Fast News
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Lviv hosts Erdogan, Guterres, Zelenskyy in key summit
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UN chief Antonio Guterres and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to meet at a high-profile summit, with grain exports and concerns about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to top the agenda.
The trilateral meeting in western Ukraine's Lviv marks Erdogan's first in-person discussion with Zelenskyy since Russia launched its attack on February 24, although the Turkish leader has met Russian President Vladimir Putin twice in recent months.
The three leaders will hold a joint news conference after their meetings in Lviv, an important transit point for Ukrainian refugees heading to Europe.
For live updates from Wednesday (August 17), click here
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Seven people have been wounded, two of them critically, after a shooting attack on a bus in occupied Jerusalem's Old City, Israeli police and the national emergency medical services said.
"The police were informed of a shooting of a bus ... police have cordoned off the scene and are searching for a suspect who fled," police said early on Sunday.
Bus driver Daniel Kanievsky said the attack occurred near King David's Tomb.
"I was coming from the Western Wall. The bus was full of passengers. I stopped at the station of the Tomb of David. At this moment starts the shootings. Two people outside I see falling, two inside were bleeding. Everybody panicked," he told reporters at the scene.
Old City of occupied Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites in Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
Al Aqsa Mosque is one of the holiest sites for Muslims.
Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Since 2003, Israel has allowed illegal settlers into the compound almost daily.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognised by the international community.
Gaza fighting
Since March, 19 people –– mostly Israeli civilians –– have been killed in attacks.
Israeli authorities have increased raids in the occupied West Bank.
More than 50 Palestinians have been killed in such operations since then.
Last week saw three days of intense conflict between Israel and Palestinians in besieged Gaza.
At least 49 Palestinians, including many children, were killed in the Israeli aggression, which ended last Sunday after Egypt negotiated a truce.
Source: AFP
The "alarming" situation at a Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had reached a "grave hour," the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Thursday, as he called for an immediate inspection of the facility by international experts.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that parts of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant had been knocked out due to recent attacks, risking an "unacceptable" potential radiation leak.
"IAEA experts believe that there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety," but "that could change at any moment," Grossi said.
"Any military action jeopardizing nuclear safety, nuclear security, must stop immediately," he added. "These military actions near to such a large nuclear facility could lead to very serious consequences."
Ukraine and Russia blame each other: The Zaporizhzhia facility — the largest nuclear plant in Europe — occupies an extensive site on the Dnipro river near the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar. It has continued operating at reduced capacity since Russian forces captured it early in March, with Ukrainian technicians remaining at work.
Russia and Ukraine have so far been unwilling to agree to an IAEA inspection of the plant and have accused each other of shelling the facility — action the IAEA has said breaches "indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars."
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia on Thursday blamed Ukraine for the shelling and urged Kyiv's supporters to stop attacks and prevent a disastrous radiation leak.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed the finger at Moscow, which he said was putting all of Europe in danger.
"Only the complete withdrawal of Russians from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the restoration of Ukraine's full control over the situation around the plant will guarantee the restoration of nuclear safety for all of Europe," Zelensky said.
More shelling: Ukraine's nuclear agency Energoatom said 10 shells landed near the complex on Thursday, preventing a shift handover.
"For the safety of nuclear workers, the buses with the personnel of the next shift were turned back to Enerhodar," the agency said. "Until the situation finally normalizes, the workers of the previous shift will continue to work."
Energoatom said radiation levels at the site remained normal, despite renewed attacks.
Read the full story here.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Six killed in Russian strikes on eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut
Russian strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut have killed at least six people and left three others injured, the regional governor said.
"The Russians bombed the city with a multiple rocket launcher, hitting a residential area.
According to initial information, 12 residential buildings have been damaged and four are on fire," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram.
First Ukrainian wheat shipments expected next week: UN
The first wheat since the conflict should ship next week from Ukraine under a landmark deal also signed by Russia aimed at tackling the global food crisis, a top UN official has said.
The first 12 ships to leave the three Black Sea ports designated by the agreement were carrying 370,000 tonnes of corn and foodstuffs, according to Frederick Kenney, interim UN coordinator at the joint centre in Istanbul overseeing the deal.
