Happy Friday, Panthers! Congratulations to varsity baseball for winning the Region 3-AAAA championship in dramatic fashion with senior Brock Rein’s walk-off home run. They will host the first round of state playoffs at home next week. While you are cheering on the baseball team and the other spring sports, take a look at this week’s KICs. This week we have South Korea’s president angry with Israel about human suffering, China criticizing Trump and Iran’s blockade, the apprehension of a suspect in DeKalb County, and Trump leaning heavily on replacing two Supreme Court justices.
World – South Korea’s president angers Israel with video about human suffering
South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, angered the Israeli government by sharing a video on social media. The video he shared showed Israeli soldiers pushing a body off a building in the West Bank.
In the post Myung said there was no difference between wartime killing, the holocaust, and sexual slavery under Japan’s rule between 1910-1945. It was the holocaust part that appeared to anger the Israeli government. Furthermore, Myung clarified his remarks with another post saying it was a real event from September 2024.
The same day, the Israeli military said it had killed four militants in an operation in the area. Under international law, militaries are required to treat bodies of enemy soldiers with respect and return them to the soldier’s family.
National – China criticizes Trump and Iran’s blockade
A United States-sanctioned Chinese tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this morning. The ship is the first to make it through the waterway since President Donald Trump promised to cut off the key trade route entirely after conflicts with Iran.
The blockade was meant to affect only naval traffic entering and exiting from Iranian ports. Beijing issued criticism of the US blockade, calling it dangerous and irresponsible. Iran has also issued its own blockade of the Strait, leading to increased energy costs in the United States.
Other countries are avoiding the Strait entirely in attempts to avoid the conflict. The United States and Iran are currently having conversations surrounding discussing a peace agreement.
State – Suspect in DeKalb County apprehended
Olaolukitan Adon Abel, 26, was arrested on Monday after murdering two people and injuring another. The police describe it as a series of random attacks in DeKalb County, Georgia.
One of Abel’s victims was 40 year-old Lauren Bullis, who worked in the Department of Homeland Security as Office of the Inspector General. Bullis was found after being shot and stabbed while walking her dog. Another woman was shot multiple times and succumbed to her injuries.
Abel also shot a homeless man outside a shopping center. That victim is still in critical condition. Abel was taken into custody in Troup County after law enforcement used license plate recognition.
Politics – Trump leans heavily on replacing two Supreme Court justices
President Trump has been talking of retiring Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Alito is 76 and Thomas is 77.
The past seven justices that chose to retire, rather than pass in office, have done so when the current political state was in their favor so that they could re-elect another justice of the same values. The justices are a few years under the typical retirement age, but Trump makes the point that if the Republicans lose the Senate in November, then the newly appointed justices most likely will be Democrat. It is looking increasingly likely that the Democrats will make significant gains in the House, but it would still take a lot of effort to flip the Senate, due to Trump winning some states by double digits.
Trump would also consider replacing Alito and Thomas with more loyal candidates, as two of his other justices had recently ruled against him in a tariffs case. Trump mentioned that he is prepared to replace more than just two justices, as he thinks that statistics read of more leaving.