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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/20/russia-president-vladimir-putin-annual-news-conference/2373305002/

Russia's Putin hails Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria

Russia's Putin hails Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria President Donald Trump is “right” to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, Russia’s leader said Thursday. Vladimir Putin's remarks came as part of his end-of-year news conference, a pageantry-laden and heavily-scripted annual event in Moscow where the Russian president fields dozens of questions on domestic and foreign policy. Putin referred to Trump informally as "Donald." That's his name of course but it may not help dispel suggestions the two men are closer than some think is politically acceptable amid conclusions reached by U.S. intelligence agencies that Moscow tried to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of Trump, and as special counsel Robert Mueller's investigations into alleged Russia interference gather pace. Putin said he agreed with Trump's decision to pull 2,000 U.S. troops out of northern Syria where they have been helping to fight the Islamic State group extremists because "I don't think they're needed. Let's not forget that the presence of (U.S.) troops there is illegitimate. The U.S. is there without backing from the United Nations or an invitation from the Syrian government. Russia is there at the invitation of the Syrian government. But if the U.S. has decided to withdraw, that's good," he said. Russia is a longtime Syrian ally. It entered the conflict in 2015 to shore up President Bashar Assad's struggling regime from advancing Islamic State fighters and other rebel groups. Putin has also sought to assert his country's power on the world stage. Putin added Thursday that it remains to be seen whether Trump will actually deliver on his withdrawal promise. "How long has the U.S. been in Afghanistan? 17 years? And almost every year they say they’re pulling out their troops," he said. Security analysts meanwhile believe that between 20,000-30,000 Islamic State extremists are still active in Iraq and Syria, and that Trump’s decision is premature. In a speech on the Senate floor late Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham railed against Trump's decision, calling the move "disastrous" and a "stain" on its "honor." More:Trump’s troop withdrawal caps failed US policy in Syria, experts say More:Sen. Graham: Trump's claim of ISIS defeat is 'fake news' More:Syria conflict explained: How did we end up here? Trump pushed back against that rhetoric Thursday. "Russia, Iran, Syria & many others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says, because now they will have to fight ISIS and others, who they hate, without us," Trump tweeted Thursday. "Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing?" The news conference format allowed Putin to hail his achievements over the past year. Reporters, screened in advance for their Kremlin friendliness, are not permitted to ask follow-up questions – though some pointed remarks and allegations get through. It lasted for about 4 hours. In 2008, it ran to almost five. Around 1,700 journalists were accredited for this year's event. Many tried to catch Putin's attention by waving home-made signs with eye-catching slogans or photos of Putin hunting or bare-chested on horseback. Putin promotes himself as an outdoors-man. Among the other topics Putin addressed: NUCLEAR WAR: A GROWING THREAT Russia's leader said President Donald Trump's decision to terminate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, Treaty – an arms control accord between the United States and Russia – increased the threat of a nuclear war and that a conflict of that caliber "could lead to the destruction of civilization as a whole and maybe even our planet." Putin noted, citing Western security analysts, that if the U.S. decides to put intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Europe, any launch of such a missile could be mistaken for the launch of a nuclear-tipped one and trigger a global catastrophe. MARIA BUTINA DID NOTHING WRONG Putin said Maria Butina, a 30-year-old Russian national who admitted in U.S. federal court last week that she attempted to secretly infiltrate U.S. political groups at Russia’s behest “hasn’t carried out any tasks set by the government, government organs, no matter what she says.” Putin claimed Butina made the guilty plea because of the threat of a long prison sentence, possibly 12-15 years. He described the case against her as completely fabricated. Butina pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent for the Kremlin without registering in the U.S. "We'll see how this case ends," he said. He said that accusations from the U.S. and Britain that Russia involvement in the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripral and his daughter in Salisbury, England, was part of Western efforts to isolate and weaken Russia. WILL RUSSIA'S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR REMARRY? PROBABLY. IN TIME "As a decent person, I will have to do that sometime," Putin, 65, said when his personal life came up. He divorced in 2013. Putin has two daughters from the marriage to his ex-wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva, a former flight attendant. Rumors have circulated that he may have a third daughter with ex-gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 35, a woman with whom he has been romantically linked for years. Their relationship has not been confirmed. SANCTIONS? WHAT SANCTIONS? GDP IS UP Putin said Russia’s gross domestic product will grow by 1.8 percent this year, while industrial output has grown faster at 3 percent. Both exceeded expectations. Russia's hard currency reserves also increased: from $432 billion at the start of the year to $464 billion now. The positive statistics follow a difficult period in recent years when Russia’s economy has suffered a combined blow of low oil prices and Western sanctions over its actions and threats to Ukraine's territorial sovereignty and for attacks on allied soil including cyber-warfare and the attempted nerve-agent assassination of Skripal.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/03/russia-indicts-american-paul-whelan-spying-charges/2471725002/

Russia indicts American Paul Whelan on spying charges

Russia indicts American Paul Whelan on spying charges American Paul Whelan, detained in Moscow last week, was indicted on espionage charges, Russia's Interfax news agency reported Thursday. The agency, citing what it called an informed source, said Whelan denied claims in the indictment. Whelan, a former Marine, was arrested Dec. 28 "while on a spy mission," the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said. Russian lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov, who was appointed to represent Whelan, told Interfax that bail was requested, but Whelan will remain in custody in Moscow until at least Feb. 28. Zherebenkov said Whelan is handling detention well and does not appear depressed. The FSB said the investigation was continuing. Whelan could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. The U.S. ambassador in Russia, Jon Huntsman, visited Whelan on Wednesday at Lefortovo detention center in Moscow. More:Mysterious tale of Paul Whelan, American accused of spying in Russia More:American Paul Whelan was in Russia for wedding, not to spy, family says More:US ambassador visits American Paul Whelan Russia's Rosbalt news service reported that Whelan is accused of obtaining "state secrets." Authorities told the news service Whelan, 48, was in a Moscow hotel room when he received a flash drive containing a list of employees at an undisclosed Russian agency. Minutes later, Russian agents stormed into the room and made the arrest, Rosbalt reported. Rajesh De, who was a general counsel at the National Security Agency in the Obama administration, told USA TODAY it was difficult to "sift the truth from the propaganda." "Our system isn't perfect, but it has far more due process rights than they do," he said. Whelan's family denied the charges and said Whelan was in Moscow for a wedding when he was arrested. His brother, David, said Paul Whelan traveled to Russia on Dec. 22 to help a friend from the Marines who was getting married in Moscow. The friend asked Paul to help his American family and friends get around in Russia, David Whelan said. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., represents the district where Paul Whelan lives and works as global security chief for automotive parts maker Borg Warner. Stevens said she’s been in repeated contact with his family and is trying to get the State Department to appoint “a dedicated attache to work on this going forward.” Last month, Russian national Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent for the Kremlin – and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. The Kremlin denied that she is a spy. Butina, in jail since her arrest in July, could get up to five years in prison. Sentencing guidelines call for no more than six months, however. De said the United States cannot be bullied into some kind of swap, Butina for Whelan. He expressed alarm that President Donald Trump has not publicly demanded that Whelan's rights be protected. "The timing of the arrest is suspect," De said. "We can't allow our justice system to be subject to external pressure." U.S.-Russian relations have struggled in recent months despite Trump's frequent praise of President Vladimir Putin. Scores of Russian diplomats were expelled last year after the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in Britain that was linked to the Kremlin. Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election brought scrutiny on communication between Trump's inner circle and Russian operatives. Contributing: Kristen Jordan Shamus and Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press

f198ba12ac15ace2f37f836cbfe0dd70

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/06/us-syria-withdrawal-bolton/2495341002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

US withdrawal from Syria depends on conditions, John Bolton says

US withdrawal from Syria depends on conditions, John Bolton says JERUSALEM – President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, said Sunday that the U.S. military withdrawal from northeastern Syria is conditioned on defeating the remnants of the Islamic State group, and on Turkey assuring the safety of Kurdish fighters allied with the United States. Bolton, who traveled to Israel to reassure the U.S. ally of the Trump-ordered withdrawal, said there is no timetable for the pullout of American forces in northeastern Syria, but insisted it’s not an unlimited commitment. “There are objectives that we want to accomplish that condition the withdrawal,” Bolton told reporters in Jerusalem. “The timetable flows from the policy decisions that we need to implement.” Those conditions, he said, included the defeat of remnants of IS in Syria, and protections for Kurdish militias who have fought alongside U.S. troops against the extremist group. Bolton’s comments mark the first public confirmation that the drawdown has been slowed, as Trump faced widespread criticism from allies and the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis for a policy that was to have been conducted within weeks. Trump announced in mid-December that the U.S. will withdraw all of its 2,000 forces in Syria. Trump’s move has raised fears over clearing the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria who fought alongside American troops against IS extremists. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, a terrorist group linked to an insurgency within its own borders. Bolton, who is to travel on to Turkey on Monday, said the U.S. is insisting that its Kurdish allies in the fight against the Islamic State group are protected from any planned Turkish offensive. He is to deliver a warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week. “We don’t think the Turks ought to undertake military action that’s not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States,” Bolton said. Trump has stated that he would “not allow Turkey to kill the Kurds,” Bolton said. “That’s what the president said, the ones that fought with us.” Bolton said the U.S. has asked its Kurdish allies to “stand fast now” and refrain from seeking protection from Russia or Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. He said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford would continue negotiations with his Turkish counterparts this week to seek protection for America’s Kurdish allies in Syria. He added that Ambassador Jim Jeffrey, who has been serving since August as the special representative for Syrian engagement and was named last week as the American special envoy for the anti-Islamic State coalition, would travel to Syria this week in an effort to reassure the U.S.’s Kurdish allies that they are not being abandoned. Bolton said U.S. troops would remain at the critical are of al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian activity in the region. He defended the legal basis for the deployment, saying it’s justified by the president’s Constitutional authority, adding “I’m a strong believer in Article II.” Bolton on Sunday also toured the ancient tunnels beneath the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City. He watched a virtual reality tour of the historic site and dined there with his Israeli equivalent, as well as U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer. Visiting American officials typically avoid holding official meetings in parts of east Jerusalem, which is contested between Israelis and Palestinians. Trump himself, however, also toured the area in a previous visit. Israel captured the Old City from Jordan in the 1967 war.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/07/rahaf-mohammed-al-qunun-saudi-woman-seeking-asylum-thailand/2500241002/

U.N. agency cleared to visit Saudi woman whose plea to seek asylum went viral on Twitter

U.N. agency cleared to visit Saudi woman whose plea to seek asylum went viral on Twitter The U.N. Refugee Agency said it has been granted access to an 18-year-old Saudi woman who traveled to Thailand to seek asylum. In a statement released Monday, the agency said it will assess whether Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun will require protection as a refugee after she shared her story on social media that has since gone viral. The details of Alqunun's story first spread on Twitter, in a series of messages where she claimed she was being threatened by her family. According to an account given to Human Rights Watch in Asia, Alqunun was stopped in Bangkok en route to Australia by Saudi Arabia's embassy, which then seized her passport. Alqunun told HRW she fled her family while they visited Kuwait because the country does not require permission from a male relative for an adult woman to leave. Alqunun said she was fleeing abuse and death threats. "I’m being threatening by my cousin that I will be slaughter," read one of Alqunun's tweets. "Saudi women fleeing their families can face severe violence from relatives, deprivation of liberty, and other serious harm if returned against their will,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. The organization is urging Thai authorities not to deport her. Thailand immigration chief Surachate Hakparn said they would work to protect her, reports BBC. "She is now under the sovereignty of Thailand, no-one and no embassy can force her to go anywhere," he said, as reported by BBC. "We will talk to her and do whatever she requests." The Guardian reports Australia's Department of Home Affairs said it will consider granting Alqunun a visa if the U.N. declares her a refugee. Alqunun's plight has spawned the hashtag #SaveRahaf on social media, as a plea to prevent her deportation back to Saudi Arabia. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/09/kim-jong-un-heads-home-after-beijing-visit/2522720002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Kim Jong Un heads home on special train after 2-day visit to Beijing

Kim Jong Un heads home on special train after 2-day visit to Beijing BEIJING – A special train believed to be carrying Kim Jong Un departed Beijing on Wednesday after a two-day visit by the North Korean leader to the Chinese capital. Kim could not be seen, but he was presumed to be on board the long train as it crossed on elevated tracks over a busy Beijing street and headed toward eastern China and the border with North Korea. Kim’s trip to China – his fourth in the past 10 months – is believed to be an effort to coordinate with his only major ally ahead of a possible second summit with President Donald Trump. It comes after U.S. and North Korean officials are thought to have met in Vietnam to discuss the site of the summit. Details of his visit have not been released, but Kim reportedly met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Earlier Wednesday, Kim’s motorcade headed out to an unannounced destination and returned about an hour later. South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said Kim visited a technology development zone and spent around 20-30 minutes touring a factory run by famed traditional Chinese medicine maker Tong Ren Tang. More:North Korea's Kim Jong Un makes birthday visit to China for meetings with President Xi Jinping More:Trump teases second summit with Kim Jong Un, touts his diplomacy with North Korea North Korean and Chinese state media announced his visit shortly in advance of his arrival in Beijing, in a break with standard protocol dictating such trips are only confirmed after they happen. However, neither side has provided details of what he has done since arriving aboard his personal armored train on Tuesday morning. Yonhap said Kim met with Xi for about an hour on Tuesday and later attended a dinner at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing hosted by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Kim was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, the news agency said. At Tuesday’s daily Foreign Ministry briefing, spokesman Lu Kang said details of Kim’s visit would be released “in due course.” He said Beijing remains supportive of efforts to end tensions over U.S. demands for a halt to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. “We always believe that, as key parties to the Korean Peninsula issue, it’s important for the two sides to maintain contact and we always support their dialogue to achieve positive outcomes,” Lu said. Tuesday was Kim’s birthday. His visit is also seen as part of an effort to win Chinese support for a reduction of U.N. sanctions imposed over his nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which have severely impacted his country’s already ailing economy. While North Korea hasn’t conducted any launches or detonations in more than a year, it’s displayed no real intention of abandoning the programs that are seen as guaranteeing the hard-line communist regime’s survival. Kim’s visit also came after he expressed frustration in his annual New Year’s address over the lack of progress in negotiations with Washington since the Singapore summit with Trump in June, saying that if things don’t improve – meaning that if sanctions relief and security guarantees aren’t in the offing – Pyongyang might have to find “a new way” forward. While Trump says he considers Xi key to enticing Kim into taking concrete steps toward denuclearization, the president’s own relationship with his Chinese counterpart has frayed over the U.S.-China trade war. Officially, at least, China says it considers the tariff battle and North Korea’s weapons programs to be entirely separate.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/09/u-s-navy-veteran-has-been-held-iran-jail-since-july-mother-says/2522728002/

U.S. Navy veteran has been held in Iranian jail since July, mother says

U.S. Navy veteran has been held in Iranian jail since July, mother says An American Navy veteran from California has been imprisoned in Iran since July on unknown charges, according to reports. Michael R. White, 46, was arrested months ago while visiting his Iranian girlfriend, The New York Times reports. White should have boarded a flight on July 27 to leave Iran, but never did, mom Joanne White told the Times. She said she then filed a missing persons report with the State Department. “All I know is that he is alive and they were putting in a request for a consular visit by the Swiss,” she told the Times. The State Department said in a statement that it is aware of the reports of White's alleged detention but would not comment further "due to privacy concerns." On Monday, an online news service run by Iranian ex-patriots, IranWire, reported that a former inmate spoke to White in prison, saying White told him he was arrested in late summer of 2018 as he and his girlfriend were about to fly out of Hasheminejad Airport in Mashhad. The man was quoted saying White wasn't in good psychological condition and also had a tumor that could be cancerous. White had underwent chemotherapy and radiation for a neck tumor before his last visit to Iran, his mother told the Times. She told CBS News that the last time she made contact with her son was July 13. At least three other U.S. citizens are also being held in Iranian prison under espionage charges the State Department has denounced as “fabricated.” Chinese-American Xiyue Wang as well as Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his father, Baquer Namazi, are all serving 10-year sentences. More:Iran sentences American to 10 years for espionage Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets

5c523ba691b8f834f9e706804fa1b32a

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/10/mike-pompeo-trump-has-rebuilt-middle-east-alliances-after-obama/2524433002/

'The age of self-inflicted American shame is over,' Pompeo declares in rebuke of Obama's policy

'The age of self-inflicted American shame is over,' Pompeo declares in rebuke of Obama's policy Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a blistering rebuke to former President Barack Obama’s Middle East policy Thursday and argued that the Trump administration has "reinvigorated" America’s leadership role in the region – even as President Donald Trump’s own statements and policies have sown confusion and chaos there. “The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering,” Pompeo declared in a major speech in Cairo, aimed at calming jittery allies after Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. "Now comes the real 'new beginning,'" Pompeo said, putting his own spin on a phrase Obama used in his own sweeping speech in Cairo 10 years ago. In that 2009 address, Obama sought a "new beginning" between the United States and the Muslim world. He pledged a relationship "based on mutual interest and mutual respect." Pompeo said that vision was timid, misguided and created a vacuum that allowed ISIS to flourish and Iran to spread its "cancerous" influence in Syria and elsewhere. He glossed over Obama’s role in assembling a multilateral coalition to fight ISIS and pivoted sharply away from the former president’s efforts to press Arab allies on human rights abuses. Indeed, Pompeo used his remarks to praise Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who had led a brutally repressive regime – detaining thousands of dissidents, imprisoning journalists and sharply restricting freedom of expression. Pompeo thanked el-Sissi for his "courage" in confronting Islamic extremism and only obliquely mentioned the Egyptian leader’s crackdown by encouraging him to "promote a free and open exchange" of ideas. Pompeo directly raised Trump’s decision to withdraw America’s 2,000 troops from Syria, saying "now is the time" for them to come home. That decision has raised concerns across the Middle East, particularly in Israel, about America’s commitment to stability in the region. It has also sparked a bitter rift with Turkey, a NATO ally, as the U.S. presses President Recep Erdogan not to attack the Kurdish fighters who have helped American troops fight ISIS in Syria. Pompeo did not address the ongoing confusion about how quickly that U.S. withdraw would happen, but he did say that U.S. airstrikes would continue as needed. "As the fighting continues, we will continue to assist our partners in efforts to guard borders, prosecute terrorists, screen travelers, assist refugees and more," Pompeo said. "But 'assist' is the key phrase. We ask every peace-loving nation of the Middle East to shoulder new responsibilities for defeating Islamist extremism wherever we find it." Earlier this week, Trump national security adviser John Bolton said the U.S. would not withdraw from Syria until the last remnants of ISIS was defeated, the Syrian Kurds were protected, and any Iranian-backed forces were driven out. Achieving those goals could take months, suggesting a protracted presence of American forces, experts have said. Pompeo also specifically criticized Obama's decision to withdraw from Iraq in 2011. "When America retreats, chaos often follows," Trump's chief diplomat said. "When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance." Experts said that remark was ironic, given Trump's surprise decision to withdraw from Syria, a move that could well spark chaos, resentment and a re-emergence of ISIS. "It was an odd juxtaposition," said Nicholas Grossman, a profession of international at the University of Illinois. He said Pompeo seemed to be acting as if Trump's Syria announcement simply "didn’t happen." Others suggested Pompeo's harsh attack on Obama was unseemly. In a tweet, Martin Indyk, a former American ambassador to Israel, called it "a shameless attack" on a former president in front of a foreign audience. Indyk also said Pompeo's remarks "revealed a woeful gap between Trump’s promises and the means he is using to achieve them," which he said was the same mistake Obama made in his Cairo speech 10 years ago. Another irony, some said, was Pompeo's trumpeting two of Trump's most contentious foreign policy actions: moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Israel and withdrawing from the multilateral Iran nuclear agreement. The latter decision has created uncertainty in the region and angered America's European allies. "If Secretary Pompeo wants regional stability, human rights and an end to U.S. military adventures and endless wars, he would press his boss to return to the Iran deal, pursue and facilitate good-faith diplomacy among all stakeholders, and honor our international agreements," said Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council. Abdi said the Trump administration has "reflexively" backed despotic regimes and simplistically blamed Iran "as the source of all regional ills." That approach "will succeed at little other than fueling instability," he said. Syria: As Trump's timeline for withdrawal slips, U.S. allies are nervous, angry, confused Capitol Hill: Low-key Sen. James Risch contrasts combative Corker on Foreign Relations Committee

7983602a9cbd67188617c16db1f8db47

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/11/easter-island-statue-mystery-may-have-been-solved-researchers/2548626002/

Researchers may have solved a mystery of the Easter Island statues

Researchers may have solved a mystery of the Easter Island statues Researchers say they've solved one of the mysteries behind the statues on Easter Island. A study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS One found the Rapa Nui, the ancient people who lived on Easter Island, built the location's iconic monuments near freshwater sources along the coast. Researchers used quantitative spatial modeling to study the monuments, called moai, and the ahu, the platforms supporting the statues. The study explored how the statues' location related to resources the island's inhabitants might require, such as agricultural gardens. The results of the study showed access to freshwater and the location of the monuments were "tightly linked together," Carl Lipo, an archaeologist with Binghamton University and one of the study's authors, said in a statement. "It wasn’t obvious when walking around – with the water emerging at the coast during low tide, one doesn’t necessarily see obvious indications of water," Lipo said in a statement. "But as we started to look at areas around ahu, we found that those locations were exactly tied to spots where the fresh groundwater emerges." Researchers say they only have freshwater data for the western side of the island, which sits off the coast of Chile. Additional surveying is planned to explore the connection between the statues and the location of fresh water sources. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/11/north-koreas-harsh-human-rights-record-could-undermine-deal-u-s/2545940002/

North Korea's harsh human rights record could undermine US nuclear deal, UN official says

North Korea's harsh human rights record could undermine US nuclear deal, UN official says SEOUL — As momentum builds for another summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the harsh reality of North Korean human rights issues threatens to undermine any potential peace or denuclearization agreements, a key United Nations official warned on Friday. Tomás Ojea Quintana, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, told reporters that any deal would be “fragile” if North Korea’s dismal human rights record is not part of the equation. “Any accord that the parties could reach will remain fragile unless human rights issues are not discussed and unless there is a plan how to address that situation in North Korea,” he said. Quintana’s was on a research trip to South Korea this week to gather material for a report that he will present to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March. He met with government officials and members of civil society and interviewed recent defectors from North Korea. More:North Korea's Kim Jong Un makes birthday visit to China for meetings with President Xi Jinping More:Trump teases second summit with Kim Jong Un, touts his diplomacy with North Korea The human rights issue was sidelined during Kim’s summits last year with Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, but Quintana said it is vital that it becomes part of the dialogue this year. “It will be a missed opportunity in 2019 if human rights is not addressed by all the parties, most importantly the government of (North) Korea,” he said. Pyongyang has not allowed Quintana or other international human rights inspectors to visit the country. The U.N. official said human rights conditions have not improved in North Korea despite progress on the international diplomatic front in 2018, a year that saw Kim Jong Un hold summits with Trump and Moon. “The fact is that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the past year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged and continues to be extremely serious,” Quintana said. North Korea’s human rights abuses were detailed in a 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry report that found crimes against humanity including murder, enslavement, torture, sexual violence and persecution on political, religious and gender grounds. Last month, the U.N. passed a resolution condemning the North’s “longstanding and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights.” In a 2018 report, Amnesty International claimed that North Korea held up to 120,000 political prisoners in camps, where forced labor and torture are practiced. While North Korea has seen increased economic development under Kim, particularly in Pyongyang, the capital, much of the country’s population still lacks basic rights like freedom of movement or speech, Quintana said. “The whole country is a prison,” he quoted one North Korean refugee as saying. President Moon said Thursday that a North Korea-U.S. summit would “take place soon.” Trump said that he expected to announce the location for the summit “in the not-too-distant future.” Kim pledged this week to pursue a summit with Trump “to achieve results that will be welcomed by the international community,” Chinese state media reported during the North Korean leader’s visit to Beijing. A second Trump-Kim summit would seek to kick start a diplomatic process that has stalled out since their June meeting in Singapore. That meeting produced a declaration stating that North Korea would work toward a “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” but details on timing and the meaning of the agreement remain vague. Pyongyang continues to look for relief from punishing international sanctions while Washington is holding out for complete denuclearization first, sticking to its “maximum pressure” strategy on the economic and diplomatic fronts. North Korea has been eager to pursue economic projects with the South, such as connecting their railroad systems and reopening a jointly run factory park in its border town of Kaesong, but such projects cannot move further until the U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea are eased. Quintana warned that a continuing lack of human rights in North Korea will be a deterrent for economic development. “We know there is no compliance with international labor standards,” Quintana said. “Any countries hoping to engage or invest in North Korea will have to bear in mind that basic human rights standards are not respected.”

b8a5d61c2c8d419c9f1272eec2e988fa

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/14/climate-change-antarctic-ice-melting-accelerating/2575410002/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=amp&utm_campaign=speakable

Antarctic ice melting 6 times faster than it did in '80s

Antarctic ice melting 6 times faster than it did in '80s The ice in Antarctica is melting six times faster than it did 40 years ago, according to a new study. This acceleration of the ice loss is a clear indication of human-caused climate change, the study authors said. Lead author Eric Rignot, an ice scientist at the University of California–Irvine, said the melting ice has caused global sea levels to rise more than half an inch since 1979. Though that may not sound like much, the amount is alarming to climate scientists, as it's a preview of things to come. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak,” Rignot said. “As the Antarctic ice sheet continues to melt away, we expect multi-meter sea level rise from Antarctica in the coming centuries.” In this century, a 10-foot rise is possible, he said. (A reminder: This isn't the floating sea ice around Antarctica, which melts and refreezes with the seasons. This is freshwater ice on the gigantic ice sheets that cover most of the continent.) Since 2009, almost 278 billion tons of ice has melted away from Antarctica per year, the study found. In the 1980s, it was losing 44 billion tons a year. Scientists combined satellite data records with computer model outputs to estimate the Antarctic ice loss since 1979. More:Sea levels could rise 3 feet worldwide by 2300 – and it's likely to get worse More:Global warming has melted more than 3 trillion tons of ice in Antarctica since 1992 More:Antarctic sea ice melts to record low for January Richard Alley, a Pennsylvania State University scientist not involved in Rignot’s study, called it “really good science.” Rignot said that as climate warming and ozone depletion send more ocean heat toward the Antarctic, the continent's melting ice will contribute to sea-level rise for "decades to come." The solution to halt the melting, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, isn't a surprise: Stop the burning of fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases into the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The study was published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Contributing: The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/14/indonesia-jet-crash-boeing-737/2567946002/

Voice recorder of doomed Boeing 737 flight in Indonesia recovered

Voice recorder of doomed Boeing 737 flight in Indonesia recovered The cockpit voice recorder from the Lion Air flight that crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29 has been recovered, Indonesian officials said Monday, a discovery that should help investigators piece together the details of the doomed flight that killed all 189 people on board. Indonesian navy spokesman Lt. Col. Agung Nugroho told reporters that the “black box” voice recorder of the Boeing 737 was found near the site of the crash at 9:10 a.m. local time, Indonesian newspaper Kompas reported. Coordinating maritime affairs and fisheries minister Luhut Pandjaitan confirmed the finding, the Jakarta Post reported. "It's very good progress. I think the information in the box might make things clear,” Luhut said. The voice recorder was one of the two black boxes used on the flight; the other, a flight data recorder, was recovered days after the crash. A preliminary report based on the flight recorder’s data, issued in November by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee, found that pilots struggled to control the plane as its automatic anti-stall system repeatedly pulled the plane’s nose down. According to the report, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 first encountered the problem just minutes after takeoff and continued to manually override the automatic control more than two dozen times, with data showing the plane’s erratic flight path. Contact was lost with the plane just 13 minutes after it took off from the capital, Jakarta, en route to the city of Pangkal Pinang. The jet, a new Boeing 737 MAX 8, had experienced similar problems on a flight the night before, but pilots had turned off the automatic safety feature. The aircraft had also recorded problems measuring airspeed and altitude on four flights in the three days prior to the doomed flight, the report noted. Two days prior to its final flight, an “angle of attack” sensor that measures airflow over the plane’s wings was replaced. Boeing has been hit with several lawsuits by family members of the victims of the crash, alleging that the automated safety system was faulty and that the aircraft manufacturer had failed to sufficiently document the system in its operations manual and train pilots on its use. In a statement on the preliminary report, Boeing said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of Lion Air Flight 610” but defended the safety of the Boeing MAX, calling it “as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies.” Jakarta-based Lion Air, which was founded in 1999, has had some safety and maintenance issues in the past and was banned from flying into European airspace from 2007 until 2016. The airline had a crash in 2004 that killed 25 people and has had a number of other incidents, including a crash landing in the sea near Bali in which all 108 passengers survived. If the black box discovered on Monday is undamaged, its recordings of cockpit conversations and background noise could provide vital information on what went wrong with the flight. Human remains were also discovered at the seabed site where the black box was recovered, said Ridwan Djamaluddin, a deputy maritime minister, according to The Associated Press.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/16/food-report-3-b-malnourished-radical-changes-worlds-diet-urged/2594455002/

What to eat to save the planet: Report urges 'radical changes' to world's diet -- less meat, more veggies

What to eat to save the planet: Report urges 'radical changes' to world's diet -- less meat, more veggies Around the world, people eat far too much red meat and sugar, and nowhere near enough nuts, fruits and vegetables, according to a report released Wednesday. The report, published by the British medical journal The Lancet, said the population's diet and food production must radically change “to improve health and avoid potentially catastrophic damage to the planet.” Overall, transformation of the global food system is “urgently needed” because more than 3 billion people are malnourished, the report said. (That includes people who are either undernourished or overnourished.) Changing the diet of billions of people “will require global consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar to decrease by about 50 percent, while consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes must double," it said. "The dominant diets that the world has been producing and eating for the past 50 years are no longer nutritionally optimal, are a major contributor to climate change, and are accelerating erosion of natural biodiversity." One of the report authors, Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard University, said that "to be healthy, diets must have an appropriate calorie intake and consist of a variety of plant-based foods, low amounts of animal-based foods, unsaturated rather than saturated fats, and few refined grains, highly processed foods, and added sugars." Unhealthy diets are the leading cause of poor health worldwide; the appropriate diet could prevent about 11 million premature deaths a year, the report said. But diet is only part of the battle: Food production must be improved and food waste must be reduced, the report said. “The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health of people and the planet, and we are currently getting this seriously wrong,” said report co-author Tim Lang, a food policy expert from the City University of London. “We need a significant overhaul, changing the global food system on a scale not seen before." The report warned that the way food is produced now drives climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution (because of over-application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers) and unsustainable changes in water and land use. The report was produced by the EAT-Lancet Commission, a project that brings together dozens of experts from 16 countries with expertise in health, nutrition, environmental sustainability, food systems and economics. The Lancet said providing healthy diets from sustainable food systems is an immediate challenge as the world's population continues to grow – projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. The U.S. meat industry disputed the report: "We disagree with the EAT-Lancet Commission’s beef recommendations," the National Cattlemen's Beef Association said in a statement. "Beef is nourishing and sustainable. Cattle are solar-powered, mobile and self-replicating, and have been providing meat, milk, fuel, draft power, fiber and wealth to humanity for millennia. "Decades of research shows that beef promotes health and helps prevent human nutrient deficiencies." The National Pork Producers Council also dismissed the report and said it's "based on dubious science and is irresponsible.There is ample scientific evidence supporting the nutritive value of meat, including pork, which has critical vitamins and minerals." But the Lancet report summed it up differently: "Humanity’s dominant diets are not good for us, and they are not good for the planet."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/16/pence-north-korea-concrete-steps-denuclearization/2599588002/

Pence: US is still waiting for North Korea to take 'concrete steps' toward denuclearization

Pence: US is still waiting for North Korea to take 'concrete steps' toward denuclearization SEOUL – North Korea has not taken “concrete steps” to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, Vice President Mike Pence told a group of U.S. diplomats on Wednesday. Speaking to about 180 U.S. ambassadors at a conference in the State Department, Pence said Pyongyang has not yet begun to fulfill its pledge for complete denuclearization made in a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last June in Singapore. "While the president has started a promising dialogue with Chairman Kim, we still await concrete steps by North Korea to dismantle the nuclear weapons that threaten our people and our allies in the region," Pence said. The vice president’s remarks came amidst growing signs that a second summit between Trump and Kim is in the works. North Korea’s top nuclear negotiator, Kim Yong Chol, is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Thursday ahead of a meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a South Korean newspaper and other media outlets reported Wednesday. More:Report: North Korea's top negotiator to visit US for possible meeting with Pompeo Opinion:North Korea diplomatic process is not a failure Kim Yong Chol will be carrying a new letter from Kim Jong Un for Trump, according to a CNN report citing a source familiar with the negotiations. The State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul would not confirm the meeting as of Wednesday night. Trump has also teased an upcoming summit, saying recently that negotiations were already underway for a location and that the result would be announced “in the not-too-distant future.” Speculation has increasingly focused on Vietnam as the preferred location for the summit, with a report from a South Korean newspaper last week claiming U.S. and North Korean officials have already met in Hanoi to discuss scheduling the summit. Also, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Sunday that U.S. has proposed to the North to hold the talks in Vietnam in mid-February. Washington has suggested Vietnam, a communist nation with a rapidly developing economy, could serve as a model for North Korea. During a visit to Hanoi in July, Pompeo called on North Korea to replicate Vietnam’s economic “miracle.” A second Trump-Kim summit would seek to push forward a diplomatic process that has slowed since their historic Singapore meeting. That summit produced a declaration that North Korea would work toward a “complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,” but details and a timeline for carrying out the agreement have remained vague. Pyongyang is looking for relief of punishing international sanctions in exchange for steps it has already taken, such as dismantling a nuclear testing site, while Washington is holding out for complete denuclearization. More:For first time since 2010, South Korea defense report doesn’t refer to North Korea as 'enemy' More:North Korea's harsh human rights record could undermine US nuclear deal, UN official says South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha told reporters Wednesday that Seoul and Washington have been closely discussing what “corresponding measures” could be taken in response to the North’s progress on denuclearization. Incentives could include a formal declaration of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War, humanitarian assistance and a communications channel with the U.S., she said. Kang said that anticipation for a second North Korea-U.S. summit is rising and that nuclear negotiations “are expected to resume quickly.” North Korea didn’t launch any missiles or test any nuclear weapons in 2018, and in May, Pyongyang made a show of dismantling its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. But international inspectors have not been allowed to visit the site, and research shows that the communist state continues to develop its ballistic weapons program at several locations. A report released last week by North Korea analysis website 38 North said that the country’s Yongbyon nuclear facility remains operational and well-maintained but does not appear to be currently in use. The site produces the fissile material used as fuel for nuclear weapons.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/17/mcjesus-sculpture-removed-haifa-museum-kalisch-rotem-says/2604432002/

'McJesus' sculpture to be removed from museum after violent protest, mayor says

'McJesus' sculpture to be removed from museum after violent protest, mayor says A sculpture of a crucified Ronald McDonald will be removed from an art museum in Israel after the display sparked violent protests, the mayor of Haifa said. The artwork by Finnish artist Jani Leinonen, titled "McJesus," shows Ronald McDonald on the cross and had been on loan to the Haifa Museum of Art from a museum in Helsinki. In a tweet along with a picture of the work's borrowing agreement, mayor Einat Kalisch Rotem said the sculpture would be removed "as soon as possible." "In an agreement with the church leaders, and since the lending agreement for the sculpture ends in the coming days, it will be removed, and returned as soon as possible," Kalisch Rotem tweeted, according to the Times of Israel's translation. The loan had already been set to expire in January, the agreement shows. Hundreds of Arab Christians demonstrated at the museum last week to call for the sculpture's removal, the Times of Israel and Associated Press reported. According to the AP, police said protesters threw a firebomb at the museum and stones that wounded three police officers. Police used tear gas and stun grenades in response, per the AP. According to the Guardian,Arab Christians only account for 2 percent of Israel's population. Museum director Nissim Tal told the AP that the backlash surprised him given that the exhibit had been on display for months. The work's loan began in June, per the agreement Kalisch Rotem tweeted. The museum's website says the exhibit, called "Sacred Goods," "focuses on the responses of contemporary artists to issues of religion and faith in the contemporary global reality, which is dominated by the consumer culture." The museum described Leinonen's work and others in the exhibit as "subversive" and "provocative works that address the collaboration between religious systems and the consumer culture." The artist told the Jerusalem Post earlier this week that he didn't intend for the sculpture to be shown in Haifa. The protests "came to me as an upsetting surprise, particularly because my work is in the exhibition against my wishes," Leinonen told the newspaper. Leinonen also said that he had asked the museum to remove the work and that he supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, movement – aimed at pressuring Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev had also called for the work's removal, but the museum had resisted, citing freedom of expression. "Without any connection, we believe in freedom of speech as a cornerstone of democracy," Kalisch Rotem tweeted, according to the Times of Israel's translation. "We regret the distress experienced by the Christian community in Haifa, and the physical injury and violence that followed. We thank the heads of the Christian churches and priests in Haifa for the dialogue and desire to bridge, the effort to reach a solution, and to prevent violence." Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/21/north-korea-missiles-csis-report-secret-missile-base/2641579002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

New CSIS report reveals another of 20 undisclosed North Korean missile sites

New CSIS report reveals another of 20 undisclosed North Korean missile sites SEOUL — Researchers have discovered another secret ballistic missile base in North Korea, one of an estimated 20 that the communist state has not declared. The base, called Sino-ri, was disclosed in a report released Monday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington D.C.-based think tank. It is located 132 miles north of the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea and provides “an operational-level nuclear or conventional first strike capability against targets located both throughout the Korean Peninsula and in most of Japan,” according to the report. CSIS reported on the existence of 13 of the 20 undeclared missile bases in November. The newly identified Sino-ri facility is one of the oldest in existence and was used for the first deployments of Pyongyang’s Scud missiles and its Nodong medium-range ballistic missile, according to Monday’s report. The base may also have also played a role in the development of the Pukkuksong-2 (KN-15) medium range ballistic missile, which was first tested in February 2017 and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Opinion:Another Trump-Kim summit? The first one hasn't accomplished much. More:For first time since 2010, South Korea defense report doesn’t refer to North Korea as 'enemy' The report comes after just days after the White House announcement that a second summit is going to be held between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in late February. Trump on Saturday told reporters that “things are going very well with North Korea,” and that Washington and Pyongyang “have made a lot of progress as far as denuclearization is concerned.” The summit is expected to be held in Vietnam, according to several media reports, with both the capital Hanoi and the coastal city of Danang being touted as possible host sites. Trump has tended to downplay the threat from North Korea in tweets and statements dating back to his initial summit with Kim last June in Singapore. After that meeting, Trump tweeted that that “everybody can now feel much safer” and that "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." A Pentagon report released on Thursday, however, said that North Korea’s missile and nuclear program remained an “extraordinary threat” to the United States and warned that the U.S. must remain “remain vigilant” despite ongoing diplomatic engagement with the North. The CSIS report further suggests North Korea has done little to curtail its nuclear and missile programs despite gestures such as decommissioning its Sohae satellite launch facility in July and August. That move gained media attention but it “obscures the military threat to U.S. forces and South Korea from [Sino-ri] and other undeclared ballistic missile bases,” the report said. North Korea also made a show of dismantling its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in May, although international inspectors have not been allowed to visit the site. More:North Korea's harsh human rights record could undermine US nuclear deal, UN official says The first Trump-Kim summit produced a vaguely worded declaration that North Korea would work toward a “complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.” However, the U.S. and North Korea have been at an impasse over how to proceed and the second summit will seek to find a way forward. Pyongyang has been looking for concessions such as relief of punishing international sanctions in exchange for steps it has already taken while Washington has been holding out for complete denuclearization first. South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said last week that Washington and Seoul have been discussing “corresponding measures” that could be taken in response to the North’s progress on denuclearization. Incentives could include a formal declaration of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War, humanitarian assistance and a communications channel with the U.S., she said. The CSIS report argues that any denuclearization deal would need to include the declaration, verification and dismantlement of North Korean missile operating basis. “While diplomacy is critical, and should be the primary way to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem, any future agreement must take account of all of the operational missile base facilities that are a threat to U.S. and South Korean security,” the report said. “Have to negotiate *existing* capabilities,” tweeted Victor Cha, former director for Asian Affairs in the White House National Security Council, and one of the report’s authors. “Not just past or future ones. You can’t 'wing' the next summit.”

