Friday morning news: October 25, 2024

SOUND: [Live fire in Taiwan]

Live fire exercises in Taiwan » Last night the waters near the Taiwan Strait turned into a virtual warzone, and while the conflict wasn't real, the ammunition was.

Taiwan's armed forces conducted “live fire” exercises on the outlying Penghu Island. The operation was meant to simulate an incursion by Chinese coast guard vessels and other watercraft into Taiwanese waters.

JYUN-YAN: [Speaking in Mandarin]

Taiwanese Lieutenant Colonel Chen Jyun-yan says the purpose of the drills was to improve the combat abilities of Taiwanese forces at night as well as strengthen their defensive capabilities.

The drills underscore rising tensions between Taiwan and China, as Chinese incursions into Taiwanese waters and airspace have increased in recent weeks.

BRICS » Are North Korean troops on the ground in Russia?

Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked that very question yesterday at the conclusion of the BRICS summit— a meeting of three dozen nations, including Russia, China, and Iran.

Officials in the United States, Ukraine and South Korea have all alleged that North Korean troops are preparing to join the front lines in Russia's war with Ukraine.

Putin's answer did little to alleviate those concerns.

PUTIN - [Speaking Russian]

Putin saying any images of North Korean soldiers in Russia—if they exist—would be both serious and significant. He goes on to say that any escalation in the conflict will be the fault of Ukrainian forces as well as the United States.

Yesterday Russian lawmakers ratified a pact with North Korea in which the two nations pledged mutual military assistance.

SOUND: [Israeli demonstration]

Israel update » Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Jerusalem last night, calling for the release of more than 100 hostages still held by the terrorist group Hamas.

DEMONSTRATOR: [Speaking in Hebrew]

One of the demonstrators there blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to secure the release of the hostages. She says every moment he delays is shedding innocent blood.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military is facing criticism for a strike yesterday on a school building in the central Gaza strip.

SOUND: [Scene of school strike]

Palestinian officials say more than a dozen people died— some of whom were women and children.

But Israel's military says it was targeting Hamas militants inside the school and Hamas regularly hides its military operations among civilian targets.

Baltimore Bridge settlement » The owner and manager of the Dali container ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge reached an agreement Thursday with the U.S. Federal Government. WORLD’s Paul Butler has more:

PAUL BUTLER: Singapore based companies Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Group have agreed to pay more than $100 million dollars to settle a Justice Department civil lawsuit.

The companies had sought to limit their liability for the crash to less than half that amount.

The settlement is intended to recoup the money the U.S. government spent responding to the Port of Baltimore disaster: Costs from clearing the wreck of the container ship and collapsed bridge girders so the port could reopen in June.

The operation required removing 50,000 tons of debris.

The state of Maryland filed separate claims, as it estimates it will cost more than $1.7 billion dollars to rebuild the bridge. Any funds recovered by Maryland for bridge reconstruction will reduce the project costs paid by the U.S. government.

For WORLD, I’m Paul Butler.

Menendez brothers resentencing » Nearly 30 years ago, Erik and Lyle Menendez were each convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 killings of their parents.

Their sentence? Life without the possibility of parole.

But yesterday Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced a decision that could change that.

GASCON: We're going to recommend to the court that the life without the possibility of parole be removed and they would be sentenced for murder, which because there are two murders involved, there will be 50 years to life. However...since they were under 26 years of age at the time that this crimes occurred, they will be eligible for parole immediately.

During their trial the brothers said Erik Menendez had been sexually abused by his father and their parents were going to kill both of them to cover it up.

Prosecutors are expected to file the resentencing petition today, and a hearing could come within a month. If the court grants that resentencing, it could provide the brothers with their first chance at freedom in 34 years.

Biden to apologize to NA community » President Biden is in Arizona today, to apologize on behalf of the American people.

BIDEN: I'm heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago: to make a formal apology to the Indian Nations for the way we treated their children for so many years. That's why I'm going. That's why I'm heading west.

The President there speaking yesterday from the White House lawn just before heading to the Grand Canyon State.

Biden is scheduled to make his first-ever visit as president to Indian country today. He'll tour the Gila River Indian Community's reservation near the outskirts of Phoenix.

During the visit he'll officially apologize for the U.S. government's role in the abuse and neglect of Native American children who were sent to federal boarding schools to assimilate into American culture.

I'm Kristen Flavin.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, your listener feedback.

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