| North Korea Calls Talks 'Regrettable' After U.S. Says Progress Was Made Posted: 07 Jul 2018 08:22 AM PDT  North Korea called denuclearization talks with the U.S. "regrettable" on
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| Panel: Paper trail 'should not be disqualifying' for Supreme Court pick Posted: 07 Jul 2018 11:40 PM PDT  Susan Page, Mark Murray, Dany Pletka and Eugene Robinson join the Meet the Press panel to talk about the leading contenders for President Trump's next Supreme Court nominee.
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| State of emergency in parts of California as wildfires blaze amid high temperatures Posted: 07 Jul 2018 08:43 AM PDT  More than 2,000 people have been evacuated near Santa Barbara as the flames destroyed dozens of buildings. Across the West, nearly 60 fires blaze across 13 states.
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| Defense lawyers ask to move Manafort trial, cite publicity Posted: 06 Jul 2018 06:39 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, asked a federal judge Friday to relocate a criminal trial starting later this month because of pretrial publicity.
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| New Jersey Mom Survives Crash That Killed Her Husband and 4 Daughters Posted: 08 Jul 2018 07:11 AM PDT  She is in stable condition, reports said.
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| Japan floods: Scores dead and dozens missing as two million are told to evacuate amid record rains Posted: 07 Jul 2018 07:57 PM PDT  Shinzo Abe, Japan's Prime Minister, has warned of a "race against time" to rescue flood victims as authorities issued new alerts over record rains that have killed at least 48 people and left dozens missing. The torrential downpours have caused flash flooding and landslides across central and western parts of the country, prompting evacuation orders for more than two million people. "Rescues, saving lives and evacuations are a race against time," Mr Abe said as he met with a government crisis cell set up to respond to the disaster. "There are still many people whose safety has yet to be confirmed," he added. Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the death toll in days of record rains now stood at 48, but the toll was expected to rise further. National broadcaster NHK said at least 62 people were dead and 44 missing. The Japan Meteorological Agency said three hours of rainfall in one area in Kochi prefecture reached an accumulated 26.3 centimeters (10.4 inches), the highest since such records started in 1976. Local residents sit in a boat as they are rescued from a flooded area at a hospital in Kurashiki Credit: Reuters "We've never experienced this kind of rain before," an official at the Japanese Meteorological Agency told a news conference. "This is a situation of extreme danger." The unprecedented downpours have wreaked havoc primarily in the west of the country. Isolated residents are being rescued from their homes Credit: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images The rain has completely blanketed some villages, forcing desperate residents to take shelter on their rooftops with flood water swirling below as they wait for rescue. Over two million people have been told to evacuate, but the orders are not mandatory and many remained at home, becoming trapped by rapidly rising water or sudden landslides. The meteorological agency issued its highest level alert for two new regions on Sunday, while lifting the alerts for other areas where rains were subsiding. An aerial view shows a local resident being rescued from a submerged house by rescue workers using helicopter at a flooded area in Kurashiki Credit: Reuters In the town of Mihara, in the south of the Hiroshima region, a temporary let-up in rain laid bare the devastation wrought by the downpours. Roads were transformed into muddy flowing rivers, with dirt piled up on either side and stranded cars barely withstanding the current flowing around their wheels. Cars are damaged by floodwater as heavy rain continues in Hiroshima, Japan Credit: Getty "The area became an ocean," said 82-year-old Nobue Kakumoto, a long-time resident. "I'm worried because I have no idea how long it will stay like this." Work crews could be seen elsewhere trying to clear multiple small landslides that coated roads in mud, rendering them virtually impassable. "We are carrying out rescue operations around the clock," Yoshihide Fujitani, a disaster management official in Hiroshima prefecture, told AFP. "We are also looking after evacuees and restoring lifeline infrastructure like water and gas," he added. "We are doing our best." In this aerial image, JR Nose Station is submerged in Hiroshima Credit: Getty In western Okayama prefecture, around 200 people including children and elderly people were trapped in a hospital after a river burst its banks and flooded the surrounding area. "The electricity and water has been cut off. We are suffering water and food shortages," a nurse told public broadcaster NHK. Over 50,000 rescue workers, police and military personnel have been mobilised to respond to the disaster, which has left entire villages submerged by flooding, with just the top of traffic lights visible above the rising waters. "My house was simply washed away and completely destroyed," Toshihide Takigawa, a 35-year-old employee at a gas station in Hiroshima, told the Nikkei daily on Saturday. "I was in a car and massive floods of water gushed towards me from the front and back and then engulfed the road. I was just able to escape, but I was terrified," 62-year-old Yuzo Hori told the Mainichi Shimbun daily in Hiroshima. Rescue workers dig to search missing people in Hiroshima Credit: Getty Though the typhoon began last week, the worst of the rain hit from Thursday, when a construction worker was swept away by floodwaters in western Japan. The toll has risen steadily since then, and the conditions have made rescue operations difficult, with some desperate citizens taking to Twitter to call for help. "Water came to the middle of the second floor," a woman in Kurashiki, Okayama wrote, posting a picture of her room half swamped by flooding. "The kids could not climb up to the rooftop," she said. "My body temperature has lowered. Rescue us quickly. Help us." In some place rescuers were using boats, or helicopters to airlift those affected to safety. Several major manufacturers, including carmakers Daihatsu and Mitsubishi, said they had suspended operations at plants in the affected areas. The disaster is the deadliest rain-related crisis in Japan since 2014, when at least 74 people were killed in landslides caused by torrential downpours in the Hiroshima region.
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| Twitter suspends over 70 million accounts in two months - Washington Post Posted: 06 Jul 2018 06:00 PM PDT  Twitter and other social media platforms such as Facebook Inc have been under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers and international regulators for doing too little to prevent the spread of false content. Twitter suspended more than 70 million accounts in May and June, and the pace has continued in July, the Post reported on Friday, citing data it obtained. "It's hard to believe that 70 million accounts were affected when Twitter has only 336 million monthly active users (MAU)," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said.
