Daily Archives: May 18, 2023

STATEMENT

This year on 17th May, we mark the 28th year of the enforced disappearance of then six-year-old 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, popularly known as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Following the recognition of then six-years-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Chinese government abducted the Panchen Lama along his family and Chadrel Rinpoche, who was responsible for leading the search committee for the reincarnation, just three days later. None of them have been seen since then. As one of the worlds longest-standing enforced disappearance cases, the Panchen Lamas 28-year-long abduction serves as a grim reminder of the brutal oppression of the Chinese colonial regime against the Tibetans.

Chinas interference in the selection process of the Panchen Lama shows their disregard for the fundamental human rights and religious beliefs of Tibetans, which are deeply rooted in Tibetan culture. Though China signed many UN rights treaties, China continues to show a blatant disregard for fundamental human rights and religious beliefs in Tibet through its repressive policies towards Tibetans. The international community has condemned Chinas noncommittal actions in violating fundamental human rights and justice. Numerous international governments and organisations have issued resolutions and statements for the Chinese government to provide reliable information about the Panchen Lama.

Our demands for the Chinese government are twofold.

We urge them to reveal credible information about the whereabouts and well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and his parents.

We call upon the Chinese government to respect the basic human rights of Tibetans, including an immediate halt to the forced disappearance of prominent religious figures, leaders, and advocates in the community.

We will continue to hold them accountable for their severe violations against Tibetan people, and demand that they adhere to international conventions.

-Filed by Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR

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DIIR Statement on 28th Anniversary of Enforced Disappearance of ... - Central Tibetan Administration

Content warning: This story includes mentions of sexual assault and murder.

As part of Multicultural Student Affairs APIDA programming, Chicago nonprofit KAN-WIN facilitated a workshop and presented a timeline about gender-based violence in Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities Tuesday.

KAN-WIN provides services like legal advocacy and support groups to those affected by gender-based violence. The nonprofit aims to work toward womens empowerment across Asian American communities. KAN-WINs education outreach coordinator Arthi Jacob spoke alongside youth and young adult organizer Abbey Zhu (Weinberg 22).

The presentation covered the time period from 111 B.C.E. and ending with the present. Each slide covered a significant event related to gender-based violence, including the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971), Chinese imperialism in Vietnam (111 B.C.E.) and the founding of KAN-WIN (1990).

We created this timeline to talk through how our experiences of gender and gender oppression as Asian women are highly racialized, Jacob said. The oppression of Asian and Asian American women under patriarchy is inextricable from histories of racism, colonialism, imperialism, militarism and immigration.

The presenters invited the audience to talk about common themes across history, as well the differences. They facilitated discussion about how past gender-based violence intersects with the present.

Jacob told the story of Phoolan Devi. Devi, who later became a Member of Parliament in India in 1996, was subjected to child marriage, abuse and assault. After Devi was assaulted by a group of upper-caste men, she led a raid and shot the men at a river bank.

Though Devis story is well-known, caste-privileged people interact with her experience in a way that fetishizes her trauma, Jacob said.

Theyre still reinforcing this violence against her, they said. Thats partly why I added that to the timeline.

MSA graduate assistant Grace Park said women in APIDA communities, especially those experiencing gender-based violence, cannot rely on legal systems to seek justice.

Park said May Tsubouchis murder exemplifies this injustice in the legal system. In 1944, Tsubouchi, who was held at the Poston Internment Camp, was murdered by her co-worker, who had previously stalked and threatened her. However, official camp reports did not take action against the perpetrator.

The government dismissed Tsubouchis experiences, labeling her a prostitute, Park said. At the same time, the government used her story to increase state surveillance in an already highly surveilled camp.

Though the legal system claims to support those affected by gender-based violence, that doesnt hold always true, Park said.

Those protections are primarily for white, cis women, Park said. It often brings greater danger to the women in our communities, femmes, trans folks, nonbinary folks who try to report and then end up getting punished, incarcerated or further surveilled.

At the end of the presentation, Jacob and Zhu highlighted the war on terror. The 2001 Patriot Act legalized the unconstitutional surveillance of Muslim communities, which contributes to the overpolicing of Muslim women, Jacob said.

Zhu spoke about Yang Song, a sex worker who died in a New York police raid in 2017. The previous year, a police officer sexually assaulted and threatened her at gunpoint. If she didnt cooperate, the officer said, she would be deported.

Zhu said this case illustrates how policing, imperialism and militarism tie together. These forces are complicit and active agents of violence against AAPI women, Zhu said.

(Theres the) idea that sex workers or people who are participating in the sex trade are somehow deserving of violence, because theyre inherently immoral, Zhu said. What pushes people to participate in the sex trade are also those larger systems of domination and oppression.

Jacob emphasized the importance of naming violence against AAPI women, whether it be racism, fetishization or imperialism.

Conversations about gender-based violence typically center white, middle to upper class women, according to Jacob. Histories and experiences of Asian and Asian American women have been traditionally excluded from mainstream narratives, Jacob said.

The solutions generated by the mainstream anti-violence movement that exists as of right now have been ineffective and harmful to Asian and Asian American survivors, Jacob said. This is what we want to remedy.

Email: [emailprotected]

Twitter: @JessicaMa2025

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A voice call in the Discord server where members say that they would speak to each other for hours. The Post has blurred members' faces. (Video: Obtained by the Washington Post)

Exclusive

Videos and chat logs reveal Jack Teixeiras preparations for a violent social conflict, his racist thinking and a deep suspicion of the government he served

Updated May 14, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. EDT|Published May 13, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

Editors note: Videos in this presentation include racist language and gunshots, which may be disturbing to some readers.

Jack Teixeira, dressed in camouflage fatigues, his finger wrapped around the trigger of a semiautomatic rifle, faced the camera and spoke as though reciting an oath.

Jews scam, n----rs rape, and I mag dump.

Teixeira raised his weapon, aimed at an unseen target and fired 10 times in rapid succession, emptying the magazine of bullets.

Jack Teixeira uses slurs while at a firing range in Raynham, MA. (Video: Obtained by the Washington Post)

The six-second video, taken at a gun range near Teixeiras home in Massachusetts, affords a brief but illuminating glimpse into the offline world of the 21-year-old National Guard member, who stands accused of leaking a trove of classified military intelligence on the group-chat platform Discord.

Previously unpublished videos and chat logs reviewed by The Washington Post, as well as interviews with several of Teixeiras close friends, suggest that he was readying for what he imagined would be a violent struggle against a legion of perceived adversaries including Blacks, political liberals, Jews, gay and transgender people who would make life intolerable for the kind of person Teixeira professed to be: an Orthodox Christian, politically conservative and ready to defend, if not the government of the United States, a set of ideals on which he imagined it was founded.

Teixeiras love of guns, which first drew him to an online community of friends, was intertwined with a deep suspicion of the government that he served as an enlisted member of the Air National Guard. But Teixeira did not consider himself a whistleblower, according to friends.

