world news: 2019-06-09

Saturday 15 June 2019

Body of Young Girl Believed to Be From India Found in Remote Arizona Wilderness Near U.S. Border

Officials believe she and four others were dropped near the border by smugglers

Iran renews nuclear pact ultimatum amid tensions with U.S.

Iran will continue scaling back compliance with a nuclear deal unless other signatories to the pact show "positive signals", the Iranian president said on Saturday as tensions with the United States escalated over tanker attacks in the Gulf region. Iran stopped complying in May with some commitments in the 2015 nuclear deal that was agreed with global powers, after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and ratcheted up sanctions on Tehran. "Obviously, Iran cannot stick to this agreement unilaterally," President Hassan Rouhani told Russian, Chinese and other Asian leaders at a conference in Tajikistan.

Trump interview: President says he would 'absolutely' report foreign campaign intelligence amid massive outcry from election officials

Donald Trump – amid massive outrage and a public scolding by election officials – has reversed course and said he would report any information provided by a foreign country to the FBI. He insisted, however, he would have to read it to know whether it was “bad”.Following widespread criticism and dismay after the president said he would accept foreign-sourced information if it could help his 2020 reelection bid, he said he thought he had made clear he would inform the authorities.“Of course, you have to look at it…but of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that,” Mr Trump said, during a live phone interview with Fox News’s Fox and Friends, one of his favourite shows. “You couldn’t have that happen with our country, and everybody understands that.”He added: “If I thought anything was incorrect or badly stated, I’d report it to the attorney general, the FBI. I’d report it to law enforcement, absolutely.”Earlier this week, in an interview with ABC News, the president said he would accept damaging information about an opponent if it was provided by a foreign nation – something in breach of election laws.“I think you might want to listen, there isn’t anything wrong with listening,” he said.“If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] ‘we have information on your opponent’ – oh, I think I’d want to hear it.”He added: “If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI – if I thought there was something wrong.”On Thursday, the chair of the Federal Election Commission issued a rare public rebuke, apparently in response to the president’s comments, although without naming him.“Let me make something 100 per cent clear to the American public and anyone running for public office,” Ellen Weintraub said on Twitter.“It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a US election.”Earlier this year, special counsel Robert Mueller, completed a two-year investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.Mr Mueller probe found no evidence of a conspiracy between Moscow and the president’s team, although he detailed numerous interactions. On the question of obstruction of justice, Mr Mueller was unable to exonerate the president. Attorney general William Barr decided there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Trump.

Pressure mounts on Hong Kong leader from her own allies

Hong Kong's embattled leader faced mounting pressure on Friday to abandon a deeply unpopular plan to allow extraditions to China as key allies urged a rethink following unprecedented political unrest. The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to China on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Opposition to the extradition bill has united an unusually wide cross section of Hong Kong against the proposal and sparked huge rallies.

Trump pins tanker attacks on Iran, dismisses shipping lane threat

Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Friday doubled down in accusing Iran of executing explosions on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, saying the incident had Iran "written all over it."

Biden vs. Sanders and other things to watch in the first Democratic debates

The debates offer a chance to define a candidate's campaign — or severely hinder it.

United Airlines plane skids off runway after tyres burst on landing at New York airport

A United Airlines plane skidded off the runway after its tyres burst as it landed at an airport near New York.Some passengers suffered minor injuries when Flight 627 slid off the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Boeing 757-200’s left main landing gear was “stuck in a grassy area” following the incident at 1pm.“The aircraft will be towed off the airfield after passengers leave the aircraft via stairs,” it added in a statement.No injuries were reported to the FAA but United said some passengers had refused treatment for minor injuries. The airline did not say how many people were hurt.The pilot told those on board the plane had blown two tyres as it landed, according to passenger Caroline Craddock. She said at least one person hit their head and another suffered an elbow injury.Arrivals and departures were suspended at Newark following the incident. Flights resumed after passengers were “safely deplaned”, the airport tweeted.The FAA said it was sending officials to the airport to begin an investigation.

Doctors will conduct health checks at facility with preemie

The teenage girl with pigtail braids was hunched over in a wheelchair and holding a bunched sweatshirt when an immigrant advocate met her at a crowded Border Patrol facility in Texas. "You look at this baby and there is no question that this baby should be in a tube with a heart monitor," said Hope Frye, a volunteer with an immigrant advocacy group who travels the country visiting immigration facilities with children to make sure the facilities comply with federal guidelines. Frye and other advocates said the case highlights the poor conditions immigrants are held in after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as the government deals with an unprecedented number of families and children arriving daily.

