2019年8月1日星期四

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Yahoo! News: India Top Stories - Reuters


Fox News Stars Go After Tomi Lahren for Sexist Jab at Kamala Harris

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 09:29 PM PDT

Fox News Stars Go After Tomi Lahren for Sexist Jab at Kamala HarrisRich PolkSeveral of Tomi Lahren's Fox News colleagues were upset with her sexist remarks about Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday evening. And they were not afraid to publicly say so.During the Democratic presidential debate, Lahren, a right-wing firebrand who hosts a Fox Nation show and often appears on Fox News, swiped at Harris for her mid-1990s relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. "Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown?" Lahren wrote.Lahren was swiftly condemned for invoking Harris' personal relationship to dismiss the 2020 candidate's long record in elected office, rising from San Francisco district attorney to California's attorney general before being elected to the U.S. Senate. But while the tweet attracted its share of liberal critics, some of Lahren's own colleagues at Fox News openly expressed disgust at her comments."I am curious to know what you think bringing a woman's personal/sexual life into this accomplishes," Fox News libertarian commentator Kat Timpf replied. "Men do that to us enough as it is. I'm honestly asking."Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov, a liberal pundit who often co-hosts daytime talk show Outnumbered, retweeted Timpf's response to Lahren.Fellow Fox Nation host Britt McHenry—who recently accused her former co-host Tyrus of sexually harassing her—admonished Lahren for attempting to erase Harris' professional career."Do you have any idea how damaging this is to women who've actually been sexually harassed, assaulted or demeaned in the workplace? How much this weakens our own gender, regardless of partisanship," she wrote. "My goodness."In another tweet, an incensed McHenry added: "Slept her way to the top? I'm sorry what law degree do you have? What state bar did you pass?"And early Thursday morning, Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean also took Lahren to task, writing: "If a male contributor had tweeted this they would probably be suspended with a trip to HR. Pretty disgusting, Tomi. Are clicks and retweets worth demeaning women? Would you do the same to a 'conservative' female candidate?"Privately, other Fox News employees rebuked Lahren's incendiary remarks. One staffer expressed disgust to The Daily Beast, noting that Lahren has previously gotten in hot water for inflammatory statements but remains a prominent fixture at Fox News. "It makes me sick that I work for the same company as Tomi Lahren," another Fox employee said to CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy.On Thursday morning, Lahren walked back her comments."I apologize for my comment on Kamala's personal relationship. It was the wrong choice of words. There are many other things to take her to task for and I will stick to those," she wrote in a statement.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.


'I hope they'll come back to me next time': Marianne Williamson speaks up during the debate

Posted: 30 Jul 2019 06:13 PM PDT

'I hope they'll come back to me next time': Marianne Williamson speaks up during the debate'Everything we are talking about is what's wrong with American politics,' Williamson said


Navy SEAL prosecutors to be stripped of achievement medals

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 05:21 AM PDT

Navy SEAL prosecutors to be stripped of achievement medalsNavy officials said Wednesday they are pulling achievement medals from prosecutors who argued the case against a decorated Navy SEAL who was acquitted in the death of a wounded Islamic State captive after President Donald Trump intervened. Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday that he had directed the secretary of the Navy and the chief of naval operations to "immediately withdraw and rescind" the Navy Achievement Medal from prosecutors who argued the case against Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted by military jurors earlier this month.


America could be on the verge of war - watching the Democratic debates you'd never know it

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 09:26 PM PDT

America could be on the verge of war - watching the Democratic debates you'd never know itFor the second night in a row, the Democratic debate included only a few minutes of discussion on foreign policy. And even those few minutes did not involve much debate. It consisted of a few general questions that demanded short answers. Jon Wolfstahl, a former National Security Council official in the Obama administration, tweeted: "War could break out at any time with Iran, Russia or North Korea. Nuclear arms race happening, UK collapsing, China trade war. Watching CNN debate you would never know it."Even when Democratic candidate and New York mayor Bill de Blasio asked, in a very loud voice, why they don't talk about a potential war with Iran, CNN moderators cut him off and explained that they had to move on to the next subject. Matt Duss, foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, who took part in the first Democratic debate in Detroit the night before, tweeted: "Well the 2 1/2 minutes on the US's upcoming catastrophic war is done let's move on."It was not only foreign policy wonks in Washington who were surprised and disappointed at the short amount of time allocated to foreign policy. Asal Rad, a California-based researcher for the National Iranian American Council, tweeted: "After four debate nights with over 20 candidates we have barely had a discussion on a policy that may have consequences for a generation to come. But please, more about Mueller."It is not clear why CNN decided to allocate such little time to foreign policy at a time when the US is dealing with a few serious international issues, mainly the potential of a military conflict with Iran. But after two nights in a row, viewers have started raising the question more vocally. Maria Afsharian, a former television journalist, told me: "When I worked at NBC, I was told that most Americans don't have the time to understand, or can't relate to foreign policy."Foreign policy is important to people like us, but not to the majority of Americans - they are worried about feeding and supporting themselves and their families."Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only war veteran on the debate stage, who served in Iraq, was the only Democratic candidate to address foreign policy at any length. She said that the American people were lied to about that war, and she committed to bring back American soldiers."The leadership I will bring to do the right thing to bring our troops home within the first year in office. Because they shouldn't have been there this long."


