World News Review

Why we need the federal death penalty for cop killers: Opinion

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:46:41 -0400

Some states have and follow death penalty laws and others don't.

New York City man sentenced to 6 years in prison for paying students to build bombs

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:40:27 -0400

Christian Toro provided materials to students and paid them $50 to build them. His twin brother Tyler Toro also pleaded guilty.

The ruling is the second in three days against the President and his efforts to thwart congressional investigations by Democrats

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:37:18 -0400

A federal judge in New York on Wednesday refused to block subpoenas from the House of Representatives for President Donald Trump's financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One.

President Trump considers pardons for US troops accused of war crimes

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:35:31 -0400

Some very high-ranking veterans warn President Trump to proceed with caution; national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports from the Pentagon.

Pentagon mulling U.S. military request to send 5,000 troops to Middle East: officials

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:32:08 -0400

The U.S. Department of Defense is considering a U.S. military request to send about 5,000 additional troops to the Middle East amid increasing tensions with Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Turkey stopped purchasing Iranian oil as of May: Turkish official

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:29:44 -0400

Turkey stopped purchasing Iranian oil as of May as U.S. waivers granted last November to eight buyers expired, and will continue to abide by Washington's demand that it halt all imports of crude oil from the Islamic Republic, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday.

Fed's patience on interest rates to last 'for some time'

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:29:33 -0400

U.S. Federal Reserve officials at their last meeting agreed that their current patient approach to setting monetary policy could remain in place "for some time," a further sign policymakers see little need to change rates in either direction.

Pentagon Will Present Plan to Send Thousands More Troops to Middle East, Officials Say

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 18:29:13 -0400

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say the Pentagon will present plans to the White House to send up to 10,000 more American troops to the Middle East to beef up defenses against potential Iranian threats.

The officials say no decision has been made and it’s not clear if the White House will approve sending all or just some of the requested forces. Officials say the troops will be defensive forces, and the discussions include additional Patriot missile batteries and more ships.

The Thursday morning meeting comes as tensions with Iran continue to simmer. Defense leaders told congressional officials Tuesday that the U.S. doesn’t want to go to war with Iran and wants to de-escalate the situation.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been formally announced.

US Tells Syrian Kurds Only Future Is Part of Peaceful Syrian State

webdesk@voanews.com (Jeff Seldin) — Wed, 22 May 2019 18:27:26 -0400

The United States is reminding its Syrian Kurdish allies not to get overly ambitious while at the same time trying to allay concerns Washington will abandon them to Turkey or a possibly resurgent Islamic State terror group. Kurdish fighters, under the umbrella of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, played a key role in the collapse of the IS caliphate in Syria and continue to help administer large swaths of territory liberated form the terror group. But Ambassador James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and the special envoy to the global coalition to defeat IS, said Wednesday that there would not be an independent Kurdish state in Syria. "We don't have a political future that we offer for them," Jeffrey told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee when questioned about what comes next. "The political future we offer for them is the political future we offer for everybody in Syria ... a democratic, peaceful government," Jeffrey added. Autonomous area Following Syria's descent into civil war in 2011, Syrian Kurds quickly carved out an autonomous area covering much of the country's northeast, initially sparking hopes among some that it could serve as a basis for an independent state. But even talks of such ambitions have upset Turkey, also a key U.S. ally, which views the main Syrian Kurdish YPG militia as a terrorist organization with links to Kurdish terrorists in Turkey. More than once, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to strike the group to protect Turkish interests. "Turkey has a very legitimate concern," Jeffrey told lawmakers, though he assured them U.S. President Donald Trump remained committed to honoring both alliances. "We are concerned about the relationship between Turkey and our SDF partners in the northeast, which is why we're this discussion or negotiation with the Turks on a safe zone," he added. The U.S., Turkey and Kurdish-led authorities have been discussing the possibility of setting up a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border for months. Jeffrey said Turkish officials have requested a safe zone extending for 30 kilometers, though he called that unlikely. "We're going back and forth with them on how deep the safe zone will be," he said. "The idea would be that the YPG forces would withdraw and leave local forces and Turkey and the United States to figure out what we would do in the safe zone." Danger for Kurds Some lawmakers expressed concerns that Trump's plans to pull all or most of U.S. ground forces from Syria would put Washington's Kurdish allies at risk. "One of the reasons that I think it's a terrible mistake is because we have had the Kurds fighting side by side with us as our loyal and faithful allies and friends," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. "They've absorbed lots of casualties, prevented Americans from being killed." U.S. officials have long said the primary goal in Syria is to deal IS a lasting defeat, but Washington has also been pushing for all Iranian forces to leave the country, as well as for a negotiated end to the Syrian civil war. In recent days, the U.S. has also raised concerns about the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that it was investigating an alleged attack using chlorine gas on May 19 near the northwestern city of Idlib. "So far we cannot confirm it, but we are watching it," Jeffrey said Wednesday. The U.S., Britain and France launched airstrikes against Syrian government targets last April, citing "incontrovertible" evidence the Assad government had used chemical weapons against its own citizens.

India prepares to count votes, with Modi looking at second term

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:26:04 -0400

India begins counting hundreds of millions of votes in its general election on Thursday, with a coalition led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party already preparing to form the next government.

For 2nd day in a row, US military jets intercept Russian bombers off Alaska

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:24:25 -0400

For a second day in a row U.S. fighters intercepted Russian aircraft that flew off the coast of Alaska. The Russian aircraft were always in international airspace.

Syrian army shoots down drone near Hama's airport: Syrian TV

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:22:50 -0400

The Syrian army shot down a drone loaded with bombs near Hama's airport, Syrian state TV said late on Wednesday.

Watch house fall into river

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:22:34 -0400

A home fell into the Cimarron River in Crescent, Oklahoma, after a deadly storm system unleashed flooding in the central United States.

Michael Cohen allegedly exchanged scores of emails, texts with a Russian-linked firm

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:21:33 -0400

The former Trump fixer reported to a federal penitentiary earlier this month.

Trump torpedoes meeting with Democrats, blasts Pelosi's 'cover-up' accusation

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:20:44 -0400

President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly cut short a White House meeting with Democratic lawmakers on infrastructure, then ripped into them over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's accusation that he is engaged in a cover-up and asserted that he could not work with them unless they dropped multiple investigations.

White House takes on judiciary over blocked policies

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:17:20 -0400

In the first year of Donald Trump's presidency, judges issued 20 nationwide injunctions -- as many as President Obama's eight years in office.

Opinion: This is the biggest 2020 mistake the Democrats could make

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:16:04 -0400

The economy, voters say, is strong. Most Americans say they are better off financially than they were in 2016; more say that things stayed the same than say they got worse. And yet many more voters say President Donald Trump is doing a poor job than say he's doing a good one.

Explainer: China's rare earth supplies could be vital bargaining chip in U.S. trade war

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:14:35 -0400

Rare earth elements are used in a wide range of consumer products, from iPhones to electric car motors, as well as military jet engines, satellites and lasers.

GOP Vermont governor to allow abortion rights bill to become law

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:13:55 -0400

Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott intends to allow a comprehensive abortion rights bill to become law, as other states led by Republican governors across the nation work to restrict the procedure.

Migrant's death sparks clash at border security hearing

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:13:52 -0400

The crisis at the border spilled over into the House Homeland Security Committee hearing, following reports that a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died from the flu.

Infant died after being left inside day care van in Florida

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:12:17 -0400

A baby girl, just a few months old, died on Wednesday after being left in a day care van in Florida, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Police sergeant fired after video shows him slamming, deploying stun gun on woman

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:12:02 -0400

A cell phone video captured the officer slamming Maggie Thomas to the ground.

Investigation into Gov. Ralph Northam's yearbook photo proves inconclusive on blackface picture

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:11:40 -0400

Law firm investigators fail to identify person in yearbook photo; Ellison Barber reports from Washington.

Trump loses bid to block banks from providing family's business records to Democratic lawmakers

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:09:19 -0400

U.S. President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization on Wednesday lost their bid to block Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp from providing financial records to Democratic lawmakers investigating Trump's businesses.

Trump loses court round in U.S. Democratic lawmakers demand for bank documents on his businesses

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:09:19 -0400

President Trump ends congressional meeting amid investigations

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:08:28 -0400

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 'cover-up' declaration infuriates President Trump; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports.

The 52-year-old woman behind stolen RV police chase - Daily Mail

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:07:25 -0400

The 52-year-old woman behind stolen RV police chase Daily Mail

The DUI suspect who launched wild police chase in stolen RV on Tuesday has been identified as Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, of Winnetka.

View full coverage on Google News

GM faces pushback on U.S. self-driving vehicle plan

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:05:28 -0400

General Motors Co faces pushback over its request that U.S. regulators waive some automobile safety standards to make it possible to deploy a ride-sharing fleet of driverless cars without steering wheels or other human controls.

Tesla drops for sixth straight session, down 20% since share offer

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:04:18 -0400

Tesla shares extended their recent sell-off on Wednesday after Citi cut its price target on the struggling electric car maker, leaving buyers of its recent share offer, including Chief Executive Elon Musk, $175 million in the hole.

President Trump attacks Dems over their impeachment obsession

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:02:43 -0400

Trump ends meeting with top Democrats after Nancy Pelosi accused him of committing a 'cover-up'; reaction and analysis on 'The Five.'

Three more guilty pleas in college admissions scandal

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:02:37 -0400

Three more parents pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, the latest to fall in what authorities called the largest collegiate admissions scam ever prosecuted.

FirstFT: Today’s top stories

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:01:44 -0400

Your daily briefing on the news

Toobin: Trump's argument looks doomed

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:00:35 -0400

CNN's Jeffrey Toobin discusses a federal judge refusing to block subpoenas from House Democrats for Trump's financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One.

Trump trade war could sink China’s biofuel plans

Wed, 22 May 2019 18:00:24 -0400

Government to miss fuel ethanol target as US corn shipments dry up on higher tariffs

Navy all at sea over commodore 'reassigned' for using company car

Jack Hardy — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:59:49 -0400

Brazil’s Natura announces purchase of Avon Products

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:58:18 -0400

The Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura has announced that it is buying Avon Products in an all-stock deal

MediaNews Group bids $5 million for Reading Eagle Company assets, plans to silence WEEU - Reading Eagle

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:55:00 -0400

MediaNews Group bids $5 million for Reading Eagle Company assets, plans to silence WEEU Reading Eagle
‘Newspaper-killing’ Digital First Media to buy bankrupt Reading Eagle; deep job cuts expected Philly.com
WEEU to go off air after $5M sale of bankrupt Reading Eagle 69News WFMZ-TV
View full coverage on Google News

Trump antagonist Avenatti indicted for ripping off Stormy Daniels, extorting Nike

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:54:13 -0400

Michael Avenatti's legal troubles escalated on Wednesday as federal prosecutors announced new indictments accusing the lawyer and prominent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump of ripping off porn star Stormy Daniels and extorting Nike Inc.

'American Taliban' to be released from prison, a key case for questions about radicals re-entering society

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:52:35 -0400

John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban" whose capture in Afghanistan riveted a country in the early days after the September 11 attacks, is set to be released from prison this week.

Tapper: This clue shows Trump's tirade wasn't spontaneous

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:52:12 -0400

CNN's Jake Tapper says a sign on President Donald Trump's podium suggests that Trump's Rose Garden remarks were not as impromptu as the White House led on.

HUD moves to allow discrimination against homeless transgender people

kodonnell@politico.com (Katy O'Donnell) — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:51:39 -0400

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving to roll back protections for homeless transgender people by enabling HUD-funded providers of shelters to consider a person’s sex or gender identification in determining whether they can be admitted.

The proposal, included in the department’s spring rule list out Wednesday, contradicts a pledge that HUD Secretary Ben Carson made to lawmakers just yesterday.

It would turn back requirements under an Obama-era rule that operators of single-sex shelters who receive HUD funding “provide equal access to programs, benefits, services, and accommodations in accordance with an individual's gender identity.”

Carson told lawmakers on Tuesday that he was “not currently anticipating changing” the Equal Access Rule under questioning from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.).

“Yesterday, I asked Secretary Carson directly if he was anticipating any changes to HUD’s Equal Access Rule, and he said no,” Wexton told POLITICO. “The announcement today that HUD will now allow anti-trans discrimination in shelters demonstrates that he either lied to Congress or has no idea what policies his agency is pursuing. Either way, it’s unacceptable.”

HUD said the proposal would give more leeway to shelter providers on the admission of people who “may misrepresent their sex.”

