| The resolution to limit Trump's war powers is nothing but an empty political gesture Posted: 12 Jan 2020 10:37 AM PST  A war powers resolution won't stop Trump from doing anything he would do anyway in Iran. It's just a signal that Congress doesn't trust Trump.
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| Two WWII bombs made safe in Germany Posted: 12 Jan 2020 10:37 AM PST  Two World War II-era bombs were made safe in the western German city of Dortmund after around 14,000 people were evacuated, the city said Sunday. Officials there warning on Saturday that unexploded bombs dropped by Allied forces during the war might be buried in four sites in a heavily populated part of the city centre. Two unexploded bombs weighing 250 kilogrammes (550 pounds) each, one British and the other American, were found and made safe.
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| Aurora, Colorado, Shooting Leaves 3 Juveniles, 2 Adults Injured: Police Posted: 12 Jan 2020 07:03 AM PST  Law enforcement said no one has been arrested yet
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| Bernie Sanders' campaign is reportedly saying Elizabeth Warren can't bring any 'new bases' to the Democratic Party Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:31 AM PST  The campaign team for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is ramping up its criticism of the candidate's fellow Democratic presidential contenders, Politico reports.Politico obtained scripts of talking points the campaign is using to persuade voters who are currently backing other candidates. Notably, the script goes after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a longtime personal friend of Sanders and his closest ideological ally in the race. The two have refrained from criticizing one another throughout the race so far (although there's been a couple of small battles between the campaigns), so the script comes across as a bit of a surprise. Per Politico, the talking points paint Warren as a candidate who appeals to "highly-educated, more affluent people," but is unable bring new bases to the Democratic Party. In other words, Sanders' campaign is arguing Warren won't be able to sway any voters who support President Trump like Sanders would. It certainly reads more critically than anything Sanders has directed at Warren in the past, though staffers are also given the option of opening their discussion by acknowledging they like Warren and consider her their second choice. So not everyone thinks the tactic is worth getting too shocked over.> The takeaway from this script is that the Sanders campaign's persuasion tactic vis a vis Warren supporters is to acknowledge their shares goals, position them as allies, and make an electability argument for Bernie.> > — Sam Adler-Bell (@SamAdlerBell) January 12, 2020The Sanders campaign is reportedly going after former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, too. Their scripts reportedly make the case that Trump would "clobber" Biden on his support for the Iraq War and free trade agreements, while pointing out that Buttigieg lacks support from young and black voters. Read more at Politico.More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman NFL's future, present on display Sunday thanks to a pair thrilling QB matchups Pelosi says delaying articles of impeachment achieved 'very positive' results
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| Your Air Force Never Wants To Battle These Five Air Defense Missiles Posted: 11 Jan 2020 12:30 AM PST  The world's best.
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| UK police say it was mistake to call climate group extremist Posted: 11 Jan 2020 10:01 AM PST  British police say it was an "error of judgment" to include environmental protest group Extinction Rebellion in an official document that listed extremist organizations. The counterterrorism police unit for southeast England included the climate change protesters alongside Islamic extremists and banned neo-Nazi group National Action in a guide to "safeguarding young people and adults from ideological extremism," The Guardian newspaper reported.
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| Puerto Rico's strongest quake since 1918 has residents on edge Posted: 11 Jan 2020 10:04 PM PST  More than 300 people are homeless a day after the 6.4 magnitude quake rocked the island still recovering from Hurricane Maria.
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| Ukraine demands punishment for Iran downing plane Posted: 11 Jan 2020 07:56 AM PST  Ukraine on Saturday demanded that Iran punish those who downed Flight PS752 and compensate victims while praising Tehran for cooperating with an "objective" investigation.