Boris Johnson’s Belfast Brexit Message Leaves Dublin and EU Cold

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 10:02 AM PDT

Boris Johnson's Belfast Brexit Message Leaves Dublin and EU Cold(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson went a long way toward cementing his working majority in the U.K. Parliament with a visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday, but did little to break the Brexit impasse with Dublin and Brussels.The new prime minister met with the region's main political parties in Belfast on the latest leg of a nationwide tour after taking office last week. He reiterated his plan to leave the European Union on Oct. 31 with or without a deal, while promising not to add infrastructure at the Irish border -- the U.K.'s land frontier with the bloc -- in any Brexit scenario.Only the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up the government in Westminster, came out unequivocally in support of Johnson's strategy. Leader Arlene Foster called it "sensible" and echoed his demand for a Brexit deal that both removes the backstop -- a fallback provision in the agreement designed to keep the border with Ireland free of checks -- and doesn't "break up the United Kingdom."Johnson's rejection of the backstop, a key element of the divorce deal his predecessor Theresa May negotiated with Brussels, has put the U.K. on a collision course with the EU and made a no-deal Brexit -- the scenario most feared by businesses -- more likely. The U.K. is due to leave the bloc in just three months' time.Border ProblemJohnson's pledge not to add physical infrastructure on the Irish border, without offering a solution for how customs checks can be done, is particularly challenging to the Republic of Ireland and the EU. It puts the onus on them to find a solution to what will become an external frontier for the bloc's single market, while likely souring any talks on a future trade deal.Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland "isn't going to be bullied" on the backstop and needs to stand firm. There is "total support" from the EU on the issue, he said in an interview with the Irish Mirror newspaper.Johnson's unwillingness to pursue a compromise on the backstop also triggered anger from his opponents in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said Brexit is changing minds on the issue of a united Ireland, and called on the U.K. government to lay out what it sees as the threshold for a referendum on unification."If you are democratically intent on it, who are we to stop you?" McDonald said of Brexit on BBC Radio. "But you can't wreck Ireland in the process."The Ulster Unionist Party, even though it opposes the backstop, also used a meeting with Johnson to raise its opposition to leaving the EU without a deal, the Belfast Telegraph reported, citing leader Robin Swann.Reassuring AlliesThe opposition of some of Northern Ireland's parties won't worry Johnson because he's gained the approval for his "do or die" Brexit stance from the only one that matters in terms of votes in the Westminster Parliament -- the DUP. Even a plunge in the pound hasn't derailed that in the past few days."We are stepping up a gear and increasing the pace of our preparations as we get ready to leave the EU" on Oct. 31, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said in a statement after meeting executives from companies including General Electric, BAE Systems and Tate and Lyle Sugars in London.Nevertheless, Johnson's tour of the four U.K. nations -- which he dubbed the "awesome foursome" -- has not yielded wholly positive headlines. From boos in Edinburgh to a backlash from sheep farmers in Wales and calls for a united Ireland in Belfast, his promise to use Brexit to boost British unity looks a difficult challenge.To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Biggs in London at sbiggs3@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson at fjackson@bloomberg.net, Thomas Penny, Alex MoralesFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


At least 11 people, including an amusement park mascot, have died across Japan in an unexpected heat wave

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 03:17 AM PDT

At least 11 people, including an amusement park mascot, have died across Japan in an unexpected heat waveTemperatures in Japan unexpectedly rose after the end of a rainy season this summer, with highs of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit expected this week.


Britain tells Iran: there will be no tanker swap

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 05:26 AM PDT

Britain tells Iran: there will be no tanker swapBritain on Thursday ruled out exchanging an Iranian tanker detained by Gibraltar for a British-flagged tanker seized by Iran in the Gulf. "We are not going to barter: if people or nations have detained UK-flagged illegally then the rule of law and rule of international law must be upheld," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said while on a trip to Bangkok. "We are not going to barter a ship that was detained legally with a ship that was detained illegally: that's not the way that Iran will come in from the cold," he said.


Hong Kong financial workers stage flash protest

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 04:52 AM PDT

Hong Kong financial workers stage flash protestHundreds of financial workers braved pouring rain to gather in central Hong Kong Thursday, giving that sector's support to mass protests that have roiled the territory for weeks. According to organisers on the messaging app Telegram, workers from around 80 banks gathered at Chater Gardens in the heart of the financial district and more than 700 workers posted photos of their staff cards to declare they would also join a city-wide strike called for next Monday.


How America Would Win a War Against Russia or China (Think F-35s and More)

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 12:23 AM PDT

How America Would Win a War Against Russia or China (Think F-35s and More)If land-based precision artillery, maneuvering Air Force fighter jets and Navy destroyers were all able to seamlessly share sensitive targeting information in real time during high-intensity combat, the Pentagon would be closely approaching its currently-envisioned concept of modern joint multi-domain warfare.While elements of this kind of information sharing, of course, already exist, DoD is currently refining and expanding its concept of joint attack with the intention of reaching an entirely new level of modern operational effectiveness. This not only includes incorporating previously less-impactful warfare domains, such as space, cyber and electronic warfare, but also envisions new dimensions of land, air, surface and undersea integrated attack.U.S. Army Futures Command has stood up two multi-domain task force units, addressing threat scenarios in Europe and the Pacific, geared toward advancing a warfare synergy between otherwise disparate spheres of attack, such as air, land or sea. Gen. John Murray, U.S. Army Futures Commander, recently told reporters that the Army is rapidly adapting to how multi-domain combat continues to inform preparations for future war. This, according to Murray, includes efforts to… "start modifying structures, organizations and TTPs (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) regarding how you fight based upon multi-domain-capable formations."


CNN Analyst Blasts Kirsten Gillibrand’s ‘Craven’ and ‘Unfair’ Attack on Joe Biden During Debate

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 10:07 PM PDT

CNN Analyst Blasts Kirsten Gillibrand's 'Craven' and 'Unfair' Attack on Joe Biden During DebateCNN political analyst Kirsten Powers took aim at Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) late Wednesday for criticizing former Vice President Joe Biden over a position he held in the early 1980s during the latest Democratic presidential primary debate, calling the New York senator's attacks "craven."Asked about the gender pay gap, Gillibrand had pivoted to Biden and suggested the former vice president believes women shouldn't work outside the home by bringing up an op-ed he wrote in 1981 explaining his vote against a childcare tax credit. Biden, meanwhile, noted both his deceased first wife and current wife worked throughout their marriages while defending his vote. During CNN's post-game coverage, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo said he felt Gillibrand's attack missed its mark, questioning if she honestly believed that Biden "doesn't want women to work.""The attack seemed craven," Powers declared. "It was unfair. The idea, first of all, 1981? What did any of us think in 1981? Is that what we're really going back to. What's important is what does Joe Biden think today."She went on to say that we know what Biden currently thinks about women in the workforce because his wife has a PhD and works outside the home."To me, I felt like it was a swing and a miss," she stated, adding: "I feel like a lot of people are going to look at this and think, there are problems with Joe Biden, but like, this isn't fair."Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.


New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio asked why officer involved in Eric Garner's death wasn't fired

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 07:24 PM PDT

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio asked why officer involved in Eric Garner's death wasn't firedFederal prosecutors announced earlier this month that they would not file charges against Daniel Pantaleo, who was involved Eric Garner's death.


