India’s crematoriums overwhelmed as virus ‘swallows people’ – POLITICO
India’s crematoriums overwhelmed as virus ‘swallows people’ – POLITICO

Experts say that toll could be a huge undercount, as suspected cases are not included, and many deaths from the infection are being attributed to underlying conditions.

The crisis unfolding in India is most visceral in its graveyards and crematoriums, and in heartbreaking images of gasping patients dying on their way to hospitals due to lack of oxygen.

Burial grounds in the Indian capital New Delhi are running out of space and bright, glowing funeral pyres light up the night sky in other badly hit cities.

In central Bhopal city, some crematoriums have increased their capacity from dozens of pyres to more than 50. Yet officials say there are still hours-long waits.

At the city’s Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat crematorium, workers said they cremated more than 110 people on Saturday, even as government figures in the entire city of 1.8 million put the total number of virus deaths at just 10.

“The virus is swallowing our city’s people like a monster,” said Mamtesh Sharma, an official at the site.

The unprecedented rush of bodies has forced the crematorium to skip individual ceremonies and exhaustive rituals that Hindus believe release the soul from the cycle of rebirth.

“We are just burning bodies as they arrive,” said Sharma. “It is as if we are in the middle of a war.”

The head gravedigger at New Delhi’s largest Muslim cemetery, where 1,000 people have been buried during the pandemic, said more bodies are arriving now than last year. “I fear we will run out of space very soon,” said Mohammad Shameem.

The situation is equally grim at unbearably full hospitals, where desperate people are dying in line, sometimes on the roads outside, waiting to see doctors.

Health officials are scrambling to expand critical care units and stock up on dwindling supplies of oxygen. Hospitals and patients alike are struggling to procure scarce medical equipment that is being sold at an exponential markup.

The crisis is in direct contrast with government claims that “nobody in the country was left without oxygen,” in a statement made Saturday by India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before Delhi High Court.

The breakdown is a stark failure for a country whose prime minister only in January had declared victory over COVID-19, and which boasted of being the “world’s pharmacy,” a global producer of vaccines and a model for other developing nations.

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/25/indias-crematoriums-overwhelmed-as-virus-swallows-people-484578

17 views no comments
Khloé Kardashian thanks Biden for officially recognizing Armenian genocide – CNN
Khloé Kardashian thanks Biden for officially recognizing Armenian genocide – CNN

By Ray Sanchez, CNN

Updated 7:17 PM ET, Sat April 24, 2021

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/24/entertainment/kardashian-biden-armenian-genocide-trnd/index.html

13 views no comments
Deaths climb as India reels from deadly Covid wave – BBC News
Deaths climb as India reels from deadly Covid wave – BBC News

The country has so far confirmed more than 186,000 deaths and 16 million cases – three million have been added just in the last two weeks. And it continues to see record single-day spikes, evidence of a curve that is far steeper than the first wave in mid-September last year.

Source Article from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56855712

15 views no comments
Biden’s 100 days: Low-end approval, yet strong marks on pandemic response: POLL – ABC News
Biden’s 100 days: Low-end approval, yet strong marks on pandemic response: POLL – ABC News

Intense partisanship is holding Joe Biden to a tepid job approval rating — the third-lowest for any president at 100 days in office since Harry Truman — along with continued economic dislocation, pandemic impacts and questions about Biden’s view of the size and role of government.

All told, 52% of Americans in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll approve of Biden’s work in office, lower than any president at 100 days in office since 1945, save Gerald Ford in 1974 (48%, after his unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon) and Donald Trump at 42% in 2017. For the 14 presidents from Truman to Biden, the 100-day average is 66%.

See PDF for full results, charts and tables.

Behind Biden’s overall rating is a range of varying assessments in this poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates. The president wins broad approval for his pandemic relief package, 65%; for his handling of the pandemic, 64%; and for his proposal to raise corporate taxes, 58%. But support for his $2 trillion infrastructure package slips to 52%, as does his rating for handling the economy; and he has just 37% approval for his work on the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.

More broadly, 53% express concern that Biden will do too much to increase the size and role of government in U.S. society. Relatedly, 40% see him as “too liberal,” more than either of his most recent Democratic predecessors at 100 days – Barack Obama, 33%, and Bill Clinton, 26%. (This rose for Obama later in his presidency.)

At the same time, public preference for smaller government with fewer services, at 48%, is its lowest in ABC/Post polls dating back nearly 30 years. Virtually as many, 45%, now favor larger government with more services — an opening, if not broad endorsement, for Biden’s call for a greater role for government in addressing social ills.

Overall, preference for larger government with more services is up 7 percentage points since last asked in August 2012, driven by increases among Democrats (+17 points), college graduates (+17), liberals (+15) and men (+8). It’s essentially unchanged among their counterparts.

Notably, too, while Biden’s overall rating lags in historical terms, it surpasses his immediate predecessor. Trump, the first president on record never to achieve majority approval, left office with a 38% job approval rating, 14 points below Biden’s today. Trump had the same 38% approval for his handling of the coronavirus — 26 points below Biden’s now.

By contrast, Biden’s rating for handling the economy is essentially the same as Trump’s in January, marking this as a clear challenge. Indeed, just 42% of Americans rate the economy positively, far below its pre-pandemic level; 58% instead say it’s in not-so-good or poor shape. Presidential fortunes often are closely linked to economic conditions.

Partisans

The intensified partisanship of recent years is a factor in Biden’s overall rating. Just 13% of Republicans approve of his work in office, exactly matching Democrats’ approval of Trump at 100 days. Obama instead had 36% approval from Republicans in April 2009, and George W. Bush had 39% approval from Democrats at his 100-day mark.

Going further back, George H.W. Bush had 58% approval from Democrats in 1989, and Ronald Reagan had 62% Democratic approval at about 100 days in April 1981 — levels of initial opposite-party appeal that seem a relic of the past.

