U.S.The Week'QAnon Shaman' lawyer issues shockingly offensive defense of client's role in Capitol riot
Albert Watkins, the attorney for Jacob Chansley (perhaps better known as "QAnon Shaman"), spoke on the record with Talking Points Memo about his client's alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In the interview, published by TPM on Tuesday, Watkins used shockingly offensive language in an attempt to defend Chansley's alleged actions, saying Chansley has Asperger's syndrome, and asserting that other participants in the riot have intellectual disabilities that were to blame. "These are people with brain damage," he said.
WorldThe Telegraph‘Like a bad detective novel’: Russian spy chief denies launching SolarWinds hack
The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has denied carrying out a cyber attack on software business SolarWinds which gave hackers access to large portions of the US government as well as hundreds of businesses. Sergei Naryshkin, the director of Russia's SVR spy agency, said he was “flattered” by US and UK accusations that his organisation directed the hack but denied responsibility for it. "These claims are like a bad detective novel," he said.
WorldThe WeekAP wants an independent investigation of Israel's bombing of its Gaza office
The Associated Press said Sunday it wants an independent investigation of Israel's decision to raze its longtime office building in Gaza City. Israel said it leveled the 12-story al-Jalaa tower, which also housed Al-Jazeera and other media organizations, on Saturday because it was being used by Hamas for military intelligence and weapons development. AP executive editor Sally Buzbee pointed out Sunday that Israel has not provided any evidence Hamas was using the building.
PoliticsThe WeekKevin McCarthy appears to throw GOP broker 'under the bus' in rebuke of House's Jan. 6 commission deal
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday slammed the House's Jan. 6 commission deal, and in the process appeared to throw Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), the Republican he reportedly tasked with negotiating the legislation, "under the bus." In a statement, McCarthy specifically complained that the commission was too narrow.
U.S.Kansas City StarJackson County schools can’t drop the masks now. Our kids aren’t immune to COVID-19
Why are some schools in Jackson County suddenly dropping mask mandates, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation's authority on all things COVID-19, recommends that schoolchildren and teachers stay masked at least through the end of the school year? The agency announced last week that fully vaccinated Americans don't need to wear masks or social distance indoors or outdoors. But vaccinations aren't even available yet for children younger than 12, who can become quite ill with the virus.
U.S.Architectural Digest13 Rocking Chairs That Aren’t Your Grandma’s Rocking Chair
Rock, glide, or swivel in these updated takes on old-school rocking chairs Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.Miami HeraldFlorida COVID update for Tuesday: 94 more resident deaths, highest in over a month
Florida's Department of Health on Tuesday announced 2,805 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 7.5 million Floridians have completed the two-dose series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or have completed Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine, according to Monday's vaccine report. In Miami-Dade, 342,924 people have received the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna and 1,063,940 people have either received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or have completed the two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna.
U.S.The StateDeadly flash floods swamp parts of Louisiana. Videos and images show the destruction
Relentless rain has triggered deadly flash flooding and a state of emergency across Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards declared the state of emergency Monday as rounds of intense rain, thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes threatened the southwestern part of the state. Significant flooding has been reported across Louisiana from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles.
U.S.Miami HeraldA smuggling story involving Southeast Asia, Canada, Haiti, the Bahamas, Miami and prison
Sri Kajamukam Chelliah, also called “Mohan” and “Richie,” was sentenced to two years, eight months Monday after pleading guilty in Miami federal court to conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States. According to Chelliah's admission of facts with his guilty plea, over the course of almost two years, October 2017 through September 2019, Chelliah smuggled six Sri Lankans the 9,800 miles to Haiti. He had them picked up at the Port-au-Prince airport and taken to a hotel.
U.S.Tribune PublishingCharges: Paroled murderer kidnaps, rapes woman near Duluth
DULUTH – Authorities say a Duluth man previously convicted of murder kidnapped and raped a woman on a rural St. Louis County logging road last weekend. Dennis J. Hannuksela, 62, was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and felony kidnapping on Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint: Hannuksela picked up the 20-year-old victim, a woman he has known for several years, around 12:30 a.m.
PoliticsThe IndependentMike Pence tries to blame outbreak of violence in Israel on ‘power vacuum’ created by Biden
Former vice president Mike Pence has attempted to blame Joe Biden for the outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestine. In an op-ed for National Review on Monday, Mr Pence argued that the Biden administration was undoing the efforts of his government, and has created an environment for tensions to increase. A major contributing factor of the violence was restrictions placed on Gaza by the occupying Israeli government during the Holy Month of Ramadan, such as shutting the Gate of Damascus.
- NewsYahoo News Video
Man fatally cuts own throat in court after partial guilty verdict
Federal authorities say a man on trial in Fargo, N.D., slashed his own throat in the courtroom Monday and died.
WorldINSIDERA famous, photogenic rock formation in the Galapagos has collapsed
Darwin's Arch, the famed rock formation in the Galápagos Islands, has collapsed, officials said. The arch was located about a mile away from Darwin's Island, also named for Charles Darwin. UN scientists previously warned that the islands are at risk due to the effects of climate change, the New York Times reported.
U.S.The IndependentJoel Greenberg pleads guilty to sex trafficking as banner flown above court reads ‘tick tock Matt Gaetz’
A plane has flown a banner above US District Court in Orlando, Florida reading “Tick Tock Matt Gaetz” as the GOP congressman's ally Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor, among other charges, potentially aiding prosecutors in a related investigation involving the Republican congressman. Mr Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector, appeared in court on Monday after admitting to introducing a “minor to other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts” with her, according to a lengthy plea agreement filed on 14 May. The other men were not named. Mr Gaetz was not named in court documents filed in US District Court on Friday.
