#My deepest condolences to the victims' loved ones

[dovabunny]

Angsty Ghostsoap Idea of the day - Here all along

Soap met Simon when the man was on leave. Beautiful, mysterious Simon had walked past Soap's coffee shop a few times, before he mustered the courage to come in.

Meanwhile, thinking the huge man must've been stalking or creeping on one of his pretty female clients, Soap had stomped out to confront the man- only for the man to awkwardly apologize and ask him to dinner. The twist gave Soap such whiplash he...

... said without realizing what was happening.

For three blissful years Simon would come home to him every chance he got, sometimes even just for 3 days between missions.

He told him things he legally was not allowed to, but Soap was his 'home' - a place where he was just Simon, not Ghost or a soldier or a killer or a victim. A man who loved with his whole heart and wanted no secrets between them. Something neither of them had ever had.

They cooked together, Simon talked him into getting a dog named Riley, they made future plans and talked about him retiring.

Then Simon comes home from a bad mission. He was put on medical leave for wounds that were not all physical but refused to talk about what had happened- what had rattled him so. He wasn't himself - cold, blunt, quick to anger, and distant in a way Soap's never seen him in their years together.

Then Simon finds the rings Soap had been hiding.

Simon had been impatiently digging through his art supplies looking for tape when he found the box.

When Soap came home from work it was to Simon sitting in the dark, the box on the table.

His home had never felt as cold as when Simon's voice demanded "what's this."

Soap fucked up, but he wasn't even sure how. He stuttered something about where did he find it when he noticed there was a pile of his sketches too - torn out of his journals, clearly not too gently. All the ones of Simon's face.

"You KNOW why I can't show my face! You KNOW how I feel about this! I refuse to take photos with you so you do this???" He tosses the sketches across the table.

"They're all I have of you when you're gone so long! I didn't-"

"And the rings!? You ALSO know how my parents' marriage went so why the fuck did you think I'd want that? Or did that just not matter either?"

Soap stares, the tension that had been on Simon's shoulders since he arrived a few days ago now turned on him. Soap swallows hard. He had never for even a second felt scared of Soap. But he saw it now... Saw 'Ghost' overtake Simon.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'll burn the sketches and get rid of the rings. I'm sorry, baby. Let's just forget this?" He tries to step forward.

"This was a mistake..." Simon whispers and it feels like a knife to the gut.

"...Si, love, what are you?"

"I said this was a mistake."

Simon gets to his feet and it's then that Soap spots the packed bag. Si throws it over his shoulder as he makes for the door.

"Simon, no! Baby, please - I'm sorry! Please, don't leave like this!" He reaches for him but Si shrugs him off and doesn't slow down.

His world collapses as the door closes behind the man he had given his heart, soul, and future to.

Simon doesn't return his calls or texts. Texts apologizing, begging, texts angry and hurt, texts reminding him he's loved and he has a home here whenever he's ready.

Then the number is disconnected.

Then he gets a letter in the mail that ends with "Our deepest condolences" and a pair of dog tags.

Five years later. Soap has tried to move on, but just couldn't. He still has the rings. Wishes he kept at least one sketch. His shop does well, Riley is getting old, and so is Soap. He keeps busy, and sketches less. Even after all this time when he puts pencil to paper his hand wants to draw Simon.

Then torn, crumpled pages on the floor with boot prints on them flash in his mind and he puts the pencil back down.

This morning he sat in his little kitchen and pages through the local paper when he feels his blood run cold.

Last week's festival was the highlight of the moment, the newspaper covered in photos taken at the event. But in the background of one looms a painfully familiar figure.

Soap grabs his phone and rings the paper. "Photo three, page two- at the fountain - when was that taken?!" The journalist is baffled - all of them last week.

That can't be. It can't be! But he knows that figure, those shoulders, those curls. he's in the shadows but outlined, angled towards where Soap's little trailer stand was.

Soap pulls the dog tags out of his shirt - always around his neck all this time. Is Simon.. alive?

And...near?

Soap looks at the shadows all the way to work, peeking around all day to try to spot a man that shouldn't be there - convincing himself he isn't crazy.

At closing time he had enough. He prints a page and sticks it to the door when he locks up.

"Si, if you're reading this grow a pair and come home."

Later that night there's a knock at the door. A familiar tall man, new scars and silver creeping into blind curls, but just as beautiful as he remembers. Unsteady hands hold a bouquet of his favorite flowers.

"Is this still home?" He asks

"Ours. Always." Soap smiles through the tears.

[dasha-aibo]

So yesterday in Russia a bunch of terrorists opened fire in a concert hall just outside Moscow, killed a bunch of people and set fire to the building.

Couple of interesting things about this morbid affair:

Let's first center the victims. They were just innocent people who went to listen to a popular (if bad) rock band. None of them deserved this and my deepest condolences go to their loved ones.

Confirmed deaths are low right now, but because Russian rescue forces are the way they are, the rescue effort was terrible and the number of dead people is sure to rise.

This is already the single deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since the mid-00s, during the second Chechen War.

ISIS took responsibility on their official Telegram channel, but they will take responsibility for anything.

Authorities are searching specifically for people of Central Asian or North Caucasus descent and have apparently made several arrests already. But it's all a bit suspicious.

The terrorists were described as acting in a really professional manner, taking the security down first, shooting single shots or in small bursts as opposed to spray and pray. But then they just made a dash to a border with Belarus, on the same car they were seen leaving the venue in? Seems suspicious.

The US intelligence warned the embassy staff last week that a terrorist attack was being planned in Moscow. So they knew in advance something was going to happen.