Chief apologizes over hiring of officer who shot black man

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 03:35 PM PDT

Chief apologizes over hiring of officer who shot black manA Louisiana police chief apologized Thursday to his city and to the family of a black man shot and killed by a former police officer in 2016, saying the officer never should have been hired, at the same time his office announced a settlement reversing the officer's 2018 firing and allowing him to resign instead. At a news conference in Baton Rouge, Police Chief Murphy Paul and a police lawyer detailed repeated problems with Officer Blane Salamoni that they said should have raised red flags long before Alton Sterling was shot and killed. In particular, the lawyer, Leo Hamilton, said Salamoni had been arrested for a physical altercation prior to joining the police department, which normally would have prevented him from being hired.


‘Serving under Trump is embarrassing’: Fifth Republican congressman retires in just two weeks as GOP fears more exits

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 03:45 AM PDT

'Serving under Trump is embarrassing': Fifth Republican congressman retires in just two weeks as GOP fears more exitsA fifth Republican congressman appears set to quit the party in the space of two weeks amid ongoing tension over Donald Trump's presidency.Representative Mike Conaway will not seek re-election to his Texas seat in 2020, the Politico website reported. He has not confirmed his decision or reason for retiring but he is set to make a statement to the media. The move has prompted worries within the party that others will follow suit and step down, because of the difficulties that come with serving under Mr Trump and working with a Democratic majority in Congress."Serving in the era of Trump has few rewards," Tom Davis, a former senior Republican congressman, told The Hill website. "He has made an already hostile political environment worse. "Every day there is some indefensible tweet or comment to defend or explain. It is exhausting and often embarrassing."Mr Conaway, who has served in congress for 15 years, will join Republican representatives Paul Mitchell, Pete Olson, Martha Roby and Rob Bishop in announcing his retirement.Mr Mitchell had told the House that "rhetoric overwhelms policy and politics consumes much of the oxygen" in Washington DC. One of his former campaign workers Jamie Roe, later said that Mitchell had "been frustrated with the fact that things don't get done here".While he did not explicitly attribute blame to the president, he was one of the first Republican congressmen to complain about Mr Trump's recent racist remarks about the group of Democratic congresswoman known as the squad. "We must be better than comments like these," he tweeted after the president suggested Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan should go back to their "broken and crime-infested" countries.Mr Mitchell added: "I share the political frustrations with some members of the other party, but these comments are beneath leaders."Ms Roby said she would not vote for Mr Trump in 2016 as his behaviour had been "unacceptable as a candidate for president" but has since improved their relationship and received an endorsement from him in 2018.The Republican Party is facing a difficult task in reclaiming the House in 2020 after Democrats were victorious in last year's midterm elections.Mr Trump's approval ratings remain low, currently at about 43 per cent on average, and his divisive political agenda could prove costly in congressional elections next year.Mr Conaway, Mr Mitchell, Ms Roby and Mr Bishop all represent safe Republican districts that are expected to pick candidates from the party in 2020.However, Mr Olson's district could be competitive – the Texas congressman saw his majority cut to 5 per cent in 2018.Even in safe districts, the prospect of returning to the House in 2020 may be unappealing for many conservative representatives as Democrats are expected to win a majority again next year.In a general ballot, recent polling has shown Democrats lead Republicans by 5.6 per cent for the 2020 election, according to an average by political analysis website FiveThirtyEight.All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives will be up for election in 2020, along with 34 seats in the US Senate.


U.S. Indicts Chinese Billionaire on Charges of Evading $1.8 Billion in Tariffs

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 12:44 AM PDT

U.S. Indicts Chinese Billionaire on Charges of Evading $1.8 Billion in TariffsHe is accused of disguising aluminium as pallets to avoid paying duties


Jeffrey Epstein reportedly told prominent scientists he wanted to impregnate 20 women at a time at his New Mexico ranch in order to 'seed the human race with his DNA'

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 12:48 PM PDT

Jeffrey Epstein reportedly told prominent scientists he wanted to impregnate 20 women at a time at his New Mexico ranch in order to 'seed the human race with his DNA'The convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reportedly has discussed the idea since the early 2000s at dinners, conferences, and other gatherings.


The 20 Most Stolen Late-Model Cars, Trucks, and SUVs

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 03:00 PM PDT

The 20 Most Stolen Late-Model Cars, Trucks, and SUVs


Giant "tsunami" injures 44 people at a water park

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 08:16 AM PDT

Giant "tsunami" injures 44 people at a water parkThis terrifying scene shows a massive wave sweeping tourists the Shuiyun Water Park in northern China on July 29. The wave was caused by a malfunction to the wave machine. 44 people were injured.


Here's How China and America's Missiles in the South China Sea Stack Up

Posted: 30 Jul 2019 06:00 PM PDT

Here's How China and America's Missiles in the South China Sea Stack UpThe U.S. Navy frequently sails warships through international waters near these fortified islands in order to assert its rights to navigate open waters. These "freedom-of-navigation operations," or FONOPs, often draw harsh condemnation from Beijing.The Chinese military lobbed anti-ship ballistic missiles into the South China Sea in tests in early July 2019.The missile trials underscored Beijing's increasing militarization of resource-rich waters on which several countries have conflicting claims."The Chinese carried out the first test over the weekend, firing off at least one missile into the sea," NBC News reported on July 1, 2019, citing a U.S. official with knowledge of the test."The window for testing remains open until July 3, and the official expects the Chinese military to test again before it closes."(This first appeared earlier in July 2019.)No U.S. Navy vessels were in the area when the missile or missiles splashed down, NBC News reported. Still, the official described the event as "concerning."China in recent years has occupied several disputed islands in the China Seas, dredged their endangered coral reefs and built atop them sprawling airfields and barracks and installations for cruise missiles and air-defense systems.The U.S. Navy frequently sails warships through international waters near these fortified islands in order to assert its rights to navigate open waters. These "freedom-of-navigation operations," or FONOPs, often draw harsh condemnation from Beijing.


Florida man who knowingly spread HIV gets 10 years in prison

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 02:54 AM PDT

Florida man who knowingly spread HIV gets 10 years in prisonA Pensacola man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for having sex without notifying his partners that he was HIV positive.


