Ax-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concerns
CAIRO (AP) — The United Arab Emirates says the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight that nearly crashed with 182 people on board attacked the captain with the cockpit’s crash ax in a “terrorist attack.” Earlier Saturday, the co-pilot was identified as an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami by three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf and a Western diplomat. The Gulf diplomat said investigations are underway to determine whether he acted alone or has connections to extremist groups. Two other people familiar with the matter said the co-pilot had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views.
Who are the mystery men who stepped in to keep the FlyDubai plane from crashing?
JERUSALEM (AP) — Three days have passed since FlyDubai attack but the two uniformed crew members who stepped in to stabilize and land the lane are still not publicly identified. FlyDubai has described them only as crew members traveling on the plane. It’s not clear why the airline hasn't said more. But a passenger has given The Associated Press one of the most detailed accounts of them yet. He said one of the men practically hurdled the crowd of people wrestling with the attacker and grabbed the plane's controls. He said the other man at first seemed in shock before joining in.
Tennessee's prisons chief is resigning after failed execution of Christa Pike
The head of Tennessee’s prison system is resigning after the failed execution of Christa Pike. The announcement was made Saturday by Gov. Bill Lee, who calls the circumstances a “difficult moment.” Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada says stepping aside is in the best interests of the state as a review looks at why Pike’s execution failed Wednesday. Pike's lawyers say she was placed on a ventilator and was unconscious in a hospital. The lawyers say medical staff were trying to clear two doses of a drug that the state uses to execute prisoners.
Trump posts cell phone number of Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton in fight over daylight saving time
President Donald Trump is urging people to call the personal cellphone number of Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas after posting the number online. Trump wants the Senate to help pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill passed the House in July but some Republican senators — including Cotton — oppose it. Trump argued on social media on Saturday that the change would provide more daylight during the times that Americans are most active. Cotton, a member of Republican leadership, has been outspoken against making daylight saving time permanent, saying it would make winter “a dark and dismal time” for Americans.
Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON (AP) — An AP-NORC poll finds that voters are deeply dissatisfied with President Donald Trump and his Republican Party heading into the Nov. 3 elections. The Democratic Party has built an advantage on pressing issues such as the cost of living and healthcare. But the survey also points to a bigger problem for both political parties. It finds that few registered voters think either Republicans or Democrats are able to solve important problems or help Americans like them. That undercurrent of cynicism about either party’s ability to change things will be a challenge for both the Democrats and the Republicans, no matter which party controls Congress.
What to know about the investigation into Cornell University gang rape allegations
Intense public outcry over a woman’s account of being gang-raped at Cornell University has prompted New York’s governor to angrily yank control of the investigation away from the local prosecutor who didn’t initially see what happened as a crime. Now, the task of unraveling the case will fall to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was appointed as a special prosecutor this week. James is a Democrat best known for tangling with President Donald Trump. She suggested at a news conference Friday that her investigation wouldn’t be rushed. She described it as a monthslong process, with no predetermined outcome.
Russian attacks kill 6 in Ukraine and damage Kyiv’s Northern Bridge
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks in Ukraine have killed at least six people and damaged Kyiv’s Northern Bridge, causing traffic disruptions for a third day. This is part of Moscow's ongoing efforts to disrupt life in the Ukrainian capital. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would continue “mass retaliatory strikes" on Kyiv and other cities, urging foreign nationals and diplomats to leave. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said the bridge strike damaged the road surface and trolleybus cables. Moldova has expressed concern over the war's spillover, with President Maia Sandu condemning Russia’s actions. Fighting along the front line remains deadlocked.
A gut punch in Ohio: Nearly 1,400 laid off at truck factory just days before Trump rally
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — President Donald Trump rallied Republicans in the Dayton, Ohio, area on Saturday. But days ago, 1,400 workers were laid off from a truck factory there. The November midterms are a test for the working-class coalition that lifted Trump into the White House and gave Republicans control of Congress. The outcome will be decided in places like Dayton. It lost factories to Mexico, though it has been on the rebound recently. But voters are concerned about the high cost of living and say Trump's policies aren't helping them. Trump, who has scoffed at concerns about affordability, blamed the media for not talking about what he described as “record-setting numbers” on the economy.
The Supreme Court will hear a major climate change case involving a devastating Colorado wildfire
LOUISVILLE, Colo. (AP) — Colorado's Boulder County is one of dozens of governments around the United States suing oil and gas companies to help pay for damage caused by disasters linked to climate change. The county's case is part of a wave of climate change litigation across the United States and the world, with billions of dollars at stake. On Monday, the first day of the Supreme Court’s new term, the justices will hear the Boulder case that could decide the fate of others like it. Energy companies say climate change is a global issue and not suited for state courts.
A $28B hemp THC industry is fighting to save itself from a looming federal ban
America’s multibillion-dollar market for impairing hemp products faces potential elimination before the end of the year. The products include everything from THC seltzers to smokable cannabis flowers. Congress voted to close the loophole in federal law that has allowed the industry to flourish, but the hemp THC ban doesn't take effect until Dec. 11. Advocates for the industry and some lawmakers in Washington are fighting to save it. They say it should be regulated rather than banned. Proposals include better age verification for purchases and limits on potency.
