(BOSTON) — A package detonated at Northeastern University in Boston on Tuesday night, injuring a staff member, according to the school.
Boston EMS responded to an explosion at the university with one person transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and officials.
In a statement to Boston ABC affiliate WCVB, Northeastern University said a package delivered to Holmes Hall “detonated when a staff member opened it. The staff member sustained minor injuries and is being treated.”
Police arrived on the scene shortly around 7:16 p.m. and evacuated the building, authorities told ABC News.
“The building has been evacuated and a notification was sent to the Boston campus at 7:55 p.m. urging people to avoid the area. We will update members of the Northeastern community when more information is available,” the university added.
Police for Northeastern University have urged people to avoid areas around the school’s Holmes Hall as they conduct an investigation into the incident.
Police kill man after he allegedly killed wife, shot daughter
The Boston Police Department’s bomb squad, Boston EMS and the Boston Fire Department are all on the scene investigating the incident, officials said.
Northeastern is a private research university located in Boston.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(WASHINGTON) — Less than two months before the midterm elections, Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday introduced a bill that would impose a nationwide ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The measure, the first GOP effort to ban abortion at the national level since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, contains exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or when a mother’s life is in danger, but otherwise would restrict abortions after the point when Graham, citing medical research, claimed a fetus’ nerves develop enough to feel pain.
“Our legislation, which bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation, will put the United States abortion policy in line with other developed nations such as France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and other European nations,” Graham said.
Graham and leaders of various anti-abortion and women’s organizations have repeatedly argued that, without a federal abortion ban, the U.S. would be like North Korea, China, Iran and Syria, which he said allow “abortion on demand.”
But it is far from clear whether Graham has much support from his fellow Republicans, who appeared deeply divided Tuesday over whether to enact federal abortion restrictions.
Even if the GOP were to regain control of the Senate in November, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, said he didn’t know if Republicans would proceed with a floor vote on Graham’s measure.
Graham’s legislation would require 60 votes to advance in the Senate, leaving the South Carolina conservative well short of the necessary support for passage in the current chamber. A companion bill was introduced in the House by GOP Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey.
Senate Republicans in recent months have blocked multiple Democratic attempts to codify a right to an abortion and protect doctors who perform the procedure.
“I hope we get to debate on it and vote on it,” Graham said at Tuesday’s press conference, surrounded by anti-abortion rights advocates. “They (Democrats) had the chance to vote on their bill. I’m asking for a chance to vote on my bill.”
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who previously opened the door to a possible national abortion ban, appeared to shut down chances of a vote on Graham’s legislation.
“I think most of the members of my conference prefer this be dealt with at the state level,” said McConnell, R-Ky.
The move by Graham, on a day when Republicans had hoped to focus on poor inflation numbers, put some of his colleagues in a awkward political position.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told reporters he would rather stress issues other than abortion.
“I, for one, want to focus on the inflation numbers that came out today, the imminent potential strike with (freight) railway workers. That’s what people are talking about,” said Tillis.
GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, one of the party’s most vulnerable incumbents who supported Mississippi’s desire to ban most abortions in the Dobbs v. Jackson case the Supreme Court decided in June, indicated he would not support federal intervention.
“At this point in time, nothing is going to pass Congress. It’s got to be decided in the states. I think that is the appropriate place for this to be decided,” Johnson told ABC News on Tuesday.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas signed on to that idea, too, telling ABC News, “My preference is to have each state handle those issues.” Cornyn previously supported a 20-week federal ban on most abortions that Graham introduced in 2020, but he said Tuesday that that was before the Supreme Court overturned Roe, sending the issue back to the states.
At least 15 states have ceased nearly all abortion services since June, ABC News reports.
The new proposal from Graham also marks a departure from recent comments where he, too, said abortion was an issue best left to the states, tweeting in May, “If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, which I believe was one of the largest power grabs in the history of the Court, it means that every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms.”
On Tuesday, Graham defended his change in position, saying, “After they (Democrats) introduced a bill to define who they are, I thought it would be nice to introduce a bill to define who we (Republicans) are.”
Some anti-abortion rights advocates said, while they support Graham’s proposal, they think it doesn’t go far enough.
Democrats, buoyed by a newly-energized base and surprise election victories on the heels of the Dobbs decision, instantly seized on the Graham legislation as evidence Republicans are pushing what Democrats say are radical policies that will curb Americans’ rights from abortion to gay marriage and beyond, an argument that their candidates are making on the campaign trail.
“Proposals like the one today send a clear message from MAGA Republicans to women across the country: your body, our choice,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “Republicans are twisting themselves in a pretzel trying to explain their position on abortion.”
One of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the upcoming midterms, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada tweeted, “I will block any efforts in the Senate to advance a nationwide abortion ban — full stop. We don’t need any more male politicians telling women what we can and can’t do with our own bodies.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed Graham’s proposal, saying it is “wildly out of step with what Americans believe.”
“While President Biden and Vice President Harris are focused on the historic passage of the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, health care, and energy – and to take unprecedented action to address climate change – Republicans in Congress are focused on taking rights away from millions of women. The President and Vice President are fighting for progress, while Republicans are fighting to take us back,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement, echoing the midterm messaging from Biden in recent weeks.
“After all the posturing and all the obfuscating, here we have it. The true Republican position in black and white for everyone to see,” Sen. Patty Murray of Washington State, who is leading her campaign for reelection on this issue, said.
Recent polling suggests that abortion rights enjoy broad support among the public, including an Ipsos poll from August that found most Americans would vote to protect abortion access at the state level.
ABC News’ Molly Nagle and Trish Turner contributed to this report.
(LONDON) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II “died peacefully” on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Balmoral Castle, the British royal family’s estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. She was 96.
Elizabeth was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and, in June, celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as queen.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Sep 13, 3:13 PM EDT
Coffin arrives at Buckingham Palace
The public cheered as the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin pulled into Buckingham Palace Tuesday.
Queen Elizabeth’s children and grandchildren were to meet the late queen’s casket as it arrived at Buckingham Palace, according to the palace.
Huge crowd of mourners gathers as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives home at Buckingham Palace.
Sep 13, 2:38 PM EDT
Hearse carrying queen’s coffin en route to Buckingham Palace
After the plane carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin landed at Royal Air Force Northolt in England, the coffin was moved to a state hearse.
The hearse is headed to Buckingham Palace where the coffin will be greeted by King Charles and his family.
The state hearse was designed by The Royal Household and Jaguar Land Rover, and Queen Elizabeth was consulted on the plans, according to a palace spokesperson. The hearse was designed to allow members of the public to have a clear view of the coffin, the spokesperson said.
Sep 13, 2:15 PM EDT
Canada announces national day of mourning
Canada will mark the death of Queen Elizabeth with a national day of mourning on the day of the funeral, Monday, Sept. 19.
“There are still a few details to be worked out, but declaring an opportunity for Canadians to mourn on Monday is going to be important,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference in New Brunswick Tuesday. “For our part, we will be letting federal employees know that Monday will be a day of mourning.”
Sep 13, 2:12 PM EDT
Princess Anne releases statement on queen’s death
Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter, said in a statement Tuesday, “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life.”
