WorldAssociated PressIraq offers to mediate in crisis between its allies Iran, US
Iraq offered to mediate in the crisis between its two key allies, the United States and Iran, amid escalating Middle East tensions and as Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers steadily unravels. Iraqi foreign minister, Mohammed al-Hakim, made the offer Sunday during a joint news conference in Baghdad with visiting Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. "We are trying to help and to be mediators," said al-Hakim, adding that Baghdad "will work to reach a satisfactory solution" while stressing that Iraq stands against unilateral steps taken by Washington.
- WorldReuters
UPDATE 2-Kurdish MPs, inmates end hunger strike in Turkey after militant leader call
Several Kurdish lawmakers and thousands of prison inmates in Turkey have ended their hunger strike after a call from jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan, one of the MPs said on Sunday, 200 days after the protest was launched. Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Leyla Guven began a hunger strike in November in a bid to end Ocalan's years of isolation by securing him regular access to his family and lawyers. "Comrades who have committed themselves to hunger strikes and death fasts, I expect you to end your protest," Ocalan said in a statement read out by one of his lawyers in Istanbul, four days after they visited him for the second time this month.
- WorldThe Independent
Pope Francis likens abortion in any scenario to ‘hiring a hitman’
Pope Francis has compared having an abortion to hiring a hitman and said the procedure can never be condoned, even when the foetus is gravely sick. Speaking at a Vatican-sponsored anti-abortion conference, he urged doctors and priests to support families to carry all pregnancies to full term. The pontiff said that the matter was not a religious issue but a human one.
NewsUSA TODAY51 attorneys general call on Betsy DeVos to cancel up to 42,000 disabled veterans' student debts
In April last year, DeVos announced a new partnership between the Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs that would match borrowers in the Department of Education's records system with disabled veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs records system. People deemed eligible for loan discharges would be mailed a letter including an application for "totally and permanently disabled" (TPD) status. Under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, if student borrowers die or become permanently disabled, they are eligible to have their loans forgiven, so a successful granting of TPD status would allow for the complete discharge of student loans.
- WorldThe National Interest
Eating Way Too Much Rice Almost Doomed Japan's Imperial Navy
After the war, the Emergency Beriberi Investigative Committee investigated the disease's devastation of Japanese ranks. In August 1882 in Incheon Bay near Seoul, four Japanese warships were locked in a tense stand-off with two Chinese warships that had brought troops to quell a revolt on the Korean peninsula. On paper, the Japanese flotilla outnumbered the Chinese, but the hulls of the Japanese ships hid a deadly secret.
BusinessReutersHuawei founder says he would oppose Chinese retaliation against Apple: Bloomberg
Huawei Technologies' founder and Chief Executive Ren Zhengfei told Bloomberg https://bloom.bg/2HT7DUY that retaliation by Beijing against Apple Inc was unlikely and that he would oppose any such move from China against the iPhone maker. When asked about calls from some in China to retaliate against Apple, Ren said that he would "protest" against any such step if it were to be taken by Beijing. quot;That (Chinese retaliation against Apple) will not happen first of all and second of all, if that happens, I'll be the first to protest," Ren said in the interview with Bloomberg.
- NewsThe Independent
Jayme Closs kidnapping: Jake Patterson jailed for life for killing girl’s parents and keeping her prisoner
The kidnapper of 13 year-old Jayme Closs has been jailed for life after she told the judge she wanted him “locked up forever” for murdering her parents and keeping her prisoner for 88 days. Jake Patterson, 21, targeted the teenager after spotting her getting on a school bus in a rural area of Wisconsin while he was driving to work at a cheese factory. After two aborted attempts to kidnap her, he dressed up in black clothing, armed himself with his father's shotgun and drove to her home in Barron in the early hours of 15 October.
- NewsThe National Interest
What Americans Should Do on Memorial Day
James Jay Carafano History, Americas Remember at least one hero and honor their sacrifice. This Memorial Day put aside the politics and the shopping sprees. This day is about remembering one thing and one thing only: those who gave their lives in the service of their fellow Americans.
