onthedarkside

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Safer Communities Act was the first major gun safety legislation to be passed since the Brady Bill in 1994 The Senate passed a bipartisan gun bill late Thursday night in a 65-33 vote. The bill, spearheaded by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, comes in the wake of several recent mass shootings. The mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead, was the major driver behind the bipartisan effort. ... The bill would provide funding for states to create programs that could keep weapons away from people who are a danger to themselves or others, often called red flag laws. It would also enhance background checks for gun buyers under 21, add penalties for some gun criminals and provide funding for a variety of health and mental health-related programs. It also addresses closing the so-called "boyfriend loophole," which is a gap in federal law that means spousal domestic abusers can have gun rights taken away but not unmarried ones. (more) https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-passes-bipartisan-gun-control-bill

London (CNN) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered a hammer blow to his authority on Friday after his party lost two parliamentary by-elections in a single night, raising new questions about his leadership. Labour's Simon Lightwood won the West Yorkshire seat of Wakefield, in northern England, with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7 percentage points from the Conservatives to Labour. Moments later, Liberal Democrat Richard Foord won the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in Devon, western England, with a dramatic swing of almost 30 points. The Conservatives had held the seat with a majority of more than 24,000 votes, so the win was one of the biggest ever majorities to be overturned at a UK parliamentary by-election. ... Thursday's by-elections were triggered by high-profile resignations of Conservative lawmakers -- one who admitted watching porn inside the chamber of the UK parliament, and another found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/24/uk/uk-election-defeats-johnson-gbr-intl/index.html

As Russian forces slowly and systematically advance through the industrial heart of Ukraine, Ukrainian troops retreated from a besieged city in eastern Ukraine in what a senior defense official described as a tactical move to protect their forces. In an effort to avoid encirclement after weeks of fighting, a regional governor said Friday that Ukrainian forces would retreat from the city of Sievierodonetsk, the administrative center of the Luhansk region and one of Russia's last hurdles in its quest to control the region. Russia currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region, which along with Dontesk, makes up the Donbas, the resource-rich and industrial engine of the country. Russia appears focused on controlling the Donbas, making incremental gains in recent weeks toward that goal, said the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon. (more) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/24/ukraine-russia-invasion-live-updates/7717755001/

Russia's invasion of Ukraine - which is not in NATO - has triggered a fundamental rethink in how the alliance deters President Vladimir Putin from attacking any of its 30 member states NATO looks set to agree next week to the biggest overhaul of its defences since the Cold War, including a major expansion of a 40,000-strong force on alert to respond in a crisis. Russia's invasion of Ukraine - which is not in NATO - has triggered a fundamental rethink in how the alliance deters President Vladimir Putin from attacking any of its 30 member states, according to interviews and briefings with half a dozen military officers and diplomats. Long-standing defence plans that had not received much traction prior to 24 February - the day Moscow launched its all-out assault on Kyiv - are starting to become a reality as leaders meet for a landmark summit in Spain from 28-30 June. "Overnight the mentality changed," said a NATO military officer. "NATO now feels like it is electrified. You can feel the energy surging through the system." (more) https://news.sky.com/story/nato-set-to-agree-biggest-overhaul-of-defences-since-the-cold-war-including-expansion-of-40-000-strong-response-force-12638817

Factory to give UK access to shots for Covid, other diseases The first UK mRNA vaccine is expected to be produced in 2025 Moderna Inc. plans to build a research and manufacturing center in the UK in a partnership with the government aimed at providing the country with messenger RNA vaccines against future health threats. The agreement will ensure National Health Service patients gain access to mRNA vaccines targeting a range of diseases, including potential shots that can protect against multiple Covid variants, the government said in a statement. The UK, which expects the first mRNA vaccine to be produced in 2025, declined to disclose the size of the investment or the location of the center. (more) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-21/moderna-to-build-mrna-manufacturing-and-research-center-in-uk Also: Moderna to open vaccine research and manufacturing centre in U.K. NHS patients to have access to next generation of mRNA vaccines and treatments NHS patients to have access to next generation of mRNA vaccines and treatments as Moderna set to build state-of-the-art research and manufacturing centre in the UK Company to establish a global clinical trials base, endorsing UK as a science superpower Large manufacturing centre will give NHS patients guaranteed access to COVID-19 jabs, future-proofing UK against emerging health threats Government and Moderna reach agreement in principle for strategic partnership https://www.gov.uk/government/news/moderna-to-open-vaccine-research-and-manufacturing-centre-in-uk

Continue the Roe v. Wade discussion at update below...

