A man entered the home of US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, in the middle of the night without being detected by his Secret Service detail, a major breach that is under investigation. The individual appeared confused and was asked to leave by Sullivan. There were no immediate reports of a motive or arrest, and Sullivan was physically unharmed. The Secret Service has launched a mission assurance investigation.
US sportsbooks have been deploying "risk-free" bets to attract new customers and coax deposits from existing ones. Critics, including some within the gambling industry, have warned these offers are often deceptive, leading people to wager over their heads under the false impression they literally have nothing to lose. In recent months, Ohio and Massachusetts have outlawed promotions deemed too risky, while the NBA has now prohibited advertisers from using "risk-free". Some firms have rebranded from "risk-free" to "no sweat", however, critics argue these modified offers are just as obscure. In 2020, BetMGM was advertising itself to new customers as providing "risk-free" bets of up to $1,000, however, it emerged there were complications, and its offer was for "bonus bets" that paid out in a different way to regular cash bets. Richard Schuetz, a gaming consultant and former regulator in California, said free bets disguised as bonus bets have long been a pet peeve of his.
Hong Kong’s libraries have removed over 40% of books, magazines, and documentaries with “political themes” since Beijing imposed a national security law on the city. While commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre have been silenced, libraries have also removed media documenting the event, including documentaries made by public broadcaster RTHK. Independent media outlets in Hong Kong have also been subject to raids and arrests since the law came into effect, now making it difficult to find nine notable books detailing the massacre, including China specialist Orville Schell's book Mandate of Heaven. Media outlets remain under heightened scrutiny from Hong Kong authorities.
Actor Johnny Depp turned up at a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival 42 minutes late. The actor, promoting his film Jeanne du Barry, was questioned about whether Hollywood had boycotted him over the past few years and whether publicity generated by last year's court case with his former wife Amber Heard had affected the movie. Jeanne du Barry marks Depp's return to screen performances after the court case in which he successfully sued Heard for defamation.
The number of large US cities with Republican mayors has dwindled to almost none. A century ago, only half of the 10 most populous US cities had Democratic mayors. By the year 2000, four of the top 10 cities had Republican mayors, whereas today, none do. The shift has been driven by the trend of US urban areas moving left in national elections, while rural areas move farther to the right. According to a study by The Washington Post, the gap between the two areas is mainly due to differing attitudes toward race.
A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis has been extended. Here’s everything you need to know
CNN
23-05-17 16:38
Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to extend the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal which has allowed the safe passage of ships from Ukraine and prevented global food insecurity occuring while Russia blockade vital grain exports. Ukraine is key exporter of grain with it accounting for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, 13% of the barley market, and a key global player in the sunflower oil sector. The agreement has been renewed for a third time for two months as there were fears that it would not be renewed after Russia called for it to be scrapped, citing concerns that a separate agreement with the UN to facilitate shipments of its own foodstuffs and fertilisers had not yielded results and dissatisfaction with the sanctions imposed by G7 nations. The EU had previously lifted all duties on Ukrainian grain via land to facilitate exports, causing a glut of cheap Ukrainian grain to flow into central and eastern Europe and affecting the sales of local producers.
Johnny Depp has returned to the international stage, appearing at the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival after a three-year absence. He signed autographs and took selfies with fans before the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, in which he plays Louis XV alongside actress and director Maïween. The decision to invite Depp to the festival has been controversial, leading to the hashtag #CannesYouNot trending on social media. Critics have been lukewarm in their assessment of the French-language film, but it received a standing ovation from audiences.
The New York Post published an article on Wednesday suggesting that Hillary Clinton and "Clinton operatives" invented the investigation into Russian election interference. The article claimed that the entire investigation was based on disinformation in the "Steele dossier" compiled by former intelligence officer Christopher Steele, and that Clinton operatives invented the Russian collusion conspiracy and put it into the Steele dossier. The article was written by Jonathan Turley, an attorney who has become a vocal supporter of former US President Donald Trump’s claims of an unfair investigation. The claims made by Turley have been popular in right-wing circles, but have been refuted by the recent report of special counsel John Durham. In an attempt to counter the report, Turley incorrectly claims that the dossier was the origin of the Russia probe rather than based on credible intelligence sources, and that the Clinton campaign invented the conspiracy theory linking Trump to Russia. A detailed timeline of the events that preceded the investigation into Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 US presidential election shows that the claims made by Turley are unfounded.
A rodeo instructor and teacher at Texas A&M University has been accused of misusing artificial intelligence in an attempt to claim his agriculture students cheated on their assignments. As we reported yesterday, Dr. Jared Mumm allegedly told students via email they would be getting a zero on recent assignments because he tested their writing with “Chat GTP” an AI program that claimed to have written them all. While Dr. Mumm has not responded for comment, Texas A&M has said no students failed the class or were barred from graduating as a result of the incident but individual investigations are being made.
The White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has expressed "total faith" in the Secret Service following a break-in at his home last month. The Secret Service is investigating a security incident at the site of a "protectee," which has not been officially confirmed as Sullivan. The Washington Post reported an intruder entered Sullivan's home without being detected by agents guarding the site. Despite declining to comment on the incident, Sullivan assured the public of his confidence in the Secret Service.
The US Attorney for Massachusetts, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, has been accused in a report from the Justice Department’s internal watchdog, of using her powers to leak information to newspapers about a political rival in a local election. Rachael Rollins has also been accused of breaking the Hatch Act, which limits political activities for federal officials. Her attorney has said that she will resign by Friday. The relatively new U.S. attorney was formerly the District Attorney of Suffolk County.
