Hurricane John, a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds, struck Mexico’s southern coast near Marquelia, Guerrero, on Monday night, causing warnings of life-threatening floods and mudslides. The storm rapidly intensified from 35 mph in 24 hours. Significant rainfall is expected in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, with up to 30 inches in some areas. Oaxaca evacuated 3,000 people and set up 80 shelters, suspending classes and closing businesses in Puerto Escondido. The National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic flooding, mudslides, and destructive waves. Penelope Kingsley 24/09/2024 9:30 am
Pesto, a nine-month-old penguin chick at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, has gained internet fame for his extraordinary size. Weighing 21 kg (46.3 lbs), Pesto is the largest chick the aquarium has ever seen. His impressive size is due to a diet of 25 fish a day and favorable genetics, being the offspring of the aquarium’s biggest penguin, Blake. Raised by foster parents Hudson and Tango, Pesto currently outweighs them and eats double what an adult king penguin consumes. As he matures, Pesto will lose his fluffy feathers and slim down. Ava Sinclair 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist politician from the People’s Liberation Front, became Sri Lanka’s president, defeating Ranil Wickremesinghe. Dissanayake acknowledged the country’s deep economic crisis and emphasized collective effort for resolution. Congratulated by China, the U.S., and India, he faces the challenge of easing austerity measures imposed by Wickremesinghe under an IMF agreement. Sri Lanka, recovering from a severe economic collapse with inflation peaking at 70%, expects GDP growth for the first time in three years. This marks the first standard power transfer since 2022’s political upheaval. Penelope Kingsley 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Russia experienced a “catastrophic failure” in testing its Sarmat missile, a crucial part of its nuclear arsenal modernization, as revealed by satellite images showing a large crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Analysts suggest the failure occurred shortly after ignition, possibly due to a booster malfunction. The Kremlin has not commented, and the incident highlights ongoing delays and setbacks in the missile’s development. This comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West due to the Ukraine conflict, with President Putin emphasizing Russia’s nuclear capabilities. Noah Prescott 24/09/2024 6:00 am
The US is attempting to broker peace between Israel and Hamas, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken making 10 trips to the region in the past year. Additionally, the US and NATO support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, which began in 2014 and escalated in 2022. The next US president will likely inherit these ongoing conflicts, which show no signs of resolution. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and Megan Lim. Noah Prescott 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran does not seek a wider war in the Middle East, emphasizing the desire for peace and stability. During a visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly, he called for dialogue to resolve regional tensions and accused Israel of instigating conflict through actions like assassinations. Pezeshkian warned that a larger war would benefit no one and blamed Israel for seeking to create such a conflict. His remarks come amid U.S. concerns about a potential war between Israel and Hezbollah. Ava Sinclair 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Japan’s fighter jets used flares for the first time to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft to leave its airspace, amid rising tensions over Russian-Chinese military cooperation. F-15 and F-35 warplanes were scrambled after the Russian II-38 ignored radio warnings. This was the first publicized airspace incursion by Russia since 2019. The Russian plane breached Japan’s airspace above Rebun Island three times. Japan lodged a serious protest with Russia and plans to use flares without hesitation in future violations. The incident followed a joint Chinese-Russian naval exercise near Japan. Penelope Kingsley 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Telegram will now provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities with valid legal requests, aiming to deter criminal activity, according to CEO Pavel Durov. This policy shift follows Durov’s recent arrest and charges in France for allegedly enabling criminal activities on the platform. Critics argue Telegram has become a hub for misinformation, child pornography, and terrorism due to its large group feature. The move has ignited discussions on internet free speech protections. Telegram was also recently banned on Ukrainian state devices to counter Russian threats. Ava Sinclair 24/09/2024 6:00 am
Marxist politician Anura Dissanayake won Sri Lanka’s presidential election, defeating opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Dissanayake, leader of the National People’s Power alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has a history of political activism dating back to his school days. He was involved in two armed insurrections in the 1970s and 1980s. Entering public politics in 1993, he helped rebuild the JVP, which re-entered democratic politics in 1994. Dissanayake was elected to Parliament in 2000 and briefly served as agriculture and irrigation minister. Noah Prescott 24/09/2024 2:30 am
Russia’s Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, known as Satan II, reportedly suffered a “catastrophic failure” during a test launch, as indicated by satellite images showing a large crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The RS-28 Sarmat, crucial for modernizing Russia’s nuclear arsenal, has faced delays and testing issues. Analysts suggest the failure occurred soon after ignition, possibly due to a booster malfunction. The Kremlin referred inquiries to the defense ministry, which has not commented. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West due to the Ukraine conflict. Ava Sinclair 24/09/2024 2:30 am
