Waching daily Jul 30 2017

Amazon is under federal investigation for selling goods to someone on the terrorism

list and possible US sanctions violations.

Amazon has admitted it sold goods to a person on the government's terrorism list and is

under federal investigation for possible violations of US sanctions against Iran.

The Seattle-based company released their quarterly financial report Friday, where it was revealed

the firm sold about $300 worth of consumer goods to someone who has been put on the US

government's list of people and entities associated with terrorism under Executive Order 13224.

In its July 28 regulatory filing, Amazon also noted it made other sales that could have

violated the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, other export-control laws

or US sanctions, according to Silicon Beat.

The US Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Commerce is investigating

the sales related to Iran and the person or people designated in the executive order,

the company said.

The departments could impose penalties against Amazon, and the company said it planned to

'cooperate fully' with investigators.

Amazon's July 28 disclosure said it sold 'consumer products' to an Iranian embassy in an undisclosed

country.

Those sales happened between January 2012 and June 2017 and are valued at $24,700.

The company also sold about $8,100 in products to people who could have purchased them on

behalf of five Iranian embassies and $600 in goods to people who may have bought them

for three groups owned or controlled by the Iranian government.

In a February regulatory filing, Amazon also noted it sold goods worth $1,300 to a person

covered by the executive order.

The company did not clarify if that person was the same person noted in their July 28

filing.

There were also other sales that possibly violated US sanctions against Iran noted in

the February filing and a filing in April.

Those sales included $6,000 worth of products sold to six Iranian embassies and $2,400 worth

of products sold to a group owned or controlled by the Iranian government between 2012 and

2016.

Amazon said the goods referred to in the filings included: 'books, other media, apparel, home

and kitchen, jewelry, office, toys, health and beauty, consumer electronics, lawn and

patio, automotive and musical instruments'.

They said they could not calculate the profit made from those sales, but Amazon also said

they would not have any more transactions with the Iran-linked customers.

'We do not plan to continue selling to these accounts in the future,' Amazon said in its

filings.

'Our review is ongoing and we are enhancing our processes designed to identify transactions

associated with individuals and entities covered by the (Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human

Rights Act).'

Homeless man found dead after getting his head stuck in Los Angeles clothing donation

box while trying to reach inside.

A homeless man was found dead after getting his head stuck in a donation box while trying

to reach the items inside.

The unknown man in his 30s was cut free from the charity donation box after people in a

South Los Angeles neighborhood noticed his motionless body Friday morning.

His head reportedly got caught in a small opening and paramedics tried to cut him out

of the steel structure for 30 minutes, but it was too late by the time he was freed.

Locals said they recognized the man who they had seen going to the box for clothing items

and collecting bottles off the streets.

Officials were alerted to the incident when a woman who lives near the donation box noticed

a man motionless and stuck halfway inside the bin, reported NBC Los Angeles.

Shirley Williams said to the news outlet: 'His head was caught in there with his legs

out.'

Another woman who didn't want to be identified said to ABC 7: 'He wasn't moving so I said,

"Oh, wow.

Maybe I better call 911."

So that's what I did.

'So by the time paramedics came, they tried to revive and get him out, but it took like

30 minutes to get him out.

'So they had to go and get these electric saws to get him out.'

By the time medics were able to get the man out of the box and tried to revive him, it

was too late, according to reports.

Residents of the neighborhood near the box on Vermont and West Colden avenues said the

box is illegally placed and want it removed.

Local Jackie Love told ABC 7: 'Everywhere, clothes are pulled out of there, that could

have happened to anyone, not just this man.

'I guess they were trying to help the community, but all they did was add more junk to the

community.'

This type of tragic accident has happened before.

In February, a Pennsylvania woman had her arm caught in a clothing donation drop-off

bin and was left dangling for more than six hours through the night.

Judith Permar, 56, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, was found dead when the step stool she was

using collapsed underneath her.

Pemar was fishing bags out of the bin, some of which were found littering the ground.

Wild brawl between 20 people erupts on a busy Melbourne street leaving the footpath soaked

with blood after men started the fight 'over a girl'.

A brawl has erupted with as many as 20 people after two young women got into a heated discussion

on a busy street.

Blood covered the footpath outside a Melbourne apartment block as police used pepper spray

to subdue the fight early Sunday morning.

A witness told the Herald Sun they believed the men, aged in their 20s or late teens,

were fighting over a girl, with some men allegedly kicking a girl who was on the ground.

'I heard female voices screaming and panicking, using obscene language,' Dom Galante said.

At least one man was handcuffed and taken away by police from the scene outside the

Main Point apartments in Southbank.

Three men in total have since been arrested.

It is believed several other men fled the scene down Clarendon Street before they could

be questioned.

A woman was being treated by paramedics with large amounts of blood on her dress and pepper

spray in her eyes, which was deployed by police to stop the altercation.

Broken glasses and smashed bottles covered the area on City Road.

Police are collecting witness statements and CCTV footage from surrounding businesses.

Donald Trump will attack weapons site in North Korea 'within the next year' after communist

state said it had successfully fired a ballistic missile.

Donald Trump is poised to order a military strike against North Korea 'within the next

year' after the communist state said it had successfully fired a ballistic missile

capable of hitting the US mainland.

Senior military sources in Washington DC told The Mail on Sunday that Pentagon officials

have laid out plans to obliterate a nuclear weapons facility operating deep within a mountain

in the rogue state.

The move, which could spark retaliation attacks from dictator Kim Jong-Un, would be a major

step towards all-out war to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

It comes after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 6,500 miles

on Friday night.

The Pentagon said the missile flew about 2,300 miles almost straight up before plunging into

the sea off Japan about 620 miles from its launch site.

Experts in the US said the missile could have hit Chicago or even New York if it had been

launched on a flatter trajectory.

Kim Jong-Un claimed the whole of the US could be hit 'at any place and time'.

America responded with live firing exercises by US troops in South Korea yesterday.

President Trump vowed to 'take all necessary steps' to ensure the security of the US

and its allies.

Four terror suspects arrested in plot to bomb a plane over Sydney after police breakup a

Islamist cell in raids across the city – as security is boosted at airports around the

country.

Security is heightened in airports across the country following the alleged Islamic-inspired

terror plot that was thwarted on Saturday.

Heavily-armed police stormed a Surry Hills home in the inner east of Sydney at 4pm before

officers raided properties in Lakemba, Punchbowl and Wiley Park resulting in the arrests of

four men.

Commissioner Andrew Colvin addressed the media at a press conference on Sunday morning and

said details about the alleged terror plot are still developing.

'We don't have a great deal of information on the specific attack, the location, date

or time, however, we're investigating information indicating the aviation industry was potentially

a target of that attack,' AFP Commissioner Colvin said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reiterated the raids were aimed at stopping an alleged

terror plot to 'bring down' a plane and said security screening will take longer over the

coming days.

'Some of the measures will be obvious to the public, some will not be — those travelling

should go about their business with confidence,' Mr Turnbull said in a press conference on

Sunday morning.

'The office of transport security has advised security screening will take longer, and travellers

should arrive at terminals at least two hours before flights to allow ample time for screening.

'They should limit the amount of carry-on and checked baggage, as this will help to

ensure that security screening is efficient.'

Virgin Australia released a statement on the extra security.

'Passengers should arrive at least 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before

international flights to allow time for security screening,' the statement read.

'Passengers should limit the amount of carry-on and checked baggage they travel with as this

will help to ensure security screening is efficient.'

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed that the four men in custody were

yet to be charged.

Australia's terror threat remains at probable.

Details are emerging of the terrifying alleged terrorist plot to blow up a plane that triggered

a series of dramatic police raids across Sydney.

About 40 heavily-armed police stormed a Surry Hills home at 4pm before raiding properties

in Lakemba, Punchbowl and Wiley Park in Sydney's west.

An Islamist cell is accused of planning to bring down a domestic flight with an 'explosive

device' discovered at the Cleveland Street home, reports Daily Telegraph.

AFP confirmed in a statement that four men were arrested as part of the investigation

after they were alerted to the alleged terror plot.

An 'explosive device' was discovered at the Surry Hills property and deactivated by a

bomb squad that was called to the scene, according to 7 News.

One man draped in a bed sheet with a heavily-bandaged head was seen being led into an ambulance

outside the Surry Hills property.

The bandaged man appeared to be distressed and bleeding from the head as he walked to

a waiting ambulance, Nine News reported.

He could be heard saying 'they bashed me.'

When asked by who, he answered 'police.'

When asked why he was being arrested, the man mumbled 'I don't know nothing.'

Shocked neighbours have told AAP the family living in the property were 'perfectly nice

and normal people.'

'We knew them to say hello to and they seemed nice,' said the woman, aged in her early 30s,

who didn't want to be identified.

The woman, who lives at the back of the property, said an elderly couple lived in the home and

had adult children.

A law enforcement official told the Daily Telegraph they found material suspected to

be used for an improvised explosive device.

'There was a threat of a device and an aircraft,' the official said, but said they were yet

to verify the credibility of the material.

Residents living near the Surry Hills home, just metres from the Redfern Mosque, were

evacuated while the bomb squad worked to remove the 'explosive device.'

A police spokesman stated: 'This activity relates to an ongoing investigation.

The safety of the community and police members are the primary consideration during this

activity.'

Neighbour Kate Harrison reported hearing shouting coming from a yard close by, begging for someone

to call the police.

Relatives of two men arrested in the counter-terror operation have spoken out, saying they 'love

Australia.'

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released a statement on the raids, confirming the involvement

of the Australian Federal Police, ASIO and NSW Police.

'These operations are designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks

in Australia,' the statement said.

'My number one priority, and that of my government, is the safety and security of all Australians.

The public should be reassured that our security and intelligence agencies are working tirelessly

to keep us safe.'

Mr Turnbull urged people to call the National Security Hotline on 1800 132 400 if they see

or hear anything suspicious.