Showing posts with label General Information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Information. Show all posts
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Scientists Uncover 'Dark Oxygen' Production by Seabed Metals in Groundbreaking Study
An international team of scientists has discovered that oxygen is being produced by potato-shaped metallic nodules thousands of feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
The findings, published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, challenge the scientific consensus on how oxygen is produced and could potentially lead to a radical rethink of the origins of complex life on Earth.
In addition to its implications for ocean science, the research raises new concerns about the risks of deep-sea mining.
Led by Professor Andrew Sweetman of the U.K.’s Scottish Association for Marine Science, the team found that oxygen is being produced in complete darkness approximately 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) below the ocean’s surface.
Previously, it was believed that only living organisms like plants and algae could generate the planet’s oxygen through photosynthesis, a process that requires sunlight.
“For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen, and our understanding has been that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms,” Sweetman said.
“But we now know that oxygen is produced in the deep sea, where there is no light. This discovery prompts us to revisit questions like: where could aerobic life have begun?”
“Dark oxygen” was discovered during ship-based fieldwork in the Pacific Ocean. The team sampled the seabed of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an abyssal plain between Hawaii and Mexico, to assess the possible impacts of deep-sea mining.
Researchers analyzed multiple nodules and found many carried a “very high” electric charge, which they said could lead to the splitting of seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through seawater electrolysis.
“Through this discovery, we have generated many unanswered questions, and we need to think carefully about how we mine these nodules, which are effectively batteries in a rock,” Sweetman said.
He added that further research into “dark oxygen” production is necessary.
Deep-Sea Mining
The study was partly funded by Canadian deep-sea mining firm The Metals Co., which aims to begin mining in an area of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone by late 2025.
In a statement to CNBC, The Metals Co. criticized the study’s findings and said it would publish a rebuttal in due course.
The controversial practice of deep-sea mining involves using heavy machinery to remove valuable minerals and metals—such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese—that are found in polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor. These minerals are used in electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels.
Scientists have warned that the full environmental impacts of deep-sea mining are difficult to predict.
Environmental campaign groups argue that the practice cannot be done sustainably and will inevitably lead to ecosystem destruction and species extinction.
“The discovery that a process associated with polymetallic nodules is producing oxygen, in an area targeted by the deep-sea mining industry, supports the urgent need for a moratorium,” said Sofia Tsenikli, deep-sea mining global campaign lead for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, a nongovernmental environmental group.
“This research highlights how much we still have to discover and learn about the deep sea and raises more questions about how deep-sea mining could impact deep-sea life and processes,” Tsenikli said Monday.
Hydrothermal Explosion Damages Yellowstone National Park Area
A hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park caused damage to a boardwalk and propelled debris several stories into the air on Tuesday morning in the Biscuit Basin area, northwest of Old Faithful, according to Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
The explosion, which Poland described as "small," occurred around 10 a.m. about 2.1 miles northwest of Old Faithful, likely in the Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin.
Poland stated that no injuries had been reported as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Videos posted online by witnesses showed people on the boardwalk near the explosion site and footage of the aftermath revealed debris scattered across the area and a damaged boardwalk.
For safety reasons, the parking lot and boardwalks in Biscuit Basin are temporarily closed. Yellowstone National Park geologists are investigating the explosion but have indicated that data shows no unusual volcanic activity.
“Monitoring data show no changes in the Yellowstone region. Today’s explosion does not reflect activity within the volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity,” Poland said in a statement. “Hydrothermal explosions like today’s are not a sign of impending volcanic eruptions, and they are not caused by magma rising toward the surface.”
He explained that these explosions occur when water rapidly turns to steam underground and are “relatively common” in Yellowstone National Park.
There was a similar explosion in Biscuit Bay in May 2009 and a smaller one in Norris Geyser Basin on April 15. Porkchop Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin exploded in 1989.
Hydrothermal explosions can send boiling water, steam, mud, and rock into the air, sometimes reaching heights of up to 1.2 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A 2018 report stated that large hydrothermal explosions occur on average every 700 years. At least 25 craters in the park are over 328 feet wide.
“Although large hydrothermal explosions are rare events on a human time scale, the potential for additional future events of this sort in Yellowstone National Park is not insignificant,” the report noted. “Based on the occurrence of large hydrothermal explosion events over the past 16,000 years, an explosion large enough to create a 100-meter (328-ft) wide crater might be expected every few hundred years.”
