- WorldThe Telegraph
UK raises travel warning for dual British-Iranian nationals amid heightened tensions
Britain has upgraded its travel warning for dual UK-Iranian nationals after a British council worker was jailed on allegations of espionage. The Foreign Office on Friday warned dual nationals against all travel to the Islamic Republic, saying they face an "unacceptably higher" risk of detention and mistreatment. Its previous advice had warned against all but essential travel. In a statement, Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, also urged Iranian nationals living in the UK to exercise "caution" when returning to Iran to visit family or friends. "Despite the UK providing repeated opportunities to resolve this issue, the Iranian regime's conduct has worsened," Mr Hunt said. "Having exhausted all other options, I must now advise all British-Iranian dual nationals against travelling to Iran." He said Iran does not recognise dual nationality, limiting the British government's ability to help dual nationals detained in Iran. The decision comes days after it was revealed a dual national who had been working for the British Council was sentenced to 10 years in prison on allegations of spying. Aras Amiri, an Iranian national, was detained in Iran in March 2018 Aras Amiri, from London, is being held in Evin prison alongside 40-year-old charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was offered official diplomatic protection by the British government in an unprecedented move to secure her release. Richard Ratcliffe, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, said the two women were both chess pieces on the same political board. Reacting to the Friday's news, Mr Ratcliffe told the Telegraph: "I am pleased the government has made such a strong statement. Hopefully the Iranian authorities will realise this practice has to stop. "I asked the Foreign Secretary to make clear hostage diplomacy is not acceptable - through travel advice and other ways. The UK has an obligation to protect, and to make clear it is not acceptable for government disputes to be taken out on ordinary citizens." Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to the UK, said dual nationals were perfectly safe provided there were not working for foreign intelligence agencies. The past week has seen an escalation in tensions between Iran and the US. Concerns about a possible conflict have flared since the White House ordered warships and bombers to the region to counter an alleged threat from Iran that has seen America order nonessential diplomatic staff out of Iraq. Persian gulf sabotage attacks Tensions have also ratcheted up in the region after authorities alleged that a sabotage operation targeted four oil tankers on Sunday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and Iran-aligned rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a drone attack Tuesday on a crucial Saudi oil pipeline. Mr Hunt said this week that the United Kingdom shares the US assessment of increased threat, but that British diplomatic missions in Iraq continued to operate as normal.
PoliticsAssociated PressIn Barr, Trump has found his champion and advocate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump could only be delighted to have his attorney general in El Salvador, dealing with his biggest issue: illegal immigration. Yet Barr did even better for his boss. In interviews from the Central American country, he's been offering cryptic comments suggesting the Russia probe unfairly targeted Trump.
- BusinessReuters
Boeing says it has corrected simulator software of 737 MAX jets
Boeing Co has made corrections to simulator software that mimics the flying experience of its 737 MAX jets, which were involved in two fatal crashes, and the company has provided additional information to device operators, a spokesman said on Friday. The spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said the changes will ensure that the simulator experience is representative across different flight conditions and will improve the simulation of force loads on the manual trim wheel that helps control the airplane. The comments came after the New York Times on Friday reported https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/business/boeing-737-max-simulators.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage that Boeing recently discovered that the flight simulators airlines use to train pilots could not adequately replicate conditions that played a role in the 737 MAX crashes.
- 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.
- NewsUSA TODAY
25 men voted to ban abortion in Alabama. Do they reflect the rest of America?