Anne, who has been accompanying her mother’s casket from Scotland to England said, “The love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”
She added, “I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of The Monarch. To my mother, The Queen, thank you.”
Sep 13, 1:55 PM EDT
Plane carrying queen’s coffin lands in England
The plane carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin has landed at Royal Air Force Northolt in England. A hearse will now carry the coffin to Buckingham Palace where it will be greeted by King Charles and his family.
The plane carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin has departed from Edinburgh Airport to head to London.
Princess Anne is traveling to London alongside the coffin.
Meanwhile, King Charles has left Northern Ireland to return to London.
Charles and his family will greet the coffin at Buckingham Palace.
Sep 13, 11:58 AM EDT
People line up in London to see queen more than 24 hours before doors open
People have already started lining up in London to see Queen Elizabeth lying in state, even though the first mourners will not be let in until 5 p.m. local time Wednesday.
About one dozen people are in line so far, most with camping chairs.
They are ready to wait all night under the rain, worried that otherwise they risk missing their chance to pay their respects.
Glyn Norris, 63, who was setting up to wait, told ABC News it was a “no-brainer” to be there already.
“She’s reigned for 70 years — 24 hours in the rain isn’t going to hurt me,” he said. “She’s been with me for 63 years. She’s like a grandmother that I’ve never met.”
People in the line are not allowed to camp in tents, so he and others will just be in coats or sitting up in sleeping bags.
“I have pretty much everything I need for the next day and a half,” Norris said. “I’ve got an umbrella, I’ve got chargers, I’ve got batteries, I’ve got food, I’ve got drink, I’ve got warm clothing for the evening, gloves, fleece, over jacket, hat.”
He said of the queen, “I think she’s done a fantastic job. And I’m very proud to be British.”
-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell
Sep 13, 11:37 AM EDT
US House to honor queen with moment of silence
The House of Representatives will hold a moment of silence on the floor Tuesday evening to recognize Queen Elizabeth II.
Sep 13, 9:10 AM EDT
What to expect Tuesday: Coffin to arrive at Buckingham Palace
As King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, visit Northern Ireland Tuesday, the coffin of the king’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, remains at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland.
Around noon ET, Queen Elizabeth’s coffin will be taken by hearse from St. Giles’ Cathedral to Edinburgh Airport. At about 1 p.m. ET, the plane carrying the coffin will take off for London, with Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter, on board.
The coffin is set to arrive at Buckingham Palace at about 3 p.m. ET. King Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family will greet the coffin as it arrives.
People are expected to line the streets of London to watch the hearse drive by on its way to Buckingham Palace.
Sep 13, 7:33 AM EDT
King, queen consort arrive in Northern Ireland
King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the queen consort, are in Belfast in Northern Ireland on Tuesday to meet with leaders and attend a service in honor of the king’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
During Tuesday’s trip, Charles will meet with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the leaders of Northern Ireland’s five biggest political parties. The king and queen consort will then attend a service at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast before flying to London.
Sep 13, 5:36 AM EDT
Queen Elizabeth II set to make final journey to London on Tuesday
Thousands of well-wishers in Scotland have been paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II as her coffin currently remains at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh until 12 p.m. ET. The queen, accompanied by the Princess Royal, will then will start her final journey to London.
The queen’s coffin is expected to land at RAF Northolt at approximately 2 p.m. ET. It will then be driven to London before arriving at Buckingham Palace at 2:50 p.m. The route she will take to the palace has been publicized and large crowds are expected, along with an outpouring of emotion, as the queen returns to her capital for the last time.
Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state at Westminster Hall for four days beginning on Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET.
Sep 12, 4:10 PM EDT
Queen’s children hold vigil at her coffin
King Charles III and his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward, held a vigil at their mother’s coffin at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland.
On Tuesday, Princess Anne will travel with the queen’s coffin to London.
Sep 12, 1:48 PM EDT
King Charles addresses Scottish Parliament
King Charles III was greeted by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon when he arrived at Scottish Parliament on Monday.
Charles said to Parliament members, “I know that the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland share with me a profound sense of grief at the death of my beloved mother. Through all the years of her reign, The Queen, like so many generations of our family before her, found in the hills of this land, and in the hearts of its people, a haven and a home. My mother felt, as I do, the greatest admiration for the Scottish people, for their magnificent achievements and their indomitable spirit.”
Charles said he’s passing to his son Prince William the title of “Duke of Rothesay, and the other Scottish titles which I have had the honour to carry for so long.”
He continued, “I take up my new duties with thankfulness for all that Scotland has given me, with resolve to seek always the welfare of our country and its people, and with wholehearted trust in your goodwill and good counsel as we take forward that task together.”
Sep 12, 10:32 AM EDT
Queen’s coffin brought inside St. Giles’ Cathedral
The queen’s coffin has arrived inside St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The wreath of flowers on the coffin includes dried white heather from the queen’s beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
After the service, the coffin will remain at the cathedral for 24 hours so the people of Scotland can pay their respects.
Sep 12, 10:22 AM EDT
Queen’s children follow coffin from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral
Queen Elizabeth II’s four children — the new King Charles III, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward — are walking behind the hearse carrying her coffin from Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland.
The walk is nearly one mile.
The people of Scotland have lined up to silently watch the procession.
The coffin will lie in rest at St. Giles’ Cathedral on Monday. The coffin will be flown to London on Tuesday.
Sep 12, 10:08 AM EDT
24-hour access for public to attend queen’s lying-in-state in London
Members of the public will be able to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II later this week, as the late monarch lies in state at the U.K. Houses of Parliament in London for four days.
According to a press release from the U.K. government on Monday, people will be allowed to “file past the coffin 24 hours a day” inside Westminster Hall from 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. local time on Sept. 19, the day of the funeral.
“Those wishing to attend will be required to queue for many hours, possibly overnight,” the government added. “Large crowds are expected and people are encouraged to check ahead, plan accordingly and be prepared for long wait times.”
All attendees must go through “airport-style security and there are tight restrictions on what you can take in, with only small bags permitted,” according to the government.
Sep 12, 10:05 AM EDT
Queen’s children follow coffin from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral
Queen Elizabeth II’s four children — the new King Charles III, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward — are walking behind the hearse carrying her coffin from Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland.
The walk is nearly one mile.
The people of Scotland have lined up to silently watch the procession.
The coffin will lie in rest at St. Giles’ Cathedral on Monday. The coffin will be flown to London on Tuesday.
Sep 12, 9:52 AM EDT
King Charles given keys to city of Edinburgh
King Charles III was presented with keys to the city of Edinburgh after he arrived in Scotland on Monday, as a part of the Ceremony of the Keys tradition as monarch. Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge welcomed the new king to his “ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland.”
Sep 12, 7:37 AM EDT
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, arrive in Edinburgh
Britain’s King Charles III and his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, traveled on Monday from London to Edinburgh, where they will walk behind his mother’s coffin as it is transported in a procession through the Scottish capital.
