WorldThe TelegraphHow Hamas pierced Israel's famous Iron Dome shield
Israel's military was facing questions on Wednesday as to whether its Iron Dome missile defence system needed an upgrade, after five Israeli civilians were killed by rocket strikes. The system, which Israeli officials say has a 90 per cent interception rate, has already avoided heavy loss of life in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and other cities which became a focal point for Hamas as it sought to overwhelm air defences. But on Wednesday, Israeli analysts said that for some time intelligence sources had been warning that Hamas had significantly improved its weaponry, to the extent that it could "pierce the Iron Dome shield."
U.S.TheGrioBlack Dunkin’ Donuts manager charged after fatally punching man who called him slur
When a Dunkin' customer hurled racist slurs at an employee, he was met with a punch to the head that proved to be fatal. This is when he began arguing with the store's Black manager, Corey Pujols. Pujols, 27, told police that the man was being “extremely rude” and called him a racial slur.
WorldReutersPro-Russian lawmaker leaves Ukraine prosecutors after reading charges
Viktor Medvedchuk, the Kremlin's most prominent ally in Ukraine, left the office of the Prosecutor General on Wednesday after reading the charges against him without being detained, Interfax news agency reported. Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday put Medvedchuk under formal suspicion for high treason as part of a crackdown on his circle that has fuelled tensions between Kyiv and Moscow. Prosecutors have said they are seeking to detain the opposition party leader and businessman on suspicion of treason and the attempted plundering of national resources in Crimea, the territory that was annexed by Russia in 2014.
U.S.NBC NewsFirefighters to be fired in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash scene photo scandal, court docs say
The Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking graphic photos at the scene of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and sharing them with their wives and girlfriends, according to court documents filed this week. The disclosure was made by lawyers for the late basketball star's wife, Vanessa Bryant, in court documents related to her invasion of privacy lawsuit against Los Angeles County. The two firefighters were sent "intention to discharge" letters in December after a fire department internal investigation concluded they had taken photos of the dead bodies in the helicopter wreckage that "served no business necessity" and "only served to appeal to baser instincts and desires for what amounted to visual gossip," Bryant's attorneys said in a declaration in support of delaying the lawsuit trial to allow time for additional investigation.
WorldAxiosOver 70 dead in worst bombardments between Israel and Hamas for years
Israeli firefighters and security forces inspect damages at a house in Yehud, near Tel Aviv, after rockets were launched toward Israel from Gaza Strip on May 12. Photo: Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images A fire rages at sunrise in Khan Yunish following an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on May 12. Photo: Youssef Massoud/AFP via Getty Images Smoke billows on May 12 at Ashkelon's refinery, hit by Hamas rockets the previous day in southern Israel, near the Gaza Strip.
U.S.Architectural DigestHouse Call: This Is the Comfort You Need
In support of plump, fluffy, puffy furniture Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.Associated PressWitness: Man angered by Texas deputies in yard killed them
A West Texas man accused of fatally shooting two sheriff's deputies was angry they were in his yard trying to catch a dog and he told them he would open fire if they didn't leave, a witness said. They walked up towards him, rushed him, and he pulled a gun, and shots were fired,” David Hutchings told the San Angelo Standard-Times. The shooting happened Monday evening in Eden, a city of about 1,300 people roughly 210 miles (340 kilometers) southwest of Dallas.
PoliticsThe WeekRepublican congressman defends Capitol rioters, says Ashli Babbitt was 'executed'
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) claimed that Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, was "executed." CLIP: @RepGosar at January 6th U.S. Capitol Attack hearing: "The DoJ is harassing peaceful patriots across the country." During Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing, Gosar asked former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, "Who executed Ashli Babbitt?" He made sure to first mention that "Babbitt was unarmed," and then "referred to her death as a homicide," reports Vice News.
