Latest news with #shields
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
A historian of fascism is asked whether this was week was a turning point
Do you remember that day in March 2020 — five years and several eternities ago — when Tom Hanks tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA announced they were suspending their season and profound upheaval suddenly seemed inevitable? I've felt echoes of that feeling the past few days, as downtown businesses boarded up their windows and the facts on the ground grew ever more fantastical. Are we at the edge of some irreparable rupture in American democracy? Or is this just another strange and absurd chapter in a long series of them? On Sunday, the president sent federalized National Guard troops into a city against the will of the state's governor for the first time in 60 years. On Thursday, California's senior senator was tackled to the ground by federal agents and handcuffed at a news conference. Hundreds of active duty Marines were sent into the Los Angeles area, where for days they appeared to be performing heavily armed training exercises on what looked like a high school sports field. (A looming scoreboard, palm trees and jacaranda blooms were all visible behind their riot shields, according to a social media post from the U.S. Northern Command.) The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding. But for many others, ordinary life continues apace. Mayor Karen Bass has repeatedly cautioned that L.A. is being treated like 'a grand experiment' — a testing ground for President Trump to see if he can usurp the authority of Democratic mayors or governors in other states. Warning signs of democratic breakdown have been pointed out by scholars and Trump's critics since he took office for his first term in 2017 — so much so that many have grown numb to them. Has this week been any different? I called Federico Finchelstein, a historian of fascism and dictatorships who chairs the history department at the New School for Social Research in New York, to ask whether he saw this week as a turning point for the country. Finchelstein characterized Trump's federalizing of the California National Guard as a clear turn toward authoritarianism. He cited the move, along with attacks on the press and the judiciary and the manhandling of Sen. Alex Padilla on Thursday, as assaults on democratic norms that 'create the conditions for a further erosion of democracy.' But he hesitated about categorizing recent events as a turning point. It's hard while living in the middle of history to know precisely where you stand, he explained. 'It's very difficult to know what is the exact outcome of this sort of militarization of politics,' Finchelstein said. 'What we know is that democracy is at the other end, and this path is towards either disabling, denigrating or even destroying democracy. It's hard to know where it ends.' The outcome would also depend on more than Trump's next move, according to the historian. History has shown that when anti-democratic attempts are met with institutional and public resistance, they are less likely to succeed, Finchelstein said. 'In other words, this is not the end of the story,' he told me. A selection of the very best reads from The Times' 143-year archive. Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Julia Wick, staff writerKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Alejandro Theodoro Orellana? Man arrested for aiding distribution of ‘bionic shield' masks to LA protesters
The FBI has arrested a man accused of playing a key role in organizing violent anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles. Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was taken into custody Thursday morning and now faces a federal charge of conspiracy to commit civil disorder, according to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli revealed on X. Also Read: Why US judge ruled Trump's deployment of National Guard in California was illegal Alejandro Theodoro Orellana is a 29-year-old man from East Los Angeles who was arrested by the FBI on June 12, 2025, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit civil disorder. Federal authorities allege that Orellana distributed face shields and police-style masks to suspected rioters during a protest in Los Angeles that turned violent earlier in the week. Orellana was charged with conspiracy to commit civil disorder after he allegedly gave out gas masks and riot shields to protesters on Tuesday. A video showed people running up to a Ford F-150 as a woman in the back handed out the gear. Authorities believe Orellana was driving the truck, as reported by the Daily Mail. The unidentified woman was seen handing out 'bionic shield' branded masks and riot shields to the protestors alongside Orellana while the National Guard was stationed nearby. The two seem to be travelling with a group of individuals. However, it is yet to be verified if the group was affiliated with any organization. Also Read: What is 9th Circuit Court of Appeals? Order that reinstates Trump can keep National Guard in LA In talks with Fox News, Essayli shared that the riots 'appear' to be 'well-orchestrated, coordinated and well-funded.' He continued, 'We have made it a huge priority to try to identify, locate and arrest those who are involved in organizing, supporting, funding or facilitating these riots that they're going on.' He added, 'We want to understand who these people are and where these organizations are coming from.' The video surfaced as President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to help restore order. Following Orellana's arrest, the Department of Homeland Security is also stepping up its efforts to address the unrest. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Post, 'Secretary Noem's message to the LA rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down.' She added, 'ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
5 affordable SPF serums for your skincare routine if you're over face creams
If you're tired of thick, heavy sun creams or want to avoid pesky white cast, a skincare expert has recommended using an SPF serum instead - so we found 5 affordable ones to try There's an easier way apply sun cream to your face - and it's not in a face cream. The newest sun block on the block comes in serum form and it's everywhere. With so many brands offering different types of SPF face creams, SPF serums are taking over - but what's the difference? If you'd rather avoid a thick SPF face cream, an SPF serum offers a great alternative, and could incorporate into your makeup routine a lot easier too, thanks to its lightweight texture. According to consultant dermatologist, Dr Derrick Phillips, there are a number benefits of using a serum SPF. He said: "SPF serums usually have less chance of leaving a white cast than traditional sunscreen formulations, because their formulations minimise the visible residue that most sunscreens are associated with. "They're also lightweight and fast-absorbing, and often contain additional ingredients that benefit the skin, such as vitamins and antioxidants. Some also include ingredients that offer additional benefits, such as helping to address premature ageing, as well as brightening and hydrating the skin," as reported by Who What Wear. Beauty brands such as Nivea, L'Oreal, The Ordinary and Hello Sunday to name a few have joined the hype and delivered sun protection packed with skin-loving benefits. These new products promise hydration and brightening as well as sun protection. Sunscreen acts as a shield for your skin cells and protects your skin from damage, and a high factor gives you the best chance of protection. Dr Phillips added: "Serum SPF can be as effective as a traditional SPF formula, especially if you choose one with a high factor. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! "Like traditional SPFs, you do need to ensure you are applying and reapplying enough product to get the full UV protective benefits. Serum SPF should be the last step in your skincare routine [they are under-makeup SPFs], and applied liberally to the face and neck." We've handpicked a few of the most popular SPF serums out there... Nivea Sun Face 2in1 Daily Primer Face Serum SPF50+ Nivea Sun Face 2in1 Daily Primer Face Serum SPF50+ promises immediate protection against UVA/UVB rays, providing noticeably smooth skin and preparing it for a flawless and prolonged make-up finish, as it also acts as a primer, making it the perfect base for makeup. The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum - £12.64, was 15.80 With a sheer, blendable finish, The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum shields your skin from harmful UV exposure, while delivering a smooth, radiant glow. Infused with a blend of hydrators, the serum quenches your complexion to leave it feeling super soft. Hello Sunday SPF 50 Hydrating and Brightening Vitamin C Serum - £18.40, was £23.00 Designed to simplify your daily skincare routine, the Hello Sunday SPF 50 Hydrating and Brightening Vitamin C Serum combines your daily serum, moisturiser and sunscreen, all in one. Enriched with antioxidants, brightening Vitamin C and hydrating Hyaluronic acid, it targets dullness, moisture loss and premature signs of aging, for plumper, nourished and more radiant skin, instantly and over time. Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum- £38 Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum is an ultra-lightweight product that melts seamlessly into the skin to deliver a radiant glow and shield from damaging UV rays. Bursting with complexion-caring ingredients, it's packed with pink algae extract which increases firmness, smooths and reduces the appearance of dark spots alongside brightening vitamin C. Garnier Ambre Solaire Super Uv Invisible Face Serum SPF 50+ - £6.99 was £14 Garnier Ambre Solaire Super Uv Invisible Face Serum SPF 50+ offers comfortable daily wear with very high SPF 50+ protection against UVB, UVA & long UVA. Developed for sensitive skin, it helps fight against external aggressions and skin pollution.
