WorldAxiosAfter nuclear talks, Iran's president says deal could be reached soon
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday, after another round of nuclear talks in Vienna, that an agreement can be reached in a short time if the U.S. acts with "honesty." Why it matters: Rouhani's optimism comes as representatives of Iran and other world powers, including the U.S., are about to start drafting a plan to restore the 2015 nuclear deal. "The talks in Vienna have progressed about 60, 70% and if the Americans act within the framework of honesty, we will achieve results in a short time."
U.S.NextSharkMan Who Harassed Olympian Sakura Kokumai Arrested After Assaulting Elderly Couple in OC Park
A man who was filmed harassing Olympic athlete Sakura Kokumai weeks ago in Orange County has been arrested after also allegedly attacking an elderly Korean American couple in the same location. Michael Vivona, 25, was apprehended by Orange police for punching a 79-year-old man and 80-year-old woman in their faces at Grijalva Park on Sunday evening, LA Times reported. On 4/18/21 officers arrested 25-year-old Michael Vivona from Corona for assaulting an elderly Korean American couple.
U.S.NBC News'I'm also a police officer': Arizona deputy uses racial slur, pleads for release after being pulled over for DUI
Newly obtained body camera video captured an Arizona sheriff's deputy using a racial slur and pleading to be let off the hook after an officer pulled him over in December on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Julian Navarrette was stopped after an Arizona State University police officer observed him speeding and swerving about 2 a.m. Dec. 5 in Tempe, according to an ASU police report. Navarrette was out with friends at the time of the arrest, the report said.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderKevin McCarthy jumps on Marjorie Taylor Greene's bandwagon, saying he'll introduce his own resolution to censure Maxine Waters for her 'dangerous comments'
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy plans to introduce his own resolution to censure Maxine Waters. McCarthy announced his decision after Marjorie Taylor Greene said she wanted to "expel" Waters for "inciting Black Lives Matter terrorism." Waters has maintained that she did not encourage violence when she spoke to protesters near Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis.
LifestyleArchitectural DigestThe Best (and Most Beautiful) Watering Cans to Keep Your Plants Alive and Thriving
Helpful, well-designed pour decor Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.The WeekYou'll be able to buy rapid COVID-19 tests over the counter at Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS this week
Prescription-free rapid COVID-19 tests that can be taken at home will be on sale at some Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS stores starting this week. One test kit, produced by Abbott Laboratories, will be sold at all three retailers, as well as online, while CVS stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts will sell another test made by the Australia-based company Ellume. For starters, antigen tests are less reliable than PCR tests, generally, and, while that issue could be countered by taking multiple at-home tests, both kits are fairly expensive.
WorldAssociated PressAsia Today: Indian opposition leader positive for COVID-19
Rahul Gandhi, an opposition Congress party leader and scion of India's Nehru-Gandhi family, says he has tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms. Gandhi last week called off political rallies in West Bengal state where provincial elections are being held. On Monday, another top Congress party leader and former prime minister, Manmohan Singh, also tested positive and was hospitalized as a precaution.
U.S.The IndependentSeven Minnesota counties enter state of emergency ahead of Chauvin verdict
Seven counties surrounding the city of Minneapolis entered a state of emergency on Monday, as closing arguments came in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Mr Chuavin is on trial for the killing of George Floyd in police custody on 25 May 2020, and the fate of the former officer – and of US policing – is currently being decided by a jury. On Monday, Minnesota governor Tim Walz said the state of emergency followed “looting” and “damage” caused by demonstrators in both Minneapolis and the suburb of Brooklyn Center.
U.S.Fort Worth Star-TelegramDriver lies about crash with 18-wheeler to cover up fatal hit-and-run, SC officials say
A South Carolina woman said a recent crash with a big-rig was her “first accident ever,” but there was just one problem — authorities say it was a lie. A judge denied bond Saturday for Casey Marie Schinestuhl, who is accused of hitting 18-year-old Elijah Major while he walked to work in Spartanburg early Friday and then fabricating a story about an 18-wheeler crashing into her car as an apparent cover-up, WYFF reported. Schinestuhl, 24, is charged with hit-and-run leaving the scene with death, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
U.S.PoliticoMatt Gaetz sparked William Barr to drop the f-bomb in a legal spat over Florida voting
Months before news broke that the feds were investigating him for sex trafficking, Rep. Matt Gaetz was at the center of a separate internal fight at the Justice Department. The sparring match involved an Oval Office meeting, a foul-mouthed threat from the attorney general and voting in Florida. In Aug. 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Larry Keefe — a former law partner of Gaetz's at the firm Keefe, Anchors & Gordon — as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S.The IndependentAsian American CNN producer zip-tied by Minnesota police and asked if she can speak English, lawyer says
Minnesota police wrongfully arrested, manhandled, and humiliated a CNN producer while she was covering the Daunte Wright protests, a lawyer representing her and other journalists said. According to attorney Leita Walker, Carolyn Sung was among the press at a 13 April demonstration against the shooting of Mr Wright when police ordered the crowd to disperse. “As Sung tried to leave the area as directed, troopers grabbed Sung by her backpack and threw her to the ground, zip-tying her hands behind her back,” Ms Walker wrote in a letter to Governor Tim Walz.
BusinessAssociated Press'Britcoin' digital currency being considered by UK
British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a new digital currency that Treasury chief Rishi Sunak touted as "Britcoin." The Bank of England and the Treasury said Monday that they will work together to assess the benefits of a central bank digital currency, at a time when cash payments are generally on the decline, partly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The bank said the new currency, if it comes to pass, would be a new form of digital money for use by households and businesses and would exist alongside cash and bank deposits, rather than replacing them.
