U.S. asks nations to provide more traveler data or face sanctions
The U.S. State Department will require all nations to provide extensive data to help it vet visa applicants and determine whether a traveler poses a terrorist threat, according to a cable obtained by Reuters.
reuters.com
U.S. prepares new sanctions on Chinese firms over North Korea ties - officials
Frustrated that China has not done more to rein in North Korea, the Trump administration could impose new sanctions on small Chinese banks and other firms doing business with Pyongyang within weeks, two senior U.S. officials said.
reuters.com
Republicans unveil revised Obamacare repeal bill
US Senate Republicans have released a revamped health bill in a bid to rally their divided party around its seven-year campaign to repeal Obamacare.
bbc.com
Trump says wall may not need to cover entire U.S.-Mexico border
President Donald Trump said the wall he wants to build on the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) U.S.-Mexico frontier may not need to cover the entire border because of existing natural barriers, according to remarks released by the White House on Thursday.
reuters.com
Macron slaps down defense chief, pledges higher spending
rench President Emmanuel Macron slapped down military chiefs on Thursday after his top general criticized spending cuts to this year's budget, while pledging to increase military expenditure next year. In his first defense policy speech, Macron said he would not tolerate public dissent from the military after General Pierre de Villiers reportedly told a parliament committee he would not let the government "fuck with" him on spending cuts.
reuters.com
Jeff Sessions: 400 arrested in 'largest health care fraud takedown in history'
More than 400 people have been charged with taking part in health care fraud and opioid scams that totaled $1.3 billion in false billing, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday.
al.com
‘Marines out!’ Japanese police forcibly remove anti-US base sit-in in Okinawa
Police have forcibly removed protesters staging a sit-in outside the US Marine Corps’ Camp Schwab in Okinawa in a campaign to protest the relocation of the Futenma base.
rt.com
Germany releases former intelligence agency’s Islamist infiltrator
A Dusseldorf court has released a suspected Islamist who worked for the country’s spy agency, according to media reports citing a local court official. He was arrested last year for gathering confidential data and planning a terrorist attack.
rt.com
Fracking waste contaminates Penn. watershed with radioactive material
Stream sediments in Pennsylvania downstream from two fracking wastewater treatment facilities were found to contain radioactive material and carcinogens, according to study scientists from Penn State, Colorado State and Dartmouth universities.
rt.com
Five Chechens jailed for murder of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov
A Chechen gunman and his four accomplices have been sentenced to prison for the February 2015 killing of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.
ibtimes.co.uk
Man trapped in ATM pleads for rescue by slipping notes through receipt slot
Police say a Texas man who became trapped inside an ATM slipped notes to customers via the receipt slot pleading for them to help him escape.
ibtimes.co.uk
UK """criminals""" steal ATM using forklift truck as battering ram
Dramatic footage showing a brazen bank heist using a forklift truck to smash through a wall and steal an ATM has been released by UK detectives.
rt.com
Racist AirBnB host fined for refusing Asian
A racist AirBnB host who discriminated against an Asian guest has been fined $5,000 - and told she must attend a course on Asian-American studies.
bbc.com