By the time of his arrest, filings by federal prosecutors show that Teixeira had amassed a small arsenal of rifles, shotguns and pistols, as well as a helmet, gas mask and night-vision goggles, all under the roof of the house where he lived with his mother and stepfather. The Post obtained and verified two videos taken at their home in Dighton, Mass., where the FBI arrested Teixeira last month.

Filmed from the shooters perspective, the first video shows a person identified by a Discord user as Teixeira firing an AR-style weapon into the forest. Another video shows the gunman firing a pistol into the woods behind Teixeiras home, including two rapid volleys that suggest the weapon may have been modified. It isnt clear what legal or illegal modifications Teixeira may have made, though devices like binary triggers and typically illegal auto sear accessories can make semiautomatic guns fire quicker than they are designed to shoot. A separate photograph shows an AK-style weapon resting on a table outside the family home next to a helmet with attached night-vision goggles.

For Teixeira, firearms practice seemed to be more than a hobby. He used the term race war quite a few times, said a close friend who spent time with Teixeira in an online community on Discord, a platform popular with video game players, and had lengthy private phone and video calls with him over the course of several years.

He did call himself racist, multiple times, the friend said in an interview. I would say he was proud of it.

The friend, like others on the server, spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being associated publicly with Teixeira, who faces a potential sentence of 25 years in prison. The friend gave a video interview to The Post and requested that their face be obscured and their voice modified.

A source close to Jack Teixeira describes his violent online persona. (Video: Jon Gerberg, Nilo Tabrizy/The Washington Post)

In the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, Teixeira told friends that he saw a storm gathering. He was afraid they would target White people, his friend said. He had told me quite a few times he thought they need to be prepared for a revolution. The friend said Teixeira spoke approvingly of Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager who shot three people, two fatally, during protests that summer in Kenosha, Wis., claiming that he had acted in self-defense. A jury acquitted Rittenhouse of five counts, including intentional first-degree homicide, in 2021.

Teixeiras preparations for civil chaos werent limited to arms; knowledge was also power. His job as a computer technician at Otis Air Force Base, on Cape Cod, gave him access to the Pentagons network for top-secret information, where, according to his friends, Teixeira viewed thousands of classified documents on a vast range of topics, from the war in Ukraine to North Korean ballistic missile launches to attempts by foreign governments to interfere in U.S. elections. Teixeira shared some of this intelligence bounty with a band of about two dozen people in a Discord server he came to control called Thug Shaker Central. (The servers name, the most often used of several, is a racist allusion.) Teixeiras goal, they said, was to reveal truths that powerful people had hidden from ordinary ones.

Teixeira wanted his online companions, many of them teenage boys, to be prepared for things the government might do, reinforcing to them that the government was lying to them, said the close friend, who was also a member of the server. Beginning in 2022, the year after Teixeira was granted a top-secret government security clearance following a standard background investigation, he began posting classified documents in the server, first typing them out by hand and later uploading photographs of printed documents bearing classification markings and restrictions on their distribution. He also shared video from the base, showing friends on the server where he worked and allegedly secreted away classified intelligence.

The Post obtained hundreds of documents, as well as text messages, that Teixeira shared on the server over the course of several months. Teixeiras lawyers declined to comment. Teixeira, who remains in federal custody, has not entered a plea.

Teixeira occasionally augmented his leaks with sober analysis. He once confidently predicted that China will be trying to avoid sanctions and appease us in the near term in light of new laws and regulations aimed at blunting the countrys semiconductor manufacturing industry.

But Teixeiras missives also revealed a conspiratorial streak.

Recently a Al-Qaeda sympathizer moved nearby my area, immigrant and were finding more about their organization, he wrote in October 2022, apparently referring to the U.S. government. Any sand n----r like that we will watch them[.]

On Discord, an account with the handle Jack the Dripper, one of Teixeiras known monikers, shared an image titled payback, showing a large passenger jet careening toward the Kaaba in Mecca, Islams holiest site.

Teixeira asserted that lots of FBI agents were found to have sympathized with the Jan 6 rioters, and he said naive members of the intelligence community, of which he was technically a part, had been cucked. He referred to mainstream press as zogshit, appropriating a popular white-supremacist slur for the Zionist Occupied Government. Friends said that during live video chats, Teixeira expounded on baseless accusations of shadowy, sinister control by Jewish and liberal elites, as well as corrupt law enforcement authorities.

He had quite a few conspiratorial beliefs, the close friend said, adding: I remember him multiple times talking about things like Waco and Ruby Ridge, and talking about how the government kills their own people, referring to a pair of notorious armed standoffs that the far right has held up as emblematic of government oppression.

Polarized by the pandemic

Already united by their love of guns and their Orthodox Christian faith, two members of Thug Shaker Central said their nascent political beliefs became hardened and more polarized during the isolation of the pandemic. Unable to see their local friends in person, the young members spent their entire days in front of screens and came under the influence of outsize online figures like Teixeira. Some on the server saw him as an older brother others, friends said, like a father figure.

The Post obtained previously unpublished screenshots from the server and recordings of members playing games together. Racist and antisemitic language flowed through the community, as did hostility for gay and transgender people, whom Teixeira deemed degenerate. The line between sarcasm and genuine belief became increasingly blurred. On video calls, users held up a finger, jokingly imitating members of ISIS. In their rooms were flags associated with Christian nationalism and white power.

In interviews, some of the members struggled to explain worldviews that had developed largely online, and expressed remorse. Several admitted they had become radicalized during the pandemic and were influenced by Teixeira, whose own politics seemed animated by social grievances and an obsession with guns.

The members may have sensed they were treading into dangerous political waters, even before leaked classified documents started circulating. During video chats, some hid their faces behind masks, fearful of being publicly identified with a group of self-professed bigots, Teixeiras close friend said.

After he enlisted in the U.S. Air National Guard in September 2019, Teixeira also feared that his own racist and violent statements would jeopardize his chances of getting a security clearance. He was worried something from Discord would come up during his interview, said the friend, who met him when the application was still pending. Teixeira changed his online handle to an innocuous version of his surname and became less active in the community for a time, the friend added, in an effort not to create more incriminating evidence.

But Teixeira already had an offline record that arguably should have raised concerns for the officials who approved his security clearance. In March 2018, Teixeira was suspended from his high school when a classmate overheard him make remarks about weapons, including Molotov cocktails, guns at the school, and racial threats, according to a Justice Department filing last month that argued Teixeira should remain in jail while he faces charges under the Espionage Act stemming from his alleged leaks.

Federal prosecutors noted that, according to local police records, Teixeira claimed that he had been talking about a video game when he made the alarming comments. But other students disputed that characterization, prosecutors said. And Teixeiras close friend, who knew him after he had graduated high school, said he had confessed to wanting to take a gun to school and carry out a shooting.

He had told me multiple times about when he was younger, his desire to shoot up his school, the friend said. He hated his school.