“Later this year, HUD will be proposing a change to the 2016 rule that will offer local homeless shelter providers greater flexibility when making decisions about individuals who may misrepresent their sex to access sex-specific shelters,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “HUD is, and will always be, committed to ensuring that every person accessing its programs can do so without discrimination.”

The proposal says shelter providers “may establish a policy, consistent with state and local law, by which such Shelter Provider considers an individual’s sex for the purposes of determining accommodation within such shelters and for purposes of determining sex for admission to any facility or portion thereof.”

Providers would be able to “consider a range of factors in making such determinations, including privacy, safety, practical concerns, religious beliefs, any relevant considerations under civil rights and nondiscrimination authorities, the individual’s sex as reflected in official government documents, as well as the gender which a person identifies with,” according to the proposal.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

Charts that Count: how online shopping keeps inflation down

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:51:24 -0400

Despite a healthy economy, US price rises have remained stubbornly low in recent years

Faced with relentless American pressure, Iran starts to hit back

Tamer El-Ghobashy — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:51:15 -0400

Tehran is seeking to exact a cost for U.S. sanctions that have battered its economy, but it wants to avoid all-out war.

Afghanistan envoy briefs skeptical lawmakers on peace talks

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:50:18 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) - Special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad (ZAHL'-may kah-LEEL'-zahd) has been met with skepticism on Capitol Hill as he briefed lawmakers on peace talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the 17-year war.

Lawmakers were tight-lipped as they left the classified meeting, but the chairman of the Senate ...

Pakistan Says It Told India It's Ready for Peace Talks

webdesk@voanews.com (Ayaz Gul) — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:47:42 -0400

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India met informally Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting of regional countries in Kyrgyzstan, the first contact between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rival nations since they stepped back from the brink of war in February. Pakistani officials said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefly interacted with his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, at the end of a two-day ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a China-led security bloc, in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. "We made it clear to her that we want to resolve all the issues amicably through negotiations. ... Even today we are ready for negotiations," a Foreign Ministry statement quoted Qureshi as telling Swaraj. He noted his Indian counterpart had a complaint that "we [Pakistan] sometimes talk bitterly and she brought sweets so we could also speak sweetly." Officials in New Delhi offered no immediate comment, but Indian media quoted their Foreign Ministry sources as saying Swaraj only exchanged pleasantries with Qureshi and "there was no meeting between them." In mid-February, a suicide bomber struck an Indian paramilitary convoy in the disputed Kashmir territory, killing 40 security personnel. Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing, fueling tensions between the two countries. Islamabad denied responsibility for the attack. Aerial combat Indian fighter planes on Feb. 26 flew into Pakistan and carried out airstrikes against what New Delhi alleged was a JeM training camp in the mountainous town of Balakot. The next day, Pakistan responded with airstrikes of its own, shooting down an Indian plane and capturing its pilot in an ensuing dogfight over the disputed Kashmir border. The aerial clash was the first between Pakistan and India in five decades, raising fears of another full-scale war. Pakistan returned the Indian pilot two days later, and the tensions have since eased. The Kashmir dispute has sparked two of the three wars between the two countries and it remains the primary source of mutual tensions. Both India and Pakistan claim the Himalayan region in its entirety. Wednesday’s informal interaction between the two foreign ministers came a day before the announcement of the results of Indian general elections. Most exit polls have predicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance will return to power for a second term. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said last month that he saw a better chance of peace talks with India and "some kind of settlement in Kashmir" if Modi’s nationalist BJP were to win the elections.

UN orders UK to end 'colonial' rule of Chagos Islands

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:47:00 -0400

Britain separated the Indian Ocean islands from Mauritius in 1965. The UK and the US both have major military bases on the largest island.

Prepare for difficult times, China's Xi urges as trade war simmers

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:46:44 -0400

China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the U.S.-China trade war took a mounting toll on tech giant Huawei.

Venezuela’s opposition, government pursue talks to resolve crisis; U.S. skeptical

Anthony Faiola and Karen DeYoung — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:46:00 -0400

The Oslo meeting between Guaidó’s opposition and Maduro’s government yielded no agreements, but talks could continue.

Exclusive: Guaido says Washington should help Venezuela keep U.S. refiner Citgo

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:45:24 -0400

The United States should help Venezuela keep control over U.S. refiner Citgo by preventing its seizure by creditors seeking to collect on unpaid Venezuelan debts, opposition leader Juan Guaido said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

Bernie Sanders inches toward backing impeaching Trump

qforgey@politico.com (Quint Forgey) — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:41:31 -0400

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday inched closer to supporting impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, saying "it may be time" for the House Judiciary Committee to determine whether to start the process.

“I do understand where House members are coming from. And you've got this guy who is refusing to respect the Constitution, equal powers, and is rejecting requests for members of the administration to come forward,” the 2020 Democratic White House hopeful said on CNN.

“So, you know, I think it may be time at least to begin the process through the Judiciary Committee to determine whether or not there are impeachment proceedings.”

Calls by Democratic lawmakers to launch an impeachment inquiry have ramped up since Monday, when the administration directed former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee to testify publicly and produce documents related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The White House has attempted to block Democrats’ inquiries into Trump, including his financial records and actions detailed in Mueller’s report.

While White House contenders such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have called for Trump’s impeachment, Sanders has been more cautious, as have House leaders such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sanders said Wednesday that if Trump "continues to not understand the Constitution of the United States, the separation of powers, the fact that the Congress has every right to subpoena," it might be time to start the impeachment process.

Sanders, a Vermont Independent, also said House Democrats must remain focused on progressive legislative priorities.

“The House has got to continue going forward, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, making sure that all of our people have health care, dealing with climate change, dealing with voter suppression,” Sanders said. “If all we talk about is Trump, Trump, Trump, I think he benefits.”

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

US warns Assad against using chemical weapons as fighting escalates in Syria

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:40:40 -0400

Fighting in the last rebel stronghold in Syria has prompted U.S. warnings that it has seen signs Bashar al Assad is preparing to use chemical weapons.

Deutsche Bank Can Release Trump Records to Congress, Judge Rules - The New York Times

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:36:22 -0400

Deutsche Bank Can Release Trump Records to Congress, Judge Rules The New York Times
2nd judge refuses to block House subpoenas for Trump bank records CNN
Judge rejects Trump’s request to halt congressional subpoenas for his banking records The Washington Post
Judge says Deutsche Bank, Capital One can give Trump financial records to House Democrats CNBC
Judge refuses to block House subpoenas for Trump bank records Editors Choice
View full coverage on Google News

Milkshake-wielding protesters trap Nigel Farage on his Brexit bus

Jennifer Hassan — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:35:15 -0400

The milkshake madness continues in Britain.

2021 NFL Draft to be hosted in Cleveland - 10TV

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:33:30 -0400

2021 NFL Draft to be hosted in Cleveland 10TV
NFL draft headed to Cleveland in 2021, KC in '23 ESPN
Cleveland, Kansas City to host drafts in '21, '23 NFL.com
Kansas City awarded 2023 NFL draft KMBC Kansas City
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam responds to Cleveland selected as host city for 2021 draft Cleveland Browns
View full coverage on Google News

Pro-Brexit minister quits as Theresa May faces endgame

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:33:00 -0400

The Leader of the UK House of Commons Angela Leadsom said she can no longer support Theresa May's Brexit deal. The move comes amidst growing calls for the embattled prime minister to step down.

Eli Lilly's lower-priced insulin goes on sale amid drug price debate

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:32:46 -0400

A cheaper generic version of the rapid-acting insulin Humalog has hit the market, according to a statement Wednesday by drugmaker Eli Lilly.

Ozone layer: Banned CFCs traced to China say scientists

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:31:56 -0400

Atmospheric observations pinpoint eastern China as the source of rise in ozone-destroying chemicals.

Brazil: Man who killed 3 at Baptist church was ‘incoherent’

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:30:22 -0400

Brazilian authorities say a man was disoriented and speaking “incoherent phrases” when he shot three people to death at a Baptist church, before being seriously wounded by military police

Trump loses court round on Democratic lawmakers' demand that banks provide his business records

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:25:37 -0400

Irate Brazil lawmakers threaten Bolsonaro's cabinet, agenda

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:24:02 -0400

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces a crucial test on Wednesday of his ability to govern without courting traditional parties in Congress, which is threatening to derail his agenda and scramble his cabinet after months of mutual antagonism.

UN demands Britain end rule of Chagos Islands in 6 months

Edith M. Lederer | AP — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:21:21 -0400

The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago, which includes the U.S. air base on Diego Garcia

Man wanted to ‘bomb Trump Tower,’ shoot pro-Israel rally-goers, feds say

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:21:00 -0400

The man also said he wanted to "bomb Trump Tower."

FIFA decides not to add 16 teams for 2022 World Cup finals

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:20:04 -0400

World football governing body FIFA said Wednesday that the number of teams at the next men's World Cup will remain at 32.

Mnuchin: 'I am not violating the law' by refusing to hand over Trump's tax returns

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:20:01 -0400

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday rebuffed claims by House Democrats that his refusal to comply with a congressional request for President Donald Trump's personal tax returns is a violation of the law.

Next round of U.S. tariffs on China at least a month away: Mnuchin

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:19:55 -0400

The United States is at least a month from enacting its proposed tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports as it studies the impact on American consumers, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday.

Michael Avenatti charged with stealing $300,000 from former client Stormy Daniels

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:19:43 -0400

A federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday in two alleged schemes, charging him with fraud and aggravated identity theft involving his former client, Stormy Daniels, and with attempting to extort more than $20 million from sportswear giant Nike.

Biker gang raid: What do we know about Al-Salam-313?

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:19:00 -0400

In a dawn raid, some 500 police officers stormed 43 properties in eleven cities across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. What exactly do we know so far about the group that was targeted? DW investigates.

Michael Avenatti charged with stealing $300,000 from former client Stormy Daniels - CNN

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:19:00 -0400

'American Taliban' to be released from prison Thursday

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:18:48 -0400

John Walker Lindh, the American captured in Afghanistan in 2001 fighting for the Taliban and vilified as a national traitor, is to be released early from a federal prison on Thursday while some U.S. lawmakers worry he still poses a security risk.

Bernie Sanders trolls Trump

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:17:34 -0400

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders reacts to President Donald Trump storming out of an infrastructure meeting with Democrats over House investigations into the President.

DHS head outraged after lawmaker suggests migrant deaths were intentional

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:17:07 -0400

During a hearing with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Capitol Hill, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) suggested the deaths of five migrant children and family separation actions were "intentional." Republicans pushed back and the committee voted to scrap Underwood's comment from the record.

Chagos Islands dispute: UN backs end to UK control

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:15:26 -0400

In a non-binding vote, the General Assembly demands the UK give the islands back to Mauritius.

Xbox One: The best backward compatible games - Polygon

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:14:02 -0400

Xbox One: The best backward compatible games Polygon

The Xbox One now plays tons of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, including Halo, Gears of War, Crackdown, Fable, and more. We list some of the best ...

The Latest: Man accused of making threats held without bail

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:13:48 -0400

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on a New Jersey man charged with aiding a terrorist organization and threatening to kill pro-Israel supporters (all times local):

5 p.m.

A man charged with aiding a terrorist organization and threatening to "shoot everybody" at a pro-Israel march is being held without ball.

...

Renewed U.S.-China trade tensions push down Wall Street

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:12:13 -0400

Wall Street's major indexes dipped on Wednesday as inflamed trade tensions between the United States and China weighed on investor sentiment.

First US state legalizes composting of human bodies

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:09:44 -0400

Washington has become the first state in the nation to pass a law allowing composting as an alternative to burial or cremation of human remains.

Trump honors 14 public safety officers with the Medal of Valor

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:09:44 -0400

President Donald Trump honored 14 public safety officers for their acts of heroism with the Medal of Valor on Wednesday at the White House, with honorees including an Ohio State University officer who thwarted an act of terrorism and a fallen Dallas officer killed during a mass shooting at a police protest march.

Feds charge Avenatti for misappropriating nearly $300K from ex-client Stormy Daniels

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:09:35 -0400

Federal prosecutors are expected to charge Michael Avenatti with additional financial crimes Wednesday, sources briefed on the case told ABC News.

Now we know why SpaceX is suing the US government

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:07:53 -0400

SpaceX's rivals just blew the cover off the rocket company's secretive lawsuit against the US government.