Putin offered very little in terms of a response or a reaction, so the whole thing was likely a surprise to him. Even though Americans apparently also warned the Kremlin.

Just a lot of things don't add up at this point. Although things are developing and we will learn more details later.

Russia being Russia means we are already privy to a very limited amount of info.

The state is most likely to blame this on Ukraine. They will not let a good tragedy go to waste.

Overall, I have a sinking feeling this is going to turn out bad for everyone.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a large-scale attack by Russian forces targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which resulted in significant damage, power outages, and casualties. According to Zelenskyy, the attack, described as a “massive combined assault,” involved the deployment of approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones, including Shaheds, Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals. A massive combined attack targeted all regions of Ukraine. Overnight and this morning, Russian terrorists used various types of drones, including Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic, and aeroballistic missiles—Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals. In total, approximately 120… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2024 Russian forces used advanced weaponry, including Shahed drones and Zircon, Iskander, and Kinzhal missiles, in a calculated effort to cripple Ukraine’s energy grid. The strikes, which began late in the night and continued into the morning, resulted in direct hits on key facilities and falling debris in urban areas. The southern city of Mykolaiv bore the brunt of the attack, where a drone strike killed two people and injured six others, including two children. Emergency crews worked through the night to restore services in affected areas, but many regions remain without power. In a statement, Zelenskyy acknowledged the toll of the assault, both in human lives and on critical infrastructure. “My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. As of now, some areas remain without power, but all necessary forces are working to mitigate the consequences and restore the infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said. The president praised the efforts of Ukraine’s defense units, including anti-aircraft missile teams and pilots operating F-16s, Su aircraft, and MiGs. “We am grateful to all our air defense units that participated in repelling this attack: anti-aircraft missile forces, our aviation — pilots of F16s, Su aircraft, and MiGs, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units—all worked together in an organized and coordinated manner,” he added. While grappling with the aftermath of the latest attack, Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about support from the United States under its incoming administration. Speaking in an interview with public broadcaster Suspilne, Zelenskyy reflected on discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump and expressed hope that the new leadership in Washington could expedite efforts to end the war, which has raged since 2022. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a large-scale attack by Russian forces targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which resulted in significant damage, power outages, and casualties. According to Zelenskyy, the attack, described as a “massive combined assault,” involved the deployment of approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones, including Shaheds, Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals. A massive combined attack targeted all regions of Ukraine. Overnight and this morning, Russian terrorists used various types of drones, including Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic, and aeroballistic missiles—Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals. In total, approximately 120… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2024 Russian forces used advanced weaponry, including Shahed drones and Zircon, Iskander, and Kinzhal missiles, in a calculated effort to cripple Ukraine’s energy grid. The strikes, which began late in the night and continued into the morning, resulted in direct hits on key facilities and falling debris in urban areas. The southern city of Mykolaiv bore the brunt of the attack, where a drone strike killed two people and injured six others, including two children. Emergency crews worked through the night to restore services in affected areas, but many regions remain without power. In a statement, Zelenskyy acknowledged the toll of the assault, both in human lives and on critical infrastructure. “My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. As of now, some areas remain without power, but all necessary forces are working to mitigate the consequences and restore the infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said. The president praised the efforts of Ukraine’s defense units, including anti-aircraft missile teams and pilots operating F-16s, Su aircraft, and MiGs. “We am grateful to all our air defense units that participated in repelling this attack: anti-aircraft missile forces, our aviation — pilots of F16s, Su aircraft, and MiGs, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units—all worked together in an organized and coordinated manner,” he added. While grappling with the aftermath of the latest attack, Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about support from the United States under its incoming administration. Speaking in an interview with public broadcaster Suspilne, Zelenskyy reflected on discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump and expressed hope that the new leadership in Washington could expedite efforts to end the war, which has raged since 2022. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link

[saintlaurentproblems]

Did Ariana speak up immediately after Manchester? I imagine that 1) it's a shock to process things that did happen and what could have happened and 2) like you mentioned, it's considered a national security issue once you get the CIA and FBI involved, so they may have even advised her not to post anything until they do or have all the facts, especially considering what happened in England to those 3 poor little girls for just attending a Taylor Swift themed dance class.

Ariana posted this the Friday after the Manchester attack (which was a Monday).

“My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones.

There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better.

However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.

The only thing we can do now is choose how we let this affect us and how we live our lives from here on out.

I have been thinking of my fans, and of you all, non stop over the past week. The way you have handled all of this has been more inspiring and made me more proud than you’ll ever know.

The compassion, kindness, love, strength, and oneness that you’ve shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday.

YOU are the opposite.

I am sorry for the pain and fear that you must be feeding and for the trauma that you, too, must be experiencing.

We will never be able to understand why events like this take place because it is not in our nature, which is why we shouldn’t recoil.

We will not quit or operate in fear.

We won’t let this divide us.

We won’t let hate win.

I don’t want to go the rest of the year without being able to see and hold and uplift my fans, the same way they continue to uplift me.

Our response to this violence must be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before.

I’ll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise money for the victims and their families. I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be a part of our expression of love for Manchester. I will have details to share with you as soon as everything is confirmed.

From the day we started putting the Dangerous Woman Tour together, I said that this show, more than anything else, was intended to be a safe space for my fans. A place for them to escape, to celebrate, to heal, to feel safe and to be themselves. To meet their friends they’ve made online. To express themselves.

This will not change that.

When you look into the audience at my shows, you see a beautiful, diverse, pure, happy crowd.

Thousands of people, incredibly different, all there for the same reason, music.

