Summit for Democracy, Bob Dole memorial, 'West Side Story': 5 things to know Thursday

Editors
·5 min read

Summit for Democracy starts Thursday

President Joe Biden's two-day Summit for Democracy is set to begin Thursday with 111 countries in attendance. Biden organized the virtual summit to rally nations against authoritarianism. Its stated mission is to "set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal" and to tackle threats against democracies "through collective action." But the invitation list has raised questions – both in Congress and abroad. Countries like Iraq and the Republic of Congo, with questionable human rights records, were invited while Hungary, a member of the European Union, and Turkey, a NATO member, were not invited to participate.

Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 Things podcast:

The late Sen. Bob Dole to lie in state in the US Capitol

Memorial events celebrating the late Sen. Bob Dole start Thursday in Washington and end over the weekend in his home state of Kansas. Dole died Sunday morning in his sleep at the age of 98, prompting an outpouring of support and memories from political figures across the country. The former presidential candidate will lie in state Thursday in the U.S. Capitol. President Joe Biden will join Dole's widow, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and daughter, Robin, along with congressional leaders at a private ceremony that starts at 10 a.m. ET in the Rotunda. Dole's casket will arrive at the Capitol just before the ceremony and will remain for 24 hours. The Capitol will not be open for public viewing. A funeral service takes place Friday at Washington National Cathedral, with Biden and former presidents expected to attend.

Trial of Kim Potter for death of Daunte Wright to resume in Minneapolis

The manslaughter trial of former Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter will continue Thursday. Jurors heard opening statements from prosecutors and Potter's defense team Wednesday. Prosecutors say Potter committed first- and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright. "This case is about the defendant, Kim Potter, betraying her oath, betraying her badge, and betraying her trust," Prosecutor Erin Eldridge said. Defense attorneys say the shooting was an "accidental and mistaken discharge," according to court filings. "She made a mistake. This was an accident. She’s a human being. And she had to do what she had to do to prevent a death of a fellow officer,” Potter's defense attorney Paul Engh told jurors.

Cross-country winter snowstorm hits central and western US

A swath of central and western U.S. could see up to 12 inches of snow on Thursday and into Friday, bringing an end to snow dry spells and disrupting travel plans. Parts of Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Colorado are under winter storm watches and warnings. The cross-country storm isn't likely to evolve into a bomb cyclone as others have earlier this year, Accuweather reported, but it'll likely be strong enough to bring the first significant snow of the season to western mountain ranges like the Colorado Rockies. For some states, especially those with thriving ski industries, the arrival of snow is highly anticipated and sorely needed.

New 'West Side Story' makes its first appearance in theaters

The second film adaptation of the classic "Romeo & Juliet"-inspired Broadway musical "West Side Story" arrives in theaters for its first showings Thursday night before going wide across the nation Friday. In New York City circa 1957, the white Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks are rival street gangs fighting for what's left of their diminishing turf as slums are cleared and Manhattan's West Side is built up. When ex-Jet Tony (Ansel Elgort) meets and falls in love with Maria (newcomer Rachel Zegler), the sister of the leader of the Sharks, the two meet wherever they can to keep their relationship a secret. In his ★★★½ out of four review, critic Brian Truitt says that Steven Spielberg, the legendary Oscar-winning director, puts his stamp on the movie musical and Tony winner Tony Kushner's new screenplay brings more life to the cast of personalities outside of its young lovers. Truitt adds that Spielberg's take "doesn't stray too far from the original ... but is rather a more authentic, dynamic and thoughtful revamp."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Summit for Democracy, Bob Dole memorial: 5 things to know Thursday

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • FTC bans employers from using noncompete clauses

    The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has banned noncompete clauses in a move to "drive innovation" and protect workers' rights and wages.

  • Exclusive-Google rival Tuta complains to EU tech regulators about de-ranking

    German email service Tuta Mail has complained to European Union tech regulators about what it described as a sudden drop in Google search results on the day the bloc's new tech rules kicked in. The European Commission last month launched investigations into Alphabet unit Google, Apple and Meta Platforms over potential breaches of the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), with Google's case partly focused on whether search results discriminate against third-party services. Tuta Mail, which says it is the second-largest encrypted email service in the world with more than 10 million users, filed a complaint to the DMA taskforce on Tuesday.

  • Ben Stiller was 'blindsided' by Zoolander 2 flopping

    The 58-year-old actor, who co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in the 2016 movie, didn't expect the follow-up to flop because he thought audiences were clamouring for a sequel to 2001's Zoolander. "I thought everybody wanted this," Stiller said on an upcoming episode of David Duchovny's new podcast Fail Better, reports People. "And then it's like, 'Wow, I must have really f**ked this up.' Everybody didn't go to it. And it's gotten these horrible reviews." Stiller admitted the flop "freaked (him) out" and made him doubt his comedic abilities.

