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Hurricane Otis Now A Catastrophic Category 5 Storm Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast Nearing Acapulco

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ACAPULCO, MX — Residents of Mexico’s once-glamorous resort of Acapulco and nearby coastal villages waited for the arrival of “potentially catastrophic” Hurricane Otis, a quickly strengthening Category 5 hurricane that brought up memories of a 1997 storm that killed dozens.

“A nightmare scenario is unfolding this evening for southern Mexico with rapidly intensifying Otis approaching the coastline,” a National Hurricane Centre forecaster said late Tuesday.

Hurricane Otis grew from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 12 hours as it reached Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Centre in the United States reported that Otis had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph) late Tuesday evening and was projected to land near Acapulco early Wednesday. It was located around 55 miles (90 km) south-southeast of Acapulco and traveled north-northwest at 9 miles per hour (15 kilometers per hour).

Acapulco is a metropolis of about one million inhabitants at the base of rugged mountains. Luxury houses and slums coexist on the city’s hillside vistas of the glittering Pacific.

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Hurricane Otis Now A Catastrophic Category 5 Storm Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Nearing Acapulco

While it once drew Hollywood stars for its nightlife, sport fishing, and cliff diving shows, Acapulco has fallen victim to competing organized crime groups, which have sunk the city into violence, driving many international tourists to the Caribbean waters of Cancun and the Riviera Maya, or hippie beaches further down the Pacific coast in Oaxaca.

From Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo, a hurricane warning was in place. A hurricane warning is in force from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado.

Otis was expected to stay a Category 5 hurricane until landfall, but it is expected to diminish quickly due to Mexico’s higher topography. On Wednesday night, Otis will very likely fade over southern Mexico.

“This is an extremely serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area with the core of the destructive hurricane likely to come near or over that large city early on Wednesday,” the National Hurricane Centre stated. “There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico.”

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People in Acapulco rushed home as rain began to fall and winds increased, pushing tourists away from the beach.

The Guerrero state administration said it was constructing 396 shelters in case families were forced to flee their houses due to wind damage or rising seas.

“We’re on maximum alert,” Acapulco Mayor Abelina López said Tuesday night, urging residents to stay home or seek shelter. She believes Otis will be much more deadly than Hurricane Pauline, which devastated Acapulco in 1997 and killed over 200 people. Hundreds more were injured as a result of flooding and mudslides.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador advised citizens to “go to shelters, stay in safe places away from rivers, streams, ravines, and be alert, without being overconfident” via the platform X, formerly Twitter.

Jess Pantaleón, general manager of the Las Brisas hotel, located further inland from Acapulco’s coastline, said guests from oceanfront hotels began arriving late Tuesday. “People from various hotels along the ocean drive are arriving because they felt that being higher up, they are safer,” he said.

According to Roberto Arroyo, Guerrero state’s civil defense secretary, authorities toured through low-lying areas of the city, telling people to evacuate using megaphones.

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Hurricane Otis Now A Catastrophic Category 5 Storm Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast Nearing Acapulco

Mexico’s army and navy sent around 8,000 personnel to the area with specialized equipment to assist rescue efforts. Authorities shut down Acapulco’s port, which housed 300 fishing vessels.

Otis was forecast to bring five to ten inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain to Guerrero, with up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) likely in isolated locations. Guerrero’s rugged, hilly terrain increased the risk of mudslides and flash floods.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a storm is considered to be rapidly intensifying if its wind speed increases by 35 mph (46 kph) in 24 hours. Warmer waters are now more than twice as probable for Atlantic hurricanes to swiftly accelerate from wimpy minor hurricanes to destructive and catastrophic, according to a study published Thursday by Andra Garner, a climate scientist at Rowan University in New Jersey.

Six storms swiftly intensified that much in 2020, a record year for hurricanes and the final year of Garner’s study. Hannah, Laura, Sally, Teddy, Gamma, and Delta are some of the characters. Since then, numerous catastrophic storms have rapidly intensified, including Ida in 2021, Ian in 2022, and Idalia in 2023.

According to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, Otis has intensified by 80 mph in the last 12 hours, from 65 mph to 145 mph. “That’s the fastest 12 hr intensification rate in the eastern North Pacific” since 1966, according to NASA.

After sweeping over the Lesser Antilles over the weekend, Hurricane Tammy proceeded northeastward over open water with winds of 85 mph (140 kph). Tammy was approximately 570 miles (915 km) south of Bermuda. According to the National Hurricane Centre in the United States, the storm was projected to strengthen into a powerful extratropical cyclone by Thursday.

SOURCE — (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Dan Rather Synonymous with CBS News Dies at Age 92

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Dan Rather Synonymous with CBS News Dies at Age 92
Dan Rather CBS Evening News

Dan Rather was synonymous with CBS News before the veteran anchorman left in bitterness in 2006, following a discredited report on then-President George W Bush has died at the age of 92.

Dan Rather returned to the CBS News airwaves for the first time since his bitter exit 18 years ago, appearing in a reflective interview on “CBS Sunday Morning” days before the debut of a Netflix documentary on the 92-year-old newsman’s life.

