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Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos.

Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

Assad says Syria facing 'economic siege'

President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday Syria was suffering an "economic siege" as his regime faces a raft of international sanctions over the eight-year civil war. "The war on Syria has taken on a new form that is basically siege and economic war," he said, according to a statement released by the presidency. "International political tools have changed," he said, as he met Chinese assistant foreign minister Chen Xiaodong in Damascus.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:01:28 -0400AFP

President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday Syria was suffering an "economic siege" as his regime faces a raft of international sanctions over the eight-year civil war. "The war on Syria has taken on a new form that is basically siege and economic war," he said, according to a statement released by the presidency. "International political tools have changed," he said, as he met Chinese assistant foreign minister Chen Xiaodong in Damascus.

Tank Terror: Why the U.S. Army's 'New' M1 Abrams Tank Is A Monster on the Battlefield

Russia and China won't like this one bit.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 03:55:00 -0400The National Interest

Russia and China won't like this one bit.

8 Americans among 157 dead after Ethiopian Airlines flight crashes after takeoff

The flight with 157 people thought to be on board crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday from Ethiopia’s capital headed to Nairobi, Kenya, the airline said.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 18:42:31 -0400USA TODAY

The flight with 157 people thought to be on board crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday from Ethiopia’s capital headed to Nairobi, Kenya, the airline said.

Kim Jong Nam trial resumes as Vietnamese suspect takes the stand

The trial of two women accused of killing Kim Jong-un’s half-brother will resume in Malaysia after months of delay on Monday, with a Vietnamese suspect in the case taking to the stand for the first time.  In a brazen plot resembling a spy thriller, Doan Thi Huong, 29, from Vietnam, and Siti Aisyah, 25, from Indonesia, are suspected of assassinating Kim Jong Nam, 45, by smearing lethal VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017.  The women were ordered to testify in an August ruling by High Court Judge Azmi Ariffin, who said that it could be inferred from evidence presented in court that there was a "well-planned conspiracy" between them and four North Korean suspects to kill Kim. The North Koreans remain at large.  He said he "cannot rule out that this could be a political assassination" but noted there was no concrete evidence to support this.  The two young women, both from impoverished backgrounds but with aspirations for stardom, have claimed since their arrest shortly after the murder that they were duped by North Korean agents into believing that they were actors in a TV prank show when they wiped the toxic substance on Kim’s face.  Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, will also stand trial Credit: Reuters Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, one of Ms Doan’s lawyers, told The Telegraph that she was “well and fine” ahead of the trial, but added that “there is definitely a bit of anxiety.” His client’s main line of defence would be that she had “no knowledge” of the audacious conspiracy, he said. “She will take the oath and testify the truth as per her police statement that she gave when she was arrested.” Mr Hisyam said he was “very confident” that his client would be acquitted based on the evidence and her statement. However, the trial is set is expected to require several hearings.  The pair of women have been on trial since October 2017 but proceedings have been hit by repeated delays, and Ms Aisyah's defence - which was originally due to start last year – is currently on hold due to a row over witness statements.  Last year prosecutors presented their case, calling 34 witnesses. Some described how the victim died in agony when his body quickly seized up as the substance took effect.  Kim was the estranged relative of the North Korean leader and it is widely believed he was targetted for being a perceived threat to the isolated regime.  South Korea has accused the North of ordering the hit, which Pyongyang denies.  The women are the only two suspects in custody, after four accused North Koreans - the alleged masterminds of the plot – fled Malaysia and went into hiding.  A murder conviction currently carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia, although plans are afoot by the Malaysian government to abolish capital punishment for all crimes.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:31:21 -0400The Telegraph

The trial of two women accused of killing Kim Jong-un’s half-brother will resume in Malaysia after months of delay on Monday, with a Vietnamese suspect in the case taking to the stand for the first time.  In a brazen plot resembling a spy thriller, Doan Thi Huong, 29, from Vietnam, and Siti Aisyah, 25, from Indonesia, are suspected of assassinating Kim Jong Nam, 45, by smearing lethal VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017.  The women were ordered to testify in an August ruling by High Court Judge Azmi Ariffin, who said that it could be inferred from evidence presented in court that there was a "well-planned conspiracy" between them and four North Korean suspects to kill Kim. The North Koreans remain at large.  He said he "cannot rule out that this could be a political assassination" but noted there was no concrete evidence to support this.  The two young women, both from impoverished backgrounds but with aspirations for stardom, have claimed since their arrest shortly after the murder that they were duped by North Korean agents into believing that they were actors in a TV prank show when they wiped the toxic substance on Kim’s face.  Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, will also stand trial Credit: Reuters Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, one of Ms Doan’s lawyers, told The Telegraph that she was “well and fine” ahead of the trial, but added that “there is definitely a bit of anxiety.” His client’s main line of defence would be that she had “no knowledge” of the audacious conspiracy, he said. “She will take the oath and testify the truth as per her police statement that she gave when she was arrested.” Mr Hisyam said he was “very confident” that his client would be acquitted based on the evidence and her statement. However, the trial is set is expected to require several hearings.  The pair of women have been on trial since October 2017 but proceedings have been hit by repeated delays, and Ms Aisyah's defence - which was originally due to start last year – is currently on hold due to a row over witness statements.  Last year prosecutors presented their case, calling 34 witnesses. Some described how the victim died in agony when his body quickly seized up as the substance took effect.  Kim was the estranged relative of the North Korean leader and it is widely believed he was targetted for being a perceived threat to the isolated regime.  South Korea has accused the North of ordering the hit, which Pyongyang denies.  The women are the only two suspects in custody, after four accused North Koreans - the alleged masterminds of the plot – fled Malaysia and went into hiding.  A murder conviction currently carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia, although plans are afoot by the Malaysian government to abolish capital punishment for all crimes.

See Every Angle of the 2020 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 17:40:00 -0500Car and Driver

Trump budget seeks 5 percent cut in non-defense spending: OMB

The Republican president's proposal, slated for release at 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT) on the Office of Management and Budget's website, is expected to be the first volley in this year's bitter funding fight with Congress, which has control over federal purse strings. Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate immediately panned Trump's request for $8.6 billion to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, reported by Reuters earlier on Sunday. Congress' refusal to grant him the funds led Trump to declare a national emergency so he could redirect funds approved for other purposes to the project.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 21:03:49 -0400Reuters

The Republican president's proposal, slated for release at 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT) on the Office of Management and Budget's website, is expected to be the first volley in this year's bitter funding fight with Congress, which has control over federal purse strings. Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate immediately panned Trump's request for $8.6 billion to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, reported by Reuters earlier on Sunday. Congress' refusal to grant him the funds led Trump to declare a national emergency so he could redirect funds approved for other purposes to the project.

Tibet supporters in India mark 60 years since uprising

Huge crowds gathered at the Dalai Lama's temple in India Sunday to commemorate 60 years since the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that drove the spiritual leader into exile. Supporters of the 83-year-old peace icon chanted and prayed at the Buddhist shrine in mountainous Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama established a government-in-exile after fleeing a deadly Chinese crackdown in Tibet in 1959. Devotees in the Indian hill station the Dalai Lama has called home for six decades waved Tibet's colourful "snow lion" flag, which China has outlawed as a symbol of separatism.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 13:10:58 -0400AFP

Huge crowds gathered at the Dalai Lama's temple in India Sunday to commemorate 60 years since the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that drove the spiritual leader into exile. Supporters of the 83-year-old peace icon chanted and prayed at the Buddhist shrine in mountainous Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama established a government-in-exile after fleeing a deadly Chinese crackdown in Tibet in 1959. Devotees in the Indian hill station the Dalai Lama has called home for six decades waved Tibet's colourful "snow lion" flag, which China has outlawed as a symbol of separatism.

Warren Says Breaking Up Tech Giants Will Keep Market Competitive

The Massachusetts senator spoke Saturday at the annual South by Southwest cultural festival in Austin, Texas, a day after proposing to take steps to break up companies like Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Co.’s Google if she’s elected. On Friday she called for legislation that would designate large technology companies as “platform utilities,” and for the appointment of regulators who’d unwind technology mergers that undermine competition and harm innovation and small businesses.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 16:23:22 -0500Bloomberg

The Massachusetts senator spoke Saturday at the annual South by Southwest cultural festival in Austin, Texas, a day after proposing to take steps to break up companies like Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Co.’s Google if she’s elected. On Friday she called for legislation that would designate large technology companies as “platform utilities,” and for the appointment of regulators who’d unwind technology mergers that undermine competition and harm innovation and small businesses.

Decline in readers, ads leads hundreds of newspapers to fold

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Five minutes late, Darrell Todd Maurina sweeps into a meeting room and plugs in his laptop computer. He places a Wi-Fi hotspot on the table and turns on a digital recorder. The earplug in his left ear is attached to a police scanner in his pants pocket.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 08:27:00 -0400Associated Press

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Five minutes late, Darrell Todd Maurina sweeps into a meeting room and plugs in his laptop computer. He places a Wi-Fi hotspot on the table and turns on a digital recorder. The earplug in his left ear is attached to a police scanner in his pants pocket.

