| 'We already have one Mitt Romney': Trump Jr and Rand Paul among conservatives calling for Liz Cheney to be ousted Posted: 21 Jul 2020 09:55 AM PDT  First it was just a handful conservative rabble-rousers calling out House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney on Tuesday for defying Donald Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, foreign affairs decisions, and other matters.Then Senator Rand Paul piled on, retweeting Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz' message calling for her removal and writing that the Wyoming congresswoman's behaviour was "unacceptable."
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| Powerful Ohio lawmaker arrested for role in 'largest bribery scheme' in state history, officials said Posted: 21 Jul 2020 02:14 PM PDT  FBI agents raided the farm of House Speaker Larry Householder in connection to his support of nuclear power plant bailouts.
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| Majority of economists say $600 unemployment boost should be extended or increased for rest of the year Posted: 21 Jul 2020 01:34 PM PDT  Republican lawmakers have cast doubt on extending the $600 per week boost to unemployment insurance during ongoing coronavirus relief bill negotiations, but economists think it should remain at least for the rest of year, a new survey shows.The FiveThirtyEight survey, conducted in partnership with the Initiative on Global Markets at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, polled 33 economists on whether the federal benefits should continue at the same rate, increase, decrease, or lapse completely for the rest of year. A plurality think it should stay the same, and a majority support keeping it as is or increasing, while only 7 percent back getting rid of the benefits altogether.> Another IGM survey of economists -- this one, of quantitative macroeconomic economists -- finds that they generally believe best thing for economy would be to continue or *increase* the $600 federal UI top-up https://t.co/yGuukWD51V pic.twitter.com/Ec1hp8Ex00> > — Catherine Rampell (@crampell) July 21, 2020Going forward, though, the most popular idea among the surveyed economists was to tie the unemployment insurance rate to key economic indicators, so that the benefit gradually decreases as the economy improves. Read the full results here and check out more analysis of the study at FiveThirtyEight.More stories from theweek.com The GOP's rising tide of unpopularity Trump officials, top Republicans split over what to put in coronavirus relief bill: 'What in the hell are we doing?' Serena Williams' 2-year-old daughter is now the youngest owner in pro sports
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| Top Democrats ask FBI to brief Congress on disinformation threats Posted: 20 Jul 2020 02:12 PM PDT  Democratic leaders on Monday made public a letter they sent a week ago to the FBI requesting the agency brief all members of Congress about efforts by foreign governments to spread disinformation ahead of the 2020 election.
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| White House press secretary claims the media has 'tried to scare the American people' about the coronavirus, which has killed over 141,000 Americans and infected 3.8 million more Posted: 21 Jul 2020 10:13 AM PDT  McEnany told reporters "You never heard the other side of the health equation" on "what extended lockdowns do to the American people."
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| Report: Joe Biden may end up giving the only major Democratic convention speech from Milwaukee Posted: 20 Jul 2020 06:45 PM PDT  Joe Biden may be the only one at next month's convention who ends up giving a major speech from the host city of Milwaukee, the Daily Beast reported Monday.
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| Hong Kong protesters gather on anniversary of mob attack Posted: 21 Jul 2020 05:47 AM PDT  Small groups of Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators gathered on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of an attack in a train station by an armed crowd wearing white shirts, and demanded justice for victims of the violence and broader freedoms. The Yuen Long attack, and the police's apparent failure to prevent it, exacerbated tensions during protests last year, plunging the global financial hub into its deepest crisis since Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Scattered individuals around the Yoho mall and Yuen Long train station chanted slogans including "Hong Kong independence, the only way out".
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| Face shields did not protect people from the coronavirus in an outbreak in Switzerland, but masks did, health officials say Posted: 21 Jul 2020 08:05 AM PDT  Health officials in Switzerland caution against wearing a face shield without a mask after a recent outbreak of coronavirus.
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| As Eastern Europe shrinks, rural Bulgaria is becoming a ghostland Posted: 21 Jul 2020 05:00 AM PDT  Since the fall of the Eastern Bloc, Bulgaria has lost more than one-fifth of its population — from nearly 9 million to about 7 million.
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| American views on race relations have changed dramatically, NBC News/WSJ poll finds Posted: 21 Jul 2020 03:21 AM PDT  Support grows for national anthem protests and removal of Confederate statues in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
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| US protests: Is it legal to send in federal forces? Posted: 21 Jul 2020 02:57 AM PDT  With protests continuing after the death of George Floyd, President Trump says he has the power to send in the military.