The ships have been docked in Ukraine since Russia began its offensive in February. Once all the ships carrying corn and foodstuffs leave their ports, new ones can come in to pick up wheat that has accumulated with this year's harvest, Kenney said.
Georgia troops return after deploying amid conflict in Ukraine
More than 3,800 army soldiers are returning to Georgia five months after their rapid deployment to Europe after Russia started its offensive in Ukraine.
The soldiers from Georgia went to Germany to train alongside NATO allies in a show of force intended to deter further Russian aggression in Europe. Fort Stewart commanders say the rest of the 1st Brigade should be home by the end of August.
The US military is sending another unit to take its place - the 3rd Armored Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood, Texas.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy says the war can only end with the liberation of Crimea pic.twitter.com/pGWcUZwdxJ
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 10, 2022
Estonia protests Russia's 'unacceptable' violation of its airspace
Estonia has summoned the Russian ambassador and formally protested the violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said.
"Estonia considers this an extremely serious and regrettable incident that is completely unacceptable," the ministry said in a release, saying the helicopter had flown over a point in the southeast of the small Baltic nation without permission.
Estonia made an identical complaint to Moscow in June.
Ukraine's creditors agree to payment freeze on international bonds
Ukraine's overseas creditors have backed its request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds, according to a regulatory filing, a move that will allow the war-torn country to avoid a debt default.
With no sign of peace or a ceasefire on the horizon nearly six months after Russia's offensive began on February 24, bondholders have agreed to postpone sovereign interest and capital payments for 13 Ukrainian sovereign bonds maturing between 2022 and 2033.
The government in Kiev launched a consent solicitation, which is a formal request to agree with creditors on changes to sovereign debt contracts, on July 20.
Sergey Markov claims Russia is liberating Ukraine, but Peter @zalmayev hits back accusing Moscow of destroying the country.
Watch the full episode: https://t.co/r0ku9OxmJh pic.twitter.com/62ZdEXM0OS
— The Newsmakers (@The_Newsmakers) August 9, 2022
Ukraine says nine Russian warplanes destroyed in Crimea blasts
Ukraine's air force has said that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in massive explosions at an air base in Crimea amid speculation they were the result of a Ukrainian attack that would represent a significant escalation in the conflict.
Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday's blasts — or that any attack took place.
Ukrainian officials have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while poking fun at Russia’s explanation that a careless smoker might have caused munitions at the Saki air base to catch fire and blow up.
Russian oil shipments to central Europe expected to resume
Oil shipments from Russia through a critical pipeline to several European countries should resume soon after a problem over payments for transit was resolved, Slovakia’s Economy Minister Richard Sulik has said.
“I expect the oil shipments to resume in hours,” Sulik said. Russian state pipeline operator Transneft cited complications due to European Union sanctions for its action on August 4, saying its payment to the company’s Ukrainian counterpart was refused.
Sulik said the payments would be made Wednesday by Slovak refiner Slovnaft after both the Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed to the solution. Slovnaft is owned by Hungary’s MOL energy group.
Denmark to train Ukrainian soldiers in UK
Denmark will send military instructors to Britain to help train Ukrainian soldiers and also offer to train Ukrainian officers on its soil, the Danish defence ministry has said.
The announcement preceded a conference in Copenhagen on Thursday when British, Danish and Ukrainian defence ministers are expected to discuss long-term support for Ukraine, including military training, mine clearance and weapons supplies.
"Denmark will support a British-led training project with 130 Danish soldiers and at the same time offer to train Ukrainian soldiers in Denmark," a ministry statement said.
Supply of Russian oil to Central Europe via Druzhba pipeline has been halted due to payment issues caused by sanctions.
Although it is expected to resume soon, disruption in oil flow once again shows how much European nations are dependent on Russia for energy pic.twitter.com/I89RS9giKA
— TRT World (@trtworld) August 10, 2022
Deadly Russian strikes hit Dnipropetrovsk - local governor
At least 13 civilians have been killed by Russian strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, the local governor says.
"It was a terrible night. 11 people were killed," Governor Valentin Reznichenko wrote on Telegram, adding in a later post that two more people had died of their injuries overnight.
