Republican congressman Steve Scalise has decided not to run for the position of Speaker of the US House of Representatives, only a day after his party selected him for the role.
Mr Scalise, who is 58 years old, had a hard time getting enough votes to have more than half of the total votes in the chamber.
The news was shared after a sudden gathering of Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
It is not clear who the party will choose for the position.
Mr Scalise told reporters after the meeting that everyone should set aside their own plans and concentrate on what our country needs.
This group of people called the House of Representatives needs someone to be the Speaker, and we also need to start having meetings again. But obviously, not everyone is present. “And there are still divisions that need to be resolved,” he said.
Even though Mr. Scalise won against his right-wing opponent Jim Jordan in a secret vote on Wednesday, he is now facing more disagreement from ordinary members of the Republican party.
On Thursday, attempts to convince enough people to vote for him and make him the Speaker were not successful.
In his speech, Mr. Scalise admitted that it was not going to occur.
Some people who said they were okay with me three days ago, were changing their expectations and inventing reasons to not be okay with me now. “He said it was unrelated to anything. ” “See, people were playing games and I decided not to join. ”
Mr Scalise was seen as a more traditional candidate compared to Mr Jordan. He climbed the ranks in the Republican party, becoming known for being good at making laws and raising money.
The House of Representatives cannot pass any laws or approve emergency aid for Israel until they choose a Speaker.
Also, this means that Congress cannot approve any money bills that would let the government prevent a possible shutdown in mid-November.
House Republicans had made many suggestions to stop the problems on Capitol Hill, but this was before Mr Scalise decided not to participate in the race.
One possible solution is to temporarily give Patrick McHenry, the acting speaker of the House, more authority. This would help the chamber to operate and most importantly, prevent a government shutdown.
But in order to do that, the Democrats would need to work together. On Thursday, lawmakers had different opinions about whether the move would be a practical solution.
Another possibility is for Democrats to work with Republicans to choose a candidate that everyone agrees on and that they can elect successfully.
Some Democrats said that a few Republicans might vote for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to become Speaker. But many people in Capitol Hill think that it is unlikely to happen.
The Speaker job has been empty for 10 days because Kevin McCarthy was removed by strict Republicans who opposed him for making a deal with Senate Democrats to financially support government agencies.
A lot of those same lawmakers didn’t vote against Mr. Scalise on Wednesday and Thursday.
After the announcement, some lawmakers said they wanted Mr. Jordan to become the nominee because he had supported Mr. Scalise before the vote on Wednesday.
But Jordan also has a difficult task of getting all the Republicans to support him. One lawmaker, Ann Wagner, said that Mr. Scalise was not happy with Mr. Jordan’s recent actions. She even said that his actions were so rude that it shocked everyone in the room.
When someone asked if he would support Mr. Jordan after he quit the race, Mr. Scalise replied directly that he wanted people who weren’t just thinking about themselves and their own benefits.
Mr McCarthy said that House Republicans need to think about their issues, find solutions, and choose a leader.
Tag: US
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Steve Scalise withdraws from the race for US Speaker
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Three methods to put an end to uncertainty surrounding US Republican Speaker
One day after being selected as the Republican party‘s choice to be Speaker of the House of Representatives, Steve Scalise has decided not to continue in the competition. What is happening currently.
After defeating a conservative politician named Jim Jordan to gain the support of his political party, Mr. Scalise saw his support decrease rapidly on Thursday.
Even after a whole day of convincing people on Capitol Hill, he still didn’t have enough support from the majority in the House. He told reporters that it was not going to happen.
He stepped down, and there is no definite person to take his place, so there is still a gap in leadership at the top of the US government.
It has been 10 days since the Speaker’s chair was left empty, stopping the lower chamber of Congress from doing its most important tasks.
The obstacles for Scalise.
His attempt to become Speaker was troubled by the same problems that troubled former Speaker Kevin McCarthy before he was removed from power last week.
The Republican party has control over the House, but they have only a small advantage in terms of numbers.
To win a floor vote, Mr. Scalise needed 217 out of 221 Republican representatives (House members) to vote for him. Only a few rebels were enough to ruin his hopes of becoming a leader.
The people who did not agree with the decision gave different reasons. Some disagreed with the policies, while others just didn’t want to support what some people called “the current situation. ”The ways to get out of a place 1. One more Republican gets 217 votes.
After Scalise withdrew, some people in Congress and those who watch Capitol Hill said that Mr. Jordan might have a chance to become the new nominee.
It is not clear if Mr. Jordan can get enough votes. In the private vote where Mr. Scalise was chosen as the candidate, Mr. Jordan got 99 votes while Mr. Scalise got 113 votes.
At that time, some Representatives were hesitant to vote for Mr. He is a very conservative person supported by former President Donald Trump.
More names might be suggested in the next few days. Meanwhile, some Representatives have expressed that they are confused or unsure about something.
“I don’t have any idea at all,” Mark Alford from Missouri told NBC.
We’re like a boat that can’t steer at the moment. And I’m very unhappy with how things turned out. And I hope that we discover something with the help of God. 2. Someone who speaks for a short period of time
Another idea suggests that Patrick McHenry, who is currently acting as Speaker of the House, would be given more authority for a certain amount of time.
This would let the House work properly and prevent the government from stopping in a month, while they find a more permanent solution. Democrats would need to work together to figure out the specifics.
Ohio Representative James Joyce said that it is crucial for us to focus on managing the affairs of our country again.
However, some lawmakers are against finding a temporary solution.
I believe that a. (rest of the sentence needed to complete the rewrite) “I don’t think members are interested in caretaker, and I agree with that. ”
He said that he thinks a speaker who is only there for a short time would not do a good job while negotiations on the budget and other things are still happening. 3: Democrats are coming to help.
Another choice that Republicans could consider is to come to an agreement with Democrats on a candidate that both parties can support.
This choice would involve giving in to some demands of the smaller group. Democrats want to get rid of a new rule that was put in place in January. This rule allows any member to bring a vote to the floor in order to remove the Speaker.Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Thursday that we are ready, willing, and able to find agreement that both political parties can support. But he said it needs Republican partners.
This means working together to open up the government again so that the needs of the American people can be met. And making new rules that were introduced in January that give more power to their most extreme members.
A few politicians, like Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, have said that five Republicans might change their minds and support Mr Jeffries as Speaker.
It is unclear if regular Republicans will support this, but it is highly unlikely.
There might be a car accident.
There is a job opening for a very important position in the US government, and it has happened at an unfortunate time.
If there is no speaker, the chamber can’t pass any bills or approve requests for emergency aid from the White House. This means providing support to Israel as they continue to fight with Hamas.
When there is no leader in the House, it means that Congress cannot pass any bills that would help the government avoid a shutdown in November.
On Thursday, some people in the House said it is unlikely that we will find a solution until early next week.
It is still not clear about what it actually looks like. -
EU cautions Musk about ‘disinformation’ on X after Hamas attack
Kari Lake, a person who wanted to become the governor of Arizona but didn’t accept losing, plans to run for the state’s Senate position in the 2024 election.
Ms Lake repeated what her friend Donald Trump said by claiming that she lost in 2022 because of a lot of cheating.
She joins a tight competition, where Sen Kyrsten Sinema and Rep Ruben Gallego might also be participating.
Ms Lake spoke to her supporters at a rally in Arizona on Tuesday. She spent a lot of her speech talking negatively about Joe Biden.
The 54-year-old Republican criticized the president’s policies on the US border with Mexico. They called media organizations “un-American” and said they supported Mr. Trump’s time in the White House.
“We only have one year to rescue this country and we need to change our approach, folks. ” She said we need to leave Joe Biden. “We need to have patriotic Americans who prioritize the success of our country in the Senate. ”
Right now, there is a situation at the Arizona border where a group of people or things have forcefully entered without permission. Kyrsten Sinema and Ruben Gallego have consistently said “no” to giving money for the border wall. They have approved this plan to have open borders. Arizonans are tired of it,” she later said in a message on X, which used to be called Twitter.
Ms Lake, who ended up losing the election for governor last year by 17,000 votes, tried to challenge her loss in court but didn’t succeed. The court did not want to listen to the challenge completely. They said in March that there was not enough proof that incorrect ballots had been included in the final count.
But Trump supported her position and fully endorsed her bid in a video message at Tuesday’s rally.
“In the Senate, we need a large, powerful majority to assist me in advancing our America First agenda quickly,” stated Mr. Kari is one of the strongest fighters in our group.
Ms Lake doesn’t have much competition right now to win the Republican nomination. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is currently the only other person who has joined the competition.
However, surveys indicate that there is a close race between Ms. Sinema, and Rep. The state, which used to mostly support Republicans, was won by President Biden in 2020.
Sen Sinema became a Democrat in 2018 by winning the election and taking over the seat previously held by retiring Republican Sen Jeff Flake. However, last year she decided to leave the party and become an independent. She did this because she wanted to challenge what she believed was a “flawed and divided” political system.
The person who is 47 years old has not yet said if they will try to be elected again.
Rep Gallego, a former US marine who some polls suggest is winning by a small margin in the race, was quick to criticize Ms Lake’s announcement. He wrote on X and said that she was “weakening our democracy”.
“That’s why people didn’t vote for you before, and they will do the same again,” he said. -
Nine US natives proven dead
Nine US citizens have been slain in Israel, according to the US authorities.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected,” the White House said in a statement. “We wish those injured a speedy recovery.”
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities.”
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US ships draw closer to Israel after Hamas attack
The US is moving a big ship, other smaller ships, and planes to a place called the eastern Mediterranean. They are also giving Israel more stuff like tools and bullets.
This means that after Hamas attacked southern Israel, President Biden said it was a very bad and shocking attack that had never happened before.
A representative from US National Security said that some Americans were killed.
Israel says that over 700 people have lost their lives, and around 100 individuals have been taken against their will.
In Gaza, over 400 people were killed because of Israeli air strikes, say Palestinian officials.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, a type of ship that carries airplanes, along with a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers, are going towards that area. He said they would send fighter planes too.
The White House said it would send more help to Israel’s military soon. They want to make sure that Israel’s enemies cannot take advantage of the situation.
The US is sending a lot of troops because they are worried that the fight between Israel and Hamas could spread to other nearby areas.
Specifically, the United States is very interested in stopping Lebanon’s influential Hezbollah group from getting involved in the conflict. Iran supports and provides money and weapons to Hamas.
The President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, has said he supports the attack by Hamas. He believes that Israel should be punished for putting the region in danger.
Hamas claimed that Iran provided them with support to carry out their attack. Their attack included using rockets, drones, and militants on paragliders. They managed to break through Israeli border fortifications around the Gaza Strip with the help of hundreds of fighters.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that there is no clear proof that Iran is directly involved, but they have been supporting the Gaza-based group for a long time.
Hamas relies on Iran’s support for its existence. We don’t have proof that Iran was responsible for this attack or involved in it yet. “But the help and assistance have been evident for many years,” he said during an interview on US television.
During a meeting at the United Nations Security Council, Iran said that they were not involved in the attack on Israel.
Many people are still unaccounted for. One of the people involved was a 23-year-old man named Hersh Golberg-Polin from America and Israel. He was at a music festival in the desert when a group of violent people attacked.
His mom and dad told the Jerusalem Post that they got two messages from him. One said “I love you” and the other said “I’m sorry. ”
There are now reports about other North Americans who are also missing, such as peace activist Vivian Silver.
A Canadian friend of a 75-year-old woman named Ms Silver said that she called her sister on Saturday morning. She told her sister that Palestinian militants were knocking on her door.
“He said there was a lot of noise and shouting, Vivian was fighting, and then the phone suddenly turned off. ”
Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, said to CBS News that he knows Americans were among the soldiers and civilians who were taken away in southern Israel, but he doesn’t know more information about it.
The United States gives a lot of money to Israel every year to help with their military. Israel is a very good friend of the United States. Since World War Two, Israel has received the most foreign aid from the United States.
The UN Security Council is going to have a meeting in New York soon to talk about the fighting happening in Israel and Gaza. -
US pressuring Russia ‘towards using’ nuclear weapons – Belarus leader
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that by giving weapons to Ukraine, the United States is causing Russia to consider using nuclear weapons.
