US Business

Unprecedented restrictions on water usage went into effect Wednesday in the Los Angeles area, which like most of California is in the grip of severe drought for the third consecutive year.

More than six million customers are affected by the new measures, which limit watering gardens to one day a week and only during the coolest hours, under penalty of a fine and reduced water flow.

The goal is to reduce consumption by 35 percent in the area served by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of southern California, which encompasses 19 million residents, or nearly half of the US state’s population.

“We have not had the supply to meet the normal demand that we have, and now we need to prioritize between watering our lawns and having water for our children and our grandchildren and livelihood and health,” the MWD said in an April statement announcing the restrictions.

The district, which acts on behalf of 26 local agencies, depends for its water supply on resources located hundreds of miles away. 

Nearly a third comes from northern California via the State Water Project, a colossal network of 21 dams and more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of canals and pipes that carry water south from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. 

Due to chronic drought exacerbated by climate change, the State Water Project announced it could meet only five percent of its usual deliveries this year to MWD, which had no choice but to take the drastic new measures.

– Climate change and the ‘American cliche’ –

Rather than limiting watering to once per week, district agencies also have the option of reducing water consumption to about 80 gallons (300 liters) per day per person.

That was the option chosen by the city of Los Angeles, where watering is now restricted to two days per week. 

According to experts, water used for irrigation accounts for 70-80 percent of urban consumption in southern California.

“If we shift toward plants and landscapes that are more appropriate toward California climate, we could dramatically reduce our water use,” said Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a think tank on water issues. 

Many homeowners had already made this choice during a 2012-2016 drought, when the governor of California imposed a 25 percent reduction in urban water consumption.

With climate change, “the American cliche of the green lawn with a white fence should not exist in California anymore,” said Javier, a gardener AFP met on an LA street unloading succulents in front of a client’s house. 

“Now it needs to be succulent plants and heat resistant vegetation,” he said.

“More and more people are asking for that. They prefer to have a nice front lawn with healthy low water plants and native plants, like succulents and cacti, rather than dirty brown grass,” he added.

According to the US Drought Observatory’s weekly bulletin, more than 97 percent of California was in “severe, extreme or exceptional” drought conditions on Wednesday. 

And many dams and water reservoirs are at levels well below normal, even before the start of summer. 

The Colorado River, another major water source for southern California and used by tens of millions of people in the American West, is also badly affected. 

According to a 2020 study published by the US Geological Survey, the flow of the Colorado has dropped by an average of 20 percent over the past century, and at least half of that decline can be attributed to rising temperatures.

In California, average summer temperatures are 1.6 degrees Celsius above their level at the end of the 19th century.

The white teenager accused of gunning down 10 Black people during a racist rampage at a supermarket in New York state was charged with domestic terrorism on Wednesday.

Payton Gendron, 18, was also slapped with ten counts of first-degree murder, a filing on the New York state court system website showed.

The 25-count indictment says Gendron was motivated by hate when he allegedly killed ten people and wounded three others during the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo last month.

The other charges filed by the grand jury include attempted murder and weapons possession.

Gendron will be arraigned in Erie County Court on the charges on Thursday at 2:00 pm (1800 GMT), a spokesperson for the prosecutor told AFP.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to a single count of first-degree murder.

Gendron now faces murder charges for each of the ten victims, who ranged in age from 32 to 86.

New York’s domestic act of terrorism charge, which came into force in 2020, carries a life sentence.

Federal authorities are also reportedly considering filing hate crime charges against Gendron.

The self-declared white supremacist apparently planned his assault for months, targeting the grocery store because of its large surrounding African American population.

Wearing heavy body armor and wielding an AR-15 assault rifle, he allegedly livestreamed his attack online.

The May 14 shooting, and the Uvalde elemntary school massacre ten days later that killed 19 children and two teachers, renewed calls for gun control in America.

After weeks of explosive testimony and three days of deliberations, the jury delivered a split verdict on Wednesday in the blockbuster defamation case between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard.

