Martin Scorsese’s “Killers Of The Flower Moon” has had a successful world premiere at Cannes Film Festival, with critics reporting that the film is expected to dominate the next Oscar race. The film centres around the Osage people, who accumulated wealth from the sudden discovery of oil, but were then pursued by greedy white men whose agenda was to acquire the money by any means necessary. Starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, the film is an intensely depicted historic injustice, shedding light on the violence and hardship that the Osage people faced during the heady days of the 1920s oil boom.
US President Joe Biden should address questions about his health and capacity to govern after his doctors have declared him in good health, according to The Washington Post. The threat of invocation of the 25th amendment, which deals with presidential infirmity, looms in a possible second term, the newspaper warned. Earlier this month, an ABC/Washington Post poll found that 68% of Americans believed Biden was too old for another term. Even though former President Donald Trump remains unpopular with voters, a majority of respondents said he far surpassed Biden in terms of mental acuity and physical health.
NAACP among civil rights groups warning tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
CBC
23-05-21 16:39
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has issued a travel advisory for Florida citing policies that have been described as "openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals." The warning has been supported by Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, and League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization. Florida is one of the US's most popular tourist destinations and the travel industry is one of the state's largest job sectors, providing 1.6 million part-time and full-time jobs and $98.8 billion US in visitor spending in 2019.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the US has advised people of colour, black Americans and LGBTQ+ people to avoid Florida. The advisory came following laws signed by the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, which target classroom instruction around race and racism, gender, and sexuality. Legislations signed by DeSantis also restrict gender-affirming care for minors, threat drag shows and forbid people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity. Florida’s governor is touted to run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. Advocacy groups have filed federal lawsuits against the legislation targeting minority rights and freedoms.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
Actor Robert De Niro has criticised former US president Donald Trump during the Cannes Film Festival while promoting his new film Killers of the Flower Moon. De Niro called Trump "stupid" and said it was "insane" to have faith in his abilities. Sitting on a panel alongside director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, De Niro compared Trump to his on-screen character, adding: "It's the banality of evil. It's the thing we have to watch out for." The crime thriller, set in the early 1900s, is based on the true story of a cover-up of murders within the Osage Indian nation.
Exclusive: Paul Whelan tells CNN he’s confident ‘wheels are turning’ toward his release
CNN
23-05-21 20:59
US citizen Paul Whelan, who was wrongfully detained in Russia, has spoken to CNN from his prison camp in Mordovia expressing his confidence that his case is a priority for the US government. However, he hopes his situation could be resolved faster. “I feel that my life shouldn’t be considered less valuable or important than others who have been previously traded,” he said. Whelan has been imprisoned for 52 months and has concerns that he could be left behind, particularly after the Russian authorities wrongfully detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
The United States has continued their perfect record at the ice hockey world championship with a 9-0 victory against France, led by Cutter Gauthier's hat trick. The win puts the US at the top of Group A with six wins from six games. Meanwhile, in Group B, Switzerland beat the Czech Republic 4-2 to take the lead with six victories from six games, and Slovakia defeated Slovenia 1-0 to remain in contention for advancing to the knockout stage.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
Canada's men's wheelchair basketball team finishes 3rd at Ottawa Invitational
CBC
23-05-22 01:36
Canada's men's wheelchair basketball team finished third at the Ottawa Invitational tournament, losing 63-47 to the Netherlands. Fellow Paralympians Nik Goncin and Lee Melymick each added nine points, with Gijs Even leading the Netherlands with a game-high 18 points. The five-day tournament, hosted by Wheelchair Basketball Canada, served as final preparation for the upcoming IWBF world championships in Dubai, running from June 9 to 20. Canada will compete in Group B against Germany, Thailand and Egypt at worlds.
Only 19% of Japanese people with disabilities of working age are employed, compared with 30% of Americans in the same category, according to The Valuable 500. The figure is especially notable given the presence of government-mandated quotas, which require firms with more than 300 employees to have 2.5% of their workforces registered as disabled. This percentage will increase to 2.7% by 2026. Crosby Cromwell, the chief partnerships officer at The Valuable 500, which advocates for best practice regarding disability in business, said she had heard increasing numbers of corporate leaders in Japan speaking about their connections to disability in public, indicating a change in attitudes. However, many companies prefer to pay a fine for failing to hit quotas rather than to show flexibility or take risks to meet the target. Cromwell hopes the rise of remote working in the pandemic can contribute to a new hybrid model in which disabled people can work with the technology and flexibility they require.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
China's Cyberspace Administration has banned US semiconductor company Micron in its technology battle with the United States. The state cyber agency claimed that Micron's components posed significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain, thereby affecting national security. The US Commerce Department responded by saying that there was no basis in fact for Beijing's claim and that it would continue to try to limit industry disruptions with its allies. Micron has yet to identify the products that have been barred. China has previously blacklisted US technology companies, cut off the flow of processors and barred Americans from helping the Chinese chip industry.
US economy on the brink as time runs low to avert debt default
CNN
23-05-22 04:03
The US is facing a potentially catastrophic economic crisis as a result of a dispute between the Biden administration and House lawmakers. Republicans in the House have said they will not raise the country’s borrowing limits without Biden agreeing to spending cuts, a move that could lead to the US defaulting on its debts, putting retirement benefits and social programmes on hold. The Treasury Sec. has warned that the government will no longer be able to fulfil its obligations by June 1 without this. The economy would crash, millions would lose their jobs, and the US would lose its reputation as a safe haven for investors, causing further damage to the economy.
Talks have stalled between the two sides, prompting President Biden to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for urgently needed discussions. The pressure on the outcome of the meeting is particularly high given that options for compromise are running out due to congressional deadlines. However, even if an agreement can be reached, there is doubt that any deal acceptable to Biden will be approved by the Senate, due to its plan to curtail spending. Republicans want potentially damaging provisions added to address their concerns. There are also concerns from the GOP that the proposed spending is not sustainable or equitable.
The US has faced other political, social and humanitarian crises in recent years, such as Covid-19, tensions with North Korea, and the Capitol Hill attacks of January 6. But the current impasse is the latest in a series of routine debt-ceiling crises that have become increasingly common over the past decade, with creditworthiness being threatened every time the debt ceiling is reached. While such crises used to be resolved through compromise and inflection, there is now a greater cultural divide up to and including a willingness from extremist elements of the House GOP to risk the ruin of the country’s economy in the hopes of reversing the presidency of Joe Biden.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
China's Cyberspace Administration has banned US semiconductor company Micron in its technology battle with the United States. The state cyber agency claimed that Micron's components posed significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain, thereby affecting national security. The US Commerce Department responded by saying that there was no basis in fact for Beijing's claim and that it would continue to try to limit industry disruptions with its allies. Micron has yet to identify the products that have been barred. China has previously blacklisted US technology companies, cut off the flow of processors and barred Americans from helping the Chinese chip industry.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
The outcome of the G7 summit gave a boost of diplomatic and military support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While the commendation of the G7 for Ukraine in the communiqué was familiar, the unofficial message is more complicated: as long as it does not take too long. The best way of maintaining western support for Ukraine is to have significant wartime progress. If Kyiv cannot make progress, the country may find it difficult to receive political and financial support from its backers. Moreover, the mounting pressure on the country is related to the US election in 2024, and President Donald Trump’s emergence as the frontrunner increases fears that the next US president will significantly change policy on Ukraine. Consequently, Vladimir Putin has reason to be optimistic that the Trumpist cavalry might appear over the horizon.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
US financial health has deteriorated sharply due to elevated inflation, with only 73% of adults now reporting that they are "doing at least OK", according to a survey by the Federal Reserve. This is a 5% decline from the previous year, one of the lowest readings since 2016 and nearly a third of respondents said they were "finding it difficult to get by". More than a third said they were worse off financially compared with a year earlier and price pressures were the main culprit behind the decline. The Fed is now considering whether to forgo further tightening at the next policy meeting in mid-June.