I think Americans are making Russians consider using a very scary weapon. They give weapons to Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky and his group of soldiers, and also give them missiles that can be shot from far away. Even missiles that can go as far as 300 km (186 miles),” Lukashenko said while visiting a military base in the Brest area.
Lukashenko said that if a missile hit Russia, they would have to retaliate.
If someone attacks Russia very far inside their territory, the response will be huge. “If that’s the case, why do we even need these weapons. ” Lukashenko asked
He thinks that if tensions between the countries get worse, Russia might threaten to use nuclear weapons.
He said that Americans felt safe because they were far away from any potential danger.
Lukashenko talked about this after Putin said it might be possible to cancel a treaty that stops countries from doing nuclear tests.
The day after Putin talked, Russia’s State Duma Speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the State Duma Council will definitely talk about canceling their approval of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at their next meeting.
Lukashenko also talked about the unsure future of the help that US Congress is giving to Ukraine. He said that this is a sign for Ukraine to move quickly, increase their counterattack, and send more young men to fight.
You can see it in the media a lot these days. They say Zelensky is being criticized for not moving quickly enough in the counterattack. Lukashenko said the counterattack did not work and mentioned that only older men are involved in the fighting.
Lukashenko explained his thoughts on why the US wants Ukraine to quickly attack back. He said that US President Joe Biden could improve his approval rating by achieving a win in Ukraine.
Due to the current political situation, this war doesn’t benefit Biden and the American government in terms of power and influence. Biden is already not doing well according to all the surveys. He wants to win at something. “You have to contribute something valuable in order to succeed,” Lukashenko said. -
US provides Kyiv with 1.1 million rounds of ammo it seized from Iran
The US military sent about 1. 1 million bullets taken from Iran last year to Ukraine.
The US Central Command (Centcom), which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, has said that they took possession of the bullets from a ship heading towards Yemen in December.
Ukraine’s friends from the West recently said that it’s becoming hard for them to make enough bullets for Ukraine because Ukraine is using them up quickly.
Centcom states that the Iranian rounds were taken to Ukraine on Monday.
They included bullets that were 7. 62mm size and were used in rifles and light machine-guns from the Soviet era.
Although the number is important, it only makes up a small portion of the many rounds of ammunition that have been given to Ukraine by its allies.
The US has given over 200 million bullets and grenades.
The US navy took control of Iranian weapons from a ship called MARWAN 1 on December 9th.
The US government got ownership of them in July using a method called civil forfeiture. This method allows the government to take away someone’s property if they suspect the person is involved in illegal activities.
In this situation, someone made a complaint against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is part of Iran’s military and has the job of protecting their government.
The US said it is working with allies to stop Iran from sending dangerous weapons to the region, using legal methods.
Iran supports the Houthi rebels in the civil war happening in Yemen. However, the UN Security Council has prohibited the transfer of weapons to the group since 2015.
The fighting in Yemen started in 2014 when a group called the Houthis captured the main city of Sanaa and kicked out the government.
The government that was forced out of power is still seen as the official government of Yemen by the international community. It is supported by a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom.
Since the second half of last year, people have accused Iran multiple times of giving Russia weapons, especially drones, to use in the war in Ukraine.The move to send weapons to Ukraine is happening because Western allies are worried about whether they can keep giving weapons to Kyiv.
Admiral Rob Bauer, who leads NATO’s military committee, mentioned at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday that the situation has become very serious.
He said that because they hadn’t invested enough money for many years, the Nato countries didn’t have enough ammunition when the war started. -
US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies in fentanyl crackdown
The US has imposed penalties on 25 companies and people in China who are believed to have helped make drugs called fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a very strong drug that is used to help with pain or make people feel relaxed. It is causing a big problem with drug addiction in the United States.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the drug’s supply chain usually begins with chemical companies in China.
China disagreed with the sanctions and stated that the fentanyl crisis actually started in the United States.
The Chinese foreign ministry told AFP news agency that they strongly disagree with the United States’ punishment and legal action against Chinese businesses and people. They believe that this is a serious violation of the rights and interests of those companies and individuals.
The Chinese government is taking strong action against drug crimes. We closely monitor and control the chemicals that are used to make other substances.
Trying to put pressure and sanctions on someone, in this case the United States, will not solve their own problems. The text means that it will only make it harder for China and the US to work together on controlling drugs.
In April, a person speaking for the Chinese foreign ministry said that there is no illegal trading of fentanyl between China and Mexico.
This happened after the Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked the Chinese government for help to prevent the alleged entry of fentanyl and its ingredients into Mexico.
The US government says that Mexican criminal groups are providing fentanyl to people all over the US who use it.
Doctors are allowed to prescribe Fentanyl, but there has been a big increase in opioid addiction in the US over the last few decades. This has caused more illegal production and accidental overdoses.
In 2022, the drug caused a very high number of deaths – 109,680 in total.
The US government put restrictions on a group operating in China that makes and sells illegal drugs, including fentanyl.
Officials are saying that companies involved in the fentanyl supply chain often use incorrect addresses and false labels to prevent their products from being recognized by law enforcement.
According to the treasury, the individuals and entities affected by the sanctions are from China and Canada. There are 12 entities and 13 individuals from China, and two entities and one individual from Canada.
The sanctions will stop the entities from using their US assets and prevent Americans from doing business with them.
Merrick Garland is planning to go to Mexico with other important people to discuss ways to stop the flow of illegal drugs.
Mr Garland told reporters that we have identified the individuals responsible for harming the American people with fentanyl.
We understand that this network includes the leaders of the cartels, the people who transport drugs for them, the people who hide their money, the people who operate secret labs, the people who protect them, the people who provide them with weapons, and the people who provide them with chemicals.
“And we understand that the global supply chain of fentanyl, which results in the deaths of Americans, often begins with chemical companies in China. ”
The US justice department has revealed charges against eight Chinese companies and 12 of their workers for making and selling fentanyl and methamphetamine drugs. They are also accused of distributing opioids and making sales from precursor chemicals.
Nobody has been taken into custody and the Chinese government did not collaborate with US authorities during the investigations, according to Mr. -
US and Philippines begin joint military exercises as tensions with China grow
The United States military started two weeks of joint exercises with its Philippine allies and other international partners on Monday. This is happening at a time when there are growing tensions between Manila and Beijing over disagreements about land and waters in the South China Sea.
Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2023 is a big event where different countries like Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia are coming together with the US and the Philippines to practice and train. This is the seventh time it is happening and it will be the biggest one yet. This information comes from a press release by the US Navy.
The activities near the Philippines will involve practicing how to fight against submarines, ships, and aircrafts, both on the water and on land.
Captemphasized that the phrase “Sama Sama” in Tagalog means “together” and it perfectly represents the essence of this exercise. Sean Lewis, leader of the US Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 7, mentioned in the statement.
“He said that if we work together, we can deal with many types of security problems. By getting more countries involved, we can come up with new ideas and create a strong and unified force that keeps the region stable. ”
The situation in the region is becoming less stable because Chinese coast guard and maritime militia units are having confrontations with Philippine vessels around disputed areas in the South China Sea.
The head of the Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral, said that ‘Samasama’ helps us to confront various dangers together, including protecting our territory and fighting against crimes that occur across borders. According to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), Toribio Adaci Jr. said these words during the opening ceremonies in Manila on Monday.
Last week, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. , who is the defense secretary of the Philippines, had a special interview with CNN. The writer compared Chinese actions in the area to a bully in a schoolyard.
There have been some recent events that have made people in the region worried. For example, Chinese water cannons stopped a Philippine military outpost from getting supplies. Also, a Filipino diver managed to cut through a floating Chinese barrier all by himself. Earlier this year, the coast guard of the Philippines accused a coast guard ship from China of using a powerful laser to shine into the eyes of some of its crew members, causing temporary blindness.
“This is the most obvious example of bullying I can think of,” Teodoro stated. “It’s not about taking your lunch money, but it’s about taking your lunch bag, your chair, and even kicking you out of school. ”
The Philippine president promises to protect the country’s land and says he is not seeking problems.
China’s Foreign Ministry told CNN that the ongoing conflicts at sea between China and the Philippines are mostly because the Philippines keeps causing problems and spreading incorrect information.
China says that Philippine boats are entering its territory in the Spratly Islands, even though a ruling by an international tribunal in 2016 said that Beijing’s claim is not valid.
China says that it has complete control over almost all of the South China Sea, which is a very big area, and the islands and sandbars in it. They even claim control over places that are far away from the Chinese mainland. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan also have different claims.
Sama Sama has over 1,800 people from different countries participating, including people from warships in the Philippines, the US, the UK, Japan, and Canada. The exercises will happen in the Southern Luzon area of the Philippine Naval Forces. The headquarters will be on the Pacific coast of the country, which is around 300 miles southeast of Manila. It is also around 560 miles away from the Spratly Islands. -
US likely to have government shutdown
The United States moved closer to a government shutdown on Friday as prospects for a short-term funding deal darkened.
Congress has until midnight Saturday to pass a new budget before thousands of federal workers are placed on unpaid leave.
The Senate moved ahead with the proposed interim funding agreement, which House Republicans opposed.
The two houses of Congress are controlled by different parties.
The Republican-led House will vote on its own short-term spending bill on Friday. Their plan would extend funding through the end of October, but it calls for deep spending cuts that would make it unacceptable to Democrats, who run the Senate.
The conflicting House and Senate funding plans have raised the possibility of a shutdown and highlighted deep divisions within the Republican Party, with some lawmakers expressing exasperation with conservatives hardliners, who have so far blocked a financial deal.
For example, California Republican Mike Garcia told Reuters he felt “disappointed” as the shutdown approached.
“We are not in a good position for negotiations with the Senate,” he said.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a procedural vote on a short-term funding bill that had bipartisan support in the House. The bill would avoid a government shutdown until November 17, giving Congress more time to reach a long-term budget deal.
But for the bill to become law, it needs to pass the House, where at least nine hard-line members of Mr. McCarthy’s narrow Republican majority have refused to support the temporary measure.
That group has repeatedly threatened to remove Mr. McCarthy as House Speaker if he relied on Democratic votes to overcome their opposition and pass the funding bill without them.
Mr. McCarthy previously said he had no plans to bring the Senate bill to the House.
“I think the President is making a choice between the presidency and American interests,” President Joe Biden said Wednesday. “This is not an unsolvable puzzle,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “President McCarthy must stop letting Maga radicals dictate his decisions.”
Mr. McCarthy did not commit to bringing the Senate short-term funding bill to the House, but said a shutdown could be avoided if Democrats better addressed border security in the bill.
“We’re trying to see if we can get border provisions into the current Senate bill to really improve things,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“This morning I talked to a number of Democratic senators who are more sympathetic to what we want to do. They want to do something about the border issue.”
He later added that he had spoken with Mr. Biden about establishing a national commission to study the national debt and find ways to reduce it.
Biden’s top aide, chief of staff Jeff Zients, told NPR News that the White House is preparing for the possibility of a last-minute deal on Saturday. But he added that Mr. Biden has no plans to meet privately with Mr. McCarthy.
“There is no need for a meeting at this time. The meeting that needs to happen is in the House of Representatives, where House Republicans meet and fund the government.”
In recent months, Mr. McCarthy has noticed a growing ideological divide between moderates and the right in his caucus.
This right wing has only a handful of members, but in a chamber where Republicans control just nine seats, they wield disproportionate power in the debates.
Fiercely opposed to anything resembling the status quo in Washington, they demand the party respect spending cuts and what they call conservative priorities. That means Mr. McCarthy may have to turn to the opposition party to bail him out and support a short-term spending bill.Working with Democrats is virtually guaranteed to trigger the so-called nullification movement, the first step in forcing a vote to remove him as president.
Economists also warned that a government shutdown could harm the US economy, with Moody’s warning that it could harm the US credit rating and “underscore the weakness lack of US institutional strength and governance”.
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US sanctions ex-Sudan minister alleged interference with peace efforts
The US has imposed sanctions on former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti and two companies, including one in Russia, for destabilizing peace in Sudan.
Karti, a key figure in the pro-military Sudanese Islamic Movement and a former official in President Omar al-Bashir’s government, is accused of obstructing efforts to achieve a ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the Department of Treasury.
The Sudanese Islamic Movement responded by viewing the sanctions as a “badge of honor.”
Additionally, GSK Advance Company, a Sudanese firm, has been targeted with sanctions for acting as a procurement channel for the RSF. The US alleges that GSK collaborated with Aviatrade LLC, a Russia-based military supply company, to facilitate the procurement of parts and supplies.
The Department of Treasury affirmed its commitment to targeting individuals and entities that perpetuate the conflict for personal gain.
These sanctions mark the latest in a series of actions by Washington following the outbreak of war between the army and the RSF in mid-April.
Earlier in the month, the US imposed financial sanctions on RSF deputy leader Abdel Rahim Dagalo and placed a travel ban on Gen. Abdul Rahman Juma, the RSF commander in West Darfur state, over allegations of human rights abuses. Both individuals denied the accusations made by the US.
In June, Washington also imposed sanctions on firms owned by warring Sudanese military factions.
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US government shutdown: Kevin McCarthy rushing to close a deal
The most important Republican in the United States House of Representatives has stated that he is hopeful that a deal can be made at the last moment to prevent a government shutdown.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that by the end of the day, we will finish this task.
The Congress has until midnight on Saturday to pass a new budget for funding the government agencies.
Many people will be forced to take time off work without pay, and certain important organizations will no longer be able to function if an agreement is not reached.
“I wake up every day feeling positive,” Mr. McCarthy, who is 58 years old, said when asked about the chances of a deal being made. I think you should invest your money in me. We will finish this.
The chances of a shutdown seemed to go up on Thursday as the Senate and the House had different ideas about how to pay for things.
The Senate plans to have a vote to decide on a temporary funding bill. This bill has support from both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. The bill would prevent the government from stopping its operations until 17 November, allowing Congress to have more time to come to an agreement on a budget for a longer period of time.
However, in order for the bill to become a law, it must be approved by the House. Unfortunately, at least nine members of Mr McCarthy’s small Republican majority are not willing to support any temporary measure.
The group keeps saying they will take Mr. McCarthy out as House Speaker if he uses Democratic votes to get around their disagreement and pass a funding bill without their support.
What occurs during a US government shutdown.
President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he believes the Speaker is deciding between being the Speaker and looking out for the United States’ interests.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that this puzzle is not difficult and can be solved. “Says McCarthy should stop allowing extreme Maga supporters to influence his choices. ”
The House is planning to vote on short-term spending bills on Friday, but these bills are not expected to be approved by the Senate.
MrMcCarthy has not agreed to bring the Senate’s bill for temporary funds to the House for a vote, but he said that a government shutdown could be avoided if Democrats addressed the issue of border security in that bill more effectively.
“We want to find a way to improve the current Senate bill by adding some border provisions,” he said to reporters on Thursday.
This morning, I spoke with a few Democratic senators who agree with our goals and ideas. They want to take action regarding the border.
Lately,McCarthy has noticed that the moderate and right wings of his caucus have been growing apart in their beliefs.
The right-wing side has only a few members, but they have a lot of influence in a chamber controlled by Republicans with a small majority.
They strongly disagree with the usual way of doing things in Washington, and they want the party to make spending cuts and focus on conservative issues.
That means Mr. McCarthy might need help from the other party to save him and agree on a temporary spending plan.
If he works with Democrats, it is very likely that they will start a process to remove him as Speaker. -
Electoral interference in Liberia polls to attract Visa restrictions – US
The United States (US) has made known it plans of placing visa restrictions on people actively involved in undermining Liberia’s next elections, which are slated for next month.
This measure is designed to deter actions that could compromise the democratic process, including election manipulation, fraud, violence, or any other activities aimed at inappropriately influencing the election’s outcome.
The U.S. State Department has clarified that these visa restrictions reflect the United States’ commitment to supporting the people of Liberia in their pursuit of a free and fair electoral process. While the statement did not mention specific individuals, it underscores the significance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the upcoming elections are conducted with integrity.
In the upcoming elections, President George Weah is seeking a second term in office, facing opposition leader Joseph Boakai, who was the defeated candidate in the previous election held five years ago.
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Paranoid Putin alleges US and UK were involved in planning attack on Black Sea Fleet HQ
Russia says that Ukraine‘s friends in the West were involved in planning and carrying out a missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet’s base in Crimea.
Last week, a missile from Ukraine hit the Russian naval base. This caused severe damage to important buildings and sadly resulted in the deaths of at least 34 officers.
After the attack, a very angry Kremlin spokeswoman stated during a meeting: ‘There is no question that the attack had been carefully planned beforehand using information from Western intelligence sources, Nato satellites, and surveillance planes. It was carried out based on advice from American and British security agencies and with their close collaboration. ‘
Moscow often says that the UK, US, and their NATO allies have become involved in the war by giving weapons and information to Ukraine.
Russia took over the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 even though it was against the law. Since then, it has been a common focus point as Russia’s president Vladimir Putin sent a large military force to invade Ukraine about 20 months ago.
Crimea has been a major base for the invasion, and it is being targeted more and more by Ukraine.
Ukraine said that the attack caused a big hole in the main building of the headquarters and injured 105 people.
Russia first reported that one person in the military was dead, but then changed their statement and said the person was actually missing.
Moscow hasn’t given any new information or spoken directly about Mr. Sokolov’s condition
Ukrainian special forces said they killed Admiral Viktor Sokolov, who was in charge of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
But, Russia’s Ministry of Defence later uploaded a video on Tuesday that showed Mr Sokolov and other high-ranking officers participating in a video meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The Special Operation Forces of Ukraine released a statement on Tuesday, saying that their sources have reported that Mr. Sokolov is one of the people who died. However, many of the dead individuals have not yet been identified. It said it was trying to check if the claim was true after the video appeared.
In the video, Mr. Sokolov blinked his eyes but didn’t say anything. This made people wonder if the Kremlin used old footage of him in the broadcast.
The Admiral also talked to reporters about the Black Fleet’s activities in a video that was shared on a Russian news channel connected to the Russian Defense Ministry.
But it was unsure when the video was made, and the video didn’t mention the Ukrainian attack on fleet headquarters.
The statement from the MOD agrees with what Dmitry Medvedev said. He mentioned that the arrival of tanks made in America in Ukraine and the US promising to give long-range missiles to Ukraine would bring Nato and Russia closer to a direct conflict. -
Boris Johnson’s nanny ‘fired’
The nanny who used to work for the Johnsons says she got fired just three days into the job because someone saw her having a glass of wine with the ex-PM.
Theresa Dawes, a 59-year-old woman from Zimbabwe, said to The Mirror that she still hasn’t received thousands of pounds that she is owed. She described the experience as a horrible nightmare.
Ms Dawes mentioned in an interview that she had a drink with Boris Johnson to celebrate the birth of their son, Frank Alfred Odysseus. This happened while Boris’ wife, Carrie, was still in the hospital recovering.
It is said that she thinks Mrs. Johnson’s mother Josephine saw her drinking, and that is why she got fired when Mrs. Johnson came back.
Ms Dawes said that Mrs Johnson only gave her 15 minutes to pack her things, and she believes that Mrs Johnson has now blocked her on WhatsApp.
Mr Johnson apologized to Ms. Dawes and explained that his wife was feeling sensitive due to hormones. He also mentioned that he had no control over the situation.
Ms Dawes is thinking about taking the couple to court to get back the money she says they owe her. This money would cover the three months she was supposed to work for them, as well as any money she is owed after leaving the job.
She said: ‘I know he has been married three times and has many children. ‘ But I don’t like him, he’s not the kind of person I’m attracted to.
I’m not sure if she felt scared. I don’t understand or know why she was thinking.
I was excited to assist a family with their new baby, but I got distracted by something else. I had just arrived there and I didn’t even get to hold the baby. I regret getting involved with them, it has been a total disaster.
‘Honestly, the rose was pretty, but it was definitely not worth the price. ’
Ms Dawes said that when she met Mrs. Johnson two weeks ago, Mrs. Johnson mentioned that a previous worker had celebrated Mr. Johnson being forced to quit because of the Partygate scandal.
Ms Dawes remembered the time she thinks she got fired. She said, “I went into the nursery and saw her holding the baby. ” She got up and said she didn’t think it was going well and that we didn’t have a good connection.
‘She told me that she was not happy with the remarks I had made about her husband, after I had informed her about another family who also did not like him. ‘
I believe that was just a made-up reason. Why didn’t she do something two weeks ago if she didn’t like it.
A representative for the Johnson family said to The Mirror: ‘This story is completely false. It is sad to witness someone in a position of trust betray that trust by making up a completely untrue story just to make money. -
US senator promises to be exonerated in bribery case
A strong-willed Senator from New Jersey named Robert Menendez is continuing to say that he is not guilty of the federal corruption charges that were announced last week.
He said on Monday that once all the evidence is shown, not only will he be proven innocent, but he will still remain as the senior senator of New Jersey.
Prosecutors say that Mr. Menendez and his wife received a lot of money in return for helping Egypt.
The senator has not agreed with requests from other Democrats to step down from their position.
Instead, during his first public appearance since he was charged with a crime, Mr. Menendez announced that he plans to campaign for another term in office.
And the senator, who is facing a lot of criticism, seemed to criticize his colleagues who have publicly told him to step down. He said that public opinion is not as important as the legal system.
“He said that those who quickly made a decision without enough information were influenced by the prosecution’s presentation of sensationalized facts. He made this statement while speaking in Union City, New Jersey, where he gained popularity in politics. ”
“He said that the accusations against me are simply claims. ”
Last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan revealed a 39-page document that accused Mr Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, of receiving large sums of money as bribes. In return, the senator used his power to influence politics both within the country and internationally.
Investigators discovered $550,000 in cash and 13 bars of gold bullion in June 2022 while searching a safe deposit box and the home of a couple in New Jersey.
According to the charges, Mr. Menendez looked up ‘how much is one kilo of gold worth’ on the internet in January 2022.
Investigators discovered a fancy Mercedes-Benz that was bought by one of the businessmen, parked in the garage.
The court document said that once the couple got the car, Mrs Menendez sent a message to her husband saying: “Congratulations my love, we are now the happy owners of a 2019 Mercedes. ” -
US resumes offering free at-home Covid tests
The US is offering free at-home Covid-19 tests again to help stop the virus from spreading during the winter months.
More people have been going to the hospital because of Covid in the past few weeks, according to information from the CDC.
The tests can find a new type of the virus, which has been found in a few US states.
Americans can ask for four quick and free antigen tests.
The government website for Covid tests started in January 2022, but it closed down before 2023 to save more supplies.
The government under President Biden gave away 755 million Covid-19 tests by sending them through the mail.
When the serious health problem was over in May, lots of insurance companies stopped paying for tests. This meant that people had to pay for tests themselves.
According to the CDC’s Covid-19 tracker, there were 20,538 people hospitalized from September 3rd to September 9th. This is about 8% more than the week before.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that the test kits can be used until the end of 2023.
There will also be directions on how people can check if extended test expiration dates are valid, because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that test kits may last longer than what the package says.
Last week, the Biden administration said it would give $600m (£491m) to 12 American companies that make Covid-19 tests.
The government thinks they will get around 200 million tests from those companies. -
US to supply Ukraine with more long-range missiles ‘used in Black Sea fleet attack’
Reports suggest that the US intends to supply Ukraine with formidable long-range missiles similar to those deployed in the recent assault on the Black Sea Fleet.
This would assist Volodymyr Zelensky’s soldiers in targeting and hitting more places like command centers and hubs in Russia’s front lines.
Yesterday, a missile from Ukraine hit the main building of Russia’s Black Sea navy in the port of Sevastopol in Crimea. This attack caused the death of nine individuals.
A person from the Ukrainian military told the BBC that the attack used Storm Shadow missiles, which are a type of weapon system supplied by Britain and France.
These missiles can go as far as 150 miles, while the GPS rockets called GMLRS that Ukraine uses can only travel about 43 miles.
