Tropical Storm Peter formed in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean on Sunday, forecasters said, announcing the 16th named storm of the 2021 season.

As of 9 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, the storm was about 470 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and expected to pass “well north of the Lesser Antilles,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center said that rainfall around the edge of the storm could lead to “areas of urban and small stream flooding” in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the rest of the northern Leeward Islands from late Sunday into Tuesday.

Meteorologists have faced a dizzying several months as the arrival of peak hurricane season — August through November — has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean.

The arrival of Peter came as another storm, Odette, weakened into a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday and was expected to bring heavy rain and strong wind gusts to Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday into Monday, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre.

Tropical Depression Nicholas made landfall early on Sept. 14 as a hurricane over the Gulf Coast of Texas. The storm unleashed heavy rain across parts of Louisiana, threatening to hinder the state’s efforts to restore electricity to tens of thousands of customers who were already battered by Hurricane Ida.

Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on Sept. 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, while a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic.

Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area. Two other tropical storms, Julian and Kate, both fizzled out within a day at the same time.

In mid-August, Tropical Storm Fred made landfall in the Florida Panhandle and Hurricane Grace hit Haiti and Mexico. Tropical Storm Henri knocked out power and brought record rainfall to the Northeastern United States on Aug. 22.

The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect to see stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms. But the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming.

Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than it would have without the human effects on climate. Rising sea levels are also contributing to higher storm surge — the most destructive element of tropical cyclones.

A major United Nations climate report released in August warned that nations have delayed curbing their fossil-fuel emissions for so long that they can no longer stop global warming from intensifying over the next 30 years, leading to more frequent life-threatening heat waves and severe droughts. Tropical cyclones have likely become more intense over the past 40 years, the report said, a shift that cannot be explained by natural variability alone.

Ana became the first named storm of the season on May 22, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of hurricane season on June 1.

In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic. In early August, in a midseason update to the forecast, scientists continued to warn that this year’s hurricane season would be an above average one, suggesting a busy end to the season.

NOAA updated its forecast on Aug. 4, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season on Nov. 30. Peter is the 16th named storm of 2021.

Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and use Greek letters.

It was the highest number of storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and included the second-highest number of hurricanes on record.

Tropical Storm Peter formed in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean on Sunday, forecasters said, announcing the 16th named storm of the 2021 season. As of 9 a.

Tropical Storm Peter formed in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean on Sunday, forecasters said, announcing the 16th named storm of the 2021 season. As of 9 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, the storm was about 470 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and expected to pass “well north of the Lesser Antilles,” according to the National Hurricane Center. The center said that rainfall around the edge of the storm could lead to “areas of urban and small stream flooding” in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the rest of the northern Leeward Islands from late Sunday into Tuesday. Meteorologists have faced a dizzying several months as the arrival of peak hurricane season — August through November — has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean. The arrival of Peter came as another storm, Odette, weakened into a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday and was expected to bring heavy rain and strong wind gusts to Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday into Monday, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre. Tropical Depression Nicholas made landfall early on Sept. 14 as a hurricane over the Gulf Coast of Texas. The storm unleashed heavy rain across parts of Louisiana, threatening to hinder the state’s efforts to restore electricity to tens of thousands of customers who were already battered by Hurricane Ida. Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on Sept. 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, while a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic. Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area. Two other tropical storms, Julian and Kate, both fizzled out within a day at the same time. In mid-August, Tropical Storm Fred made landfall in the Florida Panhandle and Hurricane Grace hit Haiti and Mexico. Tropical Storm Henri knocked out power and brought record rainfall to the Northeastern United States on Aug. 22. The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect to see stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms. But the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming. Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than it would have without the human effects on climate. Rising sea levels are also contributing to higher storm surge — the most destructive element of tropical cyclones. A major United Nations climate report released in August warned that nations have delayed curbing their fossil-fuel emissions for so long that they can no longer stop global warming from intensifying over the next 30 years, leading to more frequent life-threatening heat waves and severe droughts. Tropical cyclones have likely become more intense over the past 40 years, the report said, a shift that cannot be explained by natural variability alone. Ana became the first named storm of the season on May 22, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of hurricane season on June 1. In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic. In early August, in a midseason update to the forecast, scientists continued to warn that this year’s hurricane season would be an above average one, suggesting a busy end to the season. NOAA updated its forecast on Aug. 4, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season on Nov. 30. Peter is the 16th named storm of 2021. Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and use Greek letters. It was the highest number of storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and included the second-highest number of hurricanes on record.

Tropical storm Peter forms in the Atlantic Ocean

“I think I’ve come to believe that even if the COVID death toll was '10 times' what it currently is,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes wrote a few days ago on Twitter, “the politics of all of it wouldn’t be appreciably different.”

I like this question because I’m interested in COVID-19 counterfactuals — whether ideology and identity and in-group loyalty determined everything about the pandemic response, or whether there’s a world where Donald Trump went all-in for strict disease-fighting measures and liberals turned anti-lockdown in response, or one where Trump won reelection and hesitation over the “Trump vaccine” ended up stronger on the left.

But those are strictly political counterfactuals, whereas Hayes raises a more medical one: How much of our polarized response to COVID-19 is independent of the nature of the disease itself?

Here’s a quick case that he’s right. At the pandemic’s outset, skeptics of a sweeping response argued that public health authorities were overestimating the disease’s dangers, and many conservatives were eager to believe them. The Hoover Institution’s Richard Epstein famously predicted COVID-19 would claim only 5,000 lives in the United States. Stanford University epidemiologist John Ioannidis speculated that 10,000 deaths could be a reasonable expectation — which absent media hysteria would feel no different from a bad flu year. Over subsequent months skeptics talked about a “casedemic” in which testing would find more cases but deaths would remain relatively low, and in June 2020 Mike Pence famously downplayed predictions of a second wave.

Today it’s clear that the public health authorities got all kinds of things wrong, and many bad decisions — especially about closing schools — were made in an atmosphere of panic. Still, on the fundamental question of how bad the disease would be, the authorities were more right than their more optimistic critics. Even with rapidly developed vaccines, we’ve had 670,000 reported coronavirus deaths and counting. This is less death, yes, than some of the absolute worst-case projections. But it’s still more than '50 times' more death than the early predictions from people who thought authorities were panicking too quickly.

In that sense we’ve already run a version of Hayes' counterfactual. COVID-19 has been deadlier than many people on the right hoped or predicted, and yet the partisan divide that took shape last spring hasn’t really budged, with Republicans still taking the libertarian side in debate after debate — closures, masks, now vaccine mandates.

But I’m still not sure Hayes is right about the COVID-19 10-times-worse scenario being basically identical to this one in its divisions. As bad as the coronavirus has been, most people who get it still come out OK, children are especially unlikely to be hospitalized or die, and deaths are concentrated in a population, the elderly in nursing homes, that (to our shame) we already keep somewhat out of mind.

Yes, long-haul COVID-19 is a real problem, but America is good at ignoring its chronic illness epidemics. Yes, there does seem to be a notable tendency for right-wing talk radio hosts to die of the disease — but in the big picture of celebrities, the most famous deaths are more obscure than seemed likely when Tom Hanks or for that matter Trump himself fell ill.

And as terrible as it is that 1 in 500 Americans have died of COVID-19, it’s still much easier to have gone through the pandemic 'without' having a close friend or family member die of it — as I have not, for instance — than it would be were the toll 1 in 50.

Before the pandemic, I once built a column around psychiatrist-blogger Scott Alexander’s concept of “the scissor,” which describes a controversy or idea or event perfectly calibrated to divide people while making them think that the other side is bonkers. Arguably COVID-19's death rate makes it a perfect scissor: It’s high enough to make the alarmed feel vindicated, but still low enough that many skeptics feel vindicated as well.

Whereas if the fatality figures were 10 times lower, I suspect there would be much more internal liberal debate over the wisdom of the sweeping early response. And if they were 10 times higher, I think there might have been more red-state support for public health restrictions of all kinds.

But that doesn’t mean that the country would have been more unified in a “COVID 10-times-worse” world. Instead, there would be more regional fractures, more governors trying to close borders and restrict travel, more vicious interstate fighting over medical resources, more frenzied culture wars over which drugs to try experimentally, more total panic and meltdown around schools.

And since the one thing we don’t seem to be doing yet is preparing for the next pandemic, my fear is that within the next 20 years we’ll encounter an invisible enemy that puts the Hayes counterfactual to a test.

“I think I’ve come to believe that even if the COVID death toll was '10 times' what it currently is,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes wrote a few days ago on Twitter, “the politics of all of it wouldn’t be appreciably different.

“I think I’ve come to believe that even if the COVID death toll was '10 times' what it currently is,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes wrote a few days ago on Twitter, “the politics of all of it wouldn’t be appreciably different.” I like this question because I’m interested in COVID-19 counterfactuals — whether ideology and identity and in-group loyalty determined everything about the pandemic response, or whether there’s a world where Donald Trump went all-in for strict disease-fighting measures and liberals turned anti-lockdown in response, or one where Trump won reelection and hesitation over the “Trump vaccine” ended up stronger on the left. But those are strictly political counterfactuals, whereas Hayes raises a more medical one: How much of our polarized response to COVID-19 is independent of the nature of the disease itself? Here’s a quick case that he’s right. At the pandemic’s outset, skeptics of a sweeping response argued that public health authorities were overestimating the disease’s dangers, and many conservatives were eager to believe them. The Hoover Institution’s Richard Epstein famously predicted COVID-19 would claim only 5,000 lives in the United States. Stanford University epidemiologist John Ioannidis speculated that 10,000 deaths could be a reasonable expectation — which absent media hysteria would feel no different from a bad flu year. Over subsequent months skeptics talked about a “casedemic” in which testing would find more cases but deaths would remain relatively low, and in June 2020 Mike Pence famously downplayed predictions of a second wave. Today it’s clear that the public health authorities got all kinds of things wrong, and many bad decisions — especially about closing schools — were made in an atmosphere of panic. Still, on the fundamental question of how bad the disease would be, the authorities were more right than their more optimistic critics. Even with rapidly developed vaccines, we’ve had 670,000 reported coronavirus deaths and counting. This is less death, yes, than some of the absolute worst-case projections. But it’s still more than '50 times' more death than the early predictions from people who thought authorities were panicking too quickly. In that sense we’ve already run a version of Hayes' counterfactual. COVID-19 has been deadlier than many people on the right hoped or predicted, and yet the partisan divide that took shape last spring hasn’t really budged, with Republicans still taking the libertarian side in debate after debate — closures, masks, now vaccine mandates. But I’m still not sure Hayes is right about the COVID-19 10-times-worse scenario being basically identical to this one in its divisions. As bad as the coronavirus has been, most people who get it still come out OK, children are especially unlikely to be hospitalized or die, and deaths are concentrated in a population, the elderly in nursing homes, that (to our shame) we already keep somewhat out of mind. Yes, long-haul COVID-19 is a real problem, but America is good at ignoring its chronic illness epidemics. Yes, there does seem to be a notable tendency for right-wing talk radio hosts to die of the disease — but in the big picture of celebrities, the most famous deaths are more obscure than seemed likely when Tom Hanks or for that matter Trump himself fell ill. And as terrible as it is that 1 in 500 Americans have died of COVID-19, it’s still much easier to have gone through the pandemic 'without' having a close friend or family member die of it — as I have not, for instance — than it would be were the toll 1 in 50. Before the pandemic, I once built a column around psychiatrist-blogger Scott Alexander’s concept of “the scissor,” which describes a controversy or idea or event perfectly calibrated to divide people while making them think that the other side is bonkers. Arguably COVID-19's death rate makes it a perfect scissor: It’s high enough to make the alarmed feel vindicated, but still low enough that many skeptics feel vindicated as well. Whereas if the fatality figures were 10 times lower, I suspect there would be much more internal liberal debate over the wisdom of the sweeping early response. And if they were 10 times higher, I think there might have been more red-state support for public health restrictions of all kinds. But that doesn’t mean that the country would have been more unified in a “COVID 10-times-worse” world. Instead, there would be more regional fractures, more governors trying to close borders and restrict travel, more vicious interstate fighting over medical resources, more frenzied culture wars over which drugs to try experimentally, more total panic and meltdown around schools. And since the one thing we don’t seem to be doing yet is preparing for the next pandemic, my fear is that within the next 20 years we’ll encounter an invisible enemy that puts the Hayes counterfactual to a test.

What if COVID-19 were 10 times deadlier?

Thousands of migrants, mainly fleeing Haiti, are currently being held under a bridge at Del Rio near the US-Mexico border as immigration facilities in the area have reached capacity.

US immigration: Thousands gather under a bridge at US-Mexico border

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden during his visit to the United States. He will also participate in the first in-person QUAD leaders' summit in Washington on Sept 24th. On September 25, he will address the UN general debate of the UN General Assembly at its 76th session.

WION-USA Direct: Indian PM Modi to hold bilateral meeting with President Biden in Washington

It has been 12 months since the historic Abraham Accords were signed at the White House. A year later, Ghadi Francis takes a look at what the normalisation deals have achieved in the region.

The West Asia Post: The Abraham accords, a year later

Gravitas will be taking you to the United States for the upcoming Modi-Biden bilateral & the first-ever in-person QUAD summit. From Monday onwards, join Palki Sharma every evening at 9 PM IST & 3:30 PM GMT for live broadcasts from Washington DC & New York.

Next Week: Gravitas Live from the United States

Aukus has created a full-fledged international dispute. An outraged France has called off an event in Washington DC. Paris is keen to recoup billions of dollars it lost after Australia broke a submarine contract. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Aukus has created a new problem for the United States

The John Deere tractor pulled onto Broadway and rumbled into the madness.

On a Friday night in the heart of Nashville, as crowds and music spilled from packed clubs, it lumbered along at 5 mph, tugging a canopied trailer with flashing lights and a group of friends from Denver sipping drinks and dancing to Shania Twain.

It wasn’t especially conspicuous. The Big Green Tractor, as it’s called, passed an open-air school bus crammed with partyers, and then another, and another. It also crept beside a vehicle with women leaning over a railing in tank tops printed with the slogan “Let’s Get Nashty!”

The tractor hadn’t even made it a mile.

“It’s the Wild West out here,” Ronee Heatherly said from her perch behind the bar of the Big Green Tractor, where she served variously as safety monitor, bartender, DJ, photographer, tour guide and taunter of ride-share drivers blocking the tractor’s path. (She blasted the Ludacris song “Move” as she stared them down.)

As Nashville has cemented its reputation as a destination for getaways and bachelorette trips, party vehicles have proliferated, promising a rollicking good time and quite a stage to see and be seen while exploring the city. But there’s a growing sense — among residents, local officials, even some in the so-called transportainment industry — that it has all gotten out of hand.

“We made the monster, and now we can’t control the monster,” said Steve Haruch, a journalist and the editor of the book “Greetings From New Nashville.” “It’s the plot of every monster movie.”

The menagerie on Nashville streets includes — but is by no means limited to — a truck with a hot tub, a bus packed with electric massage chairs, a Ford pickup retrofitted into a “party barge” with waves painted on the side and “Ship Faced” stamped on the tailgate, retired military vehicles, a purple bus with drag performers, an old school bus named Bev adorned with antlers, and yet another old bus, with antlers, named Bertha.

City officials estimate as many as 40 companies operate vehicles on weekends. About 20 were launched in the past six months alone.

The expanding multitude of vehicles has stirred concerns about safety, noise and traffic, given the parade of fuming drivers often trailing them. But the consternation also reflects something deeper: To critics, the vehicles are a rowdy side effect of Nashville’s soaring popularity in recent years that threatens to dilute the soul that made the city so alluring to begin with.

“That is my fear, that we are losing our sense of who we are, what built our success,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., describing a version of Nashville — for generations known as the capital of country music — with an easygoing vibe and access to exceptional live music any day of the year that now must coexist with something much more decadent.

“You can have a fun, entertaining, unique experience here,” he said. “There’s nothing unique about downing 12 White Claws at 3 in the afternoon in 95-degree heat.”

Scrutiny of the transportainment industry sharpened this summer after a 22-year-old man fell off a party bus that then ran over his legs, an episode that underscored the virtual absence of safety regulations for the vehicles. A petition circulated blaming the vehicles for “causing a bigger hangover than they’re worth.” Nashville’s Metropolitan Council is now considering a proposal to rein in the industry, barring alcohol, requiring training, permits and inspections, and delineating limited areas where vehicles are authorized to operate.

Still, the vehicles have multiplied for a reason. The demand is there. They have been hired for children’s birthdays and retirement parties; a church once rented one to hand out Bibles. But transportainment is mostly associated with a revelrous side of the city that earned the nickname NashVegas, as it draws visitors for trips that — depending on how things go — could wind up being unforgettable or entirely forgotten.

Some in the industry contend that unruly outliers overshadow responsible businesses with passengers safely enjoying themselves at no one else’s expense.

Hell on Wheels, a company that deploys converted military cargo trucks, has strict rules: No music with explicit lyrics. No inflatable penises, an item that is popular with bachelorette parties. The last ride is done by 10:30 p.m.

“It’s not always about being loud and ridiculous on Broadway,” said Nicholas Lyon, an owner of the company, which is named after an armored tank division of the U.S. Army.

That said, he added, Nashville will always be a lively place, and the riders on party vehicles have been an ingredient in the city’s success. “Those ‘woo’ girls are literally the heartbeat of our economy,” Lyon said of downtown tourism. “If someone is looking for quiet Mayberry, you move to Brentwood, you move to Franklin.”

(Brentwood and Franklin are Nashville suburbs where, coincidentally, residents called the police last year with complaints about noise and indecent exposure after party vehicles displaced by the city’s temporary coronavirus limits on gathering places ventured farther afield.)

Lyon said he is a reluctant supporter of regulations. He worries that restrictions that are too onerous could choke the life out of businesses like his, which he started three years ago.

Yet he considers the free-for-all nature of the industry just as much of a threat. It is open to pretty much anyone with the desire and access to an old school bus. (Craigslist in Nashville has some listed for as little as $5,800.) There are no safety requirements or insurance mandates specifically related to transportainment, and most of the vehicles are not regulated by the local government, people in the industry and city transportation officials said.

“We need these bad apples out of here,” Lyon said.

After the city’s pandemic restrictions were eased in the spring, party vehicles started populating the streets again, making it possible on a weekday afternoon to see two roofless old buses, a converted pink SUV and a farm tractor and trailer at a single intersection.

The industry is largely concentrated in the Lower Broadway district, the nucleus of the Nashville that tourists come to see — a sort of Tennessee take on Times Square, with bright lights and beloved old haunts crowded alongside big brands and behemoth multistory bars linked to major music stars (Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk &amp; Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse, for example).

On a recent evening, the Big Green Tractor started its jaunt a few blocks from Broadway in the alley behind a liquor store, where riders could stock up.

Once the passengers boarded, Heatherly discussed the rules and issued a warning: Break them, and she would have no problem stopping the tractor, forcing everyone off and riding away.

She pointed to a metal railing around the trailer. “My husband used to say, this is for your safety, not your booty,” she said, moving swiftly to the next edict: “If you puke on this wagon, it will cost you some money.”

“Nobody puke!” one of the riders called out.

It turned out to be a lovely night: A day of rain gave way to a breeze and open skies. The women from Denver swayed and shimmied as Heatherly worked her way through a playlist of country hits and party staples: the Walker Hayes song “Fancy Like,” Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Big and Rich’s “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).” She fast-forwarded to get to the good part of the Backstreet Boys song “Everybody.”

The tractor wasn’t on Broadway for long. The densest section of the thoroughfare was limited to pedestrians, sending the vehicle on a slow-moving obstacle course of narrow streets, jaywalkers, idling Ubers, lifted pickups and 90-degree turn after 90-degree turn.

The driver, Cole Canada, seemed to take it in stride.

“It hurts me to see Cole up there driving,” Heatherly said, “because my husband should be up there.” Her husband, Rickie, died in June; they had been married for 42 years. The business had been Rickie Heatherly’s creation, and he was an expert driver, she said, maneuvering the wagon into tight spaces others would not dare attempt.

Cheree Jubin, whose wedding in the fall was the impetus for the trip, stood on the wagon’s wooden bench. “Everyone needs to raise their glass to Rickie!” she said as her friends cheered.

“I’ve really loved it,” Jubin said of the evening. “I didn’t expect it to be as beautiful as it was.”

The tractor had crossed the Cumberland River, stopping at a truck stop for a restroom break. Then, it wove around the stadium where the Tennessee Titans play, headed for the ideal spot for Heatherly to take the group’s photo. The women stood huddled together with the neon from Broadway and the lights from the skyline looming behind them and reflecting off the river.

But the quiet was fleeting. A roofless school bus, with speakers thumping, was already waiting, its riders eager to get the same shot.

The John Deere tractor pulled onto Broadway and rumbled into the madness. On a Friday night in the heart of Nashville, as crowds and music spilled from packed clubs, it lumbered along at 5 mph, tugging a canopied trailer with flashing lights and a group of friends from Denver sipping drinks and dancing to Shania Twain.

