Barbara Feinstein.
In her comments, Feinstein said the relationship between the US and Suriname “are closer than ever,” She also said that Washington is looking forward to deepening cooperation in the context of Suriname’s chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in a few weeks.
For her part, Williams called the bilateral dialogue an extraordinary opportunity to evaluate the cooperative relationship. The diplomat told reporters that representatives discussed the progress made in bilateral cooperation, including humanitarian aid, trade relations, exchange programs, security and judicial cooperation, as well as diplomatic engagement.
According to Williams, good progress has been made in implementing the work plan drawn up during last year’s bilateral dialogue. She mentioned the support that Washington has given Suriname in getting funds for its economic restructuring plan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as vaccine donations from the US to Suriname.
“As for the next step, we are looking at deepening the bilateral dialogue process so that we will hold coordination meetings at technical level over the next year, so that what we have planned so far can even expand. We also look forward to President Santokhi attending the Summit of the Americas in a few weeks, which will give you more opportunity to talk about expanding the relationship,” said Ambassador Williams. The fact that Washington has sent two top officials to Suriname for the consultations emphasizes the importance that the American government attaches to the relationship with Suriname.
With regard to energy cooperation, the diplomat states that the US also wants to support Suriname.
“We are committed to our climate change objectives, and I know that Suriname is as well. So, I think in the context of -at least what the US government is concerned- in the context of the offshore oil and so forth US interest is in supporting Suriname in that mean that the endeavor is fruitful and productive for Suriname but at the same time respects the climate change challenges. There are other renewable energy opportunities out there as well and there are companies potentially in doing that and we will help them try to make connections with the private businesses, the Surinamese.
According to Ramdin – “We have a very good relationship with the US. It is not just a political relationship; it is an equal relationship in which we certainly benefit from the cooperation in different areas.” The minister mentions sectors such as education, health care and business. “We see many more American companies taking an interest in Suriname and there are so many other areas in which we can collaborate and work together.”
He said an overview of the areas of cooperation will be presented shortly, according to the minister and the ambassador.
Source-CMC
Governments should subsidise food and energy, says IMF boss
Governments need to subsidise the cost of food and energy for the poorest members of society, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told the BBC.
People around the world are struggling with the rising cost of living.
Kristalina Georgieva said support needs to be provided "in a very targeted manner, preferably by providing subsidies directly to people".
Many governments are providing some help but critics argue it's not enough.
When it comes to the cost of living crisis, Ms Georgieva said: "There are two priorities, one the very poor people, segments of society that are now struggling with high food and energy prices".
The second, she added, is to support those businesses that have been "most damaged" by the war in Ukraine.
The IMF's role is to work with governments to stabilise the global economy and enhance prosperity.
However, that's proving challenging because food prices have hit record highs this year, whilst oil and gas prices have also risen sharply.
This is largely because of the twin shocks of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Between them Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of crops and hydrocarbons.
The importance of these commodities to the global economy has led the annualised inflation rate to reach its highest point in decades in many countries: 9% in the UK, 8.3% in the US and 7.4% in the Eurozone.
Central banks are lifting interest rates to try and slow the increase in prices, which has led some influential figures such as Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein to warn of the risk of recession.
Ms Georgieva is concerned about the impact those higher borrowing costs will have on governments who have to repay huge debts they took on to get through the pandemic.
She said governments needed to be "very careful" about how much money they spent and what they spent it on.
The problems of falling living standards was at the top of the agenda at this week's meeting of G7 finance ministers in Germany.
The meeting of seven wealthy countries ended with a pledge to "continue to work together to minimise the impact of the war globally as well as on our own economies and population by providing well-targeted support, where necessary".
Over the last few months governments have made a range of interventions to try and lower the cost of living.
In the US President Biden has released oil from reserves to try and bring prices down, Spain and Portugal have capped gas bills and it's a leading issue in Australia's election.
In the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made some tax changes and is considering a windfall tax on the soaring profits of energy companies.
Ms Georgieva is concerned that without the correct government support the protests seen in Sri Lanka could be repeated in other countries.
Sri Lanka's economic crisis, exacerbated by rising prices, has led to deadly riots, a new prime minister and a first ever default on its debts.
The IMF boss said such similar unrest before the pandemic, from France to Chile, was caused by "a sense of inequality growing" and decisions being made without the support of the people.
"If we are to learn any lessons from 2019 if is to be much more humble about policy decisions, and engage in multiple ways with people, because policies must be for people, not the paper we write them on," she said.
