| Hanging deaths of Black men raise fears and echoes of an ugly era in history Posted: 24 Jun 2020 08:11 AM PDT  Four Black men have died by hanging over the past month as protests against police brutality and racist violence have rocked the country. And there's reason to doubt they were suicides.
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| Trump's 200th judge called for "complete and immediate reversal" of Roe v. Wade Posted: 25 Jun 2020 07:33 AM PDT  The new federal judge also indicated he believed abortion should be illegal in all cases, even to save the life of the woman.
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| 3 North Carolina police officers were fired after they were heard on camera making racist comments, including one threatening to 'slaughter' Black people in a new civil war Posted: 25 Jun 2020 04:27 AM PDT  James Gilmore, Jesse Moore II, and Kevin Piner had been on the force for more than 20 years. Their conversations were caught on an in-car camera.
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| What is Kim Jong-un Planning? Posted: 25 Jun 2020 07:27 AM PDT  Just when you think an off-ramp between the two Koreas is increasingly difficult to spot, North Korea's Central Military Commission unexpectedly provides one.
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| US records highest one-day total in coronavirus cases since April Posted: 24 Jun 2020 03:17 PM PDT  * US federal government starts to roll back testing program * Americans urged to stick to guidelines as several states hit by increasesThe US has recorded a one-day total of 34,700 new Covid-19 cases, the highest level since late April, when the number peaked at 36,400, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.A coronavirus resurgence is wiping out two months of progress in the US and sending infections to worrying new levels in southern and western states.Administrators and health experts warned on Wednesday that politicians and a public that, in many cases, is tired of being cooped up are letting a disaster unfold.While new infections have been declining steadily in early hotspots such as New York and New Jersey, several other states set single-day records this week, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma.North Carolina and South Carolina joined some other states in breaking hospitalization records."People got complacent," said Marc Boom, the chief executive of the Houston Methodist hospital system. "And it's coming back and biting us, quite frankly."With the US death toll creeping towards 122,000 on Wednesday, and confirmed cases at almost 2.4 million for the US, a widely-cited University of Washington computer model of the outbreak projected nearly 180,000 deaths by 1 October.Stocks slid on Wall Street as the news dampened hopes for a quick economic turnaround. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 700 points for a drop of 2.7%. The broader S&P 500 fell 2.6%.Experts urged Americans to continue following guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus as, in total, seven states reported record-high hospitalizations and 19 others saw new cases rising compared to last week.The increase is hitting states which eased lockdown restrictions in the past month. The federal government is also starting to roll back testing programs, including in states most affected by the resurgence in cases.The record-high hospitalizations indicate the rise in cases is not simply because of increased testing, a point confirmed by the leading public health expert on the White House coronavirus task force, Anthony Fauci, and in sharp contrast to views put forward by Donald Trump.Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner, said on Wednesday he expected that hospitals in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona would need to again suspend elective surgeries in order to have capacity to deal with coronavirus patients."They're going to be on a trajectory to get overwhelmed again," Gottlieb said on CNBC.Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers warned the national case count is going in the "wrong direction".Rivers, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said in addition to her concerns about the increase in hospitalizations, she was worried about the higher percentage of positive tests."In some ways this feels worse than April, because at least then there was energy around gaining control," Rivers tweeted. "I sense less of that now."Rivers is one of several public health experts to express concern that people are taking public health guidance less seriously though the threat of infection remains.States across the US have eased lockdown restrictions, but with inconsistent policies on what can open, where crowds can gather and how much these rules are enforced. Outside a Trump rally in Phoenix on Tuesday, few people wore masks and social distancing guidelines were ignored.Despite eased restrictions across the country, it is still important to follow local health guidance. This includes wearing masks, frequent hand washing and isolating if experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.> The safest place for you is at your home> > Greg AbbottTexasgovernor Greg Abbott urged people to stay at home, as a children's hospital in Houston was forced to admit adults because of increasing coronavirus cases. Texas began lifting its shutdowns on 1 May and hospitalizations have doubled and new cases have tripled in two weeks. Abbott told local station KFDA-TV that the state is facing a "massive outbreak".Meanwhile on Wednesday, California reported over 7,100 new cases in 24 hours, an all-time high. Florida's single-day count surged to 5,500, a 25% jump from the record set last week and triple the level of two weeks ago.Amid the increase in cases, the Trump administration is ending funding and support for 13 testing sites in states including Texas this month, local officials told Talking Points Memo.Rocky Vaz, the director of emergency management for the city of Dallas, told the website that the city had asked the federal government to extend the testing program but it refused.Testing is crucial for monitoring the spread of the illness and for helping people to know when to isolate and warn others of possible exposure.Republican senator John Cornyn of Texas offered a rare rebuke of the president from the GOP over the president's decision to wind down funding for testing sites – including some in Texas."I know there's concern, concern I share, over some of the statements being made about withdrawing federal support for coronavirus testing in Texas at the end of June," Cornyn said. "It's pretty clear to me, and I think it's clear to all of us, that with the uptick of cases, now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing."He called on the White House to extend federal support for Texas, "at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed".And a spokesman for Ted Cruz, the other Republican senator of Texas, told NBC News that he "has urged and will continue to urge [health officials] to extend the community testing sites in Texas".
