foxnews--2020-05-28--At least 9 MLB teams pledge more stipends to minor leaguers

At least nine major league franchises have informed minor leaguers they will continue to provide allowances after the May 31 expiration of Major League Baseball ’ s policy guarantying those players $ 400 per week .
The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners are promising payments through August , and the Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , Tampa Bay Rays , Texas Rangers , and Baltimore Orioles have pledged to do so through at least June .
The White Sox are even providing those stipends to 25 minor league players recently released .
CLICK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Philadelphia Phillies also plan to continue allowances through June , but likely at a reduction from the $ 400 per week rate .
The amount is to be determined , the team said .
Oakland said Tuesday it will suspend pay for all minor leaguers at the end of the month .
The Athletics are the only team to announce an end to the allowances .
MLB suspended spring training and postponed the start of the minor league season in March due to the novel coronavirus , leaving low-paid minor league players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy March 19 that provided most non-40-man roster players signed to minor league deals with stipends through April 8 , and it later extended the policy through May 31 .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The allowances were a pay raise for many players , with minimum salaries ranging from $ 290 per week at Class A to $ 502 per week at Triple-A over the five-month season .
MLB and the players ' association are negotiating terms to start the major league season later in the summer , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minor league season .
Some teams have reportedly begun to release players who are n't top prospects and wo n't figure into their 2020 MLB rosters .
The White Sox are the only club to say it will extend allowances to players recently released .

At least nine major league franchises have informed minor leaguers they will continue to provide allowances after the May 31 expiration of Major League Baseball’s policy guarantying those players $400 per week.
The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners are promising payments through August, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles have pledged to do so through at least June. The White Sox are even providing those stipends to 25 minor league players recently released.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The Philadelphia Phillies also plan to continue allowances through June, but likely at a reduction from the $400 per week rate. The amount is to be determined, the team said.
Oakland said Tuesday it will suspend pay for all minor leaguers at the end of the month. The Athletics are the only team to announce an end to the allowances.
MLB suspended spring training and postponed the start of the minor league season in March due to the novel coronavirus, leaving low-paid minor league players in lurch. The league launched a policy March 19 that provided most non-40-man roster players signed to minor league deals with stipends through April 8, and it later extended the policy through May 31.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The allowances were a pay raise for many players, with minimum salaries ranging from $290 per week at Class A to $502 per week at Triple-A over the five-month season.
MLB and the players' association are negotiating terms to start the major league season later in the summer, but it seems likely there will not be a minor league season. Some teams have reportedly begun to release players who aren't top prospects and won't figure into their 2020 MLB rosters. The White Sox are the only club to say it will extend allowances to players recently released.


foxnews--2020-05-28--Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: 'I'm not really worried about' the coronavirus

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker has spent most of his time working at the gym near his home in Arizona , which has been open throughout the entire coronavirus pandemic .
The coronavirus claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people in the United States alone , but Decker isn ’ t worried about playing games this upcoming football season .
PATRIOTS ' JASON MCCOURTY SAYS FEARS OF TEAM WORKOUTS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF 'OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY' “ I don ’ t know if this is the politically correct thing to say , but I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Detroit Lions offensive lineman said Thursday during a video conference .
`` I mean , it ’ s pretty simple to me , I ’ m not worried about it personally .
Cause I ’ m out here in Arizona by myself right now , so I don ’ t have elderly or kids around me . ''
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Decker said that he ’ s worked out with other offensive linemen across the league , and he ’ s willing to take precautions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s just the right thing to do.
” But if it comes down to contracting it himself while in a locker room with others or on the field against an opponent , Decker said he isn ’ t worried about it .
`` No , I 'm not concerned about it , '' Decker said .

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker has spent most of his time working at the gym near his home in Arizona, which has been open throughout the entire coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people in the United States alone, but Decker isn’t worried about playing games this upcoming football season.
PATRIOTS' JASON MCCOURTY SAYS FEARS OF TEAM WORKOUTS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF 'OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY'
“I don’t know if this is the politically correct thing to say, but I’m not really worried about it personally," the Detroit Lions offensive lineman said Thursday during a video conference. "I mean, it’s pretty simple to me, I’m not worried about it personally. Cause I’m out here in Arizona by myself right now, so I don’t have elderly or kids around me."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Decker said that he’s worked out with other offensive linemen across the league, and he’s willing to take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading “because that’s just the right thing to do.” But if it comes down to contracting it himself while in a locker room with others or on the field against an opponent, Decker said he isn’t worried about it.
"No, I'm not concerned about it," Decker said.


foxnews--2020-05-28--The aftermath of Qassem Soleimani's death and his daughter's rise to prominence

