2019-06-07

Headlines:

From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired

Employers Added 75,000 Jobs in May; Unemployment Rate Steady at 3.6% – (The New York Times)
The government report on Friday showed a sharp decline in the pace of hiring, adding to concern that the economy is slowing.

U.S. and Russia blame each other for near collision in East China Sea – (Reuters)
Russia and the United States blamed each other for a near collision between their warships in the East China Sea on Friday with both countries accusing one another of dangerous and unprofessional behavior.

Wall St. opens higher on rate-cut hopes, China tariff delay – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened higher on Friday, after a weak payrolls data in May increased bets that the Federal Reserve would lower interest rates, while news that the United States would give China more time to avoid a tariff hike helped add to the gains.

U.S. job growth slows sharply, heightens fears about economy – (Reuters)
U.S. job growth slowed sharply in May and wages rose less than expected, raising fears that a loss of momentum in economic activity could be spreading to the labor market, which could put pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year.

Beyond Meat top choice for Wall Street after bullish results – (Reuters)
Shares of Beyond Meat Inc surged 27% on Friday after the vegan burger maker forecast that sales would more than double overall in 2019 after they tripled in the first quarter.

U.S. “very encouraged” by Mexican immigration proposals – (Reuters)
U.S. officials were very encouraged by Mexican immigration proposals but there is still a long way to go as negotiators begin their latest round of talks on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff told Fox News.

US employers add just 75,000 jobs as unemployment stays 3.6% – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. hiring slowed in May as employers added just 75,000 jobs, a sign that businesses have become more cautious in the face of slowing global growth and widening trade…

US, Russia blame each other in near-collision of warships – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. and Russian militaries accused each other of unsafe actions on Friday after an American guided-missile cruiser and a Russian destroyer came within 165 feet (50 meters) of…

U.S. May payrolls rose less than expected – (Reuters)
U.S. job growth slowed sharply in May and wages rose less than expected, suggesting the loss of momentum in economic activity was spreading to the labor market, which could increase calls for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year.

Gay couple beaten for refusing to kiss – (BBC News)
Melania Geymonat and her girlfriend Chris were set upon by a group of men on a London night bus.

US jobs growth in shock May slowdown – (BBC News)
The world’s largest economy added 75,000 jobs in May, well below forecasts of 185,000.

Joe Biden reverses position on federal dollars for abortions – (Associated Press)
ATLANTA (AP) — After two days of intense criticism, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden reversed course Thursday and declared that he no longer supports a long-standing congressional ban…

Syria uses familiar tactic in rebel Idlib: Bombing civilians – (Associated Press)
BEIRUT (AP) — The father could hardly bear seeing his 18-month-old daughter’s panic every time the Syrian government warplanes flew over their home. Every day for a month, she ran to him to hide…

Conservative rivals battle as May exits, defeated by Brexit – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May formally steps down as Conservative Party leader on Friday, defeated by the Brexit conundrum. No public event is planned to mark the occasion as…

US, Russia blame each other for near collision in East China Sea – (Al Jazeera English)
The incident comes days after Washington and Moscow sparred over an allegedly unsafe spy plane intercept near Syria.

Factbox: How will Britain’s Conservative Party choose PM May’s successor? – (Reuters)
Britain’s ruling Conservative Party will decide the country’s next prime minister in late July – a contest that will bring in a new leader who could pursue a cleaner break with the European Union.

Biden reverses position on federal funding for abortion – (Reuters)
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Thursday he no longer supported a ban on the use of federal funds for most abortions, reversing course after sharp criticism from abortion-rights proponents.

Pence: US ‘encouraged’ by Mexico’s proposals as tariffs loom – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Mexican officials claim to be making progress as they labored for a second day to avert import tariffs. But President Donald Trump is still threatening to impose them as…

U.S.-Mexico migration talks continue as Trump returns to Washington – (Reuters)
U.S.-Mexico migration talks were set to resume on Friday as Mexican officials continue their push to reach an agreement that would avert U.S. tariffs set to take effect next week.