Hilary Williams' horrific car crash 13 years ago inspired her album 'My Lucky Scars'

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:07:26 -0400

Country singer-songwriter Hilary Williams remembers her 2006 accident and the inspiration behind her new album 'My Lucky Scars.'

Musk's SpaceX sues U.S. Air Force over rocket-building contracts: filings

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:07:18 -0400

Billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX accused the U.S. Air Force of breaking contracting rules when it awarded money to three rocket makers but passed on Musk's rival bid, and said the tender should be reopened, according to a court filing unsealed on Wednesday.

FIFA: Only 32 teams in Qatar World Cup 2022

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:05:00 -0400

World football's governing body was hoping to expand the competition to include 48 countries. However, that would have needed another Gulf country to host games along with Qatar, amid deteriorating ties in the region.

Daniel Craig to undergo ankle surgery after getting injured on the 'Bond 25' movie set - AOL

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:03:21 -0400

Iran Supreme Leader Criticizes Politicians Amid Tension With US

webdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:02:28 -0400

Iran's supreme leader publicly chastised the country's moderate president and foreign minister Wednesday, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time he's criticized both politicians by name, came amid tensions with the United States a year after Washington's withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has final say on all matters of state, and his assessment limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who are relative moderates within Iran's Shiite theocracy. It also shows the growing power of hard-liners. The White House this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it had perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Fear of mistake Both Washington and Tehran have said in recent days that they want to ease heightened tensions in the region. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. Khamenei made the comments before hard-line students gathered for a Ramadan lecture. For years, hard-liners have criticized the accord for giving too much away. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, the signing of which sparked spontaneous celebrations across Iran. The accord called for Iran to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal has unraveled since Trump's withdrawal, with the U.S. re-imposing old sanctions and coming up with even stricter new ones. ``To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented,'' Khamenei said, according to his official website. ``Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister.'' Khamenei has previously warned that the West, especially the U.S., isn't trustworthy. But he hadn't named Iran's top elected politician and top diplomat before Wednesday night. He's previously said the two have done the best they could. Even before Trump became president and later withdrew from the deal, there were concerns in Washington that the supreme leader might turn on the agreement if the envisioned sanctions relief fell short of what Tehran expected. For that reason, the Obama administration dispatched senior officials to Europe, Asia and elsewhere to explain to foreign governments and countries what was permitted. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew each encouraged foreign investors to do business with Iran so that the benefits of the deal would be apparent to the Iranian people. Loss of oil revenue Since Trump's pullout last year and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in November, remaining parties to the deal have been unable to keep up the pace of relief, and Iran's economy has been significantly harmed, notably because of the loss of revenue from oil exports and the risk of incurring U.S. penalties that has dissuaded international companies from opening shop in Iran. While Iran's supreme leader does oversee elected representatives, his main role in society is spiritual rather than political. Khamenei acknowledged that in his speech Wednesday night, saying the gravity of the situation called on him to speak. ``Our belief is that the leadership should not enter into the executive issues, unless if it affects the entire revolution,'' Khamenei said. There was no immediate comment from either Rouhani, who is serving his second four-year term as president, or Zarif. Khamenei did not directly address the ongoing tensions, which include the heightened U.S. naval presence in the region. However, during his appearance with the students, one came up to Khamenei with a painting of the Revolutionary Guard soldier credited with laying mines targeting U.S.-escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf during Iran's 1980s war with Iraq. The Guard says he was killed in a confrontation with the U.S. Navy. On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels. Not seeking conflict Earlier Wednesday, a prominent reformist lawmaker who chairs parliament's national security and foreign policy commission stressed that neither Iran nor its proxy allies were seeking armed conflict with the U.S. ``Under no circumstance will we enter a war,'' Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency. ``No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Iran's side.'' Meanwhile, Iran's army chief, Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were behind the sabotage of the oil tankers off the UAE, as well as a rocket that landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The U.S. has blamed Iran for both incidents without publicly offering evidence. America also has evacuated nonessential diplomatic staff from Iraq amid the tensions. The U.S. Air Force also announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to America's vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the U.S. ``This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships'' with Qatar, the Air Force said.

Rep. Max Rose: The president needs to have thicker skin

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:01:28 -0400

New York Democrat Rep. Max Rose says President Trump was throwing a 'temper tantrum' when he canceled a meeting on infrastructure with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Years in the Making, a Rancorous Washington Moment

webdesk@voanews.com (Ken Bredemeier) — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:01:23 -0400

The memories of the tumultuous 2016 U.S. presidential election, contentious political squabbling between Republican President Donald Trump and top Democratic congressional leaders, and the shadow of months of unending investigations all came to rancorous confrontation Wednesday in Washington. Trump abruptly called off a White House meeting with Democrats a short time after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused him of engaging "in a cover-up" by refusing to cooperate with Democratic-led investigations of his business affairs and the aftermath of Russian intrusion in the election. "I don't do cover-ups," Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden, adding that he would not negotiate with Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer and others over policy issues while congressional investigations of him are ongoing. "You can't do it under these circumstances," he said. "What they've done is abuse. Let them play their games." But the spat, partly played out on national television, was borne of Trump's growing anger and frustration at congressional oversight instigated by Democratic lawmakers who took control over the House of Representatives in January after two years of Republican dominance and virtually no oversight of their political colleague in the White House. Trump has vowed to combat all Democratic subpoenas for information linked to his business affairs, taxes and more congressional testimony stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's 22-month investigation of Trump campaign links to Russia in the presidential contest three years ago and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart the Mueller probe. With one exception, Trump has held Democrats at bay in their pursuit for information and public oversight that could, when broadcast on live television, damage his chances for winning re-election in November 2020. Some House Democrats, and a lone Republican congressman, have called for the start of impeachment hearings against Trump, even though the Republican-controlled Senate is highly unlikely to remove him from office. Pelosi, the leader of the majority Democrats in the House of Representatives, wants the investigations to continue, but so far has resisted the calls for an impeachment inquiry. "In any event, I pray for the president of the United States, and I pray for the United States of America," she said after the aborted White House meeting. Congressman Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday his panel has won an agreement from the Justice Department to turn over 12 categories of counterintelligence and foreign intelligence information that had been collected as part of Mueller's investigation into the Russian election interference and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to block the probe. The House Intelligence panel had subpoenaed the information and Schiff said the subpoena "will remain in effect, and be enforced" if Justice fails "to comply with the full document request." Other House committees, however, have not been successful in retrieving information and testimony they have demanded from Trump and his administration. Mueller's report concluded that Trump had not colluded with Russia to help him win the election. But it cited 11 instances of possible obstruction of the investigation by the president, saying that "while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." But Attorney General William Barr and then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein subsequently decided that obstruction of justice charges against Trump were not warranted. Barr, however, has refused to turn over an unredacted copy of the Mueller report to the House Judiciary Committee, with the Democrat-controlled panel then overriding Republican objections and voting to hold him in contempt of Congress. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin rejected a request to turn over six years' worth of Trump's tax returns. Despite a 1924 law saying that the government "shall" turn over the tax returns to key congressional leaders, Mnuchin said Democratic lawmakers lacked "a legitimate legislative purpose" for the information. Trump directed Donald McGahn, his former White House counsel, to defy a subpoena and refuse to testify Tuesday before the Judiciary committee about McGahn's claim that Trump ordered him to oust Mueller and then, when a news story recounted Trump's directive, to publicly lie that the conversation never occurred. McGahn, according to the Mueller report, ignored Trump's order to get rid of Mueller and refused his request to discount the accuracy of the news report. Trump also is fighting a House bid for his financial records compiled by an accounting firm. A judge in Washington this week ordered the accountants to turn over the records, but the president called the decision "crazy" and is appealing the ruling. Meanwhile, Trump has unleashed almost daily attacks on the House Democrats' investigations. In another tweet, Trump said:

Source: Howard reaches deal to coach Michigan - ESPN

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:00:33 -0400

Source: Howard reaches deal to coach Michigan ESPN
Juwan Howard becomes Michigan's new head coach | CBS Sports HQ CBS Sports
Opinion: Why Juwan Howard, if hired, has potential to turn Michigan into a monster WolverinesWire
Juwan Howard not a slam dunk for Michigan, plenty of questions and risks Detroit Free Press
Sources - Howard in talks to be Michigan coach ESPN
View full coverage on Google News

Why Hong Kong’s extradition bill has set off alarm bells

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:00:24 -0400

International and domestic critics fear greater political interference from Beijing

Mike Valenti: Juwan Howard Hire Is 'The Most Michigan Thing Ever' - 97.1 The Ticket

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:59:30 -0400

Mike Valenti: Juwan Howard Hire Is 'The Most Michigan Thing Ever' 97.1 The Ticket
Source: Howard reaches deal to coach Michigan ESPN
Juwan Howard becomes Michigan's new head coach | CBS Sports HQ CBS Sports
Opinion: Why Juwan Howard, if hired, has potential to turn Michigan into a monster WolverinesWire
Juwan Howard not a slam dunk for Michigan, plenty of questions and risks Detroit Free Press
View full coverage on Google News

3 more parents plead guilty in college admissions scam

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:59:11 -0400

A married couple and a California businessman are the latest parents to plead guilty in the sweeping college admissions scam

Alice Johnson details her faith in God and how she never lost hope in prison

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:57:34 -0400

Alice Johnson details her faith in God and how she never lost hope in prison

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone in border province

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:56:20 -0400

Saudi Arabia's air defense forces in the southern border province of Najran intercepted a drone fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, the kingdom's Washington embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

Sudan military wants to cede power quickly: general

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:55:31 -0400

Sudan's military wants to hand power to a democratically elected government as soon as possible in the tumultuous aftermath of former president Omar al-Bashir's overthrow, a prominent general said in an interview published on Wednesday.

US judge rejects Trump effort to quash bank record subpoenas

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:48:58 -0400

Ruling is the second in a week to rebuff president’s attempts to block release of records

Trump critic Avenatti indicted for ripping off Stormy Daniels, extorting Nike

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:48:56 -0400

Michael Avenatti's legal troubles escalated on Wednesday as federal prosecutors announced new criminal charges accusing the lawyer and prominent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump of stealing from porn star Stormy Daniels and extorting Nike Inc.

Trump was irked at Pelosi's 'cover-up' remark before speech

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:48:20 -0400

President Donald Trump said in impromptu remarks Wednesday that he told Democrats at the White House he couldn't work with them while they were pursuing investigations into him and his administration.

AIPAC’s Weakening Grip On US Foreign Policy

Abukar Arman — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:48:12 -0400

Despite the 18,000faithful who gathered recently in Washington, D.C. to pledge their unwavering support to Israel, AIPAC finds itself in a Dickensian moment of history that could be described as ‘It was the winter of gloating; it was the spring of scrutiny’.

AIPAC’s guests of honor may vary in faith and political affiliation; they may vary in fame, clout, and the sizes of their wallets. But on certain characteristics they are all identical: their cultish faithfulness in the mentality of ‘what’s good for Israel is good for America,’ and in their adherence to disseminate the committee’s talking-points on foreign policy ad nauseam.

As usual the AIPA Cconference has attracted big names such as Vice President Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others to rub shoulders with many bigwig donors, pundits and ‘king-makers’.

Sustaining Apartheid

After 7 decades of statehood, Israel remains unsustainable without billions of U.S. tax-payers’ money, without U.S.’ blind commitment to veto any resolution that attempts to hold Israel accountable for the routine human rights violations and transgressions against international laws- something that ironically would have justified ‘regime change’ if it were another country doing it.

Over the years, AIPAC has successfully marketed Israel as a “logical” cognitive dissonance. Though 2019 Global Firepower ranks Israel the 16^th most powerful military in the world, it is presented in the US as a nation that is under existential threat. Though it is a wealthy, innovative, and advanced nation, it is presented as a nation that is worthy of perpetual unconditional funding from American tax-payers.

Looking Through the Stained Glass

Following Israel’s 70^thanniversary, these 3 controversial AIPAC lobbied-issues came to fruition: termination of the Iran Nuclear Deal, transfer of US embassy to Jerusalem, and getting U.S. to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel; hence underscoring AIPAC’s exceptional clout in driving U.S. foreign policy. The only outstanding item in Israel’s wish-list is to declare the remanence of the Muslim Brotherhood—most of whom are in the dungeons of Egypt—a terrorist organization. Surely these accomplishments could boost Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Donald Trump’s image- something they desperately need as specter of corruption charges looms.