After 44 years at the network, 24 as anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” Rather left under a cloud following a botched investigation into then-President George W. Bush’s military record. Rather signed off as anchor for the last time on March 9, 2005, and exited the network when his contract ended 15 months later.

With continued enmity between him and since-deposed CBS chief Leslie Moonves, Rather essentially became a nonperson at the news division he dominated for decades.

“Without apology or explanation, I miss CBS,” Rather told correspondent Lee Cowan in the interview that aired Sunday. “I’ve missed it since the day I left.”

Dan Rather

Rather questioned Bush’s Vietnam War-era National Guard service: Image Vox

Dan Rather escaped official blame for the report that questioned Bush’s Vietnam War-era National Guard service but, as the anchor who introduced it, was identified with it.

CBS could not vouch for the authenticity of some documents upon which the report was based, although many people involved in the story still believe it was true.

In the documentary “Rather,” debuting Wednesday on Netflix, Rather said he thought he would survive the incident, but his wife, Jean, told him, “You got into a fight with the president of the United States during his reelection campaign. What did you think was going to happen?”

Rather did not retire after leaving CBS, doing investigative journalism and rock star interviews for HDNet, a digital cable and satellite television network. Over the past few years, he has become known to a new generation as a tart-talking presence on social media.

This past week, he posted on X during former President Trump’s hush money trial: “Is it just me or did today seem sleazy even for Donald Trump?”

“You either get engaged and you get engaged in the new terms … or you’re out of the game,” Rather said in the CBS interview, filmed at his home in Texas. “And I wanted to stay in the game.”

The Netflix documentary traces his career from coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam War and Watergate, through his anchor years and beyond. It includes some of the then tightly-wound Rather’s odder incidents, including an assault in New York City by someone saying, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth,” then later appearing onstage with R.E.M. when the group performed its song of the same name.

In both the documentary and in the CBS interview, Rather bypasses his career when talk turned to his legacy.

“In the end, whatever remains of one’s life — family, friends — those are going to be the things for which you’re remembered,” he said.

Source: The Associated Press

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Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

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AP - VOR News Image

The city of Omaha, located in Nebraska, is the subject of this article. On Saturday, residents began examining the debris following a tornado that tore through suburban Omaha, Nebraska. The tornado caused extensive damage to homes and businesses as it traveled miles across farmland and into residential areas.

A crowd assembled in the streets of the Elkhorn region in Omaha amidst the fragmented remnants of the residences. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen intends to visit the area and after that conduct a press briefing on Saturday in Omaha.

The tornadoes that occurred on Friday night caused extensive destruction in the Midwest. One building collapsed, trapping numerous individuals inside, while hundreds of residences were either destroyed or damaged.

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AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

Multiple injury incidents have been documented. However, no deaths have been reported.

Three individuals sustained injuries in Lancaster County, Nebraska, as a result of a tornado striking an industrial structure, leading to its collapse while containing 70 occupants. Multiple individuals were confined. However, all individuals were successfully removed from the premises, and the injuries sustained were deemed non-fatal, as stated by the police.

A devastating tornadoes traveled a considerable distance on Friday, first affecting agricultural land before causing significant damage to residences and other buildings in the suburban areas of Omaha. Omaha has a population of 485,000 people and a metropolitan area of approximately 1 million.

Images shared on social media platforms also depict extensive destruction in the small town of Minden, Iowa, which is located approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Omaha.

During a briefing on Friday, Jeff Theulen, the top deputy of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, stated that 40 to 50 homes had been entirely demolished. Two injuries were documented, but none risked the individuals’ lives.

According to him, school buses have been sent to provide transportation for residents who require it to leave the area. He requested that others refrain from entering the area due to its high level of hazard, characterized by fallen power lines and heaps of debris where houses once stood.

“It is truly distressing to witness these individuals who have suffered the loss of their homes, vehicles, and essentially their entire livelihood until they are able to reconstruct it,” he expressed.

The Saturday forecast was foreboding. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for northern Texas and western Oklahoma on Saturday morning.

“There is a possibility of tornadoes, potentially significant tornadoes, occurring on Saturday afternoon and evening,” stated Bruce Thoren, a meteorologist from the weather service in Norman, Oklahoma.

Areas of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Arkansas were under tornado warnings. Meteorologists warned that significant hail and powerful gusts of wind could occur.

Omaha police Lieutenant Neal Bonacci reported that numerous residences in Omaha, particularly in the Elkhorn district in the city’s western region, sustained damage on Friday. In response, police officers and firefighters visited households to provide assistance.

Several recently constructed, spacious residences in a specific section of Elkhorn sustained significant damage. A minimum of six structures were severely damaged, with one completely demolished and others experiencing significant damage to their upper sections. A multitude of emergency cars swiftly arrived at the location.

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AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

According to Pat Woods, a resident of Elkhorn, we observed the touchdown of the object approximately 200 yards away before seeking shelter. “We were able to perceive its approach.” Upon our arrival, we discovered that our fence had disappeared. As we gazed towards the northwest, we observed that the entire neighborhood had vanished.