NBC News says that an anonymous US government official mentioned that President Joe Biden promised to give a few ATACMS missiles to the Ukrainian leader.
The White House is where the two men met last Thursday.
A Russian admiral was badly hurt when a missile hit the navy headquarters, causing the death of nine people. -
Fears in Karabakh increase as villagers call for assistance
US senators want a group of people from different countries to go watch over the area called Nagorno-Karabakh. The situation is getting worse for the people who live there and are Armenian.
Democrat Gary Peters, who was leading a group of people to that area, said that the people there were really scared.
There is not enough food and medicine in the main city, Stepanakert.
But, the International Red Cross said it was able to bring 70 tons of help on Saturday.
It was the first group of vehicles to arrive in the disputed area since Azerbaijan took control of it quickly five days ago.
Russia has also given help. Before, Moscow stated that Armenian fighters in Nagorno-Karabakh had begun surrendering their weapons to Russian peacekeepers.
Mr Peters expressed his worry about the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. He believes that it is important for the situation to be made more known or visible.
“He said it is important for people to know what is going on. The statements from authorities in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, are not helpful and should be checked. ”
Armenians living in Karabakh say that the situation in Stepanakert (also known as Khankendi by Azerbaijanis) is very bad.
They said they were trapped in the area, with very little food, electricity, or fuel, and asked for help from other places.
Many people have come to the city to seek shelter because there are often times when the electricity goes out.
Many people are sleeping in tents or outside near Stepanakert airport.
Families are saying that they cannot communicate with each other because the Azerbaijani army has blocked them, and they are worried because they don’t know if their relatives are alive or dead.
One resident named Siranush Sargsyan said that she doesn’t know anyone who wants to stay here.
“I have older family members who are very close to me. They sadly lost their sons in past wars. They choose to stay and pass away in this place,” she said.
Baku says that the problem is now only a matter for Azerbaijan.
Jason Straziuso, who speaks for the International Committee for the Red Cross in Geneva, said that they gave food aid to the area on Saturday. The aid included wheat, salt, and yeast.
“He said that now, communities will be able to make bread with those ingredients. ”
“He said that based on what he has observed internally, the ceasefire is still in place. ”
We have been talking to everyone involved and they are letting us help with our charitable work. We think there will be more opportunities to help soon.
In the meantime, it is said that five Russian peacekeepers were shot and killed in a situation that seems to involve Azerbaijani forces.
Pictures on social media showed that the back window of the vehicle that the Russian soldiers were in had bullet holes in it.
Azerbaijan is currently burying the people who died during the special mission. On Friday, the BBC discovered 12 new graves of military personnel in a cemetery in Baku.
At least 25 more plots for burial were being made ready. Some soldiers from Azerbaijan died during the fighting, according to military people at the cemetery. -
US to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine – reports
US President Joe Biden wants to give Ukraine powerful missiles that can reach far distances in order to help them defend against attacks. This information has been reported by US media.
According to US officials who know about the matter, Ukraine will receive some missiles called ATACMS. These missiles have a range of up to 190 miles (300km).
This would allow Kyiv to attack important Russian locations far away from where the fighting is happening.
On Friday, a Ukrainian missile hit Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters in annexed Crimea.
An official from the Ukrainian military said to the BBC that the attack in Sevastopol used Storm Shadow missiles. These missiles are given to Ukraine by Britain and France, showing how important Western weapons are to Ukraine.
These missiles can travel a distance of a little over 150 miles.
Unnamed US officials said that President Biden told the Ukrainian President that Kyiv would receive a few ATACMS missiles. The two leaders saw each other at the White House on Thursday.
The WSJ says that the weapons will be sent soon.
The Washington Post reports that Ukraine will receive ATACMS with cluster bomblets instead of just one warhead, according to some people familiar with the discussions.
The American media reports have not been confirmed by either the US or Ukraine.
After the discussions between Biden and Zelensky, Washington said they will provide Ukraine with $325m (£265m) in military aid. This aid includes weapons and ammunition. Next week, Kyiv will receive America’s Abrams tanks.
However, both presidents have avoided giving direct answers on the ATACMS problem.
“I think that we will be able to agree on most of the things we talked about with President Biden yesterday,” Mr Zelensky said on Friday while visiting Canada.
Yes, it will only take time. He said that not everything relies on Ukraine.
Kyiv has been trying for months to get ATACMS to strengthen their violent counter-attack in the southern region.
This means that important Russian paths for supplies, positions of command, and other important places would be close enough to attack. Moscow would be forced to move them farther away, which would make it more difficult to give supplies and weapons to their troops.
According to Ukraine, the Russian military positions in the areas they have taken control of in southern Ukraine, including Crimea, could be easily attacked.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine in February 2022, and the Biden administration was unsure about giving Ukraine new weapons at first.
But its position has changed a lot, with Kyiv now having powerful long-range rocket systems called Himars and defensive missiles called Patriot air defence missiles.
However, President Biden has been unsure about sending ATACMS missiles because he is concerned that it might increase the chances of a conflict with Russia, who has nuclear weapons. -
Two migrants’ bodies found in river near US border
This week, two migrants, one of them being a three-year-old child, were found dead in the Rio Grande, which is the river that separates the United States and Mexico.
More people who move to the US through the southern border have increased a lot in September, which is causing a problem because it puts pressure on the resources available in that area.
It is believed that the child died from drowning after being carried away while crossing the river.
Every year, hundreds of people trying to cross to another country die.
A spokesperson from the Texas Department of Public Safety, mentioned by CBS, the BBC’s US partner, said that they found the body of the three-year-old child near Eagle Pass on Wednesday. He was going on a trip with his family and was officially declared dead at a nearby hospital.
The next day, police in Texas found another dead person in the river in the same place.
The bodies were found north of a line of border buoys used to stop people from crossing the border near Eagle Pass.
The barrier has been causing a lot of legal disagreements, and a judge decided earlier this month that it needs to be moved by September 15th.
Texas tried to take legal action to stop the buoys from being removed, and they were successful. The buoys were allowed to stay where they were.
Along the entire US-Mexico border, which stretches for about 2,000 miles or 3,218 kilometers, the number of migrants caught trying to enter the United States has reached extremely high levels this month. This presents a big problem for President Joe Biden, who is working on a plan to deal with immigration.
CBS obtained data from the government agency called Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The data shows that in the first 20 days of September, about 140,000 people who were trying to cross the border were stopped and taken into custody. On average, this is about 6,900 people per day. In July, there were about 4,300 on average every day.
On Wednesday, almost 9,000 migrants went through the immigration process, which is the highest number in a day since May. This happened right before the US government decided to stop using a policy called Title 42. This policy was put in place by former President Trump and it allowed the US to quickly send many migrants back to their home countries.
This chart displays the number of migrants at the border between the United States and Mexico since the year 2021.
The data shows that the CBP is expected to catch 210,000 migrants by the end of the month, which is the highest number since December 2022 when 222,000 were caught.
In the town of Eagle Pass, which has around 30,000 people, officials have declared a one-week state of emergency. This will enable them to ask for more help to deal with the large number of migrants coming into the town.
In Eagle Pass and El Paso, authorities had to temporarily stop trucks and buses from crossing the international bridges. This was done so that the staff could focus on dealing with migrants.
The problem has also become more politically heated, with the Biden administration facing harsh criticism from Republicans and some Democrats for how it has dealt with the border situation in the south.
Earlier this week, the government said that they will be sending 800 more military personnel to join the 2,500 troops already there. They will help with tasks that need to be done. -
US provides legal status to almost 500,000 Venezuelans
Venezuelans who have come to the US and are asking for protection can now work legally, as per the new rules declared by the Biden government.
About 472,000 people will be allowed to stay in the country legally for 18 months.
Democrats want to give new immigrants more chances to work.
Many people from Venezuela are leaving their country because of economic and political problems. US cities are trying to deal with the large number of people coming from Venezuela.
To be eligible for temporary deportation relief and work permits under TPS, individuals need to have been living in the US on or before July 31st.
About 243,000 Venezuelans have a legal status that came from a policy in 2021 which was extended last year.
The US government wants to help Venezuelans because their country is not safe and things have gotten worse recently.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that temporary protected status helps people in the United States who cannot go back to their home country because it is not safe.
This is referring to the current situation of Venezuelans who came to this place on or before July 31st of this year.
New York Mayor Eric Adams asked President Joe Biden to let migrants have jobs.
The city is having a hard time finding places for many migrants, who are mostly from Venezuela. They are staying in over 200 hotels, shelters, tent cities, and other places.
Mr Adams, who is a member of the Democratic party, said that the federal and state government did not give enough help to the city for providing housing and other social services to new people coming to the city.
“Our city’s leaders, along with our partners, have been advocating for allowing Venezuelan asylum seekers to work. I want to express my gratitude to President Biden for listening to our entire group, which also includes our diligent congressional delegation. This action is significant as it will give hope to the thousands of Venezuelan asylum seekers under our care, who will now be able to qualify for Temporary Protected Status without delay,” he said on Wednesday.
The amount of people crossing the US-Mexico border without permission has increased again lately, after decreasing in May due to the stricter asylum rules introduced by the Biden administration.
Republican states are bringing migrants to places controlled by Democrats as a way to show their disagreement with border policies.
They stated that the action was created to push President Biden to do more to decrease the amount of people entering the southern US border.
According to the United Nations, over seven million people have moved away from Venezuela because the country’s economy has fallen apart under President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in charge since 2013. -
Infamous Kenyan murderer executed in US prison
A well-known Kenyan murderer, who was in prison for life for killing two old women, was murdered by his fellow prisoner.
Prison guards discovered that a man named Billy Chemirmir, who was 50 years old, had died while he was in his prison cell at the Coffield Unit prison in Texas on Tuesday morning.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said that Chemirmir was murdered by his cellmate on Monday night.
In 2022, an American court gave Chemirmir a life sentence for murdering an 81-year-old named Lu Thi Harris and an 87-year-old named Mary Brooks.
He was accused of killing 20 old people in north Texas for two years.
Officials said that Chemirmir pretended to be a caregiver or maintenance worker to enter care homes in north Texas.
He focused on older women at the places they live, and would often steal valuable things like jewelry from them before causing them harm.
Chemirmir got arrested in March 2018 because a 91-year-old lady who lives in her own apartment told the police about him. -
10 Universities in US with Full funding programs for Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. studies
1. Arizona State University
Funding Info: ASU Funding Opportunities
2.Boston University
Funding Info: BU Financial Assistance
3.Brown University
Website: Brown University
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Website: Caltech
5.Carnegie Mellon University
Website: CMU
6.Columbia University
Website: Columbia
7.Cornell University
Website: Cornell
8.Dartmouth College
Website: Dartmouth
9.Duke University
Website: Duke
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
Website: Georgia Tech
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US Missionary in police grips for attempting to kill pregnant lover
US missionary, Lucas Richards has been apprehended on charges of attempting to murder his pregnant Liberian girlfriend, Jessica Lloyd.
Richards, who arrived for missionary work, impregnated Lloyd despite having a wife in the USA.
He allegedly tried to harm her by slashing her throat and injecting her with substances in an attempt to induce a miscarriage.
Richards’ church, Creekside Church, offered this message on its Facebook page, saying, “Please pray for Creekside-supported missionaries Lucas and Lois Richard.
Lucas was attacked and robbed in Liberia today. His phone and money were stolen and their vehicle damaged. Will add more details as we learn them.”
Richards, however, denied the allegations, saying, “Jessica was hit by a moving vehicle after she disembarked from my vehicle. While trying to rescue her I was attacked by angry motorcyclists who accused me of attempting to kill her.”
Jessica’s mother, Cynthia Lloyd, claims that the incident took place a few weeks after Jessica became pregnant for Richards, who is said to have ended the pregnancy by injecting Jessica.
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Captured US prison escapee intended to get to Canada
Pennsylvania killer Danelo Cavalcante had plans to run away to Canada before he was caught by the authorities on Wednesday.
The man, who is 34 years old, was found guilty of murdering his former girlfriend. He allegedly informed the authorities that he planned to steal someone’s car and travel to Canada.
