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This Reagan-era villain has no place in the Biden administration 2023-07-12 - Earlier this month, the Biden administration appointed Elliott Abrams to the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. The position is obscure but Abrams is not. During the last cold war, Abrams — more than perhaps any other U.S. official — used the language of human rights to excuse the crushing of those same rights. Now, as America descends into a new cold war, the Biden administration seems poised to do the same thing. Abrams grew up a Democrat. He left the party after Vietnam, when Democrats like President Jimmy Carter began to question whether the U.S. should continue arming dictators, orchestrating coups and waging wars in the world’s poorest countries to prevent leftist movements from taking power. Carter, who had been deeply influenced by the Civil Rights Movement, tried instead to promote human rights in countries across the ideological spectrum. He did so inconsistently, and with mixed results. But he was the first U.S. president to try. While traditional conservatives distrusted the new focus on human rights, Abrams urged Republicans to turn that language into a weapon against communism. Horrified, Abrams joined the Reagan administration and formulated a plan to fight back. While traditional conservatives distrusted the new focus on human rights, Abrams urged Republicans to turn that language into a weapon against communism. As the American University political scientist William LeoGrande has explained, Abrams believed that “communist governments were the worst human rights violators in the world” and thus “virtually anything done to prevent communists from coming to power (or to overthrow them) was justifiable on human rights grounds.” Abrams ascended the ranks of Reagan’s State Department to become assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs. The job gave him dominion over Central America, a region long controlled by tiny elites of European descent that treated their country’s Indigenous and mixed-race populations like chattel. But that deeply rooted oppression wasn’t Abrams’ concern. For him, every peasant rebellion was a potential beachhead for Moscow. And virtually anything the region’s oligarchs did to put those rebellions down constituted a victory for human rights. In Guatemala, Abrams argued for resuming arms sales to President Efraín Ríos Montt because he had “brought considerable progress” on human rights. Mott was later convicted of genocide by a Guatemalan court for his effort to wipe out his country’s Maya Ixil Indians. Abrams also urged policymakers to go easy on Honduran Gen. José Abdenego Bueso Rosa, who was arrested for trying to overthrow the country’s civilian government, and Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who’d ordered the decapitation of activist Hugo Spadafora. Why? Because both men supported the anti-communist Contra rebels in nearby Nicaragua. (When Noriega later fell out with the U.S., Abrams pushed for the invasion that overthrew him.) For Abrams, the logic was simple: If despots like Bueso Rosa and Noriega were helping America fight communism, they were ultimately on democracy’s side. Nowhere was Abram’s twisted logic more clearly on display than in El Salvador. In December 1981, an American-trained unit of the Salvadoran military murdered — often in grotesque ways — 800 people in the village of El Mozote. Abrams called reports of the killings “not credible.” The Reagan administration tried to discredit the reporters who had broken the story. Aryeh Neier, vice chairman of the activist human rights group Americas Watch (which later became part of Human Rights Watch) called Abrams “an apologist for gross abuses of human rights, particularly in El Salvador.” Later in the 1980s, Abrams concluded that certain dictators were so illegitimate that supporting them actually increased the chances of communist revolution. In 1986 he pushed the Reagan administration, which had initially embraced Chile’s Augusto Pinochet, to oppose bank loans to his government. But this was the exception. For the most part, noted Patricia Derian, who was Carter’s assistant secretary of state for human rights and humanitarian affairs, Abrams used human rights as “propaganda” for America’s cold war allies. Abrams remains unrepentant. He has called Reagan’s El Salvador policy a “fabulous achievement.” His argument is that because El Salvador never went communist and held democratic elections, U.S. policy there constituted a triumph for human rights. But many countries — including many former communist ones — embraced democracy during the “third wave” of democratization that swept the globe in the 1980s and '90s. And they did so without the horror that El Salvador endured along the way, in large part because of the policies Abrams promoted. The country’s civil war took the lives of 75,000 people, 95 percent of them killed by government forces. And as the Migration Policy Institute has observed, “The civil war left behind a militarized society” whose chronic violence haunts the country to this day. What does all this have to do with the Biden administration? Unfortunately, quite a lot. The United States is entering a second cold war, this time against China. The Trump administration announced as much when it declared in its 2017 National Security Strategy that “great power competition” has “returned.” But Trump didn’t cloak that great power competition in the language of human rights. At times, he even derided the notion that America was morally superior to its adversaries. (“You think our country’s so innocent?” Trump scoffed at Bill O’Reilly after the then-Fox News hosted called Vladimir Putin a “killer.”) As president, Biden has instead followed Abrams’ strategy: Embrace any regime that can be lured to America’s side. Biden and his team consider that a grave mistake. They believes that in a contest against authoritarian powers like Russia and China, democracy and human rights constitute a key U.S. advantage. Biden has repeatedly said that “human rights will be the center of our foreign policy.” His administration hosted a “Summit for Democracy” to which Moscow and Beijing were pointedly not invited. But there’s a clear tension between supporting democracy and fighting cold wars. If you try even tepidly, as Carter did, to support human rights in friendly countries, you risk alienating or undermining their governments. At first, Biden seemed willing to take that gamble. On the campaign trail, he pledged to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia and treat the regime’s despotic government as a “pariah.” He said there would be “no more blank checks for Trump’s ‘favorite dictator,’” Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El-Sissi. The 2020 Democratic platform pledged to “ensure that our alliances with Thailand and the Philippines live up to the values that our peoples share.” But as president, Biden has instead followed Abrams’ strategy: embrace any regime that can be lured to America’s side in the cold war, no matter how many people it imprisons and kills, while simultaneously trumpeting America’s moral superiority over its great power foes. Biden last year broke his campaign pledge and approved the sale of more than $3 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia. In 2021, he bypassed instructions from Congress and refused to withhold $300 million from America’s annual aid package to Egypt, even though El-Sissi has imprisoned an estimated 65,000 people for political offenses. Biden has placed no restrictions on arms sales to the Philippines, even though, according to Amnesty International, “repression of dissent” has “intensified” under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. And most recently, Biden last month held a state dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, who is turning the world’s largest democracy into its largest autocracy. When asked at their joint news conference about Modi’s “targeting of religious minorities” and “crackdown on dissent in India,” Biden praised the country’s “open, tolerant, robust debate”— even though Modi’s allies recently engineered the conviction of India’s opposition leader. The reason is simple: Biden sees India and the Philippines as useful partners in America’s effort to contain China. He worries that Riyadh could tilt toward Beijing. The administration believes it has no alternative: Arming and feting autocrats is unfortunate but besting China comes first. The assumption — which generally goes unstated — is that America’s new cold war is a necessity, forced upon Washington by Beijing or by the iron laws of international affairs. It’s not a choice. And since the cold war is inevitable, almost anything America does is morally justified so long as it helps us win. I suspect Elliott Abrams will enjoy his service on Biden’s public diplomacy advisory commission. Given the president’s approach to human rights, he should feel right at home.
