world news: 2018-07-01

Saturday 7 July 2018

Trump Lashes Out at Sen. Elizabeth Warren, George H.W. Bush

He made fun of the former president's slogan promoting volunteerism and mocked the MeToo movement.

Thais fear 'no chance' of more survivors from tourist boat, nearly 60 may be dead

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai rescuers deployed helicopters on Friday to search for 23 people missing after a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank, with one official saying he feared "no chance" of any more survivors, which would mean nearly 60 dead. The confirmed death toll from the accident off the resort island of Phuket stood at 33, provincial governor Noraphat Plodthong said, but the navy said divers had spotted "quite a few bodies" in the sunken vessel, the Phoenix.

Electricity potential answer to the mystery of 'flying' spiders

The phenomenon of "flying" spiders gliding into the air and traveling like balloons for hundreds of miles (kilometers) has a new possible explanation: the air's natural electric charge. Aerial spider journeys -- often known as "ballooning" -- have long been observed, notably by biologist Charles Darwin, who documented the spectacle in his diary in the 19th century. One closely studied hypothesis suggested that spiders weave very fine silk threads that catch in the wind and whisk them aloft, sometimes over great distances at high altitudes.

GOP Strategist Tells Scott Pruitt Apologists: 'Save Some Tiny Iota Of Dignity'

Scott Pruitt's resignation as EPA administrator on Thursday marked the

At least 24 die in series of explosions in Mexican fireworks workshops

A series of explosions triggered inside buildings housing black market fireworks workshops have killed twenty-four people and injured at least 49 in Mexico. Four buildings were destroyed by the blasts in the town of Tulepec, 20 miles from Mexico City. The government of the state of Mexico said in a statement that eight people from Tultepec were killed, along with the six emergency personnel and two others who have not yet been identified.

At least 27 killed, 47 missing as torrential rain pounds Japan

At least 47 people were missing and five were in a critical condition as torrential rain that has killed 27 people pounds western and central Japan, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday, with more than 1.6 million people evacuated from their homes.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2u2KFVh

Alleged Carjacker Shot by Woman as He Tries to Drive Away With Her Kids: Cops

Michelle Booker-Hicks saw a man get into her SUV as she paid for gas at a Shell station along Interstate 35 near Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

HHS using DNA tests to reunite migrant children separated from parents

The government agency said it is sending 230 workers to the border to meet a deadline to reunite children younger than five with their families by Tuesday.

Thai military diver dies as window for cave rescue narrows

A former Thai navy diver helping to rescue a football team trapped inside a flooded cave died Friday as officials warned the window of opportunity to free the youngsters is "limited". "At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time... but now things have changed, we have a limited time," Apakorn Yookongkaew told reporters.

Germany's Merkel, Hungary's Orban clash over how to be humane

German Chancellor Angela Merkel clashed with her Hungarian counterpart over the responsibilities Europe had toward refugees seeking sanctuary on the continent in a tense press conference marked by unusually passionate disagreements. "I believe the soul of Europe is humanity and if we want to retain this soul and play a role in Europe with these values then Europe can't simply decouple from the need and suffering." But Orban, who since 2015 has positioned himself as Merkel's adversary in migration policy, said Europe best showed humanity by removing incentives for refugees to come to the continent.

‘Occupy ICE’ Movement Spreads Across Cities Nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO -- Protests outside the offices of Immigration and Customs

Investigators' emails to US Rep. Jordan went to bad address

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan's office said records released Thursday show lawyers' attempts to schedule an interview with him as part of an Ohio State University sex abuse investigation were sent to a non-existent email address.

Divers work tirelessly to rescue soccer team trapped in Thailand cave

Dozens of divers have joined Thai Navy SEALS to rescue the trapped soccer team, facing a dangerous race against time to bring the boys to safety.

Thai cave boys not ready to dive to freedom as rescuer perishes

The Thai boys trapped inside a flooded cave for two weeks are not yet ready to attempt a dangerous dive to freedom, rescuers said Saturday, after the death of a military diver underscored the huge risks they face. The diver's death on Friday brought heartache for rescuers and anxious relatives waiting outside the Tham Luang cave in the country's mountainous north -- and raised serious doubts over the feasibility of attempting to bring a group of boys with no diving experience out through the cramped passageways filled with muddy water. Thailand's Navy SEAL commander on Friday said rescuers may have little choice but to attempt the tricky extraction of the group, the first official admission that the 12 boys and their coach might not be able to wait out the monsoon underground.

American workers feel the impact of U.S.-China trade war

With tariffs on products like lobster or soybeans, some economists suggest two million American jobs could be at risk in a prolonged trade war and consumers could face rising costs.

Trudeau: I apologised to reporter behind groping claim

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has for the first time publicly acknowledged that he apologised in 2000 to a reporter who alleged he groped her, but said he was very confident he did not act inappropriately. The accusation first appeared in a local newspaper a few days after a music festival in British Columbia that Trudeau, then a 28-year-old teacher, was attending. The unsigned editorial in the Creston Valley Advance accused Trudeau of “groping” and “inappropriately handling” an unnamed reporter who was covering the event.