The National Park Service reported that Black Diamond Pool erupted with black, murky water following an earthquake in July 2006 and experienced “several explosive eruptions” in the subsequent days, though eruptions have been “infrequent” since then. Its average temperature is 148.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yellowstone National Park's public affairs office directed inquiries to the news release from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory and indicated that no further information was available early Tuesday afternoon.
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory stated it would provide more information as it becomes available.
Sleep Disturbances Heighten Risk of COVID-19 Infection
Sleep Disturbances and Increased COVID-19 Vulnerability: New Insights from a Meta-Analysis
Individuals with preexisting sleep disturbances, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, and abnormal sleep duration, show a significantly higher susceptibility to COVID-19, as well as increased risks of hospitalization, mortality, and long COVID, according to a new analysis of data from over 8 million people.
Despite being common in the general population, sleep disturbances are often overlooked as a COVID-19 risk factor, wrote Dr. Jiawei Zhou and colleagues from The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Previous research has predominantly focused on how COVID-19 affects sleep rather than how sleep disturbances influence COVID-19 outcomes, with most studies concentrating only on OSA.
In a meta-analysis published in eClinicalMedicine, part of The Lancet Discovery Science, the researchers reviewed 48 observational studies published between October 27, 2023, and May 8, 2024, involving 8,664,026 adults. These studies examined the relationship between COVID-19 and various sleep disturbances, including OSA, insomnia, abnormal sleep duration, and night shift work.
The primary outcomes assessed were COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, mortality, and long COVID. The presence of preexisting sleep disturbances was linked to a significantly increased risk for each of these outcomes, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.12 for susceptibility, 1.25 for hospitalization, 1.45 for mortality, and 1.36 for long COVID.
Subgroup analyses revealed that the association between preexisting sleep disturbances and increased susceptibility and hospitalization was stronger in younger adults (under 60 years) than in older adults (60 years and older). However, the risk of death was higher in older adults with sleep disturbances (OR 2.07) compared to younger adults (OR 1.22). Men with sleep disturbances faced a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality than women.
Preexisting sleep disturbances were significantly associated with long COVID, especially when long COVID was defined as symptoms lasting three or more months compared to those lasting one month (P = .029).
The analysis also found specific sleep disturbances had distinct impacts on COVID-19 outcomes. OSA was linked to all four primary outcomes, while abnormal sleep duration was associated with increased risk for COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, and long COVID. Night shift work was associated with higher susceptibility and hospitalization risk, and insomnia was linked to long COVID.
The exact mechanisms behind these associations remain uncertain, but the researchers suggest that persistent sleep deprivation may contribute to elevated levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, promoting a compromised immune response and a persistent inflammatory state.
"Overall, compromised innate and adaptive immune functions combined with persistent inflammation may explain the higher risk of susceptibility, severity, and longer recovery time in patients with sleep disturbances. Early intervention for sleep disturbances could mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19," the researchers noted.
However, the findings have limitations, including the observational nature of the studies and the heterogeneity of outcomes. The researchers call for randomized, controlled trials to further examine the effects of interventions for sleep disturbances on COVID-19 prevention and progression.
This study is the first to examine multiple types of sleep disturbances and their potential impacts on the full clinical course of COVID-19, highlighting the need for early evaluation and intervention for those with sleep disturbances to reduce both short-term and long-term effects of the disease.
Addressing Sleep Issues Early
While the results of this study are not unexpected, "meta-analyses are valuable to identify potential signals in published data that suggest the need for new studies," said Dr. Arun Chatterjee, professor of pulmonary, critical care, allergy, and immunologic diseases at Wake Forest University, who was not involved in the meta-analysis.
"Lack of sleep, whether acute or chronic, affects immune function by reducing lymphocyte proliferation, lowering immune globulin levels, increasing inflammatory markers, shortening telomeres, and generally impairing the immune system," Chatterjee explained.
The main takeaway is that adequate sleep is crucial for overall health, Chatterjee emphasized. "Sleep disruption affects health across various systems. Incorporating annual sleep wellness and screening into healthcare visits could be beneficial," he suggested.
More research is needed to fully understand the impact of sleep disruption on immune status and other physiological and mental health systems, Chatterjee concluded.
The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases of Liaoning Province. The researchers and Dr. Chatterjee disclosed no financial conflicts of interest.
