International
SpaceX launched all-civilian crew into orbit
On Sept. 15, a SpaceX rocket ship named Resilience was launched into space. The capsule left from Florida carrying four civilians who have never been to space before, the first all-civilians mission. They will orbit Earth for three days.
According to Time Magazine, Jared Isaacman, American founder and chief executive of financial services firm Shift 4 Payments Inc, paid Elon Musk, SpaceX owner, about $200 million for the four seats on the rocket ship.
The mission, called Inspiration4, was conceived by Isaacman to raise awareness and support causes such as the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer center in Memphis, Tennessee.
After Musk’s debut flight, NASA embraced the commercialization of rocket travel. On Twitter, they said “#Inspiration4 embodies our vision for a future in which private companies can transport cargo and people to low-Earth orbit. More opportunities to fly = more opportunities for science.”
North and South Korea fire ballistic missiles into the sea
On Sept. 14, North and South Korea tested ballistic missiles less than three hours apart from each other, increasing tension in the region.
North Korea fired the first missiles into the waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. It was their first test in six months. South Korea fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile later. The test puts South Korea as the seventh country in the world to possess such armed technology.
The tests came as South Korea and China discussed North Korea’s nuclear issue and South Korea’s weapons development has been picking up. South Korea President Moon Jae-in attended the test.
“[South Korea now had] sufficient deterrence to respond to North Korea’s provocations at any time,” Jae-in said.
A statement from South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development said the nation is committed to developing heavier and stronger warheads. The missile is designed to take out concrete structures and tunnels, the agency said.
“This high-strength ballistic missile will augment our military’s peacetime deterrence and in a crisis, will be used as a core arsenal in projecting overwhelming response,” the Defense Ministry said.
National
US gymnasts testify about abuse by Larry Nassar
On Sept. 14, four American gymnasts testified at a Senate hearing about abuse they suffered by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman talked in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. They said the FBI failed to investigate their allegations, allowing his misconduct to continue while the number of his victims grew.
Biles said she blames Nassar and the entire system, including USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, for allowing Nassar’s abuse.
“The scars of this horrific abuse continue,” Biles said. “The impact of this man’s abuse will never be over.”
Maroney said she described the abuse to an FBI agent in a three-hour phone call, and when she finished, Maroney said the agent asked, “Is that all?”
“Not only did the FBI not report my abuse, but when they eventually documented my report 17 months later, they made entirely false claims about what I said,” Maroney said. “They chose to lie about what I said and protect a serial child molester rather than protect not only me but countless others.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized for the agency’s failures to protect the women against Nassar and investigate the case.
“I’m sorry so many people let you down again and again,” Wray said. “I am especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed, and that is inexcusable. It never should have happened, and we are doing everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.”
Apple unveils new iPhone 13
On Sept. 14, Apple introduced new devices, including the new iPhone 13 in a virtual event at their headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The new iPhone 13 will have four versions: Mini, Pro, Plus Pro and Pro Max. Among the other devices, Apple unveiled a new iPad, the return of iPad Mini and the new Apple Watch Series 7.
The iPhone prices start at $699 for the Mini model, going up to $1,099 for the Pro Max version. The new Apple Watch Series 7 is valuedat $399, the iPad mini returns at $499 and the new iPad model is at $329. The devices will be available to preorder on Friday, Sept. 16, and in stores on Sept. 24.
Apple published the new features of the new iPhone model on their website, and they said they are pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a smartphone.
“Redesigned inside and out, both models introduce an all-new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion featuring an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, making the touch experience faster and more responsive,” the website said. “The pro camera system gets its biggest advancement ever with new Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras that capture stunning photos and video, powered by the unmatched performance of A15 Bionic, more powerful than the leading competition.”
Local
Afghan refugees to come to Oklahoma
More than 1,800 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Oklahoma for the next three to four months. About 1,000 of them are coming to Oklahoma City and 800 of them will likely head to Tulsa.
The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Adam Soltani, said the information was confirmed to him but the timeline is still unclear.
“I think things are happening so fast, and so many will be coming to the United States in large numbers that we may not have a huge, advanced notice of when they will be here,” Soltani said.
The Oklahoma Republican Party expressed concerns about the situation, while Republican Gov. Kevin Sitt voiced his support for the refugees, going against the position of his party.
“I welcome Afghans fleeing the terrorist Taliban regime to come to Oklahoma and live in the freedom we hold so dearly,” Sitt said in a tweet. “My office is exploring every possible avenue to help to ensure no American citizen nor any of our allies are left behind.”
Republican Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford also said he supports the state of Oklahoma in welcoming Afghan refugees.
“I absolutely think that we need to continue to be able to welcome refugees from Afghanistan into Oklahoma and into the United States,” Lankford said.
Oklahomans among those claiming religious exemptions to vaccine mandates
In Tulsa, Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer is offering a religious exemption form for those refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Lahmeyer is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican.
Religious objections are becoming more widespread as other states in the country are also using the religious exemption against the vaccine mandate. California, Washington and Arkansas are some of the other states where health and workers voiced their wish for such exemption.
Lahmeyer’s form is available on his church’s website for anyone to download. The form can be signed by any religious leader or Lahmeyer can sign it himself if the person interested joins the church and makes a donation.
Lahmeyer said more than 35,000 people downloaded the form in just three days.
“We’re not anti-vaxxers. We’re just pro-freedom,” Lahmeyer said. “A lot of these people who have signed … have already taken the vaccine. They just don’t think it’s right that somebody else should be forced or lose their job.”
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