The Full Belmonte, 6/6/2022
Surveillance video from Philadelphia on Saturday night shows people on a crowded street running in panic after a shooting. Photo: South Street CCTV via Reuters
“Seven mass shootings this weekend — two at graduation parties — resulted in the deaths of 12 people and injuries to 50+ others, Axios' Ivana Saric reports.
A bustling street in Philadelphia saw multiple shooters open fire Saturday night, killing three people and injuring at least 11 others. Gunshots initially rang out during an altercation around 11:30 p.m. in the heart of South Street's popular hub of bars and restaurants.
A shooting near a bar in Chattanooga, Tenn., left 14 people struck and three others hit by cars, police said. Three people were killed: Two died from gunshots, and the third was run over by a vehicle that was trying to flee the scene, per local media.
A shooting outside a bar in Mesa, Ariz., early yesterday killed two people and left two others injured, an Arizona ABC affiliate reported.
An outdoor high school graduation party in Summerton, S.C., ended in bloodshed after two cars pulled up to a house and a shooting began. Eight people were hit, officials said. One of the victims died.
Outside Richmond in Chester, Va., a 20-year-old man was fatally shot and seven other young people were injured after gunfire erupted during a graduation party. (AP)
A shooting at a strip mall in Phoenix left one person dead and eight others injured. (AP)
A shooting in Macon, Ga., shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday left one dead and three others injured, authorities said.” Read more at Axios
“Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that the new inclusion of Western long-range missile systems in Ukraine's defenses would lead Moscow to hit “objects that we haven't yet struck.” Smoke billowed from Kyiv, hit by airstrikes after a lull in assaults on the capital city. Putin's threat came only days after the U.S. announced it was giving Ukraine advanced weaponry. Russia is continuing what British officials have called a "creeping advance" on Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region on Monday. Russian troops blew up bridges and shelled apartments in Sievierodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk, the last two major cities of the Luhansk province still held by Ukraine. If captured, Putin would take control of the contested area.” Read more at USA Today
“Former President Donald Trump is mobilizing his MAGA allies to defend him ahead of the upcoming public hearings by the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. Trump's team has asked some prominent Republicans to cover for him and push back on the committee while the public hearings play out, according to GOP sources familiar with the request. Committee members have teased that the prime-time hearings could be focused on Trump's direct role in undermining the election results. The committee has been working toward a thesis that Trump's obsession with losing the election and his peddling of false claims about the results is what laid the groundwork for the violent and deadly riot at the Capitol. The first public hearing will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.” Read more at CNN
Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, climbs scaffolding as demonstrators swarm the Capitol. Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg
“Key figures in the effort to subvert the 2020 presidential election have thrown their weight behind a slate of Republican candidates for secretary of state across the country, injecting specious theories about voting machines, foreign hacking and voter fraud into campaigns that will determine who controls elections in several battleground states.
The America First slate comprises more than a dozen candidates who falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen from Donald J. Trump. It grew out of meetings held by a conspiracy-mongering QAnon leader and a Nevada politician, and has quietly gained support from influential people in the election denier movement — including Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder, and Patrick Byrne, the former Overstock.com executive who has financed public forums that promote the candidates and theories about election vulnerabilities.
Members of the slate have won party endorsements or are competitive candidates for the Republican nomination in several states, including three — Michigan, Arizona and Nevada — where a relatively small number of ballots have decided presidential victories. And in Pennsylvania, where the governor appoints the secretary of state, State Senator Doug Mastriano, who is aligned with the group, easily won his primary for governor last month.” Read more at New York Times
“The baby formula manufacturing plant that has been at the center of the nationwide shortage restarted production Saturday. Abbott, located in Sturgis, Michigan, said in a statement it has started with the production of specialty formulas for babies who can't tolerate more common ones, with the first batches expected to be available to consumers around June 20. Similac and other products made at the plant will take longer to become available, the company said. The Sturgis plant has been shut down for months following an FDA inspection that found dangerous bacteria -- which can be deadly to infants -- in several areas at the facility.” Read more at CNN
“South Korea and the US responded to North Korea's launch of eight missiles yesterday by firing eight more missiles into waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula earlier today. Seven were fired by South Korea and one by the US, officials said. The move demonstrated that ‘even if North Korea provokes with missiles from multiple locations, (South Korea and the US have) the ability and readiness to immediately strike with precision,’ according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile exchange comes as North Korea intensifies its provocations in the region amid heightened concerns that Kim Jong Un and his military are preparing to conduct a nuclear test. North Korea's launch yesterday was its 17th missile test this year.” Read more at CNN
Pope Francis reads the homily at the Vatican today as he presides over a mass marking the Catholic feast day of Pentecost. Photo: Remo Casilli/Reuters
“Pope Francis, 85, fueled rumors about the future of his pontificate by announcing he'll visit the central Italian city of L'Aquila in August for a feast initiated by Pope Celestine V — one of the few pontiffs who resigned, AP reports.
Why it matters: Italian and Catholic media have been rife with speculation that the pope might follow in the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down in 2013. Pope Francis has mobility problems that have had him using a wheelchair for the past month.
What's happening: The rumors gained steam last week when the pope announced a consistory to create 21 new cardinals scheduled for Aug. 27. Sixteen of those cardinals are under age 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect Francis' successor.
Once they're added to the ranks of princes of the church, Francis will have stacked the College of Cardinals with 83 of the 132 voting-age cardinals. While there is no guarantee how the cardinals might vote, the chances that they will tap a successor who shares Francis' pastoral priorities become ever greater.
