Defends Christian bakers
Stewart says he supports the right of Christian bakers to refuse to make cakes they find offensive. Talking about a case in Ireland where Christian bakers were fined £500 after refusing to bake a cake that a carried the slogan “Support Gay Marriage”, alongside an image of Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie.:
I found myself on the side of the bakers. It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected, it was not because they were celebrating some sort of marriage or an agreement between them. It was the actual words on the cake they objected to. Because they found the words offensive. I would support their rights to say ‘no, this is personally offensive to my beliefs, I will not do it’.
$7million bounty
The Justice Department declares Shekau wanted and places a $7m bounty on his head.
Abubakar Shekau is the leader of Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah il-Da’awati wal-Jihad, more commonly known as Boko Haram…There are reported communications, training, and weapons links between Boko Haram, al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab, and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which may strengthen Boko Haram’s capacity to conduct terrorist attacks.
Shekau was previously the group’s second-in-command. In July 2010, Shekau publicly claimed leadership of Boko Haram and threatened to attack Western interests in Nigeria. Later that month, Shekau issued a second statement expressing solidarity with al-Qaida and threatening the United States. Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram’s operational capabilities have grown.
Tightens regulations after leak
BBC Administrators review and tighten regulations on staff tweeting stories about sensitive news after a rogue tweet causing news organizations to wrongly report Queen Elizabeth II is dead or in the hospital. Updated guidelines for “category one” public figures including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge state:
It is essential that those responsible for the coverage in the hour or so immediately after the announcement of death, especially of the Monarch and, assuming the death is a natural one, understand that this is NOT a “breaking story” in the normally accepted sense. If the death was sudden and/or unexpected, the circumstances of the death, as a news story, might well take precedence, at least in the initial coverage. However, it would be expected that the tone would become more reflective as the coverage unfolds.
Sex tape art project
Sulkowicz releases a website and video entitled, Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol (link). The eight-minute video, which is dated August 27, 2012 (the same day as her alleged rape) features Sulkowicz’s and an unidentified man, whose face is blurred, engaging in what appears to be consensual sex that turns violent. The man open-palm slaps Sulkowicz, chokes her, removes the condom, then continues to have rough sex with Sulkowicz, who whimpers and protests from pain.
Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol is not about one night in August, 2012. It’s about your decisions, starting now. It’s only a reenactment if you disregard my words. It’s about you, not him. Do not watch this video if your motives would upset me, my desires are unclear to you, or my nuances are indecipherable. You might be wondering why I’ve made myself this vulnerable. Look—I want to change the world, and that begins with you, seeing yourself. If you watch this video without my consent, then I hope you reflect on your reasons for objectifying me and participating in my rape, for, in that case, you were the one who couldn’t resist the urge to make Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol about what you wanted to make it about: rape. Please, don’t participate in my rape. Watch kindly.
Details warrantless hacker targeting
Snowden releases National Security Agency documents showing that in 2012 the Justice Department authorized the NSA to search Internet cables on American soil without a warrant for evidence of computer hacking schemes originating abroad, as well as targeting hackers even when it could not establish any links to foreign powers. The secret memos from 2012 say the NSA could watch Internet traffic flowing to suspicious addresses or containing malware, as well as monitor addresses and cyber signatures.
Discloses 12th crash
At a shareholder’s meeting, Brin discloses that one of Google’s self-driving cars was rear-ended at a traffic signal during the past week. The cars have been involved in 12 accidents while covering more than 1.7 million miles over the past six years.
I’m very proud of the record of our cars. Our goal is to beat human drivers.
In response to a request by Consumer Watchdog’s Simpson that the company release the self-driving cars’ accident reports filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and other government agencies to give the public a better understanding of the risks posed by the vehicles, Brin says the documents wouldn’t disclose anything different from a summary that the company posted online three weeks ago. Google says its self-driving cars have been rear-ended eight times (including the most-recent accident), side-swiped twice and hit by another vehicle rolling through a stop sign. Simpson says the records would shed more light by at least revealing the dates, times and precise locations of each accident. Brin:
I suppose we could give more detail and we are open to that, but you are not going to learn anymore.
Calls Obama to release TPP text
Fiorina calls on Obama to release the text of the trade deal:
Of course, I support free and fair trade. But President Obama has made lofty promises before and we’ve learned with this White House that the devil is in the details. And the details are frequently very different than the lofty goals with which he describes the deal. So I’d like President Obama to tell us what’s in his trade deal before we grant him this broad fast track authority. So far, though, he’s been unwilling to do that and Hillary won’t even take a position on it. That should concern us. Mr. President, if you want TPA to pass, please just tell us what is in TPP.
Condition update
Iglesias’ sister Falco says he is recovering from reconstructive surgery on his hand days after suffering a bloody accident during a concert in Tijuana, Mexico.
He is okay. I spoke with Anna [Kournikova], and he underwent surgery in Los Angeles. He finished his concert in spite of everything…The truth is it was quite a scare.
Obituary rehearsal rogue tweet
Following a routine obituary rehearsal for Queen Elizabeth II, a BBC reporter releases a tweet stating the Queen is dead. The tweet is quickly followed by one stating the Queen is being treated in hospital, then the tweets are deleted. Reports state the Queen is in good health. BBC official:
During a technical rehearsal for an obituary, tweets were mistakenly sent from the account of a BBC journalist saying that a member of the royal family had been taken ill. The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any offence.
CEO: airline ‘Technically Bankrupt’
Malaysia Airlines is “technically bankrupt”, says CEO Mueller as he outlines plans to stabilise the airline, including 6,000 job cuts.
We are technically bankrupt and that decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014.
Twitter announcement
Jenner makes her first statement since the Vanity fair article:
I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) June 1, 2015
Catholic church withdraws
The Roman Catholic Church of Burundi announces that it will withdraw its priests appointed to help organize the elections at the heart of the political upheaval in the country.
The Catholic Church cannot support elections that are full of shortcomings. It cannot support a process which is not based on a consensus.
May cede Florida primary
Walker says he may not compete in Florida’s March 15 primary to gain an financial advantage.
If we chose to get in, I don’t think there’s a state out there we wouldn’t play in…I mean, other than maybe Florida, where Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are at least in some of the polls essentially tied….They’re going to eat up a good amount of that financial advantage that Governor Bush is going to have. A good chunk of that will be gone after the Florida primary.
Presidential run announcement expected
In a fundraising email, Santorum acknowledges a tough road ahead — but also signals he is likely to take another stab.
If I announce a campaign for president tomorrow, I’m really going to have an uphill battle ahead of me. The GOP field is already crowded, and it’s extremely competitive.
In his fundraising email, he says he will need to gain instant traction or else be left behind in the dash for money. He will also need to show movement in the polls in order to gain a place on stage in the debates, which are likely to use size of support as a threshold.
Memorial Day message
Kasich tweets a photo of a military memorial with his own quote:
God bless the men & woman who defend the values that we hold dear. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/zNO1tExGu5
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) May 25, 2015
Memorial Day message
Carson tweets a Memorial Day message with pictures of American flags with two quotes. The first is from Wallace Bruce:
Who kept the faith and fought the fight;
The glory theirs, the duty ours.
The second is a quote of his own:
Remembering the men and women who gave their lives in service for our country
Memorial Day message
Cruz tweets a gif of the American flag waving behind the words
This #MemorialDay join me in honoring our servicemen & women who've fallen; it's their sacrifice that keeps us free. pic.twitter.com/ZE8LhRgRNx
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 25, 2015
Memorial Day message
Jindal tweets a Memorial Day message:
Today we honor, remember, and reflect for those who have paid the ultimate price to protect the freedoms we hold dear.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) May 25, 2015
Memorial Day message
Perry tweets a Memorial Day message, including a photo of himself standing in front of a military cemetery, with his back to the camera.
Today @AnitaPerryTX and I pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending America, and their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/8BtHkioaIP
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) May 25, 2015
Memorial Day message
Huckabee posts a Memorial Day message on Facebook.
Memorial Day: Remember the fallen
The message is superimposed over a picture on the American flag with his campaign logo at the bottom.