5 key takeaways from the 2nd Democratic debate

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 09:20 PM PDT

5 key takeaways from the 2nd Democratic debateWednesday night's Democratic primary debate saw the two highest-polling candidates on the stage — former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris — take fire from all sides.


Navy confirms pilot died in jet crash in Death Valley

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 01:02 PM PDT

Navy confirms pilot died in jet crash in Death ValleyThe pilot of a U.S. Navy jet fighter that crashed in Death Valley National Park was killed, the military said Thursday. The F/A-18E Super Hornet was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-151 based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California's Central Valley. The jet went down Wednesday during low-level flying in what was described as routine training.


Surgical plate found inside stomach of 4.7m long crocodile in Australia

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 02:43 AM PDT

Surgical plate found inside stomach of 4.7m long crocodile in AustraliaAn Australian crocodile farmer who found an orthopaedic plate inside a crocodile's stomach said on Thursday he had been told the surgical device was from a person's body and had been contacted by relatives of missing people anxious for clues. Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the plate inside a 4.7-metre (15-foot- 5) croc called M.J. during an autopsy in June at his business near Rockhampton in Queensland state. He initially wasn't sure if the unusual find had been part of an animal or human. But he said since making photos of the plate public, he had been told it was a type used in human surgery. Lever estimated that M.J. was 50 to 70 years old when he died. M.J. could have eaten the bone that the plate had been attached to by six screws 50 years ago, he said. All remnants of human tissue attached to the plate had been long digested before M.J. died several months after losing a fight with another croc. Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the plate inside MJ Lever is continuing to make inquiries in the hope of discovering what decade the type of plate was used and perhaps who it had belonged to. "I wouldn't call it an investigation, we're making inquiries because we're fascinated by this whole thing," Lever said. "Obviously this crocodile has chomped on something and that plate has been left in its stomach complete with screws." Lever bought M.J. from a farmer in Innisfail, 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), north of Rockhampton, six years ago. Sometime earlier, M.J. had been trapped in the wild. Crocodiles are protected in Australia and are only trapped if they are a threat to humans. "We've had a couple of people get in touch with us about their relatives that have gone missing in the northern Queensland area and they're anxious to find out - there's been nothing heard of these people, they've just disappeared," Lever said. "We'll certainly keep these people informed of any new news that we can get." MJ the crocodile was estimated to be 50 to 70 years old when he died The last fatal crocodile attack in Australia was in October when a woman was snatched while gathering mussels with her family in a waterhole in a remote part of the Northern Territory. The last fatal attack in Queensland was a year earlier, when a 79-year-old dementia patient was killed after wandering from a nursing home at Port Douglas. The crocodile population has exploded across the country's tropical north since the 1970s. Because saltwater crocodiles can live up to 70 years and grow throughout their lives - reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length - the proportion of large crocodiles is also rising.


President Trump blasts Federal Reserve after quarter-point cut: 'Powell let us down'

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 03:28 PM PDT

President Trump blasts Federal Reserve after quarter-point cut: 'Powell let us down'The Federal Reserve cut its prime interest rate for the first since December of 2008, but President Trump was not satisfied; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports.


Woman, 65, tasered by police after fleeing then kicking officer who stopped her over broken light: 'You're not placing me under no arrest'

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 02:49 AM PDT

Woman, 65, tasered by police after fleeing then kicking officer who stopped her over broken light: 'You're not placing me under no arrest'A 65-year-old woman was tasered after fleeing then kicking out at a police officer who stopped her over a broken light. Debra Hamil, from Oklahoma, has been charged after body camera footage showed her resisting arrest during the confrontation in the town of Cashion last month. "I don't think that I deserve to pay $80 for something that is fixable and I can fix it," Ms Hamil is heard telling the officer after he issues her a ticket for a broken tail light.After being asked to step out of her pick-up truck, she repeatedly refuses and eventually drives away, prompting a brief pursuit. After pulling over in a car park, the officer approaches her with his gun pulled and drags her out of the vehicle when she again refuses to step out.Following a brief struggle in which Ms Hamil kicks out, the officer fires his stun gun at her and places her under arrest. "Do you realise you just got yourself in a whole lot more trouble?" the officer says.Ms Hamil replies: "Yeah, I tried to kick you because I'm a country girl." Local media reported Ms Hamil was taken to hospital for a medical assessment despite refusing treatment. She was subsequently charged with one count of assault against a police officer and one misdemeanour for resisting arrest.


Uighurs challenge China to prove missing relatives are free

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 09:51 PM PDT

Uighurs challenge China to prove missing relatives are freeChina's claim that "most" inmates have been released from re-education camps in its Xinjiang region has been met with anger and scepticism by the Uighur diaspora which has launched a social media campaign challenging Beijing to prove it. Rights groups and experts say more than one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been rounded up in internment camps in the tightly-controlled northwest region, home to China's Uighur population. "It's absolutely not true," said Guly Mahsut, a Uighur based in Canada.


Here's how the locked-down Saudi Arabia-Qatar border became one of the tensest places on earth, sparking outrageous plans to build a 37-mile-long canal and turn Qatar into an island

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 03:02 AM PDT

Here's how the locked-down Saudi Arabia-Qatar border became one of the tensest places on earth, sparking outrageous plans to build a 37-mile-long canal and turn Qatar into an islandIn June 2017, Saudi Arabia turned the Gulf against Qatar, cutting it off, and accusing its leadership of backing Iran and terrorists.


Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Confessed to Killing Russian Influencer After She Called Him ‘Sexually Unworthy’

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 01:53 PM PDT

Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Confessed to Killing Russian Influencer After She Called Him 'Sexually Unworthy'InstagramThe ex-boyfriend of a Russian Instagram influencer whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase last week has confessed to her murder, saying he snapped after feeling "repeatedly insulted and humiliated" by her disparaging remarks, Russian authorities allege. Maxim Gareyev, 33, admitted to authorities that he stabbed 24-year-old Ekaterina Karaglanova "at least five times in the neck and chest" last week, BBC reported. He has been charged with murder, but has not yet formally entered a plea in Russian court."She constantly put me down and said that I am sexually unworthy and ugly. She lowered my financial opportunities and I couldn't stand it," Gareyev said in a video released by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, which was translated from Russian by The Daily Beast. "I stabbed her at least five times with a knife in her neck and chest. I regret it."Karaglanova—who was studying dermatology at a Moscow medical school— was found Friday night by her landlord in the hallway of her apartment. Gareyev told police in the video recording that he fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend, then took off her clothes and stuffed her body inside a suitcase, according to Russia's Moskovsky Komsomolets. It was not immediately clear whether the 33-year-old had a lawyer present when the police interview was recorded.Instagram Influencers Dupe Their Fans With 'Free' ProductsAuthorities allege Karaganova was murdered on June 22, the last day her family heard from her. Four days later, when her landlord opened her front door, police found a large suitcase with the 24-year-old's legs sticking out in the hallway. Police previously said there was no evidence of a struggle at Karaglanova's apartment and no murder weapon was found at the scene.Gareyev was arrested on Tuesday after CCTV footage showed a man briefly visiting her apartment, prompting authorities to question him, the BBC reported. According to Moskovsky Komsomolets, Gareyev told police he started dating Karaglanova several weeks earlier, although they had recently stopped seeing each other after she began a new relationship. The Instagram influencer was reportedly planning to celebrate her 25th birthday with her new boyfriend in the Netherlands on July 30.Gareyev appeared Thursday in court, where he apologized to her parents and told reporters that he was "ashamed," the Komsomolskaya Pravda reported."I am ashamed of myself," he reportedly said.While he admitted to being millions of rubles in debt, Gareyev allegedly said the slaying was not financially motivated but "spontaneous." The Russian outlet also reported that Gareyev's lawyer said his client will be evaluated by a mental-health expert.Hot Tub Murder Leads to Witness Suicide and Boyfriend's ArrestRead more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.


Biden fumbles closing statement at 2nd Democratic debate

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 08:48 PM PDT

Biden fumbles closing statement at 2nd Democratic debateAt the end of the second Democratic debate, the former vice president botched a call for donations, sending viewers to a nonexistent website that was soon redirected to Pete Buttigieg's campaign.


Ethiopia's PM says 'people from abroad' had role in June twin attacks

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Ethiopia's PM says 'people from abroad' had role in June twin attacksEthiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday that attackers in a failed regional coup in June had been trained by people who had come from foreign countries, without giving details. A rogue militia tried to seize power on June 22 in the northern Amhara region, an attack which authorities blamed on Asamnew Tsige, who was killed in fighting on the outskirts of the regional capital Bahir Dar. The army chief of staff was also killed in the capital Addis Ababa simultaneously with the failed Bahir Dar assault, an attack which was also blamed on Asamnew's rogue militia.


Mother of man charged in missing brothers case speaks out

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 03:29 PM PDT

Mother of man charged in missing brothers case speaks outThe mother of a Missouri farmer charged with tampering with a truck used by two missing Wisconsin brothers said they came to the farm to look at cattle but that she can't see her son being involved in their deaths. Tomme Feil told The Kansas City Star that the two men — Nicholas Diemel, 35, and his 24-year-old brother Justin — came to look at calves owned by the family. Feil said she has no idea why her son, Garland Nelson, would have moved their vehicle.


View Photos of the 2020 BMW Alpina B7 Sedan

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 04:59 AM PDT

View Photos of the 2020 BMW Alpina B7 Sedan


‘Racist words ... giving me flashbacks.' Black Cincinnati residents brace for Trump rally following ‘racist’ comments

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 04:23 PM PDT

'Racist words ... giving me flashbacks.' Black Cincinnati residents brace for Trump rally following 'racist' commentsThe visit to Ohio's third-biggest city comes as the president has repeatedly turned to racially-polarizing broadsides over the last three weeks to criticize opponents.


Dubai sheikh posts cryptic poem as wife Princess Haya attends court for start of custody battle

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 04:10 PM PDT

Dubai sheikh posts cryptic poem as wife Princess Haya attends court for start of custody battleThe ruler of Dubai published an online poem about "shining swords with sharp blades" on the day his estranged wife asked a British judge to make an arranged marriage protection order.  The billionaire Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 70, posted a verse online called "Swords of the Excellencies" as Princess Haya attended the High Courts of Justice in London for the start of their bitter legal battle over their two children She was seen in public for the first time on Tuesday after fleeing United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the youngsters earlier this year while apparently "in fear for her life". The vice-president and prime minister of the UAE has applied to the British courts for the "summary return" of his two children from Britain. On Tuesday afternoon - the first day of the preliminary hearing - Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Courts Division, allowed the media to report how the princess was applying for a "forced marriage protection order."  The 45-year-old Jordanian princess is also asking seeking a non-molestation order, it emerged. As those details became public triggering headlines around the world, the sheikh, a self-proclaimed poet, posted his latest poem. The verse was uploaded at 4.06pm British time.  Princess Haya bint Al-Hussein (R) and her husband Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (L) arrive for the Epsom Derby Credit: Rex The sheikh has earlier published a poem which accused an unnamed woman of "treachery and betrayal".  The verse, called 'Live or Die', includes the line: "You no longer have a place with me. I don't care if you live or die." However, in the latest poem released on Tuesday, it has locally been interpreted as an ode to the UAE's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, or MBZ as he is known in the region. "He (his Excellency) has shining swords with sharp blades. In their sheaths, they can cut if drawn," he wrote on his official Instagram page. "For confronting and keeping away the enemies, he has many soldiers. He has protected heroes so that nobody will conspire against them." In Arabic, he appears to be speaking figuratively but it could be viewed as a veiled threat, possibly to regional enemies such as Iran or Qatar, with whom the UAE has had strained relations in recent years. Sheikh Maktoum suggests the UAE has not shown its true power and asks what would happen if this sword were ever to be used. The sheikh, thought to have more than 20 children by six wives, is known regularly to write poetry. Before he and his sixth wife split earlier this year, they were often photographed together with the Queen, a friendship cultivated from their shared passion for horses.  The Queen greets Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Credit: AP As the founder of the Godolphin horse racing stable, the Sheikh this year received a trophy from the Queen after one of his horses won a race at Royal Ascot. The break up - likely to result in a £4 billion divorce battle - has become increasingly acrimonious in recent months. It is understood the Princess, the sheikh's youngest wife, flew on a private jet with her children to the UK in April. It is not known why she left, but speculation has focused on how two of the sheikh's children - Princess Shamsa and Princess Latifa - had tried unsuccessfully to flee the emirate. Full details about the orders applied for and the identities of the children discussed in the two-day preliminary hearing, which ended yesterday, cannot be reported for legal reasons.  The trial is due to start properly in November.