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| Massive Protest Against Gun Violence Closes Chicago Highway Posted: 07 Jul 2018 07:30 PM PDT  A massive rally against gun violence clogged a major highway in Chicago on
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| Full Blunt: 'I hope the president sticks with the sanctions' on North Korea Posted: 07 Jul 2018 11:24 PM PDT  In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) tells Chuck Todd that "there's nothing wrong with talking to the Russians" ahead of President Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin.
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| Canada woman breaks silence on PM groping allegation Posted: 06 Jul 2018 07:27 PM PDT  A former journalist broke her silence on Friday to stand by her allegation that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau groped her nearly two decades ago, when he was not politically involved. "I issue this statement reluctantly, in response to mounting media pressure to confirm that I was the reporter who was the subject of the Open Eyes editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance in August of 2000," Rose Knight said in a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Mr Trudeau did apologize the next day.
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| Goleta brush fire: Gov. Jerry Brown declares state of emergency Posted: 07 Jul 2018 12:16 PM PDT  California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County due to a raging wildfire that has burned several homes and prompted hundreds of evacuations in the Goleta area.
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| In The World According To Trump, NATO Allies Are Bad And Putin Is Good Posted: 07 Jul 2018 04:01 AM PDT  WASHINGTON ― The elected leaders of other Western democracies in Brussels on
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| Thai officials aim to rescue kids from cave before rain hits Posted: 07 Jul 2018 12:52 PM PDT  MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Worried that heavy monsoon rain could soon make the job even more difficult, Thai officials said Saturday that they may need to quickly rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a partially flooded cave by helping them make risky dives to safety.
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| Brazil judge rules to keep da Silva in jail after dispute Posted: 08 Jul 2018 05:22 PM PDT  SAO PAULO (AP) — The president of a Brazilian appeals court whose judges issued contradictory rulings Sunday on whether former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should be freed ordered late in the day that he remain jailed.
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| Four boys rescued from Thai cave but rest must wait as air tanks are replenished Posted: 08 Jul 2018 03:13 PM PDT  First two boys reach the surface at 5:37 local time Four now out of danger Eight more boys and football coach remain to be rescued Rescue due to resume at 8am local time after air tanks replenished 13 foreigners taking part in rescue Meet the 'A-Team' of heroic volunteer British divers who led search They allowed themselves smiles, but there was no cheering among the exhausted rescuers emerging from the Tham Luang cave system on Sunday evening. With the first of the monsoon rains falling on the limestone hills above their heads, Thai Navy Seals and elite cave divers from around the world had pulled off what many thought was impossible - guiding four boys though a terrifying underwater journey in one of the most daring rescue operations of modern times. But with heavy rain setting in at dusk, it was plain to authorities and locals that they now faced a race against time to rescue the remaining eight boys and their 25-year-old coach from their air-pocket prison 2.5 miles inside inside the mountain. Thai cave rescue: How it's being done And the biggest challenge is yet to come. The four boys who swam out on Sunday were selected because they were the strongest of the team. It is unclear how weaker and more vulnerable members of the group will manage the journey. "If we wait and the rain comes in the next few days we will be tired again from pumping and our readiness would drop. If that's the case, then we have to reassess the situation," said Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former Chaing Rai governor who is overseeing the rescue operation. He added that the operation could only resume once air tanks had been replenished and other systems reinstalled. Thailand cave rescue, in pictures Sunday's operation will be remembered as an extraordinary achievement in a drama that has left Thailand and the world holding its breath. The Wild Boars football team and their coach went missing after heavy rains blocked the exit of the cave complex, which they were exploring after football practice, on June 23. They were found sheltering on a ledge four kilometres inside the cave on July 2 by Rick Stanton, a former West Midlands fire fighter, and John Volanthen, an IT consultant from Brighton, who are considered among the best cave diver rescuers in the world. Authorities considered several rescue strategies, including drilling an escape shaft from above or pumping out enough water to enable them to walk out. Diving out was always considered the most dangerous option. A family member prays near the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 schoolboys and their football coach are trapped Credit: Reuters A Thai Navy Seal involved in the rescue died after running out of oxygen in a submerged section of the tunnel last week, and even elite cave divers have described the conditions inside the cave as frightening. But after weather forecasters warned that fresh monsoon rains were imminent, rescuers realised they had no choice but to act quickly or risk seeing the boys drown. "Today is the D-day. The boys are ready to face any challenges," Mr Narongsak announced earlier on Sunday morning. "A new storm is coming. If we wait and rain water comes in, our readiness will be lower than now. Thirteen international divers set off to reach the 12 boys and their coach at 9am on Sunday morning. They were supported by 90-strong team of Thai Navy Seals and elite divers from countries including Britain, Australia, the US and China. They then escorted four of the boys, who have been given rudimentary diving training, on a route that required them to swim for a full kilometre underwater. The boys were equipped with "positive pressure" full-face diving masks designed to prevent water leaking in and clung to a guide rope to make sure they did not panic or lose their way in water so dark it has been likened to "cold coffee". The team had to squeeze through gaps just 38 centimeters wide, where the rescue divers were forced to remove their air tanks and push the equipment ahead of them. Thai media named the first boy out as 13-year-old Mongkol Boonpia. However, his mother, who has been camping by the cave entrance, said she had not been informed by authorities whether her son was among the four rescued on Sunday. She planned to stay at the cave site overnight. Thai cave rescue effort | Read more At least two of the rescued boys were helicoptered to the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, 37 miles away. A third was being treated at a Navy Seal field hospital at the cave entrance. While little has been revealed about the medical condition of the survivors, their ordeal is likely to take both a psychological and physical toll. Medical staff involved in the mission said they prioritise checking on the boys' breathing and signs of hypothermia. But they could also be looking for deadly diseases known to afflict miners and underground explorers. "Cave disease", an airborne lung infection caused by bat and bird droppings, can be fatal if it is untreated. Each boy will have a devoted medical unit consisting of at least one doctor, two nurses, a paramedic and an ambulance. It is understood that 13 helicopters - one for each boy - have been placed on standby to fly the survivors to hospital. 