Allies fail to agree on sending tanks to Ukraine
Western defense officials meeting in Germany said Friday that they had failed to reach an agreement for sending battle tanks to Ukraine, in a setback to Kyiv’s hopes to quickly receive weapons that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called crucial to the next phase of the war. The officials had hoped to reach agreement on sending advanced, German-made Leopard 2 tanks, which are stocked by many European countries. But Germany has refused to send its own Leopards to Ukraine or give approval to other countries to export them, not wanting to be the first to take the step and asking that the United States send its best tank, the M1 Abrams.
Colorado officials plead not guilty in Elijah McClain case
A group of police officers and paramedics have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the role they are accused of playing in the death of a 23-year-old Black man who was forcibly restrained and injected with a powerful sedative called ketamine. The five entered their pleas Friday. They were indicted by a state grand jury on manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other charges in 2021. Two years earlier, Elijah McClain died after being stopped while walking in the Denver suburb of Aurora because a 911 caller reported a man who seemed “sketchy.”
US will name the Wagner mercenary group a transnational criminal organization
The United States has decided to designate the Russian private military group Wagner as a significant transnational criminal organization, the White House said Friday, a move that will expand the number of nations and institutions that can be prevented from doing business with the company. “Our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this: Wagner is a criminal organization that is committing widespread human rights abuses,” John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, told reporters. The new measures against the company, which is already under U.S. sanctions, will take effect next week.
Elon Musk takes witness stand to defend Tesla buyout tweets
Elon Musk has taken the witness stand to defend a 2018 tweet claiming he had lined up the financing to take Tesla private in a deal that never came close to happening. That tweet resulted in a $40 million settlement with securities regulators and a class-action lawsuit alleging he misled investors. The impulsive billionaire defended his prolific tweeting as “the most democratic way” to distribute information even while acknowledging constraints of Twitter’s 240-character limit can make it difficult to make everything as clear as possible. Musk spent about a half hour on the stand before the trial adjourned. He is supposed to return to court Monday.
Arizona executions on hold amid review ordered by governor
Arizona’s attorney general has put a hold on executions in the state until the completion of a review of death penalty protocols ordered by the new governor due to the state’s history of mismanaging executions. Gov. Katie Hobbs’ order didn’t declare a moratorium on the death penalty, but Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office said she will not seek court orders to execute prisoners while the review is underway. Friday’s announcement of the review came as Mayes withdrew her predecessor’s request for a warrant to execute Aaron Gunches, who initially asked to be put to death but later backed out of that request. Arizona carried out three executions last year after a nearly eight-year hiatus.
Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand’s next prime minister
New Zealand’s education minister is set to become the island nation’s next prime minister after the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern. Chris Hipkins was the only candidate to enter the race Saturday. The 44-year-old education minister must still get an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues in Parliament, but that is just a formality now. Ardern shocked the nation of 5 million people Thursday when she announced she was resigning after five-and-a-half years in the top role. Hipkins will have just eight months before the next general election. Opinion polls suggest Labour is trailing its main opponent, the conservative National Party.
First Native American woman in space steps out on spacewalk
The first Native American woman in space has ventured out on her first spacewalk. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann was joined Friday by Japan’s Koichi Wakata, another first-time spacewalker. Their job was to install support struts and brackets for new solar panels launching this summer. The two rocketed into orbit last year with SpaceX. Mann is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California. She’s also a Marine colonel and test pilot. Wakata is Japan’s spaceflight leader with five missions.
By wire sources
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