It has been almost five months since President Trump shocked the world by authorizing a strike to kill Iran 's top spymaster and shadowy commander , Qassem Soleimani .
Fears of mass retaliation and a sinister spike in violence that would endanger U.S. troops and potentially lead to a full-blown war were instantly ignited .
Baghdad threatened to kick the Americans out of the country , and woes of a more profound destabilization ensued , worries that Iran 's proxy militias would grow even more out of control grew and many lamented that the blindsiding decision by the American commander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tehran to a tipping point .
So what , exactly , has been the fallout ?
`` Once again , the critics of Trump 's Iran policy are wrong .
There was no WW3 after the removal of the Islamic Republic 's most important military official from the battlefield , '' Behnam Ben Taleblu , a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies ( FDD ) , told Fox News .
`` Four months since that game-changing strike , Iran 's proxy network continues to operate , but without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their efforts .
Now is the time to ramp up the pressure on this network . ''
But as part of its campaign to keep the Soleimani legacy alive , Tehran has this year been steadily building the profile of the dead commander 's 28-year-old daughter , Zeinab Soleimani .
Little it is known about the general 's personal life , other than he is survived by three sons and two daughters , but Zeinab catapulted into the limelight immediately after her father 's death , by vowing to large crowds of mourners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend their days waiting for the death of their children . ''
In late January , Zeinab met with Hezbollah leader General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and tweeted a video of the encounter with the caption `` the spider nests of America and Zionists will collapse . ''
Moreover , she has referred to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Houthi leader in Yemen , Abdalmalek Houthi , as her `` uncles . ''
In early May , she was appointed by the regime to run the newly established Qassem Soliemani Foundation to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains unclear how that will play out .
`` As a revolutionary regime , the Islamic republic is always looking for icons which can be used in its propaganda machine to reproduce its narrative .
Zainab Soleimani has all the hallmarks , '' Malik said .
`` With minimum cost , she can help indoctrinate young women who are seen as mothers who bring up the next generation of the revolution . ''
Although crippled by the coronavirus , of which Iran has been the most deeply impacted country in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting down – and cover-up – of the Ukrainian airliner in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 3 Soleimani slaying , Iran has purported to show strength in other ways .
It is what foreign policy experts deem a bid to prove it will not appear feeble under pressure as it postures beneath the murky line of taking pride in its fortitude while playing the victim card .
THE MASTER BEHIND THE MASK : WHO IS IRAN 'S MOST FEARED AND POWERFUL MILITARY COMMANDER ?
In late April , Iran ratcheted up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a satellite – a move that U.S. officials referred to as a `` provocation '' given that the Defense Intelligence Agency last year reported that space launch vehicles could be utilized as a proving ground `` for developing an ICBM , '' although military analysts have since argued that Iran 's machinery is far too limited to serve as an intercontinental ballistic missile .
`` The level of Iranian reprisals thus far certainly has not risen to match the significance of the Soleimani killing , but this should not be seen as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seriously harm U.S. interests in the Middle East , '' warned Jordan Steckler , research analyst at United Against Nuclear Iran ( UANI ) .
`` Even the coronavirus has not fully slowed Iran 's malign targeting of the U.S .
The regime has followed a familiar playbook , continuing external aggression to distract from its own corruption and ineptitude . ''
But according to one Iraqi intelligence source , who requested anonymity due to safety precautions , the assassination of Soleimani has had a profound aftereffect .
`` Iran really utilized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enforcer across the entire Middle East and Russia and Afghanistan , he was the real boss and had relationships no one else had , '' the source explained .
`` The IRCG is not the same .
It 's going to take them a long while to build that back up and figure who he knew .
He did everything his own way and did n't have to ask permission for anything . ''
Soleimani 's replacement in heading the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps ( ICRG ) elite Quds Force unit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contend he has so far shown little of the same clout that his predecessor did .
`` Esmail Qaani 's portfolio was heavily centered on Quds Force operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan , '' noted Steckler .
`` His relationships with Syrian , Lebanese , and Iraqi political and militia leaders are n't as strong as Soleimani 's were , and we have seen Hezbollah step in to fill that void in the interim as Qaani gains his footing . ''
The source also stressed that the killing of Iraq 's Shiite militia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they endeavored to depart the Baghdad airport on that fateful Friday night , has had an equally as resounding impact .
`` His death was devastating for Iranian interests , he was the head of the snake , and those under him now really do n't know what to do , '' noted the insider .
`` All the command he built up has gone . ''
Several other Iraq officials Fox News spoke to concurred that the effect has been significant .
`` The period after the killings has meant a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Kurdish official said .
`` They still can not decide on who to replace Abu Mahdi , Soleimani was the decider for everyone , and he had the final say . ''
IRAN PICKS CYBER FIGHT WITH ISRAEL AS BOTH SIDES TARGET CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE However , the low-level offensive assaults against U.S. interests by the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq remain ongoing , coupled with Tehran 's overarching use of its naval vessels in the Persian Gulf – including live-action training exercises earlier this week – have some policymakers calling for the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure '' campaign .
Furthermore , it circumvented the Trump administration 's hardline Venezuelan policy against the regime of Nicolas Maduro this week by sending five tankers of gasoline to the increasingly isolated Latin American country .
On Wednesday , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that all sanctions waivers issued to countries to work with Iran on nuclear projects would be coming to an end within 60 days .
Despite the acrimonious rhetoric between Washington and Tehran , so far , it has amounted to little more than tit-for-tat and a far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the beginning of the year .
`` Even under coronavirus crisis conditions , Iran is signaling that it will not be deterred , '' Taleblu said .
`` Low-level escalation is set to continue .
`` Others caution that once other distractions such as the coronavirus crisis subside , hostilities could rise again .
`` The killing of Soleimani and other 'maximum pressure ' tactics have resulted in a more hostile , provocative Iran , not a moderate one .
Even though a full-scale war has n't happened yet , concerns were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director , Ben Friedman .
The killing sparked direct U.S.-Iran conflict , including a missile attack on an Iraqi base housing U.S. forces .
It was mostly just luck that the attack did n't kill any U.S. soldiers , providing President Trump an off-ramp to back down from further escalation . ''
But over the next few months , analysts highlighted , there is likely to be a lull .
A prominent forthcoming date is Oct. 18 , 2020 , when the United Nations arms embargo 2231 will expire , freeing Iran to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack helicopters , warships , and tanks from Russia and China , who are eager to tap into the Iranian defense market .
`` While Iran has already violated the arms embargo with seeming impunity , ferrying weaponry to its proxies in combat zones around the region , the resolution has kept the most advanced weaponry out of Iranian hands , '' added Steckler .
`` If the resolution lifts , Iran will be able to rebuild its own aging military fleet , and it would strip the U.S. and Israel of justification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curtail Iranian arms transfers through interdictions and airstrikes . ''

