Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson have both qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate in August. Seven GOP hopefuls spoke at a Cedar Rapids fundraising barbecue, discussing their vision for the future of the Republican party and their plans to unify the party. Candidates must hit the minimum threshold of 40,000 unique donors and the polling thresholds 48 hours prior to the debate to qualify for the debate.
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A federal judge in New York has dismissed former President Donald Trump's countersuit against E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million verdict against him for battery and defamation earlier this year. The jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll during an encounter in the mid-1990s, and Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that the jury found Trump had raped her "as the term is understood more broadly." This marks a victory for Carroll, who has been seeking justice for her allegations since 2019, and the case is set to move forward with a hearing scheduled for December.
On Friday, a 4-year-old girl in Michigan was struck and run over by a golf cart after a Labrador retriever stepped on the gas pedal. Fortunately, the girl had no obvious injuries and was back to playing shortly after the incident. The incident has raised questions about the safety of golf carts, and the Westland Fire Department is reviewing the incident to ensure it does not happen again.
Mutinous soldiers in Niger have closed the country's airspace and are checking cars for weapons in anticipation of foreign intervention. The junta has rejected the ECOWAS ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president and is convening on Thursday to discuss the political situation.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has broken with former President Donald Trump, saying that he is "self-centered, self-possessed, and self-consumed". Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged that Trump had lost the 2020 election, while Trump spokesperson Steve Cheung accused DeSantis of being "Joe Biden's biggest cheerleader". Christie has said that if Trump were to become president again, he would take him at his word, as the Republican party continues to grapple with Trump's legacy.
On Saturday, a bear escaped from its crate in the cargo hold of an Iraqi aircraft, causing a delay in takeoff and sparking a stir on social media. Iraqi Airways reported that all procedures to transport the animal were followed, and Iraq's Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into the incident. The outcome of the investigation is yet to be determined.
Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on Monday for his role in the death of George Floyd. The incident sparked protests around the world and led to a national conversation about police brutality and racism. Judge Peter Cahill approved a Minneapolis police reform deal in the wake of Floyd's death, which includes a ban on neck restraints and chokeholds.
Italian police have apprehended a long-time fugitive, who was on Italy's list of 100 most dangerous criminals, after he was spotted in a photo celebrating his hometown team's soccer championship. The man, who has alleged mafia links, was betrayed by his passion for the Napoli team, which gave him away when he was seen holding a scarf in the team's colors. He had been on the run for 11 years, but was finally apprehended on the Greek island of Corfu and is now awaiting extradition back to Italy.