Here are some of the stories making headlines today.
Trump plots controversial Putin meeting, leaves NATO allies guessing
And in London, protesters are devising ways to disrupt the President’s long-delayed visit to the United Kingdom. The parallel activities will collide in two weeks, when Trump departs for Europe on a trip intended to shore up alliances but more likely to reveal their strain.
Supreme Court upholds travel ban
The ruling was 5-4 along partisan lines, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the conservative majority. The ruling sends a strong message that Trump has broad powers under immigration law to act to protect national security and that statements made during a campaign may not be legally determinative of the President’s intent.
Sarah Sanders to receive Secret Service protection
The Secret Service declined to comment, telling CNN: “For operational security purposes the Secret Service does not comment on its protective operations.” The news comes days after Sanders was asked to leave a small Lexington, Virginia, restaurant because of her role with the Trump administration, a move that has since sparked a national conversation on civility and public service in the age of Trump.
Serena Williams seeded for Wimbledon 2018
The seven-time champion, who missed last year’s event while pregnant, has played only three tournaments in the past 12 months but has been handed a favorable seed by Wimbledon organizers. The All England Club usually follows the women’s WTA world rankings, but reserves the right to change seedings — the top 32 players in the draw.
Diego Maradona ‘fine’ after health scare during Argentina win
Maradona was an animated presence during Argentina’s 2-1 victory in St Petersburg, with pictures showing the 57-year-old celebrating wildly and directing a middle-finger salute at hecklers below following Marcos Rojo’s 86th-minute winner. The win ensured Argentina progressed to the knockout stages of the competition.
US Defense Sec. Mattis meets with Chinese President Xi in Beijing
Xi said the US-China relationship was among the most important in the world, as relations between Washington and Beijing have been marred recently by rising tensions — not only by an impending trade war but also by both militaries viewing each other with increasing suspicion and alarm.
$225M worth of goods seized from former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s residences
The goods were seized as part of an investigation into a sprawling scandal related to 1MDB, a state investment vehicle from which Najib is accused of siphoning off billions of dollars. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Japanese Princess Ayako to marry shipping employee, leave royal family
Japan’s Imperial Household Agency announced Tuesday that the third, and youngest, daughter of the late Prince Takamodo, cousin of Emperor Akihito, is set to marry Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of shipping firm NYK Line. The two met less than a year ago, will officially mark their engagement on August 12, and wed at Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu shrine on October 29.
Facebook abandons flying internet plan
Project Aquila, first announced in 2014, failed to achieve the long flight times managed by airborne connectivity efforts from rivals including Google. In one test, Facebook’s craft suffered a broken wing as it came in to land. On Tuesday the company said it would instead partner with firms such as Airbus to continue its efforts to connect more people to the internet.
Poland to scrap Holocaust law jail threat
When Poland made it a criminal offence this year to accuse it of complicity in Nazi war crimes, there was an outcry in Europe, Israel and the US. Anyone found guilty could face up to three years in jail.
Late-night hosts unite against Trump
The hosts of America’s popular late-night talk shows have put on a rare united front in response to criticism from President Donald Trump. In a taped segment that opened both Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show and Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show on Tuesday, Colbert and Fallon were seen responding to his recent slights.
Japanese spacecraft reaches cosmic ‘diamond’
A Japanese spacecraft has arrived at its target – an asteroid shaped like a diamond or, according to some, a spinning top. Hayabusa 2 has been travelling toward the space rock Ryugu since launching from the Tanegashima spaceport in 2014. It is on a quest to study the object close-up and deliver rocks and soil from Ryugu to Earth.
Zimbabwe attack ‘politically motivated’
The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said he suspects a group linked to the former first lady was behind an attempt on his life. Two people died and more than 40 were injured in an explosion near Mr Mnangagwa at a rally in Bulawayo.
Civil partnership win for mixed-sex couple
A heterosexual couple have won their legal battle to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favour of Rebecca Steinfeld, 37, and Charles Keidan, 41, from London, saying mixed-sex couples should be able to enter civil partnerships.