To my knowledge, he never hurt anyone physically, but he absolutely talked about it pretty often, the friend added. Other friends confirmed Teixeira talked about attacking his school, but they said they didnt take his threats seriously.

A source who knew Jack Teixeira closely recounts troubles in Jacks personal life. (Video: Jon Gerberg, Nilo Tabrizy/The Washington Post)

It remains unclear how Teixeira obtained a clearance and what consideration, if any, adjudicators gave to his history of violent remarks.

Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman, said Teixeira is subject to potential discipline, considering he was working under active duty. After the Air Force concludes an investigation, she said, a commander will determine if Teixeira should face charges in the military. The service is coordinating closely with the FBI in the leak investigation, she said.

Teixeira remains an airman first class, a low-ranking enlisted service member, as he awaits trial on the leaking charges.

The military has, in the past, struggled to track down individuals who have espoused racist or white-nationalist ideologies. Service members have faced charges that include dereliction of duty and misconduct for racist rants.

After Teixeira got his privileged access, he sought out another official license that had eluded him: a firearms identification card, which, in the state of Massachusetts, permits the possession of non-large-capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition.

Teixeiras application had been turned down in 2018 due to the concerns of local police about his violent remarks at his high school, court records show. But in a letter to a local police officer in 2020, Teixeira argued that his new career in the Air Force, and the security clearance that came with it, demonstrated his trustworthiness.

I now represent much more than myself and need to watch what I say and do both in public and in private, as it affects more than just myself, Teixeira wrote in November 2020. He allegedly began divulging classified information online a little more than a year later.

The pandemic refuge of Thug Shaker Central wasnt the only place Teixeira appears to have spilled protected information.

According to court documents and online records reviewed by The Post, Teixeira posted intelligence on another Discord server as early as February 2022. This community of gamers contained hundreds of people, exposing official secrets to a much larger audience than his tight-circle of friends, who said they understood they should keep the classified documents to themselves.

The server, called Abinavskis Exclusion Zone, is associated with a YouTube streamer who plays the video game War Thunder, known for its realistic models of tanks, fighter jets and other military vehicles. A member of the server, who asked not to be identified, said a user believed to be Teixeira posted intelligence in a channel called civil-discussions, usually in a running thread.

Abinavskis Exclusion Zone remained active this month. When The Post reviewed the server on Tuesday, it listed 627 members, of whom 150 were online at the time.

On April 6, a Discord user informed Teixeira that he had seen material he believed the service member had shared show up on another social media platform, Telegram, in a channel devoted to pro-Russian topics.

Is it actually one of them btw, the unidentified user asked, according to court documents.

Not commenting, Teixeira wrote in reply. The user then asked, [D]id you share them outside of abis, an apparent reference to Abinavski.

In chat logs made public by prosecutors, Teixeira repeatedly makes reference to the thread where he had posted material starting in 2022. In a March 19, 2023, exchange, Teixeira wrote that hed decided to stop with the updates, thanking everyone who came to the thread about the current event, an apparent reference to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that had begun a year earlier.

I was very happy and willing and enthusiastic to have covered this event for the past year and share with all of you, Teixeira wrote, in comments that match messages the New York Times first reported he had made on that date in what it identified as a second server but didnt name as Abinavskis Exclusion Zone. In an email to The Post, Abinavski said a user believed to be Teixeira left the server in early April.

Abinavski said the civil-discussions channel had a thread for conversations around the Ukraine war, created roughly the time Russia invaded. Members confirmed with me that photos of documents were posted to the channel, Abinavski said.

The YouTuber added that Discord deleted the civil-discussions channel on April 24 after multiple members received notices from the company.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Discord said: We have removed content, terminated user accounts, and are cooperating with the efforts of the United States Departments of Defense and Justice in connection with this incident.

In this instance, we have banned users involved with the original distribution of the materials, deleted content deemed to be against our Terms of Service and issued warnings to users who continue to share the materials in question, the spokesperson added.

As classified documents began popping up across the internet, Teixeira asked an unnamed user to help him delete en masse the posts that Teixeira had made in civil-discussions, according to court documents. If anyone comes looking, dont tell them shit.

But the leak that led the authorities to the young National Guard member appears to have come not from Abinavskis larger group but within Teixeiras trusted circle. The classified information that showed up on Telegram, and later circulated more broadly online, came from a young Thug Shaker Central member, several other members of the server said, who broke the clubs unwritten rule not to share the documents and set off a chain of events that led to Teixeiras arrest the following month.

Moving from online to IRL

The civil-discussions channel gave Teixeira a large audience. But in Thug Shaker Central, he seemed to feel he was in a more intimate environment, able to share his love of guns and express his political views to a sympathetic audience. Teixeira posted videos and photographs taken at his mother and stepfathers home in Dighton and clips he recorded at the nearby gun range, where Teixeira made his mag dump video.

Firearms are shot in the backyard of Jack Teixeira's parent's home. (Video: Obtained by the Washington Post)

Teixeira developed an offline relationship with at least one friend on the server: Henry Adams, 18, who lives with his family about an hours drive from Dighton in Hanover, Mass.

Three former members of Thug Shaker confirmed Adamss identity, as well as his close ties with Teixeira and activity on the server. An attorney for Adams, Max Perlman, confirmed that his client knew Teixeira for around three years, bonding over shared interests. Through his attorney, Adams denied being a member of Thug Shaker Central, claimed to be unaware of its existence and said he had never seen any illicit material posted by Teixeira on any server.

According to a former member of the server, Adams tried to obtain support for Teixeira following his arrest. Asked if Adams had contacted anyone on the server, Perlman said his client had spoken to one minor individual and asked for letters of support because Mr. Teixeiras mom ask[ed] him to see if people would do that and get them to his lawyer.

Perlman said Adamss and Teixeira visited a shooting range in Raynham, Mass., many, many times, accompanied by Adamss mother, Lisa, his father, Richard, or Teixeiras biological father, Jack Michael Teixeira.

Reached by phone, Adamss mother didnt dispute that her son knew Teixeira. But she denied that he was active on Thug Shaker Central and said he saw nothing.

Referring to Teixeira, she asked, When did serving your country and being a Christian become a bad thing?

Attempts to reach Jack Michael Teixeira were unsuccessful.

Additional videos obtained and verified by The Post showed Teixeira and Adams at the gun range, owned by Taunton Rifle and Pistol Club. In one, Adams fires a Soviet-era SKS rifle. In another, Teixeira fires a pump action shotgun.

The club president, Eric Dewhirst, confirmed that the footage was taken at the members-only facility. In an interview at the organizations clubhouse, Dewhirst said there was no record of Teixeira being a member, suggesting that he and his friend were probably taken there by someone else. Dewhirst, who said he had read about Teixeiras alleged crimes and his life online, described the 21-year-old as young and head full of mush.