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| Threat of U.S.-Iran War Eases, For Now: Weekend Reads Posted: 11 Jan 2020 05:00 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more.The U.S. and Iran shied away from a full-scale conflict following the drone attack ordered by President Donald Trump that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Tehran's retaliatory strike against U.S. bases in Iraq. In a dramatic reversal, Tehran revealed that its forces shot down a Ukrainian jetliner they mistook for a threat during the hostilities.Elsewhere, Taiwanese voters cast ballots today as the world's only Chinese-speaking democracy faces pressure to pick sides in a global power struggle between the U.S. and China.Dig deeper into these and other topics and click here for Bloomberg's most compelling political images from the past week.Iran's Response Doesn't Mean Trump Dodged All-Out WarIran's immediate response to the killing of Soleimani — a Jan. 7 missile attack on joint U.S.-Iraqi military bases that caused no deaths or injuries — seemed symbolic. But as Peter Coy explains, that doesn't mean it won't strike again. Iran Strike Renews Fight Over Who Has Say on U.S. WarCongress is once again trying to reassert its constitutional role in declaring war. It's done so only 11 times since 1798, but U.S. armed forces have been sent into battle abroad hundreds of times. But as Daniel Flatley and John O'Neil explain, previous efforts haven't accomplished much. U.S.-Iran Exchange of Fire Turns Iraq Into Proxy BattlefieldThe tit-for-tat attacks by U.S. and Iran threaten to turn Iraq into a battlefield for an open conflict between a deeply connected neighbor and the world's military superpower. Marc Champion, Khalid Al Ansary and Caroline Alexander report.Taiwan Votes, With U.S.-China Power Struggle on the BallotAs Taiwanese voters go to the polls, the self-ruled island's complex relationship with China is the main political fissure. Samson Ellis and Cindy Wang explain that the expected victory of President Tsai Ing-wen would likely mean four more years of no talks between the two sides on one of the region's main potential flashpoints. Kuwaiti Cash Fuels a Surge of Misleading U.S. Media CoverageA fake protest, a journalist who may not exist, and $11,500 in payments to U.S. opinion writers — Zachary Mider, Ben Elgin and Joe Light reveal how Kuwaiti cash is fueling misleading media coverage in the U.S.Macron and Orban Are Now Best of Frenemies for a New EuropeHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's unlikely alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron may be helping to force the European Union to change its ways, Zoltan Simon and Helene Fouquet report. Fear Haunts Muslims at Center of India's Violent ProtestsProtests against a citizenship law that discriminates on religious grounds have swept India, with the worst violence concentrated in its most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Shruti Srivastava and Upmanyu Trivedi explain that Muslim citizens say they're living in fear of further police retaliation.Nigeria Faces Challenges of Politicking, Rising Debt in 2020The battle to replace Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari after he completes his second and final four-year term in 2023 is heating up, placing further pressure on an already strained economy. Anthony Osae-Brown and Tope Alake report. Everyone I Know Is Depressed and Medicated: Life in CaracasAlex Vasquez writes about how residents of the Venezuelan capital cope with an epidemic of depression in a land of total disarray. Australia's Vast Wildfires Foretold in 2007 UN Climate WarningMore than a dozen years ago, a United Nations report forecast that the proliferation of greenhouse gases threatened to increase the frequency of extreme fire danger days in south-east Australia. As Edward Johnson writes, that prediction appears to be coming true, with blazes charring a combined area twice the size of Switzerland and continuing to burn.And finally ... The Catholic Church can no longer cover up cases of sexual abuse by its priests, as growing public awareness escalates the pace of lawsuits. But as Josh Saul explains, besieged church leaders are looking to a new option: bankruptcy. It's an attractive solution because it provides a controlled process for settling a large number of lawsuits while holding on to as many assets as possible. \--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter.To contact the author of this story: Karl Maier in Rome at kmaier2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Alaska State Troopers Rescued a Man Stranded for Weeks in Sub-Zero Temperatures After His Cabin Burned Down Posted: 11 Jan 2020 01:26 PM PST  Tyson Steele was outside in Alaska's freezing weather for 23 days
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| U.S. investigation reportedly to result in expulsion of some Saudi military students Posted: 12 Jan 2020 07:32 AM PST  The United States is planning to expel more than a dozen members of Saudi Arabia's military who are training at U.S. military installations, multiple sources told CNN.The decision was reportedly reached after an FBI investigation following a shooting last month at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida, in which a member of the Saudi Royal Air Force killed three U.S. service members on the base. The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment.The Saudis who are expected to be expelled aren't accused of aiding in the shooting, which has been treated by law enforcement as a terrorist incident, but some are reportedly believed to have connections to extremist movements, per CNN. Others were reportedly found to possess child pornography, a defense official said.The Saudi government has reportedly been cooperative and even reportedly helped U.S. investigators link particular social media accounts to individuals. One of the major findings of the investigations appears to be a social media conversation, in which some military members expressed support for extremism. Read more at CNN and The Washington Post.More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman NFL's future, present on display Sunday thanks to a pair thrilling QB matchups Pelosi says delaying articles of impeachment achieved 'very positive' results
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| This Picture Might Just Depict the Ultimate Military Weapon Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:25 AM PST  Meet the MLRS.