Thousands of people have lined the streets since the coffin carrying the late Queen Elizabeth II began its final journey from Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the 96-year-old monarch died last Thursday. On Monday, the coffin will be moved from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral, with Charles and Camilla walking behind it along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
A service to celebrate the late queen’s life will take place Monday afternoon at St. Giles’ Cathedral, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects and view the coffin for 24 hours before it is flown to London on Tuesday.
Charles and Camilla will also hold a vigil at St. Giles Cathedral on Monday evening.
Sep 12, 6:00 AM EDT
King Charles III addresses UK Parliament for 1st time
King Charles III addressed the U.K. Houses of Parliament for the first time as sovereign on Monday morning.
Speakers from both Houses of Parliament addressed the new king at Westminster Hall in London. Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, then gave a reply in front of some 1,200 people gathered inside.
“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” Charles said in a brief speech.
“We gather today in remembrance of the remarkable span of the queen’s dedicated service to her nations and peoples. While very young, her late majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation,” he added. “This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”
Sep 12, 5:34 AM EDT
Prince Harry pays tribute to queen in 1st statement since her death
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, paid tribute to his grandmother on Monday in his first statement since her death, thanking the late queen for her “commitment to service,” “sound advice” and “infectious smile.”
“In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen—and in mourning her loss—we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty,” Harry said. “She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy. Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: ‘Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.'”
“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings — from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great- grandchildren,” he continued. “I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.”
“Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile,” he added. “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
Sep 11, 10:54 PM EDT
How the public can attend Queen Elizabeth’s lying in state at Westminster Hall
The U.K. government has released details on how members of the public can pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who will lie in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday until Monday, Sept. 19.
The queen’s coffin will travel in a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster for the lying in state, the U.K. government said on its website, where it will rest on a raised platform and “be draped in the Royal Standard with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top.”
“Each corner of the platform will be guarded around the clock by a vigil of units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division, or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London,” the government said.
Members of the public will be able to file past the coffin 24 hours a day, starting at 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. on the day of the queen’s funeral, Sept. 19.
The government advised the public to expect to wait in line for long hours, “possibly overnight,” and that there would be “airport-style security” and only small bags permitted, as well as restrictions on what can be taken inside.
President Joe Biden has formally accepted an invitation to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey in London, the White House said Sunday.
“This morning, President Biden formally accepted an invitation to attend the State Funeral Service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 19. He will be accompanied by the First Lady,” the statement from the White House reads.
Sep 10, 12:50 PM EDT
Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle view flowers together
Prince William and Prince Harry, and their wives, Princess Kate and Meghan Markle, viewed flowers together outside Windsor Castle Saturday.
This is the first time the four have been seen together in public since Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to the United States.
A representative for William, the Prince of Wales told ABC News the prince invited the Duke and Duchess to join him and the Princess of Wales.
Sep 10, 12:21 PM EDT
Queen’s funeral to be held Sept. 19
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will be held on Sept. 19, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday.
Sep 10, 12:07 PM EDT
William, Prince of Wales, makes 1st statement since the queen’s death
William, Prince of Wales said he is grateful for the queen’s presence in his life, in his first statement since the death of the queen. William said that he recognized the world lost an “extraordinary leader.”
“I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives,” William said.
“She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real,” William said.
“I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all,” William said.
Sep 10, 7:20 AM EDT
King Charles III officially proclaimed king by Accession Council at St James’s Palace in London
King Charles III has been formally proclaimed monarch at a historic Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace at 5 a.m. on Saturday. The ceremony is being televised for the first time in history.
A Principal Proclamation will then be read in public for the first time by the Garter King of Arms in the open air from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s an hour later at 6 a.m. ET.
It will be followed by a flurry of Proclamations around the country, with the second one at City of London at the Royal Exchange at midday on Saturday, and further Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at midday on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace issued details of the arrangements, considered the first official orders of business of a new reign, on Friday.
Charles automatically became King on the death of his mother, but the Accession Council is usually convened at St James’s in London within 24 hours of the death of a sovereign.
Historically, the entire Privy Council is summoned to the Accession Council to oversee the formal proclamation of a new monarch.
But with the number of privy counsellors –- who are lifetime members and mostly past and present politicians –- now standing at more than 700, restrictions have been put in place. This does not affect the constitutional process.
Sep 10, 4:59 AM EDT
King Charles III to receive several key audiences today at Buckingham Palace
King Charles III will undertake a number of important meetings at Buckingham Palace today following his formal proclamation as king this morning.
The king is scheduled to meet with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, at 9 a.m. ET followed by a meeting with the U.K.’s newly appointed prime minister, Liz Truss, and members of her cabinet at 9:30 a.m. ET.
At 10 a.m. ET, King Charles II will receive the leaders of the opposition parties at Buckingham Palace before his final scheduled meeting of the day at 11 a.m. ET where he will receive David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster.
Sep 09, 8:02 PM EDT
A look at Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong love of corgis
Perhaps no animal has been so closely associated with a world figure as corgis were with Queen Elizabeth II.
Her death sparked an outpouring of photographs and drawings of her and her dogs throughout the years.
Fellow dog owners are also planning to celebrate the queen’s life of service with a corgi parade outside of Buckingham Palace next month, the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror reported.
Sep 09, 1:52 PM EDT
Biden says he will attend the queen’s funeral
President Joe Biden told reporters Friday that he will be attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
“Yes. I don’t know what the details are yet, but I’ll be going,” Biden told reporters on the tarmac of Ohio’s Columbus International Airport.
Buckingham Palace has not yet announced when the queen’s funeral will be held.
Asked if he had spoken to King Charles III yet, Biden said, “I know him, I haven’t spoken to him. I did not call him yet.”
Sep 09, 1:36 PM EDT
King Charles III pledges to uphold Britain’s constitutional principals
In his first speech as monarch, King Charles III pledged to follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II, upholding Britain’s Constitution.
“As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation,” King Charles III said.
“And, wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect and love as I have throughout my life,” he added.
The king also recognized his new role, and the changes it will bring.
“My life will, of course, change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But, I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others,” the king later said.
Sep 09, 1:18 PM EDT
New titles announced for Prince William and Catherine
King Charles III announced new titles for his son, Prince William, and his son’s wife, Catherine, previously the duke and duchess of Cambridge.
They are now the new prince and princess of Wales, the new king announced in a speech from Buckingham Palace Friday.
“Our new prince and princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations,” King Charles said in the prerecorded message.
William’s mother, Diana, was the last princess of Wales. Charles’ wife, Camilla, never took the title. With Charles’ ascension, her title is now queen consort.
King Charles also mentioned his younger son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, the duke and duchess of Sussex.
“I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” the king said.
Sep 09, 1:17 PM EDT
‘Thank you for your love and devotion,’ King Charles III remembers the queen
In his first address, King Charles III ended his address thanking his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for her lifetime of service and her love and devotion.
“To my darling mama, as you begin your gray last journey to join my dear late papa, I want simply to say this. Thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family, and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years,” King Charles III said.
The king also expressed his gratitude for the “condolences and support” that his family has received after the passing of the queen.
Sep 09, 1:10 PM EDT
King Charles III expresses ‘profound grief’ after death of the queen
King Charles III delivered his first address as monarch Friday, in remembrance of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, saying her death has brought him “profound sorrow” and “great sadness.”
