WorldYahoo News'Skullduggery' political podcast: 'The Threat of QAnon (with Ali Soufan)' — April 20, 2021
Former FBI special agent, author, and counterterrorism expert Ali Soufan joins Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti to talk about his organization's shocking new report about the spread of the Q conspiracy. Soufan talks about the influence of foreign adversaries in the spread of disinformation, the role of the tech platforms and the algorithms that promote and fuel the conspiracy, and about what can be done to counter this dangerous movement, by taking what Soufan calls an “all-citizens” approach to the problem.
U.S.Business InsiderA US Air Force general is facing court-martial for the first time ever. He has been charged with sexual assault
A US Air Force general is being court-martialed for the first time in the history of the service. The charge is linked to allegations of sexual assault against a civilian during a 2018 off-duty incident. The Air Force said it is unclear at this time when the court-martial will take place.
WorldAssociated PressAmid US strains, China's Xi warns against 'unilateralism'
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for more equitable management of global affairs and, in an implicit rejection of U.S. dominance, said governments shouldn't impose rules on others. Xi's speech at an economic forum comes amid rising tension with China's neighbors and Washington over its strategic ambitions and demands for a bigger role in making trade and other rules. Without mentioning the United States, Xi criticized “unilateralism of individual countries” and warned against decoupling, a reference to fears U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and security will split industries and markets into separate, less productive spheres with incompatible standards.
U.S.National ReviewLeBron James Deletes Tweet Calling for Prosecution of Columbus Cop Who Shot Knife-Wielding Teen
LeBron James has deleted a tweet that called for the prosecution of Columbus, Ohio, police officer Nicholas Reardon, who fatally shot an African-American teen as she was attacking two females with a knife. In the Wednesday afternoon tweet that was deleted, the basketball star posted a photo of Reardon with a caption that read “You're Next. YOU'RE NEXT ⏳ #ACCOUNTABILITY pic.twitter.com/NnBfz9zdWq James removed the tweet after it drew backlash, including from elected Republican officials.
WorldThe TelegraphNicola Sturgeon accused of 'dodging scrutiny' after refusing to appear on BBC Question Time
Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of "dodging scrutiny" of her record in government after refusing to appear on a special Holyrood election edition of BBC Question Time. The leaders of all the other main parties in the Scottish Parliament have agreed to take part in Thursday's show, which will feature questions from a virtual audience. Opposition sources said they had been told to expect an all-leaders show, and that Ms Sturgeon had initially agreed to take part before pulling out.
U.S.Associated PressGrizzly victim knew risks of living with bears, friends say
Grizzly bears are part of life in the gateway communities bordering Yellowstone National Park, and backcountry snowmobile guide Charles “Carl” Mock knew well the risks that come with working, hiking and fishing among the fear-inspiring carnivores, his friends said. Bear spray residue found on Mock's clothing suggested he tried to ward off last week's attack using a canister of the Mace-like deterrent, considered an essential item in the backcountry. While some outsiders questioned the inherent perils of such a lifestyle in the wake of Mock's death, those who knew him said he accepted the risk as trade-off for time spent in a wilderness teeming with elk, deer, wolves and other wildlife.
- WorldWCVB - Boston
Man dead after standoff with police in Worcester
A man carrying a rifle and claiming to have a bomb has died in a shooting involving police in Worcester.
U.S.Associated PressPolice kill Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, who attacked 2 with knife
Body camera footage from other officers released Wednesday in the fatal police shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant, a Black teenager who charged at two people with a knife, showed a chaotic scene that happened within minutes of the verdict in George Floyd's killing and ignited outrage by many over the continued use of lethal force by police in Columbus and the U.S. Officials with the Columbus Division of Police had released initial footage of the shooting Tuesday night just hours after it happened, which was a departure from protocol as the force faces immense scrutiny from the public following a series of recent high-profile police killings that have led to clashes. Bryant was 16 and in foster care with Franklin County Children's Services at the time of her death.
