In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: War; terrorism] Fucking hell: "The US military has called for 'vigilance' after an online threat was allegedly made by Islamic State (IS) to about 100 of its personnel. A list of names and addresses was posted on a website linked to the group alongside a call for them to be killed. The Pentagon said the threat was unverified and would be investigated."

[CN: War; death; displacement] The ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia isn't holding: "Clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels continued to undermine a cease-fire in the country's east as Russia accused the government in Kiev of violating the truce. The United Nations raised its death toll estimate to at least 6,072 and said 15,345 people have been wounded in the conflict that started last April. About 1.2 million people have registered as displaced within Ukraine and 747,357 have fled abroad, including 610,558 to Russia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report Monday. Skirmishes between government troops and pro-Russian rebels continue to underscore the tenuous nature of a truce agreement negotiated last month in the Belarusian capital. While the cease-fire has checked the worst of the fighting, both sides are accusing each other of violations that are threatening to return to conflict to open war."

[CN: War on agency; termination of wanted pregnancy] Tara Culp-Ressler has an important story about community for people who end a wanted pregnancy "only after receiving a diagnosis of serious fetal abnormalities that weren't evident earlier. They're not having abortions because they want to dismember their babies, although that's often the political rhetoric that's used around later procedures. In fact, these women typically believe that abortion is the most compassionate choice available to them, because their unborn child has serious health complications that won't allow them to survive for very long outside the womb."

[CN: Rape culture] Later today, the Charlottesville, Virginia, police department will "release the results of an investigation into the alleged gang rape of a University of Virginia student [known as Jackie] that was questioned after a high-profile Rolling Stone article last year. ...After the veracity of the article was called into question, Captain Gary Pleasants of Charlottesville police said the department would continue to investigate the incident. The results are to be announced at a press conference on Monday at 2pm." I'm sure that will be great.

[CN: Misogynoir] There is some annoying "don't worry—this powerful professional athlete is still a girl at heart!" crap in this article about Serena Williams, but read it just for this: "Let's just put an end to this myth that women players cannot be friends. We can!" YES.

[CN: Privilege; racism] Starbucks has already thrown "Race Together" in the dustbin. "Starbucks baristas will no longer write 'Race Together' on customers' cups starting Sunday, ending a visible component of the company's diversity and racial inequality campaign that had sparked widespread criticism in the week since it took effect. The company had planned all along to end the cup messages on Sunday and continue the campaign more broadly, Starbucks spokesman Jim Olson said." Oh, okay. Well, you really changed the world or whatever.

My heart: "Vin Diesel has found another way to pay tribute to his late Fast and Furious co-star and close friend Paul Walker. The actor revealed on Monday's Today show that he named his newborn daughter after Walker, giving her the name 'Pauline.' 'It felt like a way to keep his memory a part of my family and a part of my world,' Diesel told NBC's Natalie Morales as the two were riding in a helicopter." Everything about that is perfect, right down to the helicopter ride. Because of course Vin Diesel was giving an interview in a helicopter OBVIOUSLY.

Headline of the Day: "Tom Hardy looks hot and dusty in snap from Mad Max: Fury Road." Accurate.

And finally! These dogs hate getting out of bed. Legit.