Page 2906 – Shore News Network

Maryland State Bomb Squad Receives Training on Enhanced Digital X-ray Systems

by Jeff Jones August 13, 2023

By Jeff Jones

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal announced recently that members of the Bomb Squad have undergone training on new enhanced digital X-ray systems. The manufacturer provided instruction to Bomb Technicians on the utilization and maintenance of these systems, set to be placed in service soon.

Bomb Technicians in Maryland must possess knowledge in explosives theory and electronics, demonstrate attention to detail, remain calm under pressure, and exhibit critical thinking skills.

To ensure the highest standards of safety and competence, the state requires Bomb Technicians to complete monthly training and annual reviews. Additionally, they must undergo the FBI Hazardous Devices recertification course every three years.

The introduction of the new enhanced digital X-ray systems aligns with the state’s commitment to maintaining cutting-edge technology and continuing education. This ensures that Maryland’s Bomb Squad remains prepared and effective in responding to threats and maintaining public safety.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Opinion - Editorial Politics Top Headlines Trending News US and World News

‘Smear Parents’: Parental Rights Advocates Sound The Alarm As Bill Targeting Parents Moves Through Legislature

by The Daily Caller August 13, 2023

By The Daily Caller

‘Smear Parents’: Parental Rights Advocates Sound The Alarm As Bill Targeting Parents Moves Through Legislature

Reagan Reese on August 13, 2023

In July, California’s Senate Bill 596, which would make it a misdemeanor for “any parent, guardian or other person” to cause “substantial disorder” at any public or charter school board meeting, continued to move through the committee.
The bill aims to criminalize parents and will scare them into silence, California parental rights advocates told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“Criminalizing contest and dissent in local school districts manufactures false accusations of disorderly conduct when concerned parents exercise their constitutional rights and speak up against woke indoctrination. This bill is shamelessly intended to target, intimidate and smear parents and local community members advocating for better education, transparency and accountability,” Wenyuan Wu, executive director of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, a parental rights group, told the DCNF.

California parental rights advocates are sounding the alarm as a bill targeting parents who speak out at school board meetings continues to advance through the state’s legislature.

Senate Bill 596, which would make it a misdemeanor for “any parent, guardian or other person” to disrupt classwork, extracurricular activities or cause any “substantial disorder” at any public or charter school board meeting and state board of education meeting, is poised to pass both the California Senate and House. The bill will silence as well as criminalize parents and in the process, harm children, California parental rights advocates told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“SB 596 is another example of attacks on parental rights and community engagement by Sacramento’s one-party political establishment,” Wenyuan Wu, executive director of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, a parental rights group, told the DCNF. “Criminalizing contest and dissent in local school districts manufactures false accusations of disorderly conduct when concerned parents exercise their constitutional rights and speak up against woke indoctrination. This bill is shamelessly intended to target, intimidate and smear parents and local community members advocating for better education, transparency and accountability.”

“The education bureaucracy, including the California Teachers Association, has a political agenda to indoctrinate our children and demonize parents. As such, they have no problem endorsing this bill.”

Under SB 596, any adult who causes “substantial emotional distress” or “torments” a school employee, such as a school board member, can be fined up to $1,000 or serve no more than one year in jail.

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In February, Democratic California state Sen. Anthony Portantino introduced the legislation in an effort to address “the issue of teachers facing harassment and greater scrutiny over lessons taught in the classroom,” according to a press release. The bill aims to protect school employees who are facing backlash for teaching about gender identity, sexual orientation and Pride month, Portantio’s press release states.

One Portantino press release includes an example of such behavior the bill is trying to prevent noting that during the 2021-2022 school year, a local elementary school employee was transferred to a different school after they received threats for discussing LGBTQ Pride Month.

“It is concerning when some people feel it is appropriate to harass and intimidate others for simply doing their job under the law,” Portantino told the DCNF. “SB 596 seeks to ensure that educators can safely be on their own time while in public. It is important to note that this bill does not infringe or affect a parent’s ability to interact with their school district, protest peacefully, or strongly advocate on behalf of their children. It saddens me that there are people spreading false information. The bill explicitly exempts out all forms of protected free speech as the following passage from the bill states: Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of credible threat.”

“Certainly, most Americans are tired of the angry, divisive rhetoric dominating much of the political discourse today,” Portantino said to the DCNF. “And, most Americans believe in civil conversations and actions that have the potential to lead to a more fruitful and productive outcome than threats and harassment.”

SB 596 is comparable to another piece of legislation, AB 1078, which would require school boards to have a supermajority if they wish to restrict a book from its library or classrooms, Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School Board member Sonja Shaw told the DCNF.

“SB 596 is another attempt to silence parents just as AB 1078 is to silence board members and prohibit local control,” Shaw told the DCNF. “This is another ploy to allow the government to bully and silence us. As a day-to-day soccer mom, I had to start following bills a few years ago and they craft and amend these things making them more dangerous by taking away the voice of the community.”

The legislation ultimately harms students because it keeps parents from voicing their concern against what their children are being taught, Mari Barke, California Policy Center’s director of local elected officials, told the DCNF.

“Like so many education bills going through the Legislature right now, SB 596 ultimately hurts students. The parents are being targeted but the damage is to the child or student,” Barke told the DCNF. “SB 596 is attempting to silence free speech and could be used against parents very arbitrarily if they question or vocalize concern or opposition to offensive or divisive curricula, content or behavior. We should not be silencing parents, they must be free to express their thoughts and concerns since they are their child’s best advocate. Shutting down dialogue by threatening members of the community with fines and jail time doesn’t benefit students or education as a whole.”

Across the country, tension at school board meetings has risen as parents continue to push back against curriculums detailing gender identity and sexual orientation; in June, at least three people were arrested after a fight broke out at a California school board meeting which was discussing whether LGBTQ lessons should be included in the district’s curriculum. Two were arrested at a Virginia school board meeting in July while a policy was being debated that would require students to use the bathroom on the basis of biological sex rather than gender identity.