States are passing strict abortion laws and 'heartbeat' bans, but polling shows most Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Republican congressman apologises for referring to ‘consensual rape’ in debate over Missouri abortion bill
A Republican Missouri legislator apologised on Friday for saying that some sexual assaults are "consensual rapes" during a debate over a new, restrictive antiabortion bill."I'm not trying to make excuses," said representative Barry Hovis, who represents the city of Jackson in southeastern Missouri. "Sometimes you make a mistake and you own up to it."The lawmaker, who was elected in 2018, made the remark while speaking on the State House floor, arguing that the measure's eight-week window for abortions "gives [rape survivors] ample time" for the procedure.Critics say many women do not know they are pregnant until after eight weeks, and the bill provides no exceptions for rape or incest.The 30-year veteran of the Cape Girardeau Police Department then touched on his experience handling rape cases."Let's just say someone goes out and they're raped or they're sexually assaulted one night after a college party – because most of my rapes were not the gentleman jumping out of the bushes that nobody had ever met," Mr Hovis said."That was one or two times out of a hundred. Most of them were date rapes or consensual rapes, which were all terrible."Representative Raychel Proudie, a Democrat, quickly rebuked him."There is no such thing, no such thing as consensual rape," she said to applause from the chamber.Mr Hovis later told The Washington Post that he misspoke and said he believes "there was no such thing as consensual rape."He added that, in all his years in law enforcement, he took the testimony of rape victims seriously."When a rape is reported, and I'll speak for myself, you always take the word of the victim," he said.Missouri's GOP-controlled House passed the antiabortion bill on Friday, which prohibits abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy.The bill comes as lawmakers in multiple states have passed restrictive abortion laws that advocates on both sides say are aimed at getting the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion nationwide.Mr Hovis' remarks recalled a controversial comment made in 2012 by Todd Akin, a former Missouri congressman, that "legitimate rape" rarely causes pregnancy.After losing a 2012 race for US Senate, Mr Akin tried to clarify his words, saying he should have said "legitimate case of rape."The Washington Post
- 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
BusinessAssociated PressWynn and MGM in talks about sale of Encore Boston casino
Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International said in a joint statement they've engaged in conversations about the potential sale of Encore Boston Harbor. This comes as Wynn is about to open the $2.6 billion Everett, Massachusetts, casino. The companies say the talks won't delay the Everett opening scheduled for next month.
BusinessReutersHuawei and suppliers make plans to face U.S. trade blacklist - Nikkei
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd said it will maintain supplies for the time being even though it was assessing the impact of Washington's decision, the report said. Innolux Corp, which supplies screen to Huawei, said it will have an impact, but it was hard to determine its scope and that its shipping schedule for Huawei remained unchanged, according to the report. U.S. chipmakers such as Qualcomm Inc and Qorvo Inc suspended shipments on Friday, the report said, while other U.S. companies are set to follow suit as the restrictions take effect.
U.S.FOX News VideosSmiling DUI driver, sheds tears at sentencing
The Florida woman who was all smiles for a mugshot after a DUI manslaughter arrest was all sobs when the judge handed down the sentencing. She received an 11 year prison sentence.
- PoliticsThe Telegraph
Democrat 2020 hopefuls eye coveted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsement
She is the great young hope of America’s Left-wing, an articulate and impassioned progressive whose policies have gained traction and Twitter feed is followed by four million. Now Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old first-time congressman from New York, is seeing her newfound political clout manifest in a new way – a race for her endorsement. With two dozen Democrats seeking their party’s presidential nomination, the support of Ms Ocasio-Cortez is being seen as a way to win over the young, energised voters who will help shape the race. Chief among the contenders are Bernie Sanders, the independent 77-year-old senator from Vermont, and Elizabeth Warren, the former academic now representing Massachusetts in the Senate. Both have made tacit acknowledgement of Ms Ocasio-Cortez’s influence in public in recent weeks – whether for policy reasons, or for political gain, or both. Earlier this month, Mr Sanders appeared alongside Ms Ocasio-Cortez at an office table where they discussed the importance of reducing credit card interest rates. At the end of the 25-minute video, shared on social media and viewed by more than half a million people, the pair patted each other on the back warmly and smiled. Last month, Mr Warren wrote a 180-word ode to Ms Ocasio-Cortez for Time Magazine when the latter was named in its top 100 most influential people. “A year ago, she was taking orders across a bar. Today, millions are taking cues from her,” Ms Warren wrote of the congresswoman’s remarkable political rise. “And she’s just getting started.” Those two are not the only Democratic hopefuls vying for an endorsement, it appears. Politico reported that both senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former housing and urban development secretary Julian Castro have made “overtures”. There is no reason a person should pay more than 15% interest in the United States. It’s common sense - in fact, we had these Usury laws until the 70s. It’s a debt trap for working people + it has to end.https://t.co/sO0p5NF7WR— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) May 9, 2019 The enthusiasm is understandable. The Democratic Party’s progressive base appears fired up for change and many candidates hoping to win the right to take on Donald Trump are leaning its way. Government-funded health care for all, a $15 minimum wage and bold action on climate change have been widely adopted by the field ahead of the first debate in June and the first primary vote next February. Ms Ocasio-Cortez, who last year shocked the political establishment by ousting a 10-term Democrat in her own party to take his seat, has become the progressive movement’s most recognisable star. That was underscored this week as Joe Biden, the former US vice president who is polling top and running on a centrist ticket, was forced to defend his climate change stance after Ms Ocasio-Cortez dismissed it as “middle of the road". Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic senator for Massachusetts, has developed a reputation for standing up to Wall Street Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall Mr Sanders is best placed to win the endorsement race. Ms Ocasio-Cortez worked on his 2016 presidential campaign, identifies like him as a democratic socialist and shares many of the same policy beliefs. Ms Warren has also laid out a left-wing platform taking on Wall Street and redistributing wealth but makes clear she remains a believer in capitalism. Asked recently about an endorsement by a CNN reporter, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: “What I would like to see in a presidential candidate is one that has a coherent worldview and logic from which all these policy proposals are coming forward. "I think senator Sanders has that. I also think senator Warren has that.” And, the questioner followed up, would she consider endorsing Mr Biden? Ms Ocasio-Cortez turned and walked away without a definitive answer.
- 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.
- 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
- ScienceUSA TODAY
Blue moon is coming Saturday night to a sky near you
A Blue Moon is coming this weekend. And it's not the craft beer nor Amazon's new spaceship, both of which have appropriated the name.
- EntertainmentTime
How Will Game of Thrones End for Daenerys? Here's What Real Military History Can Tell Us
What Dany could have learned from military history, from ancient times to World War II
PoliticsAFPEU ready to negotiate trade with US, including cars
The European Union said Friday it is prepared to negotiate a limited trade deal, including on cars, with the US, after President Donald Trump held off imposing auto tariffs. "We note that US postpones decision on car tariffs for 180 days," European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom tweeted. In another tweet, Malmstrom said she would discuss the issue with EU trade ministers next week before meeting on May 27 with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
- PoliticsYahoo News
2020 candidate Seth Moulton: 'I'm proud to say I'm a capitalist'
Sep. Seth Moulton talks to the Yahoo News “Skullduggery” podcast about how he plans to take on President Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
- WorldReuters
UPDATE 1-Argentina grants offshore oil, gas exploration permits in Malvinas West basin
Argentina awarded permits for hydrocarbon exploration in 18 areas off its southern coast to companies including Exxon Mobil Corp, Total SA , YPF SA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the government said on Friday. The winning companies offered bids totaling $724 million, the government said in official statements, and won the rights to explore for up to 13 years in areas of the South Atlantic, some near the Malvinas Islands under the control of the British government but whose sovereignty is claimed by Argentina. The other companies that will make up exploration consortia in Argentina's Malvinas West basin include BP, Qatar Petroleum, Tullow Oil, Pluspetrol , Wintershall, Equinor, Eni , Mitsui &Co Ltd and Tecpetrol SA.
- NewsAOL.com
Death row inmate makes unusual request before his execution
A man who was executed Thursday turned down the chance to pick his last mealand instead asked his supporters to feed the homeless, his attorney told theTennessean
NewsAssociated PressThe Latest: Ordnance team on scene of California F-16 crash
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the crash of an F-16 fighter jet in Southern California (all times local):
- WorldBloomberg
OPEC+ Has More Work to Do Because Inventories Are Rising, Minister Says
“The job is not complete,” Al Mazrouei told reporters in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil producers in a global coalition are meeting in Jeddah this weekend to consider whether they’ll need to continue keeping supplies restrained during the second half of the year.
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