Texas Flood Leaves Camps Devastated, Children Missing
The recent flooding in Texas Hill Country has turned a once-serene summer camp haven into a scene of tragedy. Rescuers are combing through wreckage as families grapple with the loss of loved ones and the uncertainty surrounding the missing.
Search and Rescue Efforts Continue
Following the devastating floods, search efforts continue for eleven girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, along with other individuals still unaccounted for. **Texas Governor Greg Abbott** reported that 41 people statewide remain missing after the deluge.
Community Mourns Losses
Among the victims are two camp directors: **Richard “Dick” Eastland**, co-owner and co-executive director of Camp Mystic, and **Jane Ragsdale**, the director and co-owner of Heart O’ the Hills camp. The loss has deeply impacted not only the local community but also those connected to the camps from across the country.
Approximately 200 people gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville to mourn **Jane Ragsdale**, a lifelong member and leader. Retired pastor **Jack Haberer** remembered her as someone who “lit up the room when she walked in,”
always offering positive and encouraging words.
Heroism Amidst Tragedy
**Richard “Dick” Eastland**’s dedication to the campers at Mystic was unwavering. **Cami Wright**, a former camper and counselor, stated, “He died trying to save Mystic girls. That was his whole life.”
He was found alongside three girls he attempted to rescue from the floodwaters.
Others, like **Julian Ryan**, also acted heroically. **Christinia Wilson**, his fiancee, told KHOU that **Ryan** helped his family to safety as floodwaters engulfed their home. He was later found, having succumbed to injuries sustained during the rescue.
“He died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed.”
—Connie Salas, **Ryan’s** sister
Remembering the Children
As the days pass, more names of young victims are emerging. **Janie Hunt**, **Blair** and **Brooke Harber**, and **Linnie McCown** are among those mourned by their families and communities. **Shawn Salta**, the uncle of 8-year-old **Smajstrla**, shared a poignant image of her from camp, noting, “She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”
Camp Traditions Remembered
Sundays at Camp Mystic held special significance, marked by traditions like wearing white and attending services at Chapel Hill. **Wright** recalled how campers would write “chicken letters” before enjoying their fried chicken dinner. A friend of a friend, she noted, likely received such a letter from her daughter shortly before the child’s death.
After the Deluge
The recent storms that caused the flooding are part of a larger pattern of increased extreme weather events. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. has sustained 377 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion, as of early 2024 (NOAA). These events have resulted in an estimated cost of $2.660 trillion.
A trans woman, former inmate of the women’s prison in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) appealed to the administrative court of Rennes, on November 22, 2024, in order to have the State condemned for fault on the part of the prison administration for lack of care in monitoring his sexual reassignment.
As part of her transition, she must take hormonal treatment. However, she claims to have never received her treatment when she was detained in the women’s prison in Rennes. She also claims to have never been able to receive a vaginal dilator (this is prohibited in detention), but this self-rehabilitation medical device is necessary for people who have undergone vaginoplasty or sexual reassignment surgery.
A treatment prescribed for life
During the hearing on November 22, 2024, his lawyer recalled that this treatment, prescribed for life, is absolutely essential to modify and feminize the body. She recalled the significant physical and psychological suffering that this lack of care caused the applicant. For her damage, she is therefore claiming €150,000 from the State.
The public rapporteur ordered the court to reject his request. For him, there is no fault on the part of the State: She does not have any medical documents to provide on this request. She had nearly 110 medical consultations during her detention, he said.
The court will make its decision within fifteen days.
**How can correctional facilities balance security concerns within prisons with the need for transgender inmates to receive gender-affirming medical care, such as hormonal therapy and access to specialists?**
## World Today News Interview: Transgender Inmate’s Legal Battle for Medical Care
**Host**: Welcome back to World Today News. Today, we’re diving deep into a pressing issue concerning transgender rights and healthcare within the correctional system.
Joining us are [Guest 1 Name], a legal expert specializing in LGBTQ+ rights, and [Guest 2 Name], a medical professional with experience in transgender healthcare.
**Section 1: The Case at Hand**
**Host**: Let’s start by examining the case of the transgender woman who is suing the State for neglecting her medical needs while incarcerated. [Guest 1], from a legal standpoint, what are the key arguments presented by both sides in this case?