11:10PM How it is being done Thai cave rescue: How it's being done This shows just what a difficult task the divers and the boys face in getting out the cave system. 11:06PM Rescue could take four days Officials say it could take up to four days to complete the rescue of eight boys and their soccer coach from inside a northern Thailand cave, according to the latest details reported by the Associated Press. Rescuers said their efforts on Sunday had gone as well as possible. But the operation had to be suspended overnight as teams replenished air tanks. Navigating miles of twisting, flooded tunnels is difficult and dangerous. At the same time, rescuers are working flat out to ensure they have enough air to make the journey backwards and forwards to the ledge where the remaining eight boys and their coach are trapped. 10:41PM Quarantine tents Military and police personnel at the the quarantine tent in Tham Luang cave area where the rescued boys are checked Credit: Chiang Rai Public Relations Office/AFP When the boys emerge from the cave they are brought to these quarantine tents for a medical check-up. Staff said they would be checking for healthy breathing and signs of hypothermia, as well as symptoms of "Cave disease" - an airborne lung infection caused by bat and bird droppings. 8:37PM Meet the Wild Boars team The Wild Boars football players who went missing Here's the list of players and their coach who went missing: Ekarat Wongsukchan , 14 (nickname: Bew) – plays goalkeeper and promised his mother he would help at her shop after he was rescued Pipat Pho , 15 (Nick) – is not a member of the Wild Boars but joined their practice on June 23 to spend time with his friend Bew Pornchai Kamluang , 16 (Tee) – plays defence and told his parents not to worry in his letter home. "I'm very happy," he wrote Panumas Sangdee , 13 (Mig) – another defender, and wrote to his parents that the Thai Navy Seals were taking good care of him Adul Sam-on , 14 – a midfielder, who spoke to the rescuer when they were first discovered. He is in a volleyball team that came second in a North Thailand-wide tournament Prajak Sutham , 15 (Note) – plays in midfield, although sometimes fills in in goal, and is described as a "smart, quiet guy" by his family Peerapat Sompiangjai , 17 (Night) – right winger. It was his birthday the boys were celebrating when they went missing and his parents have told him they are waiting to hold his party Sompong Jaiwong , 13 (Pong) – was seen in an England shirt but apparently dreams of playing for the Thai national team, according to his teacher Duganpet Promtep , 13 (Dom) – striker and captain of the Wild Boars, and has reportedly been invited for trials by several Thai professional clubs Chanin Vibulrungruang , 11 (Titan) – the team's youngest player has been playing football since the age of seven Nattawut Takamrong , 14 (Tern) - told his parents not to worry about him Mongkol Booneiam , 13 (Mark) – is a trainee with the team and described by his teacher as a "very respectful and good child" Ekapol Chantawong (Ake), 25 - the a ssistant coach apologised in his letter to the parents for leading the boys into the cave , but they said they did not blame him 7:55PM Elon Musk's mini-submarine With the dive rescue under way again in the morning, it seems as if Elon Musk's offer of help is not needed. However, he has just tweeted a video of his mini-sub being tested. Testing underwater in LA pool pic.twitter.com/CDO2mtjP2D— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2018 7:40PM Rescued boys are undergoing checks in hospital An ambulance reportedly carrying some of the rescued boys leaves the Tham Luang cave area for hospital Credit: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP The rescued boys were taken to the hospital in the town of Chiang Rai, the provincial capital, for evaluation. 6:50PM Elon Musk's company is at the site The California tunnel company run by Elon Musk is continuing to maintain a presence at the cave. Sam Teller, spokesman for Boring Co, said that the company has four engineers who are "offering support in any way the government deems useful." Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull. Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2018 Mr Musk tweeted early on Saturday that he was working with a team from his Space X rocket company to build a "tiny kid-size submarine" to transport the children. Mr Musk says the sub would be light enough to be carried by two divers and small enough to get through narrow cave gaps. 6:38PM Buddy system Details are emerging of how the boys were helped out. Each of the four boys - wearing a full face mask - was accompanied by two divers. They were tethered to a diver in front, who also carried their air tank. A second diver brought up the rear. 6:01PM So far, so good "Today we managed to rescue and send back four children to Chiang Rai Prachanukrua Hospital safely," the head of the rescue operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, told a news conference. "... It's a big success of all teams. We have thousands of people helping us with the operation." Thirteen foreign divers and five members of Thailand's elite navy Seal unit guided the boys to safety through narrow, submerged passageways that claimed the life of a former Thai navy diver on Friday. 5:57PM Donald Trump comments on rescue The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2018 An American military official told CNN that 36 Pacific Command personnel were involved in the operation, including 12 search-and-rescue divers, as well as staff from the US embassy. 3:23PM Onlookers watching the evacuation We hear the rain is intensifying... Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances deliver boys rescued from a cave in northern Thailand to hospital in Chiang Rai Credit: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images 3:20PM Thai official heading the cave rescue operation says the healthiest have been taken out first. Earlier we understood that rescuers had prioritised getting the weakest boys out first. 