Hackers have crippled al-Qaeda’s network, the Senate will have a shortened July 4th weekend, Britain is experiencing huge strikes over pensions, and more than 1,000 are hurt after Egyptian police clash with youth. Also, a group of Senators have sent a letter urging the DOJ to review the validity of voter photo id laws: http://bit.ly/iVgUdb.
Caitlin, Katie, + Perry
CRITICAL:
Hacker attack cripples al-Qaeda Web communications, http://on.msnbc.com/kRH0Kq
Hackers have left al-Qaeda without a “single trusted” means of Internet communication. The well-coordinated and sophisticated attack seems government based; it is similar to a past cyberattack where the UK government replaced al-Qaeda bomb making instructions with cupcake recipes.
(via POLITICO Breaking News) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just announced the Senate will return on Tuesday after a quick July 4 break – “because we have work to do.” President Obama said Wednesday that Congress should stay in session to finish the debt ceiling talks.
Britain faces massive strikes over pension changes, http://wapo.st/kVG4RW
750,000 public sector employees across Britain are on a one-day strike over proposed changes to their pension system. The strike may be the biggest in decades. It follows the British government’s announcement of plans to cut $128 billion in public spending over four years.
Egypt police clash with youths; over 1,000 hurt, http://reut.rs/kJQLKa
More than 1,000 people were injured in Cairo after police fired tear gas at “hundreds of stone-throwing Egyptian youths.” The violence began yesterday when families held an event honoring loved-ones killed in the uprisings that ousted ex-president Mubarak.
Senators Urge DOJ to Review Photo ID Laws, http://bit.ly/iVgUdb
Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado has led a group of U.S. Senators in sending a letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice to carefully examine the potential of voter disenfranchisement in states considering photo ID laws. Since January, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Kansas and Tennessee have all passed restrictive photo ID laws. Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire and North Carolina have tentative Governor vetoes on similar legislation.
Politically-Charged Churches: Turning-Off America’s Youth? http://bit.ly/mK7ylG
Some young people disapprove of the way their churches mix politics and religion, creating “moral issues out of everything, even out of economical issues.” 15% of religious voters say they receive political information from their churches, but many argue that it isn’t a problem, believing that politics and religion are “inseparable.”
Rhode Island Senate Passes Civil Unions Bill, http://n.pr/j4EFGx
The Rhode Island Senate has approved a bill to allow same-sex civil unions, giving the unions the same rights married couples receive. Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he’s inclined to sign; however, some gay marriage advocacy groups want Chafee to veto the bill instead. The groups say that the bill is overly broad and that it should not allow religious institutions to ignore civil union rights.
News Corp. Lost at Least $1 Billion on MySpace, http://bit.ly/k9jttG
In 2005, News Corp. bought MySpace for $580 million. When it sold the website this week, it received $35 million. When the cost of running and re-engineering the site is taken into account, Newscorps’ losses total around $1.3 billion. Lucky for shareholders, News Corp. is doing just fine with profits of $2.9 billion in the last four quarters.
CULTURAL:
Game’s Producer Robbed Of $12G’s Worth Of Jewels During Video Shoot, http://bit.ly/mMKxaD
To Catch a Predator host who traps sex perverts in TV stings ‘caught cheating on his wife’… by hidden cameras, http://bit.ly/mrFKYq
Jonathan Rhys Meyers Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt: Report, http://bit.ly/ivLeFc
UK Organization Calls Eminem ‘Evil’ Over New Video ‘Space Bound,’ http://bit.ly/ktjSmZ
