Hurricane Fiona makes second landfall in Dominican Republic as most of Puerto Rico remains in blackout

An undated image shows Leonard Glenn Francis. (Credit: U.S. Marshals Service) SAN DIEGO - A defense contractor nicknamed "Fat Leonard" who orchestrated one of the largest bribery scandals in U.S.

slam into Atlantic Canada this weekend as a powerful post-tropical cyclone.Fiona remains a Category 4 hurricane in the western Atlantic with maximum sustained winds around 130 mph, an intensity it first achieved early Wednesday, which makes Fiona the Atlantic's strongest hurricane of the 2022 season so far.Any hurricane that is rated Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is classified as a major hurricane.As of early Thursday morning, Hurricane Fiona was centered less than 500 miles southwest of Bermuda and was moving north-northeastward at 13 mph, a track which will take the major hurricane near Bermuda and then into Atlantic Canada.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVTracking Hurricane Fiona.(FOX Weather) Bermuda has been placed under a Hurricane Warning.A Hurricane Warning means sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected within the warning area and is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph). These high winds are likely to be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding and/or river flooding.According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watches will likely be required for portions of Atlantic Canada by later Thursday morning.WHAT TO DO WHEN HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR TOWNA Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bermuda.(FOX Weather) According to the FOX Forecast Center, the peak impacts in Bermuda are expected between Thursday night and Friday morning as the center of Hurricane Fiona passes to the west of the archipelago.Those impacts in Bermuda will include hurricane-force winds (74-plus mph) and 2 to 4 inches of rain, as well as large, pounding surf and storm

NEW JERSEY - Whoever said New Jersey people aren't happy, clearly hasn't seen this list!New Jersey has been named the No. 5 "Happiest State in America" for 2022, according to a poll by Wallethub.The study looked at all 50 states across 30 key metrics - including depression rate, share of adults feeling productive, income growth and unemployment rate.MORE HEADLINES:New Jersey cracked the Top 5 ranking with an overall score of 61.71.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Government Medical Officers Association points out the decision to retire state sector employees after the age of 60 has put the lives of patients receiving treatment in hospitals at risk because many doctors will be forced to retire from December.The GMOA says as a result of this decision scheduled surgeries will have to be abandoned. The Association of Medical Specialists said that nearly 300 specialist doctors will have to retire from public service on or before December 31st of 2022 as per the circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration amending the retirement age of state employees. The Association revealed that under the directive, 43 specialists of the Colombo National Hospital, 30 specialists of the Kandy National Hospital, 17 specialists of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, 15 specialists of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, and 09 specialists of the Apeksha Hospital will have to retire.It was proposed in the Interim Budget 2022 to amend the retirement age of state sector employees to 60 years, from the 65 years age requirement implemented in 2021.Accordingly, all Government employees aged 60 years or above must retire by December 31st, 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine.Flights filled up quickly and the prices of tickets for remaining connections sky-rocketed, apparently driven by fears that Russia’s borders could soon close or of a broader call-up that might send many Russian men of fighting age to the war’s front lines.Tickets for the Moscow-Belgrade flights operated by Air Serbia, the only European carrier besides Turkish Airlines to maintain flights to Russia despite a European Union flight embargo, sold out for the next several days. The price for flights from Moscow to Istanbul or Dubai increased within minutes before jumping again, reaching as high as 9,200 euros ($9,119) for a one-way economy class fare.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Department of Meteorology says that a few showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in the Uva province and Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the island.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers will occur at several places in the sea area off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.Winds:Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph.Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at times the sea area off the coast extends from Puttalam to Kankasanturai via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.State of Sea:The sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanturai to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota may be rough at times.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Two U.S.

LOS ANGELES - As if there isn’t enough anticipation for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, groundbreaking K-pop group BTS is reportedly coming out with a brand new song for the event. The group — comprised of members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM (formerly Rap Monster), Jimin, V, RM and Jungkook — are ambassadors of Hyundai, a sponsor for the World Cup, will be releasing the song as part of the company’s global campaign "Goal Of The Century."On Sept. 20, Hyundai released a teaser for the song on its Instagram page.https://www.instagram.com/p/Ciw1OyQD6-e/"Warm up, stretch your legs and get ready to dance along with BTS and their new edition of ‘Yet To Come’.

NORTH PHILADELPHIA - Relief efforts are underway, both in Puerto Rico and in Philadelphia and, as passengers arrive in Philadelphia from the island, grassroots members meet to announce plans to help those in need, after Hurricane Fiona flamed the island earlier in the week."We decided to go to San Juan for a last two days before we flew back on Sunday morning, but Saturday night they told us our flight was cancelled," John Paul said.Paul has a home in northeast Puerto Rico and said he lost power and running water. He said people in south and southwest Puerto Rico were hit the hardest, including a friend whose home was devastated by flooding.RELATED HEADLINES:"Her whole house got flooded," said Paul.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A 99-day run of falling gasoline prices — a streak that gave consumers a glimmer of hope that red-hot inflation might be cooling — has ended, with pump prices still much higher than a year ago.The nationwide average price for a gallon ticked up less than a penny Wednesday, to $3.68 a gallon, according to AAA. That's down from the record $5.02 average in mid-June.The question now is whether Wednesday’s increase is just a blip or the precursor to the return of higher prices.

After a 5-week drop, global COVID-19 cases stabilized last week, though deaths continued to decline, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its weekly update on the pandemic.

Hurricane Fiona, which is expected to bring pounding rain, severe winds and storm surges to the province.In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Jason Mew, the director of the province’s Emergency Management Office’s incident management division, had a simple message: be prepared. Hurricane Fiona shaping up to be ‘potentially severe event’ for Atlantic Canada “I cannot stress this enough … prepare today, continue to prepare tomorrow for a very intense event Friday evening into Saturday,” he said.EMO is advising Nova Scotians to prepare by doing the following:Mew said it’s important that everyone takes the storm, which is expected to bring a lot of rain and strong winds to the region, seriously.“We will definitely see impacts from the storm,” he said.“They’re going to vary depending on what part of the province you’re in, but definitely, now’s the time to make those preparations.”Mew said EMO has been in contact with municipalities around the province to ensure comfort centres are ready, and asking them to reach out to people who may be living in tents and direct them to the appropriate resources.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science

Covid-19 diagnosis, people were 21 times more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke, conditions mainly caused by blood clots in arteries.  Notably, after 4 weeks, the likelihood dropped to 3.9 times, according to the study. The team, led by researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Swansea University, UK, also studied conditions caused by blood clots in veins, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the latter being potentially fatal, according to PTI report.

NEW YORK - President Joe Biden is ready to make the case to world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly that Russia's "naked aggression" in Ukraine is an affront to the heart of what the international body stands for as he looks to rally allies to stand firm in backing the Ukrainian resistance.Biden, during his time at the U.N.

Environment Canada said Fiona is now expected to impact the eastern shore on Friday, as it transforms into a strong post-tropical storm.The weather agency said there are indications of a deep hybrid low-pressure system, which possesses both tropical and intense winter storm-type properties. Fiona could bring very heavy rainfall and severe winds.“We’ll see some very strong, possibly damaging winds, probably a lot of heavy rainfall over some areas,” said Canadian Hurricane Centre meteorologist Ian Hubbard on Tuesday.“And we are expecting to see some coastal flooding, in terms of large waves and storm surge at some point.“ Tropical cyclone statement issued for Atlantic Canada as Fiona tracks north Hubbard said there was still a large cone of uncertainty on Tuesday, meaning there wasn’t enough detail about where Fiona would go.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The first consignment of rice from an Australian donation totaling AUD22 million (approximately USD15 million) arrived in Sri Lanka and will soon be distributed to those most affected by the ongoing economic crisisThe consignment, consisting of 600 metric tonnes of rice, forms part of a larger consignment of rice, pulses and cooking oil, due to arrive in the country soon.“Australia and Sri Lanka share many decades of friendship, and this latest contribution is an extension of our goodwill during this unprecedented crisis,” said Paul Stephens, Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. “We are supporting WFP to provide life-saving food to people who are struggling with price increases, job losses and reduced incomes”. “Australia was the first to contribute to WFP’s emergency response, enabling us to kick-off much needed assistance to those hard-hit by the ongoing crisis,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, WFP Sri Lanka’s Representative and Country Director.

