The Full Belmonte, 9/11/2022
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin makes journey through Scotland
By MIKE CORDER
“LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II’s flag-draped coffin is passing through the rugged Scottish countryside Sunday on a final journey from her beloved summer estate Balmoral Castle to London, with mourners quietly lining roads and some tossing flowers to honor the monarch who died after 70 years on the throne.
The hearse drove past piles of bouquets and other tributes as it led a seven-car cortege from Balmoral, where the queen died Thursday, for a six-hour trip through Scottish towns to Holyroodhouse palace in Edinburgh. The late queen’s coffin was draped in the Royal Standard for Scotland and topped with a wreath made of flowers from the estate, including sweet peas, one of the queen’s favorites.
‘A sad and poignant moment as Her Majesty, The Queen leaves her beloved Balmoral for the final time,’ the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted. ‘Today, as she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman.’” Read more at AP News
US marks 21st anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks
By JENNIFER PELTZ and KAREN MATTHEWS9 minutes ago
“NEW YORK (AP) — Americans remembered 9/11 on Sunday with readings of victims’ names, volunteer work and other tributes 21 years after the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.
A tolling bell and a moment of silence began the commemoration at ground zero in New York, where the World Trade Center’s twin towers were destroyed by the hijacked-plane attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Victims’ relatives and dignitaries also convened at the two other attack sites, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
Other communities around the country are marking the day with candlelight vigils, interfaith services and other commemorations. Some Americans are joining in volunteer projects on a day that is federally recognized as both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The observances follow a fraught milestone anniversary last year. It came weeks after the chaotic and humbling end of the Afghanistan war that the U.S. launched in response to the attacks.” Read more at AP News
Last reactor at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant stopped
By KARL RITTER
FILE - This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian forces, in Ukraine on Aug. 28, 2022. Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant , built during the Soviet era and one of the 10 biggest in the world, has been engulfed by fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in recent weeks, fueling concerns of a nuclear catastrophe. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
“KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Europe’s largest nuclear plant has been reconnected to Ukraine’s electricity grid, allowing engineers to shut down its last operational reactor in an attempt to avoid a radiation disaster as fighting rages in the area.
The six-reactor Zaporizhzhia plant lost its outside source of power a week ago after all its power lines were disconnected as a result of shelling. It was operating in ‘island mode’ for several days, generating electricity for crucial cooling systems from its only remaining operational reactor.
Nuclear operator Energoatom said one of those power lines was restored ‘to its operational capacity’ late Saturday, making it possible to run the plant’s safety and other systems on electricity from the power system of Ukraine.” Read more at AP News
Ukraine pushes major counteroffensive as war marks 200 days
By The Associated Press
“As the war in Ukraine marks 200 days, the country has reclaimed broad swaths of the south and east in a long-anticipated counteroffensive that has dealt a heavy blow to Russia.
The counterattack began in the final days of August and at first focused on the southern region of Kherson, which was swept by Russian forces in the opening days of the invasion. But just as Moscow redirected attention and troops there, Ukraine launched another, highly effective offensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.
Facing the prospect of a large group of its forces becoming surrounded, Moscow ordered a troop pullback from Kharkiv, in a dramatic change of the state of play that posed the biggest challenge to the Kremlin since it launched the invasion Feb. 24.
‘The Ukrainian army has taken advantage of the relocation of the bulk of the Russian forces to the south and is trying to direct the course of the war, excelling in maneuver and showing great ingenuity,’ said Mykola Sunhurovskyi, a military expert with the Razumkov Centre, a Kyiv-based think tank. Ukraine’s quick gains, he added, are ‘important both for seizing initiative and raising troops’ spirit.’” Read more at AP News
Merchant code will help track guns
Guns for sale in El Cajon, Calif. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“Visa will use a separate category for sales at gun shops — a major win for gun-control advocates, who say it will help track suspicious sales, AP's Ken Sweet reports.
Visa, the world's largest payment processor, said yesterday that it will adopt the International Organization for Standardization's new merchant code for gun sales, announced Friday. Until then, gun store sales were considered ‘general merchandise.’
Why it matters: The adoption by Visa — along with Mastercard and AmEx — will put pressure on banks, the card issuers, to follow suit. It's up to banks whether to allow their cards to be used to buy guns.
Context: Gun control advocates had gained significant wins on this front in recent weeks. New York City officials and pension funds had pressured the ISO and banks to adopt this code.
Everytown for Gun Safety, co-founded by Mike Bloomberg, said Friday that the new data could ‘help banks and financial institutions report suspicious gun purchasing activity to law enforcement.’” Read more at Axios
Iga Swiatek beats Ons Jabeur for 1st US Open title, 3rd Slam
By HOWARD FENDRICH
“NEW YORK (AP) — Good as she’s been this year, Iga Swiatek came to the U.S. Open unsure of what to expect.
She complained that women use different, slightly lighter, tennis balls than the men do at Flushing Meadows, where she’d never been past the fourth round. She was trying to grow accustomed to the noise and distractions, the hustle and bustle, of the Big Apple. And she arrived with a record of just 4-4 since her 37-match winning streak ended in July.
None of that matters now. Cementing her status as her sport’s new dominant figure by winning what is expected to be the last tournament of Serena Williams’ career, the No. 1-ranked Swiatek outplayed No. 5 Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday to claim her first championship at the U.S. Open and third Grand Slam title overall.
‘It’s something that I wasn’t expecting, for sure. It’s also like a confirmation for me that the sky’s the limit,’ said Swiatek, who is 55-7 in tour-level matches with seven trophies in 2022, both best in the WTA. ‘I’m proud. Also surprised little bit.’” Read more at AP News