Good morning.
Despite a huge drop in the number of high-profile mass shootings, there was a rise in daily gun violence in the US last year. Roughly 4,000 more murders were recorded in 2020 than 2019, which experts say is likely to make it the worst single-year increase on record.
The latest figures on gun violence coincide with two mass shootings in recent weeks. The vice-president, Kamala Harris, on Wednesday joined calls for Congress to introduce gun reform, saying “these slaughters must stop”.
Two gun safety bills have passed the House but are unlikely to get through a divided Senate, as Republicans have made their opposition to gun reform legislation clear.
But it’s not just happening at a national level. Authorities in Boulder, Colorado, where a man killed 10 people including shoppers, staff, and a police officer in a supermarket on Monday, are making new attempts to ban assault rifles. It transpired that a judge had blocked a ban on the weapons, shortly before the suspect had bought one.
An actor, businesswomen and supermarket workers were among those killed in Boulder. Learn more about the individuals who lost their lives.
The Suez canal ship is still resolutely stuck
The race to release a ship stuck in the Suez canal, a key artery for international trade, is entering its third day. The container vessel, one of the largest in the world, became wedged in the canal on Tuesday morning, apparently losing its ability to steer amid high winds and a dust storm.
This has caused a massive traffic jam on either side, with at least 150 ships carrying oil, automotive parts and consumer goods building up.
As delays grow, so does pressure to release the ship. The Suez canal has nearly a third of the world’s container ships passing through, so serious delays have ramifications for international trade and insurance claims. This visual guide explains more about how it got stuck, and what the implications of this might be.
How are people trying to release it? Dredgers have been clearing sand and mud from around the vessel while diggers have been excavating the bow, but the efforts could take weeks if the ship needs to be unloaded. The images of a tiny digger attempting to release an extremely enormous ship have caused much hilarity online.
Virginia just banned the death penalty
Virginia became the first southern state to abolish the death penalty on Wednesday, joining 22 other US states. This marks a significant shift for Virginia; it previously conducted the second-highest number of executions in the US.
The issue has been the subject of years-long debate between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats arguing it disproportionately impacted people of color, poorer people, and those with mental illnesses. With the party enjoying control of the general assembly for a second year, the senate and house of delegates passed the ban last month.
A top Trump aide concealed his work for a PR firm who hired him wanting access to the then president’s inner circle, a Guardian investigation reveals. Jason Miller later appears to have misled a court about his employment status, saying he was effectively out of work to avoid paying child support.
Kamala Harris will head up diplomatic efforts to resolve the border issues
Kamala Harris has been tasked with tackling ongoing issues at the US-Mexico border, amid a rise in the number of people trying to cross causing strain on immigration-processing facilities. The vice-president will work with officials in Mexico and Central America to create a diplomatic solution to the issue.
Nearly 9,500 unaccompanied children were recorded last month by US Customs and Border Protection at the south-western border, leaving more than 15,000 in federal custody. This is nearly double the previous record.
Last week, photos emerged of cramped border holding cells, leading both Biden and Harris to meet with department heads and immigration advisers. The pictures were shared by a Democratic congressman.
In other news…
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Thursday morning, marking its biggest test for Biden so far in his handling of the country’s nuclear weapons program. Japan said it “threatens the peace and security of our country and the region. It is also a violation of UN resolutions.”
The countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Games began yesterday, albeit a little later than planned. A group of runners carried the Olympic torch through Fukushima, where large crowds were discouraged due to the pandemic. For some it became a symbol of hope, with the head of the Games organising committee saying: “The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are ready to bloom, it was waiting for this day.”
Rachel Levine became the first openly transgender official to be confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, as she was approved for her role as the US assistant secretary of health. Two Republicans joined with all Democrats to confirm Levine, the former Pennsylvania health secretary.
Stat of the day: Biden deported more Haitians in a few weeks than Trump did in a year
The Biden administration has deported more Haitians in a few weeks than the Trump administration did in an entire year, according to a new report. The report, from a coalition of immigrant rights groups, also alleges that Biden has been making use of a controversial Trump-era public health order which denies asylum seekers basic legal rights.
Don’t miss this: the latest super rich must-have? A climate emergency plan
The world’s richest individuals, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have all announced multimillion – or, in some cases, multibillion – dollar budgets to reward innovative climate initiatives. This approach focuses on technology and the free market as the answer to the ecological crisis. Will it work?
Last thing: Megan Rapinoe takes her equal pay fight to the halls of power
The football star Megan Rapinoe took her fight for equal pay to Congress yesterday, testifying in front of a committee examining the economic harm caused by gender inequalities. In a stirring speech, Rapinoe said: “I am here today because I know first-hand that this is true. We are told in this country that if you just work hard and continue to achieve – you will be rewarded, fairly. It’s the promise of the American dream. But that promise has not been for everyone.”
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