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⚡️ Senior Biden administration official says has not yet responded substantively to Russia’s security proposals, will respond at January talks
❗️ Jen Psaki: The US is not ready to agree to Russia’s security proposals regarding NATO
⚡️ Ex-Minnesota сop Kimberly Potter found guilty in shooting death of Daunte Wright
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Iconic American novelist, journalist and essayist Joan Didion, who wrote about musicians such as Joan Baez and Janis Joplin in her 1968 collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem, has died at 87 from Parkinson's disease.
Netflix filmed a documentary about the prominent writer’s life and work ennoscriptd Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold.
Photo from Didion’s Instagram.
Netflix filmed a documentary about the prominent writer’s life and work ennoscriptd Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold.
Photo from Didion’s Instagram.
Navy elevator saga: final episode.
The US Navy announced today that the advanced weapons elevator (AWE) on the USS Gerald R. Ford has been declared fully functional.
The weapons elevator’s transport massive munitions from the depths of the ship up to the hangar bay and to the flight deck, where fighter jets can be armed.
AWE is one of 23 brand-new technologies developed for the Ford-class carriers, several of which lagged in development or saw delays during testing — ultimately pushing the ship’s planned deployment from 2018 to the currently-projected late 2022.
The US Navy announced today that the advanced weapons elevator (AWE) on the USS Gerald R. Ford has been declared fully functional.
The weapons elevator’s transport massive munitions from the depths of the ship up to the hangar bay and to the flight deck, where fighter jets can be armed.
AWE is one of 23 brand-new technologies developed for the Ford-class carriers, several of which lagged in development or saw delays during testing — ultimately pushing the ship’s planned deployment from 2018 to the currently-projected late 2022.
☀ A human-built spacecraft has ‘touched’ the sun!
The Parker Solar Probe flew into our star’s corona, marking the closest any human-made object has come to the fiery orb. The NASA probe is the first spacecraft to “touch” the sun, traveling into a region where the temperature is a spicy 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.
At one facility in the Pyrenees Mountains of France, scientists used thousands of mirrors to reflect sunlight and focus it into a tiny area to test materials under superheated conditions thought to be similar to that of the sun.
Scientists made and monitored Called the Solar Probe Cup, the equipment sits outside the heat shield and catches some of the sun's superheated plasma.
Understanding the origins of switchbacks and other aspects of the solar wind could help safeguard astronauts, spacecraft, and satellites. Scientists also are hoping to learn more about how to forecast “space weather,” energies from our sun that can disrupt power grids, telecommunications and GPS systems.
The Parker Solar Probe flew into our star’s corona, marking the closest any human-made object has come to the fiery orb. The NASA probe is the first spacecraft to “touch” the sun, traveling into a region where the temperature is a spicy 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.
At one facility in the Pyrenees Mountains of France, scientists used thousands of mirrors to reflect sunlight and focus it into a tiny area to test materials under superheated conditions thought to be similar to that of the sun.
Scientists made and monitored Called the Solar Probe Cup, the equipment sits outside the heat shield and catches some of the sun's superheated plasma.
Understanding the origins of switchbacks and other aspects of the solar wind could help safeguard astronauts, spacecraft, and satellites. Scientists also are hoping to learn more about how to forecast “space weather,” energies from our sun that can disrupt power grids, telecommunications and GPS systems.
✊ Texas Withdraws Clemency Recommendation for George Floyd
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles said it made “procedural errors” when it issued a recommendation that Floyd be posthumously pardoned for a 2004 drug conviction.
“The board has withdrawn 25 clemency recommendations that contained procedural errors and lack of compliance with board rules,” a spokesperson for GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, adding that the official did not have the opportunity to consider the errors.
The board will review and resolve procedural errors and issues related to any pending applications in compliance with their rules, according to the spokesperson.
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The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles said it made “procedural errors” when it issued a recommendation that Floyd be posthumously pardoned for a 2004 drug conviction.
“The board has withdrawn 25 clemency recommendations that contained procedural errors and lack of compliance with board rules,” a spokesperson for GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, adding that the official did not have the opportunity to consider the errors.
The board will review and resolve procedural errors and issues related to any pending applications in compliance with their rules, according to the spokesperson.
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😞Amazon warned workers that busy holiday season could make them feel suicidal
Amazon is hitting the top of the peak and its workers are under the greatest strain, frequently required to clock mandatory overtime hours and disallowed from scheduling vacation days. It also coincides with the hiring of a deluge of temporary workers, with a projected 150,000 added this year alone, its largest holiday surge to date.
A leaked company email urged workers to “remember that your mental health matters,” stressing the importance of reaching out to Amazon’s "free, confidential counselors and other resources."
A 2019 report showed 911 calls were made from inside several of Amazon warehouses. Jace Crouch, a former employee, quoted in the report, said that "people having breakdowns [are] a regular occurrence" within these facilities.
