Liberal commentator Van Jones blasted the Clinton presidential campaign for setting $1 billion "on fire."
Speaking at "The People's Summit" convention in Chicago, Jones said Democrats were "tricked into fighting among ourselves over the wrong issues."
Jones, who served as President Obama's so-called "green jobs czar," said the campaign gave itself a false choice during the election.
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He said that they acted like they had to choose between a focus on "people of color, racial justice, ... or the white working class."
"That is the stupidest false choice I have ever heard," Jones said.
He said the Clinton campaign did none of the above and spent the money on "themselves" by hiring consultants and pollsters.
"They took a billion dollars... and set it on fire and called it a campaign," Jones said.
"You need to give the money back to the people, period," Jones said. "Quit getting rich off people's struggles."
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Saturday, June 10, 2017
US special forces aid fight to oust Islamic militants in the Philippines
US special forces have joined an operation to oust Islamic State-affiliated militants who have laid siege to a city in the southern Philippines.
The forces are providing technical assistance to end the conflict in Marawi, on the island of Mindanao, which has claimed dozens of lives over the last three weeks.
The US troops are not fighting, but an American surveillance plane was seen flying over the city on Friday.
Earlier, 13 Filipino marines were killed as they conducted a house-to-house search for militants allied with Islamic State.
Image:Marines are conducting house-to-house searches for militants
Around 30 to 40 militants used civilians as human shields and positioned themselves in the city's mosques, army spokesman Edgard Arevalo said.
Colonel Arevalo added the "temporary setback" had "not diminished our resolve a bit".
He said: "It instead primed up our determination to continue our prudent advances to neutralise the enemy, save the innocent lives trapped in the fight, and set the conditions for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi."
Since the violence erupted on 23 May, hundreds of thousands of people have fled Marawi, parts of which have been reduced to rubble by fighting and government airstrikes.
Image:Hundreds of thousands have fled the city
Last month, a police chief was beheaded as around 100 heavily armed gunmen burned buildings and raised the black flag of IS
Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in an area of the city controlled by at least 200 militants.
There were "strong indications" the two brothers who formed one of the factions have been killed, a military spokesman said.
Marawi is not the only Filipino city to have come under attack this month.
Image:An American surveillance plane was seen flying over Marawi on Friday
Last week, 37 people suffocated to death when a gunman torched tables at a casino in Philippine capital Manila.
Police said the attacker, who was armed with an assault rifle, later set himself on fire in a hotel room.
A bag of gambling chips worth around £175,000 was found in the toilet of the room.
Islamic State claimed that one of its "lone wolf soldiers" carried out the attack.
The forces are providing technical assistance to end the conflict in Marawi, on the island of Mindanao, which has claimed dozens of lives over the last three weeks.
The US troops are not fighting, but an American surveillance plane was seen flying over the city on Friday.
Earlier, 13 Filipino marines were killed as they conducted a house-to-house search for militants allied with Islamic State.
Image:Marines are conducting house-to-house searches for militantsAround 30 to 40 militants used civilians as human shields and positioned themselves in the city's mosques, army spokesman Edgard Arevalo said.
Colonel Arevalo added the "temporary setback" had "not diminished our resolve a bit".
He said: "It instead primed up our determination to continue our prudent advances to neutralise the enemy, save the innocent lives trapped in the fight, and set the conditions for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi."
Since the violence erupted on 23 May, hundreds of thousands of people have fled Marawi, parts of which have been reduced to rubble by fighting and government airstrikes.
Image:Hundreds of thousands have fled the cityLast month, a police chief was beheaded as around 100 heavily armed gunmen burned buildings and raised the black flag of IS
Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in an area of the city controlled by at least 200 militants.
There were "strong indications" the two brothers who formed one of the factions have been killed, a military spokesman said.
Marawi is not the only Filipino city to have come under attack this month.
Image:An American surveillance plane was seen flying over Marawi on FridayLast week, 37 people suffocated to death when a gunman torched tables at a casino in Philippine capital Manila.
Police said the attacker, who was armed with an assault rifle, later set himself on fire in a hotel room.
A bag of gambling chips worth around £175,000 was found in the toilet of the room.
