PoliticsAFPDowned drone was some 34 km (21 miles) from Iran coast: US general
A US spy drone was some 34 kilometers (21 miles) from the nearest point in Iran when it was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz by an Iranian surface-to-air missile Thursday, a US general said. "This dangerous and escalatory attack was irresponsible and occurred in the vicinity of established air corridors between Dubai, UAE, and Oman, possibly endangering innocent civilians," said Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella, who commands US air forces in the region. The Pentagon released a graphic pinpointing the position of the drone on a map of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic passage through which much of the world's oil passes.
- PoliticsThe Telegraph
Trump says Iran has made 'big mistake' after spy drone shot down in Gulf
Fears of war in the Persian Gulf surged after Iran shot down an American drone to "send a message" to the United States. The United States confirmed that an RQ-4a surveillance drone had been shot down over the Gulf of Hormuz, but said it was over international waters when it was hit. "Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false," the Pentagon said in a statement.
- NewsAssociated Press
Witness at Navy SEAL trial admits killing teenage prisoner
A Navy SEAL called by prosecutors to testify at the murder trial of a decorated comrade dropped a bombshell Thursday when he acknowledged killing a wounded militant in what he described as an act of mercy. Special Operator 1st Class Corey Scott, who got an immunity deal for his testimony, said he asphyxiated the teenage Islamic State fighter after Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher unexpectedly stabbed him. Before the stabbing, Gallagher and Scott had stabilized the prisoner and he was breathing normally through a tube inserted to clear his airway as they treated him for wounds suffered in an airstrike in Iraq.
- NewsThe National Interest
The Stealth Sniper: The F-22 Raptor Has a New Job
Robert Beckhusen Technology, Americas And that means bad news for America's enemies. The flying branch only bought 187 operational Raptors — out of an original goal of 381. The F-22 also won't fly into the 2060s without upgrades.
- PoliticsNational Review
AOC’s Holocaust Remarks Divide Congressional Democrats
Democrats are split over Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's comments earlier this week equating American immigrant-detention centers with the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, some in her party defending the remarks while others spoke against them. The U.S. is running concentration camps on our southern border, and that is exactly what they are,” the 29-year-old New York Democrat said during an Instagram Live stream on Monday. I want to talk to the people that are concerned enough with humanity to say that 'never again' means something.
- NewsYahoo News
9/11 responder who appeared with Jon Stewart on Capitol Hill is now in hospice care
A cancer-stricken 9/11 first responder who testified alongside Jon Stewart at last week's House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorizing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund is now in hospice care. Lou Alvarez, a 53-year-old former NYPD bomb squad detective who appeared with other first responders at the Capitol, said in a Facebook post Wednesday that doctors informed him that his condition had worsened and there is “nothing else” they can do for him. Alvarez, who has colorectal cancer, told the House subcommittee on June 11 that he agreed to testify despite having his 69th round of chemotherapy scheduled for the next day.
U.S.FOX News VideosSecond ex-Democrat staffer charged in scheme to 'dox' Republicans during Kavanaugh confirmation fight
A second aide to Democrat Sen. Maggie Hassan is facing federal charges over a scheme to publicly post personal information of Republican politicians in 2018. Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Napolitano reacts.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Dominican Republic deaths: What we know, including two more US tourists incidents
This week brought news that two more Americans were found dead in their hotel rooms in the Caribbean vacation destination: Joseph Allen, 55, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, and Leyla Cox, 53, of Staten Island, New York. Allen's sister, Jamie Reed, told WABC-TV that his body was discovered the morning of June 13 in his hotel room at Terra Linda Resort in Sosua, located on the Caribbean country's northern coast. What is happening in the Dominican Republic?
- LifestyleCar and Driver
Hellcat-Powered Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 6x6 Pickup Exists Because It Can
Nicknamed "Inferno," this Hellcat-powered 6x6-a veteran of the 2018 SEMA show-is up for auction June 28–29. It measures more than 19 feet in length, with its Jeep Wrangler body lengthened by over 35 inches. It's hard to make a grand entrance these days, what with every here-today/gone-today celebrity of the moment rolling up to the Red Carpet Lobster in a Bentley or a Benz.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Former Interpol chief pleads guilty in Chinese bribery case amid crackdown by authorities
Meng Hongwei, the former president of Interpol, confessed to accepting more than $2 million (£1.6 million) in bribes and expressed regret for his crime, a Chinese court said Thursday. The No. 1 Intermediate Court in the northeastern port city of Tianjin said Mr Meng read a statement containing the confession at a hearing. Admitting guilt and expressing regret can result in slightly lighter punishment, although China has been quick to hand out life sentences as it cracks down on corruption and political disloyalty under a campaign run directly by the president and head of the ruling Communist Party, Xi Jinping.
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
The 17 Most Beautiful Highways for Road Trips
From South Africa's oceanfront Chapman's Peak Drive to the Atlantic Road connecting tiny archipelagos in Norway, AD covers the most breathtaking road trips Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
WorldAFP'Credible evidence' linking Saudi crown prince to Khashoggi murder: UN expert
There is "credible evidence" linking Saudi Arabia's crown prince to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last October, an independent UN rights expert said Wednesday, calling for an international investigation. In a fresh report, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard said she had "determined that there is credible evidence, warranting further investigation of high-level Saudi Officials' individual liability, including the Crown Prince's." The report stressed that "no conclusion is made as to guilt.
- WorldAssociated Press
The Latest: Lawmakers getting briefed on Iran at White House
The Latest on the United States and Iran (all times local): 3:30 p.m. Top administration officials and lawmakers are arriving at the White House for a briefing about Iran's downing of an American surveillance drone in the Middle East amid mounting tension between the U.S. and Iran. The White House invited House and Senate leaders of both parties and Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence and Armed Services committees to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
- WorldThe National Interest
Russia and China Go War Against America. Here's What Could Happen Next.
Washington beaten in battle? Russia and China Go War Against America. The United States discarded its oft-misunderstood “two war” doctrine, intended as a template for providing the means to fight two regional wars simultaneously, late last decade. Designed to deter North Korea from launching a war while the United States was involved in fighting against Iran or Iraq (or vice versa,) the idea helped give form to the Department of Defense's procurement, logistical and basing strategies in the post–Cold War, when the United States no longer needed to face down the Soviet threat.
- WorldBloomberg
Echoing Beijing, Duterte’s Government Now Calls Boat Collision an ‘Accident’
The Philippine government has fallen in with Beijing's explanation that a Chinese vessel didn't intentionally hit a Filipino boat in the South China Sea on June 9. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday described the incident as "just an accident," adding the Chinese vessel may have left after hitting and sinking a Philippine boat with 22 fishermen out of fear of being “besieged” by other boats near Reed Bank. Maybe the other side didn't mean to brush against our boat,” Lorenzana said at a televised briefing in Manila on Wednesday.
- BusinessTime
Airbus Vows to Fight Boeing for a Massive Jet Order That Could Mark the 737 Max's Turnaround
Airbus vowed to contend for a mammoth narrow-body order that its chief rival Boeing announced in stunning fashion at the Paris Air Show. Speaking at a final press conference from Le Bourget airfield outside of Paris on Thursday, Airbus sales chief Christian Scherer said the European planemaker never received a request for proposals — a document that formally launches most major aircraft contracts — from British Airways owner IAG SA. The secret negotiations resulted in the surprise of the show: a letter of intent from IAG — currently an Airbus-only narrow-body customer — to purchase 200 of Boeing's grounded 737 Max aircraft.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Huge great white shark surprises stunned New Jersey fishermen
NEPTUNE, N.J. – A party of sport fishermen had a rare brush with a huge great white shark Monday off the coast of New Jersey. In an encounter that was very similar to a scene from the 1975 blockbuster "Jaws," the shark came right up to the stern of the boat and grabbed a bag of ground up fish bait called chum. The once-in-a-lifetime experience was caught on video and has shark researchers buzzing.
- TechnologyBGR News
Galaxy Note 10 leak reveals a futuristic feature you won’t find on any iPhone
The Note 10 will come in two sizes, both featuring the same Infinity-O display that will have curved edges with tiny top and bottom bezels. In many ways, the Galaxy Note 10 will be similar to the Galaxy S10 when it comes to specs, but an insider now claims the phone will have a futuristic feature that no other popular smartphone has — not even the iPhone. If this rumor is accurate, it will give Samsung an advantage over almost all competitors out there when it comes to design.
- PoliticsYahoo News
Candidates reveal their — very slightly — embarrassing moments to the Times
Presidential candidates are thrown all sorts of hardball questions about their positions, policies and past. In a recent set of video interviews, the New York Times had tough questions for 21 Democratic presidential candidates, but one was fairly innocent: When was the last time you were embarrassed? Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., was ready with an anecdote that was both embarrassing and endearing.
- StyleArchitectural Digest
You Can Visit These 5 Vanderbilt-Family Homes
Gloria Vanderbilt passed away on Monday at the age of 95, leaving a void in the worlds of fashion, art, and interior design. Before Vanderbilt shared her eclectic home decor style with the world, the railroad fortune heiress's ancestors pioneered the Gilded Age of design, building numerous mansions across the country. Starting with her great-great-grandfather Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and continuing with subsequent generations of Vanderbilts, the family erected stunning homes, which hosted dignitaries and celebrities alike.
- LifestyleCar and Driver
View Photos of our New Long-Term 2019 Honda Civic Type R
The start of 40,000 miles with our first red-badged Honda. From Car and Driver
- NewsAssociated Press
The Latest: 2 charged in huge cocaine bust at Philly port
The Latest on a large seizure of cocaine from a container ship in Philadelphia (all times local): 6:35 p.m. Two members of a container ship's crew face federal drug charges after agents raided their vessel at a Philadelphia port and seized about 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms) of cocaine. Court documents filed Tuesday charge Ivan Durasevic and Fonofaavae Tiasage with conspiracy to possess cocaine aboard a ship subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
PoliticsAFPTrump reelection launch heralds political scorched earth campaign
With a 2020 campaign launch painting opponents in almost apocalyptic terms, President Donald Trump showed Democrats the scorched earth treatment they can expect in his fight for reelection. And Democrats -- barring Trump's most fiery leftist rival Bernie Sanders -- showed Thursday how they might respond: with a collective shrug. Even for a showman president renowned for exaggerating achievements, insulting opponents and making wildly inaccurate claims, Trump's speech to 20,000 people at an Orlando, Florida arena stood out.
- WorldThe National Interest
Naval Expert: Why Russia Never Built Lots of Aircraft Carriers
Robert Farley Security, Europe Simple. The aviation capability of the Russian navy is dangling by a thread. Kuznetsov is old and in poor condition, and no carrier is even close to be laid down.
- WorldNational Review
Iranian Official Downplays Possibility of Military Confrontation with U.S.
A top Iranian official on Wednesday predicted that no military conflict with the U.S. was coming, despite the Trump administration's decision to send more troops to the Middle East amid tensions with Tehran. There will not be a military confrontation between Iran and America since there is no reason for a war,” said Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to state media outlet IRNA. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused Iran of being behind last week's attacks on two oil tankers — laden with “Japan-related cargo,” according to Japan's Trade Ministry — in the Gulf of Oman.
