NewsUSA TODAYAlabama abortion law faces lengthy appeals process
A precise timeline can’t be calculated, but lawsuits are certain.
NewsAssociated PressThe Latest: Ammo from crashed F-16 safely destroyed
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on an F-16 fighter jet that crashed into a Southern California warehouse (all times local):
PoliticsReutersTrump says 'good chance' Democrats will back his immigration, border plan
A day after unveiling a plan to shift to a "merit-based" immigration system, the Republican president said there was a "good chance" that Democrats would back him and provide funding to manage record migrant flows along the U.S.-Mexico border. "The Democrats now realize that there is a National Emergency at the Border and that, if we work together, it can be immediately fixed. Such talk of bipartisan cooperation on the explosive immigration issue for years has ended in failure and finger-pointing.
WorldAFPTurkey says to produce S-500s with Russia after S-400 missile deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara's controversial purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Moscow. Turkey's push to buy the S-400s has further strained already tense relations with the United States which has repeatedly warned Ankara of the risks including sanctions as a result of the purchase. "There is absolutely no question of (Turkey) taking a step back from the S-400s purchase.
- NewsThe Daily Beast
‘Fox & Friends’ Host Brian Kilmeade: Border Crisis Is ‘Almost Like’ 9/11
Remember when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 3,000 people and sending the U.S. down a path of never-ending war? Or when the financial markets melted down in 2008, causing the Great Recession with millions of jobs lost?According to Fox News host Brian Kilmeade the influx of asylum-seeking migrants arriving at America’s southern border is akin to both.During Friday’s broadcast of President Trump’s favorite morning show Fox & Friends, the curvy-couch crew discussed the president’s recently unveiled immigration plan. After co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt and Steve Doocy seemed to acknowledge the president’s proposal likely won’t go very far, Kilmeade pivoted to the situation at the border.“But you know what I want and I think we all want?” Kilmeade declared. “There is a five-alarm fire out on our southern border right now and the men and women every day need some help. And this plan—this plan is not going to help.”Doocy jumped in, claiming this was why Trump “essentially rolled this out,” adding that the president is saying he wants immigration reform and the only way to achieve it is “to elect more Republicans.”This prompted Kilmeade to take aim at Democrats, scolding the party’s leaders for calling the situation at the border a “manufactured crisis” before likening it to the worst terror attack in the nation’s history.“But there's an opportunity because there are times when Democrats and Republicans come together,” he exclaimed. “When the market fell apart in 2008 and after 9/11, this is almost like that at the border.”Kilmeade added: “We have never seen these numbers before and the men and women who have to round up these illegals who want to become part of our country are saying please help us.”This is far from the first time that the conservative cable news host has fear-mongered on immigration. He’s repeatedly warned about non-English speaking kids “flooding” American school systems and floated putting missiles on drones to stop “people storming the border.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
- CelebrityBGR News
Grumpy Cat has died, and the internet isn’t taking it well
Celebrities come in all shapes, sizes, and, as the internet has taught us, species. Tardar Sauce, better known by her nickname "Grumpy Cat," was one of the most popular felines on the web and, it would seem, in the world. In a sad post Friday morning on her official Twitter account, her family revealed that she passed away at the age of seven earlier this week as a result of complications from an infection. Grumpy Cat first caught the public eye when photos of her perpetually unamused face began circulating on Reddit and elsewhere. Memes followed shortly thereafter, as did media appearances on NBC's Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, and several other networks. The adorable frown that she wore for her entire life was due to a combination of conditions that she was born with, including feline dwarfism. It's unclear if her genetic quirks played a role in her somewhat early death, but it's worth noting that research on domestic cats suggests the average lifespan of a house cat is anywhere from 13 to 17 years. https://twitter.com/RealGrumpyCat/status/1129310647458467840 "Despite care from top professionals, as well as from her very loving family, Grumpy encountered complications from a recent urinary tract infection that unfortunately became too tough for her to overcome," the family's statement reads. "She passed away on the morning of Tuesday, May 14, at home in the arms of her mommy, Tabatha." What started as a meme quickly became a very big deal for Tardar Sauce's family, who scored sponsorships from Friskies and other brands, as well as a full line of merchandise, children's books, and even mobile games. The internet is definitely going to miss her, and news of her death immediately topped social media trends around the world. It's a sad day, but she most certainly won't be forgotten.
PoliticsYahoo News2020 Vision: There are 14 white male Dems running for president. So why should Kamala Harris settle for veep?
Few have suggested that any of the white guys in the race would be better suited to serve as vice president. That dubious honor, it seems, has so far been reserved for candidates of color — black women in particular.
- BusinessReuters
Exclusive - U.S. may scale back Huawei trade restrictions to help existing customers
The Commerce Department, which had effectively halted Huawei's ability to buy American-made parts and components, is considering issuing a temporary general license to "prevent the interruption of existing network operations and equipment," a spokeswoman said. Potential beneficiaries of the license could, for example, include internet access and mobile phone service providers in thinly populated places such as Wyoming and eastern Oregon that purchased network equipment from Huawei in recent years. In effect, the Commerce Department would allow Huawei to purchase U.S. goods so it can help existing customers maintain the reliability of networks and equipment, but the Chinese firm still would not be allowed to buy American parts and components to manufacture new products.
- WorldThe National Interest
Here Is Russia's Plan to Build a Fleet of Su-57 Stealth Fighters
The Su-57 is coming—76 of them over the next decade, to be exact.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at a Kremlin meeting that the Russian Defense Ministry plans to procure 76 Su-57 fifth-generation fighters by 2028, himself acknowledging that these new quantities dwarf previous Russian defense ministry estimates: "The 2028 arms program stipulated the purchase of 16 such jets… In the nearest future we will sign a package contract to supply 76 such jets equipped with modern weapons of destruction and provided with the necessary land infrastructure."The announcement defies the western defense analysis consensus, which concluded that the Su-57 will not enter production until the late 2020’s. Even then, it was alleged that Russia lacks the industrial output to churn out Su-57 fighters in militarily meaningful numbers.If the Kremlin’s new forecast proves to be accurate, what accounts for this drastic output increase?
- NewsUSA TODAY
Alabama abortion bill: What happens next for most restrictive ban in US in 40 years?
The Alabama Senate has passed a near-total ban on abortions. Here's everything you need to about the bill and where it's headed next.
- NewsAssociated Press
Cafeteria worker fired for giving student lunch won't return
CANAAN, N.H. (AP) — A company has offered to rehire a New Hampshire school cafeteria worker whom it fired for giving a student lunch for free , but she isn't interested.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage
There were tears of joy among Taiwan’s LGBT community on Friday after same-sex marriage was legalised in a historic first for Asia. The vote by Taiwan’s parliament came two years after the self-ruled island’s constitutional court ruled that not allowing same-sex couples to marry was a violation of the constitution, and told the parliament to take action to enforce its judgement. The panel of judges instructed MPs to amend or enact new laws before 24 May 2019. The new bill will now go into effect next week and gay couples are already lining up to officially wed. The landmark decision cements Taiwan’s reputation as a beacon of liberalism in a region where the LGBT community faces increasing persecution, and will give a long-awaited boost to Asia’s burgeoning gay rights movement. Thousands of LGBT activists and gay rights supporters who braved heavy rain outside the national parliament during the vote, waved rainbow flags and cheered as the decision was announced. The LGBT community had expressed increasing disillusionment with ruling politicians as parliament delayed passing legislation ahead of important local elections last November. The law survived a last-minute attempt to water it down by conservative lawmakers Credit: AFP While democratic Taiwan has been one of the most progressive societies in Asia in terms of respecting gay rights - it hosts the region’s biggest annual gay pride parade - much of the population remains deeply conservative. Conservative and religious groups celebrated a controversial referendum victory in November in which 67 per cent of voters rejected the definition of marriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman. As next week’s deadline approached, conservatives had mobilised to remove any reference to marriage in the new law, instead proposing watered-down rival bills that offered a solution closer to limited same-sex unions. Instead, the only successful piece of legislation was one which used the term “marriage.” It was supported by LGBT groups, even though it did not offer full equality with heterosexual couple. The new legislation only allows for biological adoption and marriages with foreigners will not be recognised. Taiwan's LGBT community is celebrating the vote Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images Gay rights groups, however, accepted the compromise of being granted the right to a “marriage registration” as a move that would bring them closer parity to heterosexual couples, while vowing to fight in future for equal access to surrogacy and adoption. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s president, tweeted a rainbow flag following the vote, adding: “On May 17th, 2019 in Taiwan, LoveWon. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.” Ms Tsai had signalled her support for marriage equality ahead of her election in 2016 but has since remained largely silent on the issue, with critics accusing her of being cowed by low public approval ratings. With a new presidential election looming next year, the conservative Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation accused her of promoting the bill to attract young voters. However, the vote for marriage equality has been welcomed around the world. Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, congratulated the people of Taiwan on Twitter. “Great news for its LGBT community and another huge step forward for LGBT equality in Asia,” he said.
PoliticsFOX News VideosFox Poll: Voters give Barr negative ratings for his handling of the Mueller report
The latest Fox News Poll finds voters give Barr negative ratings for his handling of the Mueller report (35 approve, 44 disapprove), and by a 12-point margin more think he is “covering up” for the president than being transparent with the American people (45-33 percent).
- WorldBloomberg
Erdogan Slams Turkish Tycoon Who Dared to Criticize Policies
“What was Turkey’s per capita income 17 years ago, and what is it now?” Erdogan said late Thursday during a speech in Istanbul. Ozilhan this week made comments seen as criticism of Turkey’s economy and governance.
- CelebrityTime
Grumpy Cat, Whose Frown Made the Internet Smile, Dies After Infection
Grumpy Cat, whose seemingly unamused facial expressions shot her to viral fame in 2012, has died at the age of seven, her owners have said.
- LifestyleCar and Driver
View Photos of the First Hot Wheels Toy Based on a Fan's Custom Car
A flame-throwing, 600-hp ground-bound jet from Jersey is cool enough-then they up and made a toy version.From Car and Driver
BusinessReutersHuawei founder says growth 'may slow, but only slightly' after U.S. restrictions
In remarks to the Japanese press and reported https://s.nikkei.com/2VMJSaT by Nikkei Asian Review, Ren reiterated that the Chinese telecom equipment maker has not violated any law. "It is expected that Huawei's growth may slow, but only slightly," Ren told Japanese media in his first official comments after the U.S. restrictions, adding that the company's annual revenue growth may undershoot 20%. On Thursday, Washington put Huawei, one of China's biggest and most successful companies, on a trade blacklist that could make it extremely difficult for Huawei to do business with U.S. companies, a decision slammed by China, which said it will take steps to protect its companies.
- PoliticsThe Daily Beast
DCCC Wants to Save a Pro-Life Dem. Dems Ask: at What Cost?
Tom WilliamsThe day after Alabama lawmakers passed a law to ban nearly all abortions in the state, House Democrats confronted some tricky optics: a Chicago Business report revealed that the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was scheduled to headline a June fundraiser for the most staunchly pro-life Democrat left in Congress.The move raised howls of protest from progressives, who have sought to make that Democrat, Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), the next moderate to be unseated by a challenger to their left. The passage of the Alabama law and restrictive abortion laws in other states has only intensified that push."It's hypocritical for the Democratic Party leadership to continue to protect Lipinski while claiming to fight against the attacks on reproductive rights in states like Georgia and Alabama." said Waleed Shahid, communications director for Justice Democrats. In the 2018 primary, Lipinski was nearly defeated by Marie Newman, who is competing against him again in 2020 in this safely blue Chicago-area district. Unlike last time, however, Lipinski has the DCCC chair on his side: Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) has made a promise to back all incumbents, and has donated to Lipinski from her personal committee in addition to appearing at a fundraiser to benefit him. Progressive ire directed at the DCCC is hardly new. Only months into the 2020 cycle, the party’s official House campaign arm had already incensed progressives for codifying a policy to not do business with vendors who support primary challengers to incumbents—slammed as a “blacklist” by some on the left.But the Lipinski episode transcends the typical left vs. establishment drama that has permeated the DCCC in recent years. It raises a difficult question for Democrats: At a moment when abortion rights are more vulnerable than they have been in decades, does their “big tent” have room for members who do not support those rights?Lipinski thinks so, at least. “This is exactly the wrong time to be forming a circular firing squad when we need to be together, work together, to beat President Trump in 2020, as well as keeping the House and winning the Senate,” he told The Daily Beast on Thursday.“Certainly, Cheri Bustos is making it very clear as chair of the DCCC her support for me, and I think the party leadership understands the need for not pushing people out right when we’re trying to work together,” he added. But for a diverse set of Democrats, having an opponent of abortion in their ranks is increasingly untenable–especially one like Lipinski. Though there are several other House Democrats with anti-abortion views, Lipinski is the only House Democrat to have received a zero percent score from NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading advocacy group. He is one of two House Democrats to have a 75 percent score from the National Right to Life Committee. Lipinski, who has said he believes life begins at conception, has resisted leaving the party over his views on abortion. According to a 2018 report from the pro-choice outlet Rewire News, Lipinski told a pro-life gathering “I’ve always believed, and I always say, the Democratic Party says it stands up for the little guy, and there’s no one who is more vulnerable than the unborn, who need the protection. And so I’m hanging in there.”Since arriving in Congress in 2005, Lipinski has been a reliable vote for anti-abortion legislation.In particular, he has voted for bills to grant legal personhood rights to fetuses, and he voted against the Affordable Care Act, arguing that it would help fund access to abortion. At press time, Lipinski’s office had not responded for request for comment on his views on Alabama’s abortion bill.Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who successfully primaried an incumbent himself, was the first to publicly hit Bustos for fundraising on behalf of Lipinski on Wednesday night.“It’s tone deaf for the DCCC to be supporting Lipinski when Roe vs. Wade is under threat in a way it hasn’t been in my whole lifetime,” Khanna told The Daily Beast on Thursday. “This is a moment where the Democratic Party needs to be doing everything possible to affirm the constitutional right of a woman to choose. It makes no sense to be supporting someone who doesn’t recognize that right.”A DCCC spokesperson said that Bustos does not agree with Lipinski on abortion, but “she made a promise to stand behind all of our incumbents in their campaigns—from the Blue Dogs to the progressives. She keeps her word, and she is focused on defeating Republicans so we can continue growing the most diverse Majority in our nation’s history.”But Bustos’ fundraiser has only emboldened those on the left who had been preparing for primary battles in safe blue districts already. And even more institutional Democratic-aligned groups like Planned Parenthood Action Fund, EMILY’s List and NARAL Pro-Choice America backed Newman earlier this month. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) did as well, as she had done last cycle. “She’s in a position of defending a man who is in the House because of a reactionary, right-wing group,” Sean McElwee, co-founder of the progressive think tank Data for Progress said, referring to canvassing efforts on Lipinksi’s behalf from the pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List in 2018. “I think there’s a very real chance he loses. And I think there’s a very real chance that a number of incumbents lose and I think this is in a lot of ways her Waterloo,” McElwee added. “This is the proof positive that the method of going to war with progressives is not actually the best path forward for the party.” In 2018, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi ultimately backed Lipinski in the primary. But she faces pressure to remain neutral heading into 2020. “I hope she and others will stay out of it, given how choice is now under threat and how vulnerable it is,” said Khanna. Pelosi’s office did not respond to request for comment. On Thursday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told The Daily Beast that discussions were happening among progressives concerning the DCCC’s support for Lipinski. “If we don’t really approach this and make the hard decisions we need to make as a party about who we are and what we stand for, we cannot say that we’re fighting for women’s rights if we’re fundraising for people and if we’re, as an apparatus, actively supporting candidates who want to take our rights away,” she said.“I just don’t understand how this is even a thing.” Two former DCCC staffers, both of whom identified with the establishment wing of the party, echoed Ocasio-Cortez’s frustrations. “This is not activists vs. the DCCC on this issue,” one said. “This is 2019, we’re talking about Chicago, Illinois—the guy is not pro-choice.”“There’s no room for him anymore,” the other former DCCC staffer said. “There’s no room for this anymore. Maybe they could 10 years ago, but I just don’t see now how they can compromise on this.”“I try to defend the DCCC at any cost, and this is just nuts to me.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
- NewsThe Independent
Rape victim who had illegal abortion aged 13 condemns Alabama's new law as 'abomination'
A rape victim who had an illegal abortion at the age of 13 has argued that Alabama’s new law mandating a near total ban on abortion is an “abomination” which punishes “the woman for being a woman”.Maralyn Mosley, an 81-year-old, had her first illegal abortion 22 years before Roe v Wade – the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion nationwide in 1973.After being raped by a tenant at her aunt’s Birmingham boarding house, Ms Mosley's mother took her to a woman the community went to for clandestine terminations of pregnancy, but the 13-year-old was turned away due to her young age.Ms Mosley was then taken through a door in an alley where she got an abortion at the back of a barbershop from a man who asked for sex before he would do the procedure."I had been raped, and this made me feel like I was useless, like I was violated," Ms Mosley told the Montgomery Advertiser. She said she does not remember a lot of the abortion due to blocking out the memory because it was too painful but that she is able to recall her second illegal abortion far more clearly. The latter abortion she carried out on herself seven years later with knitting needles.Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a controversial abortion bill into law on Wednesday that is the most restrictive abortion bill in the US.Under the law, doctors would face 10 years in prison for attempting to terminate a pregnancy and 99 years for carrying out the procedure. The strict abortion ban, which has been branded a “death sentence for women”, would even criminalise performing abortions in cases of rape and incest. Ms Ivey said the new law might be “unenforceable” due to Roe v Wade but said the new law was passed with the aim of challenging that decision.Ms Mosley said she was "extremely saddened" to see a piece of legislation that would not have protected her 13-year-old self.“We are going to return to the back alleys,” she said. “We are going to return to where women will do abortions to themselves. We will return to the coat hangers and perforated uteruses. We will return to where women will bleed to death. It will be as it was before. It's an abomination."She added: "Abortions cannot be made illegal again. Women, girls and children should not have to go through that. I feel my terrible experience and other women's terrible experiences can be repeated, that we will have more deaths. No one talks about the deaths that occurred from illegal abortions, but there were many."Studies support the view illegal abortions are more dangerous than those carried out in a professional environment. The World Health Organisation estimates that each year between five per cent to 12 per cent of maternal deaths can be attributed to unsafe abortion - with the annual cost of treating major complications from unsafe abortion estimated at $553m (£435m). "I don’t think that, if I had tried to take care of a baby at the age of 13, that I would be able to achieve any of the things I’ve been able to achieve," Ms Mosley said. "I think it is punishing the woman for being a woman."At a minimum, Alabama’s new law will not go into effect for at least six months and implementation could be postponed further by expected legal challenges.While supporters of Alabama’s decision say they expect the law to be blocked in court, they hope that the appeals process will bring it before the Supreme Court. Alarm bells have been raised that Roe v Wade could be overturned or radically undermined with new conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh - both Trump appointees. Alabama state lawmakers compare abortions in America to the Holocaust and other modern genocides in the legislation – spurring Jewish activists and abortion rights groups to rebuke the bill as “deeply offensive".Alabama’s new bill comes as politicians in several other states propose legislation to restrict abortion such as Georgia’s recent heartbeat bill. Some 16 other states are trying to impose new restrictions on abortion.Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a foetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy. At six weeks, many women do not yet know they are pregnant.
WorldAssociated Press10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
LifestyleUSA TODAYVineyard Vines arrives at Target on Saturday. How to shop the limited-edition collaboration
Set your alarm clock if you're interested in shopping Target's latest designer collaboration, Vineyard Vines. The new collection goes on sale May 18.
PoliticsFOX News VideosFormer House Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's impact on the 2020 race
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes veiled swipe at former Vice President Joe Biden over climate change.
WorldAFPPoor boy Modi becomes India's nationalist powerhouse
Stern, sharp and shrewd, Narendra Modi fought his way off the streets to become one of India's most popular and polarising prime ministers. There is no middle ground between admirers and adversaries of the man -- now running for a second term -- who helped his father run a railway station tea stall before launching his career in nationalist politics. The 68-year-old makes much of his humble roots while unashamedly portraying himself as the tough guy protecting India's national security and Hindu values, pressing its claims to be the world's rising power.
NewsReutersNearly 180 former Ohio State University students claim sexual abuse by doctor
Dr. Richard Strauss was accused of abusing at least 177 male students when he worked as a physician for the university's athletic department and the student health center from 1978 to 1998, the report said, detailing the findings of a year-long independent investigation. Staff members knew of the abuse as early as 1979, but complaints were never elevated to administrators and senior officials of the athletics or student health departments until 1996. At that time, the school suspended and ultimately removed Strauss after a "very limited investigation" into a student's claim that the doctor fondled him during an exam, the report said.
- NewsThe National Interest
Glock 31 Gun: All You Need To Know About this Powerful Pistol
In the early 1990s, a handful of calibers emerged to challenge the nine-millimeter as the dominant semi-automatic handgun round. One of these, the .357 Sig, is the caliber of choice for the Glock 31 pistol. The Glock 31 is the company’s offering for those into high velocity or long distance handgun shooting. The G31 also comes with a large magazine capacity, making it an excellent self-defense or duty sidearm.The now infamous 1986 FBI Miami shootout was a watershed moment in the history of law enforcement. Eight FBI agents armed with pistols and shotguns engaged two bank robbers armed with superior weapons. Over the course of the gun battle, which saw the federal agents pinned down by suppressive fire from a Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, two agents were killed and another five wounded. The two bank robbers were hit multiple times by incoming fire but were both able to continue shooting, contributing to the very high law enforcement casualty rate.In the aftermath of the shootout, the FBI and other government agencies began the search for a new, more powerful handgun round. Nine-millimeter and .38 Special proved ineffective at stopping the robbers, while .357 Magnum was a revolver cartridge that limited the user’s carrying capacity to six rounds at a time. Law enforcement wanted a powerful round that could be carried in large quantities.
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