Tuesday morning news: July 2, 2019

U.S. military kills al-Qaida terrorist in Syria airstrike » For the first time in two years U.S. warplanes killed al-Qaeda fighters in northern Syria.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that it hit an al-Qaeda training facility near Aleppo. That’s where terrorists were actively planning and training for attacks against Americans and others.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition-linked war monitor said the airstrike killed eight al-Qaeda-linked fighters, including six commanders. 

Iran surpasses nuclear fuel limit » Iran says it has made good on its threat to blow past limits on enriching uranium set under the 2015 nuclear deal. WORLD Radio’s Kristen Flavin reports. 

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Under the terms of the nuclear pact, Iran was required to limit its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to 660 pounds. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that Iran has now exceeded that limit. And the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has confirmed the claim. 

Zarif added—quote—“if Europeans do what they have to do, our measures are reversible.”

Iran wants European countries to compensate for the economic impact of sanctions the U.S. has reimposed since pulling out of the deal. And if Europe doesn’t offer better terms by Tehran’s July 7 deadline, Iranian leaders have threatened to start enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels.

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Kristen Flavin. 

NTSB investigating deadly plane crash near Dallas » The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a deadly plane crash just outside of Dallas. 

A small plane went down shortly after takeoff on Sunday, killing all 10 people onboard. The plane struggled to gain altitude, veered to one side, and plunged into a hangar at the Addison Municipal Airport. 

David Snell witnessed the crash. 

SNELL: It looked like it was, like clearly reduced power. I didn’t know if it was on purpose or not, but then when the airplane started to veer to the left and you could tell it couldn’t climb, my friend and I looked at each other and were like they’re not—they’re going to crash. 

NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said investigators are still sifting through evidence. 

LANDSBERG: We cannot confirm that there was an engine failure at this point. There are any number of possibilities that could occur.

Landsberg said Monday that they still don’t know much about the flight crew operating the plane, which was en route to St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Protesters storm Hong Kong legislative building » AUDIO: [Sound of protests]

A chaotic scene in Hong Kong Monday… 

AUDIO: [Sound of protests]

Police moved in last night to clear hundreds of protesters who stormed the Legislative Council building. The demonstrators broke into the building and spray-painted slogans on the walls of the main chamber. 

AUDIO: [Sound of protests]

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched through the city in renewed protests on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return from British rule to Chinese oversight in 1997. 

The anti-government protests began last month over a bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to face trial in mainland China. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam eventually suspended the bill, but demonstrators demanded a formal withdrawal and Lam’s resignation.

Eleven dead in latest clashes with Sudanese security forces » Activists in Sudan said Monday that at least 11 people are dead in the latest round of clashes with government security forces. WORLD Radio’s Paul Butler has that story. 

PAUL BUTLER, REPORTER: Tens of thousands flooded the streets of Khartoum and other areas demanding the military hand over power to a civilian government. They were the biggest protests since security forces cleared a sit-in last month in a bloody crackdown. 

Authorities said late Sunday that at least seven people were killed and nearly 200 injured. Dozens of demonstrators sustained bullet wounds.

And on Monday, a prominent activists told the Associated Press that three were shot dead in an area where security forces had barred protesters from marching. And one wounded person died on the way to the hospital.

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Paul Butler. 

Christian author and apologist Norman Geisler dies » Christian author and apologist Norman Geisler died on Monday at the age of 86.  

Raised as a nonbeliever, Geisler became a Christian and a street evangelist at age 17 in his hometown of Detroit. 

He wrote or co-authored more than 96 books and papers. He also taught in higher Biblical education for over 55 years and traveled around the world to debate and speak. 

GEISLER: The sugar-coated pill of make Jesus your guru and He’ll make you feel better, or get the be-happy attitudes and that’s going to do it for you is not the gospel. 

Geisler heard there in 1996.

He also co-founded Southern Evangelical Seminary and Veritas International University.

He and his wife, Barbara Jean Geisler, were married for 62 years and raised six children. 

Los Angeles Angels pitcher found dead in hotel room » Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died Monday at the age of 27. 

Skaggs was with the team in Texas when he was found unresponsive in his hotel room. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Police are investigating, but no foul play is suspected at this time.

The Angels and Texas Rangers postponed last night’s game. 

Skaggs, who would have turned 28 next week was recently married. In a statement the team said Skaggs was “an important part of the Angels Family,” adding “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carli, and his entire family during this devastating time.”

(Shaban Athuman/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Damage is seen to a hangar after a twin-engine plane crashed into the building at Addison Airport in Addison, Texas, Sunday, June 30, 2019.

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