| A pandemic of conspiracy theories spreads across the internet and around the world Posted: 21 May 2020 12:59 PM PDT  Depending on who you talk to, the current coronavirus pandemic might be the natural product of evolution, the result of a lab accident or a biological weapon designed by the Chinese.
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| An 18-year-old Arizona woman visiting Hawaii was arrested after allegedly violating quarantine Posted: 22 May 2020 12:45 PM PDT  Hawaii's attorney general Clare Connors said people violating the order "likely will be reported, arrested and end up in jail facing hefty fines."
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| Two regional IS leaders killed in Syria: CentCom Posted: 22 May 2020 02:46 PM PDT  US-led coalition forces and their Kurdish allies the Syrian Democratic Forces killed two regional Islamic State group leaders in a raid in eastern Syria this week, US Central Command announced on Friday. Ahmad 'Isa Ismail al-Zawi and Ahmad 'Abd Muhammad Hasan al-Jughayfi were killed in the May 17 joint raid on an IS position in Deir Ezzor province, CentCom said in a statement. Al-Zawi, also known as Abu Ali al-Baghdadi, was the IS regional leader of North Baghdad, it said, and was "responsible for disseminating terrorist guidance from senior IS leadership to operatives in North Baghdad."
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| FBI director orders internal review of Flynn investigation Posted: 22 May 2020 12:01 PM PDT  FBI Director Christopher Wray has ordered an internal review into possible misconduct in the investigation of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn, the bureau said Friday. The after-action review will examine whether any current employees engaged in misconduct during the course of the investigation and evaluate whether any improvements in FBI policies and procedures need to be made. In announcing the review, the FBI, a frequent target of President Donald Trump's wrath, is stepping into a case that has become a rallying cry for Trump supporters — and doing so right as the Justice Department pushes back against criticism that its recent decision to dismiss the prosection was a politically motivated effort to do Trump's bidding.
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| Iran lauds arms supply to Palestinians against 'tumor' Israel Posted: 22 May 2020 01:25 AM PDT  Iran's Supreme Leader on Friday denounced Israel as a "tumor" to be removed and hailed Tehran's supply of arms to Palestinians, drawing swift condemnation from the United States, European Union and Israel. Opposition to Israel is a core belief for Shi'ite Muslim-led Iran. The Islamic Republic supports Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups opposed to peace with Israel, which Tehran refuses to recognize.
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| Biden says to radio host: ‘If you have a problem figuring whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black’ Posted: 22 May 2020 07:23 AM PDT  During an interview with Charlamagne Tha God on the radio show "The Breakfast Club," former Vice President Joe Biden said, "If you have a problem figuring whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."
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| Satellite images show the deluge of floodwater that hit Michigan towns after 2 dams failed Posted: 21 May 2020 12:27 PM PDT  Satellite images show massive amounts of flooding in central Michigan after two dams collapsed on Tuesday.
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| In wake of pandemic, the new normal in schools could widen the economic gap among students, educators fear Posted: 21 May 2020 01:50 PM PDT  With the coronavirus expected to remain a threat through at least next spring and a reliance on "distance learning" likely to continue, the burden will fall most heavily on the neediest students, living in homes lacking computers, internet connectivity or adults at home during the school day.
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| Man who filmed Ahmaud Arbery shooting used vehicle to 'detain' him, warrant says Posted: 22 May 2020 10:12 AM PDT  William "Roddie" Bryan, 50, is the third person to be arrested in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, on Feb. 23.
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| North Korean regime finally admits Kim Jong-un cannot magically bend time and space Posted: 21 May 2020 07:17 PM PDT  The official newspaper of North Korea has denied that the regime's leaders can magically bend time and space, putting to bed a long tradition used to idolise the mystical powers of Kim Jong-un and former leader Kim Jong-il. In the latest sign that the secretive regime is turning away from myth-making about its leaders, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper this week denied that the Kim family are masters of "chukjibeop", a method of folding space and travelling great distances in a short period of time. Chukjibeop is one of the myths that has been used by the North to deify its leaders. The newspaper, the organ of the North's ruling party, said: "In realistic terms, a person cannot suddenly disappear and reappear by folding space." On Thursday, an official at South Korea's unification ministry said that the current regime's trend of demystification is "noteworthy".
