What's in the News? 2.0

[Haibane]

The final death sentence of the Trump administration is carried out. Federal Government has now executed more than three times as many inmates in the last six months than in the previous six decades.

[Haibane]

I can't help thinking that Alexei Navalny's return to Russia is an ill-advised move on his part. I feel sure he'll be arrested and detained as long as the government wants so as to contain his anti-Putin activities. It strikes me that he could act just as effectively from a western state.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55694598

[Haibane]

I'm completely shocked. How? How can this happen? A man is caught living in the secure area of Chicago O'Hare airport for THREE MONTHS.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55702003

[Oniya]

I'm completely shocked. How? How can this happen? A man is caught living in the secure area of Chicago O'Hare airport for THREE MONTHS.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55702003

I had a friend who used to work food service in Dulles International Airport.  He told me stories of security issues that literally weren't resolved until after 9/11/2001, including a way that someone could have used to get into the control tower.

[Shekinah]

I'm completely shocked. How? How can this happen? A man is caught living in the secure area of Chicago O'Hare airport for THREE MONTHS.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55702003

Might have been a huge fan of the movie Terminal with Tom Hanks.

[Kitteredge]

Might have been a huge fan of the movie Terminal with Tom Hanks.

Which is itself inspired by a true story:

https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0621/p11s02-almo.html

[Mechelle]

This should possibly be under the Brexit thread, but Brexit is now done and has happened, so I have put it here.

One of the government's , and Brexiters' like Nigel Farage, main reasons for Brexit was to support the fishermen. However, those same fishermen have had a protest in London today complaining that the additional red tape which is now required makes it impossible for them to export fresh fish. and seafood.

Boris Johnson had  earlier said that the delays were because companies were not filling in the forms correctly, while Jacob Rees-Mogg, in what was probably supposed to be a joke, said that the fish were British and happier for it now. They are probably happier because they are less likely to be caught in future, as it'not worthwhile, to be fair.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55706114
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jacob-rees-mogg-fish-brexit-b1787271.html

[TheHangedOne]

https://www.jpost.com/international/us-capitol-on-lockdown-due-to-external-security-threat-smoke-seen-rising-655869


Apparently, a propane tank in a homeless encampment exploded in the US capitol.

[Haibane]

Mechelle - I think we should still post in the Brexit thread. I am certain there will still be lots that is newsworthy about changes post-Brexit. Perhaps you could duplicate your informative post there as well?

@TheHangedMan. Awful. As if people didn't have enough to deal with already.

[Haibane]

Bleak news regarding Alexei Navalny in Russia. Police are stamping down on his associates.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55765895

[Lilias]

Mira Furlan (Ambassador Delenn in Babylon 5) has died. She was 65.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mira-furlan-dead-babylon-5-lost-1234890117/

The so-called 'curse of Babylon 5' refers to cast members who met premature ends. If you add those who were not so premature, it builds up to a list of grim length, for a show that was not that long ago. IMDB list

[HairyHeretic]

I saw that a little while ago myself. Another one passed beyond the Rim.

[Beorning]

Mira Furlan (Ambassador Delenn in Babylon 5) has died. She was 65.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mira-furlan-dead-babylon-5-lost-1234890117/

The so-called 'curse of Babylon 5' refers to cast members who met premature ends. If you add those who were not so premature, it builds up to a list of grim length, for a show that was not that long ago. IMDB list

Oh damn :(

We also lost another great today: Henryk Chmielewski, the creator of the classic Polish Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek comic series. He was 97.

[RedRose]

some claim it was random, other homophobic, in any case  https://verietyinfo.com/ukraineeng/puncture-of-the-skull-and-eye-injury-a-14-year-old-ukrainian-was-beaten-in-paris-he-is-in-a-coma/

[Beorning]

Some news from Poland... Unfortunately, no English-language links :\

News #1: President Andrzej Duda gave an interview today in the main Polish independent news station, TVN24. He was asked a few pointed questions and gave answers that were... well... see below

Regarding the recent cases of state prosecutors (some of whom are vocal critics of the Minister of Justice) who have been ordered to work in prosecution offices far away from their places of residence (like, say, a few hundred kilometres away) - something that many consider blatant political revenge by the Justice Ministry:

"If these prosecutors are so very unhappy - I understand they are complaining, they are unhappy - then, I don't see any problem here. There are other options, a lawyer doesn't need to work for the state institutions, they could work as an attorney or a notary."

(so: there are no political bullying going on! People being suddenly forced to work 400 km away from their families is okay! And if these people don't like it, they can always quit!)

Regarding the fact that he waited for over a month with congratulating Joe Biden for winning the US elections, instead of doing so soon after the elections:

"The elections result was, at that point, completely unclear, so I think I behaved very reasonably. This is how you conduct serious and mature diplomacy."

