Sign up to get Today’s Best Articles in your inbox
Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of
The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
1. Greek prime minister calls for deal with European creditors
Greece submitted a request for a new bailout deal from eurozone creditors Wednesday, days after the public soundly rejected an earlier one. "We demand an agreement with our neighbors but one that gives a sign that we are in a long-lasting basis for exiting from the crisis," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said. Greece must submit a detailed plan for economic reform by Thursday and agree to a deal by Sunday, when the European Union meets.
2. Accused Charleston shooter Dylann Roof indicted on 13 charges
South Carolina prosecutors said Tuesday that Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old accused of opening fire during a Bible study group at a historically black Charleston church, has been indicted for the shooting incident that left nine dead. The grand jury indicted Roof on nine murder charges, three attempted murder charges, and one count of possessing a weapon during a violent crime. Charleston County prosecutor Scarlett A. Wilson said previously she had not made any decision on whether to seek the death penalty.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
3. New York City will reportedly eliminate bail for low-level crimes
New York City is doing away with bail for defendants of low-level or non-violent crimes, The Associated Press reports ahead of Wednesday's official announcement. The $18 million plan will replace cash bail with supervision options such as text message reminders, required drug or behavioral therapies, or daily check-ins. About 45,500 defendants are held on bail each year in New York City. Long criticized for targeting the poor, bail has played a role in two recent high-profile deaths at the Rikers Island jail complex.
4. South Carolina Senate officially approves bill to remove Confederate flag
After preliminary approval Monday, the South Carolina Senate voted 36-3 Tuesday to remove the Confederate battle flag from Statehouse grounds. The bill now heads to the House, where it would need to pass with a two-thirds majority before Gov. Nikki Haley (R) can sign it into law. South Carolinians pushed for removal of the flag, considered by many to be a racist symbol, after a white gunman killed nine African Americans in a historically black Charleston church last month.
Sign up to get Today’s Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The United States and five other world powers have agreed to extend their talks with Iran past Tuesday's deadline in the hopes of reaching a nuclear deal. The U.S. has said talks will continue through July 10, and that they have made "substantial progress" during negotiations. The July 7 deadline followed an earlier extension from June 30 after more than a year of talks. The deal is expected to relieve some of the international economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbing their nuclear program over the next decade.
6. Oklahoma governor refuses to remove 10 Commandments statue
Despite an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling last week that a 10 Commandments monument violates the state constitution, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) said it will remain on Capitol grounds. Fallin said she made the call after the attorney general asked the court to reconsider its 7-2 decision and lawmakers filed legislation to have citizens vote on whether to remove the portion of the constitution that says public money cannot be used for religious means. The court said the statue was obviously religious in nature.
7. Obama meets with Vietnam Communist Party leader
President Barack Obama hosted Vietnam Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong at the White House on Tuesday, marking the first time a politician in that role has visited the U.S. In talks Trong called "cordial, constructive, positive and frank," the two discussed a potential 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that would include Vietnam, as well as shared concerns over China. Outside the White House, people protested human rights violations in Vietnam.
8. Study: 95 percent of elected prosecutors are white
Ninety-five percent of elected state and local prosecutors in 2014 were white, a study by the Women Donors Network said. And 79 percent of elected prosecutors were men. "They have to see someone that looks like them," the president of the National Black Prosecutors Association, Melba V. Pearson, told The New York Times, referring to minority groups' long-held mistrust of the legal system. "When you walk into a courtroom and no one looks like you, do you think you are going to get a fair shake?"
9. Subway suspends relationship with spokesman Jared Fogle amid child porn investigation
After law enforcement officials raided the home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle on Tuesday morning as part of a child pornography investigation, the sandwich chain announced it was suspending its relationship with Fogle. The former spokesman is cooperating with authorities and "expects no actions to be forthcoming," according to Subway's statement. The raid came after Russell Taylor, the former director of Fogle's Jared Foundation, was arrested and accused of possessing and producing child pornography in April. Fogle was detained, but not arrested.
10. ESPN pulls golf tournament from Donald Trump's L.A. course
ESPN is the latest company to cut ties with Donald Trump following comments he made about Mexican immigrants in June. The ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic was scheduled to be played July 14 at the Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes, California, but has been moved, the Los Angeles Times reports. ESPN said the change reflects "support for inclusion of all sports fans. Diversity and inclusion are core values at ESPN, and our decision also supports that commitment."
Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
talking pointsA leadership power vacuum may await Republicans
QUOTE OF THE DAY‘What kind of culture looks at sexual violence and sees an opportunity for profit? This is rape culture. And it should disturb every single one of us.’
today’s big questionHow long can US consumers continue their spending spree?