
Trevor Noah jumps into fan's car to beat traffic in Johannesburg
The ex-Daily Show host's ordeal played out live on air as he ran late for an interview in Johannesburg.
2023-09-16 02:28

Senators press Pentagon on whether Musk used Starlink programme to thwart Ukrainian attack
Three senators who serve on the Committee on Armed Forces have reportedly sent a letter to the Department of Defence (DoD) expressing concern over allegations that Elon Musk controlled Ukrainian soldiers’ ability to access satellite communications via Starlink. Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth have asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to provide clarification over an incident from last year in a letter sent on Friday according to NBC News. The incident, laid out in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Mr Musk, claims that the billionaire tech entrepreneur stopped the Ukrainian armed forces from accessing satellite communications via Starlink near the Crimean Peninsula thus thwarting a potential assault on Russian ships. Mr Musk clarified on X that he did not discontinue Starlink connectivity but refused a request by Ukraine to provide it there out of fear of escalating war. The three senators said the “confusion over what actually happened” demands answers and expressed great concern about Mr Musk’s role in the incident. “The reports raise serious concerns about whether Mr Musk has personally intervened to undermine a key US partner at a critical juncture,” a portion of the reported letter said. Several officials, including the three senators, have shared similar worries that commercial satellite companies similar to Starlink could cause issues by intervening on significant decisions like this one. Senator Jack Reed who serves as the chairman of the Committee on Armed Forces, said in a statement obtained by Bloomberg, that the situation with Mr Musk raised concerns about national security. “Neither Elon Musk, nor any private citizen, can have the last word when it comes to US national security,” Mr Reed said. “We’ve got to look at the broader satellite markets and the role of government outsourcing, the outsized role Mr Musk and his company have taken on here, and the Pentagon’s actions and contractual arrangements,” Mr Reed added. At the time of the incident, Starlink had no contract with the Pentagon and therefore no directive from US officials. Mr Musk said had he received an order from President Joe Biden to extend services to Ukrainians in Crimea he would have done so. In June, the Pentagon and Starlink signed a contract in which the DoD agreed to buy its services for Ukraine. Now, the three senators are imploring leaders to consider the implications of Mr Musk’s actions and look to prevent situations like this from arising in the future. “We are deeply concerned with the ability and willingness of SpaceX to interrupt their service at Mr Musk’s whim and for the purpose of handcuffing a sovereign country’s self-defense, effectively defending Russian interests,” the letter said according to NBC News. The senators requested Mr Austin provide answers by the end of October. The Independent has reached out to the offices of Ms Duckworth, Ms Shaheen and Ms Warren for comment. Read More Putin praises Musk as ‘outstanding person’ days after report Tesla boss stopped Ukrainian attack Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon Elon Musk ignores reporter after claims he stopped Ukrainian attack on Russia
2023-09-16 01:59

Justice Jackson implores Americans to 'own even the darkest parts of our past' in speech commemorating 60th anniversary of 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday implored Americans to "own even the darkest parts of our past" in a speech commemorating 60 years since the deadly 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
2023-09-16 01:58

Wagner group formally banned as terror organisation in the UK
The move comes just weeks after the death of the group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.
2023-09-16 01:57

Twitter turned over at least 32 direct messages from Trump's account to special counsel
Twitter turned over at least 32 direct messages from former President Donald Trump's account -- @realDonaldTrump -- to special counsel Jack Smith earlier this year as part of the federal election subversion investigation, according to newly unsealed court filings.
2023-09-16 01:54

Texas Senate begins deliberations in impeachment trial for state AG Ken Paxton
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's political fate is now in the hands of the state Senate, which began private deliberations in Paxton's impeachment trial just before noon Central time Friday after House impeachment managers and the attorney general's defense attorneys delivered their closing arguments.
2023-09-16 01:46

Morocco earthquake: The teacher who lost all 32 of her pupils
A teacher tells the BBC all 32 of her pupils died after tremors struck a mountain village.
2023-09-16 00:53

Colombian artist Fernando Botero dies aged 91
Colombia's best-known artist, he won worldwide fame with sculptures and paintings of rotund figures.
2023-09-16 00:28

Gear Up for Game Day With These 15 Must-Have Tailgating Essentials
You’ll have everything you need for the season with top-rated tailgating essentials like coolers, pop-up tents, and more.
2023-09-16 00:20

Gretchen Whitmer: Three men cleared of plotting to kidnap governor
A jury acquitted the group of involvement in a plot to kidnap Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer
2023-09-15 23:53

Hurricane Lee heads towards New England and Canada
Millions are under warnings as the storm tracks north, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain.
2023-09-15 23:52

These Corn Fritters Are the Perfect Appetizer for Any Occassion
It’s helpful to have a reliable appetizer recipe in your back pocket, and these corn fritters with chipotle aioli are hard to beat.
2023-09-15 23:18