That being said, despite the common perception, America, save President Carter, has never been an ‘honest broker’ in its effort to help negotiate peace between Israel and Palestine. And that duplicitous brokerage is now on steroids. Unlike previous U.S. envoys to the Middle East who diplomatically concealed their staunch support of above-all-laws Zionism, Trump’s son in law Jarad Kushner who is now piloting U.S.’ Middle East policy, seems to enjoy being closely affiliated with Netanyahu and the extreme elements of Israel’s politics.

The Missing In Action Media

AIPAC relies heavily on U.S. mainstream media for dissemination of Israel’s narrative and for perception management by omitting daily human rights violations that IDF commits against Palestinians, including children. So it should shock no one to see media groups that would assign reporters to file stories from dangerous war zones would never send reporters to educate American audiences on what happens at military check points or about the unbearable living conditions in Gaza.

Generally speaking, in democracies, media provides some of the most critical public services- information, scrutiny, and empowerment. Without them, the masses will remain ignorant or ill-informed, therefore easily exploitable socially, politically and economically, and those whom power is entrusted with will grow more authoritarian and abusive, with impunity.

By the same token when media surrender their journalistic independence to the highest corporate or individual mogul bidders, they, in due course, grow dysfunctional and lose sight of their role to advance the public interest and keep power in check. In such condition, media become dangerous tools.

According to Gullup media trust survey, older Americans are more likely to trust the media than younger Americans are. In this latest survey, 53% of those aged 65 and older trust in the media, compared with just 33% of those under age 30,” And this demographic perceptional enlightenment is the biggest revolution against fictional narratives that cannot withstand the smell test. That revolution is not only active in social media; it has real presence in the United States Congress. And said presence is more profound than Adam Milstein, a major pro-Israel funder’s, Islamophobic claim that “The Muslim Brotherhood is now part of Congress” in reference to Muslim Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib or President Trump’s reckless posting of a propagandistic video implicating Rep. Omar as a terrorist sympathizer. Death threats against Omar have alarmingly increased since then.

Imminent Clash With Congress

Donald Trump’s tweet has set thestage for U.S.’ formal recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israel posted the day before the Special Counsel Rober Mueller turned in his final report on the Russia Investigation. Of course, this latest of ‘Trumplomacy’ adventures has very little, if any, to do with U.S. national interest.

Trump’s violation of the international law that considers the Golan Heights as an occupied territory was meant to give another troubled leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is AIPAC’s choice, a boost in the upcoming election. This blind loyalty to Israel’s grand objective in the Middle East would further alienate and shut out any opportunity to reconcile with the Muslim streetsthat are fed up with the despotic older guards such as Egypt’s President Abel Fattah el-Sisi and the more youthful perilous pawns such as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. This reckless decision endorses the ‘might is right’ world view, reinspire irredentism and intensify the sporadic disorders already underway in many parts of the world and undermine U.S.’ geopolitical interest in the long term. Most of the credit goes to AIPAC.

Before AIPAC came to the scene, the Jewish Zionist Council used to do heavy lifting when it comes to lobbying for Israel. Under the Kennedy administration, Attorney General Robert Kennedy launched an investigation that later found out that the Council has “compromised its position”thus ordering it to register as a “foreign agent”. The Council never registered. It was voluntarily dissolved, and, in late 1960s, AIPAC whose mission is “to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel” assumed its functions.

Due to the blurred line of U.S. national interest andAIPAC’s emboldened status under the current administration, it is a matter of time before the new generation in the House would demand hearings citing that 1962-63 investigation as a precedent.

Downward Indicators

This year’s de facto conference theme was ‘Let’s gang up of Ilhan, shall we?’ Led by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who told the conference “take it from this Benjamin, it’s not about the Benjamins,” it is about Israel’s shared values with the U.S., he added. This assertion might persuade anyone who is oblivious to or ignores the fact that United Kingdom is the closest to U.S. when it comes to shared values, history, fighting side-by-side in major wars, and strategic partnership that ensures each a robust support for the other. But, everyone knows no politician who knows a thing or two about international relations could claim that U.K. and America will be friends forever. Yet, “Israel and America are connected now and forever,” said Speaker Pelosi.

AIPAC has been having a rough time spinning any and all legitimate criticism of Israel’s ruthless oppression of the Palestinian people as an ill-intentioned anti-Semitic attack on all Jews, though many of the most antagonistic toward that apartheid-like system are thoughtful Jews, Jewish human rights and peace-promoting organizations.

The United Nations has recently issued a reportblaming Israeli army for cold-blood killings of 189 unarmed Palestinians that include 35 children and some journalists and first aid workers and maiming more than 9,000 during last year’s ‘right to return’ protests in Gaza. The report which was based on more than 300 interviews and more than 8,000 documents concludes that Israel may have committed crimes against humanity. With these kinds of crimes and Netanyahu’s Likud Party forming partnership with a zealot party that promotes forced removal of Palestinians had compelled many including 2020 presidential candidates such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Kamala Harris to boycottattending the conference. President Trump did not waste time in condemning their decision to not pay their loyalty homage as an anti-Israel stance.

Meanwhile, the BDS movement continues to rapidly grow. Recently Brown Uniersity became the first Ivy League university to officially join the movement. Expect other universities to follow.

Many holes are poked in AIPAC’s ‘carrot or stick’ groupthink power that had total monopoly on the Middle East narrative and the future of the Palestinian people. Just don’t tell those die hard AIPAC loyalists who were at the conference about it.

When groupthink rouses the masses into disorder it is a tragedy. And when groupthink rouses the political, economic, social, and the intellectual elite to surrender their autonomy to think critically and independently, it is a tragic comedy.

The post AIPAC’s Weakening Grip On US Foreign Policy appeared first on Foreign Policy Blogs.

More Than 1000 Holocaust Victims Are Buried In Belarus After Mass Grave Discovered - NPR

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:48:00 -0400

More Than 1000 Holocaust Victims Are Buried In Belarus After Mass Grave Discovered NPR

The remains emerged at a construction site in January. "I think it's very late, but better late than never," said Marcel Drimer, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor.

View full coverage on Google News

Canada's Trudeau to invest C$15.7 billion in coast guard overhaul

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:45:07 -0400

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said Canada would spend an estimated C$15.7 billion ($11.7 billion) to renew its coast guard fleet and that it would partner with a new shipyard to complete the project.

Judge refuses to block Trump bank subpoenas

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:44:55 -0400

A federal judge in New York is refusing to block congressional subpoenas seeking financial records from two banks that did business with President Donald Trump.

Colombia's Cano Limon, Bicentenario pipeline pumping halted after bombings

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:42:10 -0400

Pumping on Colombia's Bicentenario and Cano Limon oil pipelines has been halted following bomb attacks in recent days, sources from operators Bicentenario and state-run oil company Ecopetrol said on Wednesday.

Nevada could become 15th state to drop Electoral College in favor of popular vote - CBS News

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:42:00 -0400

Nevada could become 15th state to drop Electoral College in favor of popular vote CBS News
Nevada Senate passes National Popular Vote bill on party-line vote Washington Times
Nevada May Break Up With The Electoral College NPR
More and more states want the popular vote to decide the 2020 election. Nevada may be next. The Washington Post
Nevada to be 15th state to green-light plan awarding Electoral College votes to popular vote winner Daily Mail
View full coverage on Google News

Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin survives primary battle

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:41:57 -0400

Gov. Matt Bevin says he is grateful for the support that President Trump has given him.

Investors seek safety on threat of wider U.S.-China spat

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:38:53 -0400

Global equity markets slid on Wednesday as investors sought safety in bonds, the Japanese yen and Swiss franc amid renewed worries over the U.S.-China trade standoff after reports the United States has another Chinese tech firm in its sights.

Chip designer ARM halts work with Huawei after U.S. ban

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:38:36 -0400

British chip designer ARM has halted relations with Huawei in order to comply with a U.S. blockade of the company, potentially crippling the Chinese company's ability to make new chips for its future smartphones.

Russian opposition leader’s associate jailed for 20 days

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:38:20 -0400

A top associate of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 20 days in jail in connection with an unsanctioned protest rally last year

U.S. does not dare attack Iran: Revolutionary Guards commander

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:37:49 -0400

The United States and its supporters do not dare attack Iran because of its "spirit of resistance", a senior Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted on Wednesday as saying.

Theresa May holds on, but House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom resigns

Karla Adam — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:37:19 -0400

Leadsom is ‘actively considering’ entering the race to replace May

North Korea calls Joe Biden ‘an imbecile’ and ‘fool of low IQ’

Siobhán O'Grady — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:36:40 -0400

The state news agency also said that if Biden thinks he is the most popular presidential candidate, it's "enough to make a cat laugh."

Iran youth will witness demise of Israel, 'American civilization': Khamenei

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:35:36 -0400

Iran's youth will witness the demise of Israel and American civilization, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday in comments published on his official website.

Judge sides with Democrats in Trump bank subpoena fight

POLITICO Staff — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:34:36 -0400

A federal judge on Wednesday allowed the House to move ahead with subpoenas seeking years of President Donald Trump’s financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, dealing the second blow in a matter of days to Trump's legal strategy of stonewalling Democrats’ investigations.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Pleads for Funds

webdesk@voanews.com (Margaret Besheer) — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:34:30 -0400

The U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday that it would run out of money in a few weeks if donors did not step up quickly. "As we speak, UNRWA has only enough money to run its operations until mid-June," Pierre Krähenbühl, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, told the U.N. Security Council. The council meets monthly to discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict. UNRWA provides more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria with essential services, including education and health care. Same amount as in 2018 Krähenbühl said the agency needs $1.2 billion this year for all of its operations across the region. "This is the exact amount we mobilized last year," he said. "If every donor managed to maintain its level of funding in 2019, we should be able to cover our budget." He said he was particularly worried about making sure UNRWA's 715 schools could open on time in August to serve a half-million students, as well as being able to continue food distribution programs. Midyear financial shortages are not unusual for the agency, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. But it has faced an unprecedented funding crisis since last year, when the Trump administration abruptly slashed its contribution by $300 million. This year, it has not funded UNRWA at all. Historically, Washington has been the agency's largest single donor. U.S. Middle East negotiator Jason Greenblatt made clear the administration's position had not changed. "UNRWA's business model, which is inherently tied to an endlessly and exponentially expanding community of beneficiaries, is in permanent crisis mode," Greenblatt told the council. "That is why the United States decided that it will no longer commit to funding this irredeemably flawed operation." He said Palestinians deserve a life in which they will know whether schools and health clinics will remain open. "We need to engage with host governments to start a conversation about planning the transition of UNRWA services to host governments, or to other international or local nongovernmental organizations, as appropriate," he said. "The United States is ready to participate in that conversation." The Trump administration is expected to unveil its long-awaited peace plan next month, which Greenblatt has worked on with Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The administration plans to roll out the economic part of the plan at a conference in Bahrain in late June. The administration has invited government, civil society and business leaders to a workshop there promoting support for potential investments and initiatives that could follow a peace deal. Palestinian leaders, angry at unilateral actions by the U.S., including moving its embassy to Jerusalem, are considering whether to boycott the event. "It would be a mistake for the Palestinians not to join us," Greenblatt said. "They have nothing to lose and much to gain if they do join us." Israel's envoy went further on UNRWA, calling for the elimination of the agency and accusing it of inciting violence against Israel. "It is time to stop pumping money into an organization that has continued the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza," Israeli envoy Danny Danon said. "UNRWA's mandate must come to an end." 'Extraordinary work' Palestinian deputy U.N. envoy Feda Abdelhady-Nasser rejected the attacks on UNRWA. "Attempts to characterize the agency as part of the problem when it has done extraordinary work to alleviate the plight of millions and to contribute to regional stability are cynical, unfair and rejected not only by us but the vast majority of states that continue to strongly support UNRWA's mandate," she said. Krähenbühl also firmly rejected U.S. and Israeli criticism, saying the agency had carried out its mission "in one of the most polarized, if not the most polarized, contexts on the planet" with "integrity, dignity and neutrality." As to UNRWA's existence for nearly 70 years, he said it was never intended to be permanent, but its continued existence is "an illustration of the abysmal failure in political terms to bring about a solution" to the conflict.