The John Deere tractor pulled onto Broadway and rumbled into the madness. On a Friday night in the heart of Nashville, as crowds and music spilled from packed clubs, it lumbered along at 5 mph, tugging a canopied trailer with flashing lights and a group of friends from Denver sipping drinks and dancing to Shania Twain. It wasn’t especially conspicuous. The Big Green Tractor, as it’s called, passed an open-air school bus crammed with partyers, and then another, and another. It also crept beside a vehicle with women leaning over a railing in tank tops printed with the slogan “Let’s Get Nashty!” The tractor hadn’t even made it a mile. “It’s the Wild West out here,” Ronee Heatherly said from her perch behind the bar of the Big Green Tractor, where she served variously as safety monitor, bartender, DJ, photographer, tour guide and taunter of ride-share drivers blocking the tractor’s path. (She blasted the Ludacris song “Move” as she stared them down.) As Nashville has cemented its reputation as a destination for getaways and bachelorette trips, party vehicles have proliferated, promising a rollicking good time and quite a stage to see and be seen while exploring the city. But there’s a growing sense — among residents, local officials, even some in the so-called transportainment industry — that it has all gotten out of hand. “We made the monster, and now we can’t control the monster,” said Steve Haruch, a journalist and the editor of the book “Greetings From New Nashville.” “It’s the plot of every monster movie.” The menagerie on Nashville streets includes — but is by no means limited to — a truck with a hot tub, a bus packed with electric massage chairs, a Ford pickup retrofitted into a “party barge” with waves painted on the side and “Ship Faced” stamped on the tailgate, retired military vehicles, a purple bus with drag performers, an old school bus named Bev adorned with antlers, and yet another old bus, with antlers, named Bertha. City officials estimate as many as 40 companies operate vehicles on weekends. About 20 were launched in the past six months alone. The expanding multitude of vehicles has stirred concerns about safety, noise and traffic, given the parade of fuming drivers often trailing them. But the consternation also reflects something deeper: To critics, the vehicles are a rowdy side effect of Nashville’s soaring popularity in recent years that threatens to dilute the soul that made the city so alluring to begin with. “That is my fear, that we are losing our sense of who we are, what built our success,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., describing a version of Nashville — for generations known as the capital of country music — with an easygoing vibe and access to exceptional live music any day of the year that now must coexist with something much more decadent. “You can have a fun, entertaining, unique experience here,” he said. “There’s nothing unique about downing 12 White Claws at 3 in the afternoon in 95-degree heat.” Scrutiny of the transportainment industry sharpened this summer after a 22-year-old man fell off a party bus that then ran over his legs, an episode that underscored the virtual absence of safety regulations for the vehicles. A petition circulated blaming the vehicles for “causing a bigger hangover than they’re worth.” Nashville’s Metropolitan Council is now considering a proposal to rein in the industry, barring alcohol, requiring training, permits and inspections, and delineating limited areas where vehicles are authorized to operate. Still, the vehicles have multiplied for a reason. The demand is there. They have been hired for children’s birthdays and retirement parties; a church once rented one to hand out Bibles. But transportainment is mostly associated with a revelrous side of the city that earned the nickname NashVegas, as it draws visitors for trips that — depending on how things go — could wind up being unforgettable or entirely forgotten. Some in the industry contend that unruly outliers overshadow responsible businesses with passengers safely enjoying themselves at no one else’s expense. Hell on Wheels, a company that deploys converted military cargo trucks, has strict rules: No music with explicit lyrics. No inflatable penises, an item that is popular with bachelorette parties. The last ride is done by 10:30 p.m. “It’s not always about being loud and ridiculous on Broadway,” said Nicholas Lyon, an owner of the company, which is named after an armored tank division of the U.S. Army. That said, he added, Nashville will always be a lively place, and the riders on party vehicles have been an ingredient in the city’s success. “Those ‘woo’ girls are literally the heartbeat of our economy,” Lyon said of downtown tourism. “If someone is looking for quiet Mayberry, you move to Brentwood, you move to Franklin.” (Brentwood and Franklin are Nashville suburbs where, coincidentally, residents called the police last year with complaints about noise and indecent exposure after party vehicles displaced by the city’s temporary coronavirus limits on gathering places ventured farther afield.) Lyon said he is a reluctant supporter of regulations. He worries that restrictions that are too onerous could choke the life out of businesses like his, which he started three years ago. Yet he considers the free-for-all nature of the industry just as much of a threat. It is open to pretty much anyone with the desire and access to an old school bus. (Craigslist in Nashville has some listed for as little as $5,800.) There are no safety requirements or insurance mandates specifically related to transportainment, and most of the vehicles are not regulated by the local government, people in the industry and city transportation officials said. “We need these bad apples out of here,” Lyon said. After the city’s pandemic restrictions were eased in the spring, party vehicles started populating the streets again, making it possible on a weekday afternoon to see two roofless old buses, a converted pink SUV and a farm tractor and trailer at a single intersection. The industry is largely concentrated in the Lower Broadway district, the nucleus of the Nashville that tourists come to see — a sort of Tennessee take on Times Square, with bright lights and beloved old haunts crowded alongside big brands and behemoth multistory bars linked to major music stars (Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse, for example). On a recent evening, the Big Green Tractor started its jaunt a few blocks from Broadway in the alley behind a liquor store, where riders could stock up. Once the passengers boarded, Heatherly discussed the rules and issued a warning: Break them, and she would have no problem stopping the tractor, forcing everyone off and riding away. She pointed to a metal railing around the trailer. “My husband used to say, this is for your safety, not your booty,” she said, moving swiftly to the next edict: “If you puke on this wagon, it will cost you some money.” “Nobody puke!” one of the riders called out. It turned out to be a lovely night: A day of rain gave way to a breeze and open skies. The women from Denver swayed and shimmied as Heatherly worked her way through a playlist of country hits and party staples: the Walker Hayes song “Fancy Like,” Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Big and Rich’s “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).” She fast-forwarded to get to the good part of the Backstreet Boys song “Everybody.” The tractor wasn’t on Broadway for long. The densest section of the thoroughfare was limited to pedestrians, sending the vehicle on a slow-moving obstacle course of narrow streets, jaywalkers, idling Ubers, lifted pickups and 90-degree turn after 90-degree turn. The driver, Cole Canada, seemed to take it in stride. “It hurts me to see Cole up there driving,” Heatherly said, “because my husband should be up there.” Her husband, Rickie, died in June; they had been married for 42 years. The business had been Rickie Heatherly’s creation, and he was an expert driver, she said, maneuvering the wagon into tight spaces others would not dare attempt. Cheree Jubin, whose wedding in the fall was the impetus for the trip, stood on the wagon’s wooden bench. “Everyone needs to raise their glass to Rickie!” she said as her friends cheered. “I’ve really loved it,” Jubin said of the evening. “I didn’t expect it to be as beautiful as it was.” The tractor had crossed the Cumberland River, stopping at a truck stop for a restroom break. Then, it wove around the stadium where the Tennessee Titans play, headed for the ideal spot for Heatherly to take the group’s photo. The women stood huddled together with the neon from Broadway and the lights from the skyline looming behind them and reflecting off the river. But the quiet was fleeting. A roofless school bus, with speakers thumping, was already waiting, its riders eager to get the same shot.

In the heart of Nashville, rolling parties rage at every stoplight

NATO military chief on Saturday played down the dispute between France and the US over the latter handing over a nuclear submarine contract, saying that the tensions between the two nations won’t have an impact on "military cooperation"&nbsp;within the group.