As Canada’s loonie falters against the surging U.S. dollar, experts say the effect could worsen inflation on some goods imported from south of the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, in a measure that appeared to be an admission that Moscow’s war against Ukraine isn’t going according to plan after nearly seven months of fighting.

producing heavy rainfall and gusty winds on the islands in the southwest Atlantic. Fiona became the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season Wednesday and the already-deadly storm is forecast to intensify even more as it tracks toward Bermuda.Fiona has been steadily strengthening and could reach Category 4 intensity by late Wednesday as it eyes Bermuda later this week.Even with Hurricane Fiona pulling farther away from the Caribbean, its outer bands will continue to produce heavy rain over isolated portions of the Dominican Republic.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva gave instructions to the relevant officials in Parliament, to expand the operations of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other institutions under the ministry to increase efficiency. The Minister said that like in many countries of the world, in Sri Lanka too, women are already working as crane operators in the port and steps will be taken to recruit more in the future.The Minister stated the above at the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports, Shipping and Aviation held on Tuesday (20).The committee also agreed to the regulation under Civil Aviation to be submitted to Parliament for approval on the 22nd. The purpose of this is to correct a printing error in the Civil Aviation Services (Issue of Licenses to Personnel and Training Institutions) orders published by Extraordinary Gazette.

Instagram Story last night to share the happy news with his 1.3 million followers.Sharing a picture of his arm while doctors drew blood, Mark announced: "Very grateful today."My scan came back clean and I'm cancer-free."Thankful for every day I get to be here. Love you all."Mark has been taking to social media to give fans regular updates on his health battle since he was diagnosed last year.He initially disclosed accidentally on social media that he had received the news he had stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.The bassist later deleted the post and shared a statement explaining he had been undergoing cancer treatment.He wrote: "For the past three months I've been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer."I have cancer.

#pandemic has taught every human being is that "Life is Priceless."#COVID is a nasty disease- at the time & after. Even a mild COVID infection increases your risk of a heart attack & stroke (½)https://t.co/Dyh2obBf5B She further urged everyone to get a comprehensive health check up.

Several days of protests have erupted in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman who was arrested and in police custody for allegedly breaking hijab rules.

MEDFORD, N.J. - A dispute over a beloved mural on the exterior wall of a New Jersey sweets shop has the community rallying around a small business owner. Candy Thibeau, owner of Maggie Moose Bakery in Medford, said she received a letter from the township on Monday that claimed the mural violates local sign codes due to its artwork. The bright pink wall adorned with sprinkles and the shop's moose mascot is considered a sign, not artwork, according to the township officials.Thibeau was given two choices to rectify the mural in order to bring it up to the township's standards, including one option that involves painting over the moose mascot.MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"Medford is saying the pink wall is fine, and the sprinkles are fine to leave up," Thibeau told FOX 29's Hank Flynn. "Our mascot is part of our signage, they consider it part of our signage because it's in our logo."Thibeau could hire a lawyer and spend money on legal fees for the possibility of a variance, but she believes everyone's time and energy is best spent on something more meaningful than a playful drawing of a cartoon moose. "It just seems so silly," Thibeau said.

PHILADELPHIA - As recovery efforts resume in Puerto Rico after a direct hit from Hurricane Fiona, natives in Philadelphia are nervously awaiting to hear from family and loved ones. Hurricane Fiona dumped nearly 30 inches of rain on Puerto Rico over a two-day period. Over the weekend, the storm knocked out power and water to most of the island, and National Guard troops rescued hundreds of people who got stranded."I was watching the news and see the one bridge they just fixed, and it washed away," Joe Jarvis, a North Philadelphia resident with family in Puerto Rico, said.

Halloween spending will reach a new record this year as participation in the holiday spikes despite the tumultuous economy. The nation's largest retail trade group projected that Halloween spending will reach a new record this year as participation in the holiday spikes despite the tumultuous economy. Total spending, which includes costumes, decorations and parties, is expected to notch a record $10.6 billion, outpacing last year's record figure of $10.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The trade group projected that participation in Halloween activities will reach pre-pandemic levels, with 69% of consumers planning to celebrate, the NRF reported. Last year, Halloween participation was 65% but in 2019, it was around 68%.

After the COVID-19 pandemic began, US healthcare workers (HCWs) had a lower overall increase in unemployment than those in other professions, but HCWs in lower-paying roles were more likely than their more highly compensated counterparts to be jobless, findings that may have implications for patients and the labor force, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA.

