|
DEATHS: Yesterday, Myanmar security forces killed at least 38 protesters in the deadliest day since the military took control in a coup. Most of the deaths took place in the district of Hlaingthaya. One advocacy group said it resembled a battlefield. Over the weekend, Myanmar’s military also declared martial law in six areas after six Chinese-funded factories were smashed and set on fire. It’s not yet clear who’s responsible. Stay tuned. In other news, Italy is imposing a lockdown as coronavirus cases skyrocket across Europe. Cue concerns about another surge in the US, where cases have pretty much plateaued. In some good news: the US set a record for vaccinations - and more and more states are expanding vaccine eligibility.
PEOPLE: Recently, the Vatican declared that the Catholic Church should “welcome” people involved in same-sex relationships “with respect and sensitivity” - buuuuut can’t bless same-sex unions. You read that right. The statement is leading to anger and raising questions about what kind of consequences - if any - a priest might face if they did decide to bless a same-sex couple. Speaking of controversy, a Charlie Hebdo cartoon depicting the UK’s Queen Elizabeth kneeling on Meghan Markle’s neck is getting lots of backlash. The why: some say it’s racially insensitive and “demeans” the murder of George Floyd. This comes after Markle revealed the royals raised concerns about the color of her baby’s skin.
WORLD: There are growing calls for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to quit after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Think: Sens Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) - along with nearly every member of New York’s congressional delegation - demanded Cuomo’s resignation. To which Cuomo said ‘no way.’ Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people just took to the streets in Australia as part of the March4Justice demonstration. The protests come after multiple women accused an Australian gov official of rape, which led to a wave of sexual assault allegations against other gov officials.
|
