Tank Transfer, Trump Ban Lifted, and Why Hawaiians Live Longer

West OK's Tanks

Both Germany and the US committed to sending battle tanks to Ukraine yesterday, a move Ukraine says will bolster the country's defenses and set the stage to retake captured territory. 

Estimates claim Ukraine has lost half of its nearly 1,000 Russian-designed tanks since February. Ukraine has long made requests for Germany's world-class diesel-run Leopard 2 tank, thousands of which are stationed nearby in Europe. The United States' M1 Abrams, while one of the world's most battle-tested tanks, runs a complex system on inefficient jet fuel, and officials say sourcing parts for maintenance in Ukraine will be more difficult. The simultaneous, separate decisions came as each country looked to avoid single-handedly escalating the conflict with Russia. 

Initial reports suggest Germany will approve a pool of over 100 Leopards while the US will send 31 Abrams, with delivery expected to take months. See a comparison of the two tanks here, and watch an animation on how tanks work here.

Newport News Shooting Suit

A 25-year-old Virginia school teacher who was shot and injured by a 6-year-old student this month is poised to sue the Newport News School District, alleging the Richneck Elementary School administrators ignored repeated warnings about the boy.

An attorney for teacher Abigail Zwerner said yesterday that school employees told administrators three times the day of the Jan. 6 shooting they believed the boy had a gun. In one instance, another student reportedly cried to a teacher, saying the boy had shown the student the gun and had threatened to kill the student. The boy later shot Zwerner in the hand and chest in front of his classmates. 

The boy's family says he has an acute disability and they accompanied him to class every day except for the week of the shooting. It is unclear how the boy accessed the gun, which police say was legally purchased by his mother.

Facebook Lifts Trump Ban

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced yesterday it would allow former President Donald Trump to return to the platforms in the coming weeks. Company officials revealed the decision in a blog post, saying the former chief executive would be subject to updated content policies applicable to public figures suspended for reasons related to civil unrest—namely, suspensions of between one month and two years for further violations (see details).

Trump was suspended indefinitely two years ago for posts deemed to support the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol. The decision was eventually referred to the company's oversight board, who upheld it, but criticized it as ad hoc, directing Meta to review the suspension. The ban lift comes as Trump prepares to ramp up his 2024 presidential campaign and will allow access to the platform's advertising and fundraising infrastructure. 

Trump has also been reinstated on Twitter, with reports he'll become active once an exclusivity requirement with his own Truth Social ends in June. 

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