8.8 Earthquake Hits Russia’s Far East, Tsunami Alerts Issued; NYC Holds Prayer Vigil for Victims | NTD Good Morning (July 30)

A powerful 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula overnight. It triggered tsunami waves of over 15 feet on the Russian coast, damaging buildings. Japan issued evacuation orders along much of its eastern coast, and Hawaii urged coastal residents to move to higher ground. A tsunami wave over 5 feet high was reported on the north-central shore of Maui in Hawaii.

New York City held a vigil in Manhattan on Tuesday evening for the victims of Monday’s shooting at 345 Park Avenue, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam. The others killed include a Cornell graduate, a Blackstone executive, and a security guard. The gunman took his own life. A note left by the shooter has led officials to believe he may have wanted to target the NFL office in the building, blaming his time playing high school football for a brain injury.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposal to rescind a 2009 finding that linked human-caused climate change to public health risks. The EPA said in a statement that if the proposal is finalized, it will reinstate choice and reduce costs for consumers. The proposal cites new data that, according to the EPA, challenges certain assumptions on climate change. The announcement was condemned by environmental groups.