Frank Luntz, a veteran political pollster and GOP messaging expert, has blamed former president Donald Trump for health consequences that have left him needing medical care. Speaking with journalist Ben Terris for Terris’s forthcoming book, Luntz explained that he felt a tingle in his arm, shoulder and face in early 2020 and went to hospital, where doctors discovered his blood pressure was dangerously high and had caused a stroke. Luntz explained that he felt the lack of courage to stand up forcefully against Trump had driven him to a near-life-threatening condition. He claimed this caused his head to “explode” and revealed that he was still recovering. Luntz previously spoke about the impact of the Trump presidency and his decision to leave the US for the UK.
Two FBI agents set to appear before a House subcommittee Thursday had their security clearances revoked this month over security concerns, according to a letter sent by the FBI to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and obtained by The Washington Post. Friend and Allen have been billed by the committee as whistleblowers and are expected to testify Thursday in a hearing about alleged abuses by the bureau and retaliation they allegedly faced for raising their concerns.
Xuan-Kha Tran Pham has been arrested and charged with assaulting two Congressional staffers with a baseball bat. Pham has now been charged with the federal crime of assaulting federal employees as well. According to an FBI affidavit, Pham burst into the congressional office and hit two staffers with an aluminum baseball bat, saying “I’m going to kill you” and “you’re going to die.” Pham's father has said that his son suffers from schizophrenia.
The unannounced and unauthorized paparazzi presence was risk to the personal safety of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and caused multiple hazards to other drivers and pedestrians, according to their spokesperson. A spokesperson for the couple said it was like something out of a movie, with constant speeding, running of red lights, tailgating, and their vehicle being boxed in and dangerously pursued to the entrance of their destination. The spokesperson said it was astounding that some media outlets could have behaved so recklessly, given the previous coverage of the recent tragic death of Harry’s mother. The couple highlighted the dangers of such actions, which in the past have caused serious injury and even death. It appears that the royal family has not contacted the couple directly since this event, and the incident has not stopped the couple from continuing their schedule of public appearances.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the latter’s mother were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” with paparazzi after attending an award ceremony in New York. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex stated that the pursuit had lasted for more than two hours and had put “drivers on the road, pedestrians, and two NYPD officers” at risk. The New York Police Department confirmed that photographers had made the transport “challenging” but denied that accidents or arrests had taken place. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the incident.
The case is thought to have prompted concerns over the wellbeing of the royal couple, particularly in relation to the events that led to the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Speaking in his 2021 AppleTV+ series The Me You Can’t See, Prince Harry drew parallels between the worries he had felt over the treatment of his mother and his own experience dealing with the press and public scrutiny of his marriage to Meghan. Moreover, he described how little justice had been sought following the inquest into his mother’s death and the anger he felt towards the press.
Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s car chase, Mayor of New York Eric Adams told reporters that members of the paparazzi must prioritise public safety. He stated that it was “clear that press, the paparazzi, they want to get the right shot… but public safety must always be at the forefront.” He reiterated concerns raised in the statement issued by Prince Harry’s spokesperson, and noted the potential risks presented by high-speed chases in a busy city like New York.
Haitians are arming themselves with rocks and machetes and setting up groups to defend their neighborhoods as armed gangs terrorize the country, deepening the Caribbean country’s security crisis. The vigilante groups, known as “Bwa Kale” in Haitian Creole, are taking matters into their own hands and coordinating checkpoint systems, killing suspected gang members and erecting roadblocks to stop drivers and question them about their travel. This comes as 230 people have been killed in mob attacks and lynchings this year alone, with 164 of these in April. Further, since the still-unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gangs have taken control of much of the capital city Port-au-Prince, shooting indiscriminately at people, burning them alive and raping women and children. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, more than 1,600 people were wounded, kidnapped or killed in gang violence, a figure up 28% from the previous quarter.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not heard from the Royal Family after accusing paparazzi of involvement in a "near-catastrophic" car chase, despite their concerns over safety. The couple were in New York after attending an awards ceremony with the Duchess's mother and received what their spokesperson called "relentless pursuit". A taxi driver who claimed he drove them part of the way said he was pursued in his vehicle by two suspected paparazzi cars but the allegations have since been downplayed.
Anti-abortion campaigners and pro-life religious groups are moving to the forefront of the battle over abortion, hoping that the new wave of laws in Republican states will trump state laws. Activists who sway legal opinions warn that any effort to retreat from national abortion restrictions would be a serious mistake, and Kellyanne Conway believes a 15-week limit on abortion is an effective way to put Democrats on defense on the issue. Two-thirds of Americans say they oppose the decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, and despite abortion restrictions becoming more prevalent, the pro-choice lobby is seen as powerful and a key issue for many voters in the Democratic party. Trump, as a candidate, has not yet given his opinion on where he will draw the line on federal legislation concerning abortion since the Supreme Court ruling overturning the right to an abortion.
A 3D mapping project led by British deep-sea mapping company Magellan has revealed a “digital twin” of the Titanic wreck, which sank on its maiden voyage more than a century ago. The new images provide previously unseen levels of clarity, showing the positioning of the famous grand staircase and even the serial number on a propeller. However, they do not show evidence of the 1,500 lives lost in the disaster. The Titanic became a UNESCO protected heritage site in 2012 and its iron continues to erode.