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| Prosecutor decides not to charge officer who shot Black teen Posted: 24 Jun 2020 07:37 AM PDT  A South Carolina prosecutor said Wednesday that he will not file charges against the white police officer who fatally shot a Black teenager who pointed a gun at the officer as he ran away. Josh Ruffin, 17, was an immediate threat to the safety of the officers and others when he stopped during the chase and pointed a gun at Columbia police Officer Kevin Davis, Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson said at a news conference. Davis had reason to chase the teen because he was outside during the COVID-19 shutdown order during and a neighborhood leader had just reported suspicious activity in an area with a higher than average crime rate, Gipson said.
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| Comey Told Obama that Flynn’s Conversations with Russian Ambassador ‘Appear Legit,’ According to Strzok Notes Posted: 24 Jun 2020 08:47 AM PDT  Former FBI director James Comey told President Obama that the 2016 conversations between Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and incoming national-security adviser Michael Flynn were not criminal in nature, according to notes from former agent Peter Strzok released by Flynn's legal team.The page of notes was taken by Strzok appears to describe a January 5, 2017 meeting of President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and national security officials. This meeting occurred amid accusations that incoming Trump administration officials had colluded with Russian operatives. Strzok was not present at the meeting, and it is unclear what record of the meeting he consulted in taking the notes.Strzok writes that "P," presumably President Obama, asked, "Is there anything I shouldn't be telling transition team?"Strzok records that "D," or Director Comey, responded "Kislyak calls but appear legit."> ALSO JUST IN: Flynn legal team files a page of Strzok's notes, which appear to describe the Jan. 5 meetign with Obama and natsec team> > Notes indicate Biden mentioned the Logan Act, but entirely devoid of context. pic.twitter.com/lGsj0DepHm> > -- Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 24, 2020In transcripts of conversations between Flynn and Kislyak released on May 29 of this year, Flynn is recorded asking the Russian ambassador not to escalate tensions in response to U.S. sanctions. Those sanctions were implemented by the Obama administration following reports that Russia attempted to interfere in the U.S. general election.Strzok's notes also indicate that "VP" Biden mentioned the "Logan Act" during the meeting, although the context of Biden's remark is unclear. The Logan Act of 1799 forbids U.S. citizens from intervening in disputes with foreign nations without authorization. The law has been cited only twice in U.S. history in two cases in the 1800's and no one has ever been found guilty of violating the statute.While the FBI had monitored Flynn's conversations with Kislyak, the agency moved to close the case on January 4, 2017, indicating it had found "no derogatory information" on Flynn. However, that same day Strzok intervened to keep the case open. Strzok told an unknown individual that day that the "7th floor [is] involved," apparently referring to senior FBI leadership at the bureau's headquarters.Strzok was fired by the FBI after anti-Trump texts between him and agency lawyer Lisa Page were revealed."Your excessive, repeated, and politically charged text messages while you were assigned as the lead case agent on the FBI's two biggest and most politically sensitive investigations in decades, demonstrated a gross lack of professionalism and exceptionally poor judgement," the Justice Department said in 2019.
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| U.S. agency prepares for massive staff cuts in blow to legal immigration system Posted: 24 Jun 2020 11:42 AM PDT  The U.S. agency in charge of processing immigration applications said on Wednesday it was preparing to furlough nearly 70% of its workforce unless it received fresh funding, a move employees say could bring an already backlogged system to a virtual halt. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is dependent on fees from new immigration applications for its operations and is facing a historic budget shortfall. Republican President Donald Trump has made cutting legal and illegal immigration a centerpiece of his 2020 re-election campaign.