He absolutely enjoyed gore

When Teixeira wasnt firing guns in the real world, he was playing with them online.

He played a lot of video games, mostly shooters, his close friend said, noting that Teixeira preferred games from the shooters point of view.

Teixeiras gaming and political cultures overlapped, the friend observed. Once you start getting into the more niche video games, a lot of those communities are much more conservative. I think he found a small place where his views got echoed back to him and made them worse.

The interest in video games and conservative politics was accompanied by an acute obsession with violence, the friend said. He would send me a video of someone getting killed, ISIS executions, mass shootings, war videos. People would screen-share it, and he would laugh very loudly and be very happy to watch these things with everyone else. He absolutely enjoyed gore.

Friends may not have taken seriously Teixeiras threats against his high school. But he voiced approval of some shooters, particularly when they targeted people of different races and faiths. Teixeira was especially impressed by a gunmans rampage at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, which left 51 people dead and 4o injured. He was very happy that those people died, the friend said, because they were Muslim. The shooter live-streamed his massacre as though he were in a video game.

The line between condoning violence and making light of it was slippery. When Teixeira was waiting on approval of his security clearance, he told his friend that he was particularly concerned that jokes he had made in the server might surface about shooting up buildings and wanting to kill government agents. These were frequent subjects of amusement.

Most of the jokes he would make were about the ATF, the friend said, referencing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the federal governments premier gun control agency and a bte noire of the far right.

He was very against gun control. And so he would talk about wanting to kill ATF agents or when ATF agents would show up to his house, like theoretically preparing your house so that they would die in some strange trap.

In arguing that Teixeira should remain in jail while he faces charges, federal prosecutors pointed to his threats of violence in high school. But among online communities whose members hold more extremist conservative views, the friend said, its really common to joke about killing government agents like that, so it never seemed worrying to me.

Teixeiras alleged hostility toward the government doesnt explain his motivation for disclosing classified information. Other convicted leakers, including those like Teixeira who served in lower-level positions but had some of the highest levels of security clearance, were self-described whistleblowers trying to check perceived abuses or wrongdoings. Teixeira was trying to impress, and apparently mold, a group of teenagers.

I think he did think it made him special, the close friend said. I think there was a part of him that felt like he was cool or important because he got that access.

For the teenagers Teixeira had taken under his wing, the classified documents offered an education about how the world secretly worked. He wanted to be seen as someone whos powerful or looked up to, the friend said. He wanted them to be what he thought was the ideal, the ideal man.

Dalton Bennett, Evan Hill, Alex Horton, Andrew Ba Tran, Alice Crites, Nilo Tabrizy, Jon Gerberg and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.

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Alleged leaker fixated on guns and envisioned 'race war' - The Washington Post

The Department of Employment and Labour expresses the deepest sense of condolences to the family of Dr Dennis George, FEDUSA, and the broader labour market community on the passing of Dr Dennis George.

The Department shares in your sadness and loss as we remember Dr Dennis George as a person of substance. His passing comes at a time South Africa is reviewing its labour market policies. It is at this moment that we recall the immersed contribution and role he played in shaping the current labour market landscaping. His fierce but gentle contribution echoed the desires and aspirations of the working people of this land and contributed to the better governance of the labour market.

"As a department, we are deeply saddened by the passing of this prominent figure in the South African labour movement, political activism, and business leadership, George left an indelible mark on South African society," said Minister Nxesi.

For many years, he served as General-Secretary of the Fedusa. He fought fervently for worker rights as the former General-Secretary of the Fedusa, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and equal opportunities for workers. George has made significant contributions to the department's function in terms of union registration and ensuring worker rights are protected. He was adamant that every voice, especially those of the disadvantaged, marginalized, and voiceless in society, deserved to be heard.

Minister Nxesi said; We are reminded of his unremitting determination, he defied the powers that be, refusing to remain silent in the face of oppression, confronting systemic injustices with tenacity and bravery, and advocating for transformative change that would improve the lives of all South Africans.

Comrade George's journey through life was indeed one of an unwavering pursuit of a better world, especially considering the vast majority of workers who endure socioeconomic difficulties. Because of his immense contribution, the labour market milieu is today experiencing relative labour market peace and labour stability.

We do not doubt that his departure speaks about his promotion to meet many heroes and heroines who have shaped the destiny of this country. Among the stars, he will be received as a star and his contribution as a star will continue to shine brighter and brighter for the years to come. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire industry.

May comrade Georges soul rest in eternal peace.

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Employment and Labour pays tribute to Dr Dennis George - South African Government

Gail Collins: Hey, Bret, good to be conversing again. Heck of a lot going on. Before we get to the border or the budget, though, let me admit Im shallow and start with the Trump town hall on CNN.

Bret Stephens: Not shallow, Gail. But you are depressing me.

Gail: Trump lost your Republican vote a long time ago, but if you were still on the fence, was there anything on display that evening that would have had an impact?

Bret: Im not exactly a reliable gauge of how todays Republicans think: In November, I wrote a column called Donald Trump Is Finally Finished, which I may have to spend the rest of my life living down.

That said, I would guess that if youre the sort of voter who liked 80-proof Trump, youre gonna love 120-proof Trump. And thats what he was in that CNN town hall: more mendacious, more shameless, more unapologetic, more aggressive, nastier. But also undeniably vigorous, particularly when compared with Joe Biden. My guess is the town hall will consolidate his lead as the Republican front-runner.

Your take? Should CNN have given him the platform?

Gail: Dont see any reason CNN shouldnt have done the interview. Except that it reduces pressure on Trump to show up for any Republican primary debates. Which he naturally wants to avoid, given his ineptitude when it comes to actual policy questions.

Bret: Im of two minds. The media has a responsibility to cover the Republican front-runner, and I thought Kaitlan Collins, the CNN moderator, handled the responsibility about as well as anyone could have. Yet nonstop media attention is the oxygen on which Trump thrives. The more attention we give him which is what we are doing right now the stronger he gets.

Gail: About the impact: Yeah, if you liked Trump before, you wouldnt be deterred by his willingness to let the nation default, or his being inclined to pardon a lot of the Jan. 6 rioters.

Really would like to hear an everybody-in primary debate, though. Without Trump, I guess the only suspense would be whether Ron DeSantis is capable of being not terrible.

Bret: Well, as much as I dislike DeSantis for his views on abortion and Ukraine and free speech, I also have to ask whether Id prefer him to Trump as the Republican nominee. And there the answer is a resounding yes, much as Id much prefer a peptic ulcer to stomach cancer.

Gail: Im still not inclined to pick DeSantis over pretty much anybody. Yeah, Trump is worse when it comes to personal morality, and DeSantis probably wouldnt be as divisive in the sense of not being exciting enough to really rile up the base.

But his position on social issues like abortion is scary: He truly believes in imposing his extremist convictions on the country.

Bret: True, but Trump believes in imposing his despotic convictions on the country.

