PoliticsYahoo NewsBiden explains decision to impose new sanctions on Russia, but envisions 'more effective relationship'
In a speech on Thursday, President Biden explained his decision to impose new sanctions on Russia, saying that Vladimir Putin's government had attempted to interfere with the 2020 U.S. presidential election and was behind a massive hack targeting America. “We cannot allow a foreign power to interfere in our democratic process with impunity,” Biden said in remarks delivered in the East Room of the White House. On Thursday morning, the president signed an executive order that imposed a range of new sanctions and the expulsion of diplomats.
PoliticsThe WeekMarjorie Taylor Greene is leading an 'America First Caucus' that wants to uphold 'Anglo-Saxon political traditions'
In an effort to "follow in President Trump's footsteps," a new America First Caucus led by far-right lawmakers is seeking to protect "Anglo-Saxon political traditions." The new caucus is recruiting members, reports Punchbowl News, and is appealing to a "common respect for Anglo-Saxon political traditions," including pushing for infrastructure that "befits the progeny of European architecture." Punchbowl described the materials being distributed as "some of the most nakedly nativist rhetoric we've ever seen."
U.S.NextSharkHomeless Man Chases Away Anti-Asian Harasser on NYC Train as Bystanders Watched
An Asian woman was harassed on a New York City subway train before being helped by a homeless man on Thursday. What happened: The 34-year-old victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, was on a southbound Q train at the 96th Street Subway Station at 11:30 p.m., when the male suspect directed anti-Asian statements at her, according to authorities. The woman verbally defended herself and told him to leave, reported NBC New York.
WorldAssociated PressIsrael says it will 'definitely' stop Iran from getting bomb
Israel's foreign minister said Friday that his country was determined to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon, after Tehran promised to step up its uranium enrichment process. “We will do whatever it takes to prevent the extremists (in Iran) from succeeding, and definitely will prevent this regime from having a nuclear weapon,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters on a visit to Cyprus. Iranian officials say the country will begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity following an attack on its nuclear facility at Natanz, in central Iran, on Sunday, that it blamed on Israel.
U.S.TheGrioProsecutor didn’t ‘fully inform himself’ before testifying Adam Toledo had gun
A Cook County prosecutor who said in court the boy was armed when Chicago cops shot him is now backtracking. A prosecutor who said in court that 13-year-old Adam Toledo had a gun when he was shot by Chicago Police is now backtracking on his statement. Toledo was shot and killed in the early morning hours of March 29 while police were detaining a man, Ruben Roman, responding to a call of shots fired around 2:30 a.m.
PoliticsAssociated PressA look at new Biden administration sanctions against Russia
The Biden administration on Thursday rolled out a sweeping set of sanctions on Russia over its election interference, hacking campaigns and other malign activity. The Treasury Department sanctioned 16 people and 16 entities related to Russia's election interference efforts. Additionally, the department took new action to sanction Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a backer of the Internet Research Agency, which carried out Russia's election interference campaign in 2016, and Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian intelligence agent who falsely claimed Ukraine was behind the 2016 interference effort.
U.S.Fort Worth Star-TelegramBreakfast burrito catches TSA agent’s attention. An ingredient led to arrest in Texas
A breakfast burrito with an “unusual” lump caught the attention of a TSA agent in Texas, officials say. The officer was conducting routine security checks of carry-on luggage April 2 at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston when something unidentified appeared on the X-ray screen, according to the the Transportation Security Administration. TSA officers @HobbyAirport suspected something wasn't right with this breakfast item & contacted @houstonpolice to investigate.
U.S.BBCGeorge Floyd death: Ex-officer Chauvin will not take the stand
The ex-officer accused of killing George Floyd says he will not testify on his own behalf as the defence rests their case and court is adjourned. Derek Chauvin denies killing Mr Floyd. Video of Mr Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd led to worldwide protests against racism and policing.
- WorldAssociated Press
UN Security Council votes on monitors of Libya cease-fire
The U.N. Security Council is voting on a draft resolution that urges all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave Libya and authorizes a small U.N. team to monitor last October's cease-fire agreement that ordered their departure. The British-drafted resolution would approve Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' proposals on the composition and operational aspects of the cease-fire monitoring laid out in a letter to the council. In the April 7 letter, obtained by The Associated Press, the U.N. chief proposed “an initial maximum number of 60 monitors” for “a phased deployment” of the cease-fire monitoring component which would be part of the U.N. political mission in Libya known as UNSMIL.