Canada, Europe to Choose When 737 MAX Is Safe as Regulators Meet

webdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:33:38 -0400

In a potential challenge to U.S.-led efforts to build consensus on the Boeing Co 737 MAX flying again, Canada and Europe said on Wednesday they would bring back the grounded aircraft on their own terms if their specific concerns are not addressed. Global regulators will meet in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday where the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hopes to reach an international consensus on how to move forward with the MAX, U.S. officials told Reuters. The plane was grounded worldwide in March following a fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash just months after a similar Lion Air disaster in Indonesia which together killed 346 people. Global airlines that had rushed to buy the fuel-efficient, longer-range aircraft have since canceled flights and scrambled to cover routes that were previously flown by the MAX. "From our point of view, if we all work together and we all reach the same aim, fine. If we don't, we'll choose our own time to decide when the planes are safe to fly again," Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau told Reuters in an interview. "The number one focus for us is that we in Canada must be satisfied. It doesn't matter what others do. So if we are not perfectly synchronized with certain other countries that's how it going to be," Garneau said. Regulators are expected to discuss Boeing's proposed software fix and new pilot training that are both key to re-starting flights. Boeing has not yet formally submitted its proposals to the FAA. A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that it would complete an additional independent design review of the plane once the FAA approves Boeing's proposed changes and establishes "adequate training of Boeing MAX flight crews." Foreign regulators have already signaled disagreements over measures to end the grounding, with Garneau calling in April for pilots to receive simulator training for the MAX, rather than computer courses, going a step beyond FAA-backed proposals. Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell told Congress last week the FAA is working closely with other civil aviation authorities "to address specific concerns related to the 737 MAX." United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz said on Wednesday that FAA approval is only the first step, with public and employee confidence key to deciding when to fly its 14 MAX jets again.

'Unplanned' denied by Canadian distribution giants; pro-life film hit with de facto ban

Douglas Ernst — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:33:24 -0400

The hit pro-life film 'Unplanned' is unwelcome in Canada as far as two of the nation's distribution gatekeepers are concerned.

Landmark and Cineplex recently told writer, producer, and director Chuck Konzelman that "content" prompted them to balk on the movie, which grossed over $18 million domestically on a budget of ...

The risk of a US dollar primed for higher altitude

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:33:20 -0400

Mike Mackenzie’s daily analysis of what’s moving global markets

Consumer Reports says Tesla's new autopilot feature raises serious safety concerns

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:32:53 -0400

Tesla's new Navigate on Autopilot feature performs much worse than a typical human driver at things like changing lanes and passing and poses a serious safety risk, according to Consumer Reports.

Tories expect May to be gone within days

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:32:20 -0400

Leadsom’s resignation from government caps torrid day for embattled PM

Amazon shareholders reject facial recognition ban as concern grows in U.S. Congress

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:32:05 -0400

Amazon.com Inc said shareholders rejected proposals to curb and audit its facial recognition service on Wednesday, just as members of Congress indicated there was bipartisan support to one day regulate the technology.

Biden campaign, unfazed by N. Korea insults, says it's 'no surprise' rogue nation prefers Trump - Fox News

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:29:31 -0400

Daniel Craig will have ankle surgery after an injury on the set of latest James Bond movie — and production is halted - Business Insider

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:28:20 -0400

Dog jumps out of moving vehicle, suspect detained after high-speed RV chase in LA - ABC News

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:28:06 -0400

Editorials from around New York

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:27:03 -0400

Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from New York's newspapers:

The Wall Street Journal on the benefits of short-term health insurance

House Democrats last week voted to reverse a Trump Administration rule that the left has branded as promoting "junk insurance." So note that the vote arrives the same ...

Trump hits back at Democratic 'cover-up' claims

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:27:02 -0400

The president rules out any bipartisan co-operation until Democrats call off "phoney investigations".

Fugitive Says He'll Surrender if People Like Wanted Poster

webdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:26:26 -0400

A Connecticut police department has reached a deal with a fugitive that would have him surrender if enough people respond to a wanted poster on social media, an agreement that at least on expert calls unethical. Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive after failing to appear in court on charges that range from breach of peace to risk of injury to a child. Torrington police Lt. Brett Johnson posted on the department's Facebook page Wednesday that Sims had contacted him through the social media site and agreed to turn himself in if the post containing his poster gets 15,000 "likes." Johnson said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 "likes." "It will be difficult but is doable," Johnson wrote. He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding they could let police know and save the department some suspense. But Maki Haberfeld, an expert in police ethics and procedure at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Simms is using social media to manipulate both the news media and police, who she said have no business negotiating a deal with a suspect, never mind one that involves "likes" on Facebook. "It turns this into a joke," she said. "People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game." Simms, contacted by The Associated Press through Facebook, said he is serious about the offer. "I wanted to give them a little incentive for all the hard work they put in to catch me," he wrote. Simms said the charges stemmed from domestic problems and he is tired of running from authorities. "Looking over your shoulder every 5 seconds can cause a lot of stress," he wrote. Torrington police did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. Simms said he is prepared to live up to his end of the agreement, insisting he is a "man of my word." Haberfield said Sims is clearly getting a lot of attention, and that is exactly what he wants. "This is 100% manipulation," she said. "And for police, it's not an ethical thing to do."

New START extension in doubt

Bill Gertz — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:25:05 -0400

Senior Trump administration officials told Congress recently that the United States is reviewing whether to seek an extension of the 2010 New START strategic weapons treaty amid concerns about Russian treaty violations and China's growing nuclear arsenal.

Andrea Thompson, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, disclosed ...

Apple’s WWDC 2019 keynote will detail iOS 13, macOS 10.15, and more on June 3 - Ars Technica

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:25:00 -0400

Arizona prisons ban book on black men and the criminal justice system

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:24:54 -0400

A book that examines the effect of the criminal justice system on black men is reportedly not welcome in Arizona prisons.

NASA wants you to get your boarding pass to Mars - Engadget

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:23:00 -0400

NASA wants you to get your boarding pass to Mars Engadget
NASA Invites Public to Submit Names to Fly Aboard Next Mars Rover NASA Planetary Science
NASA will send your name to the Red Planet on the Mars 2020 rover Yahoo News
You can earn "frequent flyer miles" for sending your name to mars The Week Magazine
Get Your Boarding Pass To Mars CBS Miami
View full coverage on Google News

It’s Not Always the End of the World - The New York Times

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:22:42 -0400

It’s Not Always the End of the World The New York Times

President Trump recently declared that he won the White House in “one of the most hard fought and consequential elections in the history of our great nation.

Rep. Biggs says Democrats are hindering everything President Trump is trying to do

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:20:41 -0400

Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs weighs in on the growing tension between the White House and Democratic lawmakers.

Brexit Crisis: Minister Quits, Piling Pressure on Britain's May

webdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:20:28 -0400

Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Wednesday, piling pressure on the British leader after a new Brexit gambit backfired and fueled calls for her to quit. So far May has resisted, vowing to press on despite opposition from lawmakers and other ministers to her bid to get her Brexit deal through parliament by softening her stance on a second referendum and customs arrangements. But Leadsom's resignation further deepens the Brexit crisis, sapping an already weak leader of her authority. Almost three years since Britain voted to leave the European Union, it is not clear when, how or even if Brexit will happen. Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, said she could not announce the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will implement Britain's departure, in parliament on Thursday as she did not believe in it. "I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result," Leadsom, once a challenger to May to become prime minister, said in a resignation letter. "It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the government." A Downing Street spokesman praised Leadsom and expressed disappointment at her decision, but added: "The prime minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for." May might still try to press on with her new Brexit plan, which includes a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum — once her legislation passes the first stage — as well as closer trading arrangements with the EU. But it has been met with a swift backlash, with several lawmakers who have supported her in previous Brexit votes saying they could not back the new plan, particularly over her U-turn regarding a possible second referendum. "I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the government willingly facilitating such a concession," Leadsom said. "No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have," Leadsom wrote to May. "But I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this government and our party." Labour lawmaker Ian Lavery, chair of the opposition party, said the resignation underlined that "the prime minister's authority is shot and her time is up." "For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election," he said. Time to go Labour's call echoed those of many of May's own Conservatives, who say that a fourth attempt to get her deal approved by parliament should be shelved and she should leave office to offer a new leader a chance to reset the dial. "There is one last chance to get it right and leave in an orderly fashion. But it is now time for Prime Minister Theresa May to go — and without delay," said Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee. "She must announce her resignation after Thursday's European (Parliament) elections," he wrote in the Financial Times. But while so much about Brexit is up in the air, what is clear is that May plans to stay for now, or at least for the next few days. The chairman of the powerful Conservative 1922 Committee, which can make or break prime ministers, told lawmakers that she planned to campaign in the European poll on Thursday before meeting with the group on Friday to discuss her leadership. May has so far fended off bids to oust her by promising to set out a departure timetable once parliament has had a chance to vote again on Brexit, but a new discussion on a possible date could now take place on Friday. Earlier on Wednesday, May stood firm during more than two hours of questions in parliament, urging lawmakers to back the bill and then have a chance to make changes to it, so they can have more control over the final shape of Brexit. Asked by euroskeptic lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg whether she really believed in the new deal she had proposed or whether she was simply going through the motions, May said, "I don't think I would have been standing here at the despatch box and be in receipt of some of the comments I have been in receipt of from colleagues on my own side and across the house if I didn't believe in what I was doing." Britain's marathon crisis over Brexit has stunned allies and foes alike. With the deadlock in London, the world's fifth-largest economy faces an array of options including an exit with a deal to smooth the transition, a no-deal exit, an election, a second referendum, or even revocation of the Article 50 notice to leave the EU. The pound was on track for its longest-ever losing streak against the euro as some traders said they saw the rising chance of a no-deal Brexit. Those fears pushed investors into the relative safety of government bonds -- particularly those that offer protection against a spike in inflation. "The proposed second reading of the WAB is clearly doomed to failure so there really is no point wasting any more time on the prime minister's forlorn hope of salvation," Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative lawmaker, told Reuters. "She's got to go."

Mexico morgue left bodies to rot for 2 years before autopsy

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:18:19 -0400

A state human rights commission says a morgue in western Mexico was so overcrowded and poorly run that some unidentified bodies were left to rot for two years before being autopsied

How are the Five Nashville Predators at the IIHF Worlds Doing? - Predlines

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:18:00 -0400

How are the Five Nashville Predators at the IIHF Worlds Doing? Predlines

The Nashville Predators have five players representing them at the IIHF World Championship, but how are each of the five playing?

Iran supreme leader criticizes politicians amid US tensions

Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell | AP — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:16:04 -0400

Iran’s supreme leader publicly chastised the country’s moderate president and foreign minister, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they had negotiated with world powers

Judge refuses to block House subpoenas for Trump bank records

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:15:51 -0400

A federal judge in New York on Wednesday refused to block subpoenas from the House of Representatives for President Donald Trump's financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One.

'FBI Lovebirds': Trump ally bringing Strzok-Page texts to the theater stage

Gabby Orr — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:15:45 -0400

A new theatrical production in Washington is aiming to be “Hamilton” for the Make America Great Again crowd.

The same documentary filmmakers who convinced the White House to host a recent screening of an anti-abortion movie have planned a live stage reading next month based on thousands of anti-Trump text messages recovered by the FBI last year from the cellphones of the former Trump-Russia investigators Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, three people familiar with the project told POLITICO.

And they’re hoping President Donald Trump will attend.

“We’re lobbying the White House hard,” said a person directly involved with the production. “We are being told the president loves the idea of exposing this.”

The Trumpian production, entitled “FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers,” will be directed by Phelim McAleer, a conservative provocateur who has co-written and produced a handful of political films about abortion, fracking and environmentalism with his wife, Ann McElhinney. Dean Cain, a Trump supporter who played Superman in the television series "Lois & Clark" and who starred in the anti-abortion film, “Gosnell” has agreed to play Strzok, according to McAleer.

Actress Kristy Swanson, known for her lead role in the 1992 cult film “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” will portray Page, who engaged in an extramarital affair with Strzok during and after the 2016 election when they were colleagues at the law enforcement agency.

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Swanson confirmed her involvement and said she and Cain had already read through a script, which draws verbatim from Strzok’s and Page’s texts, as well as from closed-door testimony that Strzok gave to the House Judiciary Committee last June. A transcript of the interview was released earlier this year by Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the ranking Republican on the House panel.

“We are going to show the mainstream media and Hollywood that they can no longer push the Russia collusion hoax and force them to acknowledge how the Deep State, DC Swamp tried to destroy the Trump candidacy and presidency,” reads a crowdfunding page named after the production that McAleer set up to help cover related costs.

The page aims to raise $95,000 in one month (an event contract reviewed by POLITICO listed McAleer’s theater rental cost as $5,620) and offers “perks” such as a signed playbill or VIP performance pass for different contribution levels.

