Passenger

Passenger's Journal

May 11, 2021

School shooting in Russia. Yes, Russia.

Russia School Shooting Leaves Several Dead
The New York Times

MOSCOW — Gunfire and a subsequent explosion erupted at a school in central Russia on Tuesday, killing several students and at least one teacher, the state news media reported, in what appears to be a rare mass shooting in the country.

Nearby residents heard shots and an explosion, then saw smoke billowing from the schoolhouse as the police and ambulances rushed to the scene in Kazan, a regional capital about 450 miles east of Moscow, the Russian Information Agency reported.

The Russian Information Agency cited local emergency officials as saying that 11 people had died and that the police had detained a 17-year-old suspect. But it also cited a regional governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, as saying that seven students and one teacher had died and that 20 people had been wounded. The news agency said it could not immediately clarify the discrepancy.

Russia has strict laws governing civilian gun ownership. Applicants for a firearm’s license must pass psychological exams and own a smoothbore shotgun for a trial period before obtaining a rifle. Pistol ownership is more tightly controlled, largely limited to those, such as retiring military officers, who are given a pistol as an award for their service.

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May 11, 2021

Conversion therapy: Public to be consulted before ban (UK)

Conversion therapy: Public to be consulted before ban (BBC)

A public consultation will be opened before a ban on so-called conversion therapy, the BBC understands."Conversion therapy" attempts to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity, according to NHS England. The consultation will consider religious freedom and how to protect professionals, including therapists, say government sources. The proposed ban on conversion therapy in England and Wales will be announced in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday.

Campaigners say ministers must act fast and bring in a ban across all settings.
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I expect they will end up doing the right thing, but we will see.

May 8, 2021

UN Chief on Why the World Failed Its HIV Targets for 2020

Five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly set goals for HIV infections and deaths in 2020 — and the world failed both targets.

The General Assembly in 2016 called for 500,000 new HIV infections and 500,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2020. But last year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, infections swelled to 1.7 million, over three times the target. Deaths related to AIDS reached 690,000, well over the goal.

Now, UN officials are working to explain last year's failures and set targets for the future.

“It is imperative to break out of an increasingly costly and unsustainable cycle of achieving some progress against HIV but ultimately not enough to bring about an end to the pandemic,” Secretary-General António Guterres stated in a recent report, released in preparation for an upcoming UN General Assembly meeting on AIDS.

(more)

May 7, 2021

Questions Emerge On Swiss Diplomat's Death In Iran

Questions Emerge On Swiss Diplomat’s Death In Iran

With Iranian authorities yet to announce their conclusions on the death of Sylvie Brunner, a 51-year-old Swiss diplomat in Tehran, Hamshahri newspaper has offered an account of her death that may feed speculation. Brunner, first secretary of the Swiss embassy and deputy of the United States interest section, fell from her residence in a high-rise building Tuesday.

Switzerland has for decades represented US and Iranian interests in the two countries, which have had no diplomatic relations since 1980 when the revolutionary government in Iran failed to act to free American diplomats taken hostage by militant students.

Hamshahri offered a relatively full, if inconclusive, account of Brunner’s death. In very broad terms, it concurs with a brief report from Mizan, news agency of Iran’s judiciary, which reported Tuesday evening that the diplomat “fell from the 17th floor where she lived and her body was found in the gardens outside the building under her balcony.” Brunner’s body, Mizan said, had been taken to the coroner’s office following investigation at the scene in the presence of a judge and crime-scene experts.

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Sending us a message?

May 5, 2021

Really. That. Stupid.

Florida private school won’t allow teachers, staff to get COVID-19 vaccine

MIAMI, Fla. – A private school in Miami is warning its staff against getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Centner Academy said its school policy, to the extent possible, not to employ anyone who has gotten a coronavirus vaccine until further information is known.

“Here we have one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal to protect ourselves and prevent this problem and they are discouraging the use of it. It’s tragic,” said Dr. Aileen Marty, a FIU infectious disease expert.

A letter was sent to parents of students at Centner Academy, saying the school discourages teachers and staff from getting the COVID-19 vaccines or to wait until the end of the school year to get vaccinated.

(more)

May 5, 2021

U.S. eyes nuclear reactor tax credit to meet climate goals -sources

U.S. eyes nuclear reactor tax credit to meet climate goals -sources (Reuters)

The White House has signaled privately to lawmakers and stakeholders in recent weeks that it supports taxpayer subsidies to keep nuclear facilities from closing and making it harder to meet U.S. climate goals, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

New subsidies, in the form of "production tax credits," would likely be swept into President Joe Biden's multi-trillion-dollar legislative effort to invest in infrastructure and jobs, the sources said.

Wind and solar power producers already get these tax rebates based on levels of energy they generate.
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Seriously?

May 4, 2021

More gun violence, this time in Florida.

4 Shot, Woman Killed at Black Heritage Festival In Florida

CLEWISTON, Fla. – A woman was fatally shot and at least three others were injured at the Brown Sugar Festival in Clewiston Saturday night, according to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 9:30pm, 911 began receiving multiple calls reporting a shooting in the Harlem Community of the city.

Hendry County Investigators say that Deputies were in the area of Harlem Academy and 12th Street when they heard gunshots. The deputies immediately responded and found the victim, later identified as 20-year old Evereonna Sankey, a licensed certified nursing assistant from Lee County.

Deputies began providing CPR but Sankey died as a result of her injuries. The conditions of the others injured is not known and there have been no arrests made.

The shooting occurred at the Brown Sugar Festival, an annual event held during the first week of May. The focus of the festival is Black Heritage and the event raises money for scholarships.

(more)

May 3, 2021

Decayed Corpse of 'Cult' Leader Found in Colorado HQ

Decayed Corpse of ‘Cult’ Leader Found in Colorado HQ

DENVER—Several members of a bizarre spiritual group called “Love Has Won” have been taken into custody after the badly decaying body of the group’s leader was found in its headquarters.

Amy Carlson, 45, whose followers call her “Mother God,” was found dead in a mobile home in Casada Park, west of Crestone. Saguache County Sheriff’s deputies and Colorado Bureau of Investigation detectives found the self-proclaimed “divine being” of the group after a tip-off from a member who told them her body had been transported to Colorado from across the country.

The death and its connection to Love Has Won—which law enforcement and ex-members have previously called a “cult”—were first reported by Be Scofield.

While being interviewed by law enforcement, the group would not use the word “deceased,” when referring to Carlson’s death, according to a source familiar with the case. They claimed Carlson was not dead, but was merely “out of communication.”

May 2, 2021

Et tu Caitlyn?

Caitlyn Jenner: Trans girls shouldn’t compete in girls’ sports because ‘it just isn’t fair’

Jenner — who has plans to run for California governor — recently told TMZ that it’s a “question of fairness” that prevents her from supporting trans girls competing against their cisgender peers.

“That’s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls sports in school,” the 71-year-old gubernatorial hopeful said. “It just isn’t fair, and we have to protect girls’ sports in our schools.”

Republicans!

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