WorldBBCNashik: Oxygen leak leaves 22 Covid-19 patients dead in India
At least 22 Covid patients have died in a hospital in India after they lost oxygen supply due to a leak. The incident occurred on Wednesday while an oxygen tanker was refilling a storage tank at the Zakir Hussain hospital in Nashik city. "We will enquire into the matter and take action," the city's municipal commissioner Kailash Jadhav said.
U.S.Fort Worth Star-TelegramWorker cut student’s hair after 7-year-old asked, Michigan school says. ‘Unacceptable’
Last month, Jurnee Hoffmeyer arrived home from Ganiard Elementary in Mount Pleasant looking different than when she'd left — hair on one side of her head had been chopped off, the Associated Press reported. Jurnee explained to her dad, Jimmy Hoffmeyer, that another student had cut her hair while they were on a bus, according to the outlet. Hoffmeyer took Jurnee, who is biracial, to a salon where a stylist tried to fix the cut into an asymmetrical style, but the next day, Jurnee arrived home from school with the other side cut as well, the AP reported.
U.S.Associated PressTeen's death puts focus on split-second police decisions
Thirteen-year-old Adam Toledo dropped the gun he'd been holding, turned and began raising his hands just as the officer had commanded. The graphic video that became the latest tragic touchstone in the nation's reckoning with race and policing puts a microscope on those split-second decisions with far-reaching and grave consequences. Investigators are still sorting through exactly what happened, but the shooting has raised difficult questions about why the boy wasn't given more time to comply and whether the deadly encounter could have been prevented in the first place.
PoliticsThe IndependentRepublicans scramble to distance themselves from Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'America First' caucus
US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene's nativist congressional caucus celebrating the heritage of Americans – but only the white ones – ended before it ever really began. The "America First Caucus" was the brainchild of Ms Greene, who is perhaps best known for having been stripped of her committee seats for supporting assassination threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on social media and for openly flirting with a number of conspiracy theories, including one that alleged the Parkland School Shooting was fake as well as QAnon. The caucus members were to "follow in President Trump's footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation," according to a policy outline obtained by Punchbowl News.
U.S.Charlotte ObserverAfternoon Observer | NC to end most COVID restrictions + police fatally shoot NC man while serving search warrant
Now through Sunday, April 25, make sure you support Charlotte's Black-owned restaurants by attending Savor Black CLT, the inaugural spring edition of Charlotte Black Restaurant Week. Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday many COVID-related restrictions, including limits on businesses and distancing requirements, are expected to end June 1. The state's mask mandate will remain in place at least through May. The current executive order expires April 30, and Cooper says we can expect a new order next week laying out safety restrictions for May. The decision comes as more than one-third of North Carolinians are fully vaccinated — and as Mecklenburg's COVID trends increase, as reported by the Observer's Catherine Muccigrosso and Hannah Smoot.
U.S.Business InsiderThe lawyer who pointed his gun at Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis is considering running for Senate
Mark McCloskey and his wife Patricia displayed their guns as BLM protesters passed their house last year. McCloskey told Politico on Tuesday he's considering running for Senate in 2022. A grand jury indicted the couple on charges of exhibiting guns and evidence tampering last October.
PoliticsArchitectural DigestHouse Call: Embracing My Outdoor Persona
We're getting outdoorsy on Clever this week Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
WorldAssociated PressUK leader denies breaking lobbying rules with texts to Dyson
The British government said Wednesday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson did nothing wrong when he exchanged text messages with a wealthy industrialist and promised he would “fix” the tax rules for him. The BBC reported that it had seen messages between Johnson and James Dyson, the vacuum cleaner inventor and home products magnate. The texts were sent in March 2020, when the coronavirus was sweeping across Britain and the government, fearing the health service would be overwhelmed, was trying to secure more ventilators.
