| 'This was a direct attack on U.S. assets': Trump's aborted Iran strike draws criticism from Republicans Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:14 PM PDT  Congressional Republicans were divided Friday following President Donald Trump's decision to abort a planned missile strike against Iran.
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| Georgia death row inmate becomes 1,500th person to be executed since US brought back death penalty Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:08 PM PDT  The United States has executed the 1,500th person since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, according to a database keeping track of executions.Marion Wilson Jr was killed by lethal injection at 9.52pm on Thursday at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia after the US Supreme Court denied a stay of execution.The state's Department of Corrections confirmed his death. According to their press release, he was the 73rd person executed in Georgia since 1976, and the 51st put to death by lethal injection.Nationally, lethal injection counts for 1,323 of the 1,500 deaths, according to the Death Penalty Information Centre.In 1997, WIlson was convicted along Robert Earl Butts Jr in the March 1996 slaying of 24-year-old Donovan Corey Parks.Prosecutors said Parks, a stranger to the two men, was killed after agreeing to give the two men a ride outside a Walmart in rural Georgia.Butts was sentenced to death as well; his death by lethal injection was fulfilled last year.The state's Department of Corrections says Wilson was given a final statement and a prayer before the state administered deadly injection of pentobarbital."I ain't never took a life in my life," Wilson said.To his friends and family he added: "I love y'all forever. Death can't stop it. Can't nothing stop it."Outside the prison where Wilson's death was administered, protestors of the death penalty held signs that read "1,500 executions and counting. Abolish the death penalty."Around 2,500 prisoners currently face the death penalty in America. The largest numbers are in California (740), Florida (354), and Texas (228).
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| Pentagon secretly struck back against Iranian cyberspies targeting U.S. ships Posted: 21 Jun 2019 04:45 PM PDT  On Thursday evening, U.S. Cyber Command launched a retaliatory digital strike against an Iranian spy group that supported last week's limpet mine attacks on commercial ships, according to two former intelligence officials.
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| ICE confirms plans to arrest more than 2,040 undocumented family members in deportation raids beginning Sunday Posted: 21 Jun 2019 06:39 PM PDT  Immigration and Customs Enforcement top official told ABC News on Friday that the agency plans to arrest more than 2,040 undocumented family members, adding that "there has to be consequences" to entering the United States illegally.
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| California governor proposes a $21 billion wildfire fund Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:31 PM PDT  California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed helping utilities create a fund of up to $21 billion to compensate future victims of wildfires sparked by the companies' equipment or employees, an aide said on Friday. The proposal by the Democratic governor follows the bankruptcy filing earlier this year of San Francisco-based utility PG&E Corp, which anticipates $30 billion in liabilities from wildfires that have been blamed on its equipment, including the state's deadliest blaze which killed more than 80 people last year. The state's other two large utilities, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen their credit ratings downgraded over wildfire concerns.
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| NRA sues ex-president Oliver North, saying he harmed the NRA Posted: 21 Jun 2019 05:19 AM PDT  The National Rifle Association has sued its former president, Oliver North, for what it called "conduct harmful to the NRA" as turmoil that was exposed publicly when North resigned two months ago continued Thursday when the organization also turned against its longtime chief lobbyist. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York sought a judge's declaration that the NRA isn't required to pay North's legal bills. North stepped down from the post in April after serving for a year.
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| Russians hit out at Kremlin ban on flights to Georgia Posted: 22 Jun 2019 03:50 AM PDT  Russia's travel industryhit out Saturday at a decision by the Kremlin to suspend flights to Georgia as a politically motivated move that has little to do with safety concerns. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning Russian airlines from flying to Georgia from July 8 late Friday in response to anti-government rallies in the ex-Soviet neighbour. The outbreak of protests was sparked by a parliamentary address in Tbilisi by a Moscow lawmaker earlier this week.
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| These Brunch Cocktails Are What Your Mom Really Wants For Mother's Day Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:11 PM PDT |
| Oh My God, the Marines Have a Laser Now Posted: 21 Jun 2019 06:00 PM PDT  Wow Brace yourselves: Marine grunts now have their hands on a drone-killing laser cannon.Marines are currently evaluating a Compact Laser Weapons System (CLaWS) as "the first ground-based laser approved by the Department of Defense for use by warfighters on the ground," Marine Corps Systems Command announced on Wednesday.Unlike the Army's vehicle-mounted directed energy system, the CLaWS is "not intended to be a standalone system," according to MARCORSYSCOM, but the prototype will "serve as a component to an overall system" designed for counter-drone operations downrange."This was all in response to a need for counter unmanned aerial systems to take down drones," Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) program manager Don Kelley said in the MARCORSYSCOM release. "We're providing CLaWS to Marines as a rapid prototype for evaluation ... Depending on the results, CLaWS could become part of a larger capability set."
