Thursday morning news: October 13, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kristen Flavin. 

Covid boosters » NURSE: 1 2 3 poke...

Children five and up are eligible for the latest COVID-19 booster. The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines for elementary-aged kids on Wednesday.

The FDA greenlit the latest COVID-19 booster tweaks without requiring human test results—similar to how it approves yearly changes to flu vaccines.

Dr. Jason Newland from Washington University in St. Louis.

NEWLAND: We have been doing this for years upon years with influenza vaccine.

The booster combines half the recipe for the original strain of the virus with a vaccine to target newer variants. As of this month, only about 1 in 3 children ages 5 to 12 had received a full first series of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Severe cases of the disease in children under 12 are rare. During the surge of the omicron variant this year, fewer than three children out of every 100,000 ages 5 to 11 were hospitalized with COVID-19.

Alex Jones » READER: To plaintiff Robbie Parker: A) Defamation/Slander, damages past and future $60 million…

A six-member jury today ordered Infowars host Alex Jones to pay $965 million in punitive damages to the families of Sandy Hook victims.

This is the second major verdict against Jones for his promotion of the theory that the 2012 shooting at an elementary school was just a hoax.

READER: To plaintiff David Wheeler: A) Defamation/Slander, damages past and future $25 million…

Jones has admitted in court and outside of court that the shooting was real, and that he was wrong. But he says he had a right to publicly question whether it happened.

A Texas jury in August ordered Jones to pay $50 million to the parents of another slain child.

Cruz trial » JUDGE: Before you vote you should carefully weigh and consider the evidence

A jury has to decide whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should get the death penalty or life without parole. Deliberations started yesterday.

Cruz pleaded guilty last year to murdering 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The defense argued that Cruz’s birthmother drank excessively while she was pregnant. They said that left Cruz with brain damage.

To sentence Cruz to death, all 12 members of the jury must agree. If one person votes for life in prison, that’s what he’ll get.

Ohio EVs » Ohio auto workers will build many North Americans’ next set of wheels. Honda just announced plans for a $3.5 billion dollar battery factory 40 miles south of Columbus.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

DEWINE: These batteries will be produced by your fellow Ohioans…. This new facility, this new facility will bring at least 2,200 new jobs to Ohio.

The company said it plans to invest in other plants in the state to help them start making electric vehicles.

The governor said he wants the state to be Honda’s new electric vehicle hub.

Construction will start in a year with plans to start production by 2025.

Ukraine » Western nations say they will give Ukraine more air defense systems as Russia continues a days-long barrage on targets across Ukraine.

ZELESNKYY: [Ukrainian]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the defense systems in a video address, saying that after the damage the Russian missiles have done to civilians, air defense systems are the biggest humanitarian task for Europe at this time.

Russia says it only attacked military and infrastructure targets.

Ukrainian officials say that airstrikes have killed 14 people in the past day, and wounded 34 more.

Anita Anand, Canada’s defense minister.

ANAND: On behalf of the Government of Canada, today I would like to announce an additional approximately $50 million worth of military aid for Ukraine.

That aid will include money for winter gear and drones.

LAMBRECHT: [German]

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht says her country has already delivered air defense systems to Ukraine.

UN Condemns Russia Annexation » KOROSI - Those in favor of draft resolution A/ES/11/L5 please signify. Those against or abstentions.

Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution to demand that Russia reverse its annexation of four regions of Ukraine.

KOROSI: Results of the vote is as follows: in favor 143; against, five; abstentions 35. Draft resolution A.ES/ll/L5 is adopted.

The vote signified the UN General Assembly’s strongest demonstration of support for Ukraine against Russia since Russia’s invasion began back in February.

The UN Security Council has been handicapped by Russia’s veto power in that group.

The General Assembly voted by a smaller margin in April to suspend Russia from the UN’s human rights body because of allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations.

I’m Kristen Flavin. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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