| Arizona DHS Agents Paid to Have Sex With Alleged Sex Trafficking Victims They ‘Rescued’ Posted: 23 Dec 2019 04:29 PM PST  At a press conference in September 2018, Department of Homeland Security agents told reporters they had successfully broken up a transnational ring of illegal massage parlors forcing Asian immigrants into sex slavery. What they didn't say, however, is that two of their own agents had paid for sex with the alleged victims.As part of the two-year, $15,000 investigation into the massage parlors, two DHS agents engaged in sex acts with the alleged trafficking victims at least 10 times, according to DHS and local police department investigation reports uncovered by Today's News-Herald. Now the case against the alleged traffickers is unraveling as the federal agents refuse to testify in courts."To solve a crime of victims who were being forced to have sex, the officers decided to have sex with them," Brad Rideout, an attorney for one of the women arrested for money laundering, told The Daily Beast. "There seems to be no limits on their activities and there seems to be no boundaries."Authorities say the trafficking sting started in 2016, when local police received reports of unusual activity at several massage parlors in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City. By April 2018, the police departments had determined that some of the employees might be victims of human trafficking. That's when they reached out to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) investigation arm for assistance.Weeks later, in a DHS investigation referred to in official documents as "Operation Asian Touch," two DHS agents were sent undercover to visit the parlors. In the investigation reports, the agents describe haggling with their masseuses over hand jobs and asking them to bare their breasts for anywhere from $40 to $120.The agents, known only as "Arturo" and "Sergio," returned to each location as many as four times, according to the investigation reports. The visits generated insights such as "the female was very skinny with small breasts," and "any time the female would say anything she would get really close and whisper." After one visit, the undercover officer reportedly testified he was "80 percent sure" that the woman he had contact with was the target of the investigation. Police raided the massage parlors in September 2018, arresting eight people on charges of sex trafficking, money laundering, and operating a house of prostitution, among other things. In a press conference, deputy special agent Lon Wiegand said the suspects were part of a transnational criminal organization that trafficked women through multiple massage parlors in the area, according to the Mohave Daily News.Wiegand described the women's working conditions as "deplorable" and "unsanitary," and said they had been forced to work seven days a week, for more than 12 hours at a time. The women's only income came from their tips for sexual services, he said, and their movements were "extremely restricted." Investigators said the ring's alleged leader, Amanda Yamauchi, transported workers directly from the Las Vegas airport to the businesses in Mohave County.But the charges against Yamauchi and her alleged partner were dropped last week after the DHS agents refused to testify in her case. The investigation, which Lake Havasu City Police Sgt. Tom Gray told Today's News-Herald took almost 200 hours, has so far resulted in only three convictions—one for prostitution, another for soliciting a prostitute, and a third for attempted pandering. "We just can't produce them," Mohave Deputy County Attorney Kellen Marlow told Today's News-Herald of the DHS agents. "Local law enforcement investigators would be readily available, but federal witnesses are not. And from what I've been told, they're not going to be available to testify any time soon."Rideout filed a motion last month asking for the agents' full names, badge numbers, and any other identifying information necessary to request information on their actions in the investigation. According to the motion, so far the state has provided only reports written by local law enforcement officers involved in the investigation. "It is unclear how an ICE officer having sexual relations with human trafficking victims in Mohave County, Arizona protects the nation from terrorist attack or secures its borders," Rideout wrote.DHS did not respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment. Bullhead City Public Information Officer Emily Fromelt told Today's News-Herald that DHS had conducted its own internal investigation into the agents' activities but did not reveal the outcome.A similar raid on massage parlors in Florida earlier this year—which made headlines after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft patronized one of the businesses—also resulted in zero trafficking convictions. The investigation into 10 spas in southern Florida was billed by police as a rescue operation for the impoverished immigrant workers. But in April, an assistant state attorney in Palm Beach testified in court that there was "no human trafficking that arises out of this investigation." Some of the women are now being threatened with deportation.Results like these have led sex workers' rights activists to speak out against the raids, which they say do little to help the so-called victims they purport to save."Police like to get in front of TV cameras and state that they conducted a raid and rescued victims and arrested a bunch of men and closed down this sex trafficking operation," said Alex Andrews, the co-founder of sex workers' rights organization SWOP Behind Bars. "But even in these raids where they're targeting the men, they're not having any impact at all on the lives of sex workers or the lives of sex trafficking victims."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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| I never let my daughter sit on Santa's lap. Now she's old enough to tell me that I made the right choice. Posted: 24 Dec 2019 07:47 AM PST  The Santa Claus custom tells kids that it's safe to have physical contact with strangers, and that they should do it even if they don't want to.