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| US presses advancing Libya government to end fighting Posted: 22 May 2020 01:14 PM PDT  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday pressed Libya's Turkish-backed government for a ceasefire and criticized the flow of weapons as Tripoli pushes back against a year-old rebel offensive. Pompeo placed a phone call to Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to "reiterate US opposition to the continued level of weapons and munitions being brought into the country," the State Department said. Pompeo and Sarraj "emphasized the importance of an immediate halt to the fighting and return to political dialogue," a statement said.
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| U.S. flies coronavirus aid to Russia where cases are climbing Posted: 21 May 2020 12:41 AM PDT  A U.S. Air Force plane delivered a first batch of medical aid including 50 ventilators to Russia on Thursday to help it cope with a rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths. Russia's case tally, the world's second highest, rose to 317,554 on Thursday after 8,849 new infections were reported, while the death toll climbed past the 3,000 mark after 127 people died in the previous 24 hours. At 3,099, Russia's death toll is much lower than many European countries however, something that has sparked debate about the methods it uses to count fatalities.
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| Coronavirus: Republican lawmaker kicked out of Illinois House session for refusing to wear mask Posted: 21 May 2020 01:04 PM PDT  Illinois' House of Representatives voted this week to kick one of its members out of legislative sessions for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask.On the day State Rep Darren Bailey was kicked out, the state's House enacted rules stating all members, staffers and visitors at the Bank of Springfield Center - the state's temporary legislative venue - had to wear masks if they were medically able.
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| Joe Biden accuser Tara Reade let go by lawyer Posted: 22 May 2020 01:38 PM PDT  * Douglas Wigdor says he continues to believe allegation * Reade says then senator Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993The lawyer representing Tara Reade, who has accused Joe Biden of sexual assault, said on Friday he was dropping her as a client although he continued to believe in the truth of her allegations."Our decision … is by no means a reflection on whether then Senator Biden sexually assaulted Ms Reade," Douglas Wigdor said in a statement. "On that point, our view – which is the same view held by the majority of Americans, according to a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll – has not changed."Reade is a former staffer from Biden's office when he was a senator from Delaware. She alleges that he pushed her against a wall in the Senate buildings and assaulted her. Biden has denied the accusation.Wigdor said his decision was made on Wednesday, a day after CNN published a story raising questions about Reade's background and her past statements. Though in the statement announcing the split, the lawyer vociferously attacked Reade's treatment by the press."To a large extent Ms Reade has been subjected to a double standard in terms of the media coverage she has received. Much of what has been written about Ms Reade is not probative of whether then-Senator Biden sexually assaulted her, but rather is intended to victim-shame and attack her credibility on unrelated and irrelevant matters," Wigdor said.Meanwhile, defense lawyers in California have said that they are reviewing criminal cases in which Reade has served as an expert witness on domestic violence, out of concern that she had misrepresented her educational credentials in court.Days after CNN raised questions about Reade's educational background, a spokesperson for Antioch University confirmed to the New York Times that she had not received a degree from the school.
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| Africa’s cathartic moment for reform Posted: 21 May 2020 07:55 AM PDT |
| Tucker Carlson and Pete Hegseth Try to Bring ‘Kung Flu’ Back Posted: 21 May 2020 07:39 PM PDT  Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Pete Hegseth on Thursday night defended the use of racist terms to describe the novel coronavirus, all while wondering why Democrats are "sucking up" to China by decrying these phrases.Taking aim at Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) for introducing a Senate resolution condemning "anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19"—which includes the use of the phrase "Wuhan virus"—Carlson claimed Harris was denouncing "basic facts." "Why is she sucking up to the government of China, exactly?" Carlson wondered aloud before introducing Hegseth, a Fox & Friends co-host and informal Trump adviser."Say it with me, Tucker," Hegseth excitedly declared. "Wuhan virus, Chinese virus, maybe even the 'Kung Flu.' A little off-color, but funny and you know, we still live in a free country the last time I checked."Back in March, when President Trump and many Republican allies were making a show of calling the disease the "Chinese virus," Chinese-American CBS reporter Weijia Jiang said a White House official referred to coronavirus as "the Kung Flu" right to her face. Trump would later brush off the controversy, insisting Asian-Americans agreed "100 percent" with his use of "Chinese virus" to describe COVID-19.Hegseth complained that the left wants to "weaponize" language and "control it" in an effort to make conservatives appear to be the "bad guy," something that Carlson agreed with wholeheartedly."They control language to control your thoughts," Carlson declared.Hegseth would then go on to hawk his latest book, American Crusade, claiming America is now in a "holy war and the righteous cause for human freedom" before snarking that the left should file a class-action lawsuit."They should seek reparation because they've been damaged forever with the title they were given based on the racist notions of Americans who name something after where it came from," he exclaimed. "As we're staring down the communist Chinese who want to end our civilization. So, join the crusade, that's what it's going to take to save our country."Hate crimes against Asian-Americans, meanwhile, have continued to rise amid the coronavirus pandemic, as people of Asian descent have increasingly reported being verbally assaulted, coughed at, and spat on by assailants who blame them for the virus.Kellyanne Conway Spars With Reporters Over 'Kung-Flu' Coronavirus SlurRead more at The Daily Beast.Get 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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| Man who recorded Ahmaud Arbery shooting charged with murder Posted: 22 May 2020 10:26 AM PDT  Two men, 64-year-old Gregory McMichael and his 34-year-old son, Travis, have already been arrested and charged with murder.