“Throughout her life, her majesty, the queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration. An example to me and to all my family. And we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example,” King Charles said.
The king said the queen’s affection, admiration and respect were a hallmark of her reign.
“I pay tribute to my mother’s memory and I honor her service,” he later added.
Sep 09, 12:25 PM EDT
Prime Minister Liz Truss meets with king
British Prime Minister Liz Truss met with King Charles III Friday, shortly after he arrived at Buckingham Palace.
Sep 09, 11:13 AM EDT
English Premier League postpones weekend matches
England’s top soccer league has postponed its slate of matches this weekend in tribute to the queen’s death.
“We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country,” Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said in a statement. “As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.”
He continued, “This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”
The queen never made her “football” allegiances clear over her reign, but the new king, Charles III, has been public about his support for Burnley Football Club. With the postponements, he’ll have to hold off on watching their next match against Norwich City.
The EPL said it would announce any further postponements, such as on the day of the queen’s funeral, “in due course.”
Sep 09, 9:43 AM EDT
King Charles III views flowers outside Buckingham Palace
King Charles III has landed in London, returning from Balmoral Castle where the queen was when she died. The king walked outside Buckingham Palace, shaking hands and greeting people who gathered to share their condolences.
The king and Camila, the queen consort, walked outside the gates of Buckingham Palace viewing flowers left by people mourning the death of the queen.
As the king arrived outside, the Royal Standard was raised above Buckingham Palace for the first time during his reign.
Sep 09, 8:53 AM EDT
British Parliament members pays tribute to the queen
Both British houses of Parliament are meeting Friday for members to pay tribute to the queen in a special session of condolence.
Politics in both Houses will be on hold for a period of mourning.
“For the 70 glorious years of her reign, our queen was at the heart of this nation’s life,” Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said. “She did not simply reign over us, she lived alongside us.”
“It seems impossible to imagine a Britain without her,” he added.
There will also be a rare Saturday meeting where senior members of Parliament can take an oath of allegiance to the king. The meeting will end with an address to the king expressing condolences following his mother’s death.
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will determine the timetable in the House for the following days, which is expected to be significantly reduced until after the state funeral for the queen.
This means new laws cannot be passed until Parliament returns, though it could be recalled for pressing matters.
-ABC News’ Zoe Magee
Sep 09, 8:37 AM EDT
King Charles III set to deliver remarks today
King Charles III will return to London this afternoon to record a televised address to the nation from Buckingham Palace. The speech will air at 1 p.m. ET before he attends the national service of thanksgiving for his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at St. Paul’s Cathedral at 2 p.m. ET.
King Charles will be officially proclaimed king at 6 a.m. ET on Saturday from the balcony at St James’ Palace. The first son of Queen Elizabeth II became king the minute his mother died but the formal announcement will be made on Saturday.
Sep 09, 7:24 AM EDT
Sec. of State Antony Blinken comments on death of Queen Elizabeth II
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shared the following statement to the people of the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8, 2022:
Together with the American people, I extend my deepest sympathies to His Majesty The King, the entire Royal Family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the peoples of the Commonwealth on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
For more than 70 years – a period during which the United Kingdom and the world witnessed unprecedented change – Queen Elizabeth personified a sense of stability. During a time of tremendous division, she was a source of unity.
Her influence extended well beyond the Commonwealth. As Queen, she visited more than 120 countries, including the United States, where she made a point of meeting not only with leaders, but with people from all walks of life. She was the embodiment of the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, and a symbol of the enduring alliance that has seen our nations through the greatest tests of the 20th and 21st centuries.
We join people around the world in mourning her passing, and we will forever be inspired by the memory of her service, leadership, and friendship.
Sep 09, 5:17 AM EDT
The queen’s final moments
Prince Charles and Princess Anne were with their mother in her final hours.
Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie raced to be by her side, as did her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry but they did not get there in time.
Sep 09, 12:36 AM EDT
World reacts to Queen Elizabeth II’s death
Cities around the world joined in mourning Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday.
With Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Camilla becomes queen consort
With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Charles becomes king and his wife Camilla becomes queen consort.
The queen made the request for the title in February, saying that “it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
The statement marked the first time the queen had publicly addressed her daughter-in-law’s role in the future monarchy.
The eldest son of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has taken his late mother’s place on the throne.
King Charles III is the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Upon the death of his mother on Sept. 8, Charles succeeded her as king of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
Charles, 73, was born at Buckingham Palace in London in 1948. He was just 3 years old when he became the heir apparent as his mother acceded to the throne as queen, following the death of her father, King George VI.
Sep 08, 3:26 PM EDT
Biden orders flags to half-staff
In a new proclamation, President Joe Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff “until sunset, on the day of interment,” as a “mark of the respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II.”
“I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” the proclamation reads.
He continued, “I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”
-ABC News’ Molly Nagle
Sep 08, 3:15 PM EDT
Former US presidents react over queen’s death
Former presidents of the United States have released statements in reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
President Bill Clinton said in a statement that he and former first lady Hillary Clinton are mourning the passing of Her Majesty with the royal family and the rest of the world, describing her life as “extraordinary.”
“Throughout her remarkable 70-year reign, she led Britain through great transformations with unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of all its people,” Bill Clinton said. “In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity and strength.”
Bill Clinton added that he and Hillary Clinton “will always be grateful” to the kindness the queen showed them during visits to Buckingham Palace in 1995 and 2000.
President George W. Bush said in a statement that he and former first lady Laura Bush were “honored” to know the queen, describing her as a “woman of great intellect, charm and wit.”
“Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty — and her Corgis — is among our fondest memories of the presidency,” George W. Bush said.
The queen was able to lead the U.K. through dark moments with “her confidence in her people and her vision for a brighter tomorrow,” George W. Bush said.
“Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign,” George W. Bush said. “Americans in particular appreciate her strong and steadfast friendship.”
President Barack Obama said in a statement that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were “lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty,” adding that the queen “meant a great deal to” to them.
“Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity,” Barack Obama said. “Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”
Barack Obama continued, “Like so many, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time.”
President Donald Trump also released a statement following the news of the queen’s death, saying that he and former first lady Melania Trump will always cherish their time together with the queen and will “never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor.”
“Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” Donald Trump said on Truth Social, his social media platform. “Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief. Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain.”
Sep 08, 2:47 PM EDT
UK thrived under Elizabeth’s reign, says Liz Truss
The newly appointed prime minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, emphasized the importance of Queen Elizabeth II’s rule while addressing the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch on Thursday.
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” Truss said outside of 10 Downing Street on Thursday. “Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.”
Among the accomplishments Truss highlighted were Elizabeth’s accomplishment of growing the Commonwealth from a small group of seven countries to a “family of 56 nations” as well as visiting more than 100 countries as sovereign.
The queen, who met with Truss on Tuesday at Balmoral, invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, to form a new government as prime minister, an act emblematic of the queen’s devotion to duty, Truss said.
“Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th prime minister,” Truss said, describing her as the “the very spirit of Great Britain.”
Truss also extended condolences to the now-King Charles III, calling for the country to support him in the passing of the crown.
“We offer him our loyalty, and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long,” Truss said.