- PoliticsFOX News Videos
Hogan Gidley challenges Democrats to produce evidence of a 'cover-up'
White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley responds to accusations from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
WorldAssociated PressUS sanctions on Iran felt in Iraqi Shiite tourist districts
For years, Karar Hussein has sold sweets in his shop near the entrance to one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines, accepting whatever currency was offered to him by his clients, many of them religious tourists from neighboring Iran. Hussein and many other shop owners in Baghdad's northern Shiite holy neighborhood of Kadhimiya have seen sales drop sharply over the past year since President Donald Trump began re-imposing sanctions on Iran, home to the largest number of Shiite Muslims around the world. The value of Iran's currency, the rial, has decreased almost fourfold, pushing the price of nearly everything beyond the reach of ordinary Iranian consumers in Iran and abroad.
WorldReutersGermany in push to resurrect Afghan talks with Taliban
Germany, a leading donor and member of the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan, has been talking with the Taliban and the Afghan government in an effort to restart peace talks to end 18 years of conflict, officials said. While the Taliban have been talking with U.S. officials since October about a withdrawal of international troops, they have so far refused formal talks with the Western-backed government, which they dismiss as a "puppet" regime. Berlin's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Markus Potzel, has visited Kabul for talks with the Afghan government and met Taliban officials in Doha at least twice this month.
- BusinessArchitectural Digest
AD PRO's 20 Favorite Furnishings from ICFF
Miss New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair? Senior style and market editor Benjamin Reynaert shares his favorite new products that launched at the fair Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- WorldThe Telegraph
EU election UK results and maps: Brexit Party wins nine of 10 regions, Lib Dems triumph in London
The Brexit Party has won nine of the 10 regions to declare its results in the European elections, claiming 28 of 64 seats in the European Parliament. Nigel Farage's party came top in the North East, North West, East of England, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, the South West and South East. This came largely at the expense of the Conservative Party.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
Bud Light's message about Miller Lite and Coors Light now has limits
Some of Anheuser Busch's messaging that Miller Lite and Coors Light contain corn syrup has been put on ice. The company behind Bud Light will not be able to use two TV ads and two billboards following a ruling by a federal judge that said some of the beer maker's wording could confuse customers in regard to the presence of corn syrup in light beers produced by rival Molson Coors Brewing Co. However, Anheuser Busch says that an ad that kicked off the flap when it premiered to tens of millions of viewers during this year's Super Bowl will be able to air again this week. Fiat and Renault in talks: Fiat Chrysler and Renault talk of linking businesses is heating up, report says Dying for a selfie?
WorldReutersNorway says Venezuela government, opposition to hold new round of talks
Norway said on Saturday that representatives of Venezuela's government and opposition will return to Oslo next week following an initial round of preliminary talks about how to address the country's political crisis. quot;We announce that the representatives of the main political actors in Venezuela have decided to return to Oslo next week to continue a process facilitated by Norway," the Scandinavian country's foreign ministry said in a statement. quot;We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting the search for an agreed-upon solution between the parties in Venezuela," it said.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Violence and disruption against abortion clinics at highest rates since 1999
Violence and disruption against abortion clinics in the US increased to its highest levels since the 1990s last year, a report by the National Abortion Federation has found. The increase in violence was attributed, at least in part, to president Donald Trump and his administration's rhetoric. “Anti-choice individuals and groups have been emboldened by the rhetoric of president Trump, vice president Pence, and other elected officials and we are seeing this play out in more instances of activities meant to intimidate abortion providers and disrupt patient services,” said Dr Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, who serves as interim president and CEO of NAF.
WorldAFPIran state TV fires managers over 'insult' to Sunnis
Iranian state TV has fired two channel managers over a live programme deemed insulting to Sunni Muslims, it said in a statement Sunday. The sackings at Channel 5 came after a broadcast on May 20 celebrating the birthday of the second imam in Shiite Islam, Hassan ibn Ali. During the programme, religious chanter and story-teller Ahmad Qadami recited a eulogy that "insulted the sanctities of Sunni Muslims", according to official news agency IRNA.