He also said that some of the 500 officers looking for him got very near to him, and they almost stepped on him.
A police dog found Cavalcante crawling through dense bushes.
The authorities first believed that he might attempt to go back to his home country, Brazil, where he is wanted for another killing.
But Cavalcante had different thoughts, he explained to the authorities after he was caught.
Supervisory deputy US Marshal Robert Clark told ABC News that a person said they were planning to steal a car from someone in the next day, and that they were going to travel to Canada.
Cavalcante said that the authorities were very close to catching him, so close that sometimes they almost stepped on him. They were only five or six feet away.
Detective David Sassa from Chester County said to CNN, “Sometimes, the special teams walked past him. ”
MrSassa said that Cavalcante told investigators that there were times when he didn’t move for about one or one and a half days.
Cavalcante said he kept himself shaved by using a razor he found in a backpack.
He was also reported to have told the authorities that he stayed alive by drinking water from a stream and eating watermelon that he found at a farm.
The search for the man ended because they used special technology to detect heat, and a dog named Yoda helped them find him. Yoda is a four-year-old Belgian Malinois and is part of a Customs and Border Protection team.
Yoda stopped Cavalcante from escaping and bit him, causing a small wound.
Cavalcante was waiting to move to a different place when he got away from Chester County Prison on 31 August by crawling up two walls.
The 5-foot suspect was able to escape from at least six police teams, including the FBI, US Marshals, and US Border Patrol, for a period of two weeks.
Cavalcante was given a punishment last month. He will stay in prison for the rest of his life and will not be allowed to be released. He killed his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, by stabbing her. This happened in front of her two young children.
He will be moved to a state prison where he will spend the rest of his life.
He has also been accused of a serious crime called felony escape. -
US and Canada must collaborate to combat Chinese interference – MP
A Canadian politician recently spoke to US lawmakers and called for the US and Canada to work together to stop foreign interference from China.
China supposedly targeted Michael Chong because he criticized their record on human rights.
He was asked to talk about his personal experience in front of a committee in the US Congress that oversees China.
He said that what Beijing is doing puts Canada in serious danger.
Mr Chong explained to the bipartisan committee on Monday that his experience is just one example of how Beijing is meddling in Canada. A lot of times, people don’t notice or tell about other cases, and the people who are hurt have to keep it a secret and suffer alone.
This year, Canada said that China tried to spread false information about Mr. Chong on WeChat.
Mr Chong said that he found out from Canadian intelligence that Beijing has been collecting information about him and his relatives in Hong Kong for the past three years. In 2021, Mr. Chong suggested in the government meeting that China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority population is considered a genocide.
China has said many times that they are not trying to scare or control Mr. Chong or get involved in Canadian matters. The Chinese embassy in Canada said that Mr. Chong criticized China for his own political reasons.
“The Chinese embassy spokesperson said that a lie is always a lie, whether it is in Canada or in the United States,” according to an email.
In his statement, the Conservative politician explained how China has been involved in his country in different ways.
He said that Chinese international students in Canadian universities are being forced by Beijing to spy on other students and activists who are considered unfriendly to the Communist Party of China.
He also mentioned the problem of Beijing-controlled “police stations” in Canada that are said to have forced some Chinese citizens to return to China.
China says they don’t have police stations abroad, they have service centers for their citizens who are overseas.
Mr Chong decided to stop communicating with his family in Hong Kong because he was worried that they might be in danger.
“He said that many, many other people have done the exact same thing. ” This is one of the results of China’s actions to control people in different countries.
Mr Chong asked the US and Canada to join forces and work together on this problem.
He said that we can do this by sharing information and making public China’s attempts to interfere. This is important to protect our basic freedoms, democratic systems, and the international rules that we follow.
Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties in the US government praised Mr. Chong’s testimony, who spoke before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley said that young activists who expressed their concerns about the worsening situation in Hong Kong have been continuously targeted. He also mentioned that there is ongoing and intense pressure on Uyghurs globally.
The commission, which started in 2000, watches over China’s alleged bullying tactics and keeps track of individuals who have disappeared or been imprisoned for political reasons.
Recently, the relationship between Canada and China has been strained because people found out about alleged attempts to intimidate Mr.
Canada decided to kick out a Chinese diplomat in May because of the problem. China then responded and asked a Canadian diplomat to leave their Shanghai Consulate.
The intelligence agencies have said that Beijing tried to disrupt the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
Canada started an investigation last week to look into how China and other countries are interfering in their affairs. -
US unfreezes Iranian money in exchange for prisoners
The US has given permission for banks to move $6bn of Iranian money that was blocked in South Korea to Qatar. This is important because it will allow five Americans who are being held by Iran to be released.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Congress that the money would only help Iran to some extent since it could solely be utilized for trade related to humanitarian aid.
He also said that five Iranians who were being held in the US will be released as part of the agreement to exchange prisoners.
Republicans disapproved of the transfer.
A senator said that President Joe Biden paid a large sum of money to a country that supports terrorism.
Recently, US officials reported that four people who are both American and Iranian citizens were removed from Evin prison in Tehran and placed under house arrest.
A lawyer identified three prisoners as Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and Morad Tahbaz. Morad Tahbaz is also a citizen of Britain. The fourth person was not recognized, and the fifth person was also not recognized because they were already being kept at home by authorities.
Who are the people with citizenship in two countries that are currently imprisoned in Iran.
It is thought that since 2018, many many billions of dollars that Iran is owed for its oil and other exports have been put on hold in bank accounts worldwide. This happened when former President Donald Trump decided to stop following an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program and put sanctions back in place.
The US has given permission for some banks in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to move $6 billion from South Korea to Qatar’s central bank without facing any punishment.
MrBlinken said in a letter to Congress on Monday that it is important to move money from limited Iranian accounts in South Korea to accounts in Qatar for humanitarian trade. This is necessary for the release of US citizens.
Last month, he said that Qatar had promised to make sure the money given to Iran would only be used for helping people and would be carefully monitored and regulated. He also mentioned that Iran would not be able to directly access the funds, and the US would closely monitor the situation.
The Republican leader of the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the Biden administration for going ahead with what he referred to as a “hostage deal” worth $6 billion, despite their promises.
Rep Michael McCaul said that the Americans being held in Iran are innocent and they should be released right away without any conditions.
I am worried about the government’s choice to not punish Iran and let them have $6 billion. Iran is a country that supports terrorism. This decision could encourage other countries that don’t like America to take more people hostage in the future.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House, said that the waiver was just a normal part of a sensitive and ongoing process.
Nasser Kanani, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, said he was hopeful that the prisoner exchange would happen very soon. -
Ukraine war: US to provide depleted uranium tank shells to Kyiv
The US will be giving Ukraine weapons that some people disagree with. This is part of more than $1bn in help, including military and humanitarian aid.
Russia criticized the decision to give American Abrams tanks ammunition that can penetrate regular tank armor.
They are made of a stuff called depleted uranium, which is left over after removing most of the harmful stuff from uranium.
During the night, it was reported that drones from Ukraine were believed to have attacked the Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and near Moscow.
A video that has not been proven to be true showed what seemed to be an explosion in the middle of Rostov. The Governor, Vasily Golubev, said that one person was slightly hurt and a few cars were harmed.
The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, has said that a drone aimed at the town of Ramenskoye was destroyed, and there was no harm or damage caused.
The announcement of a new security plan for Ukraine was made when Antony Blinken, a senior American diplomat, visited Kyiv. This made Russia very angry.
The US is giving Ukraine $175 million worth of military equipment, including special bullets for M1 Abrams tanks. These bullets are made of uranium and will be given to Ukraine when they receive the tanks later this year.
The rounds are made from a type of waste called depleted uranium. Depleted uranium is left over after making nuclear fuel or weapons from naturally occurring uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that it cannot cause a nuclear reaction and is much less radioactive than natural uranium.
Depleted uranium is a very dense material that can be used to make tanks stronger. It is also commonly used for making weapons because it is very heavy and can penetrate regular tank armor.
These shells get sharper when they hit, which helps them pierce through armor better, and they catch fire when they touch something.
Russia got very upset when the UK said they were sending depleted uranium shells to Ukraine for their tanks.
When President Vladimir Putin said the weapons had a “nuclear component”, the UK Ministry of Defence said they had been using depleted uranium in their armor-piercing shells for a long time. They also accused Moscow of purposefully spreading false information.
The UN group studying the effects of radiation says that exposure to depleted uranium doesn’t cause major poisoning. However, another UN agency warns that people who handle pieces of depleted uranium ammunition might face a risk of radiation.
The US changed its decision from March when the Pentagon said it would not send any depleted uranium weapons to Ukraine.
A US government official told the Politico news website that the US has decided to send weapons to Ukraine specifically for arming their Abrams tanks because they believe it is the most effective way to do so.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said that they are a very common type of weapon.The US will also give anti-tank weapons, navigation systems for aircraft, and more ammunition for Himars missiles.
Mr Blinken said that this new assistance will provide support and help make it even better and more successful.
The Russian embassy in Washington criticized the decision, calling it a sign of cruelty. They also said that the US was fooling itself by not acknowledging the failure of the Ukrainian military’s counter-attack.
Since June, Ukraine has not made significant progress in regaining its territories in the counter-offensive. However, Ukrainian military leaders say they have managed to break through Russia’s strong first line of defense in the southern region.
Last Wednesday, a group of 16 people, which also included a child, were killed in an attack on the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Moscow of the attack, but Russia has not responded yet. -
Top Sudanese paramilitary official sanctioned by US
The United States has imposed sanctions on a high-ranking Sudanese paramilitary official, marking the most prominent use of sanctions since the onset of the current conflict in Sudan.
Abdelrahim Dagalo, the deputy leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been sanctioned by Washington due to his involvement in human rights violations during clashes between the RSF and Sudan’s army.
This action, announced on Wednesday, appears to be a response to the recent deadly violence in West Darfur, where the RSF, in collaboration with allied militias, has been accused of perpetrating atrocities.
The US has accused Mr. Dagalo of being linked to abuses such as “conflict-related sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity.”
The RSF has faced allegations from conflict monitors, human rights organizations, and witnesses regarding its involvement in the violence in Darfur.
Abdelrahim Dagalo, who is the brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is the first official on either side of the conflict to be sanctioned since the war began.
Previous sanctions had targeted companies and also encompassed both the army and the RSF.
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US woman breaks record for world longest mullet hairstyle ever
A woman from Tennessee who is 58 years old has been given the title of having the longest mullet hairstyle among women who compete.
Tami Manis, who lives in Knoxville, has a mullet hairstyle that is 5 feet and 8 inches long, which is about the same height as an average man.
Ms Manis has been wearing a mullet hairstyle since the 1980s. She got this idea from a music video of an American rock band called ‘Til Tuesday. She has not trimmed her hair for 33 years.
Her hairstyle will be shown in the 2024 Guinness World Records book.
Ms Manis, a nurse who works in public health, said that her journey with the mullet hairstyle started when she first saw the music video for the song “Voices Carry” about forty years ago.
“She said to the Guinness World of Records that the girl had a long piece of hair at the back of her head and I really wanted one too. ”
Then, in November 1989, she decided to cut off her mullet hairstyle. However, she immediately felt sorry about it. So, from the next February onwards, she started to let it grow again and has not trimmed it since then.
A mullet is a hairstyle that is often described as having short hair on the front, top, and sides, and long hair at the back. People call it “business in the front and a party in the back. ”
This was a very popular style in the 1980s and early 1990s. It was worn by famous people like Billy Ray Cyrus, Mario Lopez, and Patrick Swayze.
MsManis said that she often surprises people because they don’t realize how long her hair is until she turns around.
MsManis believes that she was able to grow her hair very long because her genes are responsible for it.
She said that she also makes a conditioner with Argan oil in it.
But having such a long mullet can be challenging. First, Ms Manis has very long hair, even longer than her height. Because of this, she usually braids her hair to make it easier to handle.
Before she became a World Record holder, Ms. Manis participated in the 2022 US Mullet Championships and came in second.
Not long after, Guinness World Records created a new category for the longest competitive mullet. They told Ms Manis to apply.
She found out she had the special title when she got a certificate from Guinness delivered to her front porch.
