Author: Lester Holt
Lester Holt
Lester Holt is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 25 years of experience reporting on Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as NBC News, MSNBC, and The New York Times. Known for his clear reporting and insightful storytelling, Lester delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on national and global developments.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — A cargo ship docked at the Port of Long Beach experienced a major container collapse on Tuesday, triggering an emergency response and halting operations at the terminal. Port authorities confirmed that around 67 containers slipped or fell from the deck of the vessel Mississippi while it was moored at Pier G. The incident took place near midday, and fortunately, no personnel were injured. A Unified Command, including the Port of Long Beach and the U.S. Coast Guard, was quickly mobilized to manage the situation, secure the area, and assess environmental risks. Pier G operations were suspended…
Labor market shows signs of cooling amid weaker-than-expected hiring in August WASHINGTON, Sept 9 — The U.S. labor market is showing signs of slowing, with August job growth dropping sharply and the unemployment rate rising to its highest level in nearly four years, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 22,000 last month, a steep decline from the average monthly gains of 147,000 earlier this year. June’s jobs numbers were revised down to a loss of 13,000, marking the first monthly decline since December 2020. Over the past four months,…
EQT Corp. has signed a 20-year agreement to purchase 1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually from Commonwealth LNG’s export facility under development on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. The deal, announced after market close on Monday, will see EQT buy LNG on a free-on-board basis, with prices linked to the Henry Hub natural gas index. The company plans to market and optimize the LNG cargoes across international markets, expanding its global energy reach. This additional supply will support EQT’s strategy to strengthen its domestic direct-to-customer operations while entering international energy markets. The company is focusing on offering reliable…
Lower court order blockedThe Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration, permitting immigration officials to continue enforcement operations in Southern California that had been temporarily halted. The ruling suspends a July 11 order from U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong, who had determined the practices likely infringed upon the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Plaintiffs cite racial and linguistic profilingThe legal challenge alleged that federal agents, often masked and heavily armed, conducted stops based on a person’s skin color, ethnicity, or spoken language. Some plaintiffs described the raids as abrupt and forceful, akin to public abductions. Jason…
Mitsotakis introduces comprehensive support program Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has rolled out a €1.6 billion initiative aimed at tackling the country’s population decline. Speaking at the Thessaloniki International Fair, he described the plan as a measure to ease the financial burden on families and encourage young people to stay in Greece. The program, due to begin in 2026, combines broad income tax reductions with specific incentives for larger families, property tax relief in rural and island regions, and additional financial aid for pensioners and low-income households. Falling birth rates heighten concern The government’s announcement comes amid troubling demographic patterns. Data…
Regulators Find Unfair Market Practices The European Commission has penalized Google €2.95 billion, concluding that the company misused its dominant position in digital advertising. Investigators determined that Google favored its own ad exchange and publisher platforms, reducing competition and limiting options for advertisers and media companies. Company Has 60 Days to Submit Compliance Plan Brussels has ordered Google to present a plan within two months to address the issues identified. Officials warned that if the proposed solutions are insufficient, stricter measures, including the potential separation of parts of Google’s advertising business, could follow. Google said it will appeal the ruling,…
September 4, 2025 — Washington, D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, was sharply questioned for nearly three hours Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. Senators from both parties pressed him on vaccine policy, his leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and his history of controversial remarks on public health. A Contentious Start From the outset, lawmakers made clear the hearing would not be routine oversight. Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) criticized Kennedy’s skepticism toward vaccines, warning that such rhetoric could jeopardize lives. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) demanded Kennedy’s resignation,…
Federal Court Restores Funding A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it canceled more than $2.2 billion in research grants awarded to Harvard University. Judge Allison Burroughs issued the decision on September 3, ordering the government to reinstate the funding and blocking any further attempts to withhold it. The grants, which had been frozen since the spring, support hundreds of research projects in medicine, science, and engineering. Judge Cites Retaliation and Coercion In an 84-page opinion, Judge Burroughs found that the administration’s move to terminate the grants was unconstitutional and violated federal administrative…
First military action against Tren de Aragua escalates US campaign on cartels The US military carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of transporting drugs for Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. Eleven people were killed in what officials described as a “precision strike” in international waters of the southern Caribbean. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the vessel had departed from Venezuela. He framed the attack as part of a broader counter-drug operation, calling the route “a common corridor” for narcotics shipments into the United States. Trump: “Notice to anyone thinking about bringing…
Rescue efforts obstructed by landslides and damaged infrastructure A magnitude-6 earthquake has struck eastern Afghanistan, leaving more than 800 dead and roughly 2,500 injured, Taliban officials reported. Relief teams are struggling to access remote mountainous villages as landslides and destroyed roads block travel. The tremor, centered near the Pakistan border, caused the greatest damage in Kunar province. Its shallow depth amplified the destruction, while aftershocks continued into Monday, reaching as far as Kabul, over 100 miles away. Hospitals overwhelmed by flood of casualties Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the death toll is expected to rise, with many individuals still trapped…