Sep 08, 2:21 PM EDT
Charles on queen’s passing: ‘A moment of the greatest sadness’
The queen’s eldest son and new king of England — who will be known as King Charles III — released a statement following his mother’s passing.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” Charles said.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” the statement continued.
Sep 08, 2:06 PM EDT
UK lowers flags to half-mast as rainbows appear
The U.K. ordered all flags to fly at half-mast in the wake of the queen’s death Thursday.
In a bit of fortuitous timing, the rain clouds eased up following the announcement and rainbows appeared over Buckingham Palace.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also ordered the flags to fly at half-mast over the Capitol in tribute to the monarch, according to her deputy chief of staff.
Sep 08, 2:02 PM EDT
How the British royal line of succession changes
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there is a new line of succession to the British throne.
The queen’s oldest son, Charles, the Prince of Wales, is now the new king. Members of his direct family — including his sons, Princes William and Harry — are now higher in the line of succession.
In general, succession falls to the first-born child of the heir and their children, followed by the next oldest sibling of the heir and their offspring and so on.
Sep 08, 1:51 PM EDT
What comes next after queen’s passing?
With the queen’s death come questions about what happens next, as the world has not witnessed a changeover in Britain’s monarchy in 70 years.
The U.K. government and the royal family have been planning for years to ensure a smooth transition after the queen’s death, and to appropriately honor her history-making reign.
Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II has died. She was 96.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace said in a statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Elizabeth is survived by her three sons, Charles, Prince of Wales; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; her daughter, Anne, Princess Royal; her eight grandchildren, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie; Peter and Zara Phillips; Lady Louise Windsor; and James, Viscount Severn. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
Her oldest son, Charles, succeeds her as king. His wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is expected to become queen consort, a title that Elizabeth requested at the time of her Platinum Jubilee in June.
Charles’s oldest son, William, is now heir apparent to the throne.
Sep 08, 1:10 PM EDT
Biden briefed on queen’s health, White House says
U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and “will be updated throughout the day concerning news out of the United Kingdom,” given the reports of her health, White House spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday
“His and the first lady’s thoughts are solidly and squarely with the queen today and her family,” Kirby told reporters.
Biden also expressed that his thoughts are with U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office on Tuesday and is currently taking part in a previously scheduled phone call with Biden and other allies focused on “continued support for Ukraine,” according to Kirby.
“I can tell you that in this video conference that the president is having as we speak, I can tell you that he did convey to Prime Minister Truss, who is on the video teleconference, that he and Dr. Biden are thinking very much of the queen and the family and the people of the United Kingdom,” Kirby said.
-ABC News’ Molly Nagle
Sep 08, 10:05 AM EDT
UK prime minister ‘deeply concerned’ about queen
U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss took to Twitter on Thursday to say that her “thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” Truss tweeted.
Truss, who was recently selected as the new leader of the United Kingdom’s ruling Conservative Party, had an audience with the queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Tuesday, during which she was formally asked to form a new government as prime minister after Boris Johnson’s official resignation. It was the first time in the queen’s 70-year reign that the ceremonial transfer of power was held at Balmoral, rather than at Buckingham Palace in London.
Sep 08, 9:41 AM EDT
Senior royals head to Balmoral Castle
Senior members of the British royal family are either at or on their way to Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where Queen Elizabeth II remains “under medical supervision.”
The queen’s oldest child and the heir to her throne, Charles, prince of Wales; and his wife, Camilla, duchess of Cornwall; as well as the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, are already at Balmoral, according to their respective spokespersons.
Meanwhile, the queen’s other sons, Prince Andrew, duke of York; and Prince Edward, earl of Wessex; as well as Edward’s wife, Sophie, countess of Wessex; Charles’ two sons, Prince William, duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, duke of Sussex; and Harry’s wife, Meghan, duchess of Sussex, are all on their way to Balmoral, their respective spokespersons confirmed.
(WASHINGTON) — Kenneth Starr, the polarizing former independent counsel who led a highly publicized investigation of then-President Bill Clinton, has died at the age of 76, according to his family.
He died at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston of complications from surgery, his family said.
The high-powered Washington lawyer, who also served as U.S. solicitor general and a federal judge during a decadeslong career in government, played a pivotal role in the investigation of the so-called Whitewater scandal that engulfed the Clinton administration in the mid-1990s and eventually led to the first impeachment of a president in more than a century.
Starr’s self-titled report on the probe included salacious details about Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, and accused the then-president of lying about his affair during a deposition — cementing Starr’s legacy as one of the most significant and controversial legal figures in American history.
“Half the country loved him. The other half loathed him,” Ken Gormley, the author of “The Death of American Virtue,” about the struggle between Starr and Clinton, recently told The New York Times.
Raised in small-town East Texas, Starr was described as a “chubby little fellow” and straight-A student in one Washington Post profile from 1998. Starr earned a law degree from Duke University before clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger in the mid-1970s. After a stint in private practice, Starr joined the Justice Department at the beginning of the Reagan administration.
President Ronald Reagan appointed Starr to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1983 and he remained on the bench until 1989, when President George H.W. Bush appointed him U.S. solicitor general.
By the early 1990s, Starr was considered a rising star in the Republican Party. His name was floated as a prospective replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice William Brennan in 1990. Starr also briefly flirted with a run for U.S. Senate in Virginia.
In 1994, however, Starr agreed to inherit a fledgling investigation into real estate investments made by the newly minted president and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Arkansas, where President Clinton had previously been governor.
Under the existing independent counsel statute, Starr was granted sweeping powers to investigate the Clintons and their associates, both in and out of government. Starr’s growing investigation eventually uncovered details of a White House affair Clinton had with Lewinsky.
The lewd nature of the Lewinsky affair, Starr’s ubiquitous interactions with the press, and Clinton’s own efforts to obscure his actions made global headlines on a near-daily basis in the late 1990s. The media coverage of the scandal made Starr a household name.
Starr’s findings ultimately led to the impeachment of Clinton in the House of Representatives. Clinton was later acquitted in the Senate.
Beyond the political implications and damage to Clinton’s reputation, the probe forever changed the public perception of Starr — and also of Lewinsky. The two never met in person during the investigation. But 20 years after its conclusion, Lewinsky recently recounted, the two met in person, by accident, at a New York City restaurant.
“I found myself shaking his hand even as I struggled to decipher the warmth he evinced,” Lewinsky wrote in Vanity Fair in 2018. “This was the man who had turned my 24-year-old life into a living hell.”
For his part, former President Clinton has since called Starr’s investigative methods an “abuse of power” that “crushed innocents.”
After his investigation concluded, Starr returned to private practice and took on a series of roles in academia. In 2004, he became dean of Pepperdine Law School. In 2010, Starr took over as president of Baylor University in his native Texas and, in 2013, became the school’s chancellor as well. Starr resigned in 2016 over accusations that he mishandled sexual assault complaints among students during his tenure.
Starr reentered the political fray in 2020 when he agreed to join outgoing President Donald Trump’s legal defense team for his second impeachment trial in Congress. At the Senate trial, Starr spoke on Trump’s behalf — invoking his own role in the Clinton impeachment trial more than two decades earlier. Trump was ultimately acquitted.