Islamic State claimed that one of its "lone wolf soldiers" carried out the attack.
US urges Arab nations to ease blockade of Qatar
The US has called on the Gulf states to "de-escalate" their row with Qatar, saying it has caused unintended "humanitarian" consequences.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Saudi Arabia and other states in the region to ease their blockade of the peninsula, saying it was affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State.
He also said it was hurting American business in the area.
Mr Tillerson said: "Our expectation is that these countries will immediately take steps to de-escalate the situation and put forth a good faith effort to resolve their grievances they have with each other."
He admitted that the Emir of Qatar needs to do more to limit terrorist funding but said he has made progress.
Five countries - Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Yemen and Bahrain - cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday over allegations that Doha is supporting Islamist groups and courting Iran.
They are united in their fear Qatar's alleged ambivalence towards Tehran and were galvanised by US President Donald Trump's recent tour of the region.
The closure of Qatar's only land border, with Saudi Arabia, has raised fears of the country running out of supplies for its 2.7 million people, with long queues forming at supermarkets which are struggling for food stock.
Mr Trump said Qatar has historically been a funder of terrorism at a "very high level" and that he had decided it was time to call on the country to stop.
Mr Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with the Romanian President: "No civilized nation can tolerate this violence or allow this wicked ideology to spread on its shores."
It came as Donald Trump spoke with Egyptian president Abd El Fattah El Sisi about the importance of maintaining unity among Arab countries.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Saudi Arabia and other states in the region to ease their blockade of the peninsula, saying it was affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State.
He also said it was hurting American business in the area.
Mr Tillerson said: "Our expectation is that these countries will immediately take steps to de-escalate the situation and put forth a good faith effort to resolve their grievances they have with each other."
He admitted that the Emir of Qatar needs to do more to limit terrorist funding but said he has made progress.
Five countries - Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Yemen and Bahrain - cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday over allegations that Doha is supporting Islamist groups and courting Iran.
They are united in their fear Qatar's alleged ambivalence towards Tehran and were galvanised by US President Donald Trump's recent tour of the region.
The closure of Qatar's only land border, with Saudi Arabia, has raised fears of the country running out of supplies for its 2.7 million people, with long queues forming at supermarkets which are struggling for food stock.
Mr Trump said Qatar has historically been a funder of terrorism at a "very high level" and that he had decided it was time to call on the country to stop.
Mr Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with the Romanian President: "No civilized nation can tolerate this violence or allow this wicked ideology to spread on its shores."
It came as Donald Trump spoke with Egyptian president Abd El Fattah El Sisi about the importance of maintaining unity among Arab countries.
Theresa May's 'new' Cabinet: Who are they?
The most high-profile Cabinet ministers in Theresa May's administration are keeping their jobs, Downing Street has said.
They are:
Chancellor of the Exchequer - Philip Hammond
Image:Philip Hammond was once viewed as a safe pair of hands
Dubbed 'Spreadsheet Phil', Mr Hammond was seen as a safe pair of hands when he was first appointed to head the Treasury last year.
But hardline Brexiteers in the Tory party have grown wary. Mr Hammond, a Remainer, could be pushing for a softer exit from the EU at the top of Government.
His credibility was partly eroded after his first Budget ended in a shambles in March, forcing the Chancellor to climb down on a tax hike for self-employed workers.
Tensions with the Prime Minister's team were heightened further when he hinted the Tories would ditch their triple tax lock in the 2017 manifesto, before it had been finalised by Number 10.
The reported row fuelled speculation Mr Hammond was being lined up for the exit door if Mrs May won a sizeable majority, which the Chancellor had dismissed as media "tittle-tattle".
Home Secretary - Amber Rudd
Image:Amber Rudd at the 2016 Conservative party conference
Ms Rudd took on Mrs May's old job at the Home Office, since when she has led the department's response to three terror attacks.
When Mrs May declined to take part in TV election debates, Ms Rudd stepped in as the Prime Minister's understudy, suggesting she has become one of Number 10's most trusted Cabinet ministers.
She has been touted as a future Tory leader and potential rival to Mrs May, but the MP for Hastings and Rye only just scraped through the election with a majority of 346.