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| Ethiopian Muslims protest after several mosques burned Posted: 24 Dec 2019 04:28 AM PST ![Ethiopian Muslims protest after several mosques burned]( "Ethiopian Muslims protest after several mosques burned") Several thousand Muslims across Ethiopia in recent days have protested the burning of four mosques in the Amhara region. Muslims have called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called the attacks "attempts by extremists to break down our rich history of religious tolerance and coexistence." Recent ethnic-based unrest in some parts of the country has at times taken religious form.
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| Hong Kong police fire tear gas to break up Christmas Eve protest chaos Posted: 23 Dec 2019 07:35 PM PST  Hong Kong riot police fired rounds of tear gas at thousands of protesters, many wearing masks and reindeer horns, after scuffles in shopping malls and in a prime tourist district as pro-democracy rallies escalated into Christmas Eve chaos. Protesters inside the malls threw umbrellas and other objects at police who responded by beating some demonstrators with batons, with one pointing his gun at the crowd, but not firing. Some demonstrators occupied the main roads and blocked traffic outside the malls and nearby luxury hotels in the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district of Kowloon.
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| House panel urges federal appeals court to compel former White House aide Don McGahn to testify Posted: 23 Dec 2019 01:13 PM PST  The House Judiciary Committee urged a federal appeals court to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify, despite Trump's impeachment
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| How North Korea Sunk a Warship in 2010 (And Could Have Restarted the Korean War) Posted: 23 Dec 2019 09:00 PM PST  In 2010, North Korea sank a South Korean warship and 40 sailors died tragically. Tensions have risen again.
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| Iraqi protesters' ire at Iran extends to goods boycott Posted: 24 Dec 2019 01:25 AM PST  Anger over Iran's stranglehold on Baghdad's political system has helped propel an unprecedented protest movement -- and now Iraqi activists are hitting the Islamic Republic where it hurts, with a goods boycott. Tehran has held enormous sway over its neighbour since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled by a US-led invasion in 2003. Using the slogan "let them rot", protesters who have taken to the streets since October 1 to demand wholesale political change are now shunning everything Iranian -- from fruit to sugary drinks.
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| Three members of British family die 'after drowning in swimming pool' at their Spanish hotel Posted: 24 Dec 2019 10:43 AM PST  Three members of the same British family have died at a hotel in the Costa Del Sol, according to reports. It is understood a nine-year-old girl got into difficulties in a swimming pool at Club La Costa World and her older brother and their father jumped into the water to save her. Police divers have been inspecting the pool's pump amid fears that it may have played a role in the incident. Well-placed sources described the girl and her father as British and 53-years-old but said the boy, a 16-year-old, was travelling on an American passport. The children's mother is understood to have been one of the people who raised the alarm and is thought to have been interviewed by investigators. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are offering assistance to a British woman following an incident in Spain." The sprawling holiday resort overlooks the Mediterranean and is just a short drive from Fuengirola. One insider close to the ongoing probe said: "The girl's brother and then the father jumped into the water when they saw she was in difficulties. All three have died. "An investigation is ongoing so it is too early to say what has happened but specialist Civil Guard divers were mobilised after the gravity of what had occurred became apparent and one of the things they have looked at is the pool pump." Tanya Aamer, 23, a holidaymaker from Birmingham who is staying at the resort, told the PA news agency she saw "bodies covered in white sheets" by the side of the pool, and could hear "a woman crying aloud". "The atmosphere as I was walking past is indescribable," Ms Aamer said. "Obviously we've never been in that situation before so we just began walking slowly in a slight state of confusion as to what we're witnessing and eventually when we got to the bottom it was just silent, no talking or anything." A statement from resort operator Club La Costa World said: "Management at Club La Costa World resort would like to offer its heartfelt condolences to the family affected by the loss of three family members on 24th December 2019. "The guests were found unresponsive in one of the resort's pools. First response teams and emergency services attended and administered first aid. "The management are assisting the authorities fully with their investigation into the deaths. "We would like to thank our first response team and the emergency services for their quick and appropriate responses, and our staff for the continuing support of the family at this difficult time." The resort where the three deaths occurred is the same one where a nine-year-old British girl died in February after suffering a severe allergic reaction to an ice-cream. Habiba Chishti, from Halifax, was staying with her family at the resort and went into anaphylactic shock there although she had eaten her treat at a nearby shopping centre. An inquest held at Halifax Town Hall in May heard she was allergic to eggs and nuts with local reports at the time saying it was believed it was the sauce on the ice-cream that contained the ingredients that killed her. The bodies of the three family members have been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Malaga. Post-mortem examinations are expected to take place on Wednesday.