Dozens protest statue in defeated Syria cradle of uprising

Dozens of people demonstrated Sunday in the defeated cradle of Syria's uprising against a statue of the late father of the president being reinstated eight years after protesters demolished it. President Bashar al-Assad's forces secured full control of Daraa from rebels in July, in a massive blow to the country's ill-fated revolt that erupted in the southern city. "We protested in a number of streets... denouncing a statue of Hafez al-Assad being erected in the centre of Daraa," a protester told AFP.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:59:47 -0400AFP

Dozens of people demonstrated Sunday in the defeated cradle of Syria's uprising against a statue of the late father of the president being reinstated eight years after protesters demolished it. President Bashar al-Assad's forces secured full control of Daraa from rebels in July, in a massive blow to the country's ill-fated revolt that erupted in the southern city. "We protested in a number of streets... denouncing a statue of Hafez al-Assad being erected in the centre of Daraa," a protester told AFP.

'F-22 Raptor' of Stealth Submarines: Meet the U.S. Navy's Seawolf-Class

A rare breed.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0400The National Interest

A rare breed.

'I don't want to be on a Boeing Max 8': Travelers worry as U.S. airlines stand by Boeing plane

Southwest and American, the biggest U.S. operators of the Boeing 737 Max 8, say they stand by the new plane despite the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 10:29:52 -0400USA TODAY

Southwest and American, the biggest U.S. operators of the Boeing 737 Max 8, say they stand by the new plane despite the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

For Jussie Smollett, 1 story equals 16 felony counts

CHICAGO (AP) — News that a grand jury had indicted "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly lying to Chicago police about being attacked by two masked men may not have made much of a splash except for one thing: The lone felony count that Smollett had been arrested on last month had turned into 16.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:13:52 -0500Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — News that a grand jury had indicted "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly lying to Chicago police about being attacked by two masked men may not have made much of a splash except for one thing: The lone felony count that Smollett had been arrested on last month had turned into 16.

Ethiopian Airlines crash: Black box found as more British victims are identified

The seven British and one Irish victims China grounds Boeing 737 Max-8 jets The black box from the crashed Ethiopian Airlines plane has been recovered, the country's state-affiliated broadcaster reported.  One Irishman and seven Britons were among the 157 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 737 Max-8 jet which came down shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  South Korea is now conducting special inspections of two planes of the same model in the fleet of one of its budget carriers. In Britain, holiday operator Tui Airways has ordered 32 Max aircraft as part of a major fleet overhaul and took delivery of its first Max 8 in December. Scandinavian airline Norwegian, which serves London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh in the UK, has 18 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. On Sunday, a grieving father said he had “never wanted” his “soft and loving” daughter to be on the doomed plane, as it emerged there were no survivors.  Joanna Toole was one of seven Britons and an Irish citizen who perished when the plane, which was only months old, crashed just six minutes after take off. The family of Joanna Toole, who grew up in Exmouth, have been informed that she was on board an Ethiopia Airlines plane which crashed shortly after take off en route to Nairobi in Kenya. The US aircraft giant launched an investigation amid growing concern over the passenger jet’s design. The same model had crashed in Indonesia less than five months ago, killing all 189 people onboard. The cause of Sunday's crash is still unclear but the pilot of Ethiopia airlines flight ET302 reported difficulties shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa en route to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. It has also emerged that the US Department of State had released a security alert on March 8, advising all US government travellers “not to arrive or depart [Addis Ababa’s] Bole International Airport on March 10” although this advice was rescinded a day later.  Ms Toole, 36, from Exmouth in Devon, was due to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly starting in Nairobi. She was, her father said, a committed environmentalist and animal lover who worked for the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. “Joanna was a very soft and loving person,” said her father Adrian Toole, speaking to DevonLive website. “She had never really wanted to do anything else but work in animal welfare since she was a child. “Somehow that work took her into the international sphere... That involves a lot of travelling around the world - although personally I never wanted her to be on a single one of those planes... Up until now she had been lucky.” Ms Toole’s partner, who lived with her in Rome, had telephoned her father to inform him she was on the flight while her employers described her as “a wonderful human being”. China 'grounds Boeing 737 Max jets' The crash raises serious questions over the design of the Boeing aircraft and in particular its anti-stall mechanism. Within the first few minutes after take-off the plane’s vertical speed, the rate of climb or descent, varied dramatically. Its ‘unstable’ vertical speed, according to data from the flight-tracking website flightradar24, went from 2,624 feet per minute to -1216, suggesting the plane rose and fell rapidly in the minutes before it plunged into scrubland. Vertical speed should remain stable - or else increase - after take off. As the aviation industry reeled from the latest tragedy, China's aviation regulator has ordered domestic airlines to suspend their Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said local carriers had until 6 pm local time to ground the 96 jets of that model that they operate. Ceremony marking 1st delivery of Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane to Air China in Zhoushan Credit: Reuters The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive in November last year, in relation to one of the flight systems on the Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 series of aircraft. That was published following the crash of the Lion Air flight 610 - another Boeing 737 Max 8 - on October 29.  The FAA directive warned that an "angle of attack" censor, which is supposed to help to prevent a plane from stalling, could lead to an “excessive nose-down attitude, significant altitude loss, and possible impact with the terrain”. This “unsafe condition... is likely to exist or develop” in the Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 designs, the directive concluded.  Ethiopia plane crash Photographs from the scene showed the devastation caused by the crash with harrowing images of body parts covered up by plastic bodybags scattered in the wake of the crash at 8.44am local time.  Boeing announced it would send a technical assistance team to the site of the crash. It said it is postponing the “external debut” of its 777X model and related media events scheduled for this week because of the accident. There is no change to the plane’s schedule or progress, Boeing said. French-British woman among the victims Kenya’s transport secretary James Macharia told reporters there were nationals from at least 35 different countries on board, including the seven British passengers. It is thought to be the biggest loss of life of Britons in a passenger jet crash since the shooting down of MH-17 over Ukraine in 2014. A French-British polar tourism expert has been named in Norwegian media as one of those to have died in the crash. Sarah Auffret was an environmental agent for the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. "Words cannot describe the sorrow and despair we feel. We have lost a true friend and beloved colleague," a statement from the Norwegian firm said. Among the 32 Kenyans who lost their lives was Joseph Kuria Waithaka, 55, who had lived in Hull for more than a decade working for the probation service and was travelling back to the region after visiting his wife and children, who still live in the UK. Joseph Waithaka has been identified by the WFP as a victim of the Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 His son Ben Kuria said: “My dad was a private man but he also had a pastoral heart. He really championed people... he really rooted for his children.” His daughter Zipporah Kuria tweeted that her father “was the first man I ever loved. Believed in my dreams more than I ever could. Rest in peace daddy.” There were also eight Americans and 18 Canadians among the dead. Theresa May said she was “deeply saddened to hear of the devastating loss of life following the plane crash in Ethiopia”.  In a statement, the prime minister said: “At this very difficult time my thoughts are with the families and friends of the British citizens on board and all those affected by this tragic incident.” As many as 50 people onboard were thought to be heading for the same UN conference. The UN confirmed a number of its staff had died while the World Food Programme said it was "mourning" the loss of its employees. Those included the one Irish victim who was named as Michael Ryan. Among those killed were the wife and two children of the Slovakian MP Anton Hrnko while hospitality company Tamarind Group said its chief executive Jonathan Seex, a Kenyan national, also died.  Lucky escape A Greek man said he would have been the 150th passenger on the plane, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight. "I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organisation, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency. Members of the search and rescue mission carry dead bodies at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu Credit: Reuters He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed. He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff. "They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock. The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board. "They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Medhin, visited the scene of the crash where emergency worker Lenora Ayana told The Telegraph that officials were “having a hard time locating bodies with so much debris.”  'Everything is burnt down' The plane had taken off at 8:38am (0638 GMT) from Bole International Airport but lost contact six minutes later near Bishoftu, a town 37 miles southeast of Addis Ababa. The plane came down near the village of Tulu Fara. The pilot had sent out a distress call and was given the all clear to return. A massive crater could be seen at the crash site, with belongings and airplane parts scattered widely. An eyewitness told the BBC there was an intense fire when the plane crashed. “The blast and the fire were so strong that we couldn’t get near it,” he said. “Everything is burnt down.” At Nairobi airport, anxious relatives waited for news, many in tears and in distress. Devastated family members of the victims involved in a plane crash at Addis Ababa international airport  Credit: AP “I am still hoping that all is fine, because I have been waiting for my sister since morning and we have not been told anything,” said Peter Kimani, who was waiting in the arrivals lounge for hours after the plane had been scheduled to land at 10:25am local time. His sister is a nurse who he said had been in the Congo. “We are still expecting our loved one from Addis... we have just received news that there is a plane that has crashed. We can only hope that she is not on that flight.” Ethiopian Airlines confirmed it had bought the plane in November and it had “undergone a rigorous first check maintenance in February 2018.”  A statement from Boeing said the company was “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew on Ethiopian Airlines flight 302”, adding: “We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team.”  Safety experts cautioned against drawing too many comparisons between the two crashes until more is known about Sunday's disaster. Boeing 737 MAX | Who has ordered the plane? The Ethiopian Airlines CEO "stated there were no defects prior to the flight, so it is hard to see any parallels with the Lion Air crash yet," said Harro Ranter, founder of the Aviation Safety Network, which compiles information about accidents worldwide. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted his “deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones”.  Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “My prayers go to all the families and associates of those on board.” A spokesman for António Guterres, UN Secretary General, said: “The Secretary-General was deeply saddened at the tragic loss of lives in the airplane crash.  “He conveys his heartfelt sympathies and solidarity to the victims’ families and loved ones.” The crash came on the eve of a major, annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme opening in Nairobi. Rescue teams work at the site of the crashed plane, watched by hundreds of bystanders  Credit: EWELDE Source:  What do we know about the airline? The last major accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines passenger plane was a Boeing 737-800 that exploded after taking off from Lebanon in 2010, killing 83 passengers and seven crew. The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, widely considered the best-managed airline in Africa, calls itself the Continent's largest carrier and has ambitions of becoming the gateway to Africa. It has been expanding assertively, recently opening a route to Moscow and in January inaugurating a new passenger terminal in Addis Ababa to triple capacity. Speaking at the inauguration, the Prime Minister Ahmed challenged the airline to build a new "Airport City" terminal in Bishoftu - where Sunday's crash occurred. Read more: The world's safest – and least safe – airlines for 2019 Sign up for your essential, twice-daily briefing from The Telegraph with our free Front Page newsletter.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:15:40 -0400The Telegraph