U.S.Miami HeraldPretty Ricky singer in critical condition after being shot at South Florida bowling alley
A colorful sign that reads “Sparez” is close by. HL's caption says that the Miami rapper (real name Diamond Blue Smith) was shot at Sparez bowling alley in Davie, but gives scant information. People surround the man trying to help keep him comfortable while waiting for an ambulance.
WorldThe IndependentUpbeat assessments buoy hopes for revival of Iran nuclear deal
Vienna talks meant to revive and restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appear to be going well, according to assessments by both American and Iranian officials as the latest round of negotiations drew to a close. Iran's president Hassan Rouhani said in a speech Wednesday that the Americans “appear to be serious” about lifting sanctions imposed by the former administration of Donald Trump. And though Iran's chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi warned that Iran would abandon talks if United States demands became excessive, the reformist daily newspaperEbtekar said the “anti-Iran coalition was on its last breath” and that reviving the deal was "in the home stretch”.
U.S.The Daily Beast‘Tragic Day Here’: Deputy Fatally Shoots North Carolina Black Man While Serving Search Warrant
A North Carolina man was shot and killed on Wednesday morning by a sheriff's deputy executing a search warrant at his home, authorities said. The Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office said Andrew Brown Jr., a 40-year-old Black man, was shot around 8:30 a.m. while deputies were serving a search warrant in the 400 block of Perry Street in Elizabeth City. Authorities offered few details about the shooting at an afternoon press conference, but Pasquotank Sheriff Tommy Wooten said Brown was the subject of the search warrant, adding that it is “a tragic day here.”
U.S.The IndependentVal Demings and Jim Jordan clash over police funding
Florida Democratic Representative and former police chief Val Demings denounced Republicans, claiming they were using police officers as “pawns” as they were trying to amend a hate crimes bill, when Ohio Republican and Trump loyalist Jim Jordan interrupted to object, leading to a shouting match. The crux of their argument was the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act that seeks to address hate crimes against Asian Americans partly by increasing funding for law enforcement to address these offences. Ms Demings went after her Republican colleagues for introducing an amendment to the bill that would prevent attempts to defund the police.
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.USA TODAYThe cause of George Floyd's death: Jurors faced alternate versions in the trial of Derek Chauvin
MINNEAPOLIS – Attorneys in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin presented two alternate realities as to what caused George Floyd's death and whether Chauvin was responsible, leaving jurors to make sense of their divergent arguments as they contemplated a verdict. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that Chauvin's knee – pressed against 46-year-old Floyd's neck while he was handcuffed and face-down on the street – led to his death by loss of oxygen. The defense argued underlying heart issues and the methamphetamine and fentanyl in his system caused Floyd's death while he struggled with police.
U.S.USA TODAYFather transfers biracial daughter to new school after her classmate and a district employee cut her hair
Jimmy Hoffmeyer said his daughter, Jurnee, arrived home on March 24 from Ganiard Elementary with 2 to 3 inches of the right side of her hair cut off by one of her classmates. Hoffmeyer took Jurnee the same day to a local hair salon which styled her hair in an asymmetrical cut and offered free haircuts until the hair grew back. Two days later Jurnee arrived home with her hair cut again.
PoliticsThe IndependentPeople are climbing over Trump’s border wall with $5 ladders, report says
Portions of the US-Mexico border wall created under the Trump administration have been compromised by migrants using $5 ladders to climb over the structure, according to a new report in Texas Monthly. The United States Border Patrol reportedly often finds discarded ladders left alongside the wall when patrolling the area. Ladders have become so prevalent in climbing the structure that the Border Patrol relies on the city of Hidalgo, Texas, to haul away and destroy the lumber that was used to produce them.
- PoliticsReuters Videos
Sen. Durbin: Republicans alarmed that 'too many voters are showing up'
EDITOR'S NOTE: AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS STORY MISIDENTIFIED SENATOR DURBIN'S HOME STATE. HE REPRESENTS ILLINOIS, NOT DELAWARE. "The problem is obvious," Durbin said.
“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.”