| Would U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Lose a War to Iran? Posted: 25 Jun 2019 04:50 AM PDT  The recent oil tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman reinforce the need to reestablish a highly visible U.S. naval deterrent in the Middle East. For eight months last year, no aircraft carrier strike group plied the region, the longest such interruption this millennium. With the United States needing a more robust posture against Iran and confronting renewed challenges in Asia and Europe, several immediate measures and concerted longer-term efforts are critical to ensure America has the carriers it needs.The requirement to maintain carrier presence in the Middle East is a critical part of a broader national security strategy, in which U.S. global security interests necessitate a worldwide force presence. Indeed, the Navy's mission demands remain as high as those of the Cold War, calling on ships to be everywhere seemingly at once, but today's fleet is less than half the size it was 30 years ago.During the Obama administration, a "rebalance" supposedly allowed the Pentagon to focus on Asia and Europe while washing its hands of the Middle East. In reality, we never effectively rebalanced forces in the Indo-Pacific, and the situation on the ground forced us to remain deeply involved in the Middle East. Now with a growing Iranian threat, it would be imprudent to suddenly abandon the region, even as we face renewed challenges in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean.Indeed, Iran's threat to the region continues growing as its recent attacks against oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman demonstrate. Its reliance on violent sectarianism helps fuel Sunni extremist groups like ISIS. This also places Tehran's proxies on the borders of key U.S. allies. Beginning next year, Tehran can start upgrading its conventional and missile arsenals as U.N. arms embargoes expire. It is also threatening to resume progress toward nuclear weapons.The Trump Administration is pursuing robust sanctions, but these alone are likely insufficient to prevent Tehran's aggression and reassure our regional allies.Credible forward deployed military capability – like a carrier strike group – provides real options for American policymakers. Last month's intelligence suggesting Iran was ready to move against U.S. interests in the Middle East demonstrates how the absence of such forces could embolden Iran. Responding to this intelligence, the prompt movement of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group into the region has dramatically increased the U.S. force posture. Effective deterrence of Iran will require persistent, visible, and credible military capability.A combination of far-reaching and short-term policy changes can address this challenge.
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| Father-daughter border drowning highlights migrants' perils Posted: 25 Jun 2019 04:56 PM PDT  The man and his 23-month-old daughter lay face down in shallow water along the bank of the Rio Grande, his black shirt hiked up to his chest with the girl tucked inside. The searing photograph of the sad discovery of their bodies on Monday, captured by journalist Julia Le Duc and published by Mexican newspaper La Jornada, highlights the perils faced by mostly Central American migrants fleeing violence and poverty and hoping for asylum in the United States. According to Le Duc's reporting for La Jornada, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, frustrated because the family from El Salvador was unable to present themselves to U.S. authorities and request asylum, swam across the river on Sunday with his daughter, Valeria.
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| Driver in horrific motorcycle crash pleads not guilty as details emerge Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:10 PM PDT  A pickup driver accused of slamming into a group of motorcycles entered a not guilty plea Tuesday in New Hampshire on 7 counts of negligent homicide.
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| UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran Posted: 25 Jun 2019 04:13 AM PDT ![UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran]( "UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran") Britain does not expect the United States to request that the United Kingdom joins a war with Iran and London would be unlikely to agree to join such a conflict, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday. "The U.S. is our closest ally, we talk to them the whole time, we consider any requests that they say carefully, but I cannot envisage any situation where they request or we agree to any moves to go to war," Hunt told parliament.
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| Kellyanne Conway scoffs at ethics watchdog: 'They want to put a big roll of masking tape over my mouth' Posted: 24 Jun 2019 08:30 AM PDT  President Trump's counselor said Monday that the White House isn't sure that the Hatch Act — which prohibits executive branch employees from engaging in political activities — applies to her.
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| NATO calls on Russia to destroy new missile, warns of response Posted: 25 Jun 2019 06:46 AM PDT  On Tuesday, NATO urged Russia to destroy a new missile to save a treaty that keeps land-based nuclear warheads out of Europe or face a more determined alliance response in the region.
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| 2021 Ford Bronco to Get 2.3-Liter EcoBoost Engine, according to an Online Parts Configurator Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:30 AM PDT  Multi-line retailer Canadian Tire inadvertently revealed the future Bronco's engine on its website.
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| Taking a Closer Look at Japan's Futuristic Attack Submarine Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:40 AM PDT  The sleek underwater warship will ensure the country is defended by the best non-nuclear submarines around.
