Clinton wins enough delegates to secure nomination, but Sanders vows to fight on
The bitter battle for the Democratic party nomination appeared to have ended last night after a surge of party superdelegates signalled their support for Hillary Clinton. Neither Clinton, the first woman in American history to be the presidential nominee of a major party, nor her opponent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, were prepared to accept the declaration, issued by the Associated Press, that Clinton had passed the 2,383-delegate threshold. In California, Clinton welcomed the news as “historic” and “unprecedented” but warned supporters “we still have work to do.” Clinton wants a clear win in California and the other states voting today – New Jersey, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and New Mexico – to render Sanders’ threat of a contested convention unsustainable. Sanders, however, is refusing to back down despite pressure from Clinton. Sanders said his opponent does not have the requisite number of delegates and vowed that if young and working people come out to vote for him in California “we’re going to win big” and generate “enormous momentum going into the convention”.
Meanwhile, we’ve also spoken to three former California governors – Jerry Brown, Gray Davis and Pete Wilson – on their visions for the rapidly changing state.
Clinton clinches Democratic nomination as Sanders vows to fight on
Stanford sexual assault: victim speaks out
The unnamed victim of a sexual assault by a former Stanford University swimmer has told the Guardian she is “overwhelmed and speechless” at the deluge of support she received after her assailant was sentenced to just six months in county jail. Aaron Persky, the Santa Clara County superior court judge who handed down the sentence, is now also the subject of a recall campaign. Scrutiny of the judge’s remarks at sentencing appears to suggest he concluded the defendant, Brock Turner, had “less moral culpability” because he was drunk. Judge Persky also indicated that a light sentence would be an “antidote” to the anxiety the swimmer had suffered from intense media attention to the case. Michele Landis Dauber, a Stanford law professor leading the effort to recall Persky, said he had “made women at Stanford and across California less safe”.
Stanford sexual assault: judge facing recall campaign over light sentence
Interest rates may not rise after all, says Yellen
The Fed chair, Janet Yellen, has spoken of her “considerable uncertainty about the economic outlook” over Friday’s disappointing US jobs report, coupled with fears over the UK’s impending Brexit vote and a slowdown in the Chinese economy. In a speech to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Yellen omitted to say that expected interest rate rises would take place “in the coming months” – a phase used just 10 days earlier. The US economy added just 38,000 jobs in May in its weakest growth since 2010. Yellen warned a UK vote to exit the European Union could have “significant economic repercussions”.
Uncertain economy may prompt Fed to delay rate hike, Janet Yellen suggests
The mystery of a Canadian hum
For six years, the residents of Windsor, Ontario, have been plagued by a low rumbling that may be coming from the nearby US industrial island of Zug. But muffling the so-called “Windsor Hum” has proved problematic. Some residents in the Canadian city say it sounds like Star Trek’s Enterprise gearing up for warp speed. “It’s past unbelievable,” says 62-year-old retired insurance salesman Mike Provost. “If you think of thunder, and you take that thunder and constantly repeat it for hours and days, weeks, that’s all it is.”
The ‘Windsor Hum’: where is the noise plaguing a city of 210,000 coming from?
Street fighter Kimbo Slice dies
The bearded pioneer of mixed martial arts has died suddenly aged just 42. Slice, whose real name was Kevin Ferguson, was taken to hospital in Margate, Florida, where he was pronounced dead. The Bahamian ex-football player and former strip club bouncer began his career competing in unsanctioned street fights in 2003. Videos of his violent knockout victories in those bouts became highly popular online and he parlayed that popularity into a mixed martial arts career and worldwide fame.
Kimbo Slice, street fighter and MMA pioneer, dies aged 42
France readies huge security operation ahead of Euro 2016
The global soccer tournament, which kicks off on 10 June, will be subject to an unprecedented security operation due to “a very high level of threat”. Angelique Chrisafis reports from Paris that French police and security forces have practised for at least 30 doomsday scenarios in preparation to host more than 2.5 million ticketholders and millions more fans across 10 cities hosting games as part of Euro 2016. Possible disaster scenarios, which come after the country suffered three major attacks by Islamist extremists last year, range from suicide bombs to chemical and biological attacks. The tournament is proceeding under “a very high level of threat and yet no precise project has been detected”, said the Lyon police prefect, Michel Delpuech.
Euro 2016 fan zones in spotlight as France finalises huge security operation
Quentin Tarantino casting call for ‘whores’ meets with angry response
An agency acting for Oscar-winning director has apparently deleted a Facebook post that announced “Casting Whores for Quentin Tarantino project”. The post requested that all applicants have “natural breasts” and should put the word “whore” in the subject line. The blog Women and Hollywood, which first reported the invitation, noted that “putting a casting call out for, or including women in your script with the description of ‘whores’, is not OK. Nor is asking actresses to submit their photos and information for consideration with the subject line ‘Whore’.”
Quentin Tarantino-produced film posts casting call for ‘whores’
And in case you missed it …
Hugh Hefner sells his mansion but gets to stay home
The nonagenarian playboy has sold his Los Angeles home with its multiple hot tubs, saunas and grottos, to the billionaire owner of Hostess Twinkies and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Daren Metropoulos, 32, who lives next door, paid about $200m for the mansion and plans to conjoin his property with Hefner’s. Metropoulos won’t get to live in the home until Hefner dies. Metropoulos told the Wall Street Journal “the heritage of this property transcends its celebrity and to have the opportunity to serve as its steward would be a true privilege”.
Playboy mansion sold to billionaire Hostess owner who lives next door
