PoliticsThe Independent‘Telling us how to run our country’: Trump repeats racist attack on the Squad
Donald Trump launched a racist attack on one black female Democratic congresswoman and said a Latino female congresswoman deals in a “line of crap" as he rallied supporters in Pennsylvania. The President was trying to complete a comeback and again win a state some experts say his general election foe, former Vice President Joe Biden, must win in November to oust the president from power. Mr Trump's election strategy to secure a second term is almost exclusively about rebuilding the coalition that pushed him to victory four years ago, trying to ensure a massive conservative turnout in a handful of swing states to secure a second term.
HealthReutersExclusive: Study suggests dengue may provide some immunity against COVID-19
A new study that analyzed the coronavirus outbreak in Brazil has found a link between the spread of the virus and past outbreaks of dengue fever that suggests exposure to the mosquito-transmitted illness may provide some level of immunity against COVID-19. The not yet published study led by Miguel Nicolelis, a professor at Duke University, and shared exclusively with Reuters, compared the geographic distribution of coronavirus cases with the spread of dengue in 2019 and 2020. Places with lower coronavirus infection rates and slower case growth were locations that had suffered intense dengue outbreaks this year or last, Nicolelis found.
PoliticsMiami HeraldIf the Senate doesn’t consider a replacement for Bader Ginsburg now, it’s not doing its job | Opinion
They carry on now as if the Constitution provides otherwise, but the simple fact is that in our system of self-governance, the president nominates Supreme Court justices and the Senate confirms or rejects them — all at their discretion and on their timetable. I realize reason isn't in fashion these days, but reason is the bulwark of our system. Ask yourself these two simple questions: In voting to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the November election, would Republicans be doing anything that isn't provided for in the Constitution?
PoliticsBusiness Insider'I beat the socialist': Biden reminds voters 'worried about socialism' that he won the party nomination, not Bernie Sanders
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden aimed to assure voters concerned about socialism by pointing to the fact that he beat Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary. “I beat the socialist,” Biden said on Monday. President Donald Trump's campaign has attempted to characterize Biden as a "radical socialist."
U.S.PoliticoPence calls 200,000 Covid deaths a ‘heartbreaking milestone’ but says things could’ve been worse
As the U.S. passed a grim milestone of 200,000 coronavirus-related deaths, Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday sent his condolences to victims and their families while also saying things could have been worse. Six weeks from the election, Pence spoke at a Make America Great Again event in Gilford, N.H., to raise support for President Donald Trump in a state that he narrowly lost in 2016. Addressing the news of the new 200,000 death count midday, Pence called it a “heartbreaking milestone.”
WorldReutersUK told U.S. it was Brussels, not London, threatening Irish peace
Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he told the U.S. government during a recent visit to Washington it was the European Union, not the United Kingdom, that was threatening the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland. The British government has put forward new legislation that would breach the Northern Ireland protocol, a part of Britain's divorce deal with the EU that seeks to avoid border checks between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has warned Britain that it must honour the Good Friday Agreement as it withdraws from the European Union, or there would be no separate U.S. trade deal.
U.S.USA TODAY'Placed intentionally to cause harm': Michigan city closes playgrounds after discovery of 41 razor blades
A group of people at a Michigan playground discovered 39 razor blades on the equipment, prompting authorities to close playgrounds across the city, police said. Officers recovered an additional two blades after they were called at about 4:40 p.m. Monday to the playground, according to a news release from the Eaton Rapids Police Department. "Some of the blades appeared to have been placed intentionally to cause harm," police said on Facebook.
PoliticsThe Daily BeastSCOTUS Battle Pours Lighter Fluid on South Carolina’s Senate Race
Most everyone following the heated U.S. Senate contest in South Carolina recognizes that the opening of a U.S. Supreme Court seat—six weeks before Election Day—has shifted the balance of the race. Sen. Lindsey Graham was already facing a determined challenge from Democrat Jaime Harrison before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death last Friday. Less than a day later, Graham officially discarded his stance from 2016 that high court appointments shouldn't be made in an election year—and fully embraced his role as President Donald Trump's warrior in securing a third Supreme Court justice.
