Biden returns from world tour to find sinking popularity and spending plans in disarray

Joe Biden returned from his sojourn to the UK and Europe to face a growing list of domestic headaches as his big-spending policies stalled and were also blamed for rising inflation. While Mr Biden was meeting Vladimir Putin in Geneva a bipartisan group of 21 senators - 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats - came up with a compromise that would almost halve the amount to $1.2 trillion over eight years. The resulting gridlock explains why a Monmouth University poll this week made worrying reading for Mr Biden after Air Force One landed back in the US.

A gay couple faced harassment for 5 years. Handwriting analysis led to a suspect: A neighbor.

For five years, we were living here and wondering which of our neighbors, who were all being kind and neighborly to us, is actually harassing us,” McLean said. Then the perpetrator made a mistake. The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, signed the couple up for a Boston Globe subscription, but McLean and Furze already had a subscription.

Rumours swirl that China’s top spycatcher has defected to the US

Rumours abounded on Friday night that China's top spycatcher had defected to the US, amid a growing focus in Washington on the theory that Covid-19 escaped from a Wuhan laboratory. Dong Jingwei, vice minister of state security, was reported to have flown from Hong Kong to the US in February with his daughter. There was no confirmation of the rumoured development from either the US or China.

Why Pope Francis probably isn't worried about U.S. bishops' vote on Communion guidance

Despite opposition from the Vatican, which has cautioned Catholic leaders against politicizing the Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday voted 168-55 to advance draft guidance that could call into question whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, including President Biden, are eligible to receive Communion. Pope Francis has remained silent about the vote so far, which Vatican officials told The New York Times is a sign he's not concerned the final version of the guidance will actually pass. Writes the Times, Church law says that would require either unanimous support, or two-thirds support and Vatican approval.

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  Biden's abortion views may be scolded by U.S. bishops

  Reuters Videos
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  US Catholic bishops move toward rebuke of Biden

  Associated Press Videos

'Nobody is scared of us anymore': Why Marine Le Pen is on the cusp of first major victory

Until now, mainstream parties have kept the far-Right out through a “republican front”, namely tactical voting which often sees the Left pull out to help the mainstream Right win. That strategy may fail for the first time thanks to Mr Mariani, who jumped ship to be elected to the European parliament with Ms Le Pen's group in 2019. Nobody sincerely believes the French republic would be in danger if the National Rally and people like me clinched this region,” he claimed.

Police arrest boy, 16, in killing of teenager shot in chest in northwest Fort Worth

Police on Friday arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder in a killing six days earlier in northwest Fort Worth. Josiah Mendez was booked in connection with the slaying of Joshua Smith, 17, who was shot on June 12 in his chest at Smith's house in the 1500 block of Denver Avenue, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Fort Worth police have declined to release other information about the killing or describe its motive, and said on Friday that the investigation is incomplete.

Australia takes wine dispute with China to WTO

Australia will file a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) after China imposed up to 218% tariffs on its wine last year. China says the tariffs were increased because of trading malpractice, which Australia denies. Australia says it remains open to engaging directly with China to resolve the issue.

The Biden administration is enabling a Trump comeback

Democrats have had what any sane political party would consider a remarkable stroke of luck: Donald Trump, the leader of their opposition has (allegedly) committed many, many crimes, both while serving as president and before, and Democrats now control the federal law enforcement apparatus. As Barbara McQuade and Joyce White Vance write in The Washington Post, Trump is almost certainly guilty of obstruction of justice during the Mueller investigation, of attempting to solicit bribes from Ukraine, and of multiple campaign finance violations (and likely much, much more).

Coronavirus latest news: Further lockdowns possible during 'miserable winter', scientists warn

Exclusive: Hancock kept PM in dark over vaccines success Nicola Sturgeon must pay compensation for 'hypocritical' travel ban, Andy Burnham says ​ UK stuck in the Covid slow lane as Europe and America dance again​ ​Civil weddings to be allowed outdoors for first time from July How the world can stop future pandemics in their tracks ​'Risk-averse' NHS 111 algorithm puts pressure on ambulances A new lockdown may be introduced this winter amid a potential rise in Covid-19 cases at the end of the year, Public Health England (PHE) has warned. Dr Susan Hopkins, the strategic response director for Covid-19 at PHE, warned that hospitals could become overwhelmed.

One dead, one wounded in shootings at east Charlotte apartment community, CMPD says

One person is dead and another hospitalized after shooting broke out early Sunday in an east Charlotte apartment community, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. “Medic transported both victims to a local hospital, one with life-threatening injuries,” CMPD said in a news release. Investigators did not release details about a suspect in the case or cause for the shootings.

1 dead, 1 seriously hurt after driver crashes into crowd at Pride parade in Florida

One person was killed and another was seriously injured after a pickup slammed into the crowd at the start of a Pride parade in South Florida on Saturday night, officials said. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who was at the Stonewall Pride Parade event, along with U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ted Deutch, confirmed the incident on Twitter and said the driver was in custody. "I'm lucky to be safe," Fried tweeted.