It has been almost five months since President Trump shocked the world by authorizing a strike to kill Iran's top spymaster and shadowy commander, Qassem Soleimani.
Fears of mass retaliation and a sinister spike in violence that would endanger U.S. troops and potentially lead to a full-blown war were instantly ignited. Baghdad threatened to kick the Americans out of the country, and woes of a more profound destabilization ensued, worries that Iran's proxy militias would grow even more out of control grew and many lamented that the blindsiding decision by the American commander in chief would bring animosity between Washington and Tehran to a tipping point.
So what, exactly, has been the fallout?
"Once again, the critics of Trump's Iran policy are wrong. There was no WW3 after the removal of the Islamic Republic's most important military official from the battlefield," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News. "Four months since that game-changing strike, Iran's proxy network continues to operate, but without the charismatic and cunning terrorist who coordinated their efforts. Now is the time to ramp up the pressure on this network."
But as part of its campaign to keep the Soleimani legacy alive, Tehran has this year been steadily building the profile of the dead commander's 28-year-old daughter, Zeinab Soleimani. Little it is known about the general's personal life, other than he is survived by three sons and two daughters, but Zeinab catapulted into the limelight immediately after her father's death, by vowing to large crowds of mourners that "U.S. soldiers' families will spend their days waiting for the death of their children."
In late January, Zeinab met with Hezbollah leader General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and tweeted a video of the encounter with the caption "the spider nests of America and Zionists will collapse." Moreover, she has referred to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Houthi leader in Yemen, Abdalmalek Houthi, as her "uncles."
In early May, she was appointed by the regime to run the newly established Qassem Soliemani Foundation to maintain his legacy and doctrine, although it remains unclear how that will play out.
"As a revolutionary regime, the Islamic republic is always looking for icons which can be used in its propaganda machine to reproduce its narrative. Zainab Soleimani has all the hallmarks," Malik said. "With minimum cost, she can help indoctrinate young women who are seen as mothers who bring up the next generation of the revolution."
Although crippled by the coronavirus, of which Iran has been the most deeply impacted country in the Middle East, along with its embarrassing and tragic shooting down – and cover-up – of the Ukrainian airliner in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 3 Soleimani slaying, Iran has purported to show strength in other ways. It is what foreign policy experts deem a bid to prove it will not appear feeble under pressure as it postures beneath the murky line of taking pride in its fortitude while playing the victim card.
THE MASTER BEHIND THE MASK: WHO IS IRAN'S MOST FEARED AND POWERFUL MILITARY COMMANDER?
In late April, Iran ratcheted up its own display of nationalism when it launched a satellite – a move that U.S. officials referred to as a "provocation" given that the Defense Intelligence Agency last year reported that space launch vehicles could be utilized as a proving ground "for developing an ICBM," although military analysts have since argued that Iran's machinery is far too limited to serve as an intercontinental ballistic missile.
"The level of Iranian reprisals thus far certainly has not risen to match the significance of the Soleimani killing, but this should not be seen as an indication that Iran has abandoned its desire to seriously harm U.S. interests in the Middle East," warned Jordan Steckler, research analyst at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). "Even the coronavirus has not fully slowed Iran's malign targeting of the U.S. The regime has followed a familiar playbook, continuing external aggression to distract from its own corruption and ineptitude."
But according to one Iraqi intelligence source, who requested anonymity due to safety precautions, the assassination of Soleimani has had a profound aftereffect.
"Iran really utilized him as a real foreign policy preacher and enforcer across the entire Middle East and Russia and Afghanistan, he was the real boss and had relationships no one else had," the source explained. "The IRCG is not the same. It's going to take them a long while to build that back up and figure who he knew. He did everything his own way and didn't have to ask permission for anything."
Soleimani's replacement in heading the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (ICRG) elite Quds Force unit is Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, and experts contend he has so far shown little of the same clout that his predecessor did.
"Esmail Qaani's portfolio was heavily centered on Quds Force operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan," noted Steckler. "His relationships with Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi political and militia leaders aren't as strong as Soleimani's were, and we have seen Hezbollah step in to fill that void in the interim as Qaani gains his footing."
The source also stressed that the killing of Iraq's Shiite militia leader Abu, who was alongside Soleimani as they endeavored to depart the Baghdad airport on that fateful Friday night, has had an equally as resounding impact.
"His death was devastating for Iranian interests, he was the head of the snake, and those under him now really don't know what to do," noted the insider. "All the command he built up has gone."
Several other Iraq officials Fox News spoke to concurred that the effect has been significant.
"The period after the killings has meant a huge split inside the PMF," one Kurdish official said. "They still cannot decide on who to replace Abu Mahdi, Soleimani was the decider for everyone, and he had the final say."
IRAN PICKS CYBER FIGHT WITH ISRAEL AS BOTH SIDES TARGET CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
However, the low-level offensive assaults against U.S. interests by the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq remain ongoing, coupled with Tehran's overarching use of its naval vessels in the Persian Gulf – including live-action training exercises earlier this week – have some policymakers calling for the U.S. to implement an even tighter "maximum pressure" campaign.
Furthermore, it circumvented the Trump administration's hardline Venezuelan policy against the regime of Nicolas Maduro this week by sending five tankers of gasoline to the increasingly isolated Latin American country.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that all sanctions waivers issued to countries to work with Iran on nuclear projects would be coming to an end within 60 days.
Despite the acrimonious rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, so far, it has amounted to little more than tit-for-tat and a far cry from the doomsday predictions that percolated at the beginning of the year.
"Even under coronavirus crisis conditions, Iran is signaling that it will not be deterred," Taleblu said. "Low-level escalation is set to continue."Others caution that once other distractions such as the coronavirus crisis subside, hostilities could rise again.
"The killing of Soleimani and other 'maximum pressure' tactics have resulted in a more hostile, provocative Iran, not a moderate one. Even though a full-scale war hasn't happened yet, concerns were justified," said Defense Priorities Policy Director, Ben Friedman. The killing sparked direct U.S.-Iran conflict, including a missile attack on an Iraqi base housing U.S. forces. It was mostly just luck that the attack didn't kill any U.S. soldiers, providing President Trump an off-ramp to back down from further escalation."
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But over the next few months, analysts highlighted, there is likely to be a lull. A prominent forthcoming date is Oct. 18, 2020, when the United Nations arms embargo 2231 will expire, freeing Iran to take delivery of state-of-the-art combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, and tanks from Russia and China, who are eager to tap into the Iranian defense market.
"While Iran has already violated the arms embargo with seeming impunity, ferrying weaponry to its proxies in combat zones around the region, the resolution has kept the most advanced weaponry out of Iranian hands," added Steckler. "If the resolution lifts, Iran will be able to rebuild its own aging military fleet, and it would strip the U.S. and Israel of justification under international law for its efforts to curtail Iranian arms transfers through interdictions and airstrikes."


