Theresa Balick
Staff Writer
National
President Biden recognizes killings in Armenia during World War I as genocide
President Joseph Biden formally called the Ottoman Empire’s killing and deportation of Armenians genocide Saturday, on the day Armenians consider to be the start of the violence. The announcement risks reigniting tensions with Turkey, as the Turkish government has warned the United States not to use the word “genocide” to describe the killings, stating that they were a part of the violence of World War I. No U.S. president has used the term to date, so as to avoid losing Turkey as a key NATO ally despite Armenian-Americans calling on past presidents to do so.
People named Josh from all over the country battle over the name
Hundreds of people named Josh from all over the country converged in Nebraska Saturday to fight over who was worthiest of the name Josh. The combat started a year ago when Josh Swain, 22, from Tucson, Arizona, messaged others named Josh on social media out of boredom and challenged them to a duel. Over the year, the challenge blew up, and hundreds showed up at Air Park, Lincoln, Nebraska, a site chosen at random. The challenge began with a Rock, Paper, Scissors game between Swain and another Josh Swain from Omaha. Swain from Arizona won the game, winning the title of the true Josh Swain. Following the game was a heated pool-noodle brawl that ended with a 5-year-old being crowned victor with a Burger King crown.
History is made at the 93rd Academy Awards
The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony took place Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. at Los Angeles’ Union Station after last year’s ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19. The awards ceremony included some historic moments. These included Chloé Zhao being the second woman and the first woman of color to win the Oscar for best director for her film “Nomadland” and two women being the first Black women to win best makeup and hairstyling for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” “Nomadland” also took the award for best picture, the most coveted award of the evening. The ceremony was modified to fit COVID-19 regulations, so there was no audience, but there was still a red carpet.
International
Drought plagues 85% of Mexico
Lakes and reservoirs in Mexico continue to dry up and drought conditions worsen throughout about 85% of the country. The mayor of Mexico City said Thursday, April 22, that the conditions are the worst they have been in 30 years. Some of the major reservoirs near the capitol are at one-third of their normal capacity, worrying residents. While fishermen do not believe that they will be hit hard by the drought, residents of the city will be worst hit by the dry conditions. Heavy rain is not expected to fall on the country for another month and a half.
Unrest flares in Jerusalem
Tensions mounted again in Jerusalem over the weekend between Palestinian youths and Israeli groups as police barricaded a plaza outside of Jerusalem’s Old City during the month of Ramadan. As Palestinian youths protested against the police, the anti-Arab Israeli group Lehava responded Thursday night with a march against the protesters in response to TikTok videos of Palestinians slapping Jews. The tensions rose Saturday morning as Gaza militants fired 36 rockets into Israel with Israel retaliating on Hamas targets. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for quiet in the city while both sides showed a desire to cool tensions Sunday.
Pope Francis ordains 9 new priests
Pope Francis ordained nine priests Sunday at the Vatican, reminding them to remain humble, compassionate and close to the faithful. Six of the men were from Italy and the other three were from Romania, Columbia and Brazil. Francis warned the men about becoming “businessmen priests” concerned with money and vanity, and also told them to stay close to the faithful and rebuild the trust in the clergy that has been lost through sexual abuse scandals in the Church. The ordination was canceled in 2020 due to high COVID-19 numbers, but this year, Francis asked the nine new priests to remove their masks for photos.