U.S.Business InsiderTexas Gov. Greg Abbott signs executive order banning state entities, including schools, from requiring face masks
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order which prohibits state entities from requiring masks. This includes counties, cities, and schools. Prisons, jails, and assisted living facilities are exempt.
CelebrityThe TelegraphSussex Royal loses its lustre as Duke and Duchess call in the liquidators
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have formally liquidated one of their sole-remaining British companies, marking the final nail in the coffin for Sussex Royal. Documents filed with Companies House revealed that MWX Trading confirmed on May 5 that it was winding up and a liquidator was appointed on May 14. The couple established the company in August 2019, naming their lawyer, Gerrard Tyrrell, as its secretary and Natalie Campbell, who worked for their charitable foundation Sussex Royal, as director.
PoliticsThe IndependentAOC calls Israel ‘apartheid state’ as secret Trump Pentagon memo revealed
Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said “apartheid states aren't democracies” in what appears to be a thinly veiled criticism of Israel. Ms Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other lawmakers on the left of the party are calling on Joe Biden to take a tougher line on the violence. Elsewhere, former president, Donald Trump, sent a secret memo to Pentagon chiefs urging them to remove troops from the Middle East, Europe and Africa shortly after his election defeat, it has emerged.
U.S.INSIDERAmy Coney Barrett took speaking fees from a group that pushed Mississippi's abortion ban. A constitutional law expert says that won't stop her ruling on the case.
The Supreme Court will hear a case on Mississippi's abortion ban that may challenge Roe v. Wade. Amy Coney Barrett has been criticized for paid speaking gigs to a group that took credit for the law. A constitutional law expert says the justice almost certainly won't recuse herself from the case.
U.S.The IndependentFour-year-old boy found murdered in Dallas street
An 18-year-old man has been arrested after a toddler was found murdered in a Dallas street on Saturday morning, police said. Police have arrested 18-year-old Darriynn Brown in connection with the murder. Albert Martinez, the executive assistant police chief, told reporters the death appeared to be a “violent” one and that an “edged weapon” was probably used to kill the toddler.
LifestyleArchitectural DigestHouse Call: Finding the Light of Your Life
Or just the perfect fixture for your living space Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsBusiness InsiderJanet Yellen urges businesses to support corporate-tax hikes to fund Biden's infrastructure plan
Treasury head Janet Yellen spoke with the Chamber of Commerce to pitch Biden's infrastructure plan. Biden expressed willingness to compromise on the tax hike's size but remains firm on keeping it. Now that the entirety of President Joe Biden's $4 trillion infrastructure plan has been unveiled, his administration is canvassing for support.
SportsAssociated PressThe Latest: Baylor allowing full capacity at outdoor events
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: Baylor is now allowing 100% capacity to all outdoor athletic events on the campus in Waco, Texas, in time for the final home baseball games of the season when the Bears host Big 12 rival Oklahoma for a three-game series that begins Friday night. Athletic director Mack Rhoades said Tuesday that full-capacity policy is effective immediately. It followed a university announcement last week loosening restrictions on outdoor gatherings and activities on campus for the summer.
WorldThe IndependentSenator Tom Cotton hit with social media scorn after accusing AP of colluding with Hamas following Israeli airstrike
US senator Tom Cotton drew criticism for suggesting the Associated Press (AP) was acting in collusion with Hamas, after an Israeli strike on a building that housed news organisations' offices in Gaza. After the 12-story building was blown-up by Israel on Saturday, the country's intelligence agencies alleged that the AP building was actually a base for Hamas — a Palestinian terrorist group. It follows the UN issuing a warning of “full-scale war” between Israel and Hamas, after days of fighting in and around Gaza.
HealthUSA TODAYFact check: Fauci warned Trump administration in 2017 of surprise infectious disease outbreak
As COVID-19 case counts and deaths continue to climb in the U.S., critics have accused the Trump administration of downplaying the extent of the virus and delaying crucial steps needed to combat the spread. While public health officials warned President Donald Trump early this year about a potential outbreak, social media posts claim Dr. Anthony Fauci sounded the alarm about an infectious disease outbreak years earlier. “Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there is 'no doubt' Donald J. Trump will be confronted with a surprise infectious disease outbreak during his presidency,” reads a July 10 Facebook post of a screenshot from an article.
WorldThe IndependentChris Watts is an ‘outcast’ in prison after brutal murder of his wife and young kids
Chris Watts, a Colorado man convicted of murdering his wife and two young children in 2018, is an “outcast” in prison, according to a report. Watts, who turned 36 on Sunday, is at a maximum security prison in Wisconsin and, according to a regular contact, is an “outcast” among the inmates, and avoided by staff. Watts is serving five life sentences for strangling his wife, Shanann Watts, in August 2018, and for smothering daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, as CBS Denver reported at the time.
“We are a nation bobbing in multiple crises. Not one of them involves people taking COVID-19 too seriously.”
“The threat is increasingly concentrated among people who are vulnerable by choice.”
“This announcement would be very welcome if not for one big problem: There is no requirement for proof of vaccination.”
“Joining the protected vaccinated minority, which we hope will rapidly become the majority, is simple.”
“Instead of taking giant steps. I think we should be taking small steps toward the same goal.”