From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
Russia and Israel have reportedly reached an unprecedented deal which would allow Bashar al-Assad’s forces to take remaining rebel territory in southern Syria – so long as Iranian fighters do not participate.
Moscow appears to have capitulated to Israeli demands to hold back Tehran-backed militias 15 miles from the occupied Golan Heights, according to Israeli and Saudi reports. Continue reading “Russia and Israel ‘agree deal’ to hold back Iranian militias so Assad can take border region”
Tehran wants to sue Washington for its indirect involvement in dual terrorist attacks in Iran last year, claiming that the president himself repeatedly admitted the US is responsible for the rise of the terrorist group.
During his election campaign, US President Donald Trump repeatedly accused his predecessor’s administration – in particular, Democratic Party rival and former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton – of creating Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Continue reading “Iran builds legal case against ‘ISIS-founder’ US, based on Trump campaign claims”
A potential bill to prohibit ZTE Corp. (ZTCOY, -15.37%) and other Chinese telecommunications companies from operating in the U.S. would garner supermajority support in Congress, Republican Senator Marco Rubio said.
Rubio was responding to Trump’s proposal to allow the networking gear and smartphone maker to remain in business after paying a $1.3 billion fine, changing its management and board, and providing “high-level security guarantees.” The president has suggested the deal is a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two nations hold talks to prevent a trade war. But a bill like the one the senator’s proposing threatens to derail any agreement struck with Beijing. Continue reading “Trump Proposed a Deal to Let ZTE Stay in Business. Now Congress May Try to Ban Chinese Telecom Firms From the U.S.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Thursday passed a $717 billion defense policy bill that would give the military a 2.6 percent pay hike, the largest in nine years.
The bipartisan 351-66 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where a key panel completed a companion measure in a closed-door session on Wednesday. Continue reading “House passes $717B Pentagon policy measure”
Texas oil and gas companies are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s pending steel tariffs, arguing they would cause job losses and the bankruptcies of some businesses.
The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, which represents 2,600 smaller oil and gas companies, submitted its comments to the U.S. Commerce Department, asking for the elimination of import quotas and exemptions for countries that provide a lot of steel piping to the energy sector. Continue reading “Texas oil producers fight steel tariffs, import quotas”
NOBLESVILLE, Indiana — Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody.
Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, says in a news release that the victims in Friday morning’s attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Continue reading “Authorities: 2 victims in Indiana middle school shooting headed to hospital, lone suspect in custody”
Fifteen people were injured by an intentional explosion at an Indian restaurant in a Toronto suburb Thursday night, authorities said.
Police said they were hunting for two men who are alleged to have walked into the Bombay Bhel restaurant and “detonated an improvised explosive device” before fleeing the restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario. Continue reading “‘IED’ explosion in Toronto-area restaurant injures 15, two suspects sought”
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Sinopec, Asia’s largest refiner, will boost U.S. crude oil imports to an all-time high as China tries to reduce its trade deficit with the United States, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.
The company’s trading arm Unipec has bought 16 million barrels, or about 533,000 barrels per day (bpd), of U.S. crude to load in June, they said, the largest volume ever to be lifted in a month by the company. Continue reading “China’s Sinopec to boost U.S. crude imports to all-time high: sources”
President Trump on Thursday cancelled the highly anticipated summit with North Korea that was set for next month, calling the talks “inappropriate” following the “hostility” displayed in the latest comments from dictator Kim Jong Un.
The move to pull out of the summit, slated to take place in Singapore on June 12, came after threats from Kim to call off the talks. In a letter to Kim on Thursday, Trump said the world, and North Korea, has lost a “great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity.” Continue reading “White House pulls out of summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un”
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL – Police in Panama City, Florida said the man who was involved in a shootout with officers Tuesday is dead.
The man is identified as 49-year-old Kevin Robert Holroyd. He’s also connected to a deadly shooting in Walton County. Continue reading “Gunman involved in shootout with Panama City Police is dead”
New Orleans Advocate – by Chad Calder
Harahan Police Chief Tim Walker has turned over control of confiscated drug money to the city after the U.S. Department of Justice found the account was not being properly administered.