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| The Trump administration is trying to make war with Iran inevitable Posted: 21 Jun 2019 11:00 PM PDT  We should view Iran's recent posturing for what it is: retaliation to the Trump administration's unnecessary and deliberate provocation'Like the recent oil tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman, the Trump administration has framed the drone incident as if it occurred in a vacuum – providing an aura of legitimacy to a possible American military response.' Photograph: Darren Ornitz/ReutersLast night, in response to Iran shooting down an American drone earlier this week, the United States came within one whim of an erratic and unstable president from launching a military strike on Iran.Like the recent oil tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman, the Trump administration has framed the drone incident as if it occurred in a vacuum – implying that the Iranians are launching these (alleged) attacks without provocation, and providing an aura of legitimacy to a possible American military response.And that's exactly what the Trump administration's Iran hawks – led by the national security adviser, John Bolton, and the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo — have seemingly planned all along: to cultivate conditions that make military conflict with Iran the only option.The current Iran predicament is the result of a years-long campaign by the same people who pushed for invasion of Iraq. Instead of learning from the Iraq debacle, they've decided that any means, including a potentially catastrophic war with Iran, are justified in order to achieve regime change in Tehran. Their public arguments for escalation with Iran have generally been cloaked as criticism of Barack Obama's Iran nuclear agreement, by disingenuously calling for what they know is an unachievable "better deal".The facts are indisputable. When Trump assumed office, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – as the nuclear deal is formally known – was working as advertised, blocking Iran from building a nuclear weapon. The United Nations' atomic energy watchdog has even confirmed more than a dozen times that Iran is, thus far, complying with the deal.But instead of capitalizing on these gains, the Trump administration threw it all away to take a different path. Slowly, over time, Trump officials ramped up their bellicose rhetoric toward Iran; falsely accused Tehran of coordinating with al-Qaida (presumably to invoke the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force as legal justification for a possible attack); pulled out of the JCPOA; and imposed sanctions so devastating that the Iranians were almost certain to lash out, whether in the form of the minor skirmishes we've seen in recent weeks or rejection of the terms of the 2015 nuclear accord.In early May, Bolton – an unrepentant Iraq war cheerleader who has been calling for war with Iran for nearly two decades – announced a military build-up in the region to counter purported threats from Iran. But we later found out that Team Trump was not only blowing that intel way out of proportion, but also that US intelligence agencies had assessed that Iran's new and threatening activity was actually in response to the Trump administration's aggression.We should view Iran's recent posturing for what it is: retaliation to the Trump administration's unnecessary and deliberate provocation.Although Trump backed down this time, the possibility of war with Iran is very real. Even a "limited strike" scenario could quickly spiral out of control.Thankfully it appears that, for now, Trump is holding to his campaign promises of wanting to extricate the US from its Middle East forever wars and refrain from starting any new ones. But we're dealing with Donald Trump and the primary factor in determining whether we go to war with Iran is whether he believes it will benefit him politically at home. Everything Trump says or does must be viewed through that lens.To fight the Trump administration's efforts to escalate conflict with Iran, we must call on Congress to speak out more forcefully against war with Iran, and get Congress to pass recently introduced legislation that would bar funding for any unauthorized war. It might also mean, however distasteful it may feel, promoting voices calling for restraint from the only television news outlet Trump cares about, like Tucker Carlson at Fox.But of course there are no guarantees. There still remains a well-funded, influential, and eager pro-Iran war lobby pushing Trump towards conflict. The only question that remains is whether it will box him in far enough to the point of no return, or whether a public campaign against war can provide the off ramp that will be required. * Ben Armbruster is the communications director for Win Without War and previously served as National Security Editor at ThinkProgress
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| Woman falls asleep on flight and wakes up in pitch dark on locked and empty plane Posted: 22 Jun 2019 08:09 AM PDT  A woman has claimed she was left alone in a dark and locked plane after falling asleep on a flight.Tiffani Adams took a 90-minute Air Canada flight from Quebec to Toronto on 9 June.Ms Adams fell asleep during the journey but woke up to find the aircraft empty, cleared and parked in Toronto.She had somehow been left inside the dark plane, which appeared to have been locked for the night."I fell asleep probably less than halfway through my short 1.5 hour flight," she said, in a message posted on Air Canada's Facebook page."I wake up around midnight (few hours after flight landed) freezing cold still strapped in my seat in complete darkness (I'm talking pitch black)."Ms Adams described her ordeal as "terrifying" and said she thought she was having a bad dream.The stranded passenger called a friend but her phone died around a minute into the call. Ms Adams then attempted to charge the phone but found that the plane's power had been switched off."I can't charge my phone to call for help I'm full on panicking [because] I want off this nightmare asap," she said."As someone with an anxiety disorder as is I can tell you how terrifying this was," she wrote"I think I'm having a bad dream bc like seriously how is this happening!!?"Ms Adams said she found a torch in the plane's cockpit and eventually made her way to the aircraft's main door.She eventually opened the door, only to find herself around 50 ft above ground and unable to negotiate the drop beneath her.The passenger said she sat with her legs dangling out of the aircraft while sending out distress signals with her torch.Ms Adams said she was unable to tell how much time had passed before she saw a man driving a luggage cart, who passed the plane.She said she flagged the startled airport employee down, saying he was "in shock" to see her. "He [asked] how the heck they left me on the plane," Ms Adams said, describing her rescue."I'm wondering the same."The man then accompanied Ms Adams to the airport building, where she was met by Air Canada representatives.Ms Adams said being forgotten on the plane had left her with recurring "night terrors".She said she struggled to sleep and would wake "anxious and afraid [she was] locked up someplace dark".An airline spokesperson confirmed the account and told The Independent that Air Canada was reviewing the incident and remained in contact with the passenger.
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| Fellow SEALs say chief shot girl and old man in Iraq Posted: 21 Jun 2019 07:50 PM PDT  Two Navy SEALs testified Friday that their platoon chief gunned down a young girl and an old man in Iraq in 2017 from his sniper's perch, though neither witnessed him pulling the trigger. The SEALs said shots came from the tower where Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher was posted and they watched through their scopes as the civilians fell to the ground. Dalton Tolbert said he and another sniper were in a neighboring tower in Mosul on June 18, 2017, and had fired warnings shots to scatter civilians by the Tigris River because the Islamic State was operating in the area.
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| Wisconsin governor vetoes 'born alive' legislation and other abortion measures Posted: 21 Jun 2019 04:25 PM PDT  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed four abortion bills Friday, a day after GOP lawmakers made a show in the Capitol of formally sending them to him.
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| Surveillance drone may have tracked Japanese tanker: experts Posted: 21 Jun 2019 06:32 AM PDT  A "flying object" which flew over a Japanese tanker before it was rocked by a blast in strategic Gulf waters last week could have been a reconnaissance drone, experts have told AFP. The owner of the Kokuka Courageous said the tanker's Japanese and Filipino crew saw a "flying object", just before a blast that caused a fire on board the vessel, sparking a crisis between Washington and Iran. "The crew members are saying that they were hit by a flying object.