The seven British and one Irish victims China grounds Boeing 737 Max-8 jets The black box from the crashed Ethiopian Airlines plane has been recovered, the country's state-affiliated broadcaster reported.  One Irishman and seven Britons were among the 157 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 737 Max-8 jet which came down shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  South Korea is now conducting special inspections of two planes of the same model in the fleet of one of its budget carriers. In Britain, holiday operator Tui Airways has ordered 32 Max aircraft as part of a major fleet overhaul and took delivery of its first Max 8 in December. Scandinavian airline Norwegian, which serves London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh in the UK, has 18 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. On Sunday, a grieving father said he had “never wanted” his “soft and loving” daughter to be on the doomed plane, as it emerged there were no survivors.  Joanna Toole was one of seven Britons and an Irish citizen who perished when the plane, which was only months old, crashed just six minutes after take off. The family of Joanna Toole, who grew up in Exmouth, have been informed that she was on board an Ethiopia Airlines plane which crashed shortly after take off en route to Nairobi in Kenya. The US aircraft giant launched an investigation amid growing concern over the passenger jet’s design. The same model had crashed in Indonesia less than five months ago, killing all 189 people onboard. The cause of Sunday's crash is still unclear but the pilot of Ethiopia airlines flight ET302 reported difficulties shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa en route to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. It has also emerged that the US Department of State had released a security alert on March 8, advising all US government travellers “not to arrive or depart [Addis Ababa’s] Bole International Airport on March 10” although this advice was rescinded a day later.  Ms Toole, 36, from Exmouth in Devon, was due to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly starting in Nairobi. She was, her father said, a committed environmentalist and animal lover who worked for the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. “Joanna was a very soft and loving person,” said her father Adrian Toole, speaking to DevonLive website. “She had never really wanted to do anything else but work in animal welfare since she was a child. “Somehow that work took her into the international sphere... That involves a lot of travelling around the world - although personally I never wanted her to be on a single one of those planes... Up until now she had been lucky.” Ms Toole’s partner, who lived with her in Rome, had telephoned her father to inform him she was on the flight while her employers described her as “a wonderful human being”. China 'grounds Boeing 737 Max jets' The crash raises serious questions over the design of the Boeing aircraft and in particular its anti-stall mechanism. Within the first few minutes after take-off the plane’s vertical speed, the rate of climb or descent, varied dramatically. Its ‘unstable’ vertical speed, according to data from the flight-tracking website flightradar24, went from 2,624 feet per minute to -1216, suggesting the plane rose and fell rapidly in the minutes before it plunged into scrubland. Vertical speed should remain stable - or else increase - after take off. As the aviation industry reeled from the latest tragedy, China's aviation regulator has ordered domestic airlines to suspend their Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said local carriers had until 6 pm local time to ground the 96 jets of that model that they operate. Ceremony marking 1st delivery of Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane to Air China in Zhoushan Credit: Reuters The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive in November last year, in relation to one of the flight systems on the Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 series of aircraft. That was published following the crash of the Lion Air flight 610 - another Boeing 737 Max 8 - on October 29.  The FAA directive warned that an "angle of attack" censor, which is supposed to help to prevent a plane from stalling, could lead to an “excessive nose-down attitude, significant altitude loss, and possible impact with the terrain”. This “unsafe condition... is likely to exist or develop” in the Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 designs, the directive concluded.  Ethiopia plane crash Photographs from the scene showed the devastation caused by the crash with harrowing images of body parts covered up by plastic bodybags scattered in the wake of the crash at 8.44am local time.  Boeing announced it would send a technical assistance team to the site of the crash. It said it is postponing the “external debut” of its 777X model and related media events scheduled for this week because of the accident. There is no change to the plane’s schedule or progress, Boeing said. French-British woman among the victims Kenya’s transport secretary James Macharia told reporters there were nationals from at least 35 different countries on board, including the seven British passengers. It is thought to be the biggest loss of life of Britons in a passenger jet crash since the shooting down of MH-17 over Ukraine in 2014. A French-British polar tourism expert has been named in Norwegian media as one of those to have died in the crash. Sarah Auffret was an environmental agent for the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. "Words cannot describe the sorrow and despair we feel. We have lost a true friend and beloved colleague," a statement from the Norwegian firm said. Among the 32 Kenyans who lost their lives was Joseph Kuria Waithaka, 55, who had lived in Hull for more than a decade working for the probation service and was travelling back to the region after visiting his wife and children, who still live in the UK. Joseph Waithaka has been identified by the WFP as a victim of the Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 His son Ben Kuria said: “My dad was a private man but he also had a pastoral heart. He really championed people... he really rooted for his children.” His daughter Zipporah Kuria tweeted that her father “was the first man I ever loved. Believed in my dreams more than I ever could. Rest in peace daddy.” There were also eight Americans and 18 Canadians among the dead. Theresa May said she was “deeply saddened to hear of the devastating loss of life following the plane crash in Ethiopia”.  In a statement, the prime minister said: “At this very difficult time my thoughts are with the families and friends of the British citizens on board and all those affected by this tragic incident.” As many as 50 people onboard were thought to be heading for the same UN conference. The UN confirmed a number of its staff had died while the World Food Programme said it was "mourning" the loss of its employees. Those included the one Irish victim who was named as Michael Ryan. Among those killed were the wife and two children of the Slovakian MP Anton Hrnko while hospitality company Tamarind Group said its chief executive Jonathan Seex, a Kenyan national, also died.  Lucky escape A Greek man said he would have been the 150th passenger on the plane, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight. "I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organisation, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency. Members of the search and rescue mission carry dead bodies at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu Credit: Reuters He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed. He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff. "They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock. The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board. "They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Medhin, visited the scene of the crash where emergency worker Lenora Ayana told The Telegraph that officials were “having a hard time locating bodies with so much debris.”  'Everything is burnt down' The plane had taken off at 8:38am (0638 GMT) from Bole International Airport but lost contact six minutes later near Bishoftu, a town 37 miles southeast of Addis Ababa. The plane came down near the village of Tulu Fara. The pilot had sent out a distress call and was given the all clear to return. A massive crater could be seen at the crash site, with belongings and airplane parts scattered widely. An eyewitness told the BBC there was an intense fire when the plane crashed. “The blast and the fire were so strong that we couldn’t get near it,” he said. “Everything is burnt down.” At Nairobi airport, anxious relatives waited for news, many in tears and in distress. Devastated family members of the victims involved in a plane crash at Addis Ababa international airport  Credit: AP “I am still hoping that all is fine, because I have been waiting for my sister since morning and we have not been told anything,” said Peter Kimani, who was waiting in the arrivals lounge for hours after the plane had been scheduled to land at 10:25am local time. His sister is a nurse who he said had been in the Congo. “We are still expecting our loved one from Addis... we have just received news that there is a plane that has crashed. We can only hope that she is not on that flight.” Ethiopian Airlines confirmed it had bought the plane in November and it had “undergone a rigorous first check maintenance in February 2018.”  A statement from Boeing said the company was “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew on Ethiopian Airlines flight 302”, adding: “We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team.”  Safety experts cautioned against drawing too many comparisons between the two crashes until more is known about Sunday's disaster. Boeing 737 MAX | Who has ordered the plane? The Ethiopian Airlines CEO "stated there were no defects prior to the flight, so it is hard to see any parallels with the Lion Air crash yet," said Harro Ranter, founder of the Aviation Safety Network, which compiles information about accidents worldwide. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted his “deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones”.  Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “My prayers go to all the families and associates of those on board.” A spokesman for António Guterres, UN Secretary General, said: “The Secretary-General was deeply saddened at the tragic loss of lives in the airplane crash.  “He conveys his heartfelt sympathies and solidarity to the victims’ families and loved ones.” The crash came on the eve of a major, annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme opening in Nairobi. Rescue teams work at the site of the crashed plane, watched by hundreds of bystanders  Credit: EWELDE Source:  What do we know about the airline? The last major accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines passenger plane was a Boeing 737-800 that exploded after taking off from Lebanon in 2010, killing 83 passengers and seven crew. The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, widely considered the best-managed airline in Africa, calls itself the Continent's largest carrier and has ambitions of becoming the gateway to Africa. It has been expanding assertively, recently opening a route to Moscow and in January inaugurating a new passenger terminal in Addis Ababa to triple capacity. Speaking at the inauguration, the Prime Minister Ahmed challenged the airline to build a new "Airport City" terminal in Bishoftu - where Sunday's crash occurred. Read more: The world's safest – and least safe – airlines for 2019 Sign up for your essential, twice-daily briefing from The Telegraph with our free Front Page newsletter.