foxnews--2020-05-29--Trump announces US ‘terminating’ relationship with WHO

President Trump announced Friday that the U.S. is `` terminating '' its relationship with the embattled World Health Organization ( WHO ) over its failure to enact reforms in the face of concerns over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its pro-China bias .
`` Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms , we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs , '' Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden event .
TRUMP FIRES BACK AGAINST @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CORONAVIRUS In the course of the same statement , Trump announced a number of measures aimed primarily at China in response to its conduct on a number of fronts including trade , the coronavirus and its recent crackdown on Hong Kong .
`` The world is now suffering as a result of the misfeasance of the Chinese government , '' Trump said .
Trump announced last month that the U.S. would freeze froze funding to the WHO , and threatened to make the freeze permanent if the organization did not enact `` major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the top contributor to the agency to the tune of approximately $ 450 million a year .
China meanwhile pays approximately $ 50 million a year -- although Beijing had recently announced a $ 2 billion injection of funds .
The U.S. has raised concerns about WHO officials ' praise of Chinese `` transparency , '' its ignoring of warnings about the virus from Taiwan , and its repetition of Chinese claims that COVID-19 could not be spread from person-to-person .
Trump has also pointed to opposition from WHO officials to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China in the initial days of the crisis .
`` Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities , '' he said .
`` Countless lives have been taken and profound economic hardship has been inflicted across the globe . ''
Targeting the Chinese directly , Trump said he will issue a proclamation to secure university research and to `` suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals from China who we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump also accused China of `` smothering '' freedom in Hong Kong with its newly enacted national security law that would stifle opposition and criminalize anti-government movements such as the pro-democracy demonstrations seen in the territory in recent years .
The State Department this week reported to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous after a number of moves by Beijing to shut down the freedoms that were agreed to as part of the 1997 handover of the territory by the British .
Trump said the move by Beijing was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaty obligations : `` China has replaced its promised formula of 'one country two systems ' with 'one country one system . '
'' CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP The president also announced that the U.S. will be eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment `` from our extradition treaty to our export controls on dual use technologies and more with few exceptions . ''
Trump added that the State Department 's travel advisory for Hong Kong would be revised to reflect the increased danger of surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. is revoking Hong Kong 's preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory , and taking steps to sanction officials involved in eroding Hong Kong 's autonomy .
`` The rest of the world was electrified by a sense of optimism that Hong Kong was a glimpse of China 's future , '' he said , `` not that Hong Kong would grow into a reflection of China 's past . ''

