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Mass wedding ceremony of 250 couples heldBy ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. Is it a plan in motion or more rhetoric? On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Death row inmates are mostly sentenced by states Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Could rape now be punishable by death? Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. What were the cases highlighted by Trump? One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Government won't buy overseas carbon credits to meet targets, Todd McClay says
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly o Matt Ott And Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press Dec 24, 2024 2:19 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Travelers queue up to pass through the south security checkpoint in the main terminal of Denver International Airport Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Nineteen flights were canceled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any “chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day.” He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. On social media, however, customers expressed frustration with delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Bobby Tighe, a real estate agent from Florida, said he will miss a family Christmas Eve party in New York because his American flight was repeatedly delayed. The delays made him miss a connecting flight, leaving him the choice of going to his destination — Westchester, New York — on Christmas Day or taking another flight to Newark, New Jersey, that was scheduled to land Tuesday evening. He chose the latter. “I’m just going to take an Uber or Lyft to the airport I was originally supposed to go to, pick up my rental car and kind of restart everything tomorrow,” Tighe said. He said his girlfriend was “going through the same exact situation” on her way from Dallas to New York. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York’s Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site did not post any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but it showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. ___ Associated Press writers David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report. Matt Ott And Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More Automotive AP News in Brief at 11:04 p.m. EST Dec 23, 2024 8:05 PM Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker Dec 23, 2024 8:28 AM What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry Dec 23, 2024 3:55 AM Featured FlyerAskew scores 28 as Long Beach State beats Hawaii 76-68Bynum shot 7 of 9 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Miners (6-2). Otis Frazier III added 18 points while going 6 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line while he also had five assists. Kevin Kalu had 13 points and shot 5 of 6 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line. The Redhawks (3-6) were led in scoring by Paris Dawson, who finished with 18 points and two steals. Seattle U also got 14 points and eight rebounds from Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe. John Christofilis had 13 points. UTEP took the lead with 18:55 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 48-23 at halftime, with Frazier racking up 12 points. UTEP extended its lead to 77-49 during the second half, fueled by a 7-0 scoring run. Bynum scored a team-high 12 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.None
Collaboration with PARC is important to addressing agricultural challenges: Uzbek Envoy
What was the best thing you read in 2024? It's a question that book lovers ask themselves and each other at this time of year. Finding out what others gush about gives something to excitedly add to book club or to-read lists for 2025. Some people turn to GoodReads and others turn to BookTok, a TikTok community playing an increasingly important role in the book market, to find out what is worth reading. But, in this writer's opinion, nothing beats getting out into the community and stopping at your local bookshop to see the covers brightly poking out from the shelves and ask a friendly face, 'What's the best thing you read this year?' With Russell Books just down the street from the Victoria News office, they were our first stop. Here are five favourite books from different people who work at this beloved local shop, and a description of why they loved the book in their own words. Zoe's pick: Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang Imagine a world in which the industrial revolution was fuelled not by coal, but by language. In R.F. Kuang's unique alternate history, the linguistic tension created by an imperfect translation can be used to propel a train... or detonate a bomb. In this world, the British Empire plunders its colonies not for fossil fuels but for human beings: native speakers of specific languages. Set in an alternate Oxford University in the 1830s, the book follows Robin, an orphan who is plucked from poverty in Canton by a wealthy patron and enrolled in the Royal Institute of Translation (aka Babel). This book is a richly researched, incredibly compelling exploration of colonialism and its devastating effects. I'm still thinking about it months later, and it's my go-to recommendation for anyone who reads either literary fiction or sci-fi/fantasy!" Jack Knox' pick: The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson and the Making of Modern Canada by John Ibbitson This is Canadian history-nerd heaven. The Duel, by Globe and Mail political writer John Ibbitson, not only documents the rise and rivalry of Canadian prime ministers Lester Pearson and John Diefenbaker but also shows how their mid-20th century conflict shaped the Canada we know today. The two clashed in every way, with easy-going Pearson comfortable in the halls of power yet harbouring a hidden ruthlessness, while chip-on-his-shoulder Diefenbaker fought for his fellow outsiders but couldn’t keep out of his own way. Still, from universal health care to no-nukes to immigration and the Canada Pension Plan, the rivals built on each other’s decisions, framing the House we take for granted. The depth of Ibbitson’s research is staggering, his analysis cogent and even-handed, and his use of language both economical and precise. Molly Kines' pick: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion “...and maybe no one else felt the ground hardening and summer already dead even as we pretended to bask in it, but that was how it felt to me, and it might as well have snowed, could have snowed, did snow.” As Joan Didion puts it, whether it snowed one summer in Vermont or it didn't, it doesn't matter. To focus on the snow is to miss the point. To write is to discover your own life, and to feel it how it is meant to be felt by you. Joan finds significance in the every day, in the mundane, and in a possibly fabricated August cold snap — and this is precisely her genius. Read her. She blew my mind in 2023, and she blew my mind just as much this year. You won’t regret it! Leah Henderson's pick: Noopiming (The Cure for White Ladies) by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson I read this book early in the year and then re-read it to absorb it more fully. It is written in the new-to-me genre of “novel in verse”. The language is beautiful, circular, funny, clever, and compassionate. Simpson is a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer and is a skilled artist of words. The story follows seven characters – old man, maple tree, old woman, the giant, the cariboo, and two humans, Asin and Lucy, as they attempt to communicate with the urban settler world. This book made me laugh out loud and sit quietly to let a breathtaking description sink in. It is a creative response by an Indigenous woman to the memoirs of Susannah Moodie, an early Canadian settler. It’s like a dance of understanding between coming to a new land for adventure and conquest, and living with an old land in harmony, and communion with every living thing – lake, trees, animals, rocks – as friends, and not things to be subjugated. I highly recommend this book! Brian's pick: Held by Canadian author Anne Michaels My favourite read of 2024 was the Booker-shortlisted, and Giller Prize-winning novel, Held. This exquisitely written book embroiders a multigenerational tale through the 20th century, beginning with the effect of the First World War on a young man and his family. The pivotal moments of one generation are mapped onto the lives of the next, and Michaels explores which echoes are heard and which are not. The characters she creates are transformed by the preceding generation in ways that are often unknown to them, but always penetrate to their core. The novel was particularly poignant for me because the young soldier that begins this tale was stationed near the River Escaut in northern France, just as my grandfather was during the First World War. I was left wondering what part of him I have held onto 100 years after his momentous experiences.