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| U.S. cannot unilaterally remove Turkey from F-35 program: Turkish defense official Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:15 AM PDT  The United States cannot unilaterally remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program as the partnership agreement does not allow it, Turkey's head of Defense Industries Directorate said on Friday. "No single country can say they don't want you and then remove you from the program," Ismail Demir told reporters. Ankara and Washington have been at loggerheads for months over Turkey's planned purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense system.
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| Car and Driver Contributor Davey G. Johnson Found in Northern California Posted: 21 Jun 2019 05:49 AM PDT  C/D contributor David Gordon Johnson's body has been found after he went missing on a motorcycle trip through Calaveras County on June 5. We have updated this story with the latest information.
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| Hannity and Manafort’s Gushing Text Messages Revealed: ‘We Are All on the Same Team’ Posted: 21 Jun 2019 03:22 PM PDT  Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photo GettyThroughout Special Counsel Robert Mueller's prosecution of Paul Manafort, he found a willing and enthusiastic ally and confidant: Fox News host and presidential pal Sean Hannity. On Friday, a D.C. federal judge released dozens of pages of private text messages between the former Trump campaign chairman and Hannity, who at one point offered "anything I can do to help."The messages show Hannity apparently reached out shortly after the FBI raided Manafort's Alexandria, Virginia apartment in August 2017. Hannity checked in on Manafort throughout the course of the special counsel's investigation and prosecution of him, asking if he was OK. Like many other higher-ups in Trump's orbit, Manafort maintained a friendly relationship with Hannity during the 2016 election and kept in touch after he left the Trump campaign in August 2016. The Special Counsel's Office charged Manafort with tax and bank fraud counts in Virginia and tried him in a separate case in Washington, D.C., for acting as an unregistered foreign agent, money laundering and obstruction of justice. Trump to Hannity: You're 'Not Really' a Patriot, You Just Want 'Great Ratings'Hannity spent large portions of his texts with Manafort discussing (and rehashing) episodes of his own television show. He complained about never-Trumpers, Hillary Clinton, and the special counsel's investigation. Hannity also repeatedly invited Manafort on TV, saying it would give him a chance to defend himself against Mueller's prosecutors. Hannity told Manafort to connect him with his lawyer to get information on important developments. Manafort repeatedly declined, citing a court gag order restricting him from publicly discussing his case. But the text messages were perhaps the most blatant behind-the-scenes look at how cozy the host was with Manafort, the subject of hours of news coverage on Fox and Hannity's show in particular.Hannity in one instance declared he was "NOT a fair weather friend," and told Manafort how unfairly he believed he was being treated. "We are all on the same team," he said. Manafort also had plenty of compliments for Hannity, saying he was on "fire," "great" on radio, and declared that "in a fair world, you would get a Pulitzer prize for your incredible reporting." He said he loved Hannity's interview with former Trump adviser Roger Stone, and in one instance, Manafort said he watched the show with his three-month-old grandson, who was apparently mesmerized."I swear to God. He was totally focused. Your audience is growing demographically," he said."You help me keep my hope and sanity," Manafort said on another occasion. And throughout the investigation and trial, Hannity repeatedly publicly called for the charges against Manafort to be dropped. Hannity even hinted at insider knowledge of attempts to retaliate against those involved in the Russia investigation. When Manafort said he hoped that then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions would appoint a new special counsel to investigate the Russia inquiry, Hannity texted "He has to [do] it [or else] he is gone. Talked to a friend." While it's unclear who Hannity was talking about, he often speaks to Trump.After the text messages were revealed on Friday, Hannity appeared to shrug them off, writing on Twitter that his views on the Russia investigation and Manafort "were made clear every day to anyone who listens to my radio show or watches my TV show." Manafort is currently serving a 7.5-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of financial crimes by a Virginia jury and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and defraud the United States in a separate D.C. case.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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.
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| Why India’s Hypersonic Missile Could Trigger A Nuclear War Posted: 21 Jun 2019 10:00 AM PDT  India's test of a hypersonic missile signifies more than the advance of Indian weapons technology.It also is one step closer to triggering a nuclear war with Pakistan.Ironically, the first launch of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle, or HSTDV, was a failure. The HSTDV, which is shaped almost like a sailing ship, is supposed to be a testbed for developing future hypersonic weapons such as cruise missiles. It is launched atop an Agni 1, an Indian ballistic missile."The vehicle was test launched using the Agni 1 missile platform that was to take it up to a predetermined altitude where scramjet technology—the ability to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 6 while using atmospheric oxygen as oxidizer—had to be validated with separation of the platform and a short flight at high altitude," according to India's Economic Times."Sources said that while the missile on which the platform was mounted successfully took off from the range, the test could not be completed to demonstrate the vehicle at hypersonic speed as the Agni 1 did not reach the desired altitude for the test. Scientists are looking at the technical reasons behind this and are studying all available data."
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| Former top U.S. diplomat deplores policy toward Iran 'untethered to any coherent strategy' Posted: 21 Jun 2019 10:05 AM PDT  President Trump seriously miscalculated when he scrapped the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, embarking on a policy "untethered to any coherent strategy," according to a scathing assessment by William Burns, the former U.S. diplomat who negotiated the nuclear agreement. Burns said the move was certain to embolden hard-liners in Tehran and contribute to military tensions in a way that will backfire against the U.S. — which was already happening this week, as news broke that Iran had shot down an American military drone.