3:11PM Rescue paused for at least 10 hours If only four have been rescued, it means there are still nine people - eight boys plus coach Ekkapol Chantawong - are still in the cave. It will be a nail-biting night. Correction -FOUR people. Next operation to free more of the boys from #Thamluangcave will be in 10-12 hours, says governor— amanda hodge (@hodgeamanda) July 8, 2018 3:08PM Rescuers have 'run out of oxygen' The elite diving rescue team that brought four children to the surface has now used up its oxygen tanks and needs ten hours to prepare for the next stage of the operation, authorities have revealed. "Now we used up all the oxygen tanks and we need to redo the whole thing," Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakornaid said at a press conference. "We have to make sure all factors are at the best readiness before we can start the next operation. We need to evaluate all teams and will have meeting with the whole team at 9 PM for further steps." He revealed that the four boys who had been rescued had to swim a full kilometre to freedom. Ninety divers, 40 of them Thai and 50 of them foreign, are involved in the operation The rescue itself was carried out by a team of 13 international expert divers and ten Thai Navy SEALs. Four boys have been brought out of the cave today. Earlier the Thai defence ministry said six had been rescued. The first boy emerged at 17:40 local time (11:40 GMT) - much quicker than originally anticipated. 2:56PM Rescued children to be checked for 'cave disease' Medics will check the rescued children for a deadly infection that is known to affect people caught in underground chambers, Reuters reports. 'Cave disease' is a lung infection spread by bat and bird droppings and can be fatal if left untreated. They will also be checked for hypothermia and be given a psychological assessment. Little has been revealed about the boys' physical condition, but reports that the survivors have walked out suggest they are still fairly strong. 2:30PM 'Mixed bag' of emotions amid confusion over numbers rescued The Telegraph's Nuttakarn Sumon reports from the scene: "A helicopter just flew over the press centre to cheering from the crowd here. "It's a very confusing situation and a real mixed bag of emotions here. The Thai Navy Seals Facebook page says a fourth member of the Wild Boar football team left the cave at 19:47 local time (13:47 GMT). "We understand that two have been taken to hospital by helicopter and a third is being treated at a SEAL field hospital near the cave entrance. "But that contradicts the earlier reports that six have been rescued. "There is a lot of rumour and conjecture here. We don't know if any of the boys are in critical condition or not." 2:15PM British volunteer divers are leading the rescue Our thoughts are with everyone involved in the Thai cave rescue of 12 boys and their adult leader. Former West Midlands firefighter Richard Stanton, who served in Coventry for 25 years and is a world expert in cave diving, is among those leading today's operation. pic.twitter.com/CXsjCPl7z0— West Midlands Fire (@WestMidsFire) July 8, 2018 2:11PM But the mood remains tense... No cheering or clapping but "lots of smiles" from rescuers as the first two boys emerged, a person at cave tells me. Mood still "subdued" as they await the other boys #thamluangcave#ThaiCave#TenNews— Daniel Sutton (@danielsutton10) July 8, 2018 2:08PM Rescuers allowing themselves to smile... Rescue workers along the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave Credit: Linh Pham/Getty Images 2:06PM 'Weakest first' Thai authorities have confirmed a few more details about the operation so far: The rescuers chose to bring out the weakest boys first. Each of them will have been escorted out underwater by two experienced divers. There is so far little information about the boys' health, but all of the six rescued so far have been strong enough to walk out of the cave themselves rather than being carried on stretchers. They have been given immediate medical attention at a field hospital before being taken by ambulance and helicopter to the hospital at Chiang Rai, about 37 miles away. 1:56PM Children transferred to Chiang Rai hospital We understand that the boys are being ferried by ambulance and then helicopter to the hospital in Chaing Rai. Several ambulances have been seen leaving he cave entrance and driving towards a helipad. An ambulance believed to be carrying rescued schoolboys travels to a military helipad Credit: SOE ZEYA TUN/ REUTERS 1:51PM Six boys out of cave Thai authorities are confirming that six boys have been brought out of the cave. As we noted earlier, that leaves seven people - six more boys, plus their football coach - waiting to leave. The operation seems to be going much more quickly than initially expected. We originally were told the whole operation could take days. We're hours into it and half the trapped boys are already out. We are overhearing regular loudspeaker announcements outside the cave, ordering people not to record video or take photos of the entrance to the cave #Thailandcave— James Longman (@JamesAALongman) July 8, 2018 1:45PM Two more boys expected out 'shortly' That would make six brought to safety by our count. Six more boys plus their coach remain inside the cave. One of two ambulances seen leaving the cave in northern Thailand after the rescue operation began Credit: Sakchai Lalit/AP 1:39PM Military helicopters believed to be carrying rescued boys seen leaving the area A military helicopter believed to be carrying rescued schoolboys takes off near Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Ra 1:35PM Thirteen helicopters on standby Slightly contradictory reports about the progress of the rescue. Thailand's defence ministry says that four boys have reached the cave system's chamber three, where they have been offered treatment before walking the rest of the way out. Earlier we heard that at least two had reached the surface and - later - had been helicoptered to hospital. What we do know is that the elaborate rescue effort appears to have been successful so far. There are 13 helicopters on standby - one for each member of the trapped team - waiting to take them to hospital. 1:29PM Helicopters evacuating boys to hospital One helicopter with two boys took off from here at 19:10 (13:10 GMT) and will be landing in the hospital in town soon, Nuttakarn Sumon reports from the scene. 1:26PM Fourth boy rescued Four boys among a group of 13 trapped in a flooded Thai cave reached the rescue base camp inside the complex on Sunday and will walk out soon, the country's defence ministry spokesman told AFP. "Four boys have reached chamber three and will walk out of the cave shortly," Lieutenant-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit said, referring to the area where rescue workers had set up a base. 1:26PM Grueling underwater route to freedom A reminder of the challenges facing the boys and their rescuers. The ledge the boys have sheltered on is four kilometers inside the cave system. The route out involves swimming underwater for 15 minutes at a time, squeezing through 38 cm gaps so narrow that divers will have to remove their kit, and scaling a five meter cliff. It would be challenging in any circumstances - and diving out was considered a last resort until forecasts of rain made it clear there was only a few days left to rescue them. 1:15PM Ambulance seen leaving Two ambulances seen leaving cave in northern Thailand hours after operation began to rescue trapped youth soccer players. We know that three of the boys are out of danger. The boys have had to dive, swim, and clamber through four kilometers of cave tunnels, much of it flooded, to reach safety. 