Top Stories Today – May 4, 2019
Top Stories Today – May 4, 2019
North Korea tests short-range missiles
North Korea has tested several short-range missiles, according to reports from South Korea. They were fired from the Hodo peninsula in the east of the country, said South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, it will be the first missile launch since Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017. Last month Pyongyang said it had tested what it described as a new “tactical guided weapon”.
That was the first test since the Vietnam summit between the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and US President Donald Trump, which ended without agreement. President Trump walked away from what he described as a bad deal offered by Kim Jong-un in Hanoi in February. BBC
Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn crowned
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned on the first of three days of coronation rites. King Vajiralongkorn inherited the throne in 2016 when his long-reigning father Bhumibol Adulyadej died. Days ago, in a surprise announcement the palace said the king had married his long-term partner and royal consort who would now be Queen Suthida.
Thailand has a constitutional monarchy, but the royal family is highly revered by Thais and wields considerable power. Thailand also has strict laws, called lese-majesty, which ban criticism of the monarchy. The laws have shielded the royal family from public view and scrutiny. He then issued his first royal command, promising to reign with righteousness, as his father had done at his coronation 69 years ago. The coronation comes at a time of political uncertainty. A general election was held on 24 March, the first since the army took control in a coup in 2014, but a new government has yet to be declared. BBC
Trump, Putin discuss Mueller report
President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for more than an hour on Friday, the White House reported. Their conversation touched on Venezuela, North Korea, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian election interference. Trump and Putin discussed the report “very, very briefly” and “in the context that it’s over,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Trump told reporters Putin “smiled” when they discussed Mueller’s findings, because “he knew there was no collusion whatsoever.” When asked if he told Putin not to meddle in the next election, Trump responded, “We didn’t discuss that.” The Washington Post via The Week
House threatens Barr with contempt proceedings
House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is giving Attorney General William Barr until Monday to hand over an unredacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, or Democrats will “move to contempt proceedings,” Nadler said Friday. Barr skipped a hearing with the committee on Thursday, and Nadler said he’d give Barr “a day or two” before moving to contempt.
Barr has offered a less-redacted version of Mueller’s report to 12 bipartisan lawmakers, but in his Friday letter, Nadler said he’d like that privilege extended to “all members of Congress and appropriate staff.” Nadler also said he wants Barr to give the Judiciary Committee “investigative and evidentiary materials specifically cited in the report.” Nadler issued a subpoena for the full Mueller report two weeks ago. NBC News via The Week
Deadly Cyclone Fani hits India
A powerful cyclone has slammed into India’s eastern coastline, bringing torrential rains and winds of up to 200 km/h (125mph). Cyclone Fani, one of the most severe storms to hit the region in recent years, made landfall at 8:00 am local time on Friday.
More than one million people have been evacuated from the eastern state of Orissa, also called Odisha. A state official said two people had been killed. Flooding has also been reported in several areas, and forecasters say a storm surge of 1.5m (5ft) could threaten low-lying homes. It is expected to hit 15 districts in Orissa, one of India’s poorest states, before weakening on Saturday. BBC
US unemployment falls to 3.6%
The economy generated a stronger than expected 263,000 new jobs in April, helping to drive down the unemployment rate to a 49-year low of 3.6%. The increase in new jobs easily topped the 217,000 MarketWatch forecast. The jobless rate slid from 3.8% in March to hit the lowest level since December 1969.
The average wage paid to American workers rose 6 cents, or 0.2%, to $27.77 an hour. The 12-month rate of hourly wage gains was unchanged at 3.2%. Hours worked each week fell 0.1 hours in April to 34.4. The government revised the increase in new jobs in March to 189,000 from a preliminary 196,000. February’s gain was raised to 56,000 from 33,000. Market Watch