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| Iran's Supreme Leader on Friday denounced Israel as a 'tumor' Posted: 22 May 2020 10:17 AM PDT  Iran's Supreme Leader on Friday denounced Israel as a "tumor" to be removed and hailed Tehran's supply of arms to Palestinians, drawing swift condemnation from the United States, the European Union and Israel.
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| Venezuela says Iranian tankers will get military escort Posted: 20 May 2020 09:04 PM PDT  Venezuela on Wednesday said its navy and air force would escort Iranian tankers arriving with much needed fuel, after Tehran warned of "consequences" if the US stopped the ships from reaching their destination. "We're ready for whatever, whenever," President Nicolas Maduro told state-run media, thanking "all the support" from its Middle East ally in its confrontation with the United States. Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its capacity to refine crude into gasoline is limited.
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| Residents, businesses sue dam operator over ruinous flooding Posted: 22 May 2020 08:28 AM PDT  Residents and businesses in Central Michigan communities that were submerged when two dams failed this week on Friday sued the operator of the dams and two state agencies charged with overseeing the structures. The lawsuit came as yet more residents were forced to evacuate their homes after being overwhelmed by flooding along the Tittabawassee River and conjoining waterways. About a dozen people have left their homes in Spaulding Township where some roads and fields are under 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) of floodwater, but some in the community refused to leave despite warnings, Fire Chief Tom Fortier said Friday.
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| U.S. CDC reports 1,571,617 coronavirus cases, 94,150 deaths Posted: 22 May 2020 12:23 PM PDT  The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, as of 4 pm ET on May 21, compared with its count a day earlier. The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
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| Boy, 9, with autism who was reported abducted in Florida is found dead Posted: 22 May 2020 07:35 AM PDT  Alejandro Ripley, who was nonverbal, was reported abducted on Thursday night, prompting an intense search.
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| Antarctic algal blooms: 'Green snow' mapped from space Posted: 22 May 2020 03:20 PM PDT  UK scientists create the first wide-area maps of microscopic algae growing in coastal Antarctica.
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| Latest on global search for coronavirus vaccine: Three candidates show early promise Posted: 22 May 2020 05:08 PM PDT  This week's coronavirus vaccine race news: U.S. bets big on possible vaccine, Chinese entry shows promise, experts caution 'slow is fast.'