(I guess that all of the world leaders that congratulated Biden soon after the elections have no idea how to conduct "mature diplomacy", then... Note Duda subscribing to Trump's questioning of the elections result, too)

Regarding the behaviour of the police during the ongoing women's protests - which involved stuff like undercover police officers attacking people with telescopic batons, riot police tear-gassing peaceful protesters and MPs and, in general, the officers handling the protesters so roughly that, on one occassion, a teenage girl had an arm broken by a cop when being dragged to the police car:

"The police in our country is behaving in highly professional matter, really. Please take note of the fact that we have no cases of anyone being killed."

(uhm... what???  )

I'm tempted to say... a lot of words. But saying offensive things about the President is still a prosecutable crime here, so I'll refrain from saying my thoughts aloud...

News #2: On a more positive note - a trial regarding a truly disgusting case ended today. In 2019, an Ukrainian worker employed illegally in a woodworking workshop collapsed on the job and started having seizures. His employer forbid the other workers from calling in a doctor or an ambulance, she just put the man's head on a pillow, gave him some water and... that's it, really. The man died (the autopsy gave the cause of death as pulmonary disfunction of an unknown origin - but note that the workshop was said to be really poorly ventilated, with a lot of dust and chemical fumes). After the man died, the employer didn't report it, either - instead, she took the man's body and *threw it away* in the forest over 100 km from the workshop.

It was the woman's second trial - she got convicted the first time around, but she appealed. Today, the court rejected the appeal. The verdict is 22 months of prison time and a 12 years ban on running any business that would have any employees other than the convicted woman herself.

I'm really happy to see that awful person get convicted. Especially as it's not the first case like this here...

[Skynet]

It appears that Trump had a plan to get rid of the current Attorney General and appoint a new one to help him overturn the Georgia elections.

So much for that "Stop the Steal" rhetoric. The call was coming from inside the house.

[Regina Minx]

It appears that Trump had a plan to get rid of the current Attorney General and appoint a new one to help him overturn the Georgia elections.

So much for that "Stop the Steal" rhetoric. The call was coming from inside the house.

[Haibane]

It appears that Trump had a plan to get rid of the current Attorney General and appoint a new one to help him overturn the Georgia elections.

So much for that "Stop the Steal" rhetoric. The call was coming from inside the house.

When people provide links it would be very much appreciated if they did not require payment, always please try to supply a free-to-read link if you can. Thanks.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/535510-trump-planned-to-oust-acting-ag-to-overturn-georgia-election-results

[Regina Minx]

Prince Harry demands urgent social media reform....

You know...just saying...we fought a revolution so that British royalty couldn't make laws concerning American speech...so...

[Haibane]

Harry and Meghan really frustrate and anger me. Harry married a person who has enjoyed loud media attention for years. They quit the Royal family because they didn't want the publicity and prying eyes into their lives, then emigrate to America, which is probably the #1 country on the planet where the media want to comment on celebrities, and have every right to do so ... and then they immediately begin shooting their mouths off about matters that don't concern them.

IMHO Her Majesty the Queen should never have allowed Harry to depart from the Royal family. He should have been obliged to stay, do his duty and suck it up. He has come across in the last year or two as the worst sort of cake-and-eat-it spoiled brat.

[Haibane]

In defence of him though I want to add that he isn't British royalty. He has been officially divorced from the House of Windsor. He's plain British citizen Harry Windsor now, that is all. And he is just making a public opinion piece and no doubt being paid for it. I agree with his point; what he says is true and is what dozens of other commentators have said. I still think he ought to belt up however due to factors stated in my above post but please lets not make allusions to Mad King George and his attitudes to his 13 Provinces that led to the birth of a new nation. This is very different.

[Haibane]

Sorry for multiple posts but had to link this. A Welsh MP has resigned over breaking alcohol laws in Wales during lockdown. Just... the stupidity (or is it arrogance?) of some public figures never ceases to amaze.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-55767262

You are a person who has chosen to serve the citizens you represent which means you must not only uphold the law but be seen to be upholding the law, and then you go and do this dumb stuff. Get out, idiot.

[legomaster00156]

Perhaps I'm simply out of the loop (I've never paid mind to celebrity gossip), but I've not heard from either of the ex-royals since they originally left the family.

[Lilias]

Two more for the obituaries list.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336793
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/23/larry-king-obituary

[Skynet]

When people provide links it would be very much appreciated if they did not require payment, always please try to supply a free-to-read link if you can. Thanks.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/535510-trump-planned-to-oust-acting-ag-to-overturn-georgia-election-results

You can view it via opening in an incognito window, although I understand that's not widely known. Thank you for pointing this out.