**Guest 1**:
**Host**: [Guest 2], from a medical perspective, can you elaborate on the importance of the hormonal therapy and vaginal dilator mentioned in the case? What are the potential consequences of withholding these treatments?
**Guest 2**:
**Section 2: Healthcare Rights of Transgender Inmates**
**Host**: This case raises important questions about the healthcare rights of transgender inmates. [Guest 1], what legal precedents or frameworks exist to ensure appropriate medical care for transgender individuals within the prison system?
**Guest 1**:
**Host**: [Guest 2], are there specific challenges or barriers faced when providing transgender healthcare within the context of a correctional facility?
**Guest 2**:
**Section 3: Broader Societal Implications**
**Host**: This case transcends legal and medical considerations. It also touches upon broader societal conversations around transgender rights, access to healthcare, and the treatment of marginalized communities within the justice system. [Guest 1], what are the potential implications of this case for the transgender community and the fight for equality?
**Guest 1**:
**Host**: [Guest 2], what can be done to ensure more inclusive and responsive healthcare practices for transgender individuals, not only within correctional facilities but also in society at large?
**Guest 2**:
**Section 4: Looking Forward**
**Host**: We eagerly await the court’s decision in this case. Regardless of the outcome, what lessons can be learned from this situation to improve the lives of transgender individuals within the correctional system and beyond?
**Guest 1**:
**Guest 2**:
**Host**: Thank you both for providing invaluable insights into this complex issue. We hope this discussion sheds light on the vital need for equitable and compassionate healthcare access for all, including transgender individuals within the prison system.
Israel sends a negotiating team to Koro. to talk about the ceasefire agreement At President Joe Biden’s request, they will not return to negotiations. This follows Hamas’s “bogus” demands, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (17 February).
Netanyahu also said Israel would not follow international orders. On the matter of statehood agreement with Palestine He said that a consensus would be reached only through direct negotiations. and without any pre-conditions
Negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar In an attempt to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and guarantee the freedom of more than 100 Israeli hostages still held in the territory controlled by Palestinian fighters, It hasn’t blossomed yet. Another round of talks in Kairai on Tuesday ended without any conclusions.
Asked at a press conference on Saturday why the Israeli negotiators had not returned for further talks, Netanyahu said: “We have not received anything. Except for Hamas’ fake demands.”
He said those demands This includes ending the war and fighting back against Hamas. It released thousands of murderers from Israeli prisons and even demanded a precarious sanctuary in Jerusalem. It is called the Temple Mount in Judaism and the Noble Sanctuary among Muslims.
Netanyahu said Israel’s representatives had sat down and listened. But nothing has changed. “I would say not even a millimetre. Not a single nanometer has changed,” he said, adding that there was no reason for the negotiators to return to talk. “Until there’s a change.”
Netanyahu’s tough stance It comes even as he is facing increasingly heavy pressure. Reach an agreement with Hamas. Thousands of Israeli citizens gathered outside the military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Show your support for the hostages still in Gaza. Holding up pictures and signs calling for help to be found. It included a message that read: “Time is running out.”
Hamas launched a blitzkrieg against Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, but more than 100 of them were released. In a short-term ceasefire agreement in November
Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground offensives followed. It has destroyed almost all of Gaza. It killed 28,775 people, most of them civilians. and forced more than 2 million villagers to evacuate their homes.
On the possibility of unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu argued that it should not happen. Because it would be like giving a big reward to the terrorists. “Israel under my leadership “We will continue to strongly oppose any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,” he said. “Any agreement can only be reached through direct negotiations between the two sides, without any pre-requisites.”
Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas Blame Israel for the lack of progress in negotiations towards a ceasefire in Gaza. In a statement released by the group on Saturday (Feb. 17),
Haniyeh says Hamas will not accept any deal. That is little more than a complete cessation of hostilities. Just like Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza. and end the blockade of this insulation. Including the release of Palestinian prisoners held in various prisons. of Israel for a long time
Netanyahu’s latest stance about negotiations It comes as Israel faces increasing international pressure. Show patience and tolerance. After announcing the move forward with the attack on Rafah city. It is the last relatively safe place in Gaza.
Netanyahu said on Saturday that critics had called on Israel not to move forward with a military operation in Rafah. It is tantamount to telling Israel to concede defeat in the war with Hamas.