"There might be implications or consequences as a result of this agreement but I don't foresee for the moment it will have an impact on the cohesion within NATO,” Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, told reporters in Athens.

“First of all, as far as I know, Australia is a partner but it's not part of the NATO organisation. There are many agreements among nations that might have an affect on NATO on the political side.&nbsp;

"But for now, it will not have an affect as far as I can see on the military cooperation within NATO," Bauer added following NATO military chiefs of defence conference.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-does-aukus-mean-for-india-413632/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Thursday, France accused Australia of “backstabbing” and Washington of “Donald Trump-era behaviour” after Canberra scrapped a huge submarines deal with Paris and went for nuclear subs from the US.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-kept-india-in-loop-regarding-aukus-at-the-highest-level-413782">Australia kept India in loop regarding Aukus at the highest-level</a>

France's Naval Group, partly owned by the state, had been chosen to build 12 conventionally-powered submarines for Australia, based on France’s Barracuda nuclear-powered subs in development.

However on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced a new Australia-US-Britain defence alliance (AUKUS), extending US nuclear submarine technology to Australia as well as cyber defence, applied artificial intelligence and undersea capabilities.

The pact, widely seen as aimed at countering the rise of China, infuriated France, which lost its contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia that was worth Aus$50 billion ($36.5 billion) when signed in 2016.

As a result, French President Emmanuel Macron recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia on Friday.&nbsp;

A White House official expressed "regret" over the French envoy's recall but added "we will continue to be engaged in the coming days to resolve our differences, as we have done at other points over the course of our long alliance".

(With inputs from agencies)

NATO military chief on Saturday played down the dispute between France and the US over the latter handing over a nuclear submarine contract, saying that the tensions between the two nations won’t have an impact on "military cooperation" within the group.

NATO military chief on Saturday played down the dispute between France and the US over the latter handing over a nuclear submarine contract, saying that the tensions between the two nations won’t have an impact on "military cooperation" within the group. "There might be implications or consequences as a result of this agreement but I don't foresee for the moment it will have an impact on the cohesion within NATO,” Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, told reporters in Athens. “First of all, as far as I know, Australia is a partner but it's not part of the NATO organisation. There are many agreements among nations that might have an affect on NATO on the political side. "But for now, it will not have an affect as far as I can see on the military cooperation within NATO," Bauer added following NATO military chiefs of defence conference. Watch On Thursday, France accused Australia of “backstabbing” and Washington of “Donald Trump-era behaviour” after Canberra scrapped a huge submarines deal with Paris and went for nuclear subs from the US. Also read | Australia kept India in loop regarding Aukus at the highest-level France's Naval Group, partly owned by the state, had been chosen to build 12 conventionally-powered submarines for Australia, based on France’s Barracuda nuclear-powered subs in development. However on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced a new Australia-US-Britain defence alliance (AUKUS), extending US nuclear submarine technology to Australia as well as cyber defence, applied artificial intelligence and undersea capabilities. The pact, widely seen as aimed at countering the rise of China, infuriated France, which lost its contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia that was worth Aus$50 billion ($36.5 billion) when signed in 2016. As a result, French President Emmanuel Macron recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia on Friday. A White House official expressed "regret" over the French envoy's recall but added "we will continue to be engaged in the coming days to resolve our differences, as we have done at other points over the course of our long alliance". (With inputs from agencies)

AUKUS row won’t impact military cooperation: NATO military chief

A top US general has admitted that the country made a mistake when it launched a drone strike against suspected ISIS terrorists in Kabul. The strike killed 10 civilians including children.

Top US general admits mistake when launching drone strike against ISIS terrorists

An extremely&nbsp;rare&nbsp;original&nbsp;copy&nbsp;of the American&nbsp;constitution, signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, will soon be auctioned with an estimated value of between $15 million and $20&nbsp;million,&nbsp;Sotheby's&nbsp;announced Friday.

It is one of only 11 known surviving copies and will be sold in New York in November, the&nbsp;auction&nbsp;house said.

Sotheby's&nbsp;is exhibiting until Sunday a private collection of American constitutional documents dating from the revolutionary period, 1776 to 1789.

Included is the&nbsp;constitution, signed on September 17, 1787 at Philadelphia's Independence Hall by America's founding fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison and ratified the following year.

"It's incredibly&nbsp;rare," said Selby Kiffer, a manuscripts and ancient books expert at&nbsp;Sotheby's, noting that it was probably printed on the eve of the signing.

"This was probably printed in an edition of 500 copies. Now only eleven are known to survive and this is the only one in private hands," he said.

Kiffer doesn't worry if the famous document, with those immortal opening words "We the People", goes abroad, even though he thinks it will stay in the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aukus-angry-france-cancels-gala-event-in-washington-413759">Also read |&nbsp;Aukus: Angry France cancels gala event in Washington</a>

"It's the longest-serving charter&nbsp;of government in the world. I think it's already been a model for other constitutions around the world," he explained.

"But I think when it comes down to it, no one values American history more highly than Americans and I would be surprised that the new owner was not an American," Kiffer added.

The document is in excellent condition and currently belongs to American collector Dorothy Tapper Goldman.

Sotheby's&nbsp;is exhibiting the collection of American constitutional history at a time of tense and polarised political atmosphere in the US.

On Saturday, supporters of former president Donald Trump are due to demonstrate in support of rioters arrested for storming the US Capitol on January 6.

"I think it's very interesting the&nbsp;constitution&nbsp;is always in debate but I think under the current political climate it's as much discussed now as it was when it was being debated for ratification," said Kiffer.

An extremely rare original copy of the American constitution, signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, will soon be auctioned with an estimated value of between $15 million and $20 million, Sotheby's announced Friday.

An extremely rare original copy of the American constitution, signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, will soon be auctioned with an estimated value of between $15 million and $20 million, Sotheby's announced Friday. It is one of only 11 known surviving copies and will be sold in New York in November, the auction house said. Sotheby's is exhibiting until Sunday a private collection of American constitutional documents dating from the revolutionary period, 1776 to 1789. Included is the constitution, signed on September 17, 1787 at Philadelphia's Independence Hall by America's founding fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison and ratified the following year. "It's incredibly rare," said Selby Kiffer, a manuscripts and ancient books expert at Sotheby's, noting that it was probably printed on the eve of the signing. "This was probably printed in an edition of 500 copies. Now only eleven are known to survive and this is the only one in private hands," he said. Kiffer doesn't worry if the famous document, with those immortal opening words "We the People", goes abroad, even though he thinks it will stay in the United States. Also read | Aukus: Angry France cancels gala event in Washington "It's the longest-serving charter of government in the world. I think it's already been a model for other constitutions around the world," he explained. "But I think when it comes down to it, no one values American history more highly than Americans and I would be surprised that the new owner was not an American," Kiffer added. The document is in excellent condition and currently belongs to American collector Dorothy Tapper Goldman. Sotheby's is exhibiting the collection of American constitutional history at a time of tense and polarised political atmosphere in the US. On Saturday, supporters of former president Donald Trump are due to demonstrate in support of rioters arrested for storming the US Capitol on January 6. "I think it's very interesting the constitution is always in debate but I think under the current political climate it's as much discussed now as it was when it was being debated for ratification," said Kiffer.

