Digital Alaska News

Asia-Pacific Markets Mostly Lower As Yen Inches Near 150 Against U.S. Dollar https://digitalalaskanews.com/asia-pacific-markets-mostly-lower-as-yen-inches-near-150-against-u-s-dollar/ An employee works at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg via Getty Images In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.77% and the Topix shed 0.42%. The Japanese yen reached yet another fresh 32-year low of 149.95 against the greenback. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia declined 1.02%. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.79% and the Kosdaq was 0.96% lower. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.76%. U.S. stocks fell as Treasury yields climbed on Wednesday stateside, with the benchmark 10-year yield touching 4.138%, the highest level since July 23, 2008. The Nasdaq Composite shed 0.85% to close at 10,680.51, while the S&P 500 declined 0.67% to 3,695.16. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 99.99 points, or 0.33%, to finish the day at 30,423.81. — CNBC’s Chery Kang, Jesse Pound and Tanaya Macheel contributed to this report. Hong Kong-listed airlines briefly spike on report China is debating reducing quarantine Hong Kong-listed shares of some Chinese airlines briefly spiked following a Bloomberg report that Chinese officials are debating reducing the quarantine period for inbound travelers. Shortly after the report, China Southern Airlines was up about 3%, Air China was roughly 2% higher and China Eastern Airlines rose more than 1%. The stocks have since pared most of their gains. In Japan, ANA Holdings also gained 1.54% and Japan Airlines traded 1.36% higher. Meanwhile, shares of Cathay Pacific were last more than 2% lower and Korean airlines and travel-related stocks continued to trade roughly 2% lower. –Jihye Lee DoubleLine Capital’s Gundlach says Treasury yields may peak before the end of the year DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach said U.S. Treasury yields “may well be peaking between now and year-end.” “Note how the long end is flat,” he said in a tweet, following a list of current yield levels. “Sign of yield increase exhaustion.” The 10-year Treasury yield ticked up as high as 4.154% after reaching the highest level since July 2008 during the U.S. markets session. It was last at 4.1485%. The 2-year Treasury note last traded at 4.5695% while the 5-year note traded at 4.3712%. –Jihye Lee Oil prices climb in spite of release of U.S. strategic oil supplies Oil prices rallied on Thursday as markets shrugged off announcements that the United States will release more crude from its reserves. Brent crude futures inched up 0.85%, or $0.80 to stand at $92.41 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose more than $1, or 1.45% to $85.55 per barrel. “Upward pressure though is coming from OPEC+ supply cuts and imminent EU sanctions on seaborne imports of Russian oil,” Vivek Dhar from Commonwealth Bank of Australia wrote in a note. He added that the 15 million-barrel release of strategic U.S. oil stockpiles was already expected and is “too small to impact the market.” — Lee Ying Shan Australia’s unemployment rate steady at 3.5% The unemployment rate in Australia for September was unchanged from the previous month at 3.5%, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics – in line with expectations of analysts in a Reuters poll. Diana Mousina, senior economist at AMP Capital, said she expects the unemployment rate to stay in current levels in the near-term before rising next year. “Employment growth would need to slow down significantly to see a rise in the unemployment rate in the short-term,” she wrote in a note. — Abigail Ng CNBC Pro: Taking cover in bonds ahead of a recession? BlackRock says that’s an ‘obsolete’ playbook Recession fears are roiling markets, but the typical playbook of taking cover in sovereign bonds is “obsolete,” says BlackRock. “In this environment, bond vigilantes are back and heralding term premium’s return,” BlackRock said, adding that it’s underweight on government bonds. The asset manager says that investors can still buy other types of bonds, however. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan China keeps benchmark lending rates unchanged China’s central bank left its benchmark lending rates unchanged for a second consecutive month, matching expectations by most analysts in a Reuters poll. The People’s Bank of China said it would hold the one-year loan prime rate at 3.65%, and the five-year rate at 4.30%, according to an announcement. The PBOC earlier in the week also announced it would hold its medium-term policy loan rates steady. —Jihye Lee Tech stocks in Hong Kong plunge, drag down wider index Hong Kong-listed shares of technology companies dropped sharply in early trade, with the Hang Seng Tech index down 4.6% and dragging down the wider Hang Seng index. Heavyweight Alibaba was down 6.12%, while Tencent shed 4.26%. Bilibili plunged 7.75%, while JD.com lost 5.82%. Meituan declined 6.23%. — Abigail Ng Japanese yen nears 150 against the U.S. dollar The Japanese yen edged close to 150 against the greenback, at levels not seen since August 1990. It was last at 149.94 per dollar. The yen hovered around 159.8 levels in April 1990, and last breached 160-levels in December 1986. Japanese officials commented against further weakening of the currency Thursday, with Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki saying the government will take “appropriate steps against excess volatility,” Reuters reported. “Recent rapid and one-sided yen declines are undesirable. We absolutely cannot tolerate excessively volatile moves driven by speculative trading,” he said. –Jihye Lee CNBC Pro: Chip stocks have been down all year — but one looks ‘really inviting’, says fund manager Semiconductor stocks have been beaten down this year, but investors with a longer-term view on the importance of chips to secular trends such as 5G, electrification and artificial intelligence could look to buy the dip. Hedge fund manager David Neuhauser shares one chip stock he likes. Pro subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong Japan’s trade deficit for September narrows slightly Japan’s trade deficit for September was at 2.09 trillion yen ($13.97 billion), according to provisional figures from the government – missing estimated figures by a Reuters poll expecting a deficit of 2.17 trillion yen. The country reported a trade deficit of 2.82 trillion yen in August. Exports for the month of September were at 8.82 trillion yen, while imports were at 10.9 trillion yen. Japan’s trade deficit for the first half of fiscal year 2022-2023 is the largest on record, the finance ministry was quoted as saying in a Reuters report. Japan’s fiscal year starts in April, and the deficit for the April to September period was 11 trillion yen, data showed. — Abigail Ng China’s offshore yuan hits record low overnight The offshore yuan touched a record low of 7.2745 against the dollar overnight as the Communist Party of China’s National Congress continues. The offshore yuan last changed hands at 7.2708 per dollar. “A very large uncertainty is when the Chinese government eases its strict zero-Covid policy,” according to a note by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Analysts wrote that the strict measures are seen to remain until early 2023. “The restrictions will prolong the period of weakness in China’s economy and keep AUD/USD and NZD/USD undervalued for longer and push USD/CNH up to 7.30,” the note said. The risk-sensitive Australian dollar was weaker at $0.6264 early in Asia, while the New Zealand dollar changed hands at $0.5662. — Abigail Ng Investors weigh rising Treasury yields Investors monitored Treasury yields for recession signals Wednesday even as a stronger-than-expected start to earnings season has helped buoy markets this week. Of the 64 companies in the S&P 500 that have posted third-quarter results through Wednesday, 69.4% have beaten expectations, according to FactSet data. Still, surging Treasury yields have helped stocks get back to “real life” on Wednesday, according to comments from LPL Financial’s Quincy Krosby. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose as high as 4.136%, or its highest level since July 2008. “A steady 3-month/10-year inversion would reinforce the Treasury market’s signal that a recession is in the offing, since it has the reputation of predicting a serious economic downturn,” Krosby wrote. — Sarah Min Read More Here

U.S. Has Viewed Wreckage Of Kamikaze Drones Russia Used In Ukraine https://digitalalaskanews.com/u-s-has-viewed-wreckage-of-kamikaze-drones-russia-used-in-ukraine/ The U.S. government has examined the wreckage of Iranian-made drones shot down in Ukraine, deepening its insight into the unmanned craft that Russia has launched in a spate of kamikaze attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure, according to two U.S. officials. Information about the drones’ structure and technology could prove crucial in helping the United States and its Ukrainian allies better identify and ultimately defeat them before they can reach their targets. Officials said the process has been used in the past to study weaponry deployed by Iran’s proxies in conflicts in the Middle East. People interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence collection. The Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in this week’s attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, have targeted power stations and other utilities, killing at least four, authorities there have said. Their use by Russian forces has underscored the growing ties between Moscow and Tehran, alarming Western leaders whose sanctions and other punitive economic measures have drastically undercut the Kremlin’s ability to regenerate its military after eight months of war. The Iranian-made drones are being launched from three Russian military bases in Crimea and another position in Belarus, a Ukrainian official said. Tehran has dispatched advisers to Russian-controlled areas, where they have provided operators with technical instruction. It is unclear how the United States gained access to the drone wreckage, though the Pentagon coordinates closely with Ukraine’s military and maintains a small administrative presence at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. That team is led by a one-star Army general. Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Engine, propeller Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST The Shahed is a large, lumbering aircraft that flies very low and appears to have few metallic parts, making it difficult to detect with radars and other sensors before reaching its target. Examination of the wreckage may help overcome those challenges. The drones’ points of origin pose another challenge, the Ukrainian official said: They are too far for U.S.-supplied rocket artillery to strike, blunting options for destroying the aircraft before they are airborne. Ukraine, which says it has destroyed more than 220 Shahed-136 drones since Sept. 13, appears to be studying the platform, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters this week. Pevkur said it was of regional urgency to learn about the aircraft. “We all have to understand that we all have to put our efforts to that. To understand how it works, and to understand how to take it down,” he said. “Because it’s not only the question of Ukraine at war at the moment, but it’s a question of all of us who are in the situation where we are.” Iran produces a variety of drones and has reportedly supplied them to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, among other groups. The Pentagon believes Iran-allied forces have used them against U.S. military personnel in Syria, including in an August attack at the U.S.-run base at Tanf. The Houthis claimed to have used Samad-3 drones to attack a refinery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last spring, and launched Samad-1 drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in other parts of the country. Those drones are distinct from the weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. In February, the United Arab Emirates was hit by several drone and missile attacks claimed by the Houthis. In a military parade last month in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, the Houthis reportedly displayed a local version of the Shahed-136. Ukraine has asked the United Nations to examine the wreckage, to determine the aircraft’s country of origin. In a letter dated Friday, Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador invited “U.N. experts to visit Ukraine at the earliest possible opportunity to inspect recovered Iran-origin drones.” The letter maintained that Iranian transfers of the drones would violate both U.N. sanctions against Iran and terms of the 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution on the Iran nuclear deal that year. The Council held a closed-door meeting Wednesday to hear “an expert briefing … on recent evidence that Russia illegally procured Iranian UAVs that it is using in its war on Ukraine,” Nate Evans, spokesperson for the American U.N. mission, said in a statement after the session. “These UAVs were transferred from Iran to Russia in open violation of provisions” of the resolution approving the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers. Earlier this week, France and Britain — signers of the deal along with Iran, the United States, Germany, Russia and China — echoed Ukrainian charges that sending the drones to Russia violated a provision prohibiting Iran from transferring unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of more than 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) unless it had specific permission from the council. “As was outlined during today’s meeting,” the statement from Evans said, “there is ample evidence that Russia is using Iranian-made UAVS” in its attacks on Ukraine. “By procuring these weapons in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, Russia continues to flout international law in its pursuit of a senseless and brutal war.” The statement did not indicate any immediate action would be taken, although Evans said “we anticipate this will be the first of many conversations at the U.N. on how to hold Iran and Russia accountable for failing to comply with U.N. Security Council-imposed obligations.” The Shahed loiters in the air until it identifies a target, often a fixed position, and then dives into it, detonating onboard explosives. Unlike bigger reusable drones that fire missiles and return to a base, it flies low and slow. Ukrainians call it “the lawn mower” because of the loud buzzing sound it makes. The distinct noise has served as a warning of its approach, allowing people to scramble for cover and brace for the explosion, which is smaller than the impact caused by conventional ballistic missiles. The drones pose a significant problem, analysts say. Many defensive systems capable of defeating them are costly, are designed mostly for bigger threats like jets and helicopters, and take months or years to produce, limiting how many can be distributed and forcing military planners to prioritize sites deemed most vulnerable. While Ukrainian air defenses have shown some success against the drones, even a few slipping through can cause havoc, said Samuel Bendett, an expert on the Russian military at CNA, a research group. “It’s a demonstration of Russian capability, and now they have cheap plentiful weapons that can constantly remind Ukrainians that their skies are not 100 percent safe,” he said. “It’s a very powerful psychological weapon....

Ga. Southern Student From Atlanta Dies After Being Hit By Plane Propeller On Date https://digitalalaskanews.com/ga-southern-student-from-atlanta-dies-after-being-hit-by-plane-propeller-on-date/ Sani Aliyu, 21, and a woman were passengers in a 2005 Cessna 172S that flew to Statesboro to pick the two up for their first date, authorities said. The pilot and co-pilot were friends of Aliyu and agreed to help him with the date, Bulloch Coroner Jake Futch told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The plane is registered in Brooksville, Florida, which is where the pilots took off. They picked up the couple in Statesboro, flew them to Savannah for dinner and returned to the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport, Futch said. They landed safely around 10:35 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said. Ten minutes later, an incident report shows that the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office was called to the airport to investigate Aliyu’s death. “The girl got off the plane and walked toward the back of the airplane and then he walked toward the front,” Futch said. “When he did that, the propeller hit him twice in the head and once on the left shoulder.” The cause of death was classified as cerebral lacerations, Futch said. Aliyu was pronounced dead at the scene. Aliyu was a sophomore at Georgia Southern studying management and is originally from Nigeria, a university spokesperson said. Futch confirmed that Aliyu lived on Lenox Road in Atlanta. “We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that involved one of our students Sunday night,” Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Aileen Dowell said. “I have already been in touch with his family and professors and we have mobilized all available resources to provide counseling and any other assistance the university can give.” The incident was turned over to the criminal investigations division at the sheriff’s office, but they confirmed it was standard practice for all similar cases to be investigated criminally. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will also be investigating. Read More Here

Deal Digest – October 20, 2022 https://digitalalaskanews.com/deal-digest-october-20-2022/ STATION SALES Miami – Salem Media Group has a struck a $5 million deal to reenter the market with a deal to buy sports WMYM (990) from Adib Eden’s Actualidad Media Group. The deal also includes the Kendall-licensed FM translator W254DT at 98.7 FM. Salem will operate the stations under a time brokerage agreement until closing. This marks a reentry to Miami for Salem which sold off the last of its previous cluster in 2020. Actualidad Radio Group acquired the former “Radio Disney” affiliate WMYM from the Walt Disney Co. in 2015 for $2.1 million. Once the deal closes, Actualidad Radio will continue to own and operate four other signals in South Florida including Spanish News/Talk “Actualidad 1040” WURN, which simulcasts on the Miami-licensed translator W280FV at 103.9 and on WLVJ West Palm Beach (1020); and Spanish CHR “Exitos 107.1” WURN-FM Miami. Miami – Salem Media Group has also filed a $5 million deal to buy Spanish talk “La Poderosa 670” WWFE and Spanish variety “Cadena Azul 1550” WRHC from Fenix Broadcasting. The deal includes the Miami, FL-licensed translator W276DV at 103.1 FM that simulcasts WWFE. And the Miramar, FL-licensed translator W254DV at 98.7 FM that simulcast WRHC. Salem will operate the stations under a time brokerage agreement until closing. Salem says it plans to continue the Spanish broadcasting on both stations. Broker: Jorgenson Broadcast Brokerage Atlanta — Murray Communications has filed a $600,000 deal to buy the currently-silent WMDG (1250) from Northwest Georgia Broadcasting. The deal also includes the East Point, GA-licensed translator W261DL at 100.1 FM. Murray Communications will operate the station under a time brokerage agreement until closing. Chris Murray already owns four stations in the Macon, GA market. Toledo, OH – Relevant Radio has filed a $500,000 deal to buy hot AC “Party 103.3” WPAY (1520) from Rob Austin’s Fusion Radio. The deal also includes the Toledo, OH-licensed translator W231EF at 94.1 FM. Relevant Radio will operate the station under a time brokerage agreement until closing. It gives the religious broadcast a second Ohio market. It already owns WHKZ (1440) in the Youngstown, OH market. Broker: George Kimble, Kozacko Media Services Texarkana, TX — BTC USA Holdings Management has filed a $420,000 deal to buy country “Hot FM” KBYB/KTTY (101.7/105.1), classic rock KCMC (94.3), “107.1 FM The News Talk” KTFS, and gospel KTFS (940) from Frontier Media. The deal also includes five translators including the Texarkana, TX-licensed K254AS at 98.7 FM; the Texarkana, TX-licensed K257FY at 99.3 FM; the Texarkana, TX-licensed K290CP at 105.9 FM; the Texarkana, TX-licensed K288FI at 105.5 FM; and the Texarkana, TX-licensed K300DW at 107.9 FM. In a separate deal, BTC USA Holdings has filed a $60,000 deal to buy adult R&B “Jammin 104.7” KTOY from Frontier Broadcasting. Cliff Dumas-led BTC USA Holdings Management is a consortium that includes his U.S.-based Broadcast 2 Podcast, Canadian broadcaster Local First Media Group, and Canadian financial group Bayfield Harbour Holdings. Dumas owns 80% of the company so a foreign ownership waiver is not needed from the FCC. He is also the morning show host on Owens Broadcasting’s country KUZZ-FM & AM, Bakersfield, CA (107.9, 550). Broker: Clifton Gardiner Alaska — BTC USA Holdings Management has filed a $420,000 deal to buy three stations and eight FM translators from Frontier Media. The full-power stations include hot AC “Mix 106.3” KSUP, AC “Hometown Radio” KINY (800) and classic hits “Greatest Hits 1300” KXXJ. The translators include the Angoon, AK-licensed K280DX at 103.9 FM; the Skagway, AK-licensed K284AM at 104.7 FM; the Haines & Skagway, AK-licensed K279AF at 103.7 FM; the Juneau, AK-licensed K235DA at 94.9 FM; the Juneau, AK-licensed K227DP at 99.3 FM; the Sitka, AK-licensed K272FV at 102.3 FM; the Hoonah, AK-licensed K280ED at 103.9 FM; and the Juneau, AK-licensed K300AB at 107.9 FM. In a separate deal worth $400,000, BTC USA Holdings buys “Gateway Country 106.7” KGTW, CHR “Mix 103.1” KSBZ, country “TAKU 105.1” KTKU, AC KTKN/KIFW (930/1230), and talk KJNO (630) from Frontier Media. The deal also includes six translators including the Ketchikan, AK-licensed K248AI at 97.5 FM; the Ketchikan, AK-licensed K227DQ at 93.3 FM; the Juneau, AK-licensed K278GE at 103.5 FM; the Juneau, AK-licensed K248DQ at 97.5 FM; the Wrangell, AK-licensed K252EJ at 98.3 FM; and the Craig, AK-licensed K258AD at 99.5 FM. Cliff Dumas-led BTC USA Holdings Management is a consortium that includes his U.S.-based Broadcast 2 Podcast, Canadian broadcaster Local First Media Group, and Canadian financial group Bayfield Harbour Holdings. Dumas owns 80% of the company so a foreign ownership waiver is not needed from the FCC. He is also the morning show host on Owens Broadcasting’s country KUZZ-FM & AM, Bakersfield, CA (107.9, 550). Broker: Clifton Gardiner Winchester, VA — Darrin Jones’ Euclid Avenue Properties has filed a $250,000 deal to buy hot AC “105.5 Wink FM” WINC-FM from Metro Radio. Jones does not own any other radio stations but he owns a funeral home in the area. Metro Radio bought WINC-FM and gospel WKDV-FM (104.9) for $225,000 last December. Georgia — Community Public Radio has filed a $5,950 deal to buy WNBA, Milledgeville, GA (89.3) from Truth Media. The sale replaces an earlier filing that would have seen Truth Media donate the construction permit to Community Public Radio in exchange for any money the public radio operator had advanced to Truth Media to secure the construction permit. It will become the second Georgia station for Community Public Radio, which already owns easy listening WNEE, Patterson, GA (88.1). Ohio – Strong Tower Christian Media has filed an $8,500 deal to buy a construction permit for a Class A station licensed to Portsmouth, OH at 90.5 FM from TBTA Ministries. Broker: Bryan Fowler, Fowler Media Partners TRANSLATOR SALES Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, CA– El Sembrador Ministries has filed a $10,000 deal to buy the Tularcitos & Carmel, CA-licensed translator K247BL at 97.3 FM from Monterey County Broadcasters. El Sembrador Ministries plans to simulcast Spanish religious KKMC (880) on the translator. Broker: Sandi Bergman Read More Here

Races To Oversee Elections Draw An Avalanche Of Spending https://digitalalaskanews.com/races-to-oversee-elections-draw-an-avalanche-of-spending/ This combination of photos shows Arizona Republican Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem on Sept. 22, 2022, in Phoenix, left, and Adrian Fontes, Democratic Secretary of State candidate on July 29, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo) By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY Associated Press In 2018, Democrat Katie Hobbs spent $1 million in campaign funds running to become Arizona’s secretary of state, narrowly besting Republican Steve Gaynor, who spent $3.2 million in what was the most expensive race in state history for the post that oversees elections. The record stood for less than four years. This year’s candidates for the state’s top election position have already matched that total and will certainly eclipse it by Election Day on Nov. 8. Arizona is hardly an exception. It’s just a dramatic example of how races for secretary of state, once sleepy affairs that attracted relatively little attention or campaign money, have become high-priced, partisan battles. In most states, the secretary of state is the official who oversees voting — an increasingly critical position after former President Donald Trump and his backers began spreading election falsehoods and targeting the offices by encouraging sympathetic candidates to run. Nationwide, spending on secretary of state races has set a historical record, said Michael Beckel, research director of Issue One, which is tracking races in which people who embrace Trump’s election lies are trying to gain control of the state offices that oversee elections. “Clearly, people across the political spectrum are taking a new interest in secretary of state races in light of what happened in 2020, and both sides see these positions as critical,” Beckel said. In Arizona, with Republican Hobbs now running for governor, Democrat Adrian Fontes has reported raising more than $2.4 million so far for the election to replace her as secretary of state. Records show his Republican opponent, state Rep. Mark Finchem, has raised more than $1.8 million. To some, the escalating interest in these posts highlights risks to the United States’ unique election system, which is overseen by politicians elected in partisan races. “The increasing polarization has intensified the vulnerability of the system,” said Kevin Johnson of the Election Reformers Network, which advocates for less partisan elections. “You used to be able to rely on a structure that didn’t require high ethics from officials, but managed to produce that anyway.” Now, Johnson warned, Trump supporters believe there are few explicit restraints on secretaries of state. He said that’s in contrast to most other democratic countries, where nonpartisan institutions such as appointed panels rather than elected politicians oversee voting. “No other democracy elects its election leaders,” Johnson said. Read More Here

Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Restricts Power Use; ‘abundant Evidence’ Russia Using Iranian Drones, Says US – Live https://digitalalaskanews.com/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-restricts-power-use-abundant-evidence-russia-using-iranian-drones-says-us-live/ “,”elementId”:”d00ed995-dce0-46d5-a37a-41041d1fae5c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” The Russian-installed head of the key southern city Vladimir Saldo spoke of plans to move up to 60,000 people across the Dnieper River and into Russia over the next six days – at a rate of 10,000 people each day. “,”elementId”:”15293b33-65e5-4716-b763-51cf150ac4c2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” “We are not going to surrender the city,” he said in a nationally televised interview on Wednesday. “,”elementId”:”ca42d26b-9879-4a27-b007-35687973d2cd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Images of people using boats to flee the city were broadcast by Russian state TV. “,”elementId”:”9b27f66c-1bc9-4b1f-b7ef-fc03bb66722b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.InteractiveBlockElement”,”url”:”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/uploader/embed/2022/10/ukraine_kherson_1910/giv-6562RiLMTrM0BiP2/”,”alt”:”Russia is planning mass removal of civilians from Kherson”,”scriptUrl”:”https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/iframe-wrapper/0.1/boot.js”,”isMandatory”:false,”caption”:”Russia is planning mass removal of civilians from Kherson“,”elementId”:”ba335540-425e-4855-9a08-fead2ae363d1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Ukrainian officials described Russia’s announcements as “a propaganda show” and told people not to comply with the evacuation request. A number have reported receiving mass text messages warning the city would be shelled and informing them that buses would be leaving from the port from 7am on Thursday. “,”elementId”:”461194c1-bfd3-4895-9168-9164499ea629″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, described Russian announcements as “a propaganda show” as Kyiv said the population transfers amounted to “deportations”. “,”elementId”:”49c2be8f-405f-43dd-a7c0-75b3ffa96cbe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Ukraine has remained tight-lipped about its operations, though its military said in an early Thursday update on the Kherson region said 43 Russian servicemen had been killed and six tanks and other equipment destroyed. “,”elementId”:”caccdad3-2a99-447c-9cfe-152f57fdbe68″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1666242569000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”01.09 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1666243200000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”01.20 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1666243201000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”01.20 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”01.20″,”title”:”Russia begins “resettlement” of civilians in Kherson”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 20 Oct 2022 01.20 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 20 Oct 2022 00.16 EDT”},{“id”:”6350cfdc8f08032b8dcac417″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Leaders of the 27 European Union countries are set to meet later today to discuss options for more support to Ukraine, including energy equipment, helping restore power supply and long-term financing to rebuild. “,”elementId”:”9700f6d0-65d7-44fe-8ef2-c18c29ffa18a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” The leaders are also expected to back an alternative price benchmark for liquefied natural gas and joint gas buying, after earlier agreeing to cut consumption and introduce levies on windfall profits in the energy industry. “,”elementId”:”f3eaa72c-79dd-41d6-9578-fd05ad4d73f9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” However they remain as split on whether and how to cap gas prices to stem high inflation and stave off recession, after Russia cut gas flows. “,”elementId”:”cfc66bdb-1b16-4224-a229-a5cf2c22c9cc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” While 15 countries including France and Poland push some form of a cap, they face strong opposition from Germany and the Netherlands – respectively Europe’s biggest economy and gas buyer, and a major European gas trading hub. “,”elementId”:”691441b4-69d0-4eb5-a868-9fa965e6afb4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” “An agreement is extremely unlikely… Opinions seem to be really far apart,” a senior EU diplomat told Reuters ahead of Thursday’s talks. “,”elementId”:”f150cbad-82b9-4124-8242-a812ab3fe8ea”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1666240476000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”00.34 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1666242040000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”01.00 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1666242041000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”01.00 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”01.00″,”title”:”EU summit to discuss energy support for Ukraine”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 20 Oct 2022 01.20 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 20 Oct 2022 00.16 EDT”},{“id”:”6350c6318f08eb546778ae98″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Russia has been targeting Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136 “kamikaze drones”, rebranded as Geran-2, Ukraine and its allies allege. “,”elementId”:”993b75c9-18ac-419c-a20a-9de6505e54f4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Moscow has acquired up to 2,400 of the drones, according to Ukraine, and is using them as cheaper substitutes to hit the energy targets and strike fear into civilians. “,”elementId”:”9215d609-1f26-4229-b9d0-39eebb8fff82″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Iran denies supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said he did not have any information about their origin. “Russian equipment with Russian names is being used,” Peskov said. “,”elementId”:”e7c12c15-70bc-4c7a-936a-4fabbec4a05f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Ukraine, experts and western governments believe the Gerans are rebranded Shahed drones, identifiable by their distinctive delta wing shape and from an examination of fragments recovered from the ground. “,”elementId”:”63449b43-d1b5-4d76-b60c-4d0e47aa8bce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” An anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that Russia had asked for more Iranian drones and ballistic missiles with “improved accuracy” when senior officials from Tehran visited Moscow recently. The source said Iran had promised to provide Russia with more drones, citing two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats. “,”elementId”:”9753afb7-ae36-4cbb-8cc7-0966a6a41f3a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1666239371000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”00.16 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1666241216000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”00.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1666241216000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”00.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”00.46″,”title”:”Iran denies supplying Russian troops with drones”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 20 Oct 2022 01.20 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 20 Oct 2022 00.16 EDT”},{“id”:”6350bfee8f08032b8dcac395″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” The United States, Britain and France have said there is “abundant evidence” Russia is using Iranian drones to strike civilians in Ukraine during a meeting of the UN security council on Wednesday. “,”elementId”:”9700e70d-4e62-45c1-a964-cc0ce786ddc2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” US state department spokesperson Ned Price said in a tweet late on Wednesday evening: “,”elementId”:”de75488d-4d15-4864-a9a3-86952f58613b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:” n Although Iran continues to lie, the world is aware that Russia uses Iranian drones to attack Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.” n “,”elementId”:”396eefdb-6d94-4b8a-a5ea-2f7131591003″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” A statement later published by the US state department read: “,”elementId”:”ef0b5791-ab06-4ea2-861f-48577e1d2c4b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:” n We expressed our grave concerns about Russia’s acquisition of these UAVs from Iran. n We now have abundant evidence that these UAVs are being used to strike Ukrainian civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. n We will not hesitate to use our sanctions and other appropriate tools on all involved in these transfers.” n “,”elementId”:”ef8f3475-e691-49de-915e-c636178c63d1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:” .@UN Security Council was briefed on evidence of UAV transfers from Iran to Russia violating UNSCR 2231. Although Iran continues to lie, the world is aware that Russia uses Iranian drones to attack Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. https://t.co/C8WCJeb0aK — Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) October 20, 2022 n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/StateDeptSpox/status/1582903416073748481″,”id”:”1582903416073748481″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”1af0cff6-35d1-479f-b395-f886e88ed078″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s secretary general, said member countries would “step up” and deliver more air defences to help stabilise the situation. “Nato will in the coming days deliver counter-drone systems to counter the specific threat ...

Federal Judge Orders Former Trump Attorney To Release Emails To Jan. 6 Committee https://digitalalaskanews.com/federal-judge-orders-former-trump-attorney-to-release-emails-to-jan-6-committee/ A federal judge has ordered John Eastman, a former attorney for former President Donald Trump, to turn over a number of emails to the House Jan. 6 Committee. The judge determined that some of the emails showed that Trump had signed documents he knew to be false. Judge David O. Carter’s order on Wednesday is part of ongoing litigation between Eastman and the House Jan. 6 Committee over emails that it had subpoenaed from Eastman. Eastman asserted that emails from an account he used while he was dean at Chapman University are covered by either attorney-client and/or work product privilege. Carter was reviewing the emails that the Jan. 6 Committee has sought from this university email account to see whether the privilege assertions apply. Carter, a nominee of President Bill Clinton, determined that out of 536 documents protected by attorney-client or work-product privilege, eight of those documents should be disclosed under the “crime-fraud exception,” which extinguishes both attorney-client and work-product privileges. He ordered these to be turned over to the Jan. 6 Committee. Per the court document: “The crime-fraud exception applies when (1) a ‘client consults an attorney for advice that will serve [them] in the commission of a fraud or crime,’ and (2) the communications are ‘sufficiently related to’ and were made ‘in furtherance of’ the crime.’” Carter said the exception applies “only to documents and communications that were themselves in furtherance of illegal or fraudulent conduct.” “The Court concludes that the crime-fraud exception applies to a number of emails related to President Trump and Dr. Eastman’s (1) court efforts to delay or disrupt the January 6 vote; and (2) their knowing misrepresentation of voter fraud numbers in Georgia when seeking to overturn the election results in federal court,” the order on Wednesday states. Four of the eight emails were documents “in which Dr. Eastman and other attorneys suggest that—irrespective of the merits—the primary goal of filing [lawsuits] is to delay or otherwise disrupt the January 6 vote,” Carter wrote, adding, “The Court finds that these four documents are sufficiently related to and in furtherance of the obstruction crime.” Another four emails, Carter wrote, “demonstrate an effort by President Trump and his attorneys to press false claims in federal court for the purpose of delaying the January 6 vote.” “The evidence confirms that this effort was undertaken in at least one lawsuit filed in Georgia,” the judge added. Specifically, Carter cited allegations from Trump’s attorneys on Dec. 4, 2020, in Georgia state court that Fulton County in Georgia had improperly counted “a number of votes including 10,315 deceased people, 2,560 felons, and 2,423 unregistered voters.” Carter cited an email Eastman sent Dec. 31, 2020, telling Trump’s attorneys that Trump had since Dec. 1, 2020 “been made aware that some of the allegations (and evidence proffered by the experts)” in the Dec. 1, 2020, Georgia filing “has been inaccurate.” Eastman added: “For him [Trump] to sign a new verification with that knowledge (and incorporation by reference) would not be accurate.” Carter noted that after the message from Eastman, Trump and his attorneys still proceeded to file another legal complaint that had “the same inaccurate numbers” and “without rectifying, clarifying, or otherwise changing them.” “President Trump, moreover, signed a verification swearing under oath that the incorporated, inaccurate numbers ‘are true and correct’ or ‘believed to be true and correct’ to the best of his knowledge and belief,” Carter wrote. “The emails show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public,” the judge said in his order. “The Court finds that these emails are sufficiently related to and in furtherance of a conspiracy to defraud the United States. Accordingly, the Court orders Dr. Eastman to disclose these four communications to the Select Committee.” Representatives for Trump and Eastman did not immediately respond to requests for comment when reached by The Associated Press. Carter in March previously ordered Eastman to turn over a separate batch of 101 emails requested by the Jan. 6 Committee. At the time, he claimed in a ruling that Trump “more likely than not committed obstruction of an official proceeding,” referring to the Jan. 6 joint session to certify the results of the 2020 election, and that Trump likely conspired with Eastman to do it. At the time, Eastman’s attorney said that Eastman “intends to comply with the court’s order,” but that Eastman had “an unblemished record as an attorney and respectfully disagrees with the judge’s findings.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Mimi Nguyen Ly covers world news with a focus on U.S. news. Contact her at mimi.nl@epochtimes.com Read More Here

AP News In Brief At 12:04 A.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-news-in-brief-at-1204-a-m-edt-7/ Putin adds martial law in Ukraine regions, limits in Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Wednesday on his faltering invasion of Ukraine with a declaration of martial law in four illegally annexed regions and preparations within Russia for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns. Putin’s drastic efforts to tighten his grip on Ukrainians and Russians follow a series of embarrassing setbacks: stinging battlefield defeats, sabotage and troubles with his troop mobilization. The martial law order belies the Kremlin’s attempts to portray life in the annexed regions as returning to normal. The reality is that a military administration has replaced civilian leaders in the southern city of Kherson and a mass evacuation from the city is underway as a Ukrainian counteroffensive grinds on. The battle for Kherson, a city of more than 250,000 people with key industries and a major port, is a pivotal moment for Ukraine and Russia heading into winter, when front lines could largely freeze for months. It’s the largest city Russia has held during the war, which began Feb. 24. A trickle of evacuations from the city in recent days has become a flood. Local officials said Wednesday that 5,000 had left out of an expected 60,000. Russian state television showed residents crowding on the banks of the Dnieper River, many with small children, to cross by boats to the east — and, from there, deeper into Russian-controlled territory. ___ First Native American woman in space awed by Mother Earth CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first Native American woman in space said Wednesday she is overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth, and is channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission gets underway. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann said from the International Space Station that she’s received lots of prayers and blessings from her family and tribal community. She is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California. Mann showed off the dream catcher she took up with her, a childhood gift from her mother that she’s always held dear. The small traditional webbed hoop with feathers is used to offer protection, and she said it’s given her strength during challenging times. Years before joining NASA in 2013, she flew combat in Iraq for the Marines. “It’s the strength to know that I have the support of my family and community back home and that when things are difficult or things are getting hard or I’m getting burned-out or frustrated, that strength is something that I will draw on to continue toward a successful mission,” Mann told The Associated Press, which gathered questions from members and tribal news outlets across the country. Mann said she’s always heeded her mother’s advice on the importance of positive energy, especially on launch day. ___ COVID-19 linked to increase in US pregnancy-related deaths WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims, according to a government report released Wednesday. The report lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies. It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80% since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year. The percentage of preterm and low birthweight babies also went up last year, after holding steady for years. And more pregnant or postpartum women are reporting symptoms of depression. “We were already in the middle of a crisis with maternal mortality in our country,” said Karen Tabb Dina, a maternal health researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “This really shows that COVID-19 has exacerbated that crisis to rates that we, as a country, are not able to handle.” The nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office, which authored the report, analyzed pregnancy-related deaths after Congress mandated that it review maternal health outcomes in the 2020 coronavirus relief bill. ___ Arizona refuses US demand to remove containers along border PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona has refused the federal government’s demand to take down double-stacked shipping containers it placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying it won’t do so until the U.S. moves to construct a permanent barrier instead. The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs dug in its heels in an Oct. 18 letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, saying “the containers will remain in place until specific details regarding construction are provided.” It was signed by Allen Clark, the department’s director. A regional spokeswoman for the Bureau of Reclamation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Arizona’s refusal in the most recent flap between the Biden administration and Republican-led border states over immigration policies. The federal agency told Arizona officials in a letter last week that the containers were unauthorized and violated U.S. law. The bureau also demanded that no new containers be placed, saying it wanted to prevent conflicts with two federal contracts already awarded and two more still pending to fill border wall gaps near the Morelos Dam in the Yuma, Arizona, area. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered installation of more than 100 double-stacked containers that were placed over the summer, saying he couldn’t wait for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to award the contracts it had announced for the work. ___ LA Councilman de Leon says he will not resign amid uproar LOS ANGELES (AP) — Embattled Los Angeles Councilman Kevin de Leon said Wednesday he will not resign amid an uproar over a leaked tape that revealed him participating in a meeting in which Latino officials made crude, racist remarks and plotted to expand their political power. The scandal already has led to the resignation of former City Council President Nury Martinez and calls from President Joe Biden for those involved to step down. De Leon told the Univision Spanish-language station that he is “so sorry,” and wants to continue working on homelessness and other problems in his district. The councilman also told KCBS-TV in Los Angeles that he would refuse to resign. “I failed in my leadership,” he said. His statement was immediately criticized by other Council members pushing for his resignation. ___ 3 murder verdicts vacated in case investigated by killer cop NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three men imprisoned since the 1990s for a fatal New Orleans drive-by shooting were ordered freed on Wednesday, their convictions vacated by a judge after prosecutors cited the involvement of two notorioulsy corrupt police officers in their case. Kunta Gable and Leroy Nelson were 17 when they were arrested shortly after the Aug. 22, 1994, shooting death of Rondell Santinac at the Desire housing development in the south Louisiana city. Also arrested with them was Bernell Juluke, then 18. The men were ordered released on Wednesday by a state judge who vacated their convictions, acting upon a joint motion by defense lawyers and District Attorney Jason Williams’ Civil Rights Division. The motion described numerous problems with the original case. Among them, it said, the state failed to disclose evidence undermining the case against the men. The motion also said the jury didn’t know that officers Len Davis and Sammie Williams — the first officers on the scene — were known to cover up the identity of perpetrators and manipulate evidence at murder scenes at the housing project to cover up for drug dealers they protected. ___ Trump deposed in defamation suit filed by E. Jean Carroll NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump answered questions under oath Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist who says he raped her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room. The deposition gave Carroll’s lawyers a chance to interrogate Trump about the assault allegations, as well as statements he made in 2019 when she told her story publicly for the first time. Details on how the deposition went weren’t immediately disclosed. “We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further,” the law firm representing her, Kaplan Hecker & Fink, said in a statement. Trump has said Carroll’s rape allegation is “a hoax and a lie.” ___ In a #MeToo moment, Hollywood figures face season of trials NEW YORK (AP) — The #MeToo movement is having another moment in the spotlight as high-profile sexual assault trials play out in courtrooms from coast to coast. Five years after allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein triggered a wave of sexual misconduct claims in Hollywood and beyond, he and “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson are fighting criminal rape charges at trials down the hall from each other in Los Angeles. In New York, trials are underway in sexual assault lawsuits against actor Kevin Spacey and screenwriter-director Paul Haggis, both Oscar winners. Spacey’s defense rested Wednesday while lawyers for Haggis and his accuser gave opening statements in an adjacent courthouse. All of the men deny the allegations. A forcible touching case against another Academy Award winner, actor Cuba Gooding Jr., wrapped up in New York last week with a guilty plea to a non-criminal harassment violation and no jail time, to the dismay of at least some of his accusers. The confluence is a coincidence, but a striking one, amid a cultural movement that has demanded visibility and accountability. ___ New Zealand farmers hit streets to protest cow-burp tax plan WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Farmers across New...

F-35 Crashes At Hill Air Force Base; Pilot https://digitalalaskanews.com/f-35-crashes-at-hill-air-force-base-pilot/ Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes HILL AIR FORCE BASE — An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet crashed at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday around 6:15 p.m. Officials say the pilot ejected and was recovered by emergency crews. The pilot was taken to a medical center for observation. Brock Thurgood, who owns property in South Weber near the base, said the pilot landed near his property after ejecting. Thurgood said he heard a loud boom and saw smoke, so he got on an all-terrain vehicle to investigate, along with his daughter and two other nearby residents. “We went up there and as we’re driving down the Canal Road … looking for a way to get up there, we looked over and saw him,” Thurgood said. “He was waving his arms and yelling and walking down towards us and it was the pilot. I don’t really think there’s much to say other than that he’s OK, and that’s the most important part.” Thurgood said the pilot was in fairly good shape, and although “his hands were bloodied up and he was a little banged up, he was walking and he was coherent.” “I don’t know how I’d be after I was in a plane crash but he was surprisingly tough,” Thurgood said. “Also, he just seemed like a really good person even having just been through something that was probably crazy to him.” Thurgood said they sat with the pilot until first responders arrived, and helped them navigate the terrain to reach him. All things considered, he said he was impressed that the pilot managed to avoid hitting any of the houses in the area. “He did a dang good job,” Thurgood said. “He got it away from homes, he got it away from people. He was a stud. I just feel like he did a really good job and he was really lucky.” “I do know that the pilot made his best effort to avoid any buildings or anything on the ground prior to ejection, and that resulted in no injuries to anyone on the ground,” said Col. Graig Andrle. The jet crashed at the north end of the runway, according to a tweet from the 388th Fighter Wing, which operates out of Hill Air Force Base. In a later tweet, officials asked civilians to avoid the area where the crash occurred. “Please respect emergency responders and avoid the area of South Weber Drive,” they said. Mitt Nilson, 13, also lives near the crash site, and said he was riding his dirtbike and witnessed the entire crash. He said it started when he noticed smoke coming from the engine of the F-35 above him. “I heard this weird noise so I looked up, I looked around and I saw this plane with just smoke pouring out of it,” Nilson said. Nilson said he saw the pilot land in a tree on a nearby property, seconds before the plane went down. He said he saw “parts flying everywhere, parts of the wings, parts of the cockpit and then just fire.” He said he was glad to hear the pilot survived. “I’m just really grateful that they actually have the guts to go and do that,” Nilson said. Utah Fire Info tweeted that a downed military aircraft sparked an 8- to 10-acre fire on Defense Department land. “Fire has been suppressed but continues with Haz-Mat and other needs,” the tweet said. The cause of the crash is being investigated. “We have been in communication with leadership @HAFB,” said Gov. Spencer Cox in a tweet. “We’re praying for the safety of the pilot and first responders and will continue to monitor the situation.” Eyewitnesses to the crash or those who have found anything that may be related are asked to call 801-777-0911 or email 75abw.pa@us.af.mil and include their name, address, phone number and any relevant details. × Photos Most recent Davis County stories Ashley Moser Ashley Moser joined KSL in January 2016. She co-anchors KSL 5 Live at 5 with Mike Headrick and reports for the KSL 5 News at 10. More stories you may be interested in Read More Here

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Election Deniers Could Make Deep Changes To Arizona Voting https://digitalalaskanews.com/election-deniers-could-make-deep-changes-to-arizona-voting/ PHOENIX (AP) — Gathered at a table in the state Capitol a little less than two years ago, two Republicans and a Democrat took part in a ceremony proscribed in state law that made official Joe Biden’s 10,500-vote victory in Arizona’s 2020 presidential contest. While sifting through pages, pen in hand and cameras rolling, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey stopped to silence the “hail to the chief” ringtone on his cell phone. It was a call from President Donald Trump, who was in the midst of a frenetic fight to reverse the results of the election he had lost. Ducey continued signing the papers, in what some saw as a dramatic affirmation of democracy at work. How a similar scene would play out in 2024 if the three Republicans running for the top statewide offices win in November is anyone’s guess. Each has said they would not have signed off on the 2020 results if they had held office at the time. Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor, and Mark Finchem, running for secretary of state, have signaled support for vastly overhauling election rules. Lake, Finchem and Abraham Hamadeh, the attorney general nominee, are running for offices that play a central role in administering or certifying elections and earned Trump’s support by spreading falsehoods about the 2020 election. “When you have stolen, corrupt elections, you have serious consequences, even deadly consequences,” Lake said in June while she was competing in the GOP primary. “And unfortunately, we had a stolen election, and we actually have an illegitimate president sitting in the White House.” FILE – Republican candidate for Arizona Attorney General, Abraham Hamadeh, smiles prior to a televised debate against Democrat Kris Mayes on Sept. 28, 2022. The Republicans running for Arizona’s three top statewide offices have said they would not have signed off on the presidential results if they had held office in 2020 and have signaled that they want to overhaul the battleground state’s elections.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ross D. Franklin FILE – Arizona Secretary of State Republican candidate Mark Finchem listens to instructions prior to debating Democratic challenger Adrian Fontes, on Sept. 22, 2022, in Phoenix. The Republicans running for Arizona’s three top statewide offices have said they would not have signed off on the presidential results if they had held office in 2020 and have signaled that they want to overhaul the battleground state’s elections.(AP Photo/Matt York, File) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Matt York PreviousNext Multiple reviews in battleground state s, including in Arizona, dozens of court cases and Trump’s own Department of Justice have found there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Despite that, Republican candidates up and down the ballot continue to deny the legitimacy of Biden’s election. Several are running for governor, secretary of state or attorney general in some of the battleground states where Trump disputed his loss, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada. The possibility of those candidates winning in November raises questions about what they might do regarding elections and certification of results once in office, especially in regard to the 2024 presidential race. Arizona’s candidates for top statewide office offer a window into that possible future. Election experts say any of the three, if elected, could try to tilt the 2024 election toward Trump if he runs again for president. That could happen through a refusal to certify an election he loses or long before that through pre-emptive changes to the election process. Arizona has a recent history of extremely close elections, so small changes to its election laws could have a huge impact on the outcome and reverberate nationally. The Republicans say they’re motivated by boosting faith in elections, not returning Trump to power or helping his allies. For her part, Lake said last month that she would certify the 2024 election if courts did not substantiate any official election challenges. That answer runs counter to her message through much of her campaign, when she said she would not have certified the 2020 results despite courts rejecting all challenges. Finchem said in a text message that he would certify the election “as long as all lawful votes are counted and all votes cast are under the law.” He did not respond to follow-up questions about who decides if the votes were lawful or whether he would accept results of court proceedings. Hamadeh said in a statement that he would “faithfully follow the law.” The governor, secretary of state and attorney general in Arizona wield enormous power over election decisions big and small. If all three win, the steps they could take would be nearly limitless, according to Arizona election attorneys deeply versed in the laws, rules and norms that govern the process. They could rewrite the state’s elections procedures manual, a tome laying out in minute detail the rules for conducting elections and certification. It’s written by the secretary of state and must be approved by the attorney general and governor. If all three sign off, the changes carry the force of law. That’s even without any of the more expansive changes that could be made by a Legislature that is almost certain to be controlled by Republicans. “If you have people who are supportive of the Big Lie in charge of our elections, there’s a lot of stuff they can do,” said Jim Barton, a longtime Democratic election attorney in Arizona. “And they can do it in ways that look pretty boring.” Finchem, who was outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but says he did not join rioters who attacked the building that day, has vowed to rewrite those rules. He’s said little about what he would change. He could create rules for accepting voter registrations, eliminate the right for county officials to provide drop boxes to accept mail ballots, and even refuse to accept filings for voter initiatives, just to name a few, Barton said. On registration alone, the secretary could adopt small changes, such as when forms need to be turned in or the color of ink that must be used, and pass them off as needed to make processing easier, Barton said. Small changes affecting comparatively few voters could add up in a close race. “Nobody’s winning the elections anymore by 10%,” Barton said. “So you don’t have to say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to count any of the votes from Pima County’ to sway the vote. If you make it a little bit harder for low-income people to vote, then the state’s not purple anymore.” And that’s just the start if someone really wants to seize the reins of election rules and make small but substantive changes. Eric Spencer, an attorney who represents Republican and conservative organizations and is a former state elections director, said a slew of rules could be changed under a new administration. That could include eliminating unattended ballot drop boxes, which are convenient spots for voters to turn in their ballots. The trio also could pursue changes to rules for ballot-counting machines and the election canvass, in which elected leaders certify the results, Spencer said. That’s where “a new triumvirate could make some radical, radical changes,” he said. For example, a new secretary of state could remove a provision Spencer developed that says county and state officials must certify the election results and can’t change the vote totals. Spencer developed that rule after a county official balked at certifying a local election in 2016 and nearly derailed the statewide certification. Any controversy over certification could create a pretext for Arizona’s electoral votes to be challenged when Congress meets to count them in early 2025. As secretary of state, Finchem also would have unilateral authority to certify — or not — election equipment. He told CBS News that vote tabulating machines should be banned unless the manufacturer shares the source code. No voting system manufacturers release the underlying software for their systems to protect code they regard as proprietary and to prevent hacking. Finchem and other Trump allies claim they can’t trust the systems if they can’t review the software that powers it line by line. Lake and Finchem also both signaled they want to ensure that voting rolls are accurate, which election experts worry could lead them to purge certain voters or force people to continuously re-register. “We must protect the count of all legal votes and quarantine votes that are outside of the law,” Finchem said. Lake, who has emerged as one of the most popular new figures in Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, has avoided disclosing specific changes she would pursue for elections. But she’s offered clues. She has said she wants Arizonans to go to bed on election night knowing the results, which some regard as a threat to the mail balloting system used by the overwhelming majority of voters. “I’m going to work with the lawmakers to make sure we have a system where voting is honest,” Lake said. “I’m not sure what it’s going to look like.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

P https://digitalalaskanews.com/p-9/ WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned against the growing populist tide in the Republican Party as he admonished “Putin apologists” unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader over his assault on Ukraine. Speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington less than a month before November’s midterm elections, Pence addressed the growing gulf between traditional conservatives and a new generation of populist candidates inspired, in part, by former President Donald Trump, who has transformed a large swath of the party. “Today, on the cusp of a new era of Republican leadership … I think we need to chart a course that doesn’t veer off too far in either direction,” Pence told the think tank audience. “Our movement cannot forsake the foundational commitment that we have to security, to limited government, to liberty and to life. But nor can we allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism that’s unmoored from our oldest traditions and most cherished values,” he said. “Let me say: This movement and the party that it animates must remain the movement of a strong national defense, limited government and traditional moral values and life.” To that end, Pence criticized those in the party who have pushed a more isolationist foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Russian aggression. Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law for four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions as his forces have suffered stinging battlefield defeats and renewed attacks on Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure. “Now, I know there is a rising chorus in our party, including some new voices to our movement, who would have us disengaged with the wider world,” Pence said. “But appeasement has never worked, ever, in history. And now more than ever, we need a conservative movement committed to America’s role as leader of the free world and as a vanguard of American values.” “As Russia continues its unconscionable war of aggression to Ukraine, I believe that conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop and Putin will pay,” he added. “There can be no room in the conservative movement for apologists to Putin. There is only room in this movement for champions of freedom.” Pence has been traveling the country, campaigning on behalf of Republican midterm candidates as he lays the groundwork for a potential 2024 presidential campaign. Some of the candidates he has endorsed have espoused the kinds of populist and isolationist views he seemed to take issue with Wednesday. Arizona’s Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, for instance, has labeled the Russia-Ukraine conflict a “European problem” and has criticized federal spending on Ukraine. Pence’s speech largely focused on the conservative “Freedom Agenda,” which he released earlier this year. It serves as both a concrete policy plan for Republicans as well as an implicit criticism of Trump, who has spent much of his time since leaving office obsessing about the 2020 election instead of looking forward. Pence, who again argued in his remarks that in order to win “we must do more than simply criticize and complain,” has been a target of Trump’s ire since he refused to go along with the former president’s unconstitutional plot to try to overturn the will of voters in January 2021. Pence once again stressed the importance of the oath he took when he was sworn in as vice president, adding that, “The American people must know that conservatives will not simply pay lip service to keeping faith with the Constitution, but that we will always keep our oath — that we will keep our oath, as the Bible says, even when it hurts” and “stand for the Constitution … even when it would be politically expedient to do otherwise.” Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More Here

C https://digitalalaskanews.com/c-7/ NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo isn’t begging for forgiveness. Fourteen months after resigning from office in a sexual harassment scandal, the former New York governor is elbowing his way back into the public eye, launching a podcast and a political action committee in what could be the first steps toward a comeback bid for political office. But he isn’t following the usual playbook for misbehaving politicians seeking redemption. Cuomo is unrelenting in his view that he was the victim of a political hit job. And he isn’t concerned that stance might cost him listeners on his new show, which has its debut episode Thursday. “It’s just about expressing my opinion to the public and speaking publicly,” Cuomo said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And to the extent they don’t like what I have to say, then don’t listen.” Cuomo’s first guest on the podcast, “As a Matter of Fact … with Andrew Cuomo,” will be Anthony Scaramucci, best known for his brief stint as former President Donald Trump’s White House communications director. Among Cuomo’s competition in the crowded podcast space: His brother and confidant Chris Cuomo, a TV journalist who’s attempting a comeback of his own after he was fired from CNN for acting as a strategist for the former governor in violation of the network’s ethics rules. The first two episodes are free, then the show will be paywalled on the $2.99-a-month Quake Media platform, where the other offerings include conservative hosts Laura Ingraham and Mike Huckabee’s podcasts and Pete Rose’s daily sports betting picks. The prospect of Cuomo’s return to public life doesn’t sit well with Debra Katz, a lawyer for former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett, who sued Cuomo last month for sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. “I think the world would be a better place if he just stayed at home and worked on his motorcycle,” Katz said, referencing Cuomo’s well-known love for bikes and classic cars. Once a national star in the Democratic Party, Cuomo resigned in August of 2021 after numerous women had accused him of sexual harassment, saying he had subjected them to unwanted kisses or touches, made insinuating remarks about their looks and sex lives or created a hostile work environment. One aide said Cuomo had groped her breast. That allegation led a county sheriff to file a criminal charge against Cuomo, later dropped by the Albany County district attorney on the grounds that it would be too hard to win a conviction. An investigation overseen by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has accused James of preordaining the findings because she intended to run for governor. James did briefly run for governor after Cuomo’s resignation but quickly abandoned the campaign. “There was politics at play. There was hype at play. There was exaggeration at play,” Cuomo said. “They weaponized day-to-day interactions.” Today, he says he is more conscious of and careful in interactions with women — mainly to protect himself against further misconduct allegations. But even after a year to reflect — traveling, boating, hiking with his dog Captain, working on an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle and finding a place to live — Cuomo doesn’t really think he did anything wrong. “Yes, I posed for pictures with people when I put my arm around people. Yeah, I’m sure I said to somebody, ‘ciao bella.’ Yeah, I kissed people on the cheek,” Cuomo said. “Yes. And by the way, those are everyday interactions for millions of Americans. So yes, I believe there was politics, I believe was canceled culture. And I think the facts have proven that right.” Through his political action committee, Cuomo said he plans to support like-minded Democrats running for state and federal offices. He said he’s upset with the marginalization of moderate Democrats in a party drifting to the left. Cuomo, 64, wouldn’t rule out running for office again. “Life has options and it depends on the options,” Cuomo said. “I’m not foreclosing anything, but you have to see what the options are.” Asked if he might consider running for U.S. Senate in 2024, Cuomo said it was “too early to say,” but offered that his experience and personality were better suited to an executive role, like being governor. This is the first election cycle in 20 years that Cuomo hasn’t been a candidate for any office. He had been the state’s attorney general before becoming governor. He said he hopes his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, wins re-election over Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin. “I’ll watch the returns. I just won’t have as much anxiety and stress and heartburn,” Cuomo said. “I did the job of governor obsessively seven days a week and did the job as attorney general obsessively. That’s 15 years. That’s a big slice of life that I didn’t spend with friends, I didn’t vacation, I didn’t spend with my daughters,” Cuomo said. “So the real silver lining is having time to spend with family, friends, which is guilt free — without looking at the phone, without saying I should really be at work. That’s the silver lining.” Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More Here

Man Arrested Last Week In Vermont Charged With Murder In Concord Shootings https://digitalalaskanews.com/man-arrested-last-week-in-vermont-charged-with-murder-in-concord-shootings/ A man who was named a person of interest in the shooting of a Concord couple has now been charged with murder in their deaths.Logan Clegg, 26, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the April 18 shooting deaths of Stephen and Wendy Reid. Review case timeline for Concord killingsThe New Hampshire attorney general’s office said in a press release Wednesday afternoon that Clegg is considered to be a fugitive from justice on the murder charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.New Hampshire authorities plan to seek Clegg’s extradition to the Granite State. Related: Utah city’s assistant police chief gives new details about CleggClegg is being held in St. Albans, Vermont, on an unrelated fugitive-from-justice charge out of Utah. His lawyers on Wednesday had filed appeals seeking a bail hearing in that matter, something that was rejected by the Vermont Supreme Court before a Superior Court judge, ruling in a civil case, ordered that a hearing be held.Clegg has been held for seven days after he was arrested in South Burlington, Vermont. Investigators said he has been on the run for 15 months and even traveled out of the country. They said he had booked a one-way ticket to Germany and set to leave two days after he was captured.The Concord community is breathing a little easier after Clegg was arrested.“You never really expect that kind of thing to happen, and my grandmother’s lived in this complex my entire life, so thinking of a couple that I might have seen over the years being killed was really freaky,” neighbor Hailey Cantwell said. Cantwell lives in the same complex that the Reids did. She said she moved in two months after the couple was found dead.Six months with few answers left a friendly community on edge.“You’ll walk around this community and people will wave to you talk to you,” Cantwell said. Normally people will come out from their apartments just to say hi.” “If my wife walks the trails, I’ll walk with her but then I’m concerned because I’m 74,” neighbor Ed Leifeld said. Neighbors hope the arrest leads to more answers and eventually helps the Reid family heal.“A little bit of closure,” Cantwell said. “It’s not going to get them full peace, but at least just closure.”“Some relief, but you live with it forever,” Leifeld said. “The pain is always there.”The bodies of Steven and Wendy Reid were found shot to death in April along the Broken Ground trails in Concord. It is unclear if there is a connection between Clegg and the Reids. Investigators have not commented on a possible motive. The Concord Police Department says it continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murders of Steven and Wendy Reid. MANCHESTER, N.H. — A man who was named a person of interest in the shooting of a Concord couple has now been charged with murder in their deaths. Logan Clegg, 26, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the April 18 shooting deaths of Stephen and Wendy Reid. Review case timeline for Concord killings The New Hampshire attorney general’s office said in a press release Wednesday afternoon that Clegg is considered to be a fugitive from justice on the murder charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. New Hampshire authorities plan to seek Clegg’s extradition to the Granite State. Related: Utah city’s assistant police chief gives new details about Clegg Clegg is being held in St. Albans, Vermont, on an unrelated fugitive-from-justice charge out of Utah. His lawyers on Wednesday had filed appeals seeking a bail hearing in that matter, something that was rejected by the Vermont Supreme Court before a Superior Court judge, ruling in a civil case, ordered that a hearing be held. Clegg has been held for seven days after he was arrested in South Burlington, Vermont. Investigators said he has been on the run for 15 months and even traveled out of the country. They said he had booked a one-way ticket to Germany and set to leave two days after he was captured. The Concord community is breathing a little easier after Clegg was arrested. “You never really expect that kind of thing to happen, and my grandmother’s lived in this complex my entire life, so thinking of a couple that I might have seen over the years being killed was really freaky,” neighbor Hailey Cantwell said. Cantwell lives in the same complex that the Reids did. She said she moved in two months after the couple was found dead. Six months with few answers left a friendly community on edge. “You’ll walk around this community and people will wave to you talk to you,” Cantwell said. Normally people will come out from their apartments just to say hi.” “If my wife walks the trails, I’ll walk with her but then I’m concerned because I’m 74,” neighbor Ed Leifeld said. Neighbors hope the arrest leads to more answers and eventually helps the Reid family heal. “A little bit of closure,” Cantwell said. “It’s not going to get them full peace, but at least just closure.” “Some relief, but you live with it forever,” Leifeld said. “The pain is always there.” The bodies of Steven and Wendy Reid were found shot to death in April along the Broken Ground trails in Concord. It is unclear if there is a connection between Clegg and the Reids. Investigators have not commented on a possible motive. The Concord Police Department says it continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murders of Steven and Wendy Reid. Read More Here

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index Hits 13-Year Low; Yen Inches Near 150 Against U.S. Dollar https://digitalalaskanews.com/hong-kongs-hang-seng-index-hits-13-year-low-yen-inches-near-150-against-u-s-dollar/ An employee works at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg via Getty Images Shares in the Asia-Pacific traded lower on Thursday as economic fears weigh. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong fell 2.7% after briefly dropping 3% in early trade, the lowest level since May 2009. The Hang Seng Tech index fell more than 4%. Kelvin Tay, regional chief investment officer at UBS, said the steep drop in Hong Kong markets is due to the government’s “unprecedented silence on key economic indicators.” “It’s largely because of concerns over the economic outlook and a rise of Covid cases in the middle of the party congress in Beijing,” he said. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 1.2% and the Topix shed 0.68%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia declined 1.13%. Mainland China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.94% and the Shenzhen Component slipped 1.265%. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 1.27% and the Kosdaq was 1.55% lower. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 1.68%. The offshore yuan touched a record low against the U.S. dollar overnight, weakening to 7.2745 per dollar. It last traded at 7.2690. The Japanese yen reached yet another fresh 32-year low of 149.95 against the greenback. U.S. stocks fell as Treasury yields climbed on Wednesday stateside, with the benchmark 10-year yield touching 4.138%, the highest level since July 23, 2008. The Nasdaq Composite shed 0.85% to close at 10,680.51, while the S&P 500 declined 0.67% to 3,695.16. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 99.99 points, or 0.33%, to finish the day at 30,423.81. — CNBC’s Chery Kang, Jesse Pound and Tanaya Macheel contributed to this report. CNBC Pro: Taking cover in bonds ahead of a recession? BlackRock says that’s an ‘obsolete’ playbook Recession fears are roiling markets, but the typical playbook of taking cover in sovereign bonds is “obsolete,” says BlackRock. “In this environment, bond vigilantes are back and heralding term premium’s return,” BlackRock said, adding that it’s underweight on government bonds. The asset manager says that investors can still buy other types of bonds, however. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan China keeps benchmark lending rates unchanged China’s central bank left its benchmark lending rates unchanged for a second consecutive month, matching expectations by most analysts in a Reuters poll. The People’s Bank of China said it would hold the one-year loan prime rate at 3.65%, and the five-year rate at 4.30%, according to an announcement. The PBOC earlier in the week also announced it would hold its medium-term policy loan rates steady. —Jihye Lee Tech stocks in Hong Kong plunge, drag down wider index Hong Kong-listed shares of technology companies dropped sharply in early trade, with the Hang Seng Tech index down 4.6% and dragging down the wider Hang Seng index. Heavyweight Alibaba was down 6.12%, while Tencent shed 4.26%. Bilibili plunged 7.75%, while JD.com lost 5.82%. Meituan declined 6.23%. — Abigail Ng Japanese yen nears 150 against the U.S. dollar The Japanese yen edged close to 150 against the greenback, at levels not seen since August 1990. It was last at 149.94 per dollar. The yen hovered around 159.8 levels in April 1990, and last breached 160-levels in December 1986. Japanese officials commented against further weakening of the currency Thursday, with Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki saying the government will take “appropriate steps against excess volatility,” Reuters reported. “Recent rapid and one-sided yen declines are undesirable. We absolutely cannot tolerate excessively volatile moves driven by speculative trading,” he said. –Jihye Lee CNBC Pro: Chip stocks have been down all year — but one looks ‘really inviting’, says fund manager Semiconductor stocks have been beaten down this year, but investors with a longer-term view on the importance of chips to secular trends such as 5G, electrification and artificial intelligence could look to buy the dip. Hedge fund manager David Neuhauser shares one chip stock he likes. Pro subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong Japan’s trade deficit for September narrows slightly Japan’s trade deficit for September was at 2.09 trillion yen ($13.97 billion), according to provisional figures from the government – missing estimated figures by a Reuters poll expecting a deficit of 2.17 trillion yen. The country reported a trade deficit of 2.82 trillion yen in August. Exports for the month of September were at 8.82 trillion yen, while imports were at 10.9 trillion yen. Japan’s trade deficit for the first half of fiscal year 2022-2023 is the largest on record, the finance ministry was quoted as saying in a Reuters report. Japan’s fiscal year starts in April, and the deficit for the April to September period was 11 trillion yen, data showed. — Abigail Ng China’s offshore yuan hits record low overnight The offshore yuan touched a record low of 7.2745 against the dollar overnight as the Communist Party of China’s National Congress continues. The offshore yuan last changed hands at 7.2708 per dollar. “A very large uncertainty is when the Chinese government eases its strict zero-Covid policy,” according to a note by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Analysts wrote that the strict measures are seen to remain until early 2023. “The restrictions will prolong the period of weakness in China’s economy and keep AUD/USD and NZD/USD undervalued for longer and push USD/CNH up to 7.30,” the note said. The risk-sensitive Australian dollar was weaker at $0.6264 early in Asia, while the New Zealand dollar changed hands at $0.5662. — Abigail Ng Investors weigh rising Treasury yields Investors monitored Treasury yields for recession signals Wednesday even as a stronger-than-expected start to earnings season has helped buoy markets this week. Of the 64 companies in the S&P 500 that have posted third-quarter results through Wednesday, 69.4% have beaten expectations, according to FactSet data. Still, surging Treasury yields have helped stocks get back to “real life” on Wednesday, according to comments from LPL Financial’s Quincy Krosby. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose as high as 4.136%, or its highest level since July 2008. “A steady 3-month/10-year inversion would reinforce the Treasury market’s signal that a recession is in the offing, since it has the reputation of predicting a serious economic downturn,” Krosby wrote. — Sarah Min Read More Here

I Was Dragged Into China Consulate, Protester Bob Chen Says https://digitalalaskanews.com/i-was-dragged-into-china-consulate-protester-bob-chen-says/ Image source, Reuters By George Bowden & Tessa Wong BBC News A protester says he was not trying to enter Manchester’s Chinese consulate during a pro-democracy demonstration that saw violent scenes on Sunday. Bob Chen told a news conference he was dragged onto the consulate grounds and beaten by men, leaving him with injuries requiring hospital treatment. It comes after a British MP accused one of China’s most senior UK diplomats of being involved. But consul-general Zheng Xiyuan has denied he attacked the protester. Amid the growing row, China has claimed there were attempts at illegal entry. Speaking at a news conference organised by several British MPs, Mr Chen, a Hongkonger, said he was left physically and mentally hurt by Sunday’s incident. He described being beaten by masked men outside the consulate, some of whom he said were trying to take down a display of banners. “I then found myself being dragged into the grounds of the consulate. I held on to the gates where I was kicked and punched, I could not hold on for long,” he said. “I was eventually pulled onto the ground of the consulate. I felt punches and kicks from several men. Other protestors were trying to get me out of this situation, but to no avail. “The attack only stopped when a man who turned out to be a uniformed officer from the Greater Manchester Police pulled me outside the gates. “Let me say it again so I am clear: I was dragged into the consulate I did not attempt to enter the consulate.” Media caption, Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds Police in Manchester have said up to 40 protesters gathered outside the consulate – a smaller diplomatic office that is UK territory but cannot be entered without consent. At about 16:00 BST, Greater Manchester Police said a group of men “came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted”. “Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds,” a statement said. Mr Chen spoke of his shock at the incident and told of his fear for family members still in Hong Kong. “I am shocked because I never thought something like this could happen in the UK. I still believe the UK is a place where free speech and protest are basic human rights. “No amount of violence or diplomatic pressure will change that. I am hurt physically and mentally,” he said. The demonstrators – many of whom were from Hong Kong – were protesting as the ruling Communist Party congress began in Beijing. In an interview with Sky News later on Wednesday, consul-general Zheng Xiyuan confirmed that he was present at the protest, but denied that he and his staff attacked people. “I didn’t beat anybody. I didn’t let my people beat anybody. The fact is, the so-called protesters beat my people,” he said. Footage captured at the scene appeared to show him pulling a protester’s hair. When asked about this, he said he was trying to protect his colleagues who were threatened by the protester, adding: “He (the protester) was abusing my country my leader, I think it’s my duty.” A spokesperson for the consulate had said the protesters had “hung an insulting portrait of the Chinese president at the main entrance”. Beijing later claimed its consulate staff were subjected to harassment and said there were attempts to enter the consulate grounds. China has “made representations” to the UK government to increase protection for its diplomatic staff. Image source, BBC / Alamy Image caption, Zheng Xiyuan on the right, and the man accused of being involved in the violence on the left Meanwhile, the senior Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith criticised the UK government’s diplomatic response to the incident so far. He told the news conference it had been “wholly inadequate… and I think I’m being slightly kind to them”. Mr Duncan Smith described Foreign Office Minister Jesse Norman as having to be “dragged” to the despatch box in Parliament to respond to the situation. He said a meeting between the UK and a Chinese official about Sunday’s incident resulted in “a gentle rap on the knuckles”. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said earlier the incident was “absolutely unacceptable, that the protests were peaceful and legal. They were on British soil and it is absolutely unacceptable for this kind of behaviour”. “Now, my understanding is the Greater Manchester Police will be conducting an investigation into this and when I see the details of that investigation, I’ll then decide what more we might need to do on that,” he told Sky News. Last year, a new visa system gave about 70% of Hong Kong’s population the right to live, work and study in the UK with a route to citizenship. More than 100,000 people have arrived on the new visas, as Beijing’s influence over the former British colony increases and following the introduction of a controversial national security law. An incident that could impact UK-China relations After the extraordinary scenes at the Chinese consulate on Sunday, MPs from across the political divide are now pushing for the UK government to take a much tougher stance against Beijing. The Manchester MP, Afzal Khan of Labour, said the actions of the diplomats had “crossed a red line”. Conservative Ian Duncan-Smith said they revealed the long arm of the Chinese state. He expressed concern that the UK government was being cautious in its response for fear of provoking a “tit-for-tat” from a country with such strong economic clout. The two agreed – as did Bob Chen – that Britain should expel the men involved, even if prosecutions aren’t possible because the attack happened on what is officially Chinese territory. Greater Manchester Police have appealed to anyone with video evidence to upload it to their website, as they look at images from CCTV, mobile phones and officers’ body cameras – part of a “complex and sensitive inquiry”. Sensitive it certainly is – with the impact it could have on relations between Britain and China. The force says the investigation will “take time”, but many MPs says a quick and forceful message needs to be sent to China, as soon as the diplomats involved are identified. Media caption, Watch: British MP Alicia Kearns accuses Chinese officials of beating protesters in Manchester Read More Here

WATCH LIVE: Gubernatorial Candidate Debate For The State 2022 https://digitalalaskanews.com/watch-live-gubernatorial-candidate-debate-for-the-state-2022/ Alaska Public Media, in partnership with Alaska’s News Source and KTOO, presents Debate for the State 2022. Alaska Public Media News Director Lori Townsend and Alaska’s News Source Managing Editor Mike Ross will moderate the three live debates featuring candidates for Alaska’s statewide races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. The gubernatorial debate is Wednesday, October 19 at 7 p.m. The U.S. House candidates will debate on Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m. The U.S. Senate candidate debate is Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. Each debate will air live statewide on television, radio and online stream. In Juneau, you can listen live on the radio or watch on 360TV and here starting at 7 p.m. Read More Here

Probe Into ‘crime Of The Century’ Fizzles Out https://digitalalaskanews.com/probe-into-crime-of-the-century-fizzles-out/ Trump had alleged ‘deep state’ conspiracy to sink his 2016 campaign By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press Published: October 19, 2022, 7:12pm 2 Photos This exhibit from video released by the House Select Committee, shows a photo of then-President Donald Trump with his coast on as he returns to the Oval Office after speaking on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, displayed at a hearing by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (House Select Committee via AP) Photo Gallery WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump once predicted that a special prosecutor appointed during his administration would uncover “the crime of the century” — a conspiracy to sink his 2016 campaign. Yet here are the results of the three-year probe by prosecutor John Durham: two trial acquittals — the latest on Tuesday — and a former FBI attorney sentenced to probation. That has fallen far short of Trump supporters’ expectations that Durham would reveal a “deep state” plot behind the U.S. government’s investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The outcome has led to scrutiny over the purpose of Durham’s appointment by former Attorney General William Barr, who tasked him with finding misconduct in the Trump-Russia probe. It also has raised questions about whether the current attorney general, Merrick Garland, might move to rein in Durham’s work or hasten its completion. “You really measure the success of an investigation by what it uncovers in terms of pernicious activity, and he’s uncovered nothing,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former senior Justice Department official. There are no signs Durham plans to charge anyone else in his investigation. He is expected to produce a report at some point, but it’s unclear whether he will identify any significant misconduct or errors beyond those already reported by the Justice Department’s watchdog. Barr gave Durham a broad mandate in 2019 to hunt for wrongdoing by the FBI or other agencies in the early days of their investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. At the time, Durham was the U.S. attorney in Connecticut with decades of Justice Department experience, including investigating CIA interrogations of terror suspects. Trump supporters cheered the appointment, and not just because of Durham’s bona fides. The appointment was made shortly after the conclusion of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, which found substantial contacts between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them. In December 2019, a Justice Department inspector general report concluded that the Russia investigation was opened for a legitimate reason but identified numerous errors in how it was conducted. But by the end of 2020, there were signs Durham’s investigation was losing momentum. One of his top prosecutors resigned without explanation from the Justice Department. Months later, Barr told The Wall Street Journal that he did not believe there had been improper activity during the Russia investigation by the CIA. Read More Here

AP News Summary At 9:50 P.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-950-p-m-edt/ Putin adds martial law in Ukraine regions, limits in Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Wednesday on his faltering invasion of Ukraine with a declaration of martial law in four illegally annexed regions and preparations within Russia for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns. Putin’s drastic efforts to tighten his grip on Ukrainians and Russians follow a series of embarrassing setbacks: stinging battlefield defeats, sabotage and troubles with his troop mobilization. The martial law order belies the Kremlin’s attempts to portray life in the annexed regions as returning to normal. The reality is that a military administration has replaced civilian leaders in the southern city of Kherson and a mass evacuation from the city is underway as a Ukrainian counteroffensive grinds on. First Native American woman in space awed by Mother Earth CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first Native American woman in space says she’s overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth. She’s also channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission gets underway at the International Space Station, something she learned from her mother. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday, answering questions gathered from AP members, as well as tribal news outlets. She’s a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California. Mann says it’s important to recognize that there are all types of people aboard the space station, highlighting “our diversity.” She rocketed into orbit with SpaceX two weeks ago. COVID-19 linked to increase in US pregnancy-related deaths WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims. A government report released Wednesday lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies. It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80 percent since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year. The percentage of preterm and low birthweight babies also went up last year, after holding steady for years. And more pregnant or postpartum women are reporting symptoms of depression. Judge: Trump knew vote fraud claims in legal docs were false Read More Here

Trump Deposed In E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case – WSGW 790 AM & 100.5 FM https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-deposed-in-e-jean-carroll-defamation-case-wsgw-790-am-100-5-fm/ Former President Donald Trump answered questions under oath Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, a writer who accused Trump of defamation for saying she was “totally lying” about a sexual assault allegation. Carroll’s attorneys confirmed Trump attended the deposition.  “We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further,” a spokesperson for Kaplan Hecker & Fink, the law firm representing Carroll, told CBS News. Trump had sought to delay the deposition after a federal appeals court in September left open the possibility that the Justice Department might be able to shield Trump from the suit. But a federal judge in New York refused to delay the case, ordering Trump on Oct. 12 to sit Wednesday for the high-stakes deposition.  Alina Habba, an attorney for Trump, said Trump “was pleased to set the record straight today.” “This case is nothing more than a political ploy like many others in the long list of witch hunts against Donald Trump,” Habba said. Trump was questioned by lawyers for Carroll, who have indicated in court filings that the deposition may be used in another civil suit they say Carroll intends to file in November, a sexual assault claim against Trump.  Carroll will be able to pursue the lawsuit as of Nov. 24, when a new state law called the Adult Survivors Act creates a one-year window allowing sexual assault claims that would otherwise be barred by New York’s statute of limitations.  Carroll, a longtime Elle advice columnist, filed the federal defamation suit in 2019, after Trump accused her of lying when she said he sexually assaulted her in a high-end New York City department store in the 1990s.  Trump has repeatedly denied Carroll’s allegations. Read More Here

Text Message Slammed Georgia Senator For Questioning Election Results https://digitalalaskanews.com/text-message-slammed-georgia-senator-for-questioning-election-results/ The wife of Georgia’s secretary of state rebuked Kelly Loeffler, then a senator, after Ms. Loeffler said the secretary had mismanaged the 2020 election. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Brad and Tricia Raffensperger arrived at his election night party in John’s Creek, Ga., in May.Credit…Audra Melton for The New York Times Oct. 19, 2022, 9:15 p.m. ET Tricia Raffensperger, the wife of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger of Georgia, has been open in the past about the death threats her family faced after former President Donald J. Trump and his allies pushed false claims about a rigged election in the state. But a newly surfaced text message from Ms. Raffensperger to Kelly Loeffler, a Republican senator of Georgia at the time, reveals that Ms. Raffensperger placed some of the blame for the death threats directly on Ms. Loeffler after the November 2020 presidential election. Ms. Raffensperger wrote Ms. Loeffler that she held her “personally responsible for anything that happens to any of my family.” The blistering text message, which questions Ms. Loeffler’s integrity and honor, was obtained by The New York Times; its authenticity was verified on Wednesday by Mike Hassinger, a spokesman for Mr. Raffensperger, a Republican. The message was an example of how tense relations grew, even within some Republican circles, as Mr. Trump and some of his supporters sought ways to reverse the election outcome in Georgia. Ms. Loeffler and her fellow Georgia senator at the time, David Perdue, sparked an intraparty showdown in the state on Nov. 9, 2020, six days after Election Day, when they issued a joint statement urging Mr. Raffensperger to resign. The statement called the presidential election in Georgia an “embarrassment,” and accused Mr. Raffensperger of “mismanagement and lack of transparency.” That same evening, Ms. Raffensperger, who tends to keep a low profile, messaged Ms. Loeffler. “I met you at the Christmas party in Washington DC,” the text said. “Never did I think you were the kind of person to unleash such hate and fury on someone in political office of the same party.” Understand Georgia’s Investigation of Election Interference Card 1 of 5 The potential charges. Experts say that Ms. Willis appears to be building a case that could target multiple defendants with charges of conspiracy to commit election fraud or racketeering-related charges for engaging in a coordinated scheme to undermine the election. She and her family, she went on, were “being personally besieged by people threatening our lives because you didn’t have the decency or good manners to come and talk to my husband with any questions you may have had.” The text continued: “Instead you have put us in the eye of the storm. Unlike you my husband is an honorable man with integrity to do the right thing. We are law abiding people of faith. I hold you personally responsible for anything that happens to any of my family, from my husband, children and grandchildren. What kind of person are you that would purposely do this? I am so disappointed, I thought you were better than that! You do not deserve to be in elected office. You are not worthy of the high calling of that position. Good day and Good night!” The text was part of a series of messages to and from Ms. Loeffler in the weeks after the 2020 election that were leaked to The Times and other news organizations, not all of which could be immediately authenticated. Why they were compiled, and by whom, was not clear. Ms. Loeffler, who lost a special-election runoff race in January 2021, did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Ms. Loeffler is not known to be among the high-profile Republicans who have been interviewed this year by an Atlanta special grand jury investigating election interference. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has battled in court for several weeks to avoid testifying in the case. Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Fani T. Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County who is leading the inquiry, said Ms. Willis’s office “has not released any documents related to Senator Kelly Loeffler.” Mr. Raffensperger drew national attention for standing up to Mr. Trump after Mr. Trump personally implored him, in a January 2021 phone call, to “find” the votes to reverse the election results. In May, Mr. Raffensperger defeated a Trump-backed primary candidate, Representative Jody Hice. A poll in early September showed Mr. Raffensperger with a comfortable lead over his Democratic opponent, State Representative Bee Nguyen. Kirsten Noyes and Sheelagh McNeill contributed research. Read More Here

The Trumps Really, Really, Wanted A New Judge In NY's $250M Fraud Lawsuit. But That Judge's Boss Just Said No. https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-trumps-really-really-wanted-a-new-judge-in-nys-250m-fraud-lawsuit-but-that-judges-boss-just-said-no/ Donald Trump and his sons had repeatedly asked for a new judge in NY’s $250 million fraud lawsuit.  The current judge, state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, once held Trump in contempt of court. On Wednesday, Engoron’s boss denied the Trumps’ request to move the case. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. Donald Trump and his two eldest sons on Wednesday lost what had been their escalating legal effort to switch judges in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ $250 million fraud lawsuit. The suit, filed September 21, alleges Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization exaggerated his worth by billions of dollars in business filings over the past decade; it will now remain in the courtroom of the same Manhattan judge that once held the former president in contempt and fined him $110,000.  The judge, state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, has presided over two years of often heated legal disputes in the runup to the lawsuit, refereeing as James’ side fought with Trump’s side to get the business documents and deposition testimony she needed for her investigation. At times during hearings over the past several months, Trump attorney Alina Habba tangled openly with Engoron, to the point where, in February, his law clerk, Allison Greenfield, warned her to stop interrupting when the judge was speaking. “If you would like a bunch of more affidavits, you can order that,” Habba complained to the judge during a heated May hearing on the contempt matter. “You can order anything you like,” Habba snapped. “I don’t understand why we are still in contempt,” she complained in a hearing in June, when Engoron refused to budge on holding Trump in contempt for failing to fully comply with James’ subpoenas for his documents. “I just think the opinion is based on who my client is,” she told the judge then, implying he was biased in the case. “And that’s concerning to me.” That protracted evidence dispute, which involved more than 800 court filings and exhibits, technically remains an open and related court matter, with Engoron still its judge. In his written decision on Wednesday, Engoron’s boss, Administrative Judge Adam Silvera, ruled that Engoron should preside over the lawsuit as well, as a matter of “judicial economy and expediency.” Lawyers for the attorney general had argued that moving courtrooms would only delay things by “requiring another judge to develop the level of familiarity Justice Engoron already has developed over several years.”  The attorney general is hoping to set a trial date before the end of 2023. Silvera in Wednesday’s decision also dinged Trump’s side for having delayed accepting service of the lawsuit for three weeks, even as lawyers for Donald Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump, Jr., filed written requests to have it moved to the court’s commercial division. Ivanka Trump did not join in on the request to change judges. That delay also delayed his ruling, Silvera wrote. Meanwhile, Engoron has only become more enmeshed in the new lawsuit. Last week, he set an October 31 date for a hearing on the attorney general’s demand that the Trump Organization, the former president’s multi-billion-dollar real-estate and golf-resort empire, be immediately ordered to submit to an independent monitor.  The attorney general is also seeking an order from Engoron barring the Trump Organization “from engaging in any fraudulent or illegal acts” while the lawsuit winds its way through pretrial litigation that could go on for another two years. James is especially concerned that Trump may try to move assets from the Trump Organization to a new entity he created, the Trump Organization II. Trump’s lawyer in the matter, Habba, called James’ latest demands a “stunt.” In a press statement Thursday she said, “We have repeatedly provided assurance, in writing, that the Trump Organization has no intention of doing anything improper.” Read More Here

Vote For Trump In 2024? Pence Says ‘there Might Be Somebody Else I Prefer.’ https://digitalalaskanews.com/vote-for-trump-in-2024-pence-says-there-might-be-somebody-else-i-prefer/ Former Vice President Mike Pence indicated Wednesday that he might not be inclined to vote for former President Donald Trump in 2024 should he launch another White House bid. Asked by a student at Georgetown University if he would vote for Trump if he is the nominee in 2024, Pence replied, “There might be somebody else I prefer,” an apparent nod to his own presidential ambitions. Speaking to the Georgetown Institute of Politics, Pence reiterated that he and former second lady Karen Pence will pray on the decision of whether to seek the Republican presidential nomination “in the coming months” before announcing a formal decision. Pence also decried the fraying of civility in the country and called for students to defend the Constitution, but he kept remarks on the Jan. 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol, where supporters of the former president called for his death, limited. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attend a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan, U.S., November 2, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Asked by a student if he would denounce the violence that unfolded on Jan. 6 and the continued “anti-democratic lies of Trump,” Pence offered a curt response. “It was a tragic day,” he said. In a February speech in Florida to the Federalist Society, Pence disputed Trump’s claim that he simply could have refused to certify Electoral College count showing that Joe Biden had won the 2020 election. “President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election,” Pence said. Since leaving the White House last year, Pence has embarked on a nationwide speaking tour, often campaigning for Republicans in state and federal races across the country, but spending a fair amount of time in critical early-voting states like Iowa and South Carolina, teeing up an expected run for president in 2024. Read More Here