She said, “I thought it was amazing when I opened it. ” -
US sees ‘notable success’ in Ukraine’s army drive
The US government says that Ukraine’s forces have made significant progress in their attack against strong Russian defenses in the southern area.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for White House security, said that progress was made in the last three days to the south of Zaporizhzhia.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, said to CNN that the forces in Kyiv were moving forward, but the battle is challenging.
Russia says that they have captured important high spots close to the city of Kupiansk in the northeastern part of Ukraine.
None of the statements have been checked by other sources to confirm if they are true or not.
Mr Kirby mentioned that Kyiv has acknowledged that the effort to divide the Russian land connection to Crimea in the southern region is progressing slower than expected.
“He said that they have had some success in overcoming the second line of Russian defenses. ”
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s armed forces said they had taken control of the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the north-east, Russia has gathered a large number of troops to take back land that Ukraine had previously taken control of to the east of Kharkiv.
In the south, it’s believed that Russia has constructed a complex network of ditches and underground passages. They are protected by fields of explosives, along with spots for big guns and barriers made of special concrete to stop tanks.
Kyiv started fighting back after getting better weapons from their friends in the West and getting ready with attack teams.
But things have been moving slowly, and Kyiv keeps asking Nato countries to give them tanks, tools to remove mines, and airplanes for war – especially F-16 fighter jets made in the US.
On Thursday, Mr. Kuleba expressed frustration with people who complained about how fast Ukraine was responding in battle.
“I suggest that all critics stop talking, visit Ukraine, and attempt to free even just a small area on their own,” he stated during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain.
Russian President Vladimir Putin started a big war in Ukraine in February 2022. In 2014, Russian forces took control of the Crimea peninsula and a large part of Ukraine’s Donbas region.
President Putin said to students on Friday, at the beginning of the school year, that Russia’s victory in World War Two showed that their country was unbeatable.
“I learned the reasons why we were successful in the Great Patriotic War,” he said during a lecture meant to encourage patriotism in schools. It’s not possible to beat this country with this mindset. We were unbeatable. And right now, we are identical.
The Russian government introduced something called “important conversations” in schools after they started a big invasion.
Russia’s military said on Friday that they have started using a new powerful nuclear missile system called Sarmat.
The missiles can reach far places and each one has many warheads. We don’t know for sure if they have been deployed because it hasn’t been confirmed by a separate source.
This map shows the progress made by Ukraine in the southern region and also the positions of the villages called Robotyne and Verbove. -
US refuses to issue visas to Sierra Leone election meddlers
The US government has said that it will not give visas to officials from Sierra Leone who harmed the June elections in the country. This means they won’t be able to visit the US.
“This policy means that the United States will use visa restrictions against people who are thought to have harmed democracy in Sierra Leone. This can include people who have rigged elections or manipulated the voting process,” explained US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in a statement.
Please rewrite the text in simpler language.
He said that people who scared or threatened voters, election observers, or civil society groups, or hurt human rights in Sierra Leone, would not be allowed to get US visas.
He also said that this would impact some of the family members.
The people who were on the blacklist were not mentioned in his statement.
President Julius Maada Bio, who was already in office, won the election by getting 56% of the votes. His main competition, Samura Kamara, who received 41%, said that the result was unfair and claimed that his election helpers were not given the chance to check the vote count.
The international observers of the election noticed issues with how the votes were being counted, especially with how open and clear the process was.
The campaign had many violent incidents involving the two main political parties. -
Tell the US envoy Whitman to shut up and stay out of Kenyan matters – Raila commands
The 8th Devolution Conference is currently taking place in Eldoret, and remarks made by US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman have alarmed Azimio One Kenya Alliance. Senators and the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga, have urged her to stay out of domestic affairs.
Odinga, who was greeted at the conference location by Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Ms. Anne Waiguru and a number of governors, including Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, started his remarks with the Swahili phrase: ‘nyani haoni kundule,’ translated to ‘the monkey does not see his ass,’ pointing at insincerity on Ruto’s government.
A day after Whitman pledged her support for President William Ruto’s administration, recognizing his victory in last year’s presidential elections as legitimate and promising the current administration complete support and closer ties with the US government, Odinga reprimanded the ambassador on Thursday. Senators from the Azimio political party described the envoy’s remarks as insensitive to Kenyans in light of the current situation in the nation.
“I want to tell the rogue ambassador, leave Kenyans alone,” Odinga said in his parting shot while delivering a keynote address at the Devolution conference on Thursday afternoon.
“If ‘maandamano’ (demos) can lead to dialogue between Ichungwah and Kalonzo, then everything is good in ‘maandamano’ (demos),” he stated, cheering from a section of the delegates.
“Tell the rogue ambassador, Kenya is neither the US nor is it a colony of the United States. Keep your mouth shut while you are here. Otherwise, we will call for your recall back to your country,” he added.
The response from the opposition leader came shortly after his contingent of senators from the Azimio brigade criticized the US envoy’s statements during a press conference at the Devolution conference. In her comments at the conference, the US envoy openly endorsed President William Ruto’s election, a move that drew strong rebuke from the Azimio senators.
The outcome of the 2022 General Election was fiercely disputed by the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition. The disagreement escalated to the Supreme Court, which ultimately upheld Ruto’s victory, much to the Opposition’s dissatisfaction.
In her speech, while advocating for Kenya as a prime investment destination for the global community, Whitman did not shy away from expressing her optimism about the nation’s investment potential and climate. She noted that the Ruto administration had made significant advancements and was dedicated to cultivating a business-friendly atmosphere.
Having assumed her role in Kenya in July 2023, just prior to the last general election, the US envoy indicated her focus on strengthening the US-Kenya trade relationship in conjunction with the government.
“I arrived in Kenya days before the August 2022 General Election. What I witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. Kenya held what many analysts said was the freest, fairest, and most credible election in Kenyan history,” she stated.
She continued, “The elections were observed by international organizations and upheld by the Supreme Court, and power was peacefully and normally transferred at that time.”
These remarks struck a sensitive chord with the Azimio brigade of the opposition, as they had vehemently contested the 2022 General Election results. Azimio perceived the envoy’s comments as intrusive into Kenya’s internal affairs, and their discontent with her statements was palpable.
On a separate note, Raila commended the governors for setting aside their differences “and taking a break from our divisive politics to chart a path forward for Kenya.”
Prior to Raila’s attendance at the devolution forum, the Azimio senators had also convened a press conference to criticize Whitman’s comments. They described her remarks as unfortunate and expressed the hope that they reflected her personal stance rather than the official position of the American government.
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Tourists swim in the seas ‘where we died’ – Maui resident
The ancient town of Lahaina was destroyed by wildfires, which have claimed at least 89 lives, making it the most devastating fire in the US in a century.
Many individuals dove into the sea to escape the flames when the wildfire tore through the town last week.
A Maui local expressed her displeasure with some visitors continuing their vacations as usual to Sophie Long of the BBC.
These visitors, or tourists, were swimming in the exact same waters that our folks had recently died in three days prior.
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US sends massive amount of stolen treasures back to Italy
More than 250 historic relics that were stolen from Italy have been returned by the US to that country.
The objects had been stolen and sold to US museums and private collectors in the 1990s, according to the art unit of Italy’s police force.
A few of the priceless antiques are pots, paintings, and sculptures that date back as far as 3,000 years.
Numerous mosaics have a market value in the tens of millions of euros.
The oldest artefact is from the Villanovan period (1000–750 BC), while others are from the Etruscan civilization (800–200 BC), Magna Graecia (750–400 BC), and Imperial Rome (27 BC–476 AD).
A handful of the antiquities appeared to have been offered to the Menil Collection, a museum in Houston, Texas, after the majority of them had been stolen in the 1990s and sold through a number of dealers.
The Menil Collection, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture, houses the objects, although a museum representative disputes this and claims they have never been a part of the collection.
The spokeswoman claimed that the museum had been asked to donate the antiquities but turned them down in favour of directing the donor to Italy’s ministry of culture.
After police discovered that the artefacts came from unauthorised excavations of ancient sites, the ministry claimed that the owner of the collection “spontaneously” returned the items.
According to a separate statement from the ministry, 145 of the returned treasures were the result of a bankruptcy proceeding against English antiques merchant Robin Symes, who gathered thousands of items as part of an unlawful trading network.
Italy has a lengthy history of looking for stolen antiques and artefacts that have been bought by private collectors and sold to museums.
In September 2022, New York returned to Italy stolen artwork valued at $19 million (£16 million), including a $3 million-plus marble head of the goddess Athena from the year 200 BC.
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President Bazoum calls for support from US after coup in Niger
Deposed leader of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum has called upon the United States and the “entire international community” to aid in the “restoration of constitutional order” following last week’s coup.
In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, President Mohamed Bazoum, who described himself as a “hostage,” emphasized the urgency of the situation.
President Bazoum also expressed concerns about the potential expansion of Russian influence in the region through entities like the Wagner Group, which is already active in neighboring nations.
Niger’s neighboring West African countries have issued warnings of possible military intervention.
In a significant move, the coup leaders declared the withdrawal of Niger’s ambassadors from France, the United States, Nigeria, and Togo. Their decision was conveyed in a statement broadcasted on national television, citing the termination of the ambassadors’ roles.
Only hours before, Niger’s ambassador to the US, Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, told AFP news agency that the junta “should come to reason” and “realise that this affair cannot succeed”.
Niger is a significant uranium producer – a fuel that is vital for nuclear power – and under Mr Bazoum was a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa’s Sahel region.
In his newspaper article, Mr Bazoum warned the coup, if it succeeded, would have “devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world”.
“Fighting for our shared values, including democratic pluralism and respect for the rule of law, is the only way to make sustainable progress against poverty and terrorism,” Mr Bazoum wrote.
“The Nigerien people will never forget your support at this pivotal moment in our history.”
President Bazoum further raised concerns about the connections between the coup leaders and the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which is active in neighboring regions. Wagner’s presence has been perceived negatively by many due to its perceived negative impact on Niger.
“The entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine,” wrote Mr Bazoum.
Many supporters of the Nigerien coup have been chanting pro-Russian slogans and displaying the colors of the Russian flag.
On Thursday, a peaceful demonstration took place in Niger’s capital, Niamey, where thousands of people showed their support for the coup while criticizing other West African nations for imposing sanctions on Niger.
Although there is no evidence of Wagner’s involvement in President Bazoum’s ousting according to the US, the leader of Wagner has reportedly hailed the coup’s success. The Russian government, on the other hand, has called for the reinstatement of the deposed president.
The international community, including the EU, UN, and the US, has strongly condemned the military takeover.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a phone call with President Bazoum, during which the US reaffirmed its commitment to restoring Niger’s democratically elected government.
President Bazoum, who succeeded another democratically elected president, was detained by his own guards in the recent coup. The coup leader, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, has taken over as head of state.
Niger plays a crucial role in the Sahel region, a troubled area plagued by jihadist activity and military regimes. While neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso experienced military coups, Niger had maintained relative stability in recent years. The country hosts military bases operated by France and the US, which are involved in counterinsurgency efforts against Islamist militants.
President Bazoum’s administration has collaborated with European nations to curb the migration flow across the Mediterranean Sea, agreeing to repatriate numerous migrants from Libyan detention centers. Additionally, his government has been actively combating human trafficking.
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Security intensified over Trump’s court appearance
At a court hearing on Thursday, former US President Donald Trump will be formally indicted on charges related to an alleged plot to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.
Scheduled for Thursday at 4:00 PM EDT (8:00 PM GMT), 77-year-old Mr. Trump is set to make an appearance at a federal courthouse in Washington DC.
It is anticipated that he will enter a plea of not guilty. Despite having the possibility of opting for a remote video appearance, it is reported that he plans to attend in person.
Since his departure from the White House, Mr. Trump has visited the city on just one occasion. In a scene that unfolded on Wednesday evening, a queue had already begun forming outside the courthouse building.
In anticipation of the arraignment, Trump criticized the case as evidence of the “corruption, scandal, & failure” characterizing Joe Biden’s presidency.
