Orlando Shooting Shines A Light

PNUT GALLERY

Developers rejoice! Apple announced major changes in WWDC today. Our favorite so far: iOS 10 will let you uninstall those annoying Apple apps you never use. Check here for updates on the conference. 

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Orlando Shooting Shines Light On Several US Problems

Attempting to leverage the tragedy for political gain, Donald Trump reiterated his call to “keep out Muslims” in his speech on the Orlando mass shooting. In addition to Islamophobia sweeping the nation’s rhetoric, the violent act also shown a light the nation’s continued discriminatory policies against the LGBTQ community. Gay men are outraged that they still cannot donate blood to help those who were targeted at Pulse, a gay nightclub. The US Food and Drug Administration still bans men who have had sex with other men in the past 12 months from donating blood in the United States.  

Where did Mateen get semi-automatic weapons anyway?

Omar Mateen – despite being under FBI surveillance – was able to acquire a Sig Sauer AR-15 assault-style weapon legally because he lived in Florida. The Brady Campaign gave Florida an “F” for its relaxed gun policies, a state that does not even conduct its own background checks. The FBI is able to reject applicants due to criminal history, drug use or mental illness, but that happens in fewer than 1% of background checks.

Please Don’t Stop The Music: Remembering Gay Bars As A Safe Space

Libya Wants To Sue Goldman Sachs For $1.2 Billion

Now that Libya has mostly succeeded in kicking ISIS to the curb, the government is going after a new enemy: big banks. Libya’s national investment fund is seeking damages from Goldman Sachs, claiming that the bank encouraged them to make complex, money-losing investments back in 2008. The trial began on Monday at the High Court in London and is scheduled to run for the next seven weeks, so get the popcorn ready. The Libyan Investment Authority is hoping to win back the $1.2 billion it says was lost through nine disputed trades.

Pnut Read: ISIS Before Libya Kicked Them Out

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Microsoft Wants To Connect With You On LinkedIn

Microsoft announced that it is acquiring LinkedIn, the social network where people are just shouting their resumes as each other. The software giant made the big move into enterprise social media for a cool $26.2 billion, or $196 per share, in cash. LinkedIn will retain its CEO Jeff Weiner as well as its brand, only with a much nicer safety net as it competes with social media companies already building more software on top of their social graphs. The transaction feels like a win-win for the two companies and has already been approved by both boards, but the acquisition still must get regulatory approval.

Qatar Convicts Dutch Woman For Reported Rape

A court in Qatar convicted a 22-year-old Dutch woman of having sex outside marriage after she told police she was raped. The woman was detained for three months after speaking up against her alleged rapist, whom she says spiked her drink at a hotel bar in Doha. Although convicted and fined $824, she can at least head home soon now that Qatar is deporting her. Meanwhile, her alleged attacker was not tried for assault, but instead was sentenced to 100 lashes for having sex outside marriage and 40 lashes for consuming alcohol. 

Oscar Pistorius ‘Too Depressed’ To Show Up To His Sentencing For Murder

The South African athlete’s possible 15-year jail sentence could be significantly reduced now that a defense witness psychologist said he suffers from “major depression.” Pistorius was convicted at the end of last year for shooting and killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day. Psychologist Jonathan Scholtz now argues that the Olympic star is too depressed to testify and that a jail term “would not be constructive.” While depression is a serious issue, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel thinks Pistorius’ team is lying about his condition, arguing that if Pistorius is “unfit” to testify, it’s strange he is fit to conduct media interviews. Nel also stated that the only sadness Pistorius has shown in court is for the effect killing his girlfriend had on his own life.

An Oldie That’s Still Timely: Pistorius’ Brief Punishment Sends A Dangerous Message

KEEPING OUR EYE ON…