"Biden Urges Americans: 'Our Republic is Now in Your Hands, Preserve Our Democracy'"
President Joe Biden framed his decision to end his re-election campaign as a "defense of democracy" during an Oval Office address on Wednesday night.
"I revere this office, but I love my country more. The defense of democracy is more important than any title," Biden stated. "I draw strength and find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’”
It is rare for an American president to relinquish power voluntarily without electoral defeat or constitutional limits. Biden, who faced significant pressure from within his own party to step aside, framed his decision as one made for the nation's best interest and urged Americans to join him in "preserving our democracy."
Biden and other Democrats have consistently argued that former President Donald Trump, who refused to concede after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, poses a threat to democracy.
"America’s going to have to choose between moving forward or backward," Biden said, without directly mentioning Trump. "Between hope and hate. Between unity and division."
He concluded, "Our republic is now in your hands."
This speech marked the beginning of Biden's efforts to shape his legacy following a poor debate performance in late June that led many within his party to call for him to withdraw from the campaign. Many Democrats believed that Biden's faltering debate performance and his subsequent struggle to recover had made his re-election path untenable.
“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden said in a somber tone. "That is the best way to unite our nation."
At a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday night, Trump took a jab at Biden. "Three days ago, we officially defeated the worst president in the history of our country, crooked Joe Biden," he declared.
Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the re-election race early Sunday afternoon, posting on X and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination shortly after.
Harris quickly garnered support from within the party and is expected to secure the nomination, potentially without opposition, by early August.
Biden praised Harris on Wednesday night, saying, "She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country."
By stepping aside, Biden became the first eligible incumbent to forgo his party's presidential nomination since Lyndon Johnson in 1968. This marked the end of a career focused on the presidency that began when Biden first ran for office in Delaware in 1970, winning a New Castle County Council seat.
Two years later, at 29, he won a Senate seat, defeating Republican Sen. Caleb Boggs in a tight race. Biden would serve six more Senate terms, chairing the Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees at different times, before becoming vice president in 2008 and winning re-election with President Barack Obama in 2012. In 2020, he emerged from retirement to secure the Democratic presidential nomination and defeat Trump.
By retiring rather than remaining on the 2024 ballot, Biden ends his career undefeated in general elections, though he previously lost in presidential primaries in 1988 and 2008. His presidency saw significant legislative achievements, including a nearly $2 trillion COVID-relief measure, a trillion-dollar infrastructure package, and the Inflation Reduction Act with climate change provisions.
In addition to selecting Harris as the first woman, Black woman, and Asian American vice president, Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Despite his record deserving a second term, Biden emphasized, "Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition."
Biden pledged to continue his agenda until a new president is inaugurated on January 20.
“Over the next six months, I will be focused on doing my job as president," he said. "That means continuing to lower costs for hard-working families and grow our economy. I will keep defending our personal freedoms and civil rights — from the right to vote to the right to choose.”
He concluded with an implicit call for Americans to reject a second Trump presidency, emphasizing the nation's democratic values.
“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule," he said. "The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.”
Watch: Whale Off New Hampshire Collides with Fishing Boat, Tossing Men into the Atlantic
A whale mid-breach struck a small boat off New Hampshire, causing the vessel to capsize and hurling two fishermen overboard in seconds.
Colin and Wyatt Yager, teenage brothers from Maine on a nearby vessel, shared the footage on social media Tuesday. According to Seacoastonline, part of the USA TODAY Network, the video has been widely reposted, garnering over four million views and hundreds of comments. The caption warns area residents to beware of a “pissed-off whale” patrolling the waters of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. “Head on a swivel if you’re out there,” it reads.
The teens "swiftly rescued" both fishermen after their boat capsized off Odiorne Point in Rye, New Hampshire, U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Diolanda Caballero told Seacoastonline.
Initially, Wyatt Yager wasn’t worried about the whale, explaining to Seacoastonline that all boats stayed along the edge of the school of fish to allow the whale to feed. However, the whale got too close, causing the vessel to tip over.
"I was just in shock. Everyone else had the same reaction and tried to get over to those people," he said. "It was like, 'Oh shoot,' and then, 'We’ve got to go help these people.' All the boats dropped what they were doing to assist."
Neither the men thrown into the ocean nor the whale were injured, Caballero said.