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| 9/11 first responder pleads for victims fund from his hospice bed Posted: 21 Jun 2019 10:19 AM PDT  Luis Alvarez, who testified with Jon Stewart, asked Congress to 'do the right thing' in what he expects to be his last interviewAn emergency first responder who was diagnosed with cancer following his work at Ground Zero in New York has spoken from his hospice bed just days after he testified alongside Jon Stewart about funding for those who fell ill from their work after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Retired New York police department detective Luis Alvarez used what he expects to be his final interview to make a final impassioned plea to Congress to renew the 9/11 victims fund and deal with an "epidemic" of Ground Zero-related illnesses.Alvarez said on Thursday that after nearly 70 rounds of chemotherapy, doctors had told him there was nothing more they could do. He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016 that has spread to his liver."It's an epidemic. There's going to be more and more first responders getting sick. And our government has to take care of them. It's just a matter of decency, a matter of doing the right thing. We did the right thing when we went down there. Now it's the government's turn to do the right thing by us," Alvarez, 53, told Fox News.> UPDATE: 9/11 first responder Luis Alvarez does an interview with @FoxNews as his liver is failing after breathing in toxic dust after the Twin Towers fell https://t.co/cIUomvx6OJ> > — Nikki Schwab (@NikkiSchwab) June 20, 2019Alvarez said going through cancer has been stressful for his whole family. "We need to ease the stress on the first responders," he added. "And let them know that they're not alone. That the government is here to back them up, to give them the support they need, the financial support that they're going to need when they get sick. It's just a matter of time. You know, most of us that were down there – it's just a matter of time before we get sick."It came just nine days after he received a standing ovation in Washington DC, where Stewart and other first responders addressed the House judiciary committee, to speak out against plans to cut 9/11 compensation by up to 70%."You made me come down here the day before my 69th round of chemo, and I'm going to make sure that you never forget to take care of the 9/11 responders," he said at the hearing. But the following day his health took a downturn and doctors concluded that his liver had shut down.Speaking with his son David by his side from a hospice in Long Island, near New York City, Alavarez said to Fox News host Shepard Smith on Thursday: "We need this bill passed, Shep. It's got to be passed quickly and efficiently so we never have to come down to Washington again and lobby."He said he was comfortable and "at peace" surrounded by his family and that he had "no regrets whatsoever".He insisted that he was just doing what any fire, police or emergency worker would have done when he spent three months at the site of the 9/11 attacks, searching for remains and clearing up in a smoldering, toxic pile after terrorists flew hijacked passenger jets into the World Trade Center. He added: "I'm nobody special. I did what all the other guys did. And now we're paying the price for it."He said he is leaving his sons David, 29, Tyler, 19, and Ben, 14, "without a father".While he said he was "lucky" to have had the heathcare that he has, there are people in his position who do not.He said it was time for the government to act: "We just want the money to be there for our families so that God forbid they do get sick, they're covered."He said they were told the air was safe – which it was not – but even if they had known it was unsafe they would have gone in regardless, "because that's what we do".He said the problem is a US-wide issue among first responders who travelled to New York after the 9/11 attacks to help and warned others to be vigilant."I just want them to know, hey if you were down at Ground Zero … get yourself checked out. Because you could be sick from ground zero," he added.
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| Court tosses black man's murder conviction over racial bias Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:44 PM PDT  The Supreme Court on Friday threw out the murder conviction and death sentence for a black man in Mississippi because of a prosecutor's efforts to keep African Americans off the jury. The removal of black prospective jurors deprived inmate Curtis Flowers of a fair trial, the court said in a 7-2 decision written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The long record of Flowers' trials stretching back more than 20 years shows District Attorney Doug Evans' "relentless, determined effort to rid the jury of black individuals," with the goal of an all-white jury, Kavanaugh wrote.
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| Biden calls for enshrining Roe v. Wade in federal law Posted: 22 Jun 2019 01:20 PM PDT  Biden spoke at a Planned Parenthood forum two weeks after reversing his opposition to federal funding for most abortions.
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| 11 Cool Things We Learned Driving the Tomcar TX 4X4 Posted: 21 Jun 2019 08:24 AM PDT |
| School will no longer be recognised as Catholic after refusing to fire gay teacher, church officials say Posted: 22 Jun 2019 11:50 AM PDT  A school that refused to fire a gay teacher as ordered by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis says it has been told by church officials that it will no longer be recognised as Catholic. But school leaders pledged to keep the institution's religious identification.The archdiocese announced in a statement that it would no longer recognise Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, an independently operated school, because it was not insisting that all employees "be supportive of all teachings of the Catholic Church," the Catholic News Agency reported. The church is against homosexual activity.A statement by the Reverend Brian G Paulson, who heads the Midwest Province of Jesuits, said the archdiocese told Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School two years ago not to renew the contract of a teacher whose "marital status does not conform to church doctrine." He also said the decision, to be formalised in a church decree, would be appealed through a church process and would go as high as the Vatican "if necessary."Leaders of Brebeuf Jesuit posted an open letter to their community on the Indianapolis school's website saying the archdiocese had directly inserted itself into a school governance matter in an "unprecedented" way and that it would not do what Archbishop Charles Thompson had demanded.The letter said in part: "Specifically, Brebeuf Jesuit has respectfully declined the Archdiocese's insistence and directive that we dismiss a highly capable and qualified teacher due to the teacher being a spouse within a civilly-recognised same-sex marriage."The unidentified teacher was said by Mr Paulson to be "a valued employee" who does not teach religion. He wrote that Brebeuf Jesuit became aware through social media "that one of its teachers entered into a civil marriage with a person of the same sex."According to the Associated Press, a school operated by the archdiocese, Indianapolis Roncalli High School, has fired or suspended two guidance counsellors in the past year because they are in same-sex marriages.Brebeuf Jesuit's leaders who signed the open letter are the Reverend William Verbryke, the school president; W Patrick Bruen, chair of the school's Board of Trustees; and Daniel M Lechleiter, chair-elect of the trustees board. They promised in the letter that the school's mission would not change as a result of this conflict with the archdiocese."We understand that this news will likely spur a host of emotions, questions and even confusion in the days ahead. Please be assured, the Archdiocese's decision will not change the mission or operations of Brebeuf Jesuit."On Friday, the school's name was not on the archdiocese's list of Catholic schools in its region.The church says there are 68 Catholic schools - 57 elementary schools and 11 high schools - in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, according to its website. Collectively, they enrolled some 23,200 students during the 2018-2019 school year.Most of those schools are operated by a school division within the archdiocese, which is headed by Superintendent Gina Kuntz Fleming, who did not return phone calls about Brebeuf Jesuit. While Brebeuf Jesuit is a Catholic school within the archdiocese, it is independently operated. The school has nearly 800 students in grades nine through 12.The school leaders' letter said that, while the archdiocese "may choose to no longer attend or participate in the school's Masses and formal functions, Brebeuf Jesuit is, and will always be, a Catholic Jesuit school."It also said church leaders assured them that "Jesuit priests may continue to serve at Brebeuf Jesuit and will retain their ability to celebrate the sacraments of the Catholic Church."The Washington Post
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| Philippine ex-official critical of China denied Hong Kong entry Posted: 21 Jun 2019 03:20 AM PDT  Former Philippine foreign minister Albert del Rosario was denied entry to Hong Kong on Friday, in what critics called retaliation for his attacks on Beijing's contested claims over the South China Sea. Del Rosario was behind two prominent legal initiatives against China, including a 2013 case at an international tribunal which ultimately ruled against Beijing's claim to most of the resource-rich waterway. Del Rosario said he flew to Hong Kong early Friday using a Philippine diplomatic passport but was taken to an immigration holding area on arrival, where he remained "for nearly three and a half hours".
