Monday Sunrise Briefs: After Epstein, Norway hero, and Jerusalem clash
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Justice persists.
After Jeffrey Epstein鈥檚 apparent suicide Saturday in a federal jail, we can expect prosecutors to focus on suspected accomplices. Court documents released Friday described three unnamed employees who allegedly facilitated criminal acts against underage girls. While Mr. Epstein鈥檚 death ends the criminal case against him, civil lawsuits targeting his wealth are expected to be filed by alleged victims. The Epstein case, involving charges of child sex trafficking, was considered an important example of the pursuit of justice against wealthy and politically connected individuals. Meanwhile, we can also expect an investigation into why a high-profile prisoner wasn鈥檛 under a suicide watch.
Quick-thinking courage: In Norway, before he could shoot anyone at a mosque on Saturday. The 21-year-old white man was reportedly wearing body armor and carrying multiple firearms. Witnesses said Mohamed Rafiq and another worshipper restrained the suspect until police arrived. Norwegian听police say they are investigating this as a possible terror attack, based on social media posts by the suspect.听
Why We Wrote This
Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, sunrise briefing.
Here are four news events that happened this weekend (while you were dancing, watching 鈥淗obbs & Shaw,鈥 and enjoying an offline life).
Temple of tensions: Muslim worshippers and Israeli police clashed Sunday at a major Jerusalem holy site during prayers marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. The site, known as the Temple Mount to Jews, is their holiest, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest for Muslims. It has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jews are barred from praying at the compound under a long-standing arrangement between Israel and Muslim authorities. But police say the decision to allow Jewish visitors to enter the site was made 鈥渨ith the backing of the top political officials.鈥 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 religious nationalist allies have called for the site to be opened to Jews. Israelis are headed to unprecedented repeat elections next month.
Church leaders take immigration stand: Several dozen children and adults marched Sunday in Canton, Mississippi, protesting the detention of 680 migrant workers at nearby poultry plants last week. As Trump administration officials defended the raids, churches in Mississippi are听emerging key sources of spiritual and material support to the mostly Mexican and Guatemalan workers targeted by raids. The state鈥檚 Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, and Evangelical Lutheran bishops denounced the raids in a joint statement Friday.
Look ahead
Monday, Aug. 12
Cosby tests the power of #MeToo justice: Bill Cosby鈥檚 legal team will push for a new trial in a Pennsylvania appeals court.听Mr.听Cosby听was sentenced last year听to up to 10 years in a state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004.听Since Mr. Cosby is the first celebrity convicted in the #MeToo era, the court鈥檚 review of the case could cement 鈥 or undermine 鈥 the movement听itself.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Celebrating independence:听Pakistan (on听Wednesday)听and India (on听Thursday)听observe their national independence days during a period of tense relations between these two neighbors. Pakistan听last week announced听it would downgrade diplomatic relations and suspend trade with India after New Delhi听moved to take more control听of the听disputed state of Kashmir.
Thursday, Aug. 15
Fifty years after Woodstock:听The legendary music festival held on a dairy farm听in Bethel, New York, drew some 400,000 attendees and the biggest rock and folk music acts of the day. Why does this cultural landmark still resonate? Read the Monitor editor鈥檚 blog and watch for our cover story later this week.听
MAGA rally in New Hampshire: President Donald Trump takes a break from his 10-day August vacation to campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire.听
Generosity watch
That鈥檚 what neighbors do:听Lamar Harris owed $50,000 in back property taxes on his New Jersey home. He was facing foreclosure last week. But Mr. Harris, who lives alone and struggles with reading and writing, lives in a tight-knit neighborhood. His Gloucester Township neighbors set up a to help him. In a week, they鈥檇 collected $50,000 and the tally is now more than $70,000. 鈥溙齌erri Fretz, who鈥檚 known Harris for 38 years, told CNN.
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor editors and readers:
Why wealth and patience appear to go hand in hand
Sneak preview
In tonight鈥檚 Daily Edition, watch for our story on the new Guatemalan president, Alejandro Giammattei, and whether this White House can make the Central American nation a cornerstone of its immigration policy.
Finally, the Monitor鈥檚听five best stories听in Friday鈥檚 subscription-only Daily Edition:
- The body cam revolution: What it has, and hasn鈥檛, accomplished
- Talking in Qatar, bombing in Kabul. How to explain the Taliban?
- A trade war over history? Sort of. Why Japan and South Korea are feuding.
- A sense of 鈥榳estern alienation鈥 mounts in Canada鈥檚 Texas
- Meet Hollywood鈥檚 newest superheroes: Righteous moms
This is a beta test. This is an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!