2nd Confederate monument defaced

2nd Confederate monument defaced

RICHMOND, VA.

A second monument in memory of the Confederacy has been vandalized in Richmond.

Media reports state that the base of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument was spray-painted with red paint either late Thursday or early Friday. The vandalism included an obscenity.

Police are investigating the defacement. The Jefferson Davis monument in the city’s Fan District has been vandalized twice.

Confederate symbols have been the focus of debate since nine people were killed June 17 at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C.

Authorities: Woman confessed throwing kittens out of car

NAVARRE, FLA.

A Florida woman has been arrested after authorities say she was spotted throwing kittens out her car window.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies say a witness reported seeing 39-year-old Veronica Gordon throwing four small kittens alongside a highway in Navarre on Friday. Authorities said Gordon confessed.

The kittens are believed to be 7 weeks old. Only one was recovered and was found in poor condition. That kitten was taken to a vet. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Gordon is being held on $5,000 bond.

Bombings kill 19

BAGHDAD

A series of attacks, mainly car bombs, in Iraq killed at least 19 people and wounded dozens Saturday, authorities said.

Police officials said the deadliest attack occurred Saturday night when a car bomb exploded on a commercial street in Baghdad’s western neighborhood of Amil, killing nine people and wounding 24 others. Several shops and cars were damaged.Hospital officials confirmed the casualties from all the attacks. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Iran nuclear talks await OK on draft

VIENNA

World powers and Iran have drawn up a draft document on the pace and timing of sanctions relief for the Islamic republic in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, advancing on one of the most contentious issues at their negotiations, diplomats told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Written by technical experts, the document still must be approved by senior officials of the seven nations at the table, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the foreign ministers of the five other countries expected to join Kerry and Zarif in Vienna this weekend for a push to meet a Tuesday deadline.

The development indicated the sides were moving closer to a comprehensive accord that would set a decade of restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits for the Iranians.

Greeks mull how votes affect future

ATHENS, GREECE

With the crucial austerity referendum a day away, Greeks contemplated Saturday how their vote will shape their future and the impact a “yes” or “no” will have on the country’s youth.

Opinion polls showed Greeks evenly split on whether to accept creditors’ proposals for more austerity in exchange for rescue loans or defiantly reject the deal and send the message that they’re simply fed up with years of harsh economic austerity.

Greece’s high-stakes standoff with lenders saw the country default on debts last week, close banks to avoid their collapse, and lose access to billions of euros after an existing bailout deal expired.

Associated Press