Author: Sunfire

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s envoy to the United Nations laid out an argument Tuesday for the U.S. to declare Iran in violation of the nuclear deal, but suggested the Trump administration might then leave it to Congress to decide whether to withdraw.

In a speech to a conservative think tank, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said she didn’t know what decision Trump would ultimately make, as a series of deadlines approach. Yet she said Trump would be on solid ground if he did decide against certifying Iran’s compliance, and added, “What happens next is significantly in Congress’ hands.”  Continue reading “Haley lays out argument to say Iran not abiding nuclear deal”

Mail.com

HOUSTON (AP) — As a parade of motorists rolled down their windows on the edges of a Houston Home Depot parking lot offering cash, the crowd of day laborers had slowly thinned to about a dozen by mid-morning.

The workers who were already gone were off to tear out soggy carpeting, carry ruined sofas to the curb and saw apart mold-infested drywall. Those who still remained knew they were hot commodities and weren’t going to settle for low offers.   Continue reading “Immigrants are sought for labor shortage in Harvey recovery”

Mail.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez sent more than 200,000 pieces of mail to constituents last winter. One letter invited women to self-defense classes, another highlighted a bird-watching event, and a third promoted a tree adoption day.

The mailings, all sent in a two-week period, cost $62,000, and taxpayers foot the bill, according to data obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request. Last year, California Assembly members spent $3.2 million sending mail to their constituents, taking advantage of a legislative perk that allows them to use tax dollars to cover the costs. Senators spent $230,000.   Continue reading “California taxpayers fund legislative mailings”

Mail.com

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s prime minister on Thursday declared the town of Tal Afar “fully liberated” from the Islamic State group after a nearly two-week operation, the latest blow to the extremist group which ran nearly a third of the country three years ago.

Iraqi troops “eliminated and smashed Daesh terrorists” in al-Ayadia district, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of Tal Afar, where the militants fled last week, Haider al-Abadi said in a statement. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for IS.   Continue reading “Iraqi PM declares Tal Afar ‘fully liberated’ from IS”

Mail.com

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked most of Texas’ tough new “sanctuary cities” law that would have let police officers ask people during routine stops whether they’re in the U.S. legally and threatened sheriffs with jail time for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The law, known as Senate Bill 4, had been cheered by President Donald Trump’s administration and was set to take effect Friday. It was widely viewed as the toughest immigration measure in the nation since Arizona passed what critics called a “Show Me Your Papers” law in 2010, which was later partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.   Continue reading “Texas ban on ‘sanctuary cities’ temporarily blocked by judge”

ABC News

A mysterious chemical haze that left scores of people on the English coast with streaming eyes, sore throats and breathing problems has dissipated, but its cause remains a mystery, police and emergency services said Monday.

The gas cloud appeared Sunday, sending people fleeing from the beach and cliffs at Birling Gap, a coastal beauty spot about 60 miles (100 kms) south of London.

Life boats were dispatched to help clear people from beaches, and Eastbourne District General Hospital said it had treated more than 130 people. Sussex Police said the injuries were mostly minor.   Continue reading “Scores treated after mystery ‘chemical haze’ hits UK coast”

Mail.com

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — The teenager suspected of killing two people and injuring four others in a public library had been searching for “inner peace” shortly before the shooting, the youth’s pastor said.

Nathaniel Jouett, 16, started attending Living Word Church of God three months ago and appeared to be turning his life around after having contemplated suicide several months earlier, Pastor David Stevens said.   Continue reading “Teen mass shooting suspect was searching for ‘inner peace’”

Mail.com

With a new school year dawning, education officials are grappling with whether to remove the names, images and statues of Confederate figures from public schools — especially since some are now filled with students of color.

The violence at a white nationalist rally over a Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, is giving school officials a new reason to reconsider whether it’s appropriate for more than 100 schools to be named after Confederate generals and politicians from the Old South.   Continue reading “Public schools grappling with Confederate names, images”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will kick off his lobbying effort for a tax overhaul at an event with a Midwestern manufacturing backdrop and some economic tough talk. The one thing missing? A detailed proposal.

Instead, in Springfield, Missouri, Wednesday, Trump will give remarks the White House said will focus on his “vision” for spurring job creation and economic growth by cutting rates and revising the tax code. Details will come later, officials said, when lawmakers work them out.   Continue reading “Trump pushes tax overhaul, says it’s ‘badly needed’”

RT

Global stock markets retreated on Tuesday while gold gained on investor concerns over rising tension following the latest North Korea missile launch.

The pan-European STOXX index dropped 1.7 percent to its lowest in six months before rebounding.