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| Black Americans are in an abusive relationship with the Democratic party Posted: 22 May 2020 01:02 PM PDT  An offensive comment by the Democratic presidential candidate is a reminder that black people – all people – deserve better than Joe BidenI am very tired of Joe Biden. My vote for him was already hanging by a thread before his disastrous interview with Charlamagne tha God on Friday. Interrupting the Breakfast Club host's explanation that black people needed assurances that our communities will benefit from his presidency, Biden asserted: "If you've got a problem figuring out whether you're for me or for Trump, then you ain't black."Again, I am very tired of Joe Biden. Not because I am a purist, or have inflexible ideological commitments of what it will take to remove Donald Trump from office. But rather because Biden's condescension towards black communities is intolerable.I want to believe that Biden's condescension started after the respected senator James Clyburn called the former vice-president an "honorary black man" at a private dinner in March. But his mistreatment of black people, verbally and politically, is decades old, and is a reflection of the Democratic party in general.Throughout Biden's career, he has boasted about his ability to bridge partisan divides by sacrificing the needs of black people and poor people in the name of "compromise". For the last 30 years, Biden has repeatedly talked about freezing, cutting, or raising the age for social security and other benefits – as much as $2tn one time. His response to concerns that these cuts would hurt the poor? "We're going to do lots of hard things … we might as well do this."Social security is an important program for black people, especially as we age. Among African Americans receiving social security, 35% of elderly married couples and 58% of unmarried elderly persons relied on it for 90% or more of their income. The reliance is not due to laziness or spending habits – people of color and white people make similar choices and contributions to retirement – but due to racism, lack of workplace retirement plans and barriers to accessing high-paying jobs."They know where my heart is," Biden has said, of black voters.But do we?Senator Kamala Harris was severely scrutinized for her treatment of poor black women as a prosecutor – yet Biden's criminal justice record makes Harris look like Thurgood Marshall. Biden authored and successfully passed the $30bn 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Besides putting 100,000 additional police officers in the streets, the crime bill distributed funding for new prison construction, encouraged prosecutors to charge children as adults, and even added the death penalty for 28 new areas, including drug-related offenses. Pushing for further criminalization, then senator Biden argued that George HW Bush's crime plan did not go far enough because it did not "include enough police officers to catch the violent thugs, not enough prosecutors to convict them, not enough judges to sentence them, and not enough prison cells to put them away for a long time". An older black generation fought through Jim Crow only for Biden to help make sure that their children and grandchildren lived through a new Jim Crow.On the House floor, Biden compared his criminal justice approach to Richard Nixon's law and order stance: "I would say, 'Lock the SOBs up.'" Black people were arrested in droves following this bill, despite comparable drug use rates to white people; many are still sitting in prison today. Biden has since acknowledged flaws in the bill, but last summer he reiterated his support for the bill. The law spent $30bn but contributed to only a 1.3% decline in violent crime. He has yet to call for it to be repealed.Today, some cities plan to expunge marijuana records and hope to pay reparations to black people formerly incarcerated for marijuana offenses. But Biden can't seem to let go; he is inconsistent and ambivalent about marijuana legalization. He has argued it may be a gateway drug, a statement he has since dialed back. Of course, keeping marijuana illegal at the federal level does not mean that people will not use it, but rather that the extra police that he put on the street will send people of color to jail for using it. Ironically, the police were probably nowhere to be found when Biden's friends George W Bush and Barack Obama used marijuana. If anything, the drug seems to be a gateway to the White House.Despite attempting to cut social programs and increasing mass incarceration, Biden claims to care about black families. But he doesn't seem to know many. During the September 2019 Democratic debate he claimed that poor families should put on a record player so their children will know more words. Recently, during an interview with the New York Times editorial board, he argued that poor black parents feel ashamed because they cannot read and skip parent-teacher conferences. He was hoping to encourage them to be better parents. But his assertion is incorrect. Black and white parents have comparable participation rates overall and attend parent-teacher conferences at the exact same rates. In fact, black parents and poor parents are the most likely to check their children's homework and meet with guidance counselors. Biden instead relied on stereotypes that black people are not involved in their children's lives.Harris forced Biden to confront his work with racist elected officials to stop integration efforts using school busing. That was not his only education mistake. Biden played a significant role in creating the student debt crisis, including making student loan discharge "nearly impossible". This is devastating to black people, who disproportionately carry school debt. While the average school debt for black women with a bachelor's degree is about $25,000, that level of education does not provide the same level of financial security for black women as it does other groups, including white people with less education (primarily because of sexism and racism).Again and again, Biden's relationship with black Americans, like the Democratic National Committee's relationship, has been patronizing at best and actively harmful at worst.