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| DNC announces sweeping changes to convention, but Biden will still accept nomination in Milwaukee Posted: 25 Jun 2020 08:58 AM PDT  Even as Democrats downsize their convention, they say former Vice President Joe Biden will still formally accept the nomination in Milwaukee.
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| The founder of CrossFit — who just exited the CEO role amid controversy two weeks ago — is now selling the iconic gym brand Posted: 24 Jun 2020 08:26 AM PDT  CrossFit founder Greg Glassman to sell company after "FLOYD-19" and sexism controversies. The new owner will be the third CEO in a month.
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| Caribbean hit with large Saharan dust cloud headed toward the U.S. Posted: 23 Jun 2020 04:07 PM PDT  A massive cloud of Saharan dust has overtaken parts of the Caribbean, turning blue skies into a brown haze and sparking health warnings across the region as it caused air quality to fall to unhealthy levels.
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| A police officer charged with assaulting Black youths has worked for 9 different police departments, collecting use-of-force incidents and complaints along the way Posted: 24 Jun 2020 12:34 PM PDT  Camden County prosecutors charged Officer Ryan Dubiel with assault, alleging he pepper-sprayed the youths "without provocation" on June 4.
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| US states reimpose virus measures as cases near record Posted: 24 Jun 2020 07:29 PM PDT  More than 35,900 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, with heavily populated states including Florida, Texas and California all reporting daily record cases. Three northeastern states that made progress beating back the pandemic -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- urged visitors arriving from US hotspots to quarantine themselves. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the advisory applied to visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah and Texas.
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| Meng Wanzhou: Trudeau rejects calls to release top Huawei executive Posted: 25 Jun 2020 10:08 AM PDT  The PM is under pressure to release Meng Wanzhou in order to help free two detained Canadians.
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| Exclusive: U.S. warns Russia, China of U.N. isolation if Iran arms ban extension blocked Posted: 24 Jun 2020 09:07 AM PDT  Russia and China will be isolated at the United Nations if they continue down the "road to dystopia" by blocking a U.S. bid to extend a weapons ban on Iran, U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook told Reuters ahead of his formal pitch of the embargo to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. The 13-year-old arms restrictions on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
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| US citizens likely to be left out as Europe reopens borders Posted: 24 Jun 2020 03:58 AM PDT  Americans are unlikely to be allowed into more than 30 European countries for business or tourism when the continent begins next week to open its borders to the world, due to the spread of the coronavirus and President Donald Trump's ban on European visitors. More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe each year, and such a decision would underscore flaws in the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic, which has seen the United States record the highest number of infections and virus-related deaths in the world by far. European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1.
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| Study confirms the key symptoms to look out for in cases of COVID-19 Posted: 25 Jun 2020 03:19 AM PDT  A new large-scale review has confirmed some of the major symptoms associated with COVID-19, including a persistent cough, fever and loss of smell. Carried out by researchers from the University of Leeds, UK along with four other universities, the new review is one of the biggest so far to investigate COVID-19 symptoms and included data from 148 separate studies. In total, the researchers had access to data on 24,410 adult cases of COVID-19 in nine countries, including the UK, China and the USA, which enabled them to identify the common symptoms of the virus.
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| Seattle businesses sue authorities over ‘perpetual block party’ inside Capitol Hill protest zone Posted: 25 Jun 2020 12:41 AM PDT  About a dozen businesses and residents located around Seattle's autonomous protest zone have sued authorities who "abandoned" the area to protests.The lawsuit, submitted on Wednesday, argued that businesses in and around the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) had been "overrun" since Seattle authorities took the "unprecedented decision to abandon and close" the area.
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| RIP, F-35: Meet the Air Force and Navy’s 6th Generation Stealth Fighter Programs Posted: 25 Jun 2020 05:30 AM PDT  Though the program is full of promise, both branches have to prove to Congress that they're worth it.
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| 3 cops watched a fellow officer slowly kill George Floyd. Here's why so many officers don't intervene. Posted: 25 Jun 2020 03:33 AM PDT  Police experts told Insider there is a pervasive culture that keeps officers from reporting on each other even when they cross the line.
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| Deadly Mexico quake causes panic as buildings shake Posted: 24 Jun 2020 04:21 AM PDT  The 7.4 magnitude earthquake has killed at least six people in Oaxaca state and damaged buildings.
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| The Best Gas Grills to Rule Any Barbecue Posted: 25 Jun 2020 10:48 AM PDT |
| Bolton: Important for Americans to understand what Donald Trump really is Posted: 24 Jun 2020 04:54 PM PDT  Former National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks out about working in the Trump administration.