Kim Woods, his spouse, stated, “The entire residential area located to the north of our location has been severely devastated.”

According to Dhaval Naik, who claims to work with the owner of the residence, three individuals, including a toddler, were present in the basement of the destroyed house during the tornadoes. However, they managed to escape unharmed.

A video from KETV-TV depicted the evacuation of a woman from a destroyed residence in Blair, a city located to the north of Omaha. The woman was transported on a stretcher.According to Bonacci, two individuals were brought for medical care, both of whom sustained minor injuries.

“The few serious injuries were prevented because people were given warnings,” stated Omaha Police ChiefTodd Schmaderer.

A tornado warning was issued in the Omaha vicinity on Friday afternoon, coinciding with the scheduled departure of students from school. Several schools implemented a shelter-in-place protocol for kids until the storm subsided.

“Was it a single continuous tornado or were there multiple tornadoes?” Kern from the National Weather Service inquired.

According to her, the agency intended to dispatch numerous teams in the next few days to assess the quantity and intensity of the tornadoes. This process could last up to a fortnight.

A tornado struck an area on the eastern periphery of Omaha, causing direct damage to sections of Eppley Airfield, the city’s airport. Aircraft operations were temporarily suspended to assess the damage, but the facility was subsequently reopened, according to Steve McCoy, Chief Strategy Officer of the Omaha Airport Authority.

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AP – VOR News Image

Residents Begin Going Through The Rubble After Tornadoes Hammer Parts Of Nebraska And Iowa

Although the tornadoes did not directly strike the passenger terminal, McCoy stated that individuals promptly sought refuge in storm shelters until the tornadoes subsided.

Following its path through the airport, the tornado over the Missouri River entered Iowa, specifically to the north of Council Bluffs.

According to sheriff’s officials, in Lancaster County, three individuals sustained injuries as a result of the collapse of an industrial facility. Additionally, there have been reports of a train that has tipped over near Waverly, Nebraska.

Approximately 10,000 customers in the Omaha area experienced a power outage, as reported by the Omaha Public Power District. On Saturday morning, the number had decreased to slightly over 4,300.

Pillen, the governor of Nebraska, announced on the social media platform X that he had directed the allocation of state resources to assist in the emergency response and help first responders evaluate the extent of the damage.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Andrew Tate Human Trafficking Trial to Proceed in Romania

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Andrew Tate Human Trafficking Trial to Proceed in Romania

The trial of popular influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan will proceed, the criminal court in Romanian has announced. Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects were accused in June on charges of human trafficking, rape, and organizing a criminal gang to sexually exploit people, which they deny.

Under Romanian law, the case was then sent to the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber, which was responsible for inspecting the case files and evidence to guarantee validity. The process is now complete, and the criminal trial may begin.

“The court notes the legality of evidence management by… prosecutors, and rules that the case can go to trial,” the Bucharest court said, adding that the decision can be appealed. There is no definite date for the trial.

Eugen Vidineac, the brothers’ principal defence lawyer, stated that he has filed an appeal against the ruling.

“The preliminary chamber judge’s decision lacks a legal basis and reasoning,” he stated in a statement. “We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful.”

The Tates’ counsel stated that no trial date had been set, and that “the decision is going to be appealed.”

Britain’s request to extradite Andrew Tate

In March, a Romanian court authorized Britain’s request to extradite Andrew Tate and his brother on sexual assault claims stretching back to 2012-15, but only after Romanian trial processes had concluded.

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, are the most high-profile accused facing human trafficking trials in Romania, and their case will serve as a test for Romania’s anti-organized crime prosecuting arm DIICOT.

Adult trafficking, like rape, carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

From late December 2022 to April 2023, the Tate brothers were in police custody to prevent them from escaping the country or tampering with evidence.

They were subsequently held under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a less stringent arrangement that allows them to move freely but not leave the country.

According to Romanian prosecutors, the Tate brothers recruited their victims by charming them and making false claims about wanting a relationship or marriage.

The victims were subsequently driven to homes outside of Bucharest and sexually exploited through physical abuse and mental intimidation by being forced to create pornographic content for social media platforms that produced a lot of money, according to prosecutors.

Tate, a self-proclaimed sexist, has amassed millions of followers by preaching an ultra-masculine lifestyle that opponents argue denigrates women.

Who is Andrew Tate?

Andrew Tate is a controversial internet celebrity who promotes toxic masculinity and holds misogynistic ideas. The former kickboxer rose to prominence after posting sexist, homophobic, and nasty messages on social media and in viral videos.

Tate’s incendiary words frequently objectify women, excuse sexual assault, and reinforce damaging gender stereotypes. Despite being banned from multiple platforms, his cult-like following spreads his harmful views online.

Tate’s unabashed embrace of hypermasculinity and a lavish lifestyle appeals to disillusioned young men looking for approval. However, many see his ideas as a breeding ground for internet radicalism, which fuels real-world violence and persecution of women.

Tate’s unbridled anger has triggered a global response, with critics accusing him of spreading hate speech that normalizes women’s degradation.

Source; Reuters

 

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