Reznychenko initially put the casualties at 21, with 11 killed in the district of Nikopol and 10 in Marganets, but said in a subsequent message on the Telegram messaging app that 11 was the total number, without clarifying which initial details were incorrect.
G7: Russian control of Ukraine nuclear plant endangers region
The Group of Seven industrialised nations has condemned Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and called on Moscow to immediately hand back full control of the plant to Ukraine.
Ukrainian staff operating the plant "must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure. It is Russia's continued control of the plant that endangers the region," the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement.
Philippines cancels Russia helicopter deal over US sanctions
The Philippines has scrapped an order for 16 Russian military helicopters, an official confirmed, following reports former president Rodrigo Duterte decided to cancel it due to US sanctions on Moscow.
Manila — a longtime Washington ally — agreed in November to pay $228 million for the Mi-17 helicopters, as it seeks to modernise its military hardware.
The United States and its allies imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow in the wake of its attacks on Ukraine.
The UN's nuclear watchdog says it has no way of safely accessing Ukraine's Zaphorizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Russia says inspectors are welcome to see the site, but it won't agree to a ceasefire to facilitate the visit pic.twitter.com/JJeFbLMpIY
— TRT World (@trtworld) August 10, 2022
Ukraine: Russia trying to connect Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to Crimea
Russian forces occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine are preparing to connect to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, and are damaging it by reorienting its electricity production, Ukrainian operator Energoatom has warned.
"The Russian military present at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is implementing the programme of (Russian operator) Rosatom aimed at connecting the plant to the Crimean electricity grid," Energoatom president Petro Kotin told Ukrainian television.
"To do this, you must first damage the power lines of the plant connected to the Ukrainian energy system. From August 7 to 9, the Russians have already damaged three power lines. At the moment, the plant is operating with only one production line, which is an extremely dangerous way of working," he said.
"When the last production line is disconnected, the plant will be powered by generators running on diesel. Everything will then depend on their reliability and fuel stocks," Kotin warned.
Russian airbase explosions could be the work of 'partisan saboteurs'
A senior Ukrainian official has suggested a series of explosions at a Russian air base in Crimea could have been the work of partisan saboteurs, as Kiev denied any responsibility for the incident deep inside Russian-occupied territory.
The adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also suggested Russian incompetence as a possible cause of Tuesday's blasts. They killed one civilian and injured eight, according to the health department in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Mykhailo Podolyak, asked by the Dozhd online television channel whether Kiev was responsible, replied: "Of course not. What do we have to do with this?"
For live updates from Tuesday (August 9), click here
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Concerns have mounted after the British Ministry of Defense echoed accusations from the Ukrainian military that Russian forces are using the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to fire at military positions across the Dnieper River, but Western officials have downplayed the danger.
Russian forces are probably operating in the regions adjacent to the power station and have used artillery units based in these areas to target Ukrainian territory on the western bank of the Dnipro river,” UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) said in its latest update on the situation in Ukraine.
“Russian forces have probably used the wider facility area, in particular the adjacent city of Enerhodar, to rest their forces, utilizing the protected status of the nuclear power plant to reduce the risk to their equipment and personnel from overnight Ukrainian attacks.”
The MOD’s assessment echoes accusations made by the mayor of the Russian-occupied town of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, who said in late July that Russia was using the plant as a fortress. “They (Russian forces) know very well that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will not respond to these attacks, as they can damage the nuclear power plant,” Orlov told Ukrainian broadcaster Espreso TV.
A mixed picture: On Thursday, Western officials downplayed the likelihood of intense combat in and around the nuclear power plant.
“Russia might use the site as a safe zone, from which to carry out defensive operations. Ukraine will consider very carefully how to avoid taking major risks around the site,” the officials said.
“The area of the site itself of nuclear power plant is too small an area to be very significant in terms of an advance. It could always be surrounded or bypassed by Ukraine,” the officials added. “It's a consideration and something that people need to be careful in their planning around but is in no way going to prevent an advance.”
The MOD's concerns come after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Grossi told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the situation at the plant was “completely out of control.”
Grossi said he was trying to put together a mission, with the support of the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, to visit the plant, but explained actually going was a “very complex thing,” because “it requires the understanding and the cooperation" of the Ukrainians and the Russians occupying it.
