News of the World

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US NEWS

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Vehicle Explodes on ‘Rainbow Bridge’ Connecting New York & Canada, Border Crossings Halted

A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge in Niagara Falls Wednesday, leaving two people dead and prompting the closing of four border crossings in the area, authorities said.

There was no immediate information on the cause of the explosion, but it raised concerns on both sides of the border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said officials were “taking this extraordinarily seriously,” and the White House said President Joe Biden was “closely following developments.”

The two deceased people were in the vehicle, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls,” Trudeau said in Parliament before excusing himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to be briefed further.

The U.S. FBI’s field office in Buffalo was investigating the blast, along with other agencies. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was traveling to Buffalo from the state capital, Albany.

The blast happened on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Niagara River.

Photos and video taken by bystanders and posted on social media showed thick smoke, flames on the pavement and a security booth that had been singed. Videos showed that the fire was in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection area just east of the main vehicle checkpoint. The agency had no immediate comment.

Speaking to WGRZ-TV, witness Mike Guenther said he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the U.S. side when it swerved to avoid another car, crashed into a fence and exploded.

Migrants Get Free Turkeys for Thanksgiving Ahead of Low-Income New Yorkers

Low-income New Yorkers living in public housing say newly arrived migrants have been first in line for free turkeys ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, as public resources are strained from illegal immigration.

According to local reports and interviews, New Yorkers living in public housing are competing against tens of thousands of newly arrived migrants to New York City when it comes to meals this Thanksgiving.

“Why do we have to take the butt of everything,” New Yorker Georgia Butler told FOX5 New York in an interview. “This community is already suffering.”

“[The migrants] were first in line for the turkeys this morning,” Butler continued. “They tell you to be there at 11 o’clock. You get there at like 10:30, 10:45, but they are already out there. The line is from over there to over here.”

According to FOX5 New York, New Yorkers living in public housing have seen some 8,000 migrants move into their neighborhoods after having arrived at the United States-Mexico border and being released into the nation’s interior.

Andrew Cuomo Considering Run for NYC Mayor

Cuomo, who resigned more than two years ago amid allegations of sexual harassment and claims his administration covered up the number of Covid-19 deaths tied to nursing homes, has begun in recent days to gauge the viability of a potential mayoral bid, according to eight people who have talked to him or his inner circle.

“I got the impression that he is ready,” Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr, who chatted with Cuomo last week, told Politico. “No one knows what’s going to happen in the city.”

“My opinion is if he runs, he will win,” Diaz added. “People are in need of a leader. Even though Governor Cuomo and I have our differences, we’ve had many fights in the past, and besides the differences, I think he was a great governor.”

Chatter about Cuomo comes as New York City’s current mayor, Eric Adams, is facing less than stellar polling numbers. Only 37 percent of Big Apple voters approve of the job Adams is doing, according to a Marist College poll.

Adams is under fire over his plan for sweeping budget cuts as the cost to house migrants continues to be a drain on Gotham’s coffers.

Trials & Rulings

Oregon Judge Blocks Magazine Restrictions, Permit Requirement for Gun Purchases

Harney County Judge Robert S. Raschio issued a permanent injunction Tuesday afternoon against Oregon’s Ballot Measure 114 (BM 114), which contained magazine capacity restrictions and a permit-to-purchase requirement for firearm buyers.

Raschio initially blocked the gun controls just days before they were to go into effect.

Breitbart News reported that Raschio issued a temporary restraining order against BM 114 on December 6, 2022, in a case filed by Gun Owners of America. In the aftermath of Raschio’s decision, Oregon police expressed concern that once the temporary restraining order ended, BM 114 could limit them to ten-round magazines and force them to get a permit in order to carry their firearms off-duty.

Following the December 6, 2o22, temporary restraining order, BM 114 spent months in state and federal courts and has now been blocked via a permanent injunction from Raschio.

Raschio found that BM 114 violated Oregon’s constitution.

Iowa Politician’s Wife Convicted of Voter Fraud Scheme in 2020 Election

Kim Phuong Taylor, 49, of Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, 23 counts of fraudulent voting, and three counts of fraudulent voter registration.

According to the conviction, Taylor conducted the scheme to produce fraudulent votes for her husband, Republican Jeremy Taylor, in his unsuccessful run in the 2020 GOP primary for Iowa’s 4th congressional district and his successful run in the general election for Woodbury County Supervisor.

As part of the scheme, Taylor submitted or enticed other Iowa residents to submit voter registrations, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots that contained false voter information.

Likewise, Taylor herself signed election forms on behalf of others without their permission and told others they were allowed to sign such forms on behalf of relatives.

From the Far East

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Kim Jong-un Celebrates Launching Spy Satellite to ‘Closely Monitor U.S. Imperialists’

Pyongyang claimed on Wednesday that the satellite had taken images of American military bases in Guam less than 24 hours after being launched, a claim that South Korean officials dismissed as “exaggerated” and likely impossible, as it takes days for such a satellite to find its orbit and begin its surveillance functions.

The launch of the “Malligyong-1” was the third such attempt this year and the first successful one. According to North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), the satellite left North Phyongang Province shortly before 11 p.m. local time on Tuesday. South Korea confirmed the launch and its defense minister suggested that the success may have been the result of collaboration with Russia.

Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September, making an extended stop at one of the country’s top aerospace research facilities alongside strongman leader Vladimir Putin. Putin promised to make his own visit to Pyongyang in the near future.

“The launch of reconnaissance satellite is a legitimate right of the DPRK [North Korea] for strengthening its self-defensive capabilities and it will make a significant contribution to definitely ramping up the war preparedness of the armed forces,” North Korean state propaganda declared, “in conformity with the security environment created in and around the country owing to the enemies’ dangerous military moves.”