Biden says the pandemic is over. But at least 400 people are dying daily.
With 400 to 500 Americans still dying every day of COVID-19, President Joe Biden has declared that “the pandemic is over.” But don’t tell that to people such as Debra McCoskey-Reisert, whose mother died in early August. Or Ben HsuBorger, who has chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition often brought on by viruses, including the coronavirus. Biden made the remarks while speaking in an interview that aired on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday night. By Monday morning, the backlash was in full swing — as patients said the president was being insensitive at best, and some public health experts said his words were at odds with the science.
Inflation remains at the top of voters’ minds
During the six-month primary season that ended Tuesday, issues such as abortion, crime, immigration, the Capitol attack and Donald Trump have risen and fallen, but nothing has dislodged inflation and the economy from the top of voters’ minds. Polls out of Wisconsin and Georgia again found inflation to be the issue of greatest concern. A New York Times/Siena poll had bright spots for Democrats, but 49% of respondents said that “economic issues such as jobs, taxes or the cost of living” were likely to determine their votes in November. And 52% of registered voters said they agreed with Republicans on the economy, versus 38% who agreed with Democrats.
NYC mayor considers housing migrants on cruise ships
As New York struggles to find housing for a wave of migrants, Mayor Eric Adams is seriously considering housing them on cruise ships — a proposal that homeless advocates have called insulting and alienating. Adams defended the idea Monday and said the city was looking for “creative ways” to address a “humanitarian crisis.” He said the city would make an announcement once the plans were finalized. The Adams administration has been working behind the scenes on the plan to use cruise ships — an idea that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg considered in 2002 when he struggled to respond to a homelessness crisis and that advocates for the homeless opposed at the time.
‘Serial’ case: Adnan Syed released, conviction tossed
A Baltimore judge has ordered the release of Adnan Syed after overturning Syed’s conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial.” Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Monday ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated and she approved the release of the now-41-year-old who has spent more than two decades behind bars. Syed has always maintained that he never killed his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. The case received widespread attention in 2014 when “Serial” focused on Lee’s killing and raised doubts about some of the evidence prosecutors had used. Last week, prosecutors filed a motion saying a lengthy investigation had uncovered new evidence that could undermine Syed’s conviction.
Pentagon orders review of its overseas social media campaigns
White House officials told the military that they were concerned about its efforts to spread pro-American messaging on social media, prompting the Pentagon to order a review of secretive operations to influence populations overseas. The review follows a decision by Twitter and Facebook over the summer to shut down misleading accounts that they determined were sending messages about U.S. foreign policy interests abroad. For years U.S. military commands have promoted pro-American news and messages for audiences overseas, sometimes earning the scrutiny of Congress. But the decision by the social media companies to shut down some accounts associated with the military suggested the activity had gone further.
US hostage exchanged for Afghan drug lord in prisoner swap
The Taliban government of Afghanistan said Monday that it had freed an American engineer, Mark Frerichs, in exchange for the release by the United States of a prominent Afghan tribal leader who had been convicted of drug trafficking. The release of the tribal leader, Bashir Noorzai, who has close ties to the Taliban, was hailed by supporters of the group as a major symbolic victory. It was the first known prisoner exchange between the United States and the Taliban since the group seized power in Afghanistan last year. Frerichs was working as a contractor when he was captured and taken hostage in January 2020.
Fiona dumps more rain on Puerto Rico; troops rescue hundreds
Hurricane Fiona is dumping more rain on Puerto Rico. The deluge comes a day after the storm knocked out power and water to most of the island. National Guard troops have rescued hundreds of people who got stranded. The governor warned that it could take days to get the lights back on. The blow from Fiona was made more devastating because Puerto Rico has yet to recover from Hurricane Maria, which killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed the power grid in 2017. Five years later, more than 3,000 homes on the island are still covered by blue tarps.
Ukraine warns of ‘nuclear terrorism’ after strike near plant
A Russian missile has blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors. Ukrainian authorities denounced Monday’s attack as an act of “nuclear terrorism.” Ukraine’s nuclear operator said the missile struck within 300 meters (328 yards) of reactors at South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant. The strike followed warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin of possible stepped-up attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure after his forces suffered humiliating battlefield setbacks. It also renewed fears of a possible radioactive disaster in the near seven-month war. One Western analyst said the Russian military was apparently trying to knock Ukrainian nuclear plants offline before winter sets in.
Strong earthquake shakes Mexico´s Pacific coast; 1 killed
A magnitude-7.6 earthquake has shaken Mexico’s central Pacific coast, killing at least one person and setting off an earthquake alarm in the capital. The quake hit at 1:05 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geologic Survey. And it caused at least some damage near the epicenter Alarms for the new quake came less than an hour after a quake alarms warbled in a nationwide earthquake simulation marking major quakes that struck on the same date in 1985 and 2017. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the secretary of the navy told him one person was killed in the port city of Manzanillo, Colima.
‘Out of control’ STD situation prompts call for changes
Sharply rising cases of some sexually transmitted diseases are prompting U.S. health officials to call for new prevention and treatment efforts. Infections rates for some STDs, including gonorrhea and syphilis, have been rising for years. But recently released statistics show that that last year the rate of infectious syphilis cases reached its highest since 1991 and the total number of cases rose 26% to hit its highest since 1948. Experts are calling for reducing stigma, broadening screening and treatment services, and supporting the development and accessibility of at-home testing
Storm damages space center in Japan, 130K still lack power
A tropical storm that dumped heavy rain as it cut across Japan moved into the Pacific after killing two people and leaving thousands of homes without power. New damage was reported Tuesday in southern Japan, where Typhoon Nanmadol hit over the weekend before weakening as it moved north. A wall was damaged in a building where Japan’s aerospace agency assembles rockets on Tanegashima island. Two deaths were reported Monday in Miyazaki prefecture, and another person was missing in Hiroshima. More than 130,000 homes are still without power Tuesday. Ground transportation was operating normally, but dozens of flights were canceled in northeastern Japan.
By wire sources