(NEW YORK) — A hotter-than-expected inflation report on Tuesday sent the stock market tumbling.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,200 points, which amounted to a nearly 4% drop, making it the index’s worst day since June 2020. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 — the index to which many 401(k)s are pegged — dropped more than 4%, its worst day of 2022. The tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted more than 5%.
Inflation data released on Tuesday revealed that prices rose slightly in August, worsening the cost woes for U.S. households as the Federal Reserve readies to decide on another interest rate hike next week.
The data calls into question whether inflation has peaked.
On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose 0.1% in August, inching upward from the flat month-to-month movement in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The consumer price index, or CPI, rose 8.3% over the past year in August, a slight slowdown from 8.5% in July, according to the bureau.
The CPI continued to show one major bright spot: gasoline prices. The cost of gas continued to fall significantly, dropping 10.6% in August.
Prices rose broadly outside of the energy sector. Food prices rose 0.8% on a monthly basis, slowing from their monthly increase in July but remaining highly elevated.
Measures of the consumer prices for shelter, new vehicles and apparel all rose at a faster rate in August than they had over the month prior.
The data arrives little more than a week before Federal Reserve officials meet to determine what investors expect to be another borrowing cost increase aimed at fighting inflation.
The Fed has instituted a series of aggressive interest rate hikes in recent months as it tries to slash price increases by slowing the economy and choking off demand. But the approach risks tipping the U.S. into an economic downturn and putting millions out of work.
The rate increases appear to have slowed key sectors of the economy, sending mortgage rates higher and slowing the construction of new homes, for instance.
But other indicators suggest the U.S. economy continues to hum. U.S. hiring fell from its breakneck pace but remained robust in August, with the economy adding 315,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rising to 3.7% as more people sought work, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in early September.
Speaking at a conference held by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that the central bank must act “forthrightly, strongly” to dial back inflation, leading many economists to expect another 75-basis point interest rate hike from the central bank later this month.
The Fed is performing a “delicate balancing act,” said Scott Schuh, an economics professor at the University of West Virginia. “The Fed is raising rates but trying to avoid an increase in the unemployment rate.”
“It seems somewhat reasonable to expect the inflation rate to continue to come down for the next few months and quarters,” he added.
Prices in some areas of the economy have already fallen significantly.
The national average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.72 on Monday, having fallen well below a peak of $5.01 in mid-June, according to AAA.
Consumer expectations for inflation have fallen significantly too, according to data released by the New York Federal Reserve on Monday.
In August, the median of consumer responses showed that they expect inflation to fall to 5.7% in one year and 2.8% in three years, a New York Federal Reserve survey showed. Those figures were down from 6.2% and 3.2%, respectively, in July.
(NEW YORK) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.
The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine’s disputed Donbas region, capturing the strategic port city of Mariupol and securing a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Ukrainian engineers have made further progress in repairing vital power infrastructure in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was informed Tuesday.
The engineers are providing the plant with renewed access to a third back-up power line. This means all three back-up power lines to the power plant have been restored, according to the IAEA.
But, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano still warned that safety at the plant remains precarious as it is under the control of Russian forces, but operated by a Ukrainian staff.
While there has been no shelling at or near Zaporizhzhya in recent days, it was still occurring in the wider area, Mariano said.
Zaporizhzhya’s four main external power lines are all down and it is not currently providing electricity to households, factories and others.
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
Sep 13, 2:21 PM EDT
300 settlements liberated in Kharkiv Oblast, deputy Ukrainian defense minister says
The Ukrainian Armed Forces said Tuesday that it liberated more than 300 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukrainian soldiers have de-occupied 3,800 square kilometers since Sept. 6, according to Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Malyar.
According to Malyar, the Russian forces deprived local residents of any communication. They allegedly told residents Ukraine no longer exists, that the country already had a different president, and that Ukraine will not come for them.
Roughly 150,000 people have been freed from Russian control in recent days, according to Malyar.
About 1.1 to 1.2 million people are still living in areas occupied by Russian forces. Of those people, 300,000 are in Donetsk, 500,000 are in Kherson, and 350,000 are in Zaporizhzhia oblast, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
Sep 12, 5:37 PM EDT
More than 20 towns and villages freed in 24 hours, Ukrainian military says
Russian troops have been surrendering en masse — even escaping the Luhansk region in stolen cars and bicycles, with some replacing their uniforms with stolen civilian clothes, according to a spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence.
“They understand the hopelessness of their situation,” the spokesperson said.
More than 20 towns and villages have been freed in 24 hours as the Russian military and its local collaborators flee, the spokesperson said.
Russian troops are allegedly making attempts to contact Ukrainian officers in an effort to independently negotiate the surrender of their units, as long as they get assurance of being treated according to the Geneva Conventions, according to the Ukrainian military spokesperson.
So many have surrendered that the country is running out of space to accommodate Russian prisoners of war, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said on Monday.
-ABC News’ Tomek Rolski
Sep 12, 12:22 PM EDT
Protection zone ‘urgently needed’ to end shelling near nuclear power plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency has established a presence at the site of the nuclear power plant in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia due to continued shelling in the region, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement Monday.
The mission, intended to ensure nuclear safety and security and to allow inspectors to take vital safeguard activities, has made clear of the “urgent and imperative goal” to halt the bombing and establish a protection zone surrounding the power plant, which is the largest in Europe.
In addition to the protection zone, the IAEA has established a second safety pillar that states all safety and security systems should be fully functioning and operating “normally and unhindered.” During observations, the safety team observed military equipment and vehicles getting in the way of systems functioning optimally, Grossi said.
The third pillar of the safety plan states that operating staff must be able to perform their duties without undue pressure or duress — an issue that has been raised many times since the Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia began in March, according to the statement.
The IAEA is also mandating the maintenance of constant off-site power supply so that the power plant does not lose crucial functionalities, including the cooling of reactors and spent fuel, as well as uninterrupted supply chains and transportation to and from the site, which will be “especially crucial” should backup generators be needed again.
Effective radiation monitoring systems — both on and off site — and emergency preparedness, as well as continued reliable communication with the regulator and others, were also safety pillars outlined in the plan.
“Despite the ongoing challenges of the war, we have continued to implement safeguards in Ukraine,” Grossi said.
(NEW YORK) — Ukraine’s counteroffensive in its northeast likely marks a turning point in the war and has profound consequences for Russia’s position going forward, according to military analysts.
The counteroffensive has seen Russia’s frontline in the Kharkiv region collapse in less than a week, forcing thousands of its troops to retreat as Ukrainian troops have recaptured hundreds of square miles of territory, officials said.
The defeat not only removes Russia’s ability to threaten Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, but also likely ends Russia’s ability to mount any major offensives in Ukraine again, the analysts said. It also will have a major knock-on effect on Russia’s capacity to hold its positions on the other fronts around the country. It means in the long-run, the war now favors Ukraine, they said.
“Ukraine has turned the tide of this war in its favor,” the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that tracks the war closely, wrote in an analysis. “Kyiv will likely increasingly dictate the location and nature of the major fighting, and Russia will find itself increasingly responding inadequately to growing Ukrainian physical and psychological pressure in successive military campaigns unless Moscow finds some way to regain the initiative.”
