Top Stories Today – April 30, 2019
Top Stories Today – April 30, 2019
Japan’s Emperor Aakihito abdicates
Japan’s Emperor Akihito has declared his abdication in a historic ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. In his last public address as emperor, Akihito handed over the symbols of power and thanked the public for their support during his 30-year reign. The 85-year-old was given permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health. He is the first Japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years. Akihito will technically remain emperor until midnight.
His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the throne later on Wednesday. A new era – called Reiwa, meaning order and harmony – will begin in Japan’s unique calendar. While the emperor holds no political power, he serves as a national figurehead. Akihito has endeared himself to many Japanese people during his reign as he has interacted with those suffering from disease and disaster. BBC
IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi still alive
The Islamic State issued a new video of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Monday claiming to show its reclusive leader delivering a message to his followers, urging them to seek revenge for the fall of the terror group’s self-declared caliphate In Iraq and Syria. The more than 18-minute-long video posted to the internet by IS’s al-Furqan media division shows a man, allegedly Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, sitting cross-legged against a white backdrop with a machine gun and a couple of pillows by his side.
Officials at the Pentagon and the State Department, as well as at US intelligence agencies, said they were aware of the tape but had yet to verify the man in the video is actually the IS leader. If confirmed, the video would be the first to show the 48-year-old Baghdadi since the IS leader gave a sermon at the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq, in July 2014. The Voice of America
Trump sues Deutsche Bank and Capital One
Lawyers representing President Trump, his three grown children, and his business filed suit late Monday in a bid to prevent Deutsche Bank and Capital One from complying with subpoenas issued two weeks ago by the House Financial Services Committee and House Intelligence Committee. The committees are seeking information reportedly including evidence of possible money laundering by people in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Monday’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, argues that the House subpoenas “have no legitimate or lawful purpose” and instead are meant to “harass” Trump and “cause him political damage.” The heads of the House committees, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), called the lawsuit “meritless” and “only designed to put off meaningful accountability as long as possible.” The New York Times, The Washington Post
Trump calls for tougher restrictions on asylum
President Donald Trump is calling on top immigration officials to take steps that toughen and accelerate the process for seeking asylum in the United States.
In a memo issued Monday evening, Trump ordered the development of regulations to bar certain asylum seekers from obtaining work authorization, impose fees on applications, speed up court decisions and limit access to other forms of relief. However, they will not immediately go into effect. Instead, the president called on the secretaries of the Homeland Security and Justice departments to “take all appropriate actions“ to implement the restrictive goals within 90 days. The Politico
Rod Rosenstein submits resignation
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein officially submitted his resignation letter to President Trump on Monday. He wrote that he’ll depart May 11, and highlighted the administration’s achievements: “reducing violent crime, curtailing opioid abuse,” and “protecting consumers.”
He then lauded the value of an apolitical justice system, and closed with what seemed like a poignant reminder to Trump — that “credible evidence is not partisan, and truth is not determined by opinion polls.” Rosenstein had been expected to leave his post by mid-March, but hung on as it became clear that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report was going to wrap up. The Week
Mozambique braces for more rain
People in northern Mozambique braced for more rain Tuesday and the potential for worsening floods as the country deals with the aftermath of the second deadly cyclone to hit the region in the span of six weeks. Forecasters expected rainfall amounts of up to 50 millimeters between Monday and Tuesday in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces.
Mozambique’s disaster management agency said Monday the death toll from Cyclone Kenneth had risen to 38. The rain is causing floods and landslides, and more rain will add more misery, cutting off roads that aid groups are using to transport urgently needed supplies, including food and medicine. Nearly 200,000 people are in danger in the northern city of Pemba. The Voice of America