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| Elizabeth Warren once held campaign event at restaurant with 'wine vault' Posted: 24 Dec 2019 09:49 AM PST  Is a good old fashioned winery no longer good enough for people these days?Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has been a vocal critic of big money donors and fundraising in campaigns, calling out South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg for attending a fundraiser at a "wine cave." But Warren herself has a troubled past when it comes to drinking wine in elaborate places.While running for U.S. Senate, Warren reportedly held an event at a restaurant boasting a "wine vault," per The Washington Post. The restaurant also featured wine reaching the price of $3,800 a bottle.Warren went after Buttigieg in the last Democratic debate, saying the next president shouldn't be chosen by billionaires in wine caves (although she said nothing of billionaires in wine vaults). Warren's own wine-centric event took place in October 2017, per the Post, and had a $1,000 per-attendee price tag. Warren, for her part, has acknowledged she used to have a big donor program but now thinks there is a "better" way to do things.The Post's revelation does provide some good fodder for the next Democratic primary debate, though. Which came first: the wine cave or the wine vault?More stories from theweek.com How a 'legislative terrorist' conquered the Republican Party Queen Elizabeth acknowledges 2019 was a 'bumpy' year Bernie Sanders and the socialist Christmas spirit
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| Uniqlo's robots have already replaced 90% of its human workers at its flagship warehouse, now they've cracked the difficult task of folding T-shirts Posted: 24 Dec 2019 03:07 AM PST  Uniqlo's parent company has partnered with a Japanese startup that develops industrial robots to create a two-armed robot.
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| British teen who died on school trip to New York City named by police Posted: 24 Dec 2019 07:44 AM PST  U.S. authorities have named the British schoolgirl who died last week on a trip to New York City. The New York Police Department identified the 17-year-old student as Anastasia Uglow, according to Bristol Live.
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| Behind the barricades: Hong Kong protesters share what happened during the violent clashes with police on university campuses Posted: 23 Dec 2019 09:25 PM PST  How the protests at Chinese University and Polytechnic University in Hong Kong played out, as told to Insider by protesters involved in the clashes.
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| In Slap at Trump, Cuomo Vetoes U.S. Judges Performing Weddings Posted: 23 Dec 2019 10:13 AM PST ![In Slap at Trump, Cuomo Vetoes U.S. Judges Performing Weddings]( "In Slap at Trump, Cuomo Vetoes U.S. Judges Performing Weddings") (Bloomberg) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have allowed federal judges to perform wedding ceremonies because many of them are President Donald Trump's appointees."I cannot in good conscience support legislation that would authorize such actions by federal judges who are appointed by this federal administration," Cuomo, a Democrat, said Friday as he vetoed the bill, which passed the Democratic-controlled legislature overwhelmingly. "President Trump does not embody who we are as New Yorkers. The cornerstones that built our great state are diversity, tolerance and inclusion."State Senator Liz Krueger, a progressive Manhattan Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the legislature gave the governor authority to perform wedding ceremonies four years ago, and granted similar powers to lawmakers two years ago."Marriage is inclusive, equal, and open to all who want it," she said after the veto. "So when it was suggested to me that we expand it to federal judges, I thought, 'Why not? The more the merrier!'"The bill passed the state Assembly, 148 to 2, and the state Senate 61 to 1."It's hard to imagine a more petty, small action from a sitting governor," Nick Langworthy, the state Republican Party chairman, said in a statement.Cuomo, who refrained from criticizing Trump early in the president's term, has traded hostile exchanges with him in the past two years.In October, when Trump moved his formal residence to Florida from New York, Cuomo responded with a terse, "Good riddance." He has supported legal moves in his administration and by Attorney General Letitia James to investigate Trump's state tax payments, and he signed a bill in June allowing the state to release Trump's state tax returns to the U.S. Congress.Trump, in declaring his Florida residence, said in a tweet, "Unfortunately, despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year, I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state."(Updates with comment from Republican state chairman in 6th paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, Bob Ivry, Larry ReibsteinFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Could Russia's S-500 Air Defense System Be A Real F-35 'Silver Bullet'? Posted: 23 Dec 2019 03:13 AM PST  It was recently tested in Syria.