Piracy, collisions, missiles: tankers in troubled waters

Tankers like those apparently attacked Thursday in the Gulf of Oman operate through increasingly treacherous waters, facing mounting dangers from piracy and collision as well as geopolitical hazards. Around 60 million barrels of petroleum product move each day on the seas globally, according to the US Energy Information Administration. This waterway is a principal route for crude exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.

Here’s Who Will and Won’t Get to Face Joe Biden in the First 2020 Democratic Debate

REUTERSNBC has determined which 2020 Democratic candidates will appear with each other on the Miami stage later this month for the first Democratic National Committee debates. A total of 20 candidates will participate across two nights (June 26 and 27) with 10 on in each night.The network broke down the two-night contest this way: The first night will feature Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), former HUD Sec. Julian Castro, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA). The second night will feature former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), author Marianne Williamson, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper sharing a debate stage.The lineups were determined via an in-person draw at NBC headquarters on Friday with a representative from NBC News Standards & Practices conducting the lottery. A representative from each qualifying campaign was invited to be there alongside DNC officials. Candidates were divided into two groups: Those who polled on average at or above 2 percent through midnight on Wednesday, June 12, and those who polled on average below 2 percent through midnight on Wednesday. That was followed by a random draw that placed the candidates in their respective nights. Candidate podium placement will be announced at a later time, based on polling. A majority of the 2020 candidates did qualify for the debates, by either hitting 1 percent in three qualifying polls or accruing 65,000 unique donors by June 12. However, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Miramar, Florida mayor Wayne Messam did not. Bullock’s campaign has been especially vocal about the process, including a late change about a qualifying poll that hurt his chances of getting in. His campaign has charged that the process penalized him for entering the race late after finishing a Montana legislative session in which he was working on Medicaid expansion. Bullock’s campaign released an ad on Friday featuring a Montanan calling the decision “horse shit.”For those who did qualify, there are some likely dynamics that will emerge as the massive field looks for ways to draw contrasts to Biden, the current frontrunner. Sanders, who will appear in the same debate as the ex-veep, has already contrasted himself with Biden on a number of issues and implicitly criticized a “middle ground” approach for Democratic candidates. Buttigieg has emphasized generational change as a hallmark of his campaign, seen as an inherent criticism of a return-to-normalcy promised by the Biden campaign. Most of the field also took issue Biden’s seeming flip-flop on the Hyde Amendment, which could likely come up during his night, in addition to the notion he has presented that Republicans will work with a Democratic president if Trump were to be defeated. Sen. Warren is the only candidate polling in the top five of the whole field who did not make the same stage as Biden. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

Japanese tanker owner: Trump administration providing ‘false’ information about Gulf of Oman attack

The owner of a Japanese tanker attacked on Thursday said U.S. reports have provided “false” information about what happened in the Gulf of Oman.

Saudi crown prince accuses Iran of twin tanker attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused rival Iran of attacks on two oil tankers in a vital Gulf shipping channel, adding he "won't hesitate" to tackle any threats to the kingdom, according to excerpts of an interview published on Sunday. "The Iranian regime did not respect the presence of the Japanese prime minister as a guest in Tehran and responded to his (diplomatic) efforts by attacking two tankers, one of which was Japanese," Prince Mohammed told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, referring to the attacks in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. "We do not want a war in the region... But we won't hesitate to deal with any threat to our people, our sovereignty, our territorial integrity and our vital interests," he added.

Under Fire, Trump Backtracks on Reporting Foreign ‘Dirt’ to FBI

“Of course you give it to the FBI” if warranted, Trump said Friday in a phone interview with Fox News. Special Counsel Robert Mueller discovered that a Russian lawyer approached Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. in 2016, offering damaging information from the Kremlin about Trump’s Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Teacher Gives Shoes Off His Feet So Student Can Walk Across Graduation Stage

Graduation day will be a day one Virginia fifth grader will never forget. It all started when the student's shoes broke shortly before he was supposed to walk across the stage to graduate.

Iran denies tankers attack as tensions soar

Iran dismissed as "baseless" Friday US accusations that it carried out twin attacks that left two tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, escalating tensions across the region and sending world oil prices soaring. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Washington would defend its forces and allies in the region, and the United States pressed its case as the UN Security Council met to address the incident -- the second in a month in the strategic shipping lane. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted Friday that the US administration had "immediately jumped to make allegations against Iran without a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence".

Indiana man arrested for hitting Delta flight attendant on Paris flight, causing diversion

A federal complaint says a man struck a flight attendant in the throat during a flight from Indianapolis International Airport to Paris.

