Author: US News

Mayorkas’ claim that FEMA is tremendously prepared comes back to haunt him amid Helene aftermath U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas’ words have come back to haunt him as video from earlier this year touting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) preparedness before Hurricane Helene exposed shortcomings in the organization. Mayorkas this week warned that FEMA was running out of funds as hurricane season continued to slam the southeastern United States. The organization has enough funds to deal with the aftermath of Helene but would not have enough to “make it through the season.” This warning stands in stark…

Biden opposes Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that he does not support an Israeli retaliatory strike on Iranian nuclear sites following Iran’s missile attack on Israel. Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, though Israel’s defence system intercepted most. The missile barrage from Iran was in response to Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon, including exploding communication devices that killed innocent civilians. The recent killings of key figures such as the Hezbollah leader and the ground invasion of Lebanon are believed to have formed Iran’s response. Biden acknowledged Israel’s right to defend…

Vance and Walz pay lip service to shootings Vance and Walz pay lip service to shootings Voters watching Tuesday’s debate between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov were left disappointed. Tim Walz had a disappointing response to an exchange between the two vice presidential candidates on shootings. In fact according to a poll by WTX USA News more than 38% were convinced it was just lip service. “I got a 17-year-old, and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball. Those things don’t leave you,” Walz said, eliciting a response of “awful” from Vance. But voters believe…

US helps shoot down Iran missiles The US played an active role in defending Israel during a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles, according to the Pentagon. The attack, which saw approximately 180 missiles fired at Israel, was intercepted by both Israeli defence systems and US Navy destroyers, which launched about a dozen interceptors in response. US President Joe Biden confirmed the US support, emphasising that it was done under his direction and lauding both the US and Israeli military capabilities. The Iranian attack was described by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as a “decisive” response, defending Iranian interests. In contrast, US…

US ports shut down as dockworkers strike Tens of thousands of dockworkers from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have launched an indefinite strike at 14 major ports along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, halting container traffic from Maine to Texas. This marks the first major shutdown of its kind in nearly 50 years, raising concerns about significant economic disruption ahead of the presidential election and the busy holiday season. The strike stems from stalled negotiations over a new six-year contract covering 25,000 port workers, with the ILA pushing for wage increases and protections against automation. The strike is expected…

Hurricane Helene: At least 600 people missing and millions without power More than 600 people are missing or unaccounted for across the US in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Helene, according to the White House.  Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday, beginning as a category four hurricane and becoming the most powerful on record to hit Florida’s Big Bend before moving north into Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Around 2 million people are without power, roads are blocked by debris, homes and businesses flattened and areas completely flooded. Officials are attempting to airlift emergency supplies, including food…

North Carolina official reveals shocking damage to tourist town: ‘All of it was washed into the lake’ The mountainous village where “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Dirty Dancing” were filmed is no longer there following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, a local official told Fox News Digital.  The little town of Chimney Rock in North Carolina sits at the base of Chimney Rock State Park and is home to the picturesque Lake Lure. Ed Broyhill, a North Carolina GOP national committee member, who owns a home on the lake, said the community has been devastated by storm damage.…

Editorial 30.09.24 The US front pages report on the devastation brought across many states by Hurricane Helene. At least 116 people have died nationwide since the hurricane made landfall in Florida on Thursday, according to CBS, and that figure is expected to rise as officials reach more areas. Hurricane Helene unleashed devastating winds and torrential rain across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The response to the hurricane has now taken on a notable political angel as Joe Biden along with his potential successors – Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – planning visits to some of the hardest-hit…

Hurricane Helene death toll soars in US as response to storm turns political  The recent hurricane response has taken on a notable political angle, with President Joe Biden, along with his potential successors—Kamala Harris and Donald Trump—planning visits to some of the hardest-hit areas. Many of these locations are in key battleground states ahead of the upcoming November elections. Hurricane Helene unleashed devastating winds and torrential rain across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The impact has been severe: homes destroyed, roads submerged, and millions left without power. The extreme weather has claimed at least 93 lives, with…

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant charged with a slew of crimes was released multiple times by authorities in Virginia despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pleas to transfer him into their custody, the agency said. ICE announced the arrest of 30-year-old Yohandri Roger Mosquera-Rosas, who is charged with malicious wounding, driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run and a number of gun crimes. He was arrested by ICE’s special response team in Springfield, Virginia on Sept. 12. Mosquera was released into the U.S. by border officials in October 2022. He was granted parole into the U.S. but violated the terms of his admission, the agency…

NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with taking bribes and illegal campaign funds New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to be arraigned in federal court on Friday, facing five criminal charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The indictment, unveiled on Thursday, accuses Adams of accepting over $100,000 (£75,000) in luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish businessmen and an official seeking to influence him. Adams, 64, a former police officer who was elected nearly three years ago on a tough-on-crime platform, has denied all allegations and pushed back against growing calls for…

Trump and Zelensky to meet amid Republican anger over key state visit Donald Trump has announced that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York on Friday. The meeting is scheduled to take place at around 09:45 ET (14:45 BST) at Trump Tower, despite earlier reports suggesting it had been cancelled due to tensions within the Republican Party. The controversy arose after Zelensky visited Pennsylvania, a key swing state, which angered some senior Republicans. On Thursday, Zelensky had also met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss his “victory…

US offers $20m bounty for Iranian accused of plans to kill Trump aide The United States has announced a $20 million reward for information leading to the capture of Shahram Poursafi, an Iranian national accused of plotting to assassinate John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor under former President Donald Trump. Poursafi is alleged to be a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is accused of trying to hire criminals in the U.S. to carry out the assassination in exchange for $300,000. This announcement comes shortly after Trump revealed that U.S. intelligence had briefed him about…