Independents, most of whom lean toward one of the two parties, look different as well. In earlier years, sizable majorities of independents approved of the new president at 100 days — 75% for Reagan, for example, and 67% as recently as Obama. Today, 47% of independents approve of Biden’s work — better than Trump’s 38% at the same point, but far from what previous presidents have seen.

Negotiate?

Another result points to a conundrum for Biden — whether and how to seek compromise with minority-party Republicans in Congress. On one hand, Americans often express support for bipartisanship, and such is the case now: Sixty percent prefer to see Biden try to win Republican support by making major changes to his proposals, while just 30% prefer he try to have his proposals enacted without major changes, even if that means no GOP support.

Political life, though, is not that simple. Despite that public preference, it likely won’t be lost on the Biden administration that his most popular initiative — the pandemic relief package — is one he pushed through without a single Republican vote.

That said, even those who see Biden’s views on the issues as “just about right” (rather than too liberal or too conservative) split on the matter of negotiation: Forty-four percent think he should compromise in the spirit of bipartisanship; 45% think he should enact his proposals without Republican support.

Approval groups

Biden’s approval peaks among those who were most apt to support him in the presidential election: Democrats (90%), liberals (86%) and Black people (82%). It’s 12 points higher among college graduates than those without college degrees (60% versus 48%), and 8 points higher among women than men (56% versus 48%), again reflecting familiar patterns from November.

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone April 18 to 21, 2021, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,007 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 percentage points, including the design effect. Partisan divisions are 33%-24%-35%, Democrats-Republicans-independents.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Maryland. See details on the survey’s methodology here.

Source Article from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bidens-100-days-low-end-approval-strong-marks/story?id=77218406

10 views no comments
Portland’s Democratic mayor begs public to help ‘unmask’ members of ‘self-described anarchist mob’ – Fox News
Portland’s Democratic mayor begs public to help ‘unmask’ members of ‘self-described anarchist mob’ – Fox News
Video

Portland businesses struggling to reopen as riots continue

Struggling businesses in Portland, Oregon are still dealing with vandalism and violence 9 months after protests began. Mike McCarter, president of Move Oregon’s Border, weighs in.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called Friday for the city’s residents to assist authorities in their efforts to “unmask” members of the “self-described anarchist mob” who have engaged in acts of violence and vandalism in recent months.

The Democrat extended a state of emergency in Portland through Monday amid concerns about potential unrest following the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer found guilty on all charges for the death of George Floyd. The Portland mayor asked the public to come forward with any information on members of the anarchist group.

“The city is beginning to recover, but self-described anarchists who engage in regular criminal destruction don’t want things to open up, to recover,” Wheeler said. “They want to prevent us from doing the work of making a better Portland for everyone. They want to burn, they want to bash.”

Video

Portland has contended with months of violent demonstrations and clashes since Floyd’s death last May. Last Monday, a group of about 80 people caused nearly $20,000 worth of property damage to a Boys and Girls Club in northeast Portland.

On the previous Friday, police declared a riot amid reports of gunshots, broken windows at the First Christian Church and anti-police graffiti at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the Oregonian reported.

Wheeler expressed support for Portland police to use all “legal strategies” to prevent further violence or property damage. “Kettling,” a controversial tactic in which police surround a crowd to confine it to one area, was one of the approved strategies.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The mayor noted that local Black Lives Matter leaders “have already stepped forward to denounce these self-described anarchists.” Wheeler said he would work with local authorities to arrest and prosecute those who commit acts of violence.

“Together we can make a stand,” Wheeler said. “We’re doing what we can today. I’m also asking for your help to make a stand and take our city back.”

Within hours of Wheeler’s public plea, police declared a riot in the northeast part of the city after rioters began damaging buildings. Two people were arrested.

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/portland-mayor-asks-public-help-unmask-members-self-described-anarchist-mob

13 views no comments
UAMS gives the gift of sight to nearly 20 Marshallese patients for free – KATV
UAMS gives the gift of sight to nearly 20 Marshallese patients for free – KATV
13 views no comments
New photos show Epstein and Maxwell were VIP guests in Clinton’s White House – New York Post
New photos show Epstein and Maxwell were VIP guests in Clinton’s White House – New York Post

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were once White House guests of former President Bill Clinton, new pictures prove.

The images were published by The Sun, days after Maxwell’s last court appearance on sex trafficking charges in Manhattan, related to her alleged procurement of underage rape victims for the convicted pedophile.

The disgusting duo were invited to the White House in 1993, after Epstein reportedly donated money to have the Oval Office refurbished.

They toured the East Room and the presidential residence during a reception, the paper reported.

The pictures expand the timeline of Clinton’s involvement with Epstein and Maxwell.

Prior to their surfacing, some of the oldest photos linking the trio were from 2002, Clinton was photographed aboard Epstein’s private jet along with Maxwell and one of the late billionaires’ rape accusers.

Ghislaine Maxwell is currently facing trial, while convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in jail in 2019.
William J. Clinton Presidential Library

The former president also reportedly had a private dinner with Maxwell in 2014 — long after Epstein was convicted of child sex abuse.

Clinton has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island in the Bahamas, but accuser Virginia Giuffre has claimed to be on the island at the same time as the ex-president.

A book released last year claims that Clinton had an affair with Maxwell.

The disgusting duo reportedly toured the East Room and presidential residence during the 1993 reception.
William J. Clinton Presidential Library

Clinton has maintained he was unaware of any sexual misconduct in his dealings with the wealthy financier. Epstein has also socialized with Donald Trump before he was president, and Prince Andrew — who Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with.

Epstein, facing a slew of sex charges, was found fatally hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019.

The Florida mansion where he allegedly raped hundreds of girls and women was demolished last week.