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| Volcano erupts near Manila; villagers flee, airports shut Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:25 AM PST  A small volcano near the Philippine capital that draws tourists for its picturesque setting in a lake erupted with a massive plume of ash and steam Sunday, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and forcing Manila's international airport to shut down. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Taal Volcano in Batangas province south of Manila blasted steam, ash and pebbles up to 10 to 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) into the sky in a dramatic escalation of its growing restiveness, which began last year. The volcanology institute raised the danger level around Taal three notches on Sunday to level 4, indicating "a hazardous eruption may happen within hours or days," said Renato Solidum, who heads the volcanology institute.
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| Bloomberg: If it's "Trump vs. Bernie, I would support Bernie" Posted: 12 Jan 2020 03:12 AM PST  But the 2020 Democratic candidate deflected when asked whether Sanders' recent surge in some polls shows momentum.
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| A Japanese woman was asked to take a pregnancy test before flying to a US island that has become popular for birth tourism Posted: 12 Jan 2020 03:51 PM PST  More tourists gave birth in Saipan than residents in 2018, as the island has become popular for pregnant women wishing to give birth to US citizens.
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| Britain, France and Germany urge Iran to stick to 2015 nuclear deal Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:41 AM PST  The leaders of Britain, France and Germany on Sunday called in a joint statement on Iran to return to full compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and refrain from further violence. "We urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with the agreement and return to full compliance," the leaders said in the statement issued by the office of French President Emmanuel Macron. "We call on Iran to refrain from further violent action or proliferation; and we remain ready to engage with Iran on this agenda in order to preserve the stability of the region," they added.
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| Elizabeth Warren: We can clean up corruption in Washington. We just have to fight to do it. Posted: 12 Jan 2020 02:00 AM PST  Universal child care, and free college, and Medicare for All — all of it can be all done, improving lives for millions of Americans.
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| Israel Foreign Minister Delays Dubai Trip Over Security: Reuters Posted: 12 Jan 2020 02:39 AM PST |
| Joe Biden holds a commanding lead among black voters, new poll shows Posted: 11 Jan 2020 10:22 AM PST  In one of the most extensive studies so far on the views of the 2020 presidential race among black voters conducted by The Washington Post and non-partisan research firm, Ipsos, former Vice President Joe Biden is holding on to a commanding lead over the rest of the Democratic field.Biden picked up 48 percent of the vote in the survey, which amounts to a whopping 28 point lead over the next candidate in line, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Voters referenced Biden's experience and ability to take on President Trump head to head as some of the reasons he's garnered their support to date. In the South, which could be a key region for picking up delegates in the primaries, Biden's doing even better at 53 percent.> NEW: WaPo/Ipsos poll of black Democratic voters> > Biden 48% > Sanders 20% > Warren 9% > Bloomberg 4% > Booker 4% > Yang 3% > Buttigieg 2% > Steyer 2%> > (769 Black Dem registered voters, MoE: +/- 4 points) https://t.co/SpI6PfAIj4> > — Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) January 11, 2020The notable exception to Biden's dominance is age. Black voters between 18 and 34 support Sanders at 42 percent, thanks to his policies on housing and student debt, for example, per the Post. Still, Biden remains in second place among the demographic with 30 percent. > This is part of @JoeBiden's big weaknesses with younger voters: "Though Biden leads his rivals by more than 2 to 1 overall, he trails Sanders by 42 percent to 30 percent among black Democrats ages 18 to 34."> > — Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 11, 2020The Post-Ipsos survey was conducted online between Jan. 2-8 from a sample of 769 Democratic-leaning black voters. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points. Read more at The Washington Post.More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman NFL's future, present on display Sunday thanks to a pair thrilling QB matchups Pelosi says delaying articles of impeachment achieved 'very positive' results
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| Four wounded in attack on Iraqi military base housing U.S. forces Posted: 12 Jan 2020 12:02 PM PST  Four people were wounded on Sunday in an attack on Balad air base in Iraq, which houses U.S. personnel.
