The Rundown: Top headlines today: Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Stay up to date on the developing stories making headlines.
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Good Morning AmericaUS holds off on sanctioning Israeli military units accused of human rights violations in West Bank before start of war with Hamas
The Biden administration has determined that three military battalions with the Israel Defense Forces committed "gross human rights violations" against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank but will remain eligible for U.S. military aid regardless because of steps Israel says it's taking to address the problem, ABC News has learned. The administration assessment, which has not yet been made public and could change if Israel doesn't take specific steps, was outlined in an undated letter by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to House Speaker Mike Johnson obtained by ABC News. The U.S. determination "will not delay the delivery of any U.S. assistance and Israel will be able to receive the full amount appropriated by Congress," Blinken wrote.
- Good Morning America
Shark conservation has been so successful that researchers are finding ways to curb human-shark interaction
Sharks are increasingly becoming a nuisance to fishers as they engage in depredation -- or the act of attacking or plundering -- of catch, said Demian Chapman, senior scientist and director for the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota. A device about the size of a roll of quarters that shocks sharks that attempt to bite on fishing lines may be the answer to reducing shark depredation as well as sharks ending up as bycatch, Chapman told ABC News. "It's a sense we don't have," Chapman said.
- Good Morning America
Controversial methods to cool earth by reflecting sunlight gain traction as global temperatures rise
The planet has been experiencing a relentless stretch of record-breaking global temperatures with the rate and impact of climate change accelerating, according to the World Meteorological Organization. As the impacts of human-amplified climate change intensify and become more severe, relatively untouched ideas are gaining momentum as potential short-term solutions to lower Earth's temperature. In 2023, the White House published a report laying out a plan to conduct more research on two approaches to solar radiation modification, saying that it's important to better understand the risks and benefits of both technologies.
- Good Morning America
Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with President Xi of China
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi of China on Friday following a meeting with Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the U.S. State Department. Blinken, in his remarks, described the first meeting with Wang Yi as "extensive and constructive."
- ABC News
Superintendent speaks out after time capsule from 1920 found in old high school
A construction crew was in the process of demolishing an old high school in Minnesota recently when they discovered a time capsule tucked inside of a cornerstone from when the building was erected in 1920. A press conference was held Monday following the discovery, during which the contents from the capsule were revealed to community members after being kept in a metal box for over a century. Speaking to "Good Morning America," Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Elstad said there were a lot of documents found in the capsule.
- ABC News
US military starts building pier off of Gaza to deliver aid
The U.S. military has begun to build the long-awaited port and causeway off the coast of Gaza that will establish a maritime corridor to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, the Pentagon said Thursday. "I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, told reporters, referring to the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, system floating pier delivery system. "We are aware of the significant interest in this important effort and will provide much more information in the very near future as we work alongside the international community to rush aid to the people of Gaza," he added.
- ABC News
Former official told investigators Trump had 'no standing declassification order' regarding documents, filing says
Prosecutors in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case said in court filings that a former Trump administration official told investigators that Trump, as president, had "no standing declassification order" regarding documents in his possession. The filings, which are part of special counsel Jack Smith's response to a Trump legal team motion to compel discovery in the case, include notes from prosecutors' interview with a former administration official who the special counsel says "refused recording of the interview."
- ABC News
At emotional DC memorial, Chef José Andrés mourns 7 World Central Kitchen aid workers killed by Israeli airstrikes
World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés delivered emotional and, at times, stirring remarks to an interfaith celebration of life held at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday in honor of the seven aid workers with the chef's aid organization who were killed in a Gaza airstrike by Israel Defense Forces earlier this month. The service honored Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha; three British nationals, John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby; Jacob Flickinger, a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen; Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom of Australia; and Damian Sobol of Poland.
- ABC News
Baltimore high school athletic director used AI to create fake racist audio of principal: Police
Police arrested a Baltimore high school athletic director Thursday after they said they discovered he allegedly used artificial intelligence to create a phony audio recording of the school's principal that went viral and cost the school leader his job temporarily and his safety. Principal Eric Eisworth was removed from his position at Pikesville High School after the school district began investigating the audio clip that was circulated among staff and social media in January where it appeared Eisworth made racist comments against Black and Jewish persons, investigators allege. The three-month probe, which involved local police and the FBI, concluded that the audio was forged using AI tools by Dazhon Darien, the athletic director at the school, according to Baltimore Chief of Police Robert McCollough.
