Informant likely to testify for defense in Oath Keepers trial
An FBI informant who was embedded for months in the inner circle of Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, is likely to testify as a defense witness at the seditious conspiracy trial of Rhodes in connection with the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The informant, Greg McWhirter, served as the Oath Keepers’ vice president but was secretly reporting to the FBI about the group’s activities in the weeks and months leading up to the Capitol attack, according to two people familiar with the matter. Federal prosecutors decided not to call McWhirter as a government witness at the trial of Rhodes and his four co-defendants.
$2 billion Powerball ticket sold in Los Angeles County
After an overnight delay held up the drawing of the largest jackpot in American history on Monday, lottery officials in California said Tuesday that a winning $2 billion ticket was sold in Los Angeles County. The California Lottery said the “only winning” Powerball ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center, a gas station in Altadena, just north of Pasadena. Lottery officials said the ticket holder was now the first lottery billionaire in the state. No one has come forward to claim the prize yet. More than 11.2 million tickets won cash prizes in the drawing, totaling $98.1 million.
Zelenskyy open to talks with Russia — on Ukraine’s terms
Ukraine’s president has suggested he’s open to peace talks with Russia but is sticking to Kyiv’s demands. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appeal to the international community to “force Russia into real peace talks” reflected a softening of his refusal to negotiate with Moscow while Russian President Vladimir Putin is in power. But Zelenskyy’s preconditions appear to be non-starters for Moscow, so it’s hard to see how his latest comments would advance any talks. Western weapons and aid have been key to Ukraine’s ability to fight off Russia’s invasion. Support for Ukraine has garnered strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, but growing conservative opposition could complicate that if Republicans take control of the House in Tuesday’s elections.
Aerial war over Ukraine heats
up as Russia
pounds cities
As Ukrainian officials celebrate the arrival of more advanced Western air-defense systems and claim growing success at shooting down Russian rockets and drones, they are warning that Moscow is buying long-range weapons against which Kyiv’s forces have little defense — specifically, ballistic missiles from Iran. With movement on the ground slowing, the battle in the skies above Ukraine is increasingly central to the course of the war, and both sides are looking to their allies for new weapons. In the past month, Moscow’s forces have dramatically stepped up strikes far behind the front lines on cities and vital services such as power, heat and water.
After decades of resistance, rich countries offer direct climate aid
For 30 years, developing countries have been calling for industrialized ones to provide compensation for the costs of devastating storms and droughts caused by climate change. For just as long, rich nations that have generated the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet have resisted those calls. But at this year’s United Nations climate summit, known as COP27, the dam may have begun to break on what’s known as “loss and damage.” By Tuesday, several European countries had pledged cash for a new loss and damage fund. The commitment of direct funding for loss and damage represents a major break from precedent.
By wire sources