A group of international development bodies including the IMF and World Bank this week launched a major plan to try and tackle food insecurity around the world.
Source-BBC
Kyiv rules out ceding land to Russia
The apparent hardening of Ukraine's position comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war could only be resolved through diplomacy.
Presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said concessions would lead to an even larger and bloodier Russian offensive.
His comments come as Russia continues attempts to encircle Ukrainian forces defending Severodonetsk in the east.
In another development, Polish President Andrzej Duda has become the first foreign leader to address the parliament in Kyiv in person.
He received a standing ovation as he declared that only Ukrainians themselves could decide their future.
He added that Poland would do everything it could to help Ukraine join the EU.
However, France's Europe Minister, Clément Beaune, said in a radio interview on Sunday that it would probably take "15 or 20 years" for Ukraine to be accepted as an EU member.
As fighting continued, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its daily update that Russian forces were trying to break through Ukrainian defences to reach the administrative borders of the country's easternmost Luhansk region.
Luhansk regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, said Russia had attempted to break into Severodonetsk from four separate directions.
Writing on the Telegram messaging app, he said the attempts had been unsuccessful, but shelling of residential areas was continuing.
He added that a bridge connecting the city to nearby Lysychansk had been destroyed.
It was not possible for the BBC to verify the claims independently.
There have been calls in some Western nations for a ceasefire that could involve Russian forces remaining in some of the territory they have occupied in the south and east of Ukraine since Moscow invaded the country on 24 February.
Most recently, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told his country's Senate on Thursday that a ceasefire "must be achieved as soon as possible".
Source-BBC
Ford recalling thousands of pickup trucks, SUVs
Ford Motor Company on Thursday announced the recall of some 310,000 F250 S, 350S, 450S and 550 pickup trucks.
The reason is a malfunctioning driver's side air bag that Ford says can fail to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the cause is dust that may accumulate in the steering wheel, causing an electrical disconnection to the air bag. Owners are advised to schedule a free repair with a dealer.
Ford on Thursday also recalled certain 2021 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators while it investigates the cause of reported under-hood fires. The vehicles in question, a total of 39,013, were built over a four-month period between December 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Ford says there have been 16 reported under-hood fires, including while the vehicles are parked and turned off.
The automaker is advising owners of affected vehicles to park them outdoors and away from structures while the recall and investigation are underway.
Source-ABC
Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis says caring for the ailing Die Hard star is "taking a toll"
As any caregiver can tell you, it's not an easy job to tend to an ailing loved one. That's what Emma Heming Willis, the wife of Die Hard star Bruce Willis, has found in the wake of his aphasia diagnosis.
"[The] amount of care for everyone else within my household had taken a toll on my mental health and overall health," the model says in an interview with the motherhood-focused website The Bump. "And it served no one in my family."
She adds, "I put my family's needs above my own, which I found does not make me any kind of hero."
Emma is mom to Willis' youngest daughters Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, and stepmom to Willis' daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 33, Scout, 30, and 28-year-old Tallulah.
She explained her "struggle" with maintaining her self-care routine in the interview, considering her younger daughters and her caring for her husband.
"Someone told me not long ago that when you over-care for someone, you end up under-caring for yourself. That stopped me in my tracks and really resonated with me," she said.
Instead, the 43-year-old now focuses on her "baseline" needs, calling exercise "a must" for her.
"It's a time I can disconnect and can do something that I know makes me feel good overall. I think it's important to find that one thing that makes you feel good and build from there."
Emma co-signed an Instagram post with Moore and Willis' daughters in March that revealed 67-year-old Bruce was stepping away from acting as he deals with the degenerative neurological condition.
Source-ABC
Ex-boyfriend Chris Brown joins Rihanna’s well wishers
When reports circulated Thursday that Rihanna had finally given birth to her baby boy, the internet went crazy.
There was speculation about the baby's name, which has yet to be revealed; assumptions about the newborn's financial status as a billionaire; and even ideas about the infant's fashion sense. While the superstar singer and her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, have yet to post about or confirm the exciting news, many people sent congratulatory messages their way, including a greeting from none other than Chris Brown.
Brown didn't mention, tag or tweet his former girlfriend, but the Instagram Stories message he posted, later shared by The Shade Room, certainly seemed to be addressed to the new mom.
"CONGRATULATIONS," Brown wrote along with the praying hands, red heart and pregnant-person emojis. The note came as a shock to many fans who voiced their displeasure with the celebratory message, with one citing Brown and Rihanna's "toxic" relationship in the early 2000s.
