May 21 top stories
Hello, it is May 21. Here are today’s top stories.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli, Hamas leaders
The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced on Monday that he is seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Gallant and three Hamas leaders–Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh over alleged war crimes.
This is the first time the ICC seeks arrest warrants against a major U.S. ally–Israel, as well as the first time it has issued warrants for the leader of a democratic country. Neither Israel nor the U.S. are members of the ICC.
The Biden administration has told ICC officials it opposes the move and said that the court doesn’t have jurisdiction to investigate the war in Gaza.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that the House may vote on sanctions against the ICC for seeking an arrest warrant against PM Netanyahu.
A panel of ICC judges will now examine Khan’s request and decide whether to issue the warrants.
Atlanta police officer arrested in fatal shooting of Lyft driver
According to court documents, a now-former Atlanta police officer, Koby Minor, is accused of fatally shooting a Lyft driver last week because he reportedly told a witness he believed the driver was kidnapping him.
The Lyft driver was identified by authorities as Reginald Folks and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Minor recounted to police he had gotten in the Lyft that evening and Folks was talking on the phone through his car’s Bluetooth in an unknown language. Minor said he “heard what he thought was another voice in his ear talking to him but did not say what the voice said.”
Minor told police he then asked Folks to stop the car but he continued to drive. When they came to a red light, Minor tried to unlock and open the door but he could not get the door open. He then added Folks turned around and attempted to reach into the back seat, which is when Minor shot him. He fired approximately three shots, broke the window of the vehicle and exited.
The court documents said he was shot in the head. When Union City Police arrested Koby Minor last Wednesday, he resigned from the department later that day. Minor was charged with murder and aggravated assault after shooting his Lyft driver.
Taiwan’s new president takes office, urges China to stop its military intimidation
Taiwan’s newly sworn-in President Lai Ching-te, 64, a former doctor who once described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan’s independence, had an inauguration ceremony at the presidential office building in central Taipei Monday. In a nearby plaza, crowds gathered for a show of marching bands and performers and to hear Lai’s inauguration speech.
Lai said in his inauguration speech: “I also want to call on China to cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the greater region and ensure the world is free from the fear of war.”
Though Lai, the former vice president, is expected to largely continue the policies of his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, he is viewed as a “separatist” and a “troublemaker” by Beijing, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory. China has not ruled out using force in unifying with the island and warned during its election in January that voters were choosing between war and peace.
———
[Sponsored Video from Sorenson: www.sorenson.com]
———
[Advertisement from 988 Helpline]
Exciting News! The 988 Lifeline launched new American Sign Language services for callers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It’s a new resource for people to access help when they need it. Visit 988lifeline.org and select “ASL Now.”
———
FDIC chairman to step down following report on agency’s toxic workplace culture
Martin Gruenberg, head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), will step down following a scathing independent investigation from Wall Street Journal (WSJ) detailing pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying at the agency charged with regulating the banking sector.
The FDIC is one of several U.S. banking system regulators. The Great Depression-era agency is best known for running the nation’s deposit insurance program, which insures Americans’ deposits up to $250,000 in case their bank fails.
Gruenberg said in a statement on Monday: “In light of recent events, I am prepared to step down from my responsibilities once a successor is confirmed. Until that time, I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities as Chairman of the FDIC, including the transformation of the FDIC’s workplace culture.”
President Biden will soon announce a new nominee to lead the FDIC.
See Alex’s report on a moose killing a man in Alaska.
Moose kills Alaska man
Thanks, Callie.
A 70-year-old man in Alaska was killed by a moose while he was trying to take pictures of newborn moose calves.
This happened on Sunday in Homer, a city in the south of Alaska.
Authorities said the man, Dale Chorman, was walking through the brush with a second man. They were looking for a moose and happened upon a female moose that had recently given birth to the calves.
The second man said the mother moose attacked them while they were running away. He managed to get away but Chorman was killed when the moose either kicked and/or stomped on him.
It is rare to see an incident where a moose kills a person. AP News explained that there are up to 200,000 moose in Alaska and that they are not normally aggressive, but can become so if provoked. Adult moose weigh between 800 to 1,600 pounds.
Mother mooses, called a “cow moose,” are very protective over their calves. Authorities warned that people should not spook the animals or get between a mother and her calves.
Thanks for the report. That’s all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli, Hamas leaders
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/world/middleeast/icc-arrest-warrants-israel-hamas.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/20/middleeast/icc-israel-hamas-arrest-warrant-war-crimes-intl/index.html
Atlanta police officer arrested in fatal shooting of Lyft driver
Taiwan’s new president takes office, urges China to stop its military intimidation
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-69036373
FDIC chairman to step down following report on agency’s toxic workplace culture
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/20/top-democrat-asks-biden-to-replace-fdic-chairman.html
Moose kills Alaska man
https://apnews.com/article/moose-kills-alaska-man-photograph-calves-3b4aae076c5e29a5d59da9644052cb12