Here are the states set to ban or severely limit abortion access now that Roe v. Wade is overturned The overturning of Roe v. Wade is set to almost immediately remake how access to abortion looks in America. Twenty-two states had laws or constitutional amendments that were already in place which could be quickly used to try to ban abortion. The laws include bans on abortion that were already in place in a number of states before the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe protected abortion rights. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/states-set-to-ban-abortion-after-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade.html

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. in 1973. The court’s controversial but expected ruling gives individual states the power to set their own abortion laws without concern of running afoul of Roe, which had permitted abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Almost half the states are expected to outlaw or severely restrict abortion as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, which is related to a highly restrictive new Mississippi abortion law. Other states plan to maintain more liberal rules governing the termination of pregnancies. (more) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/roe-v-wade-overturned-by-supreme-court-ending-federal-abortion-rights.html

A number of off-topic, trolling and personal comment posts have been removed, along with ensuing replies.

Former Trump White House aides testified to the Jan. 6 select committee that six House Republicans sought presidential pardons in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. Why it matters: The testimony was played at the end of a hearing that included new details about lawmakers' involvement in former President Trump's efforts to pressure the Justice Department to probe his voter fraud claims. Driving the news: According to the aides who testified, the following members sought pardons: Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) (more) https://www.axios.com/2022/06/23/house-gop-pardons-jan6

Several off-topic and diversion posts have been removed, along with ensuing replies.

IEA chief warns Europe to prepare for total shutdown of Russian gas exports Fatih Birol says governments should keep ageing nuclear plants open and take other contingency measures The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe must prepare immediately for the complete severance of Russian gas exports this winter, urging governments to take measures to cut demand and keep ageing nuclear power stations open. Fatih Birol, the head of the IEA, said Russia’s decision to reduce gas supplies to European countries in the past week may be a precursor to further cuts as Moscow looks to gain “leverage” during its war with Ukraine. “Europe should be ready in case Russian gas is completely cut off,” Birol told the Financial Times in an interview. (more) https://www.ft.com/content/f7990162-395f-488e-9d23-13f3cce83e24

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister says its debt-laden economy has "collapsed" after months of shortages of food, fuel and electricity. Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament the South Asian country is "facing a far more serious situation beyond the mere shortages of fuel, gas, electricity and food". "Our economy has completely collapsed," he said. (more) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-22/sri-lanka-economy-collapses/101175560

Canada's members of parliament will be given panic buttons to call police in an emergency, amid growing harassment, intimidation and threats of violence. The move was announced by Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino who has himself received death threats. The "very negative and toxic rhetoric that we see online" was very concerning, he said. ... Several MPs have said that the vitriol has intensified since an anti-vaccine mandate protest occupied Ottawa in February and March. (more) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61890453

RMT Union boss Mick Lynch criticises government's involvement in strike talks More rail strikes are "extremely likely" if talks between rail bosses and unions continue to fail, the union at the centre of the dispute has said. RMT boss Mick Lynch accused the government of blocking a deal, a claim denied by the government. For the second time this week a walkout by rail workers has left travellers facing another day of disruption. Trains have ground to a halt across much of England, Wales and Scotland, with about half the network closed. (more) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61906531

Brussels has dramatically accelerated the process, amid outrage over the brutality of the unprovoked Russian attack European leaders are poised to grant Ukraine candidate status, in a historic decision that opens the door to EU membership for the war-torn country and deals a blow to Vladimir Putin. EU leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to approve Ukraine’s candidate status later on Thursday, nearly four months after the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, launched his country’s bid to join the bloc in the early days of the Russian invasion. The move from applicant to candidate usually takes years, but the EU has dramatically accelerated the process, amid outrage over the brutality of the unprovoked Russian attack, and to show solidarity with Ukraine’s defenders. (more) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/23/eu-leaders-ukraine-candidate-status-russian-attack