Source Article from https://nypost.com/2021/04/25/epstein-and-maxwell-were-vip-guests-in-clintons-white-house-photos/

71 views no comments
Virginia man shot by deputy who gave him ride home earlier in the day | TheHill – The Hill
Virginia man shot by deputy who gave him ride home earlier in the day | TheHill – The Hill

A man in Virginia was shot by the same sheriff’s deputy who had given him a ride home earlier in the day.

Isaiah Brown, a 32-year-old Black man, received a ride home from a deputy at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday after his car broke down, according to NBC Washington.

The same day, he called 911 over a dispute with his brother. 

The same deputy responded to the 911 call, and Brown was shot while holding a cordless phone, according to the outlet. 

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office released footage of the encounter on Friday, as well as audio of the 911 call that preceded it in a video. 

According to the audio recording, Brown called because his brother wouldn’t let him into his mother’s room to retrieve car keys.

Brown then threatens to kill his brother.

Several minutes into call, Brown says he is walking down the road with his house phone, and that he does not have a gun.

Yet, in the recordings of the incident, the deputy states that Brown has a “gun to his head.” He demands to see Brown’s hands and drop the gun.

The officer then screams “stop!, stop!” before appearing to fire at least six shots. After the shots, the deputy repeats his demands for Brown to show his hands and drop a gun. 

The law enforcement officer then begins to perform “live saving measures” on Brown, seen in the video lying in the street. 

David Haynes of The Cochran Firm, who is representing Brown, said in a statement to The Hill “it is evident that the tragic shooting of Isaiah Brown was completely avoidable.”

“Isaiah is now fighting for his life as a result of these completely avoidable errors by the deputy and dispatch,” Haynes said.

Brown was reportedly shot six times in the abdomen during the encounter. 

The shooting comes after several Americans of color in the past week have been shot, sometimes fatally, by police. 

North Carolina authorities said Wednesday that Andrew Brown Jr. was fatally shot after police attempted to serve him a warrant for felony charges.

Another Black American, 16-year-old Ma’Khai Bryant, was fatally shot four times by police after she lunged at another person. The officer who fired his weapon, Nicholas Reardon, said that she had a knife. 

The shootings came the same week that a jury in Minneapolis convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter charges in connection to the death of George Floyd last May.

Updated 10:20 p.m.

Source Article from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/550136-virginia-man-shot-by-same-police-officer-who-gave-him-ride-home

10 views no comments
Democrats praise Biden for recognizing Armenian genocide | TheHill – The Hill
Democrats praise Biden for recognizing Armenian genocide | TheHill – The Hill

Democrats praised President BidenJoe Biden7 deputies placed on leave after North Carolina shooting Overnight Defense: Pentagon panel recommends major change in prosecuting military sexual assault | Reinforcements provide cover for Afghanistan withdrawal | Biden pick would be Pentagon’s highest-ranking openly trans official Biden’s ‘trickle-up’ economics is just what America needs MORE on Saturday after he recognized the massacre of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 as a “genocide.”

Biden’s declaration was not only the fulfillment of a campaign promise but also an announcement that bipartisan administrations had refrained from making. 

“[O]ur hearts are full of joy that President Biden has taken the historic step of joining Congress with formal recognition on Armenian Genocide Day,” said Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiBiden address to Congress to feature fewer attendees, no first lady’s box Chauvin’s jurors doled out justice, but politicians still seek division Tensions rise as Democrats face Senate bottleneck on agenda MORE (D-Calif.). “History teaches us that if we ignore its darkest chapters, we are destined to witness the horrors of the past be repeated.”

Rep. Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffBiden, Erdoğan speak amid tensions over Armenian genocide Groups see new openings for digging up dirt on Trump Overnight Defense: Administration says ‘low to moderate confidence’ Russia behind Afghanistan troop bounties | ‘Low to medium risk’ of Russia invading Ukraine in next few weeks | Intelligence leaders face sharp questions during House worldwide threats he MORE (D-Calif.), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said, “For Armenian-Americans and everyone who believes in human rights and the truth, today marks an historic milestone: President Biden has defied Turkish threats and recognized the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians for what it was – the first genocide of the 20th Century. In so doing, he has cast aside decades of shameful silence and half-truths, and the broken promises of so many of his predecessors, and spoken truth to power.”

Lawmakers cast Biden’s announcement as long overdue given that the massacre happened over a century ago. 

“Finally, after 100 years, the US is on the right side of history thanks to @POTUS declaring that what happened to the Armenian people at the hands of the Ottomans was in fact a genocide. Honored to join my colleagues today to praise this historic announcement. #ArmenianGenocide,” Rep. Judy ChuJudy May ChuHouse passes bill aimed at stopping future Trump travel ban Congress can help Americans living with disabilities by passing the ABLE Age Adjustment Act Bipartisan lawmakers call for action on anti-hate crime measures MORE (D-Calif.) tweeted.

While Biden’s decision drew plaudits from lawmakers, it has the potential to complicate Washington’s relationship with Turkey.

Ankara has always denied that the massacre amounted to a genocide and swiftly denounced Biden’s announcement on Saturday.

“We reject and denounce in the strongest terms the statement of the President of the US regarding the events of 1915 made under the pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups on 24 April,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

“This statement of the US, which distorts the historical facts, will never be accepted in the conscience of the Turkish people, and will open a deep wound that undermines our mutual trust and friendship,” it said.

Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are set to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming NATO summit in Brussels in June.

Source Article from https://thehill.com/homenews/house/550111-democrats-praise-biden-for-recognizing-armenian-genocide

11 views no comments
NC sheriff to ask court to release bodycam footage of Andrew Brown shooting | TheHill – The Hill
NC sheriff to ask court to release bodycam footage of Andrew Brown shooting | TheHill – The Hill

A North Carolina sheriff will ask a court to release body camera footage of the police shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City.

Pasquotank County Sheriff Thomas S. Wooten said in a video statement posted to Facebook on Saturday that the county hoped to ask a court to release the footage Monday.

Wooten said he wanted to ensure that releasing the footage would not compromise an ongoing investigation from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation into the shooting. 

“People have falsely claimed that my office has the power to do so, that is not true, only a judge can release the video,” Wooten said.

“That’s why I’ve asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to confirm for me that the releasing of the video will not undermine their investigation,” he continued. “Once I get that confirmation, our county will file a motion in court, hopefully Monday, to have the footage released.”

The announcement comes after activists and politicians pressed for the release of the video of Wednesday’s shooting.

Brown was fatally shot as deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant for felony drug charges. A car pulled away from the scene, and the deputies fired shots at the car.

Seven deputies have since been placed on administrative leave.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) called on body camera footage to be released on Twitter Friday, stating that  “initial reports of the shooting in Elizabeth City and death of Andrew Brown, Jr. this week are tragic and extremely concerning.

“The body camera footage should be made public as quickly as possible and the SBI should investigate thoroughly to ensure accountability,” he tweeted.

According to The Raleigh News and Observer, the Elizabeth City Council voted on Friday to ask the sheriff and district attorney to support a judge releasing the footage.

Brown’s death came a day after a jury in Minneapolis found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter for the death of George Floyd last May.

It also comes after police in Ohio released footage of the fatal shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl who was shot after police were called amid an an altercation between several people. 

Floyd and Bryant’s deaths, along with the deaths of other Americans of color have brought the issue of police reform to the forefront of national politics.

Lawmakers and advocates as well as President BidenJoe Biden7 deputies placed on leave after North Carolina shooting Overnight Defense: Pentagon panel recommends major change in prosecuting military sexual assault | Reinforcements provide cover for Afghanistan withdrawal | Biden pick would be Pentagon’s highest-ranking openly trans official Biden’s ‘trickle-up’ economics is just what America needs MORE have called on Congress to pass legislation on police reform following the conviction of Chauvin. 

Source Article from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/550133-north-carolina-sheriff-to-ask-court-to-release-bodycam-footage-of-andrew

39 views no comments
Portland mayor urges residents to ‘unmask’ rioters after weeks of violence – The Washington Post
Portland mayor urges residents to ‘unmask’ rioters after weeks of violence – The Washington Post

The police said they had found a flier with the instructions: “bloc up, be water, no megaphones, no streamers.” Such words had been included on fliers on previous nights when people “armed with weapons used to cause damage, wearing helmets, body armor, and gas masks” had committed “crimes such as criminal mischief, arson and assault,” the police said in a statement before the march.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/24/ted-wheeler-portland-protests/

10 views no comments
Southeast Asian Leaders Call For Immediate End To Violence In Myanmar – NPR
Southeast Asian Leaders Call For Immediate End To Violence In Myanmar – NPR

Indonesian police guard the site of Saturday’s ASEAN emergency summit in Jakarta, which drew protests over the invitation of Myanmar’s military general.

Ed Wray/Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Ed Wray/Getty Images

Indonesian police guard the site of Saturday’s ASEAN emergency summit in Jakarta, which drew protests over the invitation of Myanmar’s military general.

Ed Wray/Getty Images

Leaders of nine Southeast Asian countries on Saturday called for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar, where the military government has cracked down violently on the enormous protests over its February coup.

At an emergency summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held in Jakarta, Indonesia’s president called the situation in Myanmar “unacceptable.”

“The violence must be stopped and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored,” President Joko Widodo said.

Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy protesters have demonstrated in the months since Myanmar’s military seized full control of the country from the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

In response, the military has imposed Internet blackouts, arrested thousands and fired on protesters. At least 748 people have been killed and 3,389 are being detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Burmese human rights group based in Thailand.

The official statement released Saturday by ASEAN leaders makes five demands of the military junta, including an “immediate cessation” of the violence and a peaceful solution to the situation via “constructive dialogue,” mediated by a special envoy appointed by ASEAN. The leaders also demanded that Myanmar’s military government allow the arrival of humanitarian assistance.

The military’s leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who was in attendance, did not make a public statement. The summit was his first trip outside Myanmar since the coup.

The invitation of the general was criticized by opponents of the coup, including the new National Unity Government in Myanmar, formed earlier this month by pro-democracy politicians who have named the deposed democratic leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, as their leaders.

The National Unity Government argued the general’s invitation risked legitimizing the military coup and had called on Interpol to arrest General Min Aung Hlaing upon his arrival in Jakarta.

In a statement released after the summit, the group’s spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, praised ASEAN’s actions.

“We welcome the encouraging news that ASEAN leaders have reached consensus that the military violence in Myanmar must stop and political prisoners released,” Sasa said. “… We look forward to firm action by ASEAN to follow up its decisions and restore our democracy and freedom for our people and our region.”

ASEAN has traditionally defaulted to a more hands-off approach to the internal affairs of its 10 member nations. In the days after the coup in February, the bloc issued a statement urging a “return to normalcy” but stopped short of explicit condemnation.

But ahead of Saturday’s summit, pro-democracy advocates and organizations urged ASEAN to take a stronger stand.

“This is not an internal matter for Myanmar but a major human rights and humanitarian crisis which is impacting the entire region and beyond,” said Emerlynne Gil of Amnesty International ahead of Saturday’s summit.

Myanmar’s deposed ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, who drew international praise for denouncing the coup in a remarkable speech before the U.N. General Assembly in February, pleaded with ASEAN to prioritize civilians.

“Whatever the decision made by the leaders of the ASEAN, they should take into account the saving lives of innocent civilians in Myanmar and providing humanitarian assistance to the people in need,” Kyaw Moe Tun said in an interview with Al-Jazeera ahead of Saturday’s summit.

In Myanmar, protests have mostly quieted in recent weeks due to the crackdowns. According to The Associated Press, some 150 protesters gathered Friday in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, but dispersed quickly when police arrived.

