States rush toward new gun restrictions as Congress remains gridlocked
Congress failed to impose gun restrictions after the school massacres in Newtown, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida, and there’s little confidence that 21 deaths at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, will change matters now. But states aren’t waiting. In New York — where an 18-year-old in Buffalo was charged two weeks ago with committing a racist mass shooting — Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would seek to ban people under 21 from purchasing AR-15-style rifles. And in California — where a politically motivated mass shooting erupted at a luncheon of older churchgoers this month — legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom fast-tracked tougher controls on firearms.
Pelosi’s husband faces drunken driving charge in California
Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Napa County, California, on Saturday night, according to the county’s website. Bail for Paul Pelosi, 82, was set at $5,000. County records show he was released Sunday morning. The charge he faces is a misdemeanor. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, has not addressed the arrest publicly. On Sunday, she delivered a commencement address at Brown University. News of her husband’s arrest was reported by TMZ. A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi said she was not with her husband during the incident. Paul Pelosi, an investor, and Nancy Pelosi own a vineyard in Napa Valley.
Ukraine battle expands as Kyiv launches counteroffensive
Ukrainian soldiers, seeking to spread Russian forces thin, launched a counteroffensive Sunday in Kherson, the key southern city that Moscow considered so securely under its thumb that it had introduced the ruble. Ukraine’s push in Kherson came as its forces were desperately battling to hold off Russia’s efforts to conquer and cut off a strategic strip of eastern Ukraine that is central to Moscow’s struggling war effort. The opening of the new front underlined that when it comes to territory in Ukraine, little is for keeps as each side tries to exploit vulnerabilities. That volatility promises to increase as Ukraine receives more sophisticated artillery and possibly U.S. missiles.
Where death rates rose the most during the pandemic
The United States had more deaths above normal levels during the pandemic than most other wealthy countries, according to data released by the World Health Organization this month. U.S. deaths were 15% above normal — a number surpassed by only four other large countries in the same income group: Chile, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania. Globally, many poorer and developing countries fared worse than the wealthiest ones, but deaths in the U.S. rose higher than in several countries with fewer resources, including Argentina and the Philippines. Throughout the pandemic, the U.S. and other wealthy countries have had access to the lion’s share of lifesaving supplies such as vaccines.
Pope Francis announces 21 new cardinals
Pope Francis announced Sunday that he would create 21 new cardinals in August, selecting clerics from all corners of the world to reinforce the church’s global reach, as he has done with past choices to the rank of cardinal. The list of new “princes of the church,” as cardinals are called, includes prelates from Brazil, East Timor, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Paraguay, Singapore and South Korea, denoting a deliberate shift away from Europe, the cradle of cardinals for centuries. Eight Europeans did make the list, though only four are eligible to vote for Francis’ successor, while the only North American is Msgr. Robert McElroy, a bishop from San Diego.
Beijing, Shanghai ease COVID restrictions as outbreaks fade
Shoppers are returning to the malls of Beijing as the Chinese capital relaxes pandemic restrictions after declaring a small but persistent COVID-19 outbreak effectively under control. A partial reopening of stores and offices in Beijing was welcomed by a weary populace and struggling shopkeepers eager for life to return to normal. Coupled with a gradual easing of restrictions in Shanghai, it signaled that the worst is over in the twin outbreaks in China’s most prominent cities. Beijing allowed public parks, gyms and cinemas to reopen on Sunday at 50% of their capacity. China recorded 293 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.
