From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
Oil prices jumped over two percent on Monday, as the world’s two largest producers announced the crude production cut would be extended from the middle of this year until March 2018.
North Sea Brent crude gained $1.25 or 2.46 percent to $52.06 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate was up by $1.21 or 2.53 percent to $49.05. Continue reading “Crude surges as Russia & Saudi Arabia back supply cuts extension”
CINCINNATI (AP) — Prosecutors in Ohio say a T-shirt with a Confederate flag emblem worn by a white police officer under his uniform is relevant evidence for countering his claim that he feared for his life when he shot an unarmed black motorist.
Hamilton County prosecutors are opposing a defense bid to keep the shirt out of ex-University of Cincinnati Officer Ray Tensing’s murder retrial. The defense says the T-shirt isn’t relevant, but could prejudice the jury. Continue reading “Ohio prosecutor: Officer’s Confederate flag T-shirt relevant”
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test may be nearly as big a deal as its propaganda machine claims. Although outside experts see several places where North Korea is likely stretching the truth, the missile launched Sunday appears to be the most powerful the country has ever tested. Some analysts believe the missile, if proven in further tests, could reach Alaska and Hawaii if fired on a normal, instead of a lofted, trajectory. Continue reading “AP Explains: North Korea missile test is huge step forward”
HAMAM AL-ALIL, IRAQ (AP) — The fight to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group is approaching its “final stages,” a senior U.S. official said Monday. Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the global coalition against the IS, said Iraqi forces are “completely defeating” IS in one of the most difficult urban battles since World War II. But local Iraqi officials say they will need more funding from the U.S. and others in the international community to rebuild in territory recently retaken from the extremists. Continue reading “US envoy: Fight to retake Mosul in ‘final stages’”
Shares in Snapchat’s parent company Snap Inc. have plummeted in value by almost a quarter – to the tune of $6 billion. The drop comes after the first earnings report since the company went public showed a slowdown in user growth and revenue.
On Tuesday, the company posted a $2.2 billion loss in the first quarter, much of which was tied to compensation following the company’s IPO in March. After adjusting for the expected expenses, losses of $188.2 million were reported – greater than analysts anticipated. Continue reading “Snapchat slapped: $6bn wiped off value as shares collapse”
The Dakota Access pipeline already had its first leak – 84 gallons of oil – at a pump station in South Dakota in early April, sparking outrage and calling into question its environmental safety.
The long-debated pipeline leaked crude oil on April 4 in Tulare Township in Spink County, according to the South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. Reports of the incident emerged just several days before the pipeline becomes fully operational. Continue reading “Dakota Access pipeline leaks 2 barrels of oil before becoming operational”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. authorities have said they are reducing the amount of time they will delay deporting the few immigrants in the country illegally awaiting congressional decisions to legalize their immigration status after lawmakers file so-called “private bills” supporting their last-ditch bids to remain in the country.
In a letter to lawmakers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan said the agency will only hold off deporting immigrants with legislation pending on their behalf for up to six months with the possibility of one 90-day extension. Continue reading “US cuts congressional bill deportation delays for immigrants”
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Dozens of people were injured and a 27-year-old man killed Wednesday during another day of violent clashes in Venezuela’s capital during demonstrations demanding elections. National guardsmen launched tear gas and a group of armed pro-government militiamen harassed protesters as they tried to march to the Supreme Court. One masked militia member fired several shots into the air. The militia later dispersed after officers intervened. Continue reading “Dozens hurt, 1 dead in violent day of protests in Venezuela”
Corruption charges are stacking up against Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, who is alleged to have made personal use of government vehicles and his own elderly mother’s health funds in addition to dozens of other offenses.
Tuesday’s 11-count indictment against Williams, 50, mainly drew from two allegations: that he misused a fleet of government cars secured through federal grants as his own and misspent campaign funds on massages, facials and clothing at health spas and a social club in the city, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Continue reading “Philly DA federally indicted for 2nd time in 2 months, now faces 29 charges”
The US Coast Guard has declared part of New York City’s East River a “safety zone” after an unknown amount of oil spewed from a Con Edison substation into the notoriously polluted waterway. A massive cleanup is currently underway.
A statement from Con Edison says a transformer, containing roughly 37,000 gallons of oil, malfunctioned Sunday, releasing “much of the oil” into the station property and the river. Continue reading “‘Catastrophic failure’: Oil spill in NYC East River requires massive cleanup”
MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) — Farah Larrieux feels like she’s about to be forced out after living and working in the U.S. for more than a decade. Immigration privileges granted to her and many other Haitians after the 2010 earthquake could soon be revoked.
