| Biden and school busing: Where he stood, what it means Posted: 29 Jun 2019 06:30 PM PDT  That Joe Biden, the man picked by America's first black president as his number two, should now be suffering attacks over his record on race might seem surprising. Senator Kamala Harris, the only black woman in the Democratic presidential field, forcefully questioned Biden on his opposition in the 1970s to court-ordered busing programs aimed at integrating public schools. Harris noted, in a quavering voice, that as "a little girl in California" she was "part of the second class to integrate her public schools" in a busing program.
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| Congressman: Block evidence of trysts in corruption case Posted: 28 Jun 2019 07:36 PM PDT  Lawyers for California Rep. Duncan Hunter want a federal judge to reject an attempt by prosecutors to introduce evidence that the congressman used campaign funds to finance a string of extramarital relationships, a court filing said Friday. Allegations about the married Republican congressman's affairs were outlined in a government court filing Monday, connected to charges he and his wife illegally spent more than $250,000 in campaign funds on trips, meals and other personal expenses. Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty this month to one corruption count.
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| Ball in Europe's court on nuclear deal's future - Iranian state TV Posted: 29 Jun 2019 06:22 AM PDT ![Ball in Europe's court on nuclear deal's future - Iranian state TV]( "Ball in Europe's court on nuclear deal's future - Iranian state TV") The ball is in Europe's court to shield Iran from U.S. sanctions and prevent it from further scaling back compliance with its nuclear agreement with world powers, Iranian state TV said on Saturday, with days remaining on Tehran's ultimatum. Iran's envoy to a meeting of the remaining signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord said on Friday that European countries had offered too little at last-ditch talks to persuade Tehran to back off from its plans to breach limits imposed by the deal.
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| Newark Airport reopens after being shut down due to 'airport emergency' Posted: 29 Jun 2019 07:04 AM PDT  Newark Airport has reopened after it was shut down Saturday morning due to an "airport emergency."
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| Governor Cuomo signs legislation banning 'gay and trans panic' legal defense Posted: 30 Jun 2019 12:14 PM PDT  The defense had been used to justify violent reaction to finding out the person someone is with is gay or transgender.
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| Harvey Weinstein's new lawyer says women need to take responsibility for their actions Posted: 29 Jun 2019 10:15 AM PDT  Harvey Weinstein's new lawyer has said women need to take responsibility for their actions, as she argued the MeToo movement had done a disservice to the sex. Donna Rotunno, who specialises in representing men accused of sex crimes, was hired by the disgraced producer along with Damon Cheronis to represent him at his upcoming trial on sexual assault charges. Ms Rotunno has critcised the MeToo movement which began after a string of celebrities came forward to make allegations against Mr Weinstein. "I'm not a woman who has ever subscribed to it," she told the Wall Street Journal. "I believe women are responsible for the choices that they make." She added that by representing the movie producer she hoped to promote that stance, "and say to women, 'Maybe don't go to the hotel room, maybe we are having a different conversation'". It comes as a leaked recording shows Mr Weinstein telling reporters "I'm no sinner" shortly before the allegations against him were first published. On the call, two New York Times reporters tell Mr Weinstein they have uncovered "a pattern over three decades of allegations of sexual harassment of multiple women" and offer the producer a chance to respond. "I think you ought to be specific and tell me who they are and if they're on the record," he demanded. He added: "I'm not a saint, but I'm not the sinner you think I am." Challenging the reporters' findings, Mr Weinstein warns: "There are many mistakes you've made. I promise we will find them." 33 Hollywood stars who have spoken out about Harvey Weinstein He later says: "It seems like you have a lotta hearsay on your hands. I'm gonna say this nicely - get the facts right. ... You're journalists." The recording was obtained by the websiteInside Edition, which said the reporters were unaware the conference call was being recorded. Mr Wesintein's new legal hires, confirmed on Friday, are his third change in legal representation since he was first charged in May 2018 and comes barely two months before the start of his trial. Mr Weinstein faces charges involving two different women - one who alleges he raped her in 2013, the other that he forced her to perform oral sex in 2006. In an interview with Chicago Magazine last year, Ms Rotunno questioned the MeToo movement's insistence on "believing the women." "We are in an era of conviction by allegation in this country right now," she said, "which flies in the face of the entire principle of innocent until proven guilty." She also said that as a woman, she had an advantage on her male counterparts when it came to aggressively cross-examining alleged female victims. "He may be an excellent lawyer, but if he goes at that woman with the same venom that I do, he looks like a bully. If I do it, nobody even bats an eyelash. And it's been very effective." Harvey Weinstein with former lawyer Benjamin Brafman Credit: AFP Mr Weinstein's first lawyer, a high-profile New York defence attorney Ben Brafman, withdrew from the case in January. His replacements, Harvard law professor Ronald Sullivan and Jose Baez, pulled out one after another six months later. Prof Sullivan withdrew after coming under intense pressure from students on campus for defending the man seen as having given rise to the MeToo movement. Mr Baez later backed out citing "fundamental disagreements" with Mr Weinstein and telling a judge that his client's behaviour had made representing him "unreasonably difficult." The date of Mr Weinstein's trial remains unchanged, with jury selection schedule to begin on September 9. The new lawyers have agreed to the date in court filings, according to US media reports. Mr Weinstein denies the claims against him.
