Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Thursday, September 14, 2023.
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1. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy calls for mass layoffs
If elected, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said he would shut down the FBI and fire more than 1 million federal workers. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute on Wednesday, Ramaswamy said he would reduce federal employees by half in his first year in office, and by 75 percent throughout his first term.
The conservative, who is a staunch support of Donald Trump, intends to abolish five federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Education, as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Food and Nutrition Service.
2. Ukraine uses fake weapons to exhaust Russian forces
In its defense against Russia, Ukraine has begun using decoy weapons to draw fire. Steelworks company Metinvest has been using its resources to create models of tanks and other land-based artillery weapons worth millions — for just around $1,000 per creation.
“War is expensive and we need the Russians to spend money using drones and missiles to destroy our decoys," Metinvest’s spokesperson said. “After all, drones and missiles are expensive. Our models are much, much cheaper.”
3. New COVID vaccination booster approved
A new COVID-19 booster has been approved and will soon be available to everyone in the United States 6 months and older. The Food and Drug Administration and a federal advisory panel approved the vaccine this week, which was recently updated to work against recent variants of the virus.
Everyone ages 5 and older is eligible for a single dose, regardless of their vaccination status, though those who recently got a COVID vaccine should wait at least two months before getting the booster. Those who are 65 or older, pregnant people, and those with vulnerable immune systems are especially encouraged to get the booster.
4. Search for survivors in Morocco continues after devastating earthquake
More than 2,900 people are confirmed dead after a rare and powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco Friday night. Another 5,530 people are injured.
Rescuers reached the epicenter of the disaster in the High Atlas mountain range southwest of Marrakech on Wednesday. Emergency aid teams have struggled to reach remote mountain areas due to blocked roads and other damage.
