Turkey coal mine explosion death toll rises to 41
AMASRA, Turkey (AP) — Funerals for miners killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey have begun, as officials raised the death toll to at least 41. 110 miners were working at the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise coal mine in Amasra on Friday night. The town is located in the province of Baltin on the Black Sea coast. Officials said 11 miners were injured and hospitalized, while 58 others managed to escape the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the scene on Saturday after tweeting that any negligence would be punished.
Britain’s new finance minister: Made a mistake, will raise taxes soon
LONDON (AP) – Britain’s new finance minister has acknowledged the mistakes of his predecessor and suggested he could roll back most of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ tax cuts to ease the economy after weeks of struggling. And bring stability to the country after political turmoil. Jeremy Hunt was appointed on Friday to succeed Kwasi Kwarteng and restore order to the Trus government. He warned of “difficult decisions” ahead, saying taxes could rise and public spending budgets could be squeezed further in the coming months. Truss has previously insisted her tax cuts are what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a “mini-budget” she and Kwarteng unveiled in September sent the pound tumbling and her credibility shattered.
Musk has plans for a “super app” for Twitter.super blurry
For months, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has expressed interest in creating its own version of China’s WeChat — a “super app that can do video chatting, messaging, streaming and payments” — for the rest of the world. “. At least, that is, after months of legal infighting over the $44 billion deal he signed in April, he’s done buying Twitter. Musk claimed on Twitter that his acquisition of the company would speed up development of the “app for everything” he called X by three to five years. But there are only a few obstacles.
Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Democrats in polls
WASHINGTON (AP) — News that 70 million people’s Social Security checks will increase by 8.7% in the weeks before Election Day is unlikely to give Democrats the edge they so desperately seek in the polls. In fact, the promise of larger payments in 2023 could draw more attention to the soaring prices that have been causing pain for households. Inflation is behind the biggest cost-of-living increase in the plan announced on Thursday in four decades. One analyst said the boost would “put more money in people’s pockets, but it would push people to think about high inflation”.
In France, fuel crisis rattles nerves and workers’ resilience
Versailles, France (AP) — A chronic fuel shortage in France triggered by strikes and panic buying is honing nerves, testing the resilience and ingenuity of the millions of French workers who rely on vehicles to get their jobs done. Fuel and where to find it is France’s latest obsession after running on toilet paper, pasta and other essentials at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has urged motorists not to panic buy. Some gas stations have banned the use of oil drums. Nurses have been hit hard because they need their own cars to visit patients at home. For the nurses on tour Saturday morning, gas came first. 1 discussion thread.
11 Russian soldiers killed in fierce fighting at shooting range
ZAPORAZH, Ukraine (AP) — At least 11 Russian soldiers were killed in a shooting that underscored the challenges posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hasty mobilization. Ukrainian troops launched an offensive to reclaim southern Ukraine that was illegally annexed by Moscow, amid a shooting Saturday at a shooting range in Russia’s western Belgorod region. The missile attack also severely damaged a key energy facility in Ukraine’s capital region as the fighting raged. In the wake of mounting setbacks, the Russian military has struggled to cut off electricity and water supplies in remote populated areas, while also fending off Ukrainian counterattacks in occupied or partially occupied areas.
Musk: SpaceX may continue to fund satellite services in Ukraine
NEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire Elon Musk said in a Saturday tweet that his rocket company SpaceX may continue to fund its satellite Starlink internet service in Ukraine. But Musk’s tone and rhetoric also cast doubt on the grumpy Tesla CEO’s sarcasm. On Friday, senior U.S. officials confirmed that SpaceX and Musk have asked the Defense Department to take over funding for the Starlink service, which provides broadband internet through more than 2,200 low-orbit satellites. U.S. officials say Starlink has provided Ukrainian forces with critical battlefield communications since their defenses almost began in February.
German chancellor calls for EU reform and military autonomy
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for reforms to the European Union to adapt it to the acceptance of new countries and more military autonomy under the 27-nation agreement. Scholz spoke at the European Socialist Party Congress in Berlin on Saturday. He advocates the gradual dismantling of the consensus principle in other areas such as foreign policy decision-making and tax policy. Scholz also advocates for more military autonomy for the EU. He called for the coordinated procurement of arms and equipment, the establishment of the EU Rapid Response Force by 2025, and the establishment of the EU headquarters of the European Armed Forces.
Apple workers in Oklahoma vote to unionize in second Labor victory
NEW YORK (AP) — Workers at an Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize, the National Labor Relations Board said, marking the second U.S. store in as many months to join a union. The vote marks another victory for the labor movement, which has been gaining momentum since the pandemic. Preliminary counts show that 56 workers at the store voted for the ACW, while 32 voted against. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, worker dissatisfaction has sparked a labor movement at several major U.S. companies, raising tensions over sick leave policies, scheduling, safety and other issues.
Official: Musk seeks U.S. funding for Ukrainian satellite network
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Defense has received requests from SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to take over funding for its satellite network, which has served as a source of energy during the war with Russia, senior U.S. officials said. The Ukrainian military provides critical battlefield communications. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, discussed a sensitive issue that has not been made public, which they said had been discussed at the meeting and that top leaders were weighing the issue. Nothing is decided. Musk’s Starlink system, consisting of more than 2,200 low-orbit satellites, has provided broadband internet to more than 150,000 Ukrainian ground stations. Earlier on Friday, Musk tweeted that SpaceX is spending $20 million a month to support Ukraine’s communications needs.
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