Romania’s election called off over accusations of Russian meddling
Romania’s presidential election was called off following accusations that the surprise frontrunner’s social media campaign was influenced by Russia. Far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round of voting and rose to popularity by posting his “Romania first” nationalist brand on TikTok.
His account gained more than 530,000 followers and over 5 million “likes” but fueled suspicion that his overnight success was driven by Russian meddling.
In a surprise move, the Romanian government declassified intelligence reports days ahead of the election alleging that Moscow ran an elaborate internet scheme to boost Georgescu’s account.
This comes after the country’s election servers had allegedly been hacked by Russia.
“Romania is a target for aggressive Russian hybrid actions including cyber attacks and information leaks and sabotage,” the Foreign Intelligence Service said.
Like Russian President Vladimir Putin, Georgescu has been a vocal NATO critic, questioning Romania’s membership in the alliance, which ignited fears about NATO’s future in the country.
Now, Romania’s top court says the entire election process must be redone, meaning a second-round run-off that was scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8, will no longer happen.
Georgescu would have gone head-to-head with his centrist rival Elena Lacsoni.
China grants visa-free access to more countries to boost tourism
China is opening up visa-free access to more countries in an effort to kickstart its struggling economy through tourism. Beijing announced on Friday, Nov. 22, that it will expand the visa-free program to nine additional countries including Japan, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia and Latvia.
China also announced it will be extending the possible length of stay from 15 days to 30 days for travelers from visa-free countries.
The new travel rules will go into effect on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Only three countries had visa-free privileges previously and that access was rescinded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan was one of the three countries with visa-free access before the COVID-19 pandemic and had repeatedly asked for an early waiver to restart the program.
The countries have sparred over issues ranging from Taiwanese sovereignty to the release of treated yet still radioactive water into the sea from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Meanwhile, travel agencies are reportedly preparing for an influx of tourists as the end of the month approaches.
From July through September of this year, China reported more than 8 million foreigners entering the country, and of those, nearly 5 million were from visa-free countries.
With the latest expansion, 38 countries now have visa-free access since last year.
EU court rules member states must recognize legal gender changes
The European Court of Justice (EJC) ruled Thursday, Oct. 1, that EU member states must legally recognize gender identity changes made in other member countries. This marks a significant victory for trans rights supporters.
The case involved Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi, a transgender man from Romania, who had legally changed his name and gender in the U.K. However, Romania refused to reflect these changes on his birth certificate, leading to a legal battle that reached the EU’s top court.
Getty Images
The ECJ determined that Romania’s refusal violated EU law, specifically hindering the right to free movement and residence within the bloc, which is guaranteed under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The court emphasized that failing to recognize gender changes across borders disproportionately impacts transgender individuals, forcing them to navigate conflicting legal documents across different countries.
Mirzarafie-Ahi’s case drew significant attention due to Romania’s invasive legal requirements for gender recognition, including sterilization. In contrast, the U.K. allows legal gender changes without such conditions.
The court’s ruling reinforces that these disparities in national law cannot obstruct the rights of transgender citizens.
Although the case stems from pre-Brexit recognition in the U.K., the court clarified that the decision applies to all legal gender changes made within the EU prior to Brexit.
Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’ at his golf club: FBI
For the second time in just over two months, authorities say former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent “attempted assassination.” We have the latest on the investigation. And the red carpet was rolled out for TV’s biggest stars Sunday night. We recap who won at the 76th Emmy Awards. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.
FBI: Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’
The FBI is investigating what it said “appears to be an attempted assassination” of former President Donald Trump near his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, Sept. 15. Authorities said Trump was playing a round of golf when Secret Service agents spotted the gunman a few hundred yards away pointing a weapon through the bushes.
The agents fired five to six shots at the gunman. The suspect dropped his weapon, described as an AK-47-style rifle, and fled in his vehicle. It was not clear if the suspect had fired any shots.
The suspect was soon taken into custody during a traffic stop in a nearby county.
Authorities said the rifle with a scope was found in the shrubbery along with two backpacks, ceramic plates, and a GoPro camera.
Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for the Republican presidential nominee said Trump was safe. Trump later sent out a letter to supporters saying, “Nothing will slow me down! I will never surrender.”
Law enforcement sources have told multiple news outlets the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii. Authorities are said to be looking into Routh’s possible motives, including his reported grievances about the war in Ukraine. The New York Times reported the paper interviewed Routh last year about recruiting Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.
During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw spoke about the Secret Service’s presence protecting Trump at the time of the assassination attempt.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have this entire golf course surrounded,” Bradshaw said. “Well, because he’s not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible. So, I would imagine the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.”
Biden said he has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service “has every resource” necessary for Trump’s “continued safety.” Harris said, “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”
Late Sunday night, Trump posted a message on Truth Social thanking law enforcement for “an incredible job done” and saying, “It was certainly an interesting day.”
I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible… pic.twitter.com/mV15rJygOR
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 16, 2024
Israel says Houthis will pay ‘heavy price’ after attack on Tel Aviv
Israel’s Prime Minister has vowed retaliation after a missile fired by Houthi rebels reached central Israel for the first time. A Houthi spokesman said the hypersonic ballistic missile, fired from Yemen, traveled more than 1,200 miles in just over 10 minutes Sunday.
Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from Yemen and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the missile mid-air, but it most likely fragmented as it approached Tel Aviv. Israel said there were no direct casualties from the missile, but at least nine people suffered minor injuries.
This is just the latest attack by the Houthis, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, in support of Hamas.
At least 8 dead as torrential rain triggers flooding in central Europe
At least eight people are confirmed dead as torrential rain continues to pound central Europe, causing widespread flooding. Thousands of people evacuated their homes in the Czech Republic Sunday as rivers overflowed their banks in various parts of the country.
A storm system named Boris has caused heavy downpours from Austria to Romania, leading to the worst flooding the Czech Republic and Poland have seen in nearly 30 years.
The relentless rain is expected to last at least through Monday.
US Coast Guard hearing into deadly Titan submersible implosion begins
Former employees of OceanGate are expected to testify. The company was behind the experimental submersible that imploded while on its way to the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023, killing all five people on board.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Coast Guard released a statement saying the hearing “aims to uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The hearing will take place in Charleston County, South Carolina and is expected to last about two weeks. Witnesses scheduled to appear include one of OceanGate’s co-founders and the company’s former engineering, operations, and scientific directors.
Apple’s AI-powered operating system to launch Monday
Apple’s latest operating system, featuring the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities, is set to go live Monday. iOS 18 will come with changes for all compatible iPhone models, but Apple Intelligence will be the highlight of the update for iPhone 15 Pro and later models.
Some tech experts say this is Apple’s biggest update since it originally launched the iPhone.
Apple usually releases its updates at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.
‘Shogun,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘The Bear’ win at the 76th Emmy Awards
History was made at the 76th Emmy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. The big winner was the historical drama Shogun.
“Shogun” became the first non-English language series to win best drama. It claimed a total of 18 wins, including lead actor, actress, and directing.
US sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. And Tom Cruise gives the Paris Olympics a Hollywood ending as we look toward the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
U.S. sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
The U.S. ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia, a “nuclear-powered submarine with cruise missiles,” to the Middle East. The movement of U.S. missile submarines is rarely revealed publicly — typically operating in near-complete secrecy — but the move comes as Israel is anticipating a potentially “large scale attack” by Iran in the next few days.
According to Axios, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, Aug. 11, that Iran was making preparations for the attack on Israel. On Monday, Aug. 12 morning, Reuters reported Gallant’s ministry has confirmed a call between the two took place overnight.
The Israeli military has ordered more evacuations from part of a humanitarian safe zone it had set up in southwestern Gaza, saying they now plan to expand fighting. The IDF said there have been indications Hamas terrorists have a significant presence there now living among civilians.
These orders come a day after Israel struck a school-turned-shelter that the Hamas-run health ministry said killed at least 80 people. Israel claims Hamas fighters were hiding at the school compound.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ new leader said Sunday, Aug. 11, there would be no new negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza this week unless mediators from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt revert to a plan that would see a truce in the war.
In a “CBS Sunday Morning,” President Joe Biden said he believes a cease-fire deal is still possible before he leaves office.
Biden gives first interview since dropping out of 2024 race
The CBS interview on Sunday was President Biden’s first interview since pulling out of the 2024 race. Biden explained a major reason why he made that decision was so the Democratic Party could focus on what he says is the real issue: defeating former President Donald Trump.
“Polls we had showed that it was neck and neck race, would’ve been down to the wire,” Biden said. “But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races, and I was concerned if I stayed in the race that would be the topic. You’d be interviewing me about ‘Why did Nancy Pelosi say, why did so-and-so say?’ and I thought it would be a distraction.”
He added, “Although it’s a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country to do the most important thing you can do, and that is we must, we must defeat Trump.”
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, had multiple one-on-one interviews air on Sunday, Aug. 11. In the interviews, he spoke with CNN’s Dana Bash, CBS’ Margaret Brennan and ABC’s Jonathan Karl about former President Trump’s plans should he be elected again in 2024.
On CBS, Vance defended recent comments by the former president indicating he may be willing to roll back access to the abortion pill. He said Trump “wants abortion related decisions to be left to the states.”
On CNN, Vance commented on Vice President Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying he’s the one being “weird” after that term has been used by the Democratic Party to describe the Republican ticket.
“I think that you take a sequential approach to it,” Vance said. “You are going to have to deport some people. If you’re not willing to deport a lot of people, you’re not willing to have a border when there are 20 million illegal aliens in our country.”
“You start with what’s achievable, you do that, and then you go on to what’s achievable from there,” Vance added. “I think if you deport a lot of violent criminals, and frankly, if you make it harder to hire illegal labor — which undercuts the wages of American workers — I think you go a lot of the way to solving the illegal immigration problem. But look, President Trump is absolutely right; you cannot have a border unless you’re willing to deport some people. I think it’s interesting that people focus on, ‘Well, how do you deport 18 million people?’ Let’s start with one million, that’s where Kamala Harris has failed, and then we can go from there.”
Vance will be on the campaign trail on Wednesday, Aug. 14, making a stop in Michigan, a key swing state, while Trump is set address the economy in North Carolina.
Trump will be sitting down for an interview with Elon Musk on Monday night, Aug. 12.
Trump campaign says it was hacked by Iran
There are new concerns over foreign interference in the U.S. election after the Trump campaign said over the weekend it was hacked by Iran.
Both Politico and The Washington Post reported receiving internal Trump documents including research on Trump’s running mate, Sen. Vance, “from an anonymous email account.”
News of a campaign hack comes just as Microsoft said on Friday, Aug. 9, it discovered “evidence that Iranian hackers targeted an email account of a campaign official” back in June. While Microsoft didn’t specify what campaign was impacted in their announcement, a person familiar to the talks told The Washington Post it was Trump’s campaign.
The extent of any sort of hack is not currently known, but the Post said they received hundreds of pages labeled as “confidential.”
USA Gymnastics: Video shows Jordan Chiles should not be stripped of medal
There’s some controversy as the Summer Olympics in Paris reach their end. USA Gymnastics is challenging the ruling of Olympic officials that called for Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal.
Chiles won the medal after the individual floor exercise final last week, after her coach submitted a review of the judges’ scores.
However, the decision this weekend by the court of arbitration for sport said Chiles’ coach had asked for the review four seconds after a one-minute deadline to submit such a request had expired per competition rules, meaning Romania won the bronze.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, USA gymnastics fired back at that ruling, saying it has submitted time-stamped video evidence showing the request was made within the one minute window. Olympic officials have yet to respond to the latest twist in this gymnastics saga.
Tom Cruise closes Paris Olympics with Hollywood ending
Team USA led the way at the 2024 Olympics with the most total medals: 126. It also tied with China for most gold medals, with 40 each.
As Paris marked the conclusion of its Olympics, it was up to the next host city, Los Angeles, to close out the show in style and L.A. brought a Hollywood ending.
Actor Tom Cruise channeled his “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible” roles by jumping off the stadium’s roof in Paris.
He was then handed the Olympic flag by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Olympic great Simone Biles to take back to L.A.
The closing ceremony also saw the musician H.E.R. singing the national anthem, as well as performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Billie Eilish.
Coincidentally, Team USA taking home 126 medals is the most since the U.S. won 174 in 1984 — the last time the Olympics were played in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ US policy
With a month to go until Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial, prosecutors are making new allegations the president’s son accepted payments from a Romanian businessman to influence U.S. policy. And new details are emerging about the terror plot that resulted in the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Austria. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ U.S. policy
New details are coming out of Hunter Biden’s federal tax case. While the trial doesn’t begin until September, there’s a new court filing from the special counsel laying out a new allegation the prosecution plans to bring up.
Federal prosecutors allege the president’s son was compensated by a Romanian businessman who was trying to influence U.S. policy and end a local investigation of him in Romania.
According to the Wednesday, Aug. 7 filing, the special counsel intends to go after Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings even more, including his association with Burisma — a Ukrainian natural gas company — and an energy company in China.
The prosecution said it evidence will show he “performed almost no work in exchange for millions of dollars” from these entities and will speak to Hunter Biden’s “state of mind” and “intent” during the years in question.
Hunter Biden’s team had requested certain evidence be omitted from trial, questioning its relevance to the federal tax charges, which include failing to pay taxes, failing to file, and filing a fraudulent form.
He’s charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors in the tax case. The president’s youngest son is accused of failing to pay more than a million dollars in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Prosecutors allege he used the funds to live lavishly, including spending millions on drugs, escorts and luxury cars. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty in the case.
This is separate from Hunter Biden’s federal gun case where he was convicted in June of lying about his illegal drug use while filling out a form to purchase a gun. He has not been sentenced yet in that case.
Biden ‘not confident’ in peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses election
We’re getting a preview of President Joe Biden’s one-on-one interview with CBS News. While the full interview will air on Sunday, Aug. 11, there’s a clip that is getting a lot of attention Thursday morning, Aug. 8.
CBS News reporter Robert Costa asked the president if he’s confident there will be a peaceful transfer of power in January.
“If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all,” Biden said. “He means what he says, he means it, all the stuff about if we lose there will be a bloodbath.”
He added, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Trump’s “bloodbath” comments came during a rally in March. The former president has said he was referring to a “bloodbath” in the economy and auto industry if he loses the 2024 election.
Three months later, Trump was asked during the presidential debate on June 27 whether he would accept the 2024 election results. He said as long as it’s a “fair and legal” election, he’ll accept whatever the results are come November.
Taylor Swift shows in Austria canceled over foiled terror plot
Three of Taylor Swift’s concerts set for Vienna, Austria have been canceled after authorities say they foiled a terror attack planned for that leg of her Eras Tour. Austrian police said they’ve arrested two suspects who they say are ISIS sympathizers and became “radicalized by the internet.”
Police chemical substances and technical devices were found at the home of a 19-year-old suspect and are being evaluated. Authorities also said they’ve made “further detentions” but didn’t give any more details.
The concert’s promoter said all tickets for the canceled shows will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
Family of French explorer killed in Titan catastrophe files $50M lawsuit
The family of French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet who died when the Titan submersible imploded during a deep dive to the wreckage of the Titanic is suing for more than $50 million. They said the crew of five people on board experienced “terror and mental anguish” before the disaster and accuse OceanGate, the sub’s operator, of gross negligence.
After the June 2023 incident when the vessel imploded due to catastrophic pressure loss, it was revealed that industry experts had raised serious safety concerns about the project years earlier.
The lawsuit also alleges OceanGate failed to disclose the Titan’s flaws and purposely concealed any issues from French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet. It also saysNargeolet — who had taken part in 37 dives to the Titanic wreckage, more than anyone else in the world — would not have taken the voyage if he’d known about the Titan’s issues.
The implosion killed four other people, including OceanGate’s CEO. This is the first lawsuit to be filed in connection with the disaster.
Intel shareholders sue after stock plunges over job and dividend cuts
Intel’s shareholders are suing a chip maker. Intel said the company hid problems with its manufacturing business ahead of announced layoffs and poor earnings.
The lawsuit accuses Intel, its CEO, and CFO of making false and misleading statements that “artificially inflated” the company’s stock price prior to announcing a loss of more than a billion dollars between April and June of 2024.
American Quincy Hall comes from behind to win men’s 400-meter final
Team USA won more medals on day 12 of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The team picked up three more gold medals.
Team USA now tops the charts with 27 gold medals and 94 medals overall.
On Wednesday, the U.S. won wrestling, women’s cycling, and in track and field — even though it looked like sprinter Quincy Hall was out of the running with just seconds to go in the race.
