Jun 13 U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks near Persian Gulf, Pompeo says By Associated Press A U.S. assessment of Iran's responsibility, which forced the evacuation of the crews in international waters, was based in part on intelligence as well as the expertise needed to carry out the operation, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters… Continue reading
Jun 13 Tankers struck near Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-U.S. tensions By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz came under a suspected attack Thursday, setting one of them ablaze in the latest mysterious assault targeting vessels in a region crucial to global energy supplies amid heightened tension between Iran… Continue reading
Jun 13 Twitter deletes accounts linked to foreign governments that use fake personas By Associated Press Twitter says it has deleted nearly 4,800 suspect accounts linked to Iran that the company says secretly pushed that government's agenda, as well as others linked to Russia, Venezuela and the Catalonia region of Spain. Continue reading
Jun 13 Boris Johnson takes strong lead in race for next UK leader By Jill Lawless, Associated Press Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary and leading Brexit campaigner, secured 114 of the 313 votes cast by Conservatives in the House of Commons, a ballot that reduced the field of candidates from 10 to seven. Continue reading
Jun 13 Federal agency recommends firing of White House adviser Kellyanne Conway By Associated Press The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is unrelated to special counsel Robert Mueller's office, said Conway is a "repeat offender" of the Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and… Continue reading
Jun 13 Europe’s populists rebrand but policies remain the same By Lorne Cook, Associated Press Europe's far-right and populist parties sought to rebrand themselves Thursday, launching a new group dubbed Identity and Democracy in the European Parliament but with many of the same faces and most of the old policies. Continue reading
Jun 13 While Trump wages trade war, Pence tries to ease GOP anxiety By Zeke Miller, Associated Press Vice President Mike Pence is on a quiet mission to advance the administration's top legislative priority for the year — the troubled trade deal — and, with it, just maybe hold together the fraying Republican coalition ahead of the next… Continue reading
Jun 13 House panel subpoenas ex-Trump aides Flynn, Gates By Associated Press The House Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates as part of its investigation into Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 election. Continue reading
Jun 13 WATCH: ‘Deepfakes,’ manipulated videos under scrutiny by House committee By Associated Press The hearing comes a day after fake footage of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spread quickly on Instagram, supposedly gloating over his one-man domination of the world. Continue reading
Jun 13 Trump says he’d ‘want to hear’ foreign dirt on 2020 rivals By Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin, Associated Press "I think I'd want to hear it," the president said in an interview Wednesday with ABC News, adding, "There's nothing wrong with listening."… Continue reading