McAleer, who participated in a White House meeting last fall with other anti-abortion groups and worked closely with Trump aides to screen “Gosnell” in April, declined to say which officials he’s spoken with about his latest project. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The Studio Theater, a non-profit theater company located just one mile from the White House, confirmed to POLITICO on Wednesday that McAleer had rented one of their four theaters to use for the production on June 13. McAleer in a phone interview said he is willing to take a loss on the project if he fails to reach his fundraising goal, though he cited the prior success of his crowdfunding campaign for “Gosnell,” which raised $2.3 million in 45 days.

Strzok and Page became household names in early 2018, months after Strzok was removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team when it became clear that he’d been romantically involved with Page and some of their anti-Trump text messages had surfaced. Both Strzok and Page had been under investigation by the agency’s inspector general for potential political bias, including whether Strzok’s anti-Trump opinions played a role in the bureau’s decision to launch the Russia investigation in 2016.

In one of his messages to Page from 2016, Strzok described the probe as an “insurance policy” in case Trump defeated then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election. In another text after Trump won the presidency, Strzok wrote to Page, “OMG I am so depressed.”

Trump and his allies have repeatedly cited Strzok and Page as evidence of a “deep state” scheme inside the Justice Department to subvert his presidency and cast doubt on the 2016 election. “More text messages between former FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are a disaster and embarrassment to the FBI & DOJ,” the president tweeted on Sept. 13, 2018.

During a contentious congressional hearing last July, Strzok said he “very much” regretted his text messages with Page, but maintained that they did not impact his or her work at the FBI. Strzok also played a role in the FBI’s probe of Clinton’s use of a private email server.

Despite Trump’s interest in the pair of ex-FBI investigators, it would be unusual for him to promote the stage reading or attend the event. Though he has previously used his Twitter feed to recommend books by many of his allies, he has rarely endorsed other projects or personally attended controversial events. Trump did not attend the screening of “Gosnell” at the White House, nor did he join several of his top aides and Vice President Mike Pence in publicly praising another anti-abortion film, “Unplanned,” when it was released in late March.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

British protesters inflate snarling orange 'Trump baby' blimp ahead of visit

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:15:11 -0400

British protesters inflated a blimp depicting Donald Trump as a snarling, nappy-wearing orange baby on Wednesday, a trial run ahead of a planned flight during the U.S. president's state visit to Britain next month.

India elections 2019: Voters to find out if Modi returns as PM

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:14:42 -0400

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has campaigned hard to retain the commanding majority he won in 2014.

Travis Pastrana's Nitro World Games are returning to Utah this summer - Salt Lake Tribune

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:14:31 -0400

Travis Pastrana's Nitro World Games are returning to Utah this summer Salt Lake Tribune

For Travis Pastrana, it's about doing stuff no one else dares to do. Beyond that, it's about taking the risks some don't even have the brain space to think up.

Vigilante attacks on the rise in Mexico

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:14:22 -0400

Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission says vigilante attacks in which mobs injured or killed people they suspected of wrongdoing are increasing

Dow Sinks 100 Points Even After Deflated Fed Hawks Suffer Brutal Defeat - CCN

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:13:53 -0400

International asylum law is getting in the way of Trump's immigration goals

Eugene Daniels — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:13:13 -0400

Turkey preparing for possible U.S. sanctions over S-400s: minister

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:11:53 -0400

Turkey's defense minister said it was preparing for potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, even while he said there was some improvement in talks with the United States over buying F-35 fighter jets.

Want to invest in cannabis? Here's one way

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:11:30 -0400

Mexico's refugee agency turns to U.N. amid asylum surge, funding cuts

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:06:44 -0400

Buckling under surging asylum applications and the lowest budget in years, Mexico's tiny refugee agency has turned to the United Nations for help opening three new offices across the country starting next month, its director said on Tuesday.

Andrea Leadsom quits UK government in fresh Brexit blow for Theresa May

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:06:43 -0400

Theresa May was dealt a significant blow on Wednesday night when one of her top cabinet ministers resigned over the British Prime Minister's approach to Brexit.

Willy's worlds showing leaves Leafs fans wondering - Toronto Sun

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:06:00 -0400

Willy's worlds showing leaves Leafs fans wondering Toronto Sun

William Nylander is playing his most engaged hockey of the season, though it will leave part of Leafs Nation enraged.After a two-month contract dispute that kept ...

Wall St dips after renewed U.S.-China trade fears

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:05:55 -0400

Wall Street's major indexes dipped on Wednesday as inflamed trade tensions between the United States and China weighed on investor sentiment.

Sen. John Kennedy on Congress: ‘We have done nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada.’

mlevine@politico.com (Marianne LeVine) — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:05:54 -0400

Sen. John Kennedy called on the Senate Wednesday to do more than confirm nominations and lambasted Congress for its lack of legislative accomplishments.

Kennedy’s criticism comes as the Senate has picked up the pace of confirming President Donald Trump’s executive and judicial branch nominees, thanks to a recent rules change that reduces debate time on certain nominees.

While the Louisiana Republican acknowledged that confirming nominees to the executive and judiciary branches is a priority, he said more legislation needs to come to the floor.

“We have done nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy criticized the Democratically-controlled House for passing “messaging” bills that are dead on arrival in the Senate and accused House leadership of harassing President Donald Trump. As for the Senate, Kennedy praised the nominees confirmed, who he described as “very fine men and women.”

“I’m not saying we haven’t done anything,” he said. “I’m saying we need to do more.”

Kennedy proceeded to list off bipartisan legislation that the Senate could bring to the floor, including bills addressing the cost prescription drugs, ending government shutdowns and reforming the process for declaring a national emergency.

“I don’t care whether we move a bill through committee or whether we bring a bill directly to the floor of the Senate,” he said. “I’m in labor, not management. That’s above my pay grade, but we need to try.”

Kennedy is not the first to call on the Senate to act. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats have also dubbed the body a “legislative graveyard.”

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

Leadsom resignation delivers hefty blow to May

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:04:18 -0400

Commons leader launches stinging attack on PM’s handling of Brexit

BeIN media group CEO charged in corruption probe in France

Samuel Petrequin | AP — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:04:14 -0400

A judicial official says the chief executive officer of media group beIN has been handed preliminary charges of corruption as part of an investigation into the bidding process for the 2019 track world championships in Qatar

Howard Kurtz: After House Speaker’s 'cover-up' charge, so much for infrastructure

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:02:15 -0400

Howard Kurtz weighs in.

U.S. judge says Qualcomm violated antitrust law; appeal planned, shares plunge

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:02:08 -0400

Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices.

Rain, flooding expected in U.S. Southern Plains after deadly storms

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:02:03 -0400

Weather forecasters on Wednesday expected drenching rains to roll into the storm-ravaged U.S. southern and central states, where thunderstorms and tornadoes killed at least three people and triggered widespread flooding.

Analysis: Democrats' dilemma: To impeach or not to impeach?

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:01:13 -0400

Sure, it's hard. You've got the majority in the House and you can't get a single administration witness -- current or former -- to testify. You're trying to get the President's tax returns. You have the special counsel's 448-page report, but even Robert Mueller is trying to figure out a way to avoid a public spectacle.

Baby tiger sharks eat land-based birds, according to a new study - Business Insider

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:01:00 -0400

Baby tiger sharks eat land-based birds, according to a new study Business Insider
How Are Doves and Sparrows Ending Up Inside Baby Sharks? Gizmodo
A Shark Vomit Study Shows They've Been Eating a Totally Unexpected Animal ScienceAlert
Why So Many Sharks Have Bird Feathers in Their Bellies The Atlantic
DNA analysis of shark barf tells scientists what kinds of birds the sharks scavenge Phys.org
View full coverage on Google News

Mystery surrounds death of 13-year-old girl who was dumped at hospital

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:00:12 -0400

Amesbury, Massachusetts resident 13-year-old Chloe Ricard was left at a hospital in Lawrence, Massachusetts and died. An investigation is ongoing.

Group of Yazidi women victims of IS get new life in France

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:00:12 -0400

France is taking in a new group of 28 Yazidis, women victimized by the Islamic State group, and their children

Game of Thrones series finale: 20 lingering questions about the ending - Vox.com

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:00:00 -0400

'Out of this world' sea dragon exhibit opens in San Diego - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:00:00 -0400

'Out of this world' sea dragon exhibit opens in San Diego Honolulu Star-Advertiser

LA JOLLA, California >> At first glance, it looks like a branch of kelp, but then an eye moves among its leafy appendages, and ridges of tiny, translucent fins start ...

Key US official on Mideast peace addresses Security Council

Edith M. Lederer | AP — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:59:15 -0400

A key architect of the long-awaited U.S. plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace is warning that “nothing can be meaningfully fixed” until Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Palestinian Islamic Jihad renounce their vows to destroy Israel and stop violent acts

New York state legislature votes to make Trump tax returns available

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:59:08 -0400

New York state's legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that would make it easier for U.S. congressional committees investigating President Donald Trump to get access to his state tax returns.

New York state legislature votes to make Trump tax returns available - Reuters

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:59:00 -0400

New York state legislature votes to make Trump tax returns available Reuters
New York Passes Bill Giving Congress a Way to Get Trump’s State Tax Returns The New York Times
NY state passes bill allowing Congress to request Trump's tax returns CNN
New York legislature approves bill giving Congress access to Trump’s state tax records The Washington Post
N.Y. lawmakers pass bill to allow Congress access to Trump's state tax returns NBC News
View full coverage on Google News

Airline passenger rails against cabin crew after landing in wrong city

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:58:51 -0400

An Italian man launched into an angry tirade when his Ryanair flight landed in Bari, southern Italy, instead of his destination hundreds of miles away on the island of Sardinia.

Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels ex-lawyer, charged with defrauding her

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:58:15 -0400

Michael Avenatti is accused of misappropriating funds from the porn star, prosecutors say.

Daniel Craig to Undergo Ankle Surgery After ‘Bond 25’ Injury - Variety

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:58:00 -0400

Artificial photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide into liquefiable fuels - Phys.org

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:57:29 -0400

Artificial photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide into liquefiable fuels Phys.org

Chemists at the University of Illinois have successfully produced fuels using water, carbon dioxide and visible light through artificial photosynthesis.

Ohio State officer who stopped campus attack awarded Medal of Valor by President Trump - 10TV

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:57:20 -0400

Avenatti charged with stealing $300,000 from Stormy Daniels

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:56 -0400

A grand jury indicted the celebrity attorney for allegedly taking a portion of his former client's book deal advance and trying to extort Nike for $20 million

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:56 -0400

House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quits in protest of Theresa May's Brexit plan - Fox News

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:47 -0400

House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quits in protest of Theresa May's Brexit plan Fox News
Brexit: Theresa May resists calls from MPs to resign BBC News
How Farage’s Brexit Party Is Crushing Its Opponents The New York Times
Forget the withdrawal bill – things could now move very quickly for Theresa May The Guardian
Theresa May’s Swan Song Sadly Falls Flat Bloomberg
View full coverage on Google News

Mexico bans two former Pemex officials from public office

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:23 -0400

Sources: President Trump considering pardons for military service members accused or convicted of war crimes

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:06 -0400

There are indications President Trump is considering pardoning several U.S. service members accused of war crimes ahead of Memorial Day; national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports.

One Of The World's Biggest Games, League Of Legends, Reportedly Headed To Mobile - GameSpot

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:00 -0400

JSO: Infant dies after being left in Jacksonville daycare van for five hours - WPTV.com

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:55:00 -0400

JSO: Infant dies after being left in Jacksonville daycare van for five hours WPTV.com
Baby dies after being left in van for 5 hours at day care, police say NBC News
Deputies: infant found dead in van outside Jacksonville daycare FOX 13 News, Tampa Bay
Baby dies after being left in van at Florida daycare WESH 2 Orlando
5-month-old girl dies after being left in van at Westside daycare FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX
View full coverage on Google News

Water World Gets Ready To Open For The Season On Saturday - CBS Denver

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:54:00 -0400

Water World Gets Ready To Open For The Season On Saturday CBS Denver

FEDERAL HEIGHTS, Colo. (CBS4)– Water World is getting ready for opening day on Saturday. The water park isn't letting a snowstorm earlier this week disrupt ...