Foreign Secretary - Boris Johnson
Image:Mr Johnson took an increasingly prominent role in the later stages of the election campaign
BoJo, as he is nicknamed by some, is often tipped as a likely successor to Mrs May and she will prefer to have him in the Cabinet rather than sniping from outside.
The former London mayor has made no secret of his ambitions to hold the top job, but was badly burnt following last year's referendum vote when he was very publicly knifed in the back by fellow Brexiteer Michael Gove.
With the PM weakened, there is already a suggestion the charismatic politician is "on manoeuvres", and he will at the very least be seeking to reassert his influence in Government after being sidelined in the election campaign.
The master of bluff and bluster, who once famously became stuck on a zip wire, retained his seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, but ducked questions over his party's dire poll showing by making a swift exit after the count.
Defence Secretary - Sir Michael Fallon
Image:Sir Michael Fallon, UK Defence Secretary
The knight of the realm is the calm at the centre of the storm for the Prime Minister and she will value his apparently unflappable nature in the tough times ahead.
Often wheeled out to defend controversial Tory policy, the Sevenoaks MP's deadpan delivery provides a foil to interviewers' probing questions.
A former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, he has held a variety of jobs in government, including serving as business and then energy minister in the coalition administration.
The defence brief, which he had held since 2014, was his first Cabinet role.
Brexit Secretary - David Davis
Image:David Davis may be asked to visit Brussels next week
The one-time contender for the Conservative leadership is a leading Leave campaigner and was handed the job of overseeing Britain's departure from the EU by Mrs May, bringing him back to the Tory frontbench after a 19-year absence.
A leaked report of a recent meeting between EU bosses and Mrs May at Downing Street revealed the visitors were left wondering if Mr Davis would survive beyond the election.
It had been speculated Cabinet Office minister Ben Gummer was being lined up as a new Brexit Secretary, but he lost his seat on Thursday night.
They are:
Chancellor of the Exchequer - Philip Hammond
Image:Philip Hammond was once viewed as a safe pair of handsDubbed 'Spreadsheet Phil', Mr Hammond was seen as a safe pair of hands when he was first appointed to head the Treasury last year.
But hardline Brexiteers in the Tory party have grown wary. Mr Hammond, a Remainer, could be pushing for a softer exit from the EU at the top of Government.
His credibility was partly eroded after his first Budget ended in a shambles in March, forcing the Chancellor to climb down on a tax hike for self-employed workers.
Tensions with the Prime Minister's team were heightened further when he hinted the Tories would ditch their triple tax lock in the 2017 manifesto, before it had been finalised by Number 10.
The reported row fuelled speculation Mr Hammond was being lined up for the exit door if Mrs May won a sizeable majority, which the Chancellor had dismissed as media "tittle-tattle".
Home Secretary - Amber Rudd
Image:Amber Rudd at the 2016 Conservative party conferenceMs Rudd took on Mrs May's old job at the Home Office, since when she has led the department's response to three terror attacks.
When Mrs May declined to take part in TV election debates, Ms Rudd stepped in as the Prime Minister's understudy, suggesting she has become one of Number 10's most trusted Cabinet ministers.
She has been touted as a future Tory leader and potential rival to Mrs May, but the MP for Hastings and Rye only just scraped through the election with a majority of 346.
Foreign Secretary - Boris Johnson
Image:Mr Johnson took an increasingly prominent role in the later stages of the election campaignBoJo, as he is nicknamed by some, is often tipped as a likely successor to Mrs May and she will prefer to have him in the Cabinet rather than sniping from outside.
The former London mayor has made no secret of his ambitions to hold the top job, but was badly burnt following last year's referendum vote when he was very publicly knifed in the back by fellow Brexiteer Michael Gove.
With the PM weakened, there is already a suggestion the charismatic politician is "on manoeuvres", and he will at the very least be seeking to reassert his influence in Government after being sidelined in the election campaign.
The master of bluff and bluster, who once famously became stuck on a zip wire, retained his seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, but ducked questions over his party's dire poll showing by making a swift exit after the count.
