⏳ Tuesday Fix: Waiting on Wisconsin
Morning all,
Tensions cooling, charges of fraud, accusations denied - there's a lot going on, but all eyes are on Wisconsin, as the jury deliberate the fate of Kyle Rittenhouse in an extraordinarily divisive case.
Until tomorrow,
Your Fixers,
GOOD LISTENER?
Below is an audio version of today's newsletter.
MONDAY'S MAIN LINES
President Biden and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, held a three-and-a-half-hour virtual summit on Monday to "cool tensions" between the two countries.
There are multiple reports Biden brought up concern's about China's human rights record, trade issues, and Taiwan. CNN described it as a "healthy debate, but no breakthroughs".
The UK has raised the threat level to severe in the wake of the car explosion in Liverpool on Sunday. This means an attack is considered "highly likely," but doesn't relate to any specific threat.
Meanwhile, Emad Al Swealmeen was named as the man who brought an explosive device into the cab with him and later died. As BBC News noted, he was a refugee from the Middle East who converted to Christianity back in 2017.
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is one of 16 people that have been charged with election fraud, relating to the November 2020 election which ultimately led to a military coup.
Remember: The military have long accused Aung San's NLD party of fraud in the election, but many say there has been no evidence provided to back up those claims.
Ever wanted to know more about Myanmar? Read last weekend's full NewsFix piece - Myanmar: The Constant Struggle for Democracy .
ON TODAY'S AGENDA...
Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq - who has been at the centre of an ongoing racism row at the club - is to give evidence at a select committee hearing later today.
Not familiar with this story? Below is a full background explainer from our Instagram page.
PIN DROP - WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WISCONSIN?
A verdict is expected this week in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, an 18-year-old who has become a symbol of the division in America down political lines.
What's the background here? In the summer of 2020 - weeks after the murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin - another Black man called Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by an officer. The police were responding to a domestic incident, and at the time there was an arrest warrant for Blake relating to charges of other domestic violence incidents and a sexual assault.
Blake was left paralysed from the waist down, and the incident - at a time of racial reckoning in the US - sparked widespread protests. In particular, there were protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where it happened.
What has this got to do with Kyle Rittenhouse? Kyle and a friend crossed state lines in what he says was an effort to protect businesses from the looting that occurred during some protests. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style weapon. During that night, he shot three men, killing two of them. Rittenhouse faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He claims he was acting in self-defence, the prosecution say he provoked the shootings.
There are around 500 National Guard troops on standby ahead of a jury verdict.
Below is a very helpful explainer of the background to this complex and divisive trial.
PANDEMIC
In Ireland, the cabinet will today meet to consider the recommendation that people work from home wherever possible. Also, from today the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will reduce by approximately €50 per week for people receiving it.
MOST READ
- BBC News: Four freed as suspect killed in taxi blast named
- The Guardian: PM fails to stifle sleaze scandal as ratification of Paterson report blocked
- The Financial Times: Shell to shift tax base to UK and ditch dual share structure
- Al Jazeera: Xi, Biden wrap up 'virtual' meeting amid rising tension
- The Irish Times: Boosters for over-50s expected as Covid wave threatens health service
TWITTER TRENDS
#StanleyJohnson
Why? The father of Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trending because he has been accused of inappropriately touching a Conservative MP back in 2003.
Caroline Nokes made the accusation against him. Stanley said he had "no recollection" of her, adding "hey ho, good luck and thanks".
TODAY MARKS...
20 years since the release of the first Harry Potter movie, the Philosopher's Stone. Watch out for later, we'll have a little quiz you'll love on our Instagram...
ON A LIGHTER NOTE...
You're a rapper, Harry.