Music is something that everyone on Earth can share.

Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy.

So that is what it will continue to do for us.

We will continue in honor of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy.

They will be on my mind and in my heart everyday and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life.”

Taylor could be in a different situation since they’re still investigating.

[news4usonline]

Assassination attempt weakens our democracy

By now, unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past 48 to 72 hours, the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump is front and center in American politics.  And just about everyone has something to say about the high-profile incident that took place July 14, leaving at least one person dead and two other people fighting for their lives in a hospital.  “A former president was shot,” President Joe Biden said in a speech he addressed to the nation about the shooting. “An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing.”

photo credit: Gage Skidmore Donald Trump via photopin (license) “We cannot-we must not go down this road in America. We’ve traveled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer, whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted in the shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump,” Biden added.  America has been down this road before as President Biden mentioned. That path is marked with nothing positive for the American people. And if we, as a country, do not learn from our mistakes of the past, history is bound to repeat itself. That’s the wrong direction that America needs to go in.  “I want to begin by saying that I am grateful that former President Trump is safe following yesterday’s horrific assassination attempt,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “On behalf of the entire Justice Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones of the spectator who was killed. Our hearts are with them, and with those critically injured and their families.”

photo credit: Gage Skidmore Joe Biden via photopin (license) “And I am deeply grateful to the agents and law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line during yesterday’s attack. I spent the morning in briefings with Justice Department personnel as well as our partners across the federal government. And earlier today, I briefed President Biden in the Situation Room on our investigation of yesterday’s shooting,” Garland went on to say.  The assassination attempt on Trump was carried out by a single perpetrator who acted alone, according to the FBI. The law enforcement agency went on to state the name of the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.  Trump was in Pennsylvania for a campaign rally when the incident took place. Crooks, who used a legally purchased firearm to use in the shooting, was killed at the scene. The FB still has not identified a motive for the shooting.  “What we witnessed yesterday was nothing short of an attack on democracy and our democratic process,” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said at a press briefing. “An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate can only be described as absolutely despicable and will not be tolerated in this country. I want to start by offering my deepest condolences to all the victims of yesterday’s shooting and their families.” The shooting underscores the electric and heavily divisive political atmosphere the country now finds itself in. It’s been that way since Trump came into the national spotlight and beat Hilary Clinton to become president No. 45.   

photo credit: Gage Skidmore Donald Trump via photopin (license) The political tug-o-war cranked up the political sphere a couple of more notches when Biden beat Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in and around the U.S. Capitol raised the political stakes more.  With the 2024 presidential election looming in November, the trail to the Oval Office figures to be a testy one for the American people. But this is nothing new. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed in a Los Angeles hotel while campaigning as a presidential candidate in 1968.  Kennedy’s murder took place months after the assassination of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and five years after his brother, John F. Kennedy was gunned down. President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981. If history serves as a barometer, America has been shaken to its core following these incidents as well as others.    Right now, America needs to look itself in the mirror and decide if it wants to relive painful chapters of its history or move into a more united future.  “Our hearts go out to the family of the individual who was killed, the two others who were critically wounded, and, of course, former President Trump and his family. I want to make sure they know—and the American people know—that the men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened,” Wray added.  Read the full article

[savefilescomng12]

Suspects in deadly Orange Mound mass shooting face federal prosecution

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Interim Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis said she’s seeking federal prosecution for those responsible for Saturday’s mass shooting in Orange Mound.At a city council meeting on Tuesday, Chief Davis said community members have submitted plenty of video of the tragedy that claimed two lives and left seven others injured. Thanks to that cooperation, she said there is enough evidence to pursue federal charges.“We raised the award money for CrimeStoppers and we really started to receive a lot of intel,” said Davis.Davis did not go into detail about what was seen in the video evidence but said some of the content is disturbing.Meanwhile, Orange Mound residents are reeling again Tuesday from yet another shooting. Monday night, Memphis police were called back to Orange Mound for a shooting on Buntyn Street just two days after the deadly mass shooting at Orange Mound Park.One Orange Mound mother says a stray bullet from that shooting flew through their kitchen window. It’s the second reported shooting in the neighborhood in less than a week and this mother said she’s tired of it.She added that she’s now holding her young son a little closer.

Jonika Wilkins, Orange Mound resident(Action News 5)”Personally myself, I feel like taking it back to the old days. Send them to the military, they want to shoot all these big guns, send them to the military,” said Jonika Wilkins. Bullet holes were found stretched to the next block, piercing another resident’s car and her home.Memphis police said one victim was found after Monday night’s shooting and taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition.“As a senior citizen, it is heart-wrenching to feel to see that our youth are killing one another,” said Dr. Pamela Mccoy, another Orange Mound resident. A man who was caught in the crossfire and wanted to remain anonymous told Action News 5 that the younger generation is invoking fear, and that not even a trip to the nearby grocery store is safe. “They get out the car with big choppas and nines, extendo clips, guns that are bigger than them. How can I protect myself? We go in the store, if he feel like he want to do something he can let off rounds right there and then,” he said.MPD has called in some big names to not only help with the Orange Mound shooting investigation but to tackle youth crime as a whole.“We are utilizing all intel information that we can gather, not just from the Memphis Police Department, but from our federal partners too. The FBI we have called in the ATF to help support in this effort,” said Davis.She also said the crime that youth are involved in at Memphis City Parks are unacceptable.“Our recreation centers are full of children, and not just with Orange Mound Park but we had incidents at Douglass Park and Hollywood Community Center,” said Davis.

Bullet holes on the playground at Orange Mound Park after a deadly mass shooting on Saturday, April 20, 2024.(Action News 5)Chief Davis said some of the Memphis Police Department’s youth gun violence suppression efforts involve creating a task force with Memphis-Shelby County Schools and breaking up unpermitted block parties and meet-ups.“In order for us to be quick and exact in apprehending these individuals we need input from the community,” said Davis.Memphis City Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington, who represents District 4, said in part, “I extend my deepest condolences to the families and individuals who have lost loved ones or have been impacted by these senseless acts of violence.”Memphis police have not released any suspect information connected to the shooting. If you know any information, contact Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901–528–CASH.Click here to sign up for our newsletter!Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.Copyright 2024 WMC. All rights reserved. Source link Read the full article

[thxnews]

Australian Government Gives $1M Aid to Morocco Earthquake Victims

  The Australian Government has announced a significant humanitarian aid package of $1 million to provide emergency assistance to those affected by a catastrophic earthquake in Morocco.  

Lifesaving Aid Through Local Organizations

The relief funds will be disbursed through local organizations, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent, to swiftly deliver vital, life-saving aid. This assistance encompasses emergency shelter, crucial first aid, protective measures, and psychological support.  

A Global Expression of Sympathy

Australia conveys its deepest condolences to the families and communities grappling with the loss of loved ones and the profound impact on lives and livelihoods in Morocco. Australia stands ready to consider additional requests for assistance as the situation evolves.   Statements from Australian Government Leaders Quote from Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs: “Australians have been deeply moved by the heartbreaking loss of life and destruction of property in Morocco. The Australian Government’s emergency assistance will help deliver crucial supplies to those most in need. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the Australian-Moroccan community.”   Quote from the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and The Pacific: “We stand in solidarity with the people of Morocco at this terrible time. This support will help local organizations deliver emergency shelter, medical transport, first aid, protection, and support to affected communities. Australia is ready to respond further as the full impact of this disaster becomes clearer.”   Quote from the Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs: “Our thoughts are with the victims of the tragic earthquake in Morocco, their families, and the rescue personnel working hard to save as many lives as possible. The resilience, determination, and belief of the Moroccan people I saw during my visit in December 2022 have been on display to the world in the aftermath of this tragedy.”   Sources: THX News & Minister for Foreign Affairs. Read the full article

[kingchisum]

As it turns out, if you try that in a small town, the pigs will actually do the right thing and blow you the f away. Never been happier with a bacon bastard in my life. My deepest and most sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.

Man kills shopkeeper in US state of California after disparaging Pride flag https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66564605

[ausetkmt]

Summary

Rwanda Meteorology Agency released a weather forecast for May, indicating above-average rainfall across the country.

Rwanda has launched a search and rescue operation to locate victims of the floods.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have cost Rwanda over 600 lives since 2018.

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After floods and landslides devastated districts in the north, west, and southern region of Rwanda on the night of May 2, the death toll rose to 130 by Thursday morning, according to the government's Deputy Spokesperson Allain Mukuralinda.

In addition, 77 individuals were injured, with 36 receiving treatment in local hospitals and five people are still missing. The district of Rubavu was hit the hardest, with over 1,000 homes destroyed due to ongoing rainfall.

Rescue teams are still working to recover bodies that are trapped in landslides and collapsed houses.

Residents wade through water after their homes were swamped following floods triggered by heavy rains Rwanda’s Rubavu district on May 3, 2023. PHOTO | JEAN BIZIMANA | REUTERS

In response to this crisis, various authorities, military forces, religious organisations and humanitarian groups have initiated interventions since Wednesday.

Affected individuals have been provided with essential items such as tents, blankets, food, and basic household utensils. Some people have also been accommodated in safe zones such as churches and schools. Advertisement

According to a statement by the office of Rwandan president, rescue interventions including relocating residents from affected areas to safer zones have been carried out. Affected districts also increased from four to nine: Nyabihu, Rubavu, Karongi, Rutsiro, Gakenke, Burera, Musanze Ngororero, and Nyamagabe in the northern, western, and southern provinces.

It started raining on Tuesday around 11 pm and by Wednesday morning, over 50 people were declared dead. Among the victims is a family of five that was all killed in the disaster.

“My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the landslides and floods that occurred last night in the Western, Northern, and Southern Provinces. We are doing everything within our means to address this difficult situation. I am personally following up on the response closely,” President Kagame took to Twitter to console survivors.

Rwanda normally experiences heavy rains and hailstorms between January and April, which often result in the loss of lives especially those living in high-risk zones.

A woman salvages her household items washed away following flooding in Rubavu district, Western province in Rwanda on May 3, 2023. PHOTO | JEAN BIZIMANA | REUTERS

Read: Igad weather centre casts doubt on rains

In Kigali, 27,000 families still reside in high-risk zones where disaster always looms when it rains.

The deaths from the latest floods bring the toll to 197 lives lost since January, according to Rwanda’s Ministry of Emergency Management.

Search and rescue operations

Rwandan authorities have launched a search and rescue operation to locate victims of the floods and assist those affected by the disaster. Emergency facilities have been set up to help those who have lost their homes. Funeral preparations for those who died are underway.

Rwanda’s Minister of Emergency Management Marie Solange Kayisire on Wednesday morning said that the latest floods were because of the rains that soaked mountains and that victims were not only families living in high-risk zones given the mountainous nature of the region.

At least 408 disaster cases were recorded in this period. These include 107 windstorm cases, 66 rainstorms, three mine disasters, 77 lightning cases, seven landslides, 13 house collapses, eight hailstorms, 29 floods as well as 98 fires.