Chinese envoy in NZ lauds students in anti-HK scuffle

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 04:02 AM PDT

Chinese envoy in NZ lauds students in anti-HK scuffleChina's consulate general in Auckland on Thursday praised the "spontaneous patriotism" of pro-Beijing students who reportedly manhandled a Hong Kong-supporting protester on a university campus in New Zealand's largest city. In a statement, the Chinese mission also criticised pro-Hong Kong democracy activists in New Zealand for using "so-called freedom of expression" to spread falsehoods. The statement, which attracted criticism from New Zealand lawmakers and academics, was issued after a scuffle on Monday at a University of Auckland demonstration supporting democracy in Hong Kong.


Man sprays water bottle on NYPD officers

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 05:41 AM PDT

Man sprays water bottle on NYPD officersThe man appears to be recording his water attack on NYPD traffic officers on his cell phone in surveillance footage.


The 2 Canadian teen fugitives were searched at an alcohol checkpoint the day they were charged with murder, but authorities let them go

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 02:38 AM PDT

The 2 Canadian teen fugitives were searched at an alcohol checkpoint the day they were charged with murder, but authorities let them goTataskweyak Cree Nation checkpoint guards stopped the pair as they entered an alcohol free county, but let them pass after no contraband was found.


U.S. set to push security strategy as Chinese maneuvers rattle region

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 01:11 AM PDT

U.S. set to push security strategy as Chinese maneuvers rattle regionRecent incidents involving Chinese ships in Southeast Asian waters are testing regional faith in Beijing's sincerity about maritime peace, and aiding a renewed U.S. push to build alliances with countries unnerved by China's assertiveness. Chinese maneuvering in energy-rich stretches of the South China Sea, including a standoff in Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone, will figure on Friday when top diplomats of Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN attend a security gathering with world powers. Among those is a United States that has laid out an "Indo-Pacific Strategy" challenging Chinese maritime hegemony and seeking stronger ties with nations pushing back against Beijing.


US Air Force orders all units to stand down for one day as suicide rate skyrockets

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 10:10 AM PDT

US Air Force orders all units to stand down for one day as suicide rate skyrocketsThe Air Force has seen 78 suicides so far this year, significantly more than this time last year, and the service is scrambling for answers.


Al Sharpton Is Not a Civil-Rights Hero

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Al Sharpton Is Not a Civil-Rights HeroImagine David Duke being a regular, esteemed guest and former honored host on Fox News Channel. Imagine every Republican presidential candidate scrambling to praise him whenever he's in the news. Imagine David Duke being given a prime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention or President Trump welcoming him to the White House and openly soliciting his support. Imagine Duke appearing on White House visitor logs more than 70 times during Trump's administration.Imagine all of this and you'll have some idea of how the right and even, I think, the center of American political thought reacts to seeing Al Sharpton continue to be cosseted by the Democratic party and its allies in the media. Sharpton should long ago have been ruled out of bounds.Employing the morally disastrous logic that the enemy of your enemy is your friend, the Democrats have allowed President Trump to troll them into extolling Sharpton. Trump is incorrect about many things, but he fairly described Sharpton as a racist. Sharpton is a "con man, a troublemaker, always looking for a score," Trump tweeted. "Hates Whites & Cops!" That's a lot closer to the truth than the framing of Democrats, who bent the knee to Sharpton as though he were some sort of civil-rights hero rather than a huckster.> .@TheRevAl has spent his life fighting for what's right and working to improve our nation, even in the face of hate. It's shameful, yet unsurprising that Trump would continue to attack those who have done so much for our country.> > -- Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 29, 2019> .@TheRevAl is a champion in the fight for civil rights. The fact that President Trump continues to use the power of the presidency to unleash racist attacks on the people he serves is despicable. This hate has no place in our country. It's beneath the dignity of the office.> > -- Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 29, 2019> .@TheRevAl has dedicated his life to the fight for justice for all. No amount of racist tweets from the man in the White House will erase that—and we must not let them divide us. I stand with my friend Al Sharpton in calling out these ongoing attacks on people of color.> > -- Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 29, 2019Sharpton holds the position of America's Senior Spokesman for Civil Rights only because it's been some time since he's done anything so egregiously contemptible that it made the front page; the Left simply assumes short memories have sanitized Sharpton's reputation. I almost wrote "inflammatory reputation," but that word might be too literal given the arson attack that followed one of his most notorious hate campaigns.After a black boy, Gavin Cato, was accidentally killed by a motorcade of Jews in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in 1991, Sharpton delivered an incendiary eulogy at the funeral:> All we want to say is what Jesus said: If you offend one of these little ones, you got to pay for it. No compromise, no meetings, no coffee klatch, no skinnin' and grinnin'.For extra incendiary effect, he urged the crowd to think of Jews as "diamond merchants" responsible for apartheid in South Africa, and he marched at the head of an angry group of demonstrators on the Jewish sabbath. Rioters subsequently murdered Yankel Rosenbaum, a Jewish youth, in retaliation. Twenty years later Sharpton issued a watery not-quite apology in the form of a Daily News op-ed.Four years later, in 1995, Sharpton inflamed tensions on Harlem's 125th Street that culminated in the murders of seven people in an arson attack. The owner of the building in dispute was actually a black Pentecostal church, whose leaders had asked a Jewish tenant to evict a black subtenant, who enlisted the aid of Sharpton and other race-baiters to whip up street protests. At one such demonstration, Sharpton shouted,> There is a systemic and methodical strategy to eliminate our people from doing business off 125th Street. I want to make it clear . . . that we will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business.A fellow protest leader said, "We're going to see that this cracker suffers. Reverend Sharpton is on it." One protester, wielding a gun, entered the store in December, crying, "It's on now, all blacks out!" He set fire to the store and killed seven before shooting himself dead. Sharpton didn't apologize.It can hardly be stated often enough that the reason Sharpton first came to prominence was for promoting a vicious lie. In 1987, Tawana Brawley, a black upstate New York teen who wished to conceal from her father the fact that she had run away from home, concocted a story about being raped for four days by six white men, smeared with feces that spelled out racial slurs, and left in a dumpster. At the time, hate-crime hoaxes were all but unknown, and New York was still reeling over a genuine hate-crime attack, of a black youth in Howard Beach, Queens. After a jury ruled that the Brawley case was a hoax, state supreme-court justice S. Barrett Hickman wrote, "It is probable that in the history of this state, never has a teenager turned the prosecutorial and judicial systems literally upside-down with such false claims." A local district attorney accused by Sharpton of being one of Brawley's attackers, Steven Pagones, lost his job. It took him ten years to carry out and win a defamation action against Brawley, Sharpton, and another civil-rights activist. Sharpton never apologized for any of this.A few years ago, progressive reporter Wayne Barrett dug up a detail worthy of Bonfire of the Vanities. He found that Comcast had paid Sharpton's outfit, the National Action Network, some $140,000 as it was preparing to buy NBC/Universal. By remarkable coincidence, Sharpton gave his blessing to the merger, which was being opposed by black leaders such as Jesse Jackson on diversity grounds. By a still-more amazing coincidence Sharpton was, after the merger, given his own hour-long talk show on MSNBC, though today he is merely a frequent guest on the news network. Stuart Stevens at The Daily Beast wrote, "Sharpton is hardly alone in having spent decades vomiting hate, leaving innocent victims in his wake. What distinguishes Sharpton is the willingness of powerful people and organizations to look past the hate when they believe it may benefit them."Al Sharpton is a not a leading voice of anything except anti-Semitism. He seeks only to leverage racial resentment to advance the interests of Sharpton, to go "as far as his bullhorn audacity will carry him," in the words of the New York Post columnist Bob McManus, who took Sharpton out to dinner once but drew the line at paying for the $350 glass of cognac Sharpton indicated he wanted. Making a career out of lies and hate has worked nicely for Sharpton, but only because the media and the Democratic party have served as his public-relations team.