Syrian attacks on civilians continue amid rebel counterattack – (Al Jazeera English)
Dozens reportedly killed as rebels push back against government troops in fierce ground battle.

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From various sources

The leader of the Thai junta tortures the rules to remain in power – (The Economist)
A jerry-rigged parliament affirms Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister

Labour MP holds PM serves ‘Zionist Slave Masters,’ wins Parliament seat – (The Jerusalem Post)
Forbes signed a letter stating that people should be able to “speak freely” about Israel’s “system of apartheid and ongoing ethnic cleansing.”

Who Owns England, Defining Frederick Douglass, and Sylvia Plath’s Religion – (The American Conservative)
Also: Claim about married women in new book debunked, and more.

Why Not Rewrite It in Rust? – (Hacker News)
A blag

Hirono: Something like that should not happen at all – CNN Video – (CNN)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) reacts to US and Russian warships nearly colliding in the Philippine Sea.

Three ways that Big Tech could be broken up – (Financial Times)
Politicians and regulators have started asking once unthinkable questions

Elliott Management agrees to acquire Barnes & Noble – (Financial Times)
Activist hedge fund’s offer values struggling bookseller at $683m including debt

Toronto man survives skydive plunge after parachute tangles | CBC News – (CBC News)
A Toronto man has survived a skydive plunge from high above the Hamilton airport on Thursday after his parachute became tangled, police say.

Employers Added 75,000 Jobs in May; Unemployment Rate Steady at 3.6% – (The New York Times)
The government report on Friday showed a sharp decline in the pace of hiring, adding to concern that the economy is slowing.

Canadian GP practice & can Mercedes win every race? – (BBC Sport)
Live text and audio commentary of Canadian Grand Prix practice – plus: can Mercedes win every race?

New U.S. Arctic strategy omits climate change, takes aim at China, Russia – (Axios)
It’s a marked departure from previous Arctic planning documents.

Yooka-Laylee sequel announced for PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One – (Polygon)
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is part 2D-sidescroller, part top-down adventure. Playtonic announced that the sequel is coming in 2019. Watch the announcement trailer here.

Why Electric Buses Haven’t Taken Over the World—Yet – (Wired)
Here’s what stands between you and a cleaner commute.

Frackers Scrounge for Cash as Wall Street Closes Doors – (The Wall Street Journal)
The companies behind the U.S. fracking boom are turning to asset sales, drilling partnerships and other alternative financing to supplement their cash flow.

Russian destroyer nearly collides with U.S. warship today: Video shows Admiral Vinogradov and USS Chancellorsville within feet of each other – (CBS News)
U.S. called the incident “unsafe and unprofessional” but the Russian Pacific Fleet blamed the U.S. for the close encounter

Labour’s Lisa Forbes ‘sorry’ for anti-Semitic social media post likes – (Daily Mail)
Lisa Forbes sneaked home ahead of Nigel Farage ‘s Brexit Party days after Jewish groups had called for her deselection as a candidate.

How Melania’s £130K wardrobe cemented role as First Lady of fashion – (Daily Mail)
The First Lady, 49, stunned in Dior, Burberry Givenchy and Dolce and Gabbana during the President’s state visit to the UK this week – and hit the right note on every formal occasion.

U.S. and Russia blame each other for near collision in East China Sea – (Reuters)
Russia and the United States blamed each other for a near collision between their warships in the East China Sea on Friday with both countries accusing one another of dangerous and unprofessional behavior.

Man tells his boss he’s going to jail as he’s a paedophile – (Daily Mail)
Malcolm Barnard, 49, pictured, pleaded with paedophile hunters not to report him to police after he was confronted in an Essex car park having tried to groom a 13-year-old girl.

Court date set for review of Arms Deal commission’s findings – (News24)
Civil society organisations Corruption Watch and Right2know will, on June 11 and 12, head to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to review and set aside the findings of the Seriti commission.

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All about Trump

Democrats Are About to Make it Easier to Take Trump Aides to Court – (Vice News)
It’s an attempt to get answer would of administration officials who are ignoring Congressional subpoenas.

