- PoliticsYahoo News
What the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings reveal about Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris's unsparing questioning of Brett Kavanaugh when the then D.C. Circuit Court judge was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump won the senator praise for her prosecutorial skill. Critics at the time, however, said Harris's treatment of Kavanaugh was an obvious and out-of-line attempt to raise her political profile. “She was extraordinarily nasty to Kavanaugh — Judge Kavanaugh then, now Justice Kavanaugh,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday during a briefing at the White House, not long after Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced Harris as his running mate.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Fox Host makes ominous prediction about Joe Biden then immediately tries to walk it back
Fox News host Jeanine Pirro suggested Wednesday night that "something" was going to happen to presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that would keep him from appearing on the ballot come November. Her comment during an appearance on "The Five" as she was answering a question about a recent poll from right-wing outlet Rasmussen that claimed more than half of its respondents didn't believe Mr Biden would survive his first term in office. "For some reason, I just have this feeling that Joe Biden isn't going to be on the ticket," Ms Pirro said.
- U.S.National Review
Oregon State Police Withdraws from Portland Courthouse after D.A. Announces He Won’t Prosecute Most Rioters
Oregon state police are backing out of an agreement to protect the Portland federal courthouse from rioters, after the Multnomah County district attorney announced he will not prosecute most rioters who are arrested. Portland has seen riots almost every night since the May death of George Floyd, an African American man killed during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers. Rioters initially targeted the federal courthouse in the city, but after federal and state law enforcement came to an agreement to jointly protect the courthouse, rioters moved on to attack city police.
- WorldNBC News
Iran briefly seized oil tanker, U.S. military says
The Iranian navy boarded and briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S., the U.S. military said Thursday. The U.S. military's Central Command published a black-and-white video showing what appeared to be special forces fast-roping down from a helicopter onto the MT Wila, whose last position appeared to be off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates near the city of Khorfakkan. The Iranian helicopter involved appeared to be a Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, which only Iran's navy operates.
- U.S.Reuters
U.S. judge dismisses NRA lawsuit challenging gun shop closures in New York state
A federal judge on Friday dismissed the National Rifle Association's lawsuit challenging New York's decision to close gun stores in the state in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision came eight days after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the gun rights group, accusing senior leaders of corruption including the improper diversion of millions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino said the NRA lacked standing to challenge on behalf of its members a March 20 executive order by Governor Andrew Cuomo requiring gun stores to close in the state because they were "non-essential" businesses.
- WorldThe Daily Beast
Paris Declared ‘Red Zone’ as Second COVID Wave Hits Spain and France
ROME—Europe is bracing for a second wave of COVID-19 as the busy tourist season reaches its peak this weekend. In France, the government on Friday declared the cities of Paris and Marseilles and the surrounding regions “red zones” after a spike in new cases sent authorities scrambling to contain outbreaks largely driven by visiting tourists and careless young people. On Thursday, France reported more than 2,500 new infections of COVID-19 for the second day in a row, taking the country back to mid-April levels, when much of Europe was on lockdown.
- WorldAFP
Venezuela jails 15 for decades over botched invasion
Venezuela on Friday sentenced 15 people to more than two decades in prison over a failed invasion plot that President Nicolas Maduro has said was an attempt to overthrow him. Amongst those jailed for 24 years was capitan Antonio Sequea, accused of leading the operation, said Attorney General Tarek William Saab. Maduro claimed it was a plot to assassinate him and install opposition leader Juan Guaido in his place, and Caracas accused US President Donald Trump of being directly responsible for the raid, in which eight attackers were allegedly killed.
- WorldAssociated Press
Hong Kong media tycoon relieved he wasn't sent to China
Jimmy Lai had just finished his morning exercise and was catching up on the news when the police arrived. “There were 15, 20 policemen there, and they said I was under arrest and that they were from the national security department,” the Hong Kong media tycoon recounted in a live-streamed video chat Thursday. Lai, 71, said he was worried he could be sent to the mainland, where the legal system has fewer protections.
- WorldLA Times
The Beirut blast leveled historic neighborhoods. Some fear developers may finish the job
That one second equaled more than 15 years of war,” Dagher said, referring to the 1975-1990 civil war that made the Lebanese capital a byword for destruction. Dagher, a 60-year-old architect, had spent decades restoring his family's elegant two-story, 4,800-square-foot house that his great-grandfather had first completed in 1875. In the eastern Beirut neighborhood of Gemmayzeh, it stood as a jewel-like example of the late Ottoman and French Mandate houses of fin-de-siecle Lebanon, with its facade of three arches and wide balconies.
- PoliticsYahoo News
Trump says he is holding up coronavirus aid to block Postal Service funds for voting by mail
President Trump on Thursday said he is withholding approval for a coronavirus relief package because Democrats want to include funds for mail-in voting. The president said Democrats want $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, $3.5 billion of which would be used to shore up infrastructure amid logistical challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is predicted to keep some voters from going to the polls in November. “They want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent, that's election money basically,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo.
- U.S.The Independent
Chainsaw-wielding men covered in blood arrested on Toronto beach
Witnesses alleged that they menaced and “charged” at various people gathered at Toronto's Cherry Beach on Sunday morning, before police quickly intervened, responding to reports of a large fight. The gatherings have become weekly occurrences during the coronavirus pandemic and are thought to be frequented by protestors against face coverings and lockdown measures. Footage showed the two men covered in blood from apparent head wounds, wielding the running saws and shouting “who hit me”.
- U.S.Yahoo News Video
Bison violently attacks motorcyclist in South Dakota
A motorcyclist has survived a violent attack by a bison in the Black Hills of South Dakota, sheriff's officials said.