U.S.Lexington Herald-Leader‘A bobcat attacked my wife!’ Security camera captures wild encounter in North Carolina
Ten seconds later, the seemingly benign man turned into what some people are calling a Hulk-like hero when a bobcat attacked his wife in North Carolina. Home security cameras captured the bizarre moment the unidentified man hurled a bobcat across his Pender County yard and threatened to shoot it. The 46-second clip was first posted on TikTok and has since been widely shared on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit.
U.S.Fort Worth Star-TelegramMan who smoked legal weed in Nevada now faces years in prison in Dubai, lawyer says
A Las Vegas man faces prison time after he traveled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and marijuana was detected in his urine, his lawyer said. Peter Clark, 51, traveled to Dubai for a business trip on Feb. 24 but was hospitalized for pancreatitis, Clark's attorney Radha Stirling wrote on her website Detained in Dubai. The hospital took a urine test, found traces of marijuana and reported it to the police, who charged Peter and took him to the Al Barsha police station on March 3, Stirling said.
WorldReutersAppeals court upholds Canada-U.S. asylum-seeker agreement
A Canadian appeals court on Thursday upheld a Canada-U.S. agreement to turn back asylum seekers, overturning a lower court ruling, siding with the federal government and setting up a possible Supreme Court showdown. The Canadian government had launched an appeal defending the agreement and, by association, U.S. immigration detention practices. Canada had argued the pact was necessary to manage its border with the United States.
U.S.Raleigh News and ObserverHow to spot and correctly identify North Carolina’s six venomous snakes
Along with the warmer weather of spring and summer months, North Carolinians know anytime they are outdoors to keep an eye out for things that slither. Especially in the springtime, when snakes are becoming more active and are more likely to cross our paths, it's good to know the venomous (sometimes incorrectly referred to as poisonous) snakes from the harmless ones, which are beneficial to keep around. A good rule of thumb is that most venomous snakes have a triangular or diamond-shaped head, while nonvenomous snakes have a tapered head.
BusinessReutersModerna expects vaccine shipments to Britain, Canada to be delayed, EU, Swiss roll-out on track
The drugmaker will deliver about 650,000 doses by the end of April, not the expected 1.2 million, Canada's Procurement Minister Anita Anand said. Moreover, one million to two million Moderna doses of the 12.3 million doses slated for the second quarter would be delayed until the third. These delivery woes further complicate European vaccine issues already being exacerbated by rare side effects linked to AstraZeneca's and Johnson & Johnson's vaccines, with Britain advising pregnant women now to get Moderna or Pfizer shots.
- WorldYahoo News Video
Chicago releases video of fatal police shooting of 13-year-old boy
Body camera footage of a Chicago police officer fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy last month shows the officer yelling “Drop it! at the teen right before he opens fire.
PoliticsThe IndependentRefugee agencies and Democratic lawmakers condemn Biden’s ‘shameful’ plan to keep admissions at Trump limits
President Joe Biden will not raise the cap on refugee entries to the US, reneging on his administration's previous call to admit more people fleeing from crisis than the historically low level under former president Donald Trump. Refugee agencies and immigration advocacy groups – which have warned that the administration is on track to resettle the lowest number of refugees into the country than any other administration in US history – roundly criticised the move. Lawmakers and refugee groups have warned that delays over admission policies have stranded already-vetted refugees, as frustrated resettlement agencies accuse the president of breaking a pledge to welcome people to the US after a chaotic four-years under Mr Trump.
- U.S.Raleigh News and Observer
Durham man pleads guilty to shooting grandfather in the head at 16. Why did he do it?
Nearly six years after William Evans was found shot and cold in a Durham parking lot, his grandson pleaded guilty to shooting the 65-year-old man with his own gun. Under a plea agreement, Dominick Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to up to nearly 10 years in prison, with credit for the more than five years he spent in jail awaiting trial. Under North Carolina sentencing laws, courts must consider mitigating and aggravating factors that could decrease or increase the sentence.
