Displaying items by tag: North America

Linda Sun, a former senior aide to two New York governors, has been charged with acting as a secret agent for the Chinese government. She and her husband face multiple charges including visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering. Both have pleaded not guilty and are out on bail. Sun allegedly used her political position to further Chinese interests, blocking Taiwanese representatives from meetings and altering official messaging to favour China, especially during the Covid pandemic. She ensured public praise for China’s ventilator shipments while blocking an effort by Taiwan to get a public acknowledgement for giving masks. Authorities claim she facilitated millions in business deals for her husband’s Chinese-connected company, which funded their luxurious lifestyle. China’s embassy dismissed the charges, pointing out that previous cases against alleged Chinese agents have collapsed. There are growing tensions between the two countries over espionage claims.

Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, has issued a public health advisory addressing the growing mental health challenges faced by parents due to modern stresses. He is urging government bodies, businesses, and community organisations to bolster support for parents and caregivers. Among his key recommendations are expanded funding for parental support, the establishment of a national paid family and medical leave programme, ensuring paid sick leave, and increasing access to affordable mental health care for caregivers. Improving parents' mental health is crucial for addressing the broader youth mental health crisis. He also calls for employers to provide stress management training and for healthcare providers to screen parents for mental health conditions. He says that 48% of the nearly 63 million parents and caregivers in the USA report feeling overwhelmed and lonely, particularly single parents.

Hassan, raised in a strict Muslim household in Lebanon, experienced a tumultuous childhood marked by abuse from his father and later from his radical Muslim stepfather. Seeking acceptance, he delved into Islamic philosophy, even persecuting Christians he encountered. However, a traumatic moment when he witnessed a murder led him to question his faith. This inner turmoil culminated in a dream where Jesus appeared, offering him peace. Initially confused, Hassan spent years searching for meaning, even attempting to convert to Judaism. A turning point came when a friend invited him to a Christian baptism, where he encountered the love of Christ through the congregation. A vision of the cross and a pastor's prophetic message profoundly moved him, leading to his conversion. Today, Hassan leads Christ is Enough Ministries in Montreal, where he shares the Gospel, particularly with Muslims, using his deep understanding of Islam to contrast it with the love and peace he found in Jesus.

Canada’s two major rail freight companies have initiated a nationwide shutdown and locked out nearly ten thousand workers after failed negotiations with the Teamsters union. This unprecedented rail stoppage threatens to severely impact the Canadian economy and disrupt cross-border trade with the USA, as the country relies heavily on rail transport for shipping goods like grain, potash, coal, petroleum, and aviation fuel. The lockout will also hit the mining, agriculture and retail industries. It comes after months of tense negotiations over worsening job conditions, which failed to yield an agreement. Industry groups have urged the Canadian government to intervene, warning that the stoppage could have a cascading effect on multiple sectors, including mining, agriculture, and aviation. However, Justin Trudeau has insisted that the dispute must be resolved at the negotiating table.

Customs officers in San Diego have seized over $5 million worth of methamphetamines (often known as crystal meth) disguised as watermelons. A 29-year-old man attempted to smuggle the drugs across the US-Mexico border. However, further inspection revealed 1,220 packages wrapped to resemble watermelons, containing 2,080 kg of methamphetamine. This seizure highlights the evolving smuggling techniques used by drug cartels. The officers confiscated the drugs and the tractor-trailer, handing the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations. They were commended for their diligence in intercepting these sophisticated smuggling efforts. This success follows the recent seizure of 285 kg of meth hidden among celery, demonstrating the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.

Abraham Aguilar, a senior at Palmdale High School, experienced a profound transformation after a life of rebellion and substance abuse. Raised in a troubled environment, his life changed when he reluctantly attended church with his mother, who demanded his attendance as a condition for living in her house. Initially, he resisted, sitting in what he now calls 'backslider lane’, but the consistent preaching began to break through his hardened heart. After attending a men’s discipleship seminar, he felt God urging him, 'It’s either now or never.' He surrendered his life to Christ, which ignited a passion for evangelism. During his senior year, Abraham boldly shared the Gospel with his classmates, teachers, and even janitors. Starting with a small Bible study group, his efforts led to 895 students accepting Christ by the end of the school year. Abraham’s journey from a backslidden pothead to a fervent evangelist demonstrates the transformative power of God’s grace and the impact of one obedient heart.

An Ohio police officer, Connor Grubb, has been indicted on four counts of murder for fatally shooting 21-year-old pregnant Black woman Ta'Kiya Young in a grocery store parking lot on 24 August 2023. Grubb and another officer approached Young, suspecting her of shoplifting. When she refused to exit her car, he stood in front of the vehicle and, as she slowly drove forward, fired a shot through the windshield, killing her and her unborn daughter. A grand jury indicted Grubb on multiple charges, including murder and involuntary manslaughter. He is being defended by his police union, which claims the indictment is politically motivated, and stated that he had had to ‘make a split-second decision’. Meanwhile, Young's family's lawyer, Sean Walton, called the indictment a ‘solemn victory’ in their pursuit of justice, citing the unnecessary aggression shown by the officers.

Disney World is seeking to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Piccolo, whose wife died from an allergic reaction after dining at a Disney World restaurant in 2023, even though the restaurant was repeatedly told about her allergies. Disney argues that the dispute has to be settled by arbitration because Piccolo agreed to Disney's terms of use, which include an arbitration clause, when signing up for a Disney+ free trial in 2019 and again when purchasing park tickets in 2023. His lawyers contend that this argument is ‘preposterous’, noting that the terms of use were related to a streaming service and not applicable to wrongful death or personal injury claims. They also argue that Piccolo agreed to the terms for himself, not on behalf of his late wife. Disney's motion to move the case to arbitration will be reviewed by a Florida judge in October. Arbitration, favoured by Disney for its privacy and confidentiality, is generally quicker and less costly than a court trial.

Former teacher and National Guard member Tim Walz, who recently went viral for his calling Donald Trump ‘weird’, has now been adopted by Kamala Harris as her running mate for the presidential election. Walz, governor of Minnesota, is noted for his appeal to rural white voters and his progressive policies, such as free school meals and expanded paid leave. He also enacted the ‘Taylor Swift bill’ to regulate ticket sales. Despite Minnesota's Democratic leaning, its proximity to battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan adds strategic value. Walz, 60, has a background in education and military service, connecting well with ordinary Americans. His political career began in 2006, winning a Republican-leaning congressional district and later the governorship in 2018. He is well-known for his record on LGBT and abortion rights, banning conversion therapy, and supporting gender-affirming healthcare.

During a convention for black journalists, Donald Trump questioned Kamala Harris' racial identity, falsely claiming that she has only recently emphasised her black heritage. Trump remarked, ‘I didn't know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black’, and questioned whether she was Indian or black. Harris, the first black and Asian-American vice-president, dismissed Trump's remarks as divisive and disrespectful, emphasising that America's diversity is a strength. Her parents are Indian and Jamaican, and she attended Howard University and joined the Congressional Black Caucus in 2017. One critic asked, ‘Who appointed Donald Trump the arbiter of Blackness?’ He has a history of racially charged attacks, including false claims about Barack Obama's birthplace and questioning Nikki Haley's eligibility for presidency. Harris has faced a series of attacks since becoming the Democratic nominee: some Republicans have labelled her a ‘DEI vice-president’ - a reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.