A landslide caused by heavy rain blocks the road in Mushubati, Rwanda. The country's presidency on May 3, 2023 said several regions were engulfed with floods and landslides, destroying homes and cutting off roads. PHOTO | MARIAM KONE | AFP

The Rwanda Meteorology Agency released a weather forecast for May, indicating above-average rainfall ranging between 50mm and 200mm across the country.

The forecast stated that the first 10 days of May 2023 would have a higher amount of rainfall in many parts of the northwestern region ranging between 175mm and 200mm. Four districts of Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro and Karongi were affected by the heavy rains on the night of May 2.

According to the weather forecast, Rulindo, Gakenke and Gicumbi districts are also likely to see similar amounts of heavy rains in the next few days.

On Wednesday morning, the main road from Kigali, crossing through Rulindo, Gakenke, Musanze and Nyabihu districts to Rubavu, was closed due to landslides.

A boy wades through waters after their home was swamped by floods following heavy rains in Rubavu district, western Rwanda on May 3, 2023. PHOTO | JEAN BIZIMANA | REUTERS

Destructive storms

Rwanda has seen destructive storms over the years.

Read: Why Freddy is an exceptional storm

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have cost Rwanda over 600 lives since 2018. Approximately 30,600 houses and over 35,940ha of crops have been destroyed, according to data from the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management.

In neighbouring Uganda near the border with Rwanda, six people died overnight into Wednesday in an area in the southwestern Kisoro district, after heavy rains pounded the mountainous region, according to the Uganda Red Cross.

Five of the dead are from one family, and emergency workers have begun excavations to retrieve the bodies, the Red Cross said in a statement.

Uganda has also been experiencing heavy and sustained rains since late March and in recent days’ landslides have been reported in other elevated areas, like Kasese near the Rwenzori mountains, where deluges and floods destroyed homes and displaced hundreds.

[creatiview]

A lethal blizzard paralyzed Buffalo, New York, on Christmas Day, trapping motorists and rescue workers in their vehicles, leaving thousands of homes without power and raising the death toll from storms that have chilled much of the United States for days. At least 30 people have died in U.S. weather-related incidents, according to an NBC News tally, since a deep freeze gripped most of the nation, coupled with snow, ice and howling winds from a sprawling storm that roared out of the Great Lakes region on Friday. Much of the loss of life has centered in and around Buffalo at the edge of Lake Erie in western New York, as numbing cold and heavy "lake-effect" snow - the result of frigid air moving over warmer lake waters - persisted through the holiday weekend. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the storm's confirmed death toll climbed to 13 on Sunday, up from three reported overnight in the Buffalo region. The latest victims included some found in cars and some in snow banks, Poloncarz said, adding that the death tally would likely rise further. "This is not the Christmas any of us hoped for nor expected," Poloncarz said on Twitter on Sunday. "My deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones." New York Governor Kathy Hochul called it an "epic, once-in-a-lifetime" weather disaster that ranked as the fiercest winter storm to hit the greater Buffalo area since a crippling 1977 blizzard that killed nearly 30 people. "We have now surpassed the scale of that storm, in its intensity, the longevity, the ferocity of its winds," Hochul told an evening news conference, adding that the current storm would likely to go down in history as "the blizzard of '22." RESCUING THE RESCUERS The latest blizzard came nearly six weeks after a record-setting but shorter-lived lake-effect storm struck western New York. Despite a ban on road travel imposed since Friday, hundreds of Erie County motorists were stranded in their vehicles over the weekend, with National Guard troops called in to help with rescues hindered by white-out conditions and drifting snow, Poloncarz said. Many snow plows and other equipment sent on Saturday and Sunday became stuck in the snow, "and we had to send rescue missions to rescue the rescuers," he told reporters. The Buffalo police department posted an online plea to the public for assistance in search-and-recovery efforts, asking those who "have a snow mobile and are willing to help" to call a hotline for instructions. The severity of the storm was notable even for a region accustomed to harsh winter weather. Christina Klaffka, 39, a North Buffalo resident, watched the shingles blow off her neighbor's home and listened to her windows rattle from "hurricane-like winds." She lost power along with her whole neighborhood on Saturday evening, and was still without electricity on Sunday morning. "My TV kept flickering while I was trying to watch the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears game. I lost power shortly after the 3rd quarter," she said. John Burns, 58, a retiree in North Buffalo, said he and his family were trapped in their house for 36 hours by the storm and extreme cold that he called "mean and nasty." "Nobody was out. Nobody was even walking their dogs," he said. "Nothing was going on for two days." Snowfall totals were hard to gauge, he added, because of fierce winds that reduced accumulation between houses, but piled up a 5-foot (1.5-meter) drift "in front of my garage." Hochul told reporters on Sunday that the Biden administration had agreed to support her request for a federal disaster declaration. About 200 National Guard troops were mobilized in western New York to help police and fire crews, conduct wellness checks and bring supplies to shelters, Hochul said. ELECTRICITY HIT HARD The larger storm system was moving east on Sunday, after knocking out power to as many as 1.5 million customers at the height of outages late last week and forcing thousands of commercial flight cancellations during the busy holiday travel period.