A fireplace is shown in an undated file image. (Photo by Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Americans are likely going to pay more to heat their home over the winter months. The average cost of heating a household is set to increase by 17.2% this winter, compared to winter last year, according to a forecast by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), an educational and policy organization for federal programs that help low-income families pay their utility bills. The group expects the average winter heating bill to increase from $1,025 to $1,202, which would be the highest figure in over a decade. U.S.

UNITED NATIONS - In an alarming assessment, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders Tuesday that nations are "gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction" and aren’t ready or willing to tackle the major challenges that threaten the future of humanity and the fate of the planet.Speaking at the opening of the General Assembly’s annual top-level meeting, the U.N.

more variants, deaths, disruptions and uncertainty if the world does not take the opportunity now, the WHO chief said, “So, let's seize this opportunity." “We can end this pandemic together, but only if all countries, manufacturers, communities and individuals step up and seize this opportunity," he said. He also announced that the World Health Organization is releasing six short policy briefs that outline the key actions that all governments must take now to "finish the race".

FILE - Kalani David of Hawaii advances to the quarterfinals of the Pipe Invitational, the trials of the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters after winning Heat 3 of Round 1 at Pipeline on December 9, 2019, in Oahu, United States. (Photo by Ed Sloane/WSL via G Kalani David, the former world junior surfing champion, died over the weekend on a beach in Costa Rica after suffering a seizure while practicing in the waters off Costa Rica, authorities and friends confirmed.

FOX Forecast Center warns that these rains could produce additional localized life-threatening flash flooding.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVHurricane Fiona first crashed into the extreme southwestern coast of Puerto Rico on Sunday afternoon, leaving catastrophic flooding and most of the island in the dark, and then hit the eastern Dominican Republic about 12 hours later n the pre-dawn hours of Monday.Maximum sustained winds for Hurricane Fiona's first landfall in Puerto Rico were estimated at about 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. High winds were reported across the island on Sunday, including a 103-mph wind gust in the city of Ponce.Downed power lines on road PR-743 in Cayey, Puerto Rico as the island awoke to a general power outage on September 19, 2022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

DOVER, Del. - The company that privatized operations at the port of Wilmington several years ago owes more than $21 million in damages for breaching an agreement to buy the port’s former stevedoring firm, a Delaware judge ruled Monday.Vice Chancellor Lori Will also found GT USA Wilmington in contempt for violating a court confidentiality order by using materials it obtained in defending itself in a 2018 lawsuit filed by Murphy Marine Services to negotiate a deal with one of Murphy Marine’s largest customers.Monday’s ruling came more than a year after a different Chancery Court judge ruled that GT was bound by the terms of a 2018 letter agreement regarding the purchase and sale of 100% of the equity interest of Murphy Marine.Will ruled Monday that GT violated the binding letter agreement by refusing to negotiate a definitive purchase agreement with Murphy Marine. She also said GT improperly used information obtained from Murphy Marine during the lawsuit to negotiate its own stevedoring contract with Dole Fresh Fruit Company.Officials with GT USA Wilmington did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.GT USA Wilmington is a subsidiary of port management company Gulftainer, which is based in the United Arab Emirates.

Canadian Hurricane Centre said it is monitoring Hurricane Fiona, although it’s too early to predict any detailed impacts.Fiona’s track shows it could affect Nova Scotia and Newfoundland by this weekend. Hurricane Fiona rips through Puerto Rico, unleashes landslides, knocks out power Yesterday, the hurricane struck Puerto Rico’s southwest coast — unleashing landslides, knocking out power, and ripping up asphalt from roads.Forecasters said the storm would cause massive flooding and threatened to dump “historic” levels of rain, with up to 76 centimeters possible in some areas.A state of emergency was declared in the U.S.

FILE - Downtown Denver skyline, photographed from the Jacquard Hotel rooftop in Denver, Colo., on Nov. 14, 2018.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The production of food has recorded a sharp dive, says the National Organization of Intellectuals in Colombo.Speaking during the briefing, member of the organization Specialist Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The production of food has recorded a sharp dive, says the National Organization of Intellectuals in Colombo.Speaking during the briefing, member of the organization Specialist Dr.

