- PoliticsThe Daily Beast
Mitch McConnell Wonders Why Jon Stewart Is ‘All Bent Out of Shape’ Over 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
After comedian Jon Stewart raked him over the coals for dragging his feet (once again) on extending the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell complained Monday morning that Stewart was just looking for some way to be offended. Following his emotional House testimony on behalf of 9/11 first responders in which he excoriated Congress for seemingly not caring about the plight of the victims, Stewart appeared on Fox News Sundayand shamed McConnell for not prioritizing the bill. “I want to make it clear that this has never been dealt with compassionately by Senator McConnell,” the former Daily Show host said.
- NewsAssociated Press
Democrats favor more access to capital for black businesses
Four Democrats vying for their party's presidential nomination honed in on the economic concerns of the black community during a forum Saturday in South Carolina, a state where nonwhite voters will play a major role in next year's primary election. Appearing on stage one at a time, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke all stressed the need to increase access to capital for black business owners as part of a broader effort to address wealth inequality.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Israel PM's wife Sara Netanyahu convicted of misusing public funds
The wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was convicted by an Israeli court on Sunday of fraudulently using state funds for meals, under a plea bargain which saw her admit to lesser charges. While the ruling cut short a high-profile trial, the Netanyahu family's legal woes are far from over: the veteran premier himself faces possible indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in the coming months. In a deal approved by judge Avital Chen at Jerusalem magistrates' court, Sara Netanyahu was found guilty of exploiting the mistake of another person.
WorldAFPSaudi crown prince accuses Iran of twin tanker attacks
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused rival Iran of attacks on two oil tankers in a vital Gulf shipping channel, adding he "won't hesitate" to tackle any threats to the kingdom, according to excerpts of an interview published on Sunday. "The Iranian regime did not respect the presence of the Japanese prime minister as a guest in Tehran and responded to his (diplomatic) efforts by attacking two tankers, one of which was Japanese," Prince Mohammed told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, referring to the attacks in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. "We do not want a war in the region... But we won't hesitate to deal with any threat to our people, our sovereignty, our territorial integrity and our vital interests," he added.
NewsUSA TODAYUnruly passenger hits flight attendant, then pukes during Delta flight to Paris
Passengers on Delta Air Lines' Flight 500 from Indianapolis to Paris made an unexpected visit to Detroit on Thursday after an "unruly passenger" caused the plane to divert. The disturbance occurred just after 6 p.m. EDT, according to a federal criminal complaint.
- BusinessReuters
U.S. businesses beg to be left off Trump's tariff list
The higher tariffs would affect everything from apparel and footwear to fireworks and cellphones, and was likely to raise prices for U.S. consumers, the companies warned in submissions ahead of the start of seven days of public hearings on Monday. Diane Cheatham, owner of Diane's Formal Affair, an Alabama-based women's boutique, said new tariffs would completely shut down her American suppliers, who will be unable to come up with the funding to cover the additional 25% they would need to pay to import their products. Cheatham's comments were echoed by many more U.S. business owners who said the new levies would hurt consumers and cause job losses.
- WorldTime
Massive Protests Force Apology From Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam for Divisive Extradition Bill
Massive protests shut down the streets around Hong Kong's government offices Sunday to demand that the city's leader step down, and a controversial extradition bill be withdrawn, a day after the government suspended the measure in response to snowballing unrest. The size of the demonstration — organizers estimate some 2 million people attended, making it likely the largest in living memory — forced the city's top official, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, to issue an apology. “The Chief Executive acknowledges that her government work has been unsatisfactory, leading to confusion and conflict in society, and leading to disappointment and heartbreak,” read an official statement issued in Chinese.
- WorldAssociated Press
Japan protests Chinese activity near disputed islands
Japan has protested what is says was an unauthorized Chinese maritime survey within its economic waters near disputed East China Sea islands, officials said Monday. Japan's Foreign Ministry said it lodged a protest with Beijing after a Chinese maritime research ship was seen dropping a wire-like object into the water off the northwestern coast of Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands on Sunday. China also claims the islands, which it calls Diaoyu.
