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This is a moment of truth for Mr. Putin and for Russia - 23 Jul 2014 07:20

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"This is a moment of truth for Mr. Putin and for Russia," Kerry said. "Russia needs to step up and prove its bona fides if there are any left."

Kerry also condemned the rebels' response to the crash, calling it "grotesque."

“Drunken separatists are stacking bodies into the back of trucks, removing materials from the site,” Kerry told Stephanopoulos. “This is an insult to everybody. It’s really a moment of truth for Russia to step up and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

"We are not drawing the final conclusion here," Kerry said on "Meet the Press." "But there is a lot that points at the need for Russia to be responsible." m-shoesboxThe Boeing 777 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam with 298 people on board crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border Thursday. U.S. and Ukraine officials believe the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile of unknown origin. Both government officials and pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region have denied responsibility.

The secretary also commented on the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, saying Hamas would have to agree to a cease-fire without additional concessions from Israel. - Comments: 0

In the regional capital Donetsk - 21 Jul 2014 07:55

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In the regional capital Donetsk, the prime minister of the separatist authorities told a news conference that Kiev was holding up the arrival of international experts whose mission to probe the cause - and potentially blame - for the disaster was authorized on Friday by the United Nations Security Council.

And contrary to earlier statements by the rebels, Alexander Borodai said they had not found the black box flight recorders. He said rebels were avoiding disturbing the area.

"There's a grandmother. A body landed right in her bed. She says 'please take this body away'. But we cannot tamper with the site," Borodai said. "Bodies of innocent people are lying out in the heat. We reserve the right, if the delay continues … to begin the process of taking away the bodies. We ask the Russian Federation to help us with this problem and send their experts."

Midday temperatures are around 30 Celsius (85 Fahrenheit).

At Hrabove, one armed man from the separatist forces told Reuters that bodies had already been taken away in trucks. Another said that immediately after the crash people had looted valuables. But fighters and local people say they have been doing their best to collect evidence and preserve human remains.m-shoesbox

As the stench of death began to pervade the area after Thursday's crash, correspondents watched rescue workers carry bodies across the fields and gather remains in black sacks.

Meeting Ukrainian President Poroshenko in Kiev, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said: "We are already shocked by the news we got today of bodies being dragged around, of the site not being treated properly … People are angry, furious."

The Ukrainian security council in Kiev said staff of the Emergencies Ministry had found 186 bodies and had checked some 18 sq km (seven square miles) of the scattered 25-sq-km (10-square-mile) crash site. But the workers were not free to conduct a normal investigation. - Comments: 0

Will A Bi-Partisan Border Bill Work? - 17 Jul 2014 07:57

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ANALYSIS — ABC’s JEFF ZELENY: A week ago, President Obama implored the Texas Congressional delegation to step up and help address the crisis at the border. Today, the bipartisan duo of Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Henry Cuellar are doing just that as they introduce their bill to swiftly return young migrants to Central America. Their proposal is being met with sharp criticism from many Democrats and most immigrant-right groups, who say the U.S. has a moral responsibility to help kids who are fleeing their violent home countries. The House could take up the bill first, opening the door to the first real debate about the humanitarian crisis at the border. The White House knows that its $3.7 billion emergency spending request faces a steep climb without some significant reforms. Will any other Democrats sign onto this plan?m-shoesbox

WHAT THE BILL DOES: The bill, the Helping Unaccompanied Minors and Alleviating National Emergency (HUMANE) Act, to be introduced today, expedites an immigration court hearing for minors to within seven days of their Department of Homeland Security screening, notes ABC’s JAKE LEFFERMAN. Within 72 hours of that proceeding, an immigration judge would determine if the child were eligible for relief and able to continue proceedings in the U.S. If they are deemed ineligible, they would be swiftly returned to their country of origin. This differs from the current law, which could see a court hearing pushed months or years out, with minors returned to relatives or placed in foster care.

WHAT THE POLLS SHOW: More than half of Americans in a new ABC News-Washington Post poll support a White House plan to address an influx of Central American children crossing the border from Mexico, though the president himself receives poor ratings for handling the issue – as do his Republican critics in Congress, notes ABC’s RYAN STRUYK. Only a third of Americans approve of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of undocumented immigrants entering the United States. But even fewer approve of how the Republicans in Congress are dealing with it – 23 percent, including fewer than half of Republicans themselves. Those poor political ratings aside, 53 percent support the plan to spend $3.7 billion to address the immediate problem of unaccompanied, undocumented children entering the country. Still, sharp partisan divisions mark that view: Sixty-six percent of Democrats support the proposal, advanced by Obama last week, dropping to 51 percent of independents and just 35 percent of Republicans. - Comments: 0

The man accused of fatally shooting four children aged 4 to 14 - 12 Jul 2014 08:46

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The man accused of fatally shooting four children aged 4 to 14 and their parents after entering their suburban Houston home while looking for his former wife collapsed when details of the murder scene were read in court on Friday.

Ronald Lee Haskell, 33, who is being held without bond, was in court for a procedural hearing after being charged on Thursday with capital murder and multiple murders. Capital murder can bring the death penalty in Texas.

Haskell said "Yes, sir" after his rights were read and then collapsed as details of the crime were listed in the court. Bailiffs had to pick him up and wheel him out in an office chair.

Haskell is accused of killing two boys ages 4 and 14, two girls ages 7 and 9, and their parents Stephen Stay, 39, and Katie, 33. Five of them were found dead and one of the children died after being flown to a hospital for treatment. A 15-year-old daughter survived the attack, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.m-shoesbox

Authorities said he went to the Stay home looking for his former wife, who is related to the victims, and held the children at gunpoint until their parents returned. He then brought all seven family members into a room and shot them, killing all except the teenage girl, police said. - Comments: 0

Hornets to sign Hayward to offer sheet - 10 Jul 2014 14:30

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The Charlotte Hornets are going all out to sign restricted free agent Gordon Hayward.

The Hornets have agreed on a maximum offer sheet with Hayward that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years, a person close to with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs.

The person commented to the AP on condition of anonymity because Hayward can't officially sign the offer sheet until Thursday when the league lifts its moratorium on signing free agents.

The Charlotte Observer was the first to report the news. Williams spent the last two seasons with Utah after six years with the Atlanta Hawks. He started 50 games last season for the Jazz and averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds.m-shoesbox

The person also said the Hornets have spoken to representatives for free agents Marvin Williams and Brian Roberts and will meet with them later this week. Williams would give the Hornets another option at forward and Roberts would fill the backup point guard spot behind Kemba Walker.

It's unclear at this point if the Jazz would match the offer to keep Hayward or consider a sign-and-trade with Charlotte. - Comments: 0


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