Some background: Russia seized the plant, which is the largest nuclear plant in Europe, in the early days of the war on March 5. A week later, on March 12, a team of officials and technicians from Russia's state nuclear agency, ROSATOM, arrived on site to help manage the plant and help with repairs, Ukraine's nuclear agency, Energoatom, said.
The situation at the plant has remained complex ever since, with Ukrainian and Russian staff working alongside each other. Communications between the plant and the IAEA has been intermittent.
Military operations in the area, with an announced Ukrainian counter-offensive to take Kherson have made the situation even more volatile, the IAEA has said.
While Western officials understand some of the IAEA's concerns, they “don't think [the situation] is as dire as it is necessarily been painted in the media at the moment.”
The officials went on to explain that plants like the one in Zaporizhzhia are built with multiple safeguards in place. “So please don't think that we're looking at Chernobyl like situation, that's not the case,” officials said. “We think overall, the circumstances of that site are still okay.”
CNN reached out to Rosatom for comment but has yet to hear back.
Officials in New York City have declared a public health emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus, calling the city “the epicentre” of the outbreak.
The announcement on Saturday by Mayor Eric Adams and health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said as many as 150,000 city residents could be at risk of infection.
In the last two days, New York Gov Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency declaration and the state health department called monkeypox an “imminent threat to public health.”
New York had recorded 1,345 cases as of Friday, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California had the second-most, with 799.
“We will continue to work with our federal partners to secure more doses as soon as they become available,” Adams and Vasan said in the statement.
"This outbreak must be met with urgency, action, and resources, both nationally and globally, and this declaration of a public health emergency reflects the seriousness of the moment.”
READ MORE: WHO warns of more monkeypox-related deaths in Europe
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFvakSDyHps[/embed]
Monkeypox deaths
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency on July 23 and San Francisco's mayor on Thursday announced a state of emergency over the growing number of cases.
The once-rare disease has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades but was not known to spark large outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
To date, there have been more than 22,000 monkeypox cases reported in nearly 80 countries since May, with about 75 suspected deaths in Africa, mostly in Nigeria and Congo.
On Friday, Brazil and Spain reported deaths linked to monkeypox, the first reported outside Africa. Spain reported a second monkeypox death Saturday.
The virus spreads through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing.
The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful.
READ MORE: US reports first monkeypox cases in children
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h88eHDDoCwI[/embed]
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Liverpool's new striker Darwin Nunez has scored a late goal on his debut as they drew first blood in this season's rivalry with Manchester City after a 3-1 win in the Community Shield.
The Uruguayan, bought from Benfica for an initial fee of $76.64 million (75 million euros), made himself an instant fan favourite after capping a lively appearance off the bench with a stoppage time goal to secure the first trophy of the season on Saturday.
English champions City started their big close-season signing, Norway's Erling Haaland but, in contrast to Nunez, he had a disappointing debut, missing several chances and struggling to combine with his new team mates.
However, another new City face, Argentine forward Julian Alvarez, found the target after coming on in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had opened the scoring, firing Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side ahead in the 21st minute of the 100th edition of the annual clash between the league champions and FA Cup winners.
Thiago Alcantara floated the ball to Mohamed Salah on the right and the Egyptian laid it back to Alexander-Arnold whose first time shot curled into the far corner.
Haaland, brought in from Borussia Dortmund, missed two first half chances to mark his City debut with a goal but Pep Guardiola's side were missing their usual fluency.
READ MORE: Liverpool to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica in club-record $104M deal
90+4' - Salah's cross is headed down into the ground by Robertson and Nunez heads in!
[3-1]#CommunityShield https://t.co/7UCmE5HTd2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 30, 2022
VAR review
It was another new striking addition who brought City level in the 70th minute when Phil Foden's shot was parried by Adrian and with the ball spilling loose, former River Plate forward Alvarez pounced to net his first goal for the club.
The effort was initially ruled out for offside but a VAR review overturned the decision although the technology was soon to work against Guardiola's side.
Referee Craig Pawson went to the monitor before ruling that City defender Ruben Dias had handled at close range from a Nunez header and Mohamed Salah drilled home the penalty to restore Liverpool's lead in the 83rd minute.