With shrouded faces, Islamic State fighters stand guard over final enclave

Thousands of people - many of them the wives of Islamic State fighters and their children - have been streaming out of the besieged enclave at Baghouz for weeks, forcing the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to delay an assault on the last vestige of the jihadists' territorial rule. Reuters TV footage of the Islamic State-controlled frontline shows armed militants, most with only their eyes visible, supervising the evacuations from a scrubby patch of agricultural land scattered with vehicles and a few buildings. The SDF has said the fighters staying put through waves of evacuations are the most hardened foreign militants, wanted by governments around the world, who are likely to fight to the death.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 13:19:57 -0400Reuters

Thousands of people - many of them the wives of Islamic State fighters and their children - have been streaming out of the besieged enclave at Baghouz for weeks, forcing the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to delay an assault on the last vestige of the jihadists' territorial rule. Reuters TV footage of the Islamic State-controlled frontline shows armed militants, most with only their eyes visible, supervising the evacuations from a scrubby patch of agricultural land scattered with vehicles and a few buildings. The SDF has said the fighters staying put through waves of evacuations are the most hardened foreign militants, wanted by governments around the world, who are likely to fight to the death.

The Price of Catholic Unity

For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China, published in English this year, is a series of eight lectures by Joseph Cardinal Zen. Cardinal Zen delivered the lectures in Hong Kong in 2017. The lectures are an account of the state of the relationship between the Church within and the Church outside China from 2000 to 2017, focusing on a letter written by Pope Benedict to Chinese Catholics in 2007 and on diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Church in China.Though the plight of faithful in China may currently be overshadowed by the many high-profile sexual-abuse scandals within the Church, the persecution faced by Catholics in the avowedly atheist country should not be disregarded. But it is not the Chinese government’s oppression of religious minorities that Zen focuses on. In his lectures he details the incompetence and corruption of Church officials in their handling of the complex and tense relationship between Vatican officials and diplomats, the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (PCA), and the underground Catholic Church in China.The PCA has historically operated under the auspices of the ruling Communist party rather than Rome, appointing its own bishops without Vatican approval and thereby rendering those bishops latae sententiae excommunicants. Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 formally excommunicated two PCA-appointed bishops and the two bishops who had ordained them. The underground Catholic Church in China is in good standing and full communion with Rome but lacks the approval of the Chinese government and therefore suffers persecution.Some Chinese Catholics loathe the state-run Church as an empty apparatus intended for control rather than sincere devotion, some believers trust only the state-sanctioned Church, and some do not bother to distinguish between the two, since the difference is not in rite or theology but in ecclesiological administration. Zen, who is still outspoken in his disapproval of the provisional agreement signed on September 22 of last year, criticizes the prevarications of the Vatican in its dealings with the Church in China in For Love of My People. He condemns the strategy of “compromise and surrender” and says that the “Curia has always tried to please the Chinese government.”In 1988, the Vatican issued eight points on Catholicism in China. The provisional agreement signed last year is in discord with them. In the eight points, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples decreed that PCA ordinations were valid but not licit. But under the agreement, in what Pope Francis has claimed is an attempt to foster healing and unity among Chinese Catholics, the distinction between PCA and Catholic bishops has been erased. Francis has recognized eight bishops (one deceased) appointed by the PCA in Beijing as in full ecclesial communion with Rome, even though they were appointed with flagrant disregard for the Vatican and, in some cases, had been previously excommunicated.While the agreement is a step toward repairing the rift within the Chinese Church, it has left Catholics who have long fought for the underground Church in China feeling subverted and betrayed. Pope Francis has admitted that the agreement will not necessarily end the suffering of Chinese Catholics. The pope has also lamented “the suffering for those who don’t understand, or who have so many years behind them of living clandestinely.” Catholics such as Cardinal Zen who have long encouraged opposition to the PCA suddenly find the Vatican itself seeking common ground with the organization.Unity of believers is a worthy and principal goal, but proper form and the authority of the Church should not be sacrificed in achieving it. Zen decried the agreement before and after it was signed, seeing it as an attempt by the Church to ingratiate itself with China’s ruling party rather than defend true believers. Zen rightly notes of Vatican officials that “if today they go along with the regime, tomorrow our Church will not be welcome for the rebuilding of the new China.”Zen discusses myriad examples of the incompetence that plagues the Church. One is that Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state appointed by Francis, has allowed the Catholic commission for the Church in China to lapse, no longer facilitating its meetings. Zen also mentions that Father Federico Lombardi, the former director of the Press Office of the Holy See, allowed himself to be interviewed by Phoenix Television, one of the few private television networks officially permitted by Hong Kong’s government. Zen suggests that Phoenix is not a neutral outlet. The channel has come under criticism in recent years for the government influence in its programming. In 2016, the channel suspended airing of several popular political-commentary shows because of “ideological mistakes” by the hosts.Zen also tells of Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, who at a Vatican symposium on organ transplants invited as a guest of honor Dr. Huang Jiefu, China’s former deputy health minister. Huang has publicly taken credit for a decade-long reform effort in the Chinese medical community. In 2005, as vice health minister, he admitted that over 90 percent of the transplant organs in China were harvested from executed prisoners, but he promised reform of the medical system.His high rhetoric notwithstanding, Huang did not seem to effect much change. In June 2016, the U.S. Congress unanimously condemned China’s "state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting," in a resolution alleging that the Chinese Communist Party was continuing the practice in secret and that it was killing “non-consenting prisoners of conscience,” including religious and ethnic minorities.Zen is a dedicated, orthodox Catholic and he indicates no disobedience to the pope by his criticisms. In his last lecture, Zen says, “I will never lead a rebellion against the Pope” if he signs an agreement with the Chinese government. “I will quietly withdraw to the monastic life of prayer and penance.” But a weak and feckless Church that is not willing to fight brazenly for the truth will not inspire many future witnesses like Zen. A Church that does not devote itself to its own teachings is an empty institution.Zen does not leave us without hope for the Church, or for the Church in China. He is our hope. He is the voice crying out in the desert, refusing to be satisfied with half-truths or cowardly deference. Like Christians in other countries hostile to Christianity, Zen in his unwavering dedication to God is an example and testament to all Christians.Zen concedes that there is true belief in both the underground and the official state Church in China. “We came to realize that our categories were too sharply divisive,” he says, “when in reality there were so many healthy forces.”He does not hesitate to point out the failure of the Church to communicate adequately with Chinese Catholics. In 2007, Pope Benedict wrote a letter intended to provide clarity to the Church in China. The letter was meant to be ready by Easter, Zen says, but the final copy was not published until the end of June. Moreover, the final Chinese copy had mistakes and sentences mistranslated. “What a shame that a letter addressed precisely to the people of China had so many errors in the Chinese translation,” Zen laments.In the last of his eight lectures, given on June 28, 2017, Zen, compares being a Catholic in China to living in a cage. He says that the provisional agreement between China and the pope, which was not yet signed at the time of his writing, will further stifle Chinese Catholics in their ability to worship: “To us, a terrifying scenario is unfolding, the sellout of the Church! Not reconstituted unity, but a forced cohabitation in the cage. From the point of view of the faith, we cannot see any gain.”If Catholics have learned anything from the recent crimes propagated in the Church, it should be that there is no mercy without justice. Passivity and capitulation among clerics in the face of injustice or persecution should not be tolerated; and no government or institution, including the tangled bureaucracy of the Catholic hierarchy, is above reproach.These criticisms of the Church’s entreaties to China come not from an aggrieved anti-cleric but from a cardinal in good standing. Zen’s lectures are not a condemnation of authority but rather a call for the Church to act as a strong authority and an uncompromising garrison of virtue. Clerics should not shy away from their commitment to Christian teaching. They should be fortified by it.Hope for Catholicism in China lies in the hands of Cardinal Zen and those who, like him, are willing to defend the faith even without strong support from the Vatican. The Church on Earth will be preserved not by equivocations and incompetent bureaucracy but by the Church Militant. Zen reminds us that it is the Catholics who are steadfast in their devotion to the sacraments and doctrine who will preserve the Church, and that nothing less than martyrdom, be it red or white, is the seed of the Church.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:30:28 -0400National Review

