Nation and World news — At a glance — for November 14
2 workers killed in explosion at Kentucky plant
(NYTimes) — A large explosion at a food-coloring plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday killed two workers, according to city officials. The blast blew out the windows of nearby homes and businesses, scattered debris through the area, briefly prompted a shelter-in-place order and injured several other plant workers. The Sense Color plant produces food additives such as the caramel used in soft drinks and is owned by Givaudan, a Swiss company. The cause of the blast is under investigation, officials said Wednesday, adding that they did not have reason to believe there was anything nefarious at play.
Smith plans to step down as special counsel before Trump takes office
(NYTimes) — Jack Smith, the special counsel who pursued two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump, plans to finish his work and resign along with other members of his team before Trump takes office in January, people familiar with his plans said. Smith’s goal, they said, is to not leave any significant part of his work for others to complete and to get ahead of the president-elect’s promise to fire him. Smith’s office is still drawing up its plan for how to end the cases. It is not clear how quickly he can finish this work, leaving uncertain whether it could be made public before the Biden administration leaves office.
Aid deliveries to Gaza remain low despite US warning to Israel
(NYTimes) — Despite a U.S. deadline to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip, Israel was still letting significantly less food and supplies into the territory than in the months before the warning, according to official Israeli figures. In an Oct. 13 letter signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Biden administration gave Israel 30 days to increase the flow of aid or face a possible cutoff in military assistance. The decline in the entry of necessities coincided with an Israeli decision in early October to block commerce into the territory, arguing that Hamas was profiting off the trade.
After a mayor’s beheading, Mexican authorities arrest his top security official
(NYTimes) — The newly elected mayor of Chilpancingo, Mexico, had appointed Germán Reyes as the man who would safeguard his city. But Tuesday, Mexican authorities arrested Reyes, a retired military officer and former prosecutor, accusing him of ordering the mayor’s brutal killing last month. Alejandro Arcos Catalán, 43, took office in Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero state in southwest Mexico, but disappeared less than a week later. On Oct. 6, his head was found on top of a white pickup, local officials said. State prosecutors Tuesday announced the arrest of Reyes, 46, on a charge of aggravated homicide, saying he colluded with a local criminal group.
Climate talks focus on trillions to aid developing world
(NYTimes) — The language of world leaders speaking Tuesday at the United Nations climate summit was diplomatic, but the underlying message was clear: There’s friction over the big issue at the conference. The negotiations are focused on delivering a new plan to provide developing countries with funds to adapt to a warming world. Where those funds will come from is a major point of dispute. Many leaders from the developing nations said the world’s richest economies had a responsibility to provide the bulk of the funds. But the United States and the European Union have indicated they want countries like Saudi Arabia and China to provide a growing share of funds.
After deadly car rampage, Chinese officials try to erase any hint of it
(NYTimes) — Two days after the deadliest known violent attack in China in a decade, officials were working to make it seem as if nothing had happened. Outside the sports center in Zhuhai where a 62-year-old man had plowed an SUV into a crowd, killing at least 35 people, workers Wednesday quickly removed bouquets. On the Chinese internet, censors were mobilized. Almost 24 hours had passed before officials divulged details about the assault. The goal is to stifle potential questions and criticism of authorities, and force the public to move on quickly. Though many residents of Zhuhai were shaken, they said Wednesday they had not questioned the delay in information.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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