1:09PM Third boy is 'safe' A third member of the football team has reached safety and is expected to emerge from the cave shortly, it is being reported. That leave nine boys, plus their coach, still awaiting rescue. 1:01PM Confirmed - two rescued from Thai caves The first two members of a Thai schoolboy soccer team have been rescued from the flooded cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks, a local rescue official said on Sunday. Authorities in northern Chiang Rai province began the dangerous mission to bring out the 12 boys and their coach earlier on Sunday. "Two kids are out. They are currently at the field hospital near the cave," said Tossathep Boonthong, chief of Chiang Rai's health department and part of the rescue team. "We are giving them a physical examination. They have not been moved to Chiang Rai hospital yet," 12:59PM 'Two boys rescued' - Thai official Local Thai officials have said two boys have been brought to the surface. The claim has yet to be confirmed. Thirteen foreign divers and five members of Thailand's elite navy SEAL unit launched an operation to bring the boys - some as young as 11 and weak swimmers – to the surface this morning. They will have to swim through through narrow, submerged passageways that claimed the life of a former Thai navy diver on Friday. 6:36AM Brothers in arms The Thai Navy Seals have posted an image on Facebook after the rescue operation was announced, showing rescue workers holding each others' arms and emphasizing the work with international rescuers. 6:13AM Whole operation could take 2-4 days A Thai army commander says the ongoing rescue could take two-four days depending on conditions inside the partially flooded cave. According to Maj. Gen. Chalongchai Chaiyakam, the 13 "will continuously come out in approximately two to four days, which all may change depending on weather and water conditions." 5:26AM Rescuers had to act immediately After a short deluge of rain on Saturday night and with more bad weather forecast later on Sunday, Narongsak said authorities had to act immediately. "There is no other day that we are more ready than today," he said. "Otherwise we will lose the opportunity." Sustained heavy rains could make the water rise to the shelf where the children were sitting, reducing the area to "less than 10 square meters", Narongsak had said on Saturday. Ambulances wait outside the Tham Luang cave complex Credit: Reuters 5:09AM 13 foreigners taking part in rescue A total of 13 foreigners and five Thai divers are taking part in the rescue. Rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said the boys will gradually come out accompanied by two divers each. The only way to bring them out of Tham Luang Nang Non in Chiang Rai province is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air. Rescuers arrive nearthe cave where 12 boys and their football coach have been trapped since June 23 Credit: AP In a sign of the challenges facing the divers and boys, a former Thai navy SEAL passed out making the dive on Friday and died. Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are. The rescue chief earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that won't last if it rains again. 4:46AM Extraction will take about 11 hours The divers went in at 10am local time - about 45 minutes ago - and the 13 people in the cave have been informed of the operation, as have the families. The earliest the first group will emerge from the cave is 9pm, rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters near the cave site. "The boys are ready to face any challenges," he said. 4:39AM Rescue mission under way Rescue efforts for boys in Thai cave have begun, the mission chief has told a press conference. "Today is D-day" Thai official at press conference on Cave rescue operation.— Imelda Flattery (@Imeldaflattery) July 8, 2018
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| Six boys have exited Thai cave - senior member of rescue team Posted: 08 Jul 2018 06:50 AM PDT  BANGKOK (Reuters) - Six boys have exited a flooded cave in northern Thailand where they have been trapped for more than two weeks, a senior member of rescue operation's medical team said on Sunday. Authorities in northern Chiang Rai province began the dangerous mission to bring out the 12 boys and their soccer coach earlier on Sunday. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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| Russian Bots Linked To Viral Twitter Attacks On 'Hateful' Dems Posted: 07 Jul 2018 09:32 PM PDT  In what may be an early onslaught of Kremlin-linked Twitter attacks ahead of
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| Comic book great and Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko dies at age 90 Posted: 07 Jul 2018 09:38 AM PDT  Ditko co-created Spider-Man alongside writer Stan Lee. He brought numerous other characters to life throughout his career, including Marvel's Dr. Strange.
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| Pope fears for Christian presence in Mideast Posted: 07 Jul 2018 02:36 AM PDT  Pope Francis on Saturday voiced concern that Christians will disappear from the Middle East amid "murderous indifference" as war rages on. "The Middle East has become a land of people who leave their own lands behind," Francis said. "For a Middle East without Christians would not be the Middle East.
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| President Trump’s first UK visit expected to be met with protests and support Posted: 07 Jul 2018 09:02 AM PDT  As the city of London braces for protests during Trump's first official visit, NBC News' Lucy Kafanov talks to those who support the president.
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| Suspect drunk driver smashes into Houston police officer's patrol car Posted: 08 Jul 2018 06:26 AM PDT  A Houston police officer was involved in a crash with a suspected drunk driver Sunday morning.
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| The Latest: Largest California wildfire over half contained Posted: 07 Jul 2018 09:00 PM PDT  GOLETA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires burning in the West (all times local):
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| Indian police charge five in death of rape victim's father Posted: 07 Jul 2018 09:18 AM PDT  By Nigam Prusty NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police on Saturday charged five people, including the brother of a lawmaker from the ruling party, in relation to the death of the father of a teenage girl raped last year. Atul Singh Sengar, the brother of the arrested lawmaker, along with four others were accused of brutally assaulting the rape victim's father who "sustained serious injuries", federal police said in a statement. More than 100 rapes are reported in India every day, but strong political overtones have crept into this particular case.