Besides the backlash toward Brown, the many sweet messages continued to pour in throughout Thursday evening.
One fan tweeted, "#Rihanna had a baby boy!! She will be a supreme Mom, and I am so happy for her! Such wonderful news."
Others noted the singer's stylish fashion sense over the course of her pregnancy. "Rihanna's pregnancy era was one for the books," one user said. "I love that Rihanna is influencing the girls to step out during their pregnancy," said another.
One fan summed up their thoughts on Rih's preggo experience by saying, "Rihanna is the greatest trendsetter of our generation."
Source-ABC
Manchester City boss says champions are 'legends'
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side were "legends" after they secured their fourth Premier League title in five seasons.
City won the league by a point over challengers Liverpool with a stunning 3-2 comeback win against Aston Villa on the final day at Etihad Stadium.
It is Guardiola's 11th trophy in six years since coming to England.
"We are legends. We will be remembered. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club," said Guardiola.
"What we achieved, it is so difficult to do it. Sir Alex Ferguson with Manchester United has done it years ago - two or three times - now I realise again the magnitude of doing this. Now we are part of this."
City were 2-0 down to Villa with 15 minutes left before substitute Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, either side of midfielder Rodri's goal, in a sensational five-minute comeback.
Had they not won, Liverpool would have been champions.
"The last game is always special - a lot of emotion," Guardiola said. "Aston Villa gave everything but the first goal changed everything. We had to handle it.
"When you win the Premier League in this country four times in five seasons, it is because these guys are so, so special.
"Winning at home in front of our people is the best. The moment we equalised, we had the feeling we had the chance to score the third.
"It was the best atmosphere I have ever lived since I am here. Hopefully tomorrow we can celebrate together in Manchester's streets with our cigars and beers. I will bring my cigars, don't worry."
Liverpool won 3-1 at home to Wolves but could do nothing to stop Manchester City defending their title.
The top two sides lost just five games between them in the league all season.
"The magnitude of the achievement is related to the magnitude of our rival and I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life," Guardiola added.
"Congratulations to Liverpool - they have made us better and better each week."
Source-BBC
7 SRI LANKANS AWARDED USD$532,500 FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT AT TCI IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTRE
Seven Sri Lankans who came to Turks and Caicos Islands on an illegal sloop from Haiti in 2019 and are now seeking political asylum here, have been granted a total of USD$532,500 by the Supreme Court for false imprisonment. This story was first reported by The TCI SUN newspaper.
The Immigration Department and Attorney General's Chambers admitted that the seven Sri Lankan men were illegally detained at the Immigration Detention Centre for around 320 days.
The Sri Lankans had asked to be compensated for the damages that they sustained during their time at a daily rate of $350 per day, while the government asked for a daily rate of $200 per day. The court settled for $200 for each day of illegal detention.
Court documents obtained by The SUN revealed that four of the Sri Lankans were awarded $76,500 each and the other three were awarded $75,700 each.
The seven Sri Lankans were among a group of 29 from that country who were nabbed on the sloop along with several Haitians and a man from India on October 19, 2019. They were held at the Immigration Centre in Five Cays from then until August 24th, 2020, when the Supreme Court ruled that they must be released from that facility because, among other things, they had applied for political asylum.
Through their lawyers, Tim Prudhoe and Yuri Saunders, who are representing the men for free, they sued the then Director of Immigration, Derek Been, the Minister of Border Control and the Attorney General, and sought damages for false imprisonment, breaches to their constitutional rights and exemplary damages.
It was confirmed that several Sri Lankans have already left Turks and Caicos Islands and returned to their native countries and did not file a claim for illegal detention, otherwise the payout would have been higher.
The Sri Lankans had arrived in Turks and Caicos Islands as part of an international human smuggling operation that included The Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Canada, and USA.
On May 17th, 2021, the mastermind of the smuggling operation, a Canadian national, Sri Kajamukam Chelliah, who extradited from Turks and Caicos Islands, was sentenced in America to 32 months in prison for conspiracy to bring undocumented immigrants to the United States for private financial gain in connection with his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented immigrants from Sri Lanka through the Caribbean and into the United States.
Chelliah admitted to conspiring with others to facilitate the travel of undocumented immigrants from Sri Lanka through Haiti, Turks and Caicos Islands, and The Bahamas to the United States from on or about July 1, 2019, through on or about Oct. 10, 2019.