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| Texas calls halt to reopening as new U.S. coronavirus cases surge Posted: 25 Jun 2020 08:18 AM PDT  Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Thursday that he was halting his state's phased economic reopening in response to a jump in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, as the number of new daily cases around the country climbed to a near-record high. Texas has seen one of the biggest surges in new coronavirus cases in the United States, reporting a record of over 6,000 new cases in a single day on Monday. The state has set record hospitalizations for 13 days in a row.
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| Trump's national security adviser takes aim at China Posted: 24 Jun 2020 02:44 PM PDT  President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned China on Wednesday that the United States is waking up to the threat that it believes the Chinese Communist Party poses "to our great way of life" and will act to check the spread of Beijing's ideology. Robert O'Brien said his speech challenging China was the first of many in the coming weeks by senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray. "The days of American passivity and naivety regarding the People's Republic of China are over," O'Brien told a group business leaders in Phoenix.
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| Scottsdale councilman apologizes for saying 'I can't breathe' at anti-mask rally Posted: 24 Jun 2020 10:41 PM PDT  "It was a stupid and insensitive comment that I shouldn't have made, and I had no intention of disrespecting anybody," Guy Phillips said.
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| One Expert Fought a New Korean War in a Simulator. You Should Be Scared. Posted: 23 Jun 2020 03:00 PM PDT  A terrible scenario.
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| Fact check: Officer in Breonna Taylor killing not shot by friendly fire Posted: 24 Jun 2020 02:26 PM PDT  The claim that a Louisville officer was hurt by friendly fire at Breonna Taylor's apartment is false.
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| Azerbaijan to buy armed drones from Turkey Posted: 25 Jun 2020 08:28 AM PDT  Recently, the Azeri parliament approved a bill to receive financial assistance from Turkey to be used for the purchase of weapons systems.
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| Missing Amish Teen Went to Church on Sunday—and Never Came Home Posted: 24 Jun 2020 09:36 AM PDT  Pennsylvania authorities on Wednesday continued their massive search for an Amish teenager who disappeared on Sunday after attending a church service—a move friends and family have described as "out of character" for the "sweet girl" who never caused trouble. Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, was last seen around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at a farm on Stumptown Road in the heart of Pennsylvania's bucolic Amish country, the East Lampeter Township Police Department told The Daily Beast. Authorities said that when Stoltzfoos—who was wearing a tan dress, white apron, and white cape—failed to return to her Beechdale Road home after attending a church service just down the road, her parents became concerned and contacted police. The story was first reported by LancasterOnline. "She was a sweet, quiet girl who would never put herself in a troublesome situation," one family friend told The Daily Beast. "We are shocked—her even leaving without informing anybody where she was going is out of character. This is all out of character."Authorities also believe the teenager's disappearance is unusual, and while she is still being treated as an endangered missing person, several law enforcement agencies have joined the search. According to Pennsylvania State Police, which is also involved in the search effort, Stoltzfoos "may be at special risk of harm or injury."A spokesperson for the East Lampeter Township police said at least 100 volunteers and trained search personnel have put in 1,500 man hours into the search for the missing teenager in rural Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, the FBI joined the search, allowing authorities to use "more tools" in addition to dogs, horses, ATV equipment, and drones. East Lampeter Township detectives are interviewing family members and friends for further information about Stoltzfoos.While foul play has not been ruled out, police are "still attempting to figure out what may have happened" and are investigating "all angles" of the incident," East Lampeter Township police said."There is no reason for us to believe that she wanted to just leave," a spokesperson told The Daily Beast. "That's what makes it an unusual circumstance—it's totally out of character for Linda. This is not a normal missing person's investigation for us, I will say that. It's not typical to be receiving a missing person's case from the Amish community here."The spokesperson added that authorities Wednesday are issuing a "plea to Linda that she is not in any trouble, in the case that she left on her own free will. We just want her to contact us and let us know she is OK."Air Force Member Charged With Kidnapping, Murdering Missing Mennonite WomanTo help with the search, a Facebook page titled "Amish Girl Missing - Linda Stoltzfoos" has been created to provide updates in the teenager's case. "A new day.....the family and community will continue searching for Linda," one Wednesday post said, along with a photo of an open field. The page, adorned with photos and videos of community members volunteering to help with the search and praying for her safe return, also includes information on community prayer meetings. On Tuesday evening, a meeting was held behind the Smucker homestead in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania—where over 100 came out to pray, cry, and sing in the open field, according to LancasterOnline."Thank you everyone for your prayers and support," the Facebook post states. "We will be holding another evening of prayer and worship on behalf of Linda, her family, and the local community. Please join us in person or on Facebook Live as we intercede for Linda this evening."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| India coronavirus: US curbs 'unfair' Air India repatriation flights Posted: 24 Jun 2020 01:21 AM PDT  The Department of Transportation says US carriers are not being allowed to fly similar flights.