3fec98696d6bbe81933c188cc6161136

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/24/russia-warns-trump-against-military-intervention-venezuela/2665555002/

Putin warns against 'destructive interference' in Venezuela after Trump recognizes Juan Guaido

Putin warns against 'destructive interference' in Venezuela after Trump recognizes Juan Guaido WASHINGTON – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned against "destructive interference" in Venezuela from outside forces and called President Nicolas Maduro to reaffirm Moscow's support for the embattled leader – one day after the Trump administration declared Maduro's presidency illegitimate. Putin's phone call to Maduro was a rebuke to President Donald Trump's efforts to undercut the Venezuelan president. A senior Russian official said military intervention in Venezuela would create a "catastrophic scenario" in the region. "We warn against this," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with International Affairs magazine, a Russian media outlet. "We believe that this would be a catastrophic scenario that would shake the foundations of the development model we see in the Latin American region." In his phone call with Maduro, Putin "stressed that destructive outside interference grossly violated the fundamental norms of international law," according to a report from Russia's state-owned media outlet Tass. Wednesday, Trump recognized Juan Guaido, head of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, as the country’s interim president – saying the incumbent leftist Maduro is not the country's legitimate leader. When asked whether the United States was considering military action, Trump said, “We’re not considering anything, but all options (are) on the table." Other administration officials emphasized using economic sanctions, not military force. "What we’re focusing on today is disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the source of its revenues," Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said Thursday, according to a White House pool report. The Trump administration seeks a United Nations Security Council meeting Saturday to discuss the Venezuelan crisis. Bolton said the administration was working with other governments in the region and in Europe to strengthen Guaido's position. "We’re talking to our colleagues in Europe and elsewhere to demonstrate widespread political support for the interim presidency," Bolton said, "and we’re moving to do everything we can to strengthen this new legitimate representative government.” United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he supported the U.S. move to recognize Guaido. “We are extremely concerned about the situation in Venezuela, but it is clear that Nicholas Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela,” Hunt said during a visit to Washington on Thursday. “I will be meeting Vice President (Mike) Pence and Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo later this afternoon to discuss this further.” Pompeo said Thursday that the United States would deliver $20 million in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela "as soon as logistically possible" to help it cope with its economic crisis. Maduro was sworn in Jan. 10 to a second term amid allegations of vote rigging and other electoral fraud. His country in upheaval, Guaido declared himself interim president Wednesday, saying he was “formally assuming the responsibility of the national executive.” Thousands of Venezuelans staged anti-Maduro protests, calling on the leader to step down as the country reels from spiraling inflation and a shortage of food and medicine. The Associated Press reported that at least a dozen protesters have been killed in the escalating confrontation with Maduro's regime, citing figures from a nonprofit monitoring group, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict. "The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law," Trump said Wednesday in recognizing Guaido as the country's legitimate leader. Maduro responded by cutting diplomatic ties with the United States and giving American diplomats stationed in Venezuela 72 hours to leave. Pompeo said U.S. Embassy staff would remain at the invitation of Guaido. "The United States does not consider former president Nicolas Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations with the United States or to declare our diplomats persona non grata," Pompeo said in a statement Wednesday night. Several other Latin American countries, along with Canada, recognized Guaido as Venezuela's leader. Russia has staunchly backed Maduro's government, politically and militarily. The Kremlin dispatched two Russian bombers to Venezuela last month, a move that raised red flags in Washington. Contributing: Doug Stanglin

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/25/like-trump-irelands-ambassador-u-s-start-day-tweet/2552089002/

President Trump, Irish ambassador Daniel Mulhall have similar Twitter addictions

President Trump, Irish ambassador Daniel Mulhall have similar Twitter addictions WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall have at least one thing in common: They like to start the day with a tweet. But while the U.S. president’s online missives are often meant to punch and provoke, Mulhall’s tweets are designed to elevate and enchant. And, Mulhall says, to improve U.S.-Irish relations. Mulhall’s Twitter feed is full of poetry – Irish poetry to be precise – which is his diplomatic tool of choice. It’s one that will land the 63-year-old globe-trotting Irishman on stage at the Lincoln Center this spring. On Thursday, after a visit with Trump in the Oval Office, the Irish ambassador is sharing a different stage , Mulhall's heading to Capitol Hill for the annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon with Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, and members of Congress. The event dates back to 1983 and is a treasured ritual among lawmakers, whether they have Irish ancestry or not. Mulhall says his poetry proclivities supplement his more traditional diplomatic duties. “My job in this country as I see it is to tell Ireland’s story – and to listen to America’s story – and to connect the two stories,” Mulhall said. “Our story is very multifaceted, but I’ve found that telling our story through history and literature is a great door opener for Ireland.” Enter William Butler Yeats, the famed Irish poet and playwright who used Ireland’s lush landscapes and rich folklore to become one of 20th century’s greatest poets. Mulhall said he realized Yeats had global resonance – and was a brand-name boon for Ireland – when he was stationed in India 40 years ago. At a dinner hosted by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit – a politician, diplomat, and the sister of India’s first prime minister – all the guests began reciting one of Yeats’ poems from memory as soon as they realized an Irishman was in their midst: “When you’re old and gray and full of sleep …,” they started in unison. Mulhall was stunned. “I thought, ‘Hey, this is the most prominent Indian family of the 20th Century and here they’re all reciting … (the poetry of a) tiny country of 4 million people thousands of miles away.” As he moved from one diplomatic post to the next – Malaysia, Vienna, Laos – Mulhall folded his own love of Irish literature into his foreign service work. He started giving lectures on Yeats, along with James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and other Irish literary heavyweights, at universities in his host countries. But he didn’t turn to Twitter until 2015, when he was stationed in England. Ireland was going wild with celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Yeats’ birth. Mulhall decided to get in on the action from London. “I started doing a daily tweet of Yeats' poetry,” he recounted. “At the end of the year, I was about to stop and then people starting saying ‘I hope you’re going to keep this going … You have to keep it going’.” Many told him they found his Twitter feed to be "a zone of tranquility” in a sea of social-media vitriol. He acquiesced. “And now I can’t stop doing it because if people have any response to my Twitter account, it’s always about the poetry,” he said. “There’s nothing else that I do that attracts the same kind of attention.” Mulhall has moved well beyond Yeats at this point – tweeting a panoply of Irish writers, from Jonathan Swift, the 17th century satirist, to Caoilinn Hughes, an up-and-coming novelist and poet. As Ireland's ambassador to the U.S., Mulhall also tweets American poets on special occasions, such as on the 4th of July and Thanksgiving “Every night, I have a big collection of poetry at home, and I go through it and find something that’s tweetable,” he said. “It’s not always easy … Sometimes you need a whole poem to make sense of it.” Mulhall’s passions have earned him an invitation to participate in the Lincoln Center’s 16th annual poetry celebration on April 24, billed as a "star-studded line-up of luminaries presenting readings from poetry’s most significant voices." Mulhall says he's thrilled to walk through another door opened by Irish literature.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/26/melania-trump-british-paper-apologizes-first-lady-pays-damages/2687536002/

British paper apologizes to Melania Trump, pays 'substantial damages' over article

British paper apologizes to Melania Trump, pays 'substantial damages' over article London's Daily Telegraph apologized to first lady Melania Trump on Saturday and said it had agreed to pay her "substantial damages" for publishing false statements regarding her family and her modeling career. It was at least the third time that the first lady has successfully sued publications or online blogs over defamatory articles. "We apologize unreservedly to The First Lady and her family for any embarrassment caused by our publication of these allegations," the newspaper wrote Saturday. "As a mark of our regret we have agreed to pay Mrs. Trump substantial damages as well as her legal costs." The claims appeared last week in a cover story in its Saturday magazine entitled "The mystery of Melania." The conservative British newspaper said the article should not have made the claim that Melania Trump was struggling in her modeling career before she met Donald Trump nor that she had advanced in her career due to his help. Melania Trump:First lady rings in 2019 with a sparkly selfie "We accept that Mrs. Trump was a successful professional model in her own right before she met her husband and obtained her own modeling work without his assistance, " the Telegraph said. The newspaper also said she did not leave her design and architecture course at her university because of anything to do with completing her exam, as alleged in the article, "but rather because she wanted to pursue a successful career as a professional model." The apology also stated that the future first lady met Trump in 1998, not in 1996, as it had published, and also wrongly claimed that her mother, father and sister had relocated to New York in 2005 to live in buildings owned by Trump. "They did not," the newspaper said. The Telegraph also cleaned up a couple of additional points: • "Mrs Trump’s father was not a fearsome presence and did not control the family." • "The claim that Mrs. Trump cried on election night is also false." In 2017, Melania Trump's lawyer said she settled a defamation suit for a "substantial sum" against a Maryland blogger who wrote she once worked as an escort. The blogger, Webster Tarpley, also issued a statement in which he said that his article was “replete with false and defamatory statements about her,” Variety reported. That same year, the Daily Mail and Mail Online agreed to pay significant damages, estimated to be under $3 million, to settle a libel claim. A statement agreed upon by both parties said a double-spread newspaper article and an online posting about her by the Mail included “false and defamatory claims about (Mrs. Trump) which questioned the nature of her work as a professional model and republished allegations that she provided services beyond simply modeling," according to The Guardian. The Mail also published an apology to the first lady "for any distress that our publication caused her."

a1dce0449d1066c82e1ad420eca67505

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/28/brazil-dam-collapse-scores-dead-hundreds-remain-missing/2698628002/

Brazil dam collapse: Scores dead; hundreds remain missing

Brazil dam collapse: Scores dead; hundreds remain missing BRUMADINHO, Brazil – Firefighters are carefully moving over treacherous mud, sometimes walking, sometimes crawling, in search of survivors or bodies left by a dam collapse that buried mine buildings and surrounding neighborhoods with iron ore waste. The confirmed death toll rose to 58, with up to 300 people still missing, authorities said. In an ominous sign, nobody was recovered alive Sunday, a stark difference from the first two days of the disaster, when helicopters were whisking people from the mud. The slow speed of search efforts was due to the treacherous sea of reddish-brown mud that surged out when the mine dam breached Friday afternoon. It is up 24 feet (8 meters) deep in some places, and to avoid the danger of sinking and drowning searchers had to carefully walk around the edges or slowly crawl out onto the muck. Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox Even those efforts were suspended about 10 hours Sunday because of fears that a second mine dam in the southeastern city of Brumadinho was at risk of failing. An estimated 24,000 people were told to get to higher ground, but by afternoon civil engineers said the second dam was no longer at risk. Areas of water-soaked mud appeared to be drying out, which could help firefighters get to areas previously unreachable. Still, it was slow going for the search teams, and residents were on edge. “Get out searching!” a woman yelled at firefighters near a refuge set up in the center of Brumadinho. “They could be out there in the bush.” Brazilian searchers got reinforcements late Sunday, when more than 100 Israeli soldiers and other personnel arrived with plans to join recovery efforts. Throughout the weekend, there was mounting anger at the giant Vale mining company, which operated the mine, and questions rose about an apparent lack of an alarm system Friday. Caroline Steifeld said she heard warning sirens Sunday, but there was no alert when the dam collapsed Friday. “I only heard shouting, people saying to get out. I had to run with my family to get to higher ground, but there was no siren,” she said, adding that a cousin was still unaccounted for. In an email, Vale told The Associated Press that the area has eight sirens, but “the speed in which the event happened made sounding an alarm impossible” when the dam burst. People in Brumadinho desperately awaited word on their loved ones. Romeu Zema, the governor of Minas Gerais state, said that by now most recovery efforts would entail pulling out bodies. The flow of waste reached the nearby community of Vila Ferteco and an occupied Vale administrative office. It buried buildings to their rooftops and an extensive field of the mud cut off roads. Some residents barely escaped with their lives. “I saw all the mud coming down the hill, snapping the trees as it descended. It was a tremendous noise,” said a tearful Simone Pedrosa, from the neighborhood of Parque Cachoeira, 5 miles (8 kilometers) from where the dam collapsed. For many, hope was evaporating. “I don’t think he is alive,” Joao Bosco said of his cousin Jorge Luis Ferreira, who worked for Vale. “Right now, I can only hope for a miracle.” The carpet of mining waste also raised fears of widespread environmental contamination and degradation. According to Vale’s website, the waste is composed mostly of sand and is non-toxic. However, a U.N. report found that the waste from a similar disaster in 2015 “contained high levels of toxic heavy metals.” Over the weekend, courts froze about $3 billion from Vale assets for state emergency services and told the company to report on how they would help the victims. Neither the company nor authorities had reported why the dam failed, but Attorney General Raquel Dodge promised to investigate. “Someone is definitely at fault, she said.” Dodge noted there are 600 mines in Minas Gerais alone that are classified as being at risk of rupture. Another dam administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton collapsed in 2015 in the city of Mariana in Minas Gerais, resulting in 19 deaths and forcing hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, that disaster left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded nearby rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Sueli de Oliveira Costa, who hadn’t heard from her husband since Friday, had harsh words for the mining company. “Vale destroyed Mariana and now they’ve destroyed Brumadinho,” she said. Other residents quietly noted that Vale was the main employer in the area. “The company is responsible for a new tragedy, but it’s the principal employer,” said Diego Aparecido, who has missing friends who worked at Vale. “What will happen if it closes?” Environmental groups and activists said the latest spill underscored the lack of environmental regulation in Brazil, and many promised to fight any further deregulation. Marina Silva, a former environmental minister and presidential candidate, toured the area Sunday. She said Congress should bear part of the blame for not toughening regulations and enforcement. “All the warnings have been given. We are repeating history with this tragedy,” she told the AP. “Brazil can’t become a specialist in rescuing victims and consoling widows. Measures need to be taken to avoid prevent this from happening again.” ––– Associated Press writer Marcelo Silva de Sousa reported this story in Brumadinho and AP writer Peter Prengaman reported from Arraial do Cabo, Brazil. AP photographer Leo Correa in Brumadinho contributed to this report.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/28/huawei-china-urges-us-end-unreasonable-crackdown/2707836002/

China calls on US to end ‘unreasonable bashing’ of Huawei, other Chinese firms

China calls on US to end ‘unreasonable bashing’ of Huawei, other Chinese firms Beijing fired back Tuesday over criminal charges against Chinese telecom giant Huawei, calling them politically motivated and urging the United States to stop the “unreasonable bashing” of Chinese companies. The U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on Monday, alleging that the company stole trade secrets, violated trade sanctions against Iran, committed wire fraud and obstructed justice. “For some time, the U.S. has been using national power to tarnish and crack down on specific Chinese companies in an attempt to strangle their lawful and legitimate operations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement Tuesday. “Behind such practices are deep political intentions and manipulations. We strongly urge the U.S. to stop its unreasonable bashing on Chinese companies, including Huawei, and treat them objectively and fairly.” Geng called on the United States “to immediately withdraw its arrest warrant for Ms. Meng Wanzhou, refrain from making a formal extradition request and stop going further down the wrong path.” More:US charges Chinese telecom giant Huawei with fraud, stealing trade secrets; violations go 'to the top' Meng was arrested Dec. 1 in Vancouver by Canadian authorities at the request of the United States and is out on $7.6 million bail while awaiting extradition. Monday evening, Canada’s Justice Department confirmed that officials received a formal extradition request from the United States, Canadian broadcaster CBC reported. Huawei denied any wrongdoing in a statement Tuesday, saying it was “disappointed to learn of the charges brought against the company.” Huawei “denies that it or its subsidiary or affiliate have committed any of the asserted violations,” the statement said. The company “is not aware of any wrongdoing of Ms. Meng and believes the U.S. courts will ultimately reach the same conclusion.” China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Wen Ku called the legal action against Huawei “unfair” Tuesday, according to state-run newspaper Global Times. Wen said it was an attempt to smear the company without concrete evidence. The criminal charges came before high-level trade talks between China and the United States, the world’s two largest economies. Washington will increase tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports from 10 percent to 25 percent if a deal is not struck by a deadline of March 2. Talks are set to be held in Washington this week. The leader of the Chinese delegation, Vice Premier Liu He, will meet with President Donald Trump. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said at a news briefing Monday that the Huawei charges and the trade talks were unrelated. "No, those two things are not linked,” she said. "They are a totally separate process.” Chinese intellectual property theft from U.S. companies has been one of the key issues in the trade war, and Monday’s 10-count indictment centered around allegations that Huawei stole robotic technology from Bellevue, Washington-based T-Mobile. The charges are punishable by a maximum fine of up to $5 million or three times the value of the stolen trade secret, whichever is greater. The charges for wire fraud and obstruction of justice are punishable by a fine of up to $500,000. Meng's arrest sparked outrage in Beijing, which detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor shortly afterward. More:US charges Chinese telecom giant Huawei with fraud, stealing trade secrets; violations go 'to the top' More:China detains second Canadian in fallout from Dec. 1 arrest of tech executive Meng Wanzhou

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/28/us-envoy-cites-framework-us-taliban-deal-nyt/2698894002/

US-Taliban deal may be close, but future of Afghanistan remains bleak

US-Taliban deal may be close, but future of Afghanistan remains bleak Encouraging comments from the U.S. envoy to Afghanistan on "significant progress" in talks with the Taliban heightened hopes for peace, but the envoy and experts on the region warned that major obstacles remain. Even if a deal is reached, the battle-weary nation of 35 million people could be enveloped in a bloody civil war long after the Americans are gone. Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed optimism after talks in Qatar wrapped up over the weekend but said, "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." Monday, he told The New York Times that negotiators agreed on a "framework" for a plan aimed at ending the conflict that has crippled Afghanistan since the U.S. invasion more than 17 years ago. Khalilzad said the Taliban committed to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a platform for international terrorists. The United States would begin withdrawing troops in return for a cease-fire – and the Taliban conducting talks directly with the Kabul government, something the militant group has refused to do. The 14,000 U.S. troops remaining in the South Asian country advise the Afghan military and conduct counterterrorism operations. President Donald Trump has frequently questioned the value of U.S. troop involvement. Benjamin Hopkins, director of Asian Studies at George Washington University, said that the Taliban leadership is fully aware that Trump wants out – and that it cannot take control of the country so long as foreign troops remain. "Recognizing this, the U.S. has been resistant to any deal withdrawing U.S. troops while the Taliban is still a militarily capable force," Hopkins said. "The thing that seems to have changed is President Trump’s desire to withdraw. ... Khalilzad is negotiating with that political reality in mind." More:Death of American, Taliban attack may muddle plans for withdrawal More:Afghanistan may be a mess if US troops leave; they should leave anyway Vanda Felbab-Brown, author of "Aspiration and Ambivalence: Strategies and Realities of Counterinsurgency and State-Building in Afghanistan," said the most likely outcome of a U.S. exit would be civil war. If the Taliban agrees to negotiate with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the militants will demand to keep their military force or integrate it into the Afghan military, Felbab-Brown said. That would put the United States in the position of subsidizing Taliban fighters. The Taliban won't settle for "meager representation" in Parliament but will want control of ministries and power at the national level, she said. "They will not disarm and go home," Felbab-Brown said. "The question is: Is there any deal that the Taliban is willing to stick by?" Felbab-Brown and Hopkins said Ghani will not be pleased to see U.S. troops leave. Ghani spoke to his nation Monday, inviting direct talks with the Taliban and assuring Afghans that no deal would be made without his participation. Ghani has said that although no country wants foreign troops indefinitely, U.S. troops remain a crucial component for his country's stability. Hopkins suggested that U.S. officials might be planning a residual "security footprint" while withdrawing the public face of the deployment. The latest talks "could be the beginning of something, but only if there is a major change in the interests and aims of the parties," Hopkins said. "And I don’t see the Taliban as the one moving here." About 2,400 U.S. military personnel have died in Afghanistan – including one last week – since American forces launched the offensive against the Taliban weeks after the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A Taliban car bomb attack last week killed at least 45 people, including dozens of Afghan intelligence officials. Violence has been on the rise. Abdul Hakim Mujahid, a former Taliban official who is a member of the country's High Peace Council, expressed optimism about the talks but stressed that more discussions are needed in the coming weeks or months. "Afghanistan's problem is not so simple that it can be solved in a day, week or month; it needs more time and more discussions," Mujahid told The Associated Press. Felbab-Brown said she hopes that if the Taliban wins enough concessions, civil war could be averted. "Civil liberties may fade, but maybe you will save thousands of lives," she said. "That is better than bloody civil war. But it is not a happy outcome."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/28/worlds-loneliest-duck-dies-after-dog-attack-pacific-island/2699187002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Trevor, 'world's loneliest duck,' dies after being attacked by dog

Trevor, 'world's loneliest duck,' dies after being attacked by dog Trevor, once dubbed the "world's loneliest duck," has died. The lone mallard that lived near a puddle on the tiny Pacific island of Niue was found dead after being attacked by a dog, a fan page for Trevor announced Friday. Last year, Trevor's story gained international attention after a journalist visiting the island asked for directions and was told to "turn right after the duck." Aside from being a local landmark, the duck was also a sort of local celebrity. The island has no ducks aside from Trevor. No one really knows how he found its way to Niue, an island of less than 2,000 people without wetlands or ponds. "He showed up in Niue in January last year after a big storm, we think he flew or blew here," Rae Findlay, Niue's Chamber of Commerce chief and the person behind Trevor's Facebook page, told the BBC. While he didn't have any duck friends on the island, he wasn't all that lonely. Members of the community visited him often, making sure his puddle was full of water and he was fed. He also made friends with a chicken and her four chicks. "Taken too soon by a dog. Rest in Peace Trevor," Findlay wrote. "You were a very cool duck!" Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/29/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-dan-coats/2708911002/

Intelligence chiefs' threat assessment omits border, says North Korea won't give up nukes

Intelligence chiefs' threat assessment omits border, says North Korea won't give up nukes WASHINGTON – Although the Trump administration often touts the progress being made in denuclearization talks with North Korea, U.S. intelligence chiefs told senators Tuesday that Kim Jong Un's regime is "unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons." The top intelligence officials – including FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats – presented that conclusion to the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of their annual Worldwide Threat Assessment report to Congress. The security officials also contradicted President Donald Trump with their conclusions that the Islamic State remains a threat and that the Iran nuclear deal is working. The report did not include immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border in the list of global threats facing the U.S., which contrasts with the president's description of the situation as a "crisis." In his testimony, Coats conceded that North Korea "has halted its provocative behavior" by refraining from missile tests and nuclear tests for more than a year. "As well, Kim Jong Un continues to demonstrate openness to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Coasts said. But, despite that apparent openness, "We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities, and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities," Coats said. "Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization," he added. Coats said the North Korean leader and the rest of the country's rulers "view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival." Trump plans to hold a second summit with Kim next month. The specific date and location have not yet been disclosed. The first, held in June 2018 in Singapore, was hailed as a breakthrough in U.S.-North Korean relations but critics say it has not yielded many concrete results. Last week, Trump pushed back against news coverage that he felt downplayed his success in negotiating with Kim. "The Fake News Media loves saying 'so little happened at my first summit with Kim Jong Un.' Wrong!" the president tweeted. "After 40 years of doing nothing with North Korea but being taken to the cleaners," Trump said he was able to get hostages released and the remains of U.S. troops returned "in a short 15 months." "No more rockets or M’s being fired over Japan or anywhere else and, most importantly, no Nuclear Testing," Trump said. "This is more than has ever been accomplished with North Korea, and the Fake News knows it. I expect another good meeting soon, much potential!" After Trump's first summit with Kim in July, the president proclaimed on Twitter that there "is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." But Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said Tuesday that the "capabilities and threat that existed a year ago are still there." The World Threat Assessment predicted that security threats to the U.S. and its allies will grow and diversify in the coming year, driven in part by China and Russia. The report says those nations are cooperating more now than at any other point since the mid-1950s and that their global influence is expanding. Coats told the committee that Russia is likely to once again attempt to use social media and other means to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election. And he said they are not likey to be the only nations trying to sway the outcome. The president rarely mentions the threat posed to the integrity of U.S. elections by foreign actors' attempts to influence the results. "Our adversaries and strategic competitors probably already are looking to the 2020 U.S. elections as an opportunity to advance their interests,” the intelligence report said. "Russia’s social media efforts will continue to focus on aggravating social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities, and criticizing perceived anti-Russia politicians," it said. The report said Russia might try other methods as well, "such as spreading disinformation, conducting hack-and-leak operations, or manipulating data – in a more targeted fashion to influence US policy, actions, and elections." Contributing: The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/01/31/botswana-offers-u-s-valuable-lesson-achieving-racial-harmony/2731108002/

As U.S. marks Black History Month, Botswana offers a valuable lesson about racial harmony

As U.S. marks Black History Month, Botswana offers a valuable lesson about racial harmony OKAVANGO DELTA, Botswana — This country in the middle of the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa is a lure for safari tourists eager to spot the wild animals that roam freely. Yet visitors can’t help but notice something else about this country that is as rare elsewhere in the world as the endangered animals who live in this vast savanna: racial harmony. “Absolutely, it’s palpable. There’s no hostility between the blacks and whites, in contrast to neighboring South Africa and other nations in the region,” observes Barry Wood, a veteran journalist who has covered southern Africa. “It’s an extraordinary accomplishment.” Botswana stands out as a lone counterpoint to the racial strife, poverty, dictatorships and corruption that have long been the standard in so many African nations. It has its unique geography, history and culture to thank for that. As the United States celebrates Black History Month in February, all Americans, who still struggle with a long history of racial discrimination and conflict, can learn important lessons about racial harmony from faraway Botswana. The African country, roughly the area of Texas with just 2 million residents (about the same as New Mexico), was a British protectorate until it gained independence in 1966. It has been a successful and stable democracy ever since, something no other African nation can claim. It has the most enlightened environmental policies in Africa, creating a countrywide preserve for wild animals. As a result, it has Africa’s largest population of elephants, who sense they are safe. Watchdog groups rate the government as the least corrupt in Africa. And it’s an economic success story, increasing per capita income from $80 in 1966 (one of the lowest in the world) to $3,200 today. Besides tourism, the country’s economy has benefited from its chief export of diamonds, which were discovered a year after independence. (That’s the official story, at least. Some Botswanans suspect that diamonds were found earlier but kept secret until the British left). An even bigger accomplishment has been the development of a society in which the mostly black population and the tiny white minority (less than 5%) live and work together without the overt discrimination or more subtle tensions found in societies such as the USA. David Newman, Botswana’s ambassador to the U.S., attributes his nation’s racial harmony to the core values of the majority Tswana tribe, which preaches “respect for all humanity.” The concept, known as botho in the Setswana national language, means that everyone is connected to the larger community as if it were an extended family. “In South Africa, there are still divisions from apartheid, and we are reminded of racial differences in the United States,” Newman said in an interview. “In Botswana, you become color blind.” Newman, a white British native married to a black Botswanan, said the country’s constitution specifically bars racial discrimination. He also attributes racial harmony to kgotla, the Tswana tradition of holding local courtyard assemblies so all community members can have a say in an open forum for free expression. Mimmy Polan, registry officer at the Botswana Embassy in Washington, said she and her white American husband have experienced discrimination against biracial couples like themselves in Boston, where they lived for years. “You try to suppress it, but it’s there,” she said. They also encountered bias in South Africa but never in Botswana, Polan said. Masego Nkgomotsang, the embassy’s first secretary for economic affairs, said that growing up in Botswana, “we know racism exists, but we don’t really know a lot about it. We don’t understand it because we haven’t had to think about it.” Nkgomotsang said that when he lived in Washington, a friend asked how it felt to be the only black person living in their neighborhood. He said he had not noticed that. His friend, he said, was amazed at “how can I live here and not realize it. I just didn’t have that consciousness.”

a9b166607e0d5a36a536df9a89c0a1ba

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/04/paris-apartment-fire-kills-injures/2775205002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomworld-topstories

Paris apartment fire in high-end area kills 10; arson suspected

Paris apartment fire in high-end area kills 10; arson suspected Paris’ deadliest fire in over a decade claimed 10 lives Tuesday, sending fleeing residents to the roof as flames engulfed their apartment building before dawn. A 40-year-old female resident of the building, said to have a history of psychiatric problems, was arrested as police opened an investigation into voluntary arson resulting in death. French officials said she was drunk when she was apprehended on the street near the eight-story building in the quiet neighborhood. It is the deadliest fire in Paris since the April 2005 hotel fire near the capital’s famed Opera that killed 24 people. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner was on the scene Tuesday morning, as plumes of smoke speckled the sky. “I want to salute the huge mobilization of the Paris firefighters,” he said. “More than 250 people arrived immediately and, throughout the night, saved over 50 people in truly exceptional conditions.” Firefighters rescued some people from the roof as well as others who had clambered out of windows to escape the flames. Castaner said the blaze that started on the second floor had been extinguished, and that more than 30 people were being treated for “relatively” light injuries. “I heard a woman screaming in the street, crying and screaming for help,” said witness Jacqueline Ravier, who lives across the street. She saw a young man blackened by smoke and a woman motionless on the ground. She said flames were shooting out for hours from the top of the building and smoke-covered victims were fleeing. She said shaken residents were brought to her building and the one next door while firefighters continued to fight the flames. City fire service spokesman Clement Cognon told The Associated Press that firefighters went door-to-door to ensure there are no more victims and to prevent residual fires. “The situation was already dramatic when the firefighters arrived,” Cognon said. Emergency workers are also seeking to shore up the building that was badly damaged after flames shot out of windows stretching across the upper floors, in images of the operation released by the fire service. Castaner told reporters at the scene that authorities suspect the blaze was criminal in nature and that the detained female resident had “a history of psychiatric problems.” A judicial official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation was ongoing, told AP that the suspect was drunk at the moment of her pre-dawn arrest. She is currently in police custody. Among the injured were at least eight firefighters, according to the Paris firefighters. The building is on rue Erlanger in the 16th arrondissement, one of the calmest and priciest districts of Paris. It is close to the popular Bois de Boulogne park and about a kilometer (less than a mile) from the Roland Garros stadium that hosts the French Open tennis tournament and near the Parc des Princes stadium that’s home to Paris Saint-Germain, the country’s top soccer team. Paris police said the street was blocked off and neighboring buildings were also evacuated as the firefighters worked to put out the blaze. French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter to express that “France wakes up with emotion after the fire in rue Erlanger in Paris last night.” The fire comes a month after a deadly explosion and blaze linked to a gas leak in a Paris bakery. In September 2015, there was a fire in a northern Parisian neighborhood that left eight dead.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/12/insect-species-threatened-extinction-more-than-40-study-says/2836115002/

More than 40 percent of insect species declining, could have 'catastrophic' results, study says

More than 40 percent of insect species declining, could have 'catastrophic' results, study says More than 40 percent of the world's insect species could go extinct over the next several decades leading to "catastrophic" results for the planet's various ecosystems, a new study says. The study published in the April edition of the peer-reviewed journal Biological Conservation said dung beetles, butterflies, moths, bees and wasps are among those species that appear to be the most affected. The study cites habitat loss due to "intensive agriculture and urbanization," pollution and climate change as key reasons for the rapid declines. "The repercussions this will have for the planet's ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least, as insects are at the structural and functional base of many of the world's ecosystems," reads an excerpt from the study conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland and the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The study is based on a review of 73 comprehensive reports from around the world detailing insect declines. The study said more than 60 percent of dung beetles in Mediterranean countries are in decline, while one in six species of bees have gone regionally extinct. Researchers note most studies on extinction among species tend to focus on birds or mammals, but insects were underrepresented despite their "paramount importance" in keeping ecosystems functioning. The study advises several changes to slow or halt the decline, including a serious reduction in the use of pesticides. Insects play a critical role in ecosystems, said Tim Kring, chair of the entomology department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. "They are important as food for other organisms that allow those to reproduce, so that other species depend on, Kring said. "Most plants depend on insects in many ways for their own reproduction." Insects could also prove helpful to humans, too. As an example, Kring said many sources of drugs could come from an insect, plant, or other biological organism. "When we lose species, that reduces our ability to discover new things unrelated to the species themselves possibly," he said. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

a8fb82a957d054c4c2a56cfff6ed27ea

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/14/pompeo-pence-kushner-in-poland-for-middle-east-summit/2867885002/

Pence: Europe must withdraw from Iran nuclear deal

Pence: Europe must withdraw from Iran nuclear deal WARSAW, Poland – Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the White House's aggressive anti-Iran message to a U.S.-sponsored meeting in Poland on peace and security in the Middle East that concluded Thursday. Pence used his address to the conference in Poland's capital of Warsaw to demand that European countries withdraw from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that President Donald Trump's administration has already abandoned. He urged U.S. allies to back Washington's sanctions on Iran, re-imposed after Trump exited the 2015 accord last year. Long-standing U.S. allies in Europe favor staying in the deal and have sought ways to keep open trade and financial dealings with Iran. Disagreement over the issue is what partly led to Germany, France and other major U.S. allies not sending their top diplomats to the summit in Poland. "The authoritarian regime in Tehran represses the freedom of speech and assembly, persecutes religious minorities, brutalizes women, executes gays and openly advocates the destruction of the State of Israel," said Pence. "Iran endlessly spews hatred against Israel, our most cherished ally." Pompeo said that the Middle East "can’t achieve peace and security" in that region without first "confronting Iran." But precisely how far the U.S. is willing to take this confrontation or details of its strategy for keeping Iran in check remain wholly unclear. The U.S. officials spoke as foreign ministers and delegates from more than 60 countries gathered in Warsaw for the summit. However, the conference has drawn rebuke for honing in on Iran while ignoring and downplaying other regional actors. The topics under discussion included Israeli-Palestinian peace, conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and the turbulent issue of Iran. However, neither Pence nor Pompeo mentioned Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional foe, and a close U.S. ally with a poor human rights record and whose bombing campaign in Yemen has created the world's worst humanitarian disaster. Saudi Arabia has admitted killing The Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul consulate. "It's a very simple equation for me. I'm about make America great again and I'm about America first," Trump said in December in reply to repeated suggestions from media, rights watchdogs and lawmakers that he should be doing more to hold the Saudis accountable. The House easily approved a measure Wednesday that would force the Trump administration to end its military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. More:In rebuke to Trump, House approves measure to force U.S. Yemen withdrawal Pompeo insisted in Warsaw that "pushing back" against Iran was central to dealing with all the region’s problems, a characterization that will do little to overturn perceptions the Trump administration is determined to see regime-change in Tehran, although Washington has consistently denied it is actively pursuing this course. The Trump administration accuses Iran of a range of destabilizing activities ranging from support for Shia militant groups in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to the development of a ballistic missiles program. Washington does not believe that Iran has stopped enriching uranium for its nuclear weapons program despite repeated confirmation from international inspectors that it is abiding by the nuclear accord's terms. "It's not just a compliance issue," said Pence. "It's that the (Iran) deal was no good." "Iran is a country you can't rely on, do business with, can't trust," Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told USA TODAY on the sidelines of a rally in Warsaw organized by an exiled Iranian opposition group. The former New York mayor is not taking part in the summit, but his views reflect those of many in Trump's inner circle, including National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has long advocated for an aggressive Iran approach. More:Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's side project: Bashing Iran, in Poland More:Jared Kushner will try to sell Middle East peace plan to U.S. allies amid skepticism, scant details "An uncontrolled and unintended collapse of the Iranian regime will further destabilize the Middle East and further push back the hopes and aspirations of the Iranian people for democracy and freedom," Pooya Dayanim, an expert on Iran, wrote in a blog post this week for the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. "However, Iranians revolted forty years ago and didn’t get the regime they were hoping for. If the Iranian people are to suffer through more sanctions or are to risk life and limb, they need to know why they are doing so and what future awaits them," he wrote, referring to persistent suggestions from Iran hawks in Trump's inner circle that Iran's government is one major protest away from collapsing. On Monday, Iran marked 40 years of its Islamic Republic. Tehran has denounced the conference as an American anti-Iran "circus." Russia and China are not attending and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, is also skipping the event. Several high-profile Arab dignitaries are in Poland for the event, but Palestinians – not present – have called for it to be boycotted. Pompeo's comments echoed saber-rattling remarks by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who drew scrutiny on Wednesday when he made clear the conference is centered on Iran despite the far broader published agenda. "It is a conference that unites the United States, Israel, many countries in the world, many countries in the region, Arab countries, against Iran’s aggressive policy, its aggression, its desire to conquer the Middle East and destroy Israel," he told reporters. In an interview with reporters on a Warsaw street, Netanyahu also appeared to say "war" with Iran was a common goal of the summit's participants. Netanyahu used the Hebrew word "milchama," or "war," in his comments. His office later changed its translation and said he was referring to a "common interest of combatting Iran." Israel is Iran's arch-enemy and Netanyahu has long advocated for a confrontational approach to Iran. However, he has stopped short of calling for war. Senior White House aide Jared Kushner, who is also in Warsaw, said Thursday that details of the Israel-Palestinian peace plan that he has been working on for months would be released after Israel holds elections in early April. Brook Hook, U.S. Special Representative for Iran at the State Department, told reporters here that "many of the things we are asking Iran to stop doing are the same things the people of Iran want it to stop doing: investing in foreign adventurism." In his closing remarks to the media, Pompeo said that in his discussions with delegates over two days in Poland not a "single defender" of Iran emerged. "Not from Europe, not from Asia, not from the Middle East."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/24/unvaccinated-boy-measles-costa-rica-first-case-5-years/2973582002/

Unvaccinated French boy brings measles to Costa Rica for the first time in five years

Unvaccinated French boy brings measles to Costa Rica for the first time in five years An unvaccinated French boy is suspected of bringing measles back to Costa Rica, a country which had been free of the disease for five years. The 5-year-old boy arrived with his parents for vacation on Feb. 18, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health said in a statement. The child’s mother, who was also not vaccinated, consulted a private doctor about his rash and confirmed that other children in his school had contracted measles, the Costa Rica Star reported. Measles is an extremely contagious illness caused by a virus that is spread through the air. The boy was then quarantined at the hospital, the Ministry of Health said, and authorities began contacting people he may have exposed to the virus both in Costa Rica and in France. Costa Rica has not had a domestic case of measles since 2006, and the last imported case occurred in 2014. The measles two-dose vaccine is 97 percent effective against the virus, according to the CDC, but the number of children who aren’t being vaccinated by 24 months old has been gradually increasing. People choosing not to vaccinate have become a global health threat in 2019, the World Health Organization reported. CDC:More children aren't receiving vaccines from their doctors Anti-vaccination hot spot:What to know about the measles outbreak, affecting over 60 in Washington Opinion:Deadly diseases like measles are coming back from the grave, New York health commissioner says Contributing: Ashley May and Brett Molina, USA TODAY Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/28/benjamin-netanyahu-indictment-israel-ag-reveal-decision/3015131002/

Israel attorney general to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges

Israel attorney general to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges After more than two years of intense investigations, Israel's attorney general announced Thursday he intends to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges pending a final hearing. The much anticipated decision comes less than two months before April 9 general elections. “The attorney general has reached his decision after thoroughly examining the evidence,” Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said in a statement. The final decision on indictment will only take place after a hearing, where the prime minister can defend himself. That process could take many months and be completed long after the elections. If the decision is formalized it would be the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert served time in prison for corruption, but had already resigned by the time he was charged. While Israeli prime ministers are not required by law to resign if charged, the prospect of a prime minister standing trial while simultaneously running the country would be unchartered territory. Netanyahu rushed back Wednesday from a diplomatic mission to Moscow, and a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, to prepare for his expected rebuttal to the charges on Thursday. Mendelblit dismissed a request by Netanyahu’s attorneys to delay announcing the decision until after the election, citing “the principle of equality before the law and the public’s right to know about such important decisions,” according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Netanyahu responded by accusing Mendelblit of "surrendering" to the left and the media. The charges swirl around three separate cases: •The first involves allegations that Netanyahu provided regulatory concessions to Shaul Elovitch, controlling shareholder of Israel’s telecom giant Bezeq, in exchange for favorable coverage from the group's news website. •The second involves allegations of fraud and breach of trust for allegedly agreeing to trade favorable coverage from Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Amon MJozaes for backing legislation to hurt the rival newspaper Israel Hayhom, which is owned by American gambling mogul Sheldon Adelson. •The third case involves allegations that Netanyahu accepted gifts, including expensive cigars, jewelry and champagne worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, from wealthy business figures, including Hollywood mogul Amon Milchan, in return for political favors. Police had already recommended indicting Netanyahu in the three cases. Police say they believe there is sufficient evidence to charge Netanyahu and his wife Sara with accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust. They also recommended charges be brought against Elovitch, members of his family and members of his Bezeq management team. Among the 140 witnesses, including journalists, who have given evidence in the case are five current or former government ministers. Netanyahu, whose Likud party is deadlocked in the polls with Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, has denied any wrongdoing and calls the allegations an attempt by the media to remove him from office. In proclaiming his innocence, Netanyahu has said it is acceptable to receive gifts from friends and, regarding Milchan, he said he has made some decisions against the Israeli billionaire's interest, Haaretz reports. In addition, he said there was no intention of going through with any deal with the Yedioth Ahmonoth, and argues that favorable coverage by a media outlet is not bribery. The petition by Netanyahu’s Likud party to the Supreme Court to have the attorney general's decision delayed until after the election had been rejected Thursday afternoon, clearing the way for Mandelblit's announcement. Despite opposition calls for Netanyahu to step down, Likud and other nationalist coalition partners have lined up behind him, all but ruling out sitting in a government led by his primary opponent, retired military chief Benny Gantz. Mandelblit’s decision could either galvanize Netanyahu’s hard-line supporters who see him as a victim of an overzealous prosecution or turn more moderate backers against him who have tired of his lengthy rule tainted by long-standing accusations of corruption and hedonism. Either way, the upcoming elections appear to be turning into a referendum on Netanyahu as he seeks to become the longest serving premier in Israeli history. Netanyahu have been prime minister since 2009 and served a previous term between 1996 and 1999. President Donald Trump, with whom Netanyahu has forged a close connection, offered the Israeli leader a boost ahead of the expected announcement. “I just think he’s been a great prime minister and I don’t know about his difficulty but you tell me something people have been hearing about, but I don’t know about that,” he said in response to a question in Hanoi, where he was holding a summit with the leader of North Korea. “I can say this: that he’s done a great job as prime minister. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s strong,” Trump said. Alan Dershowitz, a prominent American lawyer, has come to Netanyahu’s defense, publishing an open letter to Mandelblit in which he warns that an indictment against the prime minister ahead of elections would undermine the democratic process. “I’m very worried for freedom of the press and freedom of government in Israel if they start indicting people for trying to get good coverage from the media,” he told Israel’s Army Radio. “I don’t know of any other country that has criminalized trying to get good coverage and make that a basis of bribery or any other corruption investigation.” Contributing: Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/28/edda-pug-sold-ebay-caught-legal-battle-german-town/3016845002/