This Israeli Prime Minister which declared the destruction of the Palestinian fighter group Hamas behind the October 7 attack, it also indicates that military operations will continue. Regardless of whether an agreement can be reached to release the hostages or not. “Although if we are successful We will enter Rafah.
(Source: Reuters/AFP)
#negotiation #table #overturned #Netanyahu #plans #destroy #Rafah #Gaza #Dont #talk #Hamas #fake #demands
2024-02-17 23:36:00
crime
In the Brussels municipality of Sint-Gillis, one fatality occurred in a new shooting on Wednesday morning, the third in the area in three days. “The dealers apparently feel untouchable.”
The shooting is said to have taken place around 6 o’clock in the area of Jacques Franckplein at Hallepoort Park, at the same place where a shooting had already taken place on Tuesday afternoon. Mayor Jean Spinette (PS) reported this on the RTBF and confirmed this to Belga.
The perpetrators fired a weapon of war from a car at the facade of a building there on Monday afternoon. A 71-year-old woman was injured when she was hit by the fleeing gangsters. On Sunday evening there was another shooting about 400 meters away, in the Brussels Marolles. Two people were seriously injured, the perpetrators have not yet been caught.
“Yesterday it was about intimidation, today it is more like an execution,” says Mayor Spinette, for whom the ties with the drug environment are clear. “The federal judicial police are on site and are conducting the investigation.”
“The dealers apparently feel untouchable,” the mayor continues. “After yesterday’s incident, they almost immediately returned to the park to start dealing again. I asked the police to take action and someone was arrested last night, but the dealers returned afterwards. I once again appeal to tackle this problem seriously, with the entire chain of police and justice.”
Voters of the nationalists Claudiu Tarziu and Laszlo Torockai, apparently, missed the blows of the Russian boot.
Recently, the leaders of the Hungarian and Romanian far-right parties, Claudiu Tarziu and Laszlo Torockai, as if on the same command, announced that their countries are ready to annex part of the territories of Ukraine in the event of its defeat in the war with Russia, and the representative of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR) party Claudiu Tarziu emphasized that he was not even against Romania leaving NATO for this reason, and added that he needed “a thaw in relations between Romania and Russia.”
“Northern Bukovina cannot be forgotten. Southern Bessarabia, Hertsa County, Transcarpathia – everything that belonged and continues to belong to the Romanian nation must return to the borders of the state“- said Tyrziu pathetically.
In turn, László Torockai from the Hungarian Mi Hazánk (“Our Motherland”) also announced claims to Transcarpathia in the event of Ukraine’s loss of statehood as a result of the war.
“We, as a party of Hungary, lay claim to Transcarpathia“, – he said.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time these comrades (that’s right, since red ties are clearly visible from under their jackets) have made such provocative statements. Even in the first days of the Russian Armed Forces’ invasion of Ukraine, Tyrziu declared his “readiness to extend a hand to Russia.” And Torotskai in November 2022, when we had bloody battles for the Kherson region and Donbass, wished Poland on the occasion of Independence Day to once again have a common border with Hungary and published a photograph taken in 1939 after the capture of Transcarpathia, where a Pole and a Hungarian are shaking hands at the border post.
In this case, one thing pleases: official Budapest and Bucharest do not support such aggressive ideas and do not lay claim to the territory of Ukraine.
The AUR party, which Tarziu represents, gained 19% in the last parliamentary elections, and Mi Hazank from Torotskai even less – 5.88%. They are both in the minority, but the fact that such radical parties have their representation in parliament, albeit small, is still depressing, so our answer is addressed both to the politicians themselves who thought of saying this when Ukraine is bleeding, and to those who voted for them.
We want to remind comrades Tarziu and Torotskai, as well as their voters, that Ukraine and Romania, as well as Hungary, recognized each other’s independence more than 30 years ago, when these two nationalists (and looking at what they say from the stands, they are not even nationalists , and the Nazis) were still young and poorly educated. But, judging by their rhetoric, despite studying at universities, their education has not increased much over the years.
Let us also recall that Romania and Hungary are members not only of NATO, but also of the European Union. If the first guarantees collective protection (primarily from the Russian Federation, for which Tyrziu and Toroktsai sing praises), then the second guarantees various economic and social advantages, including the opportunity to travel around Europe without going through tedious customs inspections and without paying various duties, and Romania and Hungary, let us note, are members of these two organizations precisely within their own borders, and not together with Transcarpathia and other territories that they claim. And if one of the European states, God forbid, decides to “annex” something to themselves, it will end with these borders appearing again for them, and “with the burden” of sanctions and other unpleasant consequences of an aggressive policy.