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MIDTOWN, Manhattan -- A suspect is on the loose in what police called the "brazen" targeted attack of Brian Thompson , the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare who was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel ahead of an investor conference on Wednesday. The masked gunman appeared to be lying in wait outside the Hilton hotel in what police said was a "premeditated" attack. The shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson before shooting the victim in the chest around 6:40 a.m., police said. Video captured the moment the gunman walked up behind the CEO, pointed his gun at him and fired. A witness fled as Thompson stumbled and fell to the ground. The gunman then walked closer to Thompson, firing more times before fleeing. The suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. He then fled on a bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. Police released photos of the suspect holding a firearm and on a bike. They also released photos of the suspect in a mask in an undisclosed location. He was described by police as wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a "very distinctive" gray backpack. Detectives have retrieved a water bottle and candy wrapper from the area where he was apparently waiting and are currently running tests and analyses to determine if there are any usable fingerprints or DNA, law enforcement sources said. At the same time, NYPD detectives are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to try and track down the shooter and with the FBI, which has the most sophisticated technology for retrieving usable data from cell phones, sources said. The victim's hotel room has already been accessed by investigators, whose top priority is determining Thompson's most recent conversations and movements, sources said. The working theory among detectives right now is that the shooting was carried out by someone who is not a professional killer because too many "mistakes" were made, sources said. Hitmen typically don't carry cell phones to their hits and the shots were fired from a distance that would be considered "too far" away from the victim, the sources said. At this point, detectives are trying to determine whether Thompson was targeted because of some type of personal conflict or as a result of his work as an insurance executive, sources said. The killer apparently had some knowledge of Thompson's schedule on Wednesday and the fact that he would be arriving at the Hilton well before the company meeting was to begin, the sources said. Police are interviewing Thompson's colleagues and family about any potential specific threats, Kenny said. Thompson , 50, was in New York City for the UnitedHealthcare investors conference, which was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. The conference was being held at the Hilton outside of which he was shot, but he was not staying there, police said. UnitedHealthcare's parent company, UnitedHealth Group, the largest health insurer in the world, said in a statement, "We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson." "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," the company said. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian's family and all who were close to him." Police urge the public to call Crime Stoppers with any information. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
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OTH Network Revolutionizes Influencer Marketing with AI-Powered Platform and Exclusive Black Card 12-24-2024 09:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Asap Digital Marketing OTH Network redefines influencer marketing with its AI-powered platform and exclusive black card, allowing creators to trade social media engagement for real-world rewards. Connecting 3,000+ influencers with top brands, OTH fosters authentic collaborations and organic growth. OTH Network, an innovative influencer-focused fintech platform, is transforming the digital marketing landscape by enabling content creators to exchange social media engagement for real-world products and services. Through its AI-driven app and exclusive black card, OTH Network seamlessly connects influencers with top-tier businesses, fostering organic brand growth and authentic content creation. Launched in 2023, OTH Network has rapidly expanded its community to over 3,000 creators [ https://othnetwork.io/creators ], with more than 90,000 global applications to date. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor influencer-generated content and match creators with suitable marketing opportunities, ensuring high-quality collaborations that benefit both parties. How OTH Network Works: * Discover and Reserve Offers: Influencers use the OTH app to explore and select exclusive deals from participating businesses. * Create and Share Content: After experiencing a product or service, creators produce engaging content, tagging the business and sharing it with their audience. * AI Verification: OTH's AI system promptly reviews the content for accuracy and quality, ensuring compliance with campaign requirements. * Instant Rewards: The influencer's OTH card is credited and ready for in-person redemptions at the partner business upon approval. This streamlined process benefits businesses [ https://othnetwork.io/businesses ] by providing consistent, high-quality, organic content and exposure from influential voices. At the same time, influencers gain access to top restaurants [ https://othnetwork.io/restaurant-influencer-marketing ], unique experiences, and rewards without direct financial transactions. Notable partnerships include establishments such as Sushi Bar in Miami, Flowrbombr Skincare in Los Angeles, and Footnanny Nail Spa in Beverly Hills, showcasing the platform's diverse reach across the hospitality, wellness, beauty, and fashion industries. "Our mission at OTH is to create a