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| Trump Holds DMZ Summit, Pauses China Trade War Posted: 30 Jun 2019 05:00 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more.Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea, a day after he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pushed the pause button on their trade war. Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, got a reality check from his rivals in the party's first debate, and the flight of millions of people from the collapsing economy in Venezuela reverberated across South America.Read about those topics and more in this edition of Weekend Reads, and click here for more of Bloomberg's best political photos from the past week.Global Headlines Trump's DMZ Summit Shows How Little Kim Has Conceded on NukesTrump met Kim for the third time today after a last-minute Twitter invitation that even surprised the North Korean leader. Yet as Margaret Talev and Jon Herskovitz, explain, Trump had something on his mind: critics who say his overtures to Kim haven't led to any meaningful moves toward ending North Korea's nuclear program.Huawei Lifeline Shows Trump Prefers Business Deals Over Cold WarIn recent weeks, Trump has drawn the ire of security hawks in Congress for suggesting he could ease his blacklisting of Huawei Technologies Co. to secure a trade deal with China. Shawn Donnan reports that on Saturday he took a big step toward doing just that, signaling that he cares more about selling U.S. products to China than embarking on a clash of civilizations. The Issues Dominating the 2020 Democratic Presidential CampaignFor most of the two dozen Democratic presidential candidates, social media has been the preferred platform for announcing policy proposals and clarifying positions. Allison McCartney reports on a Bloomberg analysis that shows since the beginning of 2019, the candidates who qualified for the first debate sent about 24,000 tweets—and about half of them mentioned at least one major campaign issue.Embattled NRA Loses Its Political Power Broker on Eve of 2020As the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox pumped more money into Trump's unlikely election than anyone. As Polly Mosendz, Neil Weinberg and David Voreacos explain, Cox's resignation on Wednesday comes as the NRA is entering the 2020 race with the president lagging in polls and without the marketing or lobbying power that made it such an effective force for Trump in 2016.May Is Resigning as U.K. Premier, and She's Not Going QuietlyTheresa May will stand down as Britain's prime minister next month but she is not giving up. With three weeks left before she hands over to someone else, the premier is busier than ever trying to build an ambitious legacy. Tim Ross reports. Endorsed by Trump, Saudi Prince Steps Back Out on World StageSeven months ago Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman cut an isolated figure, caught in a firestorm over the murder of columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi. But at this year's G-20 summit he met with leaders including Putin, May, and India's Narendra Modi, and, as Cagan Koc writes, had a chummy breakfast meeting with Trump, who called him a friend.Amsterdam's Hire-a-Refugee Program Takes On Tight Labor MarketWhen Rasha Mostafa fled war-torn Syria with her husband and daughter 4 1/2 years ago, little did she know she was going to help Amsterdam with a key economic problem. Yet in many large European cities, migrants are quietly filling gaping holes in the labor market, doing jobs locals just don't want to do. Ruben Munsterman reports.Add a Million Venezuelans and Your Economy Looks Very DifferentMarkets were shocked when Chile cut interest rates this month, but the central bank had a simple explanation: The economy suddenly had a lot more people in it. As Daniela Guzman and John Quigley report, that's because of the exodus from Venezuela, where about 4 million people fleeing financial and social collapse are showing up across South America.Billionaire General Bets on Property With Fortune Forged in OilBen Stupples reports on Theophilus Danjuma, the 80-year-old former Nigerian general who's worth $1.2 billion and whose investment in the Kings Arms Hotel in London is part of a network for holdings spanning at least three continents. And finally… For the government of the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, the reintroduction of the national currency a decade after its demise marks a return to "normalcy." Yet for most of the country's citizens, Antony Sguazzin explains, it's a bitter reminder of the years of hyperinflation that destroyed their savings and left them bartering for basics. \--With assistance from Gordon Bell.To contact the author of this story: Karl Maier in Abuja at kmaier2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Kathleen Hunter at khunter9@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Crater of Doom: Union Soldiers Tried to Tunnel Beneath Confederate Positions (Bad Idea) Posted: 29 Jun 2019 09:00 AM PDT  The fresh Crater, which would soon become a horrendous death trap for thousands of Union soldiers, first entombed half of Pegram's guns and crews and entire companies of Elliot's command, as well as damaging part of the cavalier trench. A total of 278 Confederates were sent to their graves by the huge blast. Great clods of dirt, some as large as houses, littered the floor of the Crater along with the torn bodies of its erstwhile defenders. Some defenders were seen running from the trenches, but most of the South Carolinians remained at their posts in the smoky haze. It would take a full half-hour for the stunned defenders to reorganize and put up any type of effective defense. "The way was completely open to the summit of the hill," recalled a Union observer, "which was protected by no other line of works."It was just after 3 am on Saturday, July 30, 1864. A month of relative quiet along a two-mile stretch of Union and Confederate trench lines immediately east of Petersburg, Virginia, was about to come to an explosive end. In the aftermath of several earlier Federal attacks on the strategically vital city in mid-June, a portion of Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside's IX Corps picket line lay only 400 feet from Elliot's Salient, a highly fortified position on high ground that formed an angle protruding out from the main Confederate line, commanded by Maj. Gen. Bushrod Rust Johnson.
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| Nigeria protesters demand end to anti-Boko Haram militia Posted: 30 Jun 2019 10:45 AM PDT  More than 2,000 people protested Sunday in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, calling for a ban on the anti-Boko Haram CJTF militia they accuse of abuses after the killing of a rickshaw driver. The protesters blocked major roads in the Suleimanti area of the city and set fires, causing chaos despite pleas from police and military officers, an AFP reporter at the scene saw. "We want the CJTF to be banned from the city because of the abuses we suffer in their hands," said Suleimanti resident Bukar Saleh.
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| Mother arrested amid dayslong search for Virginia toddler Posted: 29 Jun 2019 11:45 AM PDT  Police in Virginia have arrested the mother of a missing 2-year-old boy who authorities now believe is dead. Hampton Police Chief Terry Sult told news outlets at a Friday night conference that specific charges against 34-year-old Julia L. Tomlin are pending, and the search for Noah Tomlin is intensifying. Sult said the city's Child Protective Services department is working to make sure Julia Tomlin's other children are safe.
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| GOP senator: ‘Underestimate Joe Biden at your own peril’ Posted: 30 Jun 2019 09:22 AM PDT  Lindsey Graham also says of Kamala Harris: "She's got game."
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| REFILE-India asks its states not to partner with Philip Morris-funded foundation Posted: 30 Jun 2019 06:17 AM PDT ![REFILE-India asks its states not to partner with Philip Morris-funded foundation]( "REFILE-India asks its states not to partner with Philip Morris-funded foundation") India's health ministry has asked all state governments in the country not to partner with the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) because of its links to tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc, a letter seen by Reuters showed. It says it works independently, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has said there are "clear conflicts" due to the $80 million in annual funding the foundation receives from Philip Morris. At least three Indian anti-tobacco groups earlier this year wrote to the federal health ministry in New Delhi calling for the rejection of any possible partnerships with FSFW, according to copies of their representations seen by Reuters.
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| Stonewall veterans return to New York City to celebrate pride, 50 years after infamous raid Posted: 29 Jun 2019 06:51 AM PDT  Five veterans of the Stonewall riots returned to NYC to discuss their experiences as LGBTQ activists 50 years after the initial raid.
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| The 2022 BMW i4 Could Be the Tesla Model 3's Biggest Threat Yet Posted: 30 Jun 2019 10:00 AM PDT  This fully electric sports sedan is likely to come standard with all-wheel drive and offer a driving range of up to 350 miles.
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| How to keep your dog calm and safe during the Fourth of July fireworks Posted: 29 Jun 2019 05:00 AM PDT  The Fourth of July means a day off from work, lounging by the pool and barbecues with friends -- but unfortunately, the holiday may not be so relaxing for many pet owners.
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| F-15s and F-22s Achieve An Amazing 41-1 Kill Ratio During Mock Combat Posted: 29 Jun 2019 02:19 AM PDT  Over 250 Airmen and 9 F-15 Eagles from the 104th Fighter Wing (FW), Massachusetts Air National Guard (ANG) recently deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, to take part in Weapons Systems Evaluation Program (WSEP), alongside Canadian F-18s, F-35s, F-16s, and F-22s.As told by Master Sgt. Julie Avey, 104th Fighter Wing in the article 104th Fighter Wing Eagles on Target at United States Air Force's Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, as a part of WSEP, the aircraft are loaded and shoot live missiles. The WSEP evaluates aircraft, weapons delivery systems, the weapons, weapons loaders, aircrew, technical data, and maintenance. The purpose is to gauge operational effectiveness, to verify weapons systems performance, determine reliability, and evaluate capability.(This first appeared in 2018.)"The WSEP does two things," said Col. Jeffrey Rivers, Commander of the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, Weapons Systems Evaluation Program. "It feeds Combat Air Force's (CAF) training and readiness. We get air crew experience for the first time subsequent to the events, sounds, sights, smells, and noise of a real missile coming off the jet in a realistic scenario they would find normally in training but now it is with real weapons and real targets to shoot at."
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| Schumer: ATF should investigate Dominican Republic deaths Posted: 30 Jun 2019 11:59 AM PDT  The Senate's top Democrat said Sunday that the U.S. government should step up efforts to investigate the deaths of at least eight Americans in the Dominican Republic this year. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives should lend support to the FBI and local law enforcement, said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., noting the agency has offices in the Caribbean and the technical and forensic expertise that could aid the investigation. "Given that we still have a whole lot of questions and very few answers into just what, if anything, is cause for the recent spate of sicknesses and several deaths of Americans in the Dominican Republic, the feds should double their efforts on helping get to the bottom of things," Schumer said in a statement.
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| Defense rests in war crimes trial of U.S. Navy SEAL platoon leader Posted: 28 Jun 2019 08:58 PM PDT ![Defense rests in war crimes trial of U.S. Navy SEAL platoon leader]( "Defense rests in war crimes trial of U.S. Navy SEAL platoon leader") Defense lawyers in the murder trial of a U.S. Navy SEAL rested their case on Friday after three days of testimony contesting accusations that the platoon leader had fatally stabbed a wounded Iraqi captive and shot innocent civilians. The last defense witness called by lawyers for Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher was Navy Lieutenant Commander Robert Breisch, who testified that no one made a report to him accusing Gallagher of war crimes while his platoon was in Iraq. Breisch, the SEAL Team 7 troop commander during the 2017 Iraq deployment in question, testified that complaints about Gallagher had only involved personal, petty issues or tactical grievances, until months after the troops returned.
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| US deploys F-22 stealth fighters to Qatar amid Iran tensions Posted: 28 Jun 2019 11:54 PM PDT  The US has deployed F-22 stealth fighters to Qatar for the first time, its military said Friday, adding to a buildup of US forces in the Gulf amid tensions with Iran. The Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have been deployed "to defend American forces and interests," the US Air Forces Central Military Command said in a statement that did not specify how many of the hi-tech planes had been sent. A photo handout showed five of the jets flying above the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
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| Air-Cooled Creampuff: 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Posted: 28 Jun 2019 06:07 PM PDT  Get ready to win awards with this beautiful 911 C4S!The 993 generation of the Porsche 911 is famous for being the last of the air-cooled models making it extremely desirable among Porsche purists. What we have here is a 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S that is perhaps one of the cleanest and low-mileage 993s currently on the market, and it's currently listed for sale at Gaudin Porsche for $157,911. If you're looking for an investment-quality 993 911, you'll be hard pressed to find anything more authentic than this one. At that price, you're getting a time capsule of a car with just 14,000 miles on the odometer, and an overall Concours-level quality that looks showroom-fresh despite being 23 years old. The Arena Red paint job looks absolutely flawless, and the exterior color is a perfect accent to the Cashmere tan leather interior. The Carrera 4S (or C4S for short) was introduced for 1996 bringing some of the styling and handling bits over from the 911 Turbo. In addition to the Turbo's wide-body stance, the C4S also received upgraded brakes and a lowered suspensionDespite the Turbo add-ons, the heart of the 911 C4S is still the Carrera's 3.6-liter flat-six putting out 282 horsepower, and it's mated to a six-speed manual. Just as the car gods have always intended! This C4S has definitely been babied in its life, and the pampering continued this year with a full detail to keep the car's incredible luster. Of course, if you want to take it out and enjoy it (and who wouldn't?), this car is also wearing a fresh set of Bridgestone Potenza tires.Bottom line, this immaculate car is ready for just about anything whether it be getting tucked away in storage as a collector or driven to car shows to impress Porsche fanatics when they check out the odometer. Read More... Unique, Collectible 1960 Porsche 356B Super 90 Could Be Yours 1964 Volkswagen Bus 21 Split Window Makes Transporting The Crew A Blast
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| Death on the trail: More Americans visit national parks, but fewer rangers on patrol Posted: 29 Jun 2019 07:44 AM PDT  The National Park Service ranger is a symbol of America's public lands. But budget cuts mean there are fewer today to keep animals and people safe.
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| The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Is a Big SUV that Will Pack Big Changes Underneath Posted: 30 Jun 2019 05:00 AM PDT  A radically different suspension setup should help the Chevy in its fight against the Ford Expedition.
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| Pets can have allergies too and this test can tell you what they are Posted: 30 Jun 2019 02:00 AM PDT  TL;DR: Grab this pet allergy test for $69 from the Mashable Shop.* * *You may find your pet's sneezes, scratching, and occasional face rubbing charming, but those "cute" snuffles may be indicative of severe health issues. Before you "ooh" and "aah" at the sight of your pet stifling a sneeze, you ought to find out whether or not poor little Fido is suffering from an uncomfortable condition.Instead of heading straight to the vet, though, you can save on ridiculous fees by conducting an at-home test yourself. The Allergy Test My Pet Kit was specifically developed as a wallet-friendly and easy-to-use pet sensitivity test to help you identify factors that might be adversely affecting your pet's overall wellbeing. For a limited time, you can pick one up for 30% off.Here's how it works: simply swab the cheeks of your pet (similar to the process of taking a DNA sample) and send it over to the lab for analysis. At My Pet will then test their spittle and report for over 100 items that may be impacting your pup.From their unique intolerances and sensitivities to the common household and environmental factors that can be detrimental to their health, the comprehensive report will help you get to the bottom of your dog's overall health. You'll get to know which foods you should and shouldn't be including in their diet, allergens to be wary of, and a whole lot more. The entire process is fast and painless, and doing so might just win you pet parent of the year.The kit retails for $99, but you can get the Allergy Test My Pet Kit on sale for $69, a savings of 30%. Allergy Test My Pet Kit -- $69 See Details
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| Tulare County mother accused of killing her 12-year-old child and seriously injuring 7-year-old Posted: 30 Jun 2019 02:59 PM PDT  Sherri Telnas faces murder charges for killing her 12-year-old child and seriously injuring her 7-year-old.
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| Booker: Biden's words 'causing a lot of frustration and even pain' Posted: 30 Jun 2019 10:10 AM PDT  The New Jersey senator says Biden is definitely not bringing people together.
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| N. Korea says Trump's offer to meet Kim 'very interesting' Posted: 29 Jun 2019 07:34 AM PDT  North Korea said Saturday President Donald Trump's offer to meet leader Kim Jong Un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone is a "very interesting suggestion," brightening prospects for a third face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. Choe still said that North Korea hasn't received an official proposal for the DMZ meeting from the United States.
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| Woman 'who tried to kidnap two children' in Atlanta airport arrested Posted: 29 Jun 2019 01:45 PM PDT  A woman who attempted to kidnap two children at the Atlanta Airport has been arrested, police say. Esther Daniels, 26, from Kansas, was detained by police following an incident in which a woman attempted to wrestle a pram containing a baby girl away from her mother. CCTV footage showed a suspect approach a family of five in the terminal building and attempted to grab the stroller, before trying to pick up one of the other children, a 6-year-old boy, and run off. The father was seen tugging the child back into his arms. A police officer approached as the altercation became more physical and the woman attempted to run, but was quickly apprehended.After attempting to fight back against the officers and lunging at the family one more time, she was taken down and physically restrained by three police officersThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the children have no physical injuries from the attempted kidnapping.Police said the suspect was "experiencing mental distress", was "speaking unintelligibly on her cellphone" and was "in a frenzied state" during the alleged attempted kidnapping.Ms Daniels was taken to a local hospital after the incident, where she was medically cleared before she was booked at Clayton County jail. She has been charged with kidnapping and obstructing an officer and is being held without bail.
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| These 5 Guns Might Be Better than a Glock 19 Posted: 28 Jun 2019 11:00 PM PDT  Among Glock's large and varied lineup, one pistol is held up more than any other as the "ideal" Glock and to some, the idea pistol period: the Glock 19. Compact, reliable and with a large magazine capacity, it is the standard by which other high capacity autoloaders are judged. In response to the Glock 19's reliability, the market has produced several competitors. How do these stack up to the king of the polymer guns?The second Glock to enter production, the Glock 19 is a compact version of the original, full-sized Glock 17 developed for the Austrian Army. The Glock 19 is almost an inch shorter than the Glock 17 and half an inch shorter in height. It is the exact same pistol in terms of operation, and weighs two ounces less due to a slightly smaller magazine (fifteen rounds versus seventeen rounds.) The Glock's competitors, on the other hand, vary slightly in operating systems, materials, and other features.Springfield XDOriginally developed by the Croatian arms manufacturer HS Produkt and brought to the United States as the HS-2000, Springfield Armory took over distribution and rebranded the pistol the Springfield XD. The XD, "Extreme Duty," is very similar to the Glock 19 in some ways: a polymer frame, metal slide, striker fired pistol. The barrel length and overall length are identical.The XD differs in several ways. It features a more vertical grip than the Glock, more in line with 1911 pistols. It features a loaded chamber indicator, a larger and more pronounced takedown lever, and a grip safety. The latter prevents the pistol from being discharged unless gripped in the palm of the hand. The XD also squeezes in an extra round, bringing its internal magazine count to sixteen rounds.Sig P229
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| UPDATE 4-Syrian state media: Israeli missile strike kills four civilians Posted: 30 Jun 2019 03:53 PM PDT ![UPDATE 4-Syrian state media: Israeli missile strike kills four civilians]( "UPDATE 4-Syrian state media: Israeli missile strike kills four civilians") CAIRO/BEIRUT, June 30 (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes fired missiles targeting Syrian military positions in Homs and the Damascus outskirts in an attack that killed at least four civilians and wounded another 21, Syrian state media said. The Syrian military said Syrian air defences had confronted the attack, which was launched from Lebanese airspace. SANA also reported that Syrian air defences had brought down a number of the missiles.
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| Employees speak up at Wayfair, Google. Have millennials killed being afraid of the boss? Posted: 30 Jun 2019 08:38 AM PDT  Employees, especially millennials, feel increasingly emboldened to publicly criticize their employers. Case in point: Wayfair, Google and Amazon.
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| Driving Honda's 150-MPH Lawn Mower Is a Scary-Fast Thrill Ride Posted: 30 Jun 2019 06:00 AM PDT  Honda's Mean Mower V2 is a land-speed landscaping machine.
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| Japanese whaling ships prepare first commercial hunt in more than 30 years Posted: 30 Jun 2019 06:58 AM PDT  Japanese whaling ships were preparing on Sunday to set to sea, with crews gathering on decks in a northern port as Japan undertakes its first commercial whaling hunt in more than 30 years on Monday. Japan announced last year it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and would resume commercial whaling on July 1, sparking global condemnation and fears for the world's whales. Japan has long maintained that eating whale is an important part of its culture and that most species are not endangered. A global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986, but Japan then began what it called scientific research whaling in the North Pacific and Antarctic. Critics said the it was simply commercial whaling in disguise. "I used to eat whale when I was young, but it's been too expensive recently," said Sachiko Sakai, 66, a taxi driver waiting for fares in Kushiro, a port town on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. "Maybe now that commercial whaling is going to restart, it'll be cheaper and we can get our hands on it more easily." The hunt will be confined to Japan's exclusive economic zone. Whaling vessels ready to be deployed in Kushiro on Sunday Credit: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon The five small whaling ships due to set off early Monday morning were moored at a wharf in a quiet corner of Kushiro port. On their decks were what appeared to be harpoon guns covered in tarpaulins. The vessels come from whaling ports around Japan, including one from Taiji, the town made notorious for its dolphin drive-hunts featured in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove". Some vessels were decorated with good luck flags, flapping in a cold wind. Some crew members carried groceries while others held towels and shampoo, apparently headed to a public bath. One wore brightly coloured shorts decorated with images of whales and other animals. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose district includes the old whaling centre of Shimonoseki, has long campaigned to restart commercial whaling, but the industry's future is far from clear. Only about 300 people around Japan are directly connected to whaling, and the annual supply of whale – about 5,000 tonnes – amounts to roughly 40-50 grams per Japanese person a year. "To resume this so we can eat it – well, that's good," said Yuya Kusakari, 37, who was fishing for flounder with his 8-year-old son not far from where the whaling ships were docked. Mr Kusakari said he ate whale maybe once or twice a year. "It's really not all that available now, and it's expensive," he said.
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| Joe Biden and the Great Awokening Posted: 29 Jun 2019 03:30 AM PDT  Joe Biden has led the national polls in the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination since last year. He's ahead in the first three contests, also, with leads ranging from seven points (Iowa) to 13 points (New Hampshire) to 28 points (South Carolina). He's first in fivethirtyeight.com's endorsement primary. And though he didn't launch his campaign until the second quarter of 2019, at which point Bernie Sanders had raised the most money, his nonstop fundraising schedule, and great first-24-hours number, suggests that his second-quarter haul will be impressive. Going into tonight's Democratic debate, there was no reason to doubt Biden's status as the Democratic frontrunner. Indeed, while head-to-head matchups 16 months before an election are worthless, one might as well have considered him the frontrunner to become the 46th president of the United States, too.And yet there is an air of unreality surrounding the Biden campaign, a widespread expectation that the former vice president just can't last. He's run twice before, with terrible results. He's old. He has a tendency to let his mouth take him places his political advisers would rather not have him go. And he has baggage. Lots of baggage, from his creepy-uncle vibe to his votes for NAFTA, the Iraq war, and the 1994 crime bill, to his devotion to the principles of bipartisanship and civility, including with the segregationist and racist senators with whom he has served. He's about as Washington as you can get. There might not be an Acela corridor without him. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for one, is not impressed. "He's not a pragmatic choice," she says.One of the questions the 2020 Democratic primary will answer, then, is whether the party is more like Biden or AOC. Is a long career, devoted service to Barack Obama, and the purported ability to win the support of working-class whites enough to win the party's nomination? Or have the Democrats moved so far left in recent years that Biden's experience is actually a weakness, his geniality a liability, his folksiness a handicap?The evidence is mixed. Biden's sustained poll position has led some analysts to conclude that, MSNBC and CNN to the contrary notwithstanding, the Democratic party is older and more moderate than people think. Biden doesn't need to capitulate to Sanders to win the nomination, he doesn't need to apologize to AOC or to Cory Booker. And Biden hasn't apologized, not for his sniffing hair or for his remarks about working with segregationists. And his lead remains significant. Maybe the audience for identity politics and far-left social liberalism is small.On the other hand, Biden has had to reverse himself on taxpayer funding for abortion, signaling just how essential unrestricted abortion rights have become to the Democratic electorate. And he's wishy-washy on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which his former boss, the biggest name in Democratic politics, negotiated. Biden's performing a high-wire act, in other words. He has to navigate the shoals of the Great Awokening that has turned the Democratic base, white progressives especially, into zealots for social justice. Up until Thursday, his strategy has been to lay low. Focus on donors. Avoid interviews. Wrestle with Trump, not with the other Democrats.No longer. He had to stand on stage with nine of his competitors Thursday, and answer questions from Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, and Chuck Todd. Next to him was Bernie Sanders, whose "democratic socialism" has determined the contours of intra-Democratic debate since 2016. And next to Bernie was Kamala Harris, the freshman senator from California, who basically defines the idea of "woke capitalism." And next to Harris was Kirsten Gillibrand, who's executed one of the most remarkable political transformations in American history, from middle-of-the-road congresswoman to feminist warrior in a little more than a decade. Also, there was Andrew Yang, who wants to give every American a universal basic income. And Pete Buttigieg, the trendy multilingual mayor of South Bend, Ind. And a bunch of other people, including Marianne Williamson, who was visiting from the Age of Aquarius.And this debate took place a day after Elizabeth Warren and Bill de Blasio called for eliminating private insurance, Julián Castro called for abortion rights for trans men, and Cory Booker and Beto O'Rourke spoke in garbled Spanish. The trend of the Democratic party is to the left. And it's a trend Biden doesn't seem all that interested in resisting, as evidenced by his joining all of the candidates on stage in calling for health insurance for illegal immigrants while also saying deportation of illegal immigrants wouldn't be a priority for his administration.Biden has encountered the Great Awokening, and he doesn't know what to make of it. His instinct seems to be to go with the flow. Maybe you noticed the weird way he responded to questions where the moderators asked the candidates to raise their hands. In each case Biden was tentative, uncertain, looking at the competition. At one point he asked the moderator to repeat a question, highlighting his age.If you had been dropped into this debate from Mars, you would have thought Kamala "for the people" Harris was the Democratic frontrunner. She brought down the house several times. She got Biden tangled up on the issue of busing. She clearly represents the future of the Democratic party. She's fourth in the national polls, stuck in single digits. But she went toe to toe with the frontrunner -- something that was studiously avoided for most of the two nights of debates. And she won.Something is happening to the Democratic party. It's been moving left for years. Since Howard Dean's insurgency in the 2004 campaign, the number of Democrats who have embraced liberalism, progressivism, and now socialism has been steadily increasing. The reason is partly generational. My cohort, the Millennials, embraced the left position on the issues of Iraq and gay marriage, and if anything, Generation Z seems to be more left-wing still. The number of liberals is not an overwhelming majority of the party -- not according to polls -- but it is a majority. And the number of lefties is so great that it determines the nature of the interest groups that dictate the party's agenda and talking points. It might even determine the nominee.And if that's the case, simply judging by his performance on Thursday night, Joe Biden has got to be awfully worried.This piece was originally published in the Washington Free Beacon.
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| O'Rourke visits Mexico, meets turned away US asylum seekers Posted: 30 Jun 2019 10:36 AM PDT  Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke visited Mexico on Sunday and listened to tearful immigrants say they fled Central American violence and turmoil to seek asylum in the U.S., but were turned away at the border. A fluent Spanish speaker, O'Rourke met around a table at a shelter with immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, some of whom wept as they told of being denied entry into the U.S. while their asylum claims are processed. "We hope, by sharing these stories, that the conscience of our country is awoken right now, and the need to change the policies that we have in place" becomes apparent, O'Rourke said via a livestream on his Facebook page.
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| Judge sanctions school system in sexual misconduct lawsuit Posted: 28 Jun 2019 06:04 PM PDT ![Judge sanctions school system in sexual misconduct lawsuit]( "Judge sanctions school system in sexual misconduct lawsuit") A federal judge on Friday sanctioned Virginia's largest school system for destroying or failing to preserve documents relevant to a lawsuit accusing school officials of ignoring a girl's claim she was sexually assaulted. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Nachmanoff in Alexandria imposed the sanctions Friday on the Fairfax County School Board as it prepares to defend its actions in a trial scheduled for next month. The lawsuit alleges the school system failed to take the girl's allegation seriously.
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| Meet the Sig Sauer 516 Rifle: The Best AR-15 Around? Posted: 29 Jun 2019 08:30 PM PDT  When the HK released the HK416 in the early 2000s, it rapidly became a hit with elite military and police forces worldwide. Driven by a slick marketing campaign and favorable (albeit disputed) test results from the U.S. military, the HK416 represented a "better mousetrap" version of the AR-family of rifles for many users. Though the advantages of the HK416 have become debatable in modern years, with upgrades to traditional AR rifles enhancing their reliability, Sig Sauer, Inc looked to create their answer to the HK416 in the late 2000s. The result, released in 2010, was the SIG 516.While Sig doesn't like to emphasize the connection, the SIG 516 was conceived in many ways as a direct counterpart to the HK416. According to the late Jim Schatz, a former H&K; employee and H&K; expert, one of the key people involved in the HK416 was the lead on the SIG 516 development team. The name "SIG 516" is likely just a riff on HK416.In the basic layout, the SIG 516 also heavily resembles the HK416. Both rifles use a short-stroke tappet system placed above the barrel, which drives back a modified bolt carrier in the upper receiver. This allows the rifles to be easily compatible with most AR lowers without much modification.
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| China warns of long road ahead for deal with U.S. after ice-breaking talks Posted: 29 Jun 2019 08:28 PM PDT  BEIJING/OSAKA (Reuters) - China and the United States will face a long road before they can reach a deal to end their bitter trade war, with more fights ahead likely, Chinese state media said after the two countries' presidents held ice-breaking talks in Japan. The world's two largest economies are in the midst of a bitter trade war, which has seen them level increasingly severe tariffs on each other's imports.
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| Sorry, ranch dressing-flavored Pop-Tarts won't become a thing, Kellogg says Posted: 30 Jun 2019 06:34 AM PDT ![Sorry, ranch dressing-flavored Pop-Tarts won't become a thing, Kellogg says]( "Sorry, ranch dressing-flavored Pop-Tarts won't become a thing, Kellogg says") Hidden Valley Ranch proposed to team up with Pop-Tarts for a mashup product on Twitter. But Kellogg said no.
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| 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Sunday: $30 true wireless earbuds, $25 Wi-Fi extender, $20 LED strip, more Posted: 30 Jun 2019 04:27 AM PDT ![10 deals you don't want to miss on Sunday: $30 true wireless earbuds, $25 Wi-Fi extender, $20 LED strip, more]( "10 deals you don't want to miss on Sunday: $30 true wireless earbuds, $25 Wi-Fi extender, $20 LED strip, more") June is almost over, but we're just getting started when it comes to killer daily deals. Highlights from Sunday's roundup include awesome new true wireless earbuds with touch control for $29.99 instead of $40 when you use the coupon code I7QWMF5M at checkout, a multi-color LED light strip that does everything the $70 Philips Hue model can do for just $19.99, the faster version of the best-selling Wi-Fi range extender on Amazon for $24.99 when you clip the on-site coupon, super popular Alexa and Google compatible Wi-Fi smart plugs for only $6.75 a piece when you buy a 4-pack and clip the $6 coupon, silicone AirPods covers that fit in the charging case so you don't have to take them off when it's time to recharge, a $15 power scrubber that makes hand washing pots and pans a breeze, SanDisk 400GB microSD cards at their lowest price yet, a crazy expandable portable Bluetooth speaker at its lowest price ever for one day only, massive discounts on the Apple Watch Series 3 starting at just $199 (and all-time low!), almost $100 off the insanely good Sony wireless noise cancelling headphones when you buy renewed, and more. Check out all of today's top deals below.
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| 10 summer gadget deals this weekend: Save up to 80% Posted: 29 Jun 2019 02:00 AM PDT  Aside from maybe a drink or two, what better way is there to *officially* kick off the summer than with a really great sale? Whether you're looking for gear for your upcoming vacation, trying to upgrade your home setup for a staycation, or need new ways to pass the time to avoid FOMO, grab your wallet. Everything listed below is on sale in the Mashable Shop: Rock Space Wi-Fi Range Extender If your idea of a perfect summer includes binge-watching and video games, but your internet connection disagrees, this Rock Space Wi-Fi Range Extender could help you out. It extends your Wi-Fi coverage 360 degrees by up to 1,291 square feet, making dead zones a thing of the past. Plop yourself anywhere in or around your house and stream, game, or browse however long you want. There's even a smart indicator that will tell you where the strongest spot is.Usually $60, the Rock Space Wi-Fi Range Extender is just $25 on sale -- 58% off. Rock Space Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender -- $24.99 See Details rero:micro Coding Robot KitPerhaps you want to use your downtime this season to learn a new skill. Why not try your hand at the lucrative world of robotics and coding? This rero:micro Coding Robot Kit makes expanding your STEM and coding knowledge enjoyable by providing your very own robot and walking you through a 10-lesson, step-by-step guide.Typically $112.50, you can save a few bucks and pick up this DIY robotics kit for $99.99 on sale. Cytron rero:micro Coding Robot Kit -- $99.99 See Details AirZeus 3-in-1 fast wireless charging padWith more and more Qi-compatible devices coming out, wireless charging is basically the new norm. But having to tote a bunch of separate wireless chargers with you kind of defeats the purpose, amirite? This wireless charging pad offers the perfect solution: 3-in-1 charging. You can juice up your smartphone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds all at the same time, and fast, just by placing them on top of this pad. A regular charger could never.Originally $150, the AirZeus 3-in-1 fast wireless charging pad is on sale now for just $45. That's a whopping 70% off. AirZeus 3-in-1 fast wireless charging pad -- $44.99 See Details Belmint heated Shiatsu kneading massagerSummer is supposed to be relaxing, but many of us are cramming in as much work and exercise as possible before our vacations -- and that's stressful as heck. Do yourself a favor and grab one of these Belmint heated Shiatsu kneading massagers while they're on sale so you can get a deep, soothing massage on the days you need it. It's like having a personal professional masseuse at your beck and call. The U-shaped design means you can basically use it anywhere on your body and at just 3.25 pounds, you can bring it with you anywhere.Typically this Heated Shiatsu Massager would run you $70, but you can grab one today for just $45. Belmint Heated Shiatsu Kneading Massager -- $45 See Details FootVibe ProBetween all of the festivals, concerts, hikes, and camping trips this summer, you're bound to have some sore tootsies. Treat them with some much-needed TLC using the FootVibe Pro -- a powerful tool that combines infrared light treatment, high-frequency vibration, and acupressure to soothe pain, boost circulation, and get you back up and moving ASAP.Usually $199, you can save 37% and get the FootVibe Pro on sale for just $125. FootVibe Pro -- $124.99 See Details Gotham Steel Ti-Cerama 12-piece cookware setWant to improve your cooking skills this summer? Well, besides a Pinterest account and the willingness to make mistakes, you're going to need some quality cookware. This Gotham Steel Ti-Cerama 12-piece set should help you on your way to greatness. Food will literally slide off the pan thanks to its award-winning Ti-Ceramic coating, making both cooking and cleaning that much easier. The set comes with a skillet, a frying pan with lid, four different sized pots with lids, and an aluminum steamer with a lid.Snag it all on sale for $95 -- 40% off the original price of $159. Gotham Steel Ti-Cerama 12-piece kitchen set -- $95 See Details 11-in-1 smartphone photography accessory bundleDespite the powerful camera attached to your smartphone, you still need a little boost sometimes to make your photos look Instagram-worthy. This 11-in-1 accessory bundle has got your back. It includes a Bluetooth remote and tripod for remote selfies and such, a selfie light for night scenes, wide-angle, macro, and fisheye lenses for more creative shots, and a whole bunch of other goodies. Originally $129.95, you can snag this bundle for only $24.99 on sale. That's 80% off. 11-in-1 smartphone photography accessory bundle -- $24.99 See Details Yaasa memory foam pillowAmp up your comfort this season with this Yaasa memory foam pillow. Rather than constantly flipping and fluffing your pillow, this one basically does the work for you by using moldable memory foam to contour to whatever position you sleep in. It'll keep your head, neck, and shoulders aligned and stay cool throughout the night as well. That's some next level comfiness.Knock $10 off the original price and get the Yaasa memory foam pillow for just $69. Yaasa memory foam pillow -- $69 See Details Lagu sand repelling beach towelThe beach is all fun in the sun until you get sand in your bottoms. That's when the Lagu sand repelling beach towel comes in handy. If you're headed to the beach this summer, it's a must. Unlike ordinary towels, it's made of a sand-repellant fabric that keeps the sand away. It also dries super quick so you can keep it fresh for your whole trip.Usually $35 each, the Lagu beach towels are on sale for $24.99 each. Choose between dark blue, light blue, orange, green, yellow, purple, red, or pink. Lagu sand repelling beach towel -- $24.99 See Details GOSPACE SuperDrive 7-in-1 USB-C hubWith seven ports built into one single hub, the GOSPACE SuperDrive can take your laptop connectivity to the next level. You can stop swapping out cables and expand your charging options with this single device. It lets you plug in your USB devices, SD and TF cards, ethernet cable, and HDMI cords all at once while delivering a staggering 100W of power to keep your laptop energized.Usually $99.99, you can get the GOSPACE SuperDrive 7-in-1 Hub on sale for just $54.99 right now. GOSPACE SuperDrive 7-in-1 USB-C hub -- $54.99 See Details
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| Why the Duchess of Sussex could be barred from entering the US if she wants to cut her tax bill Posted: 29 Jun 2019 09:23 AM PDT  The Duchess of Sussex could be barred from re-entering the US in the future if she chooses to renounce her citizenship. The US government has started enforcing provisions of 1986 legislation allowing the country to exclude tax "refugees". The rule targets Americans who drop their citizenship to avoid paying US tax on earnings they make overseas. According to figures released by the State Department, a small number of former Americans have already been barred from re-entering the US. Although she is likely to retain dual citizenship, the move could present a dilemma for the Duchess of Sussex and her son Archie if they choose to become solely British citizens. Boris Johnson, who was born in New York, is among the most notable British citizens to have renounced their US citizenship. New York born Boris Johnson paid substantial US tax bill when he sold his London home Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA A spokesman for the State Department confirmed that renouncing US citizenship for tax purposes were grounds for denying re-entry. The United States is one of two countries which taxes its citizens irrespective of where they live. The other, according to the Tax Foundation, is Eritrea. Anybody born in the United States is classified as a US citizen until they renounce their nationality. This has created a cohort of "accidental Americans" who have been burdened with tax liabilities even if they left the country shortly after they were born. With the US government allowing Americans to offset tax paid locally, only a minority faced demands for additional income tax. The biggest financial blow, however, is when an American sells a home. The profit is taxable and treated separately from other income. One victim was Mr Johnson, who paid a substantial tax bill on the profit he made on the sale of his home in London – something which is not taxed in the UK. Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, renounced US nationality Mr Johnson was among 5,411 individuals to renounce their nationality in 2016, a new record for renunciants. Mr Johnson, who left the US at the age of five, described the tax demand as outrageous in 2014. "I pay the lion's share of my tax, I pay my taxes to the full in the United Kingdom where I live and work." There have been some high-profile cases of Americans renouncing their nationality. John Dorrance III, the heir to the Campbell's soup empire, gave up his US citizenship prior to selling his stake in the business. Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook, renounced his citizenship before the company's stock market launch. Despite the tax-saving temptations, the Duchess of Sussex is likely to retain dual citizenship to honour her American roots, which would also be in keeping with the Duke and Duchess's affinity for the US. The Duke and Duchess are already building links between the Royal Family and its American admirers, with forthcoming podcast series with Oprah, the Duke's attendance at a baseball game on Saturday and a new charitable foundation expected to have a significant working relationship across the pond. The Duchess still receives an income from the US in the form of royalties from her acting career. Meanwhile, baby Archie, who has automatic dual British-US citizenship, may be passed a portion of the inheritance from Diana Princess of Wales. Paul Miller, the owner of New York-based accountancy firm Miller & Company, questioned whether the US tax man would grant the child an exemption because of his royal status. "I highly doubt they would agree to that," said Mr Miller. "The US government is greatly in debt. They want every penny they can get." The 1986 provision was used for the first time twice in 2016 and again in 2018. Experts believe that this number could increase. "This is a change in that for decades, tax and immigration lawyers have been saying, yes, there is this ground of inadmissibility but it has never been used," said Anastasia Tonello, a New York attorney. "That is not the case anymore since it has been used at least three times." According to the latest figures, 1019 people gave up their US nationality in the first quarter of 2019. "Renunciants" also face a $2,350 (£1,850) exit tax. Wealthier former citizens with substantial assets can be hit with a far higher bill.
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| Mother charged with murder in deaths of twin girls discovered in car Posted: 28 Jun 2019 07:56 PM PDT  A desperate search for a mother who had threatened to kill her 2-year-old twin daughters ended with the discovery of the girls' bodies in the woman's car, police on New York's Long Island said Friday.
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| FBI encourages US universities to monitor Chinese students, report says Posted: 29 Jun 2019 11:18 AM PDT  The FBI has reportedly urged at least 10 US universities to actively monitor Chinese students and visiting scholars.The institutions, all members of the Association of American Universities, have been asked to closely monitor any students or fellows linked to several Chinese companies and research organisations, according to NPR."We are being asked what processes are in place to know what labs they are working at or what information they are being exposed to," said Fred Cate, vice president of research at Indiana University."It's not a question of just looking for suspicious behaviour — it's actually really targeting specific countries and the people from those countries."During visits to campuses, FBI agents discussed concerns with university officials about students from other nationalities as well, but focused on those from China.US intelligence employees separately briefed 70 university administrators in March 2019.The group were urged to increase oversight of Chinese researchers and to avoid accepting project funding from firms such as Huawei.Huawei, a Chinese technology company, is included on the US government's list of companies which undermine the country's national security.The CIA reportedly suspects the company of taking funding from Beijing's intelligence and security agencies.US companies were effectively banned from selling to the firm between May and June 2019, but Donald Trump said the ban would be lifted during the G20 summit on Saturday.The US and China also agreed to halt a yearlong trade war during the summit."For months up until [May], government officials were saying, 'We really don't think you should be doing business with Huawei,'" Mr Cate told NPR."We said, 'Why don't you put them on a list and then we won't do business?' And they're like, 'Oh, the list process is way too slow.' ""The FBI regularly engages with the communities we serve," a spokesperson for the agency said."As part of this continual outreach, we meet with a wide variety of groups, organisations, businesses, and academic institutions."The FBI has met with top officials from academia as part of our ongoing engagement on national security matters."Intelligence agencies have also urged university administrators to review research involving possible defence applications, if the projects involve Chinese nationals.The FBI requests are not mandatory and several administrators are believed to have resisted the pressure to monitor Chinese students, due to being sceptical about the threat level.Chinese nationals make up a third of all international students in the US and many pay significant sums to study in the country.
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| Middle East War: How Iran Could Attack the U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carriers Posted: 28 Jun 2019 08:00 PM PDT  Recent events, particularly the downing of a U.S. Navy MQ-4 Triton by Iranian military forces, again raise the possibility of war between the United States and Iran. The on again, off again standoff between Washington and Tehran, now in its fourth decade is periodically instigated by both sides, and each time Iran grows stronger. If Iran decides to stage an attack against a larger target, such as an American destroyer or even aircraft carrier, how might it use its missile force to do so? Iran has invested considerable resources in its ballistic missile forces over the past forty years, for the same reason China and North Korea did: military aviation is an expensive proposition, and developing and maintaining an air force to rival the United States is very expensive indeed. Ballistic missiles offer a relatively inexpensive way to launch conventional, chemical, biological, and even nuclear payloads long distances. As an added bonus intercepting such missiles is complex and itself an expensive undertaking. All three countries developed large ballistic missile arsenals of varying sophistication, occasionally trading in illicit information among themselves and others.
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| Democrats divided as pressure to impeach builds: ‘What are you waiting for?’ Posted: 29 Jun 2019 09:00 PM PDT  Dozens of Democrats have called for Trump impeachment proceedings in wake of Mueller's report – but Pelosi has remained steadfast in opposing an inquiryNancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, on 27 June. 'I don't think we should go down that path,' she said of impeaching Trump in March. Photograph: Alex Brandon/APIn the House of Representatives the apparently frustrated Democratic congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, had one question for the leadership of her party: when would they impeach Donald Trump?"The thing that we're struggling with is that we don't know what we're waiting for in terms of a caucus. And folks that are saying, 'No, not yet. Not yet.' OK – accepting that that's your position, what are you waiting for?" the New York socialist said to reporters this week. "Are you waiting for some kind of revelation?"That's a question a growing number of Democrats are asking. Dozens of Democrats on Capitol Hill, including 2020 hopefuls such as Elizabeth Warren, have called for impeachment proceedings in the wake of the special counsel Robert Mueller's damning report into Russia interference in the 2016 election, which also outlined numerous instances of obstruction of justice on the part of the president.Nor is it just leftwing firebrands like Ocasio-Cortez. One notable recent convert to the impeachment cause was California congresswoman Katie Porter, who announced her support by admitting: "I didn't come to Congress to impeach the president." But Porter added: "When faced with a crisis of this magnitude, I cannot with a clean conscience ignore my duty to defend the constitution."Porter's support struck a chord in Washington because, as the representative of a swing district, her announcement carried personal political risk. Most others who have called for impeachment hail from safely blue districts. Only one Republican – Michigan congressman Justin Amash – has signed up to the cause.The question now is, will the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, succumb to the growing pressure, or will she stand her ground? It is a fierce debate that is increasingly dividing the party, pitting pragmatists against ideologues, the leadership against its own members and advocates of policy who believe they have a constitutional duty to act against wrongdoing against those who prefer to wage politics and want to remove Trump by thrashing him at the 2020 ballot box.Pelosi has so far remained steadfast in opposing an impeachment inquiry on the grounds such a move would fail in the Republican-controlled Senate and could be politically divisive, potentially jeopardizing Democrats' chances at ousting Trump via the ballot box in 2020.In March, she said in an interview with the Washington Post that impeachment would be "so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path".A four-page summary later that month of Mueller's report by William Barr, the Mueller critic Trump installed as attorney general, made that position seem prescient. Barr wrote in a letter to lawmakers that Mueller did not establish collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government and that he'd punted on the issue of obstruction. Barr and his then deputy, Rod Rosenstein, cleared Trump of charges that he sought to interfere with the inquiry.> When faced with a crisis of this magnitude, I cannot with a clean conscience ignore my duty to defend the constitution> > Katie PorterBut in April, Barr released a redacted version of Mueller's 448-page report that revealed his initial summary – and a bizarre, pre-publication press conference in which the attorney general sought to spin the findings like he was a member of Trump's defense team – to be wildly misleading.On the question of obstruction of justice, Mueller laid out a series of episodes in which Trump personally sought to undermine the investigation, including by firing former FBI director James Comey and attempting to fire the special counsel himself. The reason Trump was not charged with a crime, Mueller implied, is because he did not believe justice department protocol allowed for a sitting president to be indicted.Holding the president accountable, he suggested, would necessarily be Congress, not the criminal justice system.For some Democrats, like the congressman and 2020 presidential candidate Eric Swalwell, that was a call to action."The congressman is concentrated on protecting our democracy and believes that a fair process will either remove a corrupt president or acquit him but inaction is no longer an option," a representative for Swalwell said.The momentum behind impeachment may be having some impact. Pelosi has introduced the word into her vocabulary as of late, implying that she was keeping the door open to the possibility. But she has also stayed the course, tamping down criticism from her ranks that it's Congress's duty to hold the president accountable – regardless of whether it would succeed or not.Instead, she has called for Democrats to press on with their investigations, as well as to focus on kitchen table issues such as healthcare, which helped them take back the House in the 2018 midterms and can, she hopes, propel them to victory again in 2020.As the 2020 race heats up – the Democrats have had their first televised debate and Trump has officially launched his campaign – it is hard to say what Democrats will, or should, do.On the one hand, impeachment could prove divisive. While a growing majority of Democratic voters support such a move, some polls suggest that Americans overall remain split on the matter. There are fears that impeachment could backfire on Democrats in 2020 and gift Trump another four years in office are not completely unfounded. After all, Republicans lost House seats in 1998 and 2000 as they pursued the impeachment of Bill Clinton – something that has weighed on Pelosi, her colleagues told the Atlantic.Those losses are often overstated, however, and the situations are different, both in terms of the two presidents' statures in the public's eye and the nature of their conduct. Clinton, who retained high approval ratings during the course of his proceedings, was impeached over conduct largely unrelated to his presidency.Activists call for the impeachment of Donald Trump in New York City, on 15 June. Photograph: David Dee Delgado/Getty ImagesTrump, on the other hand, has seen underwater job approval ratings for the entire duration of his presidency. What's more, the justification for his potential impeachment cuts to the heart of his duties as president. Trump has not only continued to insist he did nothing wrong and to block oversight investigations – he also said in a stunning interview recently that he would welcome foreign interference in the 2020 election if he thought it could help him win.Though Democrats appear uniformly frustrated and outraged by Trump's conduct, some aren't yet ready to greenlight impeachment."I'm not yet calling to start an impeachment inquiry," Florida congressman Ted Deutch, a Democrat on the House judiciary committee, told the Guardian. "But I will also not keep waiting as the White House engages in this unprecedented stonewalling. Obstruction of an investigation of obstruction of justice is itself obstruction of justice."For more than 70 lawmakers and counting, though, it's time to start moving on the matter – both as a practical way of holding the president accountable and as an ethical and constitutional responsibility to send a message that nobody is above the law, even if they sit in the Oval Office."The administration has refused to respect the rule of law," Porter said announcing her support for an impeachment inquiry."The question is not whether a crisis is in our midst," she continued, "but rather whether we choose to fight against it."
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| Alabama district attorney may not pursue charges against woman whose unborn baby was shot Posted: 30 Jun 2019 12:48 PM PDT  Marshae Jones was indicted this week on manslaughter charges after her unborn child was shot and killed.
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