world news: 2019-02-03

Saturday 9 February 2019

What we know about Bezos' letter accusing National Enquirer parent of blackmail

On Thursday night, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos published a letter accusing the parent company of the National Enquirer of blackmail. Here are 6 takeaways.

Booker urges activists, leaders to heed social justice call

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — On his first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker urged Democratic activists and black leaders on Friday to heed his call for social justice and apply it to the fight for universal health care coverage and a fair criminal justice system.

Blackface scandals highlight U.S.'s troubled racial past - and present

(Advisory: Note language in paragraph 11) By Andrew Hay (Reuters) - The painful history of blackface in America was highlighted this week as two top Virginia Democrats came under fire after admitting to having blackened their faces to resemble African-Americans while in college in the 1980s. While the practice is less common than it was decades ago, African-American scholars say it persists in some corners as evidence of racism. Apologies by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring followed blackface appearances by celebrities such as actor Billy Crystal and late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon in recent years.

An Ominous Moment for the Pro-Life Movement

In a 5–4 decision, Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s progressive wing to grant an emergency stay blocking enforcement of Louisiana’s admitting-privileges law. The Louisiana law appeared to violate a recent Supreme Court precedent called Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which struck down a nearly identical Texas law. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, surprisingly upheld the Louisiana law, holding that there were enough factual differences between Louisiana and Texas to render the Louisiana law less burdensome on abortion rights.

Woman breaks up fight between dogs before realising one is a mountain lion

A woman intervened in an apparent fight between two dogs, only to discover one of the combatants was in fact a mountain lion. “As she pulled the two animals apart, she realised that in one hand she held a juvenile male mountain lion, about 35 pounds, and not another dog as she expected,” said the Idaho department of fish and game in a statement. “Her husband responded and quickly dispatched the mountain lion as she held on to it,” added the IDFG.

Meghan Markle Already Knows Prince Harry Is Going to Deserve a 'Best Dad' Mug

They're already confident parents

The Latest: Puerto Rico says aid en route to Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on Venezuela's political crisis (all times local):

Pilot arrested before Philadelphia-bound flight

An American Airlines pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated on a plane before it left for Philadelphia.

Trump looks to pin 'socialism' label on Democrats ahead of 2020. Will it stick?

Some Democrats didn't applaud when President Donald Trump denounced socialism Tuesday. Republicans hope that will help Trump get re-elected.

Russian official: Another nuclear pact with US in trouble

MOSCOW (AP) — Another U.S.-Russian nuclear pact is in danger following the U.S. move to withdraw from a Cold War-era arms control treaty, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday.

Workers at Lear plant supplying GM Oshawa walk off job

'The message that we're sending is that it's not just about General Motors' workers'

Thai princess says #ILoveYou to fans after king opposes her PM candidacy

The Thai princess whose stunning announcement she was running for prime minister was quickly opposed by her brother, the king, thanked her supporters on Saturday, saying she wants Thailand to be "moving forward", but she did not comment on her candidacy.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GkwJ0s

Thai king moves to block sister's 'inappropriate' candidacy for PM

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Friday moved to block his elder sister's surprise bid to run for prime minister in March, calling her candidacy for a populist opposition party "inappropriate" and unconstitutional.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2SgRhO1

After storied life, Thai princess turned populist aims to be PM

She is a Thai princess who became a champion sailor, married a foreign commoner, earned two degrees in the United States, starred in a soap opera and tragically lost her son in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MSDdV1

UK government cancels Seaborne Freight's no-deal ferry contract

The British government has terminated a contract with Seaborne Freight to provide extra ferries in the event that the country leaves the European Union without a deal on March 29.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2I574e2

Exclusive: U.S. in direct contact with Venezuelan military, urging defections - source

The United States is holding direct communications with members of Venezuela's military urging them to abandon President Nicolas Maduro and is also preparing new sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on him, a senior White House official said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2BqeAKQ