For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China, published in English this year, is a series of eight lectures by Joseph Cardinal Zen. Cardinal Zen delivered the lectures in Hong Kong in 2017. The lectures are an account of the state of the relationship between the Church within and the Church outside China from 2000 to 2017, focusing on a letter written by Pope Benedict to Chinese Catholics in 2007 and on diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Church in China.Though the plight of faithful in China may currently be overshadowed by the many high-profile sexual-abuse scandals within the Church, the persecution faced by Catholics in the avowedly atheist country should not be disregarded. But it is not the Chinese government’s oppression of religious minorities that Zen focuses on. In his lectures he details the incompetence and corruption of Church officials in their handling of the complex and tense relationship between Vatican officials and diplomats, the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (PCA), and the underground Catholic Church in China.The PCA has historically operated under the auspices of the ruling Communist party rather than Rome, appointing its own bishops without Vatican approval and thereby rendering those bishops latae sententiae excommunicants. Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 formally excommunicated two PCA-appointed bishops and the two bishops who had ordained them. The underground Catholic Church in China is in good standing and full communion with Rome but lacks the approval of the Chinese government and therefore suffers persecution.Some Chinese Catholics loathe the state-run Church as an empty apparatus intended for control rather than sincere devotion, some believers trust only the state-sanctioned Church, and some do not bother to distinguish between the two, since the difference is not in rite or theology but in ecclesiological administration. Zen, who is still outspoken in his disapproval of the provisional agreement signed on September 22 of last year, criticizes the prevarications of the Vatican in its dealings with the Church in China in For Love of My People. He condemns the strategy of “compromise and surrender” and says that the “Curia has always tried to please the Chinese government.”In 1988, the Vatican issued eight points on Catholicism in China. The provisional agreement signed last year is in discord with them. In the eight points, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples decreed that PCA ordinations were valid but not licit. But under the agreement, in what Pope Francis has claimed is an attempt to foster healing and unity among Chinese Catholics, the distinction between PCA and Catholic bishops has been erased. Francis has recognized eight bishops (one deceased) appointed by the PCA in Beijing as in full ecclesial communion with Rome, even though they were appointed with flagrant disregard for the Vatican and, in some cases, had been previously excommunicated.While the agreement is a step toward repairing the rift within the Chinese Church, it has left Catholics who have long fought for the underground Church in China feeling subverted and betrayed. Pope Francis has admitted that the agreement will not necessarily end the suffering of Chinese Catholics. The pope has also lamented “the suffering for those who don’t understand, or who have so many years behind them of living clandestinely.” Catholics such as Cardinal Zen who have long encouraged opposition to the PCA suddenly find the Vatican itself seeking common ground with the organization.Unity of believers is a worthy and principal goal, but proper form and the authority of the Church should not be sacrificed in achieving it. Zen decried the agreement before and after it was signed, seeing it as an attempt by the Church to ingratiate itself with China’s ruling party rather than defend true believers. Zen rightly notes of Vatican officials that “if today they go along with the regime, tomorrow our Church will not be welcome for the rebuilding of the new China.”Zen discusses myriad examples of the incompetence that plagues the Church. One is that Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state appointed by Francis, has allowed the Catholic commission for the Church in China to lapse, no longer facilitating its meetings. Zen also mentions that Father Federico Lombardi, the former director of the Press Office of the Holy See, allowed himself to be interviewed by Phoenix Television, one of the few private television networks officially permitted by Hong Kong’s government. Zen suggests that Phoenix is not a neutral outlet. The channel has come under criticism in recent years for the government influence in its programming. In 2016, the channel suspended airing of several popular political-commentary shows because of “ideological mistakes” by the hosts.Zen also tells of Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, who at a Vatican symposium on organ transplants invited as a guest of honor Dr. Huang Jiefu, China’s former deputy health minister. Huang has publicly taken credit for a decade-long reform effort in the Chinese medical community. In 2005, as vice health minister, he admitted that over 90 percent of the transplant organs in China were harvested from executed prisoners, but he promised reform of the medical system.His high rhetoric notwithstanding, Huang did not seem to effect much change. In June 2016, the U.S. Congress unanimously condemned China’s "state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting," in a resolution alleging that the Chinese Communist Party was continuing the practice in secret and that it was killing “non-consenting prisoners of conscience,” including religious and ethnic minorities.Zen is a dedicated, orthodox Catholic and he indicates no disobedience to the pope by his criticisms. In his last lecture, Zen says, “I will never lead a rebellion against the Pope” if he signs an agreement with the Chinese government. “I will quietly withdraw to the monastic life of prayer and penance.” But a weak and feckless Church that is not willing to fight brazenly for the truth will not inspire many future witnesses like Zen. A Church that does not devote itself to its own teachings is an empty institution.Zen does not leave us without hope for the Church, or for the Church in China. He is our hope. He is the voice crying out in the desert, refusing to be satisfied with half-truths or cowardly deference. Like Christians in other countries hostile to Christianity, Zen in his unwavering dedication to God is an example and testament to all Christians.Zen concedes that there is true belief in both the underground and the official state Church in China. “We came to realize that our categories were too sharply divisive,” he says, “when in reality there were so many healthy forces.”He does not hesitate to point out the failure of the Church to communicate adequately with Chinese Catholics. In 2007, Pope Benedict wrote a letter intended to provide clarity to the Church in China. The letter was meant to be ready by Easter, Zen says, but the final copy was not published until the end of June. Moreover, the final Chinese copy had mistakes and sentences mistranslated. “What a shame that a letter addressed precisely to the people of China had so many errors in the Chinese translation,” Zen laments.In the last of his eight lectures, given on June 28, 2017, Zen, compares being a Catholic in China to living in a cage. He says that the provisional agreement between China and the pope, which was not yet signed at the time of his writing, will further stifle Chinese Catholics in their ability to worship: “To us, a terrifying scenario is unfolding, the sellout of the Church! Not reconstituted unity, but a forced cohabitation in the cage. From the point of view of the faith, we cannot see any gain.”If Catholics have learned anything from the recent crimes propagated in the Church, it should be that there is no mercy without justice. Passivity and capitulation among clerics in the face of injustice or persecution should not be tolerated; and no government or institution, including the tangled bureaucracy of the Catholic hierarchy, is above reproach.These criticisms of the Church’s entreaties to China come not from an aggrieved anti-cleric but from a cardinal in good standing. Zen’s lectures are not a condemnation of authority but rather a call for the Church to act as a strong authority and an uncompromising garrison of virtue. Clerics should not shy away from their commitment to Christian teaching. They should be fortified by it.Hope for Catholicism in China lies in the hands of Cardinal Zen and those who, like him, are willing to defend the faith even without strong support from the Vatican. The Church on Earth will be preserved not by equivocations and incompetent bureaucracy but by the Church Militant. Zen reminds us that it is the Catholics who are steadfast in their devotion to the sacraments and doctrine who will preserve the Church, and that nothing less than martyrdom, be it red or white, is the seed of the Church.

Media shocked at Manafort sentence

Some pundits say 4-year term is an outrage.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:37:08 -0400FOX News Videos

Some pundits say 4-year term is an outrage.

Covington Catholic student's lawyer plans lawsuit against CNN after suing Washington Post

L. Lin Wood, attorney for Nick Sandmann, says CNN was 'more vicious' in coverage as reason for planned lawsuit that could be more than $250 million.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:29:36 -0500USA TODAY

L. Lin Wood, attorney for Nick Sandmann, says CNN was 'more vicious' in coverage as reason for planned lawsuit that could be more than $250 million.

N. Korea 'missile launch' plans under scrutiny as concern mounts

South Korea's military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch. Any launch would send the stuttering talks on denuclearisation into disarray, after a high-stakes second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un collapsed last month without a deal. North Korea favours a more step-by-approach, with Kim proposing dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear complex in exchange for lifting the main sanctions -- a notion Trump refused in Hanoi despite the vaunted "chemistry" between the pair.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 06:18:20 -0400AFP

South Korea's military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch. Any launch would send the stuttering talks on denuclearisation into disarray, after a high-stakes second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un collapsed last month without a deal. North Korea favours a more step-by-approach, with Kim proposing dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear complex in exchange for lifting the main sanctions -- a notion Trump refused in Hanoi despite the vaunted "chemistry" between the pair.

