Local News
This article published by the Daily News on Saturday Sept. 5th covers an armed robbery which took place in Brooklyn that quickly became a “wild gunfight”. What strikes me about this story is that police shot at the individual 84 times, 83 of which missed the suspect. One shot was made the to the suspect’s leg, allowing police to stop the robber.
2. Cops bust alleged gunman, 21, for Brooklyn J-Ouvert celebration attack.
In an overnight celebration preceding the West Indian Day parade, shots were fired by a 21 year-old gunman, David Pugh, in Brooklyn and 4:25am. Mr. Pugh now faces charges of assault, weapons possession, reckless endangerment, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The victim was hit once in the torso but is expected to survive.
3. Bronx pastor has witnessed the horrors of refugees fleeing Syria.
William Devlin, a pastor at the Infinity Bible Church in the South Bronx, has encountered many refugees from Syria in the past four days during his stay in a Turkish medical clinic. His goal is to aid the refugees with antibiotics brought from the U.S. as well as cash donated from New Yorkers to help arriving Syrians.
National News
1. Baltimore reaches settlement in death of Freddie Gray.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced on Tuesday that a $6.4 million settlement was reached with the city in the case of Freddie Gray’s death. The death was due t a spinal cord injury while held in police custody in April. The incident set off riots all across Baltimore. The settlement “does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of the city, the Baltimore police Dept., individual Baltimore police officers” or anyone else who might be responsible for Mr. Gray’s death.
2. Apple and other tech companies tangle with U.S. over data access.
Due to an investigation on guns and drugs, the U.S. Justice Department asked that Apple provide text messages between suspects. Apple claimed that it’s imessage system is encrypted and they could not comply. This leading to some senior Justice Department and FBl officials to advocate taking Apple to court. They are due to go to court with Microsoft on Wednesday (9/9/15) for similar issues.
3. Kim Davis freed from jail in Kentucky gay marriage dispute.
Davis spent five nights in jail after refusing to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples. A planned demonstration took place outside the jail with supporters of Davis applauding with “eye of the tiger” playing. She was released with a stern warning from the Judge to comply with the issuing of marriage licenses.
International News
1. German intelligence confirms Isis used mustard gas in Iraq.
Germany’s foreign intelligence agency BND collected blood samples from those who were victims of Isis attacks in Iraq. The samples confirmed the mustard gas was used. “Schindler told the paper that the mustard gas either came from old Iraqi stockpiles produced under Saddam Hussein’s rule or was manufactured by Isis after it seized the University of Mosul.”
2. More people applied for asylum to Russia than any other country.
1.66 million people submitted applications for asylum in 2014 which is the highest ever on record. Russia had an estimated 274,700 asylum claims, followed by Germany with 173,100. The U.S. came in third with 121,200 claims.
3. As Europe’s crisis worsens, the movement for the U.S. to accept refugees grows.
The Obama administration is actively considering ways in which the US can be more responsive in aiding refugees. Several online petitions have started in the US urging that we take in refugees from Syria as Europe continues to take in a large influx of migrants. Boogaard noted that the US has provided $4 billion in humanitarian assistance since the crisis began and $1 billion this year alone. The pressure continues to rise to contribute more to what is becoming a global crisis.