News And Current Events

I think it's like the second full week in May every year

Discuss also cycling-related topics?

A tragic incident occurred in Belgorod, a city on the Russian border, where part of an apartment building collapsed on Sunday killing at least 13 people, with 20 others sustaining injuries. The officials in Russia blamed Ukrainian shelling for the building's destruction. Videos circulating online depict rescue teams combing through the debris in search of survivors, only to hastily retreat as a section of the roof collapsed.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry reported the recovery of 13 bodies from the rubble thus far. The Investigative Committee of Russia, the nation's primary law enforcement body, issued a statement affirming that the 10-story structure had indeed been struck by Ukrainian shelling.

The Russian Defence Ministry later wrote on social media that the building had been damaged by fragments of a downed Tochka-U TRC missile.

It also said that air defences had shot down several more rockets over the Belgorod region, as well as two drones that were destroyed in a separate incident later Sunday.

The incoming president of Panama has vowed to make big changes to help alleviate the US border crisis.

President-elect Jose Raul Mulino vowed to shut down a crucial migration gap through Panama that has been used by more than 500,000 migrants over the last year, signaling a shift in the country’s policy as the US continues to battle a crisis at its southern border, according to a report from Voice of America.

“Panama and our Darien [Gap] are not a transit route. It is our border,” Mulino said, according to the report.

Panama had previously helped bus migrants through the critical gap and allowed them to continue their journey north, a policy that has allowed thousands to reach the US border with Mexico.

The shift comes as the US has put continued pressure on Mexico to help alleviate the crisis, calling on the country to help enforce movement restrictions through its territory to prevent migrants from eventually reaching the US border.

The Darien Gap, although a dangerous route north toward the US, has become a popular route among migrants in recent years, with cartels and other organized crime organizations stepping in to make it an affordable option for those seeking to reach the United States.

The US paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week over concerns of West Jerusalem’s looming ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said, as cited by the Financial Times.

Washington has not decided the final fate of the arms but is concerned about their possible use in the Palestinian city, the Pentagon chief reportedly told a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin stated, adding “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once thought he had a brain tumor but the dark spot on the scans turned out to be a dead parasitic worm, the New York Times has reported citing legal documents.

President John Kennedy’s nephew, who is currently running an independent presidential campaign, has argued that he is both younger and healthier than incumbent President Joe Biden and his chief rival Donald Trump.

In 2010, however, RFK Jr. was experiencing “brain fog” and memory loss so severe, he turned to top neurologists for advice about a possible tumor, according to the Times. One New York doctor gave him a different opinion, however: a dead parasite.

The anomaly seen on the scans “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” Kennedy said in a 2012 deposition.

In the same legal interview, Kennedy said he “clearly” had cognitive problems, including short-term and longer-term memory loss. In a subsequent interview with the Times, however, he attributed those to mercury poisoning, caused by his fish-heavy diet at the time.

I've come across this idea among backpackers or campers but don't see too many articles about it... it seems like a simple and convenient idea, but any tips on how to clean one's self (like with a washcloth and sink) without taking a shower or a bath?

A second whistleblower who spoke out about the manufacturer ignoring production defects passed away suddenly this week just two months after a first whistleblower died by alleged suicide.

Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday (U.S local time)

Dean was part of a deposition in a Spirit shareholder lawsuit and had filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration alleging “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management of the 737 production line,” the Seattle Times reported.

His aunt, Carol Parsons told the Seattle Times that Dean checked himself into the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties.

By 21 April he was reported to be in a ‘very critical condition’ with doctors revealing Dean had also suffered a stroke and that considerations were made to amputate his hands and feet which had turned black.

In March, John Barnett who had worked at Boeing for over 30 years died of an alleged self-inflicted wound and was found in his car.

Russian military personnel have entered an airbase in Niger that is hosting American troops, after a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.

The military officers ruling the west African country have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington’s fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Russian forces were not mingling with US troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital.

Well Lemmyverse, how did he do?

This is the most American thing ever:

The US state department has found five units of the Israeli military responsible for gross violations of human rights in individual incidents, but says they will continue to receive US military backing.

All the incidents involved took place outside of Gaza before the current war.

Israel took corrective action in four units, giving "additional information" on the fifth, the department says.

This means all the units remain eligible for US military assistance.

Washington is Israel's major military backer, supplying it with $3.8bn (£3bn) worth of weapons and defence systems per year.

We investigated Israel, like you wanted, in regards to the immediate ongoing genocide...

So we looked at relatively minor stuff compared to the current action, and we found that they certainly did violate the basic human rights and dignity of Palestinians, but all the issues were corrected...

Which is why we can continue supporting the genocide of Gaza.

Prince Harry's Apache helicopter instructor has claimed the Duke was wrong to reveal how many people he killed while in Afghanistan.

The Duke of Sussex went to Afghanistan as an infantryman in 2008, before training as a pilot and returning as an Apache gunner in 2012, when he was 27.

In his memoir Spare, Harry detailed that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters, writing: 'Every kill was on video.

'The Apache saw all. The camera in its nose recorded all. So, after every mission, there would be a careful review of that video.

'I was part of six missions that ended in the taking of human life, and they were all deemed justified… I deemed them the same.'

The Prince also wrote that he did not think of those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces' he had taken off the board.

Steve Jones, Harry's Apache helicopter instructor, criticised the Duke for revealing his kill count, describing the individuals killed as 'real people' with families.

Kanye West's planned Yeezy Porn studio is getting the seal of approval from an industry insider: the ex-husband of porn star Stormy Daniels.

Mike Moz (real name: Michael Mosny) shared his excitement about the potential for West's planned porn studio while speaking with TMZ on Friday.