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| AP Explains: Immigration protests before 'Abolish ICE' Posted: 07 Jul 2018 10:28 AM PDT  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Several people were arrested this week after they placed a banner on the Statue of Liberty's pedestal on the Fourth of July calling for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protesters forced the closure of the ICE building in Portland, Oregon, and more Democratic politicians have been embracing an "abolish ICE" message as the midterm elections approach.
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| Syrian refugee girl who used tin cans for legs cries as she gets first prosthetic limbs Posted: 08 Jul 2018 04:52 AM PDT  The 8-year-old Syrian girl, quietly crying in an Istanbul clinic, was overwhelmed by the new set of prosthetic legs she had just received and taken aback by the cameras pointed at her by journalists attending the fitting. Maya Meri has been in the spotlight since images of her plight hit social media last month. She was filmed in a camp for the displaced in Syria's northwestern Idlib province walking around on contraptions her father made from tuna cans, plastic tubes and fabric. "I thought of doing something that would protect her while on the ground from stones and other things, so I made these limbs for her," said her father, Mohammed. Maya Meri adjusts her prosthetic leg as she sits on her dad Mohammed's lap at a rehabilitation clinic in Istanbul. Credit: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Maya was born without legs because of a condition called congenital amputation. Her story moved one Turkish prosthetics specialist to reach out to Turkey's largest humanitarian organization, which evacuated her from Syria. Maya is now in Istanbul with her father, who shares the same disability. On Thursday, as journalists looked on, prosthetics specialist Mehmet Zeki Culcu took off Maya's makeshift legs. He first wrapped her limbs in protective layers of fabric and then placed her in temporary prosthetics. Camera shutters clicked as Culcu lifted Maya up and she stood in her purple and pink sneakers, which looked a few sizes too big. Maya waited for years for proper prosthetics Credit: OSMAN ORSAL/Reuters Originally from Aleppo province, the Meri family had to move to escape the fighting. "We fled to an area that has not witnessed bombardment but it was difficult to live there in a tent on a mountain," said Mohammed, who has five other children still in Syria with their mother. Maya Meri is guided by a prosthetic specialist as she tries out her new legs. Credit: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP In the Idlib camp, Maya and her father had to crawl on the bare earth to get anywhere. He said the little girl would be in pain because of the rugged terrain as she made her way to school. The homemade prosthetics allowed her to move about more easily, and helped her learn how to balance, shortening a two-week process to a single day when she was fitted with her new legs. Culcu, who took on her case pro-bono, thinks it will take about 2 1/2 months for her to be fully fitted. "If Maya continues to learn so fast and be so enthusiastic, it might be completed in a shorter time," he said. Maya walks on legs made of tin cans in a refugee camp in Idlib Credit: AAREF WATAD/AFP Maya practices taking steps with the aid of a walker. In time, Culcu said her trial socket prosthetics will be lengthened with a knee joint and then extended below the knee. She grimaces with pain after an hour with her synthetic limbs, but the technicians said that's to be expected and worked to adjust them. Culcu said Maya has become a "child symbol" and he hopes the world will be moved by her plight to put an end to the civil war in Syria. "There are hundreds of thousands of people living with disabilities, and among them are tens of thousands of children, who unfortunately need prosthetics," he said. Turkey, which shares a lengthy border with Syria, has become entrenched in the Syrian conflict. The country hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, and its agencies and non-governmental organizations work across the border to provide aid. Maya Meri waits to be fitted with her new legs Credit: OSMAN ORSAL/ REUTERS Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters have seized territory in northern Syria from the Islamic State group and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters. Turkey, which supports the Syrian opposition, has negotiated local cease-fires with Iran and Russia, which are allied with the government. The Turkish Red Crescent is sponsoring Maya and her father's stay in Turkey. Culcu has pledged to provide prosthetics for the elder Meri after he receives an operation to prepare his limbs for the fitting. A while after trying her new prosthetics, Maya sat on her father's lap, exhausted and silent as he mused about their future. "Life is good if I can live here in Turkey, where someone can help us live a good life, because I cannot work," he said.
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| Suppliers Say Porsche Cross Turismo To Hit The Market Late 2021 Posted: 08 Jul 2018 01:00 PM PDT  Tesla has three more years to prepare for its greatest rival.
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| Maisie Williams Is The 'Last Woman Standing' As 'Game Of Thrones' Winds Down Posted: 07 Jul 2018 10:23 AM PDT  Maisie Williams, aka Arya Stark, gave desperate "Game of Thrones" fans an
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| Trump's lawyers called former FBI director James Comey 'Machiavellian' and dishonest in memo to Russia investigation Posted: 07 Jul 2018 12:42 PM PDT  Donald Trump's legal team reportedly launched a withering attack on former FBI Director James Comey in a letter to the special counsel probing Russian interference in the election, calling him "Machiavellian" and "dishonest". In a memo provides a window into the way the president's lawyers have been seeking to undermine the credibility of Mr Comey, a letter dispatched to Special Counsel Robert Mueller by Marc Kasowitz, then the president's lead lawyer, described him as "unbounded by law and regulation". The letter, obtained by the Associated Press, was sent in June 2017, shortly after Mr Mueller was appointed to lead the investigation into alleged Russian interference and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
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| Man dies after being pulled from rough surf off the coast of North Carolina Posted: 07 Jul 2018 05:28 PM PDT  A 62-year-old swimmer died in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, after being swept away from shore by a current on Saturday.
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| Three-Door 2019 Hyundai Veloster Delivers Fun at a Budget Price Posted: 08 Jul 2018 03:06 AM PDT  At a time when automakers are doubling down on SUVs and moving away from coupes, Hyundai rolls out a new Veloster. This distinctive sportster has been redesigned for 2019, bringing subtle improve...