Hall pulled off an amazing comeback with just a quarter of the 400-meter final to go. He fell into fourth place as the runners rounded the last bend but then picked up the pace and passed his competition to cross the finish line first.
Biden speaks at NATO summit, Trump holds rally in Florida
Candidates look to send a message as President Joe Biden delivers a speech at the NATO summit and former President Donald Trump spoke at a Florida rally. And the U.S.-built pier meant to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza looks to be in its final days. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Biden speaks at NATO summit, Trump holds rally in Florida
With the Republican National Convention days away, the Democratic National Convention in a few weeks, and Election Day fast approaching, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump delivered speeches on Tuesday, July 9. And while their speeches took place in very different settings, each was hoping their message would help make the case they are the better option.
Biden spoke in Washington as the three-day NATO summit kicked off, saying the alliance is stronger than it’s ever been in history.
With the focus of the summit being the NATO nations’ continued support for Ukraine, Biden spoke of the country’s resilience in its fight against Russia.
“In Europe, Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues and Putin wants nothing less nothing less than Ukraine’s total subjugation, to end Ukraine’s democracy, destroy Ukraine’s culture and to wipe Ukraine off the map,” the president said. “And we know Putin won’t stop at Ukraine, but make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
Biden and the leaders of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania announced the delivery of new air defense systems for Ukraine. This comes just days after a deadly attack by Russia on a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
On Tuesday night, Biden held a video call with nearly 200 Democratic mayors as he reiterated that he will remain in the race despite having a “lousy night” on the debate stage and amid growing calls for him to step aside.
Meanwhile, former President Trump was back on the campaign trail, holding a rally in Florida. He commented on the speculation surrounding Biden’s candidacy since debate night.
“Our victory was so absolute that Joe’s own party now wants him to throw in the towel and surrender the presidency after a single 90-minute performance,” Trump told supporters. “They want ‘crooked Joe’ out of the race. It’s a shame the way they’re treating him. But don’t feel sorry for him. He’s a very bad guy.”
And with Trump still needing to pick his vice president, one of the potential choices for a running mate — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — was in attendance. Trump made mention of Rubio’s presence, teasing that reporters probably expected him to make his VP announcement then and there.
In his speech, Trump said he would give Biden a chance to redeem himself — challenging the president to another debate this week, as well as a golf match, referencing an argument between the two during the first debate.
In response, a Biden campaign spokesperson said Biden doesn’t have time for “Donald Trump’s weird antics.”
U.S. Navy sailor disciplined for trying to access Biden’s medical records
As concerns over President Biden’s health remain a topic of discussion since last month’s presidential debate, word has come down of a Navy sailor who’s been disciplined for trying to access the president’s medical records on multiple occasions. The incidents occurred in late February but were disclosed on Tuesday, July 9.
The Navy said the junior sailor assigned to a medical unit in Virginia searched the military’s health care system for the name “Joe Biden” three times but did not end up pulling any details on the president. A co-worker reported the breach, and the Navy launched an investigation.
The sailor admitted he looked up the president’s name “out of curiosity.” The sailor received administrative discipline and remains in the Navy.
$230M pier created to bring aid to Gaza to be shut down for good
The pier, which has already been moved and fixed repeatedly due to bad weather and rough seas, is set to be put back in place on the coast just west of Gaza city Wednesday, July 10. It had been closed off again on June 28 because of bad weather; its third shutdown since it opened in mid-May.
BREAKING: US-built pier will be put back in Gaza for several days to move aid, then permanently removed https://t.co/VKsFqy7ZtM
U.S. military officials say the $230 million pier is being put back in place to deliver any remaining aid in Cyprus and on the floating dock several miles offshore, then it’ll be permanently removed as soon as next week.
The original plan called for it to remain operational through at least the end of the month.
Russian court issues arrest warrant for late opposition leader’s widow
The court said she would be arrested if she were to ever return to Russia. This comes as part of a Kremlin crackdown on opposition.
Ой, а что не будет обычной процедуры? Иностранный агент, потом заведение уголовного дела, потом уже арест?! Когда будете писать об этом, не забудьте, пожалуйста, написать главное: Владимир Путин – убийца и военный преступник. Его место в тюрьме, и не где-нибудь в Гааге, в уютной…
The charges are widely seen as politically motivated. Navalny was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critic. He died in February in an arctic penal colony while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges.
