Big protests planned for President Trump's visit to the U.K.
Mass protests have been planned for President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to the U.K. Organizers of the protests from the "Together Against Trump" organization told ABC News that protests are planned at Buckingham Palace on Monday, when the president will be attending a state banquet with the Queen, and on Tuesday, when he will be visiting Prime Minister Theresa May.
President Trump is beginning a five day trip to Europe, stopping first in the United Kingdom for an elaborate three-day state visit that includes a state banquet with Queen Elizabeth. The president's visit comes amid political turmoil over Brexit and who will be the next prime minister.
Mr. Trump will also make a trip to Normandy, visiting the site of the D-Day invasion on the 75th anniversary. He is also set to visit Ireland, where he is expected to meet with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and stay at one of his Trump-branded properties.
In recent interviews before the trip, Trump criticized Brexit negotiations and suggested Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party, should renegotiate a deal with the European Union. He also expressed support for former foreign secretary and Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson as the U.K.’s next prime minister.
On Sunday, Trump pushed back against reports that he called Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, “nasty” in a recent interview with the British newspaper, The Sun. Despite audio evidence of his remarks, the president tweeted Sunday "I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.”"
Source-ABC
Virginia Beach gunman was resigning, not fired
Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera reiterated during a press conference on Sunday that the mass shooting suspect was not fired from his job as an employee of Virginia Beach. "He was not in the process of being terminated," Cervera said. Virginia Beach City Manager Dave Hansen did confirm that DeWayne Craddock resigned by email on the day of the shooting and was an employee “in good standing” and showed “satisfactory” job performance..
Police are still looking for a motive on why the suspect killed 12 of his coworkers at the municipal center. 12 people were killed in the shooting; four people remain hospitalized.
As friends and family of the 12 victims of the shooting massacre in Virginia Beach honor their loved ones, authorities have revealed a detailed timeline of the deadly rampage. Officers were on the scene of the shooting just two minutes after the first 911 call, Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said on Sunday, and it took 36 minutes from the time that call was placed to engage the shooter, render him aid and transport him to the hospital, where he later died.
As of Sunday night, at least four people remained in critical condition recovering from their injuries.
Source-ABC
Former R. Kelly employee claims singer has archive of tapes
The disturbing accusations against R. Kelly continue to mount, with a former employee now claiming the singer has an archive of child pornography.
TMZ reports the former Kelly confidant testified before an Illinois grand jury on May 30, detailing how the embattled R&B singer would regularly record his sexual encounters with underage girls, collecting them as if they were trophies.
The unnamed employee further reportedly claimed that Kelly's camp and members of his inner circle were well aware of his sexual abuses, and chose to help him seek out underage women rather than report him to authorities. TMZ reports this admission corroborated testimony given by several Kelly victims last week, who stated the singer's inner circle, per the singer's orders, transported them across state lines for sex when they were underage.
The unnamed employee also alleges that Kelly offered him or her a "large sum of cash" in exchange for one of the tapes, which was ultimately confiscated by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. According to the former Kelly affiliate, several other explicit tapes were turned over to federal authorities.
Kelly's lawyer, Steve Greenberg, responded to the news in a statement to TMZ, declaring, "This seems to be the same claims that were made in the state case. We will address them in court."
Last week, Kelly was hit with 11 new sex abuse-related charges, which include four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault.
Ciara details breakup with Future, marriage to Russell Wilson
For the latest Red Table Talk, Ciara joined the ladies of the Pinkett-Smith family for an insightful conversation on healing emotional scars.
This week' episode found the Beauty Marks singer detailing her very public breakup with Future, as well as how she found love again with husband Russell Wilson. During the discussion, Ciara recounted what ultimately led to her 2014 split from The Wizrd rapper as well as the moments that helped her define the peace she feels today.
"I remember one time I was working out on the elliptical machine and I was just not sure about 'Do I stay or what direction do I go? What's the right thing to do? It's easy to do this, but is the easy thing the right thing?'" Ciara recalled.
She then explained how this breakthrough led to her taking her son, Future Jr., on several trips across the world to solidify her confidence in walking away from her broken relationship. According to Ciara, it proved that she had to commit to herself instead of others.
"If I chose not to commit I was going to fall apart," the vocalist said. "The one thing I will say is, I'm really afraid of losing myself."
Elsewhere during the chat, Ciara also expressed gratitude to Wilson for accepting her for who she is and loving her the way she always wanted others to.
"Me and my husband look at each other and I'm a better woman because of him, and he says he's a better man because of me," the "Level Up" singer said. "You need those roller-coaster rides. I believe in my journey happening in front of the world for a reason."
Source-ABC
Dwyane Wade surprises Parkland high school graduates
Retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade surprised graduates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Sunday, sending the crowd into an uproar.
