I never would have expected this to be the cause of a political scandal, but here we are. Editor’s Warning: Article contains mentions of violence.
Happening in the World: At the center of a recent political scandal in Sweden? Illegal eel fishing. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has come under fire from political opponents after admitting that he hired an aide, Peter Magnus Nilsson, despite knowing that he had broken eel fishing laws. Nilsson was fined roughly $3,800 for eel fishing without a permit in 2021. Kristersson said that Nilsson’s “stupid” behavior does not render him unqualified for the job, but the opposition party is nevertheless calling on Nilsson to resign, and Kristersson is under review by a committee that oversees ministerial behavior. The European eel is critically endangered. (BBC)
Happening in the US: The Capitol rioter who posed for an image with his feet on Representative Nancy Pelosi’s desk has been found guilty of all charges in a recent criminal trial. A Washington DC jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning eight guilty verdicts to Richard “Bigo” Barnett of Arkansas, including obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon, and theft of government property. Barnett was armed with a stun gun when he breached Pelosi’s office, and bragged to reporters on the scene about stealing an envelope from her desk. Barnett is just one of many facing legal consequences for the events of January 6, 2021; more than 900 individuals have faced federal charges, and nearly 500 have pleaded guilty so far. (BBC)
Happening in NYC: A man was stabbed in the buttocks while patronizing a McDonald’s near Columbus Circle Monday afternoon. Police were called to the location on 8th Avenue around 4:40 pm after two men reportedly stabbed the victim and fled the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing and no further details about the suspect or motive have been provided. (WABC)
Happening in Our Community: To commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, CUIMC’s Jewish Cultural Employee Resource Group will host a StoryFile AI conversational video with a holocaust survivor. StoryFile is “an interactive memory keeping application that allows you to record stories so that future generations can connect and interact.” The event is tonight from 5 to 6:15 pm, and will be held on Zoom. Registration is required.
Manet’s Rouget et Anguille via Wikimedia Commons