I also think its imperative that Democrats and I dont mean Robert Kennedy Jr. start thinking about challenging Biden in the primary. That Washington Post/ABC poll showing Biden with a 36 percent approval rating and running six points behind Trump should scare the bejeezus out of Democrats and thats before we wind up in a recession or a full-scale banking crisis or a shooting war with China (or all three).

Gail: Real-life fact is that no Democrat with the standing to potentially win a primary would challenge a sitting president. Especially one like Biden, whose performance is not bad. Hes had some real achievements, particularly in the super-important battle against global warming. Overall, yes, hes unexciting, and these days incapable of forcing the House Republicans to do anything really constructive. But his standards and character are high.

Bret: As you know, I will vote for him over Trump or DeSantis. But Democrats overstate his achievements and underestimate his unpopularity at their own actually, our own peril.

Gail: We both were wishing hed announce he wasnt running and open the door for other promising candidates to jump in. But since its not gonna happen its not gonna happen.

Bret: Probably right. Next subject: Your thoughts about the budget negotiations?

Gail: I have faith that theres not going to be a crushing default that in a total crisis the Fed will figure out something. But when it comes to the bottom line, Im on the side of Joe Biden. (Surprise!) You do not use the countrys credit standing to stage a stupid battle about cutting funds for the poor.

Bret: Well, by the same token, you do not use the countrys credit standing to insist that no spending cuts should even be countenanced and that able-bodied single adults should not have to find work as a condition of obtaining government benefits.

Gail: The Republicans are attacking the status quo, not some new program the Democrats are trying to push through. And Ive always been wary of the must-work stuff because all the paperwork, even in our technological era, makes it so easy for people to get cut off for no reason except bureaucratic confusion.

Bret: The conservative in me hates subsidizing indolence, especially when jobs are abundant. Welfare should go to those who truly need it, not people who just cant be bothered to work.

Gail: Also, I think this must-work discussion has to begin with quality child care for every low-income family that needs it. Very bottom bottom line is that kids come first.

About the budget I guess Congress could just decide there shouldnt be a debt ceiling. After all, we went more than 125 years without one. Is that something you think they should rally around?

Bret: The debt ceiling reminds me a bit of the doomsday machine in Stanley Kubricks Dr. Strangelove. In theory, its supposed to encourage restraint and responsibility. In practice, its likely to destroy the world. Id be interested to see the administration test the theory that the 14th Amendment, which says that the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned, makes the debt ceiling unconstitutional, although I doubt they could win that case in court.

The other crisis, Gail, is happening at the southern border. Looking back, anything the administration might have done to avert it?

Gail: Not gonna be silly enough to claim the Biden folks have been completely on top of the whole situation.

Bret: Our awesome veep .

Gail: But it looks like well finally be getting a lot of new federal workers to deal with the people who show up at the border.

And the Biden administration is working on it. The Trump administration was totally useless on the problem.

Bret: Not useless but definitely cruel. But what voters will remember is that under Trump, we didnt have this scale of a crisis.

Gail: Not sure the scale is really going to be that overwhelming as the year moves on. And I still have to note that I hate, really hate, your idea of finishing that wall.

Bret: A wall wont stop all illegal immigration. But it can help deter the most dangerous and reckless border crossings, which have left thousands of migrants dead. It should be part of an overall immigration compromise that includes automatic citizenship for Dreamers and more permissive rules for legal immigration through normal consular channels in the migrants home countries. Right now we have the worst of both worlds: a totally chaotic border that makes a bipartisan legislative compromise a political nonstarter.

Gail: Bret, these people have a lot of reasons for coming including seeking asylum from government oppression. But most of them are coming for jobs, and as youve always pointed out, our economy really needs the workers. In New York, weve gotten a ton of newcomers. Theyre having a terrible time, particularly with housing, but employers, especially in the service industries, are desperate for their help. We just need to work out a system to make it possible.

Bret: Sadly, as our news-side colleague Hannah Dreier chronicled last month, many recent border crossers are children working in conditions worthy of Dickens or Dreiser. Seeing mothers with young children strapped to their backs while hawking candies at traffic stops was something I was accustomed to in my hometown, Mexico City. Its jarring to encounter them at road intersections and on subway platforms in New York City. If Biden doesnt get a handle on this, it could cost him the election and lead to an ugly public backlash that will make Trumps immigration policy seem tame.

Speaking of subways, Gail, your thoughts on the killing of Jordan Neely?

Gail: Were talking about a former Michael Jackson impersonator who used to entertain subway passengers but had deteriorated into a homeless man who was mentally ill and sometimes scary.

Bret: Very scary. He was a person who had been arrested more than 30 times. He had punched an elderly woman in the face. He had exposed himself and peed inside a subway car. He had walked out on a residential treatment program. There was a warrant for his arrest at the time of his death but cops probably wouldnt have found out about it because a group sued to stop the police from detaining people solely to check for arrest warrants. He was the sort of guy who makes the subway frightening for a lot of passengers, particularly women. People ought to know these facts before rushing to judgment.

Gail: Neely was acting out and frightening people on the day he died. Daniel Penny, the former Marine who tackled him, was trying to stop an unnerving incident from happening. But he used chokehold force in a way that killed Neely.

I cant absolve Penny. But the big problem here is that the low- or no-income mentally ill need more services than theyre getting in New York or pretty much anywhere.

Bret: Obviously, I dont support vigilantism. But thats what you get when police are hampered from maintaining public order. The answer is to give the police the authorities and resources they need to deal with someone like Neely before a tragedy occurs.

Gail, this is too grim a note on which to end and we havent even touched on George Santoss indictment.

Gail: Now, theres a high note!

Bret: Before we go, I want to put in a word for Sam Robertss obituary for Mike Pride, a former editor of The Concord Monitor, who died last month in Florida at 76 and whom we both knew through his stewardship of the Pulitzer Prizes. Mike showed that you can often make the greatest difference as a newsman by writing about issues that are near to peoples everyday lives. He reminded us that local journalism matters. And that its at least one thing that deserves to be made great again.

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Opinion | Trump Cannot Be Unseen - The New York Times

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Celebrated every year, the day aims to raise awareness of violations against the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Recent data shows that the issue of violence against the queer community is growing in Canada.

Statistics Canada says 423 hate crimes targeting someone based on their sexual orientation were reported to police in 2021. This set a new record after surpassing the previous high of 265 reported in 2019.

While exact data was not provided, a different Statistics Canada report shows that transgender people are significantly more likely to be on the receiving end of unwanted behaviour in public and at work. Additionally, they are also more likely to be the victims of discrimination and violence.

A protest is being held in downtown Toronto tonight to honour the occasion. From 6 to 8 p.m., at The 519 community centre, people will gather in solidarity to celebrate IDAHOBIT

Anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate is dangerously trending upwards globally and Canada is not immune. Hateful protestors are showing up at drag performances. School boards are navigating heated disputes around raising the Pride flag and the censorship of 2SLGBTQ+ material in books. Gender-affirming healthcare is being impacted by transphobic bills. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The situation is urgent, and the time for action is now, a statement from The 519 reads.

