world news: 2018-06-10

Saturday 16 June 2018

Trump Says It's OK He Misled Media About Son's Russia Meeting

President Donald Trump said on Friday that it doesn't matter if he misled the

Germany fires head of scandal-hit asylum agency

Germany's interior minister has dismissed the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which is mired in a scandal over irregularities in making asylum decisions, a spokesman said on Friday. The decision by Horst Seehofer, leader of the Bavaria-based Christian Social Union (CSU), comes at the height of dispute over immigration that threatens to splinter Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc. Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and CSU sister party are at odds over how to tackle the issue of migrants, which is also causing strain among members of the European Union.

Arab alliance close to capturing Hodeidah airport, Yemen military says

ADEN (Reuters) - Forces from an Arab alliance entered the airport in Yemen's main port city on Saturday, the coalition-backed Yemeni military said, in the biggest offensive of the coalition's war against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2HUNyeK

White House Counsel Don McGahn Recused Entire Staff From Russia Probe

White House counsel Don McGahn recused his whole staff from the investigation

Trump clashes with reporters over false claim about separating children at border

President Trump on Friday repeatedly and falsely defended his administration’s policy of separating families at the border by blaming Democrats.

Boy dies, his brother, mom critical after Colorado shooting

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (AP) — One boy died and his brother and mom were in critical condition Thursday following a shooting in a suburban Denver parking lot, according to police.

Citigroup Inc (C) Stock Is a Solid Buy Following the Fed's Rate Hike

Analysts say banks are getting diminishing returns on rising interest rates, but Citigroup is well-positioned heading into this month's Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review stress test. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark short-term interest rate by 0.25 percent for the second time this year on Wednesday. In addition, the Fed's latest "dot plot" interest rate forecast suggested there could be two additional rate hikes coming before the end of the year.

They Fought Over The Last Obamacare Lawsuit, But They Agree This One Is Nonsense

Five scholars who argued with each other over past legal challenges to the

DOJ Watchdog Report Takeaway: FBI Hurt Hillary Clinton, Not Donald Trump

WASHINGTON ― The Justice Department's internal watchdog just served up a hefty

Everything You Need To Know About The DOJ Report On The Clinton Investigation

(Get this roundup directly in your inbox each weekday ― sign up for The

Boy Killed, His Brother and Mom in Critical Condition After Denver Shooting

One boy died and his brother and mom were in critical condition Thursday following a shooting in a suburban Denver parking lot, according to police.

Reporter to Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Trump immigration policy: 'Don't you have any empathy?'

Reporters in the White House press are trying something new with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders: appealing to her "empathy." During Thursday's White House press briefing, Sanders fielded searing criticism from an outspoken reporter over the Trump administration's policy to separate migrant families at the Mexican border. SEE ALSO: Watch Michelle Wolf torch D.C. at the White House Correspondents' Dinner The reporter in question was Brian Karem, executive editor of the Sentinel Newspapers. Just before, Sanders had been sparring with another reporter over of the question of why the administration chooses to separate children from parents who arrive in the U.S. illegally, with the reporter arguing that that the administration "doesn't want to take responsibility" for this new element of its immigration policy. When Sanders moved to take another question, Karem cut in: WOW — @BrianKarem heatedly confronts Sanders about the White House's family separation policy, says, "Come on! You're a parent! Have some empathy." pic.twitter.com/MaZckfqGYv — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2018 When Sanders accused Karem of using the moment to "get some more TV time," Karem shot back: Sanders chose to ignore Karem's appeals, and moved on. The exchange comes amid questions regarding Sanders' future with the White House. Though a CBS News report from Wednesday reports that the press secretary plans to bail on the role, Sanders has since denied that's the case. Does @CBSNews know something I don’t about my plans and my future? I was at my daughter’s year-end Kindergarten event and they ran a story about my “plans to leave the WH” without even talking to me. I love my job and am honored to work for @POTUS — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 14, 2018 So, uh ... we'll just see what happens Friday. WATCH: Kim Kardashian is in, but these people were uninvited from the White House