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| Iran drone downing highlights limitations of US unmanned aircraft Posted: 25 Jun 2019 07:04 AM PDT  US drones have been a key tool in conflicts against insurgent organizations such as the Taliban and the Islamic State group, but Iran's downing of one of the aircraft highlights their limitations against more sophisticated adversaries. While drones offer the significant attraction of not putting American lives at risk and can stay aloft for more than a day, allowing for extended surveillance missions, they can be vulnerable to air defenses, are often expensive, and their loss can lead to sensitive hardware falling into the wrong hands. "I believe sophisticated air defenses will continue to have good chances to shoot down an aircraft like an RQ-4 whenever it is in position to do meaningful surveillance of their territories or other assets," he said, referring to the type of drone brought down by Iran last week near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
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| What's an advanced Russian warship doing in Havana harbor? Posted: 24 Jun 2019 02:11 PM PDT  One of the Russian navy's most advanced warships entered Havana's harbor Monday and docked at the port used until this month by U.S. cruise lines. Here are some questions and answers about the Admiral Gorshkov's travels through the Caribbean. WHAT IS THE ADMIRAL GORSHKOV?
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| Miss Hooters Tennessee finalist arrested, accused of trashing boyfriend's house after breakup Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:25 AM PDT  Madison Rogers, Miss Hooters Tennessee contestant, faces burglary and vandalism charges after police said she destroyed part of ex-boyfriend's house.
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| Weird: India Sent a Really Old MiG-21 to Battle an U.S. Made F-16. Why? Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:57 AM PDT  On Feb. 26, 2019 Indian planes crossed the line of control at India's border with Pakistan and bombed what New Dehli described as a terrorist training camp near Balakot.The Indian air force defended its decision to send old MiG-21 fighters up against much more modern Pakistani F-16s during recent aerial skirmishes.(This first appeared in March 2019.)Several days of aerial fighting followed the bombing raid. On Feb. 27, 2019, Pakistani F-16s and other planes crossed the line of control to attack Indian forces, New Delhi claimed.Indian MiG-21s and other fighters intercepted the Pakistanis and shot down one F-16, killing its pilot, according to the Indian government. Islamabad claimed its forces shot down two MiG-21s, but New Delhi copped to losing just one jet.Pakistani forces captured the MiG-21 pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, and held him for two days before handing him over to Indian officials.India's MiG-21s, while featuring some key upgrades, still are more than 30 years old. The Pakistani F-16 that the Indians shot down reportedly was a Block 52D model that Islamabad in 2005 ordered from the United States."The MiG-21 is in our inventory, why will we not use it?" Indian Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa rhetorically asked reporters when questioned about the aerial disparity.To be fair, India in the 1990s upgraded its MiG-21s to the "Bison" standard with Western-style avionics, a new radar and radar warning receiver and compatibility with modern weapons. "[It] has got better weapons system, better air-to-air missiles," Dhanoa pointed out.But the main reason India sent the MiG-21 into battle is that the type is still one of the most numerous in Indian air force service. "We fight with all the aircraft in our inventory," Dhanoa said.Indeed, the aerial battle in which the MiG-21 and F-16 were shot down involved, on both sides, mixed formations of old and new fighters."The MiG-21 that was shot down on Feb. 27, 2019, was part of a formation of eight Indian fighters which included four Sukhoi 30s, two upgraded Mirage 2000s and two MiG-21 Bisons that were dispatched to engage a package of 24 [Pakistani air force] jets that included eight F-16s, four Mirage III aircraft, four JF-17 Thunders," David Cenciotti reported at The Aviationist.India for years has been struggling to replace a large fleet of old, Russian-made warplanes. In 2018 the Indian air force operated 244 1960s-vintage MiG-21s and 84 MiG-27s that are only slightly younger.The MiG-21s, in particular, are accident-prone. Since the first of 874 MiG-21s entered Indian service in 1963, around 490 have crashed, killing around 200 pilots.
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| Trump struggles to explain why Obama’s jobs numbers were better than his Posted: 24 Jun 2019 07:05 AM PDT  Donald Trump has repeatedly struggled to explain why the number of jobs created during his presidency compared unfavourably with the new employment figures under Barack Obama.Presented with a chart which depicted the unemployment rate from the peak of the recession, the president was asked to account for slower rate of job creation since he entered the White House.In the interview on NBC's Meet the Press – after Mr Trump had claimed his economy was "great" – Chuck Todd said: "Your economy is great. I'm not saying it's not great."But this recovery started and in the 28 months that you've been president and the last 28 months of Obama's presidency, he averaged more new jobs than your first 28."Mr Trump initially responded by claiming that Mr Obama started with a "bad base". He was then asked if his jobs numbers were merely a continuation of those under his predecessor.Mr Trump said: "Yeah, but Chuck, you have to understand, nobody was working. The whole place was a disaster. And I don't – I'd never take that away."Mr Trump continued to attempt to explain, he said "But it's very easy -- because when that turned around they pumped a tremendous amount of money into the economy."He also had a Federal Reserve person who kept the interest rates low. I don't. I don't have that privilege." Mr Todd retorted: "Sounds like you do now. Do you feel like you have sent the threat, your threat to demote him, do you think that's had an impact?" The president dismissed suggestions he had threatened to demote Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, which Mr Todd questioned, saying: "There's been some talk that you might demote him to the number two slot."Mr Trump responded: "Well, I'd be able to do that if I wanted but I haven't suggested that."No, no, I have the right to do that. But I haven't said that. What he's done is $50 billion a month in quantitative tightening. That's ridiculous. What he's done is he raised interest rates too fast."Mr Todd then asked the president if he was concerned that the raised interest rates would harm his chances at re-election."I think the economy's so strong we're going to pull through it," Mr Trump said."But I'm not happy with his actions. No, I don't think he's done a good job. I think this, if he didn't raise rates Obama had very low rates. So Obama was playing with funny money. I wasn't. I'm playing with the real stuff."Obama had somebody that kept the rates very low. I had somebody that raised the rates very rapidly. Too much. He made a mistake."That's been proven. And yet my economy is phenomenal. We have now the best economy, maybe in the history of our country. One -- just to finish off, when I took over, this country, the economy was ready to collapse. You take a look at the numbers. It was ready to collapse."Mr Todd suggested the numbers indicated the economy was stronger than the president implied, saying: "I just showed you the numbers. It was not ready to collapse."Mr Trump disagreed: "You showed me unemployment numbers. Excuse me. Take a look at your GDP, take a look at your jobs, take a look at your optimism."Take a look at all of the charts. When I took over from election day on, I mean, you show me one chart which, where I did. Take a look at some of the optimism charts and everything else. It went from 57 to 92. Nobody's ever seen anything that right after I won."Mr Todd conceded that job optimism was at a higher rate after Mr Trump was elected, but still maintained that his jobs numbers were lower than those of his predecessors. Mr Trump replied: "Well, optimism is a big part of success in business."
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| Q&A: what you need to know about America's student debt crisis Posted: 24 Jun 2019 10:00 PM PDT  Bernie Sanders has a radical plan to wipe out undergraduate and graduate debt for all Americans. Here is what's at stakeThe Democratic lawmakers Ilhan Omar, Bernie Sanders and Pramila Jayapal listen as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins them in a call for legislation to cancel all student debt. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP What is student debt?Going to university in the US is expensive – costing an average of over $34,000 a year in tuition and fees at private universities – which means for most Americans, the only way of viably pursuing higher education is to take out a student loan.The figures are staggering. An estimated 45 million Americans have student loans, contributing to an overall national student debt of $1.6tn. What student loans are available?The two main options for prospective students are a government-funded federal loan or a private loan from a provider such as a bank, university or state agency. Both are paid back with interest (interest on federal loans is fixed and normally lower than on private loans, which can be expensive and risky and comprise just 14% of student loans).Federal loans come in various forms – including direct subsidized, direct unsubsidized and direct plus for graduates and professionals. There's also Direct Plus for parents, where, as the name suggests, the student's guardians take the full burden.Depending on year and dependency status, undergrads can borrow between $5,500 and $12,500 a year in federal loans; professionals and graduate students have access to up to $20,500 a year. Federal loan repayments are monthly and start six months after graduation – usually continuing for 10-25 years. How much is the average student debt in the US?The class of 2017 left college with an average of $28,650 each in debt, according to a report by the Institute for College Access and Success (Ticas). This is a huge rise compared with the equivalent figure for just two decades ago. In 1996, the average debt of four-year students was less than half of that, at $12,750, the not-for-profit higher education organization found. How does US student debt compare to other countries?At an average of $37,000, student debt in America is high, but it is higher in the UK where the average is $55,o00, according to analysis by YaleGlobal.In stark contrast, students in Germany can expect to pay $2,200 for an undergraduate degree and come away with an average of $2,400 in debt.Surprisingly, despite free tuition, graduates in Sweden leave university with an average of about $20,000 in debt. Who is most affected by student debt?Around two thirds of graduates from both public and private not-for-profit colleges have student loans. But at $31,450, the average for private not-for-profit college is higher than that of a public college, whose average is $26,900, Ticas found. Meanwhile, 83% of graduates of for-profit institutions have loans (average value: $39,900).Debt varies between states. Connecticut has the highest average student debt at $38,510 for the class of 2017, according to Ticas, and Utah had the lowest with $18,838.Race is a huge factor. Black students owe an average of $7,400 more than white students when they graduate, the Brookings Institution found. After graduation, the debt gap continues to widen. Four years after graduation, black graduates owe an average of nearly $53,000 – nearly double that of white graduates. What are the Democratic 2020 candidates proposing?Student debt looks set to be one of the defining issues of the 2020 election among Democrats.So far, Bernie Sanders has announced the most radical plan, with a promise to wipe out the undergraduate and graduate debt of all Americans. He plans to pay the $1.6tn cost with a new tax on Wall Street.Elizabeth Warren has pledged to cancel the student debt of over 95% of Americans, which she plans to finance with a tax on the wealthiest 0.1%.Joe Biden has previously shown support for free higher education, but so far the only specific detail his 2020 campaign has offered on the issue has been to talk about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which he wants to see "fixed" to help teachers.Pete Buttigieg, who himself has $130,0oo in student debt, has pledged to make public college "debt-free" for lower income families and "zero tuition" for middle income families.Kamala Harris has said she would make college debt-free for future students and provide relief for those who already have student loans. What is the Trump administration proposing?In March, Donald Trump vowed to "fix" student loan debt when he signed an executive order to publish graduate income and debt of individual colleges according to subject and to create policy proposals that would make colleges accountable for student results.The White House has also said it wants to cap student loan borrowing.
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| Pete Buttigieg: I’m Proud to Be Standing on the Shoulders of Giants in a Tradition That Goes Back to Stonewall Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:39 AM PDT  Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast/Photos GettyIn this special series, LGBT celebrities and public figures talk to Tim Teeman about the Stonewall Riots and their legacy—see more here.Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is running to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2020 presidential election. If successful, he would be the first openly gay president of the United States.Buttigieg did not respond to these four questions sent to him by The Daily Beast: When and how did you first hear about the Stonewall Riots and what did you make of them? What is their significance for you? How far have LGBT people come since 1969? What would you like to see, LGBT-wise, in the next 50 years?Bill T. Jones: We Must Work Harder to Connect Stonewall to the World's Other Liberation StrugglesInstead, Buttigieg sent this statement:"In the 50 years since Stonewall, it's been extraordinary to see the awakening of the LGBTQ+ community. As the first out elected official running for president, it's hard to believe how quickly these changes have come to our society, but also hard to live with just how much work remains ahead of us. "And in those 50 years we've seen a remarkable transformation: the awakening of an identity that learned how to exert political force and issue a moral call for our nation to do better when it comes to equality. I'm proud to be a part of that, standing on the shoulders of giants in a tradition that goes back to Stonewall and before, and I'm eager for the gains to be made on the road ahead."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.
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| 2 Infants, a Toddler and a Woman Found Dead Near Border in Texas Posted: 24 Jun 2019 06:11 AM PDT  Police say they may have been dead for days before being found
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| FedEx sues US government over shipment restrictions Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:09 AM PDT  American logistics giant FedEx sued the US government on Monday, saying Washington's restrictions on exports and imports due to growing trade disputes and sanctions created an "impossible burden" for delivery firms. The announcement of the lawsuit comes as Beijing and Washington face off in a trade war that has seen both sides exchange steep tariffs on hundreds of billions in exports. A statement by the delivery firm said the restrictions placed "an unreasonable burden on FedEx to police the millions of shipments that transit our network every day" or face heavy fines.
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| Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea Posted: 23 Jun 2019 10:03 PM PDT  EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts in the region. Southeast Asian leaders have pressed their call for self-restraint in the South China Sea as chief claimant China feuds with the U.S. over trade and territorial disputes flare anew between Beijing and the Philippines.
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| Hard Rock Hotel in Dominican Republic to remove liquor dispensers after tourist deaths Posted: 25 Jun 2019 05:40 AM PDT  In the wake of several tourist deaths, Hard Rock will remove liquor dispensers in its Dominican Republic and Mexican rooms starting this week.
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| 50+ Father's Day Dinners That Will Show Dad How Much You Care Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:02 PM PDT |
| Bernie Sanders: Free Americans by canceling $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loan debt Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:45 PM PDT  The middle class bailed out Wall Street 10 years ago. Now it's Wall Street's turn to bail out the educational debt, writes Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
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| 10-month-old shot in head after mom rejected suspect: Police Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:25 AM PDT  Police said the suspect made unwanted advances at the baby's mom at a birthday party before the shooting.
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| BMW vows to rev up electric car rollout Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:42 AM PDT  German high-end carmaker BMW said Tuesday it would accelerate its plans to build new electric models, as the whole industry comes under pressure to meet strict emissions regulations. The Munich-based manufacturer will offer 25 electrified vehicles in 2023, "two years earlier than originally planned," chief executive Harald Krueger said in a statement. Of those, more than half will be all-electric while the remainder will be hybrids, BMW said.
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| Bolton says Iran silence on US talks offer 'deafening' Posted: 25 Jun 2019 02:27 AM PDT  US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Tuesday described as "deafening" Iran's apparent silence on an offer to negotiate with Washington. "The president has held the door open to real negotiations," Bolton told journalists in Jerusalem. "In response, Iran's silence has been deafening," he added.
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| Safety agency calls for tighter skydiving flight rules Posted: 24 Jun 2019 07:47 PM PDT  The National Transportation Safety Board on Monday called on the Federal Aviation Administration to tighten its regulations governing parachute operations as Hawaii officials released the names of seven of the 11 victims killed when their skydiving plane crashed last week. The NTSB recommended to the FAA more than a decade ago that it strengthen its rules on pilot training, aircraft maintenance and inspection, and FAA oversight, board member Jennifer Homendy told a news conference in Honolulu. "We identified several safety concerns in 2008 with respect to parachute jump operations.
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| O'Rourke brings back a key aide, hoping to recapture magic with black voters Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:00 AM PDT  Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke has brought onboard one of the architects of his Senate race to his campaign team in efforts to reach black voters.
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| Eldorado Resorts takes on bigger rivals with $8.5 billion Caesars buy Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:30 AM PDT  The deal comes more than three months after Caesars agreed to give billionaire investor Carl Icahn three board seats to his representatives and a say on the selection of its next chief executive officer. Shares of Caesars, up 47% this year, rose 11.4% to $14.51 at mid-afternoon, while Eldorado's stock, which has increased 41.4% year to date, fell 13.2% to $44.45. Eldorado has made a series of acquisitions over the past few years including a $1.85 billion deal for Icahn-backed Tropicana Entertainment in 2018 and a $1.7 billion deal for Isle of Capri Casinos in 2017, strengthening its free cash flow and earnings per share.
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| Rothmans Replica: 1983 Porsche 911 SC Safari Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:58 AM PDT  While it may be a replica of the real deal, this 911 SC is ready for rallying.One of the coolest things about the 1980s was production-based racecars, which were born in order to satisfy motorsport homologation requirements. Nowadays, these vehicles are extremely valuable, due to the fact that many of them were purposefully used and driven hard.Porsche's iconic 911 is one of these vehicles where ownership is expensive, with many examples being restoration items that are usually reserved for collectors. However, this 1983 Porsche 911 SC is both restored and ready for hard driving, as it is a replica of the Rothman East African Safari 911SCRS racecar.Trissl Sports Cars in Florence, Alabama offers this unique Porsche for sale. When the car arrived with them, it needed a full restoration after sitting in a field for 20 years. At that point, they decided to pay tribute to one of their favorite racecars of all time.Martin's Classic Cars in Huntsville, AL rebuilt the 3.0-liter engine, and it features upgrades such as ported and polished heads from Ollie's Engineering, an improved carburetor, Dougherty Camshafts, and race cams. Additionally, the transmission received a reseal and it utilizes a lightweight clutch kit. Trissl believes that there are around 100 miles on the engine build, but they do not have sufficient documentation to prove this, so the vehicle is sold with the true miles unknown.Vintage Auto Craft in Nashville, TN handled the paint on this Porsche, using pictures and measurements from the original Rothmans car to perfect its look. They also custom fabricated the TRE Motorsports front oil cooler to work with the factory front bumper, and sourced a rear lightweight Porsche wing and molded it to the factory trunk lid. TRE Motorsports also created a custom Hella light pod for the front of the vehicle, while Freddie Louis Auto Accessories from Huntsville, AL tackled the exterior graphics.Last but not least, this 911 rides on the factory Fuchs wheels and also features tires tread set up for usage in snow and ice. The brake system consists of Bremtek Racing parts, while TRE Motorsports cooked up a set of custom-made Bilstein coilovers.The asking price for this rally-ready 911 is $123,942, which certainly makes it harder to justify putting this Porsche through its paces. What would you do with this beautiful Porsche? Read More... Could The Singer DLS Be The Greatest Porsche 911 Ever Made? 1983 Porsche 911 SC Formerly Owned By Alton Brown Is For Sale
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| Hackers linked to China stole private data from wireless telcos around the world Posted: 25 Jun 2019 08:44 AM PDT  For a few years now, high-ranking US intelligence officials warned that Huawei is a security threat for America and its allies. Its networking equipment can allegedly be used for spying operations against the West, and Huawei has been contesting these reports for as many years. However, these security concerns are the basis of the recent bans against the Chinese conglomerate. The company can't do business with US companies, and it can't provide telecom equipment in the US. Add to that the complex US-China trade war, and it's easy to see why Huawei has been in the spotlight lately.But just as Huawei is trying to fix these issues and improve its image in dealings with other countries, a scathing report from a cybersecurity company tells us that a group of hackers tied to the Chinese government has been hacking more than a dozen global telecommunication companies for years, and stealing large amounts of personal and corporate data. The report doesn't implicate Huawei in any way but makes it clear that a nation-state is responsible for the cyber heist, with China being the likeliest candidate.Cybereason says the attackers compromised companies in more than 30 countries over the past few years with sophisticated attacks that were aimed at obtaining permanent access to data, copying personal data, and avoiding detection, Reuters reports. These attacks occurred in stages, with the hackers changing strategies for different missions and adapting to avoid being discovered by cybersecurity teams."For this level of sophistication, it's not a criminal group. It is a government that has capabilities that can do this kind of attack," Cybereason CEO Lior Div said. "They built a perfect espionage environment," the exec added. "They could grab information as they please on the targets that they are interested in."The security company did not name the carriers that were affected or the countries they operate in, but Reuters says people familiar with Chinese hacking operations claim Beijing was increasingly targeting telcos in Western Europe.The object of the "Operation Soft Cell" hacks was to steal data related to the calls that certain targets may have made. The data includes device details, physical locations, device vendors and versions, as well as the sources, destinations, and durations of calls, as Cybereason explains in a blog post.The fact the hackers weren't looking to steal money is an indication that it's the kind of cyber attack a nation-state would pull off. And the hackers were able to extract quite a lot of data. In some cases, they compromised the target's entire active directory, which means "compromising every single username and password in the organization, along with other personally identifiable information, billing data, call detail records, credentials, email servers, geo-location of users, and more."Cybereason says hacking group APT10, associated with the Chinese government, is the likely culprit behind the hack. Meanwhile, China has denied everything. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that he was not aware of the report, adding that "we would never allow anyone to engage in such activities on Chinese soil or using Chinese infrastructure."
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| Florida woman charged after giving husband's guns to police Posted: 24 Jun 2019 11:02 AM PDT  A Florida woman's effort to protect herself from domestic violence has become a center point in the debate over gun rights and victims' safety.
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| Stunning giant squid captured on video in US waters for first time Posted: 24 Jun 2019 06:58 AM PDT  The video, which lasts less than 30 seconds and was taken about 100 miles southeast of New Orleans, shows a giant squid in U.S. waters.
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| New US sanctions target Iran's supreme leader, military brass Posted: 24 Jun 2019 12:00 PM PDT  President Donald Trump slapped the sanctions on Tehran for what he described as its "aggressive behavior" including the shooting down of US drone. In addition to Khamenei, the US Treasury Department said it was taking action against eight senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
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| Boris Johnson fails to answer questions on private quarrel Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:58 AM PDT  Boris Johnson failed to shut down questions about his private life Tuesday as a round of media appearances served only to bog him down further in questions about character and trust. Johnson, who is running to be the next leader for both the Conservative Party and the nation, has refused to address personal questions despite an ongoing clamor to face public scrutiny after a reported quarrel with his girlfriend last week prompted a police visit. In break from his previous strategy, the front-runner took part in three interviews in less than 24 hours, responding to challenger Jeremy Hunt's criticism that he was a "coward" and needed to face greater public scrutiny if he is to become prime minister.
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| ‘Pete Has a Black Problem’: Top Black Leaders Say Buttigieg Is ‘Naive’ on Race Posted: 24 Jun 2019 01:21 AM PDT  Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast/GettyNORTH AUGUSTA, South Carolina—A few weeks ago, a prominent black leader posed what seemed like a simple question to South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg during a private meeting: Who in the African-American community back home supports you? "He didn't name anybody," the leader said in an interview with The Daily Beast. "If he's got young black supporters, they do have names."That leader, who requested anonymity to speak openly about a private meeting, was not only referring to young supporters but expressing a sentiment that was apparent in talks with several African-American lawmakers: that Buttigieg's interactions with the black community in recent weeks were "naïve" and that the national perception of him as "genuine and authentic" was not always translating when it came to their concerns. "Pete has a black problem," Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told The Daily Beast. "I don't know of one black person out of Indiana that supports him."Buttigieg's friction with African Americans both at home and on the campaign trail were brought into stark relief over the past week as the mayor temporarily paused his presidential campaign to address a fatal incident in South Bend this month. The police shooting of a black man sent the city into a state of raw emotion and opened wounds for many black residents he represents. Racial Tensions Flare at Mayor Pete Town Hall on Police Killing of Black ManThe tension reached a flashpoint as Buttigieg arrived in South Bend, which has a significant African-American population, on Friday, when a woman confronted him about his desire to win over black voters in the city. "You're running for president and you want black people to vote for you?" the woman said. "That's not going to happen.""Ma'am, I'm not asking for your vote," Buttigieg responded. When presented with Buttigieg's comments, Fudge said they depict a sense of "arrogance" and "entitlement." "He has a test now," another African-American leader said, referring to the police shooting. "If he's going to get anywhere with black people at home, he's got to handle this test, and he can't win the nomination if he can't impress black voters, period."On Saturday, Buttigieg swung through South Carolina, where the Democratic primary electorate is 60 percent black, to meet with local leaders and voters in the state, yet at his event in North Augusta, a predominantly white audience in the white-majority city showed up to hear him speak. Asked at his event on Saturday what he took away from conversations with leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, Buttigieg confirmed to The Daily Beast that he previously met with chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), unrelated to his trip to South Carolina, and added some reflection from the interactions. "Those meetings are extremely informative for understanding some of the issues that are at the top of their agenda," Buttigieg said. "As long as black Americans are cut out of equal access to criminal justice, to homeownership, to education, to health outcomes that other Americans enjoy, we've got a problem.""These are the issues that are central to the Black Caucus based on the conversations I've had with them." The African-American leader, who was granted anonymity, said the meeting was held at Buttigieg's request and lasted "well over an hour." The leader described the conversation as "substantive" and said the 37-year-old mayor was very attentive during the chat. But his answers to pointed inquiries about his black support in South Bend left lingering questions about his broader commitment to the African-American community, a critical and reliable segment of the Democratic Party's national electorate. "He left me with the impression that he had not thought about getting individuals to endorse him and that he would go back and do that," the leader said, adding that Buttigieg mentioned having been re-elected by a significant majority of the city's vote in their conversation. The leader was further turned off when they heard him repeat the same answer to MSNBC's Chris Matthews, who asked during a televised town hall this month about his chances of getting elected as a married gay man. "I got re-elected with 80 percent of the vote because people just cared about what kind of job I was doing for them as mayor," Buttigieg said to Matthews.Recalling hearing a similar answer when pressed in private, the leader said, "he still didn't name people… either he didn't listen, or he does not have the support." An official from Buttigieg's campaign disputed the characterization of the meeting, saying, "Pete has spent years building and fostering a diverse coalition, including leaders in the city's black community and other minority communities, faith leaders, small-business owners, and his mayoral administration—to tackle systemic inequality and distrust in the city." He also noted several leaders Buttigieg has worked with in the past."He's constantly consulting and communicating with African-American leaders in the South Bend community, including Kareemah Fowler, the city clerk whose campaign he supported; Michael Patton, the head of the local NAACP chapter; Gladys Muhammad, a local Democratic leader; and Karen White, a top African-American leader in the community who sits on the Common Council," the campaign official added. After this story published, the Buttigieg campaign contacted The Daily Beast noting that they mistakenly listed Kareemah Butler as a supporter instead of Kareemah Fowler.Buttigieg earns a smaller share of black voters than some of his top rivals in the 2020 contest, including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), nationally. In the latest Economist/YouGov survey from mid-June, Buttigieg earned 18 percent to Biden's 68 percent and Sanders' 35 percent of support in that community. But he has made recent headway in South Carolina with black voters, earning 6 percent in the latest Post and Courier-Change Research poll. And in recent days, some prominent African-American leaders in Indiana have praised his efforts. Patton said over the weekend, "I believe he gets it. He's got some good people at the table that have joined him and it is a diverse group of people who bring different perspectives."But during a heated town hall on Sunday in South Bend, a predominantly black audience grew increasingly angry with the mayor, who tried to address their concerns head-on."What I hope African Americans watching this see is that our city is facing this," he said. "We're not running away from it. This isn't theoretical for us, this isn't something being debated in Washington. This is our problem, as it is a problem in so many places. And we are on the front lines of it. And we're doing everything we know how."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.
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| UPDATE 1-Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis Posted: 24 Jun 2019 05:40 AM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis]( "UPDATE 1-Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis") The U.S. deployment of land-based missile systems near Russia's borders could lead to a stand-off comparable to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday. Russia has been fiercely critical of U.S. plans to deploy missile systems in eastern Europe, and of Washington's withdrawal from the INF arms control treaty. The Cuban missile crisis erupted in 1962 when the Soviet Union responded to a U.S. missile deployment in Turkey by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, sparking a standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
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| Taj Ma Garaj Collection Being Sold Without Reserve Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:10 PM PDT  The single day sale through RM Sotheby's is set for September 28th in Ohio. Well-know late car collector, John Dixon's, collection of more than 30 highly sought after Porsches and Volkswagens is soon going under the hammer with no reserve set in the Taj Ma Garaj Collection. The auction is happening in Dayton, OH, and will feature over 350 lots of automobila and collectibles. John Dixon's obsession with the Porsche models started when he was passed by a 911 in his muscle car in high school - from there, he was blown away by the car. He bought his own Porsche a year later, and really got serious about his car collection in the 90s. The Taj Ma Garaj collection is now considered to be one of the most eclectic Porsche and Volkswagen collections, along with Porsche unobtainium, rare literature, collectibles, engines, and an assortment of arcade ephemera. The collection was opened by John to thousands of visitors and enthusiasts over the years."RM Sotheby's is honored to present the Taj Ma Garaj Collection on behalf of John's beloved wife Vickie and the Dixon family," says Senior Car Specialist Donnie Gould, RM Sotheby's. "The Taj Ma Garaj building is truly a Porsche enthusiast's heaven. John Dixon was as knowledgeable about his cars as he was passionate, and what he has assembled represents sought-after high watermarks in Porsche production, alongside cars like a wrought-iron Beetle that are just plain fun. We look forward to presenting the Collection this fall and welcoming fellow Porsche collectors from far and wide."Offered in the lots are:A 1952 Porsche 356 Cabriolet by Gläser, chassis no. 12355 (Est. $375,000 - $425,000) A 1957 Porsche 356 A Carrera GT Speedster Coachwork by Reutter, chassis no. 83622, (Est. $1,500,000 - $2,000,000) A 1967 Porsche 911 S Coupe, chassis no. 305860 S, (Est. $350,000 - $450,000) An exceedingly rare 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport, chassis no. WP0ZZZ93ZBS710038, (Est. $250,000 - $350,000) A 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo, chassis no. WP0AC2996VS375198, (Est. $225,000 - $275,000) A 1953 Porsche 356 Limousine Custom, chassis no. 50146, (Est. $150,000 - $250,000) The Taj Ma Garaj collection is a Porsche lover's dream, and it's being offered up on behalf of John's beloved wife Vickie and the Dixon family. It is sure to grab the attention of enthusiasts all over the world this September in Ohio. Source: RM Sotheby's Read More... Porsche Featured At 64th Annual Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance Rothmans Replica: 1983 Porsche 911 SC Safari
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| "I Fired a Warning Shot": Here Is What a Navy SEAL Sniper Testified at the Eddie Gallagher Trial Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:38 AM PDT  NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO — A Navy SEAL sniper testified on Friday that he fired warning shots to scare away a civilian noncombatant in Mosul before Chief Eddie Gallagher fired and told them over the radio, "you guys missed him but I got him."Under direct examination by prosecutors, Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Dalton Tolbert recounted the alleged shooting of an old man along the Tigris river during the Battle of Mosul in 2017. At the time, Tolbert was a member of SEAL Team 7 Alpha Platoon who was stationed in the south tower of a bombed out building, while Gallagher and others were stationed in the north tower.Tolbert testified that he was scanning windows along the riverbank searching for targets when he noticed a man moving closer to the river. As another SEAL explained in previous testimony, firing warning shots to keep civilians off the battlefield was a standard practice, according to their rules of engagement."I aimed to the side — far to the side — and fired," Tolbert testified. "I took the shot. The man got startled."The man then ran from the river to a nearby building and tried to go inside, but the door was locked, Tolbert said. "He ran north to south across the road," Tolbert said. "That's when I saw the red mark on his back and I saw him fall for the first time. Blood started to pool and I knew it was a square hit in the back." Over the radio, he said he heard Gallagher tell the other snipers, "you guys missed him but I got him."Tolbert said the man, who was wearing traditional garb, then stood back up and ran away.Gallagher is accused of murdering a wounded fighter and separately firing on innocent civilians during a deployment to Mosul, Iraq in 2017. He has pleaded not guilty."I saw Eddie Gallagher shoot someone who didn't deserve to die," Tolbert testified. "I shot more warning shots to save civilians from Eddie than I ever did at ISIS."Under cross-examination, Tolbert said he did not tell other snipers over the radio that the man he was firing on was a civilian he was just trying to scare away. He explained that he didn't say anything since each tower was typically covering their own sectors of fire (it was not clear which tower in this incident was firing in the wrong sector).
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| Iran vows to ditch more nuclear curbs in war of words with US Posted: 25 Jun 2019 12:24 PM PDT Iran said Tuesday it will further free itself from the 2015 nuclear deal in defiance of new American sanctions as US President Donald Trump warned the Islamic republic of "overwhelming" retaliation for any attacks. Tensions between Iran and the US have spiralled since last year when Trump withdrew the United States from the deal under which Tehran was to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The two arch-rivals have been locked in an escalating war of words since Iran shot down a US surveillance drone in what it said was its own airspace, a claim the US vehemently denies.
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| Fatal Hawaii skydiving plane crash renews NTSB's call for stricter rules: 'Accidents continue to happen' Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:41 AM PDT  An NTSB official put the FAA on notice Monday, calling for regulations on parachute operations after a skydiving plane crash in Hawaii killed 11.
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| Photos of the BMW M Next Concept Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:30 AM PDT |
| Harris pressed to get more personal about why she's running Posted: 25 Jun 2019 03:30 AM PDT  Kamala Harris nodded knowingly when a black woman at a weekend candidate forum recounted watching her mother face racial discrimination during her childhood. "You and I have a similar experience growing up," said Harris, the California senator and former prosecutor who would be the first black woman elected president. It was the kind of moment some Harris advisers and allies have been waiting for: the blending of Harris' polished political resume with a revealing glimpse at the forces that have shaped her life and her vision for the presidency.
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