 |  NOTE: The weekend was full of depressing news -- even more than usual. So if you'd rather not want to start your Sunday sad, skip to the next section ... Kofi Annan, the first black African to lead the UN, has died. Annan served as secretary general at a time when fears of Cold War were replaced by threats of global terrorism, and won a Nobel prize partly for his role in rethinking the UN mission ... Torrential rains in Kerala have triggered the Indian state's worst flooding in nearly a century -- but there is the promise of relief in sight ... The bomb that killed 40 children in a school bus attack in Yemen was supplied by the US. | | The week begins with the festival of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's revered observances. The four-day holiday marks the climax of the hajj, the sacred journey to Mecca that around 2 million Muslims make each year. The festival recalls how Allah, or God, tested the faith of the prophet Ibrahim by asking him to sacrifice his only son, only to stop him at the last second and replace his son with a sheep. Muslims celebrate the Adha -- "sacrifice," in Arabic -- by slaughtering goats and sheep and giving the meat to the poor. They also give to charity, visit loved ones, exchange gifts and feast. | | Monday kicks off a week of barnstorming for President Trump, reportedly starting with an event at the White House saluting the employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, who have spearheaded his crackdown on border crossings. Trump heads Tuesday to West Virginia, where Republicans in November hope to unseat Joe Manchin, among the Senate's most vulnerable Dems. And Thursday, the President is due to headline the Ohio GOP's annual state dinner and stump for US Rep. Jim Renacci, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Speaking of midterms, this Tuesday is a little tamer, but we've still got some primaries on the calendar. In Wyoming, GOP Sen. John Barrasso, who's on track to move up the leadership ladder, is likely to emerge from his primary to face Democrat Gary Trauner. US Rep. Liz Cheney also faces a GOP primary challenge. Alaskans also go to the polls to pick party favorites to compete in November for Congress, governor and other races. | | Also Tuesday, the Catholic World Meeting of Families opens in Dublin, Ireland, with Pope Francis expected to attend over the weekend. The gathering, which happens every three years, unites as many as 20,000 faithful from dozens of countries. It comes as the church grapples again this year with fallout from decades of child sexual abuse by clergy, with cases reported from Pennsylvania and New York to Chile, Australia and the Vatican. The Pope also recently has made waves with changes in how the church views the death penalty and homosexuality, so there'll be plenty to talk about. A fresh round of US tariffs goes into effect Thursday against 279 Chinese products including motorcycles, speedometers and antennas. The $16 billion worth of imports will face 25% tariffs, the same rate slapped last month on $34 billion in Chinese imports. The new list marks the latest escalation in a trade war between the world's two largest economies, with Beijing pushing back with its own tariffs on American goods. Thursday is also a DACA deadline. A federal judge in Washington ruled this month that the Trump administration must restore the Obama-era program, which has protected from deportation nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. But the Justice Department, which argues DACA is "an unlawful circumvention of Congress," has signaled it will appeal. And a federal judge in Texas is weighing arguments from 10 states that want DACA ended. With Congress waffling on immigration, DACA's fate could well land at the Supreme Court. | |  | The rival gang members -- and their corporate sponsors -- in Chicago who talked out their differences, then set about building a playground in the neighborhood where they once shot at each other over turf. | |  | "There is no way you could have known this would happen please dont blame yourself. This was clearly an accident! Hugs to you!" Kristi Hoffstetter Brashear, one of hundreds who reached out on social media to reassure the couple whose vehicle started the deadly Carr Fire. | |  | The last binge bite The franchise has always been so bad, it's good. But "The Last Sharknado: It's About Time" may push the limits of gluttony. It premieres tonight at 8 ET on Syfy. Roll out the red carpet The MTV Video Music Awards (aka the VMAs) airs Monday at 9 p.m. ET from Radio City Music Hall. Cardi B and The Carters lead the nominations, and Jennifer Lopez will get the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Thank you, Miss Jackson Meantime, Janet Jackson just dropped a new song and video -- the first new single from the singer in three years. | |  | Queens of the court The regular season of the WNBA ends today, which means ... playoffs! The race to the championship starts Tuesday. Ponging for a cause Be on the lookout Thursday for Ping Pong 4 Purpose, a celebrity ping pong tournament in Los Angeles that encourages people to give to those in need. Gotta catch 'em all! The Pokemon World Championships -- yes, you read that right -- go down starting Friday, with around 3,000 competitors. It's the most wonderful time of the year... The long wait is over! College football is finally back on Saturday. Any Arkansas Razorbacks or Syracuse Orange or Notre Dame Fightin' Irish fans in the 5 Things family? That's who we're repping! | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment