5 things to know for Aug. 14: Storm watch, 2024 race, Campus protests, Ukraine incursion, Cancer research
Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
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1. Storm watch
Tropical Storm Ernesto is edging closer to becoming a dangerous hurricane today as it skirts Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean. Though the center of the storm will not pass directly over Puerto Rico — instead sidestepping to the northeast — Ernesto is still posed to dump between 8 to 10 inches of rain over the island, likely triggering dangerous flash flooding and mudslides, the National Hurricane Center said. Residents have also been warned to brace for widespread power outages as the island’s fragile and outdated electrical grid is still being repaired after it was crippled by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Some cruise lines have also changed some of their ships’ itineraries or port dates to dodge strong winds and rough seas.
2. 2024 race
Former President Donald Trump is continuing to describe Vice President Kamala Harris’ elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket as “unconstitutional” and accusing her of taking part in a “coup.” No serious effort is underway to challenge Harris’ status as the Democratic nominee but some of Trump’s critics warn that he could be laying the groundwork to question the outcome of the 2024 election if he loses a second time. The Democratic National Committee made it official last week: Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are the party nominees for president and vice president, respectively. Delegates held a virtual roll call ahead of the convention, with Harris receiving 99% of the votes from those who participated. Republicans have acknowledged that after the DNC vote, there is no longer any path to challenge Harris’ placement on ballots.
3. Campus protests
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the University of California, Los Angeles, cannot allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing classes and other parts of campus. This marks the first time a US judge has ruled against a university over the demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses earlier this year. In a lawsuit filed in June, three Jewish students at UCLA alleged that they experienced discrimination on campus during the protests because of their faith and that the school failed to ensure access to campus for all Jewish students. UCLA argued that it has no legal responsibility over the issue, but the judge ruled that the university is prohibited from providing classes and access to campus buildings if Jewish students are blocked from them.
4. Ukraine incursion
The Russian border region of Belgorod declared an emergency today after new attacks by Ukrainian forces, with Kyiv claiming control of hundreds of square miles of Russian territory after its rare cross-border incursion. Tens of thousands of Russians have been forced to flee their homes this week as a result of Ukrainian troops pushing forward in the region. Regional authorities are now appealing to the Russian government to declare a federal emergency. The incursion — the first time foreign troops have entered Russian territory since World War II — is a major embarrassment for the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to “kick the enemy out” of Russia, but his burned-out military has yet to stop the Ukrainian advance.
5. Cancer research
President Joe Biden made a major cancer funding announcement Tuesday in his first official trip since dropping out of the 2024 race. The “Cancer Moonshot” program, founded while Biden was vice president and bolstered with billions in new funding since 2022, aims to provide cutting-edge research to halve the number of cancer deaths in the coming decades. Biden highlighted $150 million in new research awards to eight organizations, including $23 million to Tulane University — the backdrop for the announcement. This comes as the White House is working to disburse as much funding as allowable under current programs, with uncertainty looming in November. The topic of the trip was also personal for the president: His eldest son Beau Biden died at age 46 in 2015 after battling brain cancer.
THIS JUST IN
Thailand’s Prime Minister removed from office in shock court rulingThailand’s Prime Minister Strettha Thavisin has been removed from office after a court ruled he had violated the constitution — a shocking decision that plunges the kingdom into further political uncertainty.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Animal street art has been appearing all over LondonBanksy strikes again. Workers at the London Zoo on Tuesday were surprised to discover an exhibit that suggested the animals were being set free.
Jimmy Kimmel explains why he’s not hosting the next OscarsThe late-night host has shared why he recently turned down a request for him to host the Academy Awards next year for a fifth time.
‘Veep’ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus to host panel at DNCActress Julia Louis-Dreyfus will host a panel during the Democratic National Convention with the Democratic Governors Association to put a spotlight on the United States’ female governors.
Why turning cities into ‘sponges’ could help fight floodingFor over a decade, Kongjian Yu has designed nature-based “sponge cities” intended to soak up stormwater before releasing it back into the environment.
Enrich your life, protect your brainFeeling your life lacks purpose may be putting you at risk for cognitive impairment in later life, according to a new study. Read why it’s important to continue your personal growth in older age.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$1.2 millionThat’s how much money has been raised for UK charities in a series of auctions that sold some of the first versions of King Charles III banknotes to roll off the printing presses. New £5, £10, £20, and £50 banknotes featuring King Charles entered circulation in the UK in June, marking the first time the Bank of England has ever changed the monarch on its notes. Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022, was the first monarch to appear on sterling banknotes in 1960.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“All the preliminary signals point toward an icing event.”
— Peter Goelz, former managing director of the NTSB, suggesting that last week’s catastrophic airplane crash in Brazil was likely caused by ice build-up on the plane. In-flight icing can “distort the flow of air over the wing,” according to Federal Aviation Administration documents, triggering an airplane to “roll or pitch uncontrollably.” Investigators are still working to determine what caused the plane to rapidly descend near São Paulo on Friday, killing all 62 passengers on board.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY ...
How to stop your groceries from going badEating a diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for long-term health, but some shoppers avoid buying a lot of fresh produce at once because it can be vulnerable to spoilage. Watch this video to learn how to store your groceries correctly to make them last longer.
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- Residents of Puerto Rico are bracing for widespread power outages as Tropical Storm Ernesto approaches, with the fragile electrical grid still in need of repair after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
