
By JENNIFER MEDINA and EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2C3YpWi
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Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has gone into hiding since conservative media published an 11-page statement in which he alleged the pope knew for years about sexual misconduct by an American cardinal and did nothing about it. Vigano has been communicating through Aldo Maria Valli, an Italian television journalist who Vigano consulted several times before releasing his statement last Sunday when the pope was in Ireland. Italian media has reported he was upset because he was never made a cardinal by former Pope Benedict or because Francis blocked his further advancement in the Church.
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Key brokers held last-ditch talks on Thursday on the fate of Syria's only remaining rebel-held province, hoping to stave off a government offensive the UN has warned could spark catastrophe. Government forces have been massing around Idlib for days and looked poised to launch what could be the last major battle of the civil war that has torn Syria apart since 2011. After retaking a succession of rebel bastions around the country this year, the government of President Bashar al-Assad has set its sights on Idlib.
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The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday backed a lawsuit accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian-American applicants, throwing its support behind a case that could impact the use of race-based college admissions. The department, which has been investigating Harvard for potential civil rights violations over its affirmative action policy, made its argument in documents filed in federal court in Boston, where the case is scheduled to go to trial in October. The Justice Department argued that Harvard had failed to prove that its use of race as a factor in deciding which students to admit had not resulted in it illegally discriminating against Asian-Americans.
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South Korean police raided German carmaker BMW's Seoul headquarters Thursday in connection with dozens of engine fires. An official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's white collar crime unit said officers were investigating whether the company covered up vehicle defects and had confiscated documents and other materials. There was no immediate comment from BMW Korea.
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The mission of the Election Assistance Commission — the nation’s first federal agency created to oversee elections at every level of government — has never been clear, and more than 15 years later, critics say the agency has succumbed to the whims of partisan operatives.
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A senior Republican senator on Thursday urged US regulators to reopen an antitrust investigation into Google, citing "important developments" since the review was closed in 2013. Lawmakers have no official role in determining how the independent agency manages its investigations, but Hatch's call comes amid growing complaints from some activist organizations and following a series of antitrust investigations targeting Google in the European Union. Hatch stated that "Google does have a long track record of providing valuable services and making important, innovative contributions.
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Judge Emilio Chavez ordered charges to be dropped against Lucas Morton, his wife Subhannah Wahhaj and her sister Hujrah Wahhaj because prosecutors had failed to follow a procedural rule after they were charged and jailed. "They're out now," said Megan Mitsunaga, a defense attorney for Subhannah Wahhaj. The three still face a criminal trespassing case in magistrates court in Taos County for building their makeshift settlement on a plot of land near Amalia, New Mexico, that did not belong to them, Mitsunaga said.
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Hailed for his progressive views on homosexuality and climate change, Pope Francis is facing growing scrutiny amid the sex abuse crisis in Catholic Church. Are the media devoting enough coverage? Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, sees a double standard.
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Donald Trump's impeachment could arrive sooner than the president seems to think, with aides worried that the president and his team are ill-prepared for a potential crisis. "We’ve talked a lot about impeachment at different times," Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney, confirmed in the report. The paper spoke with 26 White House officials, presidential advisers and strategists close to Mr Trump’s White House throughout the week, to gain a better understanding of how the administration is preparing for a "potential crisis" in the months ahead.