Rare US constitution copy tipped for $20 million sale at auction

Thousands of Haitian migrants have assembled under and around a bridge in a small Texas border town, presenting the Biden administration with a fresh and immediate challenge as it tries to manage large numbers of asylum-seekers who have been reaching U.S. soil.

More than 10,000 undocumented migrants reach US from Haiti

The United States and European Union on Friday made a joint&nbsp;pledge to cut global methane emissions by almost a third in the next decade. The climate experts have hailed this as one of the most significant steps yet towards fulfilling the Paris climate agreement.

This comes after the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, warned of a “high risk of failure” at the vital UN climate talks, Cop26, set for Glasgow this November.

As per the plan between US and the EU, a target has been set of cutting at least 30 per cent from global methane emissions, based on 2020 levels, by 2030.&nbsp;

If adopted around the world, this would reduce global heating by 0.2C by the 2040s, compared with likely temperature rises by then. The world is now about 1.2C hotter than in pre-industrial times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-tourists-talk-to-tom-cruise-from-orbit-413892">Also read |&nbsp;SpaceX tourists talk to Tom Cruise from orbit</a>

Boris Johnson said the UK would be one of the first to join the US-EU methane pledge when it opens for more signatories at Cop26.&nbsp;

During a meeting of world leaders from major economies on Friday, he said, “Over the last 30 years the UK has cut emissions of methane by something like 60%. And there are good commercial uses for methane, you can use it to make fabrics, you can use it to make antifreeze. So the world could slash its output of this powerful greenhouse gas tomorrow if we wanted to.”

Also, the UN published a report which has revealed that the current pledges on emissions from national governments would result in an increase of 16 per cent in emissions in 2030 compared with 2010 levels, whereas scientists warn that emissions must fall by 45 per cent in that period to stay within 1.5C.&nbsp;

The OECD published another report showing that climate finance funding from private and public sources that flows from the rich world to developing countries was falling about $20 billion short of a longstanding target of $100 billion a year.

The United States and European Union on Friday made a joint pledge to cut global methane emissions by almost a third in the next decade. The climate experts have hailed this as one of the most significant steps yet towards fulfilling the Paris climate agreement.

The United States and European Union on Friday made a joint pledge to cut global methane emissions by almost a third in the next decade. The climate experts have hailed this as one of the most significant steps yet towards fulfilling the Paris climate agreement. This comes after the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, warned of a “high risk of failure” at the vital UN climate talks, Cop26, set for Glasgow this November. As per the plan between US and the EU, a target has been set of cutting at least 30 per cent from global methane emissions, based on 2020 levels, by 2030. If adopted around the world, this would reduce global heating by 0.2C by the 2040s, compared with likely temperature rises by then. The world is now about 1.2C hotter than in pre-industrial times. Also read | SpaceX tourists talk to Tom Cruise from orbit Boris Johnson said the UK would be one of the first to join the US-EU methane pledge when it opens for more signatories at Cop26. During a meeting of world leaders from major economies on Friday, he said, “Over the last 30 years the UK has cut emissions of methane by something like 60%. And there are good commercial uses for methane, you can use it to make fabrics, you can use it to make antifreeze. So the world could slash its output of this powerful greenhouse gas tomorrow if we wanted to.” Also, the UN published a report which has revealed that the current pledges on emissions from national governments would result in an increase of 16 per cent in emissions in 2030 compared with 2010 levels, whereas scientists warn that emissions must fall by 45 per cent in that period to stay within 1.5C. The OECD published another report showing that climate finance funding from private and public sources that flows from the rich world to developing countries was falling about $20 billion short of a longstanding target of $100 billion a year.

US and EU pledge 30 per cent cut in methane emissions

A few hours after the French government expressed disagreement and anger over the new ‘Aukus’ alliance, the European country has recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia.

Several nations and world leaders were left shocked and surprised as the US, UK and Australia announced a new alliance in front of the world.

While China fumed over the new alliance’s harsh stance on the Asian country, the European Union (EU) claimed they were unaware of this new friendship.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-china-fumes-over-new-alliance-taiwan-thanks-australia-and-us-for-firm-and-open-support-of-ausuk-413773">As China fumes over new alliance, Taiwan thanks Australia and US for 'firm and open support' of Aukus</a>

However, the biggest setback came for the French government, who claim Australia abandoned its deal with Paris to buy French submarines in favour of US vessels.&nbsp;

On Friday, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian&nbsp;confirmed that the decision to recall ambassadors from the US and Australia was taken due to "the exceptional seriousness of the announcements made on September 15 by Australia and the United States".

The announcement came a few hours after France called off a gala at its ambassador's house in Washington which was scheduled for Friday. This event was organsied to celebrate the anniversary of a decisive naval battle in the American Revolution.

France has accused the US and Australia of practicing morally incorrect practices. "It's really a stab in the back," Le Drian said Thursday. "We had established a relationship of trust with Australia, this trust has been betrayed".

Emmanuel Macron-led government had a pending deal with Australia. After the announcement, France lost the contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia that was worth Aus$50 billion (31 billion euros, $36.5 billion) when signed in 2016.

French minister lashed out at US President Joe Biden and compared him to his predecessor, Donald Trump. "This brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump used to do," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Franceinfo radio. "I am angry and bitter. This isn't done between allies."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-aukus-has-created-a-new-problem-for-the-united-states-413866">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-aukus-has-created-a-new-problem-for-the-united-states-413866/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, Australia and US have been trying to make it up to the angered nation.

Australia said that while it understands France’s anger, the country hopes it will continue working closely with Paris.

Australia said Friday it hoped to keep working closely with France but understood its "disappointment" with the scrapping of a major submarine deal.

"I absolutely understand the disappointment. There's no doubt that these are very difficult issues to manage," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in Washington. "But we will continue to approach constructively and closely with our colleagues in France."

She also added that the Australian government understands the importance of France’s work in the Pacific region. The minister added that she hopes the Australian government can work with the French government "to make sure that they do understand the value that we place on the role that they play and do understand the value we place on the bilateral relationship and the work that we want to continue to do together."

The US too is hoping to sort out the matter with France during the United Nations General Assembly&nbsp;being held in the country next week.

"We hope to continue our discussion on this issue at the senior level in coming days, including at #UNGA next week," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement on Twitter.

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[1 of 3]: We have been in close contact with our French allies. We understand their position, and we are aware of their plans to recall Ambassador Etienne to Paris for consultations. France is a vital partner &amp; our oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship. <a href="https://t.co/xLci8Y8V6V">pic.twitter.com/xLci8Y8V6V</a>
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDeptSpox/status/1439027696730845184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"We have been in close contact with our French allies. We understand their position," Price said. "France is a vital partner &amp; our oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship."

A few hours after the French government expressed disagreement and anger over the new ‘Aukus’ alliance, the European country has recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia.

