1. Puerto Rico defaults on debt payment
Puerto Rico defaulted Saturday, missing a $58 million debt payment on Public Finance Corporation bonds. Victor Suarez, the governor's chief of staff, said Friday the island only has enough money to operate until November if nothing is done to increase cash flow. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced in June that Puerto Rico would need restructuring on an unpayable $72 billion in debt.
Reuters
2. NAACP kicks off 40-day march to highlight racial injustice
The NAACP kicked off a 40-day march through the U.S. South on Saturday meant to highlight issues of racial injustice in the country including instances of police brutality toward black people, Reuters reports. "We can continue to be serially outraged, or we can engage in an outrageously patriotic demonstration with a commitment to bringing about reform in this country," NAACP President Cornell William Brooks said. The Journey for Justice is set to end Sept. 16 in Washington, D.C.
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Reuters
3. Plane debris possibly linked to MH370 arrives at French testing center, authorities up island search
An airplane wing flap possibly from missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 arrived Saturday at a French testing facility. Malaysian officials said they would seek help from territories near Rénuion Island, where the wing flap piece was found, to search for more debris. On Sunday there were reports of part of a plane door found on the same island as the wing flap, but officials said it was a ladder, not part of the missing aircraft. The airplane has been missing since March 2014.
The Associated Press
4. World Health Organization calls for tests on Rio's Olympic waters
The World Health Organization asked the International Olympic Committee to conduct tests for viruses on the water in Rio de Janeiro, the site of 2016's summer games. The move comes days after an Associated Press investigation found high levels of viruses and bacteria from sewage in the city's water, where open-water swimming and boating events will be held for 1,400 athletes. The international Sailing Federation will also run independent tests for viruses in the water.
The Associated Press
5. Joe Biden may be considering a presidential run at his late son's request
In a New York Times column, Maureen Dowd wrote Saturday that Vice President Joe Biden is considering taking on Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, quietly holding meetings with friends and family at his home. As his late son, Beau, learned he was dying of brain cancer, he sat down with his father to persuade him to run for president, Dowd wrote. "Dad, I know you don’t give a damn about money," Beau reportedly said, urging his father to not settle for a high-paying, laid-back job after his term as vice president.
The New York Times
6. Angela Merkel will reportedly seek a 4th term as German chancellor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will reportedly seek a fourth term in 2017, unnamed sources told German newspaper Der Spiegel. She's expected to officially announce her run in 2016. Should Merkel win a fourth term, the first female chancellor would find herself right behind the longest-serving leaders in German history, Helmut Köhl and Otto von Bismarck. There's no obvious successor in place and Merkel is popular in polls, so her 2017 candidacy has been anticipated.
Politico
7. Manhunt underway in Tennessee after fatal shooting of police officer
Memphis police officer Sean Bolton, 33, was shot several times Saturday night during a routine traffic stop. He died after being transported to a hospital. The suspect is on the run and a manhunt is underway. Bolton is the third Memphis officer in four years to be fatally shot. Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. said his death "speaks volumes about the inherent danger of police work."
The Associated Press
8. Jericho, friend of Cecil the lion, has not been shot, contrary to reports
Zimbabwe wildlife authorities confirmed Sunday that Jericho, a companion of the late Cecil the lion, has not been shot, contrary to reports Saturday from a conservationist group. Jericho is being monitored with a satellite collar. A photo of him purportedly taken Sunday was released to The Associated Press. Jericho oversaw two prides along with Cecil, a well-known lion Zimbabwe said killed illegally by an American hunter in July, sparking international outrage.
The Associated Press
9. Friends, family mourn Bobbi Kristina Brown in private funeral
Friends and family gathered to mourn Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of the late Whitney Houston, in a private Alpharetta, Georgia, ceremony Saturday. Brown, 22, died July 26, six months after she was found unresponsive in her bathtub. Brown's partner, Nick Gordon, was reportedly not permitted to attend the funeral. A civil suit was filed against him in June, alleging he stole more than $11,000 from Brown.
CNN
10. Dr. Dre announces first new album in 15 years
Dr. Dre announced on his radio show Saturday he will release his first new album in 15 years. Compton: A Soundtrack, which he's launching exclusively on iTunes and Apple Music Aug. 7, will feature artists including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and the Game. "I kept it under wraps, and now the album is finished," he said. "It's bananas. It's an 'inspired by' album. It's inspired by Straight Outta Compton." Dre called the album his "grand finale."
Rolling Stone
