Morning Headlines for Friday, May 22, 2015
Reuters
“EU defies Russian ‘bully’ but disappoints ex-Soviets”
“European Union leaders met six ex-Soviet neighbors on Thursday in Riga, rejecting Russian ‘bullying’ in the 18 months since their last summit in a once Kremlin-ruled EU capital sparked conflict in Ukraine.”
AFP
“Europe migrant terror threat overblown: experts”
“The arrest in Italy of a terror suspect posing as a boat migrant has fuelled nightmare scenarios of jihadist infiltration of Europe, but experts say the threat is overblown and attacks by homegrown extremists are more likely.”
New York Times
“Obama upgrades Tunisia’s status as a U.S. ally”
“President Obama announced Thursday that he would designate Tunisia a major American ally as he encourages the North African country in its progress toward a more democratic form of government since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.”
Los Angeles Times
“Oil spill cleanup accelerates on Santa Barbara County coast”
“The oil spill occurred Tuesday when a 24-inch wide pipe owned by Plains All American Pipeline installed in 1987 under Highway 1 ruptured, pouring up to 105,000 gallons of crude into a culvert, with an estimated 21,000 gallons making its way into the Pacific Ocean.”
AFP
“I.S. takes last Syria regime-held crossing on Iraq border: monitor”
“Jihadists from the Islamic State group seized the last Syrian regime-controlled crossing on the border with Iraq late Thursday, a monitoring group said.”
New York Times
“Six Baltimore officers indicted in death of Freddie Gray”
“A grand jury in Baltimore has indicted six police officers on homicide and assault charges in the death of Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured last month in police custody, the city’s chief prosecutor said Thursday.”
Washington Post
“U.S. military confirms two civilian casualties in war against Islamic State”
“American airstrikes have killed at least two civilians since they began in Iraq and Syria last year, the Pentagon said Thursday in its first acknowledgment of noncombatant deaths in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State.”
AFP
“A group of Cuban journalists made a symbolic appearance in the White House press room Thursday, posing questions and offering further evidence that the vestiges of Cold War animosity are rapidly receding into history.”
Reuters
“U.S. vows to continue patrols after China warns spy plane”
“The United States vowed on Thursday to keep up air and sea patrols in international waters after the Chinese navy repeatedly warned a U.S. surveillance plane to leave the airspace over artificial islands China is creating in the disputed South China Sea.”
Washington Post
“Clinton Foundation reveals up to $26 million in additional payments”
“The Clinton Foundation reported Thursday that it has received as much as $26.4 million in previously undisclosed payments from major corporations, universities, foreign sources and other groups.”
Associated Press
“Malaysia orders sea search-and-rescue for migrants”
“Four Malaysian navy ships began searching the seas for stranded boat people Thursday in the first official rescue operation since desperate migrants started washing onto Southeast Asia’s shores, and the U.S. military gave the first indication it was ready to take a direct role in helping address the crisis.”
Al Jazeera America
“Senate panel OKs letting V.A. doctors give advice on medical marijuana”
“A GOP-controlled Senate panel approved a plan Wednesday to permit veterans to receive information about medical marijuana from their government doctors.”
Associated Press
“Justice Department eyes voting reforms for American Indians”
“The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking legislation that would require state and local election officials to work with American Indian tribes to locate at least one polling place on or near each tribe’s land.”
Reuters
“Federal judge rules again that gay couples have right to wed in Alabama”
“A federal judge on Thursday reaffirmed her earlier ruling that same-sex couples in Alabama have a right to wed under the Constitution, but she put the ruling on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a landmark decision on gay marriage.”
Al Jazeera America
“U.S. economic sanctions are losing effectiveness”
“While the use of sanctions remains a valuable tool for pursuing U.S. interests abroad, their efficacy is slowly diminishing and could spur unintended consequences amidst a changing global balance of power, according to Richard Nephew, a former Obama administration official instrumental in devising current sanctions against Iran.”
Reuters
“U.K.’s Cameron uses EU summit to campaign for pre-referendum reforms”
“British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday began his campaign to persuade European leaders to make changes to the European Union before he holds a referendum to decide whether Britain should stay in or quit the bloc.”
Associated Press
“Senate expected to act on NSA collection of phone records”
“The fate of the bulk collection of American phone records by the National Security Agency is now before the Senate, in what is increasingly looking like a game of legislative chicken. The Senate is expected to decide Friday what to do with the oft-debated measure.”
New York Times
“Obama set to strengthen federal role in clean water regulation”
“The Obama administration is expected in the coming days to announce a major clean water regulation that would restore the federal government’s authority to limit pollution in the nation’s rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands.”
Reuters
“U.S. bird flu causing egg squeeze, emergency measures”
“As a virulent avian influenza outbreak continues to spread across the Midwestern United States, some egg-dependent companies are contemplating drastic steps: importing eggs from overseas or looking to egg alternatives.”
