Murder in Atlanta | Bieber's Crocs Sell Out

Police have arrested a man suspected of killing eight people, including six Asian women, at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area Tuesday evening. Robert Aaron Long, 21, was arrested following a manhunt after a shooting spree feared to have targeted Asian people. While police said the motive remains unclear, the mass killing comes after an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with nearly 3,800 incidents reported since last March. Police in New York City and Seattle said they would increase patrols and outreach to their Asian American communities.

Sources: NYT, Washington Post

2. US Intel: Putin Approved Anti-Biden Disinformation Push

Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized attempts to hurt President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and help then-President Donald Trump, according to a new U.S. intelligence report. “Russian state and proxy actors who all serve the Kremlin’s interests worked to affect U.S. public perceptions,” it read, noting efforts to undermine faith in the electoral process. The declassified report also revealed that Iran tried to weaken support for Trump, while China did not “deploy interference efforts.” But despite any attempts to influence the election through disinformation, the report concluded that foreign actors did not directly interfere with ballots.

Sources: BBC, NYT

3. Japanese Court Finds Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

A district court in Sapporo ruled today that Japan’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, in a landmark ruling lauded as a major breakthrough by LGBT advocates. Japan is the only G-7 nation that prohibits same-sex unions on the grounds that its Constitution defines marriage as an agreement between “a husband and wife.” The ruling — which came over a 2019 lawsuit filed by three same-sex couples in Hokkaido who said they were being denied the same rights as heterosexual couples — paves the way for further challenges to the law.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Japan Times

4. British Gig Economy Workers Win Case Against Uber

Britain’s business minister today praised Uber’s decision to grant its drivers “worker” status rather than independent contractor status, entitling them to minimum wage, vacation pay and pensions. The Silicon Valley-based company announced the change, a boon for members of the so-called gig economy who work on a job-by-job basis, after losing a legal appeal last month. But the two drivers who took Uber to court said the new measures don’t go far enough, since they only guarantee drivers the minimum wage once they’ve accepted a trip, not from when they sign on to the app each day.

Sources: WSJ (sub), Reuters

5. Also Important...

President Biden made his strongest remarks yet over the sexual misconduct claims against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying that if the allegations are confirmed Cuomo should resign and could face prosecution. The Indianapolis, Indiana, man accused of murdering four people, including a 7-year-old girl, has told police the incident began with an argument over spending a stimulus check. And more than 50 people were killed in attacks near Niger’s border with Mali.

Coronavirus Update: Health authorities in France are investigating a new coronavirus variant, though it does not appear to be more dangerous or contagious. Cases have surged in India, taking the total to 11.44 million. And former President Trump has urged his supporters to get vaccinated.

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Crocs may not scream sartorial elegance, but they’ve become a staple of comfort-based pandemic fashion, and Bieber’s cashing in once more. His second collaboration with the divisive shoe brand — lavender plastic Crocs that come with jibbitz charms and tall white socks from Bieber’s own Drew House clothing line — launched Tuesday and has already sold out. “Crocs with socks is definitely the move,” said the Canadian pop star. In 2020, after people traded fashion trends for pajamas, Crocs reported a record revenue of $1.4 billion, up 13 percent from pre-pandemic times.

Sources: Forbes, AOL, ET

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2. Ark Side of the Moon: Scientists Plan Lunar Doomsday Vault

The elephants came in two by two, so did the camels, but the sperm — they came by the millions. In a sci-fi retelling of Noah’s Ark, University of Arizona researchers want to build a lunar ark as a genetic backup in case of apocalypse. They think a network of lava tubes discovered under the moon’s surface could act as a perfect facility for storing cryogenic preservation modules for sperm, eggs, seeds and spores. The scientists say 250 rocket launches would be needed to send samples from 6.7 million Earth species.

Sources: CNN

3. French Duo Win Pritzker Prize for Rejuvenating Public Housing

Two French architects have won the “Nobel Prize” of their profession for transforming public housing and making it more environmentally friendly. A nne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal won the 2021 Pritzker Prize for the rejuvenation of tower blocks in Paris and Bordeaux set for demolition, as well as overhauls of other public housing developments. Their motto is “never demolish” and their work “responds to the climatic and ecological emergencies of our time, as well as social urgencies,” the Pritzker jury said. “There's a lot of violence in architecture and urbanism,” Vassal said. “We try to work with kindness.”

Sources: DW, The Guardian, NPR

4. Labradors Still America’s Top Dog, Followed by Frenchies

Labrador retrievers have held the title of America’s favorite pooch for 30 years, but the latest American Kennel Club rankings show a flat-faced competitor in dogged pursuit. The French bulldog was second in rankings released today, beating previous No. 2 German shepherds, like President Biden’s first hounds. One breeder said “Frenchies” are beloved for their comedic value and dubbed them “snoring, farting little love machines.” The expensive breed is popular with celebrities like Lady Gaga, who’s been reunited with two of her pups that were dognapped last month. The crime featured on America’s Most Wanted this week.

Sources: USA Today, American Kennel Club, ET

5. Tiger Out of the Woods After Devastating Crash

Now comes the hard part. Golf legend Tiger Woods announced last night that he’s returned home to Florida after a three-week hospitalization following a Los Angeles-area crash. He tweeted that he’s “grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement,” and thanked the staff at two Southern California hospitals. And while Woods wrote that he’s “getting stronger every day,” his multiple compound leg fractures required a rod inserted into his tibia, along with screws and pins to repair his foot and ankle. That will likely mean a long and painful road to mobility, let alone any tournaments.

Sources: SI, Yahoo

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