Month: April 2023

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy made her first visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison.  Tracy’s visit comes over two weeks after Russia detained the journalist on espionage charges.  Tracy tweeted from the U.S. Embassy account: “I visited @WSJ’s Evan #Gershkovich today at Lefortovo Prison – the first time we’ve been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago. He is in good health and remains strong. We reiterate our call for his immediate release. #FreeEvan”  

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement, which was reported by Russian state media, that Gershkovich was detained on March 30 on suspicion of “espionage in the interests of the American government.” The Wall Street Journal and the Biden administration have repeatedly denied that Gershkovich was affiliated with the U.S. government.  Russian authorities have not provided evidence to support the charges, and they had denied the embassy’s requests for access to Gershkovich.

The Lefortovo Court in Moscow initially ordered Gershkovich to be detained until May 29. Gershkovich denied the charges against him, according to the TASS state news agency.  Reuters reported that on Tuesday, the court will hear a complaint Gershkovich filed against the decision to detain him ahead of a possible trial. If convicted, the journalist could face up to 20 years in prison.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday that while she was “absolutely delighted” that Tracy was allowed to see Gershkovich, “we still call for his unconditional release  He is being held unfairly and unjustly and the Russians need to allow him to return to his family. We protest Russian efforts to limit and intimidate the media. Free, independent and pluralistic media play an indispensable role in informing people around the world.”

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that Republicans will move forward with a vote that would raise the debt ceiling, allowing the United States to avoid defaulting through 2024.  In a tweet, McCarthy said: “The House will vote on a bill to lift the debt ceiling into next year, save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make us less dependent on China, and curb high inflation—all without touching Social Security or Medicare.”

During a speech at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, McCarthy did not specify a particular bill or elaborate on when exactly the vote would happen, saying in his address:“Since the president continues to hide, House Republicans will take action. So here’s our plan: In the coming weeks the House will vote on a bill to lift the debt ceiling into the next year, save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make us less dependent upon China, curb our high inflation – all without touching Social Security and Medicare … Let me be clear. A no-strings-attached debt limit increase will not pass. It limits, it saves and it grows.”

McCarthy added: “Without exaggeration, American debt is a ticking time bomb that will detonate unless we take serious, responsible action. Yet how has President Biden reacted to this issue? He has done nothing … Debt limit negotiations are an opportunity to examine our nation’s finances.”

Any bill relating to the debt ceiling passed by the Republican-led House would need to get through the Democrat-led Senate before making its way to President Biden’s desk.

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At least four people were killed and over a dozen more were injured in a shooting at a Sweet-16 birthday party in Dadeville, Ala. (northeast of Montgomery), over the weekend. Investigators were gathering evidence Sunday at an Alabama dance studio where the shooting occurred on Saturday night. Dadeville is a small community with a population of about 3,000 people.

Six of the wounded have been treated and released from Dadeville’s Lake Martin Community Hospital in Alabama, with nine other wounded teenagers have been transferred to other medical facilities, Senior state trooper Jeremy Burkett said during a press briefing Sunday that there has been a “multitude of injuries” and the investigation will be a “long and complicated process.” Burkett and other officials did not answer questions during the press briefing, and did not state whether a suspect has been identified.

Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd said during the press briefing: “What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I also ask each of you please do not let this moment define what you think about the city of Dadeville and our fine people … I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers.”

Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and for the local high school football team, said the shooting has rocked the small town where serious crime is rare. He added: “One of the young men that was killed was one of our star athletes and just a great guy. So I knew many of these students. Dadeville is a small town and this is going to affect everybody in this area.”  Tallapoosa County school superintendent Raymond C. Porter said that the school system said counseling will be available for students at the schools on Monday; and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey tweeted: “This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge.”

Officials have asked that anyone with information call 1-800-392-8011 or email the crime tipline at sbi.investigations@alea.gov.

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A group of armed men killed one child and six others over the weekend after storming a resort in the small town of Cortazar, about 65 km (40 miles) south of the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. According to authorities, the region has increasingly been plagued by drug cartel violence.

Cortazar’s local security department said it was not clear who was behind the shooting that killed one seven-year-old, three men and three women. Officials in the Cortazar municipality said in a statement that an eighth person was seriously wounded in the midafternoon attack at the La Palma resort. After the shooting, the attackers destroyed the spa shop and took the security cameras before fleeing, officials said. The statement did not speculate on a possible motive.

Guanajuato has been Mexico’s most violent state for years. The Jalisco New Generation drug cartel has been fighting with local criminal groups, including the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, which is apparently backed by the Sinaloa cartel. In recent years rival drug cartels have been waging brutal battles to control territory and trafficking routes through the state.

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