| Pro-abortion-rights group is all in for Biden but warns about 'gender stereotypes' in VP coverage Posted: 10 Aug 2020 05:25 PM PDT  The head of NARAL Pro-Choice America told Yahoo News on Monday that the organization is "pulling out all the stops" to keep President Trump from being reelected, allocating $32 million to elect Joe Biden.
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| Hate crime victim arrested at protest won't be prosecuted Posted: 09 Aug 2020 11:11 PM PDT  A Black woman who became a leading activist in the Black Lives Matter movement after she was assaulted by a white supremacist three years ago won't be charged after her arrest early Monday fueled anger among protest leaders in Portland, Oregon, authorities said. Demetria Hester, 46, was booked on suspicion of disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer during the protest that began Sunday night. The Multnomah County district attorney's office later said Hester would not be prosecuted but offered no further details.
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| Ron Johnson Subpoenas FBI Director Wray in Probe of Crossfire Hurricane Origins Posted: 10 Aug 2020 06:14 AM PDT  Senator Ron Johnson (R., Wisc.) subpoenaed FBI director Christopher Wray last week for documents pertaining to the Russia investigation.Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, issued the subpoena as part of the committee's probe into the origins of the Russia investigation, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane by the FBI.The subpoena, obtained by Fox News, demands that Wray make available "all records related to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation. This includes, but is not limited to, all records provided or made available to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice for its review.""The FBI has already been producing documents and information to the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which are directly responsive to this subpoena," the FBI told Fox. "As always, the FBI will continue to cooperate with the Committee's requests, consistent with our law enforcement and national security obligations."Both the Homeland Security committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee are conducting investigations into the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane probe, whose stated aim was to uncover alleged collusion between Russian operatives and 2016 Trump-campaign officials. Intelligence officials have already declassified various documents pertaining to Crossfire Hurricane as part of the Judiciary Committee's investigation.Many of those documents were uncovered by DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz as part of his own investigation into the FBI's applications for FISA warrants to surveil former Trump-campaign adviser Carter Page. Horowitz found "at least 17 significant errors or omissions in the Carter Page FISA applications."
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| 'Terror crocodiles' with teeth the size of bananas once roamed North America preying on dinosaurs Posted: 11 Aug 2020 10:12 AM PDT  "Terror crocodiles" which had teeth the size of bananas and could reach 33 feet in length once roamed North America preying on dinosaurs, according to a new study. Researchers say the Deinosuchus, which means "terror crocodile", was the largest predator in its ecosystem when it roamed the earth between 75 to 82 million years ago, outweighing the largest predatory dinosaurs which existed at the same time. The new study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, revisited fossil specimens of the gigantic creatures and found the Deinosuchus had teeth "the size of bananas", capable of taking down even the very largest of dinosaurs. It also confirmed that the predators grew to as much as 33ft in length, making them nearly as long as some city buses. Researchers also found that there were at least three species of Deinosuchus, two of which lived along western America from Montana to northern Mexico.
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| Agnes Chow: the former Hong Kong teen activist China wants to silence Posted: 11 Aug 2020 08:56 AM PDT  Arrested for alleged national security crimes, Agnes Chow hails from a generation of Hong Kong democracy activists who cut their teeth in politics as teenagers and are now being steadily silenced by China. The media cameras flashed incessantly as the 23-year-old was led handcuffed from her apartment on Monday evening by police officers with Hong Kong's new national security unit. For Chow, her arrest was the latest in a long line of confrontations with China's authoritarian leaders and their Hong Kong proxies.
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| Map: State-by-state breakdown of coronavirus travel restrictions Posted: 11 Aug 2020 11:25 AM PDT  U.S. states and territories are making new rules for travelers. Find which ones across the United States have implemented travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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| German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas confronts Pompeo over pipeline sanctions Posted: 10 Aug 2020 10:07 AM PDT  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday he has personally told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of his "dismay" over a warning by three Republican senators who threatened sanctions against a German port operator for its part in a pipeline project with Russia.
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| Louisville police said protesters, who have been marching against Breonna Taylor's death for more than 70 days, can no longer use public roads Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:46 AM PDT  A handful of people have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and blocking a roadway since the ban started, local media reported.
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| US Border Patrol agent arrested and charged with trafficking over 350,000 pills believed to be fentanyl Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:00 PM PDT  The suspect drove to the airport and unloaded two duffel bags into another vehicle. Officials later found nearly $330,000 in his home.
