Today in History: Live Aid concerts
In 1846, a fire destroyed most of Nantucket's commercial district, including 250 buildings. It began in a hat store on Main Street, then swept through town, fueled by exploding barrels of whale oil along the wharves. The fire, according to Mass Humanities, contributed to the demise of Nantucket as the world capital of the whaling industry.
In 1863, deadly rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City. (The insurrection was put down three days later.)
In 1923, a sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out 'HOLLYWOODLAND' was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949).
In 1930, the first FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay.
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In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party's convention in Los Angeles.
In 1973, former presidential aide Alexander P. Butterfield revealed to Senate Watergate Committee staff members the existence of President Richard Nixon's secret White House taping system.
In 1985, the 'Live Aid' benefit rock concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, raising millions for famine relief in Ethiopia.
In 1999, Angel Maturino Resendiz, suspected of being the 'Railroad Killer,' surrendered in El Paso, Texas.
In 2013, a jury in Florida cleared neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman of all charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager whose killing unleashed furious debate over racial profiling, self-defense and equal justice.
In 2018, a grand jury indictment, sought by special counsel Robert Mueller, alleged that the Russian government was behind a sweeping conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
In 2020, Washington's NFL franchise dropped the 'Redskins' name and logo amid pressure from sponsors; the move followed decades of criticism that the name and logo were offensive to Native Americans. (The team was eventually renamed the Commanders.)
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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Two Russian FSB Agents Killed After Assassinating Ukraine Spy Colonel: Kyiv
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday that it successfully tracked down and "neutralized" two Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who were suspected of assassinating Colonel Ivan Voronych, a high-ranking SBU Special Operations Centre officer, in Kyiv on July 10. Newsweek has contacted the SBU, Ukrainian officials, and the FSB on Sunday via email for comment. Why It Matters Colonel Voronych served in the Special Operations Center (Alpha) and led high-risk operations targeting Russian military assets. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, his unit was involved in sabotage operations behind enemy lines and was credited with eliminating high-ranking members of the Russian administration. His assassination marked a significant and brazen escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the Eastern European nation. What To Know As reported by Newsweek, Voronych was shot dead as he left his home in Kyiv on Thursday morning. A masked gunman approached the senior intelligence officer from a residential parking lot and shot him several times with a silenced handgun before fleeing. According to SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk, the two agents, identified as a man and a woman, were dispatched into Ukraine several days before Voronych was gunned down in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district. Surveillance footage captured the two suspects following Voronych to a firearms cache where they retrieved a suppressed pistol. Around 9 a.m. local time on July 10, they ambushed and fatally shot him. An update posted to the Ukrainian government Telegram channel stated: "The SBU eliminated the killers who killed the Security Service colonel in Kyiv. During a special operation, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine eliminated agents of the Russian special services who, on the instructions of the FSB of the Russian Federation, carried out the murder of the SBU colonel in Kyiv. "The special operation to find the killers of the Ukrainian defender was personally led by the head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk. The FSB agent-combat group was routed to Ukraine in advance and three days ago committed the murder of an SBU employee, our brother Colonel Ivan Voronych." SBU and National Police located the pair in Kyiv Oblast during a special operation led personally by Malyuk. When the agents resisted arrest, a gunfight ensued, ending with both suspects being killed in the operation "SBU and National Police officers established their location in the Kyiv region. This morning, a special operation was conducted, during which members of the FSB intelligence and combat group of the Russian Federation began to resist, so they were eliminated," the post said. It went on to say that the head of the Ukrainian special service thanked the employees of the National Police of Ukraine for their professionalism and support, emphasizing that "effective counteraction to Russian special services is a key area of activity for the Security Service." The events were conducted under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the post said. Servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine and members of the SBU security service hold an anti-terror drills in Slavyansk, eastern Ukraine, on October 13, 2020. Servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine and members of the SBU security service hold an anti-terror drills in Slavyansk, eastern Ukraine, on October 13, 2020. GENYA SAVILOV/AFP viaWhat People Are Saying Head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, as reported on the Ukrainian government's Telegram channel: "As a result of covert investigative and active counterintelligence activities, the enemy lair was discovered. During the detention, they began to resist, there was a gunfight, so the villains were eliminated. I want to remind you that the enemy's only prospect on the territory of Ukraine is death!" What Happens Next? The killing of two FSB agents in a Ukrainian intelligence operation marks one of the boldest direct actions against Russian operatives inside Ukraine in recent months and raises the stakes in a shadow war defined by high-profile reprisals and covert escalations.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Debanking innocent Americans should be illegal
Republican and Democratic leaders agree: Closing the bank accounts of Americans for no apparent reason is wrong. In recent years, major banks have begun the quiet, calculated and often callous closing of bank accounts belonging to honest, law-abiding Americans — typically without warning, cause or recourse. The practice is called debanking. And, to put it plainly, it just ain't right. According to members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Bank of America 'was the subject of 988 improper closure complaints and 584 improper account denial complaints.' JPMorgan Chase 'was the subject of 1,423 improper closure complaints and 443 improper account denial complaints,' and in 2021, Chase closed the account of retired former National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn's nonprofit, citing 'reputational risk.' Wells Fargo 'was the subject of 1,053 improper closure complaints and 350 improper account denial complaints'; it has faced allegations of closing long-standing customer accounts in 'high-risk' categories, like firearms dealers. Citigroup 'was the subject of 742 improper closure complaints and 96 improper account denial complaints,' including