- WorldReuters Videos
Hunger-striking Navalny transferred to prison hospital
PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO HAS BEEN RESENT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT NAVALNY IS BEING TAKEN TO A PRISON HOSPITAL Prison doctors decided to transfer Russian Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to hospital on Monday (April 19), according to prison authorities. The move comes 20 days into his hunger strike, which has sparked international warnings of consequences should he die while behind bars. Russia's prison service said in a statement that Navalny would be taken to a regional prison hospital, his condition was "satisfactory" and that he was being given "vitamin therapy" with his consent.
U.S.The IndependentNational guard activated in Washington DC ahead of Derek Chauvin verdict
The Washington DCNational Guard has activated approximately 250 members of the guard in the nation's capital ahead of the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. The guardsmen will help provide “a safe environment for our fellow citizens to exercise their first amendment right,” a press release from Captain Chelsi Johnson said. Dr Christopher Rodriguez, director of the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, requested guardsmen to assist police on behalf of the DC Metropolitan Police Department.
WorldBusiness InsiderThe Pentagon says more and more Russian troops are amassing near Ukraine, and it is not convinced this is just a training exercise
The Pentagon says that the Russian military buildup near Ukraine is larger than the one in 2014. The Defense Department also said that it is not clear "that this is all about training," as Russia says. The US has also raised concerns about Russian plans to block parts of the Black Sea.
U.S.USA TODAYHere are the jurors who will decide whether Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder in George Floyd's death
Over about two weeks last month, lawyers for the prosecution and defense quizzed potential jurors about their knowledge of Floyd's death, their opinions of Chauvin, and their attitudes about police, racial injustice, and the protests and rioting that followed Floyd's death. Several believe the criminal justice system needs to be reformed. Discussing her opinion about Black Lives Matter, one woman responded, “I am Black, and my life matters."
PoliticsThe IndependentBiden news: White House warns Russia of consequences if Navalny dies as John Kerry apologises for Trump
The White House has warned Russia that “there will be consequences” if Alexei Navalny, a Putin critic, dies in prison, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. This comes after President Joe Biden gave a speech on Thursday about Russia where he failed to mention the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, which angered critics. John Kerry has also apologised for former President Donald Trump's “non-leadership” on the effort to address the climate crisis during his four years as US leader.
CelebrityNextSharkKorean American Twins Separated at Birth Find Each Other 36 Years Later
Korean identical twins met for the first time in Florida on their 36th birthday after being separated at birth. Molly Sinert and Emily Bushnell embraced each other for the first time at Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale on March 29, according to Good Morning America. The twins were born in South Korea in 1985 and adopted by different Jewish American families.
U.S.Business InsiderFlorida county sheriff tells new residents 'don't register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north'
A sheriff said he welcomed transplants to the Sunshine State, as long as they vote the right way. "Don't register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north," the Polk County sheriff said. Weighing in on a debate about the effect of new residents on Florida politics, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd proposed a simple solution on Monday.
U.S.USA TODAYWhat happens next in the Derek Chauvin trial: Breaking down jury deliberations and when jurors will reach a verdict
The prosecution and defense gave their closing statements Monday in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, accused in the death of George Floyd. Now, the 12 members of the jury are sequestered as they deliberate a verdict. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death last Memorial Day.
U.S.The StateSC teachers, state employees get raises under Senate spending plan. Will it stick?
Long-awaited pay raises for South Carolina's public school teachers and state employees could come this year under a revised state Senate spending plan that was adopted by the chamber's budget-writing committee on Tuesday. Under the change, senators want to spend about $72 million in annual dollars so that public school teachers could get a $1,000 pay raise on top of an annual pay bump based on education level and years of classroom experience. The raise represents a more than 2% raise for teachers earning less than $50,000 a year.
U.S.The IndependentRights groups raise alarm over prisoners kept in cells 23 hours a day for more than a year due to Covid
Human rights groups are raising the alarm over prisoners across the US being kept inside their cells for 23 hours a day due to Covid. It is unclear exactly how many jails are currently enforcing tougher restrictions. At a detention centre in Washington DC, the “medical stay-in-place” policy has been in force for more than a year.
WorldArchitectural DigestMore Inside a Superchic Parisian Aerie Designed by Isabelle Stanislas
The french interior designer worked with her bachelor client to fulfill his life long pied-à-terre dreams Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.The IndependentWhat is in the Florida anti-riot bill branded a ‘disgrace’ by critics?
The Republican governor of Florida Ron DeSantis signed a so-called “anti-riot” bill on Monday that critics have slammed as a “disgrace” for supposedly being aimed at cracking down on social justice protests. It makes blocking a highway a felony, elevating it from misdemeanour status. Cars have hit demonstrators at least 100 times since the protests started in response to the death of George Floyd, who died on 25 May 2020 under the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
U.S.INSIDERThe former Austin detective accused of killing his family had been charged with sexually assaulting his adopted daughter
A former sheriff's detective accused of killing his family had been charged with sexual assault of a minor. The former sheriff's deputy who police allege killed his family in Austin, Texas, on Sunday was out on bond after he was accused of sexually assaulting his adopted daughter, court documents indicate. The police say Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41, killed three people: his estranged wife, Amanda Broderick, 35; his adopted teenage daughter, Alyssa Broderick; and her teenage boyfriend, Willie Simmons III. The Travis County District Attorney's Office has charged Broderick with capital murder in all three deaths, KXAN reported.
“High-speed rail is bold and attention-grabbing, but the scale of the project makes it near impossible.”
“While a long, slow train ride across the country can be a great thing, the US needs real high-speed rail too.”
“Liberals are right that America has a car problem — but it's commutes, not road trips, that suck.”
“Investments into a high-speed rail system wouldn’t just improve the railroads — automobile traffic could also see some relief.”
“Big cities that are reasonably close together is pretty much a prerequisite for high-speed rail.”