Thousands of protesters take to the streets of Caracas amid nationwide Venezuela power outage

Thousands of people took to the streets of Caracas on Saturday amid a nationwide power cut that has plunged crisis-hit Venezuela into further chaos and desperation for two days. The capital bristled with the security forces of Nicolás Maduro as supporters of Juan Guaidó, the National Assembly leader recognised as the legitimate interim president by more than 50 countries, poured into the city centre. It was a daring move by opponents of the Maduro government, both for the march’s unusual proximity to state installations and for it taking place amid the blackout that has almost entirely brought down the country’s communications.  The National Guard and riot police were out in force across the city, in some areas blocking the demonstrators’ passage. The Telegraph counted eight army trucks full of soldiers and nine armoured vehicles and tanks in a convoy approaching the protest route.  A supporter of Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, holds a policeman's face during a demonstration in Caracas Credit: AFP On Avenida Victoria, the march’s destination, protesters faced off with riot police before the rally even officially began, following an early morning confrontation that had seen security forces fire tear gas at locals as they tried to detain those erecting a platform for speeches. The atmosphere simmered as protesters, their anger heightened by the blackout, shouted at riot police with their shields raised. “You are killers!” one woman shouted. “There is still no electricity, people are dying, and you are going to pay for this!” “Soldiers, friends, the fight depends on you!” chanted others in the crowd, urging the security forces to come over to their side. Once again, it was almost impossible to communicate in Caracas or across most of the country. Power had been restored in some areas of the capital and elsewhere for a few hours on Friday afternoon, before cutting out in the early evening. The grid began to partially function again on Saturday morning, but by midday the blackout had resumed.  Mr Maduro and his ministers have pinned the outage on “sabotage” at the Guri hydroelectric dam, accusing the US of waging an “electric war” against Venezuela. Jorge Rodriguez, the communications minister, has singled out Florida senator Marco Rubio for blame.  A police officer tries to put out a fire during a demonstration in Caracas Credit: AFP But at the march in support of Mr Guaidó, such claims were ridiculed. “They always have an excuse to blame others,” Miguel Useche, a 72-year-old pensioner, told The Telegraph. “They have taken everything, I don’t know how many millions of millions they have looted,” he said, attributing the electrical collapse to corruption and lack of maintenance. The outage has brought further hardship to a country where many are already struggling to survive amid punishing shortages of food and medicine. As well as communications, water pumps have failed, food is rotting in fridges, businesses are shuttered and transport is virtually non existent. Petrol stations and grocery shops are running dry, with huge queues snaking around the few still operating.  At hospitals across the country, back up generators have failed or been insufficient to power life saving equipment. At a number, medical staff have been left ventilating premature babies or patients in critical condition by hand.  On Saturday an NGO reported that fifteen Venezuelans with advanced kidney disease had died after being unable to get dialysis during the country's extended power outage. "Between yesterday and today, there were 15 deaths for lack of dialysis," said Francisco Valencia, director of the Codevida health rights group. Carmen Yagres, a 38-year-old engineer, said Mr Maduro’s government must go. “We are here because people are dying,” she told the Telegraph. “It seems it doesn’t matter to them.” She implored the US to intervene to end the crisis. “We need international help,” she told The Telegraph. Mr Maduro, too, called supporters to the streets of Caracas on Saturday. The hardcore militants of his Socialist PSUV turned out, chanting patriotic slogans in defence of the fatherland against “imperialist aggression”. But away from the rank and file, the mood was subdued, the thronging crowds of fervent supporters he has in the past commanded nowhere to be seen.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 19:31:38 -0500The Telegraph

Thousands of people took to the streets of Caracas on Saturday amid a nationwide power cut that has plunged crisis-hit Venezuela into further chaos and desperation for two days. The capital bristled with the security forces of Nicolás Maduro as supporters of Juan Guaidó, the National Assembly leader recognised as the legitimate interim president by more than 50 countries, poured into the city centre. It was a daring move by opponents of the Maduro government, both for the march’s unusual proximity to state installations and for it taking place amid the blackout that has almost entirely brought down the country’s communications.  The National Guard and riot police were out in force across the city, in some areas blocking the demonstrators’ passage. The Telegraph counted eight army trucks full of soldiers and nine armoured vehicles and tanks in a convoy approaching the protest route.  A supporter of Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, holds a policeman's face during a demonstration in Caracas Credit: AFP On Avenida Victoria, the march’s destination, protesters faced off with riot police before the rally even officially began, following an early morning confrontation that had seen security forces fire tear gas at locals as they tried to detain those erecting a platform for speeches. The atmosphere simmered as protesters, their anger heightened by the blackout, shouted at riot police with their shields raised. “You are killers!” one woman shouted. “There is still no electricity, people are dying, and you are going to pay for this!” “Soldiers, friends, the fight depends on you!” chanted others in the crowd, urging the security forces to come over to their side. Once again, it was almost impossible to communicate in Caracas or across most of the country. Power had been restored in some areas of the capital and elsewhere for a few hours on Friday afternoon, before cutting out in the early evening. The grid began to partially function again on Saturday morning, but by midday the blackout had resumed.  Mr Maduro and his ministers have pinned the outage on “sabotage” at the Guri hydroelectric dam, accusing the US of waging an “electric war” against Venezuela. Jorge Rodriguez, the communications minister, has singled out Florida senator Marco Rubio for blame.  A police officer tries to put out a fire during a demonstration in Caracas Credit: AFP But at the march in support of Mr Guaidó, such claims were ridiculed. “They always have an excuse to blame others,” Miguel Useche, a 72-year-old pensioner, told The Telegraph. “They have taken everything, I don’t know how many millions of millions they have looted,” he said, attributing the electrical collapse to corruption and lack of maintenance. The outage has brought further hardship to a country where many are already struggling to survive amid punishing shortages of food and medicine. As well as communications, water pumps have failed, food is rotting in fridges, businesses are shuttered and transport is virtually non existent. Petrol stations and grocery shops are running dry, with huge queues snaking around the few still operating.  At hospitals across the country, back up generators have failed or been insufficient to power life saving equipment. At a number, medical staff have been left ventilating premature babies or patients in critical condition by hand.  On Saturday an NGO reported that fifteen Venezuelans with advanced kidney disease had died after being unable to get dialysis during the country's extended power outage. "Between yesterday and today, there were 15 deaths for lack of dialysis," said Francisco Valencia, director of the Codevida health rights group. Carmen Yagres, a 38-year-old engineer, said Mr Maduro’s government must go. “We are here because people are dying,” she told the Telegraph. “It seems it doesn’t matter to them.” She implored the US to intervene to end the crisis. “We need international help,” she told The Telegraph. Mr Maduro, too, called supporters to the streets of Caracas on Saturday. The hardcore militants of his Socialist PSUV turned out, chanting patriotic slogans in defence of the fatherland against “imperialist aggression”. But away from the rank and file, the mood was subdued, the thronging crowds of fervent supporters he has in the past commanded nowhere to be seen.

Tornadoes cause damage in south; no injuries reported

Two powerful winter storms threatened strong winds, heavy snow and even blizzard conditions in the north; hail, possible tornadoes in the South.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:52:45 -0500USA TODAY

Two powerful winter storms threatened strong winds, heavy snow and even blizzard conditions in the north; hail, possible tornadoes in the South.

Kremlin says it's not Putin's place to answer Briton whose mother died in poisoning

President Vladimir Putin will not reply to a letter from the son of a woman killed by a suspected Russian nerve agent near the English city of Salisbury last year because Russia's ambassador to Britain has already done so, the Kremlin said on Monday. Ewan Hope called on Putin in a letter publicized by the Daily Mirror earlier this month to allow Britain to question two Russian nationals London suspects of trying to murder former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter last year. Hope's mother, Dawn Sturgess, died after coming into contact with the same nerve agent used in the attack, which her partner found in a discarded perfume bottle, police said.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 08:03:01 -0400Reuters

President Vladimir Putin will not reply to a letter from the son of a woman killed by a suspected Russian nerve agent near the English city of Salisbury last year because Russia's ambassador to Britain has already done so, the Kremlin said on Monday. Ewan Hope called on Putin in a letter publicized by the Daily Mirror earlier this month to allow Britain to question two Russian nationals London suspects of trying to murder former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter last year. Hope's mother, Dawn Sturgess, died after coming into contact with the same nerve agent used in the attack, which her partner found in a discarded perfume bottle, police said.

Thirty injured as turbulence hits Turkish Airlines flight to New York

A Turkish Airlines passenger jet traveling from Istanbul to New York hit severe turbulence Saturday as it approached its destination, with 30 people suffering injuries before it landed safely, officials said. The injured were taken from New York's John F Kennedy International Airport to local hospitals, mainly for treatment of bumps, cuts and bruises. One flight attendant suffered a broken leg, according to Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the area's airports, bus terminals, bridges and tunnels.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 23:42:12 -0500AFP

A Turkish Airlines passenger jet traveling from Istanbul to New York hit severe turbulence Saturday as it approached its destination, with 30 people suffering injuries before it landed safely, officials said. The injured were taken from New York's John F Kennedy International Airport to local hospitals, mainly for treatment of bumps, cuts and bruises. One flight attendant suffered a broken leg, according to Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the area's airports, bus terminals, bridges and tunnels.