President Trump announced Friday that the U.S. is "terminating" its relationship with the embattled World Health Organization (WHO) over its failure to enact reforms in the face of concerns over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its pro-China bias.
"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs," Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden event.
TRUMP FIRES BACK AGAINST CHINA'S 'MASSIVE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN' ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
In the course of the same statement, Trump announced a number of measures aimed primarily at China in response to its conduct on a number of fronts including trade, the coronavirus and its recent crackdown on Hong Kong.
"The world is now suffering as a result of the misfeasance of the Chinese government," Trump said.
Trump announced last month that the U.S. would freeze froze funding to the WHO, and threatened to make the freeze permanent if the organization did not enact "major substantive reforms." The U.S. had been the top contributor to the agency to the tune of approximately $450 million a year. China meanwhile pays approximately $50 million a year -- although Beijing had recently announced a $2 billion injection of funds.
The U.S. has raised concerns about WHO officials' praise of Chinese "transparency," its ignoring of warnings about the virus from Taiwan, and its repetition of Chinese claims that COVID-19 could not be spread from person-to-person. Trump has also pointed to opposition from WHO officials to his decision to place a travel ban on China in the initial days of the crisis.
POMPEO OFFICIALLY DECLARES HONG KONG 'NO LONGER AUTONOMOUS,' SLAMS CHINA INTERVENTION
"Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities," he said. "Countless lives have been taken and profound economic hardship has been inflicted across the globe."
Targeting the Chinese directly, Trump said he will issue a proclamation to secure university research and to "suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals from China who we have identified as a potential security risk."
Trump also accused China of "smothering" freedom in Hong Kong with its newly enacted national security law that would stifle opposition and criminalize anti-government movements such as the pro-democracy demonstrations seen in the territory in recent years.
The State Department this week reported to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous after a number of moves by Beijing to shut down the freedoms that were agreed to as part of the 1997 handover of the territory by the British.
Trump said the move by Beijing was a "plain violation" of its treaty obligations: "China has replaced its promised formula of 'one country two systems' with 'one country one system.'"
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
The president also announced that the U.S. will be eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment "from our extradition treaty to our export controls on dual use technologies and more with few exceptions."
Trump added that the State Department's travel advisory for Hong Kong would be revised to reflect the increased danger of surveillance and punishment by the Chinese. Additionally, the U.S. is revoking Hong Kong's preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory, and taking steps to sanction officials involved in eroding Hong Kong's autonomy.
"The rest of the world was electrified by a sense of optimism that Hong Kong was a glimpse of China's future," he said, "not that Hong Kong would grow into a reflection of China's past."


foxnews--2020-05-29--Marc Thiessen points out New York Times hypocrisy on mail-in ballots

President Trump has been adamant that mail-in ballots could compromise the 2020 presidential election , and Marc Thiessen pointed out that The New York Times used to feel the same way .
The New York Times reported Thursday that Twitter “ added information to refute the inaccuracies ” in a tweet Trump sent that “ falsely claimed ” mail-in ballots would cause the election to be rigged .
While the Gray Lady reported that Trump ’ s tweet was inaccurate , history shows that the paper didn ’ t always feel that way .
AS TRUMP LASHES OUT AT PUSH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FIRE BACK Thiessen – a Fox News contributor -- pointed out in a recent Washington Post column that the same New York Times condemned mail-in ballots as recently as 2012 .
A 2012 Times report , `` Error and Fraud at Issue as Absentee Voting Rises , ” detailed the difficulties associated with absentee ballots .
“ The piece noted that ‘ there is a bipartisan consensus that voting by mail … is more easily abused than other forms , ’ and that ‘ votes cast by mail are less likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth , ’ ” Thiessen wrote .
As Thiessen noted , the Times reported “ a bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform… concluded in 2005 that ‘ absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.
’ ” TRUMP SIGNS SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF LIABILITY PROTECTIONS OVER 'CENSORING' The 2012 Times piece also cited election experts claiming “ challenges created by mailed ballots could well affect outcomes this fall and beyond , ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The flaws of absentee voting raise questions about the most elementary promises of democracy , ” the Times reported in 2012 .
“ Voting by mail is now common enough and problematic enough that election experts say there have been multiple elections in which no one can say with confidence which candidate was the deserved winner.
” The old Times piece also noted , “ voting in person is more reliable , particularly since election administrators made improvements to voting equipment after the 2000 presidential election.
” THE LATEST FROM FOX NEWS ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump turned up the volume in his full-court press against the moves by some states to make voting by mail easier due to health concerns with in-person voting amid the coronavirus pandemic .
He has been attacked by the left for condemning mail-in voting , while conservatives have noted that voting in person isn ’ t any more dangerous than going to the supermarket .
Twitter slapped a warning label on one of President Trump 's tweets for the first time on Tuesday , cautioning readers that despite the president 's claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` no evidence '' that expanded , nationwide mail-in voting would increase fraud risks -- and that `` experts say mail-in ballots are very rarely linked to voter fraud . ''
Twitter 's new warning label was issued even though a Twitter spokesperson acknowledged to Fox News that Trump 's tweet had not broken any of the platform 's rules , and even though several experts have called mail-in balloting an invitation to widespread fraud -- but Thiessen 's issue is with the way it was covered by the Times .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ‘ the flaws of absentee voting raise questions about the most elementary promises of democracy.
’ Now that Trump is raising those same questions , the publication says doing so is illegitimate .
It was right the first time , ” Thiessen wrote .
Fox News ’ Paul Steinhauser and Gregg Re contributed to this report .