Uncertainty around Trump’s trade war drives gold prices up, sends crude oil prices down – (Axios)
Oil has now entered a bear market.

Iran rejects French call for wider talks beyond nuclear deal – state TV – (The Jerusalem Post)
Trump said on Thursday that Iran was failing as a nation, under the pressure of his sanctions, and repeated his call for talks with the leadership in Tehran.

Strassel: Democrat Klobuchar deflates a Trump ‘scandal’ – (Fox News)
Democrats have grown expert in these Trump days at creating fake scandals. So it’s refreshing to read a previously undisclosed email in which Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a presidential aspirant, destroys a leading narrative even as she highlights her own pa…

Trump calls Nancy Pelosi ‘nasty, vindictive, horrible person,’ after prison remark – (USA Today)
Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham that Pelosi is a “disgrace,” and a “nasty, vindictive, horrible person.”

Pence: US ‘encouraged’ by Mexico’s proposals as tariffs loom – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Mexican officials claim to be making progress as they labored for a second day to avert import tariffs. But President Donald Trump is still threatening to impose them as…

U.S.-Mexico migration talks continue as Trump returns to Washington – (Reuters)
U.S.-Mexico migration talks were set to resume on Friday as Mexican officials continue their push to reach an agreement that would avert U.S. tariffs set to take effect next week.

As Mexico Tariff Deadline Looms, Trump Golfs – (Vice News)
There’s a “national emergency” at the border and new taxes are set to kick in on Monday. The president is on the greens in Ireland.

Trump Brings Rare Dose of Stability to a Continent in Flux – (The Wall Street Journal)
At a time of political upheaval across the European Union, it was President Trump who was the relative picture of stability—both diplomatically and politically—as he skipped back and forth across the English Channel this week.

Facebook Limits Huawei’s Access to WhatsApp and Instagram as Trump Ban Escalates – (Newsweek)
The U.S. social media company told Newsweek that it is “taking steps to ensure compliance” with a trade ban placed on the Chinese technology company last month.

School children ‘gobsmacked’ after meeting Trump in Doonbeg – (The Irish Times)
Primary school pupils sing a verse of My Lovely Rose of Clare for US President

The Hill’s Morning Report — Trump pushes Mexico for ‘significantly more’ as tariffs loom | TheHill – (The Hill)
Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. TGIF! Our newslet…

Trump Allows High-Tech U.S. Bomb Parts to Be Built in Saudi Arabia – (The New York Times)
Tucked into the administration’s emergency order to sell arms to Saudi Arabia is approval for Raytheon to build key components of precision-guided bombs with Saudi partners.

Countdown to Trump’s Mexico tariff deadline: Talks focus on asylum for migrants – (Google News)
The Trump administration wants Mexico to agree to take almost every asylum seeker that crosses into Mexico. So far, Mexican negotiators have said no.

Hannity, Trump, and the Whole “Lock Her Up” Crew Are Absolutely Outraged at Pelosi’s Prosecution and Prison Comment – (Reddit /r/all)
“She wants a political opponent locked up in prison? That happens in banana republics.”

Trump’s border aid request stalls amid fresh obstacles | TheHill – (The Hill)
President Trump’s request for emergency money for the U.S.-Mexico border is stuck in limbo on Cap…

Donald Trump Brags About The Amazing Effect He Had On Queen Elizabeth – (The Huffington Post)
Trump boasted to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham about his “automatic chemistry” with the British monarch — but denied fist-bumping her.

Dow Shoots North But Hedge Fund Pro Warns of 40% Stock Market Crash – (Crypto Coins News)
By CCN: The Dow overcame a worrisome jobs report to grind higher on Friday, as the US stock market plowed ahead toward its best week since November 2018. However, one hedge fund legend warns that if Donald Trump fails to mount a successful reelection campaign…

Trump dropping back into harsh reality after royal treatment abroad – (Politico)
The president is returning to his feud with Pelosi, oversight probes and high-stakes trade wars after a relatively smooth European trip.

Macron wins in the aggressive handshake battle with Donald Trump – (Metro)
The French President left a thumbprint in his hand.

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