Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Pompeo returned to Washington to discuss Iran, North Korea: official – (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had initially decided to cut short a European trip and return to Washington for meetings on Iran, a senior State Department official said on Thursday.
Wall Street slides on rising tensions ahead of pivotal trade talks – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks tumbled on Thursday, with focus on a high-stakes meeting between the United States and China that could decide the fate of a long-awaited trade deal, even as additional tariffs on Chinese goods loomed.
Pressured by rival, Chevron abandons Anadarko takeover fight – (Reuters)
Chevron Corp abandoned its takeover bid for Anadarko Petroleum Corp on Thursday, outmaneuvered by a rival’s higher, $38 billion offer that included more than three times as much cash.
Facing a Trump Stonewall, Democrats Struggle for Options to Compel Cooperation – (The New York Times)
House Democrats, frustrated by President Trump’s blanket refusal to cooperate, seek new ways to compel White House compliance as impeachment looms.
North Korea Fires Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles, South’s Military Says – (The New York Times)
The South Korean military said it had “stepped up our surveillance and monitoring in preparation for possible additional launches.”
Swedish prosecutor to give decision on Assange rape investigation on Monday – (Reuters)
Sweden’s state prosecutor will announce next Monday whether or not she will reopen a preliminary investigation into a rape allegation against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Parents can’t delete what kids tell Amazon voice assistant – (Associated Press)
Amazon met with skepticism from some privacy advocates and members of Congress last year when it introduced its first kid-oriented voice assistant , along with brightly colored models of its Echo…
Trade dispute with US a political challenge for China’s Xi – (Associated Press)
BEIJING (AP) — The tariff war between Washington and Beijing poses one of the biggest challenges yet for Chinese President Xi Jinping, potentially exposing his political vulnerabilities at a time…
U.S. charges ex-analyst for allegedly leaking classified information – (Reuters)
U.S. authorities have arrested and charged a former intelligence analyst over allegations that he illegally obtained and disclosed classified national defense information, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement on Thursday.
Notre Dame’s melted roof leaves astronomical lead levels – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — Notre Dame Cathedral’s melted roof has left astronomically high lead levels in the plaza outside and adjacent roads.Paris police say lead levels from the roof were found to be…
US, China wield threats going into high-stakes trade talks – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Chinese negotiators are to resume trade talks Thursday just hours before the United States is set to raise tariffs on Chinese imports in a dramatic escalation of…
N. Korea fires 2 suspected missiles in possible new warning – (Associated Press)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles toward the sea on Thursday, South Korean officials said, its second weapons launch in five days and a possible…
Just add water: Salt battery could help renewable energy use – (Associated Press)
BERLIN (AP) — Amid the hum and heat of Berlin’s Reuter thermal power station stands a shining contraption that looks out of place in the decades-old machine hall.Its silver pipes and vats…
Barr contempt citation heats up House’s dispute with Trump – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats’ extraordinary legal battle with the Trump…
Filmmaker to testify against accused head of New York sex cult – (Reuters)
A filmmaker who spent 12 years in a secretive New York group that prosecutors say evolved into a sex cult is set to testify for a second day on Thursday against its former leader who faces charges that include sex trafficking.
Vatican law: Priests, nuns must report sex abuse, cover-up – (Associated Press)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis issued a groundbreaking law Thursday requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-up by their superiors to…
Deputy of Venezuela’s Guaido arrested and dragged away by tow truck – (Reuters)
Venezuelan intelligence agents detained opposition leader Juan Guaido’s congressional deputy on Wednesday, using a tow truck to drag his vehicle away with him inside, prompting the U.S. government to warn of “consequences” if he was not released.
U.S., Japan, India and Philippines challenge Beijing with naval drills in the South China Sea – (Reuters)
In fresh show of naval force in the contested South China Sea, a U.S. guided missile destroyer conducted drills with a Japanese aircraft carrier, two Indian naval ships and a Philippine patrol vessel in the waterway claimed by China, the U.S. Navy said on Thu…
No thought for their own safety: Hero students disarm gunman – (Associated Press)
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (AP) — The three students who disarmed a gunman in a Colorado school shooting leapt up from their desks without a word and with no thought for their own safety when they…
Syrian troops capture strategic town from rebels: Residents – (Al Jazeera English)
Assad government forces take the entire town of Qalaat al-Madiq in northwest Syria, war monitor and local residents say.
***
From various sources
The brewing conflict between America and Iran – (The Economist)
Both sides need to step back
Lyft’s revenues double, losses quintuple—and prospects darken – (The Economist)
The same is likely to be true of Uber when it lists. Only more so
Palestinian official lands in hot water for defending security coordinati – (The Jerusalem Post)
Ashraf Ajrami said in an interview with i24 News that the Palestinians have “contributed to Israel’s security more than Israel contributed to the security of the Palestinians.”
World Bible Contest tests representatives from 30 countries, Israeli wins – (The Jerusalem Post)
The World Bible Contest is an annual competition between representatives from over 30 countries in which their knowledge on the Bible is tested on live television.
Netanyahu: Israel is ‘a hope among the nations and a hope for the nations – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Prime Minister put up an Independence Day greeting in English on YouTube.
Palestinian human rights activist warned of threat to his life by CIA – (The Jerusalem Post)
“If they don’t want to kill me, then I’m not doing my job,” el-Baghdadi wrote on Twitter.
– (Fox Sports)
Parliament passes motion to establish national suicide prevention action plan | CBC News – (CBC News)
As parliamentarians voted unanimously Wednesday evening in favour of a national suicide prevention action plan, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, who proposed the private member’s motion, says he was reciting in his head the names of all the young people lo…
Pro Rata – (Axios)
Insider views on deals and dealmakers in venture capital, private equity and M&A, by Dan Primack. Weekday mornings
War of Will trainer expresses outrage over Maximum Security owner’s Kentucky Derby remarks – (Fox News)
The trainer of one of the horse’s involved in the Kentucky Derby controversy that led to the disqualification of Maximum Security and made Country House the winner expressed his anger Tuesday.
Premier League Show: Man City fans re-live Sergio Aguero goal from 2012 title win – BBC Sport – (BBC Sport)
Three famous Manchester City supporters – Tom Ogden from Blossoms, Natalie Pav and Cel Spellman – relive Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal in 2012.
Gun control returns to presidential campaign trail as 2020 Dems push sweeping plans – (Fox News)
Cory Booker became the latest Democratic White House hopeful to make the issue of gun violence a top priority in the 2020 campaign. In the wake of the 2018 massacre at high school in Parkland, Florida, gun control has returned to the center of the Democratic …
Red Sox White House boycott divided along racial lines – (Axios)
The split reflects a larger trend across baseball.
Prince Harry returns to work three days after birth of his son Archie – (Daily Mail)
Prince Harry visited The Hague to launch the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games 2020, after introducing Archie to the world alongside Meghan in an eagerly anticipated photocall on Wednesday.
Government to pay £200m to replace unsafe cladding on 170 tower blocks – (Daily Mail)
The Government is to fully fund the replacement of unsafe cladding on around 170 high-rise private residential buildings at a cost of an estimated £200million.
Apple could release AirPods 3 later this year. Here’s what we know so far. – (Mashable)
Will we actually get another set of AirPods in 2019?
32 Forgotten Foods From Your Childhood That You’ll Immediately Remember On Sight – (Buzzfeed)
You taste that? It’s called nostalgia.
Pompeo returned to Washington to discuss Iran, North Korea: official – (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had initially decided to cut short a European trip and return to Washington for meetings on Iran, a senior State Department official said on Thursday.
***
All about Trump
Facing a Trump Stonewall, Democrats Struggle for Options to Compel Cooperation – (The New York Times)
House Democrats, frustrated by President Trump’s blanket refusal to cooperate, seek new ways to compel White House compliance as impeachment looms.
Late-night hosts tackle Trump’s tax report: ‘Worst businessman in America’ – (Entertainment Weekly)
“He’s like a one-man Fyre Festival,” Jimmy Kimmel said.
It Was a Wild Day in Washington Yesterday. Here’s What Went Down – (Vice News)
The fight between Congress and the Trump administration is escalating.
Rebecca Grant: Game over for China as Trump lays down new trade rules – (Fox News)
Live eels, denim and desk lamps: those are just a few of the 5,745 imports from China now at the center of the U.S.-China trade war.
Preview: Howard Stern on Donald Trump, as a guest and a president – (CBS News)
In this preview of an interview to air on “Sunday Morning” May 12, Howard Stern, the radio giant who speaks to tens of millions of fans every day on SiriusXM, talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about being asked to endorse one of the shock jock’s frequent g…
‘Only in the Panhandle’: Trump chuckles when audience member suggests shooting migrants – (USA Today)
“Only in the Panhandle you can get away with that statement,” Trump joked, as the crowd laughed and cheered.
Scaramucci: If new Trump tariffs take effect, market could drop 7% – CNN Video – (CNN)
Anthony Scaramucci tell’s CNN’s Richard Quest he expects the US and China to reach a deal to avoid tariffs, but if talks fail, markets will suffer.
Barr contempt citation heats up House’s dispute with Trump – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats’ extraordinary legal battle with the Trump…
Trump Could Raise Tariffs on China. Here’s How China Could Respond. – (Google News)
Beijing could match what the United States does, and its options include upping the ante in untraditional ways. But most of its choices come with drawbacks.
‘Only in the Panhandle’: Trump chuckles when audience member suggests shooting migrants – (Google News)
“Only in the Panhandle you can get away with that statement,” Trump joked, as the crowd laughed and cheered.
Eye Opener: Trump invokes executive privilege over full Mueller report – (CBS News)
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for not handing over the unredacted Mueller report. Also, North Korea fires two more missiles, the second launch in less than a week, acco…
Trump’s power struggle with Congress now includes his son – (CBS News)
The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. to answer more questions about Russian interference in the 2016 election. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General William Barr in cont…
Trump says China ‘broke’ trade talks deal – (BBC News)
Beijing has vowed to retaliate against tariff increases as hostilities rise before US-China trade talks.
Harry Reid: the Senate has lost its way – (Google News)
“Trump did not create the Republican Congress; the Republican Congress created Trump.”
The Hill’s Morning Report – Barr held in contempt after Trump invokes executive privilege, angering Dems – (The Hill)
William Watson: Without going full Trump, maybe we could (slightly) politicize interest rates – (Financial Post)
Trump appears to have been right: The Fed jumped the gun
Trump’s new tariff threat could make iPhones, toys and shoes more expensive – (CNN)
American consumers could increasingly feel the pain of President Donald Trump’s trade war if he follows through on a threat to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods.
US business frustrated as Trump reignites China trade fight – (Financial Times)
Companies were confident that a deal was close before president’s new tariff threat
The Gloves Are Off in Democrats’ Battle With Trump – (Bloomberg)
Senate GOP grows frustrated with Trump chief of staff – (The Hill)
Senate Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
***