Oregon's heat wave death toll reaches 107 in 'mass casualty' event
Oregon's record-breaking heat wave reached a death toll of 107 on Tuesday, according to officials.
The victims range in age from 37 to 97, according to the Oregon State Medical Examiner, as the state has been reeling from scorching triple-digit temperatures from June 25 to June 30.
So far, 67 deaths -- more than half the state's heat wave-related deaths -- were reported in Multnomah County, prompting the county to call it a "mass casualty event." The county's victims ranged in age from 44 to 97.
Multnomah County health officials said in a news release the suspected cause of all the deaths is hyperthermia -- the condition of having a body temperature well above normal. So far, 40 have been formally ruled hyperthermia deaths, and the rest are yet to be officially ruled.
Some of the dead were found inside their homes without air conditioning or fans, according to local ABC affiliate KATU. Portland recorded a high of 116 on Monday, June 28.
An excessive heat warning was in effect the weekend of the wave from the National Weather Service, and the weekend set records for hottest days in history in multiple cities.
Source-ABC
Haitian President Jovenel Moise killed in attack at his home, country now in state of emergency
Haitian President Jovenel Moise (JOVE'-nel mo-WEES') was killed in an attack at his home before dawn on Wednesday, the country's interim premier said.
A group of unidentified individuals raided Moise's private residence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, at around 1 a.m. local time. They gunned down the 53-year-old head of state and wounded his wife, Martine Moise, who was airlifted to an American hospital, according to a statement from Haitian interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph.
Joseph, who condemned what he called a "hateful, inhumane and barbaric act," said that the Caribbean country's national police force and military had the situation under control and declared a state of emergency.
Reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, Haiti has also been in the midst of a constitutional crisis as Moise and opposition leaders disputed the end of his five-year presidential term and legislative elections remained interminably delayed.
The assailants, who remain at large, were "well-trained commandos" who were speaking Spanish and most likely came from outside Haiti, according to Bocchit Edmond, (BOE'-sheet ed-MOANED') Haiti's ambassador to the U.S. Edmond said the Haitian government had video evidence of the group speaking Spanish. He also said they claimed to be agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which Edmond rejected.
The group was "highly trained and heavily armed," according to Joseph, who called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting and an international investigation into the attack.
Haiti has been in a state of chaos for months now, with frequent gunfire and street skirmishes between armed groups, political demonstrations and strikes, and a coronavirus wave never brought under control. Cases of the virus were as high last month as they were one year ago, and the country has yet to distribute a single vaccine dose or receive any shipments from COVAX, the international program to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.
Source-ABC
Mariah Carey settles $3M lawsuit with ex-assistant accused of blackmailing her
Mariah Carey can officially shake off some of her legal woes. The singer has settled the $3 million lawsuit levied against her ex-assistant, Lianna “Azarian” Shakhnazarian, for alleged trying to blackmail her.
The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019, was closed out on Wednesday by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Andrew Borrok, who simply wrote "Case settled," Page Six reports. The terms of the settlement were not made public.
Carey, 51, accused her former assistant, who was fired in 2017, of betrayal and blackmail -- claiming that Shakhnazarian secretly filmed her during personal activities and then threatened to release them if she didn't pay her $8 million. The pop star also claimed that a non-disclosure agreement that Shakhnazarian signed when she was hired in 2015 was violated.
THE WEATHER REPORT
GENERAL SITUATION: OUTFLOW FROM TROPICAL STORM ELSA WILL SUPPORT SOME CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE NORTHERN ISLANDS…MEANWHILE A HIGH-PRESSURE RIDGE CONTINUES TO GENERATE MODERATE TO FRESH BREEZES.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: MARINERS AND RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY. EXPECT LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AND FLOOD-PRONE AREAS ESPECIALLY DURING PROLONGED RAINFALL EVENTS…THERE REMAINS THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN SHORELINES OF ALL ISLANDS.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER:VARIABLY CLOUDY, HOT, AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. MAINLY FAIR AND WARM IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT …EXPECT GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS, GUSTY AT TIMES.
SEAS: 4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN, HIGHER IN GUSTS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 91°F 33°C
HEAT INDEX 102°F 39°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 77°F 25°C
SUNSET: 8:02PM MOONSET: 5:25PM
SUNSET: 6:26AM WED MOONRISE: 4:17AM WED.
LOW TIDE: 12:02PM LOW TIDE: 1:01AM WED
HIGH TIDE: 6:31PM HIGH TIDE: 6:42AM WED
WEATHER OUTLOOK: VARIABLY CLOUDY, HOT, AND BREEZY IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. PARTLY SUNNY, HOT AND BREEZY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WITH A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO.
4 additional bodies found after remaining building demolished in Surfside, Florida
Search and rescue teams have recovered four additional bodies in the pile of rubble from a collapsed building in Surfside, Florida, following the demolition of the remaining building, according to officials.
First responders were able to search in areas previously inaccessible due to the instability of the portion of Champlain Towers South that still stood following the partial collapse on June 24, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters at a press conference Monday morning.
