Domestic
In the early morning hours of Tuesday in Baltimore, a cargo ship experienced a power failure and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its swift destruction and a harrowing collapse into the river. According to authorities, the ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the bridge, signaling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span. However, eight individuals were on the bridge for construction purposes, and only two were rescued. The other six individuals are missing and presumed deceased. The cargo ship, named Dali, was headed for Sri Lanka and has had minor technical experiences in the past, but nothing to the tune of significant concern. Experts say this mimics a Titanic situation–the ship’s vast size and speed became its undoing. Immediately after the collapse, officials on both the county, city, state and federal level jumped into rescue and recovery action, but questions on rebuilding, cleaning the debris out of the water and ensuring commerce is maintained are still yet to be answered.
On Monday, former president and Republican presumptive nominee for 2024 Donald Trump was granted a legal reprieve by the courts and was also given a trial date for what will be the first criminal trial of a former US president in history. The first ruling was from Judge Juan Merchan who announced that the commencement of Trump’s criminal trial in the New York hush money case will involve jury selection starting on April 15, after remedying a logistic matter. The date is weeks later than originally scheduled. The more significant development on Monday came from a New York appeals court decision permitting Trump to submit a reduced $175 million bond to contest the $464 million civil fraud ruling against him, his adult sons and his company. Trump faced a deadline on Monday to post the bond, otherwise New York Attorney General Letitia James could have initiated the process of seizing his assets. However, the appeals court decision granted Trump an additional 10-day period to post a $175 million bond. Trump has repeatedly claimed this lawfare is “election interference” at the behest of President Joe Biden, his presumptive opponent.
International
Millions across the world were shocked last week to learn that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer. It is unclear what cancer the Princess has, but she will undergo chemotherapy in the coming months. This announcement comes after she, and the Royal Family in general, have received backlash in the last few months due to a lack of transparency between them and the public. Kate Middleton did receive abdominal surgery, which she laid out in a candid video, which allowed doctors to find cancer in her system. This announcement also comes months after her father-in-law, King Charles III, revealed he also has cancer. The Princess of Wales has said she appreciates the immense amount of support she has received from all around the world and the calls for privacy as she manages this news with her young children.
Last Friday, attackers stormed into a sizable concert hall in Moscow, unleashing gunfire on the crowd. The assault resulted in the deaths of over 60 individuals, with more than 100 sustaining injuries. Additionally, the assailants set fire to the venue in a bold attack that occurred shortly after President Vladimir Putin solidified his control over power through a meticulously choreographed electoral victory. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Islamic State group in a statement disseminated across affiliated social media channels. The Kremlin didn’t immediately blame anyone for the attack, but some Russian lawmakers were quick to accuse Ukraine and called for ramping up strikes, which US intelligence agencies have denied.