Wade became one of the school’s biggest supporters in the wake of the 2018 shooting that left 17 people dead. He also paid a visit to the school when it first reopened after the deadly shooting.
He began his speech on Sunday by reminiscing about that visit.
"My life is bigger than basketball and that’s why I asked to come to Marjory Stoneman Douglas to do whatever was needed of me," Wade said. "I remember pulling up and seeing a few security guards outside. I remember being met by one of the staffers. I remember us walking to the school and I remember hearing absolutely nothing. I remember thinking to myself, 'I've never felt -- I've never heard this kind of silence before in my life.'"
One of the shooting victims, Joaquin Oliver, 17, was a major fan of Wade and was buried in the former NBA superstar's jersey.
Wade said the school’s story inspired him to be a stronger leader, noting how many of the survivors became advocates for gun control.
"Thank you for reminding me of my purpose. I’ll try to continue to be a leader and the fighter that Joaquin Oliver thought I was," he added, causing the crowd to cheer. "What I loved most and appreciated the most was that you all became advocates. You became the faces and the voices for kids all around the world. I’m so proud to say the words MSD strong."
Source-ABC
11 killed in government building shooting, police say
Eleven people were killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at a government building in the US state of Virginia on Friday, police said.
Police said the suspect, a long-term and current Virginia Beach city employee, fired "indiscriminately" in a public utilities building.
The gunman, whose identity has not been released, was killed when police responded to the incident.
A police officer was wounded when a bullet struck his vest.
Reports of gunfire began shortly after 16:00 (20:00 GMT) at Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
The area, which contains a range of city government buildings, was put into lockdown by police and employees were evacuated.
"We just heard people yelling and screaming at people to get down," Megan Banton, an administrative assistant in the building, told local television news station WAVY.
Another employee told the AP news agency she and others heard shooting, but did not think the gunfire was close.
"I just thank god they were able to alert us in time, because if it had been 10 minutes more we would have all been outside," Sheila Cook said.
Police Chief James Cervera said the gunman returned fire on police officers at the scene and was killed in the exchange.
The identities of the 11 people killed were not released by authorities.
At least six people are known to have been wounded, including a police officer, but the severity of their injuries remained unclear.
The injured officer's life was saved when a bullet struck his vest, Chief Cervera told reporters.
A White House spokesman said President Trump had been briefed about the shooting.
Police said they believed the gunman had acted alone.
TCI representatives attend the Commonwealth at 48th CPA British Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands delegation led by His Honour the Speaker, Hon. Dwayne S. Taylor, Hon. Douglas F. Parnell, Elected Member for Chesire Hall and Richmond Hill, Hon. George A. Lightbourne, Elected Member for Grand Turk North and Mrs. Tracey I. Parker, Hon. Secretary TCI CPA Branch, were in the midst of over forty Parliamentarians from more than thirteen Commonwealth countries and territories in Guernsey to discuss the impact of ‘fake news’ and the media challenges for Parliamentarians and democracy.
The 48th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference, was hosted by the States of Guernsey and CPA Guernsey Branch from 19 to 22 May 2019 in St Peter Port.
Parliamentarians discussed the impact ‘fake news’ and digital disinformation on media freedoms in the Commonwealth and the importance of quality journalism in the reporting of Parliamentary proceedings and elections.
The regional conference was opened by the Bailiff of Guernsey and President of the CPA Guernsey Branch, Sir Richard Collas, Presiding Officer of the States Assembly and Parliamentarians were welcomed to the regional conference by Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chair of the CPA Guernsey Branch. Deputy Trott said: “We are very excited to have so many high-quality speakers with us in Guernsey and we are also pleased that as well as delegates from the CPA BIM Region, we have a large number of observers from other parts of the Commonwealth. It’s a very relevant topic and I think our Guernsey meeting will showcase what is best about the CPA.”
Guest speakers at the regional conference included Dr Victoria Nash, Senior Policy Fellow and Deputy Director of the Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University; Rita Payne, Journalist and President Emeritus, Commonwealth Journalists Association; Professor Dr Horst Risse, Secretary-General of the German Bundestag; Victoria Schofield, Historian and Contributor to The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs; and Doug Wills, Managing Editor of The Evening Standard and The Independent. Other topics discussed included ‘No-platforming’ which is the practice of preventing someone from discussing their ideas by refusing them a platform either physically at an event or online via a website or social media.
His Honour the Speaker said “This was a rather timely and informative forum when the impact of ‘fake news and digital disinformation is impacting social media in a negative way. It’s not so much the machine, but the man behind the machine utilizing it to negatively impact the political atmosphere and society at large. Technology is here to stay and it is the new communication apparatus that make us a global village and it’s one animal which is most difficult to tame, but it must begin with being accountable. Politicians and Parliamentarians alike should strive in their deportment to be more responsible by being on the side of truth and be honest when conveying information to the public in general because of the many bloggers and fake account holders whose quest is to mislead and obscure the truth. In essence, it begins with us the Parliamentarians and Politicians.”