A Taliban fighter keeps vigil near the Intercontinental Hotel during a press event organised by the members of the Taliban, in Kabul on September 19, 2022. An American navy veteran detained in Afghanistan for more than two years was released by the T WASHINGTON (AP) - An American contractor held hostage in Afghanistan for more than two years by the Taliban has been released in exchange for a convicted Taliban drug lord jailed in the United States, according to the man's family and U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – On 17th September, the Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy in his briefing noted that seven Sri Lankan students were found in 'torture chambers' where civilians were abused by Russian soldiers in areas of the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. The Russian InvasionOn 24th of February, Russian forces initiated what they dubbed as a 'special operation', which was later declared by Russia as an operation for the “liberation of Donbas” – broadly referring to Ukraine’s regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.More than a third of this area was already seized by Russian proxy forces in a war that began in 2014.The liberation of IziumIzium was subject to intense Russian artillery attacks in April.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Flag of Sri Lanka and the flag of the United Kingdom were flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the President's Office on Monday (19).Monday was also declared as a National day of mourning, in addition to the Ministry of Public Administration announcing today as a special holiday for all government agencies.The grand state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II was held today, with the participation of over 500 heads of state and foreign leaders. Following the State Funeral, the Coffin will travel in Procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From Wellington Arch, the Coffin will travel to Windsor, and once there, the State Hearse will travel in Procession to St.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Ukrainian journalist has released horrific details about the seven Sri Lankans who were allegedly captured and tortured by Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border where there has been intense fighting for months. The seven are currently safe in a Ukrainian rehabilitation center.The six men and one woman were beaten, two had their nails torn off, and all were forced to work cleaning up a house occupied by Russian soldiers, Sergey Bolvinov, Chief of the Investigative Department of Kharkiv Region Police had told Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian journalist reporting from the UK.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Ukrainian journalist has released horrific details about the seven Sri Lankan medical students who were allegedly captured and tortured by Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border where there has been intense fighting for months.The six men and one woman were beaten, had their nails torn off, and forced to work for free, Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian journalist reporting from the UK, said in her Tweeted story.The seven students, aged 20-40, arrived in Ukraine around 3 weeks before the all-out invasion last March and rented a house in Kupiansk, a town that was captured by Russian forces and occupied until it was retaken by the Ukrainian army a few days ago. They were hiding in their house for some time until they decided to try and flee into Kharkiv, she tweeted.However, they were stopped at the first Russian checkpoint that they tried to cross.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Ukraining Journalist has released the first details about the insane story from Kharkiv region’s police about the 7 Sri Lankans, who were in Ukraine for work and studies, and were kidnapped by Russians, beaten, and had their nails torn off, and forced to work for free (clean).The 6 men and 1 woman, all aged 20-40, arrived in Ukraine around 3 weeks before the all-out invasion and rented a house in Kupiansk (which was occupied until a few days ago). They were hiding in their house for some time until they decided to try and flee into Kharkiv, she tweeted.However, they were stopped at the first Russian checkpoint that they tried to cross.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated calls for a full investigation into potential Russian “war crimes” in remarks to reporters on Sunday.

TheEuropean Union executive recommended on Sunday suspending some 7.5 billion euros in funding forHungary over corruption, the first such case in the 27-nation bloc under a new sanction meant to better protect the rule of law.

HAVANA (AP) - Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico’s southwest coast on Sunday as it unleashed landslides, knocked the power grid out and ripped up asphalt from roads and flung the pieces around.Forecasters said the storm would cause catastrophic flooding and threatened to dump "historic" levels of rain, with up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) possible in isolated areas."I urge people to stay in their homes," said William Miranda Torres, mayor of the northern town of Caguas, where at least one large landslide was reported, with water rushing down a big slab of broken asphalt and into a gully.RELATED: Hurricane Fiona makes landfall over Puerto Rico as category 1 hurricaneThe storm also washed away a bridge in the central mountain town of Utuado that police say was installed by the National Guard after Hurricane Maria hit in 2017.Fiona hit about 15 miles (25 kilometers) south-southeast of Mayaguez with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Floor caves in at Ocean County bar. OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. - A night out was cut short when the second floor of a bar partially collapsed in Ocean County Saturday night.Emergency crews responded to the Daymark bar and restaurant on Broadway and Fourth Street around 8 p.m.