Another defamation lawsuit may be coming against Fox News 2023-07-12 - UPDATE (Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 4:23 p.m. ET): Ray Epps has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News over Jan. 6 conspiracy theories promoted by Tucker Carlson. Remember the historic defamation settlement Dominion Voting Systems secured against Fox News? Well, the network could be in for another big lawsuit related to the 2020 election. The New York Times reported Monday that such a suit could come via Ray Epps, the target of a conspiracy theory promoted by Tucker Carlson before the network fired the host in April. On the air in prime time, Carlson pushed the notion that Epps was a secret government agent who worked to gin up the Jan. 6 attack, to the detriment of Donald Trump and his followers. There’s reason to doubt the veracity of that accusation against Epps, a Trump voter. He was captured on camera urging people to march on the Capitol but then pleaded for calm when things turned violent. The Times noted that Epps hasn’t been charged, though the Jan. 6 investigation remains open. The absence of charges has helped fuel the conspiracy theory. At any rate, the Arizona man disputes Carlson’s claims so much that he might sue for defamation. He and his wife are in hiding in another state after receiving death threats, the Times reported. (The newspaper said Epps declined to comment on the potential lawsuit and that both Carlson and a Fox News spokeswoman declined to comment.) So, if Epps sues, will this be Fox’s next Dominion? It’s too early to know that. But the voting machine company had an absurd amount of evidence that led to an eye-popping $787.5 million settlement. Defamation suits can pose great hurdles for plaintiffs to prove defendants knew they weren’t telling the truth or recklessly disregarded the truth. What made the Dominion case stand out was the sheer volume of damning evidence. Of course, we got a better picture of how stunningly strong Dominion’s case was against Fox News as the litigation progressed, before the parties settled at the last minute. That evidence included internal Fox communications suggesting that people at the company knew the conspiracy theories were false. (Fox has denied that it knowingly aired anything untrue, and the judge overseeing the lawsuit ruled that the network’s liability remained an open question.) So if Epps’ claim proceeds, we’d want to see what evidence there might be in that regard. And, as the Times’ report notes, the damages Epps would be able to prove if he wins in court is an open question. The good news for Epps is he might not have to amass the level of evidence Dominion gathered in order to prevail against the network. After all, a First Amendment expert who consulted for Dominion during the Fox suit told the Times that Epps would have a “viable” case. How viable remains to be seen, but this could be an important lawsuit to watch if it actually moves toward court.
Why Trump has a problem with many of his own appointed prosecutors 2023-07-12 - When it comes to Hunter Biden’s case, one of the principal problems Republicans are running into is that U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the prosecutor overseeing the case, was appointed by Donald Trump. As Weiss continues to tell GOP lawmakers what they don’t want to hear, it’s tough to incorporate him into a nefarious Democratic plot when all President Joe Biden did was allow the Republican-appointed prosecutor to remain at his post and pursue a case against his own son. That, in turn, leaves the GOP with a choice: The party could find a new hobby, or it could go after the U.S. attorney chosen by Trump. Republicans appear to prefer the latter. Fox News viewers started seeing an anti-Weiss message on Tuesday, and it was around the same time when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy publicly questioned the prosecutor’s credibility. The former president himself also weighed in by way of his social media platform: “Weiss is a COWARD, a smaller version of Bill Barr, who never had the courage to do what everyone knows should have been done. He gave out a traffic ticket instead of a death sentence.” In the same missive, Trump suggested “two Democrat Senators [sic] in Delaware” were to blame for Weiss’ appointment — as my colleague Lisa Rubin explained, this was an assertion that should not be taken seriously — before concluding that his own prosecutor was somehow caught up in a “cesspool of crime.” The message was absurd, of course, but stepping back, there’s an amazing larger context to this. Trump doesn’t mind attacking a member of his own team: When the former president lashed out at Kayleigh McEnany, his former White House press secretary, in late May, it was part of a larger pattern. Semafor published a good report on this, highlighting several gems: “The list of failures include — among many, many, many others — his former Secretary of State (‘dumb as a rock’), multiple chiefs of staff (‘born loser,’ ‘way over his head’), multiple Attorneys General (‘coward’ ‘disaster’), multiple Defense Secretaries (‘weak’ ‘overrated’), his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (‘f***ing idiot’), his former National Security Advisor (‘moron’), his former White House Press Secretary (‘milktoast’ just this week), his former top communications aide (‘sleazebag’) the current FBI Director (‘disappointing’), and, of course, his own Vice President (no ‘courage’), who is preparing to run against him.” This is, of course, a partial list. Weiss can take comfort in the fact that he has plenty of company. Trump has a multifaceted problem with lawyers: Some of the attorneys in the former president’s orbit are receiving unwelcome scrutiny from criminal prosecutors. Others are facing disbarment. Others are quitting. Others are prosecutors telling him what he doesn’t to hear. Trump can’t believe his own handpicked prosecutors won’t just follow his commands: Bill McSwain was a U.S. attorney in the Trump administration who failed to fully embrace the Big Lie after the 2020 election, so he faced the former president’s ire. Bill Barr was the attorney general in the Trump administration, whom the former president now sees as a “gutless pig,” among other things, for failing to go along with a scheme to overturn Trump's defeat. Rob Hur was a U.S. attorney in the Trump administration, and the former president now considers him “an establishment hack.” David Weiss, evidently, has joined a club he probably would’ve preferred to avoid.
McCarthy touts Greene as one of the House GOP’s ‘best’ members 2023-07-12 - The developments with the House Freedom Caucus seemed rather straightforward last week. A member of the right-wing faction confirmed to reporters that the caucus had voted to kick Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene out of the group. A variety of reports, including one from NBC News, alerted the public to the fact that the radical Georgia Republican was no longer part of the radical contingent. But then things got a little weird. Axios reported on Friday afternoon that Freedom Caucus members had tried to contact Greene, to let her know about her ouster, but she’d avoided them. On Tuesday, as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill, Republicans in the Freedom Caucus refused to acknowledge what happened with Greene. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, for example, told reporters last week that the group had taken a vote to remove the Georgia congresswoman. On Tuesday, however, he told NBC News, “It’s none of your business.” Greene told CNN, meanwhile, that she still hasn’t officially been informed of her status with the group. Evidently, Greene’s role in the Freedom Caucus has become something of a secret. But as this odd drama continues to unfold, one detail has come into sharp focus: In the fight between Greene and her fellow Republican radicals, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is siding with her, not them. Axios reported last night: Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) backed up Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) following news that she’s been voted out of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. ... “I think Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of the best members we have, I think she’s the one of the most conservative members and one of the strongest legislators. I support Marjorie Greene very strongly,” McCarthy told Axios on Tuesday. Yes, this is where we find ourselves six months into the new Republican majority in the House: McCarthy is now willing to say, out loud and on the record, that Marjorie Taylor Greene is “one of the best” members of the GOP conference, and “one of the strongest legislators” in the chamber. This roughly coincided, of course, with the radical Georgian pushing a measure to withdraw the United States from NATO. This was part of a familiar pattern. Let’s not forget that it was just a month into Greene’s congressional career when an avalanche of damaging revelations come to the fore: In late January 2021, the public learned of Greene’s record of dismissing 9/11 and school massacres as hoaxes. And harassing at least one survivor of a school shooting. And expressing support for the QAnon delusion. And targeting religious minorities. And peddling bizarre and antisemitic claims about fire-causing space lasers. Perhaps most importantly, in 2018 and 2019, the Georgia Republican expressed support for violence against Democratic elected officials. This included an instance in which she liked a social-media comment about removing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from office by way of “a bullet to the head.” The revelations were so jarring that McCarthy — the minority leader at the time — reportedly proposed removing the extremist from one of her committee assignments. For Democrats, this wasn’t nearly good enough: They voted to remove Greene from both. The congresswoman could’ve taken the opportunity to improve her credibility and stature. Instead, a year later, Greene spoke at a white nationalist event — a move McCarthy soon after condemned as “appalling“ and “unacceptable.” That was just last year. This year, however, the House speaker expects us to believe that Greene is “one of the best” members of the GOP conference, and “one of the strongest legislators” in the House. To be sure, I’m mindful of the circumstances. McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus aren’t exactly on the same page, and Greene was punished in part because of her occasional willingness to partner with House GOP leaders. The speaker is likely looking for ways to reward her loyalty, especially against those members of his own conference who are not on his side. But to see McCarthy become a cheerleader for one of the most radical members of Congress in recent memory is ridiculous. This post updates our related earlier coverage.