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  Driver crashes into crowd at Pride parade in Florida; 1 dead

  Associated Press
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  Driver Crashes Into Pride Parade In South Florida, Mayor Says One Dead

  HuffPost

Mike Pence: Hecklers brand ex-VP 'traitor' at conservative conference

Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has been heckled during a speech at a conference for religious conservatives. The taunts were an apparent reaction to Mr Pence's role in validating Joe Biden's presidential election win. During his address, Mr Pence criticised the policies of Democratic US President Joe Biden and defended those of his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

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  Mike Pence called 'traitor' by hecklers in Florida

  Yahoo News
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  Conservative activists heckle Pence at conference in Florida

  Associated Press

Deutsche Bank's UK boss says she wants investment banking graduates in the office 5 days a week, even as the company moves to flexible working

Tiina Lee, Deutsche Bank's UK CEO, told Insider she wants graduates in the office five days a week. Lee said graduates learn more from speaking to their team in the office, rather than over video calls. Tiina Lee, CEO of Deutsche Bank UK and Ireland, wants investment banking graduates to be in the office five days a week, even as the company adopts a hybrid-working model.

Trump DOJ takes extreme measures to another level

In the spring of 2006, top Justice Department officials considered an extraordinary next step in a bribery investigation of a sitting House member. Then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had huddled at least twice with senior FBI officials, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty and Steven Bradbury, who led Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, before signing off on a raid of then-Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson's congressional office – an unprecedented action that would shake the political establishment to its core. Inherent in the criminal investigation were the raw political implications of a Republican administration taking on a Democratic lawmaker.

Covid: Brazil hits 500,000 deaths amid 'critical' situation

The number of deaths related to Covid-19 has passed 500,000 in Brazil, the second-highest in the world, as experts say the outbreak could worsen amid slow vaccination and the start of winter. The virus continues to spread as President Jair Bolsonaro refuses to back measures like social distancing. The health institute Fiocruz says the situation is "critical".

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  Brazil passes half a million COVID-19 deaths, experts warn of worse ahead

  Reuters
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  Brazil passes grim milestone of 500,000 Covid deaths amid protests over Bolsonaro response

  The Independent

McManus : Why Republicans are suddenly reluctant to condemn political violence

The Republican Party has a problem with political violence: It's not sure whether it's for it or against it. In the first days after a mob loyal to former President Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 to try to block Congress from certifying President Biden's election, GOP leaders delivered a sensible, unified response: There's no place in our constitutional system for that kind of violence. Since January, though, some leading Republicans have been backsliding — offering excuses for the insurgents who sought to overturn the election through extralegal means.

A McDonald's worker reportedly quit their job by posting an angry sign at a local drive-thru, as the 'rage-quitting' trend continues to rise

A McDonald's employee reportedly resigned by posting an angry note in a local drive-thru. A McDonald's employee who worked at a branch in Louisville, Kentucky, apparently quit their job by posting a sign at a drive-through on Saturday night. It was shared on Twitter by a user, Great Ape Dad, who spotted the posting the following morning.

Three arrested in property fraud case after an elderly owner discovers lot sold for $230,000

On Friday, as authorities held a press conference to highlight the growing problem of fraud against the elderly, prosecutors revealed they had charged three people suspected of swiping the property. Otis Lathen Powell, Shantel Vennissa Chang and Jason Webley Sr. were charged with a host of felonies, including money laundering, grand theft, organized scheme to defraud and theft from a person 65 years or older.

‘Pack of lies’ about Marcus Whitman holds lessons about the rejection of truth today

When I served on the Statesman editorial board and joined my colleagues interviewing candidates seeking an endorsement from the paper, I was often amused when candidates kicked off their comments by telling us how long ago their families arrived in Idaho. It was as though great-great-Grandpa and -Grandma's decision to head west to Idaho made the candidate of today more qualified for office than one whose family only arrived in the state a generation ago. For one thing, most of us know little about the details of our ancestors' role in the growth and progress of America, and those histories may not all measure up to the patriotic and generous tales families weave about those who came before t...

The same mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines could help treat cancer

Fentress, 68, was an early participant in a clinical trial intended to see whether a vaccine made with the same technology used to prevent COVID-19 could boost the immune system enough to search out and destroy lingering cancer cells. Companies like Moderna and Pfizer's partner BioNTech, whose names are familiar from COVID-19 vaccines, are using mRNA to spur cancer patients' bodies to make vaccines that will – they hope – prevent recurrences and treatments designed to fight off advanced tumors. If they prove effective, which won't be known for at least another year or two, they could be added to the arsenal of immune therapies designed to get the body to fight off its own tumors.

Three Chinese astronauts have stepped foot on China's new space station for the first time, kicking off a three-month mission

Three Chinese astronauts have entered China's space station (CSS) for the first time, CGTN reported. China launched the taikonauts into space on Thursday for a three-month mission. Three taikonauts have entered China's space station for a three-month mission called Shenzhou-12, state-owned broadcaster CGTN reported Saturday.

She Went on a PR Tour for Her Sick, Adopted African Child. Was It All a Lie?

Last summer, Sophie Hartman was fixated on her 6-year-old adopted daughter Carmel possibly showing signs of early puberty. The 31-year-old single mom from Renton, Washington, scheduled an appointment at Seattle Children's Hospital with a pediatric endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in glands and the hormones they produce, according to a Renton Police probable-cause affidavit. Hartman, a white, Jesus-loving former missionary, strapped Carmel—a little Black girl born in Zambia—into a wheelchair and rolled her into a medical room, where they met with the endocrinologist.