Russiagate Is Deader Than Ever

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 04:27 AM PDT

Russiagate Is Deader Than Ever(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Koeltl to dismiss the Democratic National Committee's lawsuit against Russia, the Trump campaign and others on Tuesday may look like something of an afterthought now that Robert Mueller, the special counsel, has failed to find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump's team. It is, however, anything but anticlimactic: It contains some hard truths for those still hanging on to the Trump-Russia story.The DNC sued in April 2018, painting a picture of collusion between a Russian government eager to get Trump elected and a Trump campaign that was "a willing and active partner in this effort." This picture, unlike Special Counsel Robert Mueller's eventual report, was based on "connecting the dots" – an exercise in which many commentators have happily engaged since Trump won the 2016 election. Even at the time it was filed, the DNC lawsuit was widely dismissed as a political stunt. But it also followed the example of the Democrats' legal action against President Richard Nixon's re-election committee after Watergate, which ended in a $750,000 settlement when Nixon resigned. Koeltl refused to penalize the DNC for suing frivolously: Indeed, the case helped him clarify some important points.In his ruling, Koeltl, who once worked for Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, first explained that Russia cannot be sued in a U.S. court for government actions planned in Moscow. That seems obvious, but the DNC disputed it in the lawsuit, and there'd been a lot of public indignation about Russia's actions on U.S. soil that contravene U.S. laws. The Russian government, of course, isn't bound by these laws any more than the U.S. government is bound by Russian laws. As things stand, the two are adversaries, and as such, they'll do to each other what they feel they can get away with, not what the other side deems legal. Retaliation is a matter of policy rather than law. So when Trump called on Russia to hunt for missing Hillary Clinton emails, he wasn't really condoning illegal action, since this concept doesn't apply to the Russian government; he was merely hinting that as president, he wouldn't retaliate against Russia for trying to unearth the emails. From a legal point of view, it appears safer to call on Russia to do some hacking than to ask the same of a specific American hacker. One can find Trump's call unpalatable, or accept his logic that whatever helps him win is good, but this is a political choice, not a legal dilemma.Another point Koeltl makes is that, though it's not OK to steal documents such as personal and work-related emails, it's perfectly OK to disseminate and publish them under the First Amendment – as long as the disseminator isn't also the thief. This has important implications for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whom neither Mueller nor anyone else has accused of actually stealing the emails of DNC operatives and Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta – or, indeed, any of the classified documents WikiLeaks has published. It can be argued that he helped some of the whistle-blowers to steal files and that constitutes a crime, but in general, he shouldn't be held responsible for publishing pilfered material.Moreover, according to the ruling, it's fine to ask a thief for information he's known to have stolen. And even if Russia's military intelligence service had sent the stolen emails directly to the Trump campaign, the campaign wouldn't have been legally liable for publishing it.As the 2020 presidential election approaches, any foreign government can obtain, by whatever means, compromising information about any of the candidates, hand it to the media or to the candidate's competitors, and the media or the competitors can publish it – all without anyone being legally liable. I can see why that can make some people uncomfortable. But there it is. Countries will spy on each other, and they'll get their hands on information of public interest in the process. If this information is genuine, the public should get access to it. (But of course the publisher should first make sure it's not fake). And the foreign government that stole the information should suffer the consequences – for example, in the form of sanctions – unless there are political reasons not to retaliate.The Democrats should accept the reality and play by the same rules as their opponents – who, in this case, appear to have played by the rules, such as they are.As for Trump-Russia, the Democratic candidates appear to have made the right decision about it. During Tuesday's debate, the word "Russia" was heard exactly twice, from Senator Amy Klobuchar, who criticized Trump for pulling out of an arms control agreement. Perhaps the story will float up again as the campaign goes on – but it should stay buried. There are more legitimate reasons to push back against President Vladimir Putin's regime: His aggression against neighboring countries, his ruthless suppression of protest, his support of other murderous regimes, and so on. In U.S. elections, it's the voters who decide, regardless of whether Putin helps a candidate by sharing some kompromat.To contact the author of this story: Leonid Bershidsky at lbershidsky@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Tobin Harshaw at tharshaw@bloomberg.netThis column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.Leonid Bershidsky is Bloomberg Opinion's Europe columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


Texas mom who allegedly left her baby in a running car at a nightclub flashed a big smile in her booking photo

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Texas mom who allegedly left her baby in a running car at a nightclub flashed a big smile in her booking photoSamantha Grace Vaughan allegedly left her infant in a running car while she took shots at a Texas nightclub, police said in an arrest affidavit.