Army general says Tuberville’s tantrum is ‘reprehensible’ and ‘dangerous’ 2023-07-12 - It took far too long, but Sen. Tommy Tuberville finally tried to resolve his latest problem on race, publicly conceding on Tuesday that white nationalists are, in fact, racist. The far-right Alabama Republican, whose history on the issue did not give him the benefit of the doubt, didn’t explain why he’d disputed white nationalists’ racism the night before. Nevertheless, his overdue acknowledgment of reality shifted attention back to the GOP senator’s other ongoing controversy: Tuberville’s monthslong blockade against U.S. military promotions, as part of a ridiculous anti-abortion tantrum. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer argued anew on Tuesday that to end this fiasco, Senate Republicans are going to have to intervene and lean on the Alabaman to start being more responsible. At least so far, however, Tuberville is under the impression that his GOP colleagues aren’t pressuring him at all. Punchbowl News reported this week, for example, “Tuberville insists he’s not under any pressure from GOP colleagues to cave,” and when NBC News asked the senator on Tuesday whether he’s faced any pressure from fellow Republicans to drop his hold on military promotions, he replied, “No. Zero.” There’s been some reporting over the last month or so suggesting GOP senators have tried working behind the scenes to get Tuberville to back off. Evidently, those efforts were a bit too subtle — because he didn’t notice their existence. The result is an important partisan dynamic: For months, this controversy has been seen largely as an avoidable mess created by one misguided senator. But if Tuberville’s Republican colleagues are letting him get away with undermining his own country’s military, then it will be that much more difficult for them to avoid the blame. In the meantime, while GOP senators express apparent indifference to Tuberville’s radical tactics, military leaders themselves are ringing alarms. NBC News reported late Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified that the Alabama Republican’s blockade could inflict widespread damage on troops and their families, and might even prompt some to leave the armed forces: “We will lose talent” because of the problems caused by the block on promotions, Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., the president’s pick to serve as the country’s top military officer, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Brown said the holds on nominations could affect readiness, with less experienced deputies having to take up leadership positions temporarily, and discourage junior officers from staying in the military while creating financial and logistical burdens for troops’ families. The Air Force general isn’t the only one with concerns. Lt. Gen. Andrew Rohling, the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Europe-Africa, met with a bipartisan group of senators this week, and urged them to break Tuberville’s blockade. Soon after, Rohling told Punchbowl News that Tuberville’s tactics are “reprehensible, irresponsible and dangerous.” Similarly, on Commandant Gen. David Berger’s last day leading the Marine Corps, he also urged senators to "do their job" and confirm the qualified military officials awaiting confirmation. All of this, of course, comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also making clear that many of the promotions Tuberville is blocking are directly relevant to military readiness, including positions related to military intelligence and international alliances. Or put another way, Senate Republicans might not care about Tuberville’s outlandish tactics, but leaders in the U.S. armed forces do not share their indifference.
Former 'Jesus Christ Superstar' actor acquitted of Jan. 6 charges 2023-07-12 - WASHINGTON — A former “Jesus Christ Superstar” actor was acquitted Wednesday of conspiring with members of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group to obstruct Congress in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. James Beeks — a Florida resident who was playing Judas in the traveling production of the musical when he was arrested — was cleared of conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of the 2020 election and civil disorder after a trial in federal court. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta convicted Beeks’ co-defendant, Ohio resident Donovan Crowl, of the same charges after hearing evidence without a jury. The Beeks acquittal is a rare loss for the Justice Department in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution, which has led to the arrest of more than 1,000 people across the U.S. Beeks is only the second Jan. 6 defendant to be acquitted of all charges after a trial. Beeks represented himself at trial, though he was assisted by a lawyer who served as stand-by counsel and delivered his closing argument. James Beeks. via FBI Approximately 100 others have been found guilty of at least one count after a trial decided by a jury or judge, and more than 600 have pleaded guilty. The trial for Beeks and Crowl was what’s called a “stipulated bench trial,” which means the judge decided the case based on a set of facts that both sides agreed to before the trial started. Such trials allow defendants to admit to certain facts while maintaining a right to appeal any conviction. Prosecutors had previously charged Beeks with other lower-level offenses — including illegally entering the Capitol — but agreed to only go to trial on the two felony offenses and dismiss the remaining counts. It’s the latest trial involving associates of the Oath Keepers, who have been charged in the most serious cases stemming from the riot. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced in May to 18 years in prison on seditious conspiracy and other charges for what prosecutors described as a weekslong plot to keep former President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election. Prosecutors say Beeks and Crowl were part of a group of Oath Keepers wearing paramilitary gear who stormed the Capitol alongside the mob of Trump supporters. Beeks joined the Oath Keepers in December 2020 and drove to Washington from Florida before meeting up with a group of extremists ahead of the riot, prosecutors said. Beeks, who was also a Michael Jackson impersonator, wore a jacket from Jackson’s “Bad” World Tour along with a helmet and was carrying a homemade shield during the riot, according to court papers. Mehta said Beeks — unlike other Oath Keepers charged with riot-related crimes — didn’t post any messages on social media or exchange text messages with other extremists that could establish what his “state of mind” was leading up to the Capitol riot. The judge also cited a lack of evidence about what Beeks did inside the Capitol that could support a conviction for interfering with police. “His actions must rise and fall on their own,” the judge said. Beeks was arrested in November 2021 while he was traveling in Milwaukee with the “Jesus Christ Superstar” tour. He told reporters after the verdict that it “feels like a huge burden” has been lifted of his shoulders. James Beeks. via FBI Beeks acknowledged that he joined the Oath Keepers through the group’s website but said he never met or communicated with any of his alleged co-conspirators before Jan. 6. He said never knew of any plan to attack the Capitol and mistakenly believed the Oath Keepers “were the good guys.” “I met up with the wrong people,” he said. “I lost my whole career. (Jan. 6) is like a scarlet letter.” Crowl was part of the Ohio State Regular Militia led by Jessica Watkins, who was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other serious charges in the trial alongside Rhodes. In December 2022, Crowl sent a message in a group chat that included Watkins that said “law abiding citizens are fix’n to ‘act out of character’... Time for talk’in is over.” Crowl’s attorney, Carmen Hernandez, said her client was exercising his First Amendment free speech rights on Jan. 6 without any intent to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. “His conduct was no different than that of many Americans who’ve gone to Congress to peacefully protest and have not been charged with felonies,” Hernandez wrote in an email.
Driver kills pedestrian after fleeing Secret Service near National Mall in D.C., is still at large 2023-07-12 - A driver who fled a traffic stop near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and fatally struck a pedestrian remains at large, officials said. The driver was in a 2006 blue Honda Accord when uniformed Secret Service officers tried to stop the car at the intersection of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue shortly before 1:30 p.m., Secret Service Uniformed Division Lt. Paul Mayhair said in a statement. The driver, who has not been identified, initially appeared to stop but then fled southbound, Mayhair said. The driver continued through a red light, striking multiple people at a crosswalk, he said. One of the pedestrians was hospitalized and later died, Mayhair said. The person has not been identified. "Police are working to locate the suspect and our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote in the Tweet. This is a developing story, please check back for details.