Image Source – Reuters; Image caption, News trucks are parked around the courthouse
Concurrently, Mr. Trump is already confronting two additional criminal cases as he embarks on his White House campaign for the upcoming year.
In Washington DC, security measures are being escalated in preparation for the scheduled hearing. Metal barricades have been erected outside the federal courthouse where the charges against Trump will be officially presented. Similar structures have also been established around the US Capitol buildings, the site of the January 2021 riots incited by Trump supporters in response to the election outcome.
The Secret Service, responsible for safeguarding presidents and former presidents, issued a statement alerting the public to potential traffic disruptions in central Washington DC.
Amidst these developments, a purported hoax 911 call concerning an active shooting at the Capitol led to a lockdown in three Senate office buildings and prompted a significant police emergency response on Wednesday.
Addressing reporters during the incident, US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger affirmed the preparedness of the police force that confronted the rioters two and a half years ago, noting their proficiency in active-shooter drills.
Reportedly, security for the judges involved in the case has also been heightened.
In an all-capital-letters post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, the former president, who was at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, thanked his followers and said: “I never had so much support on anything before.”
🇺🇸 Donald #Trump is expected to appear in court on Thursday to answer charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) August 3, 2023
🗳️ The case will cast a dark cloud over the 2024 White House race for which he remains the presumptive Republican nominee. @ClemenceWaller has the details. pic.twitter.com/X3jREJbIDBIn previous social media posts, he launched critiques against his Republican rivals in the presidential race, which includes his former Vice-President, Mike Pence, and the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.
He reiterated his assertion that Mr. Pence had possessed the legal authority to halt the certification of Mr. Biden’s election triumph on January 6, 2021—a session that was marred by the disruption caused by Trump supporters at the US Capitol.
The indictment lists four charges against Mr. Trump, encompassing conspiracy to defraud the US, witness tampering, and conspiracy against citizens’ rights. Among these, the “deprivation of rights” charge, instituted following the US Civil War to safeguard freed slaves integrating into society, stands out.
This charge played a pivotal role in the 1967 trial of Ku Klux Klan members, which subsequently inspired the 1988 film “Mississippi Burning.” Legal analysts suggest its inclusion in the case against Mr. Trump stems from allegations that his attempts to undermine the electoral process targeted urban regions with significant African-American voter populations.
Mr. Trump’s legal team has hinted at their defense strategy. Attorney John Lauro made an appearance on NBC’s Today show on Wednesday, outlining their intention to argue that Mr. Trump’s actions are shielded by the First Amendment’s protection of free speech enshrined in the US Constitution.
Mr. Trump’s legal team is also pushing back against the prosecutors’ request for an expedited trial, citing the need for ample time to prepare a robust defense for their client.
A spokesperson from the US Marshals Service, a federal law enforcement agency responsible for courthouse security, informed Reuters news agency that Mr. Trump will undergo fingerprinting and provide essential information like his birthdate and Social Security ID number.
Numerous other individuals accused of involvement in the US Capitol riot have had their Thursday hearings rescheduled.
Presently, Mr. Trump maintains a prominent lead in the Republican Party’s competition to designate its forthcoming presidential nominee.
Congressional Republicans have rallied in support of him, contending that the recent indictment underscores a perception of the US devolving into a “banana republic.” They echo the former president’s assertion that these prosecutions amount to interference in elections.
The 45-page election-related indictment against Mr Trump is based partly on contemporaneous notes that Mr Pence kept of their conversations in the days leading up to US Capitol riot.
Mr Trump has already been charged in two other cases: with mishandling classified files and falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star.
Prosecutors in Georgia may bring a criminal case against Mr Trump this month over alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election result in that state.
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Map indicates US states with the highest rates of mass shootings
In a recent study that spanned nearly ten years, the states in the US with the highest frequency of mass shootings were identified.
From January 2014 to December 2022, there were 4,011 mass shootings nationwide, according to a report released on Wednesday by the JAMA Network Open journal. Four or more persons had to be shot or killed for a mass shooting to be considered one.
Hawaii and North Dakota had no mass shootings, while Illinois had the most with 414. The study presented the number of mass shootings per million persons using data from the Gun Violence Archive.
It was discovered that Washington, DC, has the highest rate of mass shootings—10.4 per million residents—followed by Louisiana (4.2 per million) and Illinois (3.6 per million).
The study claims that a geographic examination of mass shooting incidents revealed a clustering around Illinois and the southeast region of the US.
“Mass shootings related to crime, social issues, and DV (domestic violence) followed a similar pattern, whereas mass shootings not related to these issues were more evenly distributed across the US.”
In addition to the two states without mass shootings, New Hampshire, Idaho, Utah, and West Virginia have the lowest rates with 0.08 per million people, 0.13 per million, and 0.21 per million respectively.
The four states with the largest populations fell in the middle. With 1.04 per million people, California had the highest rate of mass shootings. According to the survey, Texas had 1.05 per million, Florida had 1.25 per million, and New York had 1.05 per million.
For all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the median number of mass shootings per state was discovered to be 45. Over the course of the nine-year period, mass shootings resulted in the deaths or injuries of 21,006 individuals.
About one-third of the shootings over the time period were social-related, or 27.3%. According to the survey, additional reasons for absence included 15.8% connected to crime, 11.1% related to domestic abuse, and 1.4% related to employment or education. The remaining 52% did not fall under those headings.
“Firearm injury prevention specialists can direct them towards how to prevent them by understanding where mass shootings occur across the nation and more about the context, such as how frequently these tragic events happen in homes,” The study’s co-author and head of the Injury and Violence Prevention Centre at the Colorado School of Public Health, Ashley Brooks-Russell, made this statement.
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Five-year-old who killed his sibling was high on cocaine – Prosecutors
The five-year-old allegedly shot his younger brother to death in the US while high on cocaine and with marijuana in his blood, according to the prosecution.
Approximately 60 miles north of Indianapolis in the city of Lafayette, Indiana, Isiah Johnson, 16, was shot in the head on March 28. In the family’s flat, his brother reportedly found a gun.
According to them, Isiah tested positive for cocaine and had marijuana in his blood.
Police also discovered marijuana, paraphernalia and 93 fentanyl tablets inside the flat after the incident, they added.
Parents Deonta Jermaine Johnson, 27, and Shatia Tiara Welch, 24, of Lafayette have been charged with neglect and drug use.
Following their detention in LaPorte the day before, the charges were made public on Tuesday, according to news sources.
According to officials, Johnson was dozing off inside the flat when the shooting occurred, and Welch wasn’t there.
Welch admitted to owning the weapon to the police, but she typically kept it stored in a box beneath her bed.
Johnson is also accused with obstructing justice because, according to the prosecution, he removed marijuana from the flat before the police showed up to respond to the shooting.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
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Four Australian military personnel missing after chopper crashes occurred during joint wargames with US
After being forced to abandon their Taipan helicopter in the water while participating in joint wargame manoeuvres with the US late on Friday, four Australian defence personnel are presumed dead in the water off the east coast of Australia.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said there was still a search going on for the four Australian Army helicopter crew members on Saturday during a press briefing in Brisbane.
With sorrowful hearts, we greet today. An Australian Army MRH-90 helicopter capsized in waters near Hamilton Island last night shortly after 10.30 p.m. The helicopter was participating in a two-helicopter mission, according to Marles.
There were four aircrew members present. A search and rescue operation could start right away because another chopper was nearby. The four members of the flight crew are still missing as we speak to you. Search and rescue operations continue, he said.
Off the coast of Queensland, the plane “impacted waters” close to Lindeman Island. According to the Australian Defence Ministry, a search effort comprising both search and rescue aircraft and sea vessels is currently underway.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said their “thoughts are with loved ones of the missing” in a joint statement with his Marles, also the deputy prime minister.
“As the search and rescue teams are currently at work, all Australians are thinking of them, and we are holding onto hope. Their professionalism and expertise are of the utmost importance to us,” it said.
Known as Talisman Sabre, the mission was a component of extensive military exercises involving the US. The two countries alternate hosting the drills every other year, and other partner forces are frequently involved.
Both US Secretaries of State and Defence, Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken, who are now in Australia, mentioned the victims of the disaster.
Austin remarked that running into accidents while training is “always tough.” But when called upon to respond to any kind of crisis, he continued, “the reason we trained to such high standards is so that we can be successful and we can protect lives.”
The Talisman Sabre exercise has been suspended to give all participants, “regardless of their nation, the opportunity to reach out and let their families know what is going on,” according to Brigadier Damien Hill, the exercise’s director, at the Brisbane press conference.
The four missing crew members’ families “have been informed of this incident, and our hopes and our thoughts are very much with the air crew and their families,” Marles stated. Our aspirations are very much with the search and rescue efforts.
With Friday’s accident, the Australian Army had to abandon an MRH-90 Taipan into the water for the second time this year. The previous incident, which occurred in March and was blamed on an engine malfunction, resulted in two injuries.
The Australian government declared in 2019 that it would retire its complete fleet of Taipans made by Airbus years ahead of schedule, referring to the Taipans as a “project of concern for the last decade.”
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Second US drone ‘attacked’ by Russian fighter plane over Syria
This unsettling incident occurred when a Russian fighter jet ‘struck’ a second US drone over Syria in less than 24 hours.
The sixth alleged incident this month was captured on camera when the plane flew metres away from the MQ-9 Reaper, flared at it, and reportedly damaged it.
The attack was disclosed by the White House on Wednesday, along with the statement that Russian warplanes had come perilously close to American manned and unmanned aircraft, endangering pilots.
Unnamed two US officials confirmed that the drone was hit by the strike and suffered damage.
According to the US, this is when a Russian plane fired flares at their drone above Syria.
However, neither the incident nor the White House’s strategy for countering Russian aggression were made explicit.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We have seen the reports, the early reports, of a second Russian fighter aircraft this week flying dangerously close to our drone.” The aircraft was on a mission to battle Islamic State extremists in Syria.
She claimed that Russia violated international conventions by “approaching closely and deploying flares over US drones during a routine mission.”
It took place only a few hours after a Russian fighter jet fired flares at a US drone over Syria as it flew within a few metres of it.
But a top Russian military official claimed that the US was at fault for the most recent incident.
The drone came perilously close to two Russian jets early on Wednesday, according to Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, commander of the Russian military’s Reconciliation Centre in Syria.
According to Gurinov, the Su-34 and Su-35 Russian aircraft‘s onboard systems identified the target aircraft and triggered the automated flare deployment.
In a statement cited by the Interfax news agency, Gurinov said that “the United States are continuing to mislead the public about the illegal flights of its drones in the Syrian airspace that have not undergone deconflicting procedure while accusing the Russian side of dangerous manoeuvring.”
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Mali Prime Minister opposes US sanctions against Wagner
Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, has condemned the US sanctions imposed on the defence minister, air force chief of staff, and his deputy.
He dismissed the sanctions as a mere “distraction” and expressed his unwavering support for the junta officials.
“The sanctions against our valiant officers, Defence Minister Col Sadio Camara, Gen Alou Boi Diarra, Col Adama Bagayoko, have no objectives other than to distract the Malian people. Nothing will distract us from the work of rebuilding Mali,” Mr Maïga has tweeted.
The US Treasury imposed sanction on the three for “facilitating” the expansion of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali.
The Wagner troops, alongside the Malian army, are facing accusations of committing atrocities in their campaign against jihadists. The United States has reported a significant increase in civilian casualties since their deployment in late 2021.
Among the senior officials in the military government, the Malian Prime Minister stands as the only one to have addressed the issue of sanctions.
The response from Mali, so far, has been measured, in contrast to previous instances where government spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maïga delivered strong rhetoric and accusations of plots to destabilize the ruling junta in diplomatic disputes, particularly with France and the UN.
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US partners Korea and Japan to improve primary healthcare in Ghana
A momentous partnership was announced by the Ambassadors of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to Ghana on Tuesday, July 25, to support Ghana’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
Through their shared commitment, the partnership seeks to enhance primary healthcare services and fortify global health security defenses in Ghana, preparing the country against current and future pandemic threats. The event, hosted by Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, marked a historic occasion.
This initiative comes at a crucial time as the world is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but many countries still face challenges in providing essential health services.