President Trump has been adamant that mail-in ballots could compromise the 2020 presidential election, and Marc Thiessen pointed out that The New York Times used to feel the same way.
The New York Times reported Thursday that Twitter “added information to refute the inaccuracies” in a tweet Trump sent that “falsely claimed” mail-in ballots would cause the election to be rigged. While the Gray Lady reported that Trump’s tweet was inaccurate, history shows that the paper didn’t always feel that way.
AS TRUMP LASHES OUT AT PUSH TO EXPAND VOTING BY MAIL, DEMOCRATS FIRE BACK
Thiessen – a Fox News contributor -- pointed out in a recent Washington Post column that the same New York Times condemned mail-in ballots as recently as 2012.
A 2012 Times report, "Error and Fraud at Issue as Absentee Voting Rises,” detailed the difficulties associated with absentee ballots.
“The piece noted that ‘there is a bipartisan consensus that voting by mail … is more easily abused than other forms,’ and that ‘votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth,’” Thiessen wrote.
As Thiessen noted, the Times reported “a bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform… concluded in 2005 that ‘absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.’”
TRUMP SIGNS SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF LIABILITY PROTECTIONS OVER 'CENSORING'
The 2012 Times piece also cited election experts claiming “challenges created by mailed ballots could well affect outcomes this fall and beyond,” and “increases the potential for fraud.”
“The flaws of absentee voting raise questions about the most elementary promises of democracy,” the Times reported in 2012. “Voting by mail is now common enough and problematic enough that election experts say there have been multiple elections in which no one can say with confidence which candidate was the deserved winner.”
The old Times piece also noted, “voting in person is more reliable, particularly since election administrators made improvements to voting equipment after the 2000 presidential election.”
THE LATEST FROM FOX NEWS ON THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Earlier this month, Trump turned up the volume in his full-court press against the moves by some states to make voting by mail easier due to health concerns with in-person voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. He has been attacked by the left for condemning mail-in voting, while conservatives have noted that voting in person isn’t any more dangerous than going to the supermarket.
Twitter slapped a warning label on one of President Trump's tweets for the first time on Tuesday, cautioning readers that despite the president's claims, "fact checkers" say there is "no evidence" that expanded, nationwide mail-in voting would increase fraud risks -- and that "experts say mail-in ballots are very rarely linked to voter fraud."
Twitter's new warning label was issued even though a Twitter spokesperson acknowledged to Fox News that Trump's tweet had not broken any of the platform's rules, and even though several experts have called mail-in balloting an invitation to widespread fraud -- but Thiessen's issue is with the way it was covered by the Times.
“Eight years ago, the Times declared that ‘the flaws of absentee voting raise questions about the most elementary promises of democracy.’ Now that Trump is raising those same questions, the publication says doing so is illegitimate. It was right the first time,” Thiessen wrote.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Gregg Re contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-05-28--Minneapolis erupts in violence, vandalism for second straight night after black man's death in polic

Minneapolis erupts in violence, vandalism for second straight night after black man's death in police custody, 1 person killed

