International

HURRICANE IAN RAVAGES PARTS OF FLORIDA

More than 2.5 million customers across Florida were without power this morning, Thursday September 29th, after Hurricane Ian, now a tropical storm, walloped the state as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States, causing widespread devastation and flooding that trapped residents in their homes.

Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm this morning after slamming into Florida’s southwest coast as a major Category 4 hurricane yesterday afternoon, bringing winds of 150 mph and life-threatening storm surge.

Damage from Hurricane Ivan *(source NBC News)*

Maximum sustained winds dropped to near 65 mph with higher gusts early today, but the storm has continued to cause destruction as it moves northeast. Its center is expected to move off the east-central coast of Florida later Thursday before approaching the coast of South Carolina on Friday.

President Joe Biden today declared a major disaster in Florida over the devastation caused by Ian. The president ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the storm.

Meanwhile, in Cuba, power is slowly being restored for residents across the country following sweeping outages in Ian’s wake. (source NBC News)

International

SECURITY PROTECTION REVOKED FOR FAUCI

President Donald Trump has revoked security protection for former top US health official Anthony Fauci.

Dr. Fauci has faced death threats since leading the country’s COVID-19 response.

Trump also revoked security protections for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, his former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former envoy Brian Hook, who all faced threats from Iran.

As the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Fauci faced death threats during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as criticism from Republicans over mask mandates and other restrictions.

Dr. Fauci has reportedly now hired his own private security team that he will pay for himself.

Trump has also revoked the security clearances of 51 intelligence officials who had claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.

International

RECENT KILLINGS COULD AFFECT CEASEFIRE

The United Nations Human Rights office says Israeli operations in the West Bank have killed at least 12 Palestinians since Tuesday and could threaten the newly agreed ceasefire in Gaza.

Reuters is reporting that hundreds of resident in Jenin fled their homes as the military demolished a number of houses on the third day of a major operation in the West Bank city on Thursday.

The operation was launched within days of the start of a ceasefire in Gaza that saw the first exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since a brief truce in November 2023.

Israeli officials said the Jenin operation was aimed at neutralizing Iranian-backed militant groups in the refugee camp adjacent to the city, a major hub for armed Palestinian groups for years.

But the UN rights office raised the alarm over the killing of what it said were mostly unarmed people, calling for an immediate end of the violence and a halt on expanding settlements.

International

MACRON AND SCHOLZ MEET TO DISCUSS THREATS ON TARIFFS MADE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 22, 2025.
The leaders of Europe’s two largest economies are seeking to project unity as the union struggles to respond with one voice to threats of tariffs from US president, Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Trump said Europe had troubling trade surpluses with the United States and was in for tariffs.

He has also threatened Canada, Mexico and China with heavy duties.

But at a working lunch at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put on a show of unity.

In statements to reporters, they insisted Europe was strong and the Franco-German tandem solid.

Scholz emphasised that Europe is a large economic area with around 450 million citizens. He said Europe will not duck and hide.

Macron, who has long pushed for Europe to be more self-reliant, said the new administration in the US makes it even more necessary for Europe to be united, strong and sovereign.