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| The White House? Gettysburg? Florida? Trump team looks at options for nomination speech Posted: 10 Aug 2020 10:26 AM PDT  The nomination acceptance speech is the most attention-getting event of a convention. Because of coronavirus, Trump may deliver his from home.
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| Seattle City Council OKs cuts to police positions, budget Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:30 AM PDT  The Seattle City Council approved proposals Monday that would reduce the police department by as many as 100 officers through layoffs and attrition — an action supported by demonstrators who have marched in the city following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis but strongly opposed by the mayor and police chief. On Monday, only council member Kshama Sawant voted against the budget package, saying it does not do enough to defund the police. Seattle currently has about 1,400 police officers and the reductions fell far short of the 50% cut to the department that many Black Lives Matter protesters are seeking.
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| Israel closes Gaza goods crossing after balloon attacks Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:21 PM PDT  Israel will close its goods crossing with the Gaza Strip, authorities said Monday, after militants in the Hamas-run territory fired rockets into the Mediterranean and launched incendiary balloons towards the Jewish state. The Kerem Shalom crossing will be closed to all traffic except humanitarian equipment and fuel from Tuesday, COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees the crossings, said in a statement. The move comes in response to the "continued launching of incendiary balloons" from Gaza, it added.
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| Senate cafeteria workers reportedly face layoffs if Congressional stalemate continues Posted: 10 Aug 2020 01:46 PM PDT  Up to 80 people who are part of the Senate cafeteria staff in the capitol could face layoffs by October if Congress can't emerge from its coronavirus relief deadlock, CNN reports.The company that employs the workers, Restaurant Associates, did not confirm the number, but did not deny issuing warnings of potential layoffs, which are the result of having to close some of its restaurants because of the pandemic.Senators told CNN they believe they will pass a bill that will fund the Architect of the Capitol — the federal agency that oversees the day-to-day function of the Capitol and has a private contract with Restaurant Associates — in time, allowing employees to continue to receive their paychecks, like the CARES Act did.Lawmakers said they were committed to protecting the workers' jobs, although Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) blamed Restaurant Associates, which he said "has been a problem to deal with," rather than his colleagues for the layoffs threat. As Murphy sees it, the company is simply trying "get more money out of the Architect of the Capitol," which he said could mean it's "time to find a vendor that's not going to use the threats of layoffs as a cajole to try to get more money." Read more at CNN.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election 4 ways Kamala Harris just made history Obama on Harris pick: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision'
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| Kamala Harris news: Trump complains VP pick was 'mean' to Brett Kavanaugh as president's donations to her campaign resurface Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:15 PM PDT  Joe Biden has selected California senator and former state attorney general Kamala Harris as his running mate, the first black woman to run as vice president on a major political party's ticket.The Trump campaign swiftly reacted to the announcement, lashing out at the senator by calling her "phoney" and claiming she will "abandon her own morals". Donald Trump echoed his campaign rhetoric from the White House, where he falsely portrayed her as a far-left senator despite her prosecutorial record.
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| Drones reveal shark fests, though US bites remain rare Posted: 11 Aug 2020 06:24 AM PDT  It's shark week. While you're watching sharks on Discovery, scientists are using drones to watch how they really interact with people.
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| Coronavirus found on frozen seafood in China Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:43 AM PDT |
| Police probe claims that Indian army faked Kashmir gunbattle Posted: 11 Aug 2020 01:00 AM PDT |
| Top Navy official: Sailor burnout a concern amid COVID-19 crisis Posted: 10 Aug 2020 02:53 PM PDT  Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told NBC News the pandemic has forced ships to remain at sea for longer periods of time.
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| Sturgis motorcycle rally attendees lounge in bikinis, pack into bars, and mock mask wearers: 'It's like COVID does not exist here' Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:19 PM PDT  One Sturgis vendor said he loves the old America vibes at the event that celebrates Trump, police, and the military.
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| Dr. Sonia Angell, California's top health official, resigns Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:29 AM PDT  California's top public health official has resigned, just days after the state announced a fix for a glitch that caused a lag in reporting coronavirus test results used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools.
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| A California judge ruled that Uber and Lyft have to classify their drivers as employees, not contractors Posted: 10 Aug 2020 01:49 PM PDT  Uber and Lyft are expected to appeal Monday's ruling, and have argued that reclassifying drivers as employees could wreak havoc on their businesses.