- PoliticsNational Review
FBI Lawyer to Plead Guilty of Falsifying Document for Carter Page FISA Warrant
Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith will plead guilty to falsifying a document used to obtain a FISA warrant on former Trump-campaign adviser Carter Page. Clinesmith was charged in Washington, D.C., on Friday with one felony count of making a false statement, and will plead guilty in a plea deal with prosecutors conducting a criminal probe of the Russia investigation, the New York Times reported. The probe is being led by prosecutor John Durham, who was appointed to the task by Attorney General William Barr.
- U.S.NBC News
Bald eagle takes down government drone
A bald eagle took down a government drone in Michigan, state officials said Thursday. The bird of prey attacked the Phantom 4 Pro Advanced quadcopter drone about 162 feet in the sky on July 21, "tearing off a propeller and sending the aircraft to the bottom of Lake Michigan," according to the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. An environmental quality analyst and drone pilot, Hunter King, was mapping shoreline erosion on Lake Michigan with the device, which was flying at 22 mph, when it began twirling out of control and he spotted an eagle flying away, it said.
- WorldReuters
Mexican government forces out over 1,000 immigration officials accused of corruption
The Mexican government has forced the resignation or sidelined more than 1,000 immigration officials over allegations of corruption and other irregularities, a senior official said on Friday. As part of an administrative modernization plan, the National Migration Institute (INM) installed video surveillance systems at its offices that have since detected irregularities that ranged from immigration officials extorting migrants, to workers sleeping on the job. INM chief Francisco Garduno said "more than 1,040 INM public servants have had to resign or have been subject to an internal review.
- WorldAFP
US says Iran forces board ship in international waters
Iranian forces boarded a tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, using a helicopter and two ships to take over the vessel for several hours, US officials said. They also posted grainy black-and-white footage of the helicopter hovering low over the vessel and special forces personnel fast-roping onto the deck. "Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian "Sea King" helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the 'Wila'," the US Central Command said in a tweet on Wednesday.
- U.S.TODAY
3 women arrested for allegedly attacking a Chili's host for enforcing social distancing
Three women are accused of assaulting a 17-year-old restaurant hostess in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, because they were upset they could not all be seated together due to coronavirus social-distancing rules, police said. The incident occurred Sunday after a large group of women entered a Chili's restaurant and asked to be seated at the same table, Baton Rouge police said in a news release. "The employee advised the group that due to social distancing requirements, the business only allowed six at a table," the release said.
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
You Need These High-Design Lawn Games to Maximize Summer Fun
Classic lawn games are perfect for enjoying what's left of summer 2020, plus they'll look great in your yard Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- WorldThe Telegraph
Turkey threatens to cut diplomatic ties with UAE over Israel peace deal
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, has threatened to sever diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and recall his ambassador after the Gulf state signed a peace deal with Israel. As part of the deal, announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday, the UAE would become the first Gulf state to normalise relations with Israel, which in return is expected to suspend its plans for annexation of the West Bank.
- PoliticsYahoo News Video
Conservation groups condemn Trump administration plan to ease showerhead rules
The Trump administration wants to change a 28-year-old energy law to allow showerheads to let more water flow.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Antifa website redirected to Biden’s campaign site causes right-wing conspiracy meltdown
The website for anti-facist group Antifa redirected to Joe Biden's campaign website on Wednesday, which led some people to claim that the Democrats are connected to the organisation. For a few hours on Wednesday, Antifa.com redirected to JoeBiden.com, the campaign website of the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, before it returned back to the original page of the group Donald Trump has described as being run by “anarchists.” The president has attempted to categorise Antifa as a domestic terrorist organisation in recent months, following claims that some of its members engaged in violence at Black Lives Matter protests, but he is unable to do so as it is an umbrella term for various anti-facist groups.
- U.S.Miami Herald
He used social media to pimp a 14-year-old in Miami airport hotels, cops say. He’s 17
A 14-year-old runaway told cops she got sold for sex at hotels across the street from Miami International Airport up to five times a day, according to a police report. The girl said she turned all proceeds of that and future encounters over to her pimp, 17-year-old Miami resident Javier Quintero.
- U.S.NBC News
Scorching temperatures in Death Valley will shatter records in West, southwest
You know it's hot when Death Valley, California, breaks high temperature records. More than 34 million people are under excessive heat watches and warnings across California and the Southwest. This heat event will be especially dangerous due to higher than normal humidity due to tropical moisture streaming into the region from what was Hurricane Elida, which has since dissipated.
- LifestyleDelish
How To Make Mrs. Fields Famous Cookies, Plus 28 More Copycat Dessert Recipes
Knowing how to make these sweets at home is seriously dangerous. Proceed at your own risk. From Delish
- U.S.USA TODAY
A beloved lesbian baker in Detroit got a homophobic cake order. Here's why she made it anyway.
As a Black, openly gay woman, April Anderson said she is no stranger to discrimination. It was a disturbing slap in the face to Anderson and her wife and business partner, Michelle. “We are so used to being Black lesbian women,” Anderson said.
“It may be a campaign tactic, but older workers, be forewarned. Ageism runs deep in our culture.”
“Genuine concerns about the capacities of people who want the world’s most powerful job mingle bizarrely with insults.”
“Joe Biden and Donald Trump are both old. But the media should not be making mental illness a campaign issue, on either side.”
“The Trump campaign is now betting his reelection’s already slim chances on Biden proving Trump’s diagnosis is right.”
“The nightmare scenario for Democrats is that, at a pivotal moment, Biden will struggle to put together a coherent thought.”