President Donald Trump’s appointees must announce by May 23 whether to continue “temporary protected status” for about 50,000 Haitians legally living and working in the U.S. Without this status, they could suddenly face deportation. Continue reading “Haitians fear wrenching end to post-quake immigration help”
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Somali refugee Mohamoud Saed was elated when he learned that his wife and eight children had completed the lengthy refugee application process that would allow them to join him in the U.S., reuniting the family for the first time in seven years.
But the Saeds never made the trip to the Atlanta suburbs because their travel documents expired during the legal wrangling over President Donald Trump’s executive orders to limit the refugee program and ban travel from several countries, including Somalia. They are now living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, desperate for a permanent, peaceful home. Continue reading “Far fewer refugees entering US despite travel ban setbacks”
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell below $45 per barrel for the first time since the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut output in November. Brent crude slipped below $47 before staging a modest recovery on Friday.
OPEC efforts to cut production encouraged US shale producers to pump more, which is dragging prices down. Continue reading “Oil prices drop to six-month lows as hopes fade for OPEC supply cut”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama is starting to define his new role in the age of Donald Trump. After dropping out of sight for a pair of glamorous island getaways, Obama is emerging for a series of paid and unpaid speeches, drawing sharp contrasts with Trump even as he avoids saying the new president’s name. He’s wielding his influence overseas, offering his support for some of the international political candidates who are clamoring for his endorsement. His aides are engaging in real-time political combat with Trump, including revealing Monday that Obama personally warned his successor against tapping embattled Michael Flynn as his national security adviser. Continue reading “Obama starts defining his new role in the age of Trump”
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans voted Tuesday in a presidential election a conservative candidate declared a “war of regime choices” in stark contrast to the liberal front-runner looking to overturn a decade of right-leaning rule.
The vote was the culmination of a frenzied two-month race set up by the scandal that ousted Park-Geun-hye, now jailed while awaiting trial on corruption charges. Conservatives worry that a victory by the liberal, Moon Jae-in, might benefit North Korea and estrange South Korea and its most important ally, the United States. Moon was the clear favorite as conservative forces worked to regroup Park’s devastating scandal. Continue reading “A ‘war of regime choices’: S. Koreans vote for new president”
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian court sentenced the minority Christian governor of Jakarta to two years in prison on Tuesday for blaspheming the Quran, a jarring ruling that undermines the reputation of the world’s largest Muslim nation for practicing a moderate form of Islam.
In announcing its decision, the five-judge panel said Gov. Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama was “convincingly proven guilty of blasphemy” and ordered his arrest. He was taken to Cipinang Prison in east Jakarta. Continue reading “Jakarta governor sentenced to 2 years prison for blasphemy”
Russia’s МС-21 jet has left the assembly line at the Irkutsk aviation plant and is being prepared for its maiden flight, Izvestia daily reports.
Developed by the Irkut Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) group, the aircraft left the assembly plant on April 28, according to the newspaper. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said the test flight is scheduled this month.
Continue reading “New Russian airliner set to take on Airbus and Boeing”
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will aim to move past the rocky start to their working relationship when they meet for the first time and commemorate the 75th anniversary of an important World War II naval battle.
Trump and Turnbull were meeting Thursday in New York City, a trip that will also mark Trump’s first visit home since he left in January to be sworn in as president. Trump’s homecoming was expected to be unfriendly, however, with multiple protests planned against the Republican president in the heavily Democratic metropolis. Continue reading “Trump to meet Australian PM on 1st presidential trip to NYC”
WASHINGTON (AP) — As one justice settles into his new job at the Supreme Court, is another about to leave? Eighty-year-old Justice Anthony Kennedy is so far refusing to comment on speculation that he may soon retire after 29 years on the court.
But that hasn’t stopped President Donald Trump and, obliquely, the Republican senator in charge of high court confirmation hearings from weighing in on the prospect that Kennedy could step down as soon as this spring or summer. If not this year, several former law clerks said they would not be surprised to see the justice retire in 2018. Continue reading “Rumors surround Justice Kennedy exit, but he’s not talking”
Eight people have been killed and 28 more injured as a reported suicide bomb blast targeting a NATO convoy hit the Afghan capital, Kabul, not far from the US Embassy. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The first images from the scene appear to show a car on fire and damaged armored vehicles. Continue reading “8 killed in Kabul suicide blast targeting NATO vehicles”