Larry Nassar was stabbed after making a comment while watching a women's Wimbledon match, source says 2023-07-12 - The inmate suspected of stabbing Larry Nassar in a Florida prison over the weekend was set off after the former sports doctor made a comment while watching a women's Wimbledon match on television, a source with knowledge of the investigation said Wednesday. The source, whom NBC News is not naming because they don't have authority to speak publicly about the investigation, said the suspect allegedly stabbed Nassar, 59, after claiming he made a remark about wanting to see girls play in the tennis tournament, the source was told by prison employees. The attack occurred in Nassar's cell, which was out of view from any witnesses or surveillance cameras, the source said. Details of the assault, which took place Sunday afternoon at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Wildwood, were first reported by The Associated Press. The federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment Wednesday about the inmate nor what may have provoked the incident, citing the pending investigation. The BOP has not confirmed Nassar was involved and said Monday that the victim underwent lifesaving measures at a local hospital and the investigation remains ongoing. Nassar's condition was unclear Wednesday, but NBC News previously reported he had been in stable condition following the assault. Nassar was stabbed twice in the neck, twice in the back and six times in the chest, and also sustained a collapsed lung. Nassar was sentenced to decades in prison for sexually assaulting gymnasts — his accusers include Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney — as a longtime doctor for the USA Gymnastics team. He is serving time for convictions in both state and federal courts. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting gymnasts and other athletes with his hands under the guise of medical treatment for hip and leg injuries. At his trial, more than 150 accusers spoke out or submitted statements detailing his abuse. He also separately pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. In June 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected a final appeal. Nassar worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, traveling the world with elites of the sport. He has been housed at Coleman since 2018 in a unit with other sex offenders. Sunday's incident, however, was not the first time he has been assaulted behind bars. Before his transfer to Coleman, Nassar was attacked within hours of being released into the general population of a high-security prison in Arizona, where he began serving his federal prison sentence. He was subsequently removed from the general population, the Detroit News reported. Prison union leaders say Coleman has been understaffed and workers have been pulling extra shifts to the detriment of safety and security. A BOP spokesperson said Wednesday that staffing at Coleman remains a "top priority" and the agency is actively hiring and using incentives to retain employees. "It remains imperative that we increase our staffing levels," the BOP said.
Inflation is easing. What does that mean for your grocery bill? 2023-07-12 - As inflation continues to slow, shoppers are finally getting some relief at the grocery store. Rising food prices have been among the biggest drivers of inflation since 2020, with a combination of labor shortages, supply chain snags and bird flu outbreaks sending grocery bills rapidly higher. An NBC News analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows U.S. consumers are paying nearly 40% more for a basket of common grocery items — including eggs, chicken, milk and coffee — than they did before the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic in early 2020. A big part of the grocery price jump came from eggs, which were in short supply for much of the past year due to the worst outbreak of avian influenza on record. More than 40 million egg-laying hens were culled from February 2022 to January, sending prices up more than 200%. While egg prices are still more elevated than many other grocery items, the problem has improved considerably this year. Chicken breasts, by contrast, saw much more modest increases. Poultry birds are typically kept separate from egg hens and are slaughtered much sooner after hatching, leaving less time for diseases to spread. The sharp rise in grocery prices over the last few years has sometimes challenged the conventional wisdom that it’s cheaper to eat meals at home than out at restaurants. While the prices consumers actually pay depend on where they choose to shop and dine out, BLS data shows prices for food at home rose faster than food away from home for most of 2022. Even so, food away from home is still up more steeply, rising 7.7% since June 2022 versus 4.7% for food at home over that period, the latest data show. Food inflation is still running hotter than the overall inflation rate. The BLS’s food index was up 5.7% last month from the same time last year — steeper than the national inflation rate of 3%.
3 dead, at least 14 injured after Greyhound bus crashes into tractor trailers in Illinois 2023-07-12 - Three people were killed and at least 14 others were injured when a Greyhound bus crashed into tractor trailers parked on the side of the highway in southern Illinois early Wednesday morning, authorities said. The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on the westbound side of Interstate 70 in Madison County, according to Illinois State Police. An initial investigation “indicates a Greyhound passenger bus with passengers was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 and struck three commercial motor vehicles parked on the exit ramp to the Silver Lake Interstate 70 westbound rest area," state police said in a statement. Traffic moves past a Greyhound bus crash near Highland, Ill., on Wednesday. KSDK "Three fatalities are confirmed and multiple others were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, four by helicopter and at least 10 by ambulance,” the statement said. State police spokesperson Melaney Arnold said those killed and injured were all on the Greyhound bus. The identities of the deceased and those who were injured were not provided by authorities. Greyhound said in a statement Wednesday the passenger bus, schedule number 1675, was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis. “Multiple passengers, including our driver, have been transported to the hospital," Greyhound said. "Our primary concern is ensuring we care for our passengers and driver at this time. We are working closely with local authorities.” The crash closed westbound lanes and a ramp to the rest area until about noon Wednesday, state police said in a tweet. Photos and TV footage show the side of the bus peeled open, its roof crumpled. Greyhound spokesperson Mike Ogulnick told The Associated Press that the bus was was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis at about 2:20 a.m. It was carrying about 30 people, including the driver, he said. Another bus was sent to transport passengers who were not hurt, Ogulnick said. In Illinois, it is illegal for trucks to park on exit ramps. But trucking industry experts say tractor trailers often stop there because overnight parking can be hard to find at rest stops and truck stops.
Mildred García named 1st Latina chancellor of California State University 2023-07-12 - The nation’s largest four-year university system has selected a Latina to oversee its 23 campuses for the first time. The California State University system has selected Mildred García, who is Puerto Rican and a recognized longtime higher education leader, to be its 11th chancellor. “I am honored, humbled and excited for this opportunity to serve the nation’s largest four-year university system and work alongside its dedicated leaders, faculty and staff, and its talented and diverse students to further student achievement, close equity gaps and continue to drive California’s economic prosperity,” García said in a statement about her announcement as chancellor. The CSU system, whose institutions rank among the most diverse in the country, enrolled more than 457,000 students in fall 2022 and has nearly 130,000 annual graduates; it's the state’s largest producer of bachelor’s degrees. García has been serving as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She was president of Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2018 and was recognized for improving graduation rates to record numbers and nearly tripling philanthropic gift commitments, according to CSU's statement. She was also the first Latina president of CSU Dominguez Hills, from 2007 to 2012, where she was credited with increasing retention rates for freshman and transfer students and eliminating a structural deficit of $2.8 million. “Dr. García is a highly-skilled, dynamic and principled leader who has championed student success—especially for those students from underrepresented communities,” Wenda Fong, chair of the CSU board of trustees, said in a statement. García was raised in New York City as a first-generation student; her parents came from Puerto Rico and she was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She earned an associate degree from New York City Community College, a bachelor’s in business education from Baruch College and a master’s in business education from New York University. At Teachers College, Columbia University, she earned a master’s and a doctorate in higher education administration. She was part of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics under President Barack Obama. García will succeed interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, who’s led the university since May 2022, following a public scandal regarding former CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro. García will begin her tenure as chancellor in October.
Pro-Trump protester Ray Epps files defamation suit against Fox News 2023-07-12 - Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who became the focus of right-wing conspiracy theories after he protested in Washington on Jan. 6, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and former host Tucker Carlson for claiming he was an undercover FBI agent who helped provoke the riot at the Capitol that day. In his lawsuit, Epps accused Fox News of telling a “fantastical story” that he acted as a government-sponsored instigator of the violence that ensued as Congress sought to certify Joe Biden's electoral victory. The lawsuit, which seeks punitive and compensatory damages to be determined at trial, argues that Carlson launched a “years-long campaign” that spread falsehoods that “destroyed” the lives of Epps and his wife, who now reside in Utah but were living in Arizona at the time. “Fox and Mr. Carlson made Epps the central figure in a lie they concocted about January 6, 2021. After destroying Epps’s reputation and livelihood, Fox will move on to its next story, while Ray and Robyn live in a 350-square foot RV and face harassment and fear true harm," the lawsuit says. "Fox must be held accountable." Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carlson’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, declined to comment. According to the lawsuit, FBI investigators met with Epps in March 2021 and removed his photo from its website of wanted suspects a few months later in July. "That should have been the end of the matter for Epps," but instead he was cast as a "villain," the lawsuit said. It went on to say that Carlson “fixated on Epps,” devoting “over two dozen segments to" him. The complaint alleges Fox News repeatedly broadcast defamatory statements from Carlson and shared them across its websites, social media accounts, and subscription service platforms. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, Epps received death threats that led him to give up his business, and prompted the sale of his property and his relocation into an RV. The complaint includes screenshots of what his lawyers said were threatening messages that Epps received, as well a photo of a bullet casing allegedly found on the couple's property. “The consequences to Ray and Robyn have been enormous. They lost their successful wedding venue business, they had to sell their home that they spent years building, and they have endured significant emotional and psychological harm from the attacks," Epps' attorney Michael Teter said in a statement Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed this week in Delaware state court but has been moved to federal court at Fox News’ request. The lawsuit comes after Teter previously called on Carlson, who was still with Fox at the time, to publicly retract his “false and defamatory statements” about Epps. In a March letter, Teter said Carlson “persists with his assault on the truth” by pushing false and “fanciful notions” about Epps' role in the Capitol attack. Carlson was the host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” at Fox News until April, when he was booted from the network amid the fallout over the Dominion lawsuit. The lawsuit comes on the heels of Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems in April stemming from allegations that the news outlet had published and promoted the false claim that the company's voting machines rigged the 2020 election. “As Fox recently learned in its litigation against Dominion Voting Systems, its lies have consequences,” Epps's lawsuit said.