More than 150,000 U.S. homes and businesses were without power on Sunday, down sharply from the 1.8 million without power as of early Saturday, according to PowerOutage.us. In Buffalo, 15,000 residents were still without electricity on Sunday evening, Poloncarz said. He said one electrical substation knocked offline was sealed off by an 18-foot-tall mound of snow, and utility crews found the entire facility frozen inside. Christmas Day temperatures, while beginning to rebound from near-zero readings that were widespread on Saturday, remained well below average across the central and eastern United States, and below freezing even as far south as the Gulf Coast, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Rich Otto said. Nearly 4 feet of snow was measured at Buffalo airport by Sunday, according to the latest NWS tally, with white-out conditions lingering south of Buffalo into the afternoon as continuing squalls dumped 2-3 inches of snow an hour. In Kentucky, officials confirmed three storm-related deaths since Friday, while at least four people were dead and several injured in auto-related accidents in Ohio, where a 50-vehicle pileup shut down the Ohio Turnpike during a blizzard on Friday. Other deaths related to extreme cold or weather-induced vehicle accidents were reported in Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas and Colorado, according to news reports.

[geekgirles]

You know, it's very ironic, to the point where it becomes ridiculous, that a country so obsessed with big things (I kid you not, the standard American microwave is, like, for times mine), is so afraid of big changes.

[sorrowfulrosebud]

Rosebud’s HorrorFest:

Day two: who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Theme: ghouls

Content: in which the local DILF turns out to be something you would never have anticipated

This one isn’t as intense as the previous day, but AFO is a dick in this bc men can’t convey emotions healthily lmao. Mentions of cat death, people being killed, blood, torture (?).

Whatever being that resides in the sky absolutely fucking hates you, you were certain of it. For the past week, you have found yourself in absolutely abysmal luck: first, the cat that normally comes to greet you on your commute to work was found dead by the locals. The poor thing had had the shit rammed out of it, blood and guts coating the road with a slick sheen. Next, you found out that the cute person who made sure to bring you a fresh cup of coffee everyday was a victim of a massive accident, this time they had slipped on a ladder and snapped their neck cleanly in half. And to make matters worse, the news had been reporting a grave robber. Multiple families had been thrown into further grief as their loved ones’ final resting place was completely desecrated, ones who hadn’t been cremated disappeared completely.

==================================

The bitter yet familiar smell of coffee filled your nose as you stood idly by the bar, ears pricked for the call of your name. A small TV was placed on a shelf in the corner of the crowded coffee shop, and its contents was the news. A well dressed presenter droned on about a new mass grave robbery, this time in a more local graveyard. Disgust filled your being as a new voice pulled you from your rage.

“Such a shame, isn’t it? Those poor families, I can only imagine the grief they are feeling,” the voice said. It was smooth, suave and well educated. You turned your head to see a middle aged man staring back at you, seemingly waiting for your response. In all honesty, he was quite attractive: smooth skin with a few laughter lines and the start of some forehead wrinkles.

“Huh? Oh yeah, it’s heartbreaking to see. I mean, what kind of sicko goes around digging people’s graves?! That’s a new low, there’s a special place in hell for that bastard,” you ranted, fists clenched into your trousers. You missed the small smirk that befell the handsome stranger’s face.

“My, this seems to sting you deeply, my dear. Perhaps you were one of the deceased’s kin?” He feigned a sympathetic tone and placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. For some reason, you couldn’t find it within yourself to shake him off.

With a low murmur, you said “yes, my boyfriend. He was taken away from me by villains in a bank robbery a few years ago. We were bystanders when one of the villains sent debris flying towards us and he pushed me away before it could hit the both of us.”

You looked away as tears threatened to line your lashes. The hand that was perched on your shoulder went to thumb smooth circles on your back as you sniffled and tried to maintain your composure. Again, you had no idea why you felt so trusting of this stranger, to lay your soul bare to someone you had met in a coffee house of all places.

“My deepest condolences my dear, that must be an awful feeling to experience. You know, I am a licensed psychiatrist and it just so happens that I am on my annual leave. I have been bored stiff, so I would be more than willing to allow you to spill the contents of your soul,” he maintained the same small grin as he watched you contemplate and then nod your head.

“There you are, come along (Y/N). Grab your coffee and we can go to my office”.

“(F/D) for (Y/N)?” The barista called for you with your plastic coffee cup in hand.

Whatever spell you were under didn’t allow you to wonder how he knew your name before the barista had even called it.

==================================

Your relationship with the handsome stranger blossomed deeper than you ever imagined it would. He introduced himself as Shigaraki, and the relationship quickly went from professional to… less than professional.

You definitely weren’t complaining however, maybe he was twice your age, but maybe that was what you needed. Instead of guys that flutter around, fuck then leave or the endless months of “are you awake” texts at 2 in the morning, you had found someone to share blissful mornings filled with cups of sweetened coffee and cuddling in fresh linen. So what if he was a little bit older than you? It made pleasant conversations.

==================================

“Fucking hell, baby have you seen the news? That grave robbing motherfucker has struck again,” you called over to your boyfriend. It was a peaceful Sunday morning mid fall, the perfect season to lure your boyfriend on romantic evening walks in the park.

You could already imagine it; soft mittened hands intertwined as you swung your arms gently, leaves crunching under your boots as squirrels chittered in the trees above you. It was going to be perfect. The creaking of the stairs behind you informed you of your boyfriend’s arrival, and with a soft and slightly prolonged kiss to the cheek, Shigaraki wrapped his arms around your waist and rocked you with him.

“Oh my, that’s dreadful. I really thought that the thief would be arrested by now,” he murmured, mouth just kissing the shell of your ear. You leaned back into his chest and inhaled deeply. God, you loved his scent. It was like hand soap with a hint of musk. The musk drove you absolutely mad, and yet whenever you asked what the smell was, he just smiled and bopped you on the nose.

