As nuclear deal deadline nears, US finds peeling back the Iran sanctions onion is no easy task ADVERTISING As nuclear deal deadline nears, US finds peeling back the Iran sanctions onion is no easy task WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.
As nuclear deal deadline nears, US finds peeling back the Iran sanctions onion is no easy task
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. may have to backtrack on promises to suspend only nuclear-related economic sanctions on Iran in an emerging nuclear deal.
Officials and others involved say the problem derives from what has been a strong point of the sanctions effort that many credit with pushing Iran into negotiations. Under the sanctions, developed over decades, hundreds of companies and people have been penalized not only for participating in Iran’s nuclear program — but also for missile research, terrorism, rights violations and money laundering.
The U.S. insists those other penalties would remain. But as the Obama administration wends its way through the briar patch of interwoven sanctions, separating each category is proving difficult. And Washington must find a formula to deliver its end of the bargain: Billions of dollars in sanctions relief.
Court temporarily blocks release of ‘Angola 3’ inmate held for years in solitary confinement
ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked the release of Albert Woodfox, the last of the Louisiana inmates dubbed the Angola 3 by supporters protesting their long stints in solitary confinement.
Tuesday’s order came a day after a U.S. district judge said Woodfox should be released immediately — and that the state cannot try him again for the killing of a prison guard.
His two previous convictions were overturned. Woodfox has long maintained his innocence in that death in 1972, when inmates were protesting conditions inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is appealing the judge’s order, saying Woodfox is a killer who should remain locked up.
The appeals court order blocks the release of Woodfox until at least Friday.
Colorado theater shooting judge dismisses 3 jurors over exposure to media coverage on case
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — The judge in the Colorado theater shooting trial dismissed three jurors Tuesday after learning that one was exposed to news coverage of the case and discussed it with the others.
Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. found the three women violated his orders to avoid outside information on James Holmes’ death penalty trial and to not talk about the case with anyone.
The first woman told Samour her husband called her and told her, on speakerphone, that the district attorney had sent a tweet during testimony, which had been in the news.
The other two jurors sometimes socialized with the first juror on breaks, and they were dismissed because they likely overheard her.
Samour and attorneys from both sides had concerns about whether the three jurors were being completely forthcoming about what they had heard and discussed.