Man Shoots 2 Boys, Their Mom And Bystander Out Of Road Rage, Cops Say

DENVER ― Westminster police say a Colorado Springs man who allegedly shot two

White House Counsel Don McGahn Recused Entire Staff From Russia Probe

White House counsel Don McGahn recused his whole staff from the investigation

The Latest: Advocates: ICE not giving immigrant enough time

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Latest on the planned deportation of a Connecticut man with renal failure (all times local):

Rudy Giuliani Says Mueller Probe Must Be Suspended 'Tomorrow' After DOJ Report

Rudy Giuliani on Thursday demanded that special counsel Robert Mueller end his

White House defends border separations: 'It's biblical to enforce the law'

The White House cited a nonexistent law and the Bible to defend the government’s controversial policy of separating undocumented immigrant parents from their children upon their arrest at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Brief panic in Germany as satire site claims Merkel coalition demise

Germany lurched into a brief panic Friday as several media outlets fell for a satirical tweet that claimed Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition had collapsed in a bitter row over immigration. The fake news that rebellious Interior Minister Horst Seehofer would end his Bavarian CSU party's seven-decade partnership with Merkel's CDU was described as a "bombshell" by the apparently verified Twitter account. Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert, receiving live updates during a press conference, was able to quickly shoot down the claim -- but not before it had been cited as breaking news on the website of top-selling Bild tabloid and other media.

Gisele Bündchen Gives a Tour of Her and Tom Brady's Boston Home

And reveals she'd like to be an interior designer or architect

Trump Calls Female Reporter 'So Obnoxious,' Tells Her To Be Quiet

Are you looking for more substance to President Donald Trump's vague claim

Trump responds to questions from reporters about children being separated from parents at border

Responding to questions from reporters, President Trump said he doesn’t like the family separations at the border but blames Democrats for them.

'Viva Le Resistance': FBI Anti-Trump Messages Give President More 'Deep State' Fodder

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Friday seized upon aspects of a Justice

Video shows President Trump saluting North Korean general

The White House called the salute a “common courtesy,” but critics are calling it a propaganda victory for Pyongyang.

Zachary Cruz, Brother of Parkland Shooting Suspect, Launches Anti-Bullying Initiative

Cruz's brother is accused of killing 17 people on Valentine's Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Disgraced comedian Cosby changes lawyer ahead of sentencing

Disgraced US comedian Bill Cosby, who was convicted of sexual assault in April, has changed his lawyer ahead of his sentencing, a spokesman said Thursday. "Mr. Cosby has replaced his legal team with Attorney Joseph P. Green Jr (Philadelphia)," a spokesman for Cosby said, without offering further details. Green will replace Tom Mesereau, who has represented numerous celebrities and was Cosby's lawyer for his second trial which resulted in his conviction on three counts of sexual assault on April 26.

Hillary Clinton Needed Only 3 Words To Respond To James Comey Report

Hillary Clinton could have written a book on former FBI Director James Comey

Stephen Colbert Offers A Scathing Takedown Of Trump's Cruel Immigration Policy

> The United States is using cruelty as a deterrent on our southern border.

Boy Killed, His Brother and Mom in Critical Condition After Denver Shooting

One boy died and his brother and mom were in critical condition Thursday following a shooting in a suburban Denver parking lot, according to police.

Taliban chief who ordered Malala assassination 'killed in airstrike'

