Month: June 2017

Trump sees Comey’s testimony as ‘complete vindication’ — and his fans agree
“President Trump and his allies lashed out at former FBI director James Comey after his congressional testimony on June 9, while some Republican lawmakers had a more measured defense of the president…” (Washington Post)

Sessions won’t testify at congressional budget hearings but at Senate intelligence hearing instead
“Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had agreed to testify this week before the Senate and House appropriations committees about the Justice Department budget, wrote the chairmen of the committees Saturday and said he was sending his deputy to testify instead…” (Washington Post)

Montreal names Outremont peak for Mohawk nation
“Centuries before people congregated for the tam-tams, to have barbecues or to feed the ducks at Beaver Lake, Mount Royal was a gathering point for the Mohawk nation…” (Montreal Gazette)

Governments to pay $98.2 million to keep Grand Prix in Montreal until 2029
“Mayor Denis Coderre and representatives of the federal and Quebec governments on Friday pledged $98.2 million to a five-year extension of a contract with Formula One owners Liberty Media. The current contract was to expire in 2024…” (Montreal Gazette)

Raqqa: US-backed forces advance in IS ‘capital’
“US-backed Syrian forces have advanced into the western part of so-called Islamic State’s “capital” of Raqqa, they and a monitor report…” (BBC News – Middle East)

Yemen cholera cases pass 100,000 amid ‘unprecedented’ epidemic
“The number of suspected cases of cholera resulting from a severe outbreak in Yemen has passed 100,000, the World Health Organization says…” (BBC News – Middle East)

Meirelles Says Economy Recovers in Brazil Despite Political Turmoil
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian economy continues to show signs of recovery and growth despite the current political turbulence, according to Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles. According to the official Meirelles the markets are “relatively stable”, indicating an expectation of continuity in the evolution of the Brazilian economy…” (The Rio Times)

Brazil Court Dismisses Corruption Case Against President Temer
“RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The political landscape in Brazil avoided another upheaval yesterday (Friday, June 9th) when the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) voted against the annulment of the Dilma-Temer presidential campaign ticket, which won the 2014 elections…” (The Rio Times)

Theresa May’s plan to govern with DUP support thrown into confusion
“Theresa May’s plan for a loose alliance with the Democratic Unionists to prop up her government was thrown into confusion last night after after the Northern Ireland party contradicted a No 10 announcement that a deal had been reached…” (The Guardian)

 

Police release images of fake suicide belts from London Bridge
“Police investigating the London Bridge terrorist attack have released images of the fake explosive belts worn by the three perpetrators and which officers believe may suggest the terrorists planned to create a “siege situation”…” (The Guardian)

 

Photo: Whitehouse.gov (cropped)

London attack: police name Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane as two of three perpetrators – latest updates
“Butt, 27, was British citizen born in Pakistan, previously known to both police and MI5. Redouane, 30, had claimed to be both Moroccan and Libyan…” (The Guardian)

Cancel Trump state visit, says Sadiq Khan, after London attack tweets
“The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called on the British government to cancel a planned state visit by Donald Trump after being criticised in two tweets by the US president…” (The Guardian)

As Trump lashes out, Republicans grow uneasy
“President Trump, after days of lashing out angrily at the London mayor and federal courts in the wake of the London Bridge terrorist attack, faces a convergence of challenges this week that threatens to exacerbate the fury that has gripped him — and that could further hobble a Republican agenda that has slowed to a crawl on Capitol Hill…”
(Washington Post)

Contractor charged in NSA document leak case
“A 25-year-old government contractor has been charged with mishandling classified information after authorities say she gave a top-secret National Security Agency document to a news ­organization…” (Washington Post)

A question of justice
“Fifty years after the June 1967 war, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands continues. Whatever new plan is devised will concern the entire region and the wider Muslim world…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Britain’s Multiculturalism Falters
“The UK is coming to terms with a third violent attack in as many weeks as the country prepares to vote this Thursday…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Turkey maintains ban on German visits to Incirlik airbase: minister
“Turkey will maintain a ban on visits by German politicians to a key airbase in its south which is used for raids against the Islamic State group in Syria, the foreign minister said on Monday…” (The Local – de)

German parliament passes law ending child marriage
“The German parliament passed a law ending child marriage late on Thursday night, officially raising the marriageable age to 18.
The new law officially makes 18 the minimum age for marriage. Previously, 16-year-olds were allowed to marry adults in certain cases with court permission…” (The Local – de)

Ramadan in Yemen: Fasting by day, starving by night
“The holy month has been tarnished in war-torn Yemen, where 17 million people are staring at famine…” (Al Jazeera)
Libya and the Manchester connection
“There is a link between the woeful Manchester attack and the dubious methods the UK used to help Libyans topple Gaddafi…” (Al Jazeera)

 

Photo: Met Police