“It makes me wonder why they’re doing it, and what they’re doing with the body afterwards? I mean, no one has reported seeing any missing bodies, and they’re all people who chose not to be cremated. It’s all very peculiar,” you pondered, swaying gently with your lover.

“Don’t worry about it anymore my darling, let’s have a peaceful Sunday and then we can go for our nightly walk. I have a new walking place I found online if that’s quite alright with you,” he murmured softly again, kissing the patch of skin above your ear and on your jaw. A soft moan left your lips at his actions as you grinded back into him unintentionally, causing him to swallow a grunt.

So much for a quite Sunday.

==================================

“Baby, where is this new walking place that you found,” you questioned Shigaraki, hands locked tightly together as you trudged your way through thick piles of leaves. Shigaraki turned to you with a small glint in his eyes and smiled that million dollar smile again.

“It’s just through these woods my love, not much further now,” Shigaraki replied as you met the gate of the pitch black forest. Something was definitely amiss.

“Um, babe? Are you sure this is the right place? It looks a little… I don’t know,” you trembled slightly, rubbing small circles on your lover’s hand to steady yourself. Shigaraki seemed annoyed at your constant pondering.

“Yes, I’m certain. Now please hurry up, I want to get this over with as soon as possible. I’m hungry and tired,” he snapped back at you. You visibly shrunk upon yourself at his tone and nodded timidly.

“Okay, now in we go,” your boyfriend let go of your hand to jiggle the lock on the thick metal gate, grunting slightly when it opened. He never offered you his hand back, instead speed walking into the labyrinth of gargantuan cedars and oaks.

Panting, you stumbled to keep up with him. Large roots kept making you trip over yourself as you struggled to both watch Shigaraki walk further away from you and try not to break your neck.

“HEY, PLEASE, WAIT!” You borderline screamed at your rapidly disappearing boyfriend, tears pricking your eyes and breath picking up. What the hell did he think he was playing at?!

Tears blurred your vision as you latched on to the fading silhouette of your lover, until a particularly massive root comes out of seemingly nowhere and forces you to fall down, smashing the side of your head on a rock. Black washed your vision as your boyfriend slowly walked back towards you as you croaked out his name and held a trembling arm out for him.

==================================

“(-N)…”

“(Y/N)…”

“(Y/N)!”

A shout of your name pulled you from your slumber, groggy eyes trying to adjust properly to the figure in front of you. A weak moan left your lips due to the throbbing pain in the side of your head, the thin trickle of blood becoming more annoying.

Heavy arms tried to wipe away the aggravation, only to find that both wrists had heavy, thick metal attached and clinked the most atrociously when moved. You were becoming way more aware of the coldness of the stone that you were pressed against and tried thrashing about. More rows upon rows of rocks made their way to your vision as you finally understood where you were.

You were in a graveyard.

“Ahh, there you are sweetheart. I was worried you would never wake up again,” that same suave voice that lured you in was speaking to you once again. Something that felt like a hand rubbed circles on your cheeks. Felt because it didn’t feel human, far too cold and smelly to ever be human.

“W-where am I? What are you doing?! Why are we in a graveyard?!” You shrieked as you thrashed around. Shigaraki chuckled as he watched your pathetic writhes to free yourself.

“Oh, be careful my sweet. I wouldn’t want the taste of metal to taint your sweet flesh,” he tucked his fingers under your chin with a sly grin. Your eyes widened in alarm, screams increasing tenfold.

“What the hell do you mean, ‘taint my flesh’?! What kind of sick joke is this?!” Sweat and tears poured down your face in buckets as you yanked even harder on your chains.

“Please, what do you want from me,” you sobbed noisily. Shigaraki took a step back as the skin on his body greyed and melted, some bone peeping out if you squinted hard enough. The foul odour of rotting meat summoned with the transformation of your lover.

Your jaw dropped slightly before you pulled in on yourself and screamed again. Shigaraki’s lip curled at the noise and with a snap of his finger, vines from the tombstone behind you slithering up before wrapping themselves in your mouth, promptly gagging you.

“That’s much better. At least now I can explain myself before you die,” Shigaraki grinned again.

“You see my darling, I am a ghoul. You know what that means, yes? It means I am an entity that peruses the Earth for corpses to consume in order to maintain my appearance,” he pauses, looking at you thinking hard.

Eating corpses?! What the actual fuck!?

Shigaraki continued, “although I could kill people to devour their corpses, I prefer having them… ready made if you will. That’s why graveyards are perfect for me! I float from town to town, especially where there is a lot of crime, and exhume those who were fortunate enough to be buried whole”.

You struggled to breath as you tried piecing at all together before it suddenly hit you.

Shigaraki leaned forward.

“Yes, little lamb. I’m the grave-snatcher. I am also the ghoul who exhumed your beloved boyfriend’s grave! I could see why you liked him, he had a very refined taste to him,” Shigaraki sighed dreamily. With another more urgent sigh, Shigaraki straightened up and fiddled in his bag before pulling out a knife.

“On the other hand however, I couldn’t wait until you died to taste your flesh. You smelled so sweet when I met you, and your personality is reflective of that. I truly do love you. But that is why it must be i to kill you. That way, we can truly be together!” Shigaraki crouched back to your screaming form, rubbing away the tears on your face and then rubbing the tears from his.

“Now my darling. Hold still.”

[for-yoongi0309]

My heart goes out to all the people who lost loved ones during the tragedy in itaewon. My deepest condolences to the families, friends and partners of the victims and I hope the ones who got injured will recover soon.

I will not be posting for a few days out of respect and condolences.