And while the jury found that each had defamed the other, Depp celebrated the verdict as a victory and Heard declared herself disappointed “beyond words.” 

Here are some of the key moments from the blockbuster trial, which featured blistering claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse:

– The severed fingertip –

Hours of testimony during the six-week trial were devoted to a grisly incident in March 2015 in Australia, where Depp was filming the fifth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The tip of Depp’s right-hand middle finger was severed during a heated argument with Heard at their rented home.

Depp said it occurred when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him.

Heard said she did not know how it happened but it may have been when he smashed a wall-mounted phone.

Both agreed though that Depp used his bloody digit to scrawl cryptic messages on walls, lampshades and mirrors in the home.

– Poop on the bed –

Among many bizarre incidents cited during the trial was a story about feces deposited one day on Depp’s side of the couple’s bed.

Depp said he was shown a photograph of “human fecal matter” on the bed after he and Heard argued during her 30th birthday party.

Heard tried to blame it on their dogs, Depp said, but “they’re teacup Yorkies, they weigh about four pounds each.”

Heard said one dog had bowel problems after eating some of Depp’s marijuana as a puppy.

As for the dogs, Heard accused Depp of once holding one of them out of the window of a moving car while “howling like an animal.”

The dog was unhurt.

– The witnesses –

Both sides presented multiple witnesses although rumored testimony by billionaire Elon Musk, Heard’s ex-boyfriend, and her co-star James Franco ultimately did not materialize.

But there were celebrity appearances.

Kate Moss, Depp’s former girlfriend, shot down a longstanding rumor he had once thrown the British model down a flight of stairs.

Moss said by videolink that it never happened.

Actress Ellen Barkin, another ex-girlfriend, testified Depp was jealous, controlling, and drunk “a lot of the time,” and once threw a wine bottle in a hotel room.

Other witnesses included bodyguards, agents, business managers, doctors, friends, relatives, and even the former doorman of the luxury penthouse complex where the couple once lived in Los Angeles.

Doorman Alejandro Romero probably spoke for many involved in the case when he said: “I am so stressed out. I don’t want to deal with this anymore.”

– The evidence –

Audio and video recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between Depp and Heard were entered into evidence.

In one video recorded by Heard in their kitchen, Depp is seen shouting, smashing glass cabinets and pouring himself an enormous glass of red wine.

Both Depp and Heard submitted photos of injuries they claimed were inflicted by the other.

Heard’s lawyers also presented photos purporting to show Depp passed out after drinking excessively or using drugs.

Text messages between Depp and various people were displayed in which he described in crude and violent language what he would like to see happen to Heard.

Depp’s lawyers downplayed the texts, saying he just had a colorful way of writing, similar to that of his late friend, the journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

   

– The Depp fans –

Fans of Depp queued up for hours daily to secure coveted seats in the public gallery for the trial held in Fairfax, Virginia.

While the spectators mostly behaved themselves, Judge Penney Azcarate threatened to expel them at one point during Heard’s testimony.

“If I hear one more sound, I will clear the gallery,” Azcarate warned. “Understood?”

Depp fans also waged a massive campaign on social media in support of the actor with the hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp.

Heard said she had received thousands of death threats. “People want to kill me and they tell me so every day,” she said.

The trial was followed online by millions of people tuning in to livestreams. Many of them generated memes or animated GIFs in real-time, most frequently lauding Depp and ridiculing Heard.

– Damaged Hollywood careers –

Both Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, and Heard claimed their careers have been damaged.

Heard, who starred in “Aquaman,” one of the top-grossing films ever, said she had to fight to retain a role in “Aquaman 2” and alleged that Depp tried to get Warner Brothers to cut her from the sequel.

Heard’s legal team presented an entertainment industry expert who estimated she has suffered $45-50 million in lost film and TV roles and endorsements.