That does not mean the war will end soon, the ISW wrote — Russia still occupies around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory — and it is likely to continue into 2023, experts said.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive routed a Russian force that had been one pincer in an attempt to seize the whole of the Donbas region, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s minimum declared objective for the war. Ukraine retook the strategic city of Izyum, which had been the headquarters for the Russian effort to advance in Donbas from the north.
Izyum’s seizure means an end to the Russia’s hopes of taking Donbas, the ISW and other analysts said. A second Russian offensive group trying to advance from the south onto the city of Bakhmut has now “lost any real operational significance,” the ISW wrote.
Russian forces were already overstretched as they tried to seize the Donbas region, which made them unable to significantly advance for months, and painfully defending against a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south, the experts said.
Russia has been unable to replenish its forces because Putin has balked at ordering a full mobilization or putting the country on a war footing, fearing that could lead to domestic unrest that could threaten his rule, officials said. As a result, Russian forces are increasingly numerically inferior to Ukrainian in some areas.
The Russian-appointed head of the Kharkiv region claimed Monday that Russian troops had been outnumbered 8-to-1 during the Ukrainian offensive.
The rout of Russia’s troops in the northeast — that saw them abandon dozens of tanks and vehicles — means it now must redeploy reserves that it does not have to stabilize the front there, experts said.
But moving some of Russia’s troops already deployed on other areas of the front risks giving Ukraine a chance to repeat its Kharkiv offensive elsewhere, hitting places where Russia has thinned its lines, according to the ISW. One potentially vulnerable area is the city of Kherson and the area around it west of the Dniepr river where Ukraine has already made it extremely difficult for Russia to re-supply its forces.
Russia is reeling from the rout in the northeast, its troops’ moral will be badly shaken. The risk for Moscow now is that the failure in the northeast could snowball elsewhere, triggering a domino effect as its forces panic and loses the will to fight, Konrad Muzyka, director of Rochan Consulting, told ABC News.
Without a mass mobilization, that is fraught with huge political risks at home, Russia has no hope of reversing the direction of the war, Muzyka said.
“It’s a horrible position to be in and actually there are no good choices,” he said. “They have to decide. The alternative is losing the war.”
“As a consequence of the north eastern rout of their forces, the Russians now have very few (if any) good choices. Their positions in the east are compromised and require a substantial realignment of defensive lines and logistics,” Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general and fellow at Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote on Twitter.
The grim outlook for Russia is shared by Russian nationalist military bloggers, who have large followings on social media and are often embedded with their forces there. The bloggers are the most vehement supporters of the war, but recently have written highly critical posts about the Russian leadership, furious at how the invasion has been conducted.
They have demanded the Kremlin call a full mobilization and put Russia on a war footing, warning it is the only way to reverse the direction of the war.
“Not to recognise that Russia is waging a war is the greatest stupidity,” Yury Kotyenok, who posts under the account Voenkor Kotenok Z, wrote following the retreat in the northeast.
Recriminations over the disaster in northeast Ukraine also erupted unusually on a pro-Kremlin talk show on the channel NTV. Boris Nadezhdin, a politician, told his fellow guests Russia now faced a choice: “Either mobilization and full-scale war, or we get out.”
(NEW YORK) — Ukraine’s stunning blitzkrieg counteroffensive in the northeastern part of the country has routed Russian forces and continues to make rapid progress, in some cases pushing back Russian troops back into Russia, U.S. officials said Monday.
While they acknowledge that the constant flow of U.S. military aid and equipment has helped “change the battlefield dynamics,” the officials also have been quick to praise Ukraine’s military for how it has employed the equipment on the battlefield and for anticipating what weapons it would need to eventually launch the offensive.
While there are few details of the long-anticipated Ukrainian offensive in the south targeting the city of Kherson, the surprise Ukrainian offensive launched near the city of Kharkiv has led to a dramatic turn of events.
In a matter of days, U.S. officials said, Ukrainian military forces have retaken as much as 1,200 square miles of territory in northeastern Ukraine once held by Russia for months, pushing eastward from Kharkiv as far as 40 miles. The Ukrainian advance northward from Kharkiv has come as close as 10 miles to the border with Russia as Russian troops hastily retreated in what Russia’s defense ministry called a “regrouping” of forces.
“On the ground in the vicinity of Kharkiv, we assess that Russian forces have largely ceded their gains to the Ukrainians and then withdrawn to the north and east,” a senior U.S. military official told reporters Monday. “Many of these forces have moved over the border into Russia.”
“We also assess that Ukrainian forces have very likely taken control of Kupiansk and Izyum in addition to smaller villages,” said the official.
Both cities were important to Russian military operations in eastern Ukraine, particularly Izyum, which had been used as the main logistical hub for its months-long assault on the Donbass region.
“We’ve seen the Ukrainians use to great effect, the capabilities that they have across the battlefield to change the battlefield dynamics,” the official added, referring to military capabilities provided to Ukraine by the United States and other countries.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the United States has provided $14.5 billion in military equipment, including Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles, howitzer artillery, and the long-range HIMARS rockets (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) that can reach more than 40 miles behind enemy lines.
While that assistance was described by the U.S. military official as being “incredibly helpful,” the official directed praise at Ukraine’s military.
“Much of the credit, if not most of it goes to the Ukrainians and what they’re doing to employ these capabilities,” said the official.
A senior U.S. defense official complimented Ukraine’s communications with the United States to anticipate what gear it would need against Russia, such as requesting howitzer artillery to counter what they expected to be an “artillery battle the Russians intended to wage” to take over the Donbass region.
That was soon followed by Ukraine’s request for a counter to Russia’s advantage in long range rocket systems and its establishment of major logistical hubs and military headquarters far behind enemy lines.
“That’s when we started focusing on the ability of providing the HIMARS and GMLR systems (the rockets fired by HIMARS),” said the official. “So, it is absolutely a partnership and in listening to the understanding of what they’re seeing, and then seeing what we can do to provide them with capabilities to address that.”
Last week, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said that the United States had provided “thousands” of the long-range rockets fired by the HIMARS systems that Ukraine has used to strike at more than 400 Russian targets behind enemy lines, including ammunition depots, logistical hubs and military headquarters.
“They’ve had devastating effect,” Milley said in Germany last week. “Russian lines of communication and supply channels are severely strained. It is having a direct impact on the Russian ability to project and sustain combat power.”
“Russian command and control in the headquarters have been disrupted and they’re having great difficulty resupplying their forces and replacing their combat losses,” he added.
(LONDON) — As non-working members of Britain’s royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan have charted their own future by working on lucrative independent projects.
What will happen to some of those projects in the wake of the death of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, remains a closely watched question.
Shortly before the 96-year-old queen’s death on Sept. 9, Meghan, the duchess of Sussex, launched her long-awaited podcast, “Archetypes,” which quickly rose to the top of Spotify’s charts with its debut episode featuring Meghan’s friend Serena Williams.
This week, Spotify announced that new episodes of the podcast will be paused “during the official mourning period for Her Majesty The Queen.”
