Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Ten government soldiers killed in Philippines military air strike – minister

MANILA (Reuters) – An air strike during Philippine military operations to drive Islamist rebels out of a southern city has killed 10 government troops, the defence minister said on Thursday, in a major blow to efforts to defeat fighters linked to the Islamic State group.

Philippine military airstrikes kill 10 troops: defence chief

Manila (AFP) – Philippine military airstrikes aimed at Islamist militants who are battling soldiers in a southern city instead killed 10 troops, the defence secretary said on Thursday.

Former senior Chinese provincial official jailed for life for graft

BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court has jailed for life a former vice governor of the wealthy southern province of Guangdong for corruption after finding him guilty of bribery and abuse of power, state media said on Thursday.

Brazil cemetery loses bones of World Cup winner Garrincha

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – The Brazilian cemetery where twice World Cup winner Garrincha was buried in 1983 has lost the player's bones, family and officials in his home town said on Wednesday.

Trump administration approves tougher visa vetting, including social media checks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration has rolled out a new questionnaire for U.S. visa applicants worldwide that asks for social media handles for the last five years and biographical information going back 15 years.

Clinton says false stories on Facebook helped Trump win election

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (Reuters) – Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday she suspects President Donald Trump's campaign gave guidance to Russian government propaganda efforts during last year's U.S. presidential campaign, levelling her most serious charge yet against the person who defeated her.

The Complex Gender Politics of the ‘Wonder Woman’ Movie


Can Patty Jenkins make the superhero world safe for female directors? Warner Bros. gambles $150 million on its first woman-centered comic book movie with a filmmaker whose only prior big-screen credit was an $8 million indie: “I can’t take on the history of 50 percent of the population just because I’m a woman.”

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‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Showrunner and Writer Talk Recreating That Famous Scene


Bruce Miller and Kyra Snyder break down Jezebels, physical versus emotional rape.

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Macedonia's parliament endorses new government

SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonia's lawmakers on Wednesday evening endorsed a new government led by Social Democrats which is expected to steer the way out of a two-year-long political crisis and bring the country closer to membership in the European Union and NATO.

U.S. coalition strike kills founder of Islamic State media outlet – brother

BEIRUT (Reuters) – An air strike by the U.S.-led coalition has killed the founder of the Islamic State propaganda media outlet Amaq in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor, his brother said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The Best Gluten-Free Treats

These recipes prove that eliminating gluten from your diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy yummy desserts, snacks, and healthy treats.

Brazilian leader Temer – Nation witnessing intense institutional conflicts

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Michel Temer said on Wednesday that Latin America's biggest nation was living in a moment of intense institutional conflict, with the judiciary, legislative and executive branches often clashing after three years of intense graft investigations.

Turkey says U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish YPG not befitting of alliance

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) said on Wednesday that the U.S. government's decision to arm the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in Syria was "not befitting of an alliance".

China, EU to announce joint climate plans, support for Paris deal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European and Chinese leaders will on Friday voice strong support for the Paris climate accord and present a series of joint plans to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, according to a document seen by Reuters.

Oil tanker attacked in key shipping lane off Yemen

DOHA (Reuters) – Unknown assailants attacked an oil tanker on Wednesday in a strategic Red Sea waterway near Yemen in the latest flare-up in an area through which much of the world's oil passes.

Is Egypt bombing the right militants in Libya?

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was quick to launch air strikes on militants in Libya in response to a deadly attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt – but the attacks do not seem to be targeting those responsible.

Macadamia Nuts and Cashews Recalled for Possible Listeria Contamination

ISIS Using More Hollywood Movies in Recruiting Propaganda


Stolen footage and copied scenes from films like ‘American Sniper’ and ‘Hunger Games’ are being incorporated inro the terror group’s recruitment efforts.

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Montenegro's PM says Russia has secret entry ban for its officials

PODGORICA (Reuters) – The Kremlin has a secret list of Montenegrin officials that are banned from entering Russia, due to the small Adriatic republic's participation in Western sanctions over Ukraine, the country's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said on Wednesday.

French jihadis assassinated abroad deserve their fate – government spokesman

PARIS (Reuters) – French-born jihadis fighting for Islamic State in Iraq who get targeted for assassination deserve their fate, France's government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Trump pulling U.S. out of Paris climate deal – source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to follow through on a campaign pledge to pull the United States out of a global pact to fight climate change, a source who was briefed on the decision told Reuters, a move that should rally his support base at home while deepening a rift with U.S. allies abroad.

Trump pulling U.S. out of Paris climate deal – Axios

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, Axios news outlet reported on Wednesday, citing two unidentified sources with direct knowledge of the decision.

Scott Pelley Pushed Out at ‘CBS Evening News’


CBS has yet to name a replacement.

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Rival factions clash at Aden airport – witnesses

ADEN (Reuters) – Fighters loyal to rival factions in Aden, seat of Yemen's internationally-recognised government, traded gun and rocket-fire for nearly three hours at the city's airport over Tuesday night, witnesses said.

Former China statistics chief gets life for corruption

BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Wednesday jailed for life the former head of the statistics bureau after finding him guilty of corruption, the latest official to be brought down in President Xi Jinping's war on corruption.

Daughter of ousted South Korean president's confidante returns to Seoul

SEOUL (Reuters) – The disgraced daughter of a key figure in a corruption scandal that led to the downfall of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye returned home from Denmark on Wednesday, saying she wanted to clear up misunderstandings.

Six freed of obstructing govt servants charge

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Perak assemblymen from PKR and four others have been acquitted on a charge of obstructing civil servants from discharging their duty during the #KitaLawan rally here two years ago.

French embassy in Kabul damaged in car bomb attack – minister

PARIS (Reuters) – The French embassy in Kabul was damaged in Wednesday's car bomb attack in the Afghanistan capital, said French minister Marielle de Sarnez, who added there were no signs at this stage of any French victims.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Mattis to focus on North Korea at Asian forum as allies seek clear U.S. policy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is expected to press for greater cooperation to contain North Korea's nuclear and missile threat at a regional security forum in Singapore later this week, where for years Washington has sought to spotlight China's expansion in the strategic South China Sea.

Watch incredible moment water pipe explodes after inflating carpark surface like a balloon

KYIV: Surveillance video has captured the incredible moment that a water main burst in Kiev, Ukraine, with such force that it inflated the asphalt surface of a carpark like a balloon, before erupting on a fountain of mud and debris.

How Garry Shandling’s Death Informed Sarah Silverman’s Netflix Stand-Up Special


The comedian dedicates ‘A Speck of Dust’ to “three of the closest people in [her] life,” including late writer Harris Wittels and her mom, and jokes about and shares video of her time in the ICU.

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Feinberg Forecast: The First Read on the 2017 Emmys Race


In this first installment of his weekly projections, THR’s awards columnist looks at the drama series, comedy series, limited series and TV movie categories, as well as their respective acting races.