Defence Secretary - Sir Michael Fallon
Image:Sir Michael Fallon, UK Defence SecretaryThe knight of the realm is the calm at the centre of the storm for the Prime Minister and she will value his apparently unflappable nature in the tough times ahead.
Often wheeled out to defend controversial Tory policy, the Sevenoaks MP's deadpan delivery provides a foil to interviewers' probing questions.
A former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, he has held a variety of jobs in government, including serving as business and then energy minister in the coalition administration.
The defence brief, which he had held since 2014, was his first Cabinet role.
Brexit Secretary - David Davis
Image:David Davis may be asked to visit Brussels next weekThe one-time contender for the Conservative leadership is a leading Leave campaigner and was handed the job of overseeing Britain's departure from the EU by Mrs May, bringing him back to the Tory frontbench after a 19-year absence.
A leaked report of a recent meeting between EU bosses and Mrs May at Downing Street revealed the visitors were left wondering if Mr Davis would survive beyond the election.
It had been speculated Cabinet Office minister Ben Gummer was being lined up as a new Brexit Secretary, but he lost his seat on Thursday night.
Russian jet intercepts US bombers over Baltic Sea
The US Air Force has released images showing a Russian fighter jet which had been scrambled to intercept American bombers.
An SU-27, known by its NATO reporting name of "Flanker", was deployed to head off a US B-52H craft, capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, during exercises taking place over the Baltic Sea.
It also intercepted two B-1B Lancers and a KC-135R Stratotanker.
The alliance is currently running its annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise, a multinational, maritime-focused live training event which first began in 1972, in the region close to Russia's border.
A Russian foreign ministry official said the appearance of the B-52H would not ease tensions between the West and Moscow.
Image:Russian SU-27 flanker peels away from US Air Force B-1B Lancer
The ministry said the SU-27 approached at a safe distance, identified the aircraft as an American B-52 strategic bomber, and escorted it until it changed course and flew away from the border area.
The Russian government-controlled news agency Sputnik quoted Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry, as stating that a number of the strategic bombers had been relocated to the UK to take part in the BALTOPS exercises.
Image:The SU-27 flanker intercepted a formation of US aircraft
Mr Ulyanov said: "The fact that NATO forces are converging near Russia's borders and carrying out military exercises supported by strategic bombers from the USA capable of carrying nuclear weapons hardly helps de-escalate tensions in Europe."
A statement from the US military claimed the exercise was taking place in international airspace.
An SU-27, known by its NATO reporting name of "Flanker", was deployed to head off a US B-52H craft, capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, during exercises taking place over the Baltic Sea.
It also intercepted two B-1B Lancers and a KC-135R Stratotanker.
The alliance is currently running its annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise, a multinational, maritime-focused live training event which first began in 1972, in the region close to Russia's border.
A Russian foreign ministry official said the appearance of the B-52H would not ease tensions between the West and Moscow.
Image:Russian SU-27 flanker peels away from US Air Force B-1B LancerThe ministry said the SU-27 approached at a safe distance, identified the aircraft as an American B-52 strategic bomber, and escorted it until it changed course and flew away from the border area.
The Russian government-controlled news agency Sputnik quoted Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry, as stating that a number of the strategic bombers had been relocated to the UK to take part in the BALTOPS exercises.
Image:The SU-27 flanker intercepted a formation of US aircraftMr Ulyanov said: "The fact that NATO forces are converging near Russia's borders and carrying out military exercises supported by strategic bombers from the USA capable of carrying nuclear weapons hardly helps de-escalate tensions in Europe."
A statement from the US military claimed the exercise was taking place in international airspace.
Technology tycoons lose billions in stock market fall
A drop in the value of US technology stocks has wiped billions of dollars off the net worth of some of the world's richest people.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stumbled in his sprint to become the planet's wealthiest man when his company's share price fell more than 3% on Friday, wiping $2.6bn (£2bn) off his net worth.
The Nasdaq stock market, where many tech stocks are listed, closed down 1.8% on Friday, with the tech sector declining 2.7% overall.
Bezos became number two in the rich stakes in March when his company announced plans to acquire Dubai based e-tailer Souq.
