Obama introduces first group of his foundation's fellows
….The fellows class was culled from more than 20,000 applications from 191 countries, the foundation said. They spent much of the week together at Starved Rock, learning about their work and listening to speakers such as Brene Brown, Juan Salgado and Ai-jen Poo….
http:
//www.chicagotribune.com/news/obamacenter/ct-obama-fellows-at-stony-island-20180516-story,amp.html
The Metropolitan Opera is suing its former conductor for $5.8 million, alleging he sexually abused numerous boys over 40 years.
James Levine was fired as music director in March after an investigation found he 'sexually abusive and harassing conduct towards vulnerable artists'.
The 74-year-old responded by suing the Met Opera for the same amount for breach of contract and defamation, calling the accusations 'unsubstantiated'.
http
://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5747585/Met-Opera-sues-ex-music-director-5-8million-sexual-misconduct-allegations.html
Around the world in 16 hours and 20 minutes: Qantas flight smashes the speed record flying from Australia to London (but it's quicker going the other way)
http
://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5747569/London-Qantas-flight-smashes-speed-record-flying-non-stop-Australia-quicker-ever.html
Not a chem trail in the unusually blue sky above Windsor Castle.
http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-44180773
Two North Koreans cross into the South via west coast maritime border: Seoul
Local media report that the men intend to defect, and that one is a commissioned military officer
Dagyum Ji May 19th, 2018
https
://www.nknews.org/2018/05/two-north-koreans-cross-into-the-south-via-west-coast-maritime-border-seoul/
US B-52 bombers changed flight plan after North Korea threatened Trump summit
(CNN) — The US, South Korea and Japan agreed this week to shift a planned flight of at least two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers so they would not fly over the Korean Peninsula, according to two US defense officials.
The decision was made in the wake of North Korea's objection to US military exercises in the region and a suggestion from Pyongyang that the upcoming summit between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump could be at risk.
North Korea threatened to cancel the planned summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un scheduled for June 12 in Singapore, saying the US should carefully consider the fate of the upcoming meeting, in view of what it calls "provocative military disturbances with South Korea," North Korea's state news agency reported early Wednesday local time.
Officials said Friday it was not clear to them whether the decision to shift the route of the aircraft was in response to Kim's statement but noted the move was part of an effort to try to ease the prospect of North Korea being able to claim the US was engaging in provocative behavior.
The officials insist the bomber missions, which have been going on for several years, are not considered military exercises.
Officially, the Pentagon refused to comment….
https
://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/05/18/politics/us-b-52-route-change-north-korea/index.html#click=https://t.co/T42D9YurCe
North Korean Diplomat Arrives In China
Last update: 19/05/2018
SEOUL, May 19 (Bernama) – A North Korean diplomat responsible for Southeast Asian affairs arrived in Beijing on Saturday, sparking speculation that he may visit Singapore ahead of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Hui-chol was whisked away by his country's embassy officials in Beijing upon his arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport earlier in the day without answering questions from reporters.
Choe's trip came shortly after North Korea threatened to cancel the June 12 summit in Singapore over ongoing air combat drills between South Korea and the US. The North has also protested US demands for the "unilateral" dismantlement of its nuclear weapons program.
Trump said Thursday that he does not have the so-called Libya model in mind for North Korea's denuclearisation and offered to provide strong security guarantees to the regime.
Libya surrendered its weapons of mass destruction program in 2003 in return for sanctions relief, but its then-leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled from power and killed by NATO-backed rebel forces in 2011…..
http://
www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=1465333
https
://mobile.yoursecrettravel.com/travel-videos/1st-music-video-from-north-korea-surfin-in-the-dprk-lancifer-x-louis-cole-x-miss-kim
WINDSOR, ENGLAND (Reuters) - British air traffic controllers gave Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a rare wedding gift - 15 minutes of guaranteed peace and quiet for the ceremony without the roar of airliners passing overhead.
Britain's National Air Traffic Services said the nearby Heathrow Airport had agreed "a 15 minute no-fly period over Windsor" in the build-up to the vows.
Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, is around 10 miles (16 km) from the wedding venue in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
https:
//www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-05-19/air-traffic-controllers-give-harry-and-meghan-the-gift-of-silence