Strangulation marks allegedly found on woman who died in ‘suicide pod’
New revelations are raising questions about the death of a 64-year-old American woman who reportedly used a suicide pod to end her life in Switzerland. The woman was the first person believed to die inside the Sarco device. It was reported on Wednesday, Oct. 30, that prosecutors claimed strangulations marks were found around the woman’s neck during a forensic investigation.
Although official autopsy results have yet to be released, the alleged injuries are now prompting questions about how the woman actually died.
Last Resort, the company behind the pod, claims she died peacefully after she used the device as designed, pressing a button that released nitrogen gas into the chamber.
However, the chief prosecutor in the criminal case is now calling it a possible “international homicide” and pushing for those arrested in connection with the pod’s use to remain in custody.
After the 64-year-old woman’s body was found in the Sarco pod in a Swiss forest, several people with the company involved in manufacturing the device were detained.
The American woman who died reportedly suffered from a serious disease. A person close to Last Resort told a U.K. publication that the disease causes similar marks to those found around her neck.
Hezbollah launches more attacks as it announces new leader in wake of deaths
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29, that it had selected Sheikh Naim Kassem to be its next leader. Kassem has been serving as the de facto leader of the Iran proxy group ever since an Israeli airstrike killed late leader Hassan Nasrallah and another Israeli airstrike took out Hashem Safieddine, who many believed would have been the next leader of Hezbollah.
Israel’s defense minister responded to the selection on the social media platform X, posting, “Temporary appointment. Not for long.”
Kassem has been the deputy leader of the group over the past three decades. He’ll now serve as secretary general.
After the announcement, the Iran proxy group vowed to continue Nasrallah’s policies until “victory is achieved.”
Shortly afterward, eight Australian soldiers in a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon were reportedly slightly injured in a suspected Hezbollah missile strike. Australia’s Defense Ministry condemned the attack.
Hezbollah also fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Tuesday, killing at least one person, according to Israeli authorities.
The militant group has launched rockets into Israel since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas, which is also an Iran proxy group.
Department of Justice launches operation at NYC jail housing Diddy
Federal investigators from two agencies reportedly launched an “interagency operation” on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Both Sean “Diddy” Combs and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried are housed in the facility.
The agencies involved include the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons, both revealing little about the reasons for the operation. They say that it is to ensure safety for both employees and inmates at the facility.
Federal authorities say the exact nature of the operation will not be revealed until it is complete, citing security interests. The agencies maintained that the actions were preplanned and there is “no active threat.”
The probe comes as the jail faces criticism for reportedly abhorrent conditions, widespread violence and multiple deaths. The DOJ and Bureau of Prisons previously vowed to fix the problems at the jail and enhance accountability.
Federal prosecutors charged nine inmates last month in connection with a series of attacks from April to August, including two inmates who were stabbed to death and another pierced through the spine with a makeshift icepick. Separately, a correctional officer is accused of shooting at a car during a high-speed chase that was unauthorized.
Prisoners have reportedly long complained over the conditions at the jail and claim they are barred from leaving their cells for showers, exercise, visits and calls. The facility is also reportedly plagued by rampant drug and contraband smuggling, sometimes organized by employees.
Gangs in Haiti struck US Embassy vehicles and UN helicopter with gunfire
Gang violence in Haiti’s capital continues to escalate and now it’s sparking concerns for safety among United States and United Nations personnel in the country. Gunfire from gang members reportedly struck two U.S. Embassy vehicles on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and hit a U.N. helicopter on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The gunfire didn’t injure any personnel but the attacks and uptick in chaos around the U.S. Embassy in Haiti is forcing the evacuation of 20 diplomats from Port-Au-Prince.
The apparent targeting of the helicopter will reportedly cause U.S. airlines at Port-au-Prince’s international airport to hold off on operations once again in Haiti’s capital.
Earlier this year, U.S. airlines like Spirit, JetBlue and American suspended flights at Port-au-Prince’s international airport.
The suspension of humanitarian flights comes as Haiti is coming off a temporary cancellation of international cargo ships into Port-Au-Prince after boats were shot at last month, making getting much-needed food aid to Haitians facing hunger even more difficult.
The U.N. Special Representative for Haiti Maria Isabel Salvador said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, to the United Nations Security Council that daily life in Haiti is deteriorating quickly.
“The situation in Haiti has regrettably worsened. There are more than 700,000 internally displaced persons, which represents a 22% increase in the last three months,” Salvador said. “The political process, despite initial advances, which I reported in July, is now facing significant challenges, turning hope into deep concern.”