Woman arrested at Disneyland for failing to show ID: video A woman wearing Minnie Mouse ears screamed profanities as police arrested her at Disneyland on Tuesday after she failed to show her ID to officers at the theme park, police say. The unidentified woman, who was accompanied by two young children, was taken into custody and cited for obstructing a peace officer and refusing to provide identification at Disney California Adventure, according to the Anaheim Police Department. Police were called after the woman was uncooperative with Disneyland Resort security teams. Disneyland officials told local news station KTLA the woman allegedly…

New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal charges New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing federal criminal charges, according to CBS News. Adams, 64, who was elected nearly three years ago on a platform to tackle crime in America’s largest city, now finds himself at the centre of multiple federal corruption investigations. Although the indictment remains sealed, it marks a historic moment, as Adams could become the first sitting mayor in New York City’s history to face criminal charges. In a video statement released late Wednesday, Adams said he will fight the charges and stay in office,…

Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination of Trump US prosecutors have charged a man arrested near Donald Trump’s Florida golf course with the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. The new charge comes just a day after court documents revealed that Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, had written a note months earlier expressing his intent to kill Trump. Routh was already facing up to 20 years in prison on two gun-related charges, but with this new and more serious accusation, he could now face a life sentence if convicted. “Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for,” US Attorney…

Democrats look to play politics on emergency abortion pill as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate President Pro tempore Patty Murray, D-Wash., and others revealed on Tuesday their plans to force votes on abortion-related bills in the wake of two pregnant women’s deaths after taking abortion pills. Doctors did everything except the medically-sound treatment “It was the law overruling their good medical judgment. She went into septic shock and her heart stopped – all while doctors did everything except the medically-sound treatment she needed,” he said, in reference to ProPublica’s reporting on the deaths of Candi Miller and Amber…

Editorial 24.09.24 US politics and the latest from the Middle East are two of the most popular stories across the American newspaper front pages. Though the stories vary from state to state, the upcoming US presidential election is a unifier for the American press as all the papers have a take.  The ongoing crisis in Lebanon and fears of an all-out regional war in the Middle East are also popular topics today – as they are across many global newspapers. Elsewhere, the rest of the US front pages feature local state issues. What’s trending on today’s front pages Politics, Government…

Police offer $50,000 reward for suspects in Alabama shooting Authorities in Birmingham, Alabama, are offering a $50,000 (£37,400) reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a deadly weekend shooting. The attack, which occurred late Saturday night, left four people dead and 17 others injured. Police are still hunting for the suspects as of Monday morning, following numerous tips from the public. Officials have described the incident as a targeted “hit” involving multiple gunmen, likely aimed at a specific individual. The shooting took place just after 11:00 PM local time (05:00 BST) near Magnolia Avenue South, in…

Waltz says FBI stonewalling the House as the taskforce attempt to investigate the assassination attempt. With few details still known about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of former President Trump, one member of the House task force probing the assassination attempt is saying the FBI has not been forthcoming with their investigation. Rep. Mike Waltz says FBI stonewalling House after the attempt – Assassination task force Rep. Mike Waltz and Rep. Madeleine Dean both said the failures appear to rest with U.S. Secret Service’s (USSS), which has since taken full responsibility, Waltz appreciated that the agency has been forthcoming…

Illegal immigrant bites Border Patrol agent in the face amid ‘significant rise’ of attacks on CBP An illegal immigrant coming across the U.S. border bit a Border Patrol agent in the face while being taken into custody, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed to Fox News on Friday. The agency said that on Thursday an agent encountered a group of illegal immigrants who had crossed the border near Sunland Park, New Mexico. While taking them into custody, one agent “was physically assaulted and bitten” by one of the illegal immigrants. The agency said that one subject had been arrested for…

US Election 2024: Friday’s Polling – Harris leads, but Trump sees positive signs According to the Sky News poll tracker, Kamala Harris now holds a three-point lead over Donald Trump in the national polls. This lead has been gradually increasing, likely reflecting a bounce from last week’s debate, and it appears to be holding steady. What’s more, this lead could continue to grow as the poll tracker includes more post-debate data to replace earlier polling results. A three-point lead is noteworthy. To put it in perspective, after the Biden-Trump debate, which was widely seen as a setback for Biden, Trump…

US elections 2024: what is early voting, and who can do it? The US election is underway, and by November 5th, millions will have already voted. Many will have cast their ballots early by mail, at in-person voting locations, or through secure drop boxes. Early and absentee voting offers flexibility, allowing voters to avoid bad weather, long lines, or unforeseen scheduling issues on election day. What is early voting? In nearly every state—except for Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Alabama—voters can cast their ballots in person before election day, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Registered voters in these…

Kentucky sheriff held over fatal shooting of judge in court A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a judge inside his chambers, according to police. District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot multiple times at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Kentucky State Police reported. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting. While police have confirmed that the two men had an argument prior to the shooting, they have…

Will Donald Trump win the US election in November? Latest poll updates In just under 47 days, Vice President Kamala Harris will face off against Donald Trump as Americans head to the polls for the 2024 election. New polls from key swing states like Pennsylvania and Michigan show Harris holding a solid 5+ point lead in both, though one battleground state remains a toss-up. As both candidates gear up for the final stretch of the campaign, it’s anyone’s game. For the first time in over three years, Harris’s overall favorability has reached a neutral point after years of negative ratings.…