Chinese hackers breached State Dept., other government email on eve of Blinken visit, officials say 2023-07-12 - A presenter talks about Microsoft in the Information Age during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Thursday, July 6, 2023. A China-based hacking group has breached email accounts linked to government agencies in Western Europe, Microsoft Corp. said in a blog post published Tuesday, July 11. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A presenter talks about Microsoft in the Information Age during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Thursday, July 6, 2023. A China-based hacking group has breached email accounts linked to government agencies in Western Europe, Microsoft Corp. said in a blog post published Tuesday, July 11. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A presenter talks about Microsoft in the Information Age during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Thursday, July 6, 2023. A China-based hacking group has breached email accounts linked to government agencies in Western Europe, Microsoft Corp. said in a blog post published Tuesday, July 11. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A presenter talks about Microsoft in the Information Age during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Thursday, July 6, 2023. A China-based hacking group has breached email accounts linked to government agencies in Western Europe, Microsoft Corp. said in a blog post published Tuesday, July 11. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) U.S. officials say state-backed Chinese hackers foiled Microsoft’s cloud-based security and hacked the email of officials at multiple U.S. agencies that deal with China ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing last month WASHINGTON -- State-backed Chinese hackers foiled Microsoft's cloud-based security in hacking the email accounts of officials at multiple U.S. agencies that deal with China ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing last month, officials said Wednesday. The surgical, targeted espionage accessed the email of a small number of individuals at an unspecified number of U.S. agencies and was discovered in mid-June by the State Department, U.S. officials said. They said none of the breached systems were classified, nor was any of the stolen data. One person familiar with the investigation said U.S. military and intelligence agencies were not among the agencies impacted in the monthlong spying campaign, which also affected unnamed foreign governments. The officials spoke on condition they not be further identified. In a technical advisory Wednesday and a call with reporters, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI said Microsoft determined the hackers gained access by impersonating authorized users. Officials did not specify the nature of the stolen data. But one U.S. official said the intrusion was “directly targeted” at diplomats and others who deal with the China portfolio at the State Department and other agencies. The official added that it was not yet clear if there had been any significant compromise of information. The Blinken trip went ahead as planned, although with customary information security procedures in place, which required his delegation to use “burner” phones and computers in China. The hack was disclosed late Tuesday by Microsoft in a blog post. It said it was alerted to the breach, which it blamed on a state-backed, espionage-focused Chinese hacking group “known to target government agencies in Western Europe,” on June 16. Microsoft said the group, which it calls Storm-0558, had gained access to email accounts affecting about 25 organizations, including government agencies, since mid-May as well as to consumer accounts of individuals likely associated with those agencies. Neither Microsoft nor U.S. officials would identify the agencies or governments impacted. But a senior CISA official told reporters in a press call that just a handful of those organizations are in the United States. While the official declined to say whether U.S. officials are displeased with Microsoft over the breach, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge noted that it was “government safeguards” that detected the intrusion and added, “We continue to hold the procurement providers of the U.S. Government to a high security threshold.” In fact, those safeguards consist of a data-logging feature for which Microsoft charges a premium. The CISA official noted that some of the victims lacked the data-logging feature and, unable to detect the breach, learned of it from Microsoft. The Storm-0558 hackers broke in using forged authentication tokens — data used to verify the identity of a user — to access the email accounts, Microsoft said. Cybersecurity researcher Jake Williams, a former National Security Agency offensive hacker, said it remains unclear how the hackers accomplished that. But he was concerned that forged tokens could have been widely used against any number of different Microsoft users. “I can’t imagine China didn’t also use this access to target dissidents on personal subscriptions, too,” he said. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, called the U.S. accusation of hacking “disinformation” aimed at diverting attention from U.S. cyberespionage against China. “No matter which agency issued this information, it will never change the fact that the United States is the world’s largest hacker empire conducting the most cyber theft,” Wang said in a routine briefing. U.S. intelligence agencies also use hacking as a critical espionage tool and it is not a violation of international law. Some U.S. officials accuse Beijing of going too far with its state-sponsored hacking. China's long-standing campaign of hacking for geopolitical advantage had included the massive theft of U.S., and allied intellectual property and U.S. government personnel records. On Wednesday, Senate intelligence committee chair Mark Warner issued a statement saying the latest Chinese breach shows Beijing is “steadily improving its cyber collection capabilities directed against the U.S. and our allies.” Last month, Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant said suspected state-backed Chinese hackers broke into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally exploiting a vulnerability in a popular email security tool. Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers were targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork to disrupt critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises. ____ Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington and Zen Soo in Hong Kong contributed to this report. Bajak reported from Boston.