Nunez then capped an eventful appearance from the bench, scoring with an angled header after Andy Robertson had nodded the ball into his path.
Haaland's testing debut ended with him missing a sitter when Phil Foden's shot was pushed out by Adrian and the blond forward blasted his shot against the bar and over.
"Our season started today and it was important for us to get off on the right foot," said Alexander-Arnold, who was full of praise for 23-year-old Nunez's impact.
"He won the penalty, scored a goal and looked very lively. He's been bought in to score goals and he's proved he can do that today," he said, calling Nunez "a top player".
READ MORE: Liverpool's 'modern-day icon' Sadio Mane joins Bayern Munich
Source: Reuters
In an interview with IRNA reporter on Tuesday, Mehdi Abbaspour added: Out of the total job creation credits of Khaf city this year, 54 billion and 800 million rials are in the household jobs sector and 750 billion rials in the section of Note 16 for support institutions including the Welfare Department and the Imam Relief Committee. Khomeini (RA) was assigned.
He stated: Also, the rural and nomadic job creation facilities of Khaf city last year were 182 billion Rials, and the process of paying these facilities to qualified projects continues this year.
Governor Khaf said: 880 billion rials were allocated from the employment creation facility of the Entrepreneurship and Hope Fund and the business clinic of Tehran University to create employment in this city during 1400, and the process of paying them to applicants continues this year.
Abbaspour added: Last year, 55 billion Rials were allocated from Barkat Foundation's job creation facility to Khaf city, but this year no funds have been allocated for this purpose.
Speeding up the completion of transportation infrastructure is an important priority of Khaf city
Governor Khavaf considered the completion of roads to be the most important concern of this city in providing infrastructure and said: due to the large volume of heavy vehicle traffic on the main and secondary roads and the occurrence of heartbreaking driving accidents on urban and rural roads, speed up the operation of section one The plan to bifurcate the Sangan road to Torbat Heydarieh and start the implementation of the 2nd section of the mentioned project from Nashtifan T-way to Police Rah Khaf is of special attention this year.
Abbaspour added: due to the great importance of this plan, this issue will be resolved regularly and continuously through coordination meetings between the ministries of industry, mining and trade, and road and urban development and managers of mining companies participating in the construction of this road with visits The implementation process is being followed up on a monthly basis so that we can see its fruition as soon as possible.
He added: Considering the important role of this project in reducing traffic accidents in Khaf, during the recent presidential visit to Khorasan Razavi province, 250 billion rials were allocated to complete the above project.
The city of 150,000 people, Khaf, with its four central parts, Sangan, Jalga Zozan, and Salami, and a 123-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, is located 267 kilometers southeast of Mashhad.
Sangan Khaf iron ore mines are one of the 10 largest iron ore mines in the world with a total reserve of one billion tons, which supplies the primary feedstock for the production of 17.5 million tons of concentrate, 15 million tons of pellets and five million tons of iron ore.
The Sangan iron ore deposit complex is located in an area approximately 22 km long and 10 km wide, 300 km southeast of Mashhad.
The zero-carbon city that Saudi Arabia plans to build at Neom will vertically layer homes, offices, public parks and schools within a mirrored facade stretching over 170 kilometres, the crown prince has said in remarks carried by state media.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first unveiled plans for "The Line" in January 2021, the first major construction project for the $500 billion Neom business zone aimed at diversifying the economy of the world's top oil exporter.
The city, 200 metres wide and running on "100 percent renewable energy," will also include a high-speed rail with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. It will eventually accommodate nine million residents, state news agency SPA cited him as saying on Monday.
"The city's vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities," the prince said. "The designs of The Line embody how urban communities will be in the future in an environment free from roads, cars and emissions."
The kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is the cornerstone investor in Neom, a 26,500-square-kilometre high-tech development on the Red Sea with several zones, including industrial and logistics areas, planned for completion in 2025.
Business zone will likely be listed in 2024
The prince said the Neom business zone will likely be publicly listed in 2024, state media reported.
"Neom will add a trillion riyals ($266 billion) to the Saudi stock market value. At least 1.2 trillion at the beginning and the overall will increase after project completion to exceed 5 trillion", said the crown prince.
He added in remarks to reporters that all ventures in which the sovereign wealth fund is an investor will be listed on the stock market.