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| Why U.S. And EU Officials Are Worried Putin Might Make Another Move in Ukraine Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:58 PM PDT  Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent comments about the legitimacy of Russia's borders have rattled some U.S. allies
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| Saudi Cabinet denounces attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Saudi Arabia: SPA Posted: 23 Jun 2020 02:07 PM PDT |
| Who is Tammy Duckworth? Posted: 25 Jun 2020 07:43 AM PDT  As the pressure rises on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to announce a woman as his running mate, eyes have turned to Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth. Here's 5 things you need to know about her.
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| Inside the Homes and Studios of 13 American Artists Posted: 24 Jun 2020 01:30 PM PDT |
| Trump news – live: President accuses ‘crazy’ media over bad poll numbers as he loses support in six states and 1.5m Americans apply for unemployment Posted: 25 Jun 2020 07:14 AM PDT  Donald Trump has continued his attack on the media, specifically recent poll numbers showing the president down in six key battleground states. A poll released on Thursday found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the president in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.Blaming the media on his slip in the polls comes as an additional 1.5m Americans file for unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the official count to about 47.2m. Mr Trump has attempted ot curb worries about the surge in coronavirus cases by saying it's due to increased testing, but that doesn't explain an increase in hospitalisations in states like Texas.
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| New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to quarantine visitors from coronavirus hot spots Posted: 24 Jun 2020 04:24 PM PDT  The safety measure comes as states such as Florida, Arizona and Texas see record spikes in cases.
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| Businesses sue Seattle over 'occupied' protest zone Posted: 24 Jun 2020 06:50 PM PDT  A collection of Seattle businesses, property owners and residents sued the city Wednesday over its tolerance of an "occupied" protest zone, saying officials have been complicit in depriving them of their rights to their property. The plaintiffs — including a tattoo parlor, auto repair shop and property management firm — emphasized in the lawsuit that they were not trying to undermine the anti-police-brutality or Black Lives Matter messaging of the "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest." "Rather, this lawsuit is about the constitutional and other legal rights of plaintiffs — businesses, employees, and residents in and around CHOP — which have been overrun by the city of Seattle's unprecedented decision to abandon and close off an entire city neighborhood, leaving it unchecked by the police, unserved by fire and emergency health services, and inaccessible to the public at large," the lawsuit said.
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| Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ discrimination points to faith leaders' divide over gay rights Posted: 23 Jun 2020 01:40 PM PDT  Religious leaders in the U.S. are divided by a landmark Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBTQ civil rights in the workplace.
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| Marine Who Fought At Iwo Jima: A Japanese Soldier Asked Me for Hot Chocolate Posted: 25 Jun 2020 05:00 AM PDT  Even the enemy soldier wanted some.
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| Venezuela calls US warship presence 'a provocation' Posted: 24 Jun 2020 11:59 AM PDT  Venezuela accused the United States on Wednesday of "an act of provocation" after a US warship steamed close to the South American country's territorial waters the day before. The minister, a military general, made his comments in a speech to commemorate a decisive battle in Venezuela's war of independence.
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| India says China amassed troops along border in violation of agreements Posted: 25 Jun 2020 06:04 AM PDT  China has deployed large numbers of troops and weapons along a disputed Himalayan border in violation of bilateral agreements, India's foreign ministry said on Thursday, accusing Beijing of escalating tensions and triggering a deadly clash last week. "At the heart of the matter is that since early May the Chinese side had been amassing a large contingent of troops and armaments along the LAC," ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a briefing in New Delhi, referring to the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border. "This is not in accordance with the provisions of our various bilateral agreements," he said, including a 1993 treaty that dictates that both sides will maintain limited border deployments.
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| Tanzanite: Tanzanian miner becomes overnight millionaire Posted: 25 Jun 2020 02:28 AM PDT  Saniniu Laizer sold two Tanzanite stones, with a combined weight of 15kg, for £2.4m.
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