Dubbed Prance and Protest, tonights rally has been described as an act of radical queer joy which will celebrate the power of community uniting against hate and violence, while calling for allyship.

The rally will also feature local queer and drag performances from Prince Manny Dingo, Kenya Rami, Queer of Sheba and more. MPP for Toronto Centre Kristyn Wong-Tam and City Councillor Chris Moise will also be in attendance.

According to the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces, an estimated one million people in Canada are gay, lesbian, bisexual or identify as a sexual orientation that is not heterosexual. The survey also found an additional 75,000 people in Canada 15 or older are transgender.

Officials show support on IDAHOBIT

In Canada, the federal government has recognized the importance of advocating against the oppression of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

In recent years, we have taken significant action to make Canada a safer place for people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community. We updated laws to protect gender identity and gender expression, I apologized on behalf of the Government of Canada in the House of Commons for the systemic oppression, rejection, and criminalization of 2SLGBTQI+ people, and we criminalized conversion therapy, to name a few, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement on Wednesday.

But people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community, particularly transgender people, are still facing a crisis of targeted violence in Canada and across the globe, the statement continued, adding that in recognition of work that still needs to be done the government recently launched the first-ever federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan a government-wide approach to strengthen rights and promote equality.

Canada continues to actively promote 2SLGBTQI+ human rights on the world stage, and address the ongoing, widespread criminalization, discrimination, and violence faced by these communities. Through our international assistance, Canada is investing to advance human rights and improve socio-economic outcomes for 2SLGBTQI+ communities in developing countries.

While on a global scale, the United Nations is also speaking out.

As we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, we face a stark fact. In every corner of the world, LGBTQI+ people continue to face violence, persecution, hate speech, injustice, and even outright murder, United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said in a statement.

According to the UN, 64 countries worldwide criminalize private and consensual same-sex relationships.

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Te Pti Mori has accused Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of "oppression" after he warned smaller parties to "be careful" with what bottom lines they present ahead of the general election.

"You don't tell indigenous peoples what our bottom lines are," co-leader Rawiri Waititi.

Asked what he made of Waititi saying Hipkins' comment is similar to oppression, Hipkins replied: "I don't agree with that, it's democracy."

The Prime Minister was last week asked about policies Te Pti Mori says it will push for if in a position to do so after the October 14 election.

They include removing GST from food, a wealth tax and pulling New Zealand out of the Five Eyes intelligence group.

Hipkins dismissed the idea of pulling out of Five Eyes as it wouldn't be in New Zealand's "best interests" and said Labour would outline it's own bottom lines prior to the election.

He said MMP typically requires parties to negotiate following an election, while recognising "the proportionate size of parties as well".

"Smaller parties I think need to be careful in whatever they issue in terms of bottom lines or they could find themselves simply not able to be part of any governing arrangement at all because, ultimately, the larger parties do need to be able to implement the commitments that they campaign on."

He recognised those larger parties may need to rely on the smaller parties to form government themselves.

Waititi on Tuesday spoke to reporters about the "two Chrises" - Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins - one that "doesn't want anything to do with Mori and the other is telling Mori what to do".

The first 'Chris' will be a reference to Luxon, who last week ruled out working with Te Pti Mori.

"There's a bit of criss-cross happening here, but I tell you what, come October 15, there'll be a bit of a Chris-tapohe on one of those sides."

Asked about Hipkins' comment that smaller parties should "be careful" with their bottom lines, Waititi repeated his point about the "two Chrises".

"They're not in any position to continue to tell us what to do. You don't tell indigenous peoples what our bottom lines are. That is a continued approach to oppression. We won't be taken by that."

Newshub clarified whether he was saying that Hipkins telling smaller parties to be careful with their demands was tantamount to oppression.

"To be told to be careful about what our bottom lines are is oppression to us," Waititi said. "You don't tell us what to do. You don't have the licence to do that anymore. We send that message to anybody.

"Te Pti Mori has been clear about our kaupapa. We always have been. If you are not willing to work towards a Te Tiriti-centric Aotearoa which means respecting the indigenous people, which means respecting tangata whenua and our plight to bring ourselves up from out of the ashes and to a place that's more equitable and equal, we will continue to make those statements."

Te Pti Mori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said a Te Tiriti-centric Aotearoa is a "top line, it's a middle line".

"That's the difference for us is we are the only party that a true Opposition because we're not fighting to become ministers or to get into Government. We're more focused on that longer-term picture of a Te Tiriti-centric Aotearoa."

Newshub asked Greens co-leader James Shaw whether Hipkins' comments would stop the Greens putting forward their own bottom lines or demands before the election.

"I don't think that any party has the right to make unreasonable demands that aren't based on facts. You see parties large and small in Parliament who are saying things for the sake of election, that they know they can't back up after election day.

"We will certainly be doing, as we always do, going into this election with a strong set of policies that have been thoroughly thought through and do add up.

Shaw said Hipkins' suggestion to be careful with demands should be applied to larger parties as well.

This week's Newshub-Reid Research poll showed Te Pti Mori holding the balance of power.

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Election 2023: Te Pti Mori accuses Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of 'oppression' for telling parties to 'be careful' with demands - Newshub

On this year's International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, Euronews Culture assesses the current state of LGBTQ rights across European countries.

Anti-LGBTQ violence is here, its everywhere, and it isnt going away any time soon at least, thats the latest assessment made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement released on the eve of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), which the world celebrates on 17 May.

In a stinging condemnation of enduring global anti-LGBTQ prejudice, the UN chief urged countries to end the criminalisation and systemic oppression of queer people.

"Being yourself should never be a crime," Guterres stated. "We cannot and will not move backwards."

The current state of LGBTQ rights has particularly alarmed campaigners and analysts, as a flurry of repressive policies from Republican-sponsored bills banning drag shows in several US states to Ugandas criminalisation of LGBTQ+ identities seem to signal a growing hostility towards queer individuals.

But how is Europe faring in the midst of such upheavals? Euronews Culture takes a look at what the past year has meant for LGBTQ rights across the continent.

Several European countries and cities have for years sat comfortably at the top of global rankings for LGBTQ rights and attitudes, and there are no signs of this changing any time soon.

In 2022, Amsterdam was pronounced the worlds most queer-friendly city by Open for Business, with the report citing the Dutch capitals "welcoming attitudes," and heralding it a "strong global beacon" for pro-LGBTQ attitudes. London, Berlin, Stockholm and Dublin also ranked highly.

As for the latest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) report, Malta has once again been proclaimed Europes best country for LGBTQ rights, holding onto the Rainbow Europe indexs top spot for the eighth year in a row.

The Mediterranean countrys overwhelmingly Catholic population and conservative stance on certain social issues namely, abortion make it an unlikely candidate for Europes rainbow crown. Nevertheless, it has turned itself into something of a haven for queer folks.