The British FTSE100, Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC40 indices are more than one percent in the red. Markets in Japan closed 0.45 percent down, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.35 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite was flat, and finished trading 0.08 percent up.   Continue reading “Markets plunge & gold soars as N.Korea fires missile over Japan”

RT

The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced the successful flight test of B61-12 gravity nuclear bombs in Nevada. It comes as US lawmakers reportedly push for a withdrawal from a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia.

The second qualification flight test for the nuclear weapon was carried out by the NNSA and the US Air Force, with the first one having been successfully conducted in March.  Continue reading “US holds 2nd test of B61-12 nuclear bombs”

Mail.com

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of masked, black-clad anarchists who overwhelmed a peaceful California protest and assaulted at least five perceived political enemies have reignited the debate over ensuring free speech while protecting public safety in the city where the U.S. free speech movement was born in the 1960s.

After planned weekend rallies were violently disrupted or canceled, supporters of President Donald Trump and other politically conservative activists complained their free speech rights were blocked by liberal politicians who they say incited left-wing extremists.  Continue reading “Anarchist rampage in Berkeley renews free speech debate”

Mail.com

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A shooting inside a public library that killed two people and wounded four has deeply shaken an eastern New Mexico community. The gunman surrendered after the shooting Monday and was taken into custody without incident after police entered the Clovis-Carver Public Library, authorities and elected officials with the city of Clovis said during a news conference. Warrants for his arrest were being prepared, but it’s wasn’t immediately clear what charges he would face.

Clovis Mayor David Lansford said things could have been much worse had it not been for the quick response, training and courage of police. He called the shooting tragic and senseless. “This is a big blow to our community,” he said. “Our community is a community that places a high value on life and the sanctity of life. And each life that lives in this community is precious. So we’re all hurting right now as a result of what took place this afternoon.”   Continue reading “Deadly shooting at library shakes New Mexico city”

RT

Ten crude refineries around Houston and Corpus Christi in Texas are closed in the wake of torrential rains, and devastating flooding brought about by Hurricane Harvey during the weekend.

The shut refineries normally have a daily capacity of nearly two million barrels of crude, according to a report by S&P Global Platts.

There are dozens of refineries along the US Gulf Coast as well as other plants turning oil into gas, diesel, and other petrochemicals. Nearly one-third of the nation’s energy capacity is centralized in the region.   Continue reading “Hurricane damage shuts down major US oil refineries”

Mail.com

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s dormant congressional campaign committee recently sold a 2004 motor home at a steep discount to an old friend in the Montana Legislature. But a seemingly ordinary transaction between friends, when seen through the optics of stringent campaign finance laws, can raise a bevy of questions – especially when those friends are politically high-powered and well-connected.

After learning about the transaction, campaign finance watchdogs are raising a $25,000 question: Why would Zinke’s campaign committee sell the Kountry Star Freightliner for half the price of its apparent $50,000 market value?   Continue reading “Sale of Interior secretary’s motor home raises $25K question”

Mail.com

BAGHDAD (AP) — A car bomb ripped through a busy market area in eastern Baghdad on Monday morning, killing at least 12 people, Iraqi officials said. The explosives-laden car went off at the wholesale Jamila market in Baghdad’s Shiite district of Sadr City, a police officer said. The explosion also wounded 28 other people, he added, saying the death toll was expected to rise further.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists. A plume of thick black smoke billowed from the area and people were running away in panic. At the site, twisted metal and shards of glass littered the pavement, along with vegetables and other goods sold at the market.   Continue reading “Iraq: Car bombing at busy Baghdad market kills 12 people”

Mail.com

ROHTAK, India (AP) — A judge on Monday sentenced a popular and flamboyant Indian spiritual guru to 10 years in prison on charges of raping two female followers. The sentence was pronounced amid intense security at a prison in the northern town of Rohtak where the guru, who calls himself Dr. Saint Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insan, has been held since his conviction Friday.

The conviction sparked violent protests by the guru’s followers that left at least 38 people dead and hundreds injured. Ahead of the sentencing announcement, train and bus services to Rohtak were suspended to prevent the guru’s supporters from gathering in the town, located in Haryana state. A curfew was also imposed in Rohtak.   Continue reading “Judge sends Indian guru to jail for 10 years for rape”

Mail.com

BEIRUT (AP) — As Damascus reverses military losses in much of the country’s strategically important west, and foreign states cut support for rebel forces, diplomats from Washington to Riyadh are asking representatives of Syria’s opposition to come to terms with President Bashar Assad’s political survival.

The country’s civil war has crossed the halfway point of its seventh year and Assad and his allies are now in control of Syria’s four largest cities and its Mediterranean coast. With the help of Russian air power and Iranian-sponsored militias, pro-government forces are marching steadily across the energy-rich Homs province to reach the Euphrates River valley.   Continue reading “Syria opposition told to come to terms with Assad’s survival”