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| French transport strike drags on despite govt compromise on pensions Posted: 12 Jan 2020 12:25 PM PST  A crippling French transport strike dragged into its 39th day on Sunday despite the government's offer to withdraw the most contested measure of the pension reform plans that sparked the protest. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Saturday he would drop plans to increase the official age for a full pension to 64 from 62 in an effort to end a strike which has paralysed Paris and its suburbs, with bus, train and metro services all badly disrupted. French President Emmanuel Macron called the change "a constructive and responsible compromise".
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| America Needs More Aircraft Carriers, And Britain's Royal Navy Has An Idea Posted: 11 Jan 2020 10:15 PM PST  Is leasing an option?
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| Australian village ready for 'The Beast' to burn on through Posted: 11 Jan 2020 09:17 PM PST  As the sky darkened and the smoke billowed through the village, it seemed to those hunkering at the fire station that "The Beast" would finally roar through. The weary volunteer firefighters of Burragate returned to bed early Saturday after a week of worry and false alarms. Resident Joe Alvaro put it more bluntly.
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| More than 1,100 Chicago flights canceled due to winter weather Posted: 11 Jan 2020 02:28 PM PST  More than 1,100 flights have been canceled in and out of Chicago according to the flight tracking service FlightAware.
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| Iran plane crash: British ambassador summoned by Tehran claiming he attended 'illegal rally' Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:26 AM PST  Iran summoned the British ambassador on Sunday after it accused him of "illegal and inappropriate" presence at anti-government demonstrations, deepening a diplomatic rift between the countries. Ambassador Rob Macaire denounced his detention on Saturday, which he said was "of course illegal", saying he had attended a vigil for victims of the Ukrainian Airlines crash, but left as protests broke out. It came as Iran faced a second day of protests over the downing of the flight by the Iranian military, killing all 176 passengers, and initial denials by the regime. Iranian officials defended the detention of Mr Macaire, which foreign secretary Dominic Raab said risked the country gaining "pariah status". Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to the UK, suggested Mr Macaire should have heeded his own embassy's warnings to "not be present in the proximity of political demonstrations in Tehran." Iran's deputy foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said Mr Macaire had been arrested as an "unknown foreigner in an illegal gathering" and "15 min later he was free." Demonstrators light candles while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight Credit: Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg The arrest was condemned by both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a "violation of international law. Meanwhile scores of protestors gathered in Tehran to protest against the regime, despite the widespread presence of riot police just months after hundreds of protesters were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations. Videos showed protesters shouting anti-government slogans, including: "They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here." Iranian demonstrators prepare to burn a Union flag and Israeli flag in front of the British embassy in Iran's capital Tehran on January 12 One video circulated on social media appeared to show crowds of students at a Tehran university deliberately walking around American and Israeli flags painted on the floor in order to avoid stepping on them. The protests began on Saturday after Iran's admission that it had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jet caused widespread public anger. Most of the passengers were Iranian citizens. Tehran had previously denied responsibility for the tragedy, which it said came as the military was on high alert for US strikes in the wake of the assasination of General Qassim Soleimani. Rob Macaire A report from London-based Iran International TV suggested Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had deliberately allowed civilian air traffic around the airport as a deterrence against any US attack. Crowds had gathered outside a university in central Tehran on Saturday to denounce the IRGC, the elite military force under the direct authority of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Kahmenei. The students shouted, "Death to the dictator," and "End your rule over the country." Riot police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protests. Donald Trump voiced his support for pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran by tweeting in Farsi over the weekend. In one tweet, which swiftly earned more than 300,000 likes he said: "To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring." On Sunday, he warned Iranian leaders not to kill protesters, saying "the world is watching". Iran crisis | Read more But back in the US, an ABC News/Ipsos poll showed that 56 per cent of voters disapproved of the president's handling of Iran, with 52 per cent saying that the airstrike which killed Soleimani had made the US less safe. Last night, a volley of rockets hit an Iraqi airbase north of Baghdad where US forces have been based, wounding four local troops. Military bases hosting US troops have been subject to volleys of rocket and mortar attacks in recent months that have mostly wounded Iraqi forces, but also killed one American contractor last month, setting off the dramatic developments of recent weeks. Iran on Sunday signalled it was interested in "de-escalation" following talks with Qatar, as the US defence secretary said Mr Trump was ready to "sit down and discuss without precondition a new way forward".