PoliticsAxiosFormer Trump White House counsel Don McGahn agrees to House panel interview on Russia report
Former White House counsel Don McGahn agreed Wednesday to speak with the House Judiciary Committee about the Russia investigation that led to the impeachment trial of former President Trump — with certain conditions, per a court filing. Why it matters: The agreement ends a two-year standoff after McGahn, a key player in former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, repeatedly refused to agree to a subpoena for testimony — resulting in the matter being taken to court.
U.S.Miami HeraldMiami man who bought Lamborghini with COVID-19 relief money sentenced to six years
A Miami businessman was sentenced to more than six years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to fleecing millions from a federal COVID-19 relief program and buying luxury items with the money, including a $318,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo. David T. Hines, 29, arrested last July, was ordered by a Miami federal judge to turn over the luxury Italian sports car and $3.4 million that he received in government loans. Hines, who owned South Florida moving businesses, applied to the Bank of America for seven loans under a Small Business Administration program.
HealthReutersDelaying second COVID-19 vaccine doses can help reduce deaths - study
Giving a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine but delaying a second dose among people younger than 65 could lead to fewer people dying of the disease, but only if certain conditions are met, a predictive modelling study showed. For example, Pfizer has said there is no clinical evidence to support Britain's decision to extend the gap between doses of its vaccine to 12 weeks, but data from the rollout in England shows protection against death of around 80% from one dose, with a 70% decline in infections. The U.S. study, published in the BMJ British medical journal, used a simulation model based on a "real-world" sample of 100,000 U.S. adults and ran a series of scenarios to forecast potentially infectious interactions under different conditions.
BusinessBBCUS inflation sees biggest jump since 2008
Consumer prices jumped 4.2% in the 12 months through to April, up from 2.6% in March and marking the biggest increase since September 2008. The report from the US Labor Department comes amid fears that rising consumer prices could push up interest rates. Inflation, which measures the rate at which the prices for goods and services increase, was pushed up by higher prices for cars and food in April.
PoliticsAssociated PressLiz Cheney says Trump and GOP backers threaten democracy
A combative Rep. Liz Cheney lashed out at leaders of her own Republican Party late Tuesday, taking to the House floor on the eve of her near-certain ouster from a leadership post to warn that former President Donald Trump and his GOP supporters are threatening to “undermine our democracy.” In an abruptly announced evening appearance in a nearly empty House chamber, Cheney, R-Wyo., cast herself as a defender of the Constitution. “Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar,” she said, adding, “I will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president's crusade to undermine our democracy.”
U.S.Associated PressEx-cops in Floyd death claim witness coercion, harm of leak
Attorneys for three former Minneapolis officers awaiting trial in George Floyd's death will be in court Thursday to argue pretrial motions, including a request that prosecutors be sanctioned after media reports that Derek Chauvin had planned to plead guilty a year ago, and allegations that they haven't disclosed information about the alleged coercion of a witness. Attorneys for Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao have said they want the court to require prosecuting attorneys to submit affidavits under oath that they aren't responsible for the leak to the media. In a filing late Wednesday, Thao's attorney also alleged that the Hennepin County medical examiner was coerced to include “neck compression” in his findings — and that prosecutors knew of it.
- HealthYahoo News Video
Can the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility? Yahoo News Explains
One of the many persistent falsehoods spread on social media about the vaccines for COVID-19 is that they cause infertility. Dr. Lusine Aghajanova, an assistant clinical professor at the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Stanford, told Yahoo News that these false claims about the coronavirus vaccines affecting fertility in both men and women are “concerning” and have no “scientific basis.
U.S.Idaho StatesmanTwo planes collide in Colorado sky — but no one was injured, officials say. How?
A single-engine plane collided with a jet in the Colorado sky, officials said. The planes collided in midair above Cherry Creek State Park at about 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office officials said during a news briefing. The single-engine Cirrus SR-22 plane crashed in a field, officials said, but it deployed a parachute before hitting the ground.