Three bodies were recovered in the morning and an additional body was found in the afternoon, according to officials.
The death toll now stands at 28, with 117 still unaccounted for, Levine Cava said. The newly accessible areas were likely where a lot of the master bedrooms were located, where people were sleeping, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters.
While the demolition was critical to expanding the search for bodies closer to the standing building, it was also necessary as Tropical Storm Elsa approached the U.S. with winds that "could have brought it down in a matter that could not have been as controlled or predicted," the mayor said.
Officials said it was too dangerous for survivors to enter the building to retrieve their belongings, DeSantis said.
Levine Cava emphasized that search and rescue crews "took every action we possibly could" to search for pets that remained in the building prior to the demolition. Multiple full sweeps of the building, which included searches in hiding places such as closets and under beds, were conducted "at great risk to first responders," the mayor said.
Source-ABC
Busta Rhymes hints at dropping new music with Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller, Diddy and more
Busta Rhymes is back in the studio working on new music with some of his longtime friends and collaborators.
According to Instagram, the legendary emcee recently linked up with R&B singer Chris Brown, who recruited Busta for his 2011 song, "Look at Me Now."
"The Dragon x @chrisbrownofficial. It’s been a long time. Just know," Busta wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two posing next to a Lamborghini. It's unclear whether or not the two connected on a new track, but their relationship seems to be in good standing.
In another post, Busta posed with his "Pass the Courvoisier Part II" collaborator Sean "Diddy" Combs and Louisville singer Bryson Tiller. "As we celebrate Life, we hear yall talkin'... Stay tuned," Busta wrote in the caption.
Yet Busta seems more excited about a forthcoming track with Verzuz co-founder and producer Swizz Beatz. The two have collaborated on numerous songs over the years, including 2006’s "New York ***."
"Brand New Dragon x @therealswizzz. Y’all in trouble! Stay tuned!" Busta wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of himself and his friends in the studio.
"The world has never heard it until now," said Swizz, before playing a snippet of their new record. "Wait until they hear them other joints," he added in the comments.
Busta's ninth album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, was released last October. It peaked at #7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Albums chart -- five spots higher than his third album, Extinction Level Event: The Final World Font.
Source--ABC
Russia hacking claims pose challenge for President Biden
In Geneva last month, US President Joe Biden tried set some ground rules for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
He said cyber attacks on critical infrastructure were "off limits".
"I looked at him and said how would you feel if ransomware took on the pipelines from your oil fields? He said it would matter," Mr Biden said,
He went on to say that if Russia violated these "basic norms" the US would retaliate.
The events of the last few days will test that claim.
On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Synnex, a third-party provider used by the Republican National Committee (RNC), had been breached last week.
In a statement, the RNC Chief of Staff Richard Walters said he did not believe the hackers had infiltrated its systems.
The "supply chain" hack (where a company that provides IT functions to many other companies is hacked) followed another large-scale attack that was revealed on Friday.
In a statement, the RNC Chief of Staff Richard Walters said he did not believe the hackers had infiltrated its systems.
The "supply chain" hack (where a company that provides IT functions to many other companies is hacked) followed another large-scale attack that was revealed on Friday.
This time ransomware was used to infiltrate IT company Kaseya and its clients. Early estimates suggests that hundreds of businesses had their data scrambled in the hack.
The attacks were different in style, but shared one crucial similarity. They were both linked to Russia.
REvil, a prolific, Russia-linked cybercrime syndicate, took credit for the attack revealed on Friday.
The hackers demanded $70 million to restore the affected businesses' data.
The attempted hack on the RNC was reportedly undertaken by a group known as Cozy Bear. If that name sounds familiar, it's because they were accused of breaching the Democratic National Committee in 2016.
They've also been linked to the huge SolarWinds hack that infiltrated a slew of government agencies - revealed in December.
On Tuesday Joe Biden told reporters that the Kaseya attack "appears to have caused minimal damage to US businesses, but we're still gathering information".
Source-BBC
PREMIER MISICK APPOINTED CHAIR OF CDB BOARD
The Premier and Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade Honourable Charles Washington Misick was appointed as Chairman of the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Board of Governors for the year 2021 – 2022 at the Bank’s 51st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors held virtually on June 15 - July 1 2021.
The Premier commenting on the appointment stated, “I am honoured to accept the Chairmanship of the CDB Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022. I note with pride the strategic objectives of CDB’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan to build triple bottom line sustainability and resilience – social, economic and environmental and will work with Bank to this end.
COVID-19 has reminded us that we are our brothers’ keeper in that spirit. I look forward to regular engagement with the bank on the various initiatives to achieve broad-base sustainability, consistent with the carrying capacities of the various jurisdictions.
I would like to record thanks to our outgoing chair for her tenacious leadership, spirit of solidarity, and deep appreciation for our common vulnerabilities and the need to collaborate to find uniquely Caribbean solutions.”
