Top Stories Today – May 6, 2019
Top Stories Today – May 6, 2019
Trump threatens more China tariffs
President Donald Trump dramatically increased pressure on China on Sunday to reach a trade deal, saying he would hike US tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods this week and target hundreds of billions more soon.
The move marked a major escalation in tensions between the world’s largest economies and a shift in tone from Trump, who had cited progress in trade talks as recently as Friday. Stock markets sank and oil prices tumbled as negotiations were thrown into doubt. The Wall Street Journal reported that China was considering cancelling this week’s trade talks in Washington in light of Trump’s comments, which took Chinese officials by surprise. Reuters
US deploys aircraft carrier to Iran
The US has deployed an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to send a “clear and unmistakable message” to Iran. John Bolton, US national security advisor, said they were acting “in response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings”. The deployment of the warship was based on claims of a possible attack on US forces, Reuters news agency reports, quoting an unnamed US official.
Bolton added that they would counter any attack with “unrelenting force”. In a statement, Bolton said: “The United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.” BBC
At least 41 dead at Moscow plane crashes
At least 41 people were killed as a result of a fiery crash landing of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 (SSJ100) passenger plane at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport Sunday evening. Speaking to reporters early Monday, Elena Markovskaya, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, said that 41 people died in the accident and 37 people survived.
The SSJ100 operated by national airline Aeroflot had 73 passengers and five crew members on board when it made a hard emergency landing. Video on Russian television showed fire bursting from the plane’s underside as it touched down. The Russian news agency Interfax reports that the plane may have been struck by lightning, necessitating its return to the airport. Interfax says the landing caused one landing gear unit to break, sending debris into a wing fuel tank and sparking the blaze. Russian Emergency Ministry said it does not plan to ground other SSJ100 planes following the Sunday’s crash. The Voice of America
Trump: Mueller shouldn’t testify in Congress
President Trump said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller should not testify before Congress — reversing his position from days ago, when he said he’d defer to Attorney General William Barr. Across two tweets, Mr. Trump wrote, “why would the Democrats in Congress now need Robert Mueller…to testify. Are they looking for a redo because they hated seeing the strong NO COLLUSION conclusion?”
Trump added, “Bob Mueller should not testify. No redos for the Dems!” Mr. Trump’s tweet came soon after Democratic Rep. David Cicilline, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, announced that he is working on arranging Mueller’s testimony. The Rhode Island congressman said he is hoping to bring Mueller in on May 15, but a date hasn’t been confirmed. CBS News
Gaza ceasefire’ after days of violence
There has been a lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants said that a ceasefire with Israel had been agreed. It comes after a weekend during which Palestinian militants launched hundreds of rockets into Israel prompting retaliatory air and artillery strikes. At least four Israelis and 25 Palestinians were killed.
Israel has not confirmed the truce, but its military has lifted emergency measures in place in southern Israel. The violence flared up on Friday during a protest against the blockade of Gaza. Egypt is said to have brokered it – assisted by the United Nations and Qatar. BBC
Michael Cohen heads to prison
Michael Cohen, the former lawyer, media attack dog and all-around fixer for President Donald Trump, is scheduled to begin serving a three-year prison sentence Monday for crimes including campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made on Trump’s behalf. Cohen faces a 2 p.m. deadline to report to the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, a federal prison in the countryside 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of New York City. A minimum-security prison camp there has become a haven for white-collar criminals.
Cohen, who has been disbarred, is trading plaid blazers for khaki prison garb after trying and failing in recent weeks to get his sentence delayed or reduced. His legal team asked House Democrats last month to intercede after Cohen testified on Capitol Hill, but they were reticent to do so. Federal prosecutors in New York were also no help, Cohen’s lawyers said. The Associated Press