US inflation hits its lowest point since early 2021 as prices ease for gas, groceries and used cars 2023-07-12 - File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Over the past 12 months, gas prices have dropped, grocery costs have risen more slowly and used cars have become less expensive.(AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File) File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Over the past 12 months, gas prices have dropped, grocery costs have risen more slowly and used cars have become less expensive.(AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File) File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Over the past 12 months, gas prices have dropped, grocery costs have risen more slowly and used cars have become less expensive.(AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File) File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Over the past 12 months, gas prices have dropped, grocery costs have risen more slowly and used cars have become less expensive.(AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File) Squeezed by painfully high prices for two years, America’s households have gained some much-needed relief with inflation reaching its lowest point since early 2021 — 3% in June compared with a year earlier — thanks in part to easing prices for gasoline... WASHINGTON -- Squeezed by painfully high prices for two years, Americans have gained some much-needed relief with inflation reaching its lowest point since early 2021 — 3% in June compared with a year earlier — thanks in part to easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries. The inflation figure the government reported Wednesday was down sharply from a 4% annual rate in May, though still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. From May to June, overall prices rose 0.2%, up from just 0.1% in the previous month but still comparatively mild. Even with Wednesday's better-than-expected inflation data, the Fed is considered all but sure to raise its benchmark rate when it meets in two weeks. But with price increases slowing — or even falling outright — across a range of goods and services, many economists say they think the central bank could hold off on what had been expected to be another rate hike in September, should inflation continue to cool. “It takes the second hike off the table, if that trend continues," said Laura Rosner-Warburton, senior economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives. “They're probably on hold for the rest of the year.” On Wall Street, investors cheered the encouraging news, sending stock and bond prices higher. Investors have been eagerly anticipating the eventual end of the central bank's rate increases. The Fed has raised its benchmark rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March 2022, the steepest pace of increases in four decades. Its expected hike this month will follow the central bank’s decision to pause its rate increases last month after 10 consecutive hikes. Wednesday's inflation data may lift hopes that the Fed will achieve a difficult “soft landing,” in which price increases fall back to 2% without causing a spike in unemployment or a deep recession. Last week, the government reported solid hiring in June, though it slowed compared with earlier this year. The unemployment rate ticked lower, from 3.7% to 3.6%, near a half-century low. When the Fed began raising its key rate a year ago, many economists expected that unemployment would have to rise significantly to curb inflation. Though inflation isn’t yet fully tamed, some economists say they think it can fall to a level near the Fed’s 2% target earlier than they had expected. Excluding the volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation was lower last month than economists had expected, rising just 0.2% from May to June, the smallest monthly increase in nearly two years. Compared with a year ago, core inflation does remain relatively high, at 4.8%, but down from a 5.3% annual rate in May. In just the past two months, overall inflation, measured year over year, has slowed from nearly 5% in April to just 3% now. Much of that progress reflects the fading of spikes in food and energy prices that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine last spring. Inflation is now significantly below its peak of 9.1% in June 2022. Gas prices have fallen to about $3.54 a gallon on average, nationally, down from a $5 peak last year. Grocery prices have leveled off in the past three months and were unchanged from May to June. Milk prices, having dropped for a third straight month, are down 1.9% from last year. Eggs, which had skyrocketed last year after an outbreak of avian flu decimated chicken flocks, have dropped to $2.22 a dozen — down more than 7% just in the past month. Egg prices had peaked at $4.82 in January, according to government data. Still, they remain above the average pre-pandemic price of about $1.60 a dozen. Economists say inflation isn't likely to keep falling at such a rapid pace. On a 12-month basis, inflation could even tick up in the coming months now that big drops in gas prices — they're down 27% in the past year — have been achieved.. In particular, airfares plunged 8.1% just from May to June, hotel costs 2% and car rental prices 1.4% — sharp drops that aren't likely to be replicated. And the cost of some services are still rising and likely to stay high this year, potentially keeping core prices elevated. Auto insurance costs, for instance, have soared, and are up 16.9% from a year ago. Americans are driving more than during the pandemic and causing more accidents. Insurance is also costlier because vehicle prices are much higher than before the pandemic, and cars are therefore more valuable. Restaurant prices are still moving up, having risen 0.4% from May to June and nearly 8% from a year earlier. Restaurant owners have had to keep raising wages to find and retain workers, and many of them are passing their higher labor costs on to their customers by raising prices. Chrishon Lampley, owner of the wine brand Love Cork Screw, says more expensive restaurant prices have led her to cut back on taking prospective customers out for meals. Instead, she gives potential wine buyers small gifts. The cost of printing labels for her wine bottles has nearly doubled in the past year, Lampley said, mostly because of higher labor costs. She's reduced her travel costs as a result. Lampley now chooses extended-stay hotels with kitchens rather than regular hotels, and she rents smaller cars even though she often carts around cases of wine. “Everything has just become way more frugal,” she said. “I've got to pull back.” Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials have focused their attention, in particular, on chronically high inflation for restaurant meals, auto insurance and other items in the economy's sprawling service sector. It's a big reason why several Fed policymakers were still talking earlier this week about the likelihood of two more rate hikes. "We’re likely to need a couple more rate hikes over the course of this year to really bring inflation back into ... a sustainable 2% path,” Mary Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, said on Monday. At the same time, Daly said she was “holding myself to ... extreme data dependence” and could shift her thinking based on incoming reports. There will be two more inflation reports — for July and August — before the Fed meets in September. Some drivers of higher prices are likely to keep fading and pull down inflation in the coming months. Used car prices sank 0.5% from May to June, after two months of big spikes. New-car prices, too, have begun to ease as a result, and were unchanged from May to June. In June, used vehicle prices paid by dealers were down 5.6% from a year earlier, helping to cool inflation, according to data gathered by Black Book, which monitors prices. But used vehicles are still comparatively pricey: Dealers are paying almost 70% more for them than in June 2019, before the pandemic began. The average list price offered by dealers to consumers was $28,850 last month. Alex Yurchenko, chief data officer for Black Book, said he expects prices paid by consumers to keep falling through year's end, contributing to declining inflation. But they aren't expected to drop dramatically. Typically, prices fall in the second half of the year, then rise in the spring as the car-buying season begins. “We expect a return to some kind of normality,” Yurchenko said. Supplies of new vehicles are rising, and prices are dropping slightly. As a global shortage of computer chips wanes, automakers have accelerated production. New-vehicle prices peaked in December but fell 3% to $45,978 last month, according to estimates from J.D. Power. And rental costs, a huge driver of inflation, are expected to keep declining, as builders continue to complete the most new apartment units in decades. Rising housing costs have driven more than two-thirds of the increase in core inflation in the past year, the government said, so as that increase fade it should steadily lower overall inflation. Prices first spiked two years ago as consumers ramped up their spending on items like exercise bikes, standing desks and new patio furniture, fueled by three rounds of stimulus checks. The jump in consumer demand overwhelmed supply chains and ignited inflation. Many economists have suggested that President Joe Biden’s stimulus package in March 2021 intensified the inflation surge. At the same time, though, inflation also jumped overseas, even in countries where much less stimulus was put in place. ___ AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this report from Detroit.
AngioDynamics, Lucid Group fall; Daktronics, Domino's Pizza rise, Wednesday, 7/12/2023 2023-07-12 - The Associated Press By The Associated Press Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Wednesday: AngioDynamics, Lucid Group fall; Daktronics, Domino’s Pizza rise NEW YORK -- Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Wednesday: Theratechnologies Inc., down 7 cents to 90 cents. The metabolic disorder drug company reported disappointing fiscal second-quarter earnings. Daktronics Inc., up $1.22 to $7.33. The video display maker reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter financial results. AngioDynamics Inc., down 17 cents to $9.77. The medical device maker gave investors a weak revenue forecast. Coty Inc., down 45 cents to $12.56. Kim Kardashian is reportedly considering buying a stake in the cosmetics maker. Nvidia Corp., up $14.97 to $439.02. The chipmaker is reportedly considering becoming an investor in Arm as it prepares to go public. Walt Disney Co., up 66 cents to $90.15. The entertainment giant is reportedly considering selling its digital and TV business in India. Domino’s Pizza Inc., up $38.80 to $388.59. The pizza chain will allow orders through Uber Eats and Postmates. Lucid Group Inc., down 96 cents to $7.16. Investors were disappointed by the electric vehicle maker’s production and delivery update.
