Key facts for June 7: US presidency race, Hunter Biden's news, intense heatwave, Ukraine updates, and sailing vessels.
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1. Presidential Elections
President Joe Biden will provide a case for democracy today at Pointe du Hoc, a clifftop in Normandy, France, where US Army Rangers stormed during D-Day. Ronald Reagan delivered a speech there 40 years ago and warned against isolationism faced with tyranny. Experts suggest Biden will hint that former President Donald Trump - whose "America First" foreign policy, perceived election fraud, and inflammatory migrant rhetoric resemble Nazi forces - is summoning similar powers leading to a global war. Trump, on the other hand, is making a return to the campaign trail following a guilty verdict from his federal hush money case. He'll declare who his 2024 running mate would be at the Republican convention in the upcoming month.
2. Hunter Biden
President Biden stated he wouldn't pardon his son, Hunter Biden, if he's found guilty of federal criminal gun charges. The trial is currently ongoing in Delaware, and the president indicated he would accept its outcome. Hunter Biden is accused of buying a gun while under the influence of drugs or addicted to them, violating federal law. Hallie Biden - the wife of Hunter's late brother, Beau - testified on Thursday about her connection with Hunter, their substance use, and locating the firearm under suspicion. Following her testimony, three witnesses gave accounts of the sequence of events leading to discovering the abandoned weapon.
3. Extreme Heat
Millions of people across the west coast of the United States - including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico - are affected by heat advisories. Scorching high temperatures are surging, fueled by a heat dome, a region of high pressure that holds and amplifies heat for an extensive duration. Blistering temperatures were recorded on Thursday in several states, with records shattered in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Las Vegas hit 111 degrees, eclipsing its 2010 record. In California, Death Valley registered a breathtaking 122 degrees, beating a previous high set in 1996. Phoenix also breached a record high of 113 degrees, anticipating further triple-digit temperatures in the future.
4. Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky drew parallels between World War II and Ukrainian defiance against Russia in his speech to French lawmakers. "Hitler crossed red line after red line. Putin does the same," he stated, noting that Ukrainians were descendants of the Allied fighters of World War II. His speech was met with a standing ovation by the French National Assembly. Zelensky's remarks were made hours after Russia attacked Ukraine's critical infrastructure, targeting at least nine regions such as the capital, Kyiv. Russia has been targeting Ukraine's power grid for months, denying its citizens electricity, heat, water, and other essential services.
5. Mega Cargo Ships
Uncontrollable cargo ship prompted the temporary shutdown of a crucial bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. An investigation is in progress to determine the cause behind the ship's loss of control on Wednesday near the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. This followed a massive Dali cargo ship losing power and colliding with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge two months prior, damaging the 1.6-mile span and killing six construction workers. The Port of Baltimore's shipping channel is expected to reopen entirely this weekend, with debri removal procedures completed. The disaster raised concerns about American bridges that could be at risk as infrastructure ages and cargo ships expand in size.
Morning Browsing
Pat Sajak's last run as host of “Wheel of Fortune” will take place today after more than four decades and 8,000 episodes.
SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing an unmanned test flight of its record-breaking rocket, Starship.
A stunning victory for the USA against Pakistan at the Men's T20 Cricket World Cup marked a historic moment in USA Cricket history.
Netflix faces a $170 million damages claim from a Scottish woman who accuses the streaming service of defamation over "Baby Reindeer."
The second season of HBO's "House of the Dragon", a Game of Thrones prequel, is gearing up for an exciting war storyline.
This week, veterans from World War II were celebrated on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The site of the significant landings took place at:
A. Okinawa, JapanB. Normandy, FranceC. Pearl Harbor, HawaiiD. Monte Cassino, Italy
Question time!
How many questions did you get right last week when 29% of people scored eight or more? Find out now:
DAY'S CASH
$1.5 billion - This is the amount Alex Jones needs to pay from his asset sale to the families of Sandy Hook victims. He's responsible for damages over his unfounded claims about the 2012 school massacre. Jones falsely claimed on his Infowars website that the tragedy was a staged event involving "crisis actors."
CITADEL'S SAYING
"Great to be connected to the great city in the sky." - This was NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore's remark following Boeing's successful Starliner mission, which docked with the International Space Station. With the addition of two new astronauts, the station is presently home to nine people.
WEATHER FOR TODAY
Find out your local forecast here: >>>
AND FINALLY ...
Join us on World Ocean Day to learn about conservation efforts. Check out this video for Australia's kelp forest mapping project using AI to revive aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, these tips can help you participate in World Ocean Day activities.
Read also:
In response to President Biden's comments, many US citizens are closely watching Hunter Biden's federal gun trial to see if he will be found guilty as charged. Regardless of the outcome, President Biden has reaffirmed that he will not pardon his son.
Today, the Republican party is gearing up for their convention where former President Trump is expected to announce his 2024 running mate. Despite a recent guilty verdict in a federal hush money case, Trump remains a significant player in the US presidency race.