Delegates also heard presentations on the CPA Headquarters Secretariat’s roll-out to CPA Branches of self-assessment against the updated CPA Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures and the CPA UK Branch’s work on Commonwealth Election Observations. They were also briefed by the CPA Headquarters Secretariat on preparations for the upcoming 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) due to take place in Uganda in September 2019. The CPA Small Branches Chairperson, Hon. Angelo Farrugia, MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Malta also attended the regional conference.
The regional conference also incorporated the CPA BIM Region’s Annual General Meeting and a reception at Government House, Guernsey.
Atlantic hurricane season begins after three years of big storms
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season begins Saturday, and US authorities are warning coastal residents to stock up on supplies and remain vigilant after a spate of intense storms in recent years.
Over the past three years, four powerful hurricanes made landfall in Florida or skirted the coast, pummelling the Sunshine State after a decade of relative calm.
For Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, this is not the time to be complacent.
"You just have to prepare every single year," Graham told AFP.
Graham, a trained meteorologist, said the number of serious storms in the last few years has made the public more aware of the need to have water, food and medicine at the ready when a storm is coming.
But unfortunately, that awareness tends to fade with time.
After a storm hits, "it's fresh on their mind. So I think you have an increased preparedness... but it's stressful too because you just went through and it's scary," Graham said.
n 2016, Hurricane Hermine was the first to strike Florida in a decade. Then came Matthew, which caused widespread damage in Haiti but largely spared Florida.
The following year, Irma wreaked havoc in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. And in 2018, Michael — a massive category five storm — devastated the Florida Panhandle.
Other parts of the US have been hit hard in recent years — Harvey slammed Houston in 2017 and Maria ravaged Puerto Rico that same year. Last year, Florence took aim at the Carolinas.
Many of these areas are struggling to recover from damage caused by the storms.
"If the last years have taught us anything, they've taught us that we need to be prepared," said Daniel Kaniewski, who leads pre-disaster efforts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Subtropical storm Andrea jumped the gun and was the first named storm of the year, forming briefly in the Caribbean in May.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that for a week starting Friday, state residents could buy supplies for hurricane preparation tax-free, including batteries, flashlights, radios and generators.
"This tax holiday is a perfect opportunity for Floridians & residents of the Caribbean to get essential supplies and make a plan for the very real possibility of storm impact," he said in a statement.
Serena Williams debuts new high-fashion outfit for 2019 French Open
If anyone thought Serena Williams would tame her fashion after last year’s French Open catsuit controversy, she proved them wrong.
Williams, 37, took to the court Monday for her debut match at the 2019 French Open in her designer, superhero-inspired outfit.
Williams chose to go without the look's dramatic cape though to face off against Russian player Vitalia Diatchenko, whom she defeated 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.
Williams' full French Open look, a collaboration between Nike and designer Virgil Abloh, is not your average tennis skirt.
It features ruffles, a crop top, black and white print and the cape -- reportedly with the words “Mother, Champion, Queen, Goddess” printed on it in French -- that gives it a superhero vibe.
It follows last year’s controversy that saw Williams wear a Black Panther-inspired bodysuit earlier to mark her return to her first major tournament since giving birth to her daughter in 2017.
Williams, who dealt with life-threatening postpartum complications related to a pulmonary embolism, said the fitted suit was designed to protect her against blood clots.
She also used the catsuit as a form of inspiration for other moms, writing on Instagram, "Catsuit anyone? For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy—here you go. If I can do it, so can you. Love you all!!"
While Williams' catsuit won't be seen again at the French Open, her boldness did help score a victory for female tennis players.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) now allows for leggings and mid-thigh length compression shorts to be worn with or without a skirt, shorts or dress. The WTA's rules only apply to regular tournaments, not to the four Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open, which each have their own set of rules.
Cardi B appears in court; misdemeanor assault charges could be upgraded
Cardi B appeared in criminal court in New York City Friday on the first day of her trial on misdemeanor assault charges, and there is a possibility the charges could be upgraded.
She told the judge she would not testify, and prosecutors announced that her case is now before a grand jury.
The “I Like It” rapper was arrested for allegedly throwing bottles and chairs at two female bartenders last August in the Angels strip club in Queens, New York. The altercation is believed to have started after the Grammy-winning artist accused the two women of having sex with her husband, Offset.
She previously rejected an offer to plead guilty to third-degree assault and receive a conditional discharge.
Before appearing in court, Cardi dropped her single “Press.”