WorldAFPEx-Tehran mayor to face trial over wife's killing
Former Tehran mayor and prominent reformist Mohammad Ali Najafi will stand trial next month on charges of murdering his wife, the government-run Iran newspaper said Sunday. Najafi, 67, turned himself in and confessed to shooting his second wife Mitra Ostad on May 28 at their home in northern Tehran, according to Iranian media. "On July 1, the first trial session of Mohammad Ali Najafi, former Tehran mayor, will be held at Tehran's Criminal Court," the Iran daily reported.
- PoliticsThe Daily Beast
Jon Stewart Shames Mitch McConnell for Failing 9/11 First Responders on ‘Fox News Sunday’
“We don't want to be here,” Jon Stewart told the handful of lawmakers who showed up to watch him plead for an extension of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund last week. The former host of The Daily Show likely didn't want to be on Fox News Sunday this Father's Day either, but there he was making his case to Chris Wallace. The comedian smiled as Wallace deduced that the “certain someone” Stewart criticized in his congressional testimony was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
- NewsThe Independent
Woman who was arrested over killing of former Arkansas senator worked on campaign, officials say
A woman has been arrested in connection with the killing of a former Arkansas state senator. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 48, was detained on Friday night by Randolph County sheriff's deputies in connection with the death of Linda Collins-Smith. The 57-year-old former politician was found dead outsider her home in Pocahantas, Arkansas on 4 June.
- WorldReuters
In historic shift, Vatican to consider married priests for Amazon region
A Vatican document on Monday said the Church should consider ordaining older married men as priests in remote areas of the Amazon, a historic shift which some say could pave the way for their use in other areas where clergy are scarce. The recommendation, contained in a working document prepared by the Vatican for a synod of bishops from the Amazon scheduled for October, also called for some kind of "official ministry" for women in the area, although it did not elaborate. It was the most direct mention ever in a Vatican document of the possibility of a married priesthood, albeit limited, and a greater ministerial role for women in one area of the world.
WorldAFPSaudi Arabia committed to Aramco IPO: crown prince
Saudi Arabia remains committed to selling shares in national oil conglomerate Aramco through an initial public offering but only at the right time, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said. "We are committed to the IPO of Saudi Aramco based on appropriate conditions and at the right time," Prince Mohammed told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in an interview published on Sunday. He reiterated his earlier expectations that the IPO of Saudi Aramco "will take place in (late) 2020 or the start of 2021," almost two years later than expected.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
Day after a nationwide register outage, Target's tech troubles continue on a smaller scale
The great Target outage of 2019 continued on a smaller scale Sunday with a few shoppers reporting that some stores were unable to process credit card purchases. Saturday's approximately two-hour long outage affected all Target stores and was caused by an error made during regular system maintenance, Target spokeswoman Jenna Reck confirmed to USA TODAY. Sunday's issue was unrelated, caused by an issue at vendor NCR, Target said in a statement.
- PoliticsPolitico
Buttigieg: Justice Dept. should decide any Trump charges post-2020
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said that if elected, he would leave the Justice Department to operate independently of the White House during any potential criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. "Nobody is above the law and prosecution decisions should have nothing to do with politics and should come from the DOJ itself, not from the Oval Office," Buttigieg told CNN's Jake Tapper in a preview of an interview to be aired Sunday. Buttigieg's remark comes in contrast with his Democratic rival Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who said if she was elected the Justice Department would have "no choice" but to charge Trump with obstruction of justice if he were to finish his term without being impeached.
- WorldReuters
China's FedEx probe should not be seen as retaliation - Xinhua
China's investigation into FedEx Corp over misdirected mail should not be regarded as retaliation against the U.S. company, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday, amid worsening relations between China and the United States. The inquiry was aimed at sending a message that any economic entity in China should abide by the country's laws and regulations, it said in a commentary. "China is willing to share the opportunities in its courier market with foreign investors.
- WorldAssociated Press
Record number of African migrants coming to Mexican border
Undaunted by a dangerous journey over thousands of miles, people fleeing economic hardship and human rights abuses in African countries are coming to the U.S.-Mexico border in unprecedented numbers, surprising Border Patrol agents more accustomed to Spanish-speaking migrants. Officials in Texas and even Maine are scrambling to absorb the sharp increase in African migrants. They are coming to America after flying across the Atlantic Ocean to South America and then embarking on an often harrowing overland journey.