> Biden's friendship with one black person does not mean that he's a friend to black peopleSome black people will support Biden because of his association with Barack Obama – even though Obama himself doesn't seem especially excited about Biden becoming president. The Obama days feel distant yet warm compared to Donald Trump's current presidency. But remember: Biden cycled millions of black people in and out of jail, voted for massive numbers of poor people to go to war in Iraq, threw Anita Hill under the bus to confirm a conservative justice to the US supreme court, and, under Obama's administration, helped to deport millions of immigrants and bombed brown countries. When Biden was vice-president, black home ownership and wealth declined significantly, even as it rose for other races. Biden's friendship with one black person does not mean that he's a friend to black people.The Democratic party holds black people in an abusive relationship but says you cannot leave because the other option is more abusive. That's why I don't believe that a vote against Biden solely means a vote for Trump. Perhaps it is a vote against being captured by the party that makes empty promises every four years when it is election time, and delivers nothing. Perhaps it is a vote against the crime bill, drones and deportations. Perhaps it is a vote against covert and overt racism.Biden and others will rightfully argue that Trump is worse, and I agree. But what can Biden actually deliver? Will there be fewer drones if he's president? Maybe not. Fewer deportations? Maybe not. Less money to police departments? No. Will fewer black people die from police? Unlikely. Will black people have healthcare? Unlikely. Will black wealth increase? Unlikely. Will Palestinian lives be safer? Unlikely. Commitments to preserving our climate? Doubtful. If black people have a hard time figuring out the differences between Trump and Biden, then that is Biden's problem, not ours.Joe Biden refuses to reckon with the harm that he has caused to people all over the world. His best line is that he is better than the other guy, and that is exactly how abusive relationships function. Black people – all people – deserve better than Biden and the Democratic party. And yes, we are still black. * Derecka Purnell is a social movement lawyer and writer based in Washington, DC. Guardian US columnist
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| Hollywood Executive Pocketed $1.7 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funds: Feds Posted: 22 May 2020 12:38 PM PDT  A recently ousted Hollywood executive has been arrested and charged with fraud for using $1.7 million in COVID-19 relief loans he received on personal expenses, including credit-card debt and car payments, federal prosecutors alleged Friday. William Sadleir, the 66-year-old former chairman and chief executive officer of Aviron Pictures, has been charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements to a financial institution, and making false statements to the Small Business Association, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California. Prosecutors allege Sadleir filed for more than $1.7 million in forgivable loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the guise of paying his employees. Instead, the Hollywood executive spent most of the money to pay off his personal debts.Tech CEO's Pot Startup Staffers Arrested in His Kidnapping, Murder"This film producer allegedly made a series of misrepresentations to a bank and the Small Business Administration to illegally secure taxpayer money that he then used to fund his nearly empty personal bank account," United States Attorney Nick Hanna said in a press release announcing the charges. "The Paycheck Protection Program was implemented to help small businesses stay afloat during the financial crisis, and we will act swiftly against those who abuse the program for their own personal gain."Sadleir's arrest comes in accordance with a separate criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors in New York, who allege the executive was also engaged in multiple fraudulent schemes relating to investments at Aviron Pictures and its affiliated entities. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission also announced a civil lawsuit related to the New York criminal case.In a criminal complaint unsealed on Friday, California prosecutors allege Sadleir submitted three applications to JPMorgan Chase for $1.7 million in loans under the PPP on behalf of Aviron entities. The loans were filed with "false representation" that they would be used to cover employee paychecks and the daily operations of his companies. "In fact, Sadleir intended to use at least some of the funds for personal and other prohibited expenses, and immediately upon receiving the funds a significant amount was diverted to Sadleir personal accounts and use for personal expenses," the complaint alleges. Prosecutors state that the Hollywood executive quickly transferred over half the money into his personal account and began using the funds to pay off $80,000 in credit-card debt and his $40,000 car loan, among other expenses. Michael Avenatti Indicted on 36 Counts by Federal Grand JuryOn March 29, the federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in order to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans and small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the ongoing pandemic. In the stimulus package, up to $349 billion was designated for forgivable loans for small businesses. On April 20, Congress authorized an additional $300 billion for PPP funding—a program that allows organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and a low-interest rate. The loans must be used for payroll costs, interest on rent, or other business expenses and utilities."These funds were designed to be a lifeline to businesses struggling to stay afloat during the current crisis," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt said in a statement. "The FBI is committed to maintaining the integrity of the PPP and will hold accountable those who cheat the system at the expense of American taxpayers."Sadleir, a well-known film executive, founded Aviron Pictures in 2015. The distribution and acquisition empire has worked on many films over the years, including My All American and A Private War. In 2019, Aviron was hit with a lawsuit alleging impropriety in the company structure. The suit forced Sadleir to resign from his role as the operating manager of Aviron Pictures, a subsidiary of Aviron Group, in January.. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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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| Lieutenant with South Carolina Army National Guard Dies in Afghanistan Posted: 21 May 2020 09:56 AM PDT  First Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman died Tuesday at Bagram Air Base in a non-combat related incident.