UK official says EU playing games over Brexit

LONDON (AP) — With tensions escalating, Britain's House of Commons leader said Saturday that European Union officials need to take seriously British proposals for ending the Brexit impasse before a crucial vote in Parliament.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 13:24:42 -0500Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — With tensions escalating, Britain's House of Commons leader said Saturday that European Union officials need to take seriously British proposals for ending the Brexit impasse before a crucial vote in Parliament.

Today’s top deals: $20 off the hottest new Switch game, $17 wireless charger, Instant Pot deals, more

Before you slink down into your couch to enjoy a nice relaxing Sunday, check out our roundup of the best daily deals on the web. Highlights include Anker's best fast wireless charger for just $16.79 (the lowest price ever), a $20 discount on the hottest new Nintendo Switch game out there, $30 off Amazon's waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, Anker's Eufy Lumos smart LED bulbs for just $13 each, blazing-fast Samsung EVO 128GB microSD cards for $21 a piece, two killer Instant Pot deals, $40 off the best-selling DNA test on Amazon, Alexa and Google enabled smart plugs for $7.99 a piece when you buy a 4-pack, and more. See all of today's best deals below.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:29:04 -0400BGR News

Before you slink down into your couch to enjoy a nice relaxing Sunday, check out our roundup of the best daily deals on the web. Highlights include Anker's best fast wireless charger for just $16.79 (the lowest price ever), a $20 discount on the hottest new Nintendo Switch game out there, $30 off Amazon's waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, Anker's Eufy Lumos smart LED bulbs for just $13 each, blazing-fast Samsung EVO 128GB microSD cards for $21 a piece, two killer Instant Pot deals, $40 off the best-selling DNA test on Amazon, Alexa and Google enabled smart plugs for $7.99 a piece when you buy a 4-pack, and more. See all of today's best deals below.

Tesla backtracks on store closures, plans top-end price rise

"Over the past two weeks we have been closely evaluating every single Tesla retail location, and we have decided to keep significantly more stores open than previously announced," the electric carmaker said. Separately, Chief Executive Officer Musk has until the end of the day on Monday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for recent tweets that U.S. securities regulators say violated a September fraud settlement. The case is the latest major challenge by authorities to Musk's leadership as Tesla seeks to make good on his promises to Wall Street that it will soon by consistently profitable and will not need more capital.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:34:19 -0400Reuters

"Over the past two weeks we have been closely evaluating every single Tesla retail location, and we have decided to keep significantly more stores open than previously announced," the electric carmaker said. Separately, Chief Executive Officer Musk has until the end of the day on Monday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for recent tweets that U.S. securities regulators say violated a September fraud settlement. The case is the latest major challenge by authorities to Musk's leadership as Tesla seeks to make good on his promises to Wall Street that it will soon by consistently profitable and will not need more capital.

Maga hat boy’s lawyer to sue CNN over ‘vicious attacks’

Lawyer L Lin Wood, representing Covington Catholic High School pupil Nick Sandmann, announced during an interview with Fox News that the lawsuit was being launched. The latest litigation comes just weeks after the 16-year-old’s legal team filed a lawsuit in federal court against major US daily newspaper The Washington Post. “CNN was probably more vicious in its direct attacks on Nicholas than The Washington Post, and CNN goes into millions of individuals’ homes,” Mr Wood told Fox News host Mark Levin.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 10:00:00 -0400The Independent

Lawyer L Lin Wood, representing Covington Catholic High School pupil Nick Sandmann, announced during an interview with Fox News that the lawsuit was being launched. The latest litigation comes just weeks after the 16-year-old’s legal team filed a lawsuit in federal court against major US daily newspaper The Washington Post. “CNN was probably more vicious in its direct attacks on Nicholas than The Washington Post, and CNN goes into millions of individuals’ homes,” Mr Wood told Fox News host Mark Levin.

Malaysia frees Indonesian woman accused of Kim Jong Nam's poisoning

As the court announced its decision, Siti Aisyah, 26, turned to her Vietnamese co-defendant, Doan Thi Huong, 30, in the dock and the two women, who had been facing the death penalty together, embraced in tears. Following the dramatic decision to release Siti Aisyah, a defense lawyer asked for an adjournment in the case against Huong in order to submit a request that charges be dropped against her too. Defense lawyers have maintained that the women were pawns in an assassination orchestrated by North Korean agents.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 08:33:35 -0400Reuters

As the court announced its decision, Siti Aisyah, 26, turned to her Vietnamese co-defendant, Doan Thi Huong, 30, in the dock and the two women, who had been facing the death penalty together, embraced in tears. Following the dramatic decision to release Siti Aisyah, a defense lawyer asked for an adjournment in the case against Huong in order to submit a request that charges be dropped against her too. Defense lawyers have maintained that the women were pawns in an assassination orchestrated by North Korean agents.

Two more Isil brides stripped of British citizenship

Two more jihadi brides who joined Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are believed to have been stripped of their UK citizenship while living in a refugee camp in Syria. The disclosure came as a row intensified over the death of a three-week-old baby whose mother Shamima Begum had been stripped of her British citizenship. Reema Iqbal, 30, along with her sister Zara Iqbal, 28, are mothers of five children between them, and are also in a camp. Legal sources told the Sunday Times that the sisters have had their citizenship removed after marrying into a terror cell linked to the execution of western hostages. A decision to remove their citizenship will fuel fears over what happens to the children of jihadi brides. The two women left Newham in London in 2013 for the co-called Isil caliphate. At least one of their sons was born in the UK and was taken to Syria. The women's parents are originally from Pakistan, and the Home Office could pursue the argument that they are Pakistani nationals. Last month Reema Iqbal told The Telegraph she was hopeful of returning to the UK. She said: "The security services came to speak to me and I was honest, I told them my whole story so now it’s up to them to judge. I don’t know if my Mum ever got me a Pakistani passport or not, I’ve never been to Pakistan. "There’s not enough food for bigger families. It’s a prison here, but we’re serving no sentence. If I face court, fine, but take me back to the UK, that’s where I’m from.” Sajid Javid, the home secretary, was facing cross-party criticism after Kurdish officials confirmed that the three-week-old baby of Shamima Begum, 19, had died this week. Shamima Begum Credit: MetropolitanPpolice Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, blamed Mr Javid’s decision to remove Ms Begum’s citizenship for the child’s death, accusing him of breaking international law and condemning the decision as “callous and inhumane”. Phillip Lee, a Tory MP said the decision had been driven by populism and that the British government had failed in its moral responsibility to both mother and child.  “I was just troubled by the decision. It seemed driven by a sort of populism, not any principle I recognise,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. The news of the death came as Ms Begum’s father Ahmed Ali offered an apology to the British public for his daughter's decision to flee the country and join the terror group. Speaking from his home in the village of Dovroy, in north-eastern Bangladesh, he told the BBC: "She has done wrong, I apologise to everyone as her father, to the British people, I am sorry for Shamima's doing. I request to the British people, please forgive her." Mr Ali said added he only visited London three or four months at a time and had no idea how his daughter had become radicalised.  He urged the British government and public to "take her back and punish her if she had done any mistake".

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 15:13:00 -0500The Telegraph

Two more jihadi brides who joined Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are believed to have been stripped of their UK citizenship while living in a refugee camp in Syria. The disclosure came as a row intensified over the death of a three-week-old baby whose mother Shamima Begum had been stripped of her British citizenship. Reema Iqbal, 30, along with her sister Zara Iqbal, 28, are mothers of five children between them, and are also in a camp. Legal sources told the Sunday Times that the sisters have had their citizenship removed after marrying into a terror cell linked to the execution of western hostages. A decision to remove their citizenship will fuel fears over what happens to the children of jihadi brides. The two women left Newham in London in 2013 for the co-called Isil caliphate. At least one of their sons was born in the UK and was taken to Syria. The women's parents are originally from Pakistan, and the Home Office could pursue the argument that they are Pakistani nationals. Last month Reema Iqbal told The Telegraph she was hopeful of returning to the UK. She said: "The security services came to speak to me and I was honest, I told them my whole story so now it’s up to them to judge. I don’t know if my Mum ever got me a Pakistani passport or not, I’ve never been to Pakistan. "There’s not enough food for bigger families. It’s a prison here, but we’re serving no sentence. If I face court, fine, but take me back to the UK, that’s where I’m from.” Sajid Javid, the home secretary, was facing cross-party criticism after Kurdish officials confirmed that the three-week-old baby of Shamima Begum, 19, had died this week. Shamima Begum Credit: MetropolitanPpolice Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, blamed Mr Javid’s decision to remove Ms Begum’s citizenship for the child’s death, accusing him of breaking international law and condemning the decision as “callous and inhumane”. Phillip Lee, a Tory MP said the decision had been driven by populism and that the British government had failed in its moral responsibility to both mother and child.  “I was just troubled by the decision. It seemed driven by a sort of populism, not any principle I recognise,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. The news of the death came as Ms Begum’s father Ahmed Ali offered an apology to the British public for his daughter's decision to flee the country and join the terror group. Speaking from his home in the village of Dovroy, in north-eastern Bangladesh, he told the BBC: "She has done wrong, I apologise to everyone as her father, to the British people, I am sorry for Shamima's doing. I request to the British people, please forgive her." Mr Ali said added he only visited London three or four months at a time and had no idea how his daughter had become radicalised.  He urged the British government and public to "take her back and punish her if she had done any mistake".