Australians who helped rescue Thai cave boys appeal for Bahraini soccer refugee

Two Australian divers who helped save 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave have written to the Thai prime minister to ask for the release of a Bahraini footballer with refugee status in Australia, media reported on Saturday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2I0DIgI

The Latest: Whitaker won't answer 'witch hunt' question

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's appearance before a House committee (all times local):

Jeff Bezos Exposes Alleged National Enquirer Extortion Scheme

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has published evidence of American Media Inc.’s (AMI) attempt to blackmail him into halting his investigation into their publication of private text messages he allegedly exchanged with his mistress. In a blog post published on Thursday night, Bezos revealed that AMI, which owns the National Enquirer, threatened to print a number of revealing, personal photos that depict Bezos and his mistress in various states of undress, unless he agreed to stop his investigation into how the Enquirer obtained his private text messages.

Motorcycle-themed 2019 Ford F-150 concept is making an appearance at Chicago Auto Show

The Harley-Davidson-themed Ford F-150, a concept model that went on display last August at the motorcycle brand's 115th Anniversary event, turned out to be so popular and highly-requested that -- at long last -- the motorcycle-styled pickup truck that was in production for over a decade in the early 2000s will be put back on the market. Naturally with a special edition truck comes a hearty, custom lift-kit and new set of high performance shock absorbers.

Ocasio-Cortez attacks ICE after illegal MS-13 gangster allegedly murdered someone in her district

New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says ICE does not deserve a dime.

Cindy McCain steps back from her report of human trafficking at Sky Harbor airport

McCain alerted police after she saw a woman with a boy of "a different ethnicity." She claimed it was "trafficking" but police found nothing wrong.

Saudi Crown Prince Once Said He'd Use 'a Bullet' on Khashoggi, Report Says

The remark was reportedly made in a conversation intercepted by the U.S.

Jeff Bezos memo: National Enquirer owner launches investigation into claims newspaper tried to blackmail Amazon CEO using 'd**k pics'

American Media has launched an investigation into extortion claims made by Jeff Bezos after the billionaire entrepreneur published exchanges between his team and the media company in a revealing Medium post. In a statement responding to the allegations, American Media said it “believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr Bezos” but “nonetheless, in light of the nature of the allegations published by Mr Bezos, the board has convened and determined that it should promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims”. “Upon completion of that investigation, the board will take whatever appropriate action is necessary,” the statement continued.

Hacienda HealthCare closing facility where patient was raped and gave birth

Hacienda HealthCare announced it is closing its facility, where a patient was raped. Nathan Sutherland was arrested and charged with sexual assault.

Facility where incapacitated woman gave birth to shut down

PHOENIX (AP) — A long-term care facility in Arizona where an incapacitated woman was raped and later gave birth announced Thursday that it would shut down operations.

Elizabeth Warren faces new fallout over Native American ancestry claim ahead of her presidential announcement

Oklahoma Republican and Cherokee Nation citizen Rep. Markwayne Mullin says that Sen. Elizabeth Warren should be disbarred for claiming to be Native American on her Texas Bar registration.

Twitter shares tumble on forecasts for weaker revenue, higher costs

Twitter Inc forecast that revenue in the first quarter would be weaker than expected while full-year operating costs would rise, sending shares down more than 10 percent in midday trading on Thursday. Investors' concerns over the weak forecast overshadowed strong fourth-quarter results for the social media company that included a 24 percent jump in total revenue, helped by growth in its video advertising business. Monthly active users on the social media platform fell to its lowest in two years and for a third consecutive quarter.

National Enquirer owner responds to Bezos post, says it 'acted lawfully' in its reporting

American Media Inc., owner of the National Enquirer, says in a statement that it "acted lawfully" after Jeff Bezos blasted the company Thursday.

South hopeful, wary, but nuke talks crucial for Korean ties

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans, always deeply divided over how best to deal with their often-belligerent northern neighbor, are reacting with both hope and wariness to President Donald Trump's announcement that he will hold a second nuclear disarmament summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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