5 Things to Check Out Today!
1. Countdown to Presidential Debate: Key Points to Remember
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1. Presidential Debate Prep
The Biden and Trump campaigns are gearing up for this week's CNN presidential debate. Teams on both sides have been fine-tuning their arguments on various subjects, such as the economy, foreign policies, and abortion. The Biden campaign is bracing for reproductive rights, particularly among crucial young female demographics essential to his re-election bid. To commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which nullified Roe v. Wade and federal protections for abortion, the campaign is hosting numerous events throughout the country today. In the meantime, Trump applauded Supreme Court justices for tightening state-level restrictions on abortion and limiting access to the procedure.
2. Dagestan Attacks
A mourning period of three days has been established in Russia's Dagestan province after at least 19 individuals were killed on Sunday due to what seems to be coordinated attacks on churches, synagogues, and police stations. Dagestan, home to a minuscule Christian minority and Jewish community, appears to have been among the targets. Casualties include 15 police officers, an Orthodox priest, and four civilians, according to local authorities. No group has taken responsibility for the attacks. The violence comes three months after ISIS affiliate ISIS-K claimed responsibility for an assault at Moscow's Crocus City Hall, which resulted in more than 140 lives lost in one of Russia's deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years. Russian law enforcement agencies told TASS on Sunday that the attackers in Dagestan were linked to an international terrorist organization.
3. Middle East Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the "intense phase of the war with Hamas (in Gaza) is about to conclude," and the military can then shift its focus to Israel's northern border with Lebanon. With about 800,000 individuals displaced from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, living conditions have been described as "apocalyptic" by the United Nations food agency. Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure from his cabinet, foreign allies, and the US to minimize civilian casualties and ensure that more humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip.
4. Hajj Tragedy
Over 1,300 deaths have been reported during this year's Hajj pilgrimage, primarily from heat stroke, as temperatures topped 125 degrees Fahrenheit in Saudi Arabia. More than 1.8 million worshipers participated in the pilgrimage, despite the potentially fatal heat, according to Saudi Arabian authorities. Performing Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every Muslim who is physically and financially capable to make the journey to the holy city of Mecca at least once during their lifetime. Many Muslims who save for years to embark on the pilgrimage in their old age are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. The Saudi government indicated that the majority of the dead were "unauthorized pilgrims" and "succumbed to the heat and walking long distances under direct sunlight without proper shelter."
5. Starliner Delay
The scheduled return of Boeing Starliner capsule from the International Space Station has once again been postponed by NASA and Boeing. The vehicle, which transported astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the space station on June 5, has been repeatedly delayed due to helium leaks. The crew's return is now expected in July. "We are being cautious and following our mission management team's process," said NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich in a statement on Friday. Stich also stated that the vehicle remains safe, and there is no cause for concern about its ability to complete the mission safely.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Most Hated iPhone Ringtone
Which is worse: nails on a chalkboard or Apple’s “By the Seaside” ringtone?
Climate Activists Disrupt End of PGA Tour Event
On Sunday at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, activists disrupted play by throwing a powdery substance on the course, causing a delay.
USA Eliminated from T20 Cricket World Cup
The US was knocked out of the T20 Men's Cricket World Cup by a heartbreaking defeat against England.
Surprise Stage Appearance by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
During her Eras Tour concert in London, Taylor Swift surprised her fans with a special skit involving her Super Bowl champ partner Travis Kelce. Watch the clip here.
Barcelona Bans Tourist Apartment Rentals
By 2028, the Spanish city of Barcelona will disallow apartment rentals to tourists.
TODAY'S NUMBER
105
Virginia "Ginger" Hislop, a master's student, recently graduated from Stanford University at the age of 105. Hislop completed her education degree for work done in 1941.
TODAY'S QUOTE
Let this serve as a place where individuals find the strength to bolster the collective effort and combat hatred.
— Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Tree of Life synagogue building in Pittsburgh, where 11 people tragically lost their lives in a hate crime shooting in 2018. The location will house a memorial and museum to combat antisemitism.
AND FINALLY ...
Drafting Women into the Military?
What are your thoughts on women being drafted for military service?
Washington D.C. is mulling over the criteria for compulsory military service, given the current lack of military personnel in the U.S. Check out the contrasting views of legislators regarding a potential law that could broaden the draft to include females.
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In an effort to reinforce their stance on reproductive rights, the Biden campaign is hosting events across the US to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. (Us, hosts events)