Historic Anchor Brewing Co. is closing after 127 years, with beer sales in decline 2023-07-12 - FILE - A glass and bottle of Anchor Steam beer is seen at the Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco on May 23, 2012. San Francisco's 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down and liquidate after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. The San Francisco-based brewer said Wednesday, July 12, 2023, that it gave employees 60-day notice and plans to provide transition support and separation packages. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) FILE - A glass and bottle of Anchor Steam beer is seen at the Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco on May 23, 2012. San Francisco's 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down and liquidate after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. The San Francisco-based brewer said Wednesday, July 12, 2023, that it gave employees 60-day notice and plans to provide transition support and separation packages. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) FILE - A glass and bottle of Anchor Steam beer is seen at the Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco on May 23, 2012. San Francisco's 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down and liquidate after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. The San Francisco-based brewer said Wednesday, July 12, 2023, that it gave employees 60-day notice and plans to provide transition support and separation packages. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) FILE - A glass and bottle of Anchor Steam beer is seen at the Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco on May 23, 2012. San Francisco's 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down and liquidate after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. The San Francisco-based brewer said Wednesday, July 12, 2023, that it gave employees 60-day notice and plans to provide transition support and separation packages. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) San Francisco’s 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco’s 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down and liquidate after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. Anchor was a trailblazer in the U.S., brewing craft beers in the 1970s when most Americans were loyal to a handful of major brands. Its unique brewing techniques ignited demand beyond the city borders of San Francisco, and it quickly became a sought-after prize by beer geeks everywhere. In recent years, however, brewers have faced increasing difficulty turning a profit with a proliferation of canned cocktails, crafted drinks, spirits and wines dinging beer sales. Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic pressured brewers further. Last year, overall beer sales volume slid 3.1% in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association. Craft brewer sales volume ticked 0.1% higher during the period, but imports are rising. “We recognize the importance and historic significance of Anchor to San Francisco and to the craft brewing industry, but the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market left the company with no option but to make this sad decision to cease operations,” brewery spokesperson Sam Singer said in a written statement Wednesday. Anchor Brewing had teetered near insolvency before and in the 1960s it was acquired by a Stanford University grad, Fritz Maytag. Maytag implemented new brewing practices such as dry hopping, and began bottling the beer in 1971, according to the brewer. By the mid-1970s, Anchor Brewing had assembled a solid portfolio of respected brews — including Anchor Porter, Liberty Ale, Old Foghorn Barleywine Ale and its first annual Christmas Ale, which became a holiday tradition in locales far from San Francisco. Jeff Alworth, author of The Beer Bible, said in a blog post Wednesday that Maytag “sparked a revival in small-scale brewing” that would transform the industry and give the emerging craft brewing industry its ethos and attitude. “He had this approach to beer, which was, ‘We’re going to use traditional ingredients and we’re going to use traditional methods and we’re going to be defiant as we do it and we’re going to be hyper-local,’” Alworth said. “It served as a blueprint.” Anchor Brewing was sold to the Japanese brewer Sapporo in 2017 and it's decided to discontinue the brand. Anchor said that it made repeated efforts over the past year to find buyers for the brewery and its brands, but that it was unable to find one. It is still possible that a buyer will come forward as part of the liquidation process, the company said. “Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, but I still have hope that they can get rescued by somebody,” said Ana Echenique, who was first introduced to Anchor Steam beer when she moved to San Francisco in 2011. Enchenique became such a fan that she would buy it whenever she saw it in stores in other cities. The news of the brewery closing came as a shock to San Francisco native Frances Baxter, who said Anchor Steam beer is classic San Francisco just like sourdough bread. “It’s just really sad because it’s over 100 years of history and it’s something so uniquely San Francisco,” Baxter said. "We lost so many sourdough bakeries … it’s a shame to lose this, too, because I’m not sure anyone is going to save it now.” Baxter went to Anchor on Wednesday to buy Christmas Ale for a brother who lives in Pennsylvania, but the brewery was closed for the day. She said another brother would try to buy the beer for him Thursday because she will be working. “A lot of these companies just buy something and dispose of it, and that’s apparently what Sapporo is doing. It’s just a shame,” Baxter said. Anchor recently announced that it would limit sales of its beers to California and that it would cut production of its Anchor Christmas Ale in an effort to cut costs. The company has stopped brewing and will continue packaging and distributing the beer on hand while available through around the end of the month. The brewer is giving employees a 60-day notice and plans to provide transition support and separation packages. “Anchor has invested great passion and significant resources into the company,” Singer said. “Unfortunately, today’s economic pressures have made the business no longer sustainable, and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to cease operations.” Anchor Public Taps will remain open to sell what inventory remains, including a small batch of 2023 Anchor Christmas Ale. The batch was brewed prior to the company’s decision to cancel the nationwide release. ________ AP reporter Olga Rodriguez contributed from San Francisco.
NATO members Greece and Turkey pledge to 'reset' ties and bypass longstanding disputes 2023-07-12 - From left, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. NATO leaders gathered Wednesday to launch a highly symbolic new forum for ties with Ukraine, after committing to provide the country with more military assistance for fighting Russia but only vague assurances of future membership. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) From left, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. NATO leaders gathered Wednesday to launch a highly symbolic new forum for ties with Ukraine, after committing to provide the country with more military assistance for fighting Russia but only vague assurances of future membership. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) From left, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. NATO leaders gathered Wednesday to launch a highly symbolic new forum for ties with Ukraine, after committing to provide the country with more military assistance for fighting Russia but only vague assurances of future membership. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) From left, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. NATO leaders gathered Wednesday to launch a highly symbolic new forum for ties with Ukraine, after committing to provide the country with more military assistance for fighting Russia but only vague assurances of future membership. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) Greece’s prime minister says his country is ready to “reset” relations with neighbor Turkey in an effort to bypass decades-old disputes between the two NATO members ATHENS, Greece -- Greece is ready to “reset” relations with neighbor Turkey in an effort to bypass decades-old disputes between the two NATO members, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday. Mitsotakis held an hourlong meeting Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and told reporters they had agreed to continue high-level contacts. “Our problems have not been magically resolved,” Mitsotakis said. “But today’s meeting confirmed my intention and that of President Erdogan to reset Greek-Turkish relations.” Cabinet ministers from the two sides are due to meet after the summer in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, Mitsotakis said. Wednesday's talks were held a day after Turkey dropped its objections to Sweden’s membership in NATO and signaled further willingness to lower tension with Western nations, including Greece. Turkey and Greece remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, a dispute that affects illegal migration into the European Union, mineral rights, and the projection of military power. Both NATO members are seeking to upgrade their air forces with assistance from the United States: Ankara wants new and upgraded F-16 fighter jets, while Athens is keen to join the F-35 program. The defense ministers of Greece and Turkey, Nikos Dendias and Yasar Guler, held a separate meeting in Vilnius on Wednesday.
Iran's leader, visiting Africa, attacks Western support for homosexuality as among 'dirtiest' things 2023-07-12 - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, center, and Kenya's President William Ruto, right, arrive to give a joint press conference after meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Iran's president has begun a rare visit to Africa as the country, which is under heavy U.S. economic sanctions, seeks to deepen partnerships around the world. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, center, and Kenya's President William Ruto, right, arrive to give a joint press conference after meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Iran's president has begun a rare visit to Africa as the country, which is under heavy U.S. economic sanctions, seeks to deepen partnerships around the world. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, center, and Kenya's President William Ruto, right, arrive to give a joint press conference after meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Iran's president has begun a rare visit to Africa as the country, which is under heavy U.S. economic sanctions, seeks to deepen partnerships around the world. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, center, and Kenya's President William Ruto, right, arrive to give a joint press conference after meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Iran's president has begun a rare visit to Africa as the country, which is under heavy U.S. economic sanctions, seeks to deepen partnerships around the world. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) Iran’s president on a rare visit to Africa has sharply criticized Western nations’ support for homosexuality as “one of the dirtiest things which have been done in human history.” NAIROBI, Kenya -- Iran’s president on a rare visit to Africa on Wednesday sharply criticized Western nations' support for homosexuality as one of the “dirtiest” episodes of human history. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke in Uganda, which recently passed anti-gay legislation prescribing the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality," to widespread international condemnation. “I believe that this issue, and these strong attacks by the West against the establishment of families and against the culture of the nations, is another area of cooperation for Iran and Uganda,” Raisi said after a private meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. “The Western countries try to identify homosexuality as an index of civilization, while this is one of the dirtiest things which have been done in human history," Raisi said. The African visit is the first by an Iranian leader in more than a decade as the country, which is under heavy U.S. economic sanctions, seeks more partnerships around the world. Raisi is also visiting Zimbabwe. By emphasizing conservatism and anti-colonialism in his Uganda remarks, he appeared ready to bond with African countries on more than purely economic grounds. At his first stop in Kenya, Iran's leader called Africa a “continent of opportunities” and a great platform for Iranian products. “None of us is satisfied with the current volume of trade," he said. Raisi specifically mentioned Africa's mineral resources and Iran's petrochemical experience, but the memoranda of understanding signed by Iran and Kenya appeared not to address either one. Instead, they focused on information, communication and technology; fisheries; animal health and livestock production and investment promotion. Kenyan President William Ruto called Iran a “critical strategic partner” and “global innovation powerhouse.” Tea accounts for the bulk of Kenya's exports to Iran, but Ruto expressed interest in expanding the range of agricultural exports. Iran intends to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian vehicles in Kenya's port city of Mombasa, Ruto added. Raisi’s Africa visit is meant to “promote economic diplomacy, strengthen political relations with friendly and aligned countries, and diversify the export destinations,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Last month, Iran’s leader made his first visit to Latin America, stopping in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties in a major diplomatic breakthrough. Iran is in a growing standoff with Western nations over its nuclear program, which has made major advances in the five years since then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from an international agreement that restricted it. Trump also restored sanctions on Iran that have contributed to a severe economic crisis. The U.S. last month accused Iran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant as Moscow seeks weaponry for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war but not since. Kenya is East Africa’s economic hub and an ally of the U.S., with President Joe Biden’s wife, Jill, visiting the country early this year. Last year, the U.S. and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding on “strategic civil nuclear cooperation.” Kenya has expressed interest in using nuclear power for energy production. Kenya is struggling with debt and rising cost of living, with more deadly protests on Wednesday. Uganda's president, a U.S. ally on security matters, has previously voiced support for Iran’s nuclear program. During a 2010 visit by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Museveni asserted that all sovereign countries had a right to pursue peaceful nuclear programs even as he urged the eradication of all nuclear arsenals. Uganda is trying to set up a nuclear power plant that authorities this year said would be generating electricity by 2031. The plant, which is being developed with the technical support of the China National Nuclear Corporation, would exploit the East African country’s substantial deposits of uranium. Like Iran, Zimbabwe is under U.S. sanctions. A ministerial delegation from Zimbabwe visited Tehran early this year and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including petroleum trade. ___ Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda. Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed to this report.
