A newly released report details child sex abuse scandals within the archdiocese of Baltimore. We have the staggering numbers listed in the state attorney general’s report. And Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death on the streets of San Francisco. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Thursday, April 6, 2023.
156 Maryland clergy and other allegedly abused 600 children
More than 150 Catholic clergy and others associated with the archdiocese of Baltimore were found to have sexually abused more than 600 children.
The offenders often escaped accountability, according to a long-awaited state report released by Maryland’s attorney general this week.
The report reveals the scope of alleged abuse spanning about 60 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups. The state report goes into graphic detail of the child reported sex abuse and methods used by the church’s hierarchy.
The archbishop of Baltimore apologized on behalf of the archdiocese after allegations of abuse surfaced in the report.
China extends influence on Middle East
The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in China on April 6 for the first formal gathering of their top diplomats in more than seven years. China mediated to help broker a deal to restore relations between the top regional powers. After years of hostility and conflict across the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to set aside differences and reopen diplomatic missions in a significant deal facilitated by China last month.
After their most recent meeting, the two countries decided to reopen embassies and consulates.
China’s involvement in the deal is significant. It’s a display of Beijing’s growing influence in the Middle East. For decades the U.S. had been the main mediator in the region.
Cash App founder stabbed to death
San Francisco police are investigating the murder of Cash app founder Bob Lee, who was stabbed on the streets of San Francisco. Police have made no arrests in the case as they search for a suspect.
The stabbing took place on April 4, shocking Silicon Valley. Lee was 43 years old, a father of two, and a well-known tech executive. He was chief product officer at cryptocurrency startup Mobilecoin and previously worked with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey at Square. Lee created the mobile payment service Cash App.
Elon Musk responded to the news, calling violent crime in San Francisco “horrific.”
Lee had recently moved his family from San Francisco to Miami with his father, but friends say he was back in the city for a visit when he was attacked and killed.
Latest wave of deadly tornadoes
Over the past two weeks, more than 60 people have died in tornadoes across the U.S. That’s nearly triple the number from this time last year.
At least 11 tornadoes have been reported across Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois since April 4.
The latest wave of deadly tornadoes left a path of destruction across the Midwest on Wednesday, April 5. At least five people were killed and dozens injured when a large twister tore through Missouri and Kentucky.
This deadly storm comes just a few days after dozens of twisters upended lives from Delaware to Iowa, killing at least 33 people.
The storm system that brought tornadoes to the South and the Midwest is now heading East.
Portable generator regulations
The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously this week to advance a proposal that would require portable generators to emit less carbon monoxide and to shut off automatically when the deadly gas reaches a certain level.
The invisible and odorless gas emitted by the devices claims an average of 85 lives a year, making generators one of the deadliest consumer products the CPSC regulates.
World’s busiest airports of 2022
Out of the world’s top 10 busiest airports for passengers in 2022, five of them were located in one country — the United States.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport was the world’s busiest airport for passenger volume. It was the busiest airport in 2021 as well.
In order following Atlanta were Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago O’Hare rounding out the top four. Los Angeles was sixth.
Dubai was the No. 1 airport for international passengers.