WorldThe Telegraph‘Does he not feel he disrespected himself?’: David Cameron faces Greensill grilling
MPs are set to ask David Cameron on Thursday whether he feels he has demeaned himself and his position as a former British prime minister by lobbying for Greensill Capital. The Treasury committee will take evidence from Mr Cameron from 2.30pm over lessons learned from the debacle engulfing the collapsed lender. The Telegraph understands that members of the committee plan to interrogate the former prime minister over what checks he performed on the controversial finance firm before taking on a role as a paid adviser.
BusinessBBCColonial Pipeline: US fuel firm resumes service after cyber-attack
The operator of the biggest fuel pipeline in the US announced it would resume operations on Wednesday evening after a five-day closure. A ransomware cyber-attack forced Colonial Pipeline to shut down the main part of its network on Friday. Colonial Pipeline warned in a press release that it could take several days for the delivery supply chain to return to normal.
PoliticsPoliticoMcCarthy after ousting Cheney: 'I don’t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election'
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday papered over the significant skepticism of the 2020 presidential election within the GOP just hours after his conference deposed Rep. Liz Cheney for criticizing fellow Republicans over that very issue. I don't think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election,” McCarthy said after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House alongside other congressional leaders. McCarthy's comments run counter to the the campaign he greenlighted to boot Cheney (R-Wyo.
U.S.Raleigh News and ObserverStocking up on gas is ‘dangerous, not necessary,’ SC Gov. McMaster says, urging calm
Editor's note: Check out our coverage on how to safely handle and store gasoline as well as what is (and isn't gas) causing fuel prices to increase in South Carolina. The gasoline supply problems started Friday when the Colonial Pipeline system, which runs from Texas to New Jersey and serves 70% of the oil supplies to Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Southern Virginia, shut down. The halt in fuel movement came as a result of a group of Russian criminals hacking the Colonial Pipeline, according to the FBI.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderJoe Manchin says he won't support extending the $300 federal weekly unemployment benefit from Biden's stimulus
"We need people back to work," West Virginia's Democrat senator told Politico. There's some division among Democrats on whether the Biden stimulus measure should be renewed. Sen. Joe Manchin said he won't back extending the $300 federal unemployment benefit from President Joe Biden's stimulus, which could possibly torpedo the jobless measure once it expires on Sept. 6.
U.S.The IndependentFlorida cheerleader, 13, was stabbed to death in ‘horrific’ murder, sheriff’s department says
Tristyn Bailey, the 13-year-old Florida cheerleader who was found dead in a wooded area after being reported missing, was stabbed to death, the sheriff's department revealed. The child went missing in St Johns County, Florida, on Sunday and was found dead hours later. “This is a cold-blooded murder of a 13-year-old young girl who did not deserve to die,” St Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick told local news outlet WJXT.
WorldArchitectural Digest31 Glass Coffee Tables for Any and Every Living Room
Could we be any clearer? Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.The StateWoman says she was kicked out of Six Flags over her shorts. Here’s what the park says
A woman said a Six Flags officer threatened and body shamed her over shorts that were deemed too short for the Oklahoma amusement park. Bailey Breedlove — who documented her April 30 experience at the Oklahoma City park on TikTok and Facebook — said she has since been banned from Six Flags. In a statement issued Tuesday night, the theme park gave a different account of what happened.
WorldBusiness InsiderRepublicans like Ted Cruz and Stephen Miller are cheering on Andrew Yang after he posted a pro-Israel tweet amid violent clashes with Palestinians
Israel and Hamas exchanged fire amid new clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli police. The Democrat Andrew Yang weighed in on the issue, tweeting his support for Israel on Monday night. Yang's comments got support from Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz, Meghan McCain, and Stephen Miller.
“If Facebook lets Trump back on Facebook and Instagram, he'll assuredly restart his assault on democracy.”
“Facebook should have known better than to believe that it could limit speech on its platform without setting a terrible precedent.”
“Providing a microphone and an amplifier for deceit isn't fighting the good fight for free speech.”
“It’s no defense of Mr. Trump’s conduct to say that the digital public square shouldn’t suppress speech by political leaders.”
“The former president no longer gets the ‘head of state’ exception to terms of service.”