He gushed that the studio could upend the adult film industry and be like 'nothing we’ve ever seen before.'

His praise for the 46-year-old rapper's latest bizarre endeavor comes after the publication reported that Moz has been communicating with West's team in hopes of possibly running the studio.

The fallout over the news of West's new venture was swift, with many of his religious and spiritual fans slamming the rapper as he appears to be moving away from the Christianity-focused part of his career.

Moz confirmed that he and West were in talks about him having a role at Yeezy Porn.

'I’ve been having discussions with Ye about a potential collab between Yeezy brand and my team at Vixen Media Group,' he shared. 'While it’s too early to give any details I’m excited about where Ye’s vision takes this.'

Ye's vision appeared to have won over the veteran porn producer, who raved that the new studio could shake up the adult industry.

'The idea that this project is going to be another porn studio is not correct. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before,' he gushed.

Moz is best known for his connection to porn star Stormy Daniels, to whom he was married from 2007 to 2009.

She broke into the mainstream over allegations that former President Donald Trump had an affair with her.

The New York Times released a blistering statement calling out President Biden for his unprecedented lack of media access during his first term in office.

"For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term," the Times began its statement. "The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess his record and hold him to account."

"Mr. Biden has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors. It is true that The Times has sought an on-the-record interview with Mr. Biden, as it has done with all presidents going back more than a century. If the president chooses not to sit down with The Times because he dislikes our independent coverage, that is his right, and we will continue to cover him fully and fairly either way," it added.

The Times continued, "However, in meetings with Vice President Harris and other administration officials, the publisher of The Times focused instead on a higher principle: That systematically avoiding interviews and questions from major news organizations doesn’t just undermine an important norm, it also establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to avoid scrutiny and accountability. That is why Mr. Sulzberger has repeatedly urged the White House to have the president sit down with The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNN and other major independent news organizations that millions of Americans rely on to understand their government."

39-year-old Elias Huizar, a former Yakima police officer, is facing a slew of charges including being accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on February 3rd after a night of drinking.

According to court documents filed by the Benton County Prosecutors Office, she's not the only minor he's had illegal sexual relations with.

The City of Yakima says Huizar hasn't been employed with the Yakima Police Department since February of 2022, but court documents say while he was employed with the department, he worked as a school resource officer at a middle school, where he met his first victim - although documents don't say if anything inappropriate happened at the time.

Later, according to court documents, Huizar reconnected with the girl, getting her pregnant at 15-years-old and she went on to have the baby at 16. Documents indicate she told investigators they stayed together as a couple after having their child.

Court documents say on February 2nd, 2024, Huizar and his now 17-year-old girlfriend invited her 16-year-old friend over. The three of them began drinking together and the two girls fell asleep after the 16-year-old friend became sick.

Eventually, documents say Huizar's 17-year-old girlfriend woke up to him sexually assaulting her friend and an argument broke out before they left the home in his truck - but he followed them until they contacted deputies who happened to be nearby and went back to the home.

Police say once they arrived at his house, he refused to cooperate and the SWAT team had to be called to arrest him. Court documents say it took around 2 hours to get him in custody and when they went inside the home, it appeared he was trying to clean the evidence left behind.

DPP government says more than 760 statues of Chiang, who ruled the island for nearly three decades, will be swiftly removed

The move is seen as a bid to erase his legacy and 'will be seen as an unfriendly gesture towards mainland China', analyst says

This is actually hilarious because Chiang is the Nationalist leader who opposed mainland China and the real reason why the countries are split.

This is just waffle inserted into the text to make it look like they are not actually erasing a major national figure that was foundational to the country.

I mean, sure, the reasons behind removing them otherwise (his violations of human rights) are completely valid, but I am just suggesting that this be covered honestly and we don't get the insane copium take that China will actually be mad that we tore down statues of the nationalist leader that fought them and led the effort to keep Taiwan separate from China.

Please.

lol.

Spare me.

A mass grave with nearly 300 bodies has been uncovered at a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Gaza Civil Defense workers said Monday, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area earlier this month.

Col. Yamen Abu Suleiman, Director of Civil Defense in Khan Younis told CNN Monday that “today, 73 bodies were recovered” in the courtyard at the Nasser Medical Complex which brought the “total number to 283.”

Suleiman alleged that some of the bodies had been found with hands and feet tied, “and there were signs of field executions. We do not know if they were buried alive or executed. Most of the bodies are decomposed.”

CNN is unable to verify Suleiman’s claims and cannot confirm the causes of death among the bodies being unearthed.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment following the discovery of the mass grave including whether bodies that had been buried at the hospital had been disinterred for DNA tests, and whether they had been reburied. CNN has sent several questions to the IDF on Sunday and Monday.

Number from https://www.usdebtclock.org/

Do you think national debts to be immoral or wrong?

On the one hand, the country is strained and if the debt is not paid, it's basically like stealing from future generations to pay for the present; it's not "their money" to borrow.

On the other, "good debt" enables people the ability to build at a profit; wealthy people do this all the time: for example, take out a loan for $9 million and buy some properties, wait a bit, sell at $10 million, have a net $1 million gain... in the meantime they are $9 million in "debt", but it's "good debt". Is the national debt "good debt" though (I don't really know).

On the cynical end with this though I guess is the realization that this was likely to be a problem, it's the "tragedy of the commons" applied to government: elites get in power and put the government in to debt for their pet projects, and they don't really care if the government goes bust because it's not "their money or problem". Does this imply a necessity of "anarchism" (anarcho-capitalism) with modern governments being inherently tending towards self-destruction? Or banning taking on national debts to prevent this problem?

Opinions on if national debts are wrong or how they are to be managed?