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| Friends and foes gather in Oman to mourn Qaboos Posted: 12 Jan 2020 03:34 AM PST  World and regional leaders, many at odds with one another, met Oman's new ruler on Sunday to offer condolences for the death of Sultan Qaboos whose quiet diplomacy during five decades in power helped calm regional turbulence. The rulers of Qatar and the United Arab Emirate, which are locked in a protracted dispute, were among those who visited the royal palace in Muscat as was the foreign minister of Iran, which is an arch-foe of U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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| Venezuela’s Maduro Starts Year With a 67% Minimum Wage Hike Posted: 10 Jan 2020 06:15 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- President Nicolas Maduro ordered a 67% increase in Venezuela's monthly minimum wage, the first this year and the eleventh in the past 24 months.The presidential decree, announced by pro-government lawmaker Francisco Torrealba on Twitter, boosts the minimum wage to 250,000 bolivars ($3.61 at the official exchange rate), up from 150,000 bolivars. In addition, workers will receive a food bonus of 200,000 bolivars, for a total minimum income of 450,000 bolivars, according to Torrealba's publication of an image from an extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette dated Jan. 9.The new hike, which applies retroactively as of Jan. 1, threatens to refuel hyperinflation after restrictive monetary policies helped slow the pace of price increases in 2019. Still, the increase is well below the 275% hike of Oct. 2019, which lifted the minimum wage enough to buy about 4 kilograms of beef. The new salary, however, is not enough to buy one kilogram at current prices.The country's historic economic crisis has seen the annual rate of consumer price increases surge to at least quadruple digits. According to data from the National Assembly, the annual inflation rate was 13,476% in November 2019. Bloomberg's Café con Leche Index estimates annual inflation at 9,900% as of Jan. 8.Price increases quickly destroyed the value of the previous minimum wage increase in Oct. The government has directed its efforts to controlling the price of the dollar by reducing liquidity in the financial system and restricting bank loans. Maduro earlier this month vowed to lower inflation in 2020 to a single digit.The broad dollarization of the Venezuelan economy has also contributed to making salaries in bolivars worthless. A dollar costs around 81,000 bolivars at the black market rate. According to local research firm Ecoanalitica, $2.7 billion in physical dollars are circulating in the country, three times the value of bolivars in both cash and deposits. Ecoanalitica director Asdrubal Oliveros expects greenbacks to make up 70% of commercial transactions in 2020.To contact the reporter on this story: Nicolle Yapur in Caracas Office at nyapur1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Patricia Laya at playa2@bloomberg.net, Robert Jameson, Jose OrozcoFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Australian PM concedes mistakes, but likely won't drastically shift climate policy in light of fires Posted: 12 Jan 2020 07:55 AM PST  Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday conceded he's made some mistakes since the worst season of bushfires ever recorded in Australia broke out, The New York Times reports. He said he wouldn't have taken a heavily criticized family vacation to Hawaii in December while firefighters battled the blazes if he knew what he knows now, while acknowledging there were things he "could have handled on the ground much better."He also called for a government inquiry into the government's response to the natural disaster. At least 28 people have been killed in the fires, including a firefighter who died overnight in the state of Victoria. But despite the government now having a "new appetite" to take on a more direct role in the reaction to the fires, Morrison's words won't be much of a comfort for everyone. David Speers, the journalist who interviewed the prime minister Sunday, said his commitments will still likely fall short of many Australians' hopes. Many consider Morrison, who leads the conservative Liberal Party, to have implemented weak climate policies that have failed to curb the country's carbon emissions. But his plan in wake of the fires doesn't appear to be a dramatic shift toward combating climate change. Instead, he reiterated he doesn't want to put jobs at risk or raise taxes to lower emissions, and would rather enhance the country's policies for disaster management and relief, which he believes is just "as much a climate change response as emissions reductions." Read more at The New York Times and BBC.More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman NFL's future, present on display Sunday thanks to a pair thrilling QB matchups Pelosi says delaying articles of impeachment achieved 'very positive' results
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| 6 Democratic Candidates Will Face Off in the Last Debate Before the Iowa Caucuses. Here's What to Know Posted: 12 Jan 2020 04:00 AM PST  The first debate of 2020 will take place in Des Moines on Jan. 14 ahead of the Iowa Caucus. Here's what to expect.