The head of the Pakistan Taliban has been targeted and is believed killed in a United States drone strike in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan officials said Mullah Fazlullah, who is one of the world's most wanted militant leaders, had been killed in Kunar province. As well as terrorist outrages, he also spearheaded a campaign against a government polio vaccination programme, claiming it was a "conspiracy of Jews and Christians to make Muslims impotent and stunt the growth of Muslims”. News of the attack came as Afghanistan waited to see if a unprecedented three-day Afghan Taliban ceasefire would hold over the Eid holiday period. Photos shared on social media in the country appeared to show fighters and Afghan forces celebrating the truce together. Mullah Fazlullah became notorious for ordering a string of attacks including the 2014 massacre of scores of pupils at an army school in Peshawar and the failed assassination of schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai. His group has also been linked to terrorist plots inside America. Afghanistan's defence ministry said Fazlullah had been “killed in a joint Afghan and US operation”, while a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan would only say the US had struck “a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation”. The militant leader has wrongly been claimed dead before and a Pakistan security source said his death was as yet “not possible to verify”. A member of the Taliban told Reuters the group was trying to get word if its leader was dead. Malala Yousafzai is now a student at Oxford Credit: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images He said: "We have been hearing since early Friday that our Emir was martyred along with four other militant commanders in Marawar area of Kunar. They were staying at a house when the drone fired missiles and martyred them.” Fazlullah, believed to be aged in his mid-forties, has led the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since 2013 and had a $5m American reward for information on his head. The TTP in December 2014, carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan's history when militants killed 151 people including more than 130 children, during an attack against the Army Public School in Peshawar. He first rose to prominence inside Pakistan's Swat valley with fiery radio tirades that earned him the nickname Mullah Radio. His broadcasts opposed America, female education and vaccination programmes while advocating a strict form of Islamic law. While in Swat When Ms Yousafzai publicly challenged the Taliban's stance in Swat, Fazlullah ordered the 14-year-old be killed, though she survived and went on to be awarded the Nobel peace prize. The US State Department says the TTP has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. Well, this hasn't been witnessed since the beginning of war in Afghanistan. Taliban fighters & Afghan forces had a chance to chit chat & attend Eid prayers together during the temporary three day ceasefire. Photos from Maidan Shahr pic.twitter.com/jJi4xz6gFe— Ahmad Yar (@Pashtunist) June 15, 2018 Meanwhile the Nato-led coalition in Afghanistan said the Taliban ceasefire appeared to be holding on Friday. Afghans used social media to share photographs purporting to show Taliban fighters and members of the Afghan force celebrating the truce together.

Spain's king and queen visit New Orleans for tricentennial

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The king and queen of Spain have arrived in New Orleans as part of the city's tricentennial celebration.

Brief panic in Germany as satire site claims Merkel coalition demise

Hectic morning on the White House lawn: Trump speaks, and so do the facts

President Trump took questions from reporters Friday morning on the White House lawn, covering a number of topics on which his comments have at times strayed from the truth. Here are some of his remarks, annotated and checked for accuracy.

Hillary Clinton masterfully mocks James Comey over his misuse of private email

"But her emails." It's become a meme at this point. The Republican party — and Trump campaign — made such a huge stinkin' deal about Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, that any time a more serious scandal enveloped the right, people would mock the time and effort spent trying to "lock her up." The phrase has also been used jokingly to insult Trump supporters for latching onto the email scandal for so long, while there's plenty of better things to be concerned about. a man in a MAGA hat stumbles out of his basement, choking on dust and radioactive fallout"but her emails!" he whispers, before dying — tom (@toms_spaghetti) May 15, 2017 So, when it was revealed on Thursday that former FBI director James Comey used a personal email account for official government business by the Justice Department's internal watchdog, many saw the irony. You know, considering it was Comey who issued a statement in October 2016 — just 11 days before the election — saying the FBI was reopening its investigation into Clinton's email use. "But my emails," Clinton tweeted on Thursday in response to a tweet from a Politico reporter highlighting Comey's own email missteps. But my emails. https://t.co/G7TIWDEG0p — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 14, 2018 The watchdog report also concluded that Comey's handling of Clinton's email investigation was "extraordinary and insubordinate" but was not motivated by political boas. Well, if anything, Clinton has proved once again that she is truly a killer of memes. First the "delete your account" meme, and now "but her emails." Thanks, Hillary. WATCH: These trees have lived for 2,500 years. Now they're suddenly dying

Giuliani: Trump Will Win Second Term Easily, Especially If Dems Nominate ‘Moron’ Biden

WASHINGTON ― With a strong economy and a new "success" in North Korea,

Harvard rated Asian American applicants lower on personality scores than other students, study finds

Harvard admissions officers consistently rated Asian American students lower on “personal qualities” than students of other races, according to admissions data analysed as part of a racial discrimination lawsuit against the prestigious university. A study of 20 years’ worth of admissions data shows Asian American applicants to Harvard scored much better than all other racial groups on measures of academic merit, but worse on subjective analyses of their personal qualities completed by Harvard admissions staff. In fact, the study found Asian Americans had the lowest admission rate of any racial group between 2000 and 2019, despite having higher test scores than every other racial group over the two-decade period.