The agreement signed during the event will foster a collaborative approach, allowing each country to leverage its unique strengths to support Ghana’s public health institutions effectively.
By joining forces, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea aim to contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Ghana and promote a healthier and more secure future for the nation.
“The United States is committed to working with our global partners to invest in primary health care and global health security,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.
“No country can afford to stand alone during a pandemic. COVID-19 showed us the power of strategic partnerships with our allies to build a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous world.
“We are proud to join Japan and the Republic of Korea in this partnership to achieve Universal Coverage in Ghana.”
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mochizuki Hisanobu, said, “This MOC is the first of its kind between all parties and we aim to contribute further to the achievement of universal health coverage in Ghana with USAID and KOICA, by facilitating more efficient development aid.“Together with our esteemed partners, we will be committed to ensuring we achieve this objective for the people of Ghana.”
The Ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the United States with Ghana Ministry of Health Officials celebrate the signing of the new agreement. “Through this Memorandum of Cooperation, the Republic of Korea reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting Ghana in achieving Universal Health Coverage and strengthening health security.
“We will work hand in hand with our esteemed partners to improve primary health care services, ensuring that they are easily accessible and of the highest quality,” said the Republic of Korea Ambassador to Ghana, Jung-taek Lim.
The partnership between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in Ghana is facilitated by their respective development agencies: the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This collaboration aims to support three key health priorities in Ghana:
- Strengthening primary health care, including the enhancement of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services and health centers to improve the quality of health services.
- Enhancing health governance at the sub-national level, focusing on regions and districts to ensure effective healthcare management.
- Fortifying global health security to prepare for and respond to potential epidemics and pandemics.
Given the current state of global health indicators, such as declining life expectancy and childhood vaccinations, this agreement becomes even more crucial. It allows countries like Ghana to invest in primary health care and global health security, enabling them to rebuild their health systems and better prepare for future health emergencies.
The United States, represented by USAID, plans to allocate up to $135 million for these efforts in Ghana until 2027, pending appropriate approvals. Additionally, KOICA intends to invest approximately $23 million, while JICA will provide both technical expertise and financial resources, subject to obtaining necessary approvals. This combined effort aims to make a significant positive impact on Ghana’s healthcare landscape and contribute to the nation’s overall well-being.
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Ghanaian with no documents deported from USA after friend ‘snitches’ to authorities
A Ghanaian lady named Frimpongmaa faced deportation to Ghana from the United States of America after her friend reported her to the authorities.
According to Freda Afriyie, who narrated the deportee’s ordeal on social media, Frimpongmaa had been working in the States using someone else’s Ghanaian documents, and as a result, her salary was being deposited into the account of the person whose papers she was using.
Over time, Frimpongmaa had earned more than US$70,000, but unfortunately, her hard-earned money was locked up with the individual whose identity she had borrowed. Seeking her rightful earnings, Frimpongmaa visited the person’s house to request her money, but the woman claimed to be ill and requested a 2-month period before she could cash out the funds for Frimpongmaa.
As a consequence of these circumstances, Frimpongmaa’s situation came to the attention of the authorities, leading to her deportation back to Ghana.
“My money is with the sister and I told her to let’s go to the bank to withdraw the money for me. She said she doesn’t have time. She was sick, so I should give her 2 months and that the doctor said she should not go out. So the woman said, I’ll use Uber to pick you up to the bank. This led to an argument,” Frimpongmaa told Freda Afriyie.
After the confrontations between Frimpongmaa and the debtor, the latter called her husband and the police, falsely claiming that she was under attack. Consequently, Frimpongmaa was arrested and subjected to an investigation.
As she lacked the necessary documents to prove her legal stay in the USA, she was processed for court.
Eventually, she faced deportation and was sent back to Ghana. Now back in her home country, Frimpongmaa is making a living as a dishwasher in a local chop bar
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Arson attack on US-Mexico border bar kills 11
Officials in Mexico have reported the arrest of a man suspected of causing a deadly fire in a bar, resulting in the tragic death of 11 people.
The incident occurred on Friday night in San Luis Rio Colorado, which is located near the United States border.
The suspect, described as a drunk young man who had been harassing women, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the Beer House bar after being kicked out.
According to a statement from the Sonora state Attorney General’s Office, the fire claimed the lives of seven men and four women, while leaving four others injured.
Some of the injured individuals were rushed to hospitals in the United States for medical treatment. As of now, the identity of the arrested suspect has not been disclosed. The Mayor of San Luis Rio Colorado announced the arrest via a tweet on Saturday afternoon.
“According to versions (from) several witnesses, the person with a young, male appearance was disrespecting women in that bar and was expelled,” the statement said.
It described the object thrown “a kind of ‘Molotov’ cocktail”.
Investigations continue to “clarify the facts” and “bring justice” it said, adding that “in Sonora, no one is above the law”.
It is unclear if the incident is related to organised crime, which has plagued Mexico for years.
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First death from US-wide ‘heat dome’ has been confirmed
The first death caused by the ongoing “heat dome,” which is bringing triple-digit temperatures to several parts of the US, was confirmed by Texas officials.
After the heat dome descended over the American southwest, nearly one-fourth of the US population is under excessive heat advisories.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heat domes develop in the US when high atmospheric pressure and La Nia-related warm sea surface temperatures mix.
Heat domes typically cause extreme temperatures on the west coast, then expand as winds move hot air east and north across the country.
The current heat dome enveloping the southwest is expected to expand this week as far east as North Carolina.
Forecasters at the Weather Channel are predicting temperatures in some major cities to rise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, including Miami, New Orleans, and Atlanta.
Little Rock, Arkansas is expected to see temperatures as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Over the weekend, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico fared the worst in the brutal heat wave.
In Texas, authorities confirmed the first death related to the ongoing heat wave.
Victor Ramos, a 67-year-old resident of Houston, was killed on June 24. On Friday, a medical examiner determined the man died from accidental hyperthermia.
Family members said the air conditioning in Ramos’s home was broken, and he couldn’t afford to fix it.
‘He had told me during the day that he wasn’t feeling too good, he was a little bit tired,’ Ramos’s sister Karla told local station KHOU. ‘I went to check on him by nine in the morning, and I found him unresponsive.’
Temperatures in Houston rose to about 95 degrees Fahrenheit on June 24, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Many cities across the southwest saw temperatures meeting or coming close to their highest temperatures on record.
Las Vegas, Nevada came within one degree of breaking its record high temperature when it reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday.
Reno, Nevada matched its highest temperature ever recorded, when it hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Death Valley, already considered one of the hottest locations on Earth, also came close to breaking its record high temperature on Sunday after thermometers hit 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Mojave Desert valley’s highest recorded temperature was 134 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Woman carried away in New York flood as she tries to save her dog
In the US, a lady was killed after being swept away by flash floods while attempting to save her dog.
The woman, who was believed to be in her mid-thirties, perished while trying to flee her home in Hudson Valley, New York.
Yesterday, the region was in disarray due to intense rain and thunderstorms.
According to Orange County executive Steven Neuhaus, the intensity of the flash floods forced boulders loose, which crashed into the woman’s home and damaged a portion of its wall.
‘Her house was completely surrounded by water,’ he added. ‘She was trying to get through [the flooding] with her dog, and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave type waves.’
Rescue teams were attempting to retrieve her body. Two other family members and the dog survived the ordeal, officials said, according to PIX 11.
Up to eight inches (20cm) of rain fell in some areas, swamping roadways and causing extensive damage to buildings, which, according to officials, could cost tens of millions of dollars to fix.
Videos posted on social media show streams of brown-coloured torrents of water rushing right next to homes.
Much of the rest of north-east US began bracing for similar weather as the slow-moving storm headed east.
Speaking last night, New York governor Kathy Hochul told WCBS radio that several people were missing and one home had been washed away.
‘The amount of water is extraordinary and it’s still a very dangerous situation,’ Ms Hochul said.
‘We’ll get through this,’ she said, adding ‘it’s going to be a rough night’.
The governor declared a state of emergency in Orange County, about 60 miles (96 km) north of New York City.
She later extended the state of emergency to Ontario County in western New York, south-east of Rochester.
The US National Weather Service, meanwhile, issued flash flood warnings across parts of southeastern New York, describing it as ‘life threatening,’ as well as warnings in northeastern New Jersey.
By Monday ‘a considerableflood threat with a high risk of excessive rainfall is expected across much of New England’, the service said in a tweet.
Stormy weather was also expected in New York City and may lead to flashflooding, the National Weather Service New York tweeted.
The city’s emergency notification system tweeted that the heavy rain could cause ‘life-threatening flooding to basements’ and urged residents to ‘prepare now to move to higher ground if needed’.
Last month much of north east America and eastern Canada was shrouded in a smokey orange haze due to wild fires in Canada’s Northern Quebec region, where many people were forced to evacuate their homes.
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Prioritize health workers’ retirement security – Dr Arthur Kennedy
A Ghanaian physician based in the US, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, has highlighted the importance of addressing the retirement plans for health workers in Ghana rather than solely discussing car allowances.
Dr. Kennedy recalls conversations among young Ghanaian doctors about “The Mustapha-hiade syndrome,” which refers to doctors who struggle to make ends meet after decades of dedicated service once they are on pension.
To address this issue, Dr. Kennedy suggests a proposal. After approximately 10 to 15 years of service, he recommends that the government provide health workers with half of their retirement funds and designate it as a down payment for a residence.
The remaining amount can then be paid gradually as they continue their careers.
“We need to look at retirement security for those who are back in the system. Young doctors use to talk during my time there about Mustapha-hiade syndrome. They were referring to doctors who were distinguished and very respected who have given three to four decades of service and then when they retired they lived in penury.”
“We need to look at retirement security. For example, after somebody has worked for maybe 10 to 15 years, give them half of their retirement money and then the government marks it as a down payment for a residence and then the rest of their career they are paying for it, do the same thing with vehicle. When you do those things, then they feel more invested in the system and then also make sure that their living circumstances match that of their colleagues’ who went into politics and other professions,” he said on JoyNews’ AM show on Monday.
There is a growing call for stringent measures to address the challenges faced by health workers in the country. Nurses are leaving the country in search of better working conditions in developed nations like the US and UK.
Alongside the concerns about attrition within the health sector, there is also a discussion regarding the issue of qualified nurses not being assigned to various health institutions. Experts suggest that the number of nurses who have not been posted exceeds those leaving the sector for better opportunities elsewhere, posing a significant concern.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, highlights the lack of recognition as a demotivating factor for health workers in the country. He explains that negotiated payment ranges for different categories of health workers, such as midwife specialists, senior specialist nurse midwives, and consultant nurse midwife specialists, have been reduced without consulting the health unions.
To address these issues, Dr. Tenkorang-Twum and other representatives have petitioned the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, seeking assistance in resolving their concerns and improving the working conditions of health workers.
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Juliet Ibrahim addresses participants at 2023 Essence Festival of Culture
Ghanaian actress and global brand ambassador, Juliet Ibrahim, made a lasting impact as a panelist during the 2023 Essence Film Festival.
This festival is a significant component of the broader Essence Festival of Culture, which has been commemorating African American culture in the United States for the past thirty years.
With a staggering daily attendance, the event claims the title for the largest festival in the U.S., attracting approximately 500,000 participants over its three-day duration.
Juliet’s participation on the highly anticipated panel, “Clips & Conversations: Ghana’s Road to Global Expansion,” held tremendous significance for both the Ghanaian film industry and the diaspora at large.
Juliet Ibrahim leaves an indelible mark at the Essence Film Festival, featuring the inaugural Africa House.
Esteemed actors, directors, and producers from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya unite to advance collaborative efforts for global expansion.
The expertly moderated panel, including Juliet Ibrahim, highlights their experiences and insights in producing remarkable projects, propelling the industry to greater global heights. Juliet’s presence adds inspiration and prestige, representing Ghana’s film industry as a global brand ambassador.
Her commitment to diversity, storytelling, and promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage solidifies her place among elite talents.
As a participant in the Essence Festival of Culture, Juliet aims to showcase Ghana’s talent and establish it as a film hub.