Good morning and welcome to Fox News First .
Here 's what you need to know as you start your day ... Violence rocks Minneapolis for second straight night after black man 's death in police custody , 1 person killed A man was shot to death as violent protests erupted in Minneapolis for a second straight night Wednesday over the death of a black man while in police custody .
Multiple reports indicated that Mayor Jacob Frey reached out to Gov .
Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard to the city .
The mayor ’ s office did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
At least one group of armed men was seen outside a strip mall amid intensifying protests and looting in the city .
Police on Wednesday responded to reports of a stabbing victim near the protests and discovered a man had been shot .
The man later died , police said , and a suspect has been taken into custody .
A reporter for the Star Tribune tweeted that police were `` working through the ‘ theory ’ of this homicide being related to a report of a Minneapolis pawnshop owner shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd , who died Monday night while in police custody .
A citizen 's cell phone video later emerged showing Floyd on the ground with a police officer ’ s knee pressed against his neck for approximately eight minutes .
Officers had responded to a call from a grocery store that Floyd had allegedly tried to use a forged check to make purchases .
That officer and three others were fired Tuesday .
On Wednesday , Mayor Jacob Frey called for the officer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be criminally charged .
At the request of President Trump , federal investigators have joined the investigation into Floyd 's death .
Protesters also gathered Wednesday evening at the officer 's suburban home as well as the Minneapolis home of Mike Freeman , the Hennepin County prosecutor who would make the decision on charges in the case .
No violence was reported in those protests .
Click here for more on our top story .
Other related developments : - Los Angeles protests erupt over Floyd death - Activists compare Floyd video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathe ' case - Lawrence Jones urges Minneapolis protesters to 'let the system do its job' - 'Star Wars ' actor John Boyega slams 'racist white people ’ in reaction to George Floyd death Twitter 's Jack Dorsey fires back at Zuckerberg , defends fact-checking Trump tweets Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey fired back at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg , who criticized the tech giant 's decision to fact-check President Trump 's tweets about mail-in voting .
On Tuesday , Twitter slapped a warning label on one of Trump 's tweets for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's claims , `` fact checkers '' say there is `` no evidence '' that expanded , nationwide mail-in voting would increase fraud risks -- and that `` experts say mail-in ballots are very rarely linked to voter fraud . ''
Within minutes , Trump accused Twitter of stifling free speech and `` interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election ... based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post . ''
In a preview clip of his interview with Fox News ' Dana Perino , Zuckerberg weighed in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TUNE IN TODAY : Do n't miss Dana Perino 's full interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on `` The Daily Briefing '' at 2 p.m .
ET '' We have a different policy than , I think , Twitter on this , '' Zuckerberg told `` The Daily Briefing '' in an interview scheduled to air in its entirety on Thursday .
`` I just believe strongly that Facebook should n't be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online , '' he added .
`` Private companies probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies , should n't be in the position of doing that . ''
In a late-night Twitter thread , Dorsey refuted Zuckerberg 's comments while defending Twitter 's `` Head of Site Integrity '' Yoel Roth .
Anti-Trump tweets by Roth were discovered in the wake of the politically charged debate over the president 's tweets .
`` Fact check : there is someone ultimately accountable for our actions as a company , and that ’ s me , '' Dorsey began .
`` Please leave our employees out of this .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or disputed information about elections globally .
And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make . ''
Click here for more .
Other related developments : - White House says Trump will sign an executive order on social media Barr asks US attorney to review 'unmasking ' before and after 2016 election , DOJ tells Fox News Attorney General William Barr has asked John Bash , the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas , to review the practice of `` unmasking '' before and after the 2016 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up steam after the Justice Department moved to drop charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn , the DOJ told Fox News on Wednesday night .
Republican lawmakers have demanded more information about the extent of the practice after a previously clandestine list of Obama-era officials who sought to reveal what turned out to be the identity of Michael Flynn in intelligence reports was released earlier the month .
The DOJ had moved to drop the Flynn case after internal memos were released , raising serious questions about the nature of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plea for lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts .
Click here for more .
Other related developments : - Flynn 's lawyer says Robert Mueller prosecuted her client to further Russian collusion hoax - Sol Wisenberg says Flynn judge 's move to hire attorney could indicate he 's 'in trouble . '
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP TODAY 'S MUST-READS America Together : Send us your photos and we 'll tell your story as the nation battles coronavirus .
US coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000 in harrowing milestone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop COVID-19 transmission : experts .
Peter Manfredonia , fugitive UConn student wanted in 2 killings , is caught in Maryland after manhunt .
SpaceX and NASA ’ s historic launch rescheduled as a result of weather .
House Dems adjourn without FISA vote after Trump announces veto threat .
Biden says he hopes to announce VP pick around this date .
THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS Coronavirus IRS stimulus payments on prepaid debit cards arriving : What to know .
American Airlines says to cut management and support staff by 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' amid ban on eviction .
# TheFlashback : CLICK HERE to find out what happened on `` This Day in History . ''
SOME PARTING WORDS Tucker Carlson blasts Twitter 's fact-check of President Trump as `` a lie '' and calls it `` a form of political censorship . ''
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Stay safe , stay healthy , and be smart about this coronavirus crisis -- we will get through this together .
