#1: UN Chief Warns of Global Starvation:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about a “unprecedented global hunger crisis” affecting hundreds of millions of people. He said that multiple famines will occur in 2022 and could become worse in 2023. He listed contributing factors, such as the war in Ukraine, climate change, the pandemic, and “inequality.” Food production on multiple continents is being affected by the rising costs of fertilizer and fuel.
“This year’s food access issues could become next year’s global food shortage,” he said. “No country will be immune to the social and economic repercussions of such a catastrophe.”
#2: Roe v Wade Fallout:
The decision by the US Supreme Court on Friday will have repercussions for a long time. In the short term, states have already been preparing for this moment and will be implementing and changing existing state law within 30 days in most cases.
The decision will allow individual states the choice whether to ban or allow abortions. Thirteen states already have “trigger” laws.
Trigger laws automatically go into effect following the overturning of Roe v Wade.
The states that have trigger laws or will change their laws quickly are: Arkansas, likely to ban almost all abortions with punishments to those who perform them; Idaho, which would make providing an abortion a crime punishable of up to five years in prison, with some exceptions; Kentucky, which would make providing abortion a felony, with some exceptions; Louisiana, which is likely to ban abortions except when the mother’s life is at risk, but would ban abortions in the case of rape or incest; Mississippi, which will ban abortions, with exceptions for saving the life of the mother or cases of rape; Missouri, which is expected to make all abortions illegal except in a medical emergency; North Dakota, which has laws similar to Missouri; Oklahoma, which says providers could get 10 years in prison or a $100,000 fine, unless the mother’s life is in danger; South Dakota, where all abortions are likely to be banned; Tennessee, where all abortions will be banned except for medical emergencies; Texas, which will ban abortions, and provide no exception for rape or incest. Only in medical emergencies will abortion be allowed; Utah, which will ban abortions with the exception of preventing death or serious injury to the mother, rape or incest cases, or the possibility of severe birth defects; Wyoming, expected to make abortion illegal, but will likely allow exceptions in cases of rape or sexual assault, or to prevent the death or injury of a pregnant woman.
#3: Pope Francis Releases WWII Jewish Archives:
The Pope ordered 170 volumes of its “Jewish files” from the Pope Pius XII archives to be published online. The files contain information about requests to the Vatican for help to avoid Nazi deportations, assistance in finding family members, or help liberating people from concentration camps. The archives of the WWII era pope were opened to scholars in 2020. The files on Jews during the Nazi era are a small part.
The online publication of the Jewish information was ordered in order to provide disclosure regarding the Vatican’s response to the Holocaust during WWII.
#4: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Welcomes Abortion Seekers:
Democrat NYC Mayor Eric Adams has pledged to make abortion and other women’s services available to women forced to cross states lines.
“To those seeking abortions around the country — know that you are welcome here and that we will make every effort to ensure our reproductive services are available and readily accessible to you,” he said.
In New York, women will remain legally allowed to get an abortion for any reason, up to 28 weeks of pregnancy, or after if there is a health risk to the mother or unborn child, according to New York City’s Department of Health.
#5: Starting in 2023 Travelers Will Be Charged to Travel in Europe:
Starting in May 2023, the European Union (EU) will launch the ETIAS ( European Travel Information and Authorization System), a procedure that can be done online. EU members and residents will be exempt and be able to travel freely in the EU countries. For countries outside the EU, which don’t currently require a visa, the ETIAS will be mandatory and will affect around 60 countries, including the US and UK. Approval online will be almost instant, and the cost for the authorization will be $7.35. The ETIAS is not a visa, but will be mandatory for countries in which a visa is not currently required.
