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5 Primary Facts for August 26: Electoral Campaign, Middle Eastern Developments, Landslide in Alaska, Inundations in Grand Canyon, Apple Juice Product Recall
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1. Presidential Election
With the presidential election fast approaching, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are focusing on battleground states and preparing for their upcoming debate. Harris is aiming to maintain her momentum following the Democratic National Convention as she tours crucial swing state Georgia this week. Meanwhile, Trump will campaign in Wisconsin and Michigan, aiming to regain centre stage. Several crucial states, including these, will significantly influence who secures the 270 electoral votes required to win the November election. The highly anticipated September 10 presidential debate will be the next major event on the calendar, potentially shaping the race.
2. Middle East
Over the weekend, the Israeli military launched “preemptive” strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, following attacks by the Iran-backed militant group in response to the slaughter of a senior commander. This latest round of strikes, which appear to be the most serious between Israel and Hezbollah to date, took place mere hours before peace talks resumed in Egypt's capital Cairo. The mediation is attempting to forge a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Separately, polio vaccines have been distributed to more than 1.2 million individuals in the Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah prepares for a large-scale vaccination campaign to help prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading further in the embattled enclave.
3. Alaska Landslide
A catastrophic landslide in southern Alaska on Sunday left one person dead and numerous others injured. Some residents have been ordered to evacuate the coastal city of Ketchikan, as officials warn of the potential for another landslide in the vicinity. The collapse of trees, power poles, and earth decimated a row of hillside homes. All residents have since been accounted for, according to officials. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a disaster emergency for Ketchikan, stating that "all state agencies are directed to provide whatever assistance is needed." Ketchikan, home to roughly 14,000 residents, is situated along the renowned Inside Passage — a scenic water route celebrated for its stunning landscapes, fjords, and glaciers.
4. Grand Canyon Floods
Recent flash floods within Grand Canyon National Park have necessitated the rescue of more than 100 individuals since last Thursday. Unfortunately, one hiker succumbed to the floods triggered by monsoon storms. The extreme conditions forced Arizona’s National Guard to deploy a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to evacuate numerous tourists and tribal members from a canyon local to the Havasupai Tribe within the park on Saturday, as depicted in video footage from the Arizona National Guard. A North Carolina couple described their hike in the Havasupai Indian Reservation, stating they were compelled to construct human chains and navigate treacherous brush and cacti for hours until they reached safety.
5. Apple Juice Recall
Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 boxes of apple juice sold in stores nationwide, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, due to potentially hazardous arsenic levels. The recall extends to Great Value brand apple juice sold in 25 states. A Walmart spokesperson acknowledged, "We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are collaborating with the producer to investigate." Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US has voluntarily recalled the contaminated juice, having discovered arsenic levels that exceeded industry standards. The contaminated juice bottles' contents may induce sickness, although authorities argue that the levels are low enough to prevent serious health consequences.
MORNING MEANDERS
NYC’s iconic Cyclone roller coaster closed indefinitely Things are looking bleak for the most famous roller coaster on Coney Island. Due to safety concerns, ride operators have closed the Cyclone temporarily.
This is the world’s most interconnected airport at the moment Can you guess which airport boasts the most nonstop flights to numerous destinations worldwide, sometimes even threatening to outdo its own size — all established since 2018?
Telegram CEO arrested in France Pavel Durov, often compared to Mark Zuckerberg, found himself in hot water recently, as French authorities placed him under arrest on suspicion of insufficient moderation on his platform.
The legendary Volkswagen Beetle continues to thrive in Mexico Who says the iconic Beetle has ceased to be a hit elsewhere in the world? Discover why the beetle bug remains popular in Mexico, somewhat ahead of its time.
How to survive an encounter with a bison in the wild Have you come across a bison in nature only to find yourself staring at an agitated beast? Read how a Texas resident braved an encounter and lived to tell the tale.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$24 million That's how much the jersey that baseball legend Babe Ruth donned during his historic home run was sold for on Sunday, breaking records and marking the most valuable sporting collectible in the world.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“Space travel is inherently risky, even when it’s as safe and routine as it gets. And a test flight, by definition, is neither safe nor routine.”
SpaceX's capsule is set to bring back NASA astronauts, as per NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's declaration on Saturday. These astronauts have surpassed their expected stay on the International Space Station by several weeks. Unfortunately, their initial ride-home, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, won't be making the journey with them. According to Nelson, it's because there's too much danger involved.
WEATHER UPDATE
Get your local weather forecast here>>>
AND THAT'S NOT ALL...
Watch dolphins performing an 'Simone Biles-like' jumpA group of dolphin-spotters off the coast of San Diego, California, captured these aquatic acrobats executing jaw-dropping jumps! Check out the video here.
The presidential election is a crucial event for both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, as they focus on battleground states and prepare for their upcoming debate. They aim to secure the 270 electoral votes required to win the November election. (Us: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump)
The recent flash floods in Grand Canyon National Park have necessitated the rescue of numerous individuals, including tourists and tribal members. Arizona’s National Guard has been deployed to help evacuate people from the affected area. (Us: the numerous individuals in Grand Canyon National Park)