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| Israel clashes with Iran over anti-Semitic poster and string of cyber-attacks Posted: 21 May 2020 07:36 AM PDT  Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated this week over a series of cyber-attacks and a poster promoted by the Supreme Leader which called for a "final solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The poster was reportedly published on the official website of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and carried the slogan "the final solution: resistance until referendum." The same image was promoted by Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, in a message on Twitter where he called for Palestinians to hold a referendum on their preferred system of governance. In a separate post on Twitter, the Supreme Leader said that Iran would support "any group or any nation anywhere...who opposes the Zionist regime," referring to Israel. The phrase "final solution" evokes the Nazis' attempt to exterminate the Jewish population during the Holocaust. A spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, responded: He [Khamenei] should know that any regime that threatens to destroy the State of Israel faces a similar danger." Iran has ramped up its anti-Israel rhetoric ahead of al-Quds Day, an annual event held by the regime in solidarity with Palestinians. But the tensions are also being fueled by Israel's proposed annexation of parts of the West Bank later this year, which has drawn criticism from Arab nations, the EU and Britain. Earlier this week the Palestinian Authority claimed it was scrapping all security agreements with Israel and the US over the annexation plan, which has been given the green light by Washington. The online row came amid reports that Israel had launched a cyber attack on a key Iranian port earlier this week, wreaking havoc on the shipping industry. Aviv Kochavi, a Lieutenant-General in the Israel Defence Forces, has implied that the Jewish state was behind the attack.
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| Guatemala president fumes over infected deportees from US Posted: 21 May 2020 10:24 AM PDT  Guatemala's president questioned his country's relationship with the United States, revealing frustration over the U.S. continuing to send deportees infected with COVID-19 to a country struggling to manage the crisis. "This of allies with the United States isn't true," President Alejandro Giammattei said Thursday.
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| Exclusive: Pentagon halts rare earths funding program pending 'further research' Posted: 22 May 2020 06:19 AM PDT  The U.S. Department of Defense last month reversed its decision to fund two projects to process rare earth minerals for military weapons, one of which has controversial ties to China, according to a government document seen by Reuters and three sources familiar with the matter. The Pentagon decision is a step backward for President Donald Trump's plan to redevelop the U.S. rare earths supply chain and reduce reliance on China, the world's largest producer of the strategic minerals used to build a range of weapons. Australia's Lynas Corp and privately held U.S. firm MP Materials both said on April 22 they had been awarded funding by the Pentagon for rare earths separation facilities in Texas and California, respectively.
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| European allies watch with 'regret' as Trump ditches a treaty once said to be in America's 'best interest' Posted: 22 May 2020 08:31 AM PDT  Much to the "regret" of allies, the US is pulling out of the Open Skies Treaty, which Jim Mattis once said was in the US's "best interests."
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| Connecticut trooper on leave after profane rant caught on camera Posted: 20 May 2020 06:07 PM PDT  The driver was pulled over for speeding and briefly placed in handcuff but was not issued any citations.
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| 'The end of Hong Kong': Experts say China's push to pass strict national security laws further erodes the city's autonomy Posted: 22 May 2020 09:10 AM PDT  China is planning to unilaterally modify Hong Kong's laws, and will likely outlaw the promotion of secession, subversion, and foreign interference.
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| FBI launches internal review of Michael Flynn investigation; inquiry to focus on possible misconduct Posted: 22 May 2020 01:25 PM PDT  FBI Director Christopher Wray has ordered an internal review of the Michael Flynn investigation; the inquiry will examine possible misconduct.
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| Woman broadens claims against Biden to include sexual assault Posted: 22 May 2020 06:09 AM PDT  The Biden campaign says the incident, alleged to have occurred in 1993, "absolutely did not happen."
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| Iran says 10K medics infected as virus fears rise in Mideast Posted: 21 May 2020 03:51 AM PDT  The coronavirus has infected more than 10,000 health care workers in hard-hit Iran, news outlets reported Thursday, as health officials in war-ravaged Yemen and Gaza expressed mounting concern about waves of new cases. Iran's semi-official news agencies cited Deputy Health Minister Qassem Janbabaei, who did not elaborate. Reports earlier in the week put the number of infected health care workers at only 800.
