March 21 top stories
It is March 21. Here are today’s top stories.
U.S. drops for 1st time from top 20 happiest countries list
The U.S. hit an all-time low ranking in the annual World Happiness Report, tumbling eight spots to 23rd. Last year, the U.S. was ranked the 15th happiest country in the report.
Some countries, like Finland and Denmark, consistently rank among the world’s happiest. The U.S. is not one of them.
It is the first time since the report launched 12 years ago that the U.S. did not rank among the world’s 20 happiest countries.
A steady supply of studies has found that Americans feel glum about issues ranging from loneliness to the economy and the country’s political leadership.
Gallup, whose data powers the World Happiness Report, pointed to Americans under 30 feeling worse about their lives for the steep drop. They report feeling less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices, more stressed and less satisfied with their living conditions.
However, the report also found that older people are now happier than young people in North America – the opposite of many other regions.
Boys ages 11, 12, 16 suspected of robbing bank now in custody
A trio of boys, whom federal authorities dubbed the “little rascals”, were charged Tuesday in connection to the robbery of a Wells Fargo in Houston, Texas.
The FBI's Houston Field Office said in a post on X the alleged robbers were ages 11, 12, and 16. The three minors are charged locally with robbery by threat. Because they are juveniles, their names and no additional details will be released.
According to local authorities, while inside the Wells Fargo, the boys passed a threatening note to the bank teller. The trio were believed to be armed but did not show a weapon. They got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. After the alleged robbery, the trio fled on foot.
Two of the boys were identified when their parents came forward to authorities. The third boy was handled by a law enforcement agency following a fight and recognized.
Under the Texas law, robbery by threat is a second-degree felony.
Canada to halt arms sales to Israel
Canada has not approved new arms export permits to Israel since January 8 and the freeze will continue. Canada has one of the most rigorous export permit regimes in the world. Canadian law bars the export of weapons if they could be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law or serious acts of violence against women and children.
Canada’s parliament passed a non-binding motion on Monday halting future arms sales to Israel. The foreign affairs minister, Mélanie Joly, told the Toronto Star her government would halt future arms shipments. She said on Tuesday, “It is a real thing.”
The motion – which passed 204 - 117 with the support of Liberals, Bloc Québécois and the Green party – also called on Canada to work towards the establishment of the state of Palestine.
Israeli Foreign Minister Katz wrote on X, tagging Joly in the post, and condemned the move, saying “Canada undermines Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas terrorists. History will judge Canada’s current action harshly. Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned home.”
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Niger terminates U.S. military ties and orders US troops to leave
Multiple sources reported that Niger has suspended a military agreement with the United States that gave American troops a key base in Africa’s Sahel region. The Sahel region has been the site of an ongoing jihadist insurgency since 2003, which has led to many conflicts in the region.
The “status of forces” agreement, signed in 2012, allowed about 1,000 US military personnel to operate from Niger, which plays a central role in combating terrorism in the Sahel.
The move of ordering US troops to leave, announced on Sunday, follows after US officials visited the nation last week to express their concerns about Niger’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran. While announcing the suspension of the pact, a Niger military spokesperson referenced pressure from the US on which countries the nation could partner with.
From Niger’s perspective, the US presence in the country has failed to crush the activities of armed groups there.
A US Department of Defense spokesperson admitted at a news briefing Monday the Niger base is one of the biggest drone facilities the US has in Africa. The US has not been using its troops and drones at the base for counterterrorism operations since the July coup.
See Alex for a report on the firing of the Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter for Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani's interpreter fired after accusation of 'massive theft.’
Thanks, Callie.
The interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese baseball star who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was fired after there were allegations that the interpreter stole millions of dollars from Ohtani.
Ohtani recently signed the largest contract in sports history with a 10 year, $700 million deal.
The interpreter’s name is Ippei Mizuhara. He has been working with Ohtani ever since he started playing in the MLB in 2018.
The allegation is that the interpreter had gambling debts of around $4.5 million and needed the money to pay off his debts.
The interpreter is suspected of placing illegal bets with a gambling bookmaker who is currently under federal investigation.
There are confusing and conflicting reports on whether Ohtani knew about this and gave the interpreter money to help pay off his debts or if Ohtani was unaware about it, that the interpreter somehow got into Ohtani’s bank account and stole the money. It is unclear which is true.
Many people in the sporting world are shocked by the events because Ohtani is one of the biggest sports stars out there and the interpreter has always been with him.
Thanks for that report. That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
U.S. drops for 1st time from top 20 happiest countries list
Boys ages 11, 12, 16 suspected of robbing bank now in custody
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/little-rascals-houston-bank-robbery-caught-fbi
Canada to halt arms sales to Israel
Niger terminates U.S. military ties and orders US troops to leave
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/world/africa/niger-orders-american-troops-out.html
Shohei Ohtani's interpreter fired after accusation of 'massive theft.’