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Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona
Today is Friday, June 13, the 164th day of 2025. There are 201 days left in the year. Today in history: On June 13, 1966, the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney. Also on this date: In 1942, during World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine on Long Island, New York, three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida. (All eight men were arrested within weeks, after two members of the first group defected.) In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first non-white justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top secret study of America's involvement in Vietnam since 1945, that had been leaked to the paper by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg. In 1983, the U.S. space probe Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system as it crossed the orbit of Neptune. In 1996, the 81-day-old Freemen standoff in Montana ended as the 16 remaining members of the anti-government group left their ranch and surrendered to the FBI. In 2000, the first meeting between leaders of North Korea and South Korea since the Korean War began as South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang. In 2013, the White House said it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow him. In 2022, the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was told that Donald Trump's closest campaign advisers, top government officials and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of the insurrection, but the defeated president was becoming 'detached from reality' and clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power. Today's Birthdays: Actor Malcolm McDowell is 82. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is 81. Actor Stellan Skarsgård is 74. Actor Richard Thomas is 74. Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Weaver is 74. Actor-comedian Tim Allen is 71. Actor Ally Sheedy is 63. Sportscaster Hannah Storm is 63. Musician Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) is 55. Actor-comedian Steve-O is 51. Actor Ethan Embry is 47. Actor Chris Evans is 44. Actor Kat Dennings is 39. Fashion designers and former actors Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen are 38. Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is 35. Actor Kodi Smit-McPhee is 29.
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Today in History: June 13, first Pentagon Papers excerpts published
In 1942, during World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine on Long Island, N. Y., three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida. (All eight men were arrested within weeks, after two members of the first group defected.) Advertisement In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled, in Miranda v. Arizona, that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first non-white justice on the US Supreme Court. In 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top secret study of America's involvement in Vietnam since 1945, that had been leaked to the paper by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg. Advertisement In 1983, the US space probe Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system as it crossed the orbit of Neptune. In 1996, the 81-day-old Freemen standoff in Montana ended as the 16 remaining members of the anti-government group left their ranch and surrendered to the FBI. In 2000, the first meeting between leaders of North Korea and South Korea since the Korean War began as South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang. In 2013, the White House said it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow him. In 2022, the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol was told that President Trump's closest campaign advisers, top government officials, and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of the insurrection, but the defeated president was becoming 'detached from reality' and clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power.
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First Post
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
History Today: When Michael Jackson was acquitted in child molestation trial
Pop superstar Michael Jackson, who had been accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, was acquitted of all felony charges on June 13, 2005. Though he was legally vindicated, the trial took a heavy toll on his health, finances and public image. On this day in 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers read more Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., May 25, 2005. Superstar Michael Jackson was not just a person but a phenomenon. Often dubbed the 'King of Pop', he was one of the most famous musicians and performers of the 20th Century. However, he was in the spotlight for more than just his music. Unfortunately, this wasn't always a good thing – Jackson was accused of child molestation. Then, after months of a high-profile trial, he was acquitted him of all charges on June 13, 2005. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. On this day in 1944, Nazi Germany unleashed a terrifying new weapon upon London - the V-1 flying bomb, just a few days after D-Day landings. The New York Times began publishing excerpts from a highly classified government study, which later came to be known as the 'Pentagon Papers.' Here are the major event that took place on this day across the world. Michael Jackson acquitted in molestation trial One of the most famous musicians of all time Jackson , was acquitted on all counts in his highly publicised child molestation trial on June 13, 2005. Jackson had faced ten felony counts including four counts of molesting a minor, four counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor for the purpose of molestation, one count of attempted child molestation and one count of conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. The case had been filed by then-13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, who claimed Jackson had molested him at his Neverland Ranch estate . Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria. File image/AP Throughout the trial, prosecutors painted a picture of Jackson as a predator, while the defence, led by attorney Thomas Mesereau, vigorously argued that the accuser's family was attempting to extort money from the singer. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in the testimonies of key prosecution witnesses and presented their own witnesses, including celebrities like Macaulay Culkin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The jury, composed of eight women and four men, deliberated for over 30 hours before delivering a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts. The decision prompted an emotional response from Jackson, who broke into tears as the verdicts were read. Though he was legally vindicated, the trial had taken a heavy toll on his health, finances, and public image. Jackson largely withdrew from the public eye in the years following, living abroad for a time and releasing limited new work. Nazi Germany launches the V-1 Flying Bomb Just a week after the D-Day landings, Nazi Germany unleashed a new terror on the Allied Forces, especially London, by launching the V-1 flying bomb. Officially known as the Fieseler Fi 103, it was the world's first operational cruise missile. Despite Allied air superiority over Western Europe, the German Luftwaffe utilized the Fi 103, launched from bases in northern France, the Netherlands, and western Germany, to bombard targets in Belgium, England and France. Termed as the 'buzz bomb' or 'doodlebug', these small, pilotless aircraft had a distinctive sound with a small and noisy pulsejet engine. Carrying an 850 kilo high-explosive warhead, it was designed to fly a predetermined distance before its engine cut out, sending it into a steep, silent dive towards its target. This sudden silence was often as terrifying as the preceding buzz, as it signalled an imminent impact. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fieseler Fi 103 V-1 flying bomb on a Walter catapult ramp at Éperlecque in Northern France. File image/Wikimedia Commons The first V-1 struck London, landing in the Bow area and killing eight people. It was the start of a campaign that would see over 9,000 V-1s launched in Britain, primarily targeting London and southern England. The weapon was a pilotless, jet-propelled bomb capable of flying at 400 kilometres per hour and carrying an 850 kilo warhead. With a range of about 250 kilometres, it was typically launched from hidden sites in northern France and the Netherlands. Despite the terror they inflicted, the V-1 attacks ultimately failed to break British morale or alter the course of the war. Allied countermeasures, including anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons, and fighter aircraft, became increasingly effective at intercepting the bombs. NYT publishes Pentagon Papers One of the most confidential and controversial documents was published by The New York Times on this day in 1971. The Times began publishing excerpts from the government papers which exposed the US' political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1968. It revealed that several presidential administrations had systematically misled the American public about the extent and true nature of the Vietnam War. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Officially titled 'History of US Decision-Making Process on Vietnam Policy', The 7,000-page report was commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert S McNamara in 1967. Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who had worked on the study and subsequently became an anti-war activist, secretly photocopied portions of the document and provided them to Neil Sheehan, a reporter for The New York Times. The Nixon administration tried to stop The New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers, citing national security concerns. This led to the landmark First Amendment case, _New York Times Co. v. United State_s. On June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 for the newspapers, affirming press freedom. This Day, That Year Donald Trump became the first former US president to be charged with federal crimes on this day in 2023. In 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time. The first African-American was nominated to the US Supreme Court on this day in 1967.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Fighting words
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. LESS ... MORE Losses are inevitable in military ops. India's done the correct thing by acknowledging them In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies, Churchill said in WWII. Like tennis, where you can lose back-to-back sets and still win the match, war has its ups and downs, and it's good policy not to let the lows affect public morale. America knew it was losing Vietnam but never admitted it, until the 1971 Pentagon Papers leak. It never got a grip on Afghanistan in 20 years, but for the longest time maintained it had. In contrast, India has been surprisingly candid about its losses in Op Sindoor. While Pakistan claimed it had shot down five IAF jets on May 7 – the night raid that launched Op Sindoor – India neither confirmed nor denied it at the time. But shortly after the May 10 ceasefire, Air Marshal AK Bharti told a press conference, 'We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat.' And three weeks on, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has more or less ended the suspense: 'What I can say is that on May 7, in the initial stages, there were losses.' But not six planes, as Pakistan is now claiming. This acknowledgment is a measure of India's morale. The country does not need to cover up because Op Sindoor achieved all its objectives. As for making a full disclosure, that can wait till the operation is over – it's only suspended post-ceasefire. Besides, as the CDS said, more than the numbers, what mattered was the reasons for the losses, and a course correction, which India made. India's official responses may have seemed slow, but they adhered to facts. Dangers of the alternative – unverified claims – were brought home on May 8 when some TV channels abdicated all journalistic responsibility and spread wild untruths. While it might have seemed patriotic to those in front of the cameras, it only increased the military's burden. The CDS said 15% of operational time during Op Sindoor was spent countering fake narratives and disinformation. Later, the audience's unreasonable expectations, stoked by disinformation, resulted in the vicious trolling of foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who along with Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had been the face of India's factual and measured media response during the hostilities. If Op Sindoor proved one thing, it's that riding the tiger of disinformation is always folly. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
On Why Leakers Are Essential To The Public Good