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| Two strong quakes shake central Colombia, no damage reported Posted: 24 Dec 2019 11:34 AM PST  Two strong earthquakes, of magnitude 6.2 and magnitude 5.7, struck central Colombia on Tuesday, the Colombian Geological Service said, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or major damage. The epicenters were located about 150 km (93 miles) south of the capital Bogota in the central province of Meta, and were very shallow, which would have amplified their effects.
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| Saudi Khashoggi verdict condemned globally but backed by US Posted: 24 Dec 2019 01:23 AM PST  A Saudi court verdict that exonerated the crown prince's top aides over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been globally condemned as a travesty of justice, but won the backing of ally Washington. Five unnamed people were sentenced to death on Monday while three others were handed jail terms totalling 24 years over the Washington Post columnist's killing last year in Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate. The verdict underscores Saudi efforts to turn the page on one of its worst diplomatic crises that tarnished Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's global reputation and sparked intense scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record.
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| World's tallest geyser breaks eruption record, stunning Yellowstone visitors, scientists Posted: 24 Dec 2019 03:39 PM PST  Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park blew past its yearly eruption record in 2019, shooting up water 47 times, indicating an active period.
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| Michael Bloomberg, the wealthiest 2020 candidate, used prison labor to help his campaign Posted: 24 Dec 2019 09:20 AM PST  Michael Bloomberg, who is worth about $54 billion, used prisoners to make phone calls to California for his 2020 presidential campaign.
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| US national security adviser warns UK about China's Huawei: 'They are just going to steal wholesale state secrets' Posted: 24 Dec 2019 08:04 AM PST  The US has urged Britain not to allow China's Huawei into its 5G telecommunications networks, claiming it would "steal wholesale state secrets".Robert O'Brien, the US national security adviser, said the the presence of the telecoms giant would represent a direct threat to Britain's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies – MI5 and M16.
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| California Sees Lowest Population Growth in Over a Century as Citizens Migrate to Other States Posted: 23 Dec 2019 11:57 AM PST  In recent months, California recorded its lowest level of population growth in over a century, according to data from the state's Department of Finance.The data showed a 0.35% growth rate in the state's population from July 1, 2018 through July 1, 2019. That rate is even lower than the 0.57% growth rate recorded for the same period from 2017 to 2018, the two lowest growth rates in the state since 1900.Moreover, while growth from birth rates and legal immigration continue to swell the population, citizens are leaving the state in large numbers for other parts of the U.S."This [is] the first time since the 2010 Census that California had more people leaving the state than moving in from abroad or other states," the report read. Negative domestic migration and lower birthrates together contributed to the slow population growth. One of the most prominent factors pushing people out of the state is the high price of housing."For some years after the Great Recession housing crunch, California was losing domestic migrants — but not as much as it could have," said William Frey, a senior demographer at the Brookings Institution, in comments to the Los Angeles Times. "Now that's starting to push up again." Frey added that residents are mostly settling in Western states including Oregon, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona, seeking a lower cost of living and in some cases the absence of an income tax."The outmigration is in places where housing prices are high and therefore immigration is not being able to counter that," Frey said. California has "lost its luster a little bit…it's kind of a stunner to see that California is losing migrants. The land of dreams and the gold rush and all that, now turned the other direction."A study by the Times and UC Berkeley released in November revealed that over half of registered voters in California are considering leaving the state. Around 40 percent of those considering moving are conservative, while only 14 percent are liberal.California is struggling with a burgeoning homeless population, with over 60,000 homeless in Los Angeles county alone. In October the state saw a string of wildfires that forced utility company PG&E to institute preemptive blackouts to around two million customers, to avoid sparking fires from power lines.
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| Residents of NW Syria flee new government offensive Posted: 23 Dec 2019 07:28 AM PST  Syrian government forces pressed ahead Monday with a new military assault on the country's last rebel stronghold that began last week, an offensive that has set off a mass exodus of civilians fleeing to safer areas near the Turkish border. Under the cover of airstrikes and heavy shelling, Syrian troops have been pushing into the northwestern province of Idlib toward a major rebel-held town, Maaret al-Numan. The town sits on a key highway linking the capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest.
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| Pelosi's impeachment endgame Posted: 23 Dec 2019 05:58 AM PST  Don't worry, America. There will be an impeachment trial for President Trump in the U.S. Senate — and it will happen sooner rather than later.Yes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is spending the holidays hoarding the articles of impeachment and refusing to formally transmit them to the Senate. She is instead using them as leverage to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) into adopting rules that gives Democrats a chance to call witnesses like acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Advisor John Bolton."As long as it takes," House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told CNN last week. "Even if he (McConnell) doesn't come around to committing to a fair trial, keep those articles here."That won't work for long, though, and Pelosi surely knows it.For one thing, McConnell is unique among politicians in resisting pressure to do anything he doesn't want to do. The man who denied a Supreme Court confirmation hearing to Merrick Garland isn't going to get stressed or offer concessions to Pelosi because Democrats try to pressure him on impeachment. The trial will be held how he wants it held, and Pelosi — who has demonstrated she knows how to use power better than just about anybody else in Washington — understands that.It's also unlikely that Pelosi herself really wants to drag out the process. Remember: She was the original architect of the quick and narrow approach to Trump's impeachment, overseeing a process that wrapped up in just a few short months, and which was restricted to just two charges against the president."How much drama can the American people handle?" she asked The Atlantic in October. "Where does the law of diminishing returns set in? Where is the value added not worth the time?"Pelosi is anything but fickle, so we can expect that logic to guide her thinking still. The holidays are a natural time to take a break from impeachment proceedings anyway — this delay isn't really a delay, because everybody in Congress is headed back to their districts — but you can expect Pelosi will allow the process to move forward shortly after Congress returns from its winter break.That isn't to say Pelosi's strategy is a failure. No, she won't get the witnesses that Democrats want, but the short delay allows her to highlight the Senate GOP's determination to acquit Trump on the impeachment charges, no matter what the evidence shows. McConnell will get the trial he wants, but Pelosi has ensured Republicans will pay a cost for doing so.That approach will result in Trump keeping the Oval Office, though — at least until the 2020 election. Once the Senate trial ends, what should Democrats in Congress do next?They can keep on investigating Trump's malfeasance — there is surely much more to be found and understood — and presenting their findings to the public. But they should understand that the impeachment of President Trump is a one-shot deal, and that there will be no second bite at the apple. If Americans cannot handle a drawn-out impeachment process, they also will not tolerate repeated impeachment attempts. This is it. Which means, as my David Faris wrote last week, that American voters will ultimately judge Trump's political fate and "decide how they wish to see the next several decades of American history unfold."Give Pelosi credit, though, for her mastery of this impeachment process. It started when she wanted it to start, and not a moment before. It has taken as long as she wanted, and not a moment longer. And even if the process does not directly product Trump's removal from office, Pelosi and House Democrats have succeeded at ensuring there is a black mark on his official record. But the time has come to move forward. Pelosi's impeachment delay won't last long.Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here.More stories from theweek.com How a 'legislative terrorist' conquered the Republican Party Queen Elizabeth acknowledges 2019 was a 'bumpy' year Bernie Sanders and the socialist Christmas spirit
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| Study Finds Immigration Will Shift Electoral College in Favor of Democrats Posted: 23 Dec 2019 09:15 PM PST  As the 2020 census approaches, the Center for Immigration Studies conducted the study to predict what the Electoral College map will look like after the counting is done.
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| New Boeing 737 MAX documents show 'very disturbing' employee concerns: U.S. House aide Posted: 24 Dec 2019 09:56 AM PST  Boeing Co documents under review by a U.S. congressional panel appear to point to a "very disturbing" picture of commentary from the planemaker's employees over the grounded 737 MAX aircraft, a congressional aide said on Tuesday. The documents were submitted to the House of Representatives transportation infrastructure committee and the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday, the same day Boeing announced the firing of chief executive Dennis Muilenburg amid a crisis over the handling of the aftermath of two fatal crashes. The best-selling 737 MAX has been grounded since March.
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| Survival surfing: Indonesians riding the waves to beat tsunami trauma Posted: 24 Dec 2019 12:02 PM PST  Reaching as far as East Africa, the tsunami unleashed energy equivalent to 23,000 of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima -- and is considered among the deadliest natural disasters in history. Indonesia was hardest hit with at least 170,000 killed, though the true death toll is likely to be higher as many bodies have yet to be recovered or identified. The Indonesian city of Banda Aceh reported the highest number of casualties.
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| 6 more horses found shot and killed in Kentucky after gruesome discovery last week Posted: 23 Dec 2019 08:58 AM PST  A Kentucky animal rescue group said the horses were killed during the same shooting that killed at least 15 other horses along U.S. 23.
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| Chinese pig farm attempts to block criminal drones with signal jammer, accidentally disrupts planes Posted: 23 Dec 2019 06:42 AM PST  One of China's biggest animal feed producers resorted to using a radio transmitter to block drones being used by crooks to spread African swine fever at its farms. But the plan went awry when the device jammed the navigation systems of planes flying overhead. Criminals are said to be faking outbreaks of swine fever on farms, as well as using drones to drop contaminated pork products on them, as part of a racket to profit from the health scare. The aim is to force farmers to sell the animals to them cheaply, before selling them on as healthy stock at much higher prices. African swine fever poses no risk to humans but is fatal to pigs. China - the world's top producer and consumer of pork - has seen its pig herd shrink by 40 percent over the past year as a result of the crisis. That in turn has driven pork prices up, one of the factors behind the country's recent rapid inflation growth. Drones have allegedly been used to drop contaminated meat on pig farms Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer State-backed news website The Paper reported last week that a pig farming unit of Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group had violated civil aviation rules when the transmitter it installed to protect its farm disrupted GPS signal in the area. It was discovered after flights complained about losing signal while flying over the area. The company confirmed the incident on Friday. "To prevent external people from using drones to drop pork with African swine fever virus, [one of our units] violated regulations by using a drone control equipment set," the company said. "We broke related radio regulations, although that was unintentional," it said, adding that it had surrendered the equipment to authorities and was willing to accept a penalty. Authorities called for a crackdown on illegal suppliers of such equipment, saying it can only be used by public security departments, national security agencies and radio regulators.
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| Russia's most advanced fighter jet crashes, pilot survives Posted: 24 Dec 2019 04:08 AM PST  Russian officials say a top-of-the-line fighter jet has crashed on a training mission but that its pilot bailed out safely. Russia's United Aircraft Corporation said in a statement Tuesday that the Su-57 fighter came down during a training flight near Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the country's far east. The Su-57, which made its maiden flight in 2010, is Russia's most advanced fighter plane.
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| Trump news: President says he 'never understood wind' as China attacks Space Force as threat to peace Posted: 23 Dec 2019 09:17 AM PST  Donald Trump's conduct in the Ukraine scandal has been called further into question as newly released, heavily redacted internal emails reveal the fears of defence officials and diplomats that his order to withhold military aid could breach spending laws.Released under court order to the Centre for Public Integrity, the explosive correspondence also showed the White House asked the Pentagon to quietly suspend Congress-approved military aid to the country just 90 minutes after Mr Trump's call with Volodymyr Zelensky.