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| Trump claims he would have beaten George Washington in election while bragging about non-existent poll numbers Posted: 11 Aug 2020 09:45 AM PDT  If Donald Trump were to square off with US founding father George Washington in an election, the current president would have had a leg up — so says Mr Trump."I don't know if you've seen, the polls have been going up like a rocket ship. George Washington would have had a hard time beating me before the plague came in, before the China plague. And then, you know, like every other nation, like other countries, when you get hit, it affects you, and we went down a little bit," Mr Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
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| Fossil of fearsome 'hell ant' that used tusk-like jaws to hunt its victims discovered in amber Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:39 AM PDT  A 99-million year old fossil of a "hell ant" is giving researchers a glimpse into the behavior of these fearsome ancient insects, a new study reports.
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| China reinstates tourist visas to Macau from September 23 in boon for casinos Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:02 AM PDT  Macau, the world's biggest casino hub, is set to welcome an influx of gamblers after China on Tuesday announced that tourist visas, through which the majority of visitors enter the Chinese territory, would be reinstated for all provinces from Sept. 23. Casino executives and investors have been eagerly awaiting the announcement as a catalyst to reviving gaming revenue, which has slumped since February due to coronavirus travel restrictions. China's National Immigration Administration said, provided the domestic coronavirus situation continued to improve, residents would be able to apply for individual and group travel visas to enter the special administrative region located on the country's southern coast.
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| Photos show the oil spill in Mauritius that's leaking 4,000 tons of fuel into the pristine, azure waters of the Indian Ocean Posted: 10 Aug 2020 03:18 PM PDT  More than 1,000 tons of oil has leaked into the Indian Ocean, and environmentalists worry it may be too late to undo the damage.
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| Mississippi's new flag won't have Elvis on it, but it could feature a mosquito Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:53 PM PDT  Despite the best efforts of some creative residents, Mississippi's new flag will not feature Elvis Presley, Kermit the Frog, or beer cans.Mississippi's old flag — the last one in the U.S. to feature a Confederate battle emblem — was retired in late June amid public outcry and anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. A nine-member commission appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and state House speaker was tasked with selecting a design for a new flag. There are just two rules: It cannot include the Confederate battle emblem and it must have the phrase "In God We Trust."The public was invited to send in designs, and nearly 3,000 were submitted; the 147 that made it to the second round were posted Monday to Mississippi's Department of Archives and History website. Designs with food and famous people and characters were rejected, The Associated Press reports, but many with magnolias and stars — and in one case, a mosquito surrounded by stars — made the cut.On Friday, the commissioners will meet to pick their top five choices, and by early September, they will narrow it down to one; if they can't choose one, they do have the option of creating their own design. It will then be up to the people of Mississippi, who will vote either for or against the final design on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election 4 ways Kamala Harris just made history Obama on Harris pick: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision'
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| Big Tech Allies Join Biden Campaign Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:07 AM PDT  The Biden campaign has enlisted several allies of big tech companies as part of its policy planning initiatives, the New York Times reported on Monday.While the campaign is facing pressure from more progressive advisers to take a combative stance against companies such as Apple, Facebook, and Amazon, a number of former consultants for and senior employees of those companies are now advising the campaign.The advisers include Avril Haines, a former Obama administration national security official who worked as a consultant for data-mining firm Palantir; Antony Blinken, a veteran of the Obama State Department and co-founder of lobbying firm WestExec, which has worked with Google; and Cynthia Hogan, a former lobbyist for Apple who is now part of Biden's vice-presidential selection team.Other veterans of the tech industry or consultants for tech companies have joined the Innovation Policy Committee, the Biden campaign's 700-person policy advisory team. The presence of big tech allies in the Biden campaign comes despite statements from Biden himself saying that internet companies should lose certain legal protections."Section 230 should be revoked, immediately should be revoked, number one," Biden said in a 2019 interview with the Times. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act gives legal immunity to internet companies if a third party publishes false or defamatory content on their platforms. Biden and other Democrats have complained that platforms such as Facebook allow the Trump campaign to spread misinformation.Matt Hill, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, denied that the presence of tech industry allies would make a Biden administration more amenable to those companies' concerns."Many technology giants and their executives have not only abused their power but misled the American people, damaged our democracy and evaded any form of responsibility," Hill told the Times. "Anyone who thinks that campaign volunteers or advisers will change Joe Biden's fundamental commitment to stopping the abuse of power and stepping up for the middle class doesn't know Joe Biden."