False Claim That CDC Would Require Covid Vaccines For Kids Goes Viral https://digitalalaskanews.com/false-claim-that-cdc-would-require-covid-vaccines-for-kids-goes-viral/ On Tuesday morning, a Fox News contributor claimed on Twitter that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was set to mandate that schoolchildren get coronavirus vaccines. By Tuesday evening, the claim was being repeated by the nation’s most popular cable news show, and had been amplified to millions more on social media. “The CDC is about to add the Covid vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule, which would make the vax mandatory for kids to attend school,” host Tucker Carlson tweeted, sharing a segment from his show that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times online. But the claim was wrong: The CDC cannot mandate that schoolchildren receive vaccines, a decision left up to states and jurisdictions, the agency and multiple public health officials said. The initial tweet by Nicole Saphier, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, also misconstrued a planned meeting of CDC advisers, who voted Wednesday to add coronavirus vaccines to the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC), a safety-net program that offers the shots at no cost. A separate meeting set for Thursday would address the agency’s immunization schedule for children. Public health experts said there is a legitimate debate over whether schoolchildren should be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus — but the incendiary and erroneous claim by the Fox News personalities is the latest example of how critics can twist the facts about the CDC and the coronavirus, potentially contributing to lower vaccination rates, fading trust in federal health officials and other consequences for public health. “This is an all new level of dangerous misinformation,” Jerome M. Adams, who served as U.S. surgeon general during the Trump administration and as Indiana’s top health official, wrote in a text message to The Washington Post. “It could both harm kids (by derailing the VFC program, which helps disadvantaged children access vaccines) and endanger health officials (due to angry misinformed parents). We need to be able to have honest conversations about pros and cons of vaccinating children, without resorting to blatant misinformation.” The episode also illustrates how health-care misinformation can rapidly take hold, particularly around the coronavirus vaccine and fueled by many Americans’ frustrations and confusion with pandemic policies. But public health experts often feel stymied in their response, uncertain when to engage with false claims spreading virally. And when officials do weigh in, they are often constrained by their more deliberate, sometimes bureaucratic processes. “I’ve been doing vaccine work for more than two decades. And what I’ve seen, thanks to social media, misinformation and disinformation can spread so much more quickly now,” said Julie Morita, executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Chicago’s former public health commissioner. “There’s no quick fix for this.” While some outspoken individuals, like Kavita Patel, a physician and former Obama administration official, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to criticize the false claims and rebut them point-by-point, federal officials have been more muted in their response. In interviews Tuesday evening, several administration officials said they had no plans to engage with the false claims, worried about amplifying them. But by Wednesday morning, the administration’s calculation had changed, following Carlson’s segment, amid mounting outrage toward federal health officials as vaccine critics seized on the wrongly reported claim that the CDC was set to mandate the shots for schoolchildren. “Thanks to @GovRonDeSantis, COVID mandates are NOT allowed in FL, NOT pushed into schools, & I continue to recommend against them for healthy kids,” Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, wrote on Twitter. The CDC took to Twitter around noon Wednesday, quoting Carlson’s tweet and noting that its independent vaccine advisory committee would vote Thursday “on an updated childhood immunization schedule.” The tweet also said: “States establish vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, not ACIP or CDC,” and linked to a page that explains state vaccine requirements. The CDC’s response drew criticism from public health experts, who said the agency did not explicitly rebuff Carlson’s claim or speak in plain language. Two administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly said they were uncomfortable that the CDC — by quoting Carlson’s tweet — had inadvertently amplified the falsehoods in his video. The meeting of CDC’s independent advisory group of experts is focused on ensuring access to free COVID vaccines for children — just as we have provided free access to other vaccines for children; it is not about vaccination requirements. Any indication otherwise is untrue. — Secretary Xavier Becerra (@SecBecerra) October 19, 2022 Meanwhile, Saphier’s original tweet was still posted Wednesday evening and had been retweeted more than 2,400 times as of 6 p.m. Asked about Saphier’s tweet, Fox News pointed to a second tweet she sent, more than nine hours later, that offered context that states did not always follow CDC recommendations. That tweet had been retweeted 55 times. Saphier also appeared in a Fox News segment Wednesday afternoon, clarifying her comments but reiterating her criticism that the children’s vaccines needed further study. Memorial Sloan Kettering said Saphier did not speak for the institution. In a statement Wednesday, the CDC said the vaccine panel will be updating its 2023 childhood and adult immunization schedules, including whether to add approved or authorized coronavirus vaccines, as guidance to health-care providers. “It’s important to note that there are no changes in COVID-19 vaccine policy, and this action would simply help streamline clinical guidance for health care providers by including all currently licensed, authorized and routinely recommended vaccines in one document,” CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said in an email. The revised immunization schedules would not take effect until January 2023. Early next year is also when the federal government will no longer provide the vaccines free, federal health officials said. The practical impact of including vaccines on the CDC’s recommended immunization list means they are typically covered by insurance. The updated schedule also “is the one place everyone can look to see exactly what all the recommendations are for all vaccines for all ages,” said James Campbell, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and vice chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on infectious diseases, who said the color-coded document is an essential tool for busy clinicians. Public health experts noted that recommendations issued by CDC’s advisory panel do not necessarily translate to state-level mandates. For instance, few states have adopted the panel’s 2006 recommendation that adolescents be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV. The CDC “has wanted to stay away” from vaccination mandates and consistently defers to local officials, said Jason Schwartz, a Yale University associate professor who specializes in vaccine policy. Polling has found a significant partisan split in perceptions of the CDC and other agencies. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats say they rate officials at the CDC and other public health agencies positively, versus just one-third of Republicans who do so, according to a Pew Research poll conducted in September. “This split is going to make it harder to get Republicans to take future covid variants vaccines,” said Robert Blendon, a longtime Harvard University pollster. Health-care leaders also said the episode underscored the challenge of informing the public about contentious public health issues. Drew Altman, head of the nonpartisan think tank Kaiser Family Foundation, said his organization was focusing on combating health-care misinformation “as our next big thing.” “It just isn’t enough for us to be in the business of putting out good information. We have to now also be in the business of countering misinformation and deliberate disinformation as well,” Altman said. Read More Here

Biden Says Putin Trying To Intimidate Ukrainians By Imposing Martial Law In Annexed Regions: Live Updates https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-says-putin-trying-to-intimidate-ukrainians-by-imposing-martial-law-in-annexed-regions-live-updates/ Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law Wednesday in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed as Ukrainian troops continue their unrelenting drive to retain control of the occupied territories. Putin provided few details of what martial law would entail, but restrictions on travel and public gatherings, tighter censorship and broader authority for law enforcement agencies are likely. President Joe Biden called the tactic an intimidation attempt by Putin – the “only tool available to him” – and said it won’t work. Putin gave additional emergency powers to the Russia-appointed heads of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Ukrainian troops have retaken land in all four of them. Putin also ordered the establishment of a Coordination Committee to increase interaction between government agencies in dealing with his struggling “special military operation.” The Russian leader also signed a decree restricting movement in and out of Crimea and Russian regions bordering Ukraine, including Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov. Security will be heightened at government buildings, transportation and communication hubs and other locations. “I think that Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredibly difficult position,” Biden told reporters Wednesday, “and what it reflects to me is it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine – Ukrainian citizens – to try to intimidate them into capitulating. “They’re not going to do that.” – Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY Other developments: ►EU member countries agreed Wednesday on a new round of sanctions against Iran for providing Russia with drones used to attack Ukrainian targets. ►Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said heat would be pumped into urban buildings starting Thursday – several days earlier than usual – to encourage residents not to turn on electric heaters and overload a power supply system compromised by Russian attacks. ►Ukrainian authorities said the Russian army attacked nine southeastern regions of Ukraine on Wednesday using drones, rockets and heavy artillery. The attacks once again focused on destroying energy facilities, the presidential office said. Six civilians were reported killed. ►The Russian military says it has defeated a Ukrainian attempt to seize control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. ►The deputy chief of Norway’s domestic security agency, Hedvig Moe, said there’s “an elevated intelligence threat from Russia” after drone sightings were reported near key infrastructure sites. 11 charged with violating U.S. laws to aid Russian military Nearly a dozen people and two companies were charged in two cases Wednesday with attempting to help the Russian military through unlawful schemes to export dual-use technologies, some of which were used by Russian troops in Ukraine, the Justice Department said. Five Russians nationals and two Venezuelan oil traders were charged in the Eastern District of New York with money laundering and evading sanctions in their efforts to share American military technology with Russian enterprises. In the other indictment, unsealed in the District of Connecticut, three Latvians, a Ukrainian who lives in Estonia and two companies were charged with conspiring to smuggle a machine used in nuclear proliferation and defense programs from the U.S. to Russia. The so-called “jig grinder” never made it to Russia. “This week’s indictments and arrests highlight the FBI’s work countering Russia’s flagrant evasion of U.S. sanctions and violation of export regulations,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. From Russia without love: Kremlin closer to severing ties to West There is no point in Russia maintaining a diplomatic presence in the West since Europe decided to sever any economic cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday. Lavrov, speaking to college graduates admitted to Russia’s diplomatic service, said working conditions for Russians in Western nations “can hardly be called human.” Russian diplomats often face physical threats, he said. “There is neither point nor desire to maintain the previous presence in Western states,” Lavrov said. “You can’t force love.” Most Western nations have saddled Russia with severe sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine. Russian diplomats have been accused of spying or other misbehavior and been expelled from some Western countries. Lavrov said developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America need additional attention. Deals are being worked out that require diplomatic support, including business, cultural, humanitarian and educational projects, he said. Russian commander says troops in ‘quite difficult’ position in Kherson The top Russian military commander in Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, acknowledged on Russian TV on Wednesday that the situation for Russian troops in Kherson region is “quite difficult.” Ukraine is pressing its offensive in that southern province without regard for casualties, Surovikin said. A top Ukraine official, however, said Russian forces in Kherson are trying to scare residents with warnings that Ukraine will bomb the city and by arranging an evacuation “propaganda show.”  The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Wednesday in a message on Telegram that bombing Ukrainian cities “is done exclusively by Russian terrorists.” Ukraine forces are expected to soon begin efforts to retake the city of Kherson, pop. 250,000. Local officials said Wednesday that 5,000 of an expected 60,000 had left the city, amid reports that residents are getting texts messages urging them to evacuate. Though the evacuations are supposed to be voluntary, oftentimes the only route out is to Russia or territory it controls. Iranian drones a threat to Israel and its relationship with Russia Those same Iran-built drones that have deeply damaged Ukraine’s energy sector and terrorized its population could endanger Israel, as well as the difficult balance it has tried to maintain in its stance on the war. Israel has sent Ukraine humanitarian aid, but declined repeated requests for air defense systems and other military equipment as it seeks to preserve its strategic relationship with Moscow. The growing ties between Russia and Iran – which has threatened using those Shahed drones on Israel, its sworn enemy – complicate that relationship. On Monday, Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs, Nachman Shai, said on Twitter the country should side with Ukraine and provide military aid. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, said the drone attacks in Ukraine raised new concerns in Israel.  “We’re looking at it closely and thinking about how these can be used by the Iranians toward Israeli population centers,” he said. No blank check for Ukraine if GOP wins, McCarthy says White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to discuss House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s comments that Ukraine will get no “blank check” in its efforts to oust invading Russian troops if the Republicans take over the House in the midterm elections. Jean-Pierre instead thanked congressional leaders for the bipartisan effort to “support Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s war crimes and atrocities.” McCarthy has the inside line on becoming speaker if the GOP, as expected, wins control of the House. Any significant decrease in American backing would represent a major blow for Ukraine, which has gained ground and momentum in its attempt to repel the Russian invasion thanks in large part to a HIMARS rocket launchers and other U.S.-supplied weaponry.  “I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” McCarthy told Punchbowl News. Contributing: The Associated Press Read More Here

Nichols Pleads Guilty To 2016 First-Degree Murder https://digitalalaskanews.com/nichols-pleads-guilty-to-2016-first-degree-murder/ October 19, 2022 (Anchorage, AK) – Today, 24-year-old Yurel Allen Nichols pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the Sept. 22, 2016 robbery-murder of Paula Zorawski in Anchorage. Nichols is in the custody of the Department of Corrections without bail. Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced before the Anchorage Superior Court on Feb. 15, 2023. CONTACT: Anchorage Assistant District Attorney Patrick McKay at (907) 269-6300 or patrick.mckay@alaska.gov. # # # Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6379. You just read: Distribution channels: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release Read More Here