2020 Democratic debates lineup: Biden to share stage with Sanders, Harris, and Buttigieg — but not Warren

The lineup for the first 2020 Democratic debates has been set, with some high profile match-ups concentrated on one of the two nights as the nearly two dozen candidates compete for support.The debates will be held across two nights in Miami, with a total of 20 candidates in the mix. The lineup for each night was determined by lottery, and is not reflective of standing in the race.The first night, 26 June, will see Elizabeth Warren sharing the stage with other leading candidates Cory Booker, and Beto O'Rourke, alongside seven other candidates who are vying for a moment in the spotlight amid the crowded field.On the second, just a day later, we can expect some real fireworks when Joe Biden faces off with the other leading candidates: Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg. Six other, lesser known, candidates will also share that stage.More follows…

Sarah Sanders's 5 biggest whoppers

The White House press secretary has left her mark on the position.

How the AH-64 Apache Became the Ultimate Attack Helicopter

Early in the morning of January 17, 1991, eight sleek helicopters bristling with missiles swooped low over the sands of the An Nafud desert in as they soared towards the border separating Saudi Arabia from Iraq.At 2:30 a.m., the choppers fanned out and set to work in teams of two. Rocket motors flashed as Hellfire missiles streaked towards two Iraqi radars powerful enough to potentially pick up the faint signature of a stealth plane.Minutes after the radars had been reduced to rubble, Nighthawk stealth jets soared through the twenty-mile-wide radar gap, headed for Baghdad. But the Army’s Apache attack helicopter aviators they had struck first to “kick down the door” for the Nighthawks.Nearly three decades later, the Apache’s status as the world’s premier attack helicopter remains largely unchallenged, and the type continues to see extensive action in the Middle East and in demand in countries as diverse as the UK, Egypt, India and Taiwan. Undeniably, the threats faced by the $35 million armored attack helicopter, which can pack as many as sixteen tank-busting missiles under its stub wings.

New York-area airport briefly closed after plane lands on flat tires

The busy Newark airport serving the New York area was briefly closed Saturday after a United Airlines flight experienced multiple flat tires upon landing and skidded partly off the runway, the airline and Federal Aviation Administration said. No major injuries were reported in the incident at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from New York. The FAA said United Airlines flight 627, arriving from Denver, landed at 1 pm (1700 GMT) before skidding off the left side of a runway, with its main landing gear getting stuck in a grassy area.

Family says baby cut from slain Chicago woman's womb has died

An infant boy who was cut from a Chicago woman's womb with a butcher knife died Friday at a hospital where he had been in grave condition since the April attack that killed his mother, a family spokeswoman said.

EU says 'Russian sources' tried to undermine European vote

EU officials said Friday that "Russian sources" stepped up a long-running disinformation campaign against the European Union in a bid to undermine the bloc's elections last month. The sources used fake social media accounts, bots and news sites to amplify existing divisive content by targeting particular groups of voters and countries, Security Commissioner Julian King said. "The number of disinformation cases attributed to Russian sources ... doubled as compared to the same period a year ago," King said, highlighting a report by European Commission investigators.

These Awesome Sides For Burgers Are What Dad Really Wants On Father’s Day

Friday 14 June 2019

Trump Says He’s Not Going to Fire Kellyanne Conway

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he won’t fire White House adviser Kellyanne Conway following a government watchdog’s recommendation she be “removed from federal service” for disparaging Democratic presidential candidates in her official capacity as a senior White House adviser.

Should you travel this summer to Mexico amid safety, algae and political concerns?

Safety concerns, the dismantling of the national tourism board and algae found on beaches have led to potential tourism issues for Mexico.

Sarah Sanders leaving White House job; governor run ahead?

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, whose tenure was marked by a breakdown in regular press briefings and questions about the administration's credibility, as well as her own, will leave her post at the end of the month, President Donald Trump announced Thursday. Trump said he's encouraging her to run for governor when she returns home to Arkansas, where her father once held the job. Sanders is one of Trump's closest and most trusted White House aides and one of the few remaining who worked on his campaign, taking on the job of advocating for and defending a president who had his own unconventional ideas about how to conduct the people's business.

Planned Parenthood suing over 'right to refuse'

Reaction and analysis from Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel.

What we know about the Gulf tanker attacks

Suspected attacks left two tankers in flames in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, bumping up oil prices and further raising regional tensions triggered by a bitter US-Iran standoff. The ships were struck in the same strategic sea lane where four oil vessels were sabotaged last month in attacks Washington blamed on Tehran. In the early hours of Thursday, two vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz towards the Indian Ocean caught fire.

Mexico, Honduras say will work together to protect migrant rights

Mexico and Honduras will coordinate to protect the rights of Honduran migrants in transit through Mexico as well as strengthen their cooperation to tackle human trafficking, their foreign ministries said in a joint statement on Friday.