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| Singapore founder's grandson to pay fine for Facebook post Posted: 10 Aug 2020 09:59 PM PDT  The grandson of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew and nephew of the current prime minister said Tuesday he will pay a fine for a Facebook post that questioned the independence of the city's judiciary. Li Shengwu, an academic based in the United States at Harvard University, was ordered to pay a Sg$15,000 ($11,000) fine or serve a week's jail by the High Court last month over the 2017 post in which he described the Singapore government as "very litigious and has a pliant court system".
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| Trump’s attorney general under fire for calling Black Lives Matter a ‘Bolshevik organisation’ with ‘fascistic’ tactics Posted: 11 Aug 2020 01:01 AM PDT  US attorney general Bill Barr made waves with a Fox News interview this weekend in which he called the Black Lives Matter movement "Bolshevik" and "fascistic" – and the fallout is still simmering.Host Mark Levin, who conducted the interview, is now pushing back against the mainstream media's coverage of the segment, accusing newspapers' fact checkers of lying about Black Lives Matter's true nature and declaring that journalists are in cahoots with "violent Marxists".
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| Fact check: Masks can keep out COVID-19 particles even though smaller than dry wall dust Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:07 AM PDT  Masks may not completely stop drywall dust, but that doesn't mean they aren't effective against COVID-19.
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| Apt Bible passage at Catholic Mass coincides with earthquake Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:01 PM PDT |
| Washington, D.C., police union moves to block release of body cam footage Posted: 10 Aug 2020 01:17 PM PDT  The Washington, D.C., police union said on Monday it asked a court to block the mandatory release of body camera footage and names of police officers involved in shootings. The federal district passed a police reform law in July after weeks of protests in the nation's capital and across the globe against systemic racism and police brutality, sparked by the killing of African-American George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.
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| Milne Ice Shelf: Satellites capture Arctic ice split Posted: 11 Aug 2020 07:22 AM PDT  The Planet Earth-observation company releases new imagery of Canada's broken Milne Ice Shelf.
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| China imposes retaliatory sanctions on 6 U.S. lawmakers, including Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz Posted: 10 Aug 2020 05:31 AM PDT  China imposed retaliatory sanctions against five U.S. senators, a congressman, and five additional Americans on Monday in response to sanctions levied by the White House on Friday over China's crackdown on Hong Kong, Bloomberg reports. Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Ted Cruz (Tex.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Josh Hawley (Mo.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.), as well as Rep. Chis Smith (N.J.), were all slapped with the restrictions. "Last month China banned me. Today they sanctioned me. I don't want to be paranoid but I am starting to think they don't like me," Rubio joked in a tweet Monday morning.The lawmakers all share "hawkish" attitudes on China and have "urged the U.S. government to adopt harder stances toward Beijing," The Wall Street Journal reports. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a press conference Monday that the measures were "in response to the U.S.'s wrong behaviors" and took aim at "individuals who behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues."The heads of five non-governmental organizations — the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Freedom House, and Human Rights Watch — were also among those sanctioned, according to CNBC. Notably, no one in the Trump administration was slapped with restrictions.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election Susan Rice conspicuously left off DNC speakers list ahead of Biden's veep announcement Belarus cuts off internet as EU says it's considering action in response to disputed election
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| A nail technician said a client lied about having the coronavirus because they 'desperately' needed a manicure Posted: 11 Aug 2020 04:21 AM PDT  Taylor, a nail technician, said she received a message from a customer saying they had tested positive for COVID-19 before their appointment.
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| Willie Brown urges Kamala Harris to decline offer to be Joe Biden’s VP Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:05 AM PDT  Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown has advised senator Kamala Harris to "politely decline" if Joe Biden makes her an offer to be his presidential running mate.The former mayor wrote in an opinion article for The San Fransisco Chronicle that the vice presidency is a "dead end" and "not the job she should go for".
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| TikTok has entertained offers from potential buyers like Microsoft and Twitter to appease Trump while ByteDance has been preparing to fight back Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:36 AM PDT  NPR reported over the weekend TikTok is planning to sue the Trump administration regarding its executive order.
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