이태원 참사 때 사랑하는 사람을 잃은 모든 사람들에게 애도를 표합니다. 희생자 가족 친구 파트너에게 깊은 애도를 표하며 부상자들이 빨리 회복되기를 바랍니다. 나는 존경과 애도의 표시로 며칠 동안 글을 올리지 않을 것이다.

[gothbitchjuice]

I've never really been the best at words, or conveying my message in a way that others truly understand, but I'm going to try my best now.

Tonight as I scrolled through my Twitter feed, I saw a post made about one of the victims of the Club Q shooting. A young man named Daniel Davis Aston, who is a lot like my Jupiter. This young man was murdered, in his safe space, at an event meant to bring people in the Colorado Springs community closer together, on a day that is meant to remember people just like him who were wrongfully taken from this world... because of who they are.

My heart hurts. My eyes run over with tears for everyone involved in any way with the tragedy of Club Q.

Tonight, my mind races about Daniel Davis Aston.

I think about living in a state where politicians are trying to pass a bill to make performing in drag, burlesque, or "cross-dressing" as they've said, which would greatly effect the safety of the trans community as well.

I think about living in the state with this current loud hatred for a community that I'm a proud part of, where I work at a bar just like Club Q.

I think about living in this state with a loud hatred for people like me, but with a louder hatred for people like my Jupiter..a hatred that took the lives of Daniel Davis Aston, and other beautiful trans community members.

I hold my honey a lot tighter tonight, and I weep at the thoughts racing through my head because what happened in Colorado Springs keeps happening. It's the reason there's a Trans Remembrance Day. These crimes of hatred keep happening, and I fear for the safety of the community everywhere, especially the one in my hometown: the community i actively work with and am part of.

Most of all, selfishly..

I fear for the safety of this sweet boy clinging to me now as he sleeps. My 5'8" firecracker with eyes like a beachfront storm and voice soothing as rain on a windowpane. This tough-as-nails, persevering boy with a heart bigger than Texas times two, though he'd never admit it himself. My amazing, loud and proud king.

I fear for him most.

Daniel was to somebody as Jupiter is to me, and I can't imagine what those who loved him are going through at this time. I sob at the mere thought of being in those shoes, losing my best friend and soulmate to cruelty. Tonight, I hold my baby so much tighter, and I tell him how much I love him even after he's fallen asleep, because of situations like this that remind me to never take him for granted.

I hope the senseless violence stops. I pray that this community stands strong together, helps eachother up in these times, loves eachother a little harder, gives eachother a little grace, protects eachother, and joins together in a stronger unity. Because this can happen closer to home than we'd like, and it hurts us all detrimentally..even if it's as far from us as Colorado Springs.

Love and acceptance is for ALL.

My condolences and deepest love goes out to the victims, their families, the Club Q and Colorado Springs community, and every LGBTQIA+ community in the world effected by this tragic event.

[96thdayofrage]

The local television star worked on-air for WGN-TV in the 70s and 80s and later served as the station's director of community relations.

In 1971, Dee and a guest on her show were kidnapped while sitting in her car outside WSNS-TV studios. Dee was made to drive to a remote location and both she and her guest, amateur psychic Alan Sandler, were both shot in the back of the head.

Sandler was killed in the attack and Dee nearly died. Dee recounted how she survived the terrifying ordeal during an appearance on "Windy City Live" in 2013.

"I smile, because it's only because of my faith that I believe that I'm supposed to be here," Dee said. "I'm supposed to be here. The gentleman who was with me did not live, and here I am."

Samuel Drew was later convicted in the attack. Her near-death experience inspired her to become a strong voice and advocate for victims of gun violence.

"One person really can make a difference. I was angry when he [Drew] received a 120-year sentence. After 12 years he was getting out of jail," Dee said. "I thought, well, I'm just not going to stand for this."

Dee lobbied state and city politicians and assisted in the passage of Illinois' first Victims Bill of Rights law, legislation that has served as a model for other states.

"I really stand here at this anchor desk because I stand on her shoulders," ABC7 anchor Cheryl Burton said. "For every little Black girl that wanted to be Merri Dee, she gave us that inspiration, that hope, and the empowerment that anything is possible when you saw her on television."

Her website, merridee.com, will be updated with funeral arrangements and memorial service information in the coming days.

Family statement:

With great sadness,our family announces the loss of our beloved matriarch,

the brightest light in our lives, Merri Dee, who died peacefully in her sleep at home. As you can imagine our family is simply heartbroken and ask for privacy at this time.

Statement from WGN-TV

Chicago's Very Own, Merri Dee, was a one-of-a-kind legend. From WGN staff announcer to hosting parade telecasts, telethons and even the Illinois Lottery drawings, she was synonymous with WGN-TV. She was groundbreaking in the broadcasting field and an inspiration to several generations of young women. Among her greatest legacies as Director of Community Relations, she spoke at thousands of events and helped raise over $30 million dollars for WGN-TV Children's Charities, benefitting various organizations throughout Chicagoland. Merri Dee was a pioneer who will be greatly missed.

Statement from Mayor Lori Lightfoot:

Amy and I are deeply saddened to learn of Merri Dee's passing.

Mrs. Dee was a homegrown, broadcasting legend whose time as an anchor and radio and talk show host made her a beloved, local celebrity. In addition to her television and radio work, she also made a huge impact on communities across our city and state through a number of philanthropic pursuits that reflected her passion for protecting vulnerable individuals such as children in need of adoptive homes. Mrs. Dee has truly made a positive and indelible mark on our city and inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. We offer our deepest condolences to her loved ones during this difficult time.