The action comes amid a continuing feud between Walker and Mayor Tina Miceli over control of the Police Department’s budget.
The feds sent Walker a letter last week saying the asset forfeiture money — which is used for training and equipment, buying drugs during undercover sting operations and paying informants — has to be in the hands of the city’s Finance Department. Continue reading “Feds order asset forfeiture fund frozen in Harahan; police chief told to turn over control of account to city”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is moving to reverse Obama-era rules barring hunters on some public lands in Alaska from baiting brown bears with bacon and doughnuts and using spotlights to shoot mother black bears and cubs hibernating in their dens.
The National Park Service issued a notice Monday of its intent to amend regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves to bring the federal rules in line with Alaska state law. Continue reading “Interior moves to lift restrictions on hunting bears, wolves”
Daily Caller – by Robert Donachie
House and Senate Democrats have a new 2018 campaign platform they believe can propel their party to gain control of the lower chamber, and it is eerily similar to President Donald Trump’s “drain the swamp” motto.
The proposal is called “A Better Deal for Our Democracy.” It promises voters that if they elect Democrats in November, the party will “clean up the chaos and corruption in Washington.” Continue reading “Democrats Roll Out New Agenda That Promises To ‘Clean Up The Chaos’ In Washington”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) declared on Saturday that he backs the “real” Second Amendment, rather than an “imaginary” version of the provision that he says is touted by gun rights advocates.
“I support the real 2nd Amendment, not the imaginary 2nd Amendment,” Murphy tweeted. “And the real #2A isn’t absolute. It allows Congress to wake up to reality and ban these assault rifles that are designed for one purpose only – to kill as many people as fast as possible.” Continue reading “Dem senator: I support ‘real’ Second Amendment, not ‘imaginary’ one”
California could become the first state in the nation to offer full health coverage to undocumented adults.
A hearing is set in Sacramento Tuesday on SB 974, which would “extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals of all ages who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status.” Continue reading “State senator pushes bill to offer free health care for illegals”
HOOD RIVER, Ore. (AP) — A teenager who started a major wildfire in the scenic Columbia River Gorge in Oregon has been ordered to pay restitution for at least the next decade, though it’s unlikely the boy will ever cover his nearly $37 million bill.
The Oregonian reports that Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson issued the opinion on Monday, awarding the restitution totaling $36,618,330.24 to cover the costs of firefighting, repair and restoration to the gorge and damage to homes. Victims include the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation. Continue reading “Judge: Teen must repay $37M for starting Oregon wildfire”
BESSEMER CITY, N.C. (AP) — A man intentionally rammed a vehicle into a steak and seafood restaurant in North Carolina on Sunday, killing his daughter and daughter-in-law who had been seated at a table inside with other family members, police said.
The vehicle’s driver, Roger Self, was immediately arrested and the preliminary evidence indicates he purposely drove all the way into the Surf and Turf Lodge about noon, authorities said. Jail records show he’s been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his daughter, Katelyn Self, a deputy with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and his daughter-in-law, Amanda Self, a nurse. Continue reading “Police: Man rams SUV into restaurant, kills daughter, daughter-in-law”
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. trade war with China is “on hold” after the world’s largest economies agreed to drop their tariff threats while they work on a wider trade agreement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday.
Mnuchin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said the agreement reached by Chinese and American negotiators on Saturday set up a framework for addressing trade imbalances in the future. Continue reading “U.S., China putting trade war on hold, Treasury’s Mnuchin says”
Update via CBS The suspect in a deadly shooting rampage at a Texas high school Friday morning has been identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, law enforcement sources tell CBS News.
SANTA FE, Texas – At least 10 people died Friday morning in gunfire at Santa Fe High school, law enforcement officials confirmed, while at least a dozen others were injured, according to area hospitals. Continue reading “At least 10 dead in Santa Fe High School; shooter had multiple guns, bombs”