He has now dropped back to third, behind Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is top, and Zara fashion boss Amancio Ortega.
Image:Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's net worth is also down
Shares in Facebook, Google's parent company Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft were also trading down.
Mark Zuckerberg lost $2bn, while the net worth of Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin was down $1.32bn and $1.31bn respectively.
Gates is worth $89.2bn, Ortega $84.6bn, Bezos $83.9bn, Zuckerberg $64bn, Page $48.1bn and Brin $47bn.
Apple's shares had sunk 4.7% as a result of news that its new iPhones could have slower speeds.
Image:Google founders Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin
The drop came as investors paused after a period of enormous growth in the technology sector.
Analysts have said there has been nothing in the news which would explain the drop, but suggests it is a response to the success of technology shares in recent period.
Goldman Sachs warned the successes of the tech giants such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet, may be overextended.
"Tech stocks have done so well, have made such a big move, and people are asking 'How much better can it get for them?'" said Dan Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stumbled in his sprint to become the planet's wealthiest man when his company's share price fell more than 3% on Friday, wiping $2.6bn (£2bn) off his net worth.
The Nasdaq stock market, where many tech stocks are listed, closed down 1.8% on Friday, with the tech sector declining 2.7% overall.
Bezos became number two in the rich stakes in March when his company announced plans to acquire Dubai based e-tailer Souq.
He has now dropped back to third, behind Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is top, and Zara fashion boss Amancio Ortega.
Image:Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's net worth is also downShares in Facebook, Google's parent company Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft were also trading down.
Mark Zuckerberg lost $2bn, while the net worth of Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin was down $1.32bn and $1.31bn respectively.
Gates is worth $89.2bn, Ortega $84.6bn, Bezos $83.9bn, Zuckerberg $64bn, Page $48.1bn and Brin $47bn.
Apple's shares had sunk 4.7% as a result of news that its new iPhones could have slower speeds.
Image:Google founders Larry Page (L) and Sergey BrinThe drop came as investors paused after a period of enormous growth in the technology sector.
Analysts have said there has been nothing in the news which would explain the drop, but suggests it is a response to the success of technology shares in recent period.
Goldman Sachs warned the successes of the tech giants such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet, may be overextended.
"Tech stocks have done so well, have made such a big move, and people are asking 'How much better can it get for them?'" said Dan Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust.
May's top aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill resign after election
The PM's joint chiefs of staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill have resigned after Theresa May lost her majority in the election.
The pair have been in the firing line after Mrs May's gamble of calling a snap election backfired, with disgruntled Conservatives highly critical of the role of Mr Timothy and Ms Hill played in the campaign.
Mr Timothy acknowledged that one of his regrets was the way the party's controversial social care reforms, dubbed a "dementia tax" by critics, had been handled.
:: LIVE: All the fallout from the General Election
The PM was forced into a u-turn within days of unveiling the policy in the Tory manifesto, announcing that there would be a cap on care costs, something which had not been in the original policy document.
In a resignation message on the ConservativeHome website, Mr Timothy said: "I take responsibility for my part in this election campaign, which was the oversight of our policy programme.
"In particular, I regret the decision not to include in the manifesto a ceiling as well as a floor in our proposal to help meet the increasing cost of social care.
:: 'Matter of time' before May's minority government crumbles
The pair have been in the firing line after Mrs May's gamble of calling a snap election backfired, with disgruntled Conservatives highly critical of the role of Mr Timothy and Ms Hill played in the campaign.
Mr Timothy acknowledged that one of his regrets was the way the party's controversial social care reforms, dubbed a "dementia tax" by critics, had been handled.
:: LIVE: All the fallout from the General Election
The PM was forced into a u-turn within days of unveiling the policy in the Tory manifesto, announcing that there would be a cap on care costs, something which had not been in the original policy document.
In a resignation message on the ConservativeHome website, Mr Timothy said: "I take responsibility for my part in this election campaign, which was the oversight of our policy programme.
"In particular, I regret the decision not to include in the manifesto a ceiling as well as a floor in our proposal to help meet the increasing cost of social care.
:: 'Matter of time' before May's minority government crumbles
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