The U.S. ambassador described the recent attacks on international personnel as a reaction to a more aggressive stance by law enforcement in combatting gang violence in Haiti. A U.N.-backed multinational security force has been deployed to several areas where gang attacks have been launched. Their efforts have reportedly led to the recent casualties of several gang members.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris got some help on the campaign trail from a former president and a famous rapper, while former President Donald Trump targeted a certain voting block. And one of McDonald’s famous burgers has been linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks to go until the next U.S. president is chosen, both candidates are highlighting the importance of this year’s election as they make their final pushes to sway undecided voters on the campaign trail.
During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Vice President Kamala Harris once again addressed how her presidency would be different than that of President Joe Biden.
“Let me be very clear, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration,” she said. “I bring my own experiences, my own ideas to it, and it has informed a number of my areas of focus, most of which are on to your point, lowering costs. The voters know it, I know it.”
During the interview, Harris was asked about why she is reluctant to talk about the historic nature of her candidacy. If she were to win, she would become the first female U.S. president.
“Well, I’m clearly a woman, I don’t need to point that out to anyone. The point that most people really care about is, can you do the job, and do you have a plan to actually focus on them?” she said. “My challenge is the challenge of making sure I can talk with and listen to as many voters as possible and earn their vote. And I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race. Instead, that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges.”
In Detroit, a rally was held in support of the vice president featuring rapper Eminem and former President Barack Obama.
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, or what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem told rallygoers. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
“We’re not going to play games because we’re going to lose our country, our country is failing,” Trump said. “We don’t know what we’re doing. We’re laughed at all over the world. [Chinese] President Xi [Xinping] thinks we’re stupid. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks we’re stupid. That would have never happened if I were president. Putin would have never ever got into Ukraine.”
Then the former president returned to North Carolina for a rally where he criticized the vice president for not having any campaign events so close to Election Day.
THANK YOU, NORTH CAROLINA! This election is a choice between whether we will have four more years of incompetence, failure, and disaster—or whether we will begin the FOUR GREATEST YEARS in the HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/JJhJsJcOHk
“You know what she did?” he said. “She took a day off. How do you take a day off 14 days — you don’t take days off, right? I’ve gone 52 days, now, I got 14 more. We don’t take days off we got to win this thing if we don’t win it our country is in big trouble.”
Next up on the campaign trail, Vice President Harris will visit Pennsylvania Wednesday and then on Thursday, Oct. 24, hold a rally in Atlanta alongside Bruce Springsteen. Former President Trump will visit Georgia Wednesday and will record an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast on Friday, Oct. 25.
The Georgia Supreme Court said it will not step in to reinstate Republican-backed new election rules ahead of Election Day. Seven of the rules, put in place by the State Election Board after the 2020 election, were declared “illegal, unconstitutional, and void,” by a lower-level judge last week.
On Tuesday, Georgia’s supreme court rejected the Republican-led effort to put the rules, which include one requiring ballots be hand-counted and two related to certifying results, back in place and declined to consider an expedited appeal.
Israel says it killed man next in line to lead Hezbollah
Israel said it has killed the man who was next in line to take over as the leader of the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials say an air strike in Beiruit, Lebanon killed Hashem Safieddine a few weeks ago, along with other commanders of the Iran-backed militant group.
Hezbollah has not confirmed Israel’s claim that Safeiddine is dead.
🔴 Hashem Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, were eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah’s main intelligence HQ in Dahieh approx. 3 weeks ago.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East looking to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Israeli leaders told Blinken it’s not Israel’s policy to isolate northern Gaza, despite recent United Nations claims that Israeli authorities have denied efforts to bring more aid to the area, according to an NBC News report.
In a letter this month, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave Israel 30 days to increase basic humanitarian aid to Gaza or risk restrictions on U.S. military assistance, as required under U.S. law. Israeli officials said they have taken actions in response to the letter, and while Blinken acknowledged progress has been made, he said it is not sufficient.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to multi-state E. coli outbreak
The CDC has issued a safety alert over a McDonald’s staple: the fast-food chain’s iconic Quarter Pounder. Health officials say McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been linked to E. coli outbreaks in at least ten states.
E. COLI OUTBREAK: CDC is investigating 49 illnesses in 10 states linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. If you ate a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s and have severe symptoms of E. coli, contact your healthcare provider. https://t.co/g87itkupCQpic.twitter.com/gHzUKCnTi9
The CDC says, so far, it appears the onions used as a topping on the burgers are the likeliest source of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now stopped using the onions and is not serving the Quarter Pounder in affected states.
In a statement, the company said it believes the onions came from a single supplier.
Denny’s closing 150 restaurants, including 50 by end of 2024
It seems Denny’s hasn’t been such a grand slam for Americans lately. The diner chain, known for its Grand Slam breakfast, is closing 150 of its restaurants.
Denny’s, which has been in business for more than 70 years, says the focus is on closing locations that are too old to remodel, as well as some in unprofitable areas. It has not yet specified which locations are shutting down.
FAA finalizes rule for electric air taxis to enter service
We might soon be riding around in flying vehicles called electric air taxis after the Federal Aviation Administration released what its say is the “final piece of the puzzle.”
