QUICK HITS

1 Not just ‘hang loose:’ Shaka could be Hawaii’s official gesture:

A pinky and thumb extended with the remaining fingers curled down: That’s the “shaka” in Hawaii. It’s sometimes known as the “hang loose” sign in surf culture. But in Hawaii, where it originated, it’s more common and nuanced. A pair of bills in the Legislature would make the shaka Hawaii’s official gesture. Residents have various shaka styles, and some say there’s no wrong way to shaka.

2 Change to West Point’s mission statement sparks controversy:

“Duty, Honor, Country”has been the motto of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for 126 years. The motto isn’t changing, but a decision to take those words out of the school’s lesser-known mission statement is generating outrage. Conservative radio host Jeff Kuhner posted on X that West Point “is going woke.” Fox network host Rachel Campos-Duffy posted the academy has gone“full globalist.”Officials at the 222-yearold military academy 60 miles north of New York City say “Duty, Honor, Country”will always be the school’s motto; just the mission statement is updating.

3 Pope acknowledges criticism, health issues with no talk of retirement:

Pope Francis says he has no plans to resign and isn’t suffering from any health problems that would require doing so. The 87-year-old Francis made the comments in an autobiography,“Life: My Story Through History,” which is being published Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of his installation as pope. Extensive excerpts were published Thursday in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

4 Plan to find new leadership for Haiti moves forward, officials say:

Caribbean officials say a plan to create a transitional presidential council is moving forward after a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions submitted the names of those charged with finding new leaders for the country. Officials said Thursday the names were provided to a regional trade bloc known as Caricom that is helping lead the transition. The names were submitted a day after Haitian politicians and influential figures bickered publicly about the plan.

5 Justices Barrett, Sotomayor unite to promote civility:

Two Supreme Court justices have teamed up to promote the art of disagreeing without being nasty about it. In joint appearances less than three weeks apart, ideologically opposite Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor said a Supreme Court where voices don’t get raised in anger can be a model for the rest of the country in these polarized times.