RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/June 2017

June 2017
Less than 24 hours after it was put up, Arkansas's 10 Commandments monument is destroyed by a man with a car. Australia's most popular religious affiliation is now "no religion." In Pakistan, a fuel tanker has overturned and, while nearby people tried to gather the fuel, it exploded, resulting in 153 deaths. A new call for British patriotism in the media by a minister in Her Majesty's Government. No comment on if it involves demonizing Washington, Franklin and Gandhi. Trump admits he lied about White House tapes. [https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-concedes-russia-meddled-campaign-denies-changed-result-201048140.html The White House concedes that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. However, they deny that it changed the result.] A pathetic attempt to go green: Trump proposes adding solar panels to his wall to cut costs, inadvertently admitting that solar power is cost-effective. Pennsylvania Supreme Court finds that the state's Environmental Rights Amendment must be interpreted broadly, in a victory for environmental groups. Two separate terror incidents in Europe this week. On the Monday an Islamist on the terror watchlist killed himself by ramming a car filled with weapons and gas bottles into a police van. On Tuesday, a DAESH sympathiser detonated a small explosive in Brussels before being shot. No civilians reported dead in either attack. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/world/europe/russia-gay-propaganda.html? The European Court of Human Rights shreds Russia's "gay propaganda" law], stating it shows "predisposed bias, unambiguously highlighted by its domestic interpretation and enforcement" and that "by adopting such laws the authorities reinforce stigma and prejudice and encourage homophobia, which is incompatible with the notions of equality, pluralism and tolerance inherent in a democratic society." An apartment block in an affluent district of London burns down, killing at least 58 people. Allegations the council did not meet up with fire safety standards also lead to demonstrations highlighting class and wealth disparity. Another terror incident in London as a far right extremist hits Muslim worshipers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park with a van. Bill Cosby's trial for rape ends in a mistrial. The US government is finally dropping its Y2K preparedness bureaucracy. In a rare moment of honesty, Fox News is dropping its ‘fair & balanced’ slogan South Carolina law reduces crime by being both soft and tough: most non-violent criminals aren't sent to prison, but violent offenders get harsher sentences. Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating President Trump for possible obstruction of justice. A shooting takes place at a GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. Five people are wounded, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and two Capitol Police officers. The only fatality was the shooter, who was stopped by police. The Trump Administration eliminates a rule protecting endangered whales and turtles from being caught in fishing nets. The Guardian to become tabloid. In what is totally not a Nixonian move, Trump may be considering firing the head of the Russia investigation Robert Mueller. Sandy Hook families denounce NBC and Megyn Kelly for an Alex Jones interview. Montana Republican Greg Gianforte sentenced to community service for assaulting Guardian reporter. Michael "lemme remove global warming from the school curriculum" "the people are tired of experts" Gove has been appointed the UK's new Environment Secretary. BoJo remains Foreign Secretary. A New York attorney has been dismissed by President Trump after refusing an offer of close friendship as unprofessional. Struggling to form a sizable administration, Theresa May risks the Good Friday Agreement with a pact with the extreme-right DUP. Orangemen rejoice over the pact, starting an unscheduled celebration march spate of civil disobedience in Liverpool, and have hopes of un-banning sectarian events. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein ominously declares that the DUP has betrayed the people of Northern Ireland. A Florida judge rules that a neo-Nazi armed with guns, ammunition, explosives and who had in his possession white supremacist propaganda as well as a framed photo of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is not a threat and could be released on bond. Donald Trump's state visit to Britain put on hold until the British public supports him coming. Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher said that a recent ISIS attack in Iran could be a “good thing” and even suggested that the U.S. government support ISIS for attacking other terrorist groups. Bernie Sanders and other left leaning Democrats draw strength from the UK Labour Party and argue for compassionate policies that appeal to the many, not the few James Comey testifies before the Senate. Warning: Autoplay video. Sandy Hook truther gets prison time for threatening victim's father. Paleoanthropologists unearthed the oldest known fossils of Homo sapiens, dating back 300,000 years. Previously, the oldest human fossils are almost 200,000 years old. Ironically, the push towards renewable energy is the most aggressive in "red states". Trump allegedly told James Comey,"I need loyalty. I expect loyalty." As Trump’s problems mount, Breitbart’s numbers are cratering. Attorney General Jeff Sessions suggested he could resign amid rising tension with President Trump (Warning: Autoplay video) Leaked NSA report says Russians tried to hack state election officials Alleged source of leak arrested by FBI after Intercept provided copy to NSA. [https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/walmart-accused-sex-discrimination-pharmacist-refuses-fill-prescription-due-personal-beliefs-164803183.html A Walgreens pharmacist refused to fill a prescription related to a girl's birth control due to his religious beliefs. The ACLU and the Southwest Women's Law Center have filed two complaints to the New Mexico human rights bureau for the girl and her mother.] A terrorist attack has taken place in London with both a car crash and stabbing spree. Three suspects wearing fake suicide vests were found and shot within minutes, and controlled explosions took place on London Bridge. Police confirm an additional six civilian deaths. After 334 years on being on the books, Denmark abolishes blasphemy HBO under pressure to fire Bill Maher after he calls himself a "house n****r" on TV show. Once again, Ireland shows us how it's done, as Leo Varadkar, an openly gay man, becomes the leader of Ireland's ruling party Fine Gael. He is a conservative, for austerity, for banning public workers from striking, and is anti-abortion. Trump campaign plans ‘Pittsburgh, not Paris’ rally to cheer climate deal exit. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto releases the following statement where he condemns Trump's decision, labeling it as "disastrous for our planet, for cities such as Pittsburgh, to the commitments the United States made to the rest of the world, and to our responsibility to save the globe for future generations." The governors of New York, California and Washington, in opposition to Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, agree to form a U.S. Climate Alliance and urge other states to join. (Warning: autoplay video). Trump asks the Supreme Court to reinstate the Muslim travel ban. Air has officially become a highly priced commodity in places where air pollution is particularly bad. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/climate/trump-paris-climate-agreement.html? Alea iacta est: Trump is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.]