MOSSAD CHIEF CERTAIN IRAN SEEKS NUKES
JERUSALEM» The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency is “100 percent certain” that Iran remains committed to developing a nuclear bomb and believes the international community must change or scrap its nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.
The comments by Yossi Cohen added an influential voice to a global debate over Iran’s nuclear program before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for toughening the deal. Trump, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been a fierce critic of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Trump has set a mid-May deadline to reach agreement with the European nations to toughen restrictions on Iran, including by extending the limitations on nuclear activity that are set to expire under the deal in several years.
Cosby jury filled as defense alleges discrimination.
A jury of seven men and five women — 10 of them white, two of them black — was seated Wednesday to decide Bill Cosby’s fate, after a day marked by defense accusations of racial discrimination.
Cosby’s lawyers alleged a member of the prosecution team made a disparaging remark after a black woman was removed from consideration to serve on the jury in the 80year-old comedian’s retrial on sexual assault charges. The defense didn’t reveal in open court what they claim had been said, but sought to use the remark as evidence that prosecutors illegally removed the woman from the jury pool on the basis of her race.
Mayor proposes road tolls for downtown streets.
The city is looking at road tolls for downtown streets as part of a broader initiative to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday. Durkan provided few specifics, but she said the transportation department is studying congestion pricing strategies to ease traffic through downtown.
Russia tests missiles in the Baltic sea.
BRUSSELS» Russia on Wednesday started a livefire military exercise in the Baltic Sea, just outside of NATO territorial waters, in a move a top Latvian defense official called a “show of force” just a day after their president and other Baltic leaders met in the Oval Office with President Trump. The three-day missile test forced a partial shutdown of Latvian civilian airspace and was the first time Russia has tested live munitions in Latvia’s exclusive economic zone, a stretch of international waters just outside Latvia’s territory in the Baltic Sea.
Marine helicopter crew of four is presumed dead after crash.
The four crew members aboard a Marine Corps helicopter that crashed in Southern California on Tuesday are presumed dead, authorities said. A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing went down “in the vicinity” of El Centro during a routine training mission, according to a statement from the Miramar air station near San Diego.
Prince Philip OK after hip surgery.
The 96year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II is recovering after undergoing a successful hip replacement operation Wednesday, Buckingham Palace said. The palace said Prince Philip is likely to spend several days at King Edward VII Hospital in London.
Giuliani’s third wife files for divorce after 15 years.
NEW
The third wife of former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has filed for divorce. Judith Giuliani filed divorce papers Wednesday at a court in Manhattan, listing the case as “contested.”