- LifestyleBGR News
10 deals you don’t want to miss on Sunday: $10 off Fire TV Stick, $199 Apple Watch, 20% off area rugs, more
Highlights include the $40 Fire TV Stick for $29.99, the $50 Fire TV Stick 4K for $39.99, a rare discount on AirPods 2 (order now even though they're out of stock so you can lock in the discount — we see new shipments every day), a different pair of wildly popular true wireless earbuds for just $25.49 if discounted AirPods are still too pricey, an excellent compact Vizio sound bar for just $78.99, a crazy Apple Watch Series 3 sale with prices starting at an all-time low of $199, big discounts on SanDisk microSD cards, a $380 robot vacuum for only $189.99, massive discounts up to $622 off TEMPUR-Cloud mattresses, a huge sale that slashes up to an extra 20% off dozens of different Safavieh area rugs, and more.
WorldAssociated PressNorth Korea calls Bolton 'war monger' over missile comment
North Korea on Monday called U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton a "war monger" and "human defect" after he described its recent tests of short-range missiles as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The statement by an unidentified North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson came as President Donald Trump visited Japan for meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at which the nuclear standoff with North Korea was expected to be high on the agenda. Bolton told reporters in Tokyo on Saturday that there was "no doubt" that North Korea's recent missile launches violated U.N. resolutions, and that sanctions against the North must be kept in place.
- BusinessReuters
UPDATE 2-Teva Pharm to pay Oklahoma $85 mln to settle opioid claims
BOSTON/JERUSALEM, May 26 (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd said on Sunday it had agreed to pay an $85 million settlement with the state of Oklahoma days before the company was set to face trial over allegations that it and other drugmakers helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic. Teva, the world's largest generic drugmaker, said the settlement "does not establish any wrongdoing on the part of the company" and denied contributing to opioid abuse in Oklahoma. Claims against Teva focused on the branded opioid products Actiq and Fentora as well as generic painkillers it produced.
WorldAssociated PressPolice hunt suspect after explosion in French city of Lyon
French police on Saturday hunted a suspect believed to have deposited a paper bag containing a device that exploded Friday, wounding 13 people on a busy pedestrian street in the city of Lyon. French President Emmanuel Macron called the explosion an "attack" during a live interview Friday about the European Parliament elections that run through Sunday. The man was seen arriving on foot, pushing his bike along the pedestrian-only Victor Hugo street, then leaving paper bag on a concrete block in the middle of the street near a bakery.
- WorldThe Telegraph
European elections 2019 UK results and maps: Brexit Party wins nine of 10 regions; Liberal Democrats triumph in London
The Brexit Party has won nine of the 10 regions to declare its results in the European elections, claiming 28 of 64 seats in the European Parliament. Nigel Farage's party came top in the North East, North West, East of England, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, the South West and South East. This came largely at the expense of the Conservative Party.
- LifestylePopular Mechanics
Meet the Tweel: The Tire That Never Goes Flat
The John Deere Z740R ZTrak zero-turn mower has a lot going for it: a mowing deck up to 60 inches, a 10 mph top speed and a 23.5-horsepower V-twin engine. Now, when presented with an airless tire, you might think the first thing you'd do is try running over a nail. It's simultaneously like a zero-profile performance tire, a run-flat, and an off-road balloon tire aired down to 10 psi.
- U.S.Architectural Digest
Get the Charming Look of the Kentucky Getaway
A former Kentucky tobacco farm morphs into a high-voltage weekend wonderland of pattern, color, and open-armed hospitality Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- WorldBloomberg
Hammond Warns U.K. Tory Leadership Hopefuls Over No-Deal Brexit
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond warned Conservative leadership candidates that a government that tries to force a no-deal Brexit on Parliament risks being brought down in a no-confidence vote. “It would not just challenge me, but many of our colleagues and I hope we will never get to that position.” He dismissed talk of renegotiating the Brexit withdrawal agreement before the new October deadline as a “fig leaf” for a policy of leaving on no-deal terms. May announced on Friday that she will step down after failing to deliver Brexit, and the contest to succeed her is well underway.