  • Lufax Holding Ltd (NYSE:LU) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

    Lufax Holding Ltd (NYSE:LU) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript April 23, 2024 Lufax Holding Ltd isn’t one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here). Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to Lufax Holding Limited First Quarter 2024 […]

  • UPDATE 1-Mexico's consumer prices up 0.09% in early April

    Mexico's consumer prices unexpectedly rose in the first half of April, national statistics agency INEGI said on Wednesday, reinforcing expectations the country's central bank will hold its benchmark interest rate at its next policy meeting. Inflation for the period was 0.09%, while economists polled by Reuters expected a price decrease of 0.03%. The monthly reading took annual inflation in Latin America's second-largest economy to 4.63%, also above the expected 4.48% and the Bank of Mexico's target of 3%, plus or minus 1 percentage point.

  • The Rwanda Bill won’t stop people voting Reform – the Tories have gone too far

    At long last, the Rwanda Bill is passed, and Rishi “enough is enough” Sunak is pledging to get “multiple flights a month” off the ground, deporting illegal migrants within 10-12 weeks. Maybe. Some see the snail’s pace at which the Bill crawled along as a belated acknowledgment that those like Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, who warned that it would only lead to a handful of symbolic flights, were right all along. Charter planes may be on standby (I hear they had trouble persuading airlines

  • Mauricio Pochettino not safe beyond summer after Chelsea humbling by Arsenal

    Chelsea are facing a huge stick or twist decision over the future of head coach Mauricio Pochettino with players at the club braced for another summer of upheaval.

  • The 78-year-old former boxer turned TikToker dominating influencers at their own game

    Frank Gilfeather never expected that at the age of 78 he would be a viral internet sensation dominating the boxing influencer game.

  • Strange sounds prompt calls to SC sheriff’s office, but the noisemakers won’t be arrested

    “We have had several calls about a noise in the air that sounds like a siren, or a whine, or a roar,” the sheriff’s office said.

  • United Security Bancshares First Quarter 2024 Earnings: EPS: US$0.24 (vs US$0.36 in 1Q 2023)

    United Security Bancshares ( NASDAQ:UBFO ) First Quarter 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$12.6m (down 15...

  • UPDATE 1-Japan's yen hits 155 per dollar, weakest since 1990

    The yen fell on Wednesday to its weakest levels against the dollar since 1990, with markets alert to any signs of intervention from the Japanese authorities to prop up their currency. The decline in the yen comes after a string of strong U.S. inflation data pushed the dollar to five-month highs and reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to be in a rush to cut interest rates this year. The yen's slide against the dollar has revived anticipation of currency intervention.

  • Chocolatey Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats Review: It's A Match Made In Heaven

    We tasted the new Chocolatey Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats to see if this marriage between a classic and a chocolate peanut butter cup is worth the hype.

  • Air ambulances at Welsh school after reports of stabbing

    Two air ambulances have responded to an incident at a school in Carmarthenshire after unconfirmed reports of a stabbing. Parents have rushed to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford and have been seen waiting outside the school gates. Wales Air Ambulance told the BBC that the two helicopters attended the incident, with one now en route to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

  • Google 'Cookie' Phaseout Delayed Again. Trade Desk Rises.

    Google will delay its phaseout of third-party internet tracking cookies used by the advertising industry yet again. Trade Desk stock rose on news.

  • Key Gething backer 'had nothing to do with donation'

    Co-chair of first minister's campaign says he had nothing to do with donation from waste firm.

  • Bookable bus service launched for remote areas

    A new scheme allows people to book a bus if they live too far away from a local route.

  • Pressure on gas and LNG prices to help switch from coal, says J.P. Morgan

    Global natural gas prices will come under pressure through the end of the decade as supply and shipping infrastructure grow rapidly, particularly in Qatar and the U.S., J.P. Morgan said in a report. The growth in gas output and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, which allow tankers to transport the fuel around the world, will boost efforts to switch industries from highly polluting coal to gas, which can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as half, the report said. The U.S. investment bank forecasts a 2% annual growth in natural gas production by 2030 to 4,600 billion cubic metres (bcm) from 4,000 bcm in 2022, which will lead to an oversupply of 63 bcm by the end of the decade.

  • Heineken sells more beer amid strong supermarket demand

    The Amsterdam-based company revealed that group revenues grew by 7.2% to 8.18 billion euros (£7 billion) for the first three months of 2024.

  • UPDATE 1-Polish central bank reports loss of $5 bln dollars in 2023

    The National Bank of Poland (NBP) made a loss of 20.8 billion zlotys ($5.2 billion) in 2023 compared to a loss of 16.9 billion zlotys the previous year, it said in its financial report on Wednesday, later citing the impact of a strong zloty. The zloty, which has firmed since an October parliamentary election and is currently worth about 25 cents, has had a significant impact on the central bank's financial results as it influences the amount of reserves held, including those in foreign currencies. The central bank said in a statement released later on Wednesday that the negative result from exchange rate differences on the 2023 result amounted to 31.0 billion zlotys.

  • Catholic bishop insists transgender people are ‘very much welcome’ in the church

    A pastoral reflection on gender has been issued by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales