- WorldUSA TODAY
'We don't take it lightly': What we know about oil tanker blasts and Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric on Iran
President Donald Trump Friday blamed Iran for the attack on two international oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman as he and other administration officials escalated their rhetoric on Tehran. Iran has denied any involvement and has accused the United States of trying to mar a visit to Tehran by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “Suspicious doesn't begin to describe what likely transpired this morning,” Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted Thursday.
- NewsThe Independent
Woman who was arrested over killing of former Arkansas senator worked on campaign, officials say
A woman has been arrested in connection with the killing of a former Arkansas state senator. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 48, was detained on Friday night by Randolph County sheriff's deputies in connection with the death of Linda Collins-Smith. The 57-year-old former politician was found dead outsider her home in Pocahantas, Arkansas on 4 June.
WorldAFPNew Zealand cancels tsunami alert after powerful quake
After initially forecasting "a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities", New Zealand's Civil Defence organisation gave the all-clear eight minutes later. The earthquake was give a preliminary magnitude of 7.4, but later downgraded to 7.2 by the US Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also lifted its tsunami warning for parts of the South Pacific but said "minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas near the earthquake".
- WorldReuters
Taking aim at Johnson, British PM hopefuls make their Brexit case
Several hopefuls vying to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May turned their fire on favorite Boris Johnson on Sunday, questioning his pledge to leave the European Union by the end of October no matter what. With former London mayor and foreign minister Johnson keeping a low profile, the other candidates have targeted the air waves to present their cases to lead the governing Conservative Party. But the question always returns to "Boris".
- BusinessCar and Driver
View Photos of the 2020 BMW X3 M
Available in 473-hp standard and 503-hp Competition flavors, BMW's latest M ute is as capable as it is silly. From Car and Driver
- BusinessThe National Interest
Report: Marine and Navy F-35 Pilots Need to Ration Afterburners at High Altitudes
Sebastien Roblin Security, Americas Another problem for this very expensive stealth fighter. After eighteen years of troubled and controversial development, the Lockheed F-35 Lightning stealth fighter may soon enter mass production, many of its bugs having been expensively squashed after delivery of an initial four-hundred “low-rate-of-initial-production” aircraft. However, a June 2019 scoop by Defense News journalists Valerie Insinna, David Larter and Aaron Mehta has revealed thirteen serious Category-1 flaws remain.
- BusinessAssociated Press
Target's tech trouble clogs stores with long checkout lines
A glitch stalled checkout lines at Target stores worldwide Saturday, exasperating shoppers and potentially eating into sales at a prime time for retailers, the day before Father's Day. Target temporarily closed some of its stores, including one in San Francisco, rather than risk aggravating shoppers. "Our technology team worked quickly to identify and fix the issue, and we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this caused for our guests," Target said in a Saturday statement.
- SportsReuters
Reports: Pelicans agree to trade Davis to Lakers
The New Orleans Pelicans agreed to trade All-Star big man Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks -- including the No. 4 overall selection in next week's draft -- ESPN reported Saturday. The deal, which cannot be made official until July 1, gives the Pelicans two of the top four picks next week, after they won the lottery for the top overall pick. According to ESPN, they will take Duke star Zion Williamson first overall and consider trading the fourth overall pick, with several teams already expressing interest.
WorldAFPField fires in Syria's Hasakeh kill 10: monitor
Fires engulfing vital wheat fields across Syria's northeast have killed at least 10 people, a war monitor said Sunday, as Kurdish authorities claim the blazes were set deliberately. Kurdish authorities and the Damascus regime are competing to buy up this year's harvest as fires -- some claimed by the Islamic State group -- continue to scorch crops in the country's breadbasket. The victims included civilians and members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces who died while trying to extinguish the blazes since Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Iran threatens to scale back commitment to Nuclear Deal
Iran has vowed to scale back its nuclear commitments as regional tensions flared over last week's tanker attack, with both the US and UK pointing the finger at Tehran. The semi-official Tasneem news agency said Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation would on Monday announce the measures Tehran has taken to dial back its international obligations under the terms of the now-crumbling 2015 nuclear deal. Both measures would nullify some of the key tenets of the nuclear accord, which offered economic incentives in exchange for the cessation of activities that might lead Tehran to build a nuclear weapons capability.
- WorldBloomberg
Hong Kong Suspends China Extradition Plan in Stunning Reversal
Hong Kong's leader suspended efforts to pass a bill allowing extraditions to China, in a dramatic reversal that she said was necessary to restore order in the Asian financial hub and avoid further violence and mass protests. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive, announced the legislative “pause” at a news conference Saturday, even as activists asked hundreds of thousands of residents who marched in protest last weekend to return to the streets and demand her resignation. Lam acknowledged that debate had shattered a period of relative calm in the former British colony, including clashes between demonstrators and police Wednesday that left more than 80 people hurt.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Young bear was fed by humans and had many 'fans.' Officials say they had to kill it
A young black bear was shot and killed by state officials after becoming so habituated to humans that the public could get close enough to take selfies with him. Starting June 4, Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Fish began receiving calls and seeing social media posts with the bear in the popular Scoggins Valley Park near Henry Hagg Lake. Tuesday evening, deputies from the sheriff's office and Oregon State Police were dispatched to the area after receiving two calls about the bear and sent a tweet asking the public to stay away.
- NewsThe Independent
United Airlines plane skids off runway after tyres burst on landing at New York airport
A United Airlines plane skidded off the runway after its tyres burst as it landed at an airport near New York. Some passengers suffered minor injuries when Flight 627 slid off the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Boeing 757-200's left main landing gear was “stuck in a grassy area” following the incident at 1pm.
PoliticsFOX News VideosSenator Graham reacts to controversy over the president's comments on foreign assistance
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham joins Jeanine on 'Justice.
- WorldThe National Interest
How the AH-64 Apache Became the Ultimate Attack Helicopter
At 2:30 a.m., the choppers fanned out and set to work in teams of two. Rocket motors flashed as Hellfire missiles streaked towards two Iraqi radars powerful enough to potentially pick up the faint signature of a stealth plane. Nearly three decades later, the Apache's status as the world's premier attack helicopter remains largely unchallenged, and the type continues to see extensive action in the Middle East and in demand in countries as diverse as the UK, Egypt, India and Taiwan.
- WorldThe Daily Beast
Pope Francis’ Arch Nemesis Comes Out of Hiding to Slam Him on Predator Priests
ROME—There are few scandals in the sordid history of the American Catholic church more painful than the saga of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a high-ranking prince of the church who fell from grace amid a slew of lies and cover-ups. McCarrick was forced to resign and later defrocked after credible allegations that he sexually abused a boy from the age of 11 until the young man was 29, starting long before the Boston Spotlight probe and Pennsylvania Grand Jury report came to define priests behaving badly. Unlike in Boston and Pennsylvania, where the local dioceses were easy to blame for bad management, McCarrick was a man of the popes, which makes him an easy target for those who oppose the direction of the church.
- WorldReuters
China's FedEx probe should not be seen as retaliation - Xinhua
China's investigation into FedEx Corp over misdirected mail should not be regarded as retaliation against the U.S. company, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday, amid worsening relations between China and the United States. The inquiry was aimed at sending a message that any economic entity in China should abide by the country's laws and regulations, it said in a commentary. "China is willing to share the opportunities in its courier market with foreign investors.
WorldAFPEx-Tehran mayor to face trial over wife's killing
Former Tehran mayor and prominent reformist Mohammad Ali Najafi will stand trial next month on charges of murdering his wife, the government-run Iran newspaper said Sunday. Najafi, 67, turned himself in and confessed to shooting his second wife Mitra Ostad on May 28 at their home in northern Tehran, according to Iranian media. "On July 1, the first trial session of Mohammad Ali Najafi, former Tehran mayor, will be held at Tehran's Criminal Court," the Iran daily reported.
- WorldAssociated Press
Saudi crown prince accuses rival Iran of tanker attacks
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in remarks published Sunday that the kingdom will not hesitate to confront Iranian threats to its security. Tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated since the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets to the region in what it says is defensive posturing against alleged Iranian threats. The crisis takes root in the Trump Administration's decision to re-impose punishing economic sanctions on Tehran and its oil exports, after unilaterally withdrawing the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
- PoliticsPolitico
Buttigieg: Justice Dept. should decide any Trump charges post-2020
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said that if elected, he would leave the Justice Department to operate independently of the White House during any potential criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. "Nobody is above the law and prosecution decisions should have nothing to do with politics and should come from the DOJ itself, not from the Oval Office," Buttigieg told CNN's Jake Tapper in a preview of an interview to be aired Sunday. Buttigieg's remark comes in contrast with his Democratic rival Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who said if she was elected the Justice Department would have "no choice" but to charge Trump with obstruction of justice if he were to finish his term without being impeached.
- WorldUSA TODAY
What's next for Hong Kong? Controversial extradition bill suspended, not scrapped
After almost a week of massive street protests, Hong Kong's chief executive said Saturday that she has suspended a controversial extradition bill that critics said would undermine the city's unique civil liberties. "After repeated internal deliberations over the last two days, I now announce that the government has decided to suspend the legislative amendment exercise," Carrie Lam told reporters. "I want to stress that the government is adopting an open mind. Lam said she would "adopt a sincere and humble attitude in accepting criticism" over the government's handling of the issue, which had mobilized pro-democracy activists.
- CelebrityThe Telegraph
Father's Day 2019: Paganism, roses and how the campaign to celebrate dads was won
Father's Day, the official calendar date to honour our wonderful dads and celebrate fatherhood, is here. Recognised each June, the day sees children around the world present their dads with cards and gifts as a thank you for all they do. But when did the first observance of Father's Day take place and who helped establish the annual celebration of paternal figures?
- NewsThe Independent
Trapped teenager rescued from mountainside after mother used Find My Friends app to locate her
A teenager left trapped underneath her car for seven hours after crashing down a mountainside was rescued after her mother used the Find My Friends app to find her. Catrina Cramer Alexander said she used the feature on her mobile phone when her 17-year-old daughter, Macy Smith, uncharacteristically missed a curfew and didn't respond to texts or calls. "The lack of response was out of character for her," Ms Alexander told North Carolina's TV channel WFMY.
- BusinessThe National Interest
HK VP9: The 9mm Pistol That Is Better Than a Glock 19?
Gun News Daily Security, Americas All the evidence. If there's anything you need to know about the company Heckler & Koch, it's that they are pretty much synonymous with quality firearms that are in service with military, law enforcement units, and civilians all over the world. And if you know anything about Heckler & Koch, then you should have heard about the HK VP9 9mm pistol, which was first released to the general market in 2014.
- BusinessReuters
U.S. Navy official sees more orders for Boeing P-8A in coming months
The U.S. Navy expects additional U.S. and international orders for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in coming months, which should extend production by two years to late 2025, a senior U.S. Navy official told Reuters. Navy Captain Tony Rossi, programme manager for the P-8 and its predecessor, the P-3, said the Navy was hoping to finalise the order book for the programme soon to be able to "effectively and efficiently close out the production." He said the programme could see about 21 additional orders from the U.S. Navy on top of 117 aircraft already funded, plus roughly the same number from other countries, although he declined to name potential new buyers.
