Tillerson cuts short Africa trip to return to Washington

Source: Reuters

NAIROBI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has cut short his first trip to Africa to return to Washington about one day ahead of schedule to deal with urgent work there.

Tillerson’s travel plans have changed so that he can return to Washington early on Tuesday morning instead of late that night, a spokesman for the top U.S. diplomat told reporters traveling with him.

The secretary departed the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Monday morning. He will visit Chad and Nigeria, both oil-producers struggling to contain the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency, on Monday afternoon and evening.

Instead of spending Monday night in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, before flying back to Washington, Tillerson’s spokesman said the secretary had changed his schedule so that he would spend only a few hours in Nigeria before leaving late in the evening to fly home.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-africa-tillerson/tillerson-cuts-short-africa-trip-to-return-to-washington-idUSKCN1GO10C?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5aa656ac04d30176d61c94e5&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

This waitress was just quietly doing the right thing. A viral pic rewarded her in the best way.

Source: Upworthy

Evoni Williams says she was just doing her job. But what she did made a lot of people take notice.

78-year-old diner Adrien Charpentier needed a little help cutting up his breakfast at a Texas Waffle House restaurant. Williams could have simply ignored his situation. Instead, she quietly took charge and helped him enjoy his meal without calling attention to herself.

However, fellow diner Laura Wolf was paying attention and snapped a photo of the interaction. Wolf posted the photo on Facebook, where it quickly went viral.

"This may seem small but to him, I'm sure it was huge," she wrote. "I'm thankful to have seen this act of kindness and caring at the start of my day while everything in this world seems so negative."


...

And then something even more incredible happened: Texas Southern University offered her a $16,000 scholarship along with the aid of a counselor to help her enroll at the university.

Violent Video Games: Mental Illness: Frequent School Shootings

Since Trump took office, Democrats have flipped 39 legislative seats from red to blue.

If Obama paid off a porn star...

Tillerson in Africa: US diplomat 'feeling unwell', cancels Kenya plans

Source: BBC

"The secretary is not feeling well after a long couple days working on major issues back home such as North Korea," the state department said.

Mr Tillerson, on his first official trip to Africa as Washington's top diplomat, is in Kenya until Monday.

The news came a day after US President Trump shocked the world, agreeing to meet North Korea's Kim Jong-un by May.

Officials accompanying Mr Tillerson, 65, on his five-nation tour of Africa did not specify his illness but it is understood not to be serious.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43355677

Leader in Bundy standoff mounting campaign for Nevada governor

Source: CBS

Trump administration studies seeking the death penalty for drug dealers

Source: The Washington Post

The Trump administration is studying new policy that could allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for drug dealers, according to people with knowledge of the discussions, a sign that the White House wants to make a strong statement in addressing the opioid crisis.

President Trump last week suggested executing drug dealers as a way to make a dent in opioid addiction. Opioids killed nearly 64,000 people in 2016, and the crisis is straining local health and emergency services.

People familiar with the discussions said that the president’s Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Justice are studying potential policy changes and that a final announcement could come within weeks. The White House has said one approach it might take is to make trafficking large quantities of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid — a capital crime because even small amounts of the drug can be fatal. White House officials also are studying tougher noncapital penalties for large-scale dealers.

Trump said last week that the administration would soon roll out unspecified “strong” policies on opioids. White House officials said Trump has privately expressed interest in Singapore’s policy of executing drug dealers.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/trump-administration-studying-possibility-of-seeking-death-penalty-for-drug-dealers/2018/03/09/4d9cc994-23c3-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html?utm_term=.41978b9ad79a

Dem leaders rally behind anti-abortion rep in tough primary contest

Source: The Hill

House Democratic leaders are rallying behind Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) as he faces the toughest primary contest in his 14 years on Capitol Hill.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, have all come out vocally in recent days to throw their weight behind the incumbent, a centrist Blue Dog being challenged by a liberal anti-bullying activist who’s questioning Lipinski’s Democratic bona fides.

“I support Dan,” Crowley said this week.

The race has become a flashpoint in the much broader debate over the direction of the party as it seeks to hone its message — and tamp down divisions between liberals and centrists — to win back the House in November’s midterm elections.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/377660-dem-leaders-rally-behind-lipinski-in-tough-primary-contest

Trump to attend Summit of the Americas meeting in Peru

Source: The Washington Post

LIMA, Peru — U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the Summit of the Americas regional meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders in Peru.

A high-ranking Peruvian government official with direct knowledge of the upcoming event confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday that Trump plans to attend.

Leaders around Latin America have been watching closely for any indication that the U.S. president would go to the meeting.

The event is scheduled to take place in April in Peru’s capital city.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/trump-to-attend-summit-of-the-americas-meeting-in-peru/2018/03/09/02838994-23d6-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html