Biden Addresses Florida Building Collapse During Pulse Nightclub Memorial Bill Signing
‘I feel like it was a setup’: Gwendolyn Berry finishes third in hammer, feels blindsided by national anthem
EUGENE, Ore. — There's a certain routine for the top-three finishers in an event at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, after they secure their spots on Team USA. They're handed an American flag and a bouquet of flowers. They stand on the podium. They take some pictures. Then they take a victory lap around Hayward Field, to cheers from the crowd.
Gwendolyn Berry knew what to expect Saturday evening, after she placed third in the hammer throw. But she did not expect that, as she stood on the podium before taking pictures, organizers would play The Star-Spangled Banner.
"I feel like it was a setup. I feel like they did that on purpose," Berry said. "And I was pissed, to be honest."
Berry, 31, has previously protested while on the podium at an international sporting event and become a strong advocate of athletes using their platforms to speak about issues that matter to them. As the national anthem played, she turned away from the American flag, toward the southern seats at Hayward Field. Then she draped a T-shirt that read "Activist Athlete" over her head.
Suns grind out Game 4 win over Clippers after Paul George misses key late foul shot
LOS ANGELES — The Phoenix Suns finished with an 84-80 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday at Staples Center, a game that cemented a 3-1 series lead after both teams struggled to generate offense.
Clippers forward Paul George missed a pair of free throws while the Suns held an 81-78 lead with 6.3 seconds left. After George's intentional miss on the second foul shot, Clippers forward DeMarcus Cousins grabbed a rebound and drew a foul. After making the first shot, Cousins intentionally missed but lost possession because he hit the shot off the backboard.
Before that, Suns guard Chris Paul made a pair of foul shots to give the Suns an 81-78 lead with seven seconds left after the Clippers intentionally fouled him. On the previous play, Suns guard Mikel Bridges fouled George with 13.2 seconds left to prevent the chance of the Clippers forcing overtime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. He made both foul shots then.
Indonesia reports record high 21,342 coronavirus cases
JAKARTA (REUTERS) – Indonesia recorded its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections with 21,342 cases on Sunday (June 27), taking the total tally to 2,115,304, according to data from the country’s Covid-19 task force.
The data also showed 409 new deaths overnight, taking the total to 57,138.
Indonesia has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths from Covid-19 in South-east Asia.
Govt defers mandatory installation of front seat airbags in existing car models till December 31
At present, only the driver’s seat airbag is mandatory for existing models of cars
The road transport ministry has deferred by four months the mandatory installation of dual airbags for front seats in the existing car models, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said on Sunday.
At present, only the driver’s seat airbag is mandatory for existing models of cars.
In view of the prevailing pandemic situation, the ministry has decided to defer mandatory installation of front passenger airbags in the existing car models till December 31, 2021, the official said on condition of anonymity.
"The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)has asked for time. For new models it’s already mandatory," the official added. The ministry on March 6 had said that vehicles manufactured on and after April 1, 2021, in the case of new models, and August 31, 2021, in the case of existing models shall be fitted with an airbag for the person occupying the front seat, other than the driver.
The step is aimed at improving passenger safety in case of accident.
Biden Addresses Florida Building Collapse During Pulse Nightclub Memorial Bill Signing
Before signing a bill Friday designating the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial, President Joe Biden paused to first offer solace to those affected by the building collapse in Miami earlier this week.
Biden, who spoke from a signing table surrounded by some of the Pulse nightclub survivors, acknowledged the common bonds of grief they all shared.
“The people who are here, who are part of what happened that night at the Pulse nightclub … they understand what it’s like,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than having to wait and wonder what happened.”
The president said he’s spoken with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and members of the state’s congressional delegation regarding the partially collapsed condominium, and that he’s pledged to provide the necessary federal resources to facilitate recovery efforts.
“It’s a tough, tough time” for people awaiting news about those who are still unaccounted for, Biden added. “Our heart goes out to them.”
He then pivoted to lament the night roughly five years ago when a shooter entered Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, and killed 49 people.
In that moment, “a place of acceptance and joy became a place of unspeakable pain and loss,” the president said. “In their memory, and for the countless others forever scarred, is why I sign this today.”
“May no president ever have to sign another monument like this,” he said in closing.