Speaking to Euronews Culture, one young LGBTQ Maltese identifies growing secularism and strong government policies as key factors for why the small country has carved out a place for itself among the worlds most queer-friendly places.

"Religious [attitudes] are starting to decline," said Paul (his name changed upon request), a software engineer who identities as bisexual. "And the government is progressive for the community especially for trans people recently."

Pauls assessment is backed by the facts: Despite being one of Europes last remaining strongholds of religious devoutness, church attendance in Malta has plummeted from around 80% in the 1990s to 30-40% in recent years.

Over the past year, an array of European countries have taken several steps forward on various LGBT+ issues, providing some much-needed encouragement to activists across the continent.

Last July, Switzerland legalised same-sex marriage, joining a growing list of countries that allow gay couples to tie the knot.

The decision followed a referendum held in September 2021, in which just under two-thirds of voters supported "Marriage for all," as the new legal amendment had been billed.

It may come as a surprise to some that the Alpine state frequently perceived as a bastion of high living standards would take so much longer than many of its neighbours to legalise same-sex marriage. But its worth noting that Switzerland a confederation where cantons preserve significant autonomy has not always shined on the civil rights front.

Back in 1990, Switzerland was the last European country to fully extend voting rights to women, after a Federal Supreme Court decision approved women's suffrage in the small canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Following in Switzerlands footsteps, Slovenia also introduced gay marriage, while Croatia allowed same-sex couples to adopt.

While LGBTQ rights in Eastern Europe often make headlines for all the wrong reasons, Moldova a deeply Orthodox country, and one of Europes most impoverished has made significant progress in improving conditions for its queer citizens, jumping up 14 places in 2022s Rainbow Index.

Trans rights have also made significant headway, after new laws were passed in Finland and Spain that allow people to change their legal gender without undergoing gruelling medical procedures and assessments.

"This is what pride in ones country means," tweeted Spains equality minister last week, sharing an article on how the new law had helped boost the countrys ranking on the Rainbow Europe index.

Such gender recognition reform has been pilloried by certain conservatives and radical feminists, who decry what they consider attempts to erode sexual identity.

Nevertheless, many human rights campaigners and trans activists see such laws as indispensable steps to offering further equality and recognition to a deeply disenfranchised community.

As rosy a picture Europe's long list of newly acquired LGBT+ rights may paint, such advancements cannot, alas,paint over some of the widening cracks on the surface.

In Visegrd states, namely Poland and Hungary, the situation for the queer community leaves much to be desired, as LGBTQ individuals lack almost any legal protections, with few rights to spare.

Tomasz Leniara, a Polish writer now based in Glasgow, testifies to the challenging situation for gay people like himself back at home, while also acknowledging burgeoning signs of improvement.

"As the ultra conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party has been in power since 2015, the legislative situation is just as bad as ever," Leniara told Euronews Culture. "It is crucial for the ruling party to be changed in order for more progress to be made. However, it will be hard to achieve considering the financial aid that PiS offers, and a range of social/welfare options, payments and grants, especially for working classes."

Where Leniara sees hope, however, is in the changing attitudes of the people themselves.

"[Polish] society is much more accepting and more comfortable with LGBT+ individuals," he said. "There is a lot of work to be done, and some areas are more accepting than others."

Further east and beyond EU borders, Russia Europes "pariah" following Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine last February has further expanded its anti-LGBT legislation, after an existing law banning "gay propaganda" for children was extended to all age groups last December.

Looking west, Italy also seems to be going through something of a rough patch.

The country has long trailed behind its western neighbours on LGBTQ rights, only introducing same-sex unions seven years ago and it's still a long way away from taking the leap towards sanctioning same-sex marriage itself.

The election of a hard-right government last September, led by impassioned nationalist Giorgia Meloni, has not been a welcome change for many in the LGBTQ community.

Back in 2021, Melonis Brothers of Italy party then part of the opposition vehemently opposed a bill that would have enshrined anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, cheering jubilantly after it was struck down by the Senate.

Meloni whose roots lie in the countrys far-right, neo-fascist Italian Social Movement was widely portrayed as a radical, reactionary firebrand prior to taking office. But some analysts claim her bark may have been worse than her bite, as she has tried to toe a relatively Brussels-friendly line during her first six months in office.

When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, Melonis government has already signalled that its conservative stance is not budging any time soon and has been intent to make good on that promise.

Indeed, the government has controversially tried to clamp down on same-sex couples by telling city councils to stop registering their children.

At an LGBTQ panel discussion held at Romes Porta Portese theatre on the eve of IDAHOT, the overall atmosphere remained upbeat and buoyant in spite of such developments. The new governments looming shadow, nevertheless, was an unavoidable presence.

This is a largely homophobic government, warned journalist Francesco Lepore, one of the events speakers, while addressing the audience.

Another speaker, Marilena Grassadonia a left-wing politician and lesbian activist further called upon people to avoid complacency.

We are living a political context in which everything is being called into question, she stated. But there is something important we can do that is, taking a side.

Some of those present, however, retained a more positive outlook.

In the midst of everything thats happening, perhaps well see the creation of a more compact, close-knit [LGBTQ] movement, said event organiser, Antonino Tosto.

One of the most concerning changes noticed by LGBTQ watchdogs over the past year is a surge in queerphobic hate crimes.

"In 2022 there was a stark rise in violence against LGBTI people," stated ILGA. "[N]ot only in numbers but also in the severity of that violence."

France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK were among the countries cited as having reported such an increase.

SOS Homophobie in France also noted that homophobic and transphobic violence are up 28% and 27%, respectively, from last year.

In a newly released press report, the EU Commission commented on such developments with deep concern.

"We have seen a rise in anti-LGBTI rhetoric, fuelled by disinformation and false narratives, often leading to violence, harassment and stigmatisation," read the statement. "We are deeply concerned about the situation within Europe and worldwide."

ILGAs latest study does however leave some room for optimism: increasing violence aside, the legal situation for LGBTQ people in Europe has improved overall.

"Despite intense anti-LGBTI attacks in several countries, equality is still advancing across Europe," the report stated.

"While the public discourse is becoming more polarised and violent, particularly against trans people, political determination to advance LGBTI rights is paying off."

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What's the current state of LGBTQ rights in Europe? - Euronews

May 12, 2023 Baptist Health Foundation announced today that a donation of $3 million has been made on behalf of the Jos Milton Foundation to establish an endowed chair at Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute. The endowment, which will be named the Jos Milton Foundation Endowed Chair in Orthopedics, will support the work of John William Uribe, M.D., chief medical executive and founder of Baptist Health Orthopedic Care.

In gratitude for the Foundations support, the gift will be recognized with the naming of the Jos Milton Foundation Waiting Area at the Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute Sports Medicine clinic, which houses Dr. Uribes medical offices and is located at 1150 Campo Sano Avenue in Coral Gables.