PoliticsThe IndependentCIA found Russia president Vladimir Putin ‘probably directing’ campaign against Biden, claims report
Russian president Vladimir Putin is believed by America's intelligence agencies to be personally pulling the strings behind a disinformation campaign to denigrate Joe Biden and influence the US election, according to reports. A top-secret Central Intelligence Agency assessment, reported in the opinion section of The Washington Post, claims Mr Putin is likely directing Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach in disseminating disparaging information about Mr Biden through lobbyists, Congress, the media and contacts close to Donald Trump. “We assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior-most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing Russia's influence operations aimed at denigrating the former US vice president, supporting the US president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November,” the document says, according to two sources with knowledge of the report quoted by the Post's global opinions section columnist Josh Rogin.
LifestyleArchitectural DigestWhy We’re Never Buying Rectangular Rugs Again
Squiggly, wavy, snaky textiles have captured our hearts Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- PoliticsFOX News Videos
Some Republicans changing stance on Supreme Court nomination process
Fox News' Chad Pergram breaks down the White House's approach to filling the Supreme Court vacancy.
HealthThe WeekThe FDA is reportedly about to make approving a coronavirus vaccine before the election a lot tougher
The Food and Drug Administration is poised to roll out new, rigorous standards for an emergency approval for a coronavirus vaccine, The Washington Post reports. The standards, which appear to be an example of the agency's efforts to increase public trust amid the politicization of vaccine development, could be unveiled as soon as this week and are expected to be much tougher than what was used for the controversial emergency clearances of potential COVID-19 treatments hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma, per the Post. Manufacturers will be asked to follow vaccine trial participants for at least two months after they receive their second shot, two individuals familiar with situation told the Post on condition of anonymity.
WorldReutersVatican steps up opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide
The Vatican doubled down on its opposition to euthanasia on Tuesday, calling it an "act of homicide" that can never be justified or tolerated. A new document, issued as more countries consider legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide, said legislators and politicians who support such laws are "accomplices". Catholic healthcare workers must never give active or passive collaboration and governments the right to conscientious objection, it said.
PoliticsCBS NewsSchumer invokes "two-hour rule" to block Senate committee hearings
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer invoked the "two-hour rule" Tuesday, a measure that constrains the scheduling and duration of Senate committee meetings. The move was intended to retaliate against Republicans, who have agreed to vote on confirming President Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. Under the rule, no Senate committee or subcommittee can meet after the Senate has been in session for two hours or after 2 p.m. The move threatened to delay a briefing on national security and a confirmation hearing for Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.
PoliticsThe IndependentMichael Bloomberg pays off $16m in fines to help 32,000 black and Hispanic felons vote in Florida
Michael Bloomberg has raised $16.1m to pay off fines and court debts of 32,000 convicted felons so they're eligible to vote for Joe Biden in Florida. The former New York City mayor's contribution makes up the bulk of $20m raised by Florida Rights Restoration Coalition following a recent court ruling that allows convicted felons to regain their right to vote. Black or Latino voters who were already registered to vote, with outstanding fines of less than $1,500, were eligible for the race-based payback initiative, according to Axios and The Washington Post, which first reported Mr Bloomberg's $16.1m fundraising.
U.S.Associated Press1 officer dismissed from Alton Sterling wrongful death suit
A white Louisiana police officer who assisted in the arrest in which Alton Sterling was fatally shot has been dismissed from a wrongful death lawsuit. Lake used a stun gun on Sterling, a 37-year-old Black man, and helped wrestle him to the ground during the 2016 encounter in Baton Rouge. Former Baton Rouge officer Blane Salamoni shot Sterling six times during the struggle outside a convenience store where Sterling was selling homemade CDs.
BusinessMiami HeraldWalmart rolling back two of its COVID-19 precautions as customer behaviors change
If you're headed to Walmart sometime soon, operations may look a little different — the retailer says it plans to roll back two of its COVID-19 policies. Walmart is doing away with one-way aisles and will reopen second sets of doors that had previously been closed due to coronavirus concerns, the company told McClatchy News in an email. Walmart did not say when the changes will take place, but attributed the move to customer behavior.