Tax refunds are larger by an average of $22 after fifth week of filing season

The average 2019 tax refund issued so far rose to $3,068, up 0.7 percent from $3,036 at the same time last year.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:23:31 -0400USA TODAY

The average 2019 tax refund issued so far rose to $3,068, up 0.7 percent from $3,036 at the same time last year.

Insane video of tornado ripping buildings and powerlines apart

This incredible video shows the roofs of buildings being torn off and sparks flying from power lines due to a tornado in Springhill, Louisiana on March 9.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 23:42:18 -0500AccuWeather

This incredible video shows the roofs of buildings being torn off and sparks flying from power lines due to a tornado in Springhill, Louisiana on March 9.

Iran demands Pakistan acts 'decisively against terrorists'

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has demanded Pakistan act "decisively against anti-Iranian terrorists" in a phone call with the country's premier, Tehran said, a month after a bloody attack on security forces. Iran says a Pakistani suicide bomber was behind the February 13 attack that killed 27 Revolutionary Guards in its volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. A Sunni jihadist group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), which Tehran says operates mostly out of bases in neighbouring Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the blast.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:07:31 -0400AFP

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has demanded Pakistan act "decisively against anti-Iranian terrorists" in a phone call with the country's premier, Tehran said, a month after a bloody attack on security forces. Iran says a Pakistani suicide bomber was behind the February 13 attack that killed 27 Revolutionary Guards in its volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. A Sunni jihadist group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), which Tehran says operates mostly out of bases in neighbouring Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Philippines Faces Budget Delays That Threaten Growth

Approval of the 3.76-trillion peso ($71.9 billion) budget may be delayed to August, Senate President Vicente Sotto said. “This budget will be delayed unless the House goes back to the version we agreed upon,” Sotto said in a mobile-phone message Monday. HighlightsEconomic managers have warned that failure to pass this year’s budget will cut the nation’s economic growth by as much as 2.3 percentage points this year, partly due to spending delays for major projects.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:07:26 -0400Bloomberg

Approval of the 3.76-trillion peso ($71.9 billion) budget may be delayed to August, Senate President Vicente Sotto said. “This budget will be delayed unless the House goes back to the version we agreed upon,” Sotto said in a mobile-phone message Monday. HighlightsEconomic managers have warned that failure to pass this year’s budget will cut the nation’s economic growth by as much as 2.3 percentage points this year, partly due to spending delays for major projects.

Surprise sale slashes the two most popular Instant Pots to their lowest prices of 2019

Well what do we have here, bargain hunters!? It looks like Amazon is feeling particularly generous this weekend because out of the blue, it slashed the prices of the two most popular Instant Pot models on the planet to 2019 lows. Well, technically the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is within $2 of its 2019 low, but that's close enough for us -- clip the $18 coupon on the Amazon page and you'll snag this incredible $100 Instant Pot for only $71.99. If you have a big family and you need more capacity, the $140 Instant Pot DUO80 8 Qt 7-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is down to just $89.99 today, which is this great model's lowest price since Black Friday. What are you waiting for!?Here are the key details from the product page: * Duo, the number 1 selling multi-cooker, combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Marker and Warmer, prepares dishes up to 70% faster to support your busy lifestyle * Features 14 Smart Programs - Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saute/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button * Healthy, stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot made from food grade 304, no chemical coating, 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution, fully sealed environment traps the flavours, nutrients and aromas within the food * Built with the latest 3rd generation technology, the microprocessor monitors pressure, temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heating intensity and duration to achieve your desired results every time.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL and ULC certified with 10 safety mechanisms to provide you with added assurance, designed to eliminate many common errors. * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 10:32:20 -0500BGR News

Well what do we have here, bargain hunters!? It looks like Amazon is feeling particularly generous this weekend because out of the blue, it slashed the prices of the two most popular Instant Pot models on the planet to 2019 lows. Well, technically the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is within $2 of its 2019 low, but that's close enough for us -- clip the $18 coupon on the Amazon page and you'll snag this incredible $100 Instant Pot for only $71.99. If you have a big family and you need more capacity, the $140 Instant Pot DUO80 8 Qt 7-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is down to just $89.99 today, which is this great model's lowest price since Black Friday. What are you waiting for!?Here are the key details from the product page: * Duo, the number 1 selling multi-cooker, combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Marker and Warmer, prepares dishes up to 70% faster to support your busy lifestyle * Features 14 Smart Programs - Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saute/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button * Healthy, stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot made from food grade 304, no chemical coating, 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution, fully sealed environment traps the flavours, nutrients and aromas within the food * Built with the latest 3rd generation technology, the microprocessor monitors pressure, temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heating intensity and duration to achieve your desired results every time.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL and ULC certified with 10 safety mechanisms to provide you with added assurance, designed to eliminate many common errors. * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz

Tesla throws it in reverse: Now it'll keep stores open and raise car prices

Less than two weeks ago it announced it was closing stores and selling online only.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 08:19:00 -0400Reuters

Less than two weeks ago it announced it was closing stores and selling online only.

Man wins mega millions jackpot to tune of $273m after stranger returns lost lottery ticket

An unemployed New Jersey man won a $273m (£210m) Mega Millions lottery jackpot last week after a stranger found and returned the winning ticket he had left behind on a shop counter. The man, Michael J Weirsky, told reporters on Thursday he lost two tickets immediately after he bought them at a QuickChek in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, on the day before the lottery draw. Mr Weirsky had spent hours searching for the tickets when he got to his home in Alpha, New Jersey, near the Pennsylvania border.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 12:28:57 -0500The Independent

An unemployed New Jersey man won a $273m (£210m) Mega Millions lottery jackpot last week after a stranger found and returned the winning ticket he had left behind on a shop counter. The man, Michael J Weirsky, told reporters on Thursday he lost two tickets immediately after he bought them at a QuickChek in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, on the day before the lottery draw. Mr Weirsky had spent hours searching for the tickets when he got to his home in Alpha, New Jersey, near the Pennsylvania border.

Alibaba invests $693 million for stake in Chinese courier STO Express

Shares in STO Express shot up when trading opened and immediately hit the upper 10 percent limit on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, according to Refinitiv data. STO Express said in a statement on Monday its controlling shareholder planned to set up a new subsidiary that will own a 29.9 percent stake in the courier firm. Alibaba will in turn invest 4.66 billion yuan ($693.44 million) for a 49 percent stake in the new subsidiary, and by extension hold more than 14 percent of STO Express, the statement said.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:55:30 -0400Reuters

Shares in STO Express shot up when trading opened and immediately hit the upper 10 percent limit on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, according to Refinitiv data. STO Express said in a statement on Monday its controlling shareholder planned to set up a new subsidiary that will own a 29.9 percent stake in the courier firm. Alibaba will in turn invest 4.66 billion yuan ($693.44 million) for a 49 percent stake in the new subsidiary, and by extension hold more than 14 percent of STO Express, the statement said.

Google sifting through one billion health questions each day

Google wants to harness the billion health-related questions people ask it every day to provide better healthcare, despite criticism that the Search giant has played a role in spreading dangerous misinformation about measles vaccinations. Google Health boss David Feinberg said that around 7 per cent of Google’s daily searches were health related, equivalent to 70,000 every minute. “People are asking us about conditions, medication, symptoms and insurance questions,” he said during a technology conference in Austin, Texas. “In this case we are organising the world’s health information and making it accessible to everyone.” The former chief executive of major American healthcare provider, Geisinger Health, said that Google was trying to correct its fake news problem and “teams” of doctors and nurses analysing search results following public uproar over the appearance of conspiracy theories relating vaccinations to health problems. “If you Google ‘how am I going to kill myself’, the first thing that comes up is a suicide prevention note...If you Google ‘holocaust’ and ‘myth’ the information that comes up is authoritative advice. If you Google ‘vaccines and autism’ it comes up with the original study that says [the study] was flawed and not appropriate,” he insisted. Some of the company’s most popular services, like YouTube or Maps, have more than one billion users per day. Mr Feinberg said Google hopes that the same will be true of its health products. “We can streamline care, and the purpose for that is we want your nurse to look you in the eye and not at the computer,” he said. “We want the person on the end of the phone to say ‘we have been expecting you’. We want to know everything about you”. Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA GPs have for years warned against “Dr Google”, claiming that patients checking symptoms online has increased pressure on already stretched doctors in the National Health Service. Google has made some impressive moves in healthcare, applying artificial intelligence to traditional roles of radiologists to diagnose. DeepMind, part of Google parent company Alphabet, introduced a Streams app to the Royal Free London hospital in January 2017, which could diagnose acute kidney injuries - which can lead to a patient depending on dialysis - in 14 minutes, almost four hours quicker than a human doctor. When it used complex algorithms to crunch the patient data, it was able to predict injury two days prior. I feel this urgