Author: Press Room
Satellite photographs have revealed new construction on Yagong Island in the Paracels archipelago, leading analysts to believe China is constructing a major military base that will consolidate its grip on the disputed South China Sea islands. The latest photos were taken by commercial imaging company Vantor on August 17, and showed substantial progress on construction that first appeared on satellite photos from March and April. “Several structures on Yagong Reef resemble other military radar/early warning facilities seen elsewhere in the South China Sea and are likely associated with the ultimate military functions of nearby Antelope Reef,” Vantor said. Antelope Reef…
Former NFL quarterback and original anti-American anthem protester Colin Kaepernick has been named the Muhammad Ali Center’s Humanitarian of the Year. He will receive the award at a ceremony in Louisville on November 7, the organization said Tuesday. Reuters reports Kaepernick was selected for “his advocacy against racial injustice and for efforts to support underserved communities through his Know Your Rights Camp and other philanthropic initiatives.” “Colin has used his platform to advocate for equality, human dignity, and social change, even when doing so came at significant personal and professional cost,” said Lonnie Ali, the late boxing champion’s wife and the co-founder,…
Rep. Chuck Edwards, who dropped his plans for reelection following a scathing House Ethics report earlier this month, lobbied his colleagues this week to oppose an expected censure resolution that would condemn him over claims of inappropriate conduct towards two female staffers.The North Carolina Republican argued in a six-page letter obtained by POLITICO that his conduct did not amount to sexual harassment, arguing that the Ethics Committee selected specific pieces of evidence to fit a narrative. He also told fellow House members that while he did not expect them to approve of every action detailed in the report, “context matters”…
Five crew members were reportedly injured after three UAVs struck a commercial vessel off Russia’s Black Sea coast A Turkish-owned cargo vessel carrying fresh vegetables to Russia has been struck by drones in the Black Sea, leaving five crew members injured, according to Turkish media.Ukraine intensified drone attacks on Russian commercial traffic in the Black Sea last month as part of a failed campaign intended to exert economic pressure on Moscow and force it to accept Kiev’s terms in the conflict.The Cameroon-flagged Lider Bordo Mavi was struck by three drones off the Russian port of Tuapse, sparking a fire on…
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink is attacking former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, labeling him “a stupid piece of s—t” and dismissing his challenge to WNBA eligibility rules as manufactured clickbait targeting a “vulnerable community.” Speaking after practice to reporter Jarrod Castillo of The Mirror, Brink said she views transgender issues in the league as a “non-issue” and accused Freedom of trying to stay relevant by coming after the trans community. “For me personally, when it comes to the trans issues I believe you’re talking about, I think it’s a non-issue and it’s people trying to just come for…
The DOJ said Wednesday it had seized internet domains tied to two hacking platforms that Chinese state-sponsored operatives used to break into the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Senate, NASA and several other federal agencies. CNBC reports that the DOJ said the platforms, known as QScan and QTRouter, were built and run by a Chinese state-sponsored group it calls QTFY. Court documents unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California identify QTFY as operating out of Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co., a China-based firm. The DOJ said QTFY’s paying customers included the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry…
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Wednesday reported “frustration and disbelief” in China after “American consulates around the world began cancelling immigrant visa interviews.” According to the U.S. State Department, the mass cancellations were needed for a “global training initiative” on screening and vetting visa applicants. “A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge, as defined under U.S. law and regulation, and not likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits reserved for qualified Americans in need,” the State Department said in a statement to the media Tuesday. WATCH — Dave McCormick:…
The number of new applications for unemployment benefits dropped down to 203,000 last week, the Department of Labor said Thursday, indicating that few workers are losing jobs due to payroll reductions. Initial claims for jobless benefits have been extraordinarily low for most of this year, a testament to the strength of the labor market and the resilience of the economy. Even a jump in oil prices following the start of the fighting with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has not caused employers to reconsider their payroll levels. Last week’s figure is extremely low by historical standards.…
Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei narrowly defeated Attorney General Gentner Drummond to win the Republican nomination in Oklahoma’s gubernatorial runoff on Tuesday night. The race was called with Mazzei ahead by approximately 2,000 votes in the state. Mazzei was strongly backed by President Donald Trump in the race, earning his endorsement in the state’s primary over Drummond, who faced criticism over a number of anti-Trump statements and even donated to Joe Biden and the Lincoln Project in 2020. Drummond finished first in the the June primary, but continued statements of support from Trump including a tele-rally on Monday swayed the state’s…
Thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish enclave after a mass influx from Morocco, enraging locals Residents of the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta tore down makeshift migrant shelters as police fired rubber bullets during escalating protests over the migration crisis, videos posted online purport to show. Thousands of migrants remain in the territory nearly a month after a record mass crossing from neighboring Morocco, with many seeking asylum in the EU.The crisis erupted in late July, when around 72,000 people crossed or attempted to cross into Ceuta, many by swimming around border barriers. Most were returned, but Spanish…