Columbus, OH

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday the United States, Britain and Australia should not advance their nuclear submarine cooperation until the international community has reached a consensus on safeguards and other issues. Australia, Britain and the United States have agreed to work to transfer a fleet of...

China Urges US, UK and Australia Not to Advance Nuclear Submarine Cooperation

The Independent

  The government of Kiribati is suspending all diplomatic visits to the tiny Pacific Island nation until next year and has cancelled some already planned, because it is in the midst of an election process that could run for several more months, an official said Thursday.The official in Kiribati's foreign ministry told The Associated Press that a message announcing the pause in diplomatic trips was sent earlier this week to countries that have diplomatic relations with Kiribati — a low-lying atoll of 120,000 people.It follows escalating friction between Kiribati and Western nations — particularly Australia, a major aid donor...

Kiribati's pro-China government bars foreign officials from visiting until 2025, citing elections

The Guardian

Anthony Albanese says it is ‘a Pacific-led initiative’ that reflects the desire of neighbours to ‘stand with each other’

Australia overcomes last-minute concerns to secure sweeping Pacific police training plan

The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing weaponized tourism to the Pacific archipelago of Palau over its allegiance to Taiwan and its accusations that China was behind a major cyberattack there, President Surangel Whipps Jr. told The Associated Press.  Palau, along with Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, is one three Pacific nations to recognize Taiwan as an independent democracy — viewed as a snub by Beijing, which asserts it is part of China. Taipei’s allies in the Pacific have dwindled from six countries in 2019; Nauru abandoned its ties in January. Whipps told the AP in an interview late Thursday that, in 2020 while he was running for his current post, the Chinese ambassador to a neighboring country pledged to flood his tourism-dependent nation of 20,000 people with a million visitors if he capitulated on the country’s stance. “That continues to be the overture,” he said by phone Thursday. “They say, why are you torturing yourselves? Just join us and the sky’s the limit.”

Palau's president says China is weaponizing lucrative tourism over his refusal to break Taiwan ties

  As leaders of Pacific nations were welcomed to their annual meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on Monday, they were greeted first by torrential rain and then by an earthquake. The magnitude 6.9 quake was deep enough not to cause damage, but the long shudder and ankle-deep water served as a reminder of the natural vulnerabilities of many of the member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, who are locked in an existential struggle for economic and environmental survival.It also underscored the tension at the heart of an event that once barely captured the world’s notice and now draws delegations...

Pacific Islands Forum: How a summit for tiny nations became a global powerhouse

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NewsNinja

One Walmart shopper is issuing a warning against buying meat at the massive retail chain—but the reason why isn’t strictly tied to Walmart. It seems that customers at stores such as Walmart believe it's acceptable to grab perishable items, such as meat or dairy, and then place them on any available shelf if they decide they no longer want them.

Walmart customer shares why they will never shop for meat at the store leaving viewers torn

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China expressed its “very dramatic” alarm over a mid-range missile system that the U.S. military recently deployed to the Philippines, and warned it could destabilize the region. But Manila’s top diplomat said Friday he reassured his Chinese counterpart that the weaponry was only in the country temporarily.

Philippines says China was `dramatically’ alarmed over US missile system deployed to its north

Los Angeles, CA

Herbie J Pilato

Adam Rich was born on October 12, 1968, lived a troubled life, and died on January 7, 2023, at only 54 years old. This is his story. He lived in the Granada Hills area of Los Angeles with his parents and younger brother. The Rich family resided for a time in Florida where Adam studied acting at the local gym.

A Look Back at the Tragic Life and Death of Former Child Star Adam Rich (TV's 'Eight is Enough')

Salon

Earlier this week, a World Health Organization (WHO) official stressed that the mpox virus is not the new COVID-19, because we know how to handle its spread, but the current outbreak is steadily growing, alarming health experts. It involves two different versions of the mpox virus: one that caused a global outbreak in 2022-2023 and a new, mutated and potentially more deadly strain.