Apple sends out WWDC 2019 keynote invites to Mac and iOS developers - CNET

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:53:00 -0400

Apple sends out WWDC 2019 keynote invites to Mac and iOS developers CNET
Apple invites press to WWDC 2019 keynote, iOS 13 and macOS 10.15 unveil expected 9to5Mac
Apple Sends Out Media Invites for WWDC Keynote on June 3 Mac Rumors
Apple summoning media to WWDC 2019 keynote with unicorn emoji invites AppleInsider
Apple WWDC 2019 invites go out, expect to see iOS 13 and more Business Insider
View full coverage on Google News

Rivers Rising in Waterlogged Central US; More Rain to Come

webdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:52:50 -0400

Waterlogged parts of the central U.S. were bracing Wednesday for more rain, following days of severe storms that have battered Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and caused at least three deaths. Residents of some small towns in Oklahoma and Kansas were being urged to leave their homes as rivers and streams rose. The Arkansas River is approaching historic highs, while the already high Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were again rising after a multi-day stretch of storms that produced dozens of tornadoes. Forecasters say parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas could see more severe weather Wednesday night into Thursday. "The biggest concern is more rain," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a news conference following an aerial tour with Tulsa Mayor G.W. Bynum and other officials Wednesday morning. Officials were encouraging residents in the Tulsa suburb of Sand Springs; in Fort Gibson, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Tulsa; and in Webbers Falls, some 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa, to leave. All three communities are along the Arkansas River. Near Crescent, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City, erosion left several homes hanging over the swollen Cimarron River. One unoccupied home rolled into the river Tuesday, and authorities say others could collapse. In Kansas, residents in parts of the city of Iola, along the Neosho River, were being urged to evacuate and officials had set up on emergency shelter at a community college, said Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator. If the river reaches its predicted crest of 27.8 feet (8.47 meters) Thursday, it would be the second-worst flood ever for the town of about 5,400 residents. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for northeastern Oklahoma through the weekend and in southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri through Thursday afternoon. The deluge inundated roadways, closing highways in 22 Oklahoma counties and 17 Kansas counties, along with more than 330 Missouri roads. Amtrak suspended train service Wednesday and Thursday along a route between St. Louis and Kansas City because of congestion and flood-related delays. More than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain has fallen since Sunday in parts of Oklahoma after an already rainy spring. "Any rainfall we get just continues to saturate the soils that are already saturated. Especially rivers and streams," said Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus. "There is simply nowhere for this water to go" as it flows downstream from Kansas, according to McManus. The Arkansas River was at 37 feet (11 meters), or 9 feet (2.74 meters) above flood stage, at Muskogee, 45 miles (72 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa, as of late Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The river was expected to rise to 40 feet (12 meters) by Thursday morning, eventually reaching 41 feet (12.5). Bynum, Tulsa's mayor, said his city of more than 400,000 people is safe so far. "The levee system is working the way it's supposed to right now," Bynum said. Elsewhere, the Mississippi River was at or approaching major flood stage from Iowa through southern Missouri and Illinois. At St. Louis, the Mississippi was expected to crest Monday at nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) above flood stage. If that holds, the Coast Guard will likely close the river to navigation for the second time this month. The Missouri River was expected to crest Thursday at 36.1 feet (11 meters) near the town of Glasgow, Missouri, overtopping agricultural levees and inundating some homes, highways and parkland. Deaths from this week's storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa. Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County. Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield. A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said a woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday near Perkins, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City. The unidentified woman's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office to confirm the cause of death. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isn't yet listed as what would be the state's first storm-related death.

US jets intercept Russian bombers

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:52:32 -0400

Four Russian bombers flew in international airspace near Alaska according to the U.S. military; Lucas Tomlinson reports from the Pentagon.

Democrat Cautions About Trump's July 4th Extravaganza

webdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:52:14 -0400

President Donald Trump's planned July Fourth extravaganza on the National Mall sounds like it could become a giant Trump rally on the taxpayers' dime, a Democratic senator cautioned Wednesday. But Interior Secretary David Bernhardt defended Trump's still-vague Independence Day plans for Washington, D.C., in response to questioning by Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. Udall expressed concern that Trump tweets heralding his planned appearance at an amped-up version of this year's fireworks and festivities signaled the president planned to take a "nonpartisan celebration and turn it into a de facto political rally." Citing the specific statute prohibiting use of federal agencies for "publicity or propaganda activities," Udall asked Bernhardt to guarantee that no taxpayer money "will be spent on activities that are partisan or serve purely to aggrandize this president." The president has made rallies with ardent, conservative Trump fans a staple of his presidency, regularly traveling to parts of the country where he enjoys strong support to spend hours talking to his cheering base. Bernhardt, whose job includes oversight of the National Mall and other public lands nationwide, promised to watch every dollar spent. "I think it's fantastic that the president might take time to join folks" on the National Mall to celebrate Independence Day, Bernhardt said. "It's a celebration about America," Bernhardt said. "Frankly, if any president were spending the Fourth of July celebrating America, I think we should be positive." The exchange was one of the first public discussions of the administration's Fourth of July planning since Trump tweeted in February that he planned a special celebration featuring an address "by your favorite President, me!'' "HOLD THE DATE!" Trump tweeted then. "We will be having one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C., on July 4th. It will be called "A Salute To America" and will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!'' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said last month at a mock briefing for children who were brought to work by their parents that Trump loves July Fourth. ``He's been working on planning a big celebration for our country for that day, with lots of fireworks and music and all kinds of great stuff. So I think that would pretty fun,'' she said. The administration has yet to announce any specifics for any changes in the ceremony, now just weeks away. Hundreds of thousands of visitors typically come to Washington for an annual fireworks show, traditional holiday parades and an evening concert on the Capitol's West Lawn. At the congressional hearing Wednesday, Bernhardt said the administration "can do it in a way that won't conflict with the Capitol concert and things like that." He also said some reconfiguring of the usual arrangements could allow more people to see fireworks from the Mall. Udall warned Bernhardt to keep track of the financial costs of adding Trump and his plans to the annual Fourth of July plans. "Just be careful," Udall said, suggesting the Cabinet secretary consider his job security in the planning. "We want you to be here for a while," he said. Interior spokesman Alex Hinson said the agency had no further comment on the plans for now. A professed admirer of France's highly militarized Bastille Day celebrations, Trump had also wanted to see tanks and other military hardware rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue on Veterans Day last year, but senior administration officials halted planning after seeing the estimated $92 million price tag.

How impeachment debate derailed infrastructure talks, threatens Democratic agenda

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:50:26 -0400

President Trump cuts short meeting with top Democrats after Nancy Pelosi says he's engaged in a cover-up; senior producer Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill.

Resisting calls to resign, Britain's May will campaign for EU elections

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:50:11 -0400

British Prime Minister Theresa May resisted growing calls to resign on Wednesday, vowing to press on despite mounting opposition from lawmakers and even some of her own ministers to her latest Brexit gambit.

UK PM May's office disappointed by Leadsom resignation

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:49:13 -0400

British Prime Minister Theresa May is disappointed by the resignation of Andrea Leadsom over her Brexit strategy, May's office said on Wednesday, adding that the leader would nevertheless stay focused on delivering Brexit.

A healthy dog was euthanized so it could be buried with its owner

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:48:57 -0400

Emma, a healthy Shih Tzu mix was euthanized to fulfill her late owner's dying wish that the dog be put down -- and then laid to rest with her.

Trump presents the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor - Fox News

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:48:48 -0400

The story behind Pelosi's claim, that White House meeting and Trump's angry comments

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:48:23 -0400

Sources tell ABC News that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's remarks accusing Trump of a "cover-up" pushed him over the edge.

Britain's oldest court witness gives evidence, as it emerges murder suspects had obtained copy of her will to 'see how much she was worth'

Telegraph Reporters — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:48:11 -0400

'People just lost hope’: After Australia’s election, asylum-seekers attempted suicide

Siobhán O'Grady — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:47:22 -0400

Hundreds of asylum-seekers have been stranded on two Pacific Islands for years.

'People just lost hope’: After Australia’s election, asylum seekers attempted suicide

Siobhán O'Grady — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:47:22 -0400

Hundreds of asylum-seekers have been stranded on two Pacific Islands for years.

At least 2 dead as severe weather hits the Plains

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:45:31 -0400

At least two people are dead -- one in Oklahoma and one in Iowa -- after severe weather hit the Plains this week.

Virginia woman has healthy dog euthanized as a part of her will

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:45:12 -0400

A Virginia woman has her healthy dog euthanized as a part of her will, according to officials.

Trump administration holds off redirecting California's high-speed rail money

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:43:44 -0400

The Trump administration on Wednesday agreed not to immediately redirect nearly $1 billion it is withholding from California's high-speed rail project, one of several disputes between Republican Trump and the Democratic-controlled state.

Olympic triathlete shatters pelvis after deer sends him flying during bike ride in Richmond Park, London

Jack Hardy — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:42:57 -0400

Mnuchin: $20 bill redesign with Harriet Tubman on hold

vguida@politico.com (Victoria Guida) — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:42:43 -0400

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday said a redesign of the $20 bill, expected to feature famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, is unlikely to come out before 2028, drawing a sharp response from a lawmaker who pressed him on the issue.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) repeatedly questioned Mnuchin on his timetable for redesigning the bill, asking if it was still on track for 2020, as Mnuchin's predecessor had once said.

Sort of, Mnuchin said.

“The primary reason we’ve looked at redesigning the currency is for counterfeiting issues,” he told Pressley at the House Financial Services Committee hearing, adding that there would be a “security feature redesign in 2020.”

“It is my responsibility now to focus on what is the issue of counterfeiting and the security features,” he said. “The ultimate decision on the redesign will most likely be another secretary’s down the road” — in 2028.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, candidate Donald Trump said putting Tubman, a former slave, on the $20 bill, would be "pure political correctness" — and suggested instead that her likeness could go on the $2 bill.

The $20 bill currently features the image of Andrew Jackson, one of Trump's favorite presidents.

In April 2016, then-Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said he asked the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to accelerate work on the new $20 bill with Tubman on the front. He said he expected the final concept design for the new $20 bill and other bills to be unveiled in 2020 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

Pressed further by the congresswoman, Mnuchin said he has made no decision on whether Tubman should be put on the bill. “The imagery feature will not be an issue that comes up until most likely 2026,” he said.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

FIFA Drops Plan for 48-Team World Cup in 2022 - The New York Times

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:42:12 -0400

FIFA Drops Plan for 48-Team World Cup in 2022 The New York Times

FIFA has abandoned plans championed by its president to expand the 2022 World Cup to include 48 teams, concluding that it could not host the larger ...

Germany's CDU slams YouTuber Rezo over political viral video

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:42:00 -0400

A YouTuber has come under attack from politicians in Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU, accusing him of spreading false information about the party. The YouTuber had accused the party of not doing enough on climate change.

Stoltenberg: NATO Summit Set for London on Dec. 3-4

webdesk@voanews.com (Agence France-Presse) — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:41:21 -0400

The next NATO summit will be held in London in December, marking the alliance's 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. "The next summit of Allied leaders will take place on 3-4 December 2019 in London. ... I look forward to a successful summit," he said. Stoltenberg said the had discussed preparations for the summit of heads of state and government with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London last week. The December summit will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead," Stoltenberg said in a statement. He added that London was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation because it was home to the alliance's first headquarters after the United Kingdom become one of NATO's 12 founding members in 1949. Nowadays there are 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. "London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO heads of state and government to plan the Alliance's future," said Stoltenberg. Delicate time The 70th anniversary comes at a delicate time for NATO. Tensions with Russia are at a high not seen since the Cold War. There are also concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance and his willingness to honor its mutual defense pact. Trump has been unstinting in his criticism of NATO's European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the U.S. military while not spending enough on their own armed forces. Before taking office, Trump called NATO "obsolete." NATO summits normally conclude with a formal, binding statement of aims and actions agreed by all allies — such as the 2014 agreement to try to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense. It is yet to be confirmed whether a statement will be issued at December's meeting. Brexit and NATO Britain is due to leave the European Union in October, and the December summit will be seen as a signal of solidarity between NATO and the U.K., which is the continent's leading military power, along with France. "Brexit will change the United Kingdom's relationship to the European Union but it will not change the United Kingdom's relationship to NATO," Stoltenberg said in February. On Wednesday, he was back in London for talks with British Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt. On Thursday, he will participate in a conference on cybersecurity in the British capital.

Trump, Pelosi and Schumer infrastructure meeting gets dramatic

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:39:53 -0400

Trump cuts short infrastructure meeting, blasts Pelosi's 'cover-up' accusation

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:38:53 -0400

President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly cut off a meeting with U.S. congressional Democrats on infrastructure spending, then ripped into them over intensifying investigations by lawmakers and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's accusation that he is engaged in a cover-up.