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| Honduran lawmaker loses appeal in defamation case Posted: 21 Jul 2020 03:34 PM PDT |
| Japan approves dexamethasone as coronavirus treatment Posted: 21 Jul 2020 04:49 PM PDT  Japan's health ministry has approved dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, as a second treatment of COVID-19 after a trial in Britain showed the drug reduced death rates in hospitalised patients. The ministry included dexamethasone as an option for treatment along with antiviral drug remdesivir in a recent revision to its handbook. In results announced last month, a trial by researchers in the United Kingdom showed dexamethasone as the first drug to save lives of COVID-19 patients in what scientists said was a major breakthrough in the coronavirus pandemic.
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| Vice President Mike Pence `wouldn't hesitate' to send his kids back to school Posted: 21 Jul 2020 01:55 PM PDT  Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said he "wouldn't hesitate" to send his own children back to the classroom, despite the rise in coronavirus cases.
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| Marine Corps Begins Shutdown of All Tank Battalions Posted: 21 Jul 2020 08:51 AM PDT  The end of the Marine Corps' tank missions has officially begun.
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| ‘They just started whaling on me’: Veteran speaks out after video of federal officers beating him at Portland protests goes viral Posted: 20 Jul 2020 12:50 AM PDT  Christopher David, a 53-year-old disabled Navy veteran, was so angry at the sight of federal officers sweeping up protesters in the last few nights on the streets of Portland, Oregon, that he decided to go and talk to them about it.The city resident, who served more than eight years with the US Navy, got on a public bus on Saturday and headed to a protest in front of the city courthouse in the hope he could ask them some questions.
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| The gunman suspected of attacking Judge Esther Salas' family was a men's rights advocate and self-identified 'anti-feminist' Posted: 20 Jul 2020 04:01 PM PDT  Roy Den Hollander, who was found dead of an apparent suicide, is suspected of killing Salas' son and critically injuring her husband.
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| China discharges floodwater in Huai River Posted: 20 Jul 2020 12:56 AM PDT 
China on Monday (July 20) opened the sluices at Wangjiaba, a key hydrological station on the Huai River, to release flood pressure as water levels continued to surge in east China's Anhui province. Affected by the recent heavy rainfalls, the water level at Wangjiaba station on the main stream of the Huai River rose rapidly on Monday, exceeding 0.36 metres (1.18 ft.) above the warning level, reported by Xinhua. The surging water prompted local authorities to issue a red alert on Monday morning, the highest in the four-tier colour-coded warning system in China. According to the Huai River Commission of China's Ministry of Water Resources, China has again raised the flood emergency response on Monday in the Huai River region to Level I from Level II, the highest on its four-tier scale, after days of torrential downpours and amid expectations of further heavy rainfall.
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| Biden launches wide battleground push with ads, surrogates Posted: 21 Jul 2020 01:12 PM PDT  Joe Biden's presidential campaign is ramping up its advertising and deploying some of its high-profile surrogates as it tries to solidify a broad battleground map that his advisers see as giving him multiple paths to an Electoral College majority. Biden's Democratic campaign announced Tuesday a $15 million weeklong advertising campaign including television, digital, radio and print in six states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. President Donald Trump won all six states four years ago.
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| Supreme Court rulings make the world safer for both LGBT people and religious freedom Posted: 21 Jul 2020 09:58 AM PDT  The court is working toward broad anti-discrimination protection that doesn't apply to religious groups within their enclaves. It's a decent compromise.
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| Belarus presidential candidate sends her children abroad after threats Posted: 20 Jul 2020 07:14 AM PDT  The leading opposition presidential candidate in Belarus has sent her children abroad to an undisclosed location in the EU after receiving threats they would be taken away unless she quits the race, an opposition journalist said. Svetlana Tikhanouskaya launched her bid to unseat President Alexander Lukashenko in the Aug. 9 election after her husband, a popular anti-Lukashenko blogger, was arrested in May. On Sunday, she held her first official election campaign rally, attended by thousands of people.
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| What we know about the manhunt for killers of three Florida friends on fishing trip Posted: 20 Jul 2020 06:56 PM PDT  Florida police are offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects who killed three friends on a fishing trip in Florida.
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| Trump administration sued by 23 states over plans to end health protections for transgender people Posted: 21 Jul 2020 10:34 AM PDT  The Trump administration is being sued by a coalition of Democratic state attorneys in response to its announcement that healthcare discrimination protections for transgender people will be overturned next month.The discrimination protections that were included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), implemented during the Obama administration, stated that people could not be discriminated against because of race, colour, national origin, sex, age or disability.