- U.S.WPVI – Philadelphia
Drunk woman drives Power Wheels toy truck down road, South Carolina police say
A South Carolina woman who police say was driving drunk will not be cited with a DUI because her vehicle of choice was a toy truck.
- BusinessCar and Driver
View Photos of the 2020 BMW X3 M
Available in 473-hp standard and 503-hp Competition flavors, BMW's latest M ute is as capable as it is silly. From Car and Driver
BusinessAFPEthiopian Airlines rejects 'pilot error' claim in US
A US politician who blamed pilot error for contributing to the deadly crash of a Boeing 737 MAX flown by Ethiopian Airlines was "seriously misinformed", the carrier's boss has said. Republican Sam Graves told a House of Representatives hearing last month that "facts" in investigations after crashes in both Ethiopia and Indonesia "reveal pilot error as a factor in these tragically fatal accidents". He also said "pilots trained in the United States would have successfully handled the situation" in both incidents.
- WorldThe Daily Beast
Pope Francis’ Arch Nemesis Comes Out of Hiding to Slam Him on Predator Priests
ROME—There are few scandals in the sordid history of the American Catholic church more painful than the saga of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a high-ranking prince of the church who fell from grace amid a slew of lies and cover-ups. McCarrick was forced to resign and later defrocked after credible allegations that he sexually abused a boy from the age of 11 until the young man was 29, starting long before the Boston Spotlight probe and Pennsylvania Grand Jury report came to define priests behaving badly. Unlike in Boston and Pennsylvania, where the local dioceses were easy to blame for bad management, McCarrick was a man of the popes, which makes him an easy target for those who oppose the direction of the church.
- NewsThe Independent
Trapped teenager rescued from mountainside after mother used Find My Friends app to locate her
A teenager left trapped underneath her car for seven hours after crashing down a mountainside was rescued after her mother used the Find My Friends app to find her. Catrina Cramer Alexander said she used the feature on her mobile phone when her 17-year-old daughter, Macy Smith, uncharacteristically missed a curfew and didn't respond to texts or calls. "The lack of response was out of character for her," Ms Alexander told North Carolina's TV channel WFMY.
- WorldThe National Interest
The Scary Way a Stealth Fighter Could Be Shot Down
There is a famous series of videos showing experimentation with "selective attention.” Selective attention suggests we focus on certain elements in our environment while other elements disappear into the background. Simply put, the phenomenon of selective attention demonstrates the power of a stealth bomber to delay detection in the current strategic environment. Seventy years ago today, Col. Paul Tibbets flew the Enola Gay on a mission that would change the course of world history and set the stage for the development of nuclear deterrence.
- PoliticsBloomberg
Biden Leads Pack of Democratic Hopefuls on Beat-Trump Factor
Joe Biden leads in the early Democratic nomination race for 2020, helped by a sense that the former vice president is best placed to beat President Donald Trump, a new “CBS Battleground Tracker” poll shows. Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg are among the candidates that likely Democratic voters are at least considering in 18 states that will shape the initial 2020 fight, the poll shows. The CBS News/YouGov poll shows Biden had support of 31% of Democratic primary voters with three U.S. senators next: Warren of Massachusetts at 17%, Sanders of Vermont at 16%, and Harris of California at 10%.
- BusinessReuters
U.S. Navy official sees more orders for Boeing P-8A in coming months
The U.S. Navy expects additional U.S. and international orders for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in coming months, which should extend production by two years to late 2025, a senior U.S. Navy official told Reuters. Navy Captain Tony Rossi, programme manager for the P-8 and its predecessor, the P-3, said the Navy was hoping to finalise the order book for the programme soon to be able to "effectively and efficiently close out the production." He said the programme could see about 21 additional orders from the U.S. Navy on top of 117 aircraft already funded, plus roughly the same number from other countries, although he declined to name potential new buyers.
"What the O.J. trial did was it pulled the festering scab of racism off to expose it again."
"Domestic violence was still something that happened behind closed doors…the case was exposure into this world of abuse."
"It was a tragic and remarkable moment in U.S. cultural history."
"It is always, and most importantly, about remembering Ron and Nicole."
"The trial was both the lowest moment for old-fashioned legacy media ... and also their last gasp of untrammeled relevance."