US millennial usurps top-ranking Democrat
A millennial candidate has shaken up the US Democratic Party having beaten the incumbent congressman for his seat. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 28, defeated political veteran Joe Crowley, 56, on Tuesday night in their party’s congressional primary in New York City. Mr Crowley, a 10-term Democrat, had been tipped as a future party leader or even Speaker of the House.
Colorado Democrats Just Nominated An Openly Gay Congressman For Governor
DENVER ― Rep. Jared Polis won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Colorado on Tuesday, giving him a chance to become the first openly gay man elected governor in the United States. Polis, who sold two internet startups and is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, spent $11 million of his own money to win the primary.
Russian Pop Star Behind Trump Tower Meeting Releases Wacky Music Video Starring ‘Trump’
The Trump-Russia scandal just took another bizarre turn – this time in the form of a head-scratching music video created by the aspiring Russian pop star who helped arrange the infamous Trump Tower meeting involving Donald Trump Jr. and several Russians. Emin Agalarov, son of Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov, released the baffling clip on Tuesday.
Are Trump’s Belligerent Tweets Against Critics Also An Attempt At Censorship?
President Donald Trump used his Twitter account over the weekend to rail against a restaurant that had refused to serve his press secretary and to trash a Democratic congresswoman who had called for people to protest and confront Trump administration officials.
Your Favorite ‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Hated That Ed Sheeran Cameo Too
Ed Sheeran can sing about castles on the hill all he wants, but that doesn’t mean he belongs in Westeros. At least according to one unyielding ” Game of Thrones ” star, it doesn’t. Sheeran’s missable appearance on the show last year irked more than a few fans who couldn’t understand why he popped up to serenade Arya and didn’t even die afterward.
Largest U.S. Nail Manufacturer Could Soon Be Out Of Business Because Of Trump Tariffs
A nail manufacturer in the heart of Trump country says that tariffs from President Donald Trump ‘s escalating trade conflict are putting its business at risk. The Mid-Continent Nail Corporation in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, said this week that it had recently laid off 60 of its 500 workers because of the hefty 25 percent tariff that the administration has slapped on steel imports from Mexico and Canada.
The 10 best films of 2018 (so far)
If there’s one thing we’ll say for 2018, it’s that it’s given us a lot of great films. We’re only halfway through the year and already we’ve seen dozens of things we’ve liked, even loved, across all categories – comedies and tragedies, gazillion-dollar blockbusters and low-key indies.
‘Big Dick Energy’ is the internet’s new term for a certain kind of swagger
Some people carry certain kind of swagger and the internet has found a term to describe it: Big Dick Energy, or BDE. It all sparked from a Twitter reply from pop queen Ariana Grande (which has since been deleted), reportedly claiming her fiancé, SNL comedian Pete Davidson, was a *big boy* down there.
‘Simpsons’ fans dream of a Mexico and Portugal World Cup final
Fans of The Simpsons will never forget its classic parody of soccer. From 1997, the episode “The Cartridge Family” poked fun at the sport with its meaningless but exotic player names (“Ariaga! Ariaga II! Bariaga!”) and the impatience Americans had for the sport.
Terry Crews won’t be in ‘Expendables 4’ because a producer tried to silence him on his sexual assault
A popular excuse for not believing survivors of sexual assault is the bizarre misconception that speaking out somehow benefits survivors. But actor Terry Crews – who has been one of the most vital and fearless voices of the #MeToo movement since the beginning – showed a very real, tangible cost to speaking out Tuesday.
Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Conan O’Brien team up to respond to Trump
Donald Trump spent part of Monday night insulting late-night hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel. Of course, they’d respond, but how? During a rally for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Trump railed against all three comedians, calling Colbert a “low life” and Kimmel “terrible.”
What’s going on with Henry Cavill’s beard in the ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ trailer?
The trailer for Mission: Impossible – Fallout has been out for months, and somehow we all missed its most compelling component. We speak, of course, of Henry Cavill’s reappearing beard. Henry Cavill’s beard is already a contentious pop culture topic, although that’s more on whoever removed his facial hair in Justice League than him.
