US senator pushes back against proposed aid cuts

US senator pushes back against proposed aid cuts

BIDI BIDI CAMP, Uganda

Face-to-face with victims of South Sudan’s famine and civil war, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee strongly defended U.S. foreign aid Friday despite President Donald Trump’s proposed deep cuts in humanitarian assistance.

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee visited the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis in northern Uganda, just across the border from South Sudan, in a pointed response to Trump’s “America First” platform that would slash funds for diplomacy and foreign aid.

Without “U.S. leadership, these people would have no hope,” Corker told The Associated Press in an interview.

The United States is the world’s largest provider of humanitarian assistance and in 2016 gave roughly $2.8 billion in food aid, but the Trump administration has thrown such funding into doubt.

Delta OKs offers of up to $9,950 to flyers who give up seats

Delta is letting employees offer customers nearly $10,000 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights, hoping to avoid an uproar such as the one that erupted at United after a passenger was dragged off a jet.

In an internal memo obtained Friday by The Associated Press, Delta Air Lines said gate agents can offer up to $2,000, up from a previous maximum of $800, and supervisors can offer up to $9,950, up from $1,350.

United is reviewing its own policies, including incentives for customers and will announce any actions by April 30, a spokeswoman said. The airline would not disclose its current compensation limit. Other airlines said they were examining their policies. American Airlines updated its rules to say that no passenger who has boarded the plane will be removed to give the seat to someone else.

Pope speaks of humanity’s ‘shame’ in procession

ROME

Thousands of people, including nuns, families with toddlers and young tourists, endured exceptionally tight anti-terrorism checks to pray at the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum, where Pope Francis expressed shame over humanity’s failings.

Francis, wearing a plain white coat, presided over the traditional, evening Way of the Cross procession from a rise overlooking the popular tourist monument as the faithful took turns carrying a tall cross and meditations were recited.

After the 90-minute-long procession ended, Francis, in a quiet voice, read a prayer he composed that alternated expressing shame for humanity’s failings and hope that “hardened hearts” will become capable of forgiving and loving.

‘Witch’ gets life terms for terrorizing her grandchild

OKLAHOMA CITY

An Oklahoma City woman accused of terrorizing her 7-year-old granddaughter while dressed as a witch has been sentenced to life in prison.

Geneva Robinson, 51, was sentenced Thursday to three-consecutive life terms, The Oklahoman reported. She pleaded guilty to five counts of felony child abuse in February.

Robinson, who dressed as “Nelda” to scare her granddaughter, admitted to scratching the girl’s neck, striking her face, hitting her hand with a rolling pin and cutting her hair while she slept, according to court records.

Police said Robinson was arrested in September 2014 after taking the malnourished girl to a hospital.

Associated Press