collaborative ecosystem that drives reach and traffic to all of our members," said the marketing manager of OTH Network. "By leveraging AI technology, we're able to match top-tier businesses with influential content creators, resulting in authentic marketing that resonates with audiences." As the digital marketing landscape evolves, OTH Network stands at the forefront of innovation, offering a scalable solution that redefines the relationship between brands and influencers. For more information or to apply to join the OTH Network, visit www.othnetwork.io [ https://www.othnetwork.io/ ]. Media Contact Company Name: OTH Network Contact Person: Scott Keever Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=oth-network-revolutionizes-influencer-marketing-with-aipowered-platform-and-exclusive-black-card ] Address:14 NE 1st Ave City: Miami State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SBJNZhReyii7f9Kg8 This release was published on openPR.PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Four journalists and a police officer were killed Tuesday after armed gangs opened fire on them inside an old military hospital in Haiti’s capital. The attack also left at least six other people, several of them journalists and one police officer, with gunshot wounds. The injured were being treated at La Paix Hospital after a specialized unit of the Haiti National Police went inside the facility that is part of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, better known as the General Hospital, to rescue the wounded. Police officers told waiting journalists that they had left four bodies on the ground; at least two of them were online journalists. The tragedy unfolded while the press was awaiting the arrival of the minister of health to cover the reopening of the General Hospital, which had been closed for months because of gang attacks. As reporters waited inside, they could hear gunfire out in the streets, where two armored police vehicles were patrolling. Inside, final arrangements were being made for the minister’s visit. That’s when several armed men stormed the area outside and opened fire. In a video shared online, long volleys of gunfire could be heard as bullets flew through the green iron gates of the General Hospital. Other photos and videos shared online by some of the reporters trapped inside showed journalists lying on the floor covered in blood, with gunshots wounds to the head, chest and mouths. In one video, a journalist showed where a bullet had pierced his tongue. “We haven’t found a nurse or anyone to give us first aid, anything,” a journalist who was not injured said as she pleaded for help. “Those who are the most vulnerable, we want to get them out of here.” But getting out of the area proved difficult as police exchanged gunfire with gang members. “The whole area is under siege,” Guy Delva, head of the press freedom group SOS journalists, said before police moved in to rescue the trapped reporters. “Bandits are shooting all around. If the journalists go out into the street, they will be killed and no one is helping them. The situation is very worrisome. They are stranded.” Delva blamed the Haitian government for the incident, saying the attack is part of a larger problem in which journalists are being targeted by the police as well as gangs. Reporters have reported being harassed by police while on assignment. Earlier this year Haitian authorities issued a list of journalists they were seeking to arrest, claiming they were working with gangs. Last month the country’s telecommunications authority, CONATEL, shut down a popular program, Boukante la Pawol, hosted by Guerrier Henri, on Port-au-Prince’s Radio Mega after Henri allowed gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier to speak. Delva said the move infringed on press freedoms and was a throwback to the days Haiti was ruled by dictators. “Journalists have been working with a lot of fear,” he said. “They realize that the government doesn’t care. They not only try to block them but they openly show they won’t intervene to help them.” The General Hospital, the country’s largest public medical facility, had been closed since March when a united front of powerful gang leaders led attacks on police stations as well as the main airport, seaport and prison with the hope of toppling the government. Since then, the violence has continued to escalate, with hospitals across Port-au-Prince shutting down. In July Haitian authorities claimed that they had taken control of the General Hospital. But days later, the country’s prime minister was forced to run for cover, along with police officers, when armed gangs opened fire as he was giving a tour of the facility to visiting CNN journalists. The Christmas Eve attack added to an avalanche of bad news for Haiti. As the attack was happening in Port-au-Prince, authorities in the northwest region confirmed the deaths of at least seven people from torrential rains that continued to hit the city of Port-de-Paix on Tuesday. Officials said that 10 others had been injured, while at least 100 houses had been destroyed and 500 others seriously damaged. About 11,000 houses were flooded and 20 vehicles were swept away. A bridge, constructed less than six months ago, also collapsed. On Monday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, issued a statement about Haiti’s escalating crisis. Her statements as president of the U.N. Security Council came on the same day the U.N. political office in Haiti issued a report on a recent gang massacre in the Wharf Jérémie neighborhood in the capital. The report said at least 207 people, most of them elderly, were targeted by a gang leader earlier this month after he accused them of using witchcraft to make his son sick. The security council, Thomas-Greenfield said, is deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Haiti. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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