closing personal and business accounts of Armenian Americans. Most people are unaware of this practice until it touches them directly. Bank failures and employee embezzlements get far more attention from the media and policymakers. But to those affected, debanking is as devastating as being caught in a bank robbery crossfire — and the consequences can be permanent. To put things in context, we are not talking about fraudsters, drug lords or terror financiers. Debanking is being used against men and women whose only crime is running a small business, engaging in lawful commerce or having views or associations that run counter to traditional orthodoxy, such as adult content creators. Some are foreign nationals. Others are part of religious nonprofits. Some are just on the conservative side of the political spectrum. It has been happening to regular people — people like the owner of a barbershop in a historically Black neighborhood who manages an informal savings club. To his neighbors, the owner is a lifeline. But to the bank, he is a suspicious actor whose account gets frozen after depositing a large sum of money. There's no warning and no conversation — just an ATM terminal denying him access to his own funds. Or it could be a cybersecurity expert whose firm defends against hackers and cybercriminals. Because she interacts with cyberthreats, the bank froze her account, assuming she was the criminal. Maybe it's the owner of a bakery whose teenage son sells inert replicas of firearms online as collectibles. Because of his hobby, the bank closed down the mother's account. Perhaps the next victim is a retired Marine and Civil War re-enactor who was told his bank account was closed because of his 'military paraphernalia.' These are not anomalies. They are becoming more commonplace as banks are increasingly guided — or misguided — by the concept of reputational risk, driven by the fear of being associated with certain businesses like adult entertainment, cannabis, firearms, crypto or fringe political groups. Understandably, no bank wants to be grilled by a hostile Senate committee or slapped with a billion-dollar fine for missing a bad actor. Nor do they want to be accused of helping to finance terrorism or violent organizations. So they overreach. To avoid risk, they 'de-risk' certain people, not based on their behavior but on categories and algorithms. This is not compliance. It is digital profiling. Earlier this year, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), introduced the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act, which expressly prohibits federal regulators from using 'reputational risk' as a justification for examining or penalizing banks. In rare bipartisan agreement, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also highlighted thousands of complaints collected in recent years from people who could not open accounts or had them abruptly closed. 'Big banks are relying on black-box algorithms and middlemen companies, and shutting down accounts without doing careful due diligence,' she said, citing Muslims, cannabis businesses and recently incarcerated people as victims. Beyond the personal harm, the societal impact of debanking is enormous. In a digital economy, it widens the gap between the unbanked and the rest of the world, and forces good people into underground economies that cut them off from full economic participation. Banks are meant to be neutral custodians of commerce, not referees of righteousness. To be sure, banks have a duty to fight illicit finance. But that duty should not include disenfranchising individuals based on vague reputational concerns. Federal watchdogs should clarify what 'reputational risk' means, and there must be much more transparency. Congress should also encourage banks to practice diligent risk analysis, not blanket exclusion. Regulators should reward, not penalize, banks that create culturally competent, innovation-friendly frameworks. Every American deserves to know why their financial life has been upended. Vague form letters are not acceptable. A bank should not be allowed to destroy someone's livelihood without a process for redress. Reasons must be specific, reviewable and appealable. Most Americans who have had their accounts closed are not money launderers, cybercriminals, militia leaders or threats to national security. They are citizens. Taxpayers. Workers. Innovators. Parents. Patriots. They are being punished not for what they've done, but for how they are perceived. Without question, banks must guard against criminality. But they should do so with discernment, discretion and decency. Otherwise, they are not protecting consumers. They are prosecuting them. And in America, that just ain't right. Adonis Hoffman writes on business law and policy. He served in senior legal roles at the FCC and in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'He's Done' - Fans React To NFL Running Back's Arrest On Saturday
'He's Done' - Fans React To NFL Running Back's Arrest On Saturday originally appeared on The Spun. One NFL rookie running back has made his road to getting on the field a lot harder for himself. Though given the charges, it's a bit hard to sympathize. Advertisement On Saturday, Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested in Broward County, Florida on charges of battery and domestic violence. Further details on the crime he's been booked for are not currently available. He is still in jail as of writing and his initial court appearance will be on Sunday morning. "Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested on a domestic violence and battery charge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police department and Broward County arrest records," ESPN's Daniel Ayefusi wrote. "Judkins was still in jail as of Saturday night and scheduled to have his initial court appearance Sunday morning, according to court records." Judkins was the No. 36 overall pick by the Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was a record-breaking running back Ole Miss between 2022 and 2023 and helped the Ohio State Buckeyes win a national title in 2024. Advertisement But the domestic violence charges against him have caused the support and respect that Judkins has previously had to evaporate. Across social media, Judkins has been either condemned or mocked by fans in the hours since the news broke. "Dude was so in position. On-field, off-field and fantasy. Then this," one user lamented. "Oooof. And he's unsigned right? There goes that $. For sure lost any leverage he might've had," wrote another. "Geez - first draft pick to be cut," a third predicted. "You have your entire life in front of you and you fumble it." "He's done. Advertisement "What a dumbass. On the verge of becoming a multimillionaire." Quinshon Judkins© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The Browns used one of the picks they received in the blockbuster Day 1 trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to bring him into the fold. But like many second-round picks in this year's draft, he remains unsigned due to a dispute over the guaranteed money in the deal. As some online have pointed out, Judkins' arrest is going to send any leverage he might have in negotiations up in smoke. At this point he'll be lucky if he's even allowed to play football in Week 1, let alone if he's being paid the amount he wants. Advertisement Judkins' entire career could be in jeopardy before the first whistle of training camp. Related: 'Cut Him' - NFL Rookie Second-Round Pick Arrested On Scary Charges 'He's Done' - Fans React To NFL Running Back's Arrest On Saturday first appeared on The Spun on Jul 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