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| Despite the US ban, Huawei is still China’s most attractive employer Posted: 20 Jun 2019 10:58 PM PDT  The Trump administration's inclusion of Huawei on a blacklist that bans US companies from doing business with the Chinese consumer electronics giant has generated at least one surprising side effect.Despite the fact that international vendor firms are starting to cut off the company, which stands to lose critical partners like Google and Facebook as a result of the ban, Chinese engineering students have for the second year in a row voted Huawei as the most attractive employer in the country -- the place where many of them are still highly interested in finding a job.Per CNN, Shenzhen-based Huawei beat out companies like Alibaba and Tencent on the survey of more than 50,000 Chinese students by research firm Universum that sought to identify China's most sought-after workplaces.It's a rare bright spot at the moment for a company that had ambitions perhaps as soon as this year of dethroning Samsung as the biggest smartphone maker in the world. US-led opposition pretty much ground that effort to a halt, with the company forecasting a revenue miss that equates to several billion dollars, a problem that's compounded by the potential future loss of official apps from Facebook and Google -- which are must-haves for Huawei's customers outside of China who comprise around half of its user base.Perhaps even more concerning for the company is the likelihood that it will be cut off soon from Google's Android mobile OS, precluding future Huawei handsets from getting Android and its security updates as well as denying those future handsets access to official apps from the Google Play Store.No wonder that Huawei has started promising full, 100% refunds to some customers if they buy a handset and the Google and Facebook apps that are on it now stop working because of the US ban. All of which makes it all the more interesting that there's a kind of rally-round-the-home-team feeling among Chinese students who, despite all of the above, still see the company as the place where they want to be.
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| Dad of Maleah Davis, slain 4-year-old, shares photos of her 'My Little Pony'-themed casket Posted: 21 Jun 2019 05:13 AM PDT  The father of Maleah Davis, the 4-year-old whose remains were found in Arkansas earlier this month, posted photos of 'My Little Pony'-themed casket.
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| How the B-2 Bomber Could Destroy Iran In a War Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:59 AM PDT  The need to penetrate advanced air-defense networks in the post–Cold War era led to B-2s acquiring a conventional strike capability. The bomber can carry up to sixteen Joint Directed Attack Munition (JDAM) satellite-guided 2,000 pound bombs. In the past it has also carried CBU-87 Combined Effects Munitions and CBU-90 Gator mine dispensers, but submunition-dispensing munitions are being phased out in U.S. inventories. The bomber also carries the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon, a glide bomb with a range of up to fifty miles and a GPS-based guidance system. For standoff attacks, the Spirit can carry the AGM-158 Joint Air Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the new, longer-range JASSM-ER (extended range). Finally, the B-2 can carry two 30,000 pound twenty foot long Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs for attacking hardened targets, one per weapons bay.The B-2 Spirit is one of three strategic heavy bombers in U.S. Air Force service. Originally conceived to infiltrate the Soviet air-defense network and attack targets with nuclear weapons, over the decades its mission has grown to include conventional precision attack. The B-2 is the most advanced bomber in U.S. service, and the only one of three types that still carries nuclear gravity bombs.(This first appeared in 2017.)
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| The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the brand's most powerful car Posted: 21 Jun 2019 07:12 AM PDT  This week, Ford announced that the 2020 Mustang Shelby will be equipped with the most powerful V8 engine "in the world," making it the company's highest performing street-legal car to date. This week, however, Ford revealed the model's engine specs: the supercharged V8 will be able to produce 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft of torque.
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| Spain's top court convicts 5 men in gang rape case Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:13 PM PDT  Spain's Supreme Court on Friday overruled two lower courts and sentenced five men to 15 years in prison for raping an 18-year-old woman. The case had triggered an outcry because the lower courts last year convicted the men of the lesser crime of sexual abuse and handed down nine-year sentences. Women's rights advocates had expressed anger about what they saw as the lower court's leniency and the confirmation of that sentence by a second court.
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| WRAPUP 6-Trump warned Tehran the U.S. was about to strike, called for talks - Iranian officials Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:16 AM PDT ![WRAPUP 6-Trump warned Tehran the U.S. was about to strike, called for talks - Iranian officials]( "WRAPUP 6-Trump warned Tehran the U.S. was about to strike, called for talks - Iranian officials") Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump warning that a U.S. attack on Iran was imminent but saying he was against war and wanted talks on a range of issues. News of the message, delivered through Oman overnight, came shortly after the New York Times said Trump had approved military strikes against Iran on Friday over the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, but called them off at the last minute.
