News Roundup 10/05/2017
By Erik Estrada
1. The US Not Voting Against the End of Death Penalty for LGBT Members:
In a recent United Nations vote the US has decided not to support the end of the death penalty for members of the LGBT community in other countries. While it is still practiced in some countries to charge an individual with the death penalty for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual (LGBT) the US had voted against the cease of fatal punishment along with twelve other countries. Although it was ruled to be an abuse of the death penalty by a twenty-seven to thirteen vote by the United Nations, the US did not side with the popular vote.
Source: CNN
2. ISIS Leader's Recent Message:
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the terrorist group ISIS, has put out a video message in which he addresses modern international activity deeming it as recent and according to the US Director of National Intelligence “authentic.” In the video, Abu Bakr refers to North Korea's nuclear threats to Japan and the United States, and Syrian peace talks between Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Source: CNN
3. NASA’s Puerto Rican Satellite Images:
NASA is using precise satellite imaging to help disaster crews in Puerto Rico with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. NASA is using satellites to detect where light is being emitted from electricity to use those areas with working power for potential locations for hospitals and other forms of aid and to even act as a GPS for emergency crews. NASA says they are working tirelessly to ensure that “groups like the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) get high-quality satellite maps of power outages in Puerto Rico.”
Source: NASA
4. California to Be A Sanctuary State
On October 5th California Governor Jerry Brown signed off on a bill that makes California a sanctuary state. A sanctuary state is a state that limits its cooperation with the national government on its efforts to enforce immigration control. California Democratic Senate leader Kevin de Leon brought the bill to attention in response to Trump's stricter enforcement of immigration control. Governor Jerry Brown says he signed in hopes of “bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear everyday,”.
Source: Fox News
5. Harvey Weinstein to Sue The New York Times:
Harvey Weinstein, one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, is saying he will sue The New York Times for $50 million dollars over a report that accuses him of sexually harassing actress and political activist Ashley Judd. Weinstein defends himself against the accusation by saying that he was used to a workplace in the 60’s and 70's “when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different.” This is not his first accusation of sexual harassment in the workplace, and Judd is not the first woman to speak out and that this had been going on for many years.