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| Hong Kong is Freer Than You Think Posted: 20 Jul 2020 07:08 PM PDT  Barrister and senior Hong Kong politician Ronny Tong argues that criticism of the national security law is misplaced
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| Putin attends keel-laying of new warships in annexed Crimea Posted: 20 Jul 2020 10:03 AM PDT  Russia's President Vladimir Putin pledged Monday to continue an ambitious program of building new warships on a trip to Crimea, which Russia has annexed from Ukraine. Speaking during the keel-laying of two landing vessels at a shipyard in Kerch, Putin said that Russia needs a strong navy to defend its interests and "help maintain a strategic balance and global stability." The Kremlin has made military modernization its top priority amid tensions with the West that followed Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
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| 'There's no corona in the water': Floridians are partying on boats to escape COVID-19, but it's only making the outbreak worse Posted: 21 Jul 2020 12:25 PM PDT  Florida is the third worst-hit state by the outbreak and has the most current coronavirus cases. Some reopening guidelines have been largely ignored.
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| Nile dam dispute: Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan agree to resume talks Posted: 21 Jul 2020 04:09 PM PDT  The Grand Renaissance Dam reservoir has been a source of huge diplomatic tension for almost a decade.
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| Rep. Jim Jordan says local police want federal help to end ongoing violence in their cities Posted: 20 Jul 2020 05:07 PM PDT  Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, joins Harris Faulkner with insight on 'The Story.'
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| Detroit police officer charged with felony assault after rubber bullets fired at journalists Posted: 21 Jul 2020 11:03 AM PDT  If convicted, 32-year-old corporal Daniel Debono could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.
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| Russia, hit by coronavirus crisis, considers military spending cuts Posted: 21 Jul 2020 04:37 AM PDT  Russia is considering cutting spending on the military as low oil prices and the coronavirus crisis have pummelled its economy, a document published by the finance ministry shows. The proposal, published on Monday, also includes budget spending cuts of 10% for the court system, the servicing of Russia's debt and wages for civil servants. Russia, which flexed its military muscle with its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and intervention in the Syrian conflict, dropped out of the list of the top five biggest military spenders in 2018 after its spending fell 3.5%.
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| Biden says four Black women are on his VP list but won't commit to choosing one Posted: 20 Jul 2020 05:11 PM PDT  If elected, Biden, 77, would be the oldest president-elect, which has put an intense focus on his pick for a running mate.
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| Hours after the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters were given felony charges, Missouri's attorney general said he's joining the case to get their charges dismissed Posted: 21 Jul 2020 02:48 AM PDT  Missouri AG Eric Schmitt, a Republican, said in an amicus brief Monday that Mark and Patricia McCloskey had a right to defend their property.
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| Mawla the 'Destroyer', brutal new head of IS group Posted: 20 Jul 2020 07:59 PM PDT  With monikers as divergent as the "Professor" and the "Destroyer", the Islamic State group's new head has a reputation for brutality, but otherwise remains largely an enigma. Amir Mohammed Said Abd al-Rahman al-Mawla replaced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after his death in a raid by US special forces last October. Mawla was initially presented to the world by the Islamic State (IS) as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi -- a man about whom America and Iraq had little intelligence.
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| Pence defends outbreak response, pushes against shutdowns Posted: 21 Jul 2020 01:32 PM PDT  Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday defended the Trump administration's guidance to states on ramping their economies back up amid the spread of the coronavirus, saying it was based on the best information at the time and a spike in recent cases shouldn't mean more shutdowns. "We really believed that was essential, that every American take these steps, and so that we would prevent our hospitals ... from being overwhelmed," Pence said of the administration's 45-day recommended social distancing guidelines. Pence, who heads up a White House task force that communicates regularly with governors on the pandemic, was in South Carolina at the invitation of Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump supporter, to discuss processes for reopening schools this fall.