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| A breakdown for Boeing and the FAA after years of trust Posted: 11 Jan 2020 05:34 PM PST  When Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing's ousted chief, was summoned to Washington last month, he scarcely knew he was in for a dressing-down from the head of the Federal Aviation Administration. FAA chief Steve Dickson -- a former Delta Air Lines employee who in August took over the reins at the world's most influential aviation regulator -- had announced the day before that Boeing's 737 MAX would not return to the skies before 2020.
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| Architecturally Bound: 20 of the World’s Most Stunning Libraries Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:00 AM PST |
| China's South China Sea Military Bases Are More Than They Seem Posted: 11 Jan 2020 02:00 AM PST  China's military outposts in the South China Sea are a breach of Beijing's agreement to not militarize the sea.
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| 4 Iraqi servicemen wounded by rocket attack on air base Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:56 AM PST  Four members of Iraq's military were wounded Sunday in a rocket attack targeting an air base just north of Baghdad where American trainers were present until recently, Iraqi security officials said. The attack by at least six rockets came just days after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq that house U.S. forces, causing no casualties. There are no Americans currently at Balad air base and there were none during the the attack, according to a coalition spokesperson.
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| Relatives of massacre victims torn over future in Mexico as most flee Posted: 11 Jan 2020 05:44 PM PST  The gangland ambush by cartel gunmen in November on a dusty road in northern Mexico left three mothers and six children dead, their charred vehicles riddled with bullets, and a once-strong faith deeply shaken in the picturesque hamlets the families have called home for generations. "La Mora will never be the same," said 27-year-old holdout Kendra Miller, whose brother Howard lost his wife Rhonita and their four children in the attack. Today, roads in and around La Mora are patrolled by hundreds of heavily-armed soldiers, helicopters buzzing overhead.
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| Esper 'didn't see' intelligence on Iran's 'planned' attack on embassies Posted: 12 Jan 2020 09:00 AM PST  Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Sunday said that he hadn't seen evidence to support President Trump's claim that a prominent Iranian general killed by a U.S. airstrike was "actively planning" imminent attacks on four American embassies. He said that he "didn't see" specific intelligence to support that assertion.
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| FBI Apologizes to Court for Botching Surveillance of Trump Adviser, and Pledges Fixes Posted: 11 Jan 2020 06:49 AM PST  WASHINGTON -- A chastened FBI told a secretive court Friday that it was increasing training and oversight for officials who work on national security wiretap applications in response to problems uncovered by a scathing inspector general report last month about botched surveillance targeting a former Trump campaign adviser.In a rare unclassified and public filing before the court that oversees wiretapping under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, the FBI also said it would extend its overhaul to requests for orders permitting it to collect logs of its targets' communications and other business records -- not just wiretaps of the contents of phone calls and emails."The FBI has the utmost respect for this court and deeply regrets the errors and omission identified by" the inspector general, wrote FBI Director Christopher A. Wray in a statement included with the filing. He called the conduct described by the report "unacceptable and unrepresentative of the FBI as an institution."Under FISA -- a law for surveillance aimed at monitoring suspected spies and terrorists, as opposed to ordinary criminals -- the government must convince a judge that an American is probably an agent of a foreign power. Because the FISA court hears only from the government, and what it says is never shown to defense lawyers, the Justice Department says it has a duty to be candid and tell judges every relevant fact in its possession.But the Justice Department's inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, uncovered that the FBI had cherry-picked and misstated evidence about the Trump adviser, Carter Page, when seeking permission to wiretap him in October 2016 and in 2017 renewal applications. At the same time, Horowitz determined that the opening of the Russia investigation was legal and found no politicized conspiracy against President Donald Trump by high-level FBI officials.The problems included omitting details that made Page look less suspicious. For example, the court was not told that Page had said to a confidential informant in August 2016 that he had no interactions with Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager, even though the FBI suspected Page might be a conduit between Russia and Manafort.The court was also not told that Page had told the CIA about his contacts with Russians over the years, a fact that made that pattern of contacts look less suspicious. The Justice Department, passing on the factual portrait it received from the FBI, had pointed the judges to that pattern as a reason to think that he might be a Russian agent.Horowitz said he did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that FBI officials responsible for compiling the relevant evidence about Page for the court were politically biased against Trump. But he rejected as unsatisfactory their explanations that they were busy on other aspects of the Russia investigation.In a response appended to the inspector general report last month, Wray had already announced that he would make changes aimed at ensuring that the bureau put forward a more comprehensive portrait of the facts about targets when preparing wiretap applications.The new filing, which detailed 12 steps, like enhancing checklists for preparing filings, added granular detail. It came in response to an unusual public order last month. Rosemary M. Collyer, then the presiding judge on FISA court, ordered the FBI to propose fixes to its process by Jan. 10 to ensure the problems would not recur."The frequency with which representations made by FBI personnel turned out to be unsupported or contradicted by information in their possession, and with which they withheld information detrimental to their case, calls into question whether information contained in other FBI applications is reliable," Collyer wrote.On Jan. 1, Judge James E. Boasberg took over Collyer's role on the FISA court. He will now have to evaluate whether the proposed changes are sufficient to restore the judges' confidence in the factual affidavits FBI officials submit or if more is necessary.It is not clear whether Boasberg will take such potential steps as appointing a "friend of the court" to critique the FBI's proposal before he issues any order.The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has said he wants to impose new checks and balances on the FBI's national security surveillance powers, at least when investigations touch on political campaigns, in legislation his panel may take up after Trump's impeachment trial.In his statement with the court filing Friday, Wray called FISA an "indispensable tool for national security investigations" and pledged to work to ensure the accuracy and completeness of FISA applications "in recognition of our duty of candor to the court and our responsibilities to the American people."This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2020 The New York Times Company
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| The Best Podcasts for Avid Conspiracy Theorists Posted: 11 Jan 2020 09:00 AM PST |
| Gambian exiled ex-president demands return in leaked recording Posted: 11 Jan 2020 04:50 PM PST  Former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, forced into exile in 2017, has been heard in a leaked recording demanding that his right to return be respected by the authorities. Jammeh has hardly been heard from since fleeing to Equatorial Guinea. In a statement published at the time of his exile, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations committed to working with the Gambian government to ensure Jammeh's security and rights, in particular his right to return.
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| Israel to begin testing laser weapon to shoot down rockets Posted: 11 Jan 2020 05:50 AM PST  The Israeli military will soon begin testing a new laser weapon to shoot down incoming missiles and drones, the Israeli ministry of defence has announced. Israel's government said it had made "a breakthrough" in the futuristic technology and is expecting to begin demonstrating its use later this year. "We are entering a new age of energy warfare in the air, land and sea," the ministry said. "Throughout the year 2020 we will conduct a demo of our capabilities." While the technology has proved enormously costly to develop, Israel hopes that once it is functional it will be a cheaper alternative to expensive interceptor missiles. Israel's advanced Iron Dome missile defence system costs about $80,000 (£61,211) for each missile it fires to intercept an incoming rocket. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) believes the new laser will cost as little as $1 per shot once functioning. Israel unveils laser-based missile interception system https://t.co/HJIlEXOJ03pic.twitter.com/duFY1FlloG— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) January 8, 2020 The laser weapon also has the advantage of never running out of ammunition as long as it has a steady supply of electricity, according to the Times of Israel. Israeli defence planners have long feared they could run out of Iron Dome missiles if forced to fight an extended conflict on two fronts. One limitation of the laser weapon is that its effectiveness diminishes on cloudy days or when there are other forms of atmospheric interference. "We can only shoot down with a laser what we can see," said Brigadier General Yaniv Rotem. The ministry said the laser was meant to complement the Iron Dome system but would not replace it. Israel is working on three different systems for the laser weapon. One would be a stationary system meant to protect cities from rockets fired by Hamas or Hizbollah, while a second would be a smaller, mobile system to protect troops in the field. The third would be mounted on an aircraft and intended to shoot down high-flying missiles that are above cloud level and therefore beyond the reach of ground-based laser systems.
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| The Cold War Produced Some Truly Terrifying American And Russian Weapons Posted: 11 Jan 2020 08:30 AM PST  Here are the top 5.
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| Tortoise who saved species by fathering hundreds returns to Galapagos Posted: 11 Jan 2020 08:41 AM PST  A tortoise who helped save his species from extinction by having hundreds of children will be released into his homeland after spending eight decades away, conservation authorities have said.Diego earned a reputation for having lots of sex during a captive breeding scheme for giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands, and the 100-year-old has now reportedly fathered over 800 children.
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| Iran 'deeply regrets' shooting down Ukrainian plane, but partially blames 'U.S. adventurism' Posted: 11 Jan 2020 05:23 AM PST  Iran changed course Saturday, admitting to unintentionally shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet with 176 people on board this week. But Tehran didn't want to let the United States off the hook for the disaster in its apology.Iran's armed forces headquarters released a statement explaining that the Boeing 737 aircraft "came close to a sensitive [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] military center at an altitude and flight condition that resembled hostile targeting," which prompted the fatal error. The IRGC took full responsibility for the incident, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his "deep sympathy" to the victims, who were from Iran, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. But Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif did link the event to the U.S.'s decision to kill Iranian Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in Iraq earlier this month. "Human error at [a] time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster," Zarif tweeted.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv expects Tehran to launch a "full and open" investigation and "bring those responsible to justice." Rouhani said investigations and prosecution would continue. Read more at CNN and NBC News.More stories from theweek.com The death of rock's master craftsman NFL's future, present on display Sunday thanks to a pair thrilling QB matchups Pelosi says delaying articles of impeachment achieved 'very positive' results
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| China's U.S. trade deal commitments not changed in translation: Mnuchin Posted: 12 Jan 2020 10:01 AM PST  China's commitments in the Phase 1 trade deal with the United States were not changed during a lengthy translation process and will be released this week as the document is signed in Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday. Mnuchin told Fox News Channel that the deal reached on Dec. 13 still calls for China to buy $40 billion to $50 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products annually and a total of $200 billion of U.S. goods over two years.
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| Hong Kong Protesters Rehearse for ‘Anti-Communist March’ Posted: 12 Jan 2020 02:36 AM PST |
| 'I wished I was on that plane': Iranian general apologizes; missiles pound Iraq base. What we know now Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:14 PM PST  Fallout from Iran-U.S. tensions intensified Sunday as missiles pounded an Iraqi air base hosting U.S. troops.
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| Drone flies over pedophile cardinal's Australian prison Posted: 11 Jan 2020 11:33 PM PST  Disgraced Cardinal George Pell has been transferred from a Melbourne prison after a drone illegally flew overhead in a suspected attempt to photograph the famous inmate, a newspaper reported on Sunday. The most senior Catholic to be convicted of child sex abuse had been transferred from the Melbourne Assessment Prison where he has been held since February last year on convictions of molesting two choirboys at the city's cathedral in the late 1990s, the Herald Sun newspaper reported. The move came after a drone flew over a prison garden where Pope Francis' former finance minister is employed weeding and watering plants, the newspaper reported.
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