“When you see a pattern of policy changes following public comments that bring awareness to district business and union politics, one can be led to believe SB 596 is a flagrant attack on parental rights,” Lenice Sechrist, president of Poway Unified School District Community Watch, an organization focused on parental rights, told the DCNF. “If enacted, this bill will surely be used to set ‘examples’ out of parents who speak on issues that concern their children. It appears the strategy is that if First Amendment rights cannot be infringed upon, fear tactics will be used in order to censor parents.”

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Business News

Weak yen gives Japan’s automakers temporary relief from China pain

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Daniel Leussink

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese automakers are getting much-needed cover from an old standby, as the weaker yen helps prop up profits amid declining sales in China and the increasingly tough shift to electric vehicles.

Toyota, Honda and Nissan recently reported earnings that topped analyst estimates by 6% to 21% in the three months through June, and all cited the currency as a factor.

“If the yen stays low, they clearly benefit but it doesn’t offset any other concerns,” said Satoru Aoyama, senior director at Fitch Ratings Japan.

“They are struggling in the Chinese market,” he said. “They just don’t have an immediate solution” for their problems there, he added.

Nissan late last month upgraded its full-year operating profit forecast, raising it by 30 billion yen ($208 million) to 550 billion yen. About 20 billion yen of that came from the currency, CFO Stephen Ma told a briefing.

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A weak yen has traditionally lifted profits for Japan’s big exporters, although it is no longer as large a boon for automakers that have increased their overseas manufacturing in recent years.

Automakers’ shares are quick to react to swings in the yen, although the companies themselves tend to stick to conservative forecasts for the currency.

For instance, Toyota has stuck to its forecast for an average exchange rate of 125 to the dollar this business year, a level not seen since April 2022, about a month after the U.S. Federal Reserve started raising interest rates. The yen was at 144 on Thursday.

At smaller Subaru, a move of one yen against the dollar has a 20 billion yen impact on operating profit, CFO Katsuyuki Mizuma said earlier this month.

On Wednesday, a Honda official said its April-June operating profit came in tens of billions of yen higher than expected, with the weak yen accounting for about half of that.

“The yen wasn’t only weak against the dollar, but also against other currencies, including in Asia and Europe, so that comes through as a profit,” the official said.

CHINA STRUGGLE

The yen’s cushion couldn’t come at a better time for Japanese automakers, which are struggling in China. The world’s largest auto market is increasingly being dominated by home-grown players.

Nissan’s China sales to retail customers slumped 46% during the quarter and those of Honda were down 5%.

Sales of Toyota, including of its Lexus luxury brand, rose over the period. For the first half of the calendar year, they declined almost 3%.

Japanese automakers have also been slow to pivot to the growing global market for electric vehicles with competitive offerings.

It is unclear how long the weak yen will last. Japan’s central bank recently tweaked its cap on bond yields, sparking expectations it could eventually exit the ultra-loose policy that has weighed on the currency.

Influential former finance ministry official Eisuke Sakakibara told Reuters the yen could strengthen to 130 by the end of the year.

Subaru has kept its forecast at 128 yen, CFO Mizuma said, citing the difficulty in predicting the currency.

“We’re really closely watching exchange rates,” he said.

($1 = 144.2400 yen)

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by David Dolan and Toby Chopra)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Business News

China July new bank loans tumble, credit growth weakens further

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Kevin Yao and Qiaoyi Li

BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s new bank loans tumbled in July and other key credit gauges also weakened, even after policymakers cut interest rates and promised to roll out more support for the faltering economy.

Chinese banks extended 345.9 billion yuan ($47.80 billion) of new yuan loans in July, tumbling 89% from June to the lowest since late 2009 and falling far short of analysts’ forecasts, data from the People’s Bank of China showed on Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected new loans last month to fall sharply from 3.05 trillion yuan in June to 800 billion yuan, after record lending in the first half as the central bank tried to shore up sputtering consumption and investment.

The reading was also much lower than 679 billion yuan in July 2022.

While lending in China typically tends to fall back in July for seasonal reasons, the weak credit readings come days after other grim data which showed the world’s second-largest economy slipped into deflation last month while exports and imports plummeted, adding pressure on Beijing to roll out more forceful stimulus measures.

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“China’s bank loan growth fell to its lowest in seven months in July, while broad credit growth dropped to a record low,” Capital Economics said in a note to clients.

“We expect further policy rate cuts (as soon as next Tuesday) and a spike in government bond issuance in the coming months, but unless there is a wider improvement in business and household sentiment, this probably won’t lift credit growth much.”

Hobbled by weak demand at home and abroad, China’s economic momentum has faltered in recent months despite strong bank lending in the first half.

Household loans, mostly mortgages, contracted by 200.7 billion yuan in July, after rising 963.9 billion yuan in June, as a debt crisis in the property sector deepened, while corporate loans slid to 237.8 billion yuan last month from 2.28 trillion yuan in June, central bank data showed.

China’s top leaders pledged in late July to step up support for the economy amid the tortuous post-COVID recovery, followed by a raft of similar pledges from various government agencies. But details so far have been scant, disappointing investors.

Central bank officials have pledged to use policy tools such as reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts to ensure reasonably ample liquidity.

WEAK CREDIT DEMAND

The central bank cut its benchmark lending rates in June by a modest 10 basis points, the first such reduction in 10 months. A number of analysts predict further small cuts this year, but say that may do little to turnaround the economic malaise quickly as long as consumers and companies remain in no mood to borrow.

“The poor lending data reflects weak financing demand from the real economy.” said Luo Yunfeng, an economist at Huajin Securities. “It’s not good to force companies to borrow money when they don’t need it.”

Some economists have flagged the risk of a balance sheet recession, as Chinese households and private firms build up savings and reduce borrowing and spending after three years of strict COVID curbs.

More fiscal stimulus is also expected, with local governments — many of which are already heavily indebted — being told to speed up bond issuance to fund infrastructure projects.

Broad M2 money supply grew by 10.7% in July from a year earlier, according to central bank data, decelerating from 11.3% in June and the slowest pace since April 2022. Analysts had expected it to expand by 11%.