The Coast Guard learned of the capsized vessel Tuesday morning in Rye, a few miles northeast of Portsmouth, Seacoastonline reported. The teens were fishing for menhaden, also known as "pogies," around 7 a.m.
An hour later, the whale crashed into Greg Paquette and Ryland Kenney's boat, launching both men into "fight or flight mode" after they were thrown into the water, Seacoastonline reported.
“I heard a big crackle,” Kenney told the newspaper. "When that happened … the bow tipped up, and I went to the left. As the boat was rolling over, I kind of jumped off horizontally to avoid the whale and the boat.”
The last thing Paquette saw before being thrown into the water was the whale's head, which slammed down on the boat's engine.
“Then I saw the whole stern become inundated with water, and I thought, ‘Oh no. We’re going down. We’re going to sink now,’” Paquette told Seacoastonline. They managed to swim away from the swamped boat in seconds and became very tired after the initial "energy and adrenaline" wore off. "It's been an emotional day," Paquette said.
The men stayed in the Yagers' boat for about 15 minutes before the brothers transferred them to a nearby friend's vessel until the Coast Guard arrived, according to Wyatt Yager. Paquette and Kenney were then transported to the Great Cove Boat Club in Eliot, Maine.
Both men were in the water for less than two minutes before being rescued by 19-year-old Wyatt and 16-year-old Colin.
"We’re glad they took such quick action," Paquette said. "They didn’t even think about it. We’re really grateful to both of them."
While the whale made a big splash, Colin Yager’s reaction to the “breach” has gained the most attention.
Multiple people commented on Colin’s quick instincts. “Kid's like ‘I want to go home now,’" one user wrote. Another added: “That kid had the right idea lol turned around and was ready to book it.”
Daisy Evans commented that the “incredible scene” was the result of “unfortunate timing,” noting that the whale was breaching under a school of baitfish next to the boat. “You can actually see dozens of fish pouring out of its mouth as it impacts the boat. The whale was not attacking,” she wrote.
Lawmakers Question Secret Service Director About Trump Assassination Attempt
On Monday, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense scrutiny from House lawmakers across party lines over the serious security lapses that led to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
Cheatle admitted to "significant" security issues at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where the former president was shot in the ear. She did not downplay the gravity of the incident, acknowledging its historical and political importance.
FULL HEARING: Secret Service Kim Cheatle Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt Day 1 | LiveNOW FOX
Before Trump’s appearance on stage, Cheatle revealed that the Secret Service had been alerted "between two and five times" about a suspicious individual in the vicinity.
During the House Oversight Committee's questioning, Cheatle was repeatedly challenged about the security failures and the measures being taken to prevent a recurrence. However, Cheatle often deflected, citing the ongoing FBI investigation and failing to provide clear answers. She also remained steadfast despite bipartisan demands for her resignation.
Key points from the hearing include:
Cheatle Acknowledges “Colossal Failure”: Cheatle described the Trump assassination attempt as “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades,” comparing it to the failed assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Despite the gravity of this historic failure under her leadership, Cheatle maintained that she would not resign.
No Resources Withheld for Trump Rally: Cheatle asserted that all requested resources for the July 13 event were provided. Despite reports of previous occasions where the Secret Service allegedly denied Trump’s security requests and relied on local law enforcement for supplementation, Cheatle denied any such denials for the Butler event. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan questioned whether Cheatle had been untruthful in earlier statements about security requests, but Cheatle insisted that no requests were denied for this event.
The line of fire: Analyzing the Trump assassination attempt
Cheatle’s Evasive Responses: The committee’s top Republican and Democrat pressed Cheatle on unresolved issues such as whether any Secret Service agents were stationed on the roof where gunman Thomas Crooks fired shots and if Crooks had used a drone before the rally. Cheatle avoided direct answers, confirming only that the FBI was investigating the potential use of a drone.
Biden Exits 2024 Race Following Debate Debacle Over Age Concerns; Endorses VP Harris
President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent’s fitness for office. The unprecedented announcement, delivered less than four months before the election, immediately upended a campaign that both political parties view as the most consequential in generations.
The president — intent on serving out the remainder of his term in office — quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take on Trump and encouraged his party to unite behind her, making her the party’s instant favorite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.