LifestyleArchitectural DigestThe 9 Best Wireless Headphones for Every Kind of Use
From the most comfortable pair to the best value buy, these headphones will carry you through the spring, summer, and beyond Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
BusinessReutersWorld stocks at new peaks on strong China, U.S. data
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) -Gold prices hit a seven-week high and global stocks scaled new records on Friday after strong U.S. and Chinese economic data bolstered expectations of a solid global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Government stimulus, strong corporate earnings from U.S. banks and in Europe, along with signs of economic recovery in countries leading the COVID-19 vaccination race have all helped push stock market indexes to new heights this week. MSCI's broadest gauge of world stocks rose 0.42% to an all-time peak, lifted by surging European shares and lesser gains on Wall Street where both the Dow Industrial and benchmark S&P 500 posted their fourth week of successive gains.
WorldThe IndependentSolarWinds: Russian intelligence behind major cyber attack, Raab reveals as US expels diplomats
Russian intelligence was behind a major cyber attack that effected more than 100 major US firms as well as branches of the US government, the UK foreign office has revealed. In a statement the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said British Intelligence had assessed that it was “highly likely” Moscow was behind the SolarWinds hack, which saw hackers infiltrate government agencies and corporate secrets of the likes of Microsoft in early 2020. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the FCDO to be told the UK will continue to work with allies to “call out and counter malign operations” undertaken by Russian intelligence.
CelebrityThe TelegraphPrinces William and Harry to be reunited before Prince Philip's funeral
The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex will be reunited behind closed doors at Windsor Castle on Saturday before laying their beloved grandfather to rest. Members of the Royal family including Prince William and Prince Harry will gather in the State Entrance Hall before the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin emerges from the State Entrance at 2.41pm. In an apparent sign of ongoing tensions between the brothers, they will not walk shoulder to shoulder in the funeral procession but will be separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandchild.
- U.S.Politico
Gaetz ex-girlfriend feared alleged sex-trafficking victim taped call for feds
Matt Gaetz's former girlfriend has told friends she's worried that the woman who is key to the federal government's sex-crimes investigation tried to get her to incriminate the Florida lawmaker on a recorded call. The revelation raises the possibility that federal prosecutors have two top cooperating witnesses: the woman who was an alleged sex-trafficking victim when she was a minor and the Gaetz associate already indicted for that crime, former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg. Until now, there were signs the alleged sex-trafficking victim was not cooperating with federal authorities.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderGOP Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene were the only 'no' votes on a bill reauthorizing the National Marrow Donor Program
GOP Reps. Greene and Boebert voted against a bill that would renew the National Marrow Donor Program. "Nothing in this bill prevents the funding of aborted fetal tissue," a spokesman for Greene said. GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado were the only members of Congress to vote against a bill that would provide patients who suffer from leukemia or other blood diseases access to potentially life-saving bone marrow transplants.
U.S.The IndependentLatina grandmother assaulted on LA bus in anti-Asian attack
A 70-year-old Latina woman who was mistaken for Asian was savagely beaten on a Los Angeles bus, her son says. The assailant then dragged Becky to the other end of the bus and brutally battered her, her son Pete told The Eastsider. Pete says he and his family are often mistaken for Asian Americans, but they're actually of Mexican heritage.
CelebrityThe TelegraphQueen shares favourite unseen photograph of Prince Philip
The Queen has shared one of her favourite photographs of herself relaxing with the Duke of Edinburgh, her beloved husband of 73 years. The image depicts the couple in a rare private moment, off duty, relaxed and enjoying each other's company in one of their favourite beauty spots atop the Coyles of Muick on the Balmoral estate. It is thought the picture was taken during the couple's traditional summer break at the Queen's nearby private estate of Balmoral.
“There’s no ‘both sides of the debate’ when it comes to active voter suppression.”
“Companies that do this ooze contempt for their own customers and employees who are not in the leftmost quarter of opinion.”
“The truth is that Fortune 500 companies were never taking moral stances from the goodness of their corporate hearts.”
“The truth is, the companies hold the cards…If companies stick to their guns, Georgia is likely to back down as well.”
“When a company folds to the unfounded outrage of a few misinformed nuts, they are forever at the mob’s beck-and-call.”