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

Jury sentences father to death for killing his 5 children

A South Carolina father was sentenced to death Thursday for killing his five children with his own hands. After they were dead, he drove around with their bodies for nine days before dumping them in garbage bags on the side of an Alabama dirt road. Timothy Jones Jr. showed no emotion as the jury delivered the verdict after less than two hours of deliberation.

Trump Says He 'Might Want to Listen' if Approached With Information On 2020 Opponents

President Trump says that he would not necessarily inform the FBI if offered foreign information in 2020's presidential elections

Trump administration providing ‘false’ information about Gulf of Oman attack, says Japanese tanker owner

The owner of the Japanese tanker attacked on Thursday said US reports have provided “false” information about what happened in the Gulf of Oman. The ship operator said “flying objects” that may have been bullets were the cause of damage to the vessel, rather than mines used by Iranian forces, as the US has suggested. Yutaka Katada, chief executive of the Japanese company operating the ship called Kokuka Courageous, one of two vessels attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, said the damage could not have been caused by mines or torpedos that are shot underwater, since the damage was reportedly above the ship’s waterline. “It seems that something flew towards them. That created the hole, is the report I’ve received,” Mr Katada said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday, the Financial Times reported. Donald Trump’s administration has meanwhile insisted the attacks were carried out by Iran, which has denied having any involvement in either of the two incidents. The US released video shortly after that it said showed Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials removing what was likely an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous. The US also said the ship was abandoned after an “initial explosion.”The White House has singled out the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in recent months under Mr Trump, taking the rare step of classifying a foreign government entity as a terror group.The Kokuka Courageous and another Norwegian-operated vessel were ablaze for hours in the Gulf on Thursday. The owner's of the other vessel, the Front Altair, have not yet provided an explanation of what they believe to be the cause of the damage. The entire 21-person crew were evacuated the Kokuka Courageous. Sailors reported seeing the “flying objects” from the vessel before the incident occurred, according to Katada.The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Mike Huckabee says daughter Sarah Sanders would make a great candidate for public office

Sarah Sanders will take some time to decompress before making plans for life after the White House, says Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas.

Trump Says ‘I’d Take It’ If Foreigners Offer Dirt on 2020 Rivals

“I think I’d take it,” the president said in an interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos that aired Wednesday. @GStephanopoulos he wouldn't necessarily alert the FBI if approached by foreign figures with information on his 2020 opponent: "It’s not an interference. On Thursday, Trump said in a pair of tweets that it'd be ``ridiculous'' to expect him to report all his conversations with foreigners to the FBI.

‘Sporadic’ attacks from Iran could spike oil prices, says US think tank

Oil prices rose as much as 4% on Thursday following attacks on two tanker ships off the coast of Iran, which the U.S. has blamed on Tehran.

'Of Course I Could.' Anita Hill Says She Could Potentially Vote for Joe Biden

Hill also said she does not equate Biden's actions to those of President Trump

PHOTOS: Officers injured in Memphis task force shooting

Armed officers and an angry crowd faced off after a Tennessee man was fatally shot by U.S. Marshals in a working-class Memphis neighborhood.

Hong Kong protesters plan weekend rally after violent clashes

Hong Kong protest leaders announced plans for another mass rally on Sunday, escalating their campaign against a China extradition bill a day after police cleared them from the streets using volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. The move sets up a fresh confrontation with the city's leaders who have refused to withdraw the proposed law and have the staunch backing of Beijing, which described the protests as "riots". The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to China on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters who had surrounded the city's parliament were dispersed in chaotic scenes.

Trump Says He’s Not Going to Fire Kellyanne Conway

Pompeo: Iran responsible for attack on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman

Two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were attacked Thursday, which left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both.

Sarah Sanders leaving White House job; governor run ahead?

Planned Parenthood suing over 'right to refuse'

Reaction and analysis from Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel.

Iran Has Little to Gain From Oman Tanker Attacks

Fingers will certainly be pointed at Iran as the mastermind behind these events. A person who's heard local radio transmissions between ships in the region told Bloomberg that a torpedo attack is suspected to have caused an explosion and fire on the Front Altair.

PetSmart's Chewy gets Wall Street tails wagging with $1 billion IPO

Chewy Inc said on Thursday it priced its initial public offering at $22 per share, above its target, and sold more stock than originally planned, valuing the online pet products retailer at $8.77 billion. The IPO raises funds to help manage the debt load of parent company PetSmart, and indicates investor demand for a loss-making but fast-growing e-commerce company to tap into the roughly $70 billion U.S. pet industry market. Some 46.5 million Chewy shares were sold in the IPO, up from the anticipated 41.6 million as PetSmart sold more shares than originally planned.