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| Italy’s coronavirus death toll could be 19,000 higher than official total, according to experts Posted: 22 May 2020 08:04 AM PDT  Italy's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in March and April could be nearly 19,000 higher than the official figure of 32,000, the national social security agency said. According to a new study by Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS), Italy's largest social security and welfare institute, the official death figures are not completely "reliable". The study showed that 156,429 total deaths were registered in Italy in March and April, which is almost 47,000 higher than the average number of fatalities recorded in those months between 2015 and 2019. However, in the past two months, only 27,938 deaths linked to the coronavirus were reported by the Civil Protection Agency, which releases the official data daily, INPS noted. The agency said that means there were almost 19,00 more deaths than normal during that period, with the majority recorded in the hard-hit north of the country.
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| Chafing under lockdown, Palestinians long for Eid celebrations Posted: 21 May 2020 06:05 AM PDT  BETHLEHEM, West Bank/GAZA (Reuters) - Bethlehem is struggling back to life just in time for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, nearly three months after it became the first town in the West Bank to be sealed off because of a coronavirus outbreak. Although the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, remains shut, shops are displaying new clothes and sweets to lure customers after 75 days of closures. The city livened up after the Palestinian Authority on Saturday eased curbs in several cities, including Bethlehem, in preparation for Eid El-Fitr, which is due on Saturday or Sunday and marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
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| US envoy working to resuscitate flagging Afghan peace deal Posted: 21 May 2020 01:13 AM PDT  The first visit to Kabul by Washington's peace envoy since Afghanistan's squabbling political leadership reached a power-sharing agreement comes amid increased violence blamed mostly on an Islamic State affiliate that has been targeted in stepped-up U.S. bombing. All were aimed at resuscitating a U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in February.
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| Watch this US Navy ship destroy a flying drone with a laser weapon Posted: 22 May 2020 03:59 PM PDT  "With this new advanced capability, we are redefining war at sea for the Navy," a Navy official said in a press release.
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| Mid-Michigan flooding crests at 35 feet, Whitmer requests FEMA help: What we know Posted: 21 May 2020 09:39 AM PDT  Rushing waters took out trees, roadways, homes, businesses, the library, the sewer system, electricity — and part of the City of Midland.
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| Biden's vice president shortlist emerges, as Demings says she's being vetted Posted: 21 May 2020 03:49 PM PDT  Biden has said he expects the vetting process to take five to eight weeks, which would point to an announcement occurring no sooner than July.
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| NJ Gym That Defied Lockdown Order by Reopening on ‘Fox & Friends’ Is Closed by Health Department Posted: 21 May 2020 08:57 AM PDT  A New Jersey gym that reopened this week in defiance of the state's ongoing stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic has been shut down by the state health department, officials said Thursday. The Atilis Gym in Bellmawr opened its doors on Monday, insisting that the state shutdown of non-essential businesses is unconstitutional. The gym remained open for three days, attracting crowds of supporters and American-flag-toting protesters in its parking lot, before the New Jersey Department of Health issued a closure order on Wednesday night, a Camden County spokesperson confirmed to The Daily Beast. The closure order was posted outside the gym by county officials on Thursday morning, one day after the facility's sewer system backed up. The plumbing problems forced the gym to close on Wednesday and members to evacuate, according to Fox29. This Is What a Coronavirus Lockdown Means in Each State"Alright guys, so we arrived at the gym this morning to Governor Murphy's dirty tricks, playing with his power in the health department," one of the owners, Ian Smith, said in a Thursday morning Instagram story. "For right now, the gym will be closed. We have a full cleaning crew inside, once again, going above and beyond."Smith, who has received national attention for violating Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order, claimed in his Instagram story that the gym plans to file a lawsuit against the governor "first thing this morning." "Dirty politicians playing dirty tricks," he added. Indoor gyms and fitness centers in New Jersey are still considered "high-risk settings for the spread of COVID-19, in part because customers of these facilities engage in physical activities that increase the customers' respiratory activity, which in turn can increase the number of respiratory droplets or aerosols in a confined setting," the health department said in the closure order. To date, 10,747 people have died and more 150,399 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Garden State, prompting Murphy to delay loosening virus-restrictions. The Health Department said that while the gym claims it's taking sufficient safety measures—including