WorldBBCSatellite achieves sharp-eyed view of methane
There is a powerful new satellite in the sky to monitor emissions of methane (CH4), one of the key gases driving human-induced climate change. Known as Iris, the spacecraft can map plumes of CH4 in the atmosphere down to a resolution of just 25m. This makes it possible to identify individual sources, such as specific oil and gas facilities.
BusinessBusiness InsiderNewly released documents show Amazon is a $3.9 billion-per-year customer the Post Office can't afford to lose
Newly released documents obtained by American Oversight show that Amazon produced nearly $3.9 billion in revenue and $1.6 billion in profit for the USPS in the fiscal year of 2019. USPS delivered 1.54 billion packages for Amazon during that time, or roughly 30% of the technology company's total volume. While President Donald Trump has been critical about USPS doing business with Amazon, the numbers make it clear that the retail giant is generating much-needed profit for the Post Office.
PoliticsThe IndependentRepublicans to ask Supreme Court to curb mail-in voting in Pennsylvania as first key post-RBG decision
Republicans want the US Supreme Court to review a state court ruling in Pennsylvania that extends the period for polling locations to receive and count mail-in ballots, potentially positioning the high court to deliver its first ruling since the death last Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favour of Democrats on three separate rulings related to the state's election processes this year. Those rulings: removed the Green Party candidate from Pennsylvania's presidential election ballot; allowed the state to deploy more mail-in ballot drop boxes; and has allowed election officials to count mail-in ballots that arrive within three days after...
WorldReutersSome Australian states relax border curbs as infections ease, hotspot cases rise
Australia's coronavirus hotspot of Victoria on Tuesday reported a more than doubling in new infections likely as a result of increased testing, while other states said border restrictions would be relaxed as case numbers dwindled. Officials said the northeastern state of Queensland would open its borders to parts of neighbouring New South Wales (NSW), the country's most populous state, amid growing confidence that a second wave of infections in the country has been contained. Australia reported 33 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, versus 16 a day earlier.
U.S.USA TODAY'Justice for Mike': Iowa authorities arrest 4 in murder of Michael Williams, whose body was found burning in a ditch
Ever since Michael Ronnell Williams left his native Syracuse, New York, for the Midwest 24 years ago, his family had been trying to convince him to move home. Four people were charged Tuesday in connection with the murder of Williams, 44, a Black man whose burning body was found Sept. 16 in ditch in rural Iowa. Steven Vogel, 31, was charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, according to an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation news release.
PoliticsAssociated PressCindy McCain endorses Biden for president in rebuke of Trump
Cindy McCain endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president Tuesday in a rebuke of President Donald Trump by the widow of the GOP's 2008 nominee. Trump has had a fraught relationship with members of John McCain's family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during his 2016 campaign. Cindy McCain cited the decadeslong friendship between her family and Biden's and their bond as the parents of children serving in the military.
- ScienceReuters Videos
Taiwan’s plant hunters race to protect biodiversity
Taiwan's plant hunters are in a race against time to protect the country's biodiversity. They're trying to collect as many rare species as they can before they are lost to climate change and human encroachment. Hung Hsin-Chieh is a research assistant at the Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Centre which oversees the project.
PoliticsSalonWhoopi Goldberg explains to Meghan McCain why Trump’s Supreme Court nominee won’t get "Kavanaugh’ed"
Meghan McCain and Whoopi Goldberg on The View Photo split by Salon/ABC "The View" co-hosts began their Tuesday show talking about the potential Supreme Court appointee and concerns that they have about Amy Coney Barrett talking about her job being about expanding the kingdom of God. Meghan McCain ranted that Barrett was being attacked for her religion and for having seven children. It's unclear where she's hearing that Barrett is being attacked for that, as the Democratic nominee for president is also Catholic and speaks openly about his faith.
“Enfranchising 16-year-olds would be good for them and good for our democracy.”
“At 16, most kids have little awareness of politics, civics, or American history.”
“Voting is habit forming...which underscores the importance of having as stable an environment as possible for the youngest voters.”
“Keeping the voting age at 18 is not a slap at 16-year-olds. It is recognition that an informed electorate is the best kind.”
“When young people’s participation lags badly, issues important to them receive short shrift in the public discourse.”