Source Article from https://www.npr.org/2021/04/24/990546575/southeast-asian-leaders-call-for-immediate-end-to-violence-in-myanmar

8 views no comments
Young people are politically engaged, pro-Biden, and depressed, study finds – The Boston Globe
Young people are politically engaged, pro-Biden, and depressed, study finds – The Boston Globe

Advertisement

Perhaps one of the most striking findings from the poll was that the vast majority of young people expressed hope in the future of the country, with particularly dramatic increases in that metric among young Black and Hispanic respondents. In 2017, just 18 percent of young Black respondents said they felt hopeful about the future of the country, compared with 72 percent this year.

“We see essentially a 180-degree pivot, politically as well as in fear and hopefulness,” said John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Kennedy School Institute of Politics. The poll designers, who are Harvard undergraduates, said that may be because Black and Hispanic Americans were much more likely to be Biden supporters and felt a renewed sense of optimism after his election.

Previous research showed that young people voted at historic levels in the 2020 election, undermining the notion that they are unreliable or apathetic politically. In fact, the strong support for Biden from Black and Latino young people may have made states like Georgia and Arizona competitive, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. Their support for progressive policies like police accountability, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and an assault weapons ban pushed Biden to the left.

Advertisement

Even so, Biden, long a moderate Democrat, got the highest approval ratings among voters in college in the 21-year history of the youth poll.

Young activists in Boston said the past year had rallied them politically, both because of the pandemic and because of mass protests in the wake George Floyd’s killing by police.

“The past year changed me in terms of larger scale thinking,” said Toiell Washington, the 23-year-old founder of Black Boston, an activist group. Washington said she hadn’t attended protests in the past week after the Derek Chauvin verdict, because she was thinking through next steps, and what comes after mass protests.

Yet while young people expressed optimism about the state of the country, many in the poll also said they were struggling with depression and anxiety. A full 51 percent said they had felt down, depressed, or hopeless several times in the last two weeks — more than double the percentage that said so in a 2019 Centers for Disease Control study of the same age group.

“These are very disturbing numbers, suggesting that truly millions of young Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of psychological distress and unhappiness,” said Ellen Burstein, a Harvard undergraduate who helped design the poll. (Other new data backs that up — a recent global study of workplaces by Microsoft found that 60 percent of Gen Z workers said they are merely surviving or flat out struggling right now.)

Advertisement

The stress on young people this year has been widespread, touching nearly every aspect of life and affecting those even under the age of 18.

“Everything we tried putting aside, we’re no longer able to escape,” said Emily Menjivar, a 15-year-old on the Chelsea Youth Commission. Menjivar said the effect of staying home and being isolated from friends, without the distractions of classes or activities, took a heavy toll on her and her peers. “It’s very overwhelming,” she said.

Zoe Greenberg can be reached at zoe.greenberg@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @zoegberg.

Source Article from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/24/metro/young-people-are-politically-engaged-pro-biden-depressed-study-finds/

30 views no comments
Former President Trump wants Gov. Ducey to ‘provide large-scale security’ for election audit – AZFamily
Former President Trump wants Gov. Ducey to ‘provide large-scale security’ for election audit – AZFamily

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – It looks like former President Donald Trump is demanding Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey “provide large-scale security” for the election audit that’s underway at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. According to a statement from Save America, “large-scale security” means either the National Guard or state police.

The audit, which is being done at the behest of Arizona Senate Republicans, has been a source of controversy for some time. Arizona Democrats filed a lawsuit to keep the audit from moving forward. On Friday, a Maricopa County judge ordered a temporary pause if the Dems posted a $1 million bond to cover the potential costs of the delay. They did not.

A statement from Arizona Democratic Party Chair Raquel Teran called the $1 million bond “laughable,” citing the lack of transparency as to the actual cost of the audit.

Although the audit is going ahead — for now — auditors are being required to produce policies, procedures, and training materials on how they do the audit, attorney Roopali Desai explained. Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for late Monday morning.

Friday’s hearing came on the heels of an Arizona’s Family Investigates report that showed a dearth of security at the State Fairgrounds, where Maricopa County’s counting equipment and the ballots from the 2020 election are being kept for the audit. That report, in part, prompted Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs to send a letter to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich requesting an investigation into the security of the audit,  which involved a hand recount of 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County.

Now it appears that Trump, who has long made unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud, is weighing in. He was critical of Ducey after the Arizona’s election results were certified and our electoral votes contributed to Trump’s loss to President Joe Biden in November 2020. Arizona was one of the several states Trump claimed to have won. When Ducey certified the results for Biden, Trump took to Twitter. Ducey was in his crosshairs despite the Arizona governor’s four-year record of solidly supporting the then president. “Republicans will long remember!” Trump tweeted.




(Source: @JennaEllisEsq via Twitter)


The statement regarding securing Arizona’s election audit came from Save America and was tweeted by Jenna Ellis, who was the senior legal adviser and counsel to Trump when he was in office. As reported by Newsweek and The Hill, the statement reads:

The Republican Party is demanding that Governor Ducey of Arizona immediately provide large-scale security for the brave American Patriots doing the Forensic Audit of the 2020 Presidential Election. Governor Ducey will be held fully responsible for the safety of those involved. State police or National Guard must be immediately sent out for protection. The Democrats do not want to have this information revealed, and they will do anything to stop it. Governor Ducey must finally act!

Arizona’s Family is reaching out to Ducey’s office for comment.



Source Article from https://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/arizona_politics/former-president-trump-wants-gov-ducey-to-provide-large-scale-security-for-election-audit/article_8dd82fde-a53a-11eb-9616-7bf6ddb28104.html

12 views no comments
Troy Carter wins Louisiana special election in blow to progressives – POLITICO
Troy Carter wins Louisiana special election in blow to progressives – POLITICO

In one of his final acts as a member of Congress, Richmond backed Carter, who also nabbed endorsements from House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). Peterson was backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), former Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams, EMILY’s List and activist Gary Chambers Jr., who came in third place in the March primary.