The announcement is the latest jolt to a tumultuous campaign for the White House, coming a week after the attempted assassination of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
A party’s presumptive presidential nominee has never stepped out of the race so close to the election. President Lyndon Johnson, besieged by the Vietnam War, announced in March 1968 that he would not seek another term after just a single state’s primary. Biden’s July decision comes after more than 14 million Democrats cast votes supporting him through the primary process.
BREAKING: Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race | LiveNOW from FOX
Harris, in a statement, praised Biden’s “selfless and patriotic act” and said she intends to “earn and win” her party’s nomination.
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” she said.
Biden’s decision to bow out came after escalating pressure from his Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers, and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter posted Sunday to his X account.
Nearly 30 minutes after he delivered the news that he was folding his campaign, Biden threw his support behind Harris.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he said in another post on X. “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
Harris faces a staggering political to-do list in the coming days: securing the votes of delegates to claim her party’s nomination, picking a running mate, and pivoting a massive political operation that had been built to reelect Biden to boost her candidacy instead. Harris, if elected, would be the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be president.
There were early signs that the party was moving to coalesce around Harris, who scored the endorsements of the Congressional Black Caucus and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even before she had commented on Biden’s decision to quit the race. But notably, former President Barack Obama held off, pledging support behind the eventual party nominee.
“We are honored to join the President in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” the Clintons said in a statement.
But Obama, who had privately shared doubts about Biden’s reelection chances, stopped short of endorsing Harris even as he praised Biden for his decision to leave the race.
“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” he said in a statement.
Biden’s decision came as he has been isolating at his Delaware beach house after being diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, huddling with a shrinking circle of close confidants and family members about his political future. Biden said he would address the nation later this week to provide “detail” about his decision.
Kamala Harris releases statement after Biden steps down from 2024 race
Harris found out about Biden’s plans on Sunday morning and senior campaign and White House staff were notified just minutes before the letter went out, according to people familiar with the matter who commented on the private discussions on condition of anonymity. Biden had been reflecting on his future for the past couple of days and the decision was closely held.
Now, Democrats have to urgently try to bring coherence to the nominating process in a matter of weeks and convince voters in a stunningly short amount of time that their nominee can handle the job and beat Trump. And for his part, Trump must shift his focus to a new opponent after years of training his attention on Biden.
The decision marks a swift and stunning end to Biden’s 52 years in electoral politics, as donors, lawmakers, and even aides expressed to him their doubts that he could convince voters that he could plausibly handle the job for another four years.
Biden won the vast majority of delegates and every nominating contest but one, which would have made his nomination a formality. Now that he has dropped out, those delegates will be free to support another candidate.
Harris, 59, appeared to be the natural successor, in large part because she is the only candidate who can directly tap into the Biden campaign’s war chest, according to federal campaign finance rules.
Biden’s campaign formally changed its name to Harris for President, reflecting that she is inheriting his political operation — a sign of the advantage she has in the race for the Democratic nomination. Democratic groups, including the Democratic National Committee, also filed paperwork changing the names of their joint fundraising committees to reflect Harris’ candidacy.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, but the party had announced it would hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before in-person proceedings begin.
It remained to be seen whether other candidates would challenge Harris for the nomination. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had been discussed as a possible replacement for Biden last year, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who challenged both Biden and Harris for the Democratic nomination in 2020, threw their support behind her Sunday.
The Democratic National Committee’s chair, Jaime Harrison, said in a statement that the party would “undertake a transparent and orderly process” to select “a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party earlier this year to become an independent, is considering re-registering as a Democrat to vie for the nomination against the vice president, according to Jonathan Kott, a longtime adviser to Manchin.
Harris was spending Sunday afternoon calling Democratic elected officials and delegates as she worked to lock up the nomination.
Harris received her first delegates for the Democratic presidential nomination on Sunday. The Tennessee Democratic Party posted on X that its delegation voted during a meeting Sunday to back Harris after Biden departed from the campaign.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly — each from a swing state and mentioned as a possible running mate for Harris — also endorsed Harris Sunday evening.
Trump reacted to the news in a post on his Truth Social site, in which he said Biden “was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve.”
“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly,” he added. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
While Trump and his team had made their preference for facing Biden clear, his campaign had nonetheless ramped up its attacks on Harris as pressure on Biden to step down intensified.
Democratic officials, including many who were behind the effort to push Biden from the race, quickly released statements praising Biden’s decision.