We are very grateful to the Jos Milton Foundation for this generous gift, said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. It will support the first endowed chair at Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute an important milestone for Baptist Health. This endowment will allow Dr. Uribe and his team to pursue advanced orthopedic therapies and treatments for patients throughout our community.

Dr. Uribe is a world-renowned specialist in orthopedic sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. He is the team physician for the Miami Dolphins football team and Florida Panthers hockey team, professor and chair of the Department of Orthopedics for Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and a founding member of the UHZ Sports Medicine Institute. He has led several research studies in orthopedics, orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and published his findings in numerous prestigious medical journals. Funds from the endowed chair will support his research work in minimally invasive resurfacing techniques of the knee and shoulder, as well as ligament and tendon restoration, among other areas.

It is truly an honor to accept this endowed chair, said Dr. Uribe. I thank the Jos Milton Foundation for their immense generosity in supporting the science of orthopedic medicine at Baptist Health. We are excited for the opportunity to lead in the field of orthopedics research, making discoveries that result in less-invasive surgical techniques, quicker recovery times and better quality of life.

As a beneficiary of Dr. Uribes and his exceptional teamsorthopedic expertise, I am inspiredto help make sure the orthopedic team at Baptist Health continues to help asmany people as possible, said Cecil Milton, Trustee of the Jos Milton Foundation. TheJosMilton Foundation EndowedChair in Orthopedics will provide Dr. Uribethe resources to conduct and applyresearch that will ultimately improve outcomes andbetter serveour community.

Added Ana VeigaMilton, Esq., President of the Jos Milton Foundation, My family foundations main focus is to increase access to quality healthcare. Ourinvestment inDr. Uribe,as the inaugural holder of theJosMilton Foundation EndowedChair in Orthopedics,and Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute will help fund research that will offer greater insight into orthopedic care andtherapies. We are excited to see the Institute continue to grow!

In 2019, Baptist Health Orthopedic Care opened its flagship, the Miami HEAT Sports Medicine Center at Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute, on the Doctors Hospital campus in Coral Gables. This 49,000 sq. ft., four-story facilityhouses most of the programs orthopedic specialties under one roof, including an ambulatory surgery center. The Center also serves as a clinical trial site for new orthopedic surgery techniques, novel implants and genetically engineered cartilage, bone and revolutionary biologics.

Baptist Health Orthopedic Institute is part of Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, which is known for its expertise in the fields of orthopedics and sports medicine, with nearly 82,000 patient office visits and more than 5,300 surgeries a year. Baptist Health Orthopedic Care is comprised of highly specialized, Board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic physicians. They are supported by advanced practice providers and athletic trainers. Physicians and support staff provide sports medicine services for pro athletes including the Miami Dolphins, Miami HEAT, Inter Miami CF and Florida Panthers, as well as high school and collegiate athletic programs and international sporting events. They also treat professional and Olympic athletes from around the world.

About Baptist Health Foundation

The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Healths ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more atBaptistHealth.net/Foundationand connect with us onFacebookandInstagram.

About theJos Milton Foundation

The Jos Milton Foundation works to continue the legacy of founder and family patriarch, Architect Jos Milton, reflecting his entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, common sense, determination, fiscal responsibility, and love for South Florida. Mr. Milton, a Cuban immigrant of Lebanese heritage, arrived in Miami with a dream, a brilliant mind for business, and a degree in Architecture from Universidad de La Habana. He leveraged his education and strong work-ethic to become a successful entrepreneur, developer and builder, and inspiring leader who loved South Florida, to him the most beautiful place on Earth. Mr. Milton understood the value of education and commitment in a society free from government oppression. In addition to the many buildings and communities he developed, he founded the Jos Milton Foundation (est. 2012, first grant 2013) under the premise that his legacy support programs and organizations in South Florida that improve quality of living, with a special focus on education, research, and access to quality healthcare. Sons Cecil, Frank, and Joseph Milton serve as Trustees of the Foundation. Grandchildren Alec, Diana, Daniella, Eric, Jessica, Joseph Jr., Justin, and Nicholas serve on the Junior Board, and daughter-in-law Ana VeigaMilton serves as President.www.MiltonPhilanthropy.org

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies.For more information, visitBaptistHealth.net/Newsroomand connect with us onFacebook,Instagram,TwitterandLinkedIn.

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Seun Kuti slapping a police officer was covered extensively in Nigerian mainstream media, which led to a lot of discussion both online and offline. Like what the mainstream media did when Portable, also known as Habeeb Olawunmi, attacked a police officer. The Kuti case has continued to elicit conflicting responses from the public in recent days, particularly from netizens on social media, reinvigorating the conversation about police brutality and the abuse of authority by law enforcement officials.

Despite this, our analysis of several tweets suggests that many users view the actions of Seun Kuti and Portable as unacceptable and indicative of a larger problem within Nigerian society. Several users mentioned the concept of government liability, which appears to refer to the idea that the government is responsible for the behaviour of its citizens, including musicians and other public figures.

Some users also expressed frustration with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and their handling of these incidents, suggesting that the police are not held accountable for their actions in the same way that citizens are. Others criticized Seun Kuti and Portable for their supposed lack of respect for the law and authority figures.

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From a political and moral economy perspective, the tweets suggest a sense of frustration with the status quo in Nigeria, particularly with regards to corruption and impunity. The concept of government liability highlights a perceived lack of accountability among Nigerian leaders, as well as a belief that ordinary citizens are held to a higher standard than those in positions of power.

Additionally, some users view the actions of Seun Kuti and Portable as symptomatic of a broader culture of impunity and disrespect for the law, particularly among those with wealth and influence. This could be seen as reflecting a larger issue of inequality and a sense that those in power are not held accountable for their actions.

The Key Political and Moral Economy

Power dynamics and abuse of power: Many of the tweets highlight the power relationships that exist between citizens and the police as well as within citizens. While some users contend that Seun Kuti violated his obligations as a public figure by hitting a police officer, others contend that the police have also abused their authority and should be held accountable.

Justice and accountability: The need for justice and accountability in cases of police brutality and assault is a major theme in many of the tweets. While some users contend that Seun Kuti and Portable should both be held responsible for their actions, others criticise the Nigerian police for not holding its officers responsible for comparable transgressions.

Political representation and citizenship: Some tweets touch on issues of political representation and citizenship, with users questioning the legitimacy of the federal government and arguing that citizens have a right to resist oppression and abuse of power.

Substance abuse and mental health: Some tweets make assumptions about the role of drug abuse while highlighting the need for resources and support for mental health in Nigeria.

According to our analyst, Nigerian netizens responses to the two incidents reveal a complex web of attitudes and beliefs about Portable and Seun Kutis deeds as well as about the countrys political and social contexts, which have been linked to a number of problems over the years.

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The Politics and Moral Economics of Seun Kutis Police Assault - Tekedia