Outstanding yuan loans expanded by 11.1% in July from the year before, the lowest so far this year, compared with 11.3% growth the previous month. Analysts had expected 11.3% growth.

Annual growth of outstanding total social financing (TSF), a broad measure of credit and liquidity in the economy, also cooled, to 8.9% in July from 9.0% in June.

TSF includes off-balance sheet forms of financing that exist outside the conventional bank lending system, such as initial public offerings, loans from trust companies and bond sales.

In July, TSF slumped to 528.2 billion yuan from 4.22 trillion yuan in June. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted July TSF at 1.1 trillion yuan.

(Reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Kevin Yao; Editing by Kim Coghill)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Business News

Aussie telecom firms Telstra, TPG will not appeal block of asset transfer deal

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

(Reuters) – Australian telecom firms Telstra Group and TPG Telecom on Monday said separately they would not appeal the country’s competition tribunal’s decision to block an asset transfer deal between the two telecom giants.

In June, the Australian Competition Tribunal upheld the competition regulator’s decision to block the deal between the telecom firms, under which Telstra would have bought spectrum and transmission towers from TPG, while TPG would have kept selling 4G and 5G coverage using Telstra infrastructure.

The country’s competition regulator had ruled against the asset transfer deal in December citing competition concerns and potentially impacting the no. 2 wireless internet provider Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications.

Telstra did not provide any details about its decision to not appeal the tribunal’s decision in the exchange filing, and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for further details.

TPG Telecom, which also did not provide any reason, said it would “continue to explore commercial options to expand its mobile network”.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

US and World News

CBS News president Khemlani steps down – New York Times

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

(Reuters) – The president of CBS News, Neeraj Khemlani, stepped down on Sunday after two years on the job, the New York Times reported.

Khemlani will stay at CBS in a different role, the Times reported, citing an email he sent to staff members.

The paper said CBS had not yet named a replacement for Khemlani, who shared duties with Wendy McMahon.

Lask week, CBS announced that its 24/7 streaming news service CBSN, will soon be available on CBS All Access, the network’s digital subscription video on-demand and streaming service.

That move came after CBS News announced a partnership with BBC News to share content and resources across the globe.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; editing by Diane Craft)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Business News

Exclusive-SoftBank in talks to buy Vision Fund’s 25% stake in Arm -sources

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Echo Wang and Anirban Sen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -SoftBank Group Corp is in talks to acquire the 25% stake in Arm Ltd it does not directly own from Vision Fund 1 (VF1), a $100 billion investment fund it raised in 2017, according to people familiar with the matter, potentially delivering a win for investors who have waited years for strong returns.

The discussions come as SoftBank, which currently owns 75% of Arm, is preparing to list the chip designer on Nasdaq next month at a valuation of $60 billion to $70 billion.

If the negotiations lead to a deal, the Japanese tech investor would be delivering a major, immediate windfall to VF1 investors, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala. They nursed losses after many of SoftBank’s bets on startups such as workspace provider WeWork Inc and ride-sharing firm Didi Global soured.

The alternative — letting VF1 sell its Arm shares in the stock market over time following the initial public offering (IPO) — would typically take at least one to two years given the size of the stake. It would also be more risky for the fund’s investors since it is possible that Arm’s shares could drop following the IPO.

VF1 returned to profitability in the latest quarter thanks to investors’ excitement around artificial intelligence boosting the value of some of the startups in which it invested. Yet its previous losses prevented SoftBank from securing outside investors for Vision Fund 2 (VF2), whose $56 billion in capital came from the Japanese firm and its management, including Chief Executive Masayoshi Son.

A big windfall for VF1 investors could boost SoftBank’s chances of tapping them for capital again in the future, though SoftBank currently has no plans to do so, according to the sources.

Son, who has hired investment bank Raine Group to advise SoftBank on the negotiations, has recused himself from VF1’s deliberations on the matter so that the fund makes a decision independently in the interest of its investors, the sources said.

VF1’s investment committee and SoftBank’s investment advisory board, attended by fund investor representatives, are handling the negotiations, one of the sources added.

The exact valuation for Arm that the two sides are discussing for their transaction could not be learned, and the sources cautioned that it is possible that no agreement will be reached.

If a deal is inked, SoftBank would be selling fewer Arm shares in the IPO and would be likely retaining a stake of between 85% and 90%, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because the negotiations are confidential.

SoftBank, VF1 and Arm declined to comment. Raine did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

CORNERSTONE INVESTORS

Arm’s IPO would be a boon not just for VF1 but also for SoftBank, which reported its third consecutive quarterly loss last week. It was hit by declines in the valuations of major holdings such as Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group, German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom and U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile U.S..

SoftBank, which took Arm private for $32 billion in 2016, sold a 25% stake in the company to VF1 for $8 billion in 2017. SoftBank has also been in talks with several technology companies about bringing them onboard as cornerstone investors in Arm ahead of its IPO, including Amazon.com Inc, Reuters has reported.

SoftBank last week said VF1 delivered a gain of $12.4 billion on $89.6 billion of investments, while VF2 carried a $18.6 billion loss on $51.8 billion of investments.

The investment giant has been in “defense mode” since May 2022 after technology valuations crashed amid a rise in interest rates and economic uncertainty. But in June, Son said he was planning to shift to “offence” mode amid excitement over advances in artificial intelligence.

SoftBank began preparations for an IPO of Arm after a deal to sell the company to Nvidia Corp for $40 billion collapsed last year over objections from U.S. and European antitrust regulators.

Arm has been considering an offering up to $10 billion for its listing. Its plans to go public come as the U.S. IPO market shows signs of a recovery after an arid spell that lasted a year and a half, as major companies including grocery delivery service Instacart and marketing automation firm Klaviyo Inc get ready to list in New York.

Earlier this year, Arm rebuffed a campaign from the British government to list its shares in London and said it would pursue a flotation on a U.S. exchange.