An extraordinary moment for aviation! Our rule for training and certificating pilots to fly powered lift is the final piece of the puzzle to get these revolutionary aircraft flying safely in our skies. https://t.co/96Q7TQZfkMpic.twitter.com/7RvSqbdGT8
The FAA issued its new rules Tuesday regarding the planes — 880 pages of special regulations including training protocols for pilots and operational requirements for the half-airplane, half-helicopter air taxis. The planes act like a helicopter during takeoff then change modes to be more like an airplane during flight, before switching back for the landing.
The FAA calls it the introduction to “a new category of aircraft.” The first electric air taxi could be operational by sometime next year.
Former Ohio officer’s murder trial begins for 2020 shooting death of Andre Hill
A white former Ohio police officer is on trial for murder for the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man. Jury selection began on Monday, Oct. 21, for former Columbus Police Department officer Adam Coy, who prosecutors say fatally shot 47-year-old Andre Hill as Hill came out of a friend’s garage with a cellphone in his hand.
Coy had been responding to a noise complaint when he encountered Hill. Police body camera footage showed Hill with a cellphone in his left hand and the view of his right hand obstructed.
An autopsy later revealed that Hill was shot four times by Coy. Meanwhile, Coy reportedly waited 10 minutes before rendering medical aid to Hill as he lay on the ground bleeding and later died at the hospital. Coy was fired over the deadly incident.
However, Coy’s defense team argues that the former Columbus officer thought Hill had a gun in his right hand. Weeks after the shooting, the city of Columbus reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, the largest in the town’s history.
The Columbus City Council also passed Andre’s Law, which mandates that all police officers render immediate medical attention to an injured suspect.
Coy has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, reckless homicide and other offenses. He reportedly had more than three dozen complaints against him during his time as a police officer, which included a dozen complaints over use of force.
Haitian police fight to keep gang coalition from seizing power of entire capital
Gun battles between police and gangs in Haiti’s capital are forcing thousands to flee. Gunmen reportedly fought to take over one of the few areas in Port-au-Prince not already controlled by criminal organizations. The neighborhoods of Solino and Nazon have been under attack since Thursday, Oct. 17.
Gang members threatened residents who do not join their efforts that they will be “burned to ashes.”
The attackers are reportedly a coalition of two rival gangs that joined forces to attack neighborhoods and government institutions. Their efforts forced Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign in February 2024.
The recent violence has reportedly forced more than 4,200 people to flee, and now more than 60% of Haitians left homeless have moved into already crowded emergency shelters.
Over the weekend, Haiti’s police union warned that if it loses these neighborhoods, it could mean losing control of the entire city to gangs. Police said if that happens, no government will be able to be in place.
Israel has launched a new set of attacks on Hezbollah’s financial operations in Lebanon. And we’re learning more about a catastrophic failure on a dock at what was supposed to be an evening to celebrate culture. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Israeli officials said the organization held funds used to directly finance Hezbollah’s activities.
The National News Agency in Lebanon reported at least 11 strikes in southern Beirut targeting al-Qard al-Hassan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
⭕Overnight, the IAF conducted a series of targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut,…
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. recently sent to Israel is now in place and ready for use when needed. This comes as Israel prepares its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month. U.S. officials are investigating the apparent leak of two top-secret documents that show American spy agencies tracking possible Israeli preparations for that attack.
Trump works at PA McDonald’s; Harris spends birthday at GA churches
With just 15 days to go until Election Day, the campaign trail involved stops over the weekend at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s and Georgia churches.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump donned an apron Sunday, Oct. 20, joining McDonald’s workers at a location in suburban Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Trump chose McDonald’s as a campaign stop as he questions Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ account of working at a McDonald’s as a summer job during her college years.
Trump was on the fry station before heading over to the drive-thru window where he ended up holding an impromptu press conference with reporters.
Later, Trump held a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he spoke about his plans for the economy and called out Vice President Harris’ changing stances on fracking — but took time to wish her a happy birthday.
“By the way, it’s her 60th birthday, so I want to wish her a happy 60th birthday,” Trump said. “Happy birthday and many more. Happy birthday. I mean it. And I do mean it, actually.”
Trump then headed to Pittsburgh to attend the Steelers football game.
As for the vice president, Kamala Harris spent her 60th birthday visiting two churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area where she was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Stevie Wonder. Harris called on churchgoers to get out to vote.
Vice President Harris: Faith is a verb. It is something that manifests itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. Our strength is not based on who we beat down. It is based on who we lift up. That's not what we see from the other side in this election pic.twitter.com/zM3yjXpJ1r
“I say as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the gospel of Luke,” Harris said. “Because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. In this moment, our country is at a crossroads, and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. And now we ask a question, we face this question: what kind of country do we want to live in?”
On Monday, former President Trump will tour Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Pennsylvania.
Navy confirms deaths of 2 crew members after jet crashes in Washington
U.S. Navy officials have confirmed searchers found the remains of two crew members of a jet that crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington last week. They said the crew members will not be identified until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The jet carrying the two crew members went down during what the Navy said was a routine training flight last Tuesday, Oct. 15. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
7 people killed in gangway collapse on Georgia barrier island
Authorities in Georgia are investigating after seven people were killed when a gangway collapsed on one of the state’s barrier islands Saturday, Oct. 19. They were among hundreds of people on Sapelo Island for a celebration of Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life.
The aluminum gangway suffered structural failure as historic Sapelo Island hosted an event celebrating its Gullah Geechee history and culture. https://t.co/4CW2GRYcvH
The coroner said the victims were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s. Authorities said as many as 40 people were on the gangway and about 20 people fell into the water when it collapsed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.
A team of engineers and construction specialists is now investigating why it failed.
Millions of Cubans in the dark amid power grid collapse
As Cuba deals with major issues with its power grid, Hurricane Oscar made landfall Sunday before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Oscar is expected to bring heavy rain and damaging storm surge to parts of the country as millions are still without access to power and attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cuban electrical union said power had been restored to neighborhoods where more than 216,000 people live in the capital city of Havana, which is home to about 2 million people. However, by Sunday night, the power grid had collapsed again — the fourth time since Friday, Oct. 18.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing blackouts, many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Officials had initially said power would be restored by Monday or Tuesday, Oct. 22, but it’s likely the latest setback will delay that timeline.
It took five games and a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx for the Liberty to walk away with the title. Jonquel Jones was named the Finals MVP.
The Liberty had been only the original WNBA franchise without a championship, until now.
The big win also came on the same night we found out it would be the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Yankees in the World Series to decide the best in baseball. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
States approve legal marijuana despite containing dangerous mold: WSJ
To grow, marijuana needs certain conditions: humidity and a lot of light. As pot becomes legal in more places and more ways, be it medical or recreational, more companies are growing the once secretly-harvested plant, usually indoors in a controlled area.
The problem with that is humidity and lots of artificial light are not just optimal conditions growing marijuana, they are also prime conditions for mold.
A new Wall Street Journal analysis found that while states where marijuana is legal make growers hire laboratories to check for mold and other contaminants, many of those labs are underreporting what they find.
The Journal’s analysis looked at more than 2 million mold testing results from nine states and found a disproportionate number of products containing dangerous mold, which can make you sick or even kill you, are being cleared for sale.
Certain molds and their toxins have been linked the cannabis plant. When ingested, the fungi can pose serious health risks, especially for those with weakened immune systems.
A 2020 review of national insurance claims found marijuana users are nearly four times more likely than non-users to be infected with fungi that have been known to cause infections, dangerous immune responses and even death.
The Journal found labs that passed more marijuana samples got more business. If labs test four samples and one is contaminated, that’s a 25% contamination rate, but if a lab test 10 samples and two are found to be contaminated, that’s only a 20% contamination rate, which doesn’t sound quite as bad, does it?
Since most states that have legalized weed in some form do not have a set standard for how testing should be done, there’s no easy way to find out if the product is safe. Consumers can do the legwork themselves, though, because every legal weed label identified where it was tested.
However, many cannabis enthusiasts said that can be a cumbersome process because a person has to research each lab and their methods to make their own informed decision.
Former Olympian is accused of running ‘ruthless’ drug smuggling operation
The U.S Department of Justice announced a federal indictment of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding on Thursday, Oct. 17, which accuses him of running a billion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation and ordering the murders of several people.
“Instead of using his privileges that come with being an Olympic athlete to do good for people, he did the opposite,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California, said. “He chose to become a major drug trafficker, and he chose to become a killer.”
Federal authorities said the 43-year-old Wedding’s transnational drug trafficking organization, backed by Mexican cartels, smuggled tons of cocaine across the U.S. and Canadian borders for more than a decade, using hitmen to kill people who got in their way.
“These individuals ran what we call the Wedding criminal enterprise,” Estrada said. “This criminal enterprise was extremely prolific and ruthless. By prolific, they moved massive amounts of cocaine. They were one of the largest suppliers of cocaine to Canada and the United States. They move an average of 60 tons of cocaine per year. By ruthless, they were killers. Anyone who got in their way, they would target with violence, including murder.”
Prosecutors said all victims of the assassins were shot execution-style in Canada, so their family members could see them murdered, including two parents in Canada, who were mistakenly thought to have stolen a drug shipment. The mother and father were shot in front of their daughter, who was also shot several times but survived.
Authorities seized cocaine, guns, ammunition, cash and more than $3 million in cryptocurrency.
Wedding is among four of the named 16 defendants in the indictment who are still on the loose and considered to be fugitives.