Top Stories Today – July 22, 2019
Top Stories Today – July 22, 2019
Iran says it arrests CIA spies
Iran announced on Monday it had captured 17 spies working for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and sentenced some of them to death, deepening a crisis between the Islamic Republic and the West. Iranian state television published images that it said showed the CIA officers who had been in touch with the suspected spies.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed Iran’s announcement. He said “The Iranian regime has a long history of lying … I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions that they’ve taken,” in an interview with Fox News Channel. Reuters
Beijing anger after Hong Kong unrest
hina on Monday harshly criticized a weekend demonstration in which eggs were thrown at its office in Hong Kong, accusing the demonstrators of violence without mentioning a violent attack against protesters and civilians the same night. A group of protesters targeted China’s Liaison Office on Sunday night after more than 100,000 people marched through the city to demand democracy and an investigation into the use of force by police to disperse crowds at earlier protests.
The official People’s Daily newspaper, in a front-page commentary headlined “Central Authority Cannot Be Challenged,” called the protesters’ actions “intolerable.” Later Sunday, protesters trying to return home were attacked inside a subway station by assailants who appeared to be targeting pro-democracy demonstrators. At least 45 people were injured, of whom 15 remained hospitalized Monday afternoon, including one man in critical condition, the Hospital Authority said. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said allegations that police had colluded with the assailants were “unfounded.” The office of a pro-Beijing lawmaker was surrounded Monday and vandalized by about 100 people who believed he had shaken hands the previous day with the attackers. The Associated Press
India launches 2nd moon mission
India has successfully launched its second lunar mission a week after it halted the scheduled blast-off due to a technical snag. Chandrayaan-2 was launched at 14:43 local time from the Sriharikota space station. India’s space chief said his agency had “bounced back with flying colors” after the aborted first attempt.
India hopes the $145m mission will be the first to land on the Moon’s south pole. The spacecraft has entered the Earth’s orbit, where it will stay for 23 days before it begins a series of maneuvers that will take it into lunar orbit. If successful, India will become the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface. Only the former Soviet Union, the US and China have been able to do so. BBC
Warren: US economic in downturn
Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on Monday warned of “serious” signs that the US economy could skid into a downturn either this year or next, as she proposed a series of steps to minimize the risk. Warren, 70, who serves in the US Senate and is considered a top-tier candidate in a crowded field of Democrats hoping to challenge President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3, 2020 election, called on federal regulators and Congress to act “before another crisis costs America’s families their homes, jobs and savings.”
In a statement, Warren said “warning lights are flashing” and the chances of a downturn are “high and growing.” The US economy has been expanding for 10 years, the longest on record, with low unemployment and inflation, and a strong stock market. Reuters
French submarine missing since 1968 is found
A French submarine that has been missing for more than 50 years has been located by a search team. French Defense Minister Florence Parly tweeted the announcement on Monday, describing the discovery as a “relief and technical feat”. Fifty-two sailors were on board the Minerve when it vanished near the port of Toulon, on the French south coast, in January 1968. Previous efforts to find the submarine were all unsuccessful.
The discovery was made by a boat belonging to private US company Ocean Infinity, an unnamed French naval official told the news agency. The missing submarine was found 30 miles from Toulon 7,800ft under the surface, AFP reports. The precise reason behind the accident has never been revealed. It was one in a string of a deadly disasters involving military submarines around the world during the 1960s. BBC
Britain considering response to Iranian seizure of tanker
British Prime Minister Theresa May is meeting Monday with security ministers and security officials for emergency talks about how to handle the Iranian seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz.
Among the potential responses Britain is considering is the prospect of imposing economic sanctions on Iran. May’s government is expected to update members of Britain’s parliament on the situation later Monday. Iran continues to hold the tanker and its crew of 23, a mix of 18 Indians, three Russians, a Latvian and a Filipino, but said they are in good health. Britain has called the seizure of the Stena Impero a “hostile act.” The Voice of America
Mueller to testify in US House Wednesday
Mueller is set to testify before two House committees Wednesday about his investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to meddle in the 2016 presidential election and if Trump obstructed justice in trying to derail the probe.
A leading House Democrat says special counsel Robert Mueller will give “very substantial evidence” that will make the case for impeaching US President Donald Trump. Republican Party, however, predict a highly anticipated hearing this week will amount to nothing more than a rehash of previously published information. Also speaking Sunday on Fox television, Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, accused Democrats of “going after things that we’ve already known.” The Voice of America
The Lion King has $185 million opening weekend
The live-action Lion King had an incredible North American debut, bringing in $185 million over the weekend — the biggest domestic opening of all time for a Disney remake. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film, which had mixed reviews, was projected to earn between $150 million and $175 million. The Lion King opened in China a week early, and as of Sunday has brought in $531 million worldwide. Coming in second place was Spider-Man: Far From Home with $21 million, followed by Toy Story 4 with $14.6 million, Crawl with $6 million, and Yesterday with $5.1 million. The Hollywood Reporter via The Week
Puerto Rico’s embattled governor won’t seek re-election
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló will not seek re-election in November 2020, he revealed on Sunday, and while he is stepping down as president of the New Progressive Party, he has no plans to resign as governor. Earlier this month, 900 pages of conversations between Rosselló and several of his top aides and advisers were leaked, showing them mocking the victims of Hurricane Maria and making sexist and homophobic comments about critics and political opponents.
This set off protests, and more are expected Monday in San Juan. “To every Puerto Rican: I have heard you, and I hear you today,” Rosselló said. “I have committed errors and I have apologized. I am a good man that has a grand love for my island and for all.” ABC News via The Week