U.S. intelligence officials released a report on Friday rejecting some points raised by those who argue COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab. The report has angered some Republicans, who argue the Biden administration is withholding information, while intelligence officials argue China's obstruction has made it impossible to determine the origin. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner has noted that U.S. intelligence had "extraordinary detail" about the risk posed by the Wagner group, and that top congressional leaders had been briefed multiple times by the administration.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the situation between Russia and the Wagner mercenary group is far from over, after the two sides reached a truce following a revolt from the private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Blinken noted that the revolt posed a "direct challenge to Putin's authority" and that the U.S. has seen "more cracks emerge in the Russian facade." He added that the U.S. will continue to monitor the situation closely and stand up for its allies and partners in the region.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, has ended a short-lived revolt against Russian President Vladimir Putin with a deal brokered with the Kremlin. The deal includes pardons and dropped criminal charges for the Wagner troops, but the motivations behind Prigozhin's challenge and the long-term consequences of the revolt remain unclear. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the U.S. is watching the situation "very closely and carefully" in the context of Putin's two-decade rule.
Andrei Rudenko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Beijing on Sunday to discuss "international and regional issues of common concern" with the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. This follows Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, ordering his troops to march on Moscow before reaching a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been monitoring the events and engaging with the Russians. It is unclear what was discussed during Rudenko's visit, but it is likely that the two countries discussed the situation in Russia and the implications of the aborted rebellion.
Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence both addressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference, with Trump speaking on the anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the national right to an abortion and Pence challenging every GOP presidential candidate to support a national ban on abortions at least as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is running for president in 2024, also addressed the conference and openly criticized Trump for being unwilling to take responsibility for his mistakes.
On Saturday morning, a bridge collapse in Montana caused freight train cars to crash into the Yellowstone River, raising concerns about contamination. Montana Rail Link has since released a statement saying that two cars known to be carrying hazardous materials had not entered the river, and that there was "no expected hazmat impact" to towns in the county. Andy Garland, spokesperson for Montana Rail Link, said that the substances in the railcars solidify when exposed to air and water, so there is no risk of contamination.
Phoebe D. Copas, a 48-year-old woman from Kentucky, has been charged with murder after shooting her Uber driver out of fear that he was kidnapping her and driving to Mexico. She allegedly took a handgun from her purse and shot the driver, Daniel Piedra Garcia, in the head, causing the vehicle to crash into a concrete barrier. Garcia was taken off life support this week and Copas remains in jail while the investigation continues.
Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a woman experiencing a mental health crisis. Police Chief William McManus has stated that the officers' actions were not consistent with SAPD policy and training. The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for justice and reform.