Edda the pug, sold on eBay, is caught in middle of legal battle between family, buyer and German town

Edda the pug, sold on eBay, is caught in middle of legal battle between family, buyer and German town A German town was already facing backlash for seizing a family's prize pug and selling it on eBay. Now, the pooch's buyer is threatening to sue, per local news reports, adding another ripple to the sad saga. It all started last year in Ahlen, when town officials came to seize some of the family's belongings due to unpaid taxes, including a dog tax, Deutsche Welle reported. Authorities could not find much of value, however, and decided to take a purebred pug named Edda. According to the BBC, a town employee settled on a price of €750 (roughly $854) and listed the dog on eBay's German classifieds site, eBay Kleinanzeigen. The dog was sold, but many reportedly criticized the decision to take the pet away from its owners as cruel. Ahlen’s treasurer, Dirk Schlebes, defended the move on Thursday, calling the seizure legal under foreclosure laws, according to German news agency dpa. "We got a slightly lower price and the money went into the town coffers," Schlebes told the news service. More:Not seen for 100 years, a rare Galápagos tortoise was considered all but extinct – until now More:'Crotch Sniffin' Ale'? These breweries serve beer for your dog But Michaela Jordan, a police officer who bought the dog, is now reportedly not happy with the animal's health and is considering legal action. Jordan said Edda's asking price was half of what she would have expected to pay for a purebred and told local media she wasn't sure if the listing was real at first, Deutsche Welle reported. When the officer called the number listed, she spoke with a city official who explained the situation and assured her Edda was a healthy pug, per the BBC. A week later, Jordan says she discovered the pug had eye problems that needed medical attention. Deutsche Welle reported the dog had had four operations since December, including an emergency one over Christmas. Medical bills have allegedly cost Jordan more than $2,000 and now she wants to city to pay the price plus what she spent to buy Edda in the first place, according to Deutsche Welle. Town spokesperson Frank Merschhaus told the BBC that the matter will be investigated. The Local Germany, an English language news website, reported that Edda's original owners are a family with three children who "miss Edda very much." Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/01/osama-bin-ladens-son-hamza-emerging-new-al-qaeda-leader/3025709002/

Osama bin Laden's son Hamza emerging as new al-Qaeda leader

Osama bin Laden's son Hamza emerging as new al-Qaeda leader One of the sons of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is emerging as the new leader of the militant group, according to the State Department. The United States is offering a reward for information on Hamza bin Laden, thought to be about 30 years old and based near the Afghan-Pakistan border, of $1 million. The State Department's Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program posted the reward on its website late Thursday. "He has released audio and video messages on the Internet, calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies, and he has threatened attacks against the United States in revenge for the May 2011 killing of his father by U.S. military forces," the State Department said. Hamza bin Laden is married to the daughter of Mohammed Atta, the lead hijacker and a mastermind of al-Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox Hamza's father, Osama bin Laden, was killed by U.S. Navy Seals in Pakistan in 2011. According to letters found by the Navy Seals during the raid on his hideout in Pakistan, Hamza wrote to the Saudi-born al-Qaeda leader asking to be trained to follow him. The letters indicate Osama bin Laden was grooming Hamza to replace him. Since Osama bin Laden's death, al-Qaeda has been led by Ayman al Zawahiri, a trained surgeon who was born in Egypt. It is not immediately clear why, if the State Department's assessment is accurate, he is relinquishing power to Hamza bin Laden. The United Nations Security Council added Hamza bin Laden to its sanctions list on Thursday. He is subject to an assets freeze and travel ban. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry announced on Friday that it was stripping him of his Saudi nationality. Two years ago the CIA released a massive trove of files that were found on a computer in Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Audio and video footage included with these documents appeared to indicate that Hamza bin Laden's wedding was held in Iran, according to an analysis by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. Michael Evanoff, an assistant secretary for diplomatic security at the State Department, said that while Hamza bin Laden is likely hiding near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he may try to cross into Iran or even head toward south central Asia. "He could be anywhere, though," he said in a Thursday news briefing. Osama bin Laden, the son of a Saudi construction and real estate development billionaire, is believed to have fathered at least 20 children from half a dozen wives and he himself was the 17th of 52 children. The letters uncovered in Pakistan after he was killed suggest that Hamza bin Laden may have been one of his favorites. Al-Qaeda grew out of a resistance group in Afghanistan in the 1980s that was fighting the Soviet Union, which invaded the country in 1979. Osama bin Laden joined this group and then helped develop it with money and weapons supplied by the CIA. When the Soviet Union withdrew from the country in 1989, the U.S. government referred to these guerrilla fighters – mujahideen – as "freedom fighters." However, Osama bin Laden quickly became frustrated with what he viewed as a corrupt Saudi Arabian government and Middle East that was being undermined and denigrated by the United States' presence in the region. Under his leadership, al-Qaeda expanded its focus to call for attacks on Americans, Jews and their allies. Al-Qaeda bombed U.S. troops in Aden, Yemen, in 1992, shot down U.S. helicopters and killed American soldiers in Somalia in 1993, carried out the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, killing up to 300 people and injuring more than 5,000. In 2000, it conducted a suicide attack on the USS Cole in the port of Aden, with an explosive-laden boat, killing 17 U.S. Navy sailors. The four U.S. commercial jets that al-Qaeda members deliberately crashed on 9/11 – two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon, and one into a field in Pennsylvania – took the lives of nearly 3,000 civilians, police and first responders. The dead included nationals from at least 77 countries. The Islamic State militant group in recent years has overtaken al-Qaeda in terms of international attention, foreign recruits and the number of attacks on western targets. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2018, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace think tank, of the 18,814 deaths caused by terrorists around the world last year, well over half are attributed to just four groups: ISIS (Iraq and Syria), the Taliban (Afghanistan), Al-Shabaab (East Africa) and Boko Haram (Nigeria). More:ISIS bride Hoda Muthana's family files lawsuit against Trump More:Told to leave, ISIS ‘caliphate’ holdouts in Syria stay devoted Between 2015 and 2017, according to the index, 69 percent of terror-related deaths caused by al-Qaeda occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. While historically the group has been most active in the Middle East, its focus has turned toward Africa in order to "seize on the power vacuum left by the Arab Spring (2010 democracy uprisings and anti-government protests)," according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. But al-Qaeda remains a potent force, with upward of 30,000 active fighters in at least 17 countries. Together with its affiliates, it is responsible for three of the world’s fivedeadliest terrorist attacks in recorded history: the two attacks against the World Trade Center in 2001 and an Al-Shabaab car bombing in Mogadishu in 2017. Nathan Sales, a counter-terrorism expert at the State Department, said it remains a problem for the West. "Al-Qaeda has been relatively quiet. This is a strategic pause, not a surrender," he said in the briefing alongside Evanoff on Thursday. "Al-Qaeda is not stagnant. It's rebuilding and it continues to threaten the United States and its allies ... Make no mistake, al-Qaeda retains both the capability and the intent to hit us."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/06/putin-says-russian-security-services-nabbed-600-foreign-spies-last-year/3081976002/

Russian security services nabbed 600 foreign spies last year, Putin says

Russian security services nabbed 600 foreign spies last year, Putin says Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that his security service in 2018 had uncovered almost 600 operatives and agents from foreign intelligence agencies, which he charged were stepping up their efforts to steal Russian secrets. "We see that foreign intelligence services are seeking to bolster their efforts on the Russian front, doing everything they can to obtain access to political, economic, scientific and technological information," he said, according to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS. "Just like before, and now probably even harder, (foreign intelligence services) are trying to influence events in our country." Speaking Wednesday at a board meeting for the Federal Security Service (FSB), Putin said Russia's special services had uncovered 129 officers and 465 agents of foreign intelligence agencies last year. Agents are people who are recruited to work on behalf of an intelligence agency. He did not elaborate. Without singling out any country by name, Putin said the foreign services seek to "step up" their activities toward Russia. "They have been making every possible effort to get access to political, economic, scientific and technological information," the Russian president said. He said Russia's intelligence efforts to counter it "must be efficient, conducted daily and based on modern methods of work." Last year, the security service arrested Paul Whelan, an American citizen, on charges of suspicion of espionage. The Russians claimed that he was caught accepted classified material in Moscow. Whelan, a resident of Michigan and a former Marine, was denied bail at a pretrial hearing and is being held at the notorious Lefortovo detention center in Moscow. For its part, U.S.Special Counsel Robert Mueller alone has indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers specifically on charges of hacking of Democratic party emails.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/07/s-korea-vietnam-china-leading-dog-eaters-but-attitudes-changing/2912988002/

South Koreans still eat a million dogs a year, but changing attitudes have cut demand

South Koreans still eat a million dogs a year, but changing attitudes have cut demand HONGSEONG, South Korea – Jasmine, Hector, Winnie and dozens more like them barked, whined and paced in their cages. Most were undernourished, with patchy and matted fur, and shivered in the biting cold of a February day. Some cowered in meager scraps of hay as humans approached, while others forced paws and damp snouts between rusty iron bars, eager for any sort of contact. Scenes like this can still be found at thousands of farms all over South Korea, where dogs are bred in wretched settings as both pets, and as meat, for a controversial industry that consumes up to a million dogs a year, according to Korean Animal Rights Advocates, a Seoul-based nonprofit group. More: Here's why the practice is changing:South Koreans eat more than 1 million dogs each year — but that's slowly changing. Here's why. Another organization, Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society International, or HSI, says up to 2.5 million dogs in South Korea are bred for consumption each year. But this farm in Hongseong, about 90 miles south of South Korea's capital, is closing, unable to stay afloat amid a decline in consumer demand for a traditional practice – eating dogs – that is being driven by changing attitudes about dogs, and dog meat, among younger Koreans and strong international condemnation by foreigners who view this East Asian country's dog-meat trade not as local delicacy, but as taboo. "Business has been very bad," said Lee Sang-gu, 60, the farm's owner. He has bred dogs here for eight years and has been looking to get out of the business for some time. His opportunity finally came when a team from HSI, which works on animal-protection issues around the world, arrived in mid-February to begin a rescue operation that transported 200 dogs to shelters in the U.S. and Canada for adoption. Lee is planning to work as a security guard after he takes computer-literacy courses, a career transition that is being partly funded by HSI. In exchange for closing the farm, the organization will financially support Lee as he retrains. "The younger generation doesn’t eat dog meat at all and restaurants are closing. There are very few chances for me to sell and prices are dropping," Lee said, adding that his wife and two daughters were ashamed of the farm and never visited. Lee's is the 14th dog farm shutdown that HSI has helped bring about in South Korea over the past four years. About 1,600 dogs have been saved in the process. But between 15,000 to 17,000 dog-meat farms still exist in South Korea. Among the dogs being rescued from Lee’s farm were not only those traditionally used for meat, such as Tosas and Jindos, but small breeds such as Boston terriers, poodles, dachshunds and Maltese dogs meant for sale to pet stores. HSI rescuers gave a family of Border collie pups the names Colton, Kristen, Morgan, Chad, Jasmine and Scott. There was Hector, a white Pomeranian; Winnie, a Corgi; a poodle called Nora; and Acorn-Eloise, a Chihuahua who was later adopted by an HSI employee based in Frederick, Maryland, named Cary Smith. "There was just something about her tiny face that captured my heart," Smith said. "This adorable puppy will help shine light on this horrible practice." Restricting the trade The South Korean government officially classes dog meat as "detestable," a description that also applies to snake, but the industry remains in a legal limbo area as farms, butchers and restaurants cater to a demand that, while shrinking, still firmly exists. There is no specific ban on the dog-meat industry, but it operates in an unregulated space. Dog meat is primarily eaten during the hottest days of the summer in a stew called Bosintang, which is believed by some to boost vitality to help cope with the heat. Smaller dogs are sometimes sold to traders to be boiled for Gaesoju, an herbal drink. It is also found in several countries around Asia such as Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam. HSI estimates up to 30 million dogs are consumed in the region every year, with China and Vietnam the largest consumers. In these countries, however, the dog-meat trade is filled almost entirely through stray and stolen dogs. South Korea is the only country that extensively farms the dogs. Koreans have been eating dogs for more than a thousand years, since dogs were more available than cattle, which were valued for labor. Even in the United States, the dog-meat trade until recently occupied a gray area. The "Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act" was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December last year, making it a federal offense to slaughter, trade and import/export dogs and cats for human consumption. While the practice was uncommon in the U.S., it was previously legal in 44 states. Native American tribes that slaughter or trade dogs or cats for religious ceremonies are exempted from the law, however. Amy Bentley, a professor of food studies at New York University, said the close relationship Westerners have with dogs and cats makes the thought of eating them utterly shocking to most. "If we let dogs sleep in our beds and dress them up in Halloween costumes, it becomes more difficult to imagine them as food to ingest," she said. Authorities in South Korea have been taking steps to restrict the trade. Last April, a court in the city of Bucheon ruled that the killing of dogs for meat is illegal, a decision that could pave the way for a total ban nationally. And in November, officials dismantled the country’s largest slaughterhouse at the Taepyeong-dong complex in Seongnam, south of Seoul, a gesture many animal-rights activists hailed as a landmark move. More:Inside the grim scene of a Korean dog meat farm, just miles from the Winter Olympics Last month, Park Won-soon, Seoul's mayor, announced the city would close all of its dog butcheries, vowing to "put pressure" on any remaining dog meat shops in the city. A recent visit by USA TODAY to Seoul’s Gyeongdong Market, one of the country’s largest herbal medicine markets and once the main location of dog meat butchers in the city, found only a few places to purchase dog meat. "There used to be many places selling dog meat here," said Kim Dae-won, 72. He was buying vegetables in the market. "They’re almost all gone." Meanwhile, there has also been public outcry against the cruel methods traditionally used to slaughter dogs, including electrocution and hanging. Indeed, a survey conducted last year by Gallup Korea, the consultancy, found that 70 percent of South Koreans said they would not eat dog meat in the future. Among young South Koreans, a rise in pet ownership and changing attitudes about animal welfare have had a major impact on the trade. About one in four Koreans now own a pet, according to a 2018 survey by KB Financial Group, a South Korean bank. In 2017, South Korean President Moon Jae-in famously adopted Tory, a mixed-breed pup rescued from a dog meat farm. "Nobody my age says 'let’s go eat dog meat,'" said Kang Na-kyung, a 21-year-old student in Seoul. "We see cats and dogs as pets." Kelly O’Meara, a vice president at HSI, the animal-welfare watchdog, said that "societal opinion is now against the (dog meat) trade. It’s no longer acceptable." Yet while the industry is in decline, public opinion in South Korea remains mixed on an outright ban. In fact, a poll conducted by research firm Realmeter in November last year found that 44 percent of respondents supported a ban on dog meat, while just under 44 percent opposed it. Twelve percent were undecided. Bills that would severely curtail the dog-meat industry have been introduced in South Korea’s National Assembly, its domestic legislature, but they have met strong resistance from the from the dog-meat industry, whose advocates have long argued that dogs are no different from pigs, chickens and other animals raised for food. Nami Kim, founder of Gimpo, Korea-based rescue group Save Korean Dogs, noted that while smaller dog farms in South Korea may be closing, large factory-style operations are still thriving, a reflection of continuing demand for dog meat from older people. Back on the farm, Lee said that he wasn’t sure what the future would hold for him, but felt certain about what was in store for the dog-meat industry. "I think this will all be gone soon," he said, watching as the rescuers began loading dog carriers with Jasmine, Hector, Winnie and the others onto a truck headed for the airport.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/08/chelsea-manning-jailed-refusing-testify-jury-wikileaks/3103289002/

Chelsea Manning jailed for contempt after refusing to testify in WikiLeaks grand jury investigation

Chelsea Manning jailed for contempt after refusing to testify in WikiLeaks grand jury investigation WASHINGTON – Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who spent four years in prison for providing information to WikiLeaks, was jailed Friday after she refused to testify before a grand jury investigating the anti-secrecy group. U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton ordered Manning into custody following a brief hearing that was partially closed to the public. Manning had warned that she objected to the grand jury's inquiry and said she would refuse to cooperate. "In solidarity with many activists facing the odds, I will stand by my principles," Manning said in a statement before Friday's hearing. "I will exhaust every legal remedy available." Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for her role in leaking a cache of classified government material to WikiLeaks. Her case attracted heightened attention because of her status as a transgender soldier; at the time she was known as Bradley Manning. President Barack Obama commuted her sentence in 2017. Chelsea Manning:Manning to be barred from Australia, event organizer says More:Chelsea Manning talks prison, living as trans and dating in 'Vogue' More:Harvard withdraws invitation to Chelsea Manning to be a visiting fellow amid backlash In refusing to testify this week, Manning claimed that she had already provided the government "extensive testimony" during her 2013 prosecution. Manning's attorney, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, declined to comment Friday on the information the government is seeking. But last year, federal prosecutors in the same Virginia district inadvertently disclosed in court documents that criminal charges had been filed under seal against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Assange, fearing arrest, has been living in exile in London's Ecuadoran embassy since 2012. On Friday, Manning's lawyers asked that she be confined at home to accommodate her medical needs and ensure her safety, but Hilton rejected that request. Manning was sent to a jail in Alexandria, Virginia. Meltzer-Cohen said Manning could be held for up 18 months, which represents the typical length of a grand jury term. "We were every concerned and remain concerned that a jail or prison is not equipped to handle" Manning's needs, Meltzer-Cohen said. "I think we all know that a lot of things could go wrong." Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne said Manning’s arrival and booking process were "routine.” "Specific details about Ms. Manning’s confinement will not be made public due to security and privacy concerns," Lawhorne said. "We will work closely with the U.S. Marshals to ensure her proper care while she remains at our facility.”

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/14/new-zealand-mosque-shootings-gunman-livestreamed-attack-facebook/3171238002/

Social media scrambles to remove videos of New Zealand Christchurch mosque shooting

Social media scrambles to remove videos of New Zealand Christchurch mosque shooting Facebook said it quickly removed videos of a gunman opening fire inside a New Zealand mosque on Friday who appeared to have live-streamed his attack in a 17-minute video that looked to be recorded on a helmet camera. The Facebook video began with the man driving up to Masjid Al Noor mosque in the city of Christchurch. After parking his car, the man armed himself with at least one weapon and walked into the place of worship, immediately shooting a person in the doorway. In a statement posted to Twitter, Facebook said police alerted them to the video shortly after the livestream commenced and removed both the video and the gunman's Facebook and Instagram accounts. "We're also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware," Facebook said. The social network said they will continue working with police in New Zealand as their investigation is underway. Google-owned YouTube said in a statement on Twitter that it is "working vigilantly" to remove any violent footage. "Our hearts are broken over today’s terrible tragedy in New Zealand," said YouTube in its statement. In statements to the Washington Post, Twitter and Reddit said they were working to remove any videos from their platforms. In a more than 70-page manifesto posted to various sites, including Twitter and Scribd, that appeared to belong to the gunman, he identified himself as a 28-year-old white male born in Australia and listed white nationalist heroes. In Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Friday that an Australian citizen had been arrested in the mosque shootings. More:'I saw dead people everywhere': Multiple fatalities in two mosque shootings in New Zealand, police say The names of mass killers were written in white on his weapons, multiple media outlets reported. The New Zealand Herald, which watched the live-stream video, reported that the gunman "began shooting indiscriminately" upon entering the mosque. He shot a second victim who was crawling in the main hallway, then blocked the hallway and began shooting at people who were cowering in corners of a room. He stopped to reload several times, the Herald reported, and then resumed firing repeatedly. After three minutes inside, the gunman exited through the mosque's front door. Video showed him shooting randomly at cars. He got more ammunition out of his car trunk, the Herald reported, then shot at no apparent target on the street. "Looks like we won't get the bird today, boys," he said in the video. At another point, he said, “There wasn’t even time to aim, there was so many targets,” the New York Times reported. He then re-entered the mosque, firing at people lying motionless on the ground. The video ended with him driving away from the scene, the Herald reported.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/16/milo-yiannopoulos-australia-bans-tour-wake-new-zealand-massacre/3184724002/

Australia bans tour by alt-right star Milo Yiannopoulos over New Zealand massacre remarks

Australia bans tour by alt-right star Milo Yiannopoulos over New Zealand massacre remarks Australia — home of the suspected gunman in the killing of at least 50 people at a New Zealand mosque — has banned alt-right firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos from touring the country over his social media response to the massacre. Yiannopoulos, a fierce critic of Islam who was set to visit Australia this year, had said on Facebook that attacks like Christchurch happen because “the establishment panders to and mollycoddles extremist leftism and barbaric, alien religious cultures.” Australian Immigration Minister David Coleman said in a statement that Yiannopoulos’ social media comments are “appalling and foment hatred and division.” Coleman didn’t specify which comments by Yiannopoulos he was referring to. Ironically, Coleman's condemnation comes only a week after he had approved a visa for the controversial British commentator and alt-right star against the advice of the Home Affairs department, which warned that Yiannopoulos may fail the character test to enter the country. It was to be the first tour of Australia for the former Breitbart senior editor since 2017, when clashes between Milo supporters and opponents in Melbourne deteriorated into shoving matches that prompted seven arrests. The flamboyant commentator, who regularly lashes out against feminism, social justice and political correctness, quickly took to social media with a response: "I'm banned from Australia, again, after a statement in which I said I abhor political violence," Yiannopoulos said on social media after the announcement. The right-wing commentator had already stirred up controversy among Australian lawmakers in advance of the planned 2019 visit in a political debate over whether he should be allowed in. On Twitter, Labor MP Tony Burke praised the decision to ban Yiannopoulos. "Milo banned. Good. His overnight comments weren't that different from how he has always behaved," he said. "There was already enough evidence to ban him which is why the department had already recommended he be banned. The Australian tours for the world's hate speakers must stop," he added. Yiannopoulos resigned as a senior editor from Bretbart in 2017 following remarks he made about pedophilia by Roman Catholic priests and his endorsement of sexual relations with boys as young as 13.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/17/sen-fraser-anning-australian-premier-sides-egg-boy/3193563002/

Australian premier sides with teen who cracked egg on senator who blamed Muslims for New Zealand attack

Australian premier sides with teen who cracked egg on senator who blamed Muslims for New Zealand attack CANBERRA, Australia – Australia’s prime minister on Sunday suggested an anti-Muslim senator should be charged after he slapped a teen who cracked a raw egg over the legislator’s head. Sen. Fraser Anning has been widely condemned for blaming Muslim immigration for racist attacks on two New Zealand mosques that claimed at least 50 lives. Will Connolly, the 17-year-old boy who egged Anning, has become an online hero for the incident, which was captured on video. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday took Connolly’s side, telling reporters: “The full force of the law should be applied to Sen. Anning.” Police allege Connolly, who calls himself “Egg Boy” online, assaulted the senator with the egg. Anning “retaliated and struck the teen twice” before Connolly was dragged to the ground by Anning supporters, a police statement said. “The incident is being actively investigated by Victoria Police in its entirety,” the statement said, including Anning’s actions. More:Teen smashes egg on Australian senator who blamed immigrants for New Zealand mosque attacks More:New Zealand PM vows tighter gun laws after death toll in Christchurch terror attack rises to 50 Anning came under blistering criticism over tweets on Friday, including one that said, “Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?” “The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place,” he said in a later statement. Anning has now been assigned a federal police security detail, a precaution usually reserved for the prime minister. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the first time on Sunday joined the public condemnation of Anning. Asked by a journalist what she thought of Anning’s comments, she replied simply: “They’re a disgrace.” A GoFundMe page set up to raise 2,000 Australia dollars ($1,400) to pay for Connolly’s “legal fees” and “more eggs” had exceeded AU$25,000 on Sunday. The site says most of the money will go to Christchurch victims. “Love the spunk of egg boy who puts his egg where we’d like it to be!” donor Val Lehmann-Monck posted. “This kid is awesome. The senator will not get re-elected due to the publicity and those comments and his reaction,” donor Nikhil Reddy wrote. After the egging, Anning supporters pinned Connolly to the ground until journalists appealed for him to be allowed back on his feet, The Sun-Herald newspaper reported. Far-right activist Neil Erikson, who was involved in tackling Connolly, shouted for reporters to be removed from the area. “Get the journalists out of here … If you don’t like, get out,” Erikson was quoted as saying. Police say they arrested Connolly, took his details and then released him without charge. Connolly urged his online followers not to follow his example. “Don’t egg politicians. You get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time,” he said in a video, using Australian slang for a poor, ignorant white person. “I learnt the hard way,” he added.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/18/new-zealand-ardern-stop-accused-gunman-quest-fame/3209314002/

'You won't hear me speak his name': Ardern urges public to deny accused gunman's quest for fame

'You won't hear me speak his name': Ardern urges public to deny accused gunman's quest for fame CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — New Zealand’s prime minister declared Tuesday she would do everything in her power to deny the accused mosque gunman a platform for elevating his white supremacist views after the man dismissed his lawyer and opted to represent himself at his trial in the killings of 50 people. “I agree that it is absolutely something that we need to acknowledge, and do what we can to prevent the notoriety that this individual seeks,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters. “He obviously had a range of reasons for committing this atrocious terrorist attack. Lifting his profile was one of them. And that’s something that we can absolutely deny him.” She demurred about whether she wanted the trial to occur behind closed doors, saying that was not her decision to make. “One thing I can assure you — you won’t hear me speak his name,” she said. Later, in a passionate speech to Parliament, Ardern urged the public to follow her lead and to avoid giving the gunman the fame he so obviously craves. “I implore you: Speak the names of those who were lost, rather than the name of the man who took them,” she said. “He may have sought notoriety, but we in New Zealand will give him nothing, not even his name.” The shooter’s desire for attention was made clear in a manifesto sent to Ardern’s office and others before Friday’s massacre and by his livestreamed footage of his attack on the Al Noor mosque. The video prompted widespread revulsion and condemnation. Facebook said it removed 1.5 million versions of the video during the first 24 hours, but Ardern expressed frustration that the footage remained online, four days after the attack. “We have been in contact with Facebook; they have given us updates on their efforts to have it removed, but as I say, it’s our view that it cannot — should not — be distributed, available, able to be viewed,” she told reporters. “It is horrendous and while they’ve given us those assurances, ultimately the responsibility does sit with them.” The original video was viewed fewer than 200 times during the live stream, Facebook said Monday night, and about 4,000 total times before the social network removed it. The first user report on the video came in 29 minutes after the broadcast had started and 12 minutes after the live-stream ended. Arden said she had received “some communication” from Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg on the issue. The prime minister has also spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the importance of a global effort to clamp down on the distribution of such material. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also urged world leaders to crack down on social media companies that broadcast terrorist attacks. Morrison said he had written to G-20 chairman Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling for agreement on “clear consequences” for companies whose platforms are used to facilitate and normalize horrific acts. More:Christchurch gun shop sold rifles online to accused shooter More:Family escapes Syrian war only to be gunned down in New Zealand mosque shooting Meanwhile, Christchurch was beginning to return to a semblance of normalcy Tuesday. Streets near the hospital that had been closed for four days reopened to traffic as relatives and friends of the victims continued to stream in from around the world. Thirty people were still being treated at the Christchurch hospital, nine of them in critical condition, said David Meates, CEO of the Canterbury District Health Board. A 4-year-old girl was transferred to a hospital in Auckland and is in critical condition. Her father is at the same hospital in stable condition. Relatives of the dead are still anxiously awaiting word on when they can bury their loved ones. Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible. Ardern has said authorities hope to release all the bodies by Wednesday and police said authorities are working with pathologists and coroners to complete the task as soon as they can. The close-knit community has been deeply wounded by the attacks. On Monday evening, more than 1,000 students from rival Christchurch schools and different religions gathered in a park across from the Al Noor mosque, joining voices in a passionate display of unity. The students sat on the grass in the fading daylight, lifting flickering candles to the sky as they sang a traditional Maori song. Hundreds then stood to perform an emotional, defiant haka, the famed ceremonial dance of the indigenous Maori people. For many, joining the vigil for the victims of the mass shooting was a much-needed opportunity to soothe their minds after a wrenching few days. “I feel like it’s just really important to show everyone that one act of violence doesn’t define a whole city,” said Sarah Liddell, 17. “This is one of the best ways to show everyone coming together. Some schools have little funny rivalries, but in times like this we all just come together and that’s all forgotten.”

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/19/meteor-exploded-over-bering-sea-biggest-blast-since-2013-says-nasa/3211856002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-techtopstories

Scientists explain why we're just now learning about a giant meteor that exploded over Earth last year

Scientists explain why we're just now learning about a giant meteor that exploded over Earth last year A huge meteor exploded over the Bering Sea in December in the largest recorded event since a 2013 incident in Russia. The explosion was recorded by government sensors on Dec. 18, according to a NASA tracker for fireballs. Fireballs are described by NASA as "exceptionally bright meteors that are spectacular enough to to be seen over a very wide area." The blast generated energy roughly equivalent to 173 kilotons of TNT, the agency said. According to MIT Technology Review, that's about 10 times the energy generated by the atomic bomb used in Hiroshima in 1945. "An event like this might occur two to three times a century," Lindley Johnson, a planetary defense officer at NASA, told USA TODAY. Johnson said this is the second-largest event they've seen in the last 30 years. Based on the amount of energy released, the meteor is estimated to be between 10 to 14 meters in size, said Kelly Fast, the program manager for Near-Earth Object Observations at NASA. The last meteor of this magnitude to explode on Earth was in 2013, when a 20-meter meteor exploded in Russia's Chelyabinsk region, captured on video by security and dashboard cameras. Johnson said that meteor generated energy equal to 440 kilotons of TNT. At the time of the 2013 meteor, NASA said it was the largest in more than 100 years, exploding with the force of 20 atomic bombs. Johnson said NASA has an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to share data when natural events like the meteor explosion take place, which can sometimes take days or weeks to process. Fast said more information on the meteor in December hasn't come out until now because the location of the explosion was in a remote location in the middle of the ocean. "In the case of 2013, it happened over a populated area, lots of people could see it," she said. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/19/new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-wins-praise-handling-mosque-shootings-prime-minister/3209576002/

Jacinda Ardern leads New Zealand in aftermath of killings police say could have been worse

Jacinda Ardern leads New Zealand in aftermath of killings police say could have been worse She has vowed to cover the funeral costs. She has offered financial assistance to grief-stricken families. She has pledged swift action on gun control but also delicately consoled and embraced and mourned in a Muslim-style headscarf, known as a hijab. Less than a week after 50 people were killed and dozens wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has won praise at home and abroad for her efforts to honor the dead and stand up to right-wing extremism. "You may have chosen us," Ardern said, the anger rising in her voice as she condemned the suspect in the attacks. "But we utterly reject and condemn you." On Wednesday, police said the suspect likely was on his way to a third destination for more killings. New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush would not identify the possible third target, or indicate whether it was a mosque, but said police had gone to the location to check for explosive devices. Since the March 15 attacks, Prime Minister Ardern has led a nation trying to grieve and work through the news of the 50 killings, a total that rivals the annual number of murders in the nation. On Tuesday, Ardern told New Zealand's Parliament that she would deny the man responsible for the nation's worst terror attack in modern history the one thing he likely craved: fame. "He is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist, but he will, when I speak, be nameless, and to others I implore you: Speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the man who took them. He may have sought notoriety but we in New Zealand will give him nothing – not even his name." Ardern opened her speech to lawmakers in New Zealand by using the Arabic greeting "As-salamu alaykum." In English, this translates as "Peace be upon you." More:No one reported New Zealand mosque shooting livestream as it happened, Facebook says Her unflinching response to the shootings has not gone unnoticed. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a professor of politics in the United Arab Emirates, described Ardern's reaction to the assault as "stoic and firm." Sadiq Khan, London's first Muslim mayor, referred to her commitment to "inclusivity and equality." The Crisis Magazine, the official publication of the NAACP, the Baltimore-based civil-rights organization, tweeted a picture of Ardern with the caption, "Dignity. Grace. Courage." After a conversation with President Donald Trump, Ardern was asked in a press conference what Trump could do to help the situation given that, unlike her, he did not view right-wing terrorism as a growing problem. Express "sympathy and love for all Muslim communities," she replied. "The prime minister, when she came wearing her scarf, that was big for us," Dalia Mohamed, who was mourning Hussein Mustafa, her daughter's father-in-law, killed alongside more than 40 people at Christchurch's central Al Noor mosque, told media in New Zealand. Ardern met with families at the mosque over the weekend. The first funerals were held Wednesday for Khaled Mustafa, 44, and his son, 15-year-old Hamza. The youngest known victim of the attack was three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim. More:New Zealand mosque shootings: Some rights leaders say US is exporting extremism New Zealand's leader has since announced that the nation's gun laws will be reformed. About 1.5 million firearms are owned – legally and illegally – by civilians in New Zealand, according to police data tracked by GunPolicy.org, a website run in conjunction with the University of Sydney. This equates to about 30 firearms per 100 people. In the United States, the rate is approximately 120 firearms per 100 people, according to the site. All gun owners in New Zealand must have a license, which they can get from age 16 (age 18 for semiautomatic weapons) but the weapon itself does not need to be registered with authorities, according to the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners, a New Zealand lobby group. Ardern said the suspect in Friday's attacks had a license and owned five guns. The majority of firearms owners in New Zealand are farmers or hunters. According to GunPolicy.org, New Zealand is among a handful of countries where police officers are routinely unarmed when they are on patrol. Officers in Britain, Ireland, Norway and Iceland also carry firearms only in special circumstances. Australia and Britain both changed their gun laws in response to mass shootings. The Australian government overhauled its guns laws in 1996 after 35 people were murdered during a shooting spree in Tasmania. Australia banned all semiautomatic weapons and restricted certain handguns. It offered to buy back prohibited firearms. A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Australia hadn't had a fatal mass shooting – one in which five or more people are killed – since the 1996 shooting. In the 18 years prior to the new laws, there were 13. The turning point for Britain came in 1996 when a man used a legally owned handgun to kill 16 young children and a teacher at a school in Dunblane, Scotland. In the aftermath, all private ownership of handguns was banned. Since then, there has been one mass shooting, in 2010, in Britain. Ardern is expected to provide details about New Zealand's reforms in the coming days. This is not the first time that she has been widely feted. When Ardern took office in 2017 as an unmarried 37-year-old, she was not only the country's third female prime minister and the world's youngest world leader, she was also about to give birth. She became just the second woman in history to give birth while an elected head of state and the first elected leader ever to take maternity leave. Ardern made history in 2018 when she brought her 3-month-old daughter to a United Nations General Assembly meeting, the first time it had been done. "It was a no-brainer to say, 'Right, I’ll take care of her, you take care of the country,'" Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford, a television host, told The New Yorker magazine as the pair traveled to New York for the U.N. meeting with their daughter Neve. "I don't want to ever give the impression that I'm some kind of wonder woman," Ardern said around that time as interest in her intensified, adding: "Or that women should be expected to do everything because I am. I'm not doing everything." Still, such is Ardern's popularity that the term "Jacindamania" was coined to describe her rising stature as a young female politician who, along with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and France's leader Emmanuel Macron, has been hailed as the anti-Trump for her progressive policies on immigration, education and other social issues. Ardern appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine in September, and the glossy fashion magazine described her as a "thoroughly modern" feminist hero. When she was named by Time magazine in 2018 as one of the world's 100 most influential people, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, described Ardern as a "political prodigy" who was "changing the game" for women around the globe. On Tuesday, it was Ardern who had something to say about Facebook. The suspect in the mosque attacks sent a white supremacist manifesto to Ardern’s office just before Friday’s massacre. He also livestreamed the attack on Facebook. The social media platform said it removed 1.5 million versions of the video during the first 24 hours. Arden said she had received "some communication" from Sandberg on the issue, but she expressed frustration that four days later, the footage remained online. "We have been in contact with Facebook; they have given us updates on their efforts to have it removed, but as I say, it's our view that it cannot – should not – be distributed, available, able to be viewed," she said. "It is horrendous and while they’ve given us those assurances, ultimately the responsibility does sit with them."

4e0ddb3bb32f9d016388728cc0306446

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/20/cannabis-and-pyschotic-disorders-strong-marijuana-linked-psychosis/3221102002/

Smoking strong pot daily raises risk of psychosis, study finds

Smoking strong pot daily raises risk of psychosis, study finds Chances of developing psychosis are enhanced five times by smoking high-potency marijuana daily, a new study suggests. The study from King's College London studied 901 people who had been diagnosed as having a first episode of psychosis at sites across Europe and Brazil between 2010 and 2015. When marijuana use was compared with a group of 1,200 patients deemed healthy, it was found that daily marijuana use was heavier among those who were encountering the psychiatric disorder. "Differences in frequency of daily cannabis use and in use of high-potency cannabis contributed to the striking variation in the incidence of pscyhotic disorder across the 11 studies sites," the researchers state in their report. The report from the United Kingdom comes as more U.S. states legalize marijuana. NORML, the marijuana decriminalization advocacy group, lists 10 states and the District of Columbia as having legalized pot use. Marijuana overall has become more potent, experts warn. Marijuana plants sold in the 1990s typically contained about 3 percent THC, the ingredient that leads to euphoric high that pot users hope to achieve in smoking or ingesting it, said Ziva Cooper, research director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative earlier this month. These days, THC concentrations can be as high as 25 percent in weed sold at medical marijuana dispensaries. The King's College study, published online in the journal Lancet, estimated that those who smoked pot on a daily basis were three times more likely than those who never used it to receive a psychosis diagnosis. Those smoking high-potency marijuana were five times more likely. Contributing: Associated Press

8ea74431eb0a0077364586f3203b64dc

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/21/new-zealand-guns-ban-prime-minister/3231471002/

Hells Angels, street gangs vow to defend mosques as New Zealand braces for Friday prayers

Hells Angels, street gangs vow to defend mosques as New Zealand braces for Friday prayers Street gangs and motorcycle clubs across New Zealand offered to protect the nation's mosques during Friday prayers, but at least one Muslim leader suggests the groups come inside and pray instead. A gunman's rampage at two Kiwi mosques during Jummah – or Friday prayers – last week left 50 people dead and raised concerns about security for Jummah this week. Less than 2 percent of New Zealand's 5 million people are Muslim. Thousands of New Zealanders, however, are expected to join in the prayers Friday in solidarity. Leaders of the Mongrel Mob, Black Power, King Cobras – and even Hells Angels – have said they will stand sentry at many of the mosques. The Mongrel Mob has dozens of chapters across the country. In the Waikato region, local Muslim Association president Asad Mohsin told the New Zealand Herald that Waikato Mongrel Mob leader Sonny Fatu offering his organization's protection at Jamia Masjid Mosque in Hamilton during Jummah. Mohsin said members of his mosque do not fear an attack similar to the carnage in Christchurch a week ago. "There are no fears, and we are not scared," he said. "They don't have to stand outside the mosque, they can come inside, right behind where the sermon is given." The shooting rocked the nation, and dozens of wounded remain hospitalized. Funerals have been taking place all week. New Zealand's prime minister announced Thursday that she is banning all assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and military-style semi-automatic rifles. Mosin said he expects so many supporters for Friday prayers that some will need to worship in a nearby park. Fatu told Stuff he was told some mosque members remain fearful of gathering together. He pledged that his group will "peacefully" secure the mosque's perimeter so that community members feel at ease. "The question was posed whether we could be apart of the safety net for them to allow them to pray in peace without fear," Fatu said. "Of course we would do that. ... We will support and assist our Muslim brothers and sisters for however long they need us."