Whether Harry’s upcoming memoir will continue as planned is not yet clear.
Harry, the duke of Sussex and fifth in line to the throne, is scheduled to release a memoir this year that he has said will be a “firsthand account” of his life “that’s accurate and wholly truthful.”
“I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become,” Harry said in a statement released last year by Penguin Random House, the book’s publisher. “I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story—the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned—I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think.”
Since leaving their senior royal roles in 2020, Meghan and Harry, the youngest son of King Charles III, have been candid about the difficulties they say they faced as senior members of Britain’s royal family, including sitting down for an explosive, tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey last year.
Harry’s relationship with some members of his family, including Charles and his brother Prince William, have reportedly continued to be strained, leading royal watchers to wonder what details Harry would include in his memoir.
At the time the book was announced, Penguin Random House said it would be an “honest and captivating personal portrait” of Harry’s life and that it would be released in late 2022.
“In an intimate and heartfelt memoir from one of the most fascinating and influential global figures of our time, Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him,” the publisher said in a statement.
Penguin Random House has not so far announced a change to the timeline for the book being published, nor has it said whether the book will be updated with details of the queen’s passing.
Harry and Meghan, who live in California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, were in England for charity events when the queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
On Saturday, the Sussexes appeared with William and Kate, the princess of Wales, outside Windsor Castle to view tributes to the queen and speak with members of the public.
A representative for William told ABC News the prince invited the Sussexes to join him and Kate.
The appearance marked the first time the two couples, once called the “Fab Four” by royal watchers, had been seen together in public in over two years.
Their last appearance together was at a Commonwealth Day service in March 2020 that was Harry and Meghan’s final engagement as senior working royals.
The two families now have homes close to each other in Windsor.
William and Kate moved this summer from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is also where Harry and Meghan’s U.K. home, Frogmore Cottage, is located.
Harry and Meghan are expected to join the royal family as they mourn the queen’s passing with events scheduled to take place through her funeral on Sept. 19.
In his first public address following the death of the queen, Charles included the couple, saying, “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
(NEW YORK) — A gunman in Aurora, Colorado, who killed 12 people in a mass shooting at a movie theater, in 2012, legally acquired weapons and ammunition using a credit card.
So did a shooter in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, who killed 49 people at a nightclub. After a shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas, in 2017, which left 59 dead, police found credit cards on the countertop in the shooter’s hotel room.
In recent years, gun reform advocates and some lawmakers have called on credit card companies and banks to bolster their tracking and reporting of unusual purchase activity tied to firearms in the hopes that it would help authorities identify potential mass shooters before they carry out attacks.
Late last week, major credit companies took a step that could allow them to do just that. Visa, Mastercard and American Express announced plans to use a specific code for categorizing credit and debit card purchases made at gun stores.
The move follows a decision from the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, a group that makes guidelines for such transactions, which said on Friday that it would create the unique code that allows gun stores to mark credit and debit card purchases.
Gun reform advocates applauded the step, while gun rights groups, such as the National Rifle Association, condemned it. Experts told ABC News the move may help authorities intervene before a mass shooting, but its effectiveness depends on how banks and credit card companies implement the new tool.
Here’s how the credit card code works and what happens next:
What do credit cards have to do with mass shootings?
Many mass shooters have legally purchased weapons and ammunition using credit or debit cards.
Between 2007 and 2018, there were 13 mass shootings that killed 10 or more people, the New York Times found. Of those 13 shootings, the killers financed their attacks with credit cards in eight of them, the Times said.
It remains unclear whether the credit cards found in the hotel room of the Las Vegas shooter were used to purchase guns, since government officials have not disclosed how the guns were purchased, beyond saying that some were bought with cash and some online, the Times reported.
The new purchase code will help banks and law enforcement discover unusual purchases, and provide an additional means for identifying and stopping potential attackers before a mass shooting, said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
“It’s significant,” Skaggs told ABC News. “This creates a tool that will allow suspicious activity around illegal gun trafficking and around mass shootings to be detected and flagged to the authorities.”
How does the new credit card code work?
Nearly every category of a retailer in the U.S. has a code, called a merchant category code, or MCC, that marks each credit card transaction. For instance, purchases at grocery stores, movie theaters, and hair salons each carry a different code.
Until late last week, sellers of guns and other gun-related products shared a code with sporting goods stores.
“There was no way to tell whether somebody spent a thousand dollars on guns and ammo or on soccer balls and hockey sticks,” Skaggs said.
Now, credit and debit card transactions at gun sellers will carry a unique code that marks them as such.
Gun advocates hope the new code will push banks to report some gun purchases, since a law passed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks requires the banks to alert authorities to suspicious transaction activity. For example, banks use algorithms to flag unusual activity that may indicate money laundering or human trafficking, Skaggs said.
It remains unclear if and how credit card companies and banks will apply a standard that deems some gun-related purchases worthy of flagging, especially when the code only shows that a purchase was made at a gun seller but not the products that were purchased, said Kevin Sullivan, a former fraud investigator with the New York Police and founder of the Anti-Money Laundering Training Academy.
“The bank is aware you shopped at a gun store — now what?” Sullivan told ABC News. “What are the parameters going to be now? What are the lines you’re going to cross?”
What are the credit card companies saying?
Late last week major credit card companies said they plan to use the code, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. The companies did not respond directly to a question about how the new code will be enforced.
“Following ISO’s decision to establish a new merchant category code, Visa will proceed with next steps, while ensuring we protect all legal commerce on the Visa network in accordance with our long-standing rules,” Visa told ABC News in a statement.
Similarly, Mastercard said the company would implement the new code as it would for any other category of retailer.
“With ISO approving the proposed MCC, we now turn our focus to how it will be implemented by merchants and their banks as we continue to support lawful purchases on our network while protecting the privacy and decisions of individual cardholders,” Mastercard told ABC News in a statement.
“This is exactly how we would manage the process for any other appropriate MCC, like a bicycle shop or sporting goods store,” the company added.
Likewise, American Express told ABC News in a statement that it would move forward with putting the code in place.
“When ISO develops a new Merchant Category Code, we follow our usual business practices and will work with our third-party processors and partners on implementation,” the company said.
“It is important to note that MCC codes are one of many data points that help us understand the industries in which our merchants operate,” the company added. “We are focused on ensuring that we have the right controls in place to meet our regulatory and fiduciary responsibilities, as well as prevent illegal activity on our network.”
How have gun rights groups responded?
The National Rifle Association condemned the new code for credit and debit card transactions at gun stores.
“The ISO’s decision to create a firearm-specific code is nothing more than a capitulation to anti-gun politicians and activists bent on eroding the rights of law-abiding Americans one transaction at a time,” NRA Spokesman Lars Dalseide told ABC News in a statement.
“This is not about tracking or prevention or any virtuous motivation – it’s about creating a national registry of gun owners,” he added.
Skaggs, of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, rebuked that characterization of the new merchant category code.
“There are merchant category codes for bookstores, newspapers and religious institutions,” he said. “Making a contribution to your faith institution on your credit card or purchasing books from a church-affiliated bookstore, those are all coded differently and those are all constitutionally protected rights that are widely practiced and respected in this country.”