Arm’s business has fared better than the broader chip industry because it licenses designs rather than paying to make processing systems itself. Its technology has become ubiquitous in smart phones and data centers, delivering lucrative royalty payments. Yet demand for smart phones has weakened lately, weighing on Arm’s earnings.

In a show of Arm’s significance for its investment portfolio, SoftBank in April asked Arm Chief Executive Rene Haas to join its board of directors.

(Reporting by Echo Wang and Anirban Sen in New York; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis, Mark Porter and Diane Craft)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Breaking News Community News New York News

New York State Officials Join CHAI’s 76th Indian Independence Day Celebration

by Jessica Woods August 13, 2023

By Jessica Woods

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – The Council of Heritage and Arts of India (CHAI) held its second annual celebration on August 12th in honor of India’s 76th Independence Day in Williamsville, New York.

Notable attendees included New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli, members of Troop A, NYS Assistant Director of Asian Affairs, and CHAI’s Executive Director Sibu Nair.

The event was marked by a rich cultural celebration that showcased India’s diverse heritage and traditions. Officials expressed their honor in being part of the festivities, reflecting the broader commitment to embracing and supporting the various cultural communities in New York State.

The celebration was seen as an opportunity for local authorities to connect with the community and show their support for the multicultural fabric that makes up the great state of New York.

New York State Officials Join CHAI's 76th Indian Independence Day Celebration

August 13, 2023 0 comments

MIsc. News

Cumberland Man Arrested for Assault; Released on Bond

by Jeff Jones August 13, 2023

By Jeff Jones

CUMBERLAND, MD – On Saturday, officers from the Cumberland Police Department arrested James Derik Lewis, age 36, of Cumberland, Maryland, on charges of second-degree assault.

The arrest was made following a response to a reported assault in the 200 block of Springdale Street. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, who claimed that Lewis had struck them several times in the face with a closed fist. Officers observed evidence consistent with the victim’s claim.

Lewis was subsequently arrested and taken before a District Court Commissioner, where he was released on an unsecured personal bond of $2,500.

The charge against Lewis is Assault Second Degree, and further proceedings in the case are expected.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Opinion - Editorial Politics Top Headlines Trending News US and World News

DAVID BLACKMON: IRA Subsidies Are Driving Investment Decisions In A Dangerous Direction

by The Daily Caller August 13, 2023

By The Daily Caller

DAVID BLACKMON: IRA Subsidies Are Driving Investment Decisions In A Dangerous Direction

David Blackmon on August 13, 2023

As we pass the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, the energy media is currently filled with stories attempting to gauge the level of impact the $369 billion in new green energy subsidies and tax breaks contained in it have had on the direction of U.S. energy investment.

When the law was enacted, I predicted those provisions would become the major driver of such investments for a decade. Across the ensuing 12 months, I have now interviewed at least 18 CEOs and other senior executives at companies who are investing in renewable energy projects or some form of technology designed to support renewables and other low-carbon solutions. When asked, each of them has told me that the IRA subsidies are integral to their projects’ ability to move forward.

There are no exceptions.

Even oil majors like ExxonMobil, BP and Shell are happy to point to the ability to take advantage of certain subsidies and the expanded investment tax credit as motivating factors boosting their own investments into renewables and other low carbon solutions like carbon capture projects. The same is true of big oil and gas contractors and service companies, as well as for a wide array of startups and international companies mounting new entries into the U.S. market.

This is a clear example of public policy steering the ship, a situation in which politicians – among the very least knowledgeable class in our society when it comes to energy and climate – are picking winners and losers. This isn’t happening just in the United States: It’s taking place throughout the western world, as governing entities like the EU rush to implement similar arrays of subsidies designed to compete for these major new capital investments.

One result of having perhaps the worst possible class of people – politicians – making all these multi-billion-dollar decisions for the rest of us comes clear in the perverse incentives and unintended consequences the policies are now creating.

One of the best illustrations of this is the IRA/EPA policy effort to force 2/3rds of the U.S. transportation fleet to convert to EVs by 2032. The IRA contained the carrot of heavy incentives and subsidies for EV makers and consumers, and the EPA is implementing the stick of new tailpipe emissions and mileage standards designed to crowd most current internal combustion models out of the market.

This carrot-and-stick policy approach comes at the same time the U.S. power generation sector faces an already-severe and growing shortage of the transformers that are integral to any power generation or transmission project. It is now taking up to 4 years to source high voltage transformers, most of which are made overseas and moved via supply chains largely controlled by China.

The obvious problem here is that recharging millions of additional EVs will place an enormous new load on the nation’s power grids, a fact that Tesla CEO Elon Musk says will require at least a doubling of generation capacity in the coming years, and that even the Biden administration admits will require the build-out of 47,000 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines.

But get this: Neither the IRA nor the 2021 infrastructure law included subsidies or incentives targeting transmission or transformers.

Oh.

That is just one of many perverse incentives being forced into the marketplace by this ill-structured set of subsidies. And again, this is not isolated to the U.S. – it is happening throughout the western world.

Meanwhile, the Xi government in China systematically secures its energy future by locking up international supplies of energy minerals, rare earth elements and supply chains for pretty much every other product or component that is integral to the maintenance of national energy security, all while commissioning more and more coal-fired power plants needed to maintain a stable power grid.

It has always been impossible to de-link energy investments from politics and public policy – those have always been factors that must be considered. But in the wake of the IRA, it has become clear that subsidies and incentives are now the major driver of a steadily rising array of such investments. The question becomes whether that direction is healthy for the maintenance of national energy security. The answer thus far is not encouraging.

David Blackmon is an energy writer and consultant based in Texas. He spent 40 years in the oil and gas business, where he specialized in public policy and communications.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Breaking News Ohio News Police Blotter

Multiple Shoooters Open Fire at Hilltop Park

by Ryan Dickinson August 13, 2023

By Ryan Dickinson

COLUMBUS, OH – On Sunday, July 30, a shooting incident occurred at Westgate Park in the Hilltop area.

Security footage captured at least two individuals firing shots towards a group at the park before fleeing in an SUV.

