标签： North America

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a stern warning to air traffic controllers who are calling in sick during the ongoing government shutdown, threatening to terminate their employment. In a recent interview with Fox Business News, Duffy labeled the absent employees as ‘problem children,’ attributing more than half of the nation’s flight delays to their absence. He commended the majority of controllers who continue to report for duty, noting that only about 10% are refusing to work due to the government’s inability to pay them. ‘If we have some of our staff that aren’t dedicated like we need, we’re going to let them go,’ Duffy stated. He emphasized that this ‘small subset of controllers’ is causing significant disruptions in flight schedules, leading to delays and cancellations across the country. Duffy also addressed the issue of backpay, which President Donald Trump has suggested might not be provided to some federal workers. ‘When you come to work, you get paid. If you don’t come to work, you don’t get paid. That’s the way we’re going to do it,’ he asserted. The shutdown, now in its second week, has led to increasingly severe consequences, including the potential closure of Smithsonian Institution locations and missed paychecks for military personnel. The Senate’s failure to pass a resolution to reopen the government has further exacerbated the situation, with Democrats and Republicans continuing to blame each other for the impasse. The immediate effects of the shutdown are most evident at the nation’s airports, where rising absenteeism among air traffic controllers has forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cancel and delay flights. On Thursday night, flights at Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed by an average of 87 minutes. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has denied that the absences are part of a coordinated effort to pressure the government to reopen. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has released a video blaming Democrats for the shutdown, which is reportedly being played in major US airports.

A multinational force comprising approximately 200 troops, supervised by the US military, has been tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, as confirmed by a senior US official. The contingent is expected to include personnel from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE. Their primary responsibility will be to monitor, observe, and ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement, preventing any violations or incursions in Gaza.

In a bold move to stabilize Argentina’s faltering economy, the United States has announced the purchase of Argentine pesos and finalized a $20 billion financial rescue package. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the decision on social media, emphasizing the US commitment to supporting Argentina’s reform agenda. ‘The US Treasury is prepared to take whatever exceptional measures are warranted,’ Bessent stated, underscoring the strategic importance of a stable Argentina for the Western Hemisphere. The announcement has bolstered the peso and Argentine debt in financial markets, though it has reignited domestic debate in the US, where critics argue the funds could be better spent addressing domestic issues like healthcare. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren voiced her opposition, questioning the decision to aid Argentina while the US faces its own fiscal challenges. Argentina, grappling with a sharp decline in the peso’s value and dwindling reserves, is set to hold midterm elections on October 26, which will test public support for President Javier Milei’s austerity measures. Milei, a Trump ally, has implemented sweeping deregulation and spending cuts to curb inflation, earning praise from international investors but sparking domestic backlash. The US support has also drawn criticism from American farmers, who fear losing their soybean market to Argentina. Despite the controversy, Bessent defended the move as a bipartisan priority, highlighting the need for a prosperous and stable Argentina. Milei expressed gratitude for the US support, vowing to strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

Controversial right-wing figure Alex Jones has petitioned the US Supreme Court to temporarily suspend a staggering $1.5 billion defamation judgment against him, which threatens the forced sale of his media company, Infowars. The judgment stems from Jones’ repeated false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones argues that selling Infowars to satirical news site The Onion, backed by the victims’ families, would cause irreparable harm to him and his 30 million followers. The sale was previously rejected in a bankruptcy auction last year. Jones is now seeking to pause the judgment while his appeal is considered, with the Supreme Court expected to review his application privately on Friday. His legal team contends that Jones, as a media defendant, should be protected under the First Amendment, warning that the judgment could set a dangerous precedent for journalists, stifling free speech. Jones’ attorneys also claim the bankruptcy auction was marred by collusion, a claim dismissed by the court. In his application, Jones warned of “irreparable injury” if Infowars is sold to its “ideological nemesis” and dismantled. The Sandy Hook shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults, remains one of the deadliest school massacres in US history. Jones, who has since acknowledged the attack as “100% real,” previously propagated baseless conspiracy theories, accusing victims’ families of being “crisis actors” and claiming the tragedy was staged to restrict gun rights.

In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has announced a landmark agreement to release all remaining hostages held by Hamas, marking a significant step toward a more durable peace in the Gaza region. This achievement, which eluded his predecessor Joe Biden, underscores Trump’s unique diplomatic approach and his strong relationships with both Israel and the Arab world. The deal, announced on 9 September, follows an Israeli air strike in Qatar that initially seemed to derail peace prospects but ultimately became a catalyst for negotiations. The agreement includes plans for Hamas disarmament, Gaza governance, and a partial Israeli withdrawal, though many details remain to be finalized. Trump’s ability to exert unprecedented pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, coupled with his rapport with Gulf states, played a pivotal role in securing the deal. The global reaction has been mixed, with some celebrating the ceasefire while others remain cautious about the long-term implications. This breakthrough could become a defining moment of Trump’s second term, potentially reshaping the trajectory of Middle East diplomacy.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted on federal charges by a grand jury, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention. The indictment, issued in Alexandria, Virginia, stems from allegations of mortgage fraud, though specific charges remain undisclosed. This comes after the Justice Department previously investigated James for allegedly falsifying bank and property records to secure favorable loan terms. Officials from the Federal Housing Finance Agency accused James of misrepresenting a property in Norfolk, Virginia, as her primary residence in 2023, while she served as New York’s top prosecutor, to obtain a lower interest rate on a loan. Mortgages for primary residences typically offer more advantageous terms. The indictment follows a contentious legal history involving James, who led a high-profile civil fraud investigation against former President Donald Trump in 2023. In that case, Trump was found liable for falsifying records to secure better loan deals, resulting in a $500 million fine, though the penalty was later overturned by an appeals court as excessive. Trump has since publicly called for the prosecution of his political opponents, including James, citing concerns over credibility and reputation. The BBC has reached out to James’ office for comment, and further updates are expected as the story develops.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of bombing a vessel carrying Colombian citizens in the Caribbean, a claim the White House has dismissed as ‘baseless.’ The US has conducted at least four strikes in the region in recent weeks, resulting in 21 fatalities. The US government asserts that these operations, carried out in international waters, targeted ‘narco-traffickers.’ However, it has not provided evidence or detailed information about the individuals or cargo aboard the vessels, sparking widespread condemnation across Latin America and concerns over potential violations of international law. On Wednesday, the US Senate rejected a measure that would have required President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before launching such strikes. The proposal, introduced by Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine, was defeated in a 48-51 vote, largely along partisan lines. Petro responded to Schiff’s social media post about the measure, warning of a ‘new war scenario in the Caribbean.’ He claimed that the latest vessel bombed was Colombian and urged affected families to come forward. Petro criticized the US actions, stating, ‘There is no war against smuggling; there is a war for oil, and it must be stopped by the world. The aggression is against all of Latin America and the Caribbean.’ The White House, in a statement, denied Petro’s allegations and emphasized its commitment to cooperation with Colombia on regional security. The US has framed its strikes, which began on September 2, as part of an effort to combat drug trafficking, particularly targeting vessels off Venezuela’s coast. A leaked memo to Congress revealed that the US now considers itself in a ‘non-international armed conflict,’ a designation that could justify the use of wartime powers, including targeting ‘enemy fighters’ without immediate threats. Trump has previously labeled several cartels in Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela as terrorist organizations, expanding US authority to act against them.