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| California police draw attention to cold case, in tweets Posted: 08 Jul 2018 02:39 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California police department is drawing attention to a 45-year-old murder case by tweeting about the crime as if it just happened, in the voice of the 11-year-old victim.
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| Hawaii’s volcano eruption: Photos of sublime beauty and danger Posted: 08 Jul 2018 07:40 AM PDT ![Hawaii's volcano eruption: Photos of sublime beauty and danger]( "Hawaii's volcano eruption: Photos of sublime beauty and danger") Photographer CJ Kale's breathtaking works show the molten lava of Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano in its incredible vibrancy.
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| U.S. warships pass through Taiwan Strait amid China tensions Posted: 08 Jul 2018 03:31 AM PDT  By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Jess Macy Yu WASHINGTON/TAIPEI (Reuters) - Two U.S. warships passed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday on a voyage that will likely be viewed in the self-ruled island as a sign of support by President Donald Trump amid heightened tension with China. "Two U.S. Navy ships conducted a routine transit through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait on July 7-8 (local time)," Captain Charlie Brown, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Fleet, told Reuters in a statement. "U.S. Navy Ships transit between the South China Sea and East China Sea via the Taiwan Strait and have done so for many years," Brown said.
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| This Week: PepsiCo results, consumer prices, bank earnings Posted: 07 Jul 2018 10:11 PM PDT ![This Week: PepsiCo results, consumer prices, bank earnings]( "This Week: PepsiCo results, consumer prices, bank earnings") A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:
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| Indian army shoots dead three protesters in Kashmir Posted: 07 Jul 2018 08:33 AM PDT  Troops shot dead three stone-throwing protesters including a 16-year-old girl in Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday, as tensions rose ahead of the anniversary of the death of a popular rebel commander. Witnesses said soldiers opened fire in the southern Kashmiri district of Kulgam after hundreds of people angry at an army search operation for suspected militants gathered to protest, some hurling objects. "The three had bullet injuries and succumbed soon after their arrival at the hospital," the doctor at a sub-district hospital in Kulgam said on condition of anonymity.
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| Dogs ‘Write’ Note to Mail Carrier Apologizing For Eating Her Lunch: 'Thank You For Sharing!' Posted: 07 Jul 2018 11:23 AM PDT  Brothers Bear and Bull, black lab-mastiff mixes with a zeal for adventure, had been caught red-handed devouring their mail carrier's lunch.
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| Raw video: Driver fleeing police crashes into house Posted: 07 Jul 2018 01:47 PM PDT  Police in Pennsylvania say a driver fleeing police lost control of the car and crashed into a house.
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| Nato fears Donald Trump may pull troops out of Europe if countries do not increase defence spending Posted: 08 Jul 2018 04:36 AM PDT  Donald Trump could threaten to pull US troops out of Ukraine and refuse to take part in joint Nato exercises if Britain and other European countries fail to commit to increased spending on defence, military figures and diplomats fear. Senior sources involved in preparations for this week's Nato summit are concerned that the US president will begin talks with Vladimir Putin about "redrawing the security landscape" across Europe if leaders refuse to meet Mr Trump's demands to shoulder a bigger share of the military "burden". Military and diplomatic figures told The Telegraph of fears over a possible offer that Mr Trump could make to Mr Putin at a planned summit between the two leaders in Helsinki on July 16 - four days after Thursday's summit in Brussels. Separately, speaking to The Telegraph, Tobias Ellwood, the defence minister, warned: "Given the US's footprint in Europe and Putin's recent hostile actions that has eroded continental stability, much hinges on the outcome of the two forthcoming summits. And Britain, as Europe's largest and most capable military force, is right to play an influencing role in US thinking." It comes as Britain's ambassador to America today launches a staunch defence of the UK-US relationship under Donald Trump, insisting military ties remain "stronger than ever" despite some policy differences. Nato forces, including US troops, take part in Sabre Strike exercise in Poland in June Credit: Georgina Stubbs/PA Writing in the Telegraph ahead of Mr Trump's UK visit, Sir Kim Darroch admits that both countries have had to talk "frankly" over issues such as steel tariffs and the Iran nuclear deal. However he adds that it is only because Britain and America have a relationship that is "so close and open" that they can share their grievances with honesty. The US has a military presence, ranging from troops to aircraft, in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. The US had been scaling back its presence in Europe until Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, when Barack Obama launched a major drive to support and train the armed forces of Nato states on Russia's borders, to guard against future aggressive moves. Only last month America led a joint Nato exercise in Poland and the Baltic states, involving 18,000 soldiers. At a glance | Military spending by Nato members A diplomatic source said officials feared that Mr Trump would use this week's summit to withdraw American military support over the spending row. "Ukraine is really in danger," the source said. An official familiar with Britain's preparations for the summit added: "We could be in a situation where, between them, Trump and Putin will come up with some dodgy deal that they'll try to portray as a political win to both their countries but will ultimately leave Europe exposed and vulnerable at a crucial moment in our history with so much instability on the continent." The world is becoming more dangerous, the threats more complex and growing on multiple frontsTobias Ellwood, Defence minister Britain is one of only five states that currently meets a Nato targets of spending 2 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, with Spain and Belgium spending 0.9 per cent, and Germany's contribution set at 1.2 per cent. Mr Ellwood said: "As we make the case for further UK defence spending so should our Nato allies. The world is becoming more dangerous, the threats more complex and growing on multiple fronts. So it's understandable for the US to air frustration and ask European nations to do more - especially as some states are yet to meet their standard 2 per cent obligation. "And it's in Europe's direct interest to upgrade our defence posture, as our economies, heavily reliant on access to international markets, will be affected if we can't guarantee security for that access as well as put out potential fires in future markets." Mr Trump wants Theresa May to go further on defence spending, and in a letter to Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis, his US counterpart said America was concerned that Britain's military power and diplomatic influence were "at risk of erosion". Last week it emerged that Mr Trump was already considering transferring or withdrawing personnel from Germany, where the US currently has around 35,000 troops. For decades, America's military presence in Germany has been viewed as a bulwark against a potential Russian invasion of Europe. Nato defence expenditure and major annual exercises involving US troops The diplomatic source warned that Mr Trump could use the offer of cutting back the US military presence in Europe to secure a reciprocal assurance from Mr Putin in Helsinki that Russia will use its influence on Tehran to help secure the withdrawal of Iranian troops from Syria. Israel views Iran's presence in Syria as an existential threat. The source claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has tried to persuade both Mrs May and Mr Trump of the need to enlist Mr Putin's help. The source warned that Mr Putin's ability to achieve Iran's withdrawal from Syria was questionable, and warned against Mr Trump making any offer in exchange for a false promise. "Russia pretends it can deliver to achieve these short-term aims. They just need the hook to get [Trump] on. "We need to be in a very strong position in the West to negotiate with Russia ... [which would be threatened by] cutting some kind of theoretical deal which sounds purely naive."