“His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York praised Biden as “one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history.”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Biden should immediately resign if he is not fit enough to run for office. In a statement, Johnson said, “November 5 cannot arrive soon enough.”
In addition to his planned address to the country, Biden still intends to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week, according to a person familiar with the president’s schedule who was not authorized to comment publicly.
The exact timing of the meeting is still not set in stone as Biden continues to recover from COVID. Netanyahu is scheduled Wednesday to deliver an address to Congress and he is also expected to meet with Harris while in Washington.
In 2020, Biden pitched himself as a transitional figure who wanted to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders. But once he secured the job he spent decades struggling to attain, he was reluctant to part with it.
Biden was once asked whether any other Democrats could beat Trump.
“Probably 50 of them,” Biden replied. “No, I’m not the only one who can defeat him, but I will defeat him.”
Biden is already the country’s oldest president and had insisted repeatedly that he was up for the challenge of another campaign and another term, telling voters all they had to was “watch me.”
And watch him they did. His poor debate performance prompted a cascade of anxiety from Democrats and donors who said publicly what some had said privately for months, that they did not think he was up to the job for four more years.
Concerns over Biden’s age have dogged him since he announced he was running for reelection, though Trump is just three years younger at 78. Most Americans view the president as too old for a second term, according to an August 2023 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A majority also doubt his mental capability to be president, though that is also a weakness for Trump.
Biden often remarked that he was not as young as he used to be, didn’t walk as easily or speak as smoothly, but that he had wisdom and decades of experience, which were worth a whole lot.
“I give you my word as a Biden. I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job,” he told supporters at a rally in North Carolina a day after the debate. “Because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high.”
But voters had other problems with him, too — he has been deeply unpopular as a leader even as his administration steered the nation through recovery from a global pandemic, presided over a booming economy, and passed major pieces of bipartisan legislation that will impact the nation for years to come. A majority of Americans disapprove of the way he’s handling his job, and he’s faced persistently low approval ratings on key issues including the economy and immigration.
Biden’s motivation for running was deeply intertwined with Trump. He had retired from public service following eight years serving as vice president under Obama and the death of his son Beau but decided to run after Trump’s comments following a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, when white supremacists descended on the city to protest the removal of its Confederate memorials.
Trump said: “You had some very bad people in the group, but you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. On both sides.”
Biden’s wife, First Lady Jill Biden, responded to the president’s announcement by reposting Biden’s letter announcing his decision and adding red heart emojis.
SMH America YouTube Channle
Granddaughter Naomi Biden Neal said on social media, “I’m nothing but proud of my Pop.” She said he has served the country “with every bit of his soul and with unmatched distinction” and “our world is better today in so many ways thanks to him.”
Alleged Migrant Perpetrators Reportedly Stole Phones from 62 Women in NYC Crime Spree
A group of individuals, alleged to be migrants, were apprehended in the Bronx during the early hours of Monday for a series of criminal activities across New York City, which notably involved snatching phones from women, the police revealed.
Acting on a search warrant, the New York Police Department conducted an operation at a suspected hideout, leading to the arrests of seven individuals. The apprehended suspects are anticipated to face charges related to numerous robberies and grand larcenies, with ongoing efforts to locate additional individuals involved.
Authorities have indicated that all suspects are believed to originate from Venezuela. According to law enforcement officials, these men have been connected to a string of incidents amounting to at least 62 cases where women had their belongings, including phones, grabbed from them. The modus operandi involved the suspects swiftly approaching their victims, primarily women walking alone, seizing their phones or purses, and making a swift escape.
Investigators suspect that the motive behind the phone thefts was to exploit features like Apple Pay, utilizing credit cards associated with the stolen phones to make purchases within the United States or Central America. Subsequently, the phones were reportedly dispatched to Colombia, where they were wiped clean, as per police statements. In response to these developments, NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry emphasized on social media the city's commitment to apprehend those engaging in criminal activities, underlining the substantial progress made in addressing this significant robbery pattern.
These arrests mark the second notable instance involving individuals identified as migrants within the city in recent weeks. Last week, a group of asylum-seekers was arrested for assaulting police officers in Times Square, an incident that was captured on video. Authorities continue to seek additional suspects associated with the attack.
Migrants On A 62 Robbery Crime Spree Early In NYC
Furthermore, law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with the Manhattan district attorney's office, are investigating whether four previously released defendants, who were not held on bail, traveled to California under false identities following their release.
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