Biden pledge to make federal fleet electric faces slow start
President Joe Biden, a self-described “car guy,″ often promises to lead by example on climate change by moving swiftly to convert the sprawling U.S. government fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles. But efforts to eliminate gas-powered vehicles from the fleet have lagged. Biden last year directed the government to purchase only American-made zero-emission passenger cars by 2027. But the General Services Administration, which buys two-thirds of the federal fleet, says there are no guarantees. It cites big upfront costs and specialized agency needs, such as off-road vehicles for national parks that have limited EV options. About 13% of new light-duty vehicles purchased across the government this year — meaning about 3,550 — were zero emissions.
Settlement reached in US court on Chinese #MeToo case
Chinese billionaire entrepreneur Richard Liu has reached an undisclosed settlement with Liu Jingyao, a former University of Minnesota student who accused him of rape in a Minneapolis apartment after a night out in 2018, in a case that has riveted China and been held up as a landmark episode in China’s struggling #MeToo movement. The agreement, announced in a joint statement late Saturday, came just two days before a civil trial was to begin in a Minneapolis courtroom. Lawyers from both parties said Richard Liu and Liu Jingyao, who are not related, had agreed to “set aside their differences” in order to avoid further pain and suffering.
Fishing contest rocked after weights found in winning catches
Jason Fischer became suspicious when the five fish he estimated to be about 4 pounds each weighed in at nearly 34 pounds. Fischer, the director of a fishing tournament in Cleveland, grabbed a knife and sliced open a fish as Jacob Runyan, one member of the two-person team that presented it for weighing, looked on. The next moments rocked the competitive fishing world. “We got weights in fish!” Fischer shouted, holding up a lead ball he plucked from the fish in a dramatic moment captured on videos. He then spoke directly to Runyan as if he were an umpire ejecting an unruly player. “Get outta here!” he shouted.
Bolsonaro and Lula go to a runoff in Brazil
For months, pollsters and analysts had said that President Jair Bolsonaro was doomed. In recent weeks, the polls suggested he could even lose in the first round, ending his presidency after just one term. Instead, it was Bolsonaro who had the better night Sunday, outperforming forecasts and sending the race to an Oct. 30 runoff. He will face Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former leftist president, who had been leading the polls since the race began. Da Silva received 47.9% of the votes Sunday, versus 43.7% for Bolsonaro, with 97% of the ballots counted.
10 torture sites in 1 town: Russia sowed pain, fear in Izium
An Associated Press investigation has found that Russian torture in the Ukrainian town of Izium was arbitrary, widespread and absolutely routine for both civilians and soldiers. AP journalists located 10 torture sites in the town, including a deep sunless pit in a residential compound, a clammy underground jail that reeked of urine, a medical clinic, and a kindergarten. AP also spoke to 15 survivors of Russian torture and confirmed the deaths of eight men. All but one were civilians. The AP also found a former Ukrainian soldier who was tortured three times hiding in a monastery, and connected him with loved ones. The town has now been liberated by Ukrainian forces.
Haiti reports cholera deaths for first time in 3 years
Haiti’s government says at least eight people have died from cholera for the first time in three years, raising concerns about a potentially rapid spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. The cases were reported in a community called Dekayet in southern Port-au-Prince and in the seaside slum of Cite de Soleil, where thousands of people live in cramped, unsanitary conditions. The deaths announced Sunday come as a lack of fuel and ongoing protests shut down the availability of basic services across Haiti, including medical care and clean water, which is key to helping fight cholera and keep patients alive.
By wire sources
