The GPR Digest- September 30, 2024
Rockdale County fire, flooding in Nepal, self-healing robots, and more!
GEORGIA
Georgia opens emergency shelters for Hurricane Helene victims; public health emergency declared
On September 26, Hurricane Helene was declared a Category 2 hurricane. In response, the Georgia Department of Emergency Management announced a list of emergency shelter locations for people seeking shelter. The shelters offered provisions for those fleeing the intensifying storm as it moved across south Georgia, into metro Atlanta, and upwards to the north United States. Even so, the hurricane has left millions without power and at least 64 dead in the state of Georgia alone.
Also on Thursday, September 26, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) to address the health implications of Hurricane Helene. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed personnel, including the Health Care Situational Assessment Teams, Health and Medical Task Forces, and a Disaster Medical Assistant Team, to provide support in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. In addition, the PHE provided the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services more flexibility in meeting the health needs of Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
With catastrophic floods, tree damage, and widespread power outages, victims of Hurricane Helene are unable to access emergency healthcare services. Currently, the HHS is working with local, state, and federal authorities to provide medical and public health support. The deployed health teams will also assess the storm’s impact on hospitals and healthcare facilities to determine if additional assistance is needed.
Fire breaks out at Rockdale County Chemical Facility
Early Sunday morning, September 29, a sprinkler at the BioLab plant in Conyers malfunctioned. The sprinkler sprayed water on a chemical, causing a chemical reaction that spawned a massive, hazardous plume. This plume has begun drifting northeast. Initially, the fire went out at around 8 a.m. However, it reignited in the afternoon, prompting smoke to billow out of the building.
In response to the fire, officials have shut down roads coming into and near the plant, issuing a mandatory evacuation zone. This zone was later changed to a shelter-in-place mandate. An estimated 17,000 people remain affected by this mandate even after the fire was extinguished in the late afternoon.
NATIONAL
Shots fired into Kamala Harris’ Arizona campaign office
Just over a week following the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, shots were fired into Vice President Kamala Harris’ Arizona campaign office on September 25. The shots were fired sometime after midnight and left damage in the office. Nobody was in the office at the time, but the threat raises serious concerns about the safety of the workers, both in the Harris campaign and others.
This incident marks the second time the office has been damaged, Tempe Police noted, as the windows had been shot earlier this September by a BB or pellet gun. The most recent shooting occurred just a couple of days before Kamala Harris was to begin her campaign in Arizona, with Arizona playing an important role in the election as a swing state.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with accepting improper campaign funds
Mayor Eric Adams (D) of New York City faces one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, one count of bribery and two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national after being charged by the federal government Thursday. Adams is the first sitting NYC Mayor to ever face charges. Prosecutors in the case say Adams used over $100,000 in improper benefits on flight upgrades and luxury hotels.
Amidst calls to step down, Adams insists that all the facts will be cleared up at the trial and that he is still fit for the job. Several prominent New York Democrats did not agree and publicly called on Adams to resign.
Congress passes a temporary bill to avoid shutdown
On September 25th, lawmakers in the House passed a bill that would continue federal spending after the elections and through December. This comes after the wildly unpopular SAVE act, which would have tightened voter ID laws, was removed from the bill after it failed to pass early last week.
With the push for the inclusion of the SAVE acts primarily coming from former President Donald Trump, questions are being raised as to his loosening control over his own party, as well as the worrying implications it has for the GOP come November 5th.
INTERNATIONAL
Sri Lanka introduces new president
On Monday, September 23, Sri Lanka welcomed new president Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dissanayake, a member of the National People’s Power, gained popularity by advocating for anti-corruption in the country. Such emphases on “clean politics” were joined with pro-poor policies, as Dissanayake promised to rejuvenate the country after one of the worst economic crises in its history. In the end, Dissanayake emerged victorious with 5,740,179 votes. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa came in second at 4,350,902 votes while current president Ranil Wickremesinghe earned 2,299,767 votes.
Currently, Sri Lanka faces $36 billion of foreign debt, much of which was exacerbated by systemic mismanagement and the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, hopes are high for Dissanayake’s changes: developing IT, closing a deal with the International Monetary Fund, and dissolving what he perceives is a “Parliament that is not in line with what people want”.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed in Beirut airstrike
On Friday, September 27, Israel carried out a targeted airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut, where Hezbollah leaders were meeting at their headquarters. They struck a bunker more than 60 feet beneath the surface and killed the Hezbollah leader of over 30 years, Hassan Nasrallah. Beirut residents mourned after Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, but Israelis celebrated the death of the leader whom Netanyahu described as “the architect” of a plan to annihilate Israel.
The strike targeted a densely populated area, destroying multiple buildings and leaving behind an area of sunken wreckage greater than the size of a soccer field. Six deaths and dozens of injuries have been reported at the site. The assassination of Nasrallah marks a continued escalation of conflict in the Middle East as violence rises between Israel and Hezbollah.
Monsoon rains cause deadly flooding in Nepal
Heavy rains starting Friday, September 27, and continuing into Saturday, September 28 destroyed homes and infrastructure, cut power, and prevented first responders from reaching those in need of rescue in Nepal. By late Saturday, “the rains had lessened in intensity, allowing rescue workers to use helicopters and expand their search”. Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, was the hardest hit by the extreme weather, where the death toll reached 34 by Saturday evening. Across the country, at least 170 deaths have been reported.
Flood warnings were issued last week across the Himalayan region, as Nepal’s mountainous terrain and heavy monsoons make it more prone to landslides and floods. The monsoon season typically starts in June and usually ends by mid-September and has been made up of increasingly dangerous and deadly weather incidents due to the warming climate. Thankfully, rescue efforts have been diligent and more than 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to alleviate conditions.
CULTURE
UNESCO creates network for sites and museums of memory of slavery
On Monday, September 23, UNESCO Director Audrey Azoulay announced a twinning network for sites and museums focusing on the memory of slavery in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. She hopes that those connected through this network will interact and cooperate— sharing festivals, events, school exchanges, virtual visits, and professional advice— to promote UNESCO’s public profile and worldwide understanding of the history of slavery.
Similarly, the program sets up an alliance of university chairs. This alliance will bring together researchers to focus on priority issues in the study of racism and discrimination, particularly against those of African descent.
Japanese scientists develop robot face with living skin
Scientists in Japan have developed a robot face with living, self-healing skin. The skin can stretch to form expressions, such as smiling. When applied to fingers, it has been able to bend, move, and interact with objects.
The scientists were led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo’s Biohybrid Systems Laboratory. According to Takeuchi, the intention is to mimic the natural structure of human skin ligaments and, ultimately, to pave the way for robots with fully-functional, “lifelike skin”. In the future, the robot will have to integrate other biological systems, such as nerves and sensory organs, into its body to operate fully.
Shohei Ohtani creates first ever 50/50 club
After becoming the highest-paid player in the history of Major League Baseball with his 700 million dollar contract with the LA Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani has been putting numbers that show he might be worth more than that figure. In a season where he is not pitching due to injury, Ohtani has created the first ever 50/50 club with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
Ohtani is in the top five in Batting Average, RBI, Hits, Stolen Bases, and OPS across all Major Leaguers. This alone puts him as a record hitter in the MLB, but combined with his potential to be one of the best Pitchers in the MLB, next season makes the Dodgers’ 700 million dollar contract a steal.
Contributors: Sophia Nguyen, Blake Daniel, Marin Arvin, Alizah Mudaliar, Jacob Weiszer, Vikram Bharadwaj, Aviella Schwartz, Addison Denney