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| Disney theme park staff worry about Covid-19: 'I can't bring it back home' Posted: 21 Jul 2020 01:25 AM PDT  Disney's parks in Florida and California are reopening and tens of thousands of workers returning as cases in the states surge Disney World fully reopened all four of its theme parks within its Florida resort last week, even as cases of coronavirus surged, making it one of the world's hotspots for daily increases.Undaunted guests who choose to visit Disney are greeted with a disclaimer on its website: "By visiting Walt Disney World Resort you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19."For Disney's workers, many may feel little choice but to assume the risks of returning to the world's most visited theme park, with some expressing fears of the Covid-19 risk, and for their livelihoods.There are about 75,000 employees at Disney World in Florida, and about 30,000 at Disneyland in California, and they are returning as cases are increasing in both states."The imminent danger of loss of health and financial security is a concern that most of us are sharing about reopening, and about fear of closing again," said Dan Rey, a server for 25 years at Disney and a union shop steward with Unite Here.Rey has not been called back to work yet, but is one of thousands of Disney employees who went several weeks before receiving unemployment benefits. Many workers in Florida still have not had their applications processed and paid out. On 26 July, federal unemployment benefits expire, leaving workers in Florida to survive on just the $275 maximum weekly benefit from the state."People are afraid of going back to work because of the imminent threat of contracting Covid, since we, Florida, are now the epicenter of the world for this pandemic, and they are also afraid of not going back to work because we have no financial support," said Rey. "The real problem is that we cannot afford not to work. Our governor here in Florida is still making excuses rather than plans. There are still people who have not received financial support because the unemployment system is so broken."Mike Beaver, an attractions employee at Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom for about 20 years, returned to work on 29 June."When it was announced Disney World would reopen parks, I thought it was too soon, even though some other parks had reopened before Disney," said Beaver. He said during a temperature check he was sent to work, despite receiving a reading that would not register on the thermometer.Bryan Amstutz, a vacation planner at Walt Disney World, said only a third of his department has returned to work so far, and he did not expect to be recalled until January 2021 or later. "I don't get paid enough to police Covid-19," said Amstutz.Parts of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, have begun a phased reopening, while awaiting approval from local and state officials to reopen the parks and hotels."My main concern going back to work is: I have young children and my mom is elderly. I can't bring coronavirus home. It's not really safe to go back to work. The cases are rising in California," said Inez Guzman, who has worked in housekeeping at the Disneyland Hotel for five years.Glynndana Shevlin, a food and beverage worker at Disneyland for 32 years, wants to return to work out of concern she could lose her current apartment, which she's lived in the past two years after experiencing homelessness. But she is also concerned for her safety and that of co-workers and guests. One of her friends and co-workers is currently hospitalized with coronavirus."I live alone and I'm in my 60s. I'm really concerned about going back to work in the sense of safety. We want on-site testing for coronavirus to be available if we need it, and all kinds of safety procedures in place," said Shevlin. "When I come home at night, I don't want to worry if I'm going to be sick and if I am sick, if I'm going to be able to have the correct medicine, healthcare, if I'm going to have enough pay." Union pushing for on-site testingUnite Here local 11 is currently in negotiations with Disney on safety protocols and protections for workers when the parks reopen.Austin Lynch, an organizer involved in negotiating with Disney, said the union had pushed Disney to agree to perform daily temperature checks for workers before they start shifts, and agreed on providing as much personal protective equipment to workers as they need.But the union is still pressuring Disney to provide on-site coronavirus testing for workers, commit to ensuring staffing levels will be provided to conduct extra cleaning and disinfecting, and to extend temperature checks to guests staying at Disney hotels."They haven't covered some of the critical safety areas. Until they do, we don't think it's safe to reopen," said Lynch. "You have to either cover all the bases and go all out to prevent transmission or operate unsafely. Operating and only covering some of the bases just means people are going to get coronavirus."A representative for Disney told the Guardian the opening of Disneyland was pending guidance from state officials, while worker training, a range of health and safety measures, cleaning, disinfecting and technological solutions have been implemented ahead of Disney World's reopening."As we continue the phased reopening of our parks and resorts across the world, promoting health and safety for our guests, cast members and the larger community is a responsibility we take seriously. From increased cleaning and disinfecting across our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reimagined the Disney experience so we can all enjoy the magic responsibly," said the representative in an email.
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| Anti-feminist lawyer, suspect in killing of judge's son, dead Posted: 20 Jul 2020 07:57 AM PDT  The FBI's Newark office said in a statement that attorney Roy Den Hollander was the sole suspect in the attack on the North Brunswick, New Jersey, home of Esther Salas that killed her 20-year old son and left her husband with gunshot wounds. Hollander was found earlier on Monday in an apparent suicide about 90 miles (145 km) north of New York City, the Daily Beast and other media reported, citing law enforcement sources. Investigators say a man dressed in a FedEx uniform approached the home and opened fire, killing the son, Daniel Anderl, and injuring her husband, 63-year-old defense attorney Mark Anderl.
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| Out of Portland tear gas, an apparition emerges, capturing the imagination of protesters Posted: 19 Jul 2020 07:05 PM PDT  An iconic image has emerged on Twitter since early Saturday morning in Portland, when a woman wearing nothing but a mask and cap strode toward federal agents as they fired tear gas at protesters — a surreal image of human vulnerability in the face of an overpowering force.
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| It's not poachers killing elephants in Botswana. That worries conservationists. Posted: 20 Jul 2020 01:30 AM PDT  "The only thing that kills elephants quickly is people killing elephants," said Keith Lindsay, a conservation biologist.
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| Seattle sued by family of man killed in autonomous protest zone Posted: 21 Jul 2020 02:09 PM PDT  The man, who was shot in the city's autonomous zone, allegedly was not provided medical treatment.
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