For obvious reasons, people in positions of power tend to treat the leaking of unauthorised information as a very, very bad thing. But, the history of the last 100 years has been changed very much for the better by the leaking of unauthorised information. For obvious reasons, people in positions of power tend to treat the leaking of unauthorised information as a very, very bad thing, and – to maintain the appearance of control – they will devote a lot of time and energy into tracking down and punishing those responsible. Just as obviously, the history of the last 100 years has been changed – very much for the better – by the leaking of unauthorised information. The obvious examples include: (a) the Pentagon Papers that revealed (among other things) the secret US saturation bombing of Cambodia (b) the 'Deep Throat' leaks of criminal presidential actions during the Watergate scandal that helped bring down US President Richard Nixon (c) the leaked Panama Papers documents that revealed the techniques of systematic tax evasion rife in offshore tax havens (d) the thousands of secret US diplomatic cables leaked by Chelsea Manning that revealed the covert methods used by the US to influence the foreign policy decisions taken in dozens of countries (e) the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden that exposed a number of US and British clandestine and illegal spy operations (f) the Cambridge Analytica mis-use of personal data scandal, which came to light via leaks by former CA employee Christopher Wylie to journalist Carole Cadwallader at the Observer. Closer to home, one need only mention the public good served by the numerous investigations conducted by journalist Nicky Hager. Hager's work has regularly put to good use any number of tip-offs and shared insights from a large number of highly motivated leakers, whistle blowers and informers who had inside knowledge of matters affecting the public, but without the public's knowledge or approval. Even the anodyne Operation Burnham inquiry ended up by vindicating the Hit & Run book written by Hager and co-author Jon Stephenson . Point being, journalism would not be able to function without a thriving ecosystem of leaking and whistle-blowing, informants and tip-offs. This unofficial and unauthorised sharing of information provides a vital counter-balance to the media's dependence otherwise, on official sources and p.r. machines. Why does it seem necessary to revisit the ancient and honourable history of leaking? Unfortunately, we seem to be in the throes of another witch hunt led by Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche – to find and to punish the public servants responsible for recent leaks of confidential information to the media. One can't be entirely sure of the science, but it seems likely that the leaks of unauthorised information are a direct and proportionate response to the bull-dozing of the democratic process by the coalition government. When urgency is being taken to crush pay equity and to ram through regulatory reform that has serious constitutional implications…then it seems inevitable that people with access to sensitive information will do all they can to alert the public, and to block the path of the bulldozer. Does leaking undermine the public's faith in institutions and the political process? Hardly. Currently, David Seyumour and his coalition cronies are doing a pretty good job of that, all by themselves. Does it help to make a distinction between 'leaking' and 'whistle-blowing?' Not really. Call it whistle-blowing and the revelations gain a sense of virtue, in that the information can be argued to be something that the public needs to know, but has no legitimate means of finding out. This balance between unauthorised revelations and the public good surfaced again just before Budget Day, when – on the grounds of commercial sensitivity – the courts blocked RNZ's publication of a leaked document about education policy. The court action was controversial, and with good reason. Whenever public money is involved, surely secrecy driven by 'commercial sensitivity' should be the very rare exception and not (as tends to be the case) the default position. Moreover…the government can hardly cry foul. Routinely, successive governments have drip-fed policy revelations to the media before Budget Day, in order to achieve the maximum amount of political coverage. Sauce for the goose etc. Subsequently, a Public Services Commission memorandum warning of an imminent crackdown on public servants found to be leaking information was itself leaked to the media, by persons unknown. While widely condemned, some of those recent leaks have had a silver lining. The revelation for example, that the Police would no longer investigate shoplifting offences involving amounts below $500 aroused the fury of some retailers, and quickly led to a Police backdown. In that case, the leaking of Police information led directly to a better policy outcome. More of that, please. Spot The Dfference One supposed difference between leakers and whistleblowers is that whistleblowers are supposed to first raise their concerns with their bosses – such that public disclosure then becomes the last resort, rather than the first step. Hmm. In the real world, telling your superiors that you have deep moral misgivings about a policy they are managing is likely to be a career-damaging step, if not a direct path to dismissal. Contractors who want their contracts renewed would be well advised to keep their mouths shut, and/or to leak information in ways that cover their tracks. For obvious reasons, there seems to be no political appetite for strengthening the protections available to whistleblowers. Even the Public Service Association has been careful to condemn leaking under any circumstances. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons reminded public servants that they are obliged to carry out the policies of the government of the day, even if they personally disagree with them. Really? Being chided by your union to play by the rules is IMO, symptomatic of a wider problem: which has to do with the erosion of public service neutrality and the related tradition of public servants offering frank and informed advice. No doubt, the ongoing politicisation of the public service is more serious under some Ministers than others. Point being thorough: leaking is a symptom of the subversion of public service autonomy, and cracking down on it is likely to cloud our understanding of its causes. Basically….by limiting the motivation to one of personal objections held by individual public servants, the PSA did not address the more complex cases where a public servant – by helping to enact policies likely to result in harm – may feel morally compelled to disclose the relevant information. In which case…as mentioned, the whistle blowing procedures offer them little in the way of practical self-protection. Surely, transparency in government should not require martyrs. The rest seems pretty obvious. Yes, media outlets do need to be agreeing among themselves about a common response to any significant government crackdown. After all, media outlets enjoy'news break' benefits from the information leaked to them. For that reason alone, there is an obligation to protect sources by with-holding any identifying information, however it has been obtained and whatever threats get leveled at the outlets that publish leaked information. Other countries have gone further down that road. Yet the risk is that in the name of finding and punishing leakers, the ability of the Fourth Estate to carry out its watchdog role will be compromised. If so, public servants and journalists would not be the only casualties of ant crackdown conducted by the government. Henry Thomas, ace whistle blower Here we have a bulldozer and a whistleblower, both at once. The cane reeds (aka 'quills') that ancient bluesman Henry Thomas blew into – on his classic tracks like 'Fishin' Blues' and 'Going Up The Country' – belong to an Afro-American tradition dating back to the pre-Civil War era. Here's Henry Thomas doing 'Bull-Doze Blues' a track that later became a hit for 1970s blues revivalists Canned Heat, quills and all.