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| Foes Ethiopia, Eritrea pledge to open embassies as leaders embrace Posted: 08 Jul 2018 11:47 AM PDT  The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea announced on Sunday they would re-open their embassies, hailing a stunningly swift rapprochement between bitter regional enemies at their first summit since a war two decades ago. The talks were the product of an unexpected peace initiative by Ethiopia's new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which could transform the Horn of Africa region, ending decades of animosity during which both countries remained isolated and dominated by their security forces. Eritrea's long-time leader Isaias Afwerki welcomed Abiy at Asmara's airport in the morning before they departed for the State House for talks that lasted all day.
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| Family of Ohio State doctor says it's cooperating in probe Posted: 07 Jul 2018 03:17 PM PDT  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The family of a former Ohio State University team doctor accused by athletes of sexual misconduct says it is "shocked and saddened" by the allegations and is cooperating with the school's independent investigation.
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| Bentley Taking Pikes Peak Bentayga To Goodwood Posted: 08 Jul 2018 01:29 AM PDT  And a pair of Continental GTs too.
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| Incoming Mexican president to seek negotiated peace in drug war Posted: 06 Jul 2018 09:07 PM PDT ![Incoming Mexican president to seek negotiated peace in drug war]( "Incoming Mexican president to seek negotiated peace in drug war") By Diego Oré MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's transition team unveiled a plan on Friday to shake up the fight against crime, including reduced jail time but stiffer controls on weapons, as the country reels from a militarized drug war. The concept of "transitional justice" is part of the incoming government's integral security strategy, Olga Sanchez, Lopez Obrador's proposed interior minister, told Reuters in an interview before her team unveiled the plan. Transitional justice typically involves leniency for those who admit guilt, truth commissions to investigate atrocities and the granting of reparations for some victims.
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| Violent protests erupt in Haiti as fuel prices spike Posted: 06 Jul 2018 08:23 PM PDT  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Major protests erupted Friday in Haiti as the government announced a sharp increase in gasoline prices, with demonstrators using burning tires and barricades to block major streets across the capital and in the northern city of Cap-Haitien.
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| Cambodia kicks off campaign for controversial election Posted: 07 Jul 2018 12:20 AM PDT  Cambodian political parties on Saturday kicked off a three-week-long campaign for a controversial general election later this month, which strongman Hun Sen is poised to sweep after the main opposition were disbanded and their senior members driven into self-exile. Hun Sen -- who has ruled Cambodia for 33 years -- told a sea of supporters dressed in matching T-shirts adorned with the logo of his ruling party, that his government would ensure peace, economic growth and raise salaries for the key garment worker sector every year. "I have led the country through many dangerous situations... despite attempts by some ill-willed groups inside and outside of the country to create all kinds of difficulties to hamper our journey in building, protecting and developing the nation," Hun Sen said.
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| Miss America factions clash over decision to ditch swimsuit round Posted: 08 Jul 2018 06:57 AM PDT  Former Miss Americas are rallying in support of Gretchen Carlson, another former winner brought in to reform the pageant, after state officials pushed for her resignation. Their move reveals deep divisions over the direction of an organisation that was rocked by a 2017 email scandal and is trying to modernise for the #metoo era. Ms Carlson, Miss America 1989 and an early figure in the #MeToo movement, announced last month that the pageant was dropping the swimsuit element of the competition. However, some former directors and state officials said they felt pressured to make the change or risk broadcasters dropping the pageant from television. Representatives from 22 state pageants signed a petition calling for the resignations of the new Miss America board, including Ms Carlson and Regina Hopper, its chief executive, according to The Press of Atlantic City. Gretchen Carlson leads the Miss America board of trustees Credit: Miss America Organisation But in a letter to the newspaper, 30 former Miss Americas said they "fully support" Carlson and the board members "who are and have been working tirelessly to move our programme forward". The Miss America organisation is regrouping after a December scandal in which emails surfaced in which its then chief executive and board members mocked winners' intelligence, looks and sex lives. They were forced to resign. Today, the organisation's top three posts are held by women and the new leaders have begun making changes. The petition from the state pageant officials expressed a vote of "no confidence" in the board of trustees. It cited a lack of transparency and adherence to best practices, The Press said. But the former Miss Americas said in their letter that they "hope the voices of our majority can and will be heard". Ms Hopper told The Press on Friday that "there are always those who disagree with or find it hard to accept change", but that the organisation welcomes anyone who wants to move forward with a revitalised programme dedicated to providing scholarships and opportunities to young women. Suzette Charles, Miss America 1984, said things had begun to "unravel" in the organisation. "There's been a lot of dismay with (Carlson's) leadership," she said. "We thought she would regard this program with reverence and keep this tradition alive."
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