"The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously." That's how Taylor Swift responded to a heartbreaking mass stabbing that killed three children at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. What followed is part of bigger story—impacting Europe and other places around the world—that combines the rise of the far right, political hate speech, an anti-immigrant fervor, and the social media driven spread of false news. WaPo: (Gift Article): Far-right rioters attack U.K. police, mosque amid false claims on stabbings. "Police said the riot in Southport on Tuesday night was stoked in part by social media posts that incorrectly alleged that the stabbing was perpetrated by a recent asylum seeker who had arrived in Britain by illegally crossing the English Channel on a raft. Amid reported chants of 'We want our country back,' rioters pelted police with bricks, injuring as many as 50 officers and sending 27 to hospitals. The rioters also smashed the windows of a mosque, torched vehicles and looted a shop. The violence, on the same day the town was holding a peaceful, heartrending vigil for the dead and injured girls, stunned Britain, where the stabbings have been round-the-clock news." 2Direct Message"Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed early Wednesday in the Iranian capital, according to Iran and the Palestinian militant group, both of which blamed Israel for an attack that has raised fears of spiraling conflict in the region." The killing comes just days after senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. ("The Hezbollah commander who the Israeli military says it killed in an airstrike Tuesday had been blamed by Israel for a deadly weekend rocket attack and was accused by the U.S. of orchestrating the 1983 bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American servicemen.") AP: How two strikes on militant leaders in the Middle East could escalate into a regional war. 3A Higher Power (Gun)"For decades, McLean Bible Church has served as the place of worship for many of D.C.’s Republican elite. The sprawling evangelical megachurch in Vienna, Virginia, boasts a roster of former parishioners that includes everyone from Ken Starr to Mike Pence. It’s where Donald Trump once dropped in for a brief prayer after a round of golf. McLean Bible is also where, in November 2017, a senior pastor named Dale Sutherland formed a nonprofit called Act2Impact. In those days, the organization was described in state records as an 'auxiliary' of the church, with a mission to 'preach the gospel' and 'conduct evangelistic and humanitarian outreach.' But that mission was short-lived." An investigation from MoJo and The Trace: Inside the Secret Multimillion-Dollar Operation to Dismantle America’s Gun Laws. 4Five Ring Circus"'You’ll meet someone, and their first reaction is, 'I bet I can beat you, let’s play,' Zhang said, laughing. 'I don’t think you’d really say that to anyone in another sport. If you saw Michael Phelps, I don’t think you’d say, 'I bet I can beat you in a race.'" The NYT(Gift Article) sets the record straight: No, You Can’t Beat an Olympic Table Tennis Player. 5Extra, ExtraShow Me the Money Impact: "Some of L.A.’s poorest families received cash assistance of $1,000 a month as part of a 12-month pilot project launched nearly three years ago. There were no strings attached and they could use the money however they saw fit. Now, a new study finds that the city-funded program was overwhelmingly beneficial." LA Times: Study details ‘transformative’ results from L.A. pilot that guaranteed families $1,000 a month. 6Bottom of the News"What makes a good speed puzzler? According to Mr. Álvarez-Ossorio, they need great visual acuity, quick hands, concentration, organization and intuition. 'Of course you also have to have technique,' he said. 'But in my opinion, what differentiates a true champion is the ability to self-control, to ensure that the pressure does not affect them or they hardly notice it.'" NYT (Gift Article): You Won’t See Them at the Olympics, but These Speed Puzzlers Are World-Class.
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