Prince Mohammed said the government will raise $133 billion of capital in 2027 and tap the market for an additional $53-79 billion riyals for Neom.
"We aim to make Saudi one of the largest three stock markets on the planet," the crown prince said.
Source: Reuters
PROMISED LAND, Pa. -- It's not exactly flowing with milk and honey — just ask the area's struggling black bears — but Promised Land offered respite Sunday for city folks in the Northeast trying to escape a nearly weeklong hot spell that only threatened to intensify.
Those with the resources fled to pools, beaches and higher elevations like Promised Land State Park, at 1,800 feet (550 meters) in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains and a drive of about 2 1/2 hours from New York City and Philadelphia.
From the Pacific Northwest to the southern Great Plains to the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor, more than 85 million Americans were under excessive heat warnings or heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service. The agency warned of “extremely oppressive” conditions from Washington to Boston.
Even in Promised Land, temperatures were forecast to soar above 90 (32 Celsius), but with shade from the forests, cool lake water and mountain breezes, it was more than tolerable, visitors said.
Rosa Chavez, 47, a high school teacher in Manhattan, applied sunscreen at a beach on Promised Land Lake. She and friend Arlene Rodriguez, who accompanied her, had just experienced Europe's own heat wave while vacationing last week in Florence, Italy.
“The heat is following us,” said Rodriguez, 47, a real estate agent and property manager.
Numerous record highs were expected to be tied or broken in the Northeast, the weather service said.
Philadelphia was forecast to hit 100 degrees (38 Celsius) Sunday before even factoring in humidity. Newark, New Jersey, saw its fifth consecutive day of 100 degrees or higher, the longest such streak since records began in 1931. Boston also hit 100 degrees, surpassing the previous daily record high of 98 degrees set in 1933.
At least one heat-related death, in New York, has been reported. Around the region, athletic events were shortened or postponed.
Philadelphia officials extended a heat emergency through Sunday, sending workers to check on homeless people and knock on the doors of other vulnerable residents. The city also opened cooling centers and stationed air-conditioned buses at four intersections for people to cool off.
Forecasters urged people to wear light clothing, drink lots of water, limit time outside, and check on elderly people and pets.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a heat emergency through Monday and kept a dozen cooling centers open.
Organizers of the New York City Triathlon shortened the distances that athletes had to run and bike. This weekend's Boston Triathlon was put off until Aug. 20-21.
On the West Coast, forecasters warned of extreme heat arriving early this week and lingering until the weekend. Temperatures could break daily records in Seattle, Portland and Northern California by Tuesday and be the highest since a heat wave last year that killed hundreds of people across the Pacific Northwest.
Many homes in the often-rainy region lack air conditioning, and authorities cautioned that indoor heat is likely to build through the week, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, something emergency medical officials in Boston also warned of.
Chavez, in Promised Land, said she has asthma and needs to keep her inhaler around, especially “when the heat is so thick I can't breathe.” The breezes and clearer air in the mountains help, she said.
It was already over 80 degrees at midmorning as Mhamed Moussa Boudjelthia, a 31-year-old Uber driver from Queens, fired up a grill at the beach to make kebabs. He and another friend from Queens had fled the hot chaos of the city for the day.
“There, it's really hot,” Boudjelthia said. “There's too much humidity, too.”
His friend, Kamel Mahiout, 35, agreed as he stood in a cooling breeze: “It's crazy in New York City.”
The heat was withering even less than an hour away, at lower elevations. In Scranton, Pennsylvania, Sunday's high was expected to be 97, and not punching below 70 at night.
“That also leads to the danger. People aren’t getting that relief overnight,” said weather service forecaster Lily Chapman. “That stress on the body is kind of cumulative over time.”
The area also has been drier than usual, she said.
Regular campers and cabin residents in Promised Land attribute unusually numerous bear sightings to the dry conditions. The animals roam neighborhoods and campsites for scraps as streams and berries dry up.
“Today's hot,” said Alex Paez, 34, of Scranton, sitting under a shade canopy at the beach in Promised Land. “If you don't need to be outside doing something productive, then stay in.”
———
Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York City; Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana; Michael Hill in Albany, N.Y.: Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island; and Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Fla.