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Harley-Davidson F-150 Making a Comeback Celebrating 115th years with something big and loud Behold the ultimate Harley-Davidson swag: the H-D pickup truck! The bike maker, in collaboration with custom truck shop Tuscany Motor, has unveiled its 115th
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British fishermen have claimed that warnings about an extraordinary clash over scallops in the English Channel fell "on deaf ears". French mariners have been accused of endangering the lives of their UK counterparts after rocks, smoke bombs and other projectiles were allegedly hurled at English and Scottish vessels during the confrontation in the early hours of Tuesday. Around a dozen British boats were targeted by the rival flotilla in a protest over fishing rights in the scallop-rich waters exacerbated by Brexit talks. The Government said it had contacted officials in France about the matter, adding the vessels were "legally entitled" to fish in the area. But some British fishermen have claimed they had previously reported similar skirmishes over the past two years to the authorities. "Nothing happened, it just went on deaf ears," said Brixham-based mariner Derek Meredith. Around a dozen UK fishing boats were targeted by a rival French flotilla in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy early on Tuesday The South Western Fish Producers Organisation, which represents many of the boats and has been negotiating with French fishermen, condemned the behaviour as dangerous. Chief executive Jim Portus said: "They are endangering life at sea by being unprofessional. The French might look like heroes to the French coastal communities, but it's really awful to put other mariners in danger." Around 40 French boats were said to be responsible for the disruption. One of the British ships, The Golden Promise, had a window smashed by an airborne can, while another suffered fire damage after a flare was thrown at it, Mr Portus said. A smashed window onboard of Golden Promise at the Brixham Harbour in Devon, which was broken by a rock thrown by french fishermen Credit: SWNS.com He claimed to have received a message from the chief negotiator of the French scallop industry on Wednesday morning that said: "I regret the altercations that occurred... it will not happen again." 'It's happened before... the French navy were there and did nothing' It is not the first time such a clash has taken place, according to the owner of one of the Brixham boats involved. Derek Meredith told the BBC: "It's happened in previous years, two years ago it happened to us - not as forceful as this time I wouldn't have said - but the same thing, the French navy were there on site and never done a thing. "We reported it to the (Marine Management Organisation), nothing happened, it just went on deaf ears." The skipper of Joanna C, Nathan Clark, also told the broadcaster: "I'm not really concerned because we're doing nothing wrong... it's just the safety of my crew and the boat really, because there's nothing to stop them doing it all over again." Fishermen Callum Clark and Nathan Clark onboard Joanna C at the Brixham Harbour in Devon after they were attacked Credit: SWNS.com Britain's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations has appealed for calm, while the Scottish White Fish Producers Association lashed out at the "vigilante behaviour". Long-running dispute over section of Channel Maritime authorities in France also sought to soothe tensions on Wednesday, decrying the showdown as "very dangerous" and expressing hope that "things will calm down". The long-running dispute centres on a section of the Channel from which French fishermen cannot harvest scallops until later in the year, due to domestic environmental laws. Dramatic footage broadcast by France 3 Normandie showed boats colliding as tensions finally boiled over. The Honeybourne 3 (right), a Scottish scallop dredger, in dock at Shoreham Credit: Andrew Matthews /PA One of the British boats involved in the clash was said to be the Honeybourne 3, a Scottish scallop dredger, along with two ships from Brixham harbour, The Golden Promise and Joanna C. The Honeybourne 3, one of the British boats involved in the clash, was moored in Shoreham Port on Wednesday morning. A black spatter mark was visible on the vessel's stern while dents and scrapes marked the port side bow. MP claims 'no evidence' that French have taken action against vessels Fears have been raised about the safety of the British fleet, which the Government said was its "highest priority". Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, claimed Environment Secretary Michael Gove had assured her that "appropriate measures" were in place to protect fishermen. She also criticised the response of the French authorities, saying there was "no evidence whatsoever" that they had taken action against the vessels. Dimitri Rogoff, head of a Normandy fishermen's association, said the violent scenes "demonstrate the exasperation of Normandy fishermen in a situation which persists and does not change". A history of fishing 'wars' At a glance | The “Cod Wars” UK government: Safety of fleet is highest priority A British government spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of aggression directed towards UK fishing vessels in an area of the English Channel not under UK control. "These vessels were operating in an area they are legally entitled to fish. "The safety of the UK fleet is our highest priority and we will continue to monitor the presence and activities of vessels in the area. "We are in contact with industry and the French administration to encourage meaningful dialogue and prevent further incidents from occurring."
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Manafort, who sought unsuccessfully to move the first trial away from the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia, is hoping for better luck with Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is presiding over the second case in a federal court in Washington. Jackson said she would entertain the motion but said she believed he could get a fair trial in her court. "I'd like to believe that is still possible." Manafort, a longtime Washington lobbyist and consultant, faces seven criminal counts in the upcoming trial, including allegations of money laundering, obstruction of justice and failing to register as a foreign agent for his work on behalf of pro-Russian politicians from Ukraine.
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