Clinical Investigator Inspection List A-D https://digitalalaskanews.com/clinical-investigator-inspection-list-a-d/ Read More Here AARONS, DIANA RN SINAI HOSPITAL BELVEDERE AT GREENSPRING AVE BALTIMORE, MD 6/17/1991- 6/17/1991 NAI Ababa, Michelle MD West Coast Clinical Trials, In 5630 Cerritos Ave. Cypress CA 90630 10/3/2017- 10/23/2017 NAI ABBOUD, RAJA MD SEYMOUR MEDICAL CLINIC 1530 W 7TH AVE VANCOUVER CANADA 4/14/2014- 4/25/2014 OAI ABDUL-NABI, HANI MD VETERANS ADMIN MEDICAL CENTER (BUFFALO) 3495 BAILEY AVE BUFFALO, NY 12/11/1990- 12/10/1990 VAI ABRAMS, ELAINE MD HARLEM HOSPITAL 506 LENOX AVE NEW YORK, NY 3/13/2005- 3/14/2005 NAI Abramson, Jeremy M.D. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 133 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA 02215 4/19/2022- 4/25/2022 NAI Abramson, Jeremy MD Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114 8/31/2020- 9/4/2020 NAI ABSHIRE, THOMAS MD EMORY UNIVERSITY 1405 CLIFTON RD, NE ATLANTA, GA 7/22/2008- 7/25/2008 NAI ABSHIRE, THOMAS MD EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 2040 RIDGEWOOD DR ATLANTA, GA 4/19/1999- 4/21/1999 NAI Ackermann , Jeremy DO Clinical Trials of South Carolina 2683 Elms Plantation Boulevard, Suite D Charleston, SC 29406 11/9/2020- 11/13/2020 NAI ACHARYA, SUCHITRA MD NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL 525 EAST 68TH ST NEW YORK, NY 9/16/2008- 9/19/2008 NAI Adams, Mark S MD Alliance for Multispecialty Research, LLC 3475 Richmond Road, Third Floor Lexington, KY 40509 11/9/2020- 11/18/2020 NAI ADDERSON, ELISABETH MD ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL 262 DANNY THOMAS PLACE MEMPHIS, TN 5/7/2015- 5/8/2015 NAI Addo, Marylyn MD Bernhard-Nocht-Zentrum fuer kl Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74 20359 Hamburg, Germany 4/30/2018- 5/4/2018 NAI ADRIAN, ROBERT MD CENTER FOR LASER SURGERY 3301 NEW MEXICO AVE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 9/12/2002- 10/22/2002 OAI Agha, Mounzer MD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 5115 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15232 7/26/2021- 8/6/2021 NAI AGREN, STUART MD FAMILY ALLERGY CLINIC 3048 BASELINE RD MESA, AZ 1/18/2005- 1/24/2005 VAI AGUILAR, RICHARD MD SALTZER MEDICAL GROUP 215 E HAWAII AVE NAMPA, ID 10/17/2011- 10/27/2011 VAI AGUILAR, RICHARD MD SALTZER MEDICAL GROUP 215 E HAWAII AVE NAMPA, ID 6/15/2009- 6/25/2009 VAI AGUIRRE, FRANK MD ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 3635 VISTA AVE ST LOUIS, MO 5/2/1994- 5/6/1994 VAI AHMED, NABIL MD FEIGIN CENTER-TEXAS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL 1102 BATES STREET HOUSTON, TX 3/25/2013- 3/28/2013 NAI AHRENS, RICHARD MD UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITALS AND CLINICS 200 HAWKINS DR IOWA CITY, IA 10/20/1997- 10/31/1997 VAI Aiken , Robert D. MD Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey 195 Little Albany Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901 6/24/2019- 6/26/2019 VAI AITKEN, DELMAR MD LOMA LINDA MEDICAL CENTER 11201 BENTON ST LOMA LINDA, CA 9/10/1997- 9/16/1997 VAI Akinsola , Adebayo MD Tekton Research – Georgia 4961 Buford Highway NE Chamblee, GA 30341 3/22/2021- 3/29/2021 NAI ALARCON, LOUIS MD UNIVERISTY OF PITTSBURGH UPMC PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL 200 LOTHROP STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 7/24/2013- 8/2/2013 NAI ALAVI, ABASS MD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MEDICAL CENTER 3400 SPRUCE ST PHILADELPHIA, PA 10/22/2001- 11/1/2001 VAI ALBERTS, DAVID MD UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA – ARIZONA CANCER CENTER 1515 N CAMPBELL AVE TUCSON, AZ 6/10/2002- 6/12/2002 NAI ALBERTSON, TIMOTHY MD PHD UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SACRAMENTO MEDICAL CENTER 2315 STOCKTON BLVD SACRAMENTO, CA 12/12/1990- 12/13/1990 VAI ALEDORT, LOUIS MD MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL GUSTAVE L LEVY PL NEW YORK, NY 2/27/1995- 3/9/1995 VAI ALEJANDRO, RODOLFO MD UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 1450 NW 10TH AVE MIAMI, FL 4/2/2002- 4/19/2002 VAI Alemozaffar, Mehrdad MD Emory University Emory University Department of Urology 1365 Clifton Road NE, Suite B1400 Atlanta, GA 30322 9/23/2019- 9/26/2019 NAI ALEXANDER, STEVEN MD CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER (DALLAS) 1935 MOTOR ST DALLAS, TX 4/7/1997- 4/21/1997 VAI Ali , Kashif MD DM Clinical Research Kool Kids Pediatrics 18830 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77064 3/29/2021- 4/2/2021 NAI AL-IBRAHIM, MOHAMED MD SNBL CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY CENTER, INC 800 W BALTIMORE ST BALTIMORE, MD 7/14/2008- 7/24/2008 NAI ALLISON, MARK MD CELERION 2420 W BASELINE RD TEMPE,AZ 12/4/2012- 12/6/2012 NAI ALLEN, GEOFFREY MD CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2300 CHILDREN’S PLAZA CHICAGO, IL 10/22/2008- 10/24/2008 NAI ALLEN, GEORGE MD NORTHWEST ASTHMA ALLERGY CENTER 8614 EAST MILL PLAIN BLVD VANCOUVER, WA 4/22/2013- 5/3/2013 VAI ALONSO, KENNETH MD LABORATORY ATLANTA 202-B MEDICAL WAY RIVERDALE, GA 2/3/1992- 2/12/1992 OAI Alpan , Oral MD O & O Alpan, LLC 11212 Waples Mill Road Suite 100 Fairfax, VA 22030 9/10/2018- 9/13/2018 NAI ALPAN, ORAL MD O&O ALPAN, LLC 11212 WAPLES MILL ROAD FAIRFAX, VA 6/4/2012- 6/5/2012 NAI ALSTER, TINA MD WASHINGTON INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGERY 2311 M ST, NW WASHINGTON, DC 9/14/2001- 9/19/2001 NAI ALTHAUS, ARTHUR MD KENTUCKIANA ALLERGY PSC 9114 LEESGATE RD LOUISVILLE, KY 4/29/2003- 5/1/2003 VAI ALVAREZ, MARIA TERESA DR HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PAZ 261 PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA MADRID, SPAIN 11/4/2013- 11/7/2013 VAI ALVAREZ, OSCAR MR UNIVERSITY WOUND HEALING CLINIC 94 CHURCH ST NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 3/25/1996- 4/10/1996 OAI ALVAREZ SANCHEZ, CARMEN MD C/PLA DEL MESTRE, 7 8540 CENTELLES, Spain 6/22/2015- 6/26/2015 VAI Al-Zaidy , Samiah MD Nationwide Children’s Hospital 700 Children’s Dr Columbus, OH 43205 2/20/2019- 3/1/2019 NAI Ama , Cecilia MD Research Institute for Tropical Medicine Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang Alabang Muntinlupa 1781 Phillipines 10/19/2020- 10/30/2020 NAI AMATO, ROBERT DO M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER 1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD HOUSTON, TX 8/6/2003- 8/26/2003 VAI AMISOLA, ROGELIO MD PRIMED CLINICAL RESEARCH 948 PATTERSON ROAD DAYTON, OH 45419   3/26/2018- 3/29/2018 NAI AMPEL, NEIL MD HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AVAHCS 3601 SOUTH SIXTH AVE TUCSON, AZ 11/16/2009- 11/19/2009 NAI AMSTERDAM, DANIEL PHD ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER 462 GRIDER ST BUFFALO, NY 7/12/2004- 7/21/2004 OAI Ampajwala , Madhavi MD 9990 Dallas Parkway, Suite 200 Frisco, Texas 75033 4/25/2022- 4/28/2022 NAI Amukele, Timothy MD Johns Hopkins University 600 North Wolfe St. Baltimore, MD 21287 12/7/2015- 12/9/2015 NAI ANDERSON, CHARLES MD BARNES HOSPITAL 1 BARNES HOSPITAL PLAZA ST LOUIS, MO 6/16/1992- 6/26/1992 VAI Anderson , Evan MD Emory University School of Medicine 2015 Uppergate Drive, Room 536 Atlanta, GA 30322 8/3/2020- 8/6/2020 NAI ANDERSON, KENNETH MD DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE 44 BINNEY ST BOSTON, MA 12/29/1997- 1/9/1998 NAI ANDERSON, STEVE PHD 1912 ALEXANDER DR RESEARCH TRIANGLE, NC 7/2/2001- 7/13/2001 VAI Anderson Jr , Larry MD, PhD University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 2201 Inwood Road Dallas, TX 75390 11/16/2020- 11/18/2020 NAI ANDREANI, TONY MD HOPITAL SAINT ANTOINE 184 RUE DU TAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE, FRANCE 6/19/1995- 6/22/1995 VAI ANDREWS, DAVID MD THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL 834 WALNUT ST PHILADELPHIA, PA 4/25/2000- 5/31/2000 OAI ANDREWS, WILSON MD PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT MEDICINE PA 120 STONEBRIDGE PKWY, SUITE 410 WOODSTOCK GA 30189 8/19/2014- 8/26/2014 NAI ANDREWS, WILSON MD PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT MEDICINE PA 2155 POST OAK TRITT RD MARIETTA GA 8/19/2014- 8/26/2014 NAI ANDTBACKA, ROBERT MD HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE 2000 CIRCLE OF HOPE SALT LAKE CITY UT 1/31/2011- 3/21/2011 VAI ANGLES, LUIS MD HEART OF AMERICA RESEARCH INSTITUTE 12680 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY SHAWNEE MISSION, KS 11/9/2006- 11/13/2006 NAI ANGLES, LUIS MD HEART OF AMERICA RESEARCH INSTITUTE 12680 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY SHAWNEE MISSION, KS 2/7/2005- 2/9/2005 NAI Annesley, Colleen MD Seattle Children’s Hospital 4800 Sand Point Way NE, MS B-6553 Seattle, WA 98105 1/23/2020- 1/28/2020 NAI ANSCHUETZ, RICHARD MD PROVIDENCE MEDICAL CENTER 3200 PROVIDENCE DR ANCHORAGE, AK 2/22/1994- 2/22/1994 NAI ANTOLICK, ANN RN NORTH MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER 3300 OAKDALE AVE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 3/9/1991- 3/9/1991 NAI ANTONIA, SCOTT MD PHD H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER 12902 MAGNOLIA DR TAMPA, FL 7/24/2013- 8/2/2013 VAI ANTONIA, SCOTT MD PHD H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER 12902 MAGNOLIA DR TAMPA, FL 8/12/2002- 8/15/2002 VAI APANTAKU, LECIA MD HEATHER M BLIGH CANCER RESEARCH LABS 3333 GREEN BAY RD NORTH CHICAGO, IL 3/5/1998- 4/17/1998 VAI APPLE, FRED PHD HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER 701 PARK AVE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 6/2/2014- 6/6/2014 NAI APPLE, FRED PHD MINNEAPOLIS 701 PARK AVENUE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 2/22/2010- 2/25/2010 NAI APTE, SHASHIKANT   PLOT 30-C, ERANDWANE DECCAN GYMKHANA PUNE 411004, INDIA 6/22/2015- 6/25/2015 NAI APTE, SHASHIKANTE MD SAHYADRI CLINICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER 30C ERANDAWANE, KARVE RD PUNE 411004, INDIA 9/24/2012- 9/26/2012 NAI ARAKI, TAI DR TASC RESEARCH SERVICES 15243 91ST AVENUE SURREY BC CANADA 8/11/2014- 8/14/2014 NAI ARANA, JULIAN MD PHARMAX RESEARCH CLINIC INC 7200 NW 7TH STREET MIAMI, FL 8/8/2011- 8/11/2011 NAI ARBETER, ALLAN MD ALBERT EINSTEIN MEDICAL CENTER 5501 OLD YORK RD PHILADELPHIA, PA 6/21/1996- 7/3/1996 VAI ARDOLIC, BRAHIM MD STATEN ISLAND UNIV HOSPITAL 475 SEAVIEW AVE STATEN ISLAND, NY 8/14/2012- 8/30/2012 NAI ARDUINO, ROBERTO MD UNIV OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER 2015 THOMAS ST HOUSTON, TX 9/11/2012- 10/1/2012 NAI Arellano, Martha MD Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University 1365 Clifton Road Northeast Suite 1152C Atlanta, GA 30322 8/3/2021- 8/5/2021 NAI ARGIRIS, ATHANASSIOS MD 5115 CENTRE AVE PITTSBURGH, PA 6/4/2009- 7/8/2009 VAI ARMITAGE, JAMES MD UNIVERSITY OF...

Stingrays Add Pair Of Coaches To Hockey Operations Staff https://digitalalaskanews.com/stingrays-add-pair-of-coaches-to-hockey-operations-staff/ NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The South Carolina Stingrays, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and AHL’s Hershey Bears, have announced the additions of Hunter Bishop and Adam Oliver to the hockey operations staff. Bishop will serve as the team’s player development coach and Oliver will serve as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. “Hunter is a passionate and hard-working person,” said Head Coach Brenden Kotyk. “He loves helping guys elevate their games and reach their highest potential. Hunter has a great knowledge of the game, and as a former Stingray, he knows what it takes to get these guys ready come game day.” A native of Fairbanks, AK, Bishop played his collegiate hockey at Ohio State University before signing an entry-level NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 2010. The former pro played for the Stingrays during the 2012-13 NHL lockout season, eventually calling Charleston his home after retiring in 2019. During his 10-year professional career, Bishop played with stints in the AHL, ECHL, and Europe. In addition to working with the Stingrays, Bishop owns Hunter Bishop Hockey and runs player development that ranges from youth programs to training current pros including NHL players David Krejci and Torey Krug. Oliver earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and exercise science in 2016 from Norwich University. Since then, he has coached clients of all ages, helping them in all aspects of leading a healthy life starting with their current health, diet, and lifestyle. Oliver is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified functional strength coach, and the owner of Decentralized Strength. “Adam is an intelligent person who loves helping guys reach their goals,” said Kotyk. “He is going play an essential role for our team as we ramp up further into the season. He will educate our players about the best methods for conditioning and how to manage their workloads during the long season.” The Stingrays kick off their 30th season celebration at the North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday, October 22 against the Norfolk Admirals at 6:05 p.m. Make sure to beat the rush and come out early for the Bud Light Pregame Tailgate Party from 4-6 p.m. The first 2,500 fans at the game will receive a 2022-23 magnet schedule presented by MUSC Health. Support Charleston Southern University’s Operation Christmas Drive by donating a variety of items found here. Season ticket plans are on sale now! For more information or to purchase, contact the Stingrays by phone at 843-744-2248. Stingrays Add Pair of Coaches to Hockey Operations Staff – South Carolina Stingrays Captain A.J. White to Serve as Player Assistant Coach for 2022-23 Season – Idaho Steelheads Rochester Assigns Olischefski to Cyclones – Cincinnati Cyclones Idaho Steelheads Add Forward Ryan Dmowski and Goaltender Adam Scheel from AHL Texas Stars – Idaho Steelheads Mariners Renew Community Collection Initiative – Maine Mariners The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff. Read More Here

Fisherman, Dogs Rescued In Freshwater Bay After Boat Issue https://digitalalaskanews.com/fisherman-dogs-rescued-in-freshwater-bay-after-boat-issue/ Fisherman, Dogs Rescued In Freshwater Bay After Boat Issue Shown is Robert Johnson and his two dogs who were rescued by a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka aircrew after his vessel sank in Freshwater Bay, Alaska, Oct. 19, 2022. Johnson’s vessel is a 33-foot-long fishing vessel named The Bailey Bay. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo. The following is courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska District 17: KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka aircrew rescued a man and his two dogs after his fishing vessel sank in Freshwater Bay, southeast of Hoonah, Alaska, on Wednesday. The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew retrieved the individual and his two dogs from shore and safely transported them to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Juneau.  At 4:48 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders overheard a mayday call from a mariner, who stated that his vessel was going down in the vicinity of Freshwater Bay. The individual confirmed that he and his two dogs were the only ones aboard the vessel before transmission ceased. Coast Guard personnel from Station Juneau, Air Station Sitka and the Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman launched to respond to the incident.  An Air Station Sitka pilot aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter locates an individual stranded on shore near Freshwater Bay, Alaska, Oct. 19, 2022. The individual and his two dogs swam to shore after his vessel capsized. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo.  Several vessels in the area heard the transmission and provided their antennae height and latitude and longitude coordinates to the Coast Guard crews, which were used to help refine a search area. The aircrew arrived on scene at 7:56 a.m. and easily located the individual on shore, who was found wearing a survival suit and signaling the helo with a flare. “This demonstrates the importance of coordination and communication between our Coast Guard crews and the local Alaskan vessels who were able to assist us in locating and rescuing the mariner,” said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Trevor Layman, Sector Juneau Command Center. “The mariner was well prepared for an emergency and utilized a flare to direct us to his specific location. All these factors allowed us to do our job in an efficient manner to bring the man and his dogs safely home.” A sunken vessel is shown in Freshwater Bay, Alaska, after the vessel capsized with the owner and his two dogs aboard, Oct. 19, 2022. An Air Station Sitka aircrew rescued the man and his dogs from a nearby shore after he signaled the helo with a flare. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo. The Bailey Bay, a 33-foot fiberglass fishing vessel, was located by the crew of the Douglas Denman, who arrived on scene and found it submerged. The Douglas Denman launched a small boat crew to inspect the wreckage and reported that the vessel was producing a small sheen. The vessel reportedly has less than 75 gallons of diesel fuel onboard and is currently sunk in 30 feet of water with minimal sheening. The vessel owner plans to conduct salvage operations.  The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. About Author chrisco2 Read More Here

AP News Summary At 7:55 P.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-755-p-m-edt/ Putin adds martial law in Ukraine regions, limits in Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Wednesday on his faltering invasion of Ukraine with a declaration of martial law in four illegally annexed regions and preparations within Russia for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns. Putin’s drastic efforts to tighten his grip on Ukrainians and Russians follow a series of embarrassing setbacks: stinging battlefield defeats, sabotage and troubles with his troop mobilization. The martial law order belies the Kremlin’s attempts to portray life in the annexed regions as returning to normal. The reality is that a military administration has replaced civilian leaders in the southern city of Kherson and a mass evacuation from the city is underway as a Ukrainian counteroffensive grinds on. First Native American woman in space awed by Mother Earth CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first Native American woman in space says she’s overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth. She’s also channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission gets underway at the International Space Station, something she learned from her mother. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday, answering questions gathered from AP members, as well as tribal news outlets. She’s a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California. Mann says it’s important to recognize that there are all types of people aboard the space station, highlighting “our diversity.” She rocketed into orbit with SpaceX two weeks ago. Trump deposed in defamation suit filed by E. Jean Carroll NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump answered questions under oath in a defamation lawsuit filed by a writer who says he raped her in the mid-1990s. The deposition Wednesday provided lawyers for E. Jean Carroll a chance to interrogate the Republican ex-president about Carroll’s assault allegations, as well as statements he made in 2019 when she first told her story publicly. Trump has said the rape allegation is “a hoax and a lie.” A judge last week rejected Trump’s request to delay the deposition. Details on how the deposition went weren’t immediately disclosed. COVID-19 linked to increase in US pregnancy-related deaths Read More Here