Flores doesn’t wake up until one of the officers knocks on his window — startling him awake — despite authorities trying to open the driver’s door and flashing him with lights.
Day: September 17, 2025
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded the company together in 1978.
But the mayor escalated the debate, telling Barham, “Although you live here, you are not welcome here.”
Jonah Tong, who did not record three outs in his most recent outing, is set to get the ball Thursday for the series finale against the Padres.
Charlie Kirk was killed at a college campus event in Utah on Sept. 10.
Students Protest Fuel Subsidy Elimination in Quito
On September 16, 2025, hundreds of university students marched in Quito to oppose President Daniel Noboa’s recent decision to eliminate the diesel subsidy, a measure announced just days earlier. The protesters demanded Noboa’s ouster, asserting that the removal of the subsidy will increase their cost of living, reports 24brussels.
The demonstration, which began at the Central University of Ecuador (UCE), progressed through key streets in the historic center of Quito, with chants of “Noboa out” echoing among the participants.
Their aim was to reach the Carondelet Palace and take over Plaza Grande symbolically. However, police and military personnel barricaded streets with metal barriers to obstruct access. Tensions escalated as protesters hurled stones, leading to police deploying tear gas and stun grenades around 5:40 p.m. local time to disperse the crowd.
The march was organized in response to Decree 126, signed by Noboa on September 12, which abolished a diesel subsidy valued at USD 1.1 billion annually. Will Chuquimarca, a representative of the University Council, announced that protests and assemblies would continue until the decree is rescinded, warning that increased fuel prices would lead to greater costs for essential goods.
Prior to the diesel subsidy’s termination, President Noboa had already removed previous subsidies for Extra and Eco País gasoline, two of the most common fuels in Ecuador. This action marks a significant step in the gradual elimination of fuel subsidies—a move that past presidents Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso had attempted but ultimately abandoned due to significant social unrest and large-scale protests led by the Indigenous movement.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), the country’s largest social organization, has called for the repeal of Noboa’s latest measure and has hinted at the potential for renewed demonstrations in the days ahead.
As this situation unfolds, the political landscape in Ecuador remains tense, with rising public discontent over economic measures that many citizens feel disproportionately affect them, particularly students and low-income families.
Israeli conductor Lahav Shani has publicly responded to the cancellation of his scheduled concert with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra at Flanders Festival Ghent, stating that the event organizers had “yielded to political pressures” and expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Bart De Wever for his support, reports 24brussels.
The festival organizers announced the cancellation of Thursday’s concert due to Shani’s affiliation with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, citing their inability to provide “sufficient clarity” regarding his stance on the Israeli government’s actions. The board confirmed the cancellation on Monday, which led to the resignation of two members in protest.
“Over the last days, I found myself along with two of the orchestras dearest to my heart, the Munich Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic, unwillingly swept into an unexpected public storm that quickly escalated into a diplomatic incident,” Shani stated in a message posted on the orchestra’s website on Tuesday.
The management of the Ghent festival “acted under the pretense that ‘music should be a source of connection and reconciliation’,” according to Shani.
“But in doing so, they emptied this statement of all meaning, yielding to political pressures, demanding that I make a political declaration despite my long-standing and publicly expressed commitment to peace and reconciliation.”
‘Deeply distressing’
Shani reflected on the attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023, describing them as “horrific and unprecedented,” resulting in the deaths of 1,175 people and the abduction of 251 others.
“Israeli society continues to mourn the consequences of Hamas’s inhumane attack and longing for the return of 48 civilians who are still held hostage in unbearable conditions,” he added.
“Yet, I, like many Israelis, have not abandoned my human values. The images and testimonies coming out of Gaza are deeply distressing, and it is impossible to remain indifferent to the suffering of civilians in Gaza amidst the catastrophe this war has brought upon them. Everything must be done to end the war as soon as possible and begin the long process of healing and rebuilding for both societies.”
Damaged reputation
The cancellation has sparked controversy, with Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez from the Vooruit party supporting the decision, while the N-VA party condemned it as discriminatory.
In response to the cancellation, two members of the festival’s board of directors, Christoph D’Haese and Annemie Charlier of the N-VA, resigned on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever, also from the N-VA, criticized the decision and attended a concert led by Shani in Germany this week to help restore Belgium’s reputation, which he believes has suffered due to the incident.
“It was also profoundly meaningful that the Prime Minister of Belgium expressed his solidarity by attending our concert last Saturday in Essen,” Shani noted.
He and the Munich Philharmonic received a standing ovation in Berlin on Monday following a last-minute invitation to perform after the Ghent concert’s cancellation.
Barry Furfey, 42, died in hospital on Monday after being discovered seriously injured.
If the school districts don’t come into to compliance with federal law by Friday, the Trump administration will not certify their multi-million dollar magnet school grant applications.
The “Tonight Show” host said the royal couple are the president’s “second-favorite king and queen, next to Burger and Dairy.”