Spain sweats out sultry nights as heat wave bakes southern Europe 2023-07-12 - People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain's regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain's regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain's regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) People cool off on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. More than 10 of Spain's regions are on red alert for the second day of the latest heat wave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Spain is sweltering under an unrelenting heat wave as temperatures start to build toward what is forecast to be a torrid weekend across southern Europe BARCELONA, Spain -- Spain sweltered under an unrelenting heat wave Wednesday as temperatures started to build toward what is forecast to be a torrid weekend across southern Europe. Spain’s weather service said thermometers could potentially hit 45 C (113 F) in southeastern areas of the Iberian Peninsula, which are under alert for extreme heat. That mark was reached Monday in the village of Loja near Granada at the start of the heat wave that is causing restless nights across the country. More than 100 weather stations registered temperatures of at least 35 C (95 F) as early as 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to meteorologist Rubén del Campo of Spain’s national weather agency. “On Wednesday, we expect temperatures to fall overall with the arrival of cool winds from the North and East, with the exception of the southeast and southern Andalusia, where hot winds blowing from the interior will cause temperatures to soar,” Del Campo said. While some relief is in store in the coming days for the Iberian Peninsula, other European countries will sweat through the weekend. In Italy, 10 cities were put on high heat alert for older people and other vulnerable populations from Bolzano in the north extending southward to Bologna, Florence and Rome. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 C (104 F) in the Sardinian inland Wednesday. But storms in Italy's populous northern Lombardy region caused flooding, felled trees and ripped roofs off buildings. More than 200 firefighters responded to emergencies in the regional capital of Milan, Varese, near the Malpensa airport, Lecco, near Lake Como, Sondrio, located in the Alps, and Bergamo. Temperatures were also starting to tick up in Greece, where a heat wave was forecast to reach up to 44 C (111 F) in some parts of the country in the coming days. Authorities banned access to nature reserves and forests to reduce the risk of wildfires, while municipalities were opening air-conditioned areas in public buildings for people to shelter from the heat. Greece's agriculture ministry issued restrictions on the transportation and working hours of animals such as horses and donkeys offering rides in tourist areas during the heat wave. Working animals won't be allowed to work between noon and 5 p.m. on days where temperatures are between 35-39 C (95-102 F) in the shade, while they won't be allowed to work at any time of the day when temperatures exceed that range. Scientists report that heat-related deaths soared in 2022 in Europe, when Spain had a record-hot year. The Mediterranean region is expected to see temperatures rise faster than many other areas of the globe because of climate change. ___ Colleen Barry in Milan, and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Contrarian Play: Beyond Meat Is At An Inflection Point 2023-07-12 - Key Points Beyond Meat is expanding its product lines availability. Sequential growth will be robust and may come with improved guidance. Wall Street is overly bearish on the stock now that it is down 95% from its high. 5 stocks we like better than Beyond Meat Beyond Meat NASDAQ: BYND deserves its spot among the most shorted stocks on Wall Street, but the story is played. The company’s attempt to enter the mainstream market via fast food was a flop, but the recovery is underway. The recovery includes a focus on profitability, a renewed focus on quality and operations, and a shift toward the retail channels. Retail was always a foundational element of the company’s strategy but not a primary focus until last year. Now, the company is making strides that include deepening penetration of markets and expanding product lines that point to sustainable growth. The question is if the company can turn a profit. The outlook is for continued operating losses, but significant headway has been made. The last earnings report included a reduction in cash burn and net losses that should accelerate over the next few quarters. The company is expected to report in early August, which may provide a positive catalyst for share prices. The YOY comp will be ugly, down double-digits due to the lapping of sales related to failed fast-food launches, but sequential gains should be impressive. The analysts have been raising their targets for revenue and earnings since the Q1 report and expect 21% in revenue growth. The company beat consensus by a wide margin last quarter and has made several strides since, so the bias is for outperformance. The real news will be the guidance. Execs reaffirmed guidance last quarter, so that is the least to expect. Based on the momentum in retail channels and strength in Europe, where consumer adoption is much easier, guidance may be increased. Beyond Meat Expands Product Line Availability In Q2 Beyond Meat launched Beyond Steak late in 2022, which is getting good reviews. The word is that Beyond Steak cooks up crispy on the outside, is juicy, has a good mouthfeel, and tastes meaty. The product recently won the People Food Awards and is the #1 selling plant-based meat product in the US. The product was already in a handful of chains, including Kroger NYSE: KR, Walmart NYSE: WMT, Albertson’s NYSE: ACI, and Target NYSE: TGT and was recently added to Whole Foods NASDAQ: AMZN, Publix OTCMKTS: PUSH, Wegman’s and a few others, which will drive top and bottom line strength. Costco is also expanding its offering of Beyond Meat. The company will offer Beyond Burger nationwide and has begun the rollout of Beyond Sausage. Beyond Sausage recently underwent a reformulation to improve the spice mix and flavor and is also getting good reviews. This addition makes Beyond Sausage available in more than 15,000 retail locations nationwide. The Market Is Too Bearish On Beyond Meat The market wasn’t too bearish on Beyond Meat when its shares were trading near $200, but it is now. With short interest running about 40%, institutions selling, and analysts reducing the stage is set for a short squeeze. The market is up 5% on the news and showing a bottom. If the Q2 results are even half-decent, it could shift the sell-side interest. Combining short-covering, institutional buying, and analysts' sentiment could fuel a sharp and sustained rally. The market appears to be at the bottom. The bottom appears to be near $12, with a critical resistance point near $22. The stock should drift sideways within this range until the Q2 release, when it will make the next move. A move above the range would be bullish, and a move below might be bearish. Before you consider Beyond Meat, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Beyond Meat wasn't on the list. While Beyond Meat currently has a "Reduce" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here