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| How to Mow Your Lawn in Hot Weather and Keep It Green Posted: 21 Jun 2019 01:05 PM PDT  With the dog days of summer finally here, it's time to re-evaluate how you mow your lawn. While a low-cut, manicured lawn might seem ideal, turf grass actually does better in the summer heat when...
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| What you need to know about canceling/re-booking trips to the Dominican Republic Posted: 21 Jun 2019 03:11 PM PDT  Following the deaths of several U.S. tourists in the Dominican Republic, many travelers who have already booked trips there are questioning whether it is a safe destination.
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| US, Taliban to hold more talks on ending war Posted: 22 Jun 2019 11:18 AM PDT  The United States and the Taliban will open fresh negotiations next week, the US negotiator said Saturday, as he voiced hope for progress in ending America's longest war. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative on Afghanistan, said the two sides would start their seventh round of talks on June 29. "Based on my recent visits to Afghanistan and Qatar, I believe all sides want rapid progress," Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
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| Samsung reportedly seeking compensation because Apple isn’t selling enough iPhones Posted: 21 Jun 2019 08:16 AM PDT  While Samsung keeps comparing its flagship phones to the latest iPhones that Apple makes in the hopes of convincing customers that Galaxy phones are a better option, Samsung is also a huge fan of the iPhone. That's because Samsung is a supplier of iPhone parts, and these Apple deals can be very lucrative. The best example concerns the iPhone's OLED screen, which is very expensive. Samsung Display happens to be the supplier of most iPhone OLED panels, as Samsung makes the best OLED screens for smartphones. But it turns out that Samsung isn't happy with iPhone sales, and wants Apple to pay a hefty penalty for all the iPhone screens that it failed to purchase as a result of the slower than expected iPhone sales.A report from ETNews says that Samsung Display seeks compensation amounting to hundreds of billions of won, which converts to hundreds of millions of dollars. Apple had reportedly agreed to acquire a certain quality of panels from Samsung Display but then failed to meet these numbers. Samsung Display and Apple have been negotiating the matter but have yet to agree on terms.Samsung invested in an A3 display facility that would cater only to Apple, a 6th-generation flexible OLED plant that can produce about 100 million OLED iPhone screens each year. But it's unclear what the minimum supply Apple agreed to buy might've been.Production at the A3 plant fell to under 50% of capacity as demand for iPhone sales remained sluggish, the report notes. Sales for the iPhone XS generation that followed 2017's iPhone X wasn't spectacular either, and Apple was often rumored to have cut OLED panel orders as a result. Samsung Display's operating profit dropped to 2.62 trillion won last year, about half of the 5.7 trillion the company reported in 2017, a figure that perfectly reflects the smartphone sales slump. Galaxy sales have been slower than expected as well, and these devices also pack OLED screens from Samsung Display.Meeting quotas isn't the only problem between the two parties, ETNews says. Apparently, Samsung Display has experienced some manufacturing issues with some of the OLED panels it supplied to Apple, and it may have been charged a "small penalty."ETNews also notes that failing to meet quotas might be a problem for Apple's deals with other panel suppliers, although screen makers rarely seek reimbursements. Instead, Apple may ink additional display deals with those manufacturers that cover other products.Interestingly, the report notes that Apple has offered such options to Samsung Display for OLED panels that would fit tablets and notebooks. So far, but none of the existing iPads or MacBooks feature OLED screens. Earlier rumors have said that Apple is considering OLED panels for other devices, MacBooks included.
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| Would You Pay This Much For A Corvette Body? Posted: 22 Jun 2019 05:52 AM PDT  This isn't exactly a budget-friendly deal... Quite a few people love the look of a classic Chevy Corvette Stingray, and why not? The iconic lines are like nothing you find on any other vehicle around, making it a real standout even among other classics. While that's certainly true, you might be wondering why this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible body is so pricey.At $18,000 for a body that not long has the original Rally Red paint, it's understandable why anyone would question the sanity in paying so much. All you get is the body, doors, hinges, rear exhaust valance, convertible decklid, bird cage, and windshield frame, plus the glass. Nothing from the black vinyl interior, drivetrain, chassis, etc. comes along, meaning you need to source the rest.Consider this: you could easily spend upwards of $125,000 or more for a clean, low-mileage 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. That's not exactly a low price, because quite a few people love the look of the C2, especially when it comes topless. Even higher-mileage examples tend to go for somewhere between $80,000 and $100,000 or more, with prices constantly climbing.It's not like GM is making any more of these classic bodies. While you might have your heart set on a complete Stingray, this body offers up all kinds of possibilities. It works for restoring a car with serious body damage, including rust. Alternatively, you could use that impeccable styling for a potent restomod project, making for a unique creation. Add a compatible chassis, whatever motor you desire, plus a great interior for something which turns heads and breaks necks.When you start to realize just how much a 1966 'Vette sells for these days, and consider that they're going to keep going up in value, suddenly this body seems like a much better deal than before. Classic Corvettes are definitely hot items, making it a solid idea to snatch up whatever you can when possible.
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| What to know about Iran's uranium enrichment program Posted: 21 Jun 2019 11:01 AM PDT  Iran has announced it was 10 days away from breaking their uranium stockpile limit. What does this mean for the Iran Deal?
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| Texas sends an additional 1,000 troops to the US-Mexico border Posted: 22 Jun 2019 06:20 AM PDT  Governor Greg Abbott says the surge of illegal immigration can't go unchecked.
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| Photos of the 2020 Peugeot 2008 SUV Posted: 21 Jun 2019 08:46 AM PDT |
| Colorado shooter says he targeted kids over gender taunts Posted: 20 Jun 2019 10:09 PM PDT  A high school student charged in a classmate's death during a Colorado school shooting told police that he planned the attack for weeks and intended to target classmates who repeatedly mocked his gender identity. Written summaries of police interviews with the two suspected shooters portray 16-year-old Alec McKinney as the leader of the attack, enlisting 18-year-old Devon Erickson in the plan to kill the students who bullied McKinney, who identifies as male. Both teenagers told police that they broke into a gun safe at one of the teenager's homes before walking into the STEM School Highlands Ranch on the afternoon of May 7 with a guitar case and a backpack concealing four guns.
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| UPDATE 3-Pence puts off China speech sequel ahead of Trump-Xi talks Posted: 21 Jun 2019 09:28 AM PDT ![UPDATE 3-Pence puts off China speech sequel ahead of Trump-Xi talks]( "UPDATE 3-Pence puts off China speech sequel ahead of Trump-Xi talks") U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Friday called off a planned China speech that had been cast as a sequel to a blistering broadside he delivered in October to avoid exacerbating tensions with Beijing before summit talks next week, a White House official said. The decision to put off the Monday speech came ahead of what could be a pivotal meeting on the U.S.-China trade war between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, next week. "There is room for progress, and even if incremental, we didn't want to step on that potential," a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity about why the speech was called off.
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| America's 6th Generation Fighter Could Be Everything: 4 Things It Must Have Posted: 21 Jun 2019 09:00 PM PDT  While the United States moves towards full-scale of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning stealth fighters, countries like France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom are looking to skip ahead to an even more advanced sixth-generation.It's too soon to identify for sure what the sixth-generation jets will look like, as none exist yet, and they are only planned to enter service starting in the late 2030s and 2040s. However, there are many technologies likely to feature in the sixth generation of aircraft.Of course, it is the nature of arms races and military industrial complexes to already looking ahead to the next game in town. Thus the Navy and Air Force are already courting concepts from the defense industry on separate sixth-generation successors to the F-35, called the FA-XX and Penetrating Counter Air respectively.After the frustrations experienced in reconciling the Air Force's and Navy's differing demands for the F-35—and the mere 20 percent parts commonality that resulted between the two—the two services have little desire to jointly develop the Lightning's successors. The PCA is intended to be a long-range escort fighter that can accompany forthcoming B-21 Raider stealth bombers into enemy airspace and protect them from enemy fighters. The FA-XX will likely be an interceptor that can better protect Navy carriers from enemy bombers and missiles.
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| Cannabis stock plunges on Canopy Growth's disappointing results Posted: 21 Jun 2019 09:24 AM PDT  Canopy Growth's share price plunged Friday after it released disappointing financial results, despite surging sales of cannabis -- eight months after recreational pot was legalized in Canada. Excluding exceptional items, the quarterly loss was equivalent to Can$0.98 a share, four times higher than analysts had expected. In Canada, Canopy also operates a network of 23 stores under the "Tweed" and "Tokyo Smoke" brands in four provinces.
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| NASA just set preliminary dates for its commercial crew launches, with SpaceX in the lead Posted: 22 Jun 2019 11:08 AM PDT  There's a space race happening right now. It's not between the United States and Russia, or any nations at all, for that matter, but it's definitely happening. It's a race between SpaceX and Boeing to be the first company to deliver a crew-capable spacecraft to NASA, and it's been filled with twists, turns, and delays since the very start.Now, a new preliminary planning schedule for NASA's "Commercial Crew" program hints that SpaceX might ultimately be the victor, but it's far from a sure thing.NASA hired Boeing to build the Starliner, and threw money at SpaceX to build the Crew Dragon. Both spacecraft will eventually take NASA astronauts into space from U.S. soil, which is a big deal for the space agency, but neither company has followed through on its promises yet.Both programs have been slammed with delays and setbacks, and neither the Starliner nor Crew Dragon has carried a human off Earth at this point. SpaceX sent an empty Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, which is a meaningful milestone, but an explosion (sorry, "anomaly") threw its progress into question. It seemed to open the door for Boeing to take the lead and be the first to fulfill its pledge to NASA. However, if the dates issued in a new planning schedule hold true, SpaceX will be the first to carry NASA crew into space.https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1141738478390194177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1141738478390194177&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teslarati.com%2Fspacex-crew-dragon-new-astronaut-launch-target%2FAs NASASpaceflight.com explains, the dates are far from being set in stone, and they're not even considered official target dates at this point. The dates in the report are based entirely on the available windows within which the space station could receive the spacecraft and when crew would be available to ride aboard them.Still, while the dates aren't even close to being set in stone, they show that NASA has some serious faith in SpaceX to correct whatever issue caused the explosion of its Crew Dragon during testing and get its program back on track swiftly. Perhaps even more than that, it shows that NASA doesn't think Boeing's Starliner will be ready to carry humans any time soon.
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| Take A Cruise In This Olive Green 1977 Toyota FJ40 Posted: 21 Jun 2019 10:16 AM PDT  Take the top off, while you're at it. This 1977 Toyota FJ40 runs and drives like new, despite having 100,044 original miles on the dash. For sale by Vintage Cruisers, this 'Jeep' is the perfect vehicle to go anywhere and do anything regardless of the season. It's a 4x4 dream and dates all the way back to 1960, when it was first introduced.This Toyota utility vehicle was in production from 1960 to 1983, and all the way up to 2001 in Brazil! Importation to the United States started in 1963 and, within just two years, the FJ40 Land Cruiser became the best-selling Toyota in America. Cosmetically, the FJ ultimately remained the same until it ceased production in 1983. However, it did see a gradual progression of trim tweaks and functional improvements throughout the years. It went from a bare-bones rock climber to a relatively modern SUV that was 30 years ahead of its time.This 1977 Toyota FJ40 is a beautifully restored two-door hardtop convertible body in a unique Olive Green exterior paint. That's right, this bad boy is ready for its next owner and for some new summertime adventures. From Arizona, this Land Cruiser contains a rust-free steel body with a fresh paint job and new interior Marine-grade upholstery. The undercarriage has been completely stripped and PPG undercoated for a rust-proof finish. The cabin also features upgraded waterproof floors, full factory bucket seats with headrests, a padded dashboard, and new A/C and heater unit.It's powered by a big 4.2-liter 2F motor mated to a four-speed manual transmission with three-speed transfer case gears. This FJ40 includes updated turn signals, power disc brakes, and a roll bar. It also has HD suspension, shackles, and urethane bushings. The front bumper sports a custom rectangular front bezel that certainly sets it apart. It matches the new factory white wagon wheels wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich tires.The disc brakes, 2F motor, and drive trans have been recently serviced. This Toyota FJ40 contains all new belts, hoses, and fluids. It's ready for daily use and then some. Read more.. Take The Whole Family Off-Road In This Custom Toyota FJ45 Troopy Restomod FJ45 Pickup Is The Model That Made Toyota
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| Pete Buttigieg will miss South Democratic dinner and fish fry after South Bend shooting Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:39 PM PDT  The South Bend, Indiana, mayor will instead take part in a march in his city that comes after a white police officer fatally shot a black man Sunday.
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| Samsung's Galaxy Fold is reportedly ‘ready to launch' Posted: 21 Jun 2019 03:23 AM PDT  On Wednesday, the Korea Herald reported that Samsung's Display VP declared earlier this week that the Galaxy Fold, the brand's foldable smartphone, is ready to hit the market -- with the launch likely taking place in July. Originally, the device was supposed to be released in April for the US market and in May for the Korean market.
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| Armed Militias Pledge to Fight for Fugitive Oregon GOP Lawmakers ‘At Any Cost’ Posted: 21 Jun 2019 11:33 AM PDT  Mint ImagesRight-wing militia groups across the Pacific Northwest are mobilizing to prevent Oregon state police from arresting Republican state senators who went into hiding on Thursday in order to prevent climate change legislation from passing. All 11 of Oregon's Republican state senators are currently on the lam, with some leaving for Idaho in an effort to deny the Democrat-controlled state senate a quorum to pass a cap-and-trade bill. In response, Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D), citing a provision in the state constitution that allows the state to "compel" absent lawmakers to attend legislative sessions, dispatched state troopers to bring them back. One of the lawmakers on the lam, Republican Brian Boquist (R), warned that he would resort to violence rather than return to the state, implying in a local television interview that he would attack law enforcement officers sent to retrieve him. "Send bachelors and come heavily armed," Boquist said. "I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It's just that simple."Militia groups in the Pacific Northwest—a hotbed of far-right extremist activism—claim they've mobilized to protect those state senators. "We're doing what we can to make sure that they're safe and comfortable," said Eric Parker, the president of militia group Real Three Percenters Idaho, adding that the Idaho militias are in touch with their Oregon counterparts about the senators. In a Facebook post, Paul Luhrs, a member of the Oregon III%er militia, said the militia had "vowed to provide security, transportation and refuge for those Senators in need." "We will stand together with unwavering resolve, doing whatever it takes to keep these Senators safe," Luhrs wrote. Border Militias Use Facebook Live to Turn Immigrant Confrontations Into 'Reality TV'This isn't the first time state lawmakers of either party have fled their states to deny their rivals a quorum. In 2003, Texas Democrats left the state to avoid a vote on redistricting legislation, while Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin fled in 2011 to block Republican cuts to union rights. But what makes the current standoff in Oregon unique is the offers of help from militias—and the threats by at least one of those lawmakers to shoot police himself.Despite the offers, it's not clear whether any of the Republican senators are actually in contact with the militia groups or have received help from them. Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr., who fled the state with the rest of the senate Republican caucus, didn't respond to requests for comment. Parker declined to comment about whether his group has been in contact with the senators themselves. One source inside the Oregon militia movement told The Daily Beast that their members were "willing to put their own lives in front of these senators' lives." The source claimed that dozens of armed militia members have "mobilized" to protect the state senators, and said there was potential for violence if law enforcement officials try to bring the senators back to Oregon. The source added that the militias would defend the Republicans "at any cost.""All of these people are armed," the source said. The militia mobilization has drawn in members of the III%ers, the Oath Keepers, and independent militia groups from outside the state, according to the militia source. The III%ers derive their name from their belief that only 3 percent of colonists were involved in the American Revolution, while the Oath Keepers claim to be veterans and law enforcement officers who have vowed not to violate their "oaths." Parker, the Idaho militia leader, compared the fugitive state senators to the far-right activists who engaged in an armed stand-off with federal agents at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada in 2014. "We see it the same as we saw the protesters in the wash at the Bundy Ranch," Parker said. This isn't the first time Oregon has seen militias "mobilize" for political ends. In 2016, militia members, led by members of Nevada's Bundy family who argued that the land should be open for private use, briefly seized Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Militias are often trying to attach themselves to mainstream political causes in an attempt to win over new supporters, according to John Temple, the author of Up in Arms, a new book on the Bundys and the Malheur occupation. Temple said the fleeing legislators have the potential to attract support from across the militia movement nationwide, especially after Boquist boasted about attacking police."They are public officials and carry some weight, yet they are talking like they are straight out of the Malheur occupation," Temple said. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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.
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| Witness in Navy SEAL trial takes blame for killing Posted: 20 Jun 2019 09:08 PM PDT  When the prosecution called a special forces medic to testify, they expected him to bolster their murder case against a decorated Navy SEAL accused of stabbing an Islamic State fighter in his care. Corey Scott delivered on that count, saying Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher had unexpectedly plunged a knife into the adolescent detainee after treating his wounds in 2017 in Iraq. Scott called the asphyxiation an act of mercy.
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| Conservative U.S. justices draw criticism by overruling precedent again Posted: 21 Jun 2019 09:38 AM PDT  For the second time in six weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority on Friday overruled a decades-old legal precedent set by the court, this time involving property rights, raising alarm bells among its liberal members. The ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, overruled a 1985 Supreme Court decision that had forced property owners facing a government-led takeover of land for public purposes to seek compensation under state law before bringing a claim in federal court. The ruling comes amid rising concern among abortion rights advocates and Democratic politicians over whether the court may overrule Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
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