In February, several major U.S. media outlets had reported findings about Russia attempting to develop an anti-satellite nuclear weapon based in space that could pose a threat to national and international security.

The resolution also affirmed the obligation of all states that are party to it fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, "including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner."

—dpa

LA Metro declares emergency over attacks on bus operators

LOS ANGELES — The stabbing of a bus driver in Willowbrook this month amid a spate of increasingly violent assaults on public transit operators prompted transit officials this week to declare an emergency to speed up the building of enclosed protective barriers for drivers.

"These incidents have occurred with no prompting or warning and have created an environment of increased risk and trauma as assailants are resorting to the use of deadly weapon such as guns and knives," Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority senior officials wrote in a report to the agency's board this week, asking it to approve the new barriers. "Given this crisis situation, it is imperative that Metro retrofit all buses with fully enclosed barriers."

The "emergency condition" allows Metro to bypass regular procurement policy in order to buy tempered glass that had been limited by supply chain disruptions.

—Los Angeles Times

Gov. Kemp signs bill outlawing property squatting in Georgia

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill Wednesday criminalizing property squatting after a surge of reports about the practice in Atlanta and Georgia.

The governor’s approval comes amid an increase in national stories about trespassers seizing control of vacant homes, violently clashing with Realtors and landlords, trashing properties, and terrorizing homeowners.

According to some, Atlanta is a magnet for the practice, whereby people illegally enter vacant properties and claim tenancy or ownership.

After signing House Bill 1017, or the Georgia Squatter Reform Act, Kemp described the problem as “fairly limited” but said squatting is a headache for property owners.

“The problem is the squatters have figured out ways to circumvent the law,” he said. “We’re addressing that by increasing the penalties [and] also speeding up the timeframe to get these individuals out of the houses.”

—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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