A truckers’ protest halts the production of Italy's famed buffalo mozzarella
ROME (AP) — A truckers' protest in southern Italy has halted the production of buffalo mozzarella, causing an estimated 3 million-euro loss in just 24 hours. The milk can't reach dairies in the Naples region, and the finished cheese can't reach customers. The weeklong strike by truck drivers over high diesel costs, driven up by the Iran war, has also blocked deliveries of other goods and left gas pumps empty. The disruption is particularly damaging to buffalo mozzarella because its production depends on a tightly timed supply chain. The Italian government plans an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss possible aid measures.
Retired NYPD detective arrested in road rage killing on George Washington Bridge
NEW YORK (AP) — A retired New York City police detective has been arrested in the road rage killing of a motorist on the George Washington Bridge. Sixty-two-year-old Victor Romero faces murder charges in the death of Koran Irvine. The 46-year-old was found wounded and unconscious in his vehicle Tuesday evening. Irvine was pronounced dead at a hospital. The incident caused significant traffic delays on the bridge that connects Manhattan and Fort Lee, New Jersey. Romero retired from the police department in 2001. Irvine worked for Con Edison, which called the shooting a "senseless act of violence."
Dusky shark that became a tourist draw while trapped in a South Korean canal finally swims free
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials have freed a large gray shark trapped for over a month in a canal in Busan. On Wednesday, they used a floating platform to guide the 3-meter-long dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, to the sea. The shark was first spotted in mid-September and became a tourist attraction, drawing over 1.7 million visitors. Previous attempts to free it failed. Experts were concerned about its health due to lack of feeding and falling water temperatures. The operation involved maneuvering a platform and using nets to prevent the shark from returning. It's unclear how far the shark swam out.
Kyle Francis Kennedy, the granddaughter of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, dies at 42
BOSTON (AP) — Kyle Francis Kennedy, the granddaughter of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and wife Ethel Kennedy, has died. She was 42. According to the town clerk in the town of Westwood, Massachusetts where she lived, Kennedy died on Sept. 21. An advocate for education reform and disability rights, Kennedy spent most of her life in Massachusetts. After college, Kennedy joined Teach for America where she worked as a teacher in New York City and soon after became an advocate for equitable elementary education and charter schooling, according to her obituary. In 2019, she ran the Boston Marathon. But a year later, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury that resulted in long-term paralysis.
Delivery Robots Accused Of Scanning Customers’ Faces, Sharing Biometric Data
Chicago's food delivery robots are facing legal challenges. Two customers have filed lawsuits against Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics, accusing them of collecting biometric data without consent. The lawsuits claim the robots scanned faces and hands using cameras and LiDAR technology. Both companies deny the allegations. They say the technology helps the robots navigate around the city. The lawsuits argue that the companies violated Illinois' Biometric Privacy Act, which requires written consent for data collection. The legal actions add to growing concerns about the robots, including safety and privacy issues. Chicago's delivery robot pilot program, launched in 2022, is set to expire in 2027 unless extended.
A new Beatles attraction is coming to Liverpool as interest in the Fab Four surges
LONDON (AP) — Liverpool is set to get a new visitor attraction dedicated to The Beatles. Apple Corps Ltd. plans to open an expanded Beatles Story museum in 2028. Its opening will coincide with a quartet of feature films by Sam Mendes about the band. The museum will move to a larger site near the Lime Street train station and feature immersive technology, original artifacts and reconstructions the Cavern Club and Abbey Road Studios. The St. Johns Beacon tower nearby will become a "Yellow Submarine"-themed attraction. Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr support the development. The Beatles' legacy has boosted Liverpool's economy, but experts warn against over-commercialization.
At least $963K in trading cards were stolen from a FedEx truck in California
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Police in California are investigating the theft of trading cards worth at least $963,000 from a FedEx truck. The truck was broken into on Oct. 13 outside a company called Professonal Sports Authenticator that verifies memorabilia. The Santa Ana Police Department says Pokémon and sports cards were among the stolen items. The truck's lock was gone. Two pallets were taken. PSA's parent company, Collectors, deactivated the certificates for the stolen cards. Collectors says it has contacted affected customers for compensation. FedEx and Collectors both say they are working with authorities who are investigating. One card collector told The Associated Press that he believes the losses to be in the millions.
Shark kills woman swimming off South Africa's Eastern Cape, beaches closed
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A 65-year-old woman has died in a shark attack on South Africa's southeastern coast. Police and municipal authorities have confirmed the incident occurred Tuesday at Orient Beach in KuGompo city. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa says police found the woman’s body with open wounds. The municipality has closed Orient and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice. Warnings are also in place at all other local beaches. Shark bites are uncommon in South Africa, with only a few recorded unprovoked incidents each year. The International Shark Attack File recorded 29 incidents between 2012 and 2021.
A historical society with pilot's help bought Neil Armstrong's boyhood home and will offer tours
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former military pilot has stepped up to preserve Neil Armstrong's boyhood home in Ohio. Ken Schreiber was inspired by Armstrong's legacy as the first man to walk on the moon and decided to buy the house after learning it was for sale. He donated $400,000 to the local historical society. The sale was finalized Monday. The organization plans to restore the home to its 1940s appearance. The goal is to open it for public tours by 2030, marking Armstrong's 100th birthday. The house, a key part of Armstrong's early life, has never been open to the public. Schreiber hopes this effort will inspire future generations.
