At a summit in South Africa this week, Russia and China will try to gain more political and economic ground in the developing world, capitalizing on their frustration with US and European dominance. Also in the news: Hilary may be rolling north, but a new tropical storm system is expected to hit Texas on Tuesday. Sha’Carri Richardson is now the fastest woman in the world.
🙋🏼♀️ I am Nicole Fallert, Author of Daily Briefing. Congratulations Rihanna!
Now, here we go Tuesday’s news.
Russia’s Putin stays away on arrest warrant as emerging market leaders meet in South Africa
Russian President Vladimir Putin will notably be absent as Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the BRICS economic bloc begin a three-day summit in South Africa on Tuesday. Putin must participate via video call after his trip was hampered by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him in March for kidnapping children from Ukraine. The US and Europe are also paying attention to the meeting as leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are likely to address the potential growth of the BRICS and their criticism of the US dollar’s dominance as the world currency for international trade. . read more
Hilary causes flooding as the scorching heat hits millions
The remnants of Hurricane Hilary are rolling north toward parts of Oregon and Idaho, where some areas could be hit by up to 5 inches Tuesday morning, resulting in some “significant” flash flooding, weather experts say.
Southern California is not free of Hilary. Road and rail closures due to major flooding, wash-offs and mudslides can be expected, putting strain on already overburdened infrastructure.
News you can use: Here’s how to easily cool overheated plants and keep your garden healthy.
More news to know now
What’s the weather like today? Check your local weather forecast here.
What to know about new COVID variant Pirola
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have announced a new addition to their lists of tracking variants of COVID-19 — and this one may be a little different. Described by the CDC as a novel lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19, BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola, has more than 30 mutations, more than other variants currently in circulation. Pirola has been detected in multiple countries, including Denmark, Israel, the US and the UK. With many states and countries no longer reporting to a centralized COVID tracking system, cases are now generally tracked by less reliable standards, primarily hospitalization and wastewater data. read more
Biden’s visit to Maui was met with grief over the relief effort
President Joe came under scrutiny for refusing to comment on wildfire relief efforts earlier this month while relaxing at his Rehobobo Beach home. He was also criticized for waiting nearly two weeks after the fires to visit Maui, a delay the White House said was necessary to avoid disrupting search and rescue efforts. Since then, the government has stepped up its efforts to detail how the federal government is responding to the deadliest U.S. wildfires in more than a century. After getting an aerial view of the damage on Monday and walking through a section of Lahaina where few buildings remain, he vowed the federal government will help “as long as it takes.” read more
- 850 people still missing after deadly wildfires in Maui, mayor says.
- Precious climate: See billion-dollar natural disasters piling up in the US
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Trump turns himself in for arrest at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday
Former President Donald Trump plans to turn himself in early Thursday afternoon for booking at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election. Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform on Monday that he is going to Atlanta on Thursday to meet with law enforcement officials. In the post, he accused Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Justice Department officials of trying to target his 2024 reelection campaign without evidence. Lawyers for the former president reached an agreement with Georgian authorities on a $200,000 bond on Monday. read more
Fast strokes
Photo of the day: What should this immaculate giraffe be called?
A Tennessee zoo is asking the public to name a rare spotless giraffe born last month. The giraffe was born late last month and is on display at Brights Zoo in Limestone. This is the only known spotless giraffe, according to zoo officials, and the last known specimen was born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo. The zoo will open a vote for the name of the female giraffe on its Facebook page on Tuesday, where people can choose one of four choices. read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Would you like to send Nicole a message? Email her at [email protected] or follow her musings Twitter. Support journalism this way – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