2480435b68c0fcc6d44bf88fb0f72294

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/23/islamic-state-syria-american-forces-baghouz/3254079002/

American-backed Syrian force declares victory over Islamic State

American-backed Syrian force declares victory over Islamic State The Islamic State group has lost its final sliver of territory in Syria, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Saturday in declaring victory over the extremists. However, the announcement came with warnings that the group remains a threat. Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the SDF, tweeted that the militant group, also known as ISIS, suffered "100 percent territorial defeat." He said that the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz, where jihadists had been mounting a last stand, "is free and the military victory against Daesh has been achieved." Daesh is ISIS' Arabic acronym. Bali said that the self-declared caliphate that ISIS established in 2014, and which once sprawled across much of Syria and neighboring Iraq while imposing a brutal rule on as many as 8 million people, had been eradicated. He said the SDF pledged to continue the fight against remnants of the extremist group until they are completely gone. Saturday's announcement is significant. It marks the end of a 4½-year military campaign by an array of forces against the extremist group, which at its height in 2014 ruled an area the size of the United Kingdom, including several major cities and towns. It follows remarks by President Donald Trump after landing in Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. "That’s what we have right now," he said while showing reporters a map comparing ISIS-held territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014 with today. The map indicated ISIS' diminished territory. It "will be gone by tonight," he said. On Saturday, the White House issued a statement from Trump announcing that the ISIS-controlled area had been liberated. "ISIS’s loss of territory is further evidence of its false narrative, which tries to legitimize a record of savagery that includes brutal executions, the exploitation of children as soldiers, and the sexual abuse and murder of women and children," Trump said in the statement. "To all of the young people on the internet believing in ISIS’s Propaganda, you will be dead if you join. Think instead about having a great life." But the jihadist group remains a serious threat despite repeated announcements from Trump that it had been completely defeated and that its demise meant there was no longer any reason to keep U.S. troops deployed in Syria. While ISIS has yielded all of its physical territory in Syria or Iraq, it is still a potent fighting force and continues to carry out insurgent attacks in both countries. It also maintains affiliates in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Afghanistan and elsewhere. ISIS is still "a great threat to our region and our world," said Gen. Mazloum Kobani, the commander of SDF forces. His comments were echoed by William Roebuck, the U.S.'s special envoy for Syria, who said ISIS remains a threat to the U.S. and its allies. "We cannot be complacent. Even without territory, Daesh and its poisonous ideology will continue to pose a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, as well as to the wider world. The international community must remain firm in its determination to counter and defeat it," said Britain's foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, in a statement. More:Hoda Muthana, who married into ISIS, won't get fast-tracked case, judge rules According to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, ISIS' military capabilities are far from obliterated. The Washington-based think tank estimates the militant group may still have 20,000 to 30,000 active fighters in Syria and Iraq. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander for U.S. operations in South Asia and the Middle East, said in February that coalition forces needed to maintain "a vigilant offensive against the now largely dispersed and disaggregated (ISIS) that retains leaders, fighters, facilitators, resources and the profane ideology that fuels their efforts." In January, U.S. military planners and officials issued a report for the Defense Department that said ISIS "could likely resurge in Syria within six to 12 months and regain limited territory" if adequate pressure by coalition forces was not maintained. After Trump ordered a complete withdrawal of the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, Defense Secretary James Mattis announced his intention to resign. In February, under pressure from Congress and the Pentagon, Trump agreed to leave a residual force of about 20 to 400 U.S. troops in Syria for "peacekeeping" purposes. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, denied in a statement this week a report in The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. military is now developing plans to keep nearly 1,000 troops in Syria. Dunford called the report "factually incorrect." More:Told to leave, ISIS ‘caliphate’ holdouts in Syria stay devoted

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/23/new-zealand-mosque-shooting-country-bans-terror-suspects-manifesto/3254937002/

New Zealand bans terror suspect's racist manifesto; citizens told to 'destroy any copies'

New Zealand bans terror suspect's racist manifesto; citizens told to 'destroy any copies' New Zealand's government on Saturday banned a racist, angry manifesto written by the suspected gunman of two recent mosque shootings in Christchurch that killed 50 people, arguing that the 74-page document "promotes murder and terrorism." New Zealand's Office of Film and Literature Classification issued a statement officially classifying the manifesto – titled "The Great Replacement" and authored by the alleged 28-year-old shooter – "objectionable" under the country's law. “There is an important distinction to be made between ‘hate speech’, which may be rejected by many right-thinking people but which is legal to express, and this type of publication, which is deliberately constructed to inspire further murder and terrorism," New Zealand's Chief Censor David Shanks said in a statement. “It crosses the line.” The alleged gunman, a self-described white supremacist, is accused of fatally shooting 50 people on March 15 in a rampage in two mosques that he live video-recorded on a helmet he wore. He linked the manifesto on his Twitter account and mailed a copy to the office of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The country's government banned the reported gunman's 17-minute video earlier in the week as well as semi-automatic rifles. Ban on guns:New Zealand announces immediate ban of assault rifles Officials say both the manifesto and video qualify as objectionable under a 1993 New Zealand law that gives the government discretion to ban certain materials for the public good. An objectionable classification in this particular case is considered to be a justifiable limit on freedom of expression under New Zealand's Bill of Rights. The suspect's manifesto consists of a rant about white genocide and advocates for "an atmosphere of fear” against Muslims. He describes himself as an ethno-nationalist and fascist and pays homage to other racist killers such as Dylann Roof, who shot and killed nine African-Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. He says in the manifesto that the plot in New Zealand was two years in the making. “It promotes, encourages and justifies acts of murder and terrorist violence against identified groups of people, ” Shanks said. Gun laws:How a dozen countries compare to New Zealand's new ban on semi-automatic weapons “It identifies specific places for potential attack in New Zealand, and refers to the means by which other types of attack may be carried out. It contains justifications for acts of tremendous cruelty, such as the deliberate killing of children.” Violent terrorist:Who is the white supremacist suspected in New Zealand mosque shootings? Under the New Zealand law, it is considered an offense to "posses or distribute" objectionable materials such as the manifesto. People who have downloaded the document, or printed it out, should "destroy any copies," officials said. "New Zealanders can all play a part in denying those who exhort hatred, killing and terror. If you have a copy of this publication, delete or destroy it," Shanks said. "If you see it, report it. Do not support the murderous objectives of its author by republishing or distributing it.” The manifesto has been widely reported by media, meaning some New Zealanders are likely to have read portions of it even if they have not seen a first-hand copy. Survivors tell their stories:'I was the last person to get out alive': Narrow escape from New Zealand mosque Shanks said that the use of excerpts in media reports "may not in itself" violate the law but that "ethical considerations will certainly apply." “Real care needs to be taken around reporting on this publication, given that widespread media reporting on this material was clearly what the author was banking on, in order to spread their message," he said. Reporters, academics and others can apply for an exemption from the government to obtain a copy if the reason is deemed for "legitimate purposes, including education, analysis and in-depth reporting."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/24/new-zealand-mosque-shootings-free-speech-debate-manifesto-ban/3264886002/

New Zealand debates free speech after ban of accused mosque shooter's manifesto

New Zealand debates free speech after ban of accused mosque shooter's manifesto DUNEDIN, New Zealand – New Zealanders are debating the limits of free speech after their chief censor banned the 74-page manifesto written and released by the man accused of slaughtering 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. The ban, issued Saturday, means anybody caught with the document on their computer could face up to 10 years in prison, while anyone caught sending it could face 14 years. Some say the ban goes too far and risks lending both the document and the gunman mystique. At the same time, many local media organizations are debating whether to even name the Australian man charged with murder in the March 15 attacks after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed she would never mention him by name. In some ways, the accuser shooter's manifesto provides the greatest insight into his character and thinking, with neighbors and those he met in a gym in the sleepy seaside town of Dunedin recalling nothing particularly remarkable about him. Comparing countries:How gun laws in a dozen countries compare with New Zealand's new ban on semiautomatic weapons Chief Censor David Shanks said the manifesto contains justifications for acts of tremendous cruelty like killing children and encourages acts of terrorism, even outlining specific places to target and methods to carry out attacks. In banning the document, Shanks and his staff worried about drawing more attention to it. But in the end, he said, they decided they needed to treat it the same way as propaganda from groups like the Islamic State, which they have also banned. Shanks had earlier placed a similar ban on the 17-minute livestream video the alleged killer filmed from a camera mounted on his helmet during the shootings. He said researchers and journalists could apply for exemptions from both bans. But while free speech advocates haven’t questioned banning the graphic video, they said banning the manifesto is a step too far. “People are more confident of each other and their leaders when there is no room left for conspiracy theories, when nothing is hidden,” said Stephen Franks, a constitutional lawyer and spokesman for the Free Speech Coalition. “The damage and risks are greater from suppressing these things than they are from trusting people to form their own conclusions and to see evil or madness for what it is.” Franks said he had no interest in reading the manifesto until it was banned. He now is curious because it is “forbidden fruit,” he said, and he worries others may feel the same way. He said the ban makes no sense when New Zealanders remain free to read Adolf Hitler’s autobiography, “Mein Kampf.” Who is she?:4 things to know about Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister 'We are with you':New Zealand women wear headscarves in solidarity with Muslims after Christchurch mosque shootings Ardern told Parliament last week that she wouldn’t give the gunman anything he wanted. “He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety,” she said. “And that is why you will never hear me mention his name.” She said people should instead remember the names of the victims. Some media organizations appear to be taking up her call. News website Stuff on Saturday published an 1,800-word profile on the accused gunman without once naming him. “Our view at the moment is that we’re dialing back on naming him, unless it’s pertinent or important,” said Mark Stevens, the editorial director at Stuff. The New Zealand Herald also published a profile with an accompanying editorial that mentions Ardern’s stance. The editorial says, “Our piece keeps the mention of his name to a minimum.”

3ed0053de691987b5e6bf7676c2302f4

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/25/how-donald-trump-and-benajmin-netanyahu-israel-benefit-close-relationship/3249644002/

Trump-Netanyahu: How two leaders reap political rewards from their cozy relationship

Trump-Netanyahu: How two leaders reap political rewards from their cozy relationship WASHINGTON – If President Donald Trump has a true political bromance with any foreign leader, it's probably Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sure, Trump says he “fell in love” with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and he’s clearly smitten with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, the “Trump of the Tropics.” But the bond between Trump and Netanyahu goes far beyond political flattery and good chemistry. It’s also great politics – for both men – as they each face re-election battles. The two leaders met Monday at the White House, where Trump signed an official proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a disputed territory the United Nations considers "occupied" by Israel. “Our relationship is powerful,” Trump declared of U.S.-Israeli ties. “You’ve always been there, including today," Netanyahu responded, "and I thank you.” Monday's frothy exchange spotlights the mutually beneficial politics of their friendship. "Cut from the same political cloth, Trump and Netanyahu have forged a symbiotic alliance," Shalom Lipner, an expert on the Middle East and fellow at the Atlantic Council, wrote in a recent analysis. "Trump’s benevolence toward Israel ... buoys the prime minister’s prospects," he wrote. "And when he responds gratefully by heaping praise on Trump, Netanyahu bolsters the president’s standing among his core Republican and evangelical supporters." Trump enjoys high approval ratings in Israel, and Netanyahu has made his close relationship with the American president a centerpiece of his campaign before Israel's election April 9. Netanyahu even erected giant billboards showing him shaking hands with Trump and declaring "Netanyahu, in a different league." "Trump is far more popular in Israel than he is in the United States," said Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. He said that's largely because of Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, even though both the Palestinians and the Israelis claim that city as their capital. "The result is that anything that emphasizes Netanyahu’s relationship to the administration ... is a very good political prop for Netanyahu," Sachs said. As accusations of corruption dog Netanyahu, his conservative Likud Party faces a stiff challenge in the contest April 9 from the Blue & White bloc, which is led by former military officer Benny Gantz. Trump's decision on the Golan Heights, announced last week, gave Netanyahu a major boost weeks before the election. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six Day War in 1967. Trump's decision reverses decades of U.S. policy; previous American presidents labeled the territory "occupied" and declined to recognize Israel's annexation. Trump has not officially endorsed Netanyahu, which would mark a diplomatic breach. But Middle East experts said the president makes his support for Netanyahu clear through his lavish praise and favorable policy decisions. Trump is "not even pretending to be evenhanded" in the Israel election, said Daniel Byman, a professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and expert on the Middle East. Trump's Golan Heights decision bolsters Netanyahu's claim that he's "in a league of his own" when it comes to delivering on Israel's international agenda, he said. Trump seeks to reap his own political windfall from those decisions as he gears up for his re-election bid in 2020. He predicted that American Jews, long a loyal Democratic constituency, will flock to the GOP in the next election in part because of his pro-Israel policies. Republicans are "waiting with open arms" for Jewish voters, Trump tweeted this month. "Remember Jerusalem (U.S. Embassy) and the horrible Iran Nuclear Deal!" Trump has tried to portray Democrats as anti-Semitic, highlighting controversial comments by freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who suggested that pro-Israel lobbying groups hold undue sway over American policy because of their campaign contributions and the political muscle of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful U.S. advocacy group. AIPAC is holding its annual policy conference in Washington this week. Netanyahu was initially scheduled to address the group Tuesday and then have dinner with Trump that evening, but he cut his trip short because of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on Monday that struck a house in central Israel and wounded seven people. Shortly before Netanyahu and Trump met at the White House on Monday, Vice President Mike Pence hammered anew on the president's latest political theme. Although he did not mention Omar by name, Pence accused the Democratic Party of being “co-opted by people who promote rank, anti-Semitic rhetoric and work to undermine the broad American consensus of support for Israel.” Pence said anyone who slanders those who support the “historic alliance” between the United States and Israel should not sit on the House Foreign Relations Committee, as Omar does. “The party that has been the home of so many American Jews for so long today struggled to muster the votes to unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism in a resolution,” Pence said before promising that Trump would always stand with Israel. President Barack Obama declined to meet with Netanyahu in 2015 because it was so close to that Israeli election. "We do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections, so as to avoid the appearance of influencing a democratic election in a foreign country," Obama said. Still, Sachs noted that Trump's favoritism, though fairly overt, is not unprecedented. "Bill Clinton went out of his way to support Shimon Peres in the 1996 elections against a young upstart named Benjamin Netanyahu," he said. Then-President Clinton feared that terrorist attacks against Israel would undermine the peace process, and he saw Peres as far more inclined to reach a deal than the hard-line Netanyahu. “I did try to be helpful to him because I thought he was more supportive of the peace process," Clinton conceded last year in an interview with an Israeli television outlet. Clinton said he tried to boost Peres in a way that "didn’t overtly involve me. ... And I tried to do it in a way that was consistent with what I believed to be in Israel’s interest, without saying anything about the difference in domestic policies, without anything else.” Netanyahu won that contest despite Clinton's efforts to put his finger on the scale. It remains to be seen whether Trump's support will put Netanyahu over the top in this election or if Trump's pro-Israel policies will help him in 2020. More:Donald Trump predicts Jewish voters will switch to GOP in 'Jexodus.' Democrats call that a fantasy Contributing: Maureen Groppe and David Jackson

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/26/fabiana-rosales-juan-guaido-wife-emerges-force-venezuela/3285352002/

The wife of Venezuela's opposition leader is on a mission: 'I want to change my country'

The wife of Venezuela's opposition leader is on a mission: 'I want to change my country' CARACAS, Venezuela – With her youthful energy and globe-trotting, the 26-year-old wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is emerging as a prominent figure in his campaign to bring change to the crisis-wracked country. Fabiana Rosales’ age and informal dress, often jeans, while touring Latin America belie an inner toughness and maturity cultivated with her activist husband during violent street protests in Venezuela’s capital. Her husband has since claimed Venezuela’s interim presidency with the support of dozens of nations including the United States, setting up a standoff with President Nicolas Maduro, who refuses to step down amid what he calls an attempted coup. “Look, I am the wife of President Juan Guaido and I will accompany him on whatever route he takes and we will overcome whatever obstacles we face as we have done through all our years together,” Rosales said during an interview in Peru’s capital of Lima. “But I got involved in politics because I want to change my country.” “I don’t want my daughter to grow up wanting to leave Venezuela,” she said, a reference to the roughly 3 million Venezuelans who have fled their country amid a collapsing economy, hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicines. As her husband leads efforts to remove Maduro through protests at home and by trying to persuade Venezuela’s military to abandon the socialist leader, Rosales is trying to drum up international support for Venezuela’s beleaguered opposition with highly publicized tours of neighboring countries. Where is he? Venezuelan forces kidnap opposition leader Juan Guaido's chief of staff in raid This month she traveled to Peru and Chile, where she met with the presidents of both countries, and spoke in universities about Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. On Wednesday, Rosales heads to the White House, where she will meet with Vice President Mike Pence, as the U.S. ratchets up sanctions on the Maduro administration. Rosales met her husband at a youth rally for Voluntad Popular, an opposition party she has worked with since her university years. She has become a household name in Venezuela in recent months, standing at her husband’s side in rallies attended by thousands. Recently, she has also taken on the role of international ambassador for Venezuela’s opposition, as her husband becomes bogged down in domestic affairs. Venezuela’s first lady in waiting has helped her husband look more presidential, says Dimitris Pantoulas, a Caracas-based political analyst. “She is a professional, young, educated woman, and to a certain extent she is conservative,” Pantoulas said. “That image corresponds to (Venezuelan) stereotypes of what a presidential couple should look like, especially for those in the middle classes.” In the interview, Rosales say that her “most important role is to be a mother, and I’m also a sister and wife.” Guaido declared himself Venezuela’s interim president in late January. The opposition leader was serving as the president of Venezuela’s Congress, and said the constitution allowed him to form a transitional government because Maduro had been re-elected in a sham vote last year. More:US announces withdrawal of last of its embassy personnel from Venezuela The political challenge turned Guaido into an instant target of the Maduro administration, which blamed him of organizing violent protests and quickly put him under a travel ban. Guaido snuck out of Venezuela for a one week tour of South America, in which he led a failed effort to move several tons of food and medicine into the country. But upon returning he has focused most of his energy on sustaining his movement, which has lost some of its momentum, as Maduro remains in power and Venezuelans focus on the difficult task of surviving. In her recent trips abroad, Rosales has met with large crowds of Venezuelan migrants, urging them to keep their faith in her husband and telling regional leaders that “a dictator” like Maduro does not fall in a matter of days. She says the Venezuelan opposition is making progress, designating ambassadors around the world, and recovering control of Venezuelan oil assets abroad with the help of the United States. The daughter of a journalist and a farmer from the rural state of Merida, Rosales says she became interested in social issues early as she accompanied her mother to interviews. She decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and study journalism, but also helped her father transport his crops to Caracas along roads where he was sometimes shaken down by corrupt military guards. Rosales says she has gone through many of the travails currently faced by Venezuelans, including the harrowing medicine shortages. Her father died in 2013, after suffering a heart attack. He could have survived Rosales said, but there was no medicine in his village to stabilize him, and no ambulance to take him to the nearest hospital. “I spent a lot of time in pain, wondering why this had happened to me,” she said. “But now I have taken this as a lesson from life. And I am working for my daughter to inherit a better country.”

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/03/american-kidnapped-uganda-500-k-ransom-demanded/3351149002/

American woman kidnapped in Uganda; $500K ransom demanded

American woman kidnapped in Uganda; $500K ransom demanded A massive search-and-rescue effort was underway Wednesday in Uganda after an American tourist and a local guide were ambushed and kidnapped by four armed men demanding a $500,000 ransom, Ugandan police said. The attack took place Tuesday in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, a sprawling wildlife refuge more than 200 miles west of the capital Kampala. The American was identified by police as Kimberley Sue Endecdott, 35, from California, who was taken along with her Ugandan driver, Jean, Paul, when their vehicle was ambushed by the gunmen, Reuters reported. The kidnappers, using the victim’s phone, demanded the ransom. "We strongly believe this ransom is the reason behind the kidnap," the statement said. The police statement said Endecott had entered Uganda on March 29 and flew to the park the following day. An elderly couple who was also at the scene were not taken. They contacted the camp manager, who rescued them, according to police police spokesperson Polly Namaye. The BBC reports that a second couple with the group was also unharmed. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala was informed, Namaye said. A State Department spokeswoman said only that U.S. officials were aware of the kidnapping report and the response by Ugandan security forces. Namaye said authorities set up roadblocks and cut off the border between Uganda and the Congo in the area. Ugandan security forces, police and game wildlife officers collaborated in the manhunt. "We strongly believe the perpetrators and victims could still be trapped within our search area," the statement said. "We are hopeful that our efforts will lead to their successful recovery." The park, in western Uganda, is about 750 square miles of savanna and tropical forest. It sits between two lakes at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains and is home to buffalo, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, lions and chimpanzees. "We want to further reassure the public that this is the first incident of this kind," the statement said. "Those planning to visit the National Park and its surroundings should not be discouraged. Strengthened safety measures have been put in place for both the local residents and visitors." In 1994, eight tourists, including an American couple, were hacked or bludgeoned to death in the Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by a band of rebels armed with rifles, machetes and spears, according to The New York Times. Four Ugandan park employees were also slain in the campsites. The killers were were ethnic Hutu rebels, according to the State Department and survivors. Uganda is a landlocked, economically challenged nation of 43 million people. The CIA "Factbook" for Uganda credits Yoweri Museveni, president since 1986, with bringing relative political stability and economic growth.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/10/no-war-iran-rand-paul-warns-pompeo-during-tense-senate-grilling-central-america-north-korea/3418794002/

'You do not have our permission to go to war in Iran,' Sen. Rand Paul warns Pompeo at hearing

'You do not have our permission to go to war in Iran,' Sen. Rand Paul warns Pompeo at hearing WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to defend the Trump administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2020. But lawmakers grilled him on a host of other hot spots around the world – from Iran to North Korea to Central America. Here are four takeaways from Pompeo's nearly three hours before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: War with Iran? Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., suggested the Trump administration might be preparing to take military action against Iran – a longstanding fear among critics who point to the hard-line anti-Iran views espoused by both Pompeo and John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser. Paul asked Pompeo if the Trump administration believes it has the authority go to war with Iran under Congress’ 2001 authorization to strike terrorists who attacked the United States on 9/11. “I’d prefer to leave that to lawyers,” Pompeo responded. Paul pressed further, implying the State Department’s decision, announced Monday, to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps a foreign terrorist organization was intended to lay the groundwork for a military strike – using the 2001 law as justification. “There is a connection between the Islamic Republic of Iran and al-Qaeda. Period, full stop,” Pompeo said, referring to the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks. “You do not have our permission to go to war in Iran,” Paul shot back. 'Deal of the Century' and U.S. policy toward Israel Pompeo repeatedly refused to say whether the Trump administration would oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to annex the West Bank – or whether the U.S. still supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu secured a 5th term as Israel’s leader on Wednesday after campaigning largely on his success in persuading President Trump to make a series of pro-Israel policy decisions, including moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. During the campaign, he promised to annex the West Bank in a last-minute bid to rally the right wing. Pompeo evaded questions about that by telling lawmakers they would soon see the Trump administration “vision” for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a top adviser, is crafting the secret plan, which Trump has promised will be the “Deal of the Century.” Pompeo said Kushner’s plan would be unveiled “before too long.” Democrats said it was ridiculous Pompeo could not articulate current U.S. policy on such a consequential question. “I’m kind of shocked that that cannot be stated clearly,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Cutting aid to Central American countries Democrats also blasted the Trump administration’s decision to cut humanitarian aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in response to the current migrant crisis at the U.S. southern border. Pompeo announced the decision under pressure from Trump, who has complained that those countries are not doing enough to stop their desperate citizens from fleeing to the U.S. “All this will do is create greater instability in the region and drive more people in fear and hopelessness to the border,” said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Pompeo defended the decision, saying the aid was not working to improve the living conditions in those countries. “The United States has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to try and build out solutions in these countries,” he said. “It has not been effective ... so we are endeavoring to change that.” Pompeo also ducked a series of related questions, including whether he agrees with Trump that the U.S. should close its border with Mexico and whether the U.S. is "full" when it comes to immigrants. Wiggle room on North Korea sanctions? Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., pressed Pompeo on whether the U.S. would maintain crippling economic sanctions on North Korea until the regime of Kim Jong Un took concrete steps toward giving up his country’s nuclear weapons cache. “I want to leave a little space there,” Pompeo responded. If the administration makes “substantial progress” in its negotiations with North Korea, it might be “the right thing” to ease up the economic penalties, he added. His remarks come at a critical moment. South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in will be at the White House on Thursday and is expected to ask Trump to revive talks with Kim after a failed summit in Hanoi resulted in no agreement. Moon may ask the president to lift some sanctions in exchange for steps by North Korea to denuclearize. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., suggested the administration was not being tough enough on enforcing current global sanctions, pointing to a United Nations report documenting North Korea's evasion of some economic restrictions with the help of China and Russia. "I see Kim Jong Un just trying to play out the string to the end of your administration with absolutely no results," Markey said. Pompeo argued that the Trump administration had done more to constrain North Korea that the the Obama administration. Related coverage: South Korean president Moon seeks deal, maybe a new summit, for Trump and Kim Jong Un More:Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu headed for record 5th term as Benny Gantz concedes

cdf15ee485e06a0c27e2ff66646543bf

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/12/julian-assange-arrest-extradition/3445061002/

Swedish prosecutors considering request to reopen Julian Assange rape case

Swedish prosecutors considering request to reopen Julian Assange rape case Prosecutors in Sweden are considering reopening an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy after a seven-year standoff and faces an extradition battle to the United States on a charge of conspiring to reveal government secrets. Sweden's Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said in a statement that her office had received a request late Thursday to resume a rape probe into Assange from lawyers representing the alleged victim. The case was dropped in 2017 because Assange's residency in the Ecuadorian Embassy stymied the investigation. Assange has always denied the rape allegation. Separate allegations of sexual assault by Assange, made by a second Swedish woman, were discontinued by authorities in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired. Julian Assange:WikiLeaks founder had a litany of legal issues before London arrest Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started The 47-year-old sought refuge in the embassy in 2012 after he was released on bail in Britain while facing extradition to Sweden in connection with both sets of allegations. Ecuador granted him asylum in its embassy because Assange feared if he left the compound he faced a separate risk of being arrested and extradited to the U.S. for publishing classified military and diplomatic cables and images through WikiLeaks, a whistleblowing website he co-founded in 2006. In 2010, WikiLeaks released video footage allegedly showing U.S. soldiers killing civilians in Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – when he was the director of the CIA – referred to WikiLeaks as a "non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia." WikiLeaks published thousands of hacked Democratic Party emails during the 2016 election, although that is not mentioned in Thursday's U.S. indictment. Julian Assange:WikiLeaks founder, faces US hacking conspiracy charge Journalist or criminal?:Julian Assange notorious for leaks of US secrets Ecuador withdrew its asylum protection for Assange this week and asked British police to arrest him. He is now in custody and faces a British charge of breaching bail that carries a sentence of up to 12 months in jail if convicted. Assange will face a hearing over possible extradition to the U.S. related to the conspiracy charge on May 2. Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson said that Assange's arrest was a "free speech issue" and that any extradition to the U.S. "sets a dangerous precedent for all media organizations and journalists," but critics including U.S. federal prosecutors allege that Assange was involved in a criminal conspiracy – that he stole information – when he enlisted the help of former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 to crack a password on a secret computer network within the Defense Department. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that any extradition plans had "nothing to do with Australia" and that Assange would not get any "special treatment" from its consular officials. He said Assange would have to "make his way through whatever comes his way in terms of the justice system" in foreign jurisdictions. However, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne told reporters, responding to fears from Assange’s supporters over his possible punishment in the U.S., that Australia was "completely opposed to the death penalty." She said Britain had sought assurances from the U.S. that Assange would not be exposed to the death penalty if he was extradited. The computer hacking charge Assange faces in the U.S. carries up to five years in prison. It wasn't clear if he would face additional U.S. charges. Julian Assange:WikiLeaks founder, had a litany of legal issues before London arrest More:Julian Assange had a cat, and the internet is really worried about its fate "For me, the key is that this isn’t about the Espionage Act, or the publication of classified national security information – it’s not a direct threat to the press," Stephen Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor, wrote on Twitter. Prime Minister Theresa May told British lawmakers on Thursday that Assange's arrest showed that "no-one is above the law," but Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, said the "extradition of Julian Assange to the U.S. for exposing evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan should be opposed by the British government." Corbyn shared video footage released by WikiLeaks in 2007 that it claimed directly implicated the U.S. military in the killing of civilians and journalists. Assange’s mother Christine took to Twitter to call for police and prison and court staff to be gentle with her son. She tweeted he had been "8 years detained WITHOUT charge," and for six years had been "deprived fresh air, exercise, sun," for three years had been "sick/in pain denied proper medical/dental care" and for one year he’d been "isolated/tortured ... Please be patient, gentle & kind to him," she said. More:Six big leaks from Julian Assange's WikiLeaks over the years

7fc26c0326f484846061a2c555b594fe

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/15/3-d-heart-human-tissue-printed-world-first-israel-scientists/3472200002/

Israeli scientists 3D-print heart with human tissue in world first

Israeli scientists 3D-print heart with human tissue in world first A team of Israeli scientists "printed" a heart with a patient's own cells in a world first, researchers say. Past researchers had been able to print simple tissues without blood vessels, the team said. This development was the first time "anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers," Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University told The Jerusalem Post. Dvir and his team reported their findings Monday in Advanced Science. The heart, about the size of a rabbit's, is too small for a human, but the process used to create it shows the potential for one day being able to 3D-print patches and maybe full transplants, the team said. HIV+ transplant:Doctors perform world's first kidney donation between HIV+ patients, a medical breakthrough Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started Because the heart is made from the patient's own biological material, it reduces the chance the transplant would fail, according to the research paper. The team used fatty tissues then separated and "reprogrammed" the cellular and a-cellular materials. Stem cells that become heart cells were then created. The development is being touted as a "major breakthrough" in medicine and one that could help battle heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Patients will no longer have to wait for transplants or take medications to prevent their rejection," Tel Aviv University said in a statement, per Bloomberg. "Instead, the needed organs will be printed, fully personalized for every patient." Study:Nearly half of Americans have heart disease However, the medical research is still a ways off from being able to transplant the 3D-printed hearts into humans, the team says. Dvir told Bloomberg the heart the team printed will need another month before cells mature enough to beat and contract. Tests on animals would need to be done before the technology could be tried in humans, he added. It also would take a whole day and billions, rather than millions, of cells to print a human heart, Dvir told Bloomberg. But Dvir remains hopeful. "Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely," he told the Times of Israel. Get active:7 healthy habits that can protect you from heart attack and stroke Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller.

9fe131ed2df04b1b387b33a27ad903e3

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/16/notre-dame-cathedral-fire/3481868002/

Day after devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire, millions in donations pour in

Day after devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire, millions in donations pour in PARIS — A day after a devastating fire erupted in the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral, the French people — and much of the world — vowed to restore an iconic church that's served as the symbol of Paris for 850 years. More than $700 million in committed donations poured in Tuesday to rebuild the damaged portions of the cathedral with major help from some of the richest families in France. It came amid a sigh of relief after fears that the building might burn to the ground were assuaged and many historic artifacts, initially assumed to be destroyed, were found salvaged. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a televised address to the nation Tuesday evening, made a call to unity and to set aside political differences in the coming days to work to rebuild the cathedral. Throughout French history, he said, towns, forts and churches have burned from revolutions, wars or mankind, "and each time we have rebuilt." "We are rebuilders," he said. "There's a great deal to be rebuilt. And we will make the cathedral of Notre Dame even more beautiful. We can do this and we will mobilize everybody." Macron said that he wanted Notre Dame rebuilt in 5 years. But architects say the repairs could take decades. "This is going to be a slow process and one that's going to take a lot of time," said John J. Casbarian, dean emeritus at Rice University's School of Architecture, where he oversees a the school's program in Paris. The French interior minister said Tuesday that there are still some risks that may endanger the structure of Notre Dame cathedral, noting that the centuries-old house of worship was “under permanent surveillance" because it could still budge. Christophe Castaner told reporters that state workers would need to wait 48 hours before being able to safely enter Notre Dame and handle the art works still inside. “We will be standing at (Notre Dame’s) bedside,” he added. Firefighters earlier declared victory when they announced the devastating inferno was officially put out after an intense effort to save the cathedral in the French capital. The Paris Fire Service announced on Twitter that firefighters "came to grips with" the blaze at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, more than 12 hours after nearly 400 firefighters had battled the flames that altered the city's skyline. Two policemen and one firefighter had been slightly injured, according to the fire service. There were no reported fatalities. Paris firefighters spokesman Gabriel Plus said "the entire fire is out" and that emergency personnel were "surveying the movement of the structures and extinguishing smoldering residues." One of the city’s five senior vicars, Philippe Marsset, told the Associated Press: “If God intervened (in the blaze) it was in the courage of the firefighters.” Photos and video from inside Notre Dame showed light beams coming from the decimated wood roof, which was built from nearly 13,000 oak trees. It helped fuel the raging fire. Smoldering rubble could be seen piled up on the cathedral's floor. And yet there were glimpses of hope – the cathedral's stone foundation remained strong and candles were still lit from visitors who had gone there the day before. The cathedral's famous twin bell towers were visibly intact. The 18th century organ that boasts 8,000 pipes also appeared to have survived, as did all three of the massive Rose stained-glass windows that date back to the 13th century and other historic treasures from inside the cathedral, officials said. Evacuated artworks, including the Christ’s Crown of Thorns, have been transferred to the Louvre museum in Paris. Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started A massive fundraising campaign was underway Tuesday to rebuild the cathedral. The more than $700 amassed so far includes a $113 million pledge from French billionaire Francois Henri Pinault and $226 million from fellow billionaire Bernard Arnault and his LVMH group. The two French businessmen, long considered rivals, are now going tit-for-tat on Notre Dame donations, according to the Associated Press. Arnault, the richest man in all of Europe, is CEO of the world’s biggest luxury group, LVMH, the owner of iconic fashion houses Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. He doubled the amount pledged by Pinault, owner of he world’s second-biggest luxury group, Kering. French cosmetics company L'Oréal, along with The Bettencourt Meyers family and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, have said they will donate $226 million as well. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that Apple will donate to the rebuilding efforts, but did not specify how much. Parisians and tourists from around the world had watched in horror Monday evening as flames ravaged the world famous roof, causing Notre Dame’s spire to collapse. After battling flames for nine hours into the night, firefighters were able to save the landmark’s main stone structure. The tragedy comes during Holy Week, an important event for the Catholic Church with Easter days away. Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said the inquiry into the fire would be "long and complex." Fifty investigators were working on it and would interview workers from five companies hired for the renovations to the cathedral's roof, where the flames first broke out. Heitz said an initial fire alert was sounded at 6:20 p.m. Monday but no fire was found. The second alert was sounded at 6:43 p.m., and the blaze was discovered on the roof. Notre Dame, the most famous Gothic cathedral from the Middle Ages, was built over a nearly 200-year span beginning in 1163 under King Louis VII. A tourist destination known for its spectacular stained-glass windows, the church has survived the French Revolution, World World I and the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. Its many celebrated moments include the crowning of Henry VI in 1431 and the crowning of Napoleon as emperor in 1804 after he had helped save the cathedral from possible demolition. Despite light drizzle and cloudy-gray skies, there was a sense of relief Tuesday on the streets of Paris with thoughts shifting from sorrow to action — examining what needs to be done to restore the jewel of medieval Gothic architecture. “You can still see that the statue of the Virgin Mary is still standing,” said Catherine Oudot, 63, gesturing toward the facade of the cathedral. “It’s a relief to know that it survived. Notre Dame isn’t just a Christian landmark or a cultural landmark. It’s an absolute symbol for us, for France." Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox Oudet, who lives near the Eiffel Tower, was at home when she heard the fire had started. “I saw photos and images on TV of smoke bellowing out of the cathedral. I was in shock," Oudet said. "I couldn’t believe it. How does this happen in the 21st Century with all the technology we have: smoke alarms, fire alarms? I’m struggling to understand it.” Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said there’s no evidence of arson in blaze and that they believe it was an accident. The inferno could be linked to the $6.8 million renovation project underway. Heitz said the investigation will be “long and complex,” and that 50 investigators are involved in the probe. Workers from five companies that had been hired to work on renovations to the cathedral’s roof will be interviewed, Heitz said. More:Views of the Notre Dame Cathedral before, after, and during blaze More:'Worst has been avoided': Notre Dame Cathedral's structure is saved; French president vows to rebuild White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump offered his condolences to Macron on Tuesday morning on behalf of the American people. "We stand with France today and offer our assistance in the rehabilitation of this irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization. Vive la France!" she said in a statement. The Vatican said Pope Francis was "praying for French Catholics and for the people of Paris in face of the terrible fire which has ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral,” the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II said in a message to Macron: "My thoughts and prayers are with those who worship at the Cathedral and all of France at this difficult time." The 12th-century cathedral is one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, immortalized by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and visited by more than 13 million people a year. The blaze collapsed the cathedral’s spire and spread to one of its rectangular towers in a spectacle watched by throngs of spectators. Paris Fire Chief Jean-Claude Gallet said the church’s main structure had been saved after firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the northern belfry. "Two-thirds of the roofing has been ravaged," Gallet said. All bridges surrounding Notre Dame cathedral in Paris are blocked by police, the AP reports. But tourists and Parisians have continued to cluster closely to the fire-scarred monument, which sits in the middle of an island – the Ile de la Cite – on the Seine River. Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, told BFMTV on Tuesday that he felt “enormous relief” at salvaging prized pieces such as the purported Crown of Thorns, which many believe was worn by Jesus Christ. More:Cathedral resurrection: A look at famous houses of worship reborn after destruction More:Donald Trump draws criticism over suggestion of fighting Notre Dame fire with 'flying water tankers' Tuesday's good news was a dramatic shift from earlier Monday when officials predicted the structure would burn to the ground. “Everything is burning. Nothing will remain from the frame,” Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot had told French media. Alain Juppe, France’s former prime minister, who went inside Notre Dame Tuesday morning to review the damage, said he was impressed with the solidarity that people inside and outside France were showing toward the country. “We need to save her,” Juppe said, calling it a "miracle" that many of the artifacts and historic treasures appear to have been preserved. Thibault Verny, Paris’ deputy bishop, told USA TODAY that he was feeling “very sad” about what happened but it was a “great moment” for the country to come together. “On (Easter) Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection," he said as he walked across the main square in front of the cathedral. "My message will be one of hope and that we need to push ahead.” Contributing: Rebecca Rosman in Paris; Jane Onyanga-Omara in London; the Associated Press More:850-year-old Notre Dame survived the French Revolution. Here are 4 other things to know

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/18/notre-dame-cathedral-france-hold-daylong-tribute-firefighters/3505452002/

Report: Likely cause of Notre Dame Cathedral fire an electrical short-circuit

Report: Likely cause of Notre Dame Cathedral fire an electrical short-circuit An electrical short-circuit most likely sparked the inferno at the Notre Dame Cathedral, a French police official told the Associated Press on Thursday. — The official, who spoke anonymously because of the ongoing probe, said investigators made an initial assessment Wednesday but have not been given the OK to work through the rubble because of safety reasons. Wooden planks were holding up the delicate walls of the cathedral, the official said. Investigators have said they believe the fire was accidental. Within hours of the fire engulfing the Gothic masterpiece on Monday, city prosecutors announced they were opening an inquiry. Arson was ruled out as well as possible terror-related motives. Officials said early on that it was possible the blaze was linked to a $6.8 million renovation project at the 850-year-old landmark. About 40 people – construction crews and cathedral staff – have been questioned and some are being questioned again Thursday, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. 'Raining fire':First hand accounts from the Notre Dame Cathedral blaze The blaze collapsed the cathedral's iconic spire, most of the roof was ravaged, and the damage to the 12th-century building elsewhere was extensive. But its twin bell towers, rose windows, 18-century organ and precious artworks were saved. Engineers are likely to put up a temporary roof to protect the cathedral from the elements. Donations to rebuild the cathedral have neared the $1 billion mark. French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the structure rebuilt in five years, but experts say it could take one or two decades. France will hold a competition among international architects to design a new spire and will determine whether the structure should replicate the one that fell in Monday's blaze or have its own original design. Conspiracy theories:The cause of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire remains unknown. Everything else is a rumor Also Thursday, France was paying a day-long tribute to the Paris firefighters instrumental in saving the structure and rescuing its priceless treasures as flames raced around them. More than 400 firefighters took part in the nine-hour stand against the blaze. Among the firefighters being honored was fire brigade chaplain Jean-Marc Fournier, who helped salvage the crown of thorns believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ at his crucifixion. Rebuilding the cathedral:France to hold international competition for redesign of Notre Dame's iconic spire Macron will host the firefighters to share “words of thanks,” according to his office. Top government ministers will also take part in the event at the presidential palace in Paris. Later, Paris City Hall will hold a ceremony in the firefighters’ honor, with a Bach violin concert, two giant banners strung from the monumental city headquarters and readings from Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Contributing: The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/23/new-philippines-earthquake/3547227002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

New 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines, a day after temblor kills 11

New 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines, a day after temblor kills 11 PORAC, Philippines – A new powerful earthquake hit the central Philippines on Tuesday, a day after a magnitude 6.1 quake rattled the country’s north and left at least 16 people dead, including in a collapsed supermarket, where rescuers scrambled to find survivors. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of Tuesday’s quake at 6.4, while the local seismology agency said it was 6.5. The quake was centered near San Julian town in Eastern Samar province and prompted residents to dash out of houses and office workers to scamper to safety. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage from the new quake. Classes and office work were suspended in San Julian, where cracks on roads and small buildings and a church were reported. Power was deliberately cut as a precaution in the quake’s aftermath, officials said. Meanwhile, rescuers worked overnight to recover bodies in the rubble of a supermarket that crashed down in Monday’s quake, which damaged other buildings and an airport in the northern Philippines. The bodies of five victims were pulled from Chuzon Supermarket and seven other villagers died due to collapsed house walls in hard-hit Porac town in Pampanga province, north of Manila, said Ricardo Jalad, who heads the government’s disaster-response agency. An Associated Press photographer saw seven people, including at least one dead, being pulled out by rescuers from the pile of concrete, twisted metal and wood overnight. Red Cross volunteers, army troops, police and villagers used four cranes, crow bars and sniffer dogs to look for the missing, some of whom were still yelling for help Monday night. Authorities inserted a large orange tube into the rubble to blow in oxygen in the hope of helping people still pinned there to breathe. On Tuesday morning, rescuers pulled out a man alive, sparking cheers and applause. “We’re all very happy, many clapped their hands in relief because we’re still finding survivors after several hours,” Porac Councilor Maynard Lapid said by phone from the scene, adding that another victim was expected to be pulled out alive soon. Jalad said at least 15 people died in Pampanga province, including those who perished in Porac town. The quake damaged houses, roads, bridges, Roman Catholic churches and an international airport terminal at Clark Freeport, a former American air base, in Pampanga. A state of calamity was declared in Porac to allow contingency funds to be released faster. A child died in a landslide in nearby Zambales province, officials said. At least 14 people remained missing in the rice-growing agricultural region, most of them in the rubble of the collapsed supermarket in Porac, while 81 others were injured, according to the government’s disaster-response agency. The four-story building housing the supermarket crashed down when the quake shook Pampanga as well as several other provinces and Manila, the Philippines’ capital, on the main northern island of Luzon. More than 400 aftershocks have been recorded, mostly unfelt. The U.S. Geological Survey’s preliminary estimate is that more than 49 million people were exposed to some shaking from the earthquake, with more than 14 million people likely to feel moderate shaking or more. Clark airport was closed temporarily because of damaged check-in counters, ceilings and parts of the departure area, airport official Jaime Melo said, adding that seven people were slightly injured and more than 100 flights were canceled. In Manila, thousands of office workers dashed out of buildings in panic, some wearing hard hats, and residents ran out of houses as the ground shook. Many described the ground movement like sea waves. A traffic-prone Manila street was partially closed after a college building was damaged by the quake and appeared to tilt slightly sideways toward an adjacent building, officials said. Many schools and government offices, including courts, in the densely packed Manila metropolis were closed Tuesday to allow inspections of their buildings. Philippine seismologists said the back-to-back quakes in the last two days were unrelated and caused by different local faults. One of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, the Philippines has frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it lies on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active arc of volcanos and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990. ––– Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/23/sri-lanka-bombings-isis-local-militants-radical-islamic-terror-carried-out-deadly-attacks-and-why/3550024002/

Sri Lanka bombings: ISIS and local terrorists at work, but much still murky about attack

Sri Lanka bombings: ISIS and local terrorists at work, but much still murky about attack WASHINGTON – Two terrorist groups – one small and obscure, the other sizable and well-known – are at the center of the Sri Lankan attacks that killed more than 300 people on Easter Sunday. But even as the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the horrific bombings, and Sri Lankan officials blamed a local terrorist group, the true perpetrators and their motivations remain murky. "I have been very suspicious about everything we’ve heard about this attack thus far. It doesn’t add up whatsoever," said C. Christine Fair, an expert on South Asian political and military affairs and a professor at Georgetown University. Here’s what we know about who carried out the gruesome attacks, which targeted Catholic churches and high-end hotels in a series of suicide bombings that killed 321 people across Sri Lanka: Little-known 'fringe' group in the spotlight In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Sri Lanka's Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said seven members of a radical Muslim group called the National Thowfeek Jamaath were behind the attacks. But he also said they likely had support from a larger international network. Sajid Farid Shapoo, a former terrorism investigator who served in India’s military and police force, said the group formed three or four years ago but never attracted much attention – until now. “It was kind of a low-key radical Muslim group” that mainly targeted Buddhism, said Shapoo, now a research fellow at the Soufan Center, a nonprofit organization focused on global security issues. Before Sunday’s attacks, he said the group was known mostly for “fiery” anti-Buddhist speeches and some vandalism against Buddhist statues. “It was kind of a fringe group,” Shapoo said. But he noted that some Muslims in Sri Lanka had flagged the group to authorities, fearful of its extremist views and teachings. “Targeting the non-Muslim community is something they encourage – they say you have to kill them in the name of religion,” Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, told Bloomberg News on Monday. “I personally have gone and handed over all the documents three years ago, giving names and details of all these people. They have sat on it. That’s the tragedy.” Want more?:You'll want to download the USA TODAY app Anne Speckhard, director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism, said the group’s name – also spelled “Tawhid Jamaat” – means “Unity of God,” a phrase often emphasized by extremists who believe, among other things, that having democratically elected leaders is a form of having false gods. “Tawhid Jamaat follows militant jihadi beliefs where suicide bombers believe they are going to paradise when dying to kill, and that they earn other rewards” for martyrdom, Speckhard said. “They also believe that they have an obligation to establish an Islamic State, live under shariah law and fight jihad until the Islamic State rules the world.” Some experts questioned whether such a small, low-profile group – with no documented history of violence – could have carried out such a sophisticated and deadly strike. And the Sri Lankan government did not publicly outline its evidence against the National Thowfeek Jamaath. "Are we really supposed to believe the NTJ went from spray painting Buddhist shrines to coordinated suicide attacks against Christians?" Fair said. It would make more sense for that group to attack Buddhists, not Christians, she said, because of the existing animosity between the two communities in Sri Lanka. She also said the Sri Lankan government has a political incentive to vilify Muslims, because it plays into domestic sentiment against them. Speckhard and others said it’s clear that the Sri Lankan group was at least inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group, if not directly assisted by that militant terrorist organization. Enter ISIS as possible perpetrator On Tuesday, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, said its “fighters” had carried out the attacks. In a statement on its propaganda site, ISIS said the attack specifically targeted Christians and foreigners from countries involved in fighting the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq. That suggests it may have been a reprisal for the U.S-led military operation that has led to the defeat of ISIS in Syria. In an official ISIS communique, the group named seven of the attackers and released other details, lending some credence to its claim, according to Rita Katz, executive director and founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist groups. “The detail given in #ISIS’ communique (attackers’ names, where each of them attacked) shows that the group had a hand in the attack—the degree to which still remains to be seen,” Katz said in a Twitter post on Tuesday. Katz said it’s not clear why ISIS waited until two days after the attack to announce its role. But she and other terrorism experts noted that the Sri Lanka bombings bore the hallmarks of other ISIS attacks. “International jihadist organizations routinely team up with local actors – whether radicalized individuals or small groups – to conduct terrorist attacks,” Bobby Ghosh, a Bloomberg opinion editor, wrote in an analysis of the Sri Lanka tragedy. “The targets –hotels and churches – are familiar, too.” Husain Haqqani, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, and later as ambassador to the U.S., noted ISIS has carried out numerous other attacks timed to Easter Sunday celebrations – in Egypt, Pakistan, and elsewhere. Haqqani discounted the suggestion, made by Sri Lanka’s defense minister on Tuesday, that Sunday’s attacks were done in retaliation for the March 15 shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. In that incident, a self-described white supremacist, 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant, killed 50 people and wounded dozens in an attack on Muslims during Friday prayers. “There’s no way you can plan for something of this magnitude and arrange for all the explosives to be in place” in the five weeks between the two events, said Haqqani, who is now a director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank. "Within Sri Lanka, it’s not easy to get these kinds of explosives," meaning they probably had to be procured elsewhere and transported to the country, he said. Why Sri Lanka? Ghosh and others said Sri Lanka is a perplexing location for such an attack. The country does not have a history of bitter religious tensions, particularly between Muslims and Christians. Sri Lanka is a majority Buddhist country; Muslims make up about 10% of the population, while Catholics comprise about 6% of Sri Lankans. Most of the religious friction has been between Buddhists and Muslims. In 2018, a band of Buddhist extremists lit Muslim homes and businesses on fire in an incident that ended with two Muslims dead and a government-imposed a state of emergency. Some in the Buddhist community had accused Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam, according to media reports at the time. But Shapoo and others said that Islamic radicalism propagated by ISIS has spread to Sri Lanka in recent years. In a January 2019 report, the Soufan Center noted that ISIS and al-Qaeda viewed South Asia as prime territory for spreading its propaganda and recruiting new fighters. In 2016, Sri Lanka’s justice minister said 32 Sri Lankan Muslims had traveled to Syria to join ISIS. With the defeat of ISIS in Syria, some of those fighters may have now returned to Sri Lanka – or at least infiltrated Muslim communities with their online propaganda, experts said. “ISIS and al Qaeda have spread their virulent poison over the world,” said Speckhard. “ISIS was able to motivate over 40,000 foreign fighters to come live under and fight for its Caliphate,” she added, “so it’s no surprise that the world over small groups of Muslims adopt these extremist beliefs as well.” Fair agreed and said the world should be prepared for more of these attacks that seem to come out of the blue. "Now that ISIS has lost its caliphate" in Syria, she said, "this is where it’s money is going to be."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/23/voters-extend-egypt-president-abdel-fattah-el-sisis-rule-2030/3553271002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Voters extend Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's authoritarian rule to up to 2030

Voters extend Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's authoritarian rule to up to 2030 CAIRO – Voters in Egypt approved constitutional amendments allowing President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to remain in power until 2030, election officials said Tuesday, a move that critics fear will cement his authoritarian rule eight years after a pro-democracy uprising. El-Sisi led the military overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president amid mass protests against his rule in 2013 and has since presided over an unprecedented crackdown on dissent. Thousands of people, including many pro-democracy activists, have been arrested by authorities. Freedoms won in 2011, when mass protests ended President Hosni Mubarak's nearly three-decade rule, have been rolled back. Lasheen Ibrahim, the head of Egypt's National Election Authority, told a news conference the amendments to the 2014 constitution were approved with nearly 89% voting in favor, with a turnout of 44%. The nationwide referendum took place over three days, from Saturday through Monday to maximize turnout. Egypt has some 61 million eligible voters. In his first public comments on the amendments, el-Sisi thanked the Egyptian people for voting. "Wonderful scene done by Egyptians who took part in the referendum... will be written down in our nation's historical record," he tweeted minutes after Ibrahim announced the results. Pro-government media, business people and lawmakers had pushed for a "Yes" vote and a high turnout, with many offering free rides and food handouts to voters, while authorities threatened to fine anyone boycotting the three-day referendum. Opposition parties had urged a "no" vote, but they have little power in parliament, which is packed with el-Sisi supporters and overwhelmingly approved the amendments earlier this month. The local media is also dominated by pro-government commentators, and the authorities have blocked hundreds of websites, including many operated by independent media and rights groups. Two international advocacy groups — Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists — had urged the Egyptian government to withdraw the amendments, saying they placed the country on a path to more autocratic rule. Hassan Nafaa, a political science professor at Cairo University, said the results were expected. "There will be dangerous repercussion from the ruling regime as we will see more repression and restrictive policies," he said. Generally, the amendments extend a president's term in office from four to six years and allow for a maximum of two terms. But they also include a special article specific to el-Sisi that extends his current second four-year term to six years and allows him to run for another six-year term in 2024 — potentially extending his rule until 2030. The changes also allow the president to appoint top judges and include language declaring the military the "guardian and protector" of the Egyptian state, democracy and the constitution, while granting military courts wider jurisdiction in trying civilians. El-Sisi was elected president in 2014 and re-elected last year after all potentially serious challengers were jailed or pressured to exit the race. Parliament overwhelmingly approved the amendments last week, with only 22 no votes and one abstention from 554 lawmakers in attendance. The national electoral commission announced the following day that voting would begin Saturday. Since early April, the Egyptian capital had been awash with large posters and banners encouraging people to vote in favor of the changes. Most of the posters were apparently funded by pro-government parties, businessmen and lawmakers. In Cairo's central Tahrir Square, where mass protests became the symbol of the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and of hopes for democratic change in Egypt, the posters urged people to vote in the referendum. "Take part, say ... 'yes' for the constitutional amendments," said one banner near the offices of the pro-government Nation's Future Party. Most of the posters were apparently funded by pro-government parties, businessmen and lawmakers. During the referendum, business people and lawmakers loyal to el-Sisi offered incentives to voters. They provided buses to transport people free of charge to a polling center. Also some voters were being handed bags of food staples — like oil, rice and sugar — after they cast their ballots. Trucks with loudspeakers drove around central Cairo through the three-day referendum, playing patriotic songs and urging people to vote. Like what you're reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/24/sri-lanka-bombings-president-says-attack-warnings-went-unheeded/3559702002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Sri Lankan president shakes up defense forces, says attack warnings went unheeded

Sri Lankan president shakes up defense forces, says attack warnings went unheeded In a major shake-up of the country's defenses, Sri Lanka’s president has demanded that the defense secretary and national police chief resign after security forces failed to heed warnings of threats against churches before the Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 350 people. In a televised speech, President Maithripala Sirisena said Wednesday that he planned to replace the head of the defense forces within 24 hours. Six suicide bombers struck Christians worshipping Sunday in three churches and people at three luxury hotels In carefully coordinated assaults. The overall death toll rose overnight to 359. Sri Lanka’s government has acknowledged it received warnings of a local extremist group threatening churches. At least three bombers died hours after the initial attack. The wife of one bomber was killed, along with two children and three police officers, in an explosion as authorities closed in on her. Two more bombers died in an explosion on the outskirts of Colombo, the capital. Sri Lankan authorities say they believe a little-known local militant Islamist group known as National Thowheed Jamath was to blame. Sri Lanka’s junior defense minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, has blamed breakaway members of two obscure local extremist Muslim groups and said many of the suicide bombers were highly educated and came from well-off families. “Their thinking is that Islam can be the only religion in this country,” he told reporters. “They are quite well-educated people,” At least one had a law degree and some may have studied in Britain and Australia, Wijewardene said. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said 60 people have been arrested so far. A failed attack on a fourth hotel helped lead police to the group, according to the BBC. Security services had been monitoring the NTJ, but the prime minister and the Cabinet were not warned, ministers said, the BBC reports. More:Sri Lanka bombings: ISIS and local terrorists at work, but much still murky about attack Wijewardene conceded that there had been feuds at the highest levels of government and reports of warnings of strikes were not followed up and acted on. “It is a major lapse in the sharing of intelligence information,” he said, according to Reuters. “We have to take responsibility.” The Islamic State group has also claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, via Amaq, the self-styled ISIS news outlet, the militants said "members of the U.S.-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka" had been targeted. The group released a photo and video of the men ISIS claims carried out the attacks, including Mohamed Zahran, a Sri Lankan preacher known for militant views, Reuters reports. Sri Lankan authorities say they are investigating whether it had had "international help." ISIS, which has been driven out of its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria, has frequently made unsupported claims of involvement in similar attack worldwide. Alaina Teplitz, the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, said "it’s not implausible to think there are foreign linkages,” given the level and sophistication of the attacks, but she said the U.S. had no prior knowledge of a threat before the attacks. She said the FBI and U.S. military would assist Sri Lanka in its investigation. Sri Lanka is dominated by Sinhalese Buddhists, but the country of 21 million also has a significant Tamil minority, most of whom are Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Contributing: Associated Press.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/25/sri-lanka-attacks-masses-canceled-amid-fears-more-suicide-bombings/3571865002/

'We are nervous': Sri Lankan PM warns of suspects with bombs at large amid fears of new attacks

'We are nervous': Sri Lankan PM warns of suspects with bombs at large amid fears of new attacks Sri Lanka's leader said Thursday that suspects in Easter Sunday's bombing attack that killed at least 253 people, including 30 foreigners, at churches and luxury hotels in the country were still at large and might be carrying explosives. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe spread the warning through the Associated Press as Sri Lankan security services issued a public appeal for three women and one man suspected of involvement in the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo, the capital, urged people "to remain vigilant and avoid large crowds," especially at worship services for various faiths from Friday to Sunday. The Rev. Niroshan Perera, a priest overseeing funerals of people killed in the Negombo blast at St. Sebastian’s church, said Catholic churches in the city, known as “Little Rome” for its many religious buildings, were all closed and canceled Mass upon the advice of government security officials. Perera said an official warned him that police were searching for two armed suspects. “Little bit, we are nervous,” he said. In Colombo, John Keells Holdings, parent company of the Cinnamon Grand hotel, one of the sites targeted in the Easter Sunday bombings, told employees at its hotel properties to stay inside “further to the communications we have received” in an email shared with the AP. Police identified the suspects as Mohamed Shahid Abdul Haq, Fathima Latheefa, Abdul Cader Fathima Kadia and Pulasthini Rajendran, who had the alias Zara. All appeared to be in their 20s. At least 58 people have been detained in connection with the bombings, among the world's worst terrorist attacks since 9/11, in which almost 3,000 people died. Sri Lankan authorities lowered the official death count to 253, citing chaotic bombing scenes for the original higher figure of more than 350. Investigators confirmed that nine suicide bombers took part in the assaults. They were all linked to National Thowheed Jamath, an Islamist movement, but Sri Lankan officials said they were linked to the Islamic State, or ISIS. Mohamed Yusuf Ibrahim, a wealthy spice trader in Sri Lanka and the father of two suspected suicide bombers, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of helping his sons in the attacks. One of the brothers spent time studying in the United Kingdom, which warned its nationals against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka. Former navy chief Jayanath Colombage, a counterterrorism expert, confirmed the father's arrest to the AP. Ibrahim lives in a mansion in Dematagoda, a wealthy Colombo neighborhood. Investigators said suspects detonated a ninth bomb Sunday that killed three police officers pursuing them. A white BMW was parked outside a garage partially blown out in the blast. Officials said many of the bombing suspects were highly educated and came from well-off families in the neighborhood. In one house, Buhari Mohammed Anwar, 77, a retired primary school teacher, said his neighbor, a suspect, was a nice person who helped the poor, the AP reported. Of the suspected suicide bombers, he said, “Their father … didn’t expect this. Their father advises them every day. But they don’t listen. Children became like that; they don’t listen.” A senior Sri Lankan government spokesman, Sudarshana Gunawardana, told CNN that one of the bombers, Ilham Ahmed Ibrahim, had been arrested and released. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena demanded the resignation of the defense secretary and the national police chief after security forces failed to heed warnings of threats against churches In a statement via AMAQ, the self-styled Islamic State news outlet, the militants said "members of the U.S.-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka" had been targeted. Sri Lanka, located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of India, is largely Buddhist but has minority Christians, Muslims and Hindus among its population of 22 million. It has been mostly peaceful for the past 10 years after the end of a civil war against Hindu, ethnic Tamil separatists. President Sirisena was due to meet representatives of different faiths Thursday to address concerns of a sectarian backlash. Contributing: The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/26/military-sri-lanka-gun-battle-suspected-bombers/3587554002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Sri Lankan authorities in gun battle with suspected bombing terrorists

Sri Lankan authorities in gun battle with suspected bombing terrorists COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A military spokesman says soldiers have exchanged gunfire with suspects after attempting to raid a building in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province as part of the ongoing investigation into the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks. Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said a gun battle was underway in the coastal town of Sammanthurai, 200 miles from the capital, Colombo, around 8:30 p.m. Officials say local militants with ties to the Islamic State group conducted a series of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday at churches and luxury hotels in and around Colombo and in the distant seaside village of Batticaloa. The health ministry says about 250 people were killed. Sri Lanka has remained on edge as authorities have pursued suspects with possible access to explosives.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/26/trump-administration-seeks-dismiss-lawsuit-hoda-muthana-father-isis-bride/3579664002/

ISIS bride case: Muthana lawsuit should be dismissed, Trump administration lawyers argue

ISIS bride case: Muthana lawsuit should be dismissed, Trump administration lawyers argue WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the father of Hoda Muthana, the American-born woman who fled Alabama in 2014 to marry an Islamic State fighter in Syria. Hoda's father, Ahmed Ali Muthana – a former diplomat at the United Nations for Yemen who is a naturalized U.S. citizen – filed the lawsuit in February seeking to overturn the Trump administration's determination that Muthana is not an American citizen. Muthana's father wants the U.S. to help bring Muthana – now 24 and the mother of a toddler boy – back to the United States. She has expressed remorse for her decisions and said she's willing to face prosecution and jail time for her affiliation with ISIS, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has labeled her a terrorist. More:The making of an American terrorist: Hoda Muthana joined ISIS. Now she can’t come back The legal case turns on factual questions about when Ahmed Ali Muthana's diplomatic status ended – before or after his daughter was born. But the outcome could have far-reaching implications for Americans all over the world. "Muthana is not and never has been a U.S. citizen, and her son also is not a U.S. citizen," Justice Department lawyers argued in Friday's court filing. Hoda Muthana was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in October of 1994, and raised in Hoover, Alabama. A few months before her birth, her father left his post at the U.N., and he and his wife applied for permanent residency in the U.S. In 2014, Muthana secretly joined the Islamic State after telling her parents she was going to Atlanta as part of a field trip connected with her studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Instead, she withdrew from college and used her tuition reimbursement to travel to Syria. In Syria, she called for the death of Americans and helped spread ISIS propaganda on social media. But in December of last year, Muthana fled to a refugee camp, as the Islamic State lost control of its territory in Syria and Iraq. She now says she was brainwashed, has expressed remorse and is willing to face the U.S. justice system and serve jail time. The State Department argues that Muthana never qualified for U.S. citizenship because, at the time of her birth, the U.S. government had not yet been notified that her father was no longer a diplomat. Foreign diplomats are immune from U.S. laws and their children are not granted automatic U.S. citizenship at birth. The Muthana family has provided documents from the U.N. showing Ahmed Muthana was terminated from his diplomatic job in July 1994, and the U.S. has twice issued Muthana an American passport based on those records. But in Friday's brief, the Justice Department notes that the U.S. government didn't receive official notification of Ahmed Muthana's termination until February 6, 1995, months after Hoda Muthana's birth. Under the "plain terms of the Vienna Convention, and consistent with the practice of the United States regarding individuals accredited to permanent missions to the United Nations," Muthana's diplomatic status ended on Feb. 6, 1995, the government's brief states. The government also argued that Ahmed Muthana did not have standing to bring the case on his daughter's behalf and questioned whether she truly wants to return to the U.S. "Plaintiff alleges that Muthana wishes to return to the United States and is ready to face the consequences of her actions – including possible criminal prosecution and incarceration," the brief states. "But Muthana’s own past statements raise questions regarding whether Muthana and (her father) are aligned on this point." Those statements include this quote from a 2015 interview Hoda Muthana gave to Buzzfeed News: “It would never cross my mind to come back,” she told the outlet in confessing she had lied to her father to see if he would send her money. “I wanted to see if he’d help me out during troubling times. It was just a test. I knew he wouldn’t send me anything anyway.” Such "contradictory statements" raise questions about whether her father can pursue the lawsuit in her stead, the government argued. The Muthana family's attorney, Charles Swift, said that under the State Department's argument, ex-foreign diplomats in the U.S. would be free to commit horrific crimes without fear of prosecution as long as their home countries didn't send official notification of their termination. "The government’s position is that a diplomat retains immunity until its country tells the U.S. that they’ve been terminated," Swift, director of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, a Texas-based group, said after a hearing in the case in March. " ... (So) they’re free to terminate them and then have that individual go out and commit all kinds of criminal acts – such as espionage, sabotage, murder, maiming." The Justice Department called that "wildly implausible." The government's lawyers noted that the U.S. could quickly terminate a diplomat's immunity if it had concerns about that person's mission or activities in the U.S. The case being handled by Judge Reggie Walton, of U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. It’s not clear when he will hold the next hearing in the case. But Swift said earlier this year he expected a decision by summer. During the March hearing, Walton denied Ahmed Muthana's request for the case to be fast tracked, but the judge also seemed favorable to the legal arguments made by the Muthana family's attorneys. More:Should Hoda Muthana be allowed to return from ISIS for trial in the U.S.? Trump says no.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/29/isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-appears-video-first-time-years/3617933002/

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi purportedly appears in video for first time in five years

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi purportedly appears in video for first time in five years The Islamic State terrorist group released a video Monday purportedly showing its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, for the first time in nearly five years. In the video, Baghdadi praised the Sri Lanka attackers and called those deadly bombings revenge for the Islamic State's defeat in Syria, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist groups. Those attacks, carried out on Easter Sunday against Catholic churches and high-end hotels, killed more than 250 people, including at least four Americans. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack. Sri Lankan officials said members of a local radical Islamic group carried out the bombings with the help of an international network. The ISIS video was released by Al-Furqan, the terrorist group's media outlet. It shows Baghdadi – whose whereabouts are unknown – seated on a rug or cushion with a machine gun propped up next to him and a black robe draped around his legs. His hair is covered with a black hood, but his face and bushy beard are visible. Rita Katz, executive director and founder of SITE, said the video demonstrates that ISIS remains a "serious danger." It shows not only that Baghdadi "is still alive," she wrote in a tweet Monday, "but also that he is able to reemerge to his supporters and reaffirm the group’s us-vs-the-world message after all the progress made against the group." Katz noted this is the first time Baghdadi has been seen in a video since 2014, when he gave a sermon at a mosque in Iraq. The Islamic State lost control of its last patch of territory in Syria in late March, when the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces freed the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz. Jihadists mounted a last stand there. That ended the self-declared "caliphate" ISIS established in 2014, when the terrorist group controlled a large swath of territory in Syria and Iraq. At its peak, ISIS controlled 40,000 square miles and had nearly 8 million people under its sway, according to Ambassador James Jeffrey, the State Department's special envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Most of its fighters, he said, are now dead or in prison. But during a March briefing for reporters, Jeffrey said there may be as many as 20,000 ISIS fighters remaining in Syria and Iraq. In the new video, Baghdadi talks about the end of the fighting in Syria, according to SITE. As the attacks April 21 in Sri Lanka demonstrated, that territorial defeat has not extinguished the Islamic State's capacity to unleash death and destruction. Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization, part of King's College in London, said ISIS probably released the video to prove Baghdadi is alive and portray him as a "hands-on" leader. It helps "reiterate that its jihad isn't over," Winter said in a series of tweets Monday. The bombings in Sri Lanka mirrored other Islamic State attacks. Terrorism specialists noted that ISIS has frequently used local extremists to carry out terrorist attacks, and they often aim at "soft targets" that are not well-secured. In a statement on its propaganda site, ISIS said the Sri Lanka attack specifically targeted Christians and foreigners from countries involved in fighting the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq. Experts said additional attacks would almost certainly follow. "That's because terrorism has long been a crucial promotional tactic for ISIS," Winter and Aymenn Al-Tamimi, founder of a website that collects ISIS documents, wrote in a recent analysis published by The Atlantic. "This won’t change just because the organization, which tried to build a proto-state on territory it held in Iraq and Syria, was militarily defeated earlier this year," they wrote. For ISIS, "the strategic utility of terrorism has never been greater." In December, President Donald Trump seemed to declare victory over ISIS, saying the group had been defeated in Syria and calling for the withdrawal of all American troops from that country. In the face of withering criticism from Republicans in Congress and pressure from his own advisers, Trump eventually decided to leave some U.S. military personnel in Syria to ensure that ISIS does not mount a comeback. Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard and Tom Vanden Brook

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/30/venezuela-maduro-often-uses-colectivos-rather-than-his-military/3616362002/

Venezuelan President Maduro often uses 'colectivos' rather than military to maintain order

Venezuelan President Maduro often uses 'colectivos' rather than military to maintain order When rolling blackouts once again left millions without water and electricity recently in Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro called not on his military but loyal armed groups “to defend the peace of every neighborhood” and “every block.” The groups – widely known as colectivos – took up the call with zeal. As conditions in Venezuela have gone from dire to unliveable, Maduro has increasingly relied upon colectivos to quash discontent and maintain social order. Since Jan. 23, when opposition leader Juan Guiadó invoked the constitution to declare himself interim president, embattled Maduro has faced regular large-scale protests over widespread shortages of food, medicine and water. Anti-government protests are routinely broken up by masked motorcyclists who open fire into crowds, sending protesters running for their lives, and journalists are persistently detained and threatened for covering the disturbances. The Latest:Officials for Venezuela President Maduro say government fighting 'coup' as opposition calls for uprising “They are vital as a defense mechanism in breaking up protests and generating fear in the civil population,” says defense analyst Rocío San Miguel, who points out that 2019 is notable for the growing public links between Maduro and the gangs. “They are the operating arm of the state.” But working-class communities in Caracas and across the country fear taking to the streets could cost them their food handouts or even their lives. That’s because colectivos run entire apartment blocks and neighborhoods as criminal empires. In some areas, de facto authorities levy tolls for those entering or leaving neighborhoods and control the distribution of food and medicine, says the Latin American investigative unit Insight Crime. The government increasingly relies on the unwavering loyalty of these irregular paramilitary groups to deal with the public heavy-handedly rather than the military, which could potentially disobey uncomfortable orders and cause a government-military rupture. Experts say estimates of members of colectivos run from as low as 5,000 to anywhere as high as 100,000. Maduro’s supporters claim the members of colectivos are peaceful defendants of the revolution, but Guaidó has said that all those who do not impede the actions of the “paramilitary colectivos are complicit in crimes against humanity.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio wants them added alongside guerrillas and drug traffickers to the U.S. list of Foreign Terror Organizations. Yet, these groups often operate with impunity and are sometimes trained by the state in return for securing votes and oppressing political opposition. Colectivos were not always armed gangs defending the government through violence and fear — they evolved from groups established in 2001 by the revolution’s architect and Maduro’s predecessor — Hugo Chávez Frías. “The colectivos first appeared in the early years of the Chávez administration to inform people of social policies,” explains Margarita López Maya, a Venezuelan historian and political analyst at El Rosario University in Bogotá. “The idea was to organize people and inform them of what the government was doing.” Then known as círculos Bolivarianos, or Bolivarian circles, they carried out activities ranging from workshops explaining the new constitution drawn up by Chávez to literacy support for the illiterate and social gatherings for women and youth. Like the Committees in Defense of the Revolution, or CDRs, founded in 1960s Cuba by Fidel Castro, Chávez’s close ally and friend, these groups operated as a neighborhood watch tasked with getting the urban poor on Chávez's side while keeping close tabs on them. But as national oil strikes and protests rocked Venezuela and confrontation heated up, Chávez, increasingly threatened by the opposition, looked to the groups’ other potential capacities to save the revolution. Maya traces the origin of the colectivos we know today to a private meeting held weeks ahead of the April 2002 failed coup in which the military overthrew the ex-president only for him to be reinstated, fueled by public support, 48 hours later. High-ranking military figures were reportedly shocked and confused to see civilians present in the meeting room for the first time alongside Chávez — and even more so by his unprecedented request that they be armed, according to Maya. “This may be the beginning of the colectivos,” Maya says, “when a threatened Chávez started to use civilian groups as armed tools to defend his government.” Chávez successfully rode out the failed coup attempt — which he perceived as a U.S.-backed capitalist siege — and armed civilians of the Bolivarian circles were identified as being among those who shot at anti-government demonstrators on the day of the coup. At least eighteen were killed in the bloodshed as government-loyal groups fired upon protesters. In Caracas, Chávez permitted mayors to begin arming groups with local funds, not only to defend the government but to send a message to the military that he did not trust them and would survive — with or without them. By 2005, Chávez consolidated the role of the colectivos as the country transitioned from a participatory democracy toward a socialist dictatorship. Fearing not just internal aggression, but a U.S.-led invasion to eradicate socialism from Latin America, defense forces were no longer just professional troops but also bands of armed civilians. “They were preparing for ‘a prolonged, asymmetrical war like Vietnam,' and like Vietnam, they thought an army that is the people could fight and defeat the United States,” Maya says. That war never came. But in 2013, Chávez died from cancer, leaving the future of the revolution uncertain. His appointee, Maduro, inherited control of the country and its mass oil revenues which financed the revolution. But with none of Chávez’ military connections, nor his charisma and popularity as president-cum-TV celebrity, what remained was money. Maduro set out to buy loyalties, say historians and analysts, by granting both the army and the colectivos unprecedented powers and business opportunities while siphoning off funds for their operations through corruption. When oil revenues plummeted in 2016 and the country saw the worst economic crisis in its history, that money was lost too, and the colectivos’ pots began to dry up. Some colectivos still operate as peaceful, grassroots community groups, but many now earn money mainly through lucrative criminal activities including drug trafficking, extortion, protecting illegal mines, systematic kidnapping and theft. “Today’s colectivos are unrecognizable from those originally founded by Chávez,” says Venezuelan political scientist, María Puerta-Riera, who has studied the groups extensively. “They may say they have an ideology but we know they do not; they are just mercenaries.” The true identity of colectivo members are murky: Their covered faces and unlicensed plates help obscure them. Their links with the police and the military further complicate matters. In some cases, colectivos are alleged to be trained by the military or the police, and a recruitment merry-go-round between the colectivos, police, the military and security forces keep them rotating uniforms, depending on what is needed of them. “Some receive military training and are then sent to do the dirty work the military cannot afford to,” says Puerta-Riera, who believes their control over the country will likely grow as essential resources like water become more scarce. But should state resources continue to dwindle for the colectivos, their loyalties may wane, says Maya, who believes some are already beginning to turn on Maduro. “They’re there for the money and the weapons, once that’s gone, what’s left? Maduro has already abandoned all socialist principles to cling to power — what remains ‘is how much are you going to pay me?’” Collectivos today remain the most ardent defenders of the revolution and are the most-feared groups in the country. In late February, when opposition activists attempted — and failed — to push aid into Venezuela through the Colombian border, their presence and power was front and center. “It’s not the National Guard I’m scared of, it’s the colectivos,” said Luis, a young Venezuelan who had tried to push the aid across the border. “They’re the ones who will shoot you.” Luis declined to share his last name out of fear of retribution. At the Colombian side of the border, masked gangs threw rocks and occasionally opened fire during clashes that left around 300 injured. The result was bloody melees, burning trucks and chaos. Tons of food and medical supplies were lost. Opposition leader Guaidó had hoped Maduro’s orders to block much-needed aid would be a test for national security forces that would lead to mass defections and government collapse. Venezuelan state security forces stood resolutely behind their riot shields, repelling crowds of volunteers with persistent volleys of tear gas, but colectivos proved essential in fighting off what Maduro deemed a pretext for foreign invasion. During the aid standoff, colectivos in Venezuelan border towns roved the streets on motorcycles dressed in balaclavas, forcing people to take shelter in their homes for fear of being labeled as protesters. Those who were spotted taking part in demonstrations against the regime had their houses spray-painted in an ominous marker of potential repercussions. Wendy Ortiz, 27, says the colectivos identified her at the border as an opposition activist and passed the information on to Maduro’s right-hand man, Diosdado Cabello, vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Ortiz says Cabello singled her out on television as a “terrorist” and banned her from entering the country. On another occasion, they physically detained her while she was filming demonstrations. Before protesters were able to force her free she feared they would sexually assault and then imprison her. “It was like watching a film of my life and knowing it has a terrible ending. When a colectivo catches you one of two things happen: Either you die from a bullet or you go to prison where you suffer every form of torture that exists,” Ortiz says. Read other world news at PRI or subscribe to The Scan and get news from PRI’s The World in your inbox every day. Want more news? Download the USA TODAY app

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/30/venezuela-officials-say-government-fighting-coup-attempt-amid-uprising/3624820002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

Officials for Venezuelan President Maduro say government fighting 'coup' as opposition calls for uprising

Officials for Venezuelan President Maduro say government fighting 'coup' as opposition calls for uprising Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was prepared to flee Venezuela amid an uprising by opposition forces but changed his mind at the last minute after Russian officials persuaded him to stay. “He had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave this morning as we understand it and the Russians indicated he should stay,” Pompeo told CNN on Tuesday evening. He said Maduro was headed to Cuba, a close ally of the Venezuelan socialist leader. Pompeo's surprise announcement came amid heightened tensions and civil unrest in Venezuela, with officials loyal to Maduro accusing opposition leader Juan Guaido of trying to orchestrate a "coup." Early Tuesday morning, Guaido called for a popular uprising and claimed he had the support of the military. In a video message, Guaido said he began the “final phase” of his plan to oust Maduro, and he called on the military to support him in his bid to end Maduro’s “usurpation.” Guaido's move could be a make-or-break moment in the long-simmering struggle for power in Venezuela. The potential for violence and chaos is extremely high. Tuesday afternoon, John Bolton, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, called for a peaceful transition of power from Maduro to Guaido. And Trump called on pro-Maduro Cuban security forces to leave Venezuela, threatening sanctions against the Cuban government if it continued to support the Venezuelan leader. “The moment is now,” Guaido said in the three-minute video made at a Caracas air base, where he was surrounded by soldiers and accompanied by activist Leopoldo Lopez, his political mentor. Lopez had been under house arrest, but he said Tuesday that military officials freed him and allowed him to join Guaido. "I have been released by the military to the order of the constitution and of President Guaido. I'm at the La Carlota Base," Lopez tweeted. "All to mobilize." Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's information minister, declared that Maduro's forces were "confronting and deactivating a small group of traitor military personnel" who were at a military base to "promote a coup d'état." In a message on Twitter, Rodriguez predicted the uprising would be quashed. "We call on the people to stay on high alert, along with the glorious Bolivarian National armed forces, to defeat the coup attempt and preserve the peace," he said. "We will win." Venezuela’s socialist party leader, Diosdado Cabello, called on government supporters to gather at the presidential palace to defend Maduro from what he called a small uprising of military soldiers backed by the United States. Guaido has staunch support from the Trump administration in his bid to oust Maduro, and top U.S. officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, voiced support for Guaido's move to oust Maduro. European Union:Solution is 'free and fair elections' to end standoff in Venezuela "This is obviously a very serious situation," Bolton said at the White House. "The president has been monitoring it minute by minute throughout the day." Bolton called on several top Maduro regime officials to throw their allegiance to the opposition, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and the chief justice of Venezuela's Supreme Court, Maikel José Moreno Pérez. They "all agreed that Maduro had to go," Bolton said. "They need to be able to act this afternoon or this evening to help bring other military forces to the side of the interim president." Asked whether Trump contemplated military intervention, Bolton said, "All options remain on the table. I’m simply not going to be more specific to that." It would be "a big mistake," he said, for Maduro to use force against civilians. Trump took aim at Cuba's role in supporting the Maduro regime via Twitter on Tuesday evening. The president threatened he would impose a "full and complete embargo" and the "highest-level sanctions" on Cuba if the country's police and security forces didn't withdraw. "If Cuban Troops and Militia do not immediately CEASE military and other operations for the purpose of causing death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela, a full and complete ... embargo, together with highest-level sanctions, will be placed on the island of Cuba. Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island!" Trump tweeted in a pair of posts. Venezuela experts said it was a pivotal moment for the country and could lead to either greater democracy or greater repression. "This is either the beginning of the end of the regime, if it goes well," said Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank. "And if it goes poorly, then Guaido and all other members of the opposition are going to have to go into hiding or risk mass arrest." Trump has already tightened the U.S. embargo on Cuba and taken an array of other punitive steps against the Communist island nation. This was a “hail mary” by Guaido, a last-ditch effort to pull the opposition out of a stalemate, said Alejandro Velasco, executive editor of the North American Congress on Latin America. Velasco predicted more violence in a country that since 2016 has faced economic collapse, mass displacement, health crises and growing violence and unrest. Maintaining order: Venezuelan President Maduro often uses 'colectivos' rather than military to maintain order “There is going to be pretty significant crackdowns,” he said. “It remains unclear how much support Guaido actually has.” Moises Rendon, a Latin America analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed Venezuela is at a potential “turning point.” “If this doesn’t work out, I don’t think there will be more chances for a nonviolent constitutional attempt to restore democracy,” he said. Rendon said he is not optimistic for a good outcome, given past efforts to substitute a military government for a democratic one. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called on Trump to send U.S. military forces to the region to support Guaido. “President Trump should immediately position American military assets to be ready to deliver aid to the people and defend freedom and democracy as well as U.S. national security interests in our hemisphere," Scott said in a statement Friday. "Guaido and the people of Venezuela have taken this critical step. We cannot abandon them. Inaction is not an option." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., an ardent Maduro critic, said there’s no need to dispatch U.S. troops to support Guaido right now. “He hasn’t asked for that yet,” said Rubio, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Obviously, the U.S. always retains options to act in its national security. But right now, what’s happening in Venezuela is that the rightful constitutional interim president of Venezuela … has assumed his role as commander in chief. And any security forces that are not aligned with that are operating outside the law and are unconstitutional.” Trump has denounced Maduro as illegitimate, and his administration slapped a series of crippling sanctions on his regime in an effort to squeeze the socialist leader from power. Under Maduro's rule, Venezuela has suffered from a severe economic crisis, including rampant inflation and shortages of food and medicine. Opposition leaders in Venezuela said his re-election last May was rife with irregularities; some opposition candidates were barred from running. Arnson said the Maduro-Guaido showdown could worsen an already difficult situation for the Venezuelan people. "Conditions inside the country resemble that of a country at war," she said. "The country has already been suffering dramatic shortages of food, medicine (and) continued blackouts of electricity that affect the availability of running water. ... So the desire for change is very high." Given that backdrop, she said, Maduro will have a hard time reasserting control over the government. Venezuela has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, logging more than 23,000 violent deaths in 2018 and 26,000 in 2017, according to the Venezuelan Observatory for Violence. As Maduro’s power has slipped, his use of force has become more violent. He turned to colectivos, violent motorcycle gangs, to squash opposition. Though Guaido made bids to gain the allegiances of the forces, he has largely failed to do so. “The government realized that the colectivos are just this unharnessed force that can go out and tackle whatever problem is presented," Velasco said. “Whether that be a protest or something else.” The prospect of violence has driven millions from the country. Mario Osneiber Torres Gonzalez was one of them. He fled to Medellin, Colombia, in March with his family, saying he was terrified of surges in violence he saw in his country. “I've seen houses of my neighbors broken into and robbed,” Torres Gonzalez said. The 46-year-old migrant had planned to flee the country for more than a year but hesitated to leave his business, his home and his entire family behind in Venezuela. In early March, as tensions surged and his country fell into a string of devastating blackouts, he departed. “I've seen people who have been assaulted in armed robberies where they take whatever they want. It could be something as small as a shoe or as expensive as a phone,” he said. Shesgreen reported from Washington, and Janetsky reported from Medellín, Colombia. Contributing: David Jackson and The Associated Press More:Liberal activists occupy Venezuelan Embassy in Washington to oppose Trump policy Like what you're reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/01/julian-assange-wikileaks-skipping-bail/3637390002/

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange given 50-week jail sentence for skipping bail

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange given 50-week jail sentence for skipping bail LONDON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for skipping bail in Britain seven years ago and seeking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy. Deborah Taylor, the judge at London’s Southwark Crown Court, said Assange’s time in the embassy cost British taxpayers about $21 million and she imposed a near-maximum sentence because of his "deliberate attempt to delay justice." The sentencing comes one day before a court hearing in London over a U.S. extradition request for Assange. The Department of Justice charged him with conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer system to reveal government secrets. The Justice Department alleges that Assange, a computer hacker, assisted Chelsea Manning, then a soldier in the U.S. Army, in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers. WikiLeaks subsequently published thousands of classified U.S. military and diplomatic cables and images, including video footage purportedly showing U.S. soldiers killing civilians in Iraq. Manning served nearly seven years of a 35-year sentence for theft and espionage for helping to deliver classified documents to WikiLeaks. The sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, and Manning was released in 2017. Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started Though extradition cases can take years before a decision is reached, Wednesday's sentencing probably means it will be close to a year before U.S. prosecutors have any chance of getting their hands on Assange. Journalist or criminal?:Julian Assange was notorious for leaks of US secrets Assange was arrested last month inside the Embassy of Ecuador after the South American country revoked his political asylum. The 47-year-old Australian sought asylum in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted for questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations. Assange's legal team expected that if he was extradited to Sweden, he would subsequently be extradited from the Scandinavian nation to the USA. The rape and sexual assault charges against Assange were dropped because his residence in the Ecuadorian Embassy stymied the investigation and the statute of limitations expired. Swedish prosecutors indicated they are considering a request from one of Assange's alleged victims to reopen the rape investigation. If that happens, Assange could face a competing claim for extradition. As he arrived at Southwark Crown Court in a prison van Wednesday, Assange raised a clenched fist. Like what you’re reading?:Download the USA TODAY app for more What Barr plans to tell Congress:Read his opening statement Mueller-Barr:Robert Mueller objected to Attorney General Barr's letter clearing President Trump of obstruction Mark Summers, Assange’s lawyer, told a courtroom packed with journalists and WikiLeaks supporters that his client sought refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy because "he was living with overwhelming fear of being rendered to the U.S." Summers said Assange had a "well-founded" fear he would be mistreated and sent to Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. detention camp in Cuba for terrorism suspects. Assange is a controversial figure: Supporters argue his work has revealed politically uncomfortable truths about the way governments and military operate; critics say he has endangered lives and used subversive and even criminal tactics. "I found myself struggling with terrifying circumstances," Assange said in a letter read to the court by Summers. Assange apologized for his behavior in 2012. "I did what I thought was best," he said. Assange could face up to five years in a U.S. prison if convicted of conspiracy charges in connection with one of the largest leaks of U.S. classified information in history. Big leaks:Six doozies from Julian Assange's WikiLeaks over the years

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/02/julian-assange-wikileaks-founder-resists-us-extradition-in-court/3638113002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

'Not for doing journalism’: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he does not want to surrender to US

'Not for doing journalism’: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he does not want to surrender to US LONDON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, appearing before a British court Thursday, said he would not surrender to a U.S. extradition request as he defended his efforts to steal classified American government records as journalism. "Not for doing journalism that's won many, many awards and affected many people," the Australian, 47, said by video link from Belmarsh Prison, a high-security jail in south-east London. Assange looked relaxed, dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt and a dark blazer as he addressed Judge Michael Snow at Westminster Magistrates court. Assange was not handcuffed during his brief appearance. Thursday's hearing was the first in a case likely to drag on for months, if not years. U.S. authorities are seeking Assange's extradition because the Department of Justice has charged him with conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer system to reveal a large cache of top-secret files on everything from the war in Afghanistan to diplomatic letters between State Department officials and U.S. ambassadors. The court on Thursday scheduled a further procedural hearing date for May 30. Snow said the first substantive action related to the case would likely commence June 12. "The charges relate to one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the U.S.," said Ben Brandon, a lawyer representing the U.S. government. Brandon said that the documents Assange downloaded from the Pentagon computer included 90,000 war reports related to Afghanistan, 400,000 from the Iraq War, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessments and 250,000 State Department cables. About three dozen activists gathered outside the court to protest Assange's potential extradition. They waved banners and held up photos of Assange with his mouth covered with the American flag. "Civilized people do not extradite publishers of war crimes to war criminal regimes, do they?" one such sign read. "Free Assange" and "No extradition" read others. "It's about journalistic freedom," Icelandic investigative reporter and WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said speaking to reporters outside the court. Some protesters later temporarily blocked a road outside the court. The hearing comes one day after a separate British court sentenced Assange to 50 weeks in a British prison for skipping bail seven years ago and seeking refuge in Ecuador's Embassy in London. Assange apologized to the court and said he was "struggling with terrifying circumstances" when he decided to hole up in the embassy. When he arrived at Southwark Crown Court in a prison van on Wednesday, Assange raised a clenched fist, a gesture he repeated as he left the court to be returned to prison. He white hair and long beard were trimmed, a marked contrast to Assange's disheveled appearance when he was carried out head-first of Ecuador's embassy on April 11, looking frail and disoriented, by British police. The U.S. alleges that Assange, who is known for his exceptional computer hacking skills, assisted Chelsea Manning, then a soldier in the U.S. Army, in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers. WikiLeaks subsequently published thousands of classified U.S. military and diplomatic cables and images, including video footage allegedly showing U.S. soldiers killing civilians in Iraq. Manning served nearly seven years of a 35-year sentence for theft and espionage for helping to deliver classified documents to WikiLeaks. Manning's sentence was later commuted by former President Barack Obama and she was released in 2017. Assange faces up to five years in a U.S. prison if convicted of conspiracy charges. Journalist or criminal?Julian Assange notorious for leaks of US secrets Assange was arrested last month inside the Ecuadorian embassy after the South American country revoked his political asylum. He sought asylum in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted for questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations. At the time, Assange's legal team believed that if he were extradited to Sweden he would subsequently be extradited to the U.S. Assange denies the rape and sexual assault allegations, which were dropped because his residence in Ecuador's embassy stymied the investigation, and because the statute of limitations expired. Swedish prosecutors have indicated that they are considering a request from one of Assange's alleged victims to re-open the rape probe. If that happens, Assange could face a competing new claim for extradition to Sweden. Anand Doobay, a London-based lawyer who specializes in extradition law, said that Assange's case is now further complicated by his 50-week sentence. He said that extradition cases can take "a very long time" and that the decision may ultimately reside with Britain's secretary of state, who will need to be satisfied that Assange would not face the death penalty in the U.S. or be charged with additional crimes. He said that if Sweden decided to renew its request for extradition based on the rape probe, the secretary of state would also need to decide which request to favor. "There are significant legal obstacles for the U.S. case," said Daniela Nadj, a professor of law at Queen Mary, University of London, adding that "many questions need to be answered." Among them: If Sweden decides to renew its extradition claim whether a rape allegation should take precedence over a hacking one. "Right now Julian will be fighting a battle against despair and despondency," Lauri Love, a British activist who won a U.S. extradition appeal in 2018 for allegedly hacking into the computer systems of the FBI, U.S. Federal Reserve and NASA, told USA TODAY outside the court in London where he showed up to support Assange. "He'll be facing the same worries I had," Love, 34, who said he is a friend of Assange's, noted. "Being sent to a place where you have no friends, no family and where you are facing the prospect of facing many people who consider you to be the enemy." Like what you’re reading?:Download the USA TODAY app for more

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/03/cyclone-fani-india/3660637002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories

At least three killed as Cyclone Fani hits India’s east coast; 1.2 million evacuated

At least three killed as Cyclone Fani hits India’s east coast; 1.2 million evacuated KOLKATA, India – At least three people were reported killed on Friday as Cyclone Fani tore through India’s eastern coast as a grade 5 storm, lashing beaches with rain and winds gusting up to 127 miles per hour and affecting weather as far away as Mount Everest as it approached the former imperial capital of Kolkata. The India Meteorological Department said the “extremely severe” cyclone in the Bay of Bengal — the strongest to strike India in five years — hit the coastal state of Odisha around 8 a.m., with weather impacted across the Asian subcontinent. Dust storms were forecast in the desert state of Rajasthan bordering Pakistan, heat waves in the coastal state of Maharashtra on the Arabian Sea, heavy rain in the northeastern states bordering China and snowfall in the Himalayas. Around 1.2 million people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Odisha and moved to nearly 4,000 shelters, according to India’s National Disaster Response Force. Indian officials put the navy, air force, army and coast guard on high alert. Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said the evacuation effort was unprecedented in India. By Friday afternoon, Fani had weakened to a “very severe” storm as it hovered over coastal Odisha and was forecast to move north-northeast toward the Indian state of West Bengal by Friday evening. "After making landfall this morning, Cyclone Fani has started weakening and it’s likely to enter Bangladesh by tomorrow evening. No cyclone ever had such a long duration in April,” KJ Ramesh, director general of the India Meteorological Department, said during a news briefing, the Hindustan Times reported. In Bhubaneswar, a city in Odisha famous for an 11th-century Hindu temple, palm trees whipped back and forth like mops across skies made opaque by gusts of rain. It is a “very, very scary feeling,” said Tanmay Das, a 40-year-old resident, who described “the sound of wind as if it will blow you away.” Most of the area’s thatched-roof houses were destroyed, and there was no electricity. The national highway to Puri, a popular tourist beach city with other significant Hindu antiquities, was littered with fallen trees and electricity poles and a blue highway sign, making it impassable. A special train ran Thursday to evacuate tourists from the city. The airport in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, closed from 3 p.m. Friday to Saturday morning, and rail lines were closed. At least 200 trains were canceled across India. The storm hit in the middle of India’s six-week general election, with rain forecast in Kolkata forcing political parties to cancel campaign events. The National Disaster Response Force dispatched 54 rescue and relief teams of doctors, engineers and deep-sea divers to flood-prone areas along the coast and as far afield as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a group of islands that comprise a union territory about 1,300 kilometers (840 miles) east of mainland India in the Bay of Bengal. Up to four inches of rain were expected in much of Sri Lanka, the island nation off the eastern tip of India. More than 1,430 miles away on Mount Everest, some mountaineers and Sherpa guides were descending to lower camps as weather worsened at higher elevations. The government issued a warning that heavy snowfall was expected in the higher mountain areas with rain and storms lower down, and asked trekking agencies to take tourists to safety. Hundreds of climbers, their guides, cooks and porters huddled at the Everest base camp, according to Pemba Sherpa of Xtreme Climbers Trek, who said weather and visibility was poor. May is the best month to climb the 29,035-foot Everest when Nepal experiences a few windows of good weather to scale the peak. “It is still the beginning of the month, so there is no reason for climbers to worry” that weather from the cyclone will cost them their chance to reach the summit, Sherpa said. On India’s cyclone scale, Fani is the second-most severe, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. Its timing is unusual, according to data from the Meteorological Department. Most extremely severe cyclones hit India’s east coast in the post-monsoon season. Over roughly half a century, 23, or nearly 60% of the cyclones, to hit India were observed between October and December. Because Fani spent 10 days gathering strength over the sea, it delivered a huge blow when it made landfall. Some of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record have occurred in the Bay of Bengal. A 1999 “super” cyclone killed around 10,000 people and devastated large parts of Odisha. Due to improved forecasts and better coordinated disaster management, the death toll from Cyclone Phailin, an equally intense storm that hit in 2013, was less than 50, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The 1999 super cyclone reached wind speeds of 161-173 mph, said India Meteorological Department scientist Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. “This is not as bad,” he said. “Apart from these winds which may cause damage in terms of uprooting small trees in West Bengal and some big trees in Odisha and extensive damage to thatched houses and mud houses … (and) disruption of power and telecommunication lines,” Mohapatra said, “it can also impact the rail and road traffic and also air traffic for some time.” Sethi, the special commissioner in Odisha, said communications were disrupted in some areas, but no deaths or injuries had been reported. In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh just south of Odisha, Fani topped electricity poles and uprooted others, leaving them in sharp angles. In the Srikakulam district, where around 20,000 people were evacuated, thatched-roof houses collapsed and fishing boats left unmoored on beaches were sliced into shards. The district experienced wind speeds of 87 mph and received heavy rains but no loss of life or major damage was reported, district collector J. Niwas said. Authorities in Bangladesh evacuated about 400,000 people and took them to cyclone shelters – decades-old, raised concrete structures – as the weather office forecast that the storm would cross the country’s vast southwestern coastal region by midnight. The world’s largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, is located in the region. Shah Kamal, a Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief official, said Friday in the capital, Dhaka, that members of the navy and coast guard, as well as police and volunteers, were working around the clock to help with evacuations and stocking emergency supplies of dry food and medicine. “But I think we will not be affected severely given the weakening force of the cyclone Fani,” he said. Operations of water vessels in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 130 rivers, were suspended since Thursday. Local media reports said at least 10 villages had been inundated with water in coastal Patuakhali district in southern Bangladesh after flood embankments were breached by the force of the cyclone. Authorities also halted activities at Chittagong Seaport, which handles 80% of the country’s overseas trade. Aid agencies warned that more than 1 million Rohingya from Myanmar living at refugee camps near the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar were at risk. Hillol Sobhan, local communications director for the aid group Care, said it had emergency supplies for refugees. Police used hand-held microphones to clear people off a beach in Cox’s Bazar and hoisted red flags near the choppy sea. More:800K flee as India braces for direct hit from 'dangerous' Cyclone Fani More:'Unprecedented, catastrophic:' Cyclone Kenneth slams into storm-battered Mozambique

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/04/trump-north-korea-missile-launch-deal-kim-jong-un/1100423001/

After North Korean missile launch, Trump still has confidence in deal with Kim Jong Un

After North Korean missile launch, Trump still has confidence in deal with Kim Jong Un WASHINGTON – After North Korea fired a barrage of missiles early Saturday, its first tests in more than a year, President Donald Trump said he remains confident in negotiations with Kim Jong Un and that a nuclear deal is still possible. Trump contended that Kim would not do anything to hurt relations between the United States and the North, saying the North Korean leader did not want to "break his promise" when it came to the testing of missiles and nuclear weapons. "Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it," Trump posted to Twitter Saturday morning. "He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!" Trump's remarks came hours after South Korea said the North had fired several missiles into the sea off its eastern coast. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff is analyzing the launch and aiming to identify the type of missiles, which they said flew about 125 miles in the direction of the ocean before landing in the water. Optimism in deal:Negotiations between Trump, North Korea at a standstill, but optimism still in force at DMZ If it’s confirmed that the North fired banned ballistic missiles, it would be the first such launch since the North’s November 2017 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. That year saw a string of increasingly powerful weapons tests from the North and a belligerent response from Trump that had many in the region fearing war. The launch comes less than three months since Trump met with Kim in Hanoi to negotiate denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The summit, which was the second held between the leaders, ended without any agreement on denuclearization or sanctions relief. The launch would not violate Kim’s self-imposed testing moratorium, which prevented the country from testing intercontinental-range ballistic missiles. But the news is sure to raise tensions between North Korea and the United States and was seen as an act of aggression to display the country's unhappiness in the aftermath of the February summit. Experts say the North may increase these sorts of low-level provocations to apply pressure on the United States to agree to reduce crushing international sanctions. Harry Kazianis, who works for the conservative think tank National Interest, said the launch made it clear that "North Korea is angry" after February's summit with Trump, and the administration's "lack of flexibility" when it comes to sanctions. "Chairman Kim has decided to remind the world — and specifically the United States — that his weapons' capabilities are growing by the day," Kazianis said. "My fear is that we are at the beginning stages of a slide back to the days of nuclear war threats and personal insults, a dangerous cycle of spiking tensions that must be avoided at all costs." The latest:North Korea fires several short-range missiles, its first launch in more than a year Talks souring:North Korea wants Pompeo out of talks; Kremlin announces an April visit by Kim Jong Un South Korea said in a statement it’s “very concerned” about North Korea’s weapons launches, calling them a violation of last year’s inter-Korean agreements to reduce animosities between the countries. The statement, issued after an emergency meeting of top officials at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, also urged North Korea to stop committing acts that would raise military tensions and join efforts to resume nuclear diplomacy. North Korea wants widespread sanctions relief in return for disarmament moves that the United States has rejected as insufficient. In a sign of Pyongyang’s growing frustration, it has recently demanded that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo be removed from nuclear negotiations and criticized national security adviser John Bolton. Last month, Kim oversaw the testing of a new "tactical guided weapon." It was the nation's first publicly announced weapons test since last year. The country's state-run news outlet KCNA did not specify what kind of weapon the North Koreans tested last month but said the event was "of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power" of the country's military. In March, after North Korean officials threatened to resume testing missiles, Pompeo said that Kim had promised Trump that such tests would not happen. "In Hanoi, on multiple occasions, he spoke directly to the president and made a commitment that he would not resume nuclear testing nor would he resume missile testing," Pompeo said. "So that’s Chairman Kim’s word. We have every expectation he will live up to that commitment." Just last week, Pompeo reiterated that negotiating with the North could be fruitful and stressed it would take time. "There are lots of elements of this. There are many pieces. It’s an enormous challenge for that country to make its shift, too," Pompeo said in an interview for CBS' "Intelligence Matters" podcast, noting the country's history of telling its citizens that nukes "kept them secure." "So there’s not just a military strategic decision, but a political strategic decision that we think Chairman Kim is prepared to make," Pompeo said. "Only time will tell for sure, but I’ve seen enough to believe that there is a real opportunity to fundamentally shift the strategic paradigm on the peninsula there." After Saturday's launch, North Korea could choose to fire more missiles with longer ranges in coming weeks to ramp up its pressure on the United States to come up with a roadmap for nuclear talks by the end of this year, said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University. “North Korea wants to say, ‘We have missiles and nuclear weapons to cope with (U.S.-led) sanctions,’” said Nam. “They can fire short-range missiles a couple more times this month, and there is no guarantee that they won’t fire a medium-range missile next month.” Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen and Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY; Associated Press

e63a945f0da49a22c0537507c16f6616

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/07/bubonic-plague-deaths-marmot-meat-mongolia-spark-quarantine/1126785001/

After eating raw rodent’s kidney for 'good health,' couple die of bubonic plague, spark quarantine

After eating raw rodent’s kidney for 'good health,' couple die of bubonic plague, spark quarantine A Mongolian couple died from the bubonic plague after eating raw marmot meat, sparking a quarantine that trapped tourists for days, officials said Monday. According to AFP, the couple died May 1 in a remote area of the country's Bayan-Ölgii province, which borders China and Russia. A six-day quarantine of 118 people who had come in contact with the couple, including locals and a number of foreign tourists, had been lifted as of Tuesday, Ariuntuya Ochirpurev, a World Health Organization official, told the BBC. Ochirpurev told BBC that the couple ate the rodent's raw meat and kidney, which is believed to be good for health in the area. "After the quarantine (was announced) not many people, even locals, were in the streets for fear of catching the disease," Sebastian Pique, an American Peace Corps volunteer in the area, told AFP. Bubonic plague can be transmitted via infected fleas and animals, like prairie dogs, squirrels, rats and rabbits, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. More:Cause of London’s 17th century Great Plague revealed, thanks to DNA Want news from USA TODAY on WhatsApp? Click this link on your mobile device to get started Throughout history, plague epidemics have caused widespread death around the globe in certain periods. While modern antibiotics can now treat the disease and prevent its spread, infections in humans do still occur in parts of the western United States as well as in Africa and Asia, the CDC says. The local governor Aipiin Gilimkhaan told AFP that no other cases have been reported in the area. According to the new agency, at least one person a year in Mongolia dies from the plague, often from eating raw meat carrying Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium. Swollen, painful lymph node, usually in the groin, armpit or neck, is the main symptom of the bubonic plague, the CDC says. Fever, chills, headache, and extreme exhaustion can also occur.

77868a5b4bfa88bcaea9c3d214b2586c

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/08/united-nations-443-dead-2110-wounded-tripoli-libya-offensive/1144542001/

United Nations says 443 died in Libya since offensive began against Tripoli in last month

United Nations says 443 died in Libya since offensive began against Tripoli in last month UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. health agency says 443 people have died and 2,110 have been wounded in violence in Libya's capital since the head of the self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive against Tripoli last month. With the number of people displaced by fighting approaching 60,000, the World Health Organization said in a tweet Wednesday that it is working to coordinate ongoing health services for them. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Wednesday the U.N. is very concerned about reports that airstrikes a day earlier hit a migrant detention center in Tajoura in eastern Tripoli, reportedly injuring two migrants. He told reporters the U.N. mission in Libya "is also deeply concerned about increased cases of arbitrary arrest and abduction of officials, activists and journalists" and is calling for their immediate release. More stories:Download the USA TODAY app

c3abd663511536fa3158f5333218b7bb

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/13/sabotage-attacks-hit-two-oil-tankers-saudi-arabia-says/1186447001/

Saudi Arabia says 2 oil tankers damaged by sabotage attacks

Saudi Arabia says 2 oil tankers damaged by sabotage attacks FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia said Monday two of its oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in attacks that caused "significant damage" to the vessels, one of them as it was en route to pick up Saudi oil to take to the United States. The announcement by the kingdom’s energy minister, Khalid al-Falih, came as the U.S. issued a new warning to sailors and the UAE’s regional allies condemned the reported sabotage Sunday of four ships off the coast of the port city of Fujairah. The statement came just hours after Iranian and Lebanese media outlets aired false reports of explosions at the city’s port. Emirati officials have declined to elaborate on the nature of the sabotage or say who might have been responsible. The U.S. has warned ships that "Iran or its proxies" could be targeting maritime traffic in the region. America is deploying an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf to counter alleged threats from Tehran. Shortly after the Saudi announcement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for further clarification about what exactly happened with the Saudi tankers. The ministry’ spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying there should be more information about the incident. Mousavi also warned against any “conspiracy orchestrated by ill-wishers” and “adventurism by foreigners” to undermine the maritime region’s stability and security. Tensions have risen in the year since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, restoring American sanctions that have pushed Iran’s economy into crisis. Last week, Iran warned it would begin enriching uranium at higher levels in 60 days if world powers failed to negotiate new terms for the deal. In his statement, al-Falih said the attacks on the two tankers happened at 6 a.m. Sunday. "One of the two vessels was on its way to be loaded with Saudi crude oil from the port of Ras Tanura, to be delivered to Saudi Aramco’s customers in the United States," al-Falih said. “Fortunately, the attack didn’t lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels." Saudi Arabia did not identify the vessels involved, nor did it say whom it suspected of carrying out the alleged sabotage. Underling the regional risk, the general-secretary of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council described the alleged sabotage as a "serious escalation" in an overnight statement. “Such irresponsible acts will increase tension and conflicts in the region and expose its peoples to great danger,” Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said. Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen’s internationally recognized government similarly condemned the alleged sabotage. A statement Sunday from the UAE’s Foreign Ministry put the ships near the country’s territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of the port of Fujairah. It said it was investigating “in cooperation with local and international bodies.” It said there were “no injuries or fatalities on board the vessels” and “no spillage of harmful chemicals or fuel.” The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the region, did not immediately offer comment. Emirati officials declined to answer questions from The Associated Press, saying their investigation is ongoing. Earlier Sunday, Lebanon’s pro-Iran satellite channel Al-Mayadeen, quoting “Gulf sources,” falsely reported that a series of explosions had struck Fujairah’s port. State and semi-official media in Iran picked up the report from Al-Mayadeen, which later published the names of vessels it claimed were involved. The AP, after speaking to Emirati officials and local witnesses, found the report about explosions at the port to be unsubstantiated. Fujairah’s port is about 140 kilometers (85 miles) south of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a third of all oil at sea is traded. The facility handles oil for bunkering and shipping, as well as general and bulk cargo. It is seen as strategically located, serving shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Sunday’s incident comes after the U.S. Maritime Administration, a division of the U.S. Transportation Department, warned Thursday that Iran could target commercial sea traffic. “Since early May, there is an increased possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take action against U.S. and partner interests, including oil production infrastructure, after recently threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz,” the warning read. “Iran or its proxies could respond by targeting commercial vessels, including oil tankers, or U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait or the Persian Gulf.” Early Sunday, the agency issued a new warning to sailors about the alleged sabotage, while stressing “the incident has not been confirmed.” It urged shippers to exercise caution in the area for the next week. Publicly available satellite images of the area taken Sunday showed no smoke or fire. It remains unclear if the previous warning from the U.S. Maritime Administration is the same perceived threat that prompted the White House to order the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region on May 4.

bf3765f14fc47efb0f06d22caf60d92b

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/14/iran-trump-bolton-dragging-tehran-devastating-and-unnecessary-war/3664144002/

Iran says Trump playing 'very dangerous game,' risking 'devastating war'

Iran says Trump playing 'very dangerous game,' risking 'devastating war' LONDON – The United States is playing a "very dangerous game" as it attempts to "drag Iran into an unnecessary war," a senior Iranian official said Tuesday. Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, said the Trump administration made a "serious miscalculation" in deploying an aircraft carrier strike group, B-52 bombers and other military personnel and equipment to the Persian Gulf to counter alleged, unspecified Iranian threats. Baeidinejad denied that Iran or its "proxies" were behind what Washington described as the "sabotage" of oil tankers in the Gulf belonging to Saudi Arabia, Norway and the United Arab Emirates. Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said drones attacked one of its oil pipelines and other energy infrastructure, an incident that caused global oil price benchmarks to jump. "We are prepared for any eventuality, this I can tell you," Baeidinejad said. The United States and Iran have no formal diplomatic channel of communication. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, said neither country wants a war. Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox "This is not a military confrontation because no war is to happen," he said, according to Iran's state television and a government Twitter account. "We don’t seek a war nor do they. They know a war wouldn’t be beneficial for them." Baeidinejad said that from the Iranian perspective, it appears that some of President Donald Trump's closest advisers, such as national security adviser John Bolton, are "trying to convince" Trump to start a military confrontation that neither country wants and would be "devastating" for Iran, the United States and the region. 'They're not going to be happy': Trump threatens Iran over reports of 'sabotage' Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan presented a military plan at a meeting of top national security officials that would send as many as 120,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East in the event Iran strikes U.S. forces in the region or speeds up its development of nuclear weapons, according to a report published in The New York Times on Monday. The plan was partly ordered by Bolton, the report said. It does not call for a land invasion of Iran. Trump dismissed the report but said he would send U.S. troops if needed. Since last week, the Trump administration has insisted it has "specific and credible" intelligence indicating Iran or its regional supporters may be preparing attacks against American forces or targets in the region. "It's going to be a bad problem for Iran if something happens," Trump said Monday outside the White House. The details of that intelligence remain murky; some seasoned Iran experts fear the Trump administration's focus on possible threats from Iran are being driven by hawks looking for a pretext for military conflict. "We should remind ourselves that this is a TOTALLY UNNECESSARY CRISIS!" Trita Parsi, a professor at Georgetown University and an Iran specialist, wrote on Twitter. Last year, Trump withdrew from a landmark deal reached between Iran and world powers in 2015 under which Iran promised to curtail its nuclear program in return for relief from crippling sanctions. President Barack Obama viewed the accord as one his signature foreign policy accomplishments. Trump campaigned on abolishing it. "We're only here cuz Trump quit the deal and put Bolton in charge of Iran policy," Parsi tweeted. On Wednesday, the U.S. put its military on high alert in neighboring Iraq amid what it said were "imminent threats to US. forces" in the nation. Iran aids a number of Shia militant groups in Iraq, in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen – who are at war with close U.S. ally Saudi Arabia – and elsewhere across the Middle East region. The U.S. Embassy in Iraq ordered all non-essential, non-emergency government staff to leave the country right away amid escalating tensions with Iran. But the threats have drawn skepticism from U.S. allies. British Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, a deputy commander with the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition, said Tuesday during a video briefing from Iraq that "there’s been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria," a statement that was subsequently disputed by the Pentagon. Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, called Monday for "maximum restraint" from the U.S. after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Brussels on Monday. "This is politics, and this is about Bolton and others who have had a bee in their bonnet about Iran for as long as they have been in politics," said Robert Muggah, a specialist in international security and co-founder of the SecDev Group, an Ottawa, Canada-headquartered consultancy that analyzes open source intelligence. Trump has pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran, slapping the Middle Eastern country with a series of increasingly onerous sanctions that crippled its economy, led to runaway inflation and caused food and medicine shortages. Last week, Tehran announced that it was abandoning two of its obligations under the nuclear deal: exporting excess uranium and "heavy water" used in nuclear reactors. The Trump administration characterized the move as an attempt by Iran to hold the United States "hostage" through "nuclear blackmail." But Iran's partial breach of the accord was a direct response to the United States ending exemptions from nations that purchase these stockpiles. In other words: Iran took that step to comply with U.S. sanctions. "The (nuclear deal) is becoming meaningless because of the U.S.," Baeidinejad said, noting that Iran gave the three Western European signatories to the deal – the United Kingdom, Germany and France – 60 days to "salvage" it. Otherwise, he said, "there will be consequences from our side" that could include suspending modernization of Iran's Arak nuclear facility. Modernization of the "heavy water" plant ensures it will produce less plutonium, which is needed for a nuclear bomb. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog verified 14 times that Iran was complying with the terms of the agreement – even after the United States withdrew last May. Baeidinejad wouldn't say whether Iran would consider Trump's possible offer to hold talks with Tehran. "I'd like to see them call me," Trump said last week. Tuesday, Pompeo, who was in Moscow where he met with his Russian counterpart, reiterated that the United States doesn't seek a war with Iran. That's not how the U.S. military moves looked to some in Iran. "You wanted a better deal with Iran. Looks like you are going to get a war instead," Hesameddin Ashena, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, wrote on Twitter. Ashena also found room for a moment of levity on the social media platform. "That’s what happens when you listen to the mustache," he added in the tweet, referring to Bolton, who has bushy white whiskers. Middle East in turmoil:Saudi Arabia says 2 oil tankers damaged by sabotage attacks

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/15/vintage-2-2-million-ferrari-stolen-possible-buyer-later-recovered/3678081002/

Potential buyer turns test drive for vintage $2.2 million Ferrari into grand theft auto

Potential buyer turns test drive for vintage $2.2 million Ferrari into grand theft auto BERLIN – When someone wants to test drive the vehicle you're selling you're very cautious. Right? Especially when the car is worth $2.2 million. Yet, German police recovered a valuable 1980s Ferrari stolen during a test drive and are searching for the man believed to have sped off with the car while posing as a would-be buyer. The red Ferrari 288 GTO, first registered in 1985, is believed to be worth more than $2.2 million. A man answering an advertisement turned up for a sales appointment in Duesseldorf on Monday, then sped off with the vehicle when the seller got out of the car to swap places during a test drive. The Ferrari was recovered Tuesday in the nearby Grevenbroich area, where it was hidden in a garage. Police are still seeking the thief and released a picture Wednesday of a middle-aged man, and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/16/john-bolton-pushing-donald-trump-and-u-s-into-war-iran/3694406002/

Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran. Is John Bolton driving the US into a conflict anyway?

Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran. Is John Bolton driving the US into a conflict anyway? WASHINGTON – "Is John Bolton the most dangerous man in the world?" That headline leaped from the pages of a British newspaper on Thursday, which declared the U.S. "is closer to war with Iran than it has been since the Bush years, or perhaps ever." And, the opinion writer added, Trump's national security adviser "is largely to blame." That view – that Bolton is driving Trump into a perilous military confrontation with America's principal foe in the Middle East – is ricocheting across the globe, from Tehran to Washington. But national security experts inside and outside the White House say Bolton's role has been exaggerated – and his influence with the president has been overstated, particularly when it comes to the prospect of a costly war with Iran. For starters, Trump has made it clear he doesn't like the idea and is generally averse to foreign military entanglements. Asked on Thursday if his administration is marching toward war with Iran, Trump offered a three-word response: "I hope not." A hard-line message to Iran Bolton is simply playing his part in a geopolitical dance designed to send a hard-line message to the Iranian regime, said Mark Dubowitz, the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based foreign policy research institute that supports strong pressure on Iran. "Bolton in many ways is from central casting if you were looking for a consummate hawk," said Dubowitz, who has advised the Trump administration and previous presidents on Iran policy. "It’s all useful from the psyops perspective." Dubowitz said the White House has deliberately trumpeted its decision to send B-52 bombers and other military forces to Iran, purposefully said that move was in response to threats from Iran and intentionally used Bolton as a key messenger. "I think it’s actually a well-orchestrated campaign that has a public relations piece, a military positioning piece, (and) obviously the economic financial piece" of escalating sanctions, Dubowitz said. Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are the perfect "bad cops," he said, to make Iran – and the rest of the world – nervous about Trump's intentions. "Trump can go from fire and fury to writing love letters, so he has a certain amount of diplomatic flexibility," he said. One minute he can be as bellicose as Bolton, and the next he can shout, "'Hey, hi there. Do you want to talk.'" That's what Trump seemed to be doing on Thursday, when he met with the president of the Swiss government, which is known for its role in mediating potential conflicts between Iran and the U.S. "I’m sure that Iran will want to talk soon," Trump tweeted on Wednesday in a pair of messages seen directed in part at Bolton. The president used social media to downplay reports of divisions within the administration over Iran. "There is no infighting whatsoever," Trump said. "Different opinions are expressed and I make a decisive and final decision – it is a very simple process." Hawkish past concerns lawmakers Lawmakers are not reassured. "This president has surrounded himself with people – Pompeo and Bolton in particular – who believe that getting tough on a military basis with Iran is in our best interest. I do not," said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the chamber's No. 2 Democratic leader. Durbin and other lawmakers said Bolton's past statements on Iran, and his trumpeting of questionable intelligence in the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq war, are deeply concerning. Before Bolton joined the Trump administration, he vocally advocated for regime change in Iran. He also played a key role in pushing for the U.S. invasion of Iraq during the George W. Bush administration, which relied on faulty intelligence about Saddam Hussein's chemical and nuclear weapons program. Now with Iran, Durbin said the situation has become so tense and the rhetoric so hot, that even if Trump has no desire for war, he may stumble into it. He noted, for example, that the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and at war with Saudi Arabia in Yemen, could launch an attack that inadvertently kills an American service member. "I fear ... we’re going to have a Gulf of Tonkin moment, where there is some American or serviceman who is going to be injured or killed and people are going to be calling for retribution," Durbin said. But Bolton is only one of many advisers Trump speaks to about Iran and other foreign policy issues, said current and former officials. He hears a lot of different views, and often throws out ideas of his own – sometimes ideas he doesn't really plan to pursue. Throughout his presidency, Trump's sounding boards have ranged from super hawks like Bolton to cautious types like former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. From anti-China tariff warriors like Peter Navarro to more market-oriented types like Larry Kudlow. Trump tends to be against intervention At some point – no one knows how or when – Trump suddenly makes a decision. He often announces things before informing unwitting staff members, sometimes by tweet and sometimes by statements to inquiring reporters. "It's not exactly chaos," said one former staff member. "But it's not orderly." Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said Bolton and the president are on the same page. "Working closely with President Trump’s national security team, Ambassador Bolton continues to coordinate the President’s guidance to protect American personnel and interests from Iranian threats abroad," he said. Trump and his advisers chafe at claims that Bolton is some kind of "puppet master" leading Trump into war. Having campaigned against "stupid wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan, Trump is highly unlikely to order military action against Iran, administration officials said, despite the rising beat of war drums from Bolton and others. While giving free rein to his aides to express dissenting views, Trump is annoyed at Bolton for being so publicly bellicose toward Iran, fearing it increases the chances for accidental war. Talk of war with Iran is "way ahead of where things are" within the administration, particularly with Trump, one official said. The exception would be if Iran attacks U.S. personnel in the Middle East, officials said – a development that may be more likely in part because of a Trump management style that is haphazard at best and chaotic at worst. But Trump often sticks with his pre-existing views, and his default position in foreign policy tends to be against intervention. He has pushed to withdraw U.S troops from Afghanistan and Syria, over the objections of military advisers. Mattis resigned in part over Trump's plan – later modified – to withdraw troops from Syria. The flip side, officials say, is that Trump may be getting painted into a corner, and would have to respond if Iran does something to U.S. personnel. For all his criticism of the George W. Bush administration's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Trump has as his national security adviser a major proponent of those interventions. Durbin said he fears he's watching a replay of the debate for the Iraq war. "The weapons of mass destruction turned out to be a fiction, and we were just stampeding into this invasion at that time," he aid. "I see it again, all over again."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/17/gop-lawmaker-says-iran-threats-were-kill-and-kidnap-us-soldiers-michael-mccaul/3708808002/?utm_source=Eye+on+Iran%3A+Trump%27s+Sanctions+On+Iran+Are+Hitting+Hezbollah%2C+And+It+Hurts&utm_campaign=eye-on-iran&utm_medium=email

GOP lawmaker on Iran threat: Directive was to 'kill and kidnap American soldiers'

GOP lawmaker on Iran threat: Directive was to 'kill and kidnap American soldiers' WASHINGTON – A top Republican lawmaker said Friday that the threat from Iran picked up by U.S. intelligence – which sparked a U.S. military deployment to the Middle East and heightened tensions across the region – was very specific and involved the possible kidnapping and killing of American soldiers. "To the extent I can discuss it, it was human intelligence," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told USA TODAY on Friday. He was referring to intelligence information that prompted the Pentagon to deploy an aircraft carrier, along with B-52 bombers and other military forces, to the Middle East. Trump administration officials said the move was made to counter what they described as credible threats from Iran to U.S. forces in the region. McCaul said U.S. intelligence officials learned that the head of Iran's Quds Force, a unit of Iran's military force, met with Iran's proxy militias and said: "We are getting ready to have a proxy war and target Americans." He said the same message was delivered to a Hezbollah proxy group. Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored terrorist group. "One of the Hezbollah cells is known for its kidnapping and killing operations, and their directive was to go in and kill and kidnap American soldiers," McCaul said. McCaul made the comments in a brief interview with USA TODAY after delivering remarks on U.S. foreign policy at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He made similar comments in a question-and-answer session at that event. The Guardian newspaper first reported some details of this threat, citing unnamed sources. The leader of Iran's Quds Force is Major General Qasem Soleimani, an extremely powerful figure inside the country and across the region. Experts say he has helped Iran extend its sphere of influence through proxy forces in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. "Without question, Soleimani is the most powerful general in the Middle East today," Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent who handled several high-profile terrorism cases, wrote in an analysis last fall. "More than anyone else, Soleimani has been responsible for the creation of an arc of influence – which Iran terms its 'Axis of Resistance' – extending from the Gulf of Oman through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea," Soufan wrote. Until now, top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have said the U.S. had specific, credible threats that Iran or its proxies might be preparing attacks against American forces or U.S. targets in the region, but they did not provide details. In addition to the Pentagon deployment , the State Department on Wednesday ordered all nonemergency employees to leave Iraq immediately. The U.S. has more than 5,000 troops stationed in Iraq. McCaul did not directly answer a question about new reporting that suggests the increasingly aggressive moves by both Iran and the U.S. may have been spurred by a misreading of the intelligence threats. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Iranian officials believed the U.S. was planning an attack and that prompted Tehran to prepare for possible counterstrikes. The U.S. intelligence officials may have misread Iran's countermeasures as aggression, the Journal reported, noting there are divisions within the Trump administration over the meaning of the intelligence gathered in recent weeks. The State Department declined to comment on McCaul's remarks or the Wall Street Journal story. A spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats did not immediately respond to questions on these matters. Related stories: Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran. Is John Bolton driving the US into a conflict anyway? Iran says Trump playing 'very dangerous game,' risking 'devastating war'

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/20/julian-assange-sweden-requests-detention-order-for-wikileaks-founder/3738760002/

Sweden requests detention order for Julian Assange

Sweden requests detention order for Julian Assange COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Swedish authorities on Monday issued a request for a detention order against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is now jailed in Britain, a Swedish prosecutor said. Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson says if the Swedish court decided to detain Assange “on probable cause suspected for rape … I will issue a European Arrest Warrant.” The development sets up a possible future tug-of-war between Sweden and the United States over any extradition of Assange from Britain. Assange was evicted last month from the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had been holed up with political asylum since 2012. He was then immediately arrested by British police on April 11 and is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. The Australian secret-spiller also faces a U.S. extradition warrant for allegedly conspiring to hack into a Pentagon computer. Persson said Monday that British authorities will decide any conflict between a European arrest warrant and U.S. extradition request for Assange. On May 13, Swedish prosecutors reopened a preliminary investigation against Assange, who visited Sweden in 2010, after two Swedish women said they were the victims of sex crimes committed by Assange. While a case of alleged sexual misconduct against Assange in Sweden was dropped in 2017 when the statute of limitations expired, a rape allegation remains. Swedish authorities have had to shelf it because Assange was living at the embassy at the time and there was no prospect of bringing him to Sweden. The statute of limitations in the rape case expires in August next year. Assange has denied wrongdoing, asserting that the allegations were politically motivated and that the sex was consensual. According to the request for a detention order obtained by The Associated Press, Assange is wanted for “intentionally having carried out an intercourse” with an unnamed woman “by unduly exploiting that she was in a helpless state because of sleep.” The request added there was “an aggravating circumstance” because Assange didn’t use a condom. More:Sweden prosecutors reopen Julian Assange rape probe, seek extradition More:'I would rather starve to death.' Chelsea Manning ordered jailed after refusing to testify before a grand jury The 47-year-old Australian met the two Swedish woman in connection with a lecture in August 2010 in Stockholm. One was involved in organizing an event for Sweden’s center-left Social Democratic Party and offered to host Assange at her apartment. The other was in the audience. A police officer who heard the women’s accounts decided there was reason to suspect they were victims of sex crimes and handed the case to a prosecutor. Neither of the alleged victims has been named publicly. Assange faces a maximum of four years in prison in Sweden if he is convicted of the rape. Persson said the day and time for the detention hearing regarding Assange at the Uppsala District Court north of Stockholm that will make the decision has not yet been decided. “However, in my view, the Swedish case can proceed concurrently with the proceedings in the U.K.,” Persson said in a statement.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/20/trump-iran-us-tensions-war/3738740002/

Trump says war would lead to 'end' of Iran

Trump says war would lead to 'end' of Iran President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Iran early Monday, saying it would face its "official end" if a war broke out between the two countries. "Never again threaten the United States," Trump said in a tweet shortly after a rocket landed overnight near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Trump's comments came after he has seemingly sought to soften his tone on Iran in recent days following heightened tension sparked by a sudden deployment of U.S. bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf over unspecified threats. GOP lawmaker on Iran threat: Directive was to 'kill and kidnap American soldiers' Iraq's military said the Katyusha rocket that landed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone less than a mile from the U.S. Embassy, causing no injures, was believed to have been fired from east Baghdad. The area is home to Iran-backed Shiite militias. On Monday evening, Trump said Iran has been "very hostile" but seemed to contradict his own advisers by playing down the threat of an Iranian attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East. "We have no indication that anything’s happened or will happen, but if it does, it will be met, obviously with great force,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Pentagon dispatched an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and other military resources to the Persian Gulf earlier this month to counter what top Trump administration officials said were alleged threats from Tehran. Officials said the U.S. had gathered credible intelligence suggesting a possible Iranian attack on U.S. troops on the ground and at sea. Trump on Monday reiterated his willingness to sit down with Iranian leaders if they reach out to him. "If they call, we would certainly negotiate. That’s going to be up to them," he said. Congress is expected to get a classified briefing on Iran on Tuesday after Democratic and Republican lawmakers requested more information from the White House about the intelligence that has led to the growing U.S. military footprint in the gulf. The State Department ordered a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad last week. In an interview with Fox News broadcast Sunday, Trump said he was not seeking a conflict with Iran but vowed not to let Iran develop nuclear weapons. "I'm not somebody that wants to go into war, because war hurts economies, war kills people most importantly – by far most importantly," the president said. Officials in Iran also have downplayed Tehran's appetite for war. "There will not be a war since neither we want a war nor does anyone have the illusion they can confront Iran in the region," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Middle East country's state news agency Irna over the weekend. Reacting Monday to Trump's new comments, Zarif tweeted: "Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. #EconomicTerrorism & genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran.' #NeverThreatenAnIranian. Try respect – it works!" The "B Team" is a reference to Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammad bin Salman. All three men have taken a hard line on Iran. Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated one year after Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions that have severely harmed Iran's economy. Tehran has demanded that European signatories to the nuclear accord – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – find a way of keeping the agreement alive or it will again start enriching uranium at levels sufficient to pursue a nuclear weapons program. Iranian state media reported Monday that the nation has quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium amid tensions with the U.S. over the unraveling nuclear accord. Trump says he doesn't want war: Is John Bolton driving the U.S. into a conflict?

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/21/iran-threat-military-deployments-not-intended-provoke-war-trump/3749101002/

How real is Iran threat? Democrats fear Trump administration using intel to justify conflict

How real is Iran threat? Democrats fear Trump administration using intel to justify conflict WASHINGTON – Top Trump administration officials told lawmakers Tuesday that U.S. military deployments in the Middle East were purely defensive and not aimed at provoking a war with Iran, amid growing concerns in Congress about a possible military conflict. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan briefed members of the House and Senate behind closed doors, detailing what they called "credible intelligence" that suggests a possible Iranian attack on American military forces in the region. Shanahan said the Trump administration's decision to deploy B-52 bombers and other military resources to the Persian Gulf had succeeded in preventing a possible strike on U.S. interests. "We have deterred attacks based on our posturing of assets – deterred attacks against American forces," he told reporters after the congressional briefings. "Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation," Shanahan added. "We do not want the situation to escalate. This is about deterrence, not about war." But lawmakers were divided, mostly along partisan lines, about the nature of the threat from Iran and whether the Trump administration's response was making the situation better or worse. Some Democrats raised alarms Tuesday that the Trump administration was cherry-picking intelligence information to justify a military conflict with Iran. “We’re concerned that information is being used for the purposes of accomplishing an objective, rather than for the purposes of making a decision,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told USA TODAY after he and other House Democrats met privately with former CIA Director John Brennan and former Ambassador Wendy Sherman, both of whom served in Obama administration. “Let’s hope that the administration is not rationalizing a move towards war,” Hoyer added. Trump says he doesn't want war. Is John Bolton driving the US into a conflict? Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the president and his advisers are sending mixed messages on the seriousness of the threat from Iran. He noted that while Pompeo and others have talked about "credible" intelligence about an Iranian attack on U.S. military personnel, President Donald Trump suggested on Monday there was no imminent threat. "We have no indication that anything’s happened or will happen, but if it does, it will be met, obviously with great force,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Monday evening. “It’s hard to know what the administration is portraying at this point,” Schiff told reporters after the meeting with Brennan and Sherman. He said he’s deeply worried that the administration’s lack of “any clear thought, plan (or) strategy has just multiplied the risks” of conflict. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former CIA analyst who studied Iranian proxy groups, said the Trump administration's incoherent strategy risked the possibility of an inadvertent conflict. “The president vacillates between saying that he cares only about the nuclear file and increasingly threatening on Twitter to essentially wipe Iran off the map,” Slotkin said. “If I and you cannot understand U.S. strategy, then you can bet the Iranians don’t understand it. And if neither side can determine what actions are offensive versus defensive, it sets us on a course to misunderstanding each other and a slide towards war.” Trump vowed to "end" Iran Monday after a Katyusha rocket landed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone less than a mile from the U.S. Embassy. The rocket did not cause any injures; officials believe it was fired from east Baghdad, an area controlled by Iran-backed Shiite militias. Trump says war would lead to 'end' of Iran Skoltin said Iran has been a malign actor in the region for decades and any recent intelligence needed to be taken into that broader context. "I spent some years in Baghdad during much more volatile times, when 40 or 50 rockets a day we’re coming into the green zone," she said. "It has to be looked at in context and not just cherry picked" to suggest a new or escalating threat. Republicans said the Trump administration's actions have been prudent and the threat from Iran was direct and worrisome. "The intelligence was pretty clear. It was new and escalating," said Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "They’re the ones who fired a rocket in the green zone near our embassy," he said. McCaul did not cite specific evidence to back that up. But he argued the Trump administration's moves were "purely defensive." He and other Republicans dismissed suggestions that the U.S. military deployments and the sharp rhetoric from Trump and his advisers could lead to a miscalculation or miscommunication that results in war with Iran. But Democrats said they feared just that. They note that since Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, there are no formal channels of communication with the regime. That Obama-era deal was aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. "There’s a huge risk of Iran miscalculating, striking in a way that gets a response they didn’t anticipate," said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "There’s a risk for miscalculation on both sides. That remains my biggest concern." He said Pompeo and other officials told lawmakers there were some "back channels" to talk to the Iranians if needed. But Democrats were not reassured. "This is blind escalation with the hope that the Iranians will come to the table in the end or the hope that the Iranians will rise up and topple the regime," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said the threats from Iran were a predictable response to the Trump administration's efforts to squeeze Iran with severe economic sanctions and to isolate the regime diplomatically by withdrawing from the nuclear deal and pressing other parties to that agreement to abandon it. The Trump administration should have known the Iranians would consider attacking American assets in the region, Murphy said, arguing that was "entirely predictable given the steps we've taken." The U.S. show of military force hasn't done anything to change Iranian behavior, he said. "The Iranians are no closer to talking than ever before. They do not seem to be backing down from a standing point of military provocation," Murphy said. GOP lawmaker on Iran threat: Directive was to 'kill and kidnap American soldiers'

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/22/british-prime-minister-theresa-may-under-pressure-quit-over-brexit/3771540002/

British Prime Minister Theresa May resists pressure to resign over tattered Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May resists pressure to resign over tattered Brexit deal LONDON – British Prime Minister Theresa May dug in Wednesday against a relentless push by rivals and former allies to remove her from office as her attempts to lead Britain out of the European Union appeared to be headed for a dead end. May resisted calls to rip up her tattered Brexit blueprint and end her embattled premiership after her attempt at compromise was rejected by both her own Conservative Party and opposition lawmakers. But it seemed only a matter of time. Amid a feverish mood as rumors and plots swirled through Parliament, Conservative lawmakers set up a showdown meeting with May for Friday, giving her less than 48 hours to announce she will go or face a renewed attempt to oust her. And a senior Cabinet minister quit with an excoriating letter attacking May's failure to lead Britain out of the EU and hold her divided government together. Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom alleged there had been "a complete breakdown of collective responsibility" in government, and said May's Brexit plan would not "deliver on the referendum result" that saw voters in 2016 opt to leave the EU. Leadsom campaigned to leave the EU in the referendum and was a strong pro-Brexit voice in Cabinet. Several other senior ministers were reportedly seeking meetings with May to express unhappiness with her Brexit plan — and possibly urge her to quit. But her spokesman, James Slack, said he was "not aware of any discussions" with Cabinet colleagues. Lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, a leading Conservative moderate, said the only chance of delivering an orderly Brexit was for May "to go — and without delay." "She must announce her resignation after Thursday's European elections. And the Conservative Party must fast track the leadership process to replace her," he wrote in the Financial Times. In the House of Commons, May received a flurry of criticism and hostile questions as she implored lawmakers to support a bill implementing Britain's departure from the EU that she plans to put to a vote in Parliament in June. Nearly three years after British voters opted to leave the EU, May said "we need to see Brexit through, to honor the result of the referendum and to deliver the change the British people so clearly demanded." If Parliament rejected her deal, she said, "all we have before us is division and deadlock." That could serve as a fair summary of Britain's current situation. Lawmakers have already rejected May's divorce deal with the 27 other EU countries three times, and Britain's long-scheduled departure date of March 29 passed with the country still in the bloc. In a last-ditch bid to secure support for her Brexit plan, May on Tuesday announced concessions including a promise to give Parliament a vote on whether to hold a new referendum on Britain's EU membership — something she has long ruled out. "I have compromised. Now I ask you to compromise too," she said. But there was little sign her plea was being heeded. Pro-EU and pro-Brexit lawmakers have only hardened their positions during months of political trench warfare, and they are in no mood to compromise. Pro-Brexit Conservatives accused May of capitulating to pro-EU demands, and opposition Labour Party lawmakers dismissed her offer as too little, too late. "The rhetoric may have changed but the deal has not," said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "She did not seek a compromise until after she had missed her own deadline to leave, and by the time she finally did, she had lost the authority to deliver." May's authority as Conservative leader has been shredded by her loss of the party's parliamentary majority in a 2017 election and her failure to lead Britain out of the EU as promised. The party's powerful anti-EU wing wants to oust May and replace her with a staunch Brexit supporter such as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson. May has said she will announce a timetable for her departure once Parliament has voted on her Brexit bill, but it looks increasingly unlikely she can hang on that long. May survived a no-confidence vote among Conservative lawmakers in December, leaving her safe from challenge for 12 months under party rules. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers wanted the party's 1922 Committee, which oversees leadership contests, to change the rules when so that May can face a new challenge within days. But the party committee decided instead to send its chairman Graham Brady to meet May on Friday before it decides whether to alter the rules. If May stays on until next week, pressure is likely to increase when results come in from this week's elections for the European Parliament, with Conservatives expect to receive a drubbing. Many British voters on both sides of the Brexit debate look set to use the election to the EU legislature to express displeasure over the political gridlock. Opinion polls show strong support for the single-issue Brexit Party — largely from angry former Conservative voters — and for pro-EU parties including the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. The election is being held Thursday in Britain, but results won't be announced until all 28 EU countries have finished voting late Sunday. May insisted she would fight on. She said the Brexit withdrawal bill would be published Friday so that lawmakers can study it. Despite speculation that May will scrap plans to bring it to a vote to avoid a crushing defeat, her office said a vote will be held during the week of June 3. "In time, another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box," May told lawmakers, acknowledging that her days in the job are numbered. But, she told Parliament, "in the end our job in this House is to take decisions, not to duck them. "So I will put those decisions to this House. Because that is my duty and because it is the only way that we can deliver Brexit."

85267a759d29d27cb30c5a02bdeae278

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/24/theresa-may-resigns-uk-premiership-amid-brexit-deadlock/3768204002/

Britain's embattled leader Theresa May resigns premiership amid Brexit deadlock

Britain's embattled leader Theresa May resigns premiership amid Brexit deadlock LONDON – Britain's embattled leader Theresa May resigned her premiership Friday, although she will stay on as caretaker prime minister for now, amid a barrage of criticism and mounting pressure over her failed efforts to steer the nation out of the European Union in a manner acceptable to increasingly rebellious lawmakers. May, 62, lasted three years in office. Her last official day as prime minister will be June 7, after which her Conservative Party will start a process to replace her that could take several weeks or more. She will play a caretaker role until the new leader is chosen. Britain elects a party, not a candidate, meaning that there will be no immediate change to the party that is in power. It's been "the honor of my life" to be the "second female prime minister, but certainly not the last," May said in a statement, delivered from 10 Downing Street, her official office and residence in central London. Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke. "It is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit," May said, struggling to complete her brief address amid tears. EU elections:After Trump and Brexit, EU vote could further a populist wave Brexit deadline:EU delays Brexit until Oct. 31, saving Britain from messy EU exit May took over from David Cameron, also of the Conservative Party. Cameron resigned after Britain's 2016 national referendum on Brexit. Cameron gambled that the country would choose to stay in the 28-nation bloc, but it didn't. May previously announced she would relinquish her position once lawmakers approved her EU withdrawal agreement. The deal had been rejected three times already and parliamentarians were due to vote on it a fourth time in early June. But despite a last-ditch bid to secure support for her plan – including a promise to give Parliament a vote on whether to hold a new vote on EU membership, something May repeatedly ruled out – it became clear that that, too, was not sufficient to convince lawmakers across the political spectrum that her deal served Britain's interests. In fact, it appeared to intensify a backlash against her. Pro-Brexit Conservatives accused May of capitulating to pro-EU demands over the border status of Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with EU-member Ireland. EU membership has enabled frictionless trade and peace along this border for decades. Opposition Labour Party lawmakers dismissed May's offer as too little too late, and lacking in the type of protections for workers' rights, public health and other notable issues that the EU facilitated. "The rhetoric may have changed but the deal has not," said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "She did not seek a compromise until after she had missed her own deadline to leave, and by the time she finally did she had lost the authority to deliver." Britain is due to leave the EU on October 31, with or without a formal exit deal, and May's departure injects new uncertainty into what it means for the fate of Brexit. Matthew Goodwin, a professor of politics at the University of Kent, England, said May's exit increases the likelihood that Britain's government will drift further to the right and that the country could leave the EU without an exit deal. Most experts say that will harm Britain's economy and lead to significant disruptions from travel to security. Goodwin said that May is the fourth British Conservative leader in history to "at least partly be brought down by Europe." Margaret Thatcher (1975-1990), John Major (1990-1997 and Cameron (2005-2016) were all hampered by a difficult EU relationship. 'Bewildering, dire, disastrous':Queen has a Brexit escape plan. How bad will it be? Brexit 101:Why Brexit, or Britain's exit from EU, is so important but so tough to finish Among the main contenders to replace May include U.S.-born former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who officially confirmed last week that he would seek the job if a vacancy arose. Bookmakers and polls show that Johnson, 54, is the frontrunner. He is an eccentric character known for his tussled blonde hair and frequent classical allusions. Johnson has long struggled to hide his prime ministerial ambitions, gleefully telling USA TODAY in a 2014 interview his chance of becoming British prime minister was about as good as finding Elvis on Mars or being reincarnated as an olive. Johnson, an ardent backer of Brexit, has previously spoken of his admiration for President Donald Trump, although when he was London's mayor the flamboyant and gaffe-prone politician also said that Trump was "clearly out of his mind." Other possible replacements for May, who will be largely unknown to Americans, include: Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab; environment secretary Michael Gove; foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt; and Sajid Javid, Britain's interior minister. Still, foreign affairs experts say there is unlikely to be any major impact on Britain's close relationship with the United States as a result of May's departure. It's been forged through hundreds of years of economic and cultural ties, two world wars, the Cold War, several Middle East conflicts and cooperation fighting terrorism. "Unless there is a general election and Corbyn comes to power," said Richard Caplan, a professor of international relations at Oxford University, referring to Corbyn's committed left-wing political stance. Corbyn is an outspoken Trump critic. May's scheduled ouster comes ahead of Trump's planned state visit to Britain next week and after her party likely received a drubbing in European Parliament elections. The decision to wait until June 7 to begin the hunt for a new prime minister seems partly designed to let Trump's trip take place without the backdrop of utter political chaos. He arrives June 3rd for a state visit that includes meeting with the royal family. "I feel badly for Theresa, I like her very much," said Trump, speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a weekend trip to Japan. But even when May goes, the new prime minister will still face the same seemingly intractable struggle to get Britain's Parliament to approve a Brexit deal that is acceptable to a majority of lawmakers, former Conservative Party cabinet member Ken Clarke told BBC radio on Friday. "The right wing of my party ... seem to imagine that the party will now unite behind the one of them that most resembles Nigel Farage," he said, referring to the Brexit champion, a divisive figure who is close to Trump. Farage is running for re-election in the European Parliament elections with his new Brexit Party. "I don’t think it’s going to be like that," said Clarke. Praise for May's political courage and tenacity poured in from politicians at home and abroad on Friday. Many of their remarks echoed the words of Andrea Leadsom, a possible leadership contender who resigned as the leader of the House of Commons on Wednesday to protest May’s Brexit plan. Leadsom tweeted the prime minister "did her utmost" and showed her "total commitment to country and duty." However, May's legacy will be dominated by the same thing that ushered her into power: dragging Britain out of the EU when most British parliamentarians are opposed to it, economists say it's a bad idea and the country is split over the issue. May pledged to fight the "burning injustices" that plague modern Britain by introducing wide-ranging reforms to social welfare programs. She was kept busy by Brexit instead. Who's next?:Trump 'friend' Boris Johnson favorite to replace Theresa May

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/24/trump-friend-boris-johnson-leading-race-replace-theresa-may/1202769001/

Trump 'friend' Boris Johnson, who was born in the US, is the favorite to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May

Trump 'friend' Boris Johnson, who was born in the US, is the favorite to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May LONDON – A U.S.-born British politician who once told USA TODAY in an interview that the chance of him becoming prime minister was about as likely as finding Elvis on Mars or being reincarnated as an olive, is the frontrunner to take over for outgoing British leader Theresa May, according to betting markets and opinion polls. Boris Johnson was born in New York City to British parents, but renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016 amid a taxes crackdown by the Internal Revenue Service on the global earnings of dual nationals. He last lived in the United States as a 5-year-old. "Boris Johnson is a friend of mine. He has been very, very nice to me, very supportive," President Donald Trump said in July last year after Johnson resigned as May's foreign secretary over her handling of Britain's attempt to leave the European Union – Brexit. Like Trump, Johnson appears to enjoy the limelight and attracts controversy. He was once forced into an apology to the nation of Papua New Guinea for comparing infighting in his Conservative Party to "Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing." He was fired as a journalist for making up a quote. May's fraught three-year tenure in office will officially end June 7, she announced Friday. The 62-year-old Conservative Party leader was forced from power, but she will remain as a caretaker prime minister until party lawmakers and members vote to elect a successor. In Britain, the public elects a party, not a candidate, meaning the government stays the same for now, until there is an election. The process is expected to take about six weeks. First, Conservative Party lawmakers hold a series of votes to whittle the field to two candidates. Then, those candidates are voted on by party members across the country. Theresa May:Britain's embattled leader resigns premiership amid Brexit deadlock Experts say that whoever ends up as Britain's next leader won't dramatically rewrite one of the closest diplomatic, economic and military alliances in history: The "special relationship" between the U.S. and Britain, a phrase and diplomatic modus operandi coined by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1946. British-American goodwill has accrued through two world wars, the Cold War, several conflicts in the Middle East and close cooperation in fighting international terrorism. Often, it's said, the two nations are divided only by a common language. Trump has described his relationship with May as the "highest level of special," but the two leaders did clash on the substance of policy – his Muslim travel ban, in particular –and the new partnership is not expected to be all plain sailing and photo ops, either. "The special relationship hasn't been so special recently," said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary, University of London. "Partly because the president couldn't stop himself criticizing the way May had gone about Brexit, and partly because she and other British politicians have been a little wary about associating themselves too closely with a guy who most Brits (rightly or wrongly) treat as either downright dangerous or a laughingstock, or both. Whoever takes over won't be looking for a full-on (b)romance." Richard Whitman, a professor of politics at the University of Kent, said the "chemistry between May and Trump was awkward." But he said Johnson-Trump would be different, calling it a "clash for the title of the greatest showman." Meet the main contenders Boris Johnson Johnson, 54, is the bookmakers' favorite to succeed May. He is a direct descendant of King George II — his full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson — and he has passed through many hallowed corridors of the British establishment. There was Eton College and the University of Oxford, where he was in the same classes as former British Prime Minister David Cameron. In addition to foreign secretary, Johnson has been London's mayor. He also was a journalist, editing The Spectator, a longstanding political magazine. Johnson is a leading supporter of Brexit. He has spoken of his admiration for Trump on several occasions, although when mayor he also said the U.S. president was "clearly out of his mind." Johnson is well-known in Britain for his tussled blonde hair and frequent classical allusions in speeches. One in four Britons think he would make a good prime minister, according to a survey by YouGov, a research firm. Michael Gove Another prominent supporter of Britain leaving the EU, Gove, 51, is currently minister for the environment. He had a cabinet-level role in Cameron's government and he is viewed as a seasoned operator with extremely good debating skills. (While at Oxford, Gove was president of the debating society.) Like Johnson, Gove is also a former journalist and he made headlines in Britain when he secured the first interview with Trump for a British publication after his election in 2016. Gove boasted in that interview for the Times of London that he spent an hour with the president-elect in his "glitzy, golden man cave" in Trump Tower, in New York City. Trump told Gove that Britain was "smart to leave the EU." Gove predicted Trump would resign or lose the 2020 election. If he ends up as Trump's new British counterpart, some of his comments out of the interview may come back to haunt him: "He is someone who is clearly narcissistic or egotistical enough to want to be seen as a success," Gove said of Trump. Sajid Javid Javid, 49, has held various cabinet-level positions in Conservative Party governments, most recently as home secretary, or interior minister. He is the son of a former bus driver from Pakistan and represents the relatively new face of British conservatism. Javid voted to stay in the EU in the referendum but has since campaigned aggressively for Britain to abide by the vote's outcome, and leave. He is known for taking a hard line on immigration and has been a fiercely vocal opponent of letting the wives and children of former Islamic State group fighters return to Britain. In one example, that of Shamima Begun, who fled to Syria's battlefields at 15, Javid is trying to revoke her citizenship in a case that mirrors that of New Jersey-born Hoda Muthana. The Trump administration is trying to block Muthana's return in a Washington court. Andrea Leadsom Leadsom, 56, was the last candidate standing against May in the 2016 race to succeed Cameron. She resigned Wednesday as leader of the House of Commons – a job responsible for arranging the order of government business in Britain's Parliament – in protest at May's then-refusal to step aside over Brexit. Leadsom is an ardent backer of Brexit but she stumbled during the leadership contest with May three years ago after she implied in an interview with a British newspaper that she thought she would make a better prime minister than May because being a mother gave her an "advantage" over the childless May. "I have children who are going to have children who will directly be part of what happens next," Leadsom said in the BBC interview. Leadsom also appeared to inflate her experience working in financial services. Dominic Raab Raab, 45, worked for an international law firm that litigated against war criminals before joining Britain's foreign diplomatic corp as an adviser in 2000. He has a black belt in karate and boxes regularly. Raab resigned as Brexit secretary in May's government so that he could vote against her EU withdrawal deal. He served only five months in the role. In interviews with the British press, Raab has spoken of wanting to get a "fairer deal for working Britain." He would do this, he said, by cutting taxes. Who else could become Britain's next prime minister?

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/27/japan-stabbing-attack-children-injured-dead/1255388001/

Knife-wielding man attacks schoolgirls in Japan, killing 2

Knife-wielding man attacks schoolgirls in Japan, killing 2 KAWASAKI, Japan – A man carrying a knife in each hand and screaming “I will kill you!” attacked a group of schoolgirls and adults near a bus stop just outside Tokyo on Tuesday, killing two and injuring 16 before killing himself, officials said. Most of the victims were schoolgirls who were lined up at a bus stop near Noborito Park in the city of Kawasaki when a man in his 50s began slashing them with knives. City officials, quoting police, said that the suspect was captured but died from a self-inflicted cut to the neck. Police wouldn’t immediately confirm specifics about the attacker. Masami Arai, an official at the Kawasaki city office, said 16 people, most of them schoolgirls at a local Catholic school, were injured and three others, including the attacker, were believed killed. Arai said three of the injuries were serious and 13 others were not life-threatening. Kanagawa prefectural police only confirmed the death of sixth-grade schoolgirl Hanako Kuribayashi, 11, from Tokyo. Hospital officials at a televised news conference confirmed the 11-year-old’s death as well as that of a man in his 30s, saying both of them had been slashed in the head, chest and face. Separately, doctors at St. Marianna University School of Medicine, said a man in his 50s died at the hospital after being brought in from the crime scene with neck injuries. City officials and the media said the man is the suspect. Most of the victims attended Caritas Gakuen, a well-known private school founded by Soeurs de la Charite de Quebec, an organization of Catholic nuns in Quebec City in Canada. All but two adult victims are in elementary school, according to city and hospital officials, and their ages are believed to be from 6 to 12. The school runs from elementary through high school. A witness told the Mainichi newspaper that he heard children shrieking after walking past a bus. He said that when he turned around, he saw a man wielding a knife in each hand, screaming “I will kill you!” and several children were on the ground. NHK, citing police, said that a bus driver told officials that a man holding a knife in each hand walked toward the bus and started slashing children, then the attacker ran away when the driver yelled at him, “What are you doing?” then cut himself. NHK also interviewed a witness who said he saw the suspect trying to force his way onto a bus. A third witness said he saw a school boy with scratches on his face, hands and legs, sitting on the ground of a parking lot, looking frightened. The attacker’s identity and motive weren’t immediately known. Television footage showed emergency workers giving first aid to people inside an orange tent set up on the street, and police and other officials carrying the injured to ambulances. Although Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, it has had a series of high-profile killings, including in 2016 when a former employee at a home for the disabled allegedly killed 19 and injured more than 20 others. In 2008, seven people were killed by a man who slammed a truck into a crowd of people in central Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district and then stabbed passers-by. Also in 2016, a man stabbed four people at a library in northeastern Japan, allegedly over their mishandling of his questions. No one was killed. ––– Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

69d4360a06412615c15776c1bdfe187a

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/28/mount-everest-deaths-christopher-kulish-dies-amid-overcrowding/1256051001/

'Passed away doing what he loved': Second American dies on Mount Everest in crowded year

'Passed away doing what he loved': Second American dies on Mount Everest in crowded year A second American died after reaching the summit of Mount Everest as the world's tallest peak faces a growing death toll amid dangerous overcrowding this climbing season. Christopher Kulish, 62, a Boulder, Colorado, attorney, died Monday at a camp after summiting the mountain, his family said. After he stood atop Everest, Kulish joined the elusive "Seven Summit Club," earned after ascending the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. "He saw his last sunrise from the highest peak on Earth," brother Mark Kulish said in a statement. "He passed away doing what he loved, after returning to the next camp below the peak." Start the day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox 'Every minute counts':Another climber dies on Everest as world's tallest peak overcrowds Don Cash, 55, of Utah, also achieved a lifelong dream of reaching the top of the seven tallest peaks on each continent, but like Kulish, died in his descent from Everest last week. The two Americans' deaths are part of a growing list of climbers who have perished on or near Everest's summit in 2019: At least 11 climbers in total have died this season. Most of the deaths have occurred after climbers spent extended time in the mountain's "death zone." At 29,035 feet, the air atop Everest has such low oxygen levels that just being in the area near the summit, let alone climbing, proves lethal for those who cannot reach extra oxygen supplies fast enough. Utah climber dies:He climbed the tallest mountain on each continent, then died as he descended Mount Everest Nearly 400 climbers and just as many sherpas were permitted to scale Everest this season from Nepal's side of the mountain. Coupled with poor weather closing the window to summit the mountain to a few select days, Everest has seen massive queues just below its peak where climbers must wait in line to reach the top. "Once you get above about 25,000 feet, your body just can't metabolize the oxygen," Grayson Schaffer, editor of Outside magazine, told NPR. "Your muscles start to break down. You start to have fluid that builds up around your lungs and your brain. Your brain starts to swell. You start to lose cognition. Your decision making starts to become slow. And you start to make bad decisions." Nepal's tourism department has downplayed the effect the growing number of climbers has had on this year's death toll. While people die every year on the mountain, some say this year's crowds have been particularly concerning. Speaking with the Washington Post, Nirmal Purja, who has reached the top of Everest four times, said: "I've seen traffic, but not this crazy." Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter: @RyanW_Miller

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/28/rare-albino-giant-panda-photographed-wolong-national-nature-reserve/1256232001/

Rare all-white panda with red eyes caught on camera in nature reserve

Rare all-white panda with red eyes caught on camera in nature reserve BEIJING – A rare all-white giant panda has been photographed for the first time, according to a nature reserve in southwestern China. Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan province released a photo this past weekend showing the panda crossing through a verdant forest in the reserve. The panda has red eyes and lacks the usual black fur on its limbs and ears and around its eyes. The albino panda is about 1 to 2 years old judging from its size, the reserve said in a statement. It appears to be physically strong and has a steady gait, showing that the albinism probably hasn’t affected its health. The unusual panda was caught by a camera that was triggered by the panda’s movement as it passed by in early April. Albinism does not affect body structure or activities, but it does make an animal easier to spot and more sensitive to direct sunlight, Li Sheng, a Peking University researcher, said in the statement.

84431e4549f7b5b4d66be2bcaaa3b67e

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/29/israels-netanyahu-fails-form-coalition-forcing-new-election/1278648001/

Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner meets with Israeli leader amid political chaos

Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner meets with Israeli leader amid political chaos Senior Trump administration officials, including the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday even as Israel faced an unprecedented political stalemate. Netanyahu failed to form a new governing coalition on Wednesday, a stunning setback that will trigger a second election just seven weeks after the Israeli leader's Likud party appeared poised to command a majority in parliament. Kushner, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, arrived in Jerusalem amid the political chaos to pitch part of his Middle East peace plan, which now seems imperiled by the developments in Israel. The Trump administration has been banking on Netanyahu's staunch support to help bolster the yet-to-be-released plan, which Trump has touted as the "deal of the century." But the Israeli leader's own future now is in doubt after he was unable to resolve a dispute between Likud's two potential coalition partners. Trump and Netanyahu::How two leaders reap political rewards from their cozy relationship Israel's national assembly, the Knesset, voted to dissolve itself on Wednesday after it became clear that Netanyahu would be unable to bridge the gap between a secular ultranationalist party and ultra-Orthodox factions. Netanyahu is reportedly the first Israeli prime minister who has failed to form a governing coalition after an election, and voters will now have to go back to the polls on Sept. 17. Amid the uncertainty, Kushner and Nethanyahu pressed ahead with their planned meeting. They were joined by other Trump administration officials, including Jason Greenblatt, the president's special representative for Israel-Palestinian negotiations. They're touring the region in an effort to recruit participants for an economic workshop in Bahrain next month that they've touted as the first step in the peace proposal. "How's everything?" Kusher asked Netanyahu, according to an account in the Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu insisted the political setback would not impact his negotiations with the Trump administration on a broad range of issues. “Even though we had a little event last night, it is not going to stop us,” Netanyahu reportedly told reporters. “We are going to continue working together." He said Kushner's visit "reaffirms that the alliance with the United States of America has never been stronger, and is going to get stronger.” Trump has formed a deep alliance with Netanyahu, making a series of controversial pro-Israel policy decisions that have alienated Palestinians. Even before the latest developments, Kushner's peace proposal faced deep skepticism from the Arab world and fierce opposition from Palestinian leaders. Now, experts said Kushner may not even ever release the plan, let alone make a real push for its acceptance. He has already delayed its unveiling multiple times. "The political plan will never see the light of day," Tamara Cofman Wittes, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institute, a Washington think tank, predicted in a tweet Wednesday. A White House spokesman did not respond to questions about the fate of Kushner's peace proposal. But State Department spokeswoman Morgan Orgatus said she did not expect the Bahrain economic meeting to be delayed. "We are not anticipating any changes," Orgatus told reporters at a State Department briefing Thursday. But there's no doubt that Netanyahu will be distracted by the new election. In the April contest, his conservative Likud party won about the same number of parliamentary seats as his main challenger, Benny Gantz, a centrist former military chief. But because of Netanyahu's alliance with other conservative factions, Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, gave Netanyahu the first chance to form a governing coalition, with a deadline of midnight on Wednesday. The immediate cause of Netanyahu's failure was a dispute between Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the small, secular Yisrael Beitenu faction, and the ultra-Orthodox Israeli factions, over new legislation that would alter who is eligible for Israel's military draft. Lieberman does not support exempting ultra-Orthodox men from military service. Without Lieberman’s five parliamentary seats, Netanyahu has no parliamentary majority. But the underlying issue is Netanyahu’s legal troubles. He faces a likely indictment on corruption charges in the coming months, and he has pressed his coalition partners to pass legislation that would grant him immunity from prosecution. Opposition parties strongly oppose granting Netanyahu immunity, meaning he had no alternatives to Lieberman's party as he tried to form his coalition. Trump weighed in on Netanyahu's behalf earlier this week with a tweet that critics said amounted to interference in another country's political affairs. "Hoping things will work out with Israel's coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever," Trump tweeted on Monday. "A lot more to do!" Trump has made a series of controversial pro-Israel policy decisions, in what often seemed like an effort to boost Netanyahu's political prospects. And on Monday, Netanyahu seized on Trump's message as he tried to break the impasse. But it was not enough and Israeli voters will now head back to the polls in a few months. Contributing: Associated Press

16881cbf77a20f31773a015eb23f1233

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/29/mount-everest-deaths-traffic-jam-blame-why-such-deadly-season/1258092001/

What's causing Mount Everest's deadly season? Overcrowding, inexperience and a long line to the top

What's causing Mount Everest's deadly season? Overcrowding, inexperience and a long line to the top Eleven people have died scaling the peaks of Mount Everest this year in a particularly crowded season atop the world's highest mountain. Government officials in Nepal blamed bad weather limiting the number of days people can attempt to summit the mountain. Veteran mountaineers said overcrowding and inexperience can kill climbers. "There were more people on Everest than there should be," Kul Bahadur Gurung with the Nepal Mountaineering Association told The Associated Press. Start your day smarter:Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox What made this season so deadly? Is it uncharacteristic for the treacherous peak that has claimed more than 200 lives? These are the numbers that explain what's happening atop Everest: At least 11 deaths Most of the 11 fatalities on Mount Everest's peaks this year were because of complications related to altitude sickness. It's the highest number of climbers killed since 2015 when more than a dozen climbers and Sherpas died, most in an avalanche at base camp. In 2014, 16 Sherpas died in an avalanche. Climbers and Sherpas die almost every year on the dangerous mountain, often because of altitude sickness, exposure, falls or natural disasters such as avalanches. 'Every minute counts':Another climber dies on Everest as world's tallest peak overcrowds Among the dead this year: Americans Christopher Kulish, 62, and Don Cash, 55, who died within a week of each other. The two men were on separate expeditions, but both were realizing their goal of joining the Seven Summits Club, a membership earned when a person climbs the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. Both men reached Everest's summit but died shortly after as they descended, probably because of complications from altitude sickness. 381 permits A record-breaking 381 people were issued permits to climb Everest this year by Nepal's government. The actual number of people on the mountain is at least double that, including the Sherpas who do much of the work for the climbers. As a result, there has been a record number of successful summits – more than 825, said Alan Arnette, a Colorado climber who summited Mount Everest on his fourth attempt in 2011 and who keeps a blog of Everest climbing seasons. That number includes Sherpas and climbers in Nepal and China. 'Passed away doing what he loved':Second American dies on Mount Everest in crowded year Climbers can approach the peak from the north in Tibet or the south in Nepal. China and Nepal issue permits each year to track how many climbers are on the mountain and to add additional revenue for the countries. This year, the Chinese government increased restrictions around the permits it gave out. Nepal has no limit and requires little other than a doctor’s signature to climb Everest. $11,000 per permit Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries, has a booming climbing industry that brings in $300 million each year. Each permit to climb Mount Everest costs $11,000, said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Nepalese government officials said they have no plans to limit the number of permits but admitted that climber inexperience may contribute to the problem. Utah climber dies:He climbed the tallest mountain on each continent, then died as he descended Mount Everest Though some blame the overcrowding on the record number of permits, others point to the growing number of expedition companies that are willing to bring novice climbers. "The easy headline is, 'Overcrowding is killing people on Everest,' " Arnette said. "But the root cause … is low-cost guide companies bringing in a new demographic of climbers who don't belong there. Limiting the number of permits isn't the solution. People should have to have climbed an 8,000-meter peak, and they need to tighten up who can guide there because right now they let anybody guide.'' More than 29,000 feet Regardless of the number of people at the top, the climb to Everest's summit always carries risk. Mount Everest's peak sits more than 29,000 feet above sea level. The area between Camp Four at 26,240 feet and the summit is known as the "death zone." Oxygen levels are so low in the "death zone" that climbers cannot stall for long before completing the summit and coming back down. Without an extra oxygen supply, the conditions will prove fatal. "Once you get above about 25,000 feet, your body just can't metabolize the oxygen," Grayson Schaffer, editor of Outside magazine, told NPR. "Your muscles start to break down. You start to have fluid that builds up around your lungs and your brain. Your brain starts to swell. You start to lose cognition. Your decision making starts to become slow. And you start to make bad decisions. Mandy Moore reaches Base Camp:Mandy Moore completes trek to Mount Everest Base Camp amid deadly climbing season "And all of this is happening in the face of, you know, each person trying to sort of reach their ultimate dream." The long line to the top Though many may conjure images of a serene snow-capped peak when they envision Everest, one photo has defined perceptions around the mountain this season. Standing in a single-file line near the top of the massive cliff, dozens of climbers in brightly colored jackets appeared to litter the edge of the mountain. The photo was taken by veteran climber Nirmal Purja last week while descending the summit and has become the poster for the overcrowding issue this season. World's highest dump?:Mount Everest is covered in tons of trash "The photo is so stunning, and to many people, it seems offensive to see so many people crowded on this high peak," said Colorado climber Jim Davidson, who summited Mount Everest in 2017. "It is out of line with the mystical and romantic image of Mount Everest. So because of the photo, we seem to be over-attributing overcrowding as causing these deaths." Davidson said the photo is not representative of what the mountain looks like most of the time. The photo captures the root of what others said may be to blame for the deaths this year: too few windows to summit. Poor weather has limited the number of days climbers can even attempt to reach the top. Coupled with the record number of climbers, that's forced more people into the "death zone" at once, slowing the lines to the top at dangerous altitudes. "Every minute counts there," Eric Murphy, a mountain guide from Washington who climbed Everest for a third time May 23, told The Associated Press. He said what should have taken 12 hours took 17 hours. Miles Blumhardt reports for the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Contributing: The Associated Press Follow Miller and Blumhardt on Twitter: @RyanW_Miller and @MilesBlumhardt.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/29/raccoon-dogs-hissing-screaming-terrorizing-english-village/1279994001/

Two 'screaming and snarling' raccoon dogs are running loose in a small village in England

Two 'screaming and snarling' raccoon dogs are running loose in a small village in England Authorities are warning residents of a small village in England to be on the lookout for a pair of raccoon dogs that are on the loose. The Nottinghamshire Police warned those living in Clarborough that the animals went missing from their enclosure around 6 a.m. Tuesday. “The animals, which are described as being the same size of a medium- to small-sized dog, are potentially dangerous if approached as they are not domesticated,” police said in a statement. Also referred to as a “tanuki”, the raccoon dog is part of the Canidae family, which includes dogs and wolves. It resembles the raccoon because it has dark facial markings that contrast with its yellowish brown coat, but it does not have a ringed tail. They are native to eastern Siberia, northern China, North Vietnam, Korea and Japan, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It’s illegal to sell or breed raccoon dogs in the United Kingdom because they’re considered an invasive risk to species in Europe, according to the charity, and they must be kept in a secure location. 'He was coming right at me':Alligator encounters are on the rise in Florida Deer, dogs and cows? They don't look as scary as a snake or a bear, but these animals are surprisingly deadly Mandy Marsh, 53, and her husband Dale, 54, told British online newspaper The Independent that one of the animals attacked their pet goat and pony. The couple heard the animal making noise in their field and grabbed planks of wood to chase it off, according to the newspaper. “It was actually terrifying,” Marsh told the outlet. “It was absolutely crazy. It was hissing and screaming and snarling. It was going absolutely mad.” After two hours, the couple finally got rid of the creature, but their pets were left with scratches from the attack, The Independent reported. Police advised anyone who spots the animals to call emergency services and report the sightings. Contributing: John Buffone, York (Pa.) Daily Record

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/30/france-senate-paris-notre-dame-cathedral-restored-old-state/1283721001/

France Senate: fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral must be restored to 'last known visual state'

France Senate: fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral must be restored to 'last known visual state' Should you try to modernize one of most beautiful landmarks the world? No, says the French Senate, which has adopted legislation mandating that the partially burned Notre Dame cathedral be restored to exactly the way it was before a fire gutted the 800-year-old building on April 15. According to the legislation, it must be rebuilt to reflect its "last known visual state" before the fire. If any materials are used that are different from those originally used in constructing the building, a study must be presented explaining the change. Monday's adoption of the legislation adds to the tension over the cathedral's rebuilding. In the weeks following the cathedral fire, the French public debated whether to reimagine or reconstruct the building in a new, modern way, or to rebuild it as it was. 'Worst has been avoided':Notre Dame Cathedral's structure is saved; French president vows to rebuild 'We don't know if it's enough': $1 billion may not cover Notre Dame Cathedral rebuilding costs after fire French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had announced a competition to redesign the cathedral's spire, which burned and collapsed during the fire. At the time, he said officials would decide whether to replicate the original spire or create a new one. The Senate's restoration bill is an attempt to stop any modern renovation of the cathedral. The legislation also sets up a national subscription fund for the cathedral's restoration under the authority of French President Emmanuel Macron. Experts estimate that the total restoration cost could exceed $1 billion. More:Views of the Notre Dame Cathedral before, after, and during blaze More:Like what you’re reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more Next Tuesday, a joint session of the French National Assembly and the Senate will convene to agree on a final version of the bill before it can become law.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/30/trump-administration-bolton-roles-iran-clash-parallel-iraq-war/3750623002/

Iran drone strike: Escalating Iran crisis looks a lot like the path US took to Iraq war

Iran drone strike: Escalating Iran crisis looks a lot like the path US took to Iraq war The U.S. military's guided bombs brought "shock and awe" to Baghdad in 2003 when American forces invaded Iraq 16 years ago to hunt for weapons of mass destruction. They never found any. Many observers, today, consider that war a failure. Now, half of all Americans believe the U.S. will go to war with Iran "within the next few years," according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released in late May amid increased tensions between the two countries, longtime geopolitical foes. The latest in the escalating Tehran-Washington crisis occurred Thursday, when Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. surveillance drone it claimed violated its airspace. Iran said the strike sent a "clear message" that it would defend itself from Washington. The U.S. says the drone was in international airspace. Navy Capt. Bill Urban called it an "unprovoked attack." The drone attack follows the June 13 international oil tanker attacks that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed on Iran. In late May, the White House claimed, without providing detail or public evidence, that Iran poses an increased threat to American forces and facilities in the Middle East – one year after Trump withdrew from an accord between Iran and world powers aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear capabilities. Trump's hawks: Bolton amps up Iran sabotage claims, desire for nuclear weapons Is Iran doomed to be an Iraq redux? This is just one of the questions raised by a crisis that has eerie parallels to the missteps that led to the Iraq War in 2003, where the buildup to conflict was precipitated by faulty intelligence and confrontational foreign policymakers such as John Bolton in President George W. Bush's administration. To make sense of what's happening now, here's what happened then: Trump says he doesn't want war: Is Bolton driving the U.S. into a conflict anyway? Inside Iran: America's contentious history in Iran leads to anger, weariness, worry

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/31/mount-everest-after-deaths-traffic-jam-bad-weather-season-ending/1296722001/

Mount Everest's historic climbing season ending after deaths, traffic jams of climbers

Mount Everest's historic climbing season ending after deaths, traffic jams of climbers The climbing season at Mount Everest may be coming to a close, but the past few weeks have been historic for the world's tallest mountain. Avid Everest blogger Alan Arnette wrote Thursday that one of the last known teams on the mountain turned around during their summit attempt because of bad weather. According to the count by Arnette, a Colorado climber who summited Mount Everest on his fourth attempt in 2011 and who keeps track of its climbing seasons, more than 825 climbers and Sherpas reached the summit this year, a record-breaking number. The number of permits from the Nepalese government also broke records this year, with 381 issued. And deaths were at a four-year high, with 11 fatalities, most blamed on a combination of overcrowding, inexperience and poor weather limiting the number of days climbers were able to attempt to summit. Here's a look back at the recent stories from Mount Everest: Utah climber dies after reaching Seven Summits Don Cash, 55, an experienced American climber, was among the first fatalities widely reported in U.S. media from this year's Everest season. The Sandy, Utah, father collapsed and died last Wednesday as he was descending the summit, likely due to complications from altitude sickness, his family said. More:He climbed the tallest mountain on each continent, then died as he descended Mount Everest Cash had just completed his goal of joining the Seven Summits Club, earned when a climber reaches the top of the tallest mountain on each continent. "The last message he sent to me personally was, 'I'm so blessed to be on the mountain I have read about for 40 years!'" his son, Tanner Cash, told "Today." Overcrowding atop Everest A photo taken the same day Cash died showed what appeared to be a single line of climbers waiting to reach the summit. Veteran climber Nirmal Purja captured the photo while descending the summit, and it quickly became the poster for the overcrowding issue this season. "I've seen traffic, but not this crazy," Purja, who has reached the top of Everest four times, told the Washington Post. Video on social media also appeared to show the packed peaks on the mountain. Many other experienced climbers began to blame to growing death toll on the increased number of climbers on the mountain. At 29,035 feet, the air atop Everest has such low oxygen levels that just being in the area near the summit, let alone climbing, proves lethal for those who cannot reach extra oxygen supplies fast enough. 'Every minute counts':Another climber dies on Everest as world's tallest peak overcrowds Others say that it was the inexperience of many of the climbers on the cliffs this year. "You have to qualify to do the Ironman," Arnette told The New York Times. "But you don’t have to qualify to climb the highest mountain in the world? What’s wrong with this picture?" Government officials in Nepal, though, faulted poor weather, which narrowed the window in which reaching the summit was even possible to just a few days. What's behind Everest's deadly season?:Overcrowding, inexperience and a long line to the top Tourism officials said earlier this week that the country has no plans to limit the number of permits it issues next year. Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries, charges $11,000 per permit and earned $300 million a year from its climbing industry. Another American dies Christopher Kulish, 62, a Boulder, Colorado, attorney, died Monday at a camp after summiting the mountain, his family said. After he stood atop Everest, Kulish also joined the elusive "Seven Summit Club." "He saw his last sunrise from the highest peak on Earth," brother Mark Kulish said in a statement. "He passed away doing what he loved, after returning to the next camp below the peak." 'Passed away doing what he loved':Second American dies on Mount Everest in crowded year Kulish's death marked the 11th fatality on the mountain this year. Mandy Moore reaches Base Camp "This Is Us" actress Mandy Moore was also among the adventurers around Everest this year. While she wasn't attempting a summit, Moore completed the impressive feat of hiking to Mount Everest's Base Camp, which sits 17,600 feet above sea level. 'Inner mountain girl':Mandy Moore completes trek to Mount Everest base camp amid deadly climbing season "Breathing at altitude, for instance, is not easy," she wrote on social media. "Besides hydration and staying nourished, breathing is THE vital key in the fight against altitude sickness. It’s also a major takeaway that I will be employing back to the real world whether I’m in the midst of a tough workout or a weird day. Mind blown." Contributing: Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan; Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY and The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/04/republican-lawmakers-warn-trump-against-tariffs-on-mexico/1337664001/

'A giant game of chicken': GOP lawmakers warn against Trump's threatened tariffs on Mexico

'A giant game of chicken': GOP lawmakers warn against Trump's threatened tariffs on Mexico WASHINGTON – Top Republicans warned the Trump administration Tuesday against imposing new tariffs on all Mexican imports, saying the president risks an embarrassing congressional reversal if he goes through with the plan. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 5% tariffs on Mexico starting next week unless the Mexican government stops the flow of migrants coming to the U.S. border. Trump said he would increase the tariffs by 5 percentage points each month and warned they could reach 25% by Oct. 1. But Senate GOP leaders publicly and privately pressed the White House to negotiate a solution with Mexican officials and said Trump could face a congressional blockade if he goes through with the levies. “Republicans don’t like taxes on American consumers, which is what tariffs are,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “I think the president and the administration ought to be concerned about another vote of disapproval,” said Johnson, R-Wis., referring to a legislative tool lawmakers could use to overturn Trump’s justification for the tariffs. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold pivotal talks with Mexican officials Wednesday amid the growing political backlash. Johnson and others vented their frustration over Trump’s tariff threat during a closed-door lunch on Tuesday with several administration officials who were dispatched to the Hill to explain the president's legal basis for the tariffs. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said that Trump administration officials got an earful from lawmakers expressing “deep concern and resistance to imposing tariffs on trade with Mexico because it would hurt American jobs.” He said the current showdown with Mexico is like “a giant game of chicken,” with potentially disastrous economic results. “It’s like two trucks headed straight at each other on a country road. If the outcome of this is that Mexico blinks, and they turn, and they actually become active, productive partners in helping stop illegal immigration, that would be a good outcome,” Cruz said. “But if the outcome of this game of chicken is massive new tariffs that destroy jobs in Texas, and across the country, that would be a terrible mistake.” The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, said Trump was probably bluffing – prompting a fierce response from the president. "Frankly, I don't believe President Trump will actually go through with the tariffs," Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "President Trump has a habit of talking tough and then retreating because his policy often ... can't be implemented or doesn't make sense." "Can you imagine Cryin’ Chuck Schumer saying out loud, for all to hear, that I am bluffing with respect to putting Tariffs on Mexico," Trump tweeted Tuesday night. "What a Creep." Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and other top officials are in Washington this week, lobbying the Trump administration against imposing the tariffs – saying it will weaken Mexico's ability to address the migration crisis. Most of the migrants trying to come to the United States are from Central America, not Mexico. They’re fleeing violence, poverty and corruption and other problems in their home countries. In a news conference on Monday, Ebrard and other Mexican officials noted that their government has already taken major steps toward stemming the flow of migrants, by cracking down on human smuggling and returning more than 80,000 migrants crossing through Mexico to their home countries. Trump dismissed those efforts Tuesday and seemed to double-down on his tariff threat. "Millions and millions of people are coming right through Mexico," Trump asserted at a joint news conference in London with British Prime Minister Theresa May. "Mexico should step up and stop this onslaught." He said Republicans would be "foolish" to try to block the tariffs. But experts said Trump's plan is vulnerable to a congressional override. "This is such a frontal assault not just on Congress’ constitutional power but really on what has been a core of Republican ideology for now, which is a belief in free trade and low taxes," Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign policy think tank, said during a conference call Tuesday. Alden said it seems to be "sinking in up on the Hill" that these tariffs could wipe out the economic benefits of the tax cuts that Republicans enacted in 2017. Shannon K. O'Neil, an expert on Latin America with the council, said Trump's demands that Mexico stop the influx of migrants is unrealistic. "The challenge for Mexico frankly is that they don’t have the capacity to do this," she said. "This is a problem that the United States admits that they can’t deal with and they expect Mexico, a country with fewer resources and a much less capable bureaucracy, to do that work for them." It's not clear if Pompeo and Ebrard will be able to find a solution to the stand-off during their meeting on Wednesday. But lawmakers said they were hoping for that outcome so that Congress does not have to step in. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., side-stepped reporters' questions Tuesday about what he would do if Trump went through with the tariffs. "We’re still hoping that this can be avoided," McConnell said after the lunch meeting. "Apparently these talks are going well. Our hope is the tariffs will be avoided." Cruz was more direct, noting that a 25% tariff would translate into nearly $30 billion in new taxes on his home state of Texas, which imports more than $100 billion in goods from Mexico annually. “There is no doubt we have an emergency at the border,” Cruz said. “But there is no reason for Texas farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and small businesses to pay the price of massive new taxes.” Contributing: Deborah Berry More:How US foreign policy in Central America may have fueled the migrant crisis More:Donald Trump says he hopes Mexico can avoid tariffs by stopping migrants

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/04/tiananmen-square-30-years-later-u-s-and-china-clash-over-protest/1337164001/

30 years after Tiananmen Square made history, US and China still clash over protest

30 years after Tiananmen Square made history, US and China still clash over protest Thirty years after the "June 4th incident," as the crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests is known in China, that nation and the U.S. remain at odds over what it meant then and what it means now. In the West, the clash is better known at the "Tiananmen Square Massacre." Weeks of protests across the nation, centered in Beijing's historic public square, were crushed that day when Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping declared martial law and security forces fired on the protesters. China announced an estimated death toll of about 300 people. Outside estimates put the number at several thousand. On June 5, the protesters were gone except for "Tank Man" – one man whose brief refusal to allow a line of tanks to pass became an iconic depiction of political resistance. The photo was shot by American photographer Jeff Widener from a sixth-floor balcony of the Beijing Hotel and reverberated around the world. The man's identity remains a mystery. The crackdown drew international outrage. But this week China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe defended the government's actions that day, saying military intervention quelled "political turbulence" and led to three decades of "stable development." The 30th anniversary comes against a backdrop of tension over trade talks and tariffs. On Tuesday, Beijing issued a travel advisory for Chinese citizens planning to visit the United States. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang accused U.S. law enforcement agencies of targeting Chinese travelers. "For some time, U.S. law enforcement agencies have been harassing Chinese citizens with interrogation upon entry or exit" and other actions, Shuang said. He said the advisory should "raise safety awareness." Also Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Washington lashed out at a statement issued by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo marking the Tiananmen anniversary. Pompeo had lauded the "heroic protest movement" that was crushed by the government. "The Chinese Communist Party leadership sent tanks into Tiananmen Square to violently repress peaceful demonstrations calling for democracy, human rights and an end to rampant corruption," Pompeo said. Pompeo urged China to provide a full accounting of victims of the "dark chapter of history," blasting China's "one-party state (that) tolerates no dissent and abuses human rights whenever it serves its interests." China's retort accused Pompeo of "prejudice and arrogance" and accused him of interfering in its internal affairs in violation of international law. "China's human rights are in the best period ever," the statement said. "Socialism with Chinese characteristics, a choice of history and the people, has been proved a right path in line with China's national conditions and supported by the whole population."

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/05/saudi-arms-sale-bipartisan-senators-including-graham-rebuke-trump/1350645001/?csp=chromepush

'Not the time to do business as usual' with Saudis: Senators to rebuke Trump over arms sales

'Not the time to do business as usual' with Saudis: Senators to rebuke Trump over arms sales WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators will force 22 votes aimed at rebuking the Trump administration for its planned sale of American weapons to Saudi Arabia and its allies. The unusual move, announced Wednesday morning by seven lawmakers – including one of President Donald Trump's closest allies in the Senate – will not block the $8.1 billion deal with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But it will be a highly public demonstration of lawmakers' anger over the Trump administration's decision to sidestep Congress and push through the arms sale by declaring a national security emergency. And it will showcase the growing unease among lawmakers in both parties with the Trump administration's cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia, despite the kingdom's role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident and Washington Post columnist. “The Trump administration’s effort to sell billions of U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is yet another example of an end-run around Congress and a disregard for human rights," Sen. Robert Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is usually a vocal defender of the president, said he expects broad support for the measures, which will involve a "vote of disapproval" for each of the 22 weapons transactions. “While I understand that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of Mohammed bin Salman cannot be ignored," Graham said, referring to the crown prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. "Now is not the time to do business as usual with Saudi Arabia." Lawmakers have also expressed alarm over the Trump administration’s decision to allow U.S. companies to share nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the Administration has approved such transfers on seven occasions, including one just 16 days after Khashoggi’s murder. “The alarming realization that the Trump administration signed off on sharing our nuclear know-how with the Saudi regime after it brutally murdered an American resident adds to a disturbing pattern of behavior,” Kaine said in a statement Tuesday after receiving new information from the White House about the nuclear transfers. In the House, Democrats on the Foreign Affairs Committee said they would also introduce a series of bills aimed at blocking the arms sales. They also plan to grill a top State Department arms control official who will be testifying before the panel next week. The arms-sale standoff began last month when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told lawmakers the administration planned to go through with the weapons deal despite Congress' objections. Congress normally has to sign off on such deals, but Pompeo cited a provision in the 1976 Arms Control Act that allows the president to sidestep Congress in an emergency. Pompeo said that threats from Iran, a foe of both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, justified the decision to evade congressional review. "These sales will support our allies, enhance Middle East stability, and help these nations to deter and defend themselves from the Islamic Republic of Iran," Pompeo said in announcing the decision. Opponents of the arms sale say the weapons will be used to kill civilians in the Yemen war, where Saudi Arabia and the UAE are engaged in a proxy fight with Iranian-backed rebels. The day after Pompeo announced the new arms sales, the United Nations reported that 12 civilians had been killed, including seven children, in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition. Overall, the war has killed thousands of Yemeni civilians and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, including widespread starvation and disease. "Selling more bombs to the Saudis simply means that the famine and cholera outbreak in Yemen will get worse, Iran will get stronger, and Al Qaeda and ISIS will continue to flourish amidst the chaos of the civil war," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is also backing the legislative rebuke. "Saudi Arabia treats us like the junior partner in this relationship, chopping up U.S. residents and torturing others, all the while demanding we remain silent and sell them more weapons," Murphy added in a reference to the gruesome way Khashoggi was reportedly killed. In addition to Graham, Menendez and Murphy, the other lawmakers pushing the disapproval measures are Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Todd Young, R-Ind., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. All sit on key committees that have some jurisdiction over foreign policy and the State Department. More:Trump administration plans to sell new weapons to Saudis despite lawmakers' objections

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/06/d-day-photos-normandy-mark-75th-anniversary-d-day-invasion/1365312001/

D-Day: 17 stunning photos from 1944 show how hard the Normandy invasion really was

D-Day: 17 stunning photos from 1944 show how hard the Normandy invasion really was On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, forever reshaping the progress of the war and history during the D-Day operation. Thousands of ships, planes and soldiers from the United States, Britain and Canada surprised Nazi forces. More than 4,000 Allied soldiers, most of them younger than 20, as well as more than 4,000 German troops died in the invasion. Up to 20,000 French civilians were also reportedly killed in the bombings. In 2019, veterans and world leaders gathered to honor the soldiers who took part in the invasion, led by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and known then as Operation Overlord. To mark the historic day, here are 17 photos that show how the battle unfolded. Contributing: Shelby Fleig, USA TODAY. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter: @RyanW_Miller

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/06/japan-high-heels-workplace-kutoo-campaign/1368039001/

Kick it: Japanese women start #KuToo against dress code requiring high heels in workplace

Kick it: Japanese women start #KuToo against dress code requiring high heels in workplace Japan's labor minister indicates that he will not back a petition to ban dress codes that force women in Japanese offices to wear high heels at work. "It's generally accepted by society that (wearing high heels) is necessary and reasonable in workplaces," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Takumi Nemoto said Wednesday during a Diet committee session, according to Kyodo News service. His comments came after a group filed a 18,800-name petition with the ministry charging gender-based workplace discrimination over the high-heels issue. The petition called on the government to ban companies from requiring women to wear high heels in the workplace, citing health and other issues. The online petition was submitted by Yumi Ishikawa, a 32-year-old funeral parlor worker, Reuters reports. The group is part of the #KuToo movement – a combination of "#MeToo" and the Japanese words for shoes ("kutsu") and pain ("kutsuu"). “It seems like men don’t really understand that wearing high heels can be painful and lead to injuries,” Ishikawa told Reuters. The movement began in January when Ishikawa, who works part time at a funeral parlor, tweeted about her frustration with the dress code, which says women had to wear high heels. The original tweet received more than 67,000 likes and nearly 30,000 retweets, Kyodo reports. Nemoto's comment was his response to Kanako Otsuji, a member of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who said forcing women to wear high heels at work is "outdated," according to the news service. While Otsuji emphasized that the dress code that applied only to women amounts to harassment, Nemoto said: "It's abuse of power if a worker with a hurt foot is forced (to wear high heels)." While many Japanese companies may not explicitly require female employees to wear high heels, many of them do so because of tradition and social expectations, Reuters reports. “I think it’s within the range of what’s commonly accepted as necessary and appropriate in the workplace,” Nemoto said in his remarks, according to Reuters.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/06/trump-faces-more-congressional-backlash-over-mexico-tariff-threat/1366320001/

Congressman threatens to block Donald Trump's tariffs as talks with Mexico enter second day

Congressman threatens to block Donald Trump's tariffs as talks with Mexico enter second day WASHINGTON – The chairman of a key congressional committee warned Thursday that he would take steps to block new tariffs against Mexico if President Donald Trump follows through on his plans to impose the duties early next week. “The president’s proposed tariffs would hurt American workers, businesses and consumers,” said Rep. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. “If the president does declare a national emergency and attempt to put these tariffs into place, I will introduce a resolution of disapproval to stop his overreach.” Neal’s warning was the latest sign of the domestic backlash Trump is facing over his tariff threat and comes as the U.S. and Mexico are involved in a second day of high-stakes discussions in hopes of reaching a deal to avoid the duties. Trump has threatened to slap 5% tariffs on all Mexican imports, starting Monday, unless the Mexican government stops the flow of Central American migrants coming to the U.S. southern border. He has vowed to increase the tariffs 5 percentage points a month, until they reach 25%. Vice President Mike Pence and Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard led an initial round of negotiations on Wednesday, but those failed to produce a breakthrough. The talks resumed Thursday morning at the State Department, where Ebrard spent nearly three hours behind closed doors with Trump administration officials. “I think we are making advances,” the foreign minister told reporters as he left the building. Although Trump said he would impose the tariffs on June 10, that may be a soft deadline. Trump has delayed similar threatened actions before, such as tariffs of China, citing ongoing negotiations as a justification. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders downplayed the possibility of a delay. "We are still moving forward with tariffs at this time," she said Thursday afternoon. Pence expressed optimism about a possible deal, but stressed that the Mexicans need to do more. “As President Trump has made clear, we have a crisis on our southern border,” Pence said. “…The president has taken a strong stand. We’ll continue to take that strong stand until Mexico takes such action as is necessary to address this crisis and bring this crisis of illegal immigration at our border to an end.” The U.S. Border Patrol announced on Wednesday that authorities had apprehended 84,542 members of family units crossing the southwest border with Mexico, the fourth straight month the agency has broken its record for family arrests. That represents a 44% increase from April’s total of 58,724 family members caught crossing the border, a clear indication that Trump's efforts to stop the flow of migrants across the southern border are not working and that Central American families are continuing their march north. Ebrard and other Mexican officials note that Mexico has already enacted strong measures to curb migration, by cracking down on human smuggling and returning more than 80,000 migrants crossing through Mexico to their home countries. "Without Mexico’s efforts, an additional quarter-million migrants could arrive at the U.S. border in 2019," Martha Barcena, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S., told reporters at a news conference earlier this week. Slapping tariffs on Mexico, along with the Trump administration's decision to halt aid to Central American countries, is "counterproductive," she said, and will not reduce migration flows. Top Republicans in Congress have warned the Trump administration against imposing the new tariffs, saying the president risks an embarrassing congressional reversal if he goes through with the plan. Contributing: David Jackson and Alan Gomez More:'A giant game of chicken': GOP lawmakers warn against Trump's threatened tariffs on Mexico

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/07/mexico-tariffs-trumps-demand-asylum-changes-flashpoint-talks/1370610001/

Countdown to US-Mexico tariff deadline: Trump says there's 'good chance' a deal can be reached

Countdown to US-Mexico tariff deadline: Trump says there's 'good chance' a deal can be reached WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday there is a good chance the U.S. and Mexico will reach a deal to avoid new tariffs on Mexican imports, but he warned that the duties will take effect as planned on Monday if the two sides are unable to strike an agreement. "If we are able to make the deal with Mexico, & there is a good chance we will, they will begin purchasing Farm & Agricultural products at very high levels, starting immediately," Trump tweeted. "If we are unable to make the deal, Mexico will begin paying Tariffs at the 5% level on Monday!" The two countries began a third day of high-stakes discussions on Friday in hopes of reaching a deal to avoid the duties. Trump has threatened to slap 5% tariffs on all Mexican imports, starting Monday, unless the Mexican government stops the flow of Central American migrants coming to the U.S. southern border. He has vowed to hike the tariffs 5 percentage points per month, until they reached 25%. An aide to Vice President Mike Pence said the administration will on Friday submit a legal notification of tariffs to take effect Monday – but could just as easily pull it back over the weekend if negotiations continue to go well. Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff, told reporters: "There's a legal notification that goes forward today with a plan to implement tariffs on Monday, but I think there is the ability – if negotiations continue to go well – that the president can turn that off at some point over the weekend." The biggest flashpoint in the U.S.-Mexico negotiations over tariffs and immigration revolves around asylum – specifically which country should be responsible for absorbing the desperate migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. The Trump administration wants Mexico to agree to take almost every asylum seeker that crosses into Mexico – pushing the Mexican government to sign an agreement that would essentially bar Central American migrants from trying to gain asylum in the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted that step so far, although there were signs Thursday that Mexican negotiators might relent. If that happens, the U.S. and Mexico could sign a little-known treaty – called a safe third-country agreement – that would carry huge implications for immigration in both countries. “That’s probably the most important demand that we have of Mexico,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that favors stronger limits on immigration. Migrants generally must seek asylum in the first country they reach after fleeing their homeland – but only if that country is considered safe. If it’s not safe, migrants can pass through – as they’re doing in Mexico right now – and apply in the next country they reach, in this case the United States. If Mexico agrees to be designated as a safe third-party country, the U.S. could deny the asylum claims of virtually all the Central American migrants now seeking refuge in the U.S. American immigration authorities could “turn them around and send them back” to Mexico, Krikorian said. He has accused Mexico of being an “asylum free rider” by enacting liberal asylum laws but steering most refugees to the U.S. border. Designating Mexico as a safe asylum country “would really take away most of the incentive” for migrants to trek across Mexico to the U.S. border, Krikorian said. But immigration advocates say Mexico’s asylum system is already overwhelmed, and the country is not safe – particularly for vulnerable migrants. Trump’s own State Department has advised Americans not to travel to five Mexican states, citing rampant and often violent crime. “Robberies, extortion, kidnapping ... these are common situations,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a policy analyst with the American Immigration Council, an advocacy group devoted to stronger protections for immigrants. The council recently conducted a survey of migrant mothers detained in Mexico, and 90% said they did not feel safe. Nearly half of the 500 women said that they or their child had been robbed, sexually assaulted, threatened or subject to other harm. “The Mexican police and state agencies charged with providing security are often the very actors robbing migrants, charging them fees in order to pass, or handing them over to criminal groups who tax or victimize migrants,” Stephanie Leutert, director of the Mexico Security Initiative at the University of Texas, wrote in a 2018 analysis of the issue. She and others note that Mexico has already moved to take in more refugees. Asylum requests have increased each of the past five years, with the nation on track to reach nearly 60,000 in 2019, nearly double the number from the year before, according to data from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance. Leutert said Mexico’s government institutions are too weak to absorb more migrants than they’re already taking in. “I think the U.S. should be working with Mexico more on these issues and not pushing all this enforcement onto a country that doesn’t” have the resources to handle it, she said in an interview. Krikorian says the U.S. might need to offer Mexico financial assistance in exchange for an asylum agreement. “I think we should combine carrots along with the sticks,” he said, referring to President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on all Mexican imports if the Obrador government does not stop the flow of migrants. Indeed, Obrador has called for the U.S. to help Mexico address the root causes of the migrant crisis – urging the Trump administration to help foot the bill for economic development and other initiatives aimed at relieving the crippling poverty and corruption in Guatemala, Honduras and other Central American countries. “The U.S. stance is centered on immigration control measures, while our focus is on development,” Roberto Velasco, a spokesman for the Mexican Foreign Ministry, tweeted on Thursday evening. “We have not yet reached an agreement but continue to negotiate.” Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard declined to comment Thursday on the prospect of a safe third-country agreement. And the White House did not respond to questions about the Trump administration’s demands for that. But Krikorian said a fat financial aid package could go a long way in persuading Mexico to accede to Trump’s demand. “We can make it worth Mexico’s while, in combination with a stick that if they don’t take our more money that they’re going to suffer some consequences,” he said. Even before Trump’s threatened tariffs become official, Mexico has been taking action to assuage his demands that migration through Mexico stop. Ebrard has confirmed 6,000 members of the national guard will be sent to southern states such as Chiapas, which shares a porous border with Guatemala. Mexico’s Finance Ministry on Thursday froze the accounts of 26 unnamed individuals it accuses of financing human trafficking and the caravans, which crossed the country last fall. The federal prosecutor's office also detained two prominent members of Pueblo Sin Frontera, a bi-national migrants’ rights group, which convenes and coordinates caravans transiting Mexico. Pueblo Sin Frontera blasted the arrests as part of pattern of persecution and the “criminalization” of attempts at providing humanitarian assistance to migrants. Mexican immigration officials and navy marines corralled a caravan earlier this week in Chiapas, barely eight miles from the border with Guatemala. Trump's threat of tariffs comes at an inopportune time for Mexico. The economy has slumped and the central bank has cut its 2019 growth projects to a range of 0.8 percent to 1.8 percent. “It's very unfortunate timing as concerns surrounding decelerating economic growth and fiscal policy direction have materialized in the last few months,” said Horacio Coutiño, a financial analyst in Mexico City. Contributing: Alan Gomez, David Jackson, David Agren

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/08/trumps-deal-over-migrants-mexico-self-made-crisis-critics-say/1391843001/

Trump is avoiding a crisis of his own making with US-Mexico migrant deal, critics say

Trump is avoiding a crisis of his own making with US-Mexico migrant deal, critics say WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump kept American business leaders, GOP lawmakers and Mexican negotiators on a knife's edge for eight anxiety-filled days with his threat to slap an escalating series of tariffs on all Mexican imports if the country didn't address migrants coming to the southern border. When Trump yanked back his economic ultimatum late Friday night, he seemed to walk away with a win-win: no new trade war with a major U.S. economic partner, and "strong measures" by Mexico to curb the flow of Central American migrants. But critics say Trump avoided a political crisis of his own making – one that could have wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy and sparked a political revolt from within his own party. And it's not clear how much the agreement with Mexico will really accomplish on illegal immigration, Trump's signature issue. "One of Donald Trump’s signature moves as president is to act as both arsonist and firefighter, taking credit for resolving pseudo-crises that he in fact initiated," Brendan Nyhan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, wrote in a recent post on Medium. U.S. reaches deal with Mexico:Trump pulls Mexico tariff threat while claiming deal over migrants reached Countdown to US-Mexico tariff deadline:Trump says there's 'good chance' a deal can be reached He noted that Trump's threatened tariffs could have hurt his own re-election prospects in 2020, as U.S. companies and consumers absorbed increased costs of Mexican imports. The president, he said, had a strong incentive to "solve" the problem that began last week when Trump first tweeted his tariff threat. Nyhan isn’t alone. While Republicans applauded the president and the deal, others argued he shouldn't receive credit. Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama, tweeted that Trump is "so predictable" and follows a "simple recipe." Price said the president manufactures "a crisis on an issue of importance to the base," then leaves "success undefined," pretends "to play hardball in a way that rallies the base," solves the manufactured crisis and then disguises "the status quo as a 'huge success.'" Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had asked Trump to brief Republican lawmakers before imposing tariffs. Lawmakers grew more nervous Friday after a weaker-than-expected jobs report, which some analysts said was due at least in part to the recent escalation of U.S. trade battles. Trump's defenders say the end result – a new immigration deal with Mexico – shows the strength of the president's negotiating skills. “President Trump’s newly-signed agreement with Mexico is great news for both our economy and our country’s border security," House Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, declared in a statement Friday night. "Once again, President Trump has proven those who doubted him wrong by getting Mexico to step up their efforts to help us secure our southern border." How the deal works The agreement itself, released Friday by the U.S. State Department, is light on details, lacking specific numbers or other hard targets. But there are essentially two tangible elements: • Mexico agreed to take "unprecedented steps to increase enforcement" along its southern border with Guatemala, where many Central Americans are crossing into Mexico on their way to the U.S. The country also said it would crack down on human smuggling organizations. • Mexico agreed to expand a U.S. policy in which migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. will wait in Mexico for their claims to be adjudicated, something that can take months, though the U.S. said it would “work to accelerate” the process. While there, Mexico will offer jobs, health care and other services to the refugees. More:President Trump: 'Progress' but no breakthrough with Mexico as tariff deadline looms The resulting deal shows the Trump administration abandoned its most controversial demand – that Mexico agree to be designated as a safe third-party country, which would have meant accepting asylum applications from thousands of Central American migrants. However, the agreement does include a trigger for another round of talks if the U.S. isn't satisfied over the next several months: “Both parties also agree that, in the event the measures adopted do not have the expected results, they will take further actions,” meaning Trump could revive his tariffs threat if the number of migrants arriving at the U.S. border doesn't go down. The president had previously threatened a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports. The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, mocked the agreement on Twitter, saying that since the president claimed to have solved the migrant crisis, “I’m sure we won’t be hearing any more about it in the future.” In a statement Saturday, Schumer said the deal "is likely to have only a small impact on solving the root causes of Central American migration because many of the components are things Mexico is already doing. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the deal did not address the root causes of the migration crisis. And she said Trump undermined America's status as a world leader by "recklessly threatening to impose tariffs on our close friend and neighbor to the south." Civil rights groups mount attacks Immigration advocates said the deal could put vulnerable migrants in greater danger. They took aim at the expansion of a program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, which the U.S. rolled out in January to place asylum seekers back in Mexico until their claims are decided. Critics said that prevents migrants from seeking needed legal help in their asylum claim. "This is just another chaotic, cruel and counterproductive attempt to block refugees from the United States," said Eleanor Acer, senior director of refugee protection at Human Rights First. The groups say that Mexico is unsafe, and the country cannot be entrusted with the massive task of housing potentially thousands of migrants, given that the small number of shelters operating in Mexican border towns are already overwhelmed. The American Civil Liberties Union vowed to continue a legal challenge it has mounted against that program. “The Trump administration announced that it intends to further expand its forced return to Mexico policy, which has been illegal since Day 1 and has already proven to be a disaster,” Omar Jadwat, director of ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said in a statement on Friday. Breaking a record:Border Patrol apprehended record number of migrant families in May as Trump threatens Mexico Asylum win for Trump:Appeals court rules Trump administration can make asylum seekers wait in Mexico for now Halting aid over migrant flow:US cutting off humanitarian aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador Contributing: Alan Gomez

be269f9969afb32bb2a89a23dd9b1692

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/09/hong-kong-hundreds-thousands-protest-extradition-bill/1402089001/

Hundreds of thousands are protesting an extradition bill in Hong Kong. Here's why

Hundreds of thousands are protesting an extradition bill in Hong Kong. Here's why Hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to demonstrate against proposed amendments to an extradition bill, which would allow the transfer of those accused of crimes to mainland China. The massive demonstration took place just three days before Hong Kong's full legislature considers the bill, which critics fear would let China target political opponents in the former British colony and could undermine its judicial independence. The Sunday protest was one of the biggest in recent Hong Kong history. Police estimated the crowd at 240,000; organizers said it was closer to 1 million. After around 10 hours of peaceful protest, tensions rose when a group of protesters stormed the barriers at the government headquarters. The group briefly made it to the lobby, but police responded with batons and pepper spray. Here's a closer look: Why is the bill controversial? Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997 when it was handed over to China as a territory. However, the city is still semi-autonomous, retaining its own political, social and legal systems as part of the "one country, two systems" agreement. Opponents say the extradition bill will allow China to increase control over Hong Kong's legal system and will target political dissidents, who critics fear could then face unfair trials. Proponents, namely the city's government, say the revised bill will help fight crime and maintain order. Hong Kong currently limits extraditions to jurisdictions with which it has prior agreements with, or on a case-by-case basis. China was excluded because of concerns over its troubled history with legal independence and human rights. The amendments would allow Hong Kong courts to extradite people to jurisdictions even lacking this prior agreement. Despite widespread opposition, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam has championed the legislation. More:20 years on, freewheeling Hong Kong is more like the rest of repressed China Who are the protesters? People from all walks of life marched in the streets Sunday, from toddlers to the elderly, wearing white to symbolize the color of light, according to the South China Morning Post. “If I didn’t come out now, I don’t know when I would have the chance to express my opinion again,” said Kiwi Wong, a 27 year-old protester. “Because now we’ve got to this stage, if you don’t come out to try to do what you can, then it will end up too late, you won’t be able to say or do anything about it.” Retired primary school teacher Pun Tin-chi expressed his frustration with officials, telling the Post the amendments will prevent Hong Kong from becoming a safe haven for criminals. “I don’t even know what I can say to these officials," Tin-chi said. "All I can say is, I am already 70 years old and I cannot believe I am witnessing how they have been telling lie after lie." Activist Lee Cheuk-yan, a former Hong Kong legislator, said the autonomy of Hong Kong needs to be protected and noted potential economic drawbacks to the revisions. "The people of Hong Kong want to protect our freedom, our freedom of speech, our rule of law, our judicial system and also our economic foundation, which is welcome to international investors,” Cheuk-yan said. "If international investors lose confidence in Hong Kong because of this evil bill, then Hong Kong, economically, would also be destroyed.” More:U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 'smears' China on 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests What is the government response? In a statement late Sunday, the government acknowledged the rights of the protesters to voice their criticisms. "We acknowledge and respect that people have different views on a wide range of issues,” the statement said. “The procession today is an example of Hong Kong people exercising their freedom of expression within their rights as enshrined in the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance.” Lam's government claims the revisions are needed in order to close legal loopholes. It will formally put forward the amendments of the bill on Wednesday and hopes for approval by the end of the month. Contributing: The Associated Press

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/11/30-000-year-old-severed-wolf-head-found-siberia/1426761001/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=amp&utm_campaign=speakable

The 30,000-year-old severed head of a wolf, with teeth and fur, has been found in Siberia. And it's gnarly

The 30,000-year-old severed head of a wolf, with teeth and fur, has been found in Siberia. And it's gnarly The severed head of a wolf that may have died more than 30,000 years ago has been unearthed in permafrost in eastern Siberia. The wolf, whose fur and fangs are still intact, was between 2 and 4 years old when it died, The Siberian Times reported Friday. "‘This is a unique discovery of the first ever remains of a fully grown Pleistocene wolf with its tissue preserved," Albert Protopopov, director of the mammoth studies department at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha told the Times. "We will be comparing it to modern-day wolves to understand how the species has evolved and to reconstruct its appearance." The Pleistocene wolf’s head measured more than 15 inches long, per the Times, larger than that of a modern wolf's head, which measures between 9 and 11 inches. Researchers are building a digital model of the wolf’s brain and the interior of its skull, Protopopov told CNN. Protopopov said the specimen is more than 40,000 years old, but David Stanton, a research fellow at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, estimated the head was closer to 32,000 years old. The team from Sweden lead by Stanton plan to study the predator's DNA using genetic information extracted from a tooth. Stanton said the specimen is so well preserved it's possible researchers will be able to sequence its entire genome. "With something as old as this a lot of the DNA is very damaged and it can be quite hard to get DNA out of it. We’ve been working on getting some good quality of DNA out of it," Stanton said. "Basically we’re interested in what these wolves are, how they’re related to modern day wolves, and trying to understand why they went extinct." Pleistocene wolves went extinct between 20,000 and 30,0000 years ago around the same time that modern wolves first appeared, Stanton said. The extinction likely had something to do with the rapid climate change, Stanton explained, and determining exactly what happened to these ancient wolves may help researchers predict future extinction due to current day climate change. Stanton is also analyzing the DNA of a well-preserved cave lion cub that was found alongside the head. Researchers believe the cub, nicknamed Spartak, died shortly after birth, the Times reported. "They pull all sorts of incredible animals out, they dig them out of the ice and permafrost," Stanton said. Stanton added that more specimens will likely be uncovered as temperatures rise and the ice starts to melt. Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

239ee4b2aceb77386b3b50be9b75b86f

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/06/11/kim-brother-north-korean-leaders-slain-brother-cia-operative/1417153001/

Was North Korean leader Kim's slain half brother a CIA source?

Was North Korean leader Kim's slain half brother a CIA source? Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of North Korea’s leader who was murdered in a Malaysia airport two years ago, was a Central Intelligence Agency source who met on several occasions with agency operatives, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Journal, citing a "person knowledgeable about the matter," said Kim Jong Nam met with CIA agents on multiple occasions and also likely had a relationship with Chinese intelligence officials. South Korea's National Intelligence Service and Unification Ministry said Tuesday it could not confirm the report. The CIA declined to comment on the matter when contacted by USA TODAY. The Journal said Kim Jong Nam had traveled to Malaysia in February 2017 to meet his CIA contact. He was walking through the airport in Kuala Lumpur when he was attacked by two women who smeared VX nerve gas on his face. The women were accused of colluding with a group of North Korean men who slipped out of Malaysia during the investigation. Charges ultimately were dropped against the women, who told authorities they were paid for what they believed was a stunt for a TV show. U.S. and South Korean authorities have blamed North Korea for the murder, but Malaysia never made a formal finding on the matter. Kim Jong Nam was the oldest son of Kim Jong Il, the despot leader of North Korea for 17 years until his death in 2011. Kim Jong Nam at one time was considered his father's likely successor before falling out of favor. In recent years he had developed a reputation for living a playboy lifestyle. Reports of assassinations and purges are not uncommon in North Korea. Five officials were reportedly executed last month for their rolls in a failed summit between North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un and President Trump. Days later, however, senior official Kim Hyok Chol was shown in state media sitting near Kim at a concert. Contributing: The Associated Press