Between the lines: The Vatican and the rest of Italy are usually on holiday in August to mid-September, with all but essential businesses closed.” Read more at Axios
“A no-confidence vote in Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be held Monday that could oust him as the country's leader. The vote, which will take place in person in the House of Commons, was called by rebel lawmakers from Johnson's ruling Conservative Party. If Johnson loses the vote among the 359 Conservative lawmakers, he will be replaced as Conservative leader and as prime minister by someone else from his party. If he wins, he can't face another challenge for a year. Britain elects a party, not a leader.” Read more at USA Today
In this file photo taken on June 5, 2022, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends the Platinum Pageant in London, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations.HANNAH MCKAY, POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“Bangladesh burns. Emergency workers continue to battle a blaze at a container depot in Sitakunda, Bangladesh, after massive explosionson Saturday killed at least 49 and injured more than 200.
It’s not yet clear what caused the initial blaze, but fire service officials have suggested that a container of hydrogen peroxide may have been at fault.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Massacre in Nigeria. Dozens have been killed by in Nigeria’s southwestern Ondo state after gunmen attacked a church on Sunday. Officials have yet to release an official death toll, but at least 50 people are believed to have been killed. President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the ‘heinous killing of worshippers’ as a ‘dastardly act.’ No group has claimed responsibility.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Kyiv under attack. On Sunday, Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for the first time in more than a month. Russia and Ukraine have both claimed different targets were hit: Russia said it targeted newly delivered tanks, while Ukraine said a rail car repair works was hit.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Tunisia’s judges strike. Judges across Tunisia will take part in a one-week strike, starting today, to protest President Kais Saied’s unilateral dismissal of 57 judges last week. The action comes as other Tunisian groups plan to show their opposition to Saied’s rule, with the powerful UGTT union planning a nationwide strike on June 16.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Estonia’s government. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is working to cobble together a new coalition government after she moved to dismiss ministers from the Center party on Friday, accusing the party of ‘actively working against Estonia’s core values’—a statement believed to have been a swipe at Center party’s ties with Russia.” Read more at Bloomberg
Image caption, Jim Fitton was detained while trying to leave the country in March
“A retired British geologist has been jailed for 15 years for attempting to remove artefacts from Iraq.
Jim Fitton, 66, who is originally from Bath, collected 12 stones and shards of broken pottery during a recent geology and archaeology tour of the country.
Mr Fitton has insisted he had no idea he was breaking Iraqi laws.
The family of Mr Fitton said they were ‘absolutely shattered’ and ‘heartbroken’ by the news. They urged the government to help free him.” Read more at Bloomberg
“SAN FRANCISCO — It was exactly the kind of release the fans at the Chase Center had been seeking — some reason to jump up out of their seats in a delirious celebration of this team they couldn’t believe had lost Game 1.
It happened at the end of the third quarter. Jordan Poole took a few steps past midcourt, pulled up and launched a 39-foot shot that swished through the net. Poole hopped back the other way on his left foot and raised both his eyebrows while seemingly every Golden State fan leaped to their feet and started screaming with joy and perhaps a little relief.
That shot gave the Warriors a 23-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and finished the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the N.B.A. finals. Golden State won, 107-88, to tie the series at one game each. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Boston.” Read more at New York Times
Alastair Grant/ WPA Pool/Getty Images
“Paddington Bear and Queen Elizabeth II shared an endearing moment over Paddington's favorite marmalade sandwiches during her Platinum Jubilee festivities.” Read more at NPR
“Starbucks Union workers are calling the company's decision to close a store in Ithaca, N.Y., an illegal move of retaliation.” Read more at NPR
“The first female chief of the Cherokee Nation will be honored with a quarter released under a program aimed at celebrating the achievement of diverse women in U.S. history.” Read more at NPR
“Strangers on the internet are confused, amused and outraged by the Swedish habit of not feeding other families' children when they come over and dinner starts, coining the controversy #SwedenGate.” Read more at NPR
Photo: Jean-Francois Monier/AFP via Getty Images
“Cliff Stump, 98 — who landed at Normandy, France, on a glider as a 20-year-old paratrooper with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division — attended a D-Day anniversary celebration in Normandy yesterday.” Read more at Axios
Photo: AP
“Senators listen to invasion news: Keeping close check on progress of the Allied invasion of France by radio at the Capitol, these senators are shown during a break in the session on June 6, 1944.
From left: Sen. Robert Taft (R-Ohio), whose son was a Navy officer in World War II (and later a U.S. senator) ... Sen. David I. Walsh (D-Mass.) ... Sen. Tom Connally (D-Texas) ... Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (R-Mich.) ... and Senate Majority Leader Alben Barkley(D-Ky.).” Read more at Axios
Rafael Nadal in victories from 2005 through yesterday. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
“Rafael Nadal defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets yesterday to win the Spaniard's 14th French Open championship and 22nd Grand Slam title, Axios Sports editor Kendall Baker writes.
The big picture: Nadal's first triumph in Paris came in 2005 at age 19. Now 36, he is the oldest champion in the tournament's history.
Nadal has had a miraculous 2022 season after sitting out much of 2021 — missing Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and the U.S. Open — due to a chronic foot problem that had him weighing retirement.” Read more at Axios
Table: Axios Visuals
Above: The Big Three have won 62 of the last 75 Grand Slams — and 19 of the last 21.
“Lives Lived: Ann Turner Cook taught high school English in Florida. But you’re probably more familiar with her first career, as the original Gerber baby. Cook died at 95.” Read more at New York Times