Carter took the first slot with 36 percent in that race, followed by Peterson with 23 percent.

He notably embraced support from prominent Louisiana Republicans and may have drawn some GOP voters out because they have no candidate of their own in the runoff. Peterson and her allies hit Carter for courting Republican voters and emphasized her liberal bona fides. She supports the Green New Deal and a $15 minimum wage.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, the independent expenditure arm of EMILY’s List and and the League of Conservation Voters have spent a combined $1.3 million to boost Peterson on the air. But Carter had outraised his opponent as of early April.

A loss by Peterson is a setback for the progressive movement, which is readying for a show of force in the 2021 special elections.

New Mexico Democrats selected as their candidate for a June special election state Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a slightly more moderate choice than her leading opponent. Now the next best shot for the left to grow its ranks is in an August primary election in Ohio where Nina Turner, a former presidential campaign co-chair for Bernie Sanders, faces Cuyahoga County Democratic Party leader Shontel Brown.

Still, Carter’s arrival in Congress is good news for all House Democrats because it eases concerns over their razor-thin majority. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will now have three votes to spare as she looks to achieve major policy initiatives.

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/24/troy-carter-wins-louisiana-special-election-in-blow-to-progressives-484576

11 views no comments
Biden’s statement recognizing the Armenian genocide is a big deal – but Turkey isn’t happy about it – Vox.com
Biden’s statement recognizing the Armenian genocide is a big deal – but Turkey isn’t happy about it – Vox.com

President Joe Biden became the first US president to formally refer to atrocities committed against Armenians as a “genocide” on Saturday, 106 years after the 1915 start of an eight-year-long campaign of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Ottoman Empire that left between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians dead.

Previous presidents have refrained from using the word “genocide” in connection with the mass atrocities committed against the Armenian people in the early 20th century, and Turkey categorically denies that a genocide took place. So Biden’s declaration marks a major break from precedent, and could signal an increase in tensions with Turkey, a longtime US and NATO ally.

“Each year on this day, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring,” Biden said in a statement Saturday. “And we remember so that we remain ever-vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms.”

The move is the fulfillment of a campaign promise for Biden, who pledged on April 24 last year to recognize the genocide if elected. It also comes on a symbolic date: April 24 is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, a holiday observed in Armenia and by members of the Armenian diaspora.

And it’s emblematic of the Biden administration’s desire to center human rights in its foreign policy agenda, even at the cost of worsening relations with Turkey.

Biden is the first US leader in decades to use the word “genocide” in connection with the events of 1915-1923. Previous presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, made similar campaign promises to recognize the Armenian genocide, but never followed through while in office, and Bush later called on Congress to reject such a designation. In 1981, Ronald Reagan made a passing reference to “the genocide of the Armenians” during a speech commemorating victims of the Holocaust.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, accidentally recognized the genocide last year when White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany made reference to an “Armenian Genocide Memorial” in Denver, Colorado — but rejected nonbinding resolutions by the House and Senate to declare it such.

Both the House and Senate measures, though not approved by Trump, passed overwhelmingly in 2019, paving the way for Biden’s action on Saturday.

With the addition of the US on Saturday, 30 countries — including France, Germany, and Russia — now recognize the genocide, according to a list maintained by the Armenian National Institute in Washington, DC.

Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday ahead of the official US announcement. It was the first conversation between the two allied leaders since Biden took office more than three months ago, which some regional experts have taken as a sign of cooling relations between the countries. According to a readout of the call released by the White House, the leaders agreed to hold a bilateral meeting “on the margins of the NATO Summit in June.” And according to news reports — but not the readout — Biden told Erdogan of his intentions to recognize the genocide.

Saturday’s statement officially recognizing the genocide nonetheless elicited a harsh response from Turkey.

“We reject and denounce in the strongest terms the statement of the President of the US regarding the events of 1915 made under the pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups on April 24,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday that called on Biden to “correct this grave mistake.”

“This statement of the US … will never be accepted in the conscience of the Turkish people, and will open a deep wound that undermines our mutual friendship and trust,” the foreign ministry said.

Prominent Armenians, however, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, welcomed the news on Saturday. Pashinyan tweeted a brief statement, and, in a letter to Biden, said that the president’s words both paid “tribute” to victims of the genocide and also would help to prevent “the recurrence of similar crimes against mankind.”

“I highly appreciate your principled position, which is a powerful step on the way to acknowledging the truth, historical justice, and an invaluable of support for the descendants of the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” he wrote.

American lawmakers also welcomed Biden’s decision. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, celebrated the statement in a tweet Saturday.

“Thankful that @POTUS will align with congressional & scholarly consensus,” Menendez wrote from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Twitter account. “As I said in 2019 when our resolution to recognize & commemorate the genocide passed the Senate, to overlook human suffering is not who we are as a people. It is not what we stand for as a nation.”

Former Sen. Bob Dole, who advocated for recognition of the Armenian genocide throughout his career, also tweeted his appreciation for Biden’s words — alongside documents showing his own attempts at gaining recognition of the genocide in Congress in the 1970s and ’80s.

“This is a proud and historically significant moment for the United States, for Armenia, and for Armenians around the globe,” the 97-year-old former presidential candidate wrote. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Biden is taking a new approach to the US-Turkey relationship

The vehemence of Turkey’s response to the US recognition of the Armenian genocide isn’t particularly surprising, as the topic has long been a point of international contention for Turkey.

Specifically, allegations of genocide are viewed as “insulting Turkishness” by Turkey — an offense that has elicited criminal charges in the past — because they implicate people who helped found the modern state of Turkey after the Ottoman Empire collapsed in 1922.

Turkey’s aggressive efforts to push back on attempts to recognize atrocities committed against Armenians during World War I as genocide makes Biden’s decision all the more exceptional.

Previously, Turkey has responded to countries acknowledging the genocide by recalling diplomats, including ambassadors to Germany and the Vatican. On Tuesday, in anticipation of a statement from Biden on the matter, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that there could be consequences to Biden’s words.

“Statements that have no legal binding will have no benefit, but they will harm ties,” Cavusoglu said. “If the United States wants to worsen ties, the decision is theirs.”

As Vox’s Amanda Taub explained in 2015, such concerns over strategic interests in the region have long meant that the US and allies like the United Kingdom have avoided designating mass atrocities against Armenians as a genocide.

Turkey is a key US ally — especially now, as the US relies on Turkey’s cooperation in the fight against ISIS in Syria. US officials have compromised on how they refer to the killings. When Obama makes a speech to commemorate the anniversary of the genocide on Friday, White House officials say he will use the term “Meds Yeghern” instead of “genocide.”

Likewise, the United Kingdom has not recognized the genocide, apparently out of concern that doing so would jeopardize its relationship with Turkey. A leaked Foreign Office briefing from 1999 stated that Turkey was “neuralgic and defensive about the charge of genocide.” Therefore, the “only feasible option” was for the United Kingdom to continue to refuse to recognize the killings as genocide, because of “the importance of our relations (political, strategic and commercial) with Turkey.”

However, the Biden administration has already taken a harder line on the US relationship with Turkey than previous administrations. As a candidate, Biden labeled Erdogan an “autocrat” in an interview with the New York Times, and last month his administration condemned “significant human rights issues” in modern-day Turkey, including the jailing and alleged torture of journalists, activists, and political dissidents.

While it’s unclear exactly what the fallout from Saturday’s announcement will look like, other factors have already chilled the US-Turkey relationship. In December of last year, for example, shortly before Biden took office, the US imposed sanctions on Turkey for purchasing Russian military hardware. In 2019, the US also removed Turkey from its joint F-35 stealth fighter program over the same purchase.

On Saturday, former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who is also Biden’s nominee to run the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “A Problem from Hell”: America and the Age of Genocide, argued that the decision was an important step in pushing back on Erdogan’s growing authoritarianism.

“Turkey is a powerful country in a critical region,” Power wrote on Twitter. “It is part of NATO. Our relationship matters. But President Erdogan’s success in blackmailing & bullying the US (and other countries) not to recognize the Armenian Genocide likely emboldened him as he grew more repressive.”

Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?

Millions turn to Vox to understand what’s happening in the news. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today from as little as $3.

Source Article from https://www.vox.com/2021/4/24/22400851/armenian-genocide-turkey-biden-erdogan

54 views no comments
Local NAACP chapter calls for Pasquotank Co. Sheriff’s resignation, sheriff’s office ask for internal investigation – WAVY.com
Local NAACP chapter calls for Pasquotank Co. Sheriff’s resignation, sheriff’s office ask for internal investigation – WAVY.com

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — The family of Andrew Brown Jr. along with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II held a press briefing Saturday afternoon in Elizabeth City.

Rev. Barber is the president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.

Brown’s family was joined by civil rights attorney Harry Daniels and Pasquotank County NAACP chapter president Keith Rivers.

42-year-old Andrew Brown Jr. was shot and killed by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant Wednesday in Elizabeth City.

Watch the full briefing below:

During the press conference, Rivers asked for the resignation of Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten for having not released the body camera footage of the incident.

Witnesses say Brown was shot as he was driving away.

On Friday, Sheriff Wooten told 10 On Your Side seven deputies are on administrative leave following the shooting.

Another three deputies have resigned since Wednesday, he added. One of them was nearing retirement. Those three deputies were not directly involved in the shooting.

The sheriff said the body camera video could be released within the next couple of days. The release of the body camera footage requires a court order, under North Carolina law.

City Council voted unanimously during the meeting to petition the Pasquotank County sheriff to release the body camera video. If the request is denied, the city attorney is directed to go to a superior court to request an order for release.

WAVY has also joined a media coalition to petition the court in Pasquotank to release the video.

During the press briefing Saturday, Sheriff Wooten and Chief Deputy Daniel Fogg released a recorded video on social media stating they have asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation whether releasing the video would interfere and undermine their investigation of the incident.

“Because we want transparency, we want the body camera footage made public,” said Wooten.

“Some people have falsely claimed that my office has the power to do so. That is not true. Only a judge can release the video.”

Once Sheriff Wooten said they have the confirmation from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, they would then file a motion in court “hopefully” Monday to have the footage released.

The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office have also asked the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association to appoint an outside sheriff’s office to conduct an internal affairs investigation of everyone involved in the incident. This in addition to the investigation from the FBI and the local district attorney’s office.

Chief Deputy Fogg said the focused of the internal review is to see if there needs to be disciplinary actions taken following the incident.

“We will fully cooperate with the work of the outside investigator.”

At the end of the video, Sheriff Wooten addressed community members saying he understands their frustration, however, Wooten said they are following a process that ensures fairness for everyone involved.

“We ask for your patience and your support as we work to do the right thing.”

Source Article from https://www.wavy.com/news/north-carolina/family-of-andrew-brown-jr-holds-press-briefing-in-elizabeth-city/

45 views no comments
Ted Cruz: Kamala Harris’ ‘GPS Got Confused’ When She Visited ‘Wrong Border’ – Newsweek
Ted Cruz: Kamala Harris’ ‘GPS Got Confused’ When She Visited ‘Wrong Border’ – Newsweek

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas joined the New Hampshire GOP in rebuking Vice President Kamala Harris for not yet visiting the escalating situation at the country’s southwest border.