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Amazon is hitting the top of the peak and its workers are under the greatest strain, frequently required to clock mandatory overtime hours and disallowed from scheduling vacation days. It also coincides with the hiring of a deluge of temporary workers, with a projected 150,000 added this year alone, its largest holiday surge to date.
A leaked company email urged workers to “remember that your mental health matters,” stressing the importance of reaching out to Amazon’s "free, confidential counselors and other resources."
A 2019 report showed 911 calls were made from inside several of Amazon warehouses. Jace Crouch, a former employee, quoted in the report, said that "people having breakdowns [are] a regular occurrence" within these facilities.
Subscribe to @sputniknewsus
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🗽🦠 New York City will drastically scale down the annual New Year’s Eve celebration at Times Square next week, Mayor Bill de Balsio said.
"The Times Square celebration usually totals 58,000 people in viewing areas, but this year it will be limited to 15,000 and visitors will not be allowed entry until 3:00 pm Eastern Times. The celebration's organizers will require full vaccinations for all in-person revelers, the city government said," de Blasio said.
"The Times Square celebration usually totals 58,000 people in viewing areas, but this year it will be limited to 15,000 and visitors will not be allowed entry until 3:00 pm Eastern Times. The celebration's organizers will require full vaccinations for all in-person revelers, the city government said," de Blasio said.
No demand? Biden administration REJECTED an October proposal for “Free Rapid Tests" to cope with a holiday COVID surge, a new report has revealed.
On Tuesday, Biden finally gave Americans the ability to diagnose themselves, but the announcement struck many experts as “an exemplar of too little, too late.” Critics say the Biden administration has been slow to act on testing, in part because it saw vaccination as the best pathway out of the pandemic.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki chalked up the president's delayed response to a lack of demand in the summer months.
🤷♀️'Before the Delta variant was on the rise, there was not a demand for testing in this country. There really wasn't,' Psaki noted.
On Tuesday, Biden finally gave Americans the ability to diagnose themselves, but the announcement struck many experts as “an exemplar of too little, too late.” Critics say the Biden administration has been slow to act on testing, in part because it saw vaccination as the best pathway out of the pandemic.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki chalked up the president's delayed response to a lack of demand in the summer months.
🤷♀️'Before the Delta variant was on the rise, there was not a demand for testing in this country. There really wasn't,' Psaki noted.
A woman was killed in a fire at a gas station in Palm Harbor, Florida, after a driver backed into a gas pump.
Florida troopers detailed that a 66-year-old woman had backed her Nissan into a gas pump that then fell onto another woman - Shoi Caballes - as she was refueling her SUV. The fatal move left the victim pinned between the pump and her SUV when the gasoline “erupted in flames,” troopers said. Inside Caballes’ car were two of her children who were later pulled out by a good Samaritan.
Hundreds of people have gathered for a prayer service in Tarpon Springs to pay respects to Caballes.
Florida troopers detailed that a 66-year-old woman had backed her Nissan into a gas pump that then fell onto another woman - Shoi Caballes - as she was refueling her SUV. The fatal move left the victim pinned between the pump and her SUV when the gasoline “erupted in flames,” troopers said. Inside Caballes’ car were two of her children who were later pulled out by a good Samaritan.
Hundreds of people have gathered for a prayer service in Tarpon Springs to pay respects to Caballes.
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🇺🇸🎅🏽🎁 Travis Scott and his foundation have organized a campaign to distribute toys to more than 2,000 kids in the rapper’s hometown of Houston for Christmas.
Travis, who faced backlash over the deadly Astroworld concert in Texas last month, is doing his best to make sure that kids from struggling families in his hometown get their Christmas gifts.
Photos by Crayton Gerst.
Travis, who faced backlash over the deadly Astroworld concert in Texas last month, is doing his best to make sure that kids from struggling families in his hometown get their Christmas gifts.
Photos by Crayton Gerst.
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Los Angeles, now: A woman goes shoplifting at a Los Angeles Rite Aid accompanied by a pickaxe, reportedly threatening employees and customers. Perhaps she was told she should take her pick...
❗️White House: Biden to lift omicron-related travel restrictions on southern African countries, effective Dec. 31
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🇺🇸Attorneys for American rock band Nirvana asked a judge to dismiss a child pornography lawsuit filed by Spencer Elden, the man who was the “naked baby” on the cover of the 1991 “Nevermind” album, saying that the accusations are decades too late and absurd.
In return, Elden's lawyers state that time limitations do not apply as long as the album cover featuring the 'naked baby' is still being sold.
In return, Elden's lawyers state that time limitations do not apply as long as the album cover featuring the 'naked baby' is still being sold.
George Floyd's name removed from list of those recommended for pardon
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A Miami-Dade police officer was knocked out by a suspect while booking him into jail. Back-up officers were needed.
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“Best Christmas present ever”: Video of Joe Biden saying “Let’s go Brandon” during NORAD Santa call rocks social media