Thailand becomes second country outside Africa to confirm deadlier mpox clade

‘Any meat items my dogs refuse to eat, I no longer eat.’ It’s said that animals have a “sixth sense,” which affords them an insight human beings cannot match. There are clips of security camera earthquake footage where pets can be seen wigging out seconds before tremors begin.

‘It ain’t food anymore.’: Dairy Queen customer warns against chicken after his dog refuses to eat it

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines has agreed to a request by the United States to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan nationals aspiring to resettle in America, the treaty allies announced Tuesday. The Philippine government’s approval of the request, which...

Philippines to host a US visa processing center for up to 300 Afghans resettling in America

Maine State

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Sagadahoc County, ME

Lewiston, ME

The Maine Monitor

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide. When a bill to strengthen Maine’s yellow flag law went into effect earlier this month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said he felt a sense of relief.

Law enforcement officers can now get a warrant to take someone into protective custody

A new flashpoint has emerged in the ongoing maritime dispute between China and the Philippines, with both countries clashing over yet another spot in the South China Sea. Both China and the Philippines have staked their claims on various islands and zones in the Sea - their dispute increasingly escalating over the years with more vessel collisions, scuffles, and allegations of armed threats.

Sabina Shoal: The new flashpoint between China and the Philippines

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Latin Times

A Norwegian man known as "The Professor" has been arrested in Colombia and accused of leading a drug-trafficking ring that moved cocaine from South America to Europe in the largest sailboat fleet in the world, local police announced. The man, Pazooki Farhad, was detained at El Dorado airport. His alleged...

'The Professor,' alleged leader of the world's largest 'narco sailboat' ring is captured in Colombia

Salem, OH

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Every day, 8-year-old Emma sits in a small garden outside her grandmother’s home in Salem, Ohio, writing letters to her mom and sometimes singing songs her mother used to sing to her.

Thousands of parents die of overdoses; advocates say their kids need more help

 Germany and the Philippines agreed Sunday to rapidly finalize a defense pact that would allow joint military training and possible sale of German weapons to address security threats, including China’s growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Manila’s defense chief said was “the sole cause of tensions” and conflicts in the disputed waters.China has long claimed much of the entire seaway, a key global trade and security route, and vowed to defend its territorial interests at all costs.Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the proposed Arrangement on Defense Cooperation that he and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed in...

Germany and the Philippines agree to rapidly finalize a defense pact to address security threats

Georgia State

Daily Coffee Press

According to officials with the Southern District of Georgia, two recently unsealed federal indictments have charged 23 defendants in a series of broad conspiracies involving the use of drones to smuggle methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones into state prisons in Georgia.

23 Defendants Charged in Federal Indictments for Drone-Smuggling Drug Operation in Georgia

Iowa State

Iowa Storm Center

(IowaStormCenter.com) -- A strong pacific storm system will get underway later tonight with severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. The first round of the one-two punch event is hitting across western Iowa this morning. Then the focus will be across southwest Iowa for severe thunderstorm development by this evening with threats for hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and a couple of isolated tornadoes.

Severe Thunderstorm/Heavy Rainfall Threat Tonight.

Wyoming State

Cheyenne, WY

WyoFile

WHITE MOUNTAIN—“That’s a lot of horses,” lamented Cheyenne resident Robyn Smith from a high-desert ridgeline. It wasn’t her first exasperated exclamation. “Argh, oh crap,” was her immediate reaction to learning a federal judge had given the Bureau of Land Management the OK to proceed with plans to fully remove two wild horse herds from the landscape in southwest Wyoming.

BLM wins two lawsuits, clearing way for elimination of two Wyoming wild horse herds

NewsBreak

Pacific island leaders back Australia-funded regional policing plan

Leaders from several Pacific island nations backed an Australia-funded plan to establish a regional police force, part of growing efforts by...

Pacific island leaders back Australia-funded regional policing plan

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