After her husband’s death, Navalnaya vowed to take up his work and has been lobbying against Putin’s government from abroad.
Opening arguments to begin in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial
Opening arguments are set to begin Wednesday, July 10, in actor Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico. Baldwin is charged in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.”
He has pleaded not guilty, claiming the gun fired accidentally. Prosecutors will look to prove that Baldwin failed to follow industry standards for firearms safety.
#BREAKING: The jury has been chosen in the #AlecBaldwin Manslaughter Trial in New Mexico.
Opening statements are set to begin tomorrow LIVE on #CourtTV.
Twelve jurors and four alternates were chosen at Tuesday’s hearing; 11 women and 5 men. If they find Baldwin guilty, he faces up to 18 months in prison.
The trial is expected to conclude by July 19.
Europe rejoins space race with launch of Ariane 6
Europe is back in space. Running years behind schedule, Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket blasted off on its maiden flight Tuesday, July 9, from the European Space Agency‘s launch site in French Guiana.
The flight deployed three sets of micro-satellites for research purposes, prompting European space officials to declare the trip a success.
However, the mission didn’t go entirely as planned. The final batch of payloads — two small capsules designed to test the conditions for surviving re-entry — was not launched after a smaller power unit shut itself down for unknown reasons.
Despite the setback, the European Space Agency said it is on track for another mission by the end of the year.
Study: Bison herd removes more carbon than world’s largest CO2 capture plant
A herd of bison in Romania might actually be better for the planet than the world’s largest carbon capture facility, according to recent findings by scientists at the Yale School of the Environment. Over 200 years ago, these animals roamed across what is now present-day Romania, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem before they went extinct in the region.
In 2014, bison were reintroduced to Romania, and their presence has since contributed positively to the surrounding environment. These large herbivores have been fertilizing grasslands, spreading plant seeds, and helping spur ecological growth.
Additionally, the bison’s heavy movements compact the soil beneath them, which helps keep carbon locked in the ground. Each year, these reintroduced bison are estimated to trap an additional 54,000 tons of CO2 emissions — equivalent to the annual pollution generated by 43,000 cars.
While the Yale scientists’ findings have not yet undergone peer review, they suggest that bison could play a role in mitigating carbon emissions. This insight forms part of a broader theory proposed by the study’s lead author, Oswald Schmitz, who believes that protecting and restoring just nine animal species could significantly reduce pollution.
If these animals were protected and their populations restored, the research by Schmitz indicates that an additional 6.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide could be captured annually. This amount is roughly equivalent to the total yearly emissions of the United States.
FBI, European partners take down Qakbot malware network
The Justice Department announced the FBI and its European partners took down a major global malware network known as Qakbot. According to a statement from Attorney General Merrick Garland, the department “hacked Qakbot’s infrastructure, launched an aggressive campaign to uninstall the malware from victim computers in the United States and around the world, and seized $8.6 million in extorted funds.” Countries involved in the multinational effort to take down the network includes:
France
Germany
The Netherlands
The United Kingdom
Romania
Latvia
“We’ve seized 52 servers in the United States and abroad. By seizing these servers, we’re preventing Qakbot from resurrecting to cause further additional harm,” U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said on Tuesday, Aug. 29. “Through this operation, we’ve recovered from the Qakbot criminal organization over 6.5 million credentials, victim credentials. Now, these victim credentials are things such as email logins and passwords, very sensitive information that these victims may have no idea were stolen from them.”
According to Estrada, the malware network had facilitated about 40 ransomware attacks alone over 18 months, netting Qakbot administrators about $58 million. Victims included an Illinois-based engineering firm, financial services organizations in Alabama and Kansas, along with a Maryland defense manufacturer and a Southern California food distribution company.
“Qakbot was the botnet of choice for some of the most infamous ransomware gangs,” Estrada said.
No arrests were announced in relation to the FBI’s takedown of the Qakbot malware network. Estrada would not say where administrators of the malware were located.
Cybersecurity researchers have said these administrators are believed to be in Russia and/or other former Soviet states. Estrada said the investigation was ongoing.
“Cybercriminals who rely on malware like Qakbot to steal private data from innocent victims have been reminded today that they do not operate outside the bounds of the law,” Garland said in his Tuesday statement.