I wonder if AUR and Mi Hazánk voters (especially those who like to relax on the Cote d’Azur, Tenerife and other European resorts, as well as engage in international business activities) are ready to give up the benefits of the EU and exchange France and Spain for some Lake Baikal, since This is exactly the option they will have if these two, having come to power, suddenly decide to annex part of another European country.
Let the citizens of Romania and Hungary, who voted for the far-right fringes, think about what path these individuals are leading their country on and how this could end for them personally.
It is also worth remembering that there is a country like Moldova, where people live who are very loyal to Romania. Moreover, many of them even consider themselves Romanians. And yet, although official Bucharest has established very warm relations with the Romanians of Moldova, all these years it has never decided to expand its territory at the expense of the neighboring state.
It was not in vain that we brought Moldova: if Comrade Tyrziu forgot, then part of the territory of this state (the so-called “PMR”) is under the military control of the Russian Federation, therefore, fawning over Moscow on the part of this politician is disrespect not only for Ukraine, but also for Moldova. Yes, by and large, and to Romania itself, because not everyone has the brains to expose their state in such a way in the eyes of the international community.
As for Hungary, this country also suffered from the Kremlin’s aggression, and its citizens did not forget 1956, when Soviet tanks drove through Budapest and Soviet guns fired. So, if AUR and Mi Hazank voters are bored in the “decaying” Europe and they are nostalgic for the strikes of Russian artillery, then they can come to the front with us and have a good time in those populated areas that are shelled with enviable regularity by their “dear friends” the Russians . They can walk through minefields right in the destroyed Donbass and “extend a hand” to Russia… True, most likely, they will extend not their arms, but their legs.
Although Ukraine and Romania have had difficult periods in their relations, in recent years we have found mutual understanding and developed a full-fledged partnership, and the Russian attack in 2022 brought Ukraine even closer to both Romania and Hungary. Adequate citizens of these two states (and, fortunately, these are the majority) have long understood what kind of monster is in the Kremlin and why it is necessary to help Ukraine, because if the Ukrainians had not stood their ground two years ago, the Russian army would have already been under their windows, and the voters of Torotskai and Tyrziu would have been thinking not about Transcarpathia, but about how to quickly evacuate to the West.
So the words of these far-right politicians against the backdrop of warming Ukrainian-Hungarian (yes, despite the pro-Russian Orban) and Ukrainian-Romanian relations sounded very inappropriate, like the sound of flatulence at the dinner table. What do they do with the inadequate people who spoil the air? That’s right, they are expelled from decent society.
Russian money also smells very bad. And after claims to Ukrainian lands, no one has any doubts about who pays and who dances comrades Tyrziu and Torotskai. These “two from the casket” are ready to kiss the Russian boot as much as they like and stand in an indecent pose in front of Putin, as long as he does not stop supporting him financially. But if Russia has a large oil and gas pipeline, weapons reserves and a countless number of “mobs,” then the far-right Hungarians and Romanians do not have all this, so in the event of a big war and withdrawal from NATO, as the same Tyrziu stated, there will be nothing to defend with. ..
We think that statements about the annexation of Transcarpathia were made with the aim of currying favor with the Russian dictator, and at the same time gaining additional votes for themselves. But smart citizens of Romania and Hungary are unlikely to vote for the foul-smelling ultra-right. And Putin is a bad boss. Just look at how the first leaders of the “LPR” and “DPR” ended their lives. And if Tyrziu and Torotskai want to repeat the sad fate of Bolotov and Zakharchenko, then, of course, let them try. They are already political corpses. And they may well become not only political. If they continue in the same spirit, they will end up the same way as the leaders of the Donbass “republics” – in a coffin. So, comrades of the ultra-right, the days when you decide to really take a swing at Ukrainian territories will be your last days…
Context
Let us recall that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba commented on the statement of the leader of the far-right Hungarian party Mi Hazánk Laszlo Torockai, who wished to occupy the Ukrainian Transcarpathia.
We also wrote that Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto was surprised by his actions in Uzhgorod at a meeting with Ermak.
2024-02-02 13:00:33
#response #farright #Romania #Hungary #calls #annex #part #Ukraine #day