Gunmaker asks US Supreme Court to hear Sandy Hook appeal

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 11:54 AM PDT

Gunmaker asks US Supreme Court to hear Sandy Hook appealThe maker of the rifle used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal Thursday of a state ruling against the company. Remington Arms, based in Madison, North Carolina, cited a much-debated 2005 federal law that shields firearms manufacturers from liability in most cases when their products are used in crimes. Gunman Adam Lanza opened fire at the Newtown, Connecticut, school with a Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle on Dec. 14, 2012, killing 20 first graders and six educators.


Can Kazakhstan be America's New Partner in Central Asia?

Posted: 01 Aug 2019 09:37 AM PDT

Can Kazakhstan be America's New Partner in Central Asia?Change has come to Kazakhstan, at last.The former Soviet republic's first president, seventy-nine-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev, stepped down in March after nearly thirty years in power. His successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, won the post in last month's elections, racking up 70 percent of the vote.The election process, albeit imperfect, was Kazakhstan's most legitimate yet. (In the previous election, for example, Nazarbayev won with a reported 97.7 percent of the vote.) Just as Important was what didn't occur. Many had expected the Nazarbayevs to attempt a family power grab; it never transpired.President Tokayev has a full in-box. His country suffers from corruption, social unrest and a weak economy. Keenly aware of these problems, his inauguration speech outlined not just three, or five, but ten priorities for reform.


Match.com attacker found guilty of rape for lying to woman about having a vasectomy

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 07:33 AM PDT

Match.com attacker found guilty of rape for lying to woman about having a vasectomyThe Match.com attacker has been found guilty of the rape of a woman he lied about having had a vasectomy to convince her to sleep with him, in the first case of its kind.  One of the worst serial rapists in Britain, Jason Lawrance had contacted thousands of women on the dating site Match.com or its partner company Dating Direct between 2009 and 2014, attacking 13 of them to "satisfy a selfish sexual need". The 54 year-old, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years and six months in 2016 for sexually violating seven women, appeared emotionless as jurors at Nottingham Crown Court delivered the latest verdicts. Despite offering no defence during his second trial, the father-of-three denied seven counts of rape, one charge of sexual assault and a further charge of assault by penetration - claiming all sex had been consensual. But he was found guilty of five counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration. Jurors cleared Lawrance of two further charges of rape. A jury panel of six men and six women were told of the former businessman's convictions for rape, attempted rape and sexual assault in his previous trial at Derby Crown Court, in which a judge labelled the rapist as a "devious and manipulative... sexual predator". Five of Lawrance's latest victims came forward after his "criminality filtered out into homes across the country" through news reports covering the trial. Jurors in Nottingham were told that in July 2014, the former self-employed builder got one woman pregnant despite telling her he had had a vasectomy - something he later passed off as "just banter". Despite reassuring her repeatedly, the court heard how Lawrance, who used Match.com with profile names such as KeepItStraightToday and StraightMan-Looking, messaged her the following day to tell her: "I have a confession. I'm still fertile. Sorry." He also attacked another woman in late 2012 in her Northamptonshire home before "calmly" going upstairs to have a shower. Lawrance had met the woman after she invited him round for a coffee.  Other women were attacked in Lawrance's car or van, with one being pushed on a double bed in the back of his van after taking a drive to Bradgate Park, Leicestershire in January 2014. The court was told another woman had a belt wrapped around her neck, in an area called Bluebell Woods in Dingley Dell, Market Harborough shortly after he joined Match.com in 2009. Opening the case against Lawrance earlier in July, Clive Stockwell QC said: "Rape necessarily involves the exploitation of vulnerability, vulnerability exploited to satisfy a selfish sexual need. "During this trial, you will hear of the cruelty suffered by... vulnerable women, all exploited to satisfy a selfish sexual need. "The selfish sexual needs of Jason Lawrance." In the previous trial in Derby, Judge Gregory Dickinson QC called for a review of internet dating safety measures after expressing concern that four of the victims had made complaints to Match.com before three other women were raped. Upon hearing of his latest offences, Match.com said member safety is their "primary priority" - adding: "Match has a zero-tolerance policy for reports of serious offences and we encourage anyone who has felt exposed to unsafe behaviour, whether through our services or anywhere else, to speak to the police." To try to prevent similar attacks, the site introduced the "report a profile" feature and encourages all users to only message on its own platforms. Lawrance, formerly of Liphook, Hampshire, was remanded back into custody by Mr Justice Jeremy Baker to be sentenced at the same court at a later date.


Elderly woman jailed for feeding stray cats that kept her company

Posted: 31 Jul 2019 03:18 AM PDT

Elderly woman jailed for feeding stray cats that kept her companyA 79-year-old woman has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for feeding the stray cats she said brought her comfort and companionship.Nancy Segula, of Ohio, began feeding the cats about two years ago when they were left behind after her neighbour moved."There's been about six to eight adult cats and now there's kittens coming over, too," Ms Segula told cleveland.com."I miss my own kitties. They passed away, my husband passed away. I'm lonely. So the cats and kitties outside help me."Garfield Heights Municipal Court magistrate Jeffrey Short handed Ms Segula the 10-day sentence after she received more than $2,000 in fines, Fox 8 Cleveland reported.Under a city ordinance, it is illegal to feed stray dogs and cats in Garfield Heights.Mr Short was covering for Judge Jennifer Weiler on the day of the sentencing. She told the Washington Post she would like to hear all sides of the case with everyone in the room, including the defendant and her lawyer, the prosecutor and a representative from animal control, to decide whether the jail sentence is fair."I'll try to find out what's going on, what's happening and then try and make a decision that makes sense for the circumstances," Ms Weiler said.Ms Segula said she did not know there was a city ordinance against feeding cats, Fox 8 reported."The cats keep coming over to my house," she said. "I just feel bad so then I will give them something to eat."Segula's son, Dave Pawlowski, was in disbelief when his mother told him about the sentence."I'm sure people hear about the things that happen downtown in that jail," Mr Pawlowski told Fox 8. "And they are going to let my 79-year-old mother go there?"Ms Segula was told to appear at the Cuyahoga County Jail on 11 August.


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