An industry expert hired by Depp’s side said he has lost millions because of the abuse accusations, including a $22.5 million payday for a sixth “Pirates” installment.

But Tracey Jacobs, Depp’s former agent, said there never was a formal agreement for another “Pirates” film.

Jacobs also said the actor’s star had begun to dim since 2010 because of “unprofessional behavior” which included drinking and drug use.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday held a baby formula summit at the White House with advisors and executives from five manufacturers to discuss ways to end a nationwide shortage of the staple infant food.

Top executives from ByHeart, Bubs Australia, Gerber, Reckitt and Perrigo joined by video conference at the meeting featuring Biden, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

The notable absence was anyone from Abbott, the US market leader whose recall of its formula in response to health and safety worries blasted a sudden hole in the nation’s supply.

The stark lack of baby formula on supermarket shelves is compounding a growing sense of unease for ordinary Americans as they navigate an uncertain economic post-Covid pandemic path.

Unlike other shortages and supply bottlenecks, this one has less to do with inflation or the uneven return to economic health among US trading partners worldwide.

With Abbott controling about 40 percent of the US market, the order by health regulators to shut down its factory in Michigan for safety reasons was enough to single handedly spark the crisis.

However, the Biden administration is scrambling to show that it has answers after what critics say was a stumbling initial reaction.

In addition to asking rival domestic manufacturers to step up production, the White House is running what it dubs Operation Fly Formula, using military transport for speedy shipping from manufacturers abroad.

Earlier Wednesday, the Biden administration announced that two more flights would leave in just over a week from Melbourne, Australia, to Pennsylvania and California, delivering the equivalent of 4.6 million eight ounce (237 milliliter) bottles of Bubs Australia infant formula.

With US regulators cutting red tape, Bubs Australia is planning to send 27.5 million bottles.

Addressing the CEOs, Biden said, “There’s nothing more stressful than the feeling you can’t get what your child needs.”

“That’s why I’ve directed my administration to use every tool available to increase the supply,” he added.

Ultimately, however, the United States needs to reform its market to broaden the supply chain, Biden said. “We need more entrants into the marketplace.”

The United States will send Ukraine four Himars artillery rocket systems, an additional 1,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles, and four Mi-17 helicopters in a new $700 million arms package, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said Ukraine forces need about three weeks of training to be able to use the Himars, a highly mobile guided rocket launcher that could give the Ukrainians a distance and accuracy edge in the grinding artillery battle in the Donbas region.

Carrying six rockets at a time with ranges of more than 70 kilometers (42 miles), double that of US howitzers already in use on the battlefield, the Himars system “will provide Ukraine with additional precision in targeting at range,” Kahl told reporters.

Under the new aid package, the Ukrainian military will also receive five counter-artillery radars, two air-surveillance radars, 50 command launch units for the Javelins, 6,000 other anti-armor weapons, 15,000 artillery rounds, and 15 tactical vehicles.

This latest package takes the total amount of US security assistance for Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24 to $4.6 billion.

“Our support for Ukraine and that of the international community remains unwavering,” said Kahl.

Kahl said that the Himars systems, which Kyiv has been requesting for weeks, were already prepositioned in Europe for training and then delivery. In addition to the three weeks operations training, he said maintaining the equipment could require two more weeks.

They would be very useful for Ukraine forces to single out and strike high-value Russian targets, he said.

He confirmed that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had provided Washington assurances that the Himars would not be used to strike targets inside Russia, responding to US worries that doing so could incite Moscow to expand the war beyond Ukraine.

“President Biden has made clear we have no intention of coming into direct conflict with Russia,” said Kahl.

Ewan McGregor hit back Wednesday at people targeting fellow “Star Wars” actor Moses Ingram with racist abuse, saying they are not true fans.

Ingram — who stars alongside McGregor in limited series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” — highlighted racist messages she had received online in a story on her Instagram account, prompting him to respond with a video on the site.