Harris traveled to New Hampshire for the first time this week since 2019, when she was running for president as a California senator. Her return there was an effort to boost support for Democratic New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan, who is facing reelection in 2022.

Cruz commented in a Tweet Friday that Harris’ “GPS got confused” when she visited the Granite State, echoing criticism from state Republicans on the vice president’s visit.

The state’s GOP called her out for coming to the “#wrongborder,” implying that Harris’ time should be spent on the opposite end of the country—where she has reportedly yet to pay a visit 30 days—after President Joe Biden tasked her with tackling diplomatic efforts with Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to stymy the current flow of migrants and develop long-term strategies targeted at the root causes of migration.

“As you travel over 2,300 miles away from El Paso, our country would be better served with an official visit to our southern border, not a campaign trip for@Maggie_Hassan,” the New Hampshire GOP said in a Twitter response to Harris’ visit.

In a statement to Fox News, New Hampshire GOP Chairman Stephen Stepanek said: “Vice President Kamala Harris would serve our nation better by tackling the crisis at our southern border instead of campaigning with Maggie Hassan near our northern border. Harris last visited our Granite State in 2019, telling supporters that she was committed to fixing the ‘inhumane’ activities towards our country’s southern border.”

Stepanek added: “Now Harris returns almost two years later, but how will she answer to these same individuals, while blatantly ignoring the crisis she’s been specifically charged to handle? Granite Staters don’t want another photo-op, they want strong leadership and accountability.”

This isn’t the first time that Cruz and other Republicans have mocked Harris for her missing presence at the border. The GOP senator visited the border himself earlier this year, where he blamed the Biden administration for the conditions at border and said in an subsequent interview with Fox News that “Joe Biden has built more cages, the cages are bigger, and they’re more full.”

Cruz is correct that the Biden administration has opened up additional migrant shelters to house thousands of minors under the care of the Department of Health and Human services. But the White House maintains that building up these facilities is a temporary solution to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and buy time to implement new immigration systems.

Harris told reporters on April 14 that her purvey is the root causes behind migration, whereas Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is President Joe Biden‘s designated appointee for addressing how the administration will process thousands of unaccompanied minors, families and adults taken into border patrol custody.

Since Biden’s anointment of her role, Harris has consulted experts on the region to determine to combat power structures inhibiting functioning societies in these countries that ultimately force migrants to risk the dangerous trek to the U.S.—only to be turned away over overwhelmed border authorities.

In a roundtable on the Northern Triangle, the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, on Thursday, Harris’ emphasized her strategy to alleviate the border will be diplomatic action on issues relating to poverty, corruption, climate change and economy, rather than the ongoing situation at the border itself.

“And we are looking at, therefore, a number of issues that also relate to poverty, extreme poverty. And also there’s violence obviously coming out of those regions,” she said. “When you look at the root causes, we’re also looking at issues of corruption. Again, we’re looking at the issue of climate resiliency and then the concern about a lack of economic opportunity,” Harris said on Thursday.

She is set to meet with the president of Guatemala on Monday.

A White House official confirmed to The Hill this week that Harris is scheduled to make her first visit to the Northern Triangle in June.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Stepanek for additional comment.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas joined the New Hampshire GOP in rebuking Vice President Kamala Harris for not yet visiting the nation’s southwest border. Harris speaks during a roundtable at the Ceremonial Office of the Vice President at Eisenhower Executive Office Building April 22, 2021 in Washington, DC
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Source Article from https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-kamala-harris-gps-got-confused-when-she-visited-wrong-border-1586189

13 views no comments
White House’s new $1.8 trillion ‘families plan’ reflects ambitions — and limits — of Biden presidency – Washington Post
White House’s new $1.8 trillion ‘families plan’ reflects ambitions — and limits — of Biden presidency – Washington Post

The measure is also set to only propose expanding an enhanced child benefit through 2025, although many Democratic lawmakers and Biden himself have called for making the provision permanent. That move would dramatically increase the overall cost of the package, and it is not clear whether the White House is becoming skittish about embracing daunting spending figures, given the rising national debt. But as a result of those fears, “you become a slave to scoring and a bottom-line number,” said Jim Kessler, executive vice president of Third Way, a centrist think tank urging the White House to make the credit permanent.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/04/24/biden-families-plan-tax/

13 views no comments
Virginia deputy gave Black man a ride home, then shot him after 911 call – NBC News
Virginia deputy gave Black man a ride home, then shot him after 911 call – NBC News
13 views no comments
Biden Declares Mass Killings of Armenians a Genocide – The New York Times
Biden Declares Mass Killings of Armenians a Genocide – The New York Times

Mr. Unluhisarcikli, like other analysts and human rights defenders, questioned the timing and purpose of the announcement.

“The Turkish government will feel obliged to respond in ways that are consequential for the U.S. and for U.S.-Turkey relationship,” he said.

The Turkish public will see it as evidence of American double standards, and anti-Western forces in Turkey will use it to incite fury, he said.

Both opposition and pro-government leaders attacked the expected designation.

“This is an improper, unfair stance,” said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the largest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party.

Dogu Perincek, the leader of the ultranationalist Patriotic Party, in an open letter to Mr. Biden, questioned his authority to issue such a declaration. “As is known, the genocide against the Jews was adjudicated at an authorized court,” he wrote, “but regarding the 1915 incidents, there is no judicial ruling.”

The killings of Armenians occurred at the end of World War I during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey. Worried that the Christian Armenian population would align with Russia, a primary enemy of the Ottoman Turks, officials ordered mass deportations in what many historians consider the first genocide of the 20th century: Nearly 1.5 million Armenians were killed, some in massacres by soldiers and the police, others in forced exoduses to the Syrian desert that left them starved to death.

Turkey has acknowledged that widespread atrocities occurred during that period, but its leaders have adamantly denied that the killings were genocide.

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/us/politics/armenia-genocide-joe-biden.html

11 views no comments