Trump critic Michael Avenatti charged with ripping off Stormy Daniels, extorting Nike

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:38:35 -0400

Michael Avenatti's legal troubles escalated on Wednesday as federal prosecutors announced new criminal charges against the combative lawyer and prominent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing Avenatti of stealing from porn star Stormy Daniels and blackmailing Nike Inc.

Virginia Gov. Northam’s medical school 'unable to determine the identity of the individuals' in racist photo - Fox News

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:38:28 -0400

Student dies in fall while taking photos at a scenic overlook

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:38:04 -0400

Nurse graduates from NYU, years after he worked there as a janitor

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:36:28 -0400

Frank Baez got his first healthcare experience as a teenager, mopping floors and cleaning patients' rooms as a hospital janitor at New York University.

Michael Avenatti charged with defrauding Stormy Daniels

Devlin Barrett — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:36:06 -0400

New York prosecutors unveil new criminal accusations against embattled lawyer.

Avenatti charged with defrauding Stormy Daniels, attempting to extort Nike

Devlin Barrett — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:36:06 -0400

New York prosecutors unveil new criminal accusations against embattled lawyer.

Sex trafficking victim overcomes the dark illicit world - Wink News

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:36:00 -0400

Sex trafficking victim overcomes the dark illicit world Wink News

Sex trafficking victims are often lured into danger by cunning criminals. Many times it happens a lot closer to home than many think. How does a college student ...

Scientists break record for highest-temperature superconductor - Phys.org

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:34:01 -0400

Scientists break record for highest-temperature superconductor Phys.org

University of Chicago scientists are part of an international research team that has discovered superconductivity—the ability to conduct electricity perfectly—at ...

Latest retail results show department stores need more than touch-ups. They need reinvention - CNBC

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:30:59 -0400

Latest retail results show department stores need more than touch-ups. They need reinvention CNBC
Why Target is crushing it (it's very simple to understand) Yahoo Finance
Target: Expect More From This Retailer Seeking Alpha
Target Sales Boosted by Store Remodels, Digital Shift The Wall Street Journal
Target bucks US retail gloom with strong sales growth Financial Times
View full coverage on Google News

How Are Doves and Sparrows Ending Up Inside Baby Sharks? - Gizmodo

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:30:00 -0400

How Are Doves and Sparrows Ending Up Inside Baby Sharks? Gizmodo
A Shark Vomit Study Shows They've Been Eating a Totally Unexpected Animal ScienceAlert
Why So Many Sharks Have Bird Feathers in Their Bellies The Atlantic
DNA analysis of shark barf tells scientists what kinds of birds the sharks scavenge Phys.org
Baby tiger sharks eat songbirds like sparrows, doves, study finds New York Post
View full coverage on Google News

Michael Avenatti: Stormy Daniels lawyer charged with defrauding her

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:29:48 -0400

The US lawyer is accused of misappropriating funds from the porn star he represented, prosecutors say.

CNN analyst: Pelosi speech was full of shade

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:28:18 -0400

Bloomberg senior White House correspondent Margaret Talev and CNN commentator Nia-Malika Henderson react to the White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders, including House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Harriet Tubman On The $20 Bill? Not During The Trump Administration - NPR

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:28:00 -0400

Michael Avenatti hit with new federal charges

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:27:10 -0400

Feds charge Michael Avenatti with fraud, aggravated identity theft involving former client Stormy Daniels; Jacqui Heinrich reports from New York.

Somalia protests after its officials deported by Kenya

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:25:57 -0400

Somalia has criticized neighboring Kenya for deporting two Somali lawmakers and a minister after authorities in Nairobi blocked them from entering the country.

Remains of 1,200 Holocaust victims laid to rest in Belarus

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:25:00 -0400

The remains of 1,200 Holocaust victims were buried after being unearthed earlier this year. Jewish community leaders criticized Belarusian authorities' decision to continue a building project at the mass grave site.

Michael Avenatti charged with defrauding former client Stormy Daniels

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:24:55 -0400

Senior U.K. Cabinet Member Resigns in Latest Brexit Blow for Theresa May

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:24:40 -0400

(LONDON) — A senior member of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet has quit over Brexit, in a new blow to the embattled British leader.

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom says she is resigning because she does not believe May’s Brexit plan delivers on voters’ decision to leave the European Union.

May is battling to stay in office amid demands she resign over Britain’s stalled departure from the bloc.

Leadsom has been a strong pro-Brexit force in the government.

Pakistan should focus on 'hawala' transfers to stem corrupt fund flows: report

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:24:27 -0400

Pakistani authorities should tighten supervision of traditional cash transfer methods as part of a wider overhaul of financial sector regulation to stem outflows of corrupt money, a British think-tank said.

Personal finance expert gives advice to millennials

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:24:06 -0400

Chris Hogan says we are all in control of our financial future.

Joe Biden camp reacts to North Korea calling him a 'fool': 'No surprise' regime favors Trump

Jessica Chasmar — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:23:34 -0400

Joseph R. Biden's 2020 presidential campaign responded to North Korea's criticism Wednesday, saying it's "no surprise" that the regime would prefer President Trump over the former vice president.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency published a commentary piece earlier Wednesday blasting Mr. Biden as a "fool of low ...

State Department investigates suspected chlorine attack in Syria

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:20:46 -0400

Retired Adm. William McRaven says if Syria is using chemical weapons the U.S. military will take appropriate action.

Murder victim's family 'devastated' by release of M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye from prison

Gareth Davies — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:20:40 -0400

FBI search warrants detail new Michael Cohen Russia ties

Natasha Bertrand — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:17:46 -0400

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s longtime lawyer, was in constant contact with — and received thousands of dollars from — a Russia-linked firm starting on Election Day in 2016, newly unsealed court documents show.

The transactions soon caught the attention of investigators, as the FBI zeroed in on what it considered to be suspicious emails and bank transfers from Cohen’s accounts — including his Trump Organization email account. With special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in full swing, authorities filed a series of search warrants between July and November 2017 to investigate whether the exchanges violated foreign agent laws and constituted wire fraud and money laundering.

The search warrants were unsealed as part of a case brought by several media organizations, including POLITICO.

Much of what the warrants reveal has already been well-documented — Cohen is now serving three years in prison for making false statements to Congress, as well as tax and bank fraud. But the warrants document how focused agents with Mueller’s team were in the early stages of its investigation on tracking the foreign entanglements of Trump’s most loyal fixer.

At the heart of investigators’ interest in Cohen was a company he set up in October 2016 called Essential Consultants, LLC. Cohen told the bank that the company was a real estate consulting firm whose clients would be “high-worth domestic individuals,” and used his Trump Organization account as a point of contact, according to the search warrants. One of the warrants sought permission to look at Cohen’s Trump Organization email account.

Soon after Essential Consultants was opened, the FBI found, the company's bank account began receiving large deposits from a New York City investment manager firm, Columbus Nova, connected to the influential Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.

And starting on Election Day, Cohen began direct communications with the founder of Columbus Nova, Vekselberg’s cousin Andrew Intrater. Between Election Day and July 14, 2017, the two exchanged over 230 phone calls and 950 text messages, according to one of the search warrants. Another search warrant said the contacts continued until at least November 2017.

Cohen told lawmakers earlier this year that he signed a $1 million contract — of which he only got about $416,000 — with Columbus Nova, whose largest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The plan was to “put together an infrastructure fund” that would be financed by overseas investors, Cohen testified. But he downplayed Vekselberg’s interest in the deal, telling Congress that the Russian oligarch was only a “minimal” investor in Columbus Nova when they started working together in January 2017.

Emails obtained by the FBI and described in the search warrant for the first time, however, show that Vekselberg met with Cohen and Intrater 11 days before Trump’s inauguration. At that gathering, the three discussed a lobbying group based in Moscow that promotes Russian business interests, called the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

And according to the court documents, Cohen also remained in touch with Vekselberg and scheduled a meeting with him in March 2017 at Renova headquarters — while Columbus Nova was still paying Cohen.

The meeting was of interest to lawmakers because Cohen had met in late January of that year with his longtime acquaintance Felix Sater and the Ukrainian lawmaker Andrei Artemenko to discuss a Russia-Ukraine “peace plan” that would involve lifting sanctions on Russia. The FBI wanted to know whether Vekselberg was paying Cohen to promote the sanctions-lifting plan, which would have benefited the Russian oligarch. Vekselberg has been doing business in the United States since at least 1990, when he co-founded the conglomerate Renova Group as a joint U.S.-Russian venture.

No evidence has emerged of such a quid-pro-quo, and Columbus Nova has denied participating in anything related to a Ukranian peace plan. But the FBI did reveal some new details about the episode in the search warrants unsealed on Wednesday.

According to phone records investigators reviewed, “a call was exchanged” between Cohen and soon-to-be White House national security adviser Michael Flynn on Jan. 11, 2017, just days before Trump's inauguration. A New York Times report said Cohen had delivered the sanctions-lifting plan to Flynn, but Cohen later told lawmakers that he threw the plan in the trash and never delivered it to the White House.

The FBI also found that Cohen continued speaking to Sater, a Russian-born businessman who helped Cohen negotiate a Trump Tower Moscow deal during the election, well after the peace plan meeting. Records they obtained showed approximately 20 calls exchanged between them from Jan. 5, 2017 to Feb. 20, 2017.

Sater on Wednesday told POLITICO he couldn't remember the exact substance of the calls but said they likely had to do with the New York Times’ story about the “peace plan” meeting, which was published on Feb. 19.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

FBI search warrants detail Michael Cohen Russia ties

Natasha Bertrand — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:17:46 -0400

The search warrants were unsealed as part of a case brought by several media organizations, including POLITICO.

"They were working together so of course texted and called each other," a Columbus Nova spokesperson said in a statement. "This was all known and investigated, and wasn't even deemed worthy of being included in the special counsel's report.”

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

Turkey's AK Party says nothing wrong with intelligence meetings with Syria despite tensions

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:17:21 -0400

The AK Party of President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday there was nothing wrong with Turkey's intelligence agency meeting Syrian counterparts to prevent conflict - even though Ankara has backed rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

May cuts a lonely figure as her authority evaporates

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:15:54 -0400

With deal ‘dead on arrival’, focus is on precise timing of PM’s departure

The lifeless Disney remake Aladdin can’t muster the original’s magic - The A.V. Club

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:15:00 -0400

The lifeless Disney remake Aladdin can’t muster the original’s magic The A.V. Club
'Aladdin' cast, filmmakers on Will Smith vs. Robin Williams and all that Genie backlash [Video] Yahoo Movies
Aladdin Review IGN
Aladdin Made Me Feel Like a Kid Again Gizmodo
It’s Impossible to Take the New Aladdin Seriously The Atlantic
View full coverage on Google News

Andrea Leadsom quits: Resignation letter in full - BBC News

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:14:34 -0400

Andrea Leadsom quits: Resignation letter in full BBC News
May's Latest Brexit Attempt Falls Flat Bloomberg Video
How Farage’s Brexit Party Is Crushing Its Opponents The New York Times
Forget the withdrawal bill – things could now move very quickly for Theresa May The Guardian
Theresa May’s Swan Song Sadly Falls Flat Bloomberg
View full coverage on Google News

Israeli scientists brew beer with revived ancient yeasts

Ilan Ben Zion | AP — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:12:32 -0400

Israeli researchers raised a glass Wednesday to celebrate a long-brewing project of making beer and mead using yeasts extracted from ancient clay vessels —some over 5,000 years old

House Democrats meet to discuss impeachment

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:11:45 -0400

Michael Meehan and Kevin McCullough weigh in on growing tensions between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Trump.

In latest blow to Britain's May, Leadsom resigns over new Brexit approach

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:11:40 -0400

Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet on Wednesday, saying she could no longer support the government's approach after May's latest gambit to pass her Brexit deal backfired.

Canada to take back rubbish sent to Philippines

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:10:56 -0400

Canada pledges to cover the full cost of disposal of the waste that enraged President Duterte.

Analysis: Trump just channeled his inner Twitter troll

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:10:39 -0400

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to see President Donald Trump do a dramatic reading of some of his angrier tweets about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and congressional Democrats, wonder no longer! Because Trump did exactly that in a hastily-arranged press conference in the Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon.

Ashley Graham taps little sister to help unveil new swimsuit collection

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:09:09 -0400

Supermodel and sibling pose in new campaign