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| Beware, Russia and China: The U.S. Military Is Testing a New Ballistic Missile Posted: 22 Dec 2019 11:53 PM PST  The Pentagon fired-off a new prototype conventionally-configured, ground-launched ballistic missile as part of a broader effort to increase medium-range attack options and further fortify deterrence efforts.
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| Three suspected burglars shot dead inside Texas home Posted: 23 Dec 2019 11:19 AM PST ![Three suspected burglars shot dead inside Texas home]( "Three suspected burglars shot dead inside Texas home") The wounded survivor was undergoing surgery and unlikely to face criminal charges as he had the legal right to defend his home, Gonzalez told reporters at the scene in Channelview, about 20 miles (30 km) east of Houston. "The law allows residents inside their own homes to defend themselves," said Gonzalez, adding that the matter would nonetheless be referred to the grand jury for an inquest. "The one with the shotgun was able to shoot at the three males and they were all pronounced dead here at the scene," Gonzalez said.
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| Tulsi Gabbard, encouraged by Trump, may seek spoiler role Posted: 24 Dec 2019 12:34 PM PST  Tulsi Gabbard, the House member from Hawaii who is running for president, may mount a third-party White House bid that could have a major impact on the 2020 election. One person who is welcoming that prospect is President Trump.
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| Vietnam seizes two tonnes of ivory and pangolin scales Posted: 23 Dec 2019 11:17 PM PST  Vietnam seized more than two tonnes of ivory tusks and pangolin scales hidden inside wooden boxes shipped from Nigeria, state media reported Tuesday. The bust comes at the end of a year of big wildlife seizures destined for communist Vietnam, a hotbed of the illicit but lucrative trade in animal parts from elephants, pangolins, tigers and rhinos. Authorities in northern Hai Phong city found 330 kilograms (730 pounds) of ivory and 1.7 tonnes of pangolin scales after checking three container shipments from Nigeria, according to Hai Quan Online, the official mouthpiece of Vietnam's customs department.
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| Boeing saved its new Starliner spaceship from disaster. Here's how the mission unfolded and what it could mean for NASA astronauts. Posted: 24 Dec 2019 12:33 PM PST  Boeing's first CST-100 Starliner mission safely landed on December 22. But a critical error cut short its mission and put the vehicle in danger.
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| Newspaper publishes secret report on former W.Va. bishop Posted: 24 Dec 2019 10:04 AM PST ![Newspaper publishes secret report on former W.Va. bishop]( "Newspaper publishes secret report on former W.Va. bishop") A newspaper has published a secret church report about a former West Virginia bishop ousted for alleged sexual and financial misconduct that details how he allegedly groomed and inappropriately touched young men. The Washington Post reports law enforcement does not have a copy of the report, which officials said could aid in their investigation into former bishop Michael Bransfield. Bransfield is also accused of spending church funds on dining out, liquor, personal travel and luxury items, as well as personal gifts to fellow bishops and cardinals in the U.S. and Vatican.
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| Thousands of passengers stranded on Christmas Eve as Phanfone makes landfall in the Philippines Posted: 23 Dec 2019 07:52 AM PST  A satellite view of Phanfone making landfall in the Philippines on Tuesday evening, local time. As AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning about since last week, Phanfone made landfall in the Eastern Samar province of the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon, local time.Phanfone, known locally in the Philippines as Ursula, struck the country as a typhoon with the equivalent strength of a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic or East Pacific basins.> At 4:45 PM today, the eye of Typhoon URSULA made landfall in Salcedo, Eastern Samar. pic.twitter.com/9mKAqIocCX> > -- PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) December 24, 2019Over 23,000 passengers have been stranded at ports in Bicol, Visayas, Tagalog and Mindanao due to the storm, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.An unknown number of people living near the coast or in areas prone to flooding and mudslides were encouraged to evacuate on Tuesday, but many were reluctant to leave their homes ahead of Christmas, according to the South China Morning Post.Phanfone will continue to track to the west-northwest through the central Philippines into Wednesday.Even after landfall, forecasters predict the powerful storm to continue to unleash destructive winds and heavy rainfall as it tracks across the country."Phanfone may weaken slightly to a severe tropical storm as it crosses the Philippines, though it will remain a strong storm," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.Visayas and southern Luzon will be at risk for multiple days of locally heavy rainfall which may result in travel disruptions and flooding problems. There will also be an elevated risk for mudslides in areas of rugged terrain.Widespread rainfall totals of 3-6 inches (75-150 mm) are expected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 10 inches (250 mm) in the hardest-hit locations. Far northeast Mindanao will also be at risk for local flooding from downpours.Damaging winds will be possible near and just north of the storm's track as it slices across Visayas into Wednesday."The core of damaging winds associated with Phanfone is rather small as damaging winds extend only 50-60 miles from the center of the storm track, with the worst conditions only extending 20-30 miles from the cente," Douty said. "This will help to limit widespread wind damage, though near the track, downed trees, power outages and some structural damage are possible."Manila is forecast to avoid any significant impacts from Phanfone. However, gusty showers are possible during the day on Wednesday. Improving weather is expected across all of the Philippines on Thursday as Phanfone tracks into the South China Sea.The storm will more than likely encounter hostile conditions with high wind shear that likely cause it to dissipate by the weekend, with no further impacts to land."Some moisture from the system may be pulled across the southern China coast over the weekend, though it is not expected to be heavy enough to lead to flooding," Douty said.A period of more tranquil weather across the West Pacific basin is expected to follow in the wake of Phanfone.
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| China Surpasses the U.S. in Wealth of Top 10% Posted: 24 Dec 2019 10:31 AM PST ![China Surpasses the U.S. in Wealth of Top 10%]( "China Surpasses the U.S. in Wealth of Top 10%") Despite an economic slowdown and facing increased tariffs from a trade war with the United States, China has surpassed America in having the highest number of residents in the top 10% of the world's wealth. "However, inequality has risen considerably since the year 2000," say the authors of the 10th edition of the Credit Suisse wealth report.
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| Russia Wants "A Sixth-Generation Strategic Bomber" By 2040 Posted: 24 Dec 2019 05:39 AM PST  Moscow talks big, but will it actually come to pass?
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| French union workers vote to halt production at key oil facility Posted: 23 Dec 2019 03:25 AM PST  French workers voted on Monday to halt production at a key oil facility that supplies Paris and the surrounding region, joining other petroleum industry shutdowns in a nationwide strike against government pension reforms. Industrial action against President Emmanuel Macron's reforms has also crippled train services over the past two weeks, escalating into clashes between protesters and police in the capital earlier on Monday. Production at Total's Grandpuits oil refinery and petrol depot southeast of Paris will stop as a result of the vote by workers from the hardline CGT union.
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| Former Democratic Hawaii governor calls on Tulsi Gabbard to resign from Congress amid presidential campaign Posted: 24 Dec 2019 10:32 AM PST  Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie said that Gabbard's "present" vote on impeachment articles "had nothing to do with representing the people of Hawaii."
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| US considers pulling troops from West Africa: report Posted: 24 Dec 2019 07:46 AM PST  The Pentagon is looking into reducing or even withdrawing US troops from West Africa, part of a worldwide redeployment of military forces, the New York Times reported Tuesday. There are between 6,000 and 7,000 US troops in Africa, mainly in West Africa but also in places like Somalia. The US presence includes military trainers as well as a recently built $110 million drone base in Niger, the Times said.
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| One of the US Army's mascots — a Cold War-era M48 Patton tank — got fixed up just in time for the holidays Posted: 24 Dec 2019 09:50 AM PST  A Cold War-era M48 Patton tank that's been a monument for the US Third Army and US Army Central underwent restoration at Fort Knox this fall.
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| Ex-sheriff's lieutenant gets life terms for child sex abuse Posted: 23 Dec 2019 08:16 AM PST ![Ex-sheriff's lieutenant gets life terms for child sex abuse]( "Ex-sheriff's lieutenant gets life terms for child sex abuse") A former southwest Missouri sheriff's lieutenant has been sentenced to six consecutive life terms for sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl. Greene County Judge David Jones said during sentencing Friday that he hopes 68-year-old David Hastings never leaves prison, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Assistant Greene County Prosecutor Stephanie Wan said Hastings groomed the victim before sexually abusing her for more than a year.
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