- Good Morning America
EPA limits 4 types of power plant pollution with sweeping rulemaking
The Biden administration on Thursday announced a series of new rules designed to cut pollution emitted from coal and natural gas-fired power plants having an impact on air, water, land and climate. "At the same time, the power sector is also a major contributor to the pollution that drives climate change and threatens public health." "At EPA it is our responsibility to act within the bounds of our legal authority and assess impacts in a way that is smart, effective, follows the latest science and enables our economy to grow and thrive," he added.
- ABC News
Giuliani, Meadows indicted in Arizona fake elector scheme; Trump unindicted co-conspirator
Several former and current key aides to former President Donald Trump appear to be among those charged by the Arizona State Attorney General over their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes also announced charges against 11 named alleged fake electors and seven people whose names are redacted in the filing for their alleged role in efforts to subvert Joe Biden's 2020 victory in the state.
- ABC News
College protests live updates: Hundreds arrested as universities crack down on pro-Palestinian encampments
Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety. The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.
- ABC News
Moody Blues founding member Mike Pinder dies at 82
Mike Pinder – keyboardist, vocalist and founding member of the Moody Blues – passed away Wednesday at the age of 82. The news was confirmed in a statement from his family, which was shared on Facebook by his Moody Blues bandmate, John Lodge. "Michael's family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully," reads the statement.
- Good Morning America
Isabella Strahan shares day-in-the-life amid chemotherapy, brain tumor battle
Six months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Isabella Strahan is sharing a glimpse into her day-to-day life. The 19-year-old daughter of "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan, shared in a new video Wednesday on her YouTube channel what it's like as she undergoes chemotherapy and works on her recovery. In a video filmed by her twin sister, Sophia Strahan, Isabella takes viewers inside an area in her home she has set up as "Isabella's Station," where she stores a container full of medicine bottles, among other things.
- Good Morning America
Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned in New York; DA will attempt to retry
The rape conviction of movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been overturned by New York's highest court. The New York Court of Appeals, in a scathing 4-3 opinion, overturned Weinstein's conviction on sex crimes against three women, finding the trial judge "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes." The court said that testimony "served no material non-propensity purpose" and "portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light."
- ABC News
5 takeaways from historic Supreme Court arguments on Trump's immunity claim
The Supreme Court on Thursday heard historic arguments on whether former President Donald Trump can be criminally prosecuted related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The former president, who lamented not attending arguments in Washington as he is on trial in New York in a separate criminal trial, in which he has pleaded not guilty, was represented by attorney John Sauer. Michael Dreeben argued on behalf of the government and special counsel Jack Smith.
- ABC News
Speaker Johnson alleges Hamas support for anti-Israel campus protests, threatens intervention
Speaker Mike Johnson, claiming that Hamas supports the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and at other U.S. colleges, on Thursday threatened congressional intervention, including pulling federal funding from the institutions. ABC News has not documented any cases of protesters waving Hamas flags, as Johnson suggested. Student protests at Columbia and other schools have primarily denounced Israeli military action in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinian civilians, rather than expressing support for Hamas.
- ABC News
Texas sheriff conducting criminal investigation into deadly National Guard helicopter crash near border
A deadly crash involving a National Guard helicopter is the focus of an investigation in Texas into whether there was any criminal wrongdoing involved, ABC News has learned. The March 8 incident near the U.S.-Mexico border resulted in the deaths of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, who were members of the New York Army National Guard, and U.S. Border Patrol agent Chris Luna, a South Texas resident, U.S. officials said. An unidentified National Guard member was injured in the collision, which occurred in rural Starr County.
- ABC News
No cuts: Proposed bill could change skipping the security line at the airport
California lawmakers have pushed forward a new piece of legislation aimed at changing the way third-party security screening companies like CLEAR help expedite customers through security at the airport. An annual CLEAR membership that costs $189 allows travelers to skip the onerous security lines and instead verify their identity with biometric data at a kiosk, then get escorted by an agent to the front of the line bypassing TSA and TSA PreCheck.
- ABC News
Could a president stage a coup? And 9 more key moments from Trump's Supreme Court immunity hearing
As various Supreme Court justices themselves acknowledged during a high-stakes hearing on Thursday, they could potentially reshape the contours of presidential power when they rule on whether Donald Trump is entitled to some amount of immunity from prosecution for alleged acts in the White House as he pushed to overturn his 2020 election loss. Over nearly three hours on Thursday, with demonstrators gathered outside, the justices grappled with arguments from both Trump's attorney and an attorney for special counsel Jack Smith, who has charged Trump in connection with his effort to stay in office after losing to now-President Joe Biden. Trump denies all wrongdoing and disputes some of what he is accused of doing while he maintains that other actions were part of his presidential authority.