“We stand with Moses. We love Moses. And if you’re sending her bullying messages, you’re no Star Wars fan in my mind,” said McGregor, who plays the title character in the series.

“She brings so much to the series, she brings so much to the franchise. And it just sickened me to my stomach that this had been happening,” he added.

The franchise’s Twitter account also took aim at those attacking Ingram, a Black actress who plays a Jedi-hunting Inquisitor in the Disney+ series.

“We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold,” it said in a tweet that included an image of Ingram with a red lightsaber in hand.

“If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist.”

It is not the first time that racism has been directed against a “Star Wars” actor of color.

Asian-American actress Kelly Marie Tran, who made her “Star Wars” debut in 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” was hounded off social media by racist and sexist abuse.

British actor John Boyega has meanwhile criticized the treatment of non-white characters in the most recent three “Star Wars” films, saying they were marketed as important elements in the franchise but were ultimately “pushed to the side.”

The jury reached a verdict on Wednesday in the high-profile defamation case between “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard.

The seven-person Virginia jury has been deliberating for about 13 hours over three days in Fairfax County Circuit Court near the US capital.

The court said the verdict is to be read out at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT).

A spokesperson for Heard said she was making her way to the courthouse after the jury reached its verdict. Depp, who has been in England for the past few days, was not expected to be present according to ABC News.

Closing arguments in the case were held on Friday at the end of a six-week trial riding on claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse between the Hollywood celebrities.

The 58-year-old Depp filed suit against Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”

The Texas-born Heard, who had a starring role in “Aquaman,” did not name Depp in the piece, but he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser and is seeking $50 million in damages.

The 36-year-old Heard countersued for $100 million, saying she was defamed by statements made by Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, who told the Daily Mail her abuse claims were a “hoax.”

The jury has been working painstakingly through a special verdict form that contains dozens of questions.

The eight-page verdict form contained 24 questions relating to Depp’s suit against Heard and 18 questions relating to her countersuit against him.

Both needed to prove the statements were defamatory, and to win compensatory or punitive damages, the jury needed to find they were made with actual malice — with knowledge that they were false or with “reckless disregard” for whether they were false or not.

Depp flew to England over the Memorial Day weekend and made surprise appearances at concerts by Jeff Beck in Sheffield on Sunday and at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday and Tuesday.

Depp, a guitarist, has his own band, the Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry of Aerosmith.

“Your presence shows where your priorities are,” Heard’s spokesperson said in a statement. 

“Johnny Depp plays guitar in the UK while Amber Heard waits for a verdict in Virginia. Depp is taking his snickering and lack of seriousness on tour.”

Dozens of witnesses testified during the trial, including bodyguards, Hollywood executives, agents, entertainment industry experts, doctors, friends and relatives.

Depp and Heard each spent days on the witness stand during the televised trial, which was attended by hundreds of fans of the “Pirates” star and accompanied by a #JusticeForJohnnyDepp campaign on social media.

– ‘Monster’ –

Video and audio recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between the couple were played for the jury, which was also shown photographs of injuries allegedly suffered by Heard during their volatile relationship.

Hours of testimony were devoted to a grisly finger injury that Depp suffered while filming an installment of “Pirates” in Australia in March 2015.

Depp claimed the tip of a finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard said she did not know how the injury occurred.

Both agreed that Depp went on to scrawl messages on walls, lampshades and mirrors using the bloody digit.

Heard said Depp would become a physically and sexually abusive “monster” during alcohol- and drug-fueled binges and resisted her repeated efforts to curb his drinking and drug use.

Depp testified that it was Heard who was frequently violent and said it has been “brutal” to listen to “outlandish” accusations of domestic abuse made against him.

“No human being is perfect, certainly not, none of us, but I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse,” he said.

Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, obtained a restraining order against him in May 2016, citing domestic violence.

Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, filed a libel suit in London against the British tabloid The Sun for calling him a “wife-beater.” He lost that case in November 2020.

Both sides have claimed damage to their Hollywood careers.