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Good morning and welcome to Fox News First. Here's what you need to know as you start your day ...
Violence rocks Minneapolis for second straight night after black man's death in police custody, 1 person killed
A man was shot to death as violent protests erupted in Minneapolis for a second straight night Wednesday over the death of a black man while in police custody.
Multiple reports indicated that Mayor Jacob Frey reached out to Gov. Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard to the city. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News seeking comment.
At least one group of armed men was seen outside a strip mall amid intensifying protests and looting in the city. Police on Wednesday responded to reports of a stabbing victim near the protests and discovered a man had been shot. The man later died, police said, and a suspect has been taken into custody. A reporter for the Star Tribune tweeted that police were "working through the ‘theory’ of this homicide being related to a report of a Minneapolis pawnshop owner shooting a looter."
The two nights of protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd, who died Monday night while in police custody. A citizen's cell phone video later emerged showing Floyd on the ground with a police officer’s knee pressed against his neck for approximately eight minutes. Officers had responded to a call from a grocery store that Floyd had allegedly tried to use a forged check to make purchases.
That officer and three others were fired Tuesday. On Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey called for the officer who pressed his knee against Floyd's neck to be criminally charged. At the request of President Trump, federal investigators have joined the investigation into Floyd's death.
Protesters also gathered Wednesday evening at the officer's suburban home as well as the Minneapolis home of Mike Freeman, the Hennepin County prosecutor who would make the decision on charges in the case. No violence was reported in those protests. Click here for more on our top story.
Other related developments:
- Los Angeles protests erupt over Floyd death
- Activists compare Floyd video to Eric Garner 'I can't breathe' case
- Lawrence Jones urges Minneapolis protesters to 'let the system do its job'
- 'Star Wars' actor John Boyega slams 'racist white people’ in reaction to George Floyd death
Twitter's Jack Dorsey fires back at Zuckerberg, defends fact-checking Trump tweets
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey fired back at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who criticized the tech giant's decision to fact-check President Trump's tweets about mail-in voting.
On Tuesday, Twitter slapped a warning label on one of Trump's tweets for the first time, cautioning readers that despite the president's claims, "fact checkers" say there is "no evidence" that expanded, nationwide mail-in voting would increase fraud risks -- and that "experts say mail-in ballots are very rarely linked to voter fraud." Within minutes, Trump accused Twitter of stifling free speech and "interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election ... based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post."
In a preview clip of his interview with Fox News' Dana Perino, Zuckerberg weighed in on the escalating dustup between Trump and Twitter.
TUNE IN TODAY: Don't miss Dana Perino's full interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on "The Daily Briefing" at 2 p.m. ET
"We have a different policy than, I think, Twitter on this," Zuckerberg told "The Daily Briefing" in an interview scheduled to air in its entirety on Thursday. "I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn't be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online," he added. "Private companies probably shouldn't be, especially these platform companies, shouldn't be in the position of doing that."
In a late-night Twitter thread, Dorsey refuted Zuckerberg's comments while defending Twitter's "Head of Site Integrity" Yoel Roth. Anti-Trump tweets by Roth were discovered in the wake of the politically charged debate over the president's tweets.
"Fact check: there is someone ultimately accountable for our actions as a company, and that’s me," Dorsey began. "Please leave our employees out of this. We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally. And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make." Click here for more.
Other related developments:
- White House says Trump will sign an executive order on social media
Barr asks US attorney to review 'unmasking' before and after 2016 election, DOJ tells Fox News
Attorney General William Barr has asked John Bash, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, to review the practice of "unmasking" before and after the 2016 presidential election, a controversy that has picked up steam after the Justice Department moved to drop charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the DOJ told Fox News on Wednesday night.
Republican lawmakers have demanded more information about the extent of the practice after a previously clandestine list of Obama-era officials who sought to reveal what turned out to be the identity of Michael Flynn in intelligence reports was released earlier the month. The DOJ had moved to drop the Flynn case after internal memos were released, raising serious questions about the nature of the investigation that led to his late-2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts. Click here for more.
Other related developments:
- Flynn's lawyer says Robert Mueller prosecuted her client to further Russian collusion hoax
- Sol Wisenberg says Flynn judge's move to hire attorney could indicate he's 'in trouble.'
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
TODAY'S MUST-READS
America Together: Send us your photos and we'll tell your story as the nation battles coronavirus.
US coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000 in harrowing milestone.
6 feet likely not far enough to stop COVID-19 transmission: experts.
Peter Manfredonia, fugitive UConn student wanted in 2 killings, is caught in Maryland after manhunt.
SpaceX and NASA’s historic launch rescheduled as a result of weather.
House Dems adjourn without FISA vote after Trump announces veto threat.
Biden says he hopes to announce VP pick around this date.
THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS
Coronavirus IRS stimulus payments on prepaid debit cards arriving: What to know.
American Airlines says to cut management and support staff by 30 percent.
Home foreclosures in 'holding pattern' amid ban on eviction.
#TheFlashback: CLICK HERE to find out what happened on "This Day in History."
SOME PARTING WORDS
Tucker Carlson blasts Twitter's fact-check of President Trump as "a lie" and calls it "a form of political censorship."
Not signed up yet for Fox News First? Click here to find out what you're missing.
Click here to find out what's on Fox News, Fox Business and Fox News Radio today!
Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Stay safe, stay healthy, and be smart about this coronavirus crisis -- we will get through this together. We'll see you in your inbox first thing Friday morning.