Japan cult leader's hanging closes chapter on shocking crime

TOKYO (AP) — The executions Friday of a doomsday cult leader and six of his followers closed a chapter on one of Japan's most shocking crimes, the poison gas attack on rush-hour commuters in Tokyo's subway that killed 13 people and sickened more than 6,000.

International coalition of rescuers unite to save trapped Thai soccer team

More than a thousand people from all over the world are involved in the massive rescue effort to save the 12 teenage boys and their 25-year-old soccer coach trapped inside a cave in northern Thailand.

Cynthia Nixon Ratchets Up Criticism Of Andrew Cuomo For Taking Trump's Donations

New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon is escalating her criticism of

Death of ex-SEAL cave diver touches Thais riveted by rescue

BANGKOK (AP) — The death of a former member of the Thai navy's elite SEAL during an underwater swim in the partly flooded cave where a dozen boys and their soccer coach are trapped struck a particularly deep chord with Thais, because he was a volunteer on a humanitarian mission that has riveted the nation for two weeks.

Pres. Trump in Montana challenges Sen. Warren to take DNA test

The president challenged Senator Elizabeth Warren to prove she has Native American ancestors at a Montana event and dismissed concerns related to his upcoming summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Mike Pence called Ted Cruz to talk about Trump's Supreme Court options

While much of the focus has been on moderate Republican lawmakers, like Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the White House has equally been focused on staunch conservatives like Ted Cruz, who could also make or break President Trump’s potential nominee.

Thailand's trapped boys: careless or courageous?

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Round-the-clock efforts by rescue teams in Thailand to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave have prompted some Thais to turn to social media to ask why they went in at all, and whether they deserve to be called heroes. The junior soccer players, who disappeared in the Tham Luang cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai on June 23, were discovered on Monday by British divers in a partially flooded chamber. News of the survival of the "Wild Boar" team sparked celebrations and relief among Thais transfixed by the drama, following every twist and turn of a search that has drawn worldwide attention and volunteers from Australia to Finland.

Scott Pruitt’s Replacement Is Even Worse

Just one year ago, Andrew Wheeler worked as one of the coal industry's most

Justin Trudeau admits apologising to female reporter who accused him of groping – but insists he did nothing wrong

Justin Trudeau has admitted making an apology to a female reporter who accused him of groping her at a charity fundraiser in 2000 – but says he still feels he did nothing wrong. The Canadian prime minister – who has presented himself as a vocal supporter of feminist causes – has faced questions since allegations of his inappropriate behaviour emerged last week. In his first comments about the incident, he claimed he “didn’t remember any negative interactions" during his appearance at the event in the town of Creston, British Colombia.

Alleged Carjacker Shot by Woman as He Tries to Drive Away With Her Kids: Cops

Michelle Booker-Hicks saw a man get into her SUV as she paid for gas at a Shell station along Interstate 35 near Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Race against time to rescue Thai soccer team before monsoon rains

Rescuers are desperate to find the safest way to rescue the Thai soccer team, giving the boys a crash course on diving and drilling in hopes of reaching them before monsoon rains bring even more flooding.

Coach of Thai boys trapped in cave offers apology to parents

The coach of a youth football team trapped for two weeks in a flooded Thai cave has sent his "apologies" to their parents in a scrawled note handed to divers, as officials Saturday appeared to rule out an immediate rescue. With fresh monsoon rains forecast to arrive within a day and fears mounting over the reduced oxygen and high level of water in the cave, Thailand is holding its breath for the safe return of the group.

The Trade War Will Squeeze Ford Motor Company (F) Stock

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and other auto stocks traded higher on Thursday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is open to the idea of reducing tariffs on U.S. auto imports. For now, trade tensions seem to be softening between the U.S. and Europe, but analysts say Ford investors should be more worried about the U.S. trade war with China. China has said it will be implement a 25 percent retaliatory duty on U.S.-produced automobiles in response to U.S. tariffs on $34 billion of additional Chinese goods starting Friday.

Thai cave rescue: the options

Mae Sai (Thailand) (AFP) - Rescuers who reached a group of children trapped in a flooded Thai cave say finding them was the easy part; getting the youngsters out safely will be the real challenge.

Scott Pruitt earns a one-way ticket back to Oklahoma. He may want to travel coach.

Known for his penchant for first-class travel and other unethical behavior, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt resigned on Thursday afternoon, after yet another day of unflattering headlines and revelations.

Trump administration uses DNA tests to reunite 3,000 migrant children - but says it may miss court deadline

The Trump administration is using DNA testing to reunite up to 3,000 migrant children separated from their families by the government’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, but claims it may miss a court-imposed deadline to do so. Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services, said of the children in his department’s care, about 100 were aged under five. Last month, as the president issued an executive order to halt the separation of families, federal judge Dana Sabraw ordered that children under five years old be reunited with their parents by July 10, and for all children to be reunited by 26 July.