BERLIN, June 23 (Reuters) - Germany triggered the "alarm stage" of its emergency gas plan on Thursday in response to falling Russian supplies but stopped short of allowing utilities to pass on soaring energy costs to customers in Europe's largest economy. The measure is the latest escalation in a standoff between Europe and Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has exposed the bloc's dependence on Russian gas supplies and sparked a frantic search for alternative energy sources. The step is a largely symbolic signal to companies and households but marks a major shift for Germany, which cultivated strong energy ties with Moscow stretching back to the Cold War. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-enter-phase-2-emergency-gas-plan-says-source-2022-06-23/

Washington (CNN) The documentary film crew subpoenaed by the January 6 committee interviewed former Vice President Mike Pence on January 12, 2021, a day before the House of Representatives voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump for inciting the Capitol riot. In a clip of the documentary from filmmaker Alex Holder, which was obtained by CNN, Pence is shown an email by a member of his staff that includes the draft House resolution demanding that Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from power. Pence tells his aide, "Yeah, excellent" as he is handed the phone with the email. He then offers a pained smirk and asks the aide to "tell Zach to print me off a hard copy for the trip home." Pence then collects himself for the rest of the interview. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/politics/trump-jan-6-documentary-footage-pence-25th-amendment/index.html

Senate bipartisan gun safety bill clears key hurdle as final vote could come later Thursday (CNN) A major bipartisan gun safety bill moved one step closer to final passage in the Senate on Thursday after a critical vote succeeded in advancing the measure with Republican support. The vote was 65-34, and 15 GOP senators joined Democrats to break the filibuster. The legislation is now on a path to pass the Senate before the week is out -- with the potential for a final vote to take place as early as later Thursday, though it could slip until Friday. The bipartisan gun deal represents the first major federal gun safety legislation in decades. It includes millions of dollars for mental health, school safety, crisis intervention programs and incentives for states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/politics/senate-bipartisan-gun-bill/index.html

--TOPIC CLOSED-- Updated news report continues here:

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major expansion of gun rights, the Supreme Court said Thursday that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The decision follows recent mass shootings and is expected to ultimately allow more people to legally carry guns on the streets of the nation’s largest cities — including New York, Los Angeles and Boston — and elsewhere. About a quarter of the U.S. population live in states expected to be affected by the ruling, which struck down a New York gun law. The decision, the high court’s first major gun decision in more than a decade, was 6-3 with the court’s conservatives in the majority and liberals in dissent. ... The decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need for carrying a gun in order to get a license to carry one in public. The justices said that requirement violates the Second Amendment right to “keep and bear arms.” (more) https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8

New BA.4 & BA.5 coronavirus subvariants escape antibodies from vaccination and prior Omicron infection, studies suggest (CNN) Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 appear to escape antibody responses among both people who had previous Covid-19 infection and those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted, according to new data from researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, of Harvard Medical School. However, Covid-19 vaccination is still expected to provide substantial protection against severe disease, and vaccine makers are working on updated shots that might elicit a stronger immune response against the variants. The levels of neutralizing antibodies that a previous infection or vaccinations elicit are several times lower against the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants compared with the original coronavirus, according to the new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/22/health/ba4-ba5-escape-antibodies-covid-vaccine/index.html

Moderna today reported that that the bivalent (two-strain) mRNA vaccine it developed against Omicron showed a strong neutralizing antibody response against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants and that it will seek regulatory approval in the coming weeks. Moderna's bivalent vaccine contains its original vaccine plus a strain that targets Omicron and its subvariants. The announcement comes amid rising BA.4 and BA.5 levels worldwide, which are fueling new spikes in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its latest update. ... Stephane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive officer, said the company is encouraged by the booster's performance against BA.4 and BA.5, which are an emerging health threat. "We will submit these data to regulators urgently and are preparing to supply our next generation bivalent booster starting in August, ahead of a potential rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections due to Omicron subvariants in the early fall," he said. (more) https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/06/moderna-2-strain-booster-shows-strong-subvariant-antibody-response

A trolling post and ensuing reply have been removed.

A misinformation post and ensuing replies have been removed, along with an ensuing exchange of off-topic posts.