monitoring the temperatures of patrons and requiring face masks—those steps are not enough to prevent the spread of the virus at an indoor gym. The closure order adds that the risk of the virus "is still too great to allow relaxation of the current mitigation measures that are in place." Florida's Coronavirus Dashboard Architect: I Was Fired for Not Manipulating DataMembers of the public, along with the gym's owners and patrons, are now prohibited from entering the facility and failure to comply may result in criminal or civil sanctions. Gym co-owner Frank Trumbetti told NJ.com that staff was shocked on Thursday when they arrived to orange sticks outside the gym from the Camden County Health Department. "They did it overnight like cowards," Trumbetti said, claiming that the decision was made without an inspection of the gym itself. "We're opening up tomorrow morning no matter what."Over the last three days, the Atilis Gym has positioned itself as leading a "resistance" against the order the owners claim to be unconstitutional, allowing a limited number of members into the facility. The Monday opening was even featured live on Fox and Friends, where the gym's owners were filmed opening the doors to a crowd of Trump supporters with signs reading: "Stay Poor Vote Democrat" and "My Freedom Doesn't End Where Your Fear Begins." "The governor can say the state is closed, but if we the people say the state is open, then ultimately there's not a lot you can do if every business steps out," Fox News host Pete Hegseth said Monday from the gym, surrounded by protesters. "That's pretty much the definition of responsible civil disobedience."The gym's violation of the lockdown order prompted police to issue owners and patrons summons and fines that cost up to $1,000 per person throughout the week. A GoFundMe has since been set up to help the owners pay for at least three citations, and over $56,827 has been raised since Thursday morning. But as the Atilis Gym gained national notoriety, so did its owners. Smith, 33, is now facing backlash over a 2007 drunk driving incident in which he killed a 19-year-old boy. In 2007, the then-Stockton University student pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after drinking about a dozen beers, running a stop sign, and killing Kevin Ade, according to records. Smith was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for the tragic incident. Over 500 Employees at Trump's Las Vegas Hotel Have Been Laid Off Amid CoronavirusThe gym owner addressed the incident in an Instagram video on Wednesday, stating that he has heard that news has been circulating about "a tragedy in the past that I was the cause of." Stating that he had been drinking in his dorm room that night and didn't realize he had alcohol still in his system the next morning, Smith said he has taken "full responsibility" for the incident and believes anyone who is angry about his behavior is "completely justified." "My actions caused the death of a young man and broke the hearts of an entire community, and that's something they'll never ever fully recover from," he said, noting that his current endeavor is "bigger" than him. "There's nothing I can do except try to live a good life and give back and promote as much love and positivity in the world as I can."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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| Tankers carrying Iranian fuel approach the Caribbean: data Posted: 22 May 2020 08:53 AM PDT  Iran is supplying about 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela, according to both governments, sources and calculations made by TankerTrackers.com based on the vessels' draft levels. The shipments have caused a diplomatic standoff between Iran and Venezuela and the United States as both nations are under U.S. sanctions. Washington is considering measures in response, according to a senior U.S. official, who did not elaborate on any options being weighed.
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| UK to impose 14-day quarantine from June 8, Priti Patel confirms Posted: 21 May 2020 02:32 PM PDT  Do I need to self-quarantine for 14 days after travel? No10 hints London's lockdown will be lifted first There are only two numbers that matter in UK's dire economic plight Children half as likely as adults to catch coronavirus Subscribe to The Telegraph, free for one month The UK will impose a two-week quarantine, with fixed penalty fines of £1,000 for any breaches, from June 8, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced. Passengers will have to fill a form providing their contact and travel information so they can be traced if infections arise and could be contacted regularly during the 14 days to ensure their compliance. Breaches will be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England, or prosecution with an unlimited fine, while devolved nations can set out their own enforcement approaches. Anyone arriving by air, sea or rail will be advised to use personal transport to head to their accommodation and once there not leave for 14 days. But it will not apply to people coming from Ireland, medics tackling Covid-19 and seasonal agricultural workers. Ms Patel said: "As the world begins to emerge from what we hope is the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, we must look to the future and protect the British public by reducing the risk of cases crossing our border. "We are introducing these new measures now to keep the transmission rate down and prevent a devastating second wave. It comes as the Government revealed the R-rate had stayed steady since last week. Read more below.
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