The Turks and Caicos Islands held the post of Chairman of the CBD Board of Governors in 2016-2017 and hosted the 47th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in May 2017.
US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson left out of relay team for Tokyo 2020
Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson will not run in the US Olympic 4x100-metre relay team after she accepted a one-month ban for testing positive for cannabis.
The 21-year-old won the 100m at the US Olympic trials in Oregon in June and earlier this year ran the sixth-fastest time in history.
Supporters of the Texan had hoped she could take part in the relay in Tokyo as the ban expires on 28 June.
But US Athletics announced the full squad on Tuesday, without Richardson.
She said she had used cannabis as a way of coping after the death of her biological mother.
"I apologise for the fact that I didn't even know how to control my emotions or deal with that during that time," she told a US broadcaster on Friday.
Richardson had already suggested she would not be competing in Tokyo.
"I greatly apologise if I let you guys down - and I did. This will be the last time the US comes home without a gold in the 100m," she added.
"I'm 21, I'm very young, I have plenty of Games left in me to compete in and plenty of talent that backs me up because everything I do comes naturally to me, no steroids or anything."
In a statement, USA Track and Field said: "We are incredibly sympathetic toward Sha'Carri Richardson's extenuating circumstances and strongly applaud her accountability.
"All USATF athletes are equally aware of and must adhere to the current anti-doping code, and our credibility as the National Governing Body would be lost if rules were only enforced under certain circumstances.
"So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha'Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the US Olympic Track & Field team."
The Tokyo Olympics begin on Friday 23 July.
Source-BBC
130 countries back deal on global minimum tax for companies
130 countries have agreed on a global minimum tax backed by President Joe Biden as part of a worldwide effort to keep multinational firms from dodging taxes by shifting their profits to countries with low rates.
The agreement announced on Thursday last is an attempt to address challenges presented by a globalised and increasingly digital world economy in which profits can be relocated across borders and companies can earn online profits in places where they have no taxable headquarters.
The deal calls for a global minimum tax of at least 15 per cent, a key element pushed by Biden as he seeks to raise more revenue for his infrastructure and clean energy plans. Technical details still need to be worked out and it would be at least 2023 before the agreement takes effect.
The agreement, announced by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), also provides for taxing part of the profits of the largest global companies in countries where they do business online but may have no physical presence.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called it “the most important international tax agreement in a century.”
Countries led by France have already started imposing unilateral digital taxes aimed at US tech giants such as Amazon, Google and Facebook; under the deal, they would agree to withdraw those taxes, regarded as unfair trade practices by the US, in favour of the global approach.
The French tax on tech giants prompted retaliatory tariffs under former US President Donald Trump, and France has welcomed the Biden Administration's push to reach a global deal.
“Online giants must pay their faire share of taxes where they have activities,” he said. “There is no reason a small or medium business should pay more taxes than an online giant simply because it's physically present in the country where it carries out its activities.”
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called it a “historic day.”
“For decades, the United States has participated in a self-defeating international tax competition, lowering our corporate tax rates only to watch other nations lower theirs in response,” she said in a statement. “The result was a global race to the bottom: Who could lower their corporate rate further and faster?”
Yellen said lower rates deprived countries of money for infrastructure, education and efforts to fight the pandemic.
Manal Corwin, a tax principal at professional services firm KPMG and a former Treasury Department official, said the deal put together “the big pieces” of an overall agreement, although technical complexities remain to be worked out. She said what was approved was “pretty much the US proposal,” noting that it was “hugely important” for the US to obtain a commitment from other countries to withdraw their unilateral digital taxes.
Under the deal, countries could tax their companies' foreign earnings up to 15 per cent if they go untaxed through subsidiaries in other countries. That would remove the incentive to use accounting and legal schemes to shift profits to low rate countries where they do little or no business, since the profits would be taxed at home anyway. Such tax avoidance practices cost countries between $100 billion and $240 billion in lost revenue annually, according to the OECD.
Not all of the 139 countries that joined the talks signed on to the deal. Ireland's finance ministry said it had “broad support” for the approach used in the agreement but could not agree to the 15 per cent minimum. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said the country's 12.5 per cent rate is a “fair rate.” Ireland said it would “constructively engage” in discussions going forward.
Signers included Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, regarded by economists as tax havens, and major economic powers China and India.
More discussion is expected at the meeting of the G-20 finance ministers in Venice next week, ahead of a final endorsement by the full G-20 summit of country leaders in October. The proposal to tax companies where they have revenue but no physical presence would require countries to sign up for a multilateral convention, while the minimum corporate tax could be adopted by each country through national legislation on a voluntary basis.
Tax experts say that voluntary approach could work if adopted by countries where many multinationals have their headquarters, such as the US and in Europe, by making clear to companies that even if they avoid tax by moving profits to overseas subsidiaries, those profits will be taxed at home up to the minimum.
In the US, Biden has proposed a 21 per cent minimum rate on overseas earnings of big American companies to deter them from shifting profits to tax havens. Biden's US tax must first pass Congress, where the Democratic president has only a narrow majority.
Source-AP