CTV News
07-06-2025
- CTV News
Plan to better shield Winnipeg bus drivers moving ahead
Jeff Keele reports on the city's search for a manufacturer to build an improved shield to protect bus drivers. The City of Winnipeg has released an expression of interest to see if someone can make an extension or full shield to completely surround drivers on transit buses. Shields were installed on all city buses in 2019, following the 2017 stabbing death of a driver. Right now they cover most of the area around the driver's seat. Amalgamated Transit Union President Chris Scott said it protects drivers from getting sucker punched from behind but still leaves them vulnerable. 'Now assailants have become more brazen and they're now reaching around the shield to get at the operator to the point where they're even grabbing the steering wheel, which puts everybody on the bus and outside the bus in jeopardy,' said Scott. Public Works Committee Chair, Coun. Janice Lukes, agrees. 'It's a different world now, unfortunately, it is a different world now, it's a crazy world,' said Lukes. Both Lukes and Scott say the option to replace the current ones with a full shield might make the most sense for both safety and cost. 'I'm hoping it comes back and we get a reasonable price on a full wrap-around (shield). That's what I'm hoping for,' said Lukes. 'If an extension is going to cost $10,000 to $15,000 and we can find a full enclosure for that price from a provider, then why not put the smart money on the full enclosure?' said Scott. Lukes said there is around $2.4 million in the budget for the shield upgrades. She said that might not be enough to retrofit all 600 buses but suggested the province could help foot the bill.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Supreme Court Ruling On Gun Companies: Supreme Court Blocks Mexico's Gun Lawsuit Against US Companies, ET LegalWorld
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday spared two American gun companies from a lawsuit by Mexico's government accusing them of aiding illegal firearms trafficking to drug cartels and fueling gun violence in the southern neighbor of the United States. The justices in a 9-0 ruling authored by liberal Justice Elena Kagan overturned a lower court's ruling that had allowed the lawsuit to proceed against firearms maker Smith & Wesson and distributor Interstate Arms. The lower court had found that Mexico plausibly alleged that the companies aided and abetted unlawful sales routing guns to Mexican drug cartels, harming its government. Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETLegalWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App The justices embraced the argument made by the companies for dismissal of Mexico's suit under a 2005 U.S. law called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that broadly shields gun companies from liability for crimes committed with their products. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had decided in 2024 that the alleged conduct by the companies fell outside these Supreme Court decided that while it has little doubt that U.S. companies are aware of some unlawful sales to Mexican gun traffickers, Mexico's lawsuit failed to allege that the companies had aided and abetted such illegal firearms sales by deliberately helping to bring about the transactions."Mexico's plausible allegations are of 'indifference' rather than assistance," Kagan wrote. "They are of the manufacturers merely allowing some unidentified 'bad actors' to make illegal use of their wares." The case came to the Supreme Court at a complicated time for U.S.-Mexican relations as President Donald Trump pursues on-again, off-again tariffs on Mexican goods. Trump has also accused Mexico of doing too little to stop the flow of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and migrant arrivals at the lawsuit, filed in Boston in 2021, accused the two companies of violating various U.S. and Mexican laws. Mexico claims that the companies have deliberately maintained a distribution system that included firearms dealers who knowingly sell weapons to third-party, or "straw," purchasers who then traffic guns to cartels in suit also accused the companies of unlawfully designing and marketing their guns as military-grade weapons to drive up demand among the cartels, including by associating their products with the American military and law enforcement. The gun companies said they make and sell lawful avoid its lawsuit being dismissed under the 2005 law, Mexico was required to plausibly allege that the companies aided and abetted illegal gun sales and that such conduct was the "proximate cause" - a legal principle involving who is responsible for causing an injury - of the harms claimed by Mexico. The Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the case on March 4, declined to resolve the proximate cause question after finding that Mexico's suit failed to adequately allege aiding and Arrocha Olabuenaga, the legal adviser for Mexico's Foreign Ministry, vowed that Mexico will continue pursuing its legal fight."While we are disappointed with the decision from this Supreme Court, we are convinced of the strength of our arguments and the evidence that upholds them, and we are encouraged by the support at home and abroad for Mexico's actions," he in the lawsuit had sought monetary damages of an unspecified amount and a court order requiring Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms to take steps to "abate and remedy the public nuisance they have created in Mexico."The Second Amendment Foundation, a gun rights group that backed the U.S. gun companies in the case, welcomed Thursday's ruling."The lawsuit, dreamt up by multiple gun control groups, had one goal - bankrupt the American firearms market by allowing civil liability to apply for the criminal misuse of its products," the group said in a social media post. "Thankfully the Supreme Court stepped in and squashed it."Gun violence fueled by trafficked U.S.-made firearms has contributed to a decline in business investment and economic activity in Mexico and forced its government to incur unusually high costs on services including healthcare, law enforcement and the military, according to the a country with strict firearms laws, has said most of its gun homicides are committed with weapons trafficked from the United States and valued at more than $250 million Perez Ricart, an international affairs researcher at Mexico's Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE), criticized the ruling."Once again, the industry is shielded. It doesn't matter how many bullets cross the border or how many people are killed on the Mexican side. Bullets are not the only things that kill; so does the legal impunity guaranteed by Washington," Ricart said in a social media post.