During the shooting, a nearby residence was hit by gunfire.

Columbus Police are seeking assistance in identifying the shooters involved in this incident.

Anyone with relevant information can contact them to assist the investigation.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Business News

Marketmind: Will China pull the stimulus trigger?

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Jamie McGeever

(Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist.

Asian markets will get key economic signals this week that could determine monetary policy in the continent’s two biggest economies – retail sales and industrial production and house prices from China, and Japanese GDP and inflation.

Markets also will watch for interest rate decisions from New Zealand and the Philippines, inflation figures from India and major corporate earnings reports from China, including Tencent, Lenovo CNOOC and JD.com.

The biggest fireworks on Monday’s economic data calendar could come from India. Annual consumer price inflation is expected to show a sharp rebound in July to 6.40% from 4.8%, and a slowdown in wholesale price deflation to -2.4% from -4.1%.

The wider market mood will likely be one of caution after last week – the Nasdaq posted its first back-to-back weekly decline of the year, and the MSCI Asia ex-Japan equity index lost 2% on its way to a one-month low.

Caution may morph into outright gloom on Monday, however, after China’s biggest privately-owned developer Country Garden said it will suspend trading of its 11 onshore bonds.

The firm’s shares are at a record low, it didn’t pay two dollar bond coupons due on Aug. 6 totalling $22.5 million, it has liabilities of around $200 billion and last week warned it could report a loss of up to $7.6 billion for the first half.

Investors are wondering how long Beijing will resist pressure to inject any kind of stimulus into an economy that is now officially in deflation with the weakest credit impulse since 2009.

Another batch of sub-par data this week could force authorities’ hand.

Investors and the Bank of Japan, meanwhile, will be paying close attention to Japanese inflation data later in the week. Economists polled by Reuters expect the annual rate of core CPI inflation to slow to 3.1% in July from 3.3% in June.

A lower print could tempt the market to price in a more gradual change to the BOJ’s ‘yield curve control’ policy, stickier inflation could have the opposite effect.

Either way, the yen will be under scrutiny – it slumped to a 15-year low against the euro lat week and is flirting with levels against the dollar that last year prompted massive yen-buying intervention from Japanese authorities.

Asian stocks have badly underperformed this year, largely due to worries over China which is battling weak growth, deflation, and capital outflows. Chinese blue chip stocks are flat this year and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is down 4%.

The MSCI Asia ex-Japan equity index index has now fallen two weeks in a row for the first time since April, and is up only twice in the last eight weeks.

Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Monday:

– India consumer inflation (July)

– India wholesale inflation (July)

– Germany wholesale inflation (July)

(By Jamie McGeever; editing by Diane Craft)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Police lights during police investigation.

MIsc. News

Shooting at Sky Zone in Baltimore County Leaves One Dead; Suspect Detained

by Jeff Jones August 13, 2023

By Jeff Jones

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD – A shooting at the Sky Zone located in the unit block of W. Aylesbury Rd., 21093, has left one adult male dead, according to a statement by the Baltimore County Police Department.

The incident occurred on Saturday, August 12, at approximately 7 p.m. Responding officers discovered the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medics transported him to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Police have detained a possible suspect in connection with the shooting, and homicide detectives are leading the investigation.

Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland, an organization separate from the Baltimore County Police Department and government, is offering rewards for information connected with felony offenses. Tips leading to a conviction may be eligible for a reward.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-307-2020. Information may also be provided anonymously through the department’s iWATCH program or Metro Crime Stoppers via phone, online, or mobile app.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

MIsc. News

NYPD Investigating Hate Crime at Upper West Side Synagogue

by Adam Devine August 13, 2023

By Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying an individual connected to a hate crime that occurred on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m.

According to police reports, an unknown male approached the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue located at 125 East 85th Street. The individual proceeded to write anti-Semitic graffiti on a display screen attached to the Synagogue using a marker. The suspect then fled on foot, heading westbound on East 85th Street.

NYPD Investigating Hate Crime at Upper West Side Synagogue

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating the incident.

The individual sought in connection with the crime is described as a male, approximately 25-years-old, with short black hair and a slim build. He was last seen wearing a white tank top, camouflage shorts, and white sneakers.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted online at the Crime Stoppers website or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Breaking News New York City News New York News Police Blotter

Multiple Arrests Made After Mob Damages Police Vehicle on Broadway

by Adam Devine August 13, 2023

By Adam Devine

NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York City Police Department recently announced several arrests related to an incident involving damage to a department vehicle.

The vehicle was parked at 838 Broadway when it was damaged.

As reported, on Friday, August 4, around 3:30 PM, eight unidentified males, aged between 14 to 18, were allegedly involved in damaging the vehicle by kicking and jumping on it.

Updates indicate that on Wednesday, a 17-year-old male was arrested and faced multiple charges including Criminal Mischief and Riot. On Thursday, an 18-year-old named Shamel Chillious from Bronx, NY, was arrested with similar charges.

The investigation is ongoing, and the New York City Police Department is seeking additional information to identify other individuals connected to the incident.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

US and World News

Russian warship fires warning shots at cargo ship in Black Sea

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian warship on Sunday fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea as it made its way northwards, the first time Russia has fired on merchant shipping beyond Ukraine since exiting a landmark UN-brokered grain deal last month.

In July, Russia halted participation in the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export agricultural produce via the Black Sea. Moscow said that it deemed all ships heading to Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying weapons.

On Sunday, Russia said in a statement that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had fired automatic weapons on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel after the ship’s captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection.

Russia said the vessel was making its way toward the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Refinitiv shipping data showed the ship was currently near the coast of Bulgaria and heading toward the Romanian port of Sulina.

“To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons,” the Russian defence ministry said.

The Russian military boarded the vessel with the help of a Ka-29 helicopter, the ministry said.

“After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail,” the defence ministry said.

A Turkish defence ministry official said he had heard an incident had taken place involving a ship heading for Romania, and that Ankara was looking into it.

Reuters could not immediately reach the vessel or its owners for comment.

A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the incident was a “clear violation of international law of the sea, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states.”

The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, added on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Ukraine will draw all the necessary conclusions and choose the best possible response.”

Zelenskiy did not mention the incident in his nightly video address.

Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the southern military command, stressed that the Russian statement had not been confirmed by other official sources. “I believe that attention should be drawn to this and the peculiarities of hybrid warfare should be kept in mind,” she said in televised remarks.

“This statement could be a signal to all civilian vessels in the Black Sea,” she said, and called for all transportation and navigation there to be conducted under international guarantees. Russia, she added, was trying to assert its right to stop a ship or deploy aircraft in the Black Sea and “face no consequences.”

BLACK SEA AT WAR?

Firing on a merchant vessel will ratchet up already acute concerns among shipowners, insurers and commodity traders about the potential dangers of getting ensnared in the Black Sea – the main route that both Ukraine and Russia use to get their agricultural produce to market.

Russia and Ukraine are two of the world’s top agricultural producers, and major players in the wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed and sunflower oil markets. Russia is also dominant in the fertiliser market.

Since Russia left the Black Sea grain deal, both Moscow and Kyiv have issued warnings and carried out attacks that have sent jitters through global commodity, oil and shipping markets.

Russia has said it will treat any ships approaching Ukrainian ports as potential military vessels, and their flag countries as combatants on the Ukrainian side. Russia also struck Ukrainian grain facilities on the Danube.

Ukraine responded with a similar threat to ships approaching Russian or Russian-held Ukrainian ports. Ukraine also attacked a Russian oil tanker and a warship at its Novorossiysk naval base, next door to a major grain and oil port.

Ukraine and the West say Russia’s steps amount to a de-facto blockade of Ukrainian ports that threatens to cut off the flow of wheat and sunflower seeds from Ukraine to world markets.

Russia dismisses that interpretation and says the West failed to implement a parallel agreement easing rules for its own food and fertiliser exports.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, Huseyin Hayatsever in Ankara and Dan Peleschuk in Kyiv; Editing by Nick Macfie and Diane Craft)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

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Subway Groper Sought by Police

by Adam Devine August 13, 2023

By Adam Devine

NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York City Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying an individual involved in a forcible touching incident.

The incident was reported to have occurred on Thursday, around 12:45 PM.

A 30-year-old female victim was standing on the northbound 6 train platform at the 59th Street subway station.

An unknown male approached and inappropriately touched her before fleeing.

The man is described as approximately 30 to 35 years old, 6’ tall with a robust build, last seen wearing a white tank top and black pants. The investigation is currently ongoing.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Opinion - Editorial Politics Top Headlines Trending News US and World News

Dem Govs, Mayors Declared Emergencies After Receiving Trickle Of Southern Border’s Migrant Flood

by The Daily Caller August 13, 2023

By The Daily Caller

Dem Govs, Mayors Declared Emergencies After Receiving Trickle Of Southern Border’s Migrant Flood

Jennie Taer on August 13, 2023

Even as southern border communities deal with an influx of thousands of migrants each day, Democrat-run cities and states have declared emergencies after a few hundred or thousand migrant arrivals, according to a review of their declarations.

Democratic leaders in Denver, Massachusetts, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago and the state of Illinois have all declared emergencies over hundreds to a few thousand migrants arriving to their cities and in their shelters in recent months. Meanwhile, illegal migrant encounters at the southern border have remained high, according to federal data.

Border Patrol recorded more than 1.2 million illegal migrant encounters in the state of Texas in all of fiscal year 2022, more than 561,000 in Arizona over the same time period, more than 142,000 in New Mexico and roughly 249,000 in California, according to federal data. Agents have recorded more 1.5 million illegal migrant encounters across the aforementioned southern border states between October 2022 and June.

“These sanctuary cities and states like New York City, DC, Chicago, New York and Massachusetts exhibit the height of hypocrisy. These Mayors and Governors have loudly proclaimed their sanctuary status all the while chastising the border cities and states for intolerance,” J.J. Carrell, who served as deputy patrol agent in charge for U.S. Border Patrol, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“However, they all now demand that Biden close the borders because they have spent all their resources. Think about that, they spent all their resources on foreign illegal aliens while ignoring the needs of their own residents!”

The latest declaration came from Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Aug. 8 as the state had roughly 5,500 migrants in its care.

“This state of emergency arises from numerous factors, among them federal policies on immigration and work authorization, inadequate production of affordable housing over the last decade, and the end of COVID-era food and housing security programs. The need for action is urgent,” Healey wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a letter pleading for help.

Democratic Denver Mayor Michael Hancock declared a state of emergency Sept. 8 while housing 404 illegal migrants in city emergency shelters.

Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency in September after Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and then-Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey had bused roughly 9,400 migrants from the southern border to the nation’s capital.

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency in October, citing Abbott’s buses arriving to the Big Apple. At that time, the city had received roughly 17,000 migrants.

In total, Abbott has bused more than 30,000 migrants to sanctuary cities and states across the country, he said in a Thursday tweet.

“Our social services and our values are being exploited by others for political gain. New Yorkers are angry, I am angry too. We have not asked for this. There was never any agreement to take on the job of supporting thousands of asylum seekers. This responsibility was simply handed to us without warning as buses began showing up,” Adams said at the time.

Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made an emergency declaration Sept. 14 after Abbott had bused roughly 500 migrants to his state, followed by then-Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot in May with the arrival of roughly 8,000 migrants.

Meanwhile, Abbott continues to put the blame on the Biden administration to solve the issue stemming from the southern border.

“We will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities until Biden does his job & secures the border,” Abbott said Thursday.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

US and World News

China criticizes visit of ‘troublemaker’ Taiwan VP to US

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

By Ryan Woo and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China on Sunday condemned a brief U.S. visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he was a separatist and “troublemaker through and through,” and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty, drawing a rebuke from Taipei.

Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s next president at elections in January, arrived in New York late on Saturday for what was officially billed as a transit stopover on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Lai’s trip, which includes another stopover in San Francisco on Wednesday on his way home.

The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is its most important international backer and arms supplier and is required by U.S. law to provide the island with means to defend itself.

Washington walks a fine line in allowing such stopovers by Taiwanese officials, telegraphing support for Taiwan without unduly angering China, which views them as provocative moves toward independence.

China’s foreign ministry in a statement issued shortly after Lai landed in New York said it opposed any form of visit by “Taiwan independence separatists” to the United States.

“Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through,” the ministry said.

Taiwan is the “core of China’s core interests” and facts have shown again and again that the reason for the rise in tensions in the Taiwan Strait is Taiwan trying to “rely on the United States to seek independence,” it said.

“China is closely following developments and will take resolute and vigorous measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.

Taiwan’s China-policymaking Mainland Affairs Council said China was the real troublemaker, pointing to its standoff this month with the Philippines in the South China Sea and continued military harassment of Taiwan, among other actions.

“Our government firmly defends national sovereignty and security, guards the lines of defence of democracy and freedom, and will never back down, let alone capitulate,” the council said in a statement.

China especially dislikes Lai, who has previously described himself as a “practical worker for Taiwan independence,” though he has repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he is not seeking to change the status quo and that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

MILITARY DRILLS EXPECTED

Lai, greeted by supporters waving flags as he arrived at his New York hotel, posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was “looking forward to seeing friends and attending transit programs in New York.”

Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan, on X said she would meet Lai in San Francisco.

China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lai’s U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of next year’s election and make them “fear war,” Taiwanese officials say.

The Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army, which is responsible for the area around Taiwan, on Sunday posted on its WeChat account a short video of fighter jets practicing dog fights at an undisclosed location.

It said its forces had recently been engaged in “high-intensity flight training.”

Lai’s stopovers come as Beijing and Washington are trying to improve relations.

That includes a possible U.S. visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which could pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s leader Xi Jinping this year.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Jeenah Moon in New York; Editing by William Mallard and Jamie Freed)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Breaking News New York City News New York News Police Blotter

72-Year-Old Assaulted on 9th Avenue

by Leo Canega August 13, 2023

By Leo Canega

NEW YORK CITY, NY – A call for public assistance has been issued by the New York City Police Department concerning an assault on an elderly individual.

On Wednesday, July 26th, at about 10:23 PM, a 72-year-old man was sitting in front of 117 9th Avenue.

He was approached by an unknown male who initiated a conversation before striking the older man in the face.

Following the assault, the suspect fled into 117 9th Avenue. EMS promptly transported the victim to Lenox Health Greenwich Village where he remains in stable condition.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned male, roughly 5’8” in height, with a slim build. At the time, he was wearing multicolored shorts and black slippers, and was shirtless.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

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Man Jumped by Group Inside Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center Subway Station

by Adam Devine August 13, 2023

By Adam Devine

NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying three individuals in connection to an assault incident.

On Saturday, July 29th, around 11:50 PM, a 31-year-old male was in the mezzanine of the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center subway station. He was approached and subsequently assaulted by the three unidentified men, who then fled onto a northbound 3 train.

The first of the trio is described as a slim male with a dark complexion. His attire at the time consisted of a black hat labeled “Psycho”, a black vest, and blue jeans.

The second is a male of medium complexion and build, recognizable by long braided hair and tattoos on his neck and left forearm. He was dressed in a dark-colored headscarf, a white tank top, and gray jeans and was carrying a black shoulder bag.

The third male also has a medium complexion and build, with long braided hair. He was last seen in a white tank top and black jeans.

Man Jumped by Group Inside Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center Subway Station

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Opinion - Editorial Politics Top Headlines Trending News US and World News

DEROY MURDOCK: Timeline Of Ukrainian Pay-To-Play Scheme Confirms Bidens’ Corruption

by The Daily Caller August 13, 2023

By The Daily Caller

DEROY MURDOCK: Timeline Of Ukrainian Pay-To-Play Scheme Confirms Bidens’ Corruption

Deroy Murdock on August 13, 2023

The Biden crime family’s multi-million-dollar bribery and money-laundering operation has more moving parts than an 80-year-old grandfather clock. Even newsaholics find it tough to follow this scandal’s interlocking meetings, phone calls, trade junkets, wire transfers, and shady characters with unpronounceable names. As just-appointed Special Counsel David Weiss soon will learn – unlike “White House aides break into Democrat headquarters” – capturing the Bidens’ shakedowns requires more than one bumper sticker.

Thankfully, the House Government Oversight Committee has ridden to the rescue. The Bidens’ Influence Peddling Timeline vividly illustrates the assorted crooks who paid Hunter Biden, his associates, and eight of his relatives (including Joe Biden’s grandchild, niece, and nephew) at least $21,342,300 for access to “the Big Guy,” the former VP and now POTUS. Indeed, Fox News reports, Joe met with at least 14 of Hunter’s hoodlums.

This online timeline makes it easier to track specific favors purchased from the Bidens with cash from China, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Ukraine. It specifically demonstrates how tightly the gears and springs were connected as Hunter and Joe Biden defended their Ukrainian paymasters.

May 12, 2014: “Burisma announces Hunter Biden joined its board of directors,” the timeline explains. This Ukrainian oil and gas company paid Hunter $1 million per year. This far exceeded 2014’s median total board-member compensation of $31,500 at the 235 companies in 35 nations and 31 industries that Lodestone Global surveyed.

Hunter was a self-confessed crackhead, with zero experience in energy, Eastern Europe in general or Ukraine in particular. He previously told his business partner, Devon Archer, that his added value “has nothing to do with me and everything to do with my last name.”

Joe Biden spearheaded U.S. policy toward Ukraine. How convenient! This explains why Burisma Holdings placed a hard-drug addict on its board and paid him 3,174% of Lodestone Global’s benchmark.

March 20, 2015: “Hunter Biden organizes a business dinner at Café Milano in Washington, D.C. where he has his father to stop by the dinner to meet a high level Burisma official, Vadym Pozharskyi.” Whether these two discussed business or the weather, the message was clear: Hunter could summon the vice president of the United States for a meeting, had his full attention, and was worth every hryvnya that Burisma paid him.

November 2: “Vadym Pozharskyi suggests high level U.S. officials come to Ukraine and talk with Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin and President Petro Poroshenko about Mykola Zlochevsky’s investigations,” the timeline states. “Prosecutor General Shokin was investigating Burisma and Burisma’s owner, Zlochevsky, for fraud.”

This was precisely the heat from which Burisma wanted the Bidens’ shield. “He [Shokin] was a threat” to Burisma, Archer told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

November 6: “Amos Hochstein, a high-level U.S. government official working in the Obama-Biden Administration, meets with Hunter Biden and discusses Burisma.”

November 11: “Amos Hochstein meets with Vice President Biden in the West Wing.”

November 12: “Amos Hochstein calls Hunter Biden.”

November 13: “Vice President Biden announces trip to Ukraine to take place the first week of December 2015.”

November 14: “Vadym Pozharskyi emails Hunter Biden confirmation that the Vice President will be traveling to Ukraine.”

December 7: “Vice President Biden arrives in Ukraine, where he demands Prosecutor General Shokin be fired if Ukraine wants $1 billion in International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans.”

December 9: “Vice President Biden departs Ukraine and gets a commitment from President Poroshenko that Prosecutor General Shokin will be fired.”

December 17: “Vice President Biden hosts a holiday party at the Vice Presidential residence, which Amos Hochstein and Hunter Biden both attend.”

January 20, 2016: “Vice President Biden meets with President Poroshenko in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum where Biden reinforced the linkage between the loan guarantee and the necessary reforms.”

February 4: “Mykola Zlochevsky gives Hunter Biden unspecified, extravagant birthday gifts.”

February 11: “Vice President Biden and President Poroshenko conduct a call.”

February 16: “President Poroshenko asks Prosecutor General Shokin to resign.”

February 18: “Vice President Biden calls President Poroshenko to thank him for calling on Prosecutor General Shokin to resign.”

February 19: “President Poroshenko says he received Prosecutor General Shokin’s letter of resignation.”

March 29: “Ukranian Parliament approves President Poroshenko’s firing of Prosecutor General Shokin.”

January 23, 2018: “I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars,” Biden recalled telling President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arsenyi Yatsenyuk in Kiev on December 9, 2015. As he bragged on camera at the Council on Foreign Relations: “I looked at them and said: ‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money.’ Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.”

“I think Burisma would have gone out of business if it didn’t have the brand attached to it,” Archer told House investigators on July 30. He elaborated that “the brand” terminology arose “In the context of the Biden family.” Archer added that he meant “No one else in the Biden family. It was Hunter Biden and him.” – Joe Biden.

As if pitching new business, Hunter once boasted that “the Bidens are the best” at delivering results for their high-dollar clients. Who could disagree? Even the president’s critics must admire the Bidens’ world-class customer service.

Deroy Murdock is a Manhattan-based Fox News contributor.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

Breaking News Community News

Burlington Police Participate at Coach O’S Camp

by Phil Stilton August 13, 2023

By Phil Stilton

BURLINGTON, NJ – The Burlington City Police Department (BCPD) demonstrated its commitment to local youth by supporting last week’s “Coach O’s Camp,” organized through the Opportunity League and community partners.

BCPD took part in the event by covering the registration costs for youth from both Burlington City and Edgewater Park Township. The support enabled young participants to attend the camp and the Youth Summer League, which concluded two weeks ago.Sgt. Robert O’Brien, Ptl. Najah Pruden, and SRO Earl McQuarry represented the police department at the camp, helping with instruction and youth interaction. Their involvement was praised by the BCPD, thanking them for their dedicated efforts in connecting with the community.Further appreciation was extended to Coach O, Chief Brett Evans from Edgewater Park PD, and all partners involved in making the event a reality.

August 13, 2023 0 comments

US and World News

Attack on Iran’s shrine kills at least one, injures several people – official

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) -An attack on a Shi’ite Muslim shrine in Iran’s southern city of Shiraz killed at least one person on Sunday, a local official told state TV, adding that one person had been arrested.

Iranian state media earlier reported that at least four people had been killed in the attack.

“It happened around 19:00 local time (15:30 GMT) … an armed terrorist entered the Shrine area and started shooting … he was arrested,” said Mohammad Hadi Imaniyeh, the governor of Fars province.

“One person was killed in the attack.”

At least seven people were wounded, including two workers at the shrine and two pilgrims, and shops in the area had been closed. State TV said the shrine area had been cordoned off by security forces.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine, which state news agency IRNA said had been carried out by terrorists. Islamic State last October said it had launched an attack on the shrine in which 15 people were killed.

Islamic state has claimed previous attacks in Iran, including the deadly twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Iran’s parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Videos on Iranian state media showed panicked worshippers running to find their relatives and bloodied clothes left in the aftermath of the attack.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Nick Macfie and Ros Russell)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

US and World News

Jordanian army downs drone from Syria carrying meth – state news agency

by Reuters August 13, 2023

By Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Jordanian military on Sunday downed a drone carrying crystal meth that was flying into Jordanian territory from neighbouring Syria, the state news agency Petra reported.

War-torn Syria has become a hub for a multi-billion-dollar drugs trade, with Jordan a main transit route to the oil-rich Gulf states for a Syrian-made amphetamine known as captagon, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington say.

Citing a source within the Jordanian armed forces, the state agency said in a statement the drone was “taken control of and downed”.

The Jordanian military has previously downed drones from Syria carrying narcotics or weapons but has rarely identified seized drugs as crystal meth.

Military and security officials from Jordan and Syria have met to discuss ways to curb the growing smuggling problem. Despite pledges by Damascus, Jordan says it has not seen any real attempt to clamp down on the illicit trade.

There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities. In an interview last week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied Syria’s role in the drug trade, saying that ending narcotics smuggling was a common interest that Syria shares with Arab countries.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Ros Russell)

August 13, 2023 0 comments

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