Michigan Supreme Court ruling paves way for voters to decide on abortion rights constitutional amendment – NBC News
Michigan Supreme Court ruling paves way for voters to decide on abortion rights constitutional amendment – NBC News
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Queen Elizabeth dies at 96, ending an era for Britain – Reuters UK
Queen Elizabeth dies at 96, ending an era for Britain – Reuters UK

BALMORAL, Scotland, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the nation’s figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96.

“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” the new king, her eldest son Charles, said.

“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” the 73-year-old said in a statement. read more

News that the queen’s health was deteriorating emerged shortly after midday on Thursday when her doctors said she was under medical supervision, prompting her family to rush to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be by her side.

Thousands gathered outside Buckingham Palace, in central London, and there was a stunned silence when the flag was lowered to half-mast. The crowd surged to the gates as the notice announcing the death of the only monarch most Britons have ever known was attached to the black iron gates.

Royal officials said King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, would remain at Balmoral before returning to London on Friday, when Charles is expected to address the nation and meet Prime Minister Liz Truss. Details of the funeral have not been confirmed. read more

On Elizabeth’s death, Charles automatically became monarch of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. read more

‘HUGE SHOCK TO THE NATION’

The queen, whose husband died last year, had been suffering from what Buckingham Palace had called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year, forcing her to withdraw from nearly all her public engagements.

Her last official duty came only on Tuesday, when she appointed Truss prime minister – the 15th of her reign.

“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world,” Truss said outside her Downing Street office where the flag, like those at royal palaces and government buildings across Britain, were lowered.

“Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure,” said Truss, who was informed of the death at 4:30 p.m. London time.

The news stunned not only people in Britain, with condolences pouring in from leaders around the world.

“Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement. He ordered flags at the White House to be flown at half-mast

In Paris, the mayor announced the lights of the Eiffel Tower would be turned off in honour of her passing; in Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue was illuminated with the colours of the Union Jack and the government declared three days of mourning; and the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council both stood for a moment of silence.

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country’s relations with Britain have plummeted over the war in Ukraine, extended his condolences, calling it an “irreparable loss”.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was also the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state, came to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was just 25.

PLEDGED TO SERVE

She was crowned in June the following year. The first televised coronation was a foretaste of a new world in which the lives of the royals were to become increasingly scrutinised by the media.

“I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust,” she said in a speech to her subjects on her coronation day.

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Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh view the restored bed-chamber at the Maritime Museum in London, in this May 1, 1990 file photo. REUTERS/Mike Parsson

Despite reputedly only being about 5ft 3ins tall, she commanded any room she entered. Famed for her bright outfits, she is said to have quipped: “I have to be seen to be believed”.

Elizabeth became monarch at a time when Britain still retained much of its old empire. It was emerging from the ravages of World War Two, with food rationing still in force and class and privilege still dominant in society.

Winston Churchill was Britain’s prime minister at the time, Josef Stalin led the Soviet Union and the Korean War was raging.

In the decades that followed, Elizabeth witnessed massive political change and social upheaval at home and abroad. Her own family’s tribulations, most notably the divorce of Charles and his late first wife Diana, were played out in full public glare.

While remaining an enduring symbol of stability and continuity for Britons at a time of relative national economic decline, Elizabeth also tried to adapt the ancient institution of monarchy to the demands of the modern era.

“She has managed to modernise and evolve the monarchy like no other,” her grandson Prince William, who is now heir to the throne, said in a 2012 documentary.

RECORDS

Elizabeth was the 40th monarch in a royal line that followed Norman King William the Conqueror, who claimed the English throne in 1066 after defeating Anglo-Saxon ruler Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.

Her long reign meant she repeatedly broke records for British rulers. When she surpassed the more than 63 years her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria spent on the throne, she said it was not a landmark to which she had ever aspired.

“Inevitably a long life can pass by many milestones – my own is no exception,” she said.

Her marriage to Prince Philip lasted 73 years, until his death in April 2021, and they had four children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

She never gave a media interview and critics said she came across as distant and aloof.

But for the vast majority of her subjects she was a figure who commanded respect and admiration. Her death marks the end of an era.

“When people around the world spoke of ‘the queen’, they actually meant our queen,” former Prime Minister John Major said. “That was the status she had in every part of the world. It was truly remarkable.”

At her death the queen was head of state of not only the United Kingdom but also of Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Opinion polls have suggested that Charles does not enjoy anywhere near the same level of support and there is speculation the loss of Elizabeth may see a rise in republican sentiment, particularly in the other realms.

In some former colonies in the Caribbean, pressure has been rising to remove the monarch as their head of state and for Britain to pay reparations for its involvement in the historical slave trade. read more

“As the role of the monarchy changes, we expect this can be an opportunity to advance discussions of reparations for our region,” said Niambi Hall-Campbell, a 44-year-old academic who chairs the Bahamas National Reparations Committee.

Asked in a radio interview if the Queen’s death took Australia closer to being a republic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was not the time to talk about it. read more

“Today’s a day for one issue and one issue only, which is to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.”

Additional reporting by Muvija M, Kate Holton, William James, Alistair Smout, Paul Sandle, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Farouq Suleiman, Elizabeth Piper, William Schomberg, David Milliken, Hannah McKay and Sarah McFarlane; Reporting by Michael Holden in London and Russell Cheyne in Balmoral; Editing by Kate Holton, Janet Lawrence, Angus MacSwan and Alex Richardson

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source Article from https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-queen-elizabeth-is-dead-buckingham-palace-2022-09-08/

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New N.Korea law outlines nuclear weapons use, including preemptive strikes – Reuters
New N.Korea law outlines nuclear weapons use, including preemptive strikes – Reuters

SEOUL, Sept 9 (Reuters) – North Korea has officially enshrined the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself in a new law that leader Kim Jong Un said makes its nuclear status “irreversible” and bars denuclearisation talks, state media reported on Friday.

The move comes as observers say North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders in 2018 failed to persuade Kim to abandon his weapons development.

The North’s rubber-stamp parliament, the Supreme People’s Assembly, passed the legislation on Thursday as a replacement to a 2013 law that first outlined the country’s nuclear status, according to state news agency KCNA.

“The utmost significance of legislating nuclear weapons policy is to draw an irretrievable line so that there can be no bargaining over our nuclear weapons,” Kim said in a speech to the assembly, adding that he would never surrender the weapons even if the country faced 100 years of sanctions.

Among the scenarios that could trigger a nuclear attack would be the threat of an imminent nuclear strike; if the country’s leadership, people or existence were under threat; or to gain the upper hand during a war, among other reasons.

A deputy at the assembly said the law would serve as a powerful legal guarantee for consolidating North Korea’s position as a nuclear weapons state and ensuring the “transparent, consistent and standard character” of its nuclear policy, KCNA reported.

“Actually spelling out the conditions for use are especially rare, and it may simply be a product of North Korea’s position, how much it values nuclear weapons, and how essential it sees them for its survival,” said Rob York, director for regional affairs at the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum.

PREEMPTIVE STRIKES

The original 2013 law stipulated that North Korea could use nuclear weapons to repel invasion or attack from a hostile nuclear state and make retaliatory strikes.

The new law goes beyond that to allow for preemptive nuclear strikes if an imminent attack by weapons of mass destruction or against the country’s “strategic targets”, including its leadership, is detected.

“In a nutshell, there are some really vague and ambiguous circumstances in which North Korea is now saying it might use its nuclear weapons,” Chad O’Carroll, founder of the North Korea-tracking website NK News, said on Twitter.

“I imagine the purpose is to give U.S. and South Korean military planners pause for thought over a much wider range of actions than before,” he added.

Like the earlier law, the new version vows not to threaten non-nuclear states with nuclear weapons unless they join with a nuclear-armed country to attack the North.

The new law adds, however, that it can launch a preemptive nuclear strike if it detects an imminent attack of any kind aimed at North Korea’s leadership and the command organization of its nuclear forces.

That is an apparent reference to South Korea’s “Kill Chain” strategy, which calls for preemptively striking North Korea’s nuclear infrastructure and command system if an imminent attack is suspected.

Kim cited Kill Chain, which is part of a three-pronged military strategy being boosted under new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, as a sign that the situation is deteriorating and that Pyongyang must prepare for long-term tensions.

Under the law, Kim has “all decisive powers” over nuclear weapons, but if the command and control system is threatened, then nuclear weapons may be launched “automatically”.

If Kim delegates launch authority to lower commanders during a crisis, that could increase the chances of a catastrophic miscalculation, analysts said.

‘RESPONSIBLE NUCLEAR STATE’

The law bans any sharing of nuclear arms or technology with other countries, and is aimed at reducing the danger of a nuclear war by preventing miscalculations among nuclear weapons states and misuse of nuclear weapons, KCNA reported.

Analysts say Kim’s goal is to win international acceptance of North Korea’s status as a “responsible nuclear state.”

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has offered to talk to Kim any time, at any place, and Yoon has said his country would provide massive amounts of economic aid if Pyongyang began to give up its arsenal.

South Korea on Thursday offered to hold talks with North Korea on reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, in its first direct overture under Yoon, despite strained cross-border ties. read more

North Korea has rebuffed those overtures, however, saying that the United States and its allies maintain “hostile policies” such as sanctions and military drills that undermine their messages of peace.

“As long as nuclear weapons remain on earth and imperialism remains and manoeuvres of the United States and its followers against our republic are not terminated, our work to strengthen nuclear force will not cease,” Kim said.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source Article from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorea-passes-law-declaring-itself-nuclear-weapons-state-kcna-2022-09-08/

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Michigan Supreme Court orders abortion rights initiative to appear on November ballot – CNN
Michigan Supreme Court orders abortion rights initiative to appear on November ballot – CNN

The Michigan Supreme Court ordered Thursday that a citizen-initiative ballot measure seeking to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution be added to the November ballot.

The court’s 5-2 ruling was issued the day before Michigan’s ballot needs to be finalized on Friday.

The order directs the Board of State Canvassers to certify the Reproductive Freedom for All petition as sufficient and eligible for placement on the ballot. This comes after the board had deadlocked on a 2-2 party-line vote on whether to certify the ballot initiative last week, leading Reproductive Freedom for All to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.

The measure will appear on the ballot as Proposal 3, which would establish an “individual right to reproductive freedom, including right to make and carry out all decisions about pregnancy.”

Backers of the amendment say it will block Michigan’s 1931 abortion law, which bans all abortions except to save the mother’s life.

“We are energized and motivated now more than ever to restore the protections that were lost under Roe,” Darci McConnell, Reproductive Freedom for All campaign’s communication director, said in a statement Thursday after the ruling.

“This affirms that more than 730,000 voters read, signed, and understood the petitions,” McConnell added, and that “claims from the opposition are simply designed to distract from our effort to keep the abortion rights we had under Roe for nearly 50 years.”

In its staff report to the board, the Bureau of Elections estimated the petition had 596,379 valid signatures – about 146,000 more than the minimum required for certification.

Opponents, however, have challenged the proposed amendment over the petition’s lack of spacing between words.

In its Thursday order, the state Supreme Court pointed to a 2012 ruling that said the board’s duty with respect to petitions is limited to determining form and content and whether there are enough signatures.

Michigan law requires that petitions have the full text of the amendment after the summary and must be printed in 8-point type.

The court said that “regardless of the existence or extent of the spacing, all of the words remain and they remain in the same order, and it is not disputed that they are printed in 8-point type.”

“In this case, the meaning of the words has not changed by the alleged insufficient spacing between them,” the court wrote. “Assuming that the challengers’ objection to the spacing represents a challenge to the ‘form’ of the petition that the Board properly considered, the petition has fulfilled all statutory form requirements, and the Board thus has a clear legal duty to certify the petition.”

In a concurring opinion, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack criticized the board’s two Republican members, who voted against certification, saying they would “disenfranchise millions of Michiganders.”

“What a sad marker of the times,” she wrote.

Justice David Viviano dissented, writing he would not have found that the petition complied with Michigan law and that the board acted “properly” in declining certification.

“The failure to include the spaces presents the amendment in a manner difficult to read and comprehend. Thus, it may have the right words in the right order—as the majority here suggests—but the lack of critical word spaces renders the remaining text much more difficult to read and comprehend, and therefore something less than the ‘full text’ required by the Constitution and statutes,” he argued.

Justice Brian Zahra also dissented, saying he wished the court had heard oral arguments on the issue. He also called on the legislature to amend Michigan’s election law so that the board would be required to certify the ballot at least six weeks before the ballot needs to be finalized.

Michigan Republicans blasted the decision, along with another on a voting rights ballot proposal. “Despite the court ruling, these measures remain too extreme for Michigan, and we are certain they will be handily defeated at the ballot box in November,” Elizabeth Giannone, deputy communications director for the state party, said in a statement Thursday evening.

Earlier Thursday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said the ruling underscores “that the role of the Board of State Canvassers under law is to affirm the will of the voters.”

“I am grateful to the court for affirming this and hope the board now resumes its longstanding practice of working within its authority under Michigan law,” she wrote on Twitter.

The board is scheduled to hold an in-person meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, according to a news release from the Michigan state of secretary’s office.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Omar Jimenez and Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/08/politics/michigan-supreme-court-abortion-ballot-initiative/index.html

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16-year-old with multiple guns shoots 2 younger students waiting for school bus – WPLG Local 10
16-year-old with multiple guns shoots 2 younger students waiting for school bus – WPLG Local 10
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EVs aren’t straining the electric grid — and they just might save it – Axios
EVs aren’t straining the electric grid — and they just might save it – Axios

With California’s electric system nearly maxed out during the state’s worst-ever September heat wave, officials are asking residents to avoid using major appliances — or charging their electric vehicles — during peak demand to avoid rolling blackouts.

Reality check: EVs aren’t what’s straining the grid. California had roughly 680,000 registered EVs as of July 1, per S&P Global Mobility, accounting for less than 1% of the state’s total electricity demand.

  • Even if there are 5 million EVs by 2030, they’ll account for about 7% of annual electricity usage and 1% of peak demand, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Why it matters: As more cars plug in, EVs could actually make the grid more resilient by supplying electricity back to the network when it’s needed most.

Driving the news: This week’s heat wave is testing the limits of California’s power grid, and creating political headaches for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who plans to phase out the sale of gasoline vehicles by 2035.

  • The California ISO, which operates the state’s grid, has implemented daily Flex Alerts for more than a week, urging people to conserve electricity during peak use periods, between about 4 and 9 p.m. local time.

The big question: How can the grid support even more EVs?

  • There is plenty of spare capacity in the nation’s electric grid to power hundreds of millions of EVs, multiple studies have found — as long as charging is properly managed.
  • Most EVs charge overnight when people are sleeping and electricity demand is low.
  • Even if they’re plugged in all day, owners can schedule when they need their car to be fully charged. Then smart charging technology will automatically find the optimal time to charge.

Where it stands: Many utilities commonly charge customers lower rates for electricity use during off-peak hours, which is helpful when charging an EV at home.

  • Utilities also typically reward EV owners with discounts for participating in “demand response” programs that automatically interrupt charging briefly when demand is high, allowing the utilities to smooth out energy peaks and avoid blackouts.

What’s next: Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology takes that relationship even further, enabling utilities to draw power out of an EV when it’s most needed. That’s already working for school buses.

  • Car owners set the rules about how much energy they’re willing to give back, and when.

Yes, but: While V2G technology is promising, some carmakers are worried about protecting their standard eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty if the battery degrades faster than expected.

  • So far, only one car in the U.S., the Nissan Leaf, offers bidirectional charging to the grid.
  • Using a special charger introduced this week from Fermata Energy, Leaf owners can earn money selling electricity to their utility without affecting their car’s battery warranty.
  • The city of Boulder, Colorado, for example, saved about $250 a month on electricity by using a Nissan Leaf to power a city-owned recreation building in a pilot project.

What to watch: Ford and GM are working with a number of utilities to explore how their vehicles — like the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup, which can power a house in a blackout — can supply electricity to make the grid more resilient.

Source Article from https://www.axios.com/2022/09/08/evs-electric-power-grid-strain-charging

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Steve Bannon charged with money laundering, conspiracy – POLITICO
Steve Bannon charged with money laundering, conspiracy – POLITICO

The group publicly told donors its president and CEO, Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage, would not be compensated for his efforts. But Bannon allegedly arranged to pay him by moving money from We Build The Wall through a company he controlled. Kolfage previously pleaded guilty in the federal case. Only Bannon and the company were charged by the state.

Bannon pleaded not guilty Thursday. If convicted on the top charge, he faces a maximum 5 to 15 years in prison, according to Bragg.

“The simple truth is that it is a crime to profit off the backs of donors by making false pretenses,” Bragg said at the press conference. “We are here to say today in one voice that in Manhattan and in New York you will be held accountable for the defrauding of donors.”

Addressing reporters and bystanders outside the courthouse, Bannon suggested that the case was politically motivated. Reporters peppered him with questions about the pardon, his alleged co-conspirators’ guilty pleas and his relationship to the former president — in turn, Bannon called the crowd “paupers … in bondage” and urged them to check out his podcast.

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan ordered Bannon to surrender his passports. Prosecutors argued he has the means and the disposition to flee, citing his recent, unrelated contempt of Congress conviction for defying a subpoena related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The judge also warned Bannon that if he is willfully absent during court proceedings, they could move forward without him.

In 2020, federal prosecutors accused Bannon of pocketing some $1 million in donations, using them to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own personal expenses. That year, federal agents arrested Bannon on the charges while he was aboard a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut. He pleaded not guilty, but was dropped from the case after Trump issued the pardon in the twilight hours of his presidency.

Presidential pardons apply only to federal charges and cannot shield Bannon from a state prosecution. Former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance opened a state investigation that his successor, Bragg, continued when he took office last year.

At a press conference announcing the charges, New York Attorney General Tish James said Bannon’s presidential pardon unfairly leveraged his political connections.

Kolfage and another federal co-defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Their sentencing scheduled for this week was pushed back to December. A mistrial was declared in a third alleged co-conspirator’s trial when a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Bragg wouldn’t say whether Bannon’s alleged co-conspirators in the federal case were cooperating in the state’s prosecution.

Federal prosecutors previously said the group raised over $25 million, but the state’s indictment Thursday only referred to about $15 million. Likewise, the state did not allege Bannon used donations to cover personal expenses, as federal prosecutors had.

Bragg chalked the discrepancies up to the differences between state and federal jurisdiction, as well as the laws Bannon was being charged under. State investigators only looked at money raised through GoFundMe, where they could be certain donors saw a disclaimer that no proceeds would go to Kolfage.

When pressed whether Bannon allegedly pocketed any of the money, James told reporters, “I think your inference is correct,” suggesting he had.

As Bannon arrived at the DA’s office Thursday morning, some onlookers lobbed insults at the far-right iconoclast, who has stoked controversy at frequent turns. In the past, Bannon has suggested Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, should be executed. He has also echoed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

“Stop hurting America, you greasy grifter,” one woman yelled as Bannon entered the building, his brief remarks drowned out by the heckling.

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/08/steve-bannon-surrenders-to-manhattan-da-00055427

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Las Vegas reporter’s death: Robert Telles arrested after DNA match – USA TODAY
Las Vegas reporter’s death: Robert Telles arrested after DNA match – USA TODAY

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/08/las-vegas-dna-arrest-jeff-german-robert-telles/8025422001/

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In Memphis, Renewed Attention on Violence After Shooting Rampage – The New York Times
In Memphis, Renewed Attention on Violence After Shooting Rampage – The New York Times

“Our city is hurting,” Karen D. Camper, a state lawmaker representing Memphis, said in a statement.

“There is a long road ahead and much work ahead for us to do in order to begin to heal our city,” said Ms. Camper, the Democratic leader in the State House of Representatives. “And we will have those policy discussions.”

The violence has invigorated debates over residency rules for the Police Department, with some pushing for them to be loosened considering the vacancies on the force. Others also expressed outrage over Mr. Kelly’s release from prison earlier this year.

Mr. Kelly, 19, had been charged in 2020 with attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Mayor Strickland said Mr. Kelly had been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge, aggravated assault, but had been released in March after serving 11 months.

In a post on Twitter, Mr. Carlisle said that he had seen and heard lots of chatter from people saying the time had come to leave the city, that their angst and anger over the city’s climate were nearing a breaking point. “I’ll never tell anyone how to feel,” he wrote. “But I want you to stay.”

He said that Memphis was not alone, as other American cities also wrestle with increases in crime. In 2020, Memphis was one of several cities — along with Kansas City, Mo.; Cleveland; and Detroit — chosen by the administration of former President Donald J. Trump for infusions of federal law enforcement officers.

Still, Mr. Carlisle acknowledged the gravity of what his city was confronting. The turmoil over crime was especially clear as the rampage unfolded on Wednesday night, as he saw the alerts and was bombarded by text messages from scared residents.

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/us/memphis-shooting-gun-violence.html

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A hurricane that just made landfall in Mexico is triggering flood concerns in parts of southern California – CNN
A hurricane that just made landfall in Mexico is triggering flood concerns in parts of southern California – CNN

By Derek Van Dam, Judson Jones, Brandon Miller, Allison Chinchar and Monica Garrett, CNN

Updated 6:43 PM ET, Thu September 8, 2022

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/08/weather/hurricane-kay-forecast-california/index.html

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DOJ appeals decision to appoint special master in Trump FBI raid document case – CNBC
DOJ appeals decision to appoint special master in Trump FBI raid document case – CNBC

The Department of Justice on Thursday appealed a federal judge’s ruling to authorize a special master to review documents that the FBI seized from the Florida residence of former President Donald Trump.

The Justice Department also asked Judge Aileen Cannon to pause her related order blocking the government from further reviewing documents marked classified that were found during last month’s search of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach resort home.

The moves came three days after Cannon approved Trump’s request for a special master to sift through the seized materials to identify personal items and records that are protected by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.

The DOJ had opposed that request, saying a team of agency officials had already completed a privilege review of the documents, and that a special master could harm the government’s national security interests.

In another court filing Thursday, the DOJ asked Cannon to make public a notice on the status of that team’s filter review process, which had been filed under seal on Aug. 30.

The “broad strokes” of the filter notice have already been made public, since the government had described the review team’s process during a court hearing last week, the DOJ said in that filing. But Trump’s lawyers object to the filter notice being unsealed, even though they have offered no redactions to the document and have not identified “any basis for asserting privilege,” the DOJ said.

The FBI seized more than 10,000 government records when it raided Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8. Many of those documents bore classification markings, including dozens of folders that were empty when they were collected by the FBI.

Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, wrote in her ruling Monday in U.S. District in Southern Florida that “the country is served best by an orderly process that promotes the interest and perception of fairness.”

The DOJ’s appeal was filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which holds appellate jurisdiction over cases from district courts in Florida.

The Justice Department also asked Cannon to stay her order that blocks the agency from further reviewing and using the seized documents with classification markings for criminal investigative purposes, pending the appeal. Last week, the department revealed that the FBI seized more than 100 classified documents during the raid.

The DOJ said in Thursday’s filing that it is likely to succeed on its appeal as it applies to the classified records, which represent a fraction of the documents that were found at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump “does not and could not assert that he owns or has any possessory interest in classified records; that he has any right to have those government records returned to him; or that he can advance any plausible claims of attorney-client privilege as to such records that would bar the government from reviewing or using them,” the DOJ wrote.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/trump-fbi-raid-doj-appeals-special-master-decision.html

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A Las Vegas public official is held on open murder charge in connection with the killing of an investigative journalist, sheriff says – CNN
A Las Vegas public official is held on open murder charge in connection with the killing of an investigative journalist, sheriff says – CNN

(CNN)An elected county official in Las Vegas is being held on a murder charge in connection with the stabbing death of a veteran journalist who had reported on the official’s purported wrongdoing, a sheriff announced Thursday — a case that raises questions about press freedom in America.

            CNN’s Paradise Afshar, Carroll Alvarado, Amir Vera, Jamiel Lynch, Nick Watt, Elizabeth Joseph, Hannah Sarisohn and Satyam Kaswala contributed to this report.

    Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/08/us/jeff-german-las-vegas-reporter-arrest-thursday/index.html

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    Steve Bannon indicted on charges in ‘We Build the Wall’ fraud case – NBC News
    Steve Bannon indicted on charges in ‘We Build the Wall’ fraud case – NBC News
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    Death of Saskatchewan stabbings suspect is being investigated – NPR
    Death of Saskatchewan stabbings suspect is being investigated – NPR

    Police and investigators gather at the scene where a stabbing suspect was arrested in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday.

    Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP


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    Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP

    Police and investigators gather at the scene where a stabbing suspect was arrested in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday.

    Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP

    ROSTHERN, Saskatchewan — The last suspect in a horrific stabbing rampage that killed 10 and wounded 18 in western Canada is dead following his capture, but how he died after being taken into custody has prompted fresh investigations.

    One official said Myles Sanderson, 32, died from self-inflicted injuries Wednesday after police forced the stolen car he was driving off a highway in Saskatchewan. Other officials declined to discuss how he died.

    “I can’t speak to the specific manner of death. That’s going to be part of the autopsy that will be conducted,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatchewan, said at a news conference Wednesday night.

    The other suspect, Sanderson’s 30-year-old brother, Damien Sanderson, was found dead Monday near the scene of the bloody knife attacks inside and around the James Smith Cree First Nation reserve early Sunday. Both men were residents of the Indigenous reserve.

    Blackmore said Myles Sanderson was cornered as police units responded to a report of a stolen vehicle driven by a man armed with a knife. She said officers forced Sanderson’s vehicle off the road and into a ditch. He was detained and a knife was found inside the vehicle, she said.

    Sanderson went into medical distress while in custody, Blackmore said. She said CPR was attempted on him before an ambulance arrived and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

    “All life-saving measures that we are capable of were taken at that time,” she said.

    Blackmore gave no details on the cause of death. But an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier said Sanderson died of self-inflicted injuries, without elaborating.

    Video and photos from the scene showed a white SUV alongside the road with police cars all around. Air bags had deployed in the SUV. Some photos and video taken from a distance appeared to show Sanderson being frisked.

    Members of Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team went to the arrest site and will review Sanderson’s death and police conduct.

    The federal public safety minister, Marco Mendicino, also stressed that the events will be investigated.

    “We have questions,” public safety minister says

    “You have questions. We have questions,” he told reporters during a Cabinet retreat in Vancouver, British Columbia, adding: “There will be two levels of police who will be investigating the circumstances of Myles Sanderson’s death.”

    His death came two days after the body of Damien Sanderson was found in a field near the scene of the knife rampage. Police are investigating whether Myles Sanderson killed his brother.

    Blackmore said that with both men dead, “we may never have an understanding of that motivation.”

    But she said she hoped the families of the stabbing victims will find some comfort “knowing that Myles Sanderson is no longer a threat to them.”

    Some relatives of the victims arrived at the scene Wednesday, including Brian Burns, whose wife and son were killed.

    “Now we can start to heal. The healing begins today, now,” he said.

    Myles Sanderson had been released on parole in February

    The stabbings raised questions of why Myles Sanderson — an ex-con with 59 convictions and a long history of shocking violence — was out on the streets in the first place.

    He was released by a parole board in February while serving a sentence of over four years on charges that included assault and robbery. But he had been wanted by police since May, apparently for violating the terms of his release, though the details were not immediately clear.

    His long and lurid rap sheet also showed that seven years ago, he attacked and stabbed one of the victims killed in Sunday’s stabbings, according to court records.

    Mendicino, the public safety minister, has said there will be an investigation into the parole board’s assessment of Sanderson.

    “I want to know the reasons behind the decision” to release him, Mendicino said. “I’m extremely concerned with what occurred here. A community has been left reeling.”

    The Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service said nine of those killed were from the James Smith Cree Nation: Thomas Burns, 23; Carol Burns, 46; Gregory Burns, 28; Lydia Gloria Burns, 61; Bonnie Burns, 48; Earl Burns, 66; Lana Head, 49; Christian Head, 54; and Robert Sanderson, 49. The other victim was from Weldon, 78-year-old Wesley Patterson.

    Authorities would not say if the victims might be related.

    Mark Arcand said his half sister Bonnie and her son Gregory were killed.

    “Her son was lying there already deceased. My sister went out and tried to help her son, and she was stabbed two times, and she died right beside him,” he said. “Right outside of her home she was killed by senseless acts. She was protecting her son. She was protecting three little boys. This is why she is a hero.”

    Arcand rushed to the reserve the morning of the rampage. After that, he said, “I woke up in the middle of the night just screaming and yelling. What I saw that day I can’t get out of my head.”

    As for what set off the violence, Arcand said: “We’re all looking for those same answers. We don’t know what happened. Maybe we’ll never know. That’s the hardest part of this.”

    Court documents said Sanderson attacked his in-laws Earl Burns and Joyce Burns in 2015, knifing Earl Burns repeatedly and wounding Joyce Burns. He later pleaded guilty to assault and threatening Earl Burns’ life.

    Many of Sanderson’s crimes were committed when he was intoxicated, according to court records. He told parole officials at one point that substance use made him out of his mind. Records showed he repeatedly violated court orders barring him from drinking or using drugs.

    Source Article from https://www.npr.org/2022/09/08/1121740701/canada-stabbing-suspect-death-investigation-saskatchewan

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    Memphis police arrest suspect in shooting rampage that killed 4 – ABC News
    Memphis police arrest suspect in shooting rampage that killed 4 – ABC News

    A young man who went on an hourslong shooting rampage around Memphis, Tennessee, gunning down at least four people, was arrested on Wednesday night, police said.

    Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly, 19, was taken into custody without incident in the Memphis neighborhood of Whitehaven at around 9 p.m. local time after a high-speed chase, according to Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis.

    The deadly rampage began early Wednesday at 12:56 a.m. and continued to about 8:30 p.m. In total, at least four people were killed and three others were wounded in seven shootings across the city, Davis said.

    After the shootings, the suspect carjacked a driver at gunpoint in Southaven, Mississippi, just south of Memphis, speeding off in the victim’s Dodge Challenger, Davis said, adding that the carjacking victim was uninjured. The suspect left behind an SUV stolen from a woman he allegedly fatally shot earlier that night, according to the police chief.

    “The homicide division and other investigative units are actively working these crime scenes now, and numerous felony charges are pending,” Davis told reporters at a press conference early Thursday.

    “It’s at least eight [crime scenes],” she added. “We are still in the throes of the investigation. There could potentially be other locations. There could potentially be other damage in other places.”

    Court records obtained by Memphis ABC affiliate WATN indicate that an arrest warrant on the charge of first-degree murder was issued for Kelly on Wednesday, before the shooting spree happened.

    The police chief said Kelly recorded at least some of his actions on Facebook Live, including when he opened fire inside a store on Jackson Avenue just before 6 p.m. A spokesperson for Facebook’s parent company, Meta, told ABC News that the content was identified and removed prior to the Memphis Police Department’s initial public alert about the incident. Meta was also “in direct touch with the Memphis Police Department shortly after they issued their initial public alert,” the spokesperson said.

    Police had launched a citywide search for the suspect and advised members of the public to shelter in place, according to Davis.

    “We extend our sincere condolences to all the victims who have been affected in this sequence of violent acts today,” the police chief said. “We want to express our sincere appreciation to our citizens who provided numerous tips throughout this ordeal.”

    As the gunman terrorized the city, the Memphis Area Transit Authority temporarily suspended trolley and bus services out of “an abundance of caution and care for the safety of its drivers

    and riders.”

    Police did not discuss a possible motive or release the identities of the victims. It was also unclear how the suspect obtained the guns.

    The rampage was the latest in a string of violence to hit Memphis in recent days and weeks, including the killing of a woman who was abducted last Friday while she was on a pre-dawn jog.

    “This has been a horrific week for the city of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department,” Davis told reporters.

    Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner added: “I want to assure the public that we’re all going to be working together to try to curb this senseless violence here in Memphis and Shelby County.”

    In February 2020, Kelly, who was 17 at the time, was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced in April 2021 to three years behind bars. He was released from prison 11 months later, in March, according to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

    “I want to I want to first express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families who are suffering from this senseless murder rampage,” Strickland told reporters. “I am angry for them. And I’m angry for our citizens who had to shelter in place for their own safety until this suspect was caught. This is no way for us to live and it is not acceptable.”

    ABC News’ Jianna Cousin and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

    Source Article from https://abcnews.go.com/US/memphis-shooting-rampage-leaves-dead-injured/story?id=89508700

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    Floods, dangerous surf forecast for California from Hurricane Kay – The Washington Post
    Floods, dangerous surf forecast for California from Hurricane Kay – The Washington Post

    Flash flooding is most likely in narrow slot canyons, in urbanized areas like San Diego, Palm Springs, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., and over burn scars, where fire has stripped away vegetation and water tends to rapidly run off rather than soaking into the ground.

    Source Article from https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/09/08/hurricane-kay-mexico-california-flooding/

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    Eliza Fletcher funeral: Slain Memphis jogger’s memorial services announced – Fox News
    Eliza Fletcher funeral: Slain Memphis jogger’s memorial services announced – Fox News
    Video

    Eliza Fletcher murder suspect held without bond, faces court again Thursday

    Fox News senior correspondent Laura Ingle reports on the tragic outcome in the abduction of Memphis mother and teacher Eliza Fletcher and the trial of murder suspect Cleotha Henderson.

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The family of slain Memphis teacher Eliza “Liza” Fletcher has announced details of her funeral service days after she was attacked, abducted and killed on her morning jog near the University of Memphis.

    “Above all else, Liza’s most cherished role was that of wife and mother,” according to the obituary shared by Canale Funeral Directors, where her parents made arrangements Wednesday. “After meeting at Second Presbyterian Church, she married her beloved husband, She loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. Together as a family, they enjoyed outdoor adventures including boating, water sports, hiking, running, and biking. She was deeply admired by her family and friends for her passionate dedication to motherhood.”

    The teacher and mother of two was remembered as “a born athlete,” and as an avid runner, she had qualified for the Boston Marathon. “She channeled her competitive nature into enthusiastic participation in all that she undertook.”

    Her funeral will be held at Second Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday.

    ELIZA FLETCHER CASE: LIVE UPDATES

    Eliza Fletcher’s father, James Beasley Wellford, leaves the Canale Funeral Directors in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Sept. 7 2022.
    (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)

    The family is asking memorials to be sent to the Liza Wellford Fletcher Memorial Fund at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Christ Methodist Day School, and Second Presbyterian Church.

    “She found great joy in morning runs with friends,” her family’s online obituary reads.

    Photo released by Canale Funeral Directors shows Eliza Fletcher, her husband and her children
    (Canale Funeral Directors)

    Fletcher played soccer at the university before transferring to Baylor. She later obtained a Master’s degree from Belmont University and went on to teach children at both the Promise Academy and St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

    ELIZA FLETCHER’S SUSPECTED KILLER CLEOTHA HENDERSON SERVED 20 YEARS OF A 24-YEAR SENTENCE, HERE’S WHY

    Riichard Fletcher and members of Eliza Fletcher’s family leave the Canale Funeral Directors in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
    (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)

    “She truly walked and modeled the Christian life and trusted in her unwavering faith,” the missive continues. “Liza was a light to all who knew her.”

    Fletcher, 34, was praised by her school, St. Mary’s Episcopal School, in a Facebook post as someone whose “smile brightens every room she enters.”

    Several events in Fletcher’s honor will be held on her running route early Friday morning.

    ELIZA FLETCHER ABDUCTION: TIMELINE OF THE MEMPHIS TEACHER’S DISAPPEARANCE

    Eliza Fletcher’s father, James Beasley Wellford, along with other family members, arrives at the Canale Funeral Directors building in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
    (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)

    Fletcher is survived by her husband, Richard James Fletcher III, whom she married on March 8, 2014, and two sons, Richard James Fletcher IV and Harry Wellford Fletcher, as well as her parents, Adele Orgill Wellford and James Beasley Wellford.

    “Her contagious smile and laughter could brighten any room,” the obituary reads. “Liza was pure of heart and innocent in ways that made her see the very best in everyone she met. To know her was to love her and to be loved by her. Her impact is extraordinary, as is witnessed in the prayer groups, vigils held at the homes of friends and family, church and school gatherings, and memorial runs and walks held in her honor. The outpouring of love and grief would have surprised Liza, who never thought or acted as if she were something special — though she certainly was.”

    ELIZA FLETCHER DEATH: MEMPHIS KIDNAPPING SUSPECT CLEOTHA HENDERSON HELD WITHOUT BOND

    Eliza Fletcher’s father, James Beasley Wellford, along with other family members, arrives at the Canale Funeral Directors building in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
    (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)

    Fletcher’s alleged killer, Cleotha Henderson, is being held without bond at the Shelby County Jail on charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder.

    Video

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    He allegedly stalked around the University of Memphis campus on the morning of Sept. 2, then rushed Fletcher as she jogged down Central Avenue.

    Following a struggle in which he lost his shoes, police say Henderson forced her into an SUV. Investigators recovered his DNA on the shoes, according to court documents.

    Liza Fletcher, a 34-year-old teacher and mother of two who was killed during her morning jog last week, will be laid to rest Saturday.
    (Jennifer Sink/Facebook, Memphis Police)

    His past criminal history includes five aggravated assault charges, rape and kidnapping — all of which occurred when he was a juvenile. He was recently released from prison after serving 20 years of a 24-year sentence.

    Henderson is due back in court on Sept. 19.

    Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.ruiz@fox.com and on Twitter: @mikerreports

    Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/us/eliza-fletcher-funeral-slain-memphis-mothers-memorial-services-announced

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    Queen Elizabeth II’s doctors are concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace says; family fly in to be by her side – CNBC
    Queen Elizabeth II’s doctors are concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace says; family fly in to be by her side – CNBC

    LONDON — Doctors are concerned for the health of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and have advised that she remain under medical supervision, Buckingham Palace said Thursday.

    Immediate family members have been informed and are currently traveling to Balmoral Castle, the queen’s royal residence in Scotland.

    “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

    It added that the queen, 96, remains comfortable and at Balmoral.

    Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have now arrived at Balmoral.

    The queen’s other three children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, as well as her grandson Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, have also arrived.

    Prince Harry and and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are on their way.

    Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/doctors-concerned-for-queen-elizabeths-health-buckingham-palace-says.html

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    Four killed in hourslong Memphis shooting spree before 19-year-old suspect Ezekiel Kelly arrested, police say – CBS News
    Four killed in hourslong Memphis shooting spree before 19-year-old suspect Ezekiel Kelly arrested, police say – CBS News

    Memphis, Tenn. — Police here say a man who drove around the city shooting at people, killing four, during an hourslong rampage that forced frightened people to shelter in place Wednesday has been arrested.

    Undated photo shows 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly, who was arrested in connection with multiple shootings in Memphis, Tenn. on Sept. 7, 2022.

    Memphis Police Department


    Ezekiel Kelly, 19, who was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder in 2020, was taken into custody at around 9 p.m. in the Memphis neighborhood of Whitehaven, police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said. Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said during a news conference early Thursday that charges were pending.

    Four people were killed and three others wounded in seven shootings across Memphis, Davis said. The rampage began at 12:56 a.m. Wednesday and continued to about 8:30 p.m.

    There were at least eight crime scenes: the seven shootings and the carjacking of a Dodge Challenger in Southaven, Mississippi, Davis said.

    The suspect was arrested after he crashed during a high speed chase from Mississippi back into Memphis. It followed the carjacking in Southaven, which is south of Memphis.

    CBS Memphis affiliate WREG-TV reports that the suspect got into a standoff in Memphis, refusing to get out of the vehicle, which police surrounded. The SWAT Team was called in to assist. Memphis police say the suspect was taken into custody with the help of Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies.

    The arrest came about two hours after police sent out an alert saying a man driving a light blue Infiniti was responsible for multiple shootings in the city. Police said he later killed a woman in Memphis and took her grey Toyota SUV, which he left behind when he carjacked the Dodge Challenger in Southaven. Police said he recorded his actions on Facebook.

    In a Facebook Live video seen by a WREG staff member, the suspect was seen getting out of a car, walking into an AutoZone and firing shots. The video was later removed from the platform.  

    As the shooter terrorized Memphis, public bus service was suspended and a downtown stadium where a minor-league baseball game was underway was placed on lockdown. Friends and relatives frantically called and texted each other to check on their safety. TV stations cut into regular coverage to keep viewers updated.

    Police received “numerous tips” from the public during the ordeal, Davis said.

    The University of Memphis sent a message to students saying a shooting had been reported near the campus.

    Rhodes College, which is about four miles from the university, advised students on and off campus to shelter in place.

    The area where the suspect was arrested was about 11 miles from the University of Memphis and about 12 from Rhodes College.

    Police investigate carjacking reportedly connected to a series of shootings on September 7, 2022 in Memphis, Tenn.

    Brad Vest / Getty Images


     “If you do not have to be out, stay indoors until this is resolved,” Memphis police tweeted before the arrest.

    Police didn’t discuss a motive or release the identities of those who were killed or wounded.

    It was too early in the investigation to discuss how the suspect got the gun or guns used in the shootings, said Ali Roberts, acting assistant special agent in charge of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Memphis.

    Memphis has been shaken by several high-profile killings in recent weeks, including the shooting of a pastor during a daylight carjacking in her driveway, the shooting of an activist during an argument over money, and the slaying of a woman who was abducted while she was on a pre-dawn run.

    “I understand it feels like so much violence and evil to experience in such a short time,” Memphis City Council member Chase Carlisle said on Twitter. “We are SO much more than this.”

    In February of 2020, the suspect, then 17, was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, court records showed. Circumstances of the case weren’t immediately known.

    Records show he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced in April 2021 to three years. The suspect was released from prison in March, 11 months after he was sentenced, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said.


    Source Article from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ezekiel-kelly-memphis-shooting-spree-suspect-arrested-at-least-four-dead/

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    Second suspect in fatal Canada stabbing spree dies in custody – NBC News
    Second suspect in fatal Canada stabbing spree dies in custody – NBC News
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    Washington hits back at ‘desperate’ Putin after he slammed U.S. ‘dictatorship’ – CNBC
    Washington hits back at ‘desperate’ Putin after he slammed U.S. ‘dictatorship’ – CNBC

    The White House hit back at Russian President Vladimir Putin after he repeatedly slammed the U.S. and Western world in a wide-ranging speech.

    Putin claimed international sanctions imposed on Russia following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine were a “danger” to the world. He added that the U.S. was willing to sacrifice Europe, which is experiencing a cost-of-living crisis as energy prices soar as the war continues, in order to preserve what he called its global “dictatorship.”

    Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Wednesday, Putin slammed the collective West, singling out the U.S. to blame it for the economic pain that sanctions on Russia are causing Europe and beyond as global energy and food prices soar.

    Washington defended its stance toward Russia, a country widely condemned by the West for its continuing war on Ukraine, with a State Department spokesperson telling CNBC in emailed comments that “sanctions and export controls are working, and President Putin is desperate to convince the world otherwise.”

    “Despite President Putin’s comments at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia is paying a heavy price for his full-scale war on Ukraine, which continues to result in climbing costs – tens of thousands of Russian soldiers killed, 14 million Ukrainian citizens forced to flee their homes, historic cities pounded to rubble – all because Putin is determined to conquer another country,” the official added.

    Russia’s own policymakers – including its finance minister – have conceded that sanctions have caused the country serious challenges, according to the State Department spokesperson. “Russia’s economy is vulnerable to the cutoff from the global economy and will surely suffer a sustained decline in economic activity. Putin’s war is projected to wipe out much of Russia’s economic gains over the last 15 years.”

    The Russian government is being forced to spend more and more to prop up its economy, the spokesperson noted, adding that official Russian sources put the country’s budget deficit at more than $15 billion in the month of July alone.

    Putin has sought to mitigate the bite of sanctions by turning to India and China to sell its oil. Reuters reported in August that the Russian Economy Ministry expects higher oil export volumes, coupled with rising gas prices, to boost Russia’s earnings from energy exports to $337.5 billion this year, a 38% rise on 2021.

    On Wednesday, Putin said Russia would post a budget surplus this year, but conceded that growth was being hit and gross domestic product would fall by “around 2% or a little more.”

    Russia’s central bank has gloomier expectations for the economy as winter approaches, forecasting a deepening contraction of 7% in the third quarter, following a 4.3% slump in the second quarter, Reuters said last month citing a report from the central bank. The bank expects the economy to start recovering in the second half of 2023. Annual inflation stood at 15.1% in July, above the EU rate of 9.8% in the same month.

    Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/us-reacts-to-desperate-putin-after-he-accuses-us-of-dictatorship-.html

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