A few hours after the French government expressed disagreement and anger over the new ‘Aukus’ alliance, the European country has recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia. Several nations and world leaders were left shocked and surprised as the US, UK and Australia announced a new alliance in front of the world. While China fumed over the new alliance’s harsh stance on the Asian country, the European Union (EU) claimed they were unaware of this new friendship. Also read | As China fumes over new alliance, Taiwan thanks Australia and US for 'firm and open support' of Aukus However, the biggest setback came for the French government, who claim Australia abandoned its deal with Paris to buy French submarines in favour of US vessels. On Friday, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that the decision to recall ambassadors from the US and Australia was taken due to "the exceptional seriousness of the announcements made on September 15 by Australia and the United States". The announcement came a few hours after France called off a gala at its ambassador's house in Washington which was scheduled for Friday. This event was organsied to celebrate the anniversary of a decisive naval battle in the American Revolution. France has accused the US and Australia of practicing morally incorrect practices. "It's really a stab in the back," Le Drian said Thursday. "We had established a relationship of trust with Australia, this trust has been betrayed". Emmanuel Macron-led government had a pending deal with Australia. After the announcement, France lost the contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia that was worth Aus$50 billion (31 billion euros, $36.5 billion) when signed in 2016. French minister lashed out at US President Joe Biden and compared him to his predecessor, Donald Trump. "This brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump used to do," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Franceinfo radio. "I am angry and bitter. This isn't done between allies." WATCH | Meanwhile, Australia and US have been trying to make it up to the angered nation. Australia said that while it understands France’s anger, the country hopes it will continue working closely with Paris. Australia said Friday it hoped to keep working closely with France but understood its "disappointment" with the scrapping of a major submarine deal. "I absolutely understand the disappointment. There's no doubt that these are very difficult issues to manage," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in Washington. "But we will continue to approach constructively and closely with our colleagues in France." She also added that the Australian government understands the importance of France’s work in the Pacific region. The minister added that she hopes the Australian government can work with the French government "to make sure that they do understand the value that we place on the role that they play and do understand the value we place on the bilateral relationship and the work that we want to continue to do together." The US too is hoping to sort out the matter with France during the United Nations General Assembly being held in the country next week. "We hope to continue our discussion on this issue at the senior level in coming days, including at #UNGA next week," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement on Twitter. [1 of 3]: We have been in close contact with our French allies. We understand their position, and we are aware of their plans to recall Ambassador Etienne to Paris for consultations. France is a vital partner & our oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship. pic.twitter.com/xLci8Y8V6V — Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) September 18, 2021 × "We have been in close contact with our French allies. We understand their position," Price said. "France is a vital partner & our oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship."

'Just like Trump': France recalls ambassadors from US, Australia over Aukus nuclear submarine deal

Contributing to a growing humanitarian crisis, some 10,000 migrants have gathered under a US-Mexico border bridge over recent days. The bridge connects Del Rio in Texas to Mexico's Ciudad Acuña and the temporary camp there has grown rapidly in recent days.

Contributing to a growing humanitarian crisis, some 10,000 migrants have gathered under a US-Mexico border bridge over recent days. The bridge connects Del Rio in Texas to Mexico's Ciudad Acuña and the temporary camp there has grown rapidly in recent days. The Haitian migrants, who have crossed the Rio Grande, are sleeping under the bridge in squalid conditions. Earlier this year, it was reported that the number of migrants who were detained at the US-Mexico border in July exceeded 200,000 for the first time in 21 years. Also, just last month, the authorities arrested more than 195,000 migrants at the Mexican border, according to government data released. This summer's numbers represent a significant increase from the 51,000 arrested in August 2019. Also read | 'We apologize': US admits Kabul airstrike killed 10 civilians, not ISIS-K militants The migrants are said to be mostly Haitians, with some Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans also present. According to reports by the Washington Post, they appear to be part of a larger wave of Haitians heading north, many of whom arrived in Brazil and other South American nations after the 2010 earthquake. As per Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano, more than 10,500 migrants were under the Del Rio International Bridge as of Thursday evening. In a statement issued by the border patrol, they said that it was increasing staffing in Del Rio to facilitate a "safe, humane and orderly process". "To prevent injuries from heat-related illness, the shaded area underneath Del Rio International Bridge is serving as a temporary staging site while migrants wait to be taken into USBP (US Border Patrol) custody," it added.

Thousands gather under bridge at US-Mexico border amid growing migrant crisis

A top U.S. military commander has conceded as a 'mistake' the drone strike by the American forces in Kabul last month, targeting ISIS-K terrorists days after a suicide bombing at the city airport, that killed 10 civilians, including up to seven children. Watch this report for more details.

US admits strike in Kabul was a mistake

In the year 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 United States gathered in Philadelphia to try to create something they desperately need, a government that actually works.

The entire process began in York, Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

In 1777 the Continental Congress, meeting in the York County Courthouse after fleeing the British occupation of Philadelphia approves the Articles of Confederation. The article achieves two lasting results - it names the new country “The United States of America,” and it gives York bragging rights as the first capital of the country.

In order to maintain the sovereignty of the individual states, the creators of the Articles of Confederation made the central government too weak to hold things together.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/september-17-in-history-first-space-shuttle-tamils-recognition-and-more-328063">Also read |&nbsp;September 17 in history: First space shuttle, Tamil's recognition and more</a>

Therefore, in 1787 the delegates at what will become known as the Constitutional Convention start the task of revising the Articles of Confederation.&nbsp;

From May to September the delegates worked on the same.&nbsp;

On September 17, the delegates gathered one last time, and voted to present their finished product to the Confederation Congress, and signed the Constitution.

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the new Constitution.&nbsp;

After a period of 230 years and 27 amendments, the basic framework remains unchanged.

Constitution Day dates back to 1940 when Congress and the President passed a resolution creating “I Am an American Day".&nbsp; 
This was done to recognize new American citizens, to be observed on the third Sunday in May.&nbsp;

Then In 1952, the holiday is renamed “Constitution Day” and the date moved to September 17.&nbsp;

In 2004 Congress changed the name of the holiday to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.&nbsp;

So the day now honours both the Constitution and those who choose to live under that Constitution.

On the occasion, US President Joe Biden highlighted how American democracy requires our constant care, vigilance, and full participation to determine the course and conscience of our Union.&nbsp;

"As President, I swore an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, and I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we uphold and strengthen this remarkable system of self-government for future generations ready to put their own shoulders to the wheel", he wrote in a press release.

In the year 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 United States gathered in Philadelphia to try to create something they desperately need, a government that actually works.

In the year 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 United States gathered in Philadelphia to try to create something they desperately need, a government that actually works. The entire process began in York, Pennsylvania. In 1777 the Continental Congress, meeting in the York County Courthouse after fleeing the British occupation of Philadelphia approves the Articles of Confederation. The article achieves two lasting results - it names the new country “The United States of America,” and it gives York bragging rights as the first capital of the country. In order to maintain the sovereignty of the individual states, the creators of the Articles of Confederation made the central government too weak to hold things together. Also read | September 17 in history: First space shuttle, Tamil's recognition and more Therefore, in 1787 the delegates at what will become known as the Constitutional Convention start the task of revising the Articles of Confederation. From May to September the delegates worked on the same. On September 17, the delegates gathered one last time, and voted to present their finished product to the Confederation Congress, and signed the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the new Constitution. After a period of 230 years and 27 amendments, the basic framework remains unchanged. Constitution Day dates back to 1940 when Congress and the President passed a resolution creating “I Am an American Day". This was done to recognize new American citizens, to be observed on the third Sunday in May. Then In 1952, the holiday is renamed “Constitution Day” and the date moved to September 17. In 2004 Congress changed the name of the holiday to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. So the day now honours both the Constitution and those who choose to live under that Constitution. On the occasion, US President Joe Biden highlighted how American democracy requires our constant care, vigilance, and full participation to determine the course and conscience of our Union. "As President, I swore an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, and I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we uphold and strengthen this remarkable system of self-government for future generations ready to put their own shoulders to the wheel", he wrote in a press release.

September 17 celebrated as US Constitution Day: History and Significance

With the increase in the cases of coronavirus in the United States, religious exemptions grow, but the vaccine hesitancy soars in the faith group. Watch this report in this video.

US : COVID-19 vaccine mandate kicks in , religious exemptions grow

Australia and the United States announced expanded military cooperation, including rotational deployments of all types of US military aircraft to Australia, a day after announcing a submarine deal denounced by China as intensifying a regional arms race. Watch this report for more details.

Australia and United States announce expanded military cooperation

What is Aukus? The United States, The United Kingdom and Australia have announced a new security pact to counter China. The US & the UK plan to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Palki Sharma tells you all that you need to know.

Gravitas: Is the West dumping Quad for Aukus?

With the US out of Afghanistan after 20 years, some experts say China and Pakistan are stepping in to provide both immediate support and the prospect of long-term investment for the Taliban acting government in Kabul. WION-VOA co-production brings you a report.

China, Pakistan sent food and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Will the new US-Australia-UK alliance sideline the QUAD? Has Europe lost out in the battle for dominance in the Indo-Pacific? Palki Sharma tells you how the world reacted to AUKUS.

Gravitas: What does AUKUS mean for India?

US medical experts will be meeting on&nbsp;Friday to debate and vote on the controversial question of giving out booster doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to the general population.

President Joe Biden's administration announced in August a plan to roll out third shots to everyone, not just the immune compromised already able to receive them, starting from September 20. However, the&nbsp;experts have since expressed reservations about whether they are required, amid concerns over global inequity, the greater need to vaccinate the unvaccinated, and possible increased risk of side effects.

The skepticism extends to scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who struck a cautious tone in documents released ahead of Friday's meeting where an independent panel has been convened. "Overall, data indicate that currently US-licensed or authorised COVID-19 vaccines still afford protection against severe Covid-19 disease and death in the United States," the FDA said in a briefing document.

If the FDA panel votes yes, it will fall to another committee convened by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 22-23 to decide who should receive the booster first and when they should get it. The CDC has previously indicated it sees the elderly, nursing home residents and health care workers as likely first in line.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lanternfly-poses-threat-after-being-spotted-in-the-central-park-in-nyc-413620">Also read |&nbsp;Lanternfly poses threat after being spotted in the Central Park in NYC</a>

Two senior FDA officials signed on to a letter in The Lancet this week that said "booster doses for the general population are not appropriate at this stage in the pandemic."

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a>a new study has revealed that the people who were administered Moderna’s Covid vaccine a year ago are more likely to contract coronavirus.</a>

Moderna is suggesting the usage of a Covid booster shot — which the World Health Organization (WHO) has protested. 
"It is promising to see clinical and real-world evidence adding to the growing body of data on the effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine," Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said insisting on the need of a booster shot.&nbsp;

 
"The increased risk of breakthrough infections in COVE study participants who were vaccinated last year compared to more recently illustrates the impact of waning immunity and supports the need for a booster to maintain high levels of protection."

US medical experts will be meeting on Friday to debate and vote on the controversial question of giving out booster doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to the general population.

US medical experts will be meeting on Friday to debate and vote on the controversial question of giving out booster doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to the general population. President Joe Biden's administration announced in August a plan to roll out third shots to everyone, not just the immune compromised already able to receive them, starting from September 20. However, the experts have since expressed reservations about whether they are required, amid concerns over global inequity, the greater need to vaccinate the unvaccinated, and possible increased risk of side effects. The skepticism extends to scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who struck a cautious tone in documents released ahead of Friday's meeting where an independent panel has been convened. "Overall, data indicate that currently US-licensed or authorised COVID-19 vaccines still afford protection against severe Covid-19 disease and death in the United States," the FDA said in a briefing document. If the FDA panel votes yes, it will fall to another committee convened by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 22-23 to decide who should receive the booster first and when they should get it. The CDC has previously indicated it sees the elderly, nursing home residents and health care workers as likely first in line. Also read | Lanternfly poses threat after being spotted in the Central Park in NYC Two senior FDA officials signed on to a letter in The Lancet this week that said "booster doses for the general population are not appropriate at this stage in the pandemic." Meanwhile, a new study has revealed that the people who were administered Moderna’s Covid vaccine a year ago are more likely to contract coronavirus. Moderna is suggesting the usage of a Covid booster shot — which the World Health Organization (WHO) has protested. "It is promising to see clinical and real-world evidence adding to the growing body of data on the effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine," Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said insisting on the need of a booster shot. "The increased risk of breakthrough infections in COVE study participants who were vaccinated last year compared to more recently illustrates the impact of waning immunity and supports the need for a booster to maintain high levels of protection."

US medical experts to vote on Pfizer COVID-19 boosters

The USA has reportedly asked United Nations Security Council to extend sanctions waiver for more than a dozen top Taliban officials to travel abroad for discussions on Afghanistan's stability. Foreign Policy has reported that this request has come just over a month when US warned that UN sanctions on Taliban leaders' travel would be reimposed if the Taliban did not desist from perpetrating violence in Afghanistan.

Taliban has since come to power in Afghanistan and has solidified its grip on almost the entire country.

As per the media report, the waiver on Taliban leaders travel was to end on September 20. But now the US has requested it be extended to December 22.

Moreover, US requests that Taliban leaders be allowed to withdraw money from their frozen accounts for the purpose of their travel. However, as per the note, the travel should be to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

USA or the international community has not formally recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan yet. On Friday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that its engagement in Afghanistan will remain suspended till there is some clarity among countries about recognition to the Taliban regime.

The USA has reportedly asked United Nations Security Council to extend sanctions waiver for more than a dozen top Taliban officials to travel abroad for discussions on Afghanistan's stability.

The USA has reportedly asked United Nations Security Council to extend sanctions waiver for more than a dozen top Taliban officials to travel abroad for discussions on Afghanistan's stability. Foreign Policy has reported that this request has come just over a month when US warned that UN sanctions on Taliban leaders' travel would be reimposed if the Taliban did not desist from perpetrating violence in Afghanistan. Taliban has since come to power in Afghanistan and has solidified its grip on almost the entire country. As per the media report, the waiver on Taliban leaders travel was to end on September 20. But now the US has requested it be extended to December 22. Moreover, US requests that Taliban leaders be allowed to withdraw money from their frozen accounts for the purpose of their travel. However, as per the note, the travel should be to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. USA or the international community has not formally recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan yet. On Friday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that its engagement in Afghanistan will remain suspended till there is some clarity among countries about recognition to the Taliban regime.

US requests UN to extend waiver on Taliban travel ban: Report

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