Landmarks around the world were transformed on Thursday to commemorate the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. In France, the Eiffel Tower went dark. In Brazil, the statue of Christ the Redeemer was lit up in red, blue and white. and in New York, the Empire State Building lit up the city sky in royal purple.
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Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch whose reign spanned seven decades, died on Thursday at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace announced. Her death marks the end of an era for the United Kingdom, with most Britons having never known another monarch in their lifetime. The Queen’s eldest son Charles – now King Charles III – has ascended the throne and is expected to address the nation today. The coming hours and days will see a series of carefully choreographed events to commemorate the Queen’s life and guide the transition into the future, but her death leaves a void for the UK at a time of sharp change in political leadership and an imminent economic recession.
Two tropical storms are moving toward the East and West coasts of the US today, each packing strong winds that could create a number of different challenges for millions of people. In California, residents are bracing for Tropical Storm Kay, which could bring a year’s worth of rain in the next few hours. That has raised concerns about flooding in parts of southern California, where damaging winds are already threatening to extend a ferocious heat wave that has fueled raging wildfires. Kay is weakening, but the storm is not expected to move away from the West Coast until Saturday night. On the East Coast, dangerous rip currents are expected at beaches this weekend as Hurricane Earl churns in the Atlantic near Bermuda. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center show Earl has already unleashed sustained winds near 90 mph with even higher gusts.
The mayor of Washington, DC, declared a public health emergency on Thursday in response to the thousands of migrants arriving in the nation’s capital by bus from Texas and Arizona. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott began ferrying immigrants to Washington in April to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, another Republican, have so far sent hundreds of buses to D.C., and neither has expressed any intention of stopping. Texas has sent more than 7,900 immigrants to DC and more than 2,200 immigrants to New York. Arizona, which only sends buses to DC, has sent 1,677 immigrants.
Why Democratic Mayor Is Using Texas Governor’s Controversial Border Strategy
The Justice Department has appealed for a special general review of materials seized by the FBI during its Mar-a-Lago investigation. The Justice Department argued that the order for a special master — or third-party attorney — endangered U.S. national security by cutting off access to classified documents seized during the search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home. They also argue that the order prevents them from conducting an “effective national security risk assessment,” the Justice Department wrote in its appeal. Now, the judge has ordered Trump’s lawyers to confer with the Justice Department and prepare a joint filing explaining their views on who the special master should be. The deadline for that court filing is later tonight.
The judge handling the Mar a Lago case has a profile
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims his country’s military has recaptured a key city from Russia and liberated at least 20 settlements in its ongoing counteroffensive. As the Ukrainian military continues to push, officials say Russian forces in the Kharkiv region have suffered significant casualties – leading some soldiers to abandon their uniforms, hoping to join in while wearing civilian clothes. Separately, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made an unannounced trip to Ukraine on Thursday. He said the effort to regain control of Russian-held areas of the country was “proving to be effective” and also announced that the US plans to provide an additional $2.2 billion in investment to strengthen the security of Ukraine and other countries in the region.
A CNN military analyst says what happens in Ukraine in the coming weeks could define the coming years. Here’s why
James Corden says he stole from President Biden’s bathroom
Many people who visit the White House are tempted to swipe a souvenir, but very few admit to it. James Corden, on the other hand, told the world as much in this hilarious confession.
Kellogg’s wants you to add water to its new cereal
Yes, cereal.
See who will be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 31
The star-studded cast includes a platinum recording artist, a Real Housewife, a Bachelorette and a successful actress with multiple sclerosis.
Football jargon to help you sound smart about the NFL
Have you ever found yourself watching a game and thinking, “What the hell is going on?” If so, this glossary of terms is for you.
Luxury fashion houses are pouring millions into the metaverse
Some people spend a lot of money on their digital wardrobes in the metaverse – and luxury labels want a piece of the market.
Which of the following US airports was the worst for delays and cancellations this summer?
A. Dallas Love Field Airport
B. Chicago Midway International Airport
C. Denver International Airport
D. Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Take CNN’s weekly news quiz here to see if you’re right!
Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw died Wednesday of pneumonia unrelated to Covid-19, Shaw’s family said in a statement Thursday. He was 82 years old. Shaw was CNN’s first anchor and was with the network when it launched on June 1, 1980. He retired from CNN after more than 20 years on February 28, 2001. During his storied career, Shaw reported some of The bigger stories of that era – including the student uprising in Tiananmen Square in May 1989, the first Gulf War live from Baghdad in 1991 and the 2000 presidential election.
Bernard Shaw, former CNN anchor, has died at the age of 82
$30,000
That will be the starting price of Chevrolet’s Equinox EV, making it among the cheapest electric vehicles on the market. The Equinox EV is expected to arrive in the coming months, General Motors announced Thursday.
“As long as there are nuclear weapons on Earth and the imperialism and anti-North Korean maneuvers of the US and its followers remain, our road to strengthening our nuclear power will never end.”
– North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for passing a new law declaring the country a nuclear weapons state. Kim vowed that North Korea would “never give up” its nuclear weapons and said denuclearization could not be negotiated as he welcomed the passage of the law, state media reported today. This comes as Kim has issued increasingly provocative threats of nuclear conflict to the US and its Asian allies in recent months.
From the west coast to the east coast, Americans will feel the effects of two different tropical systems
Check your local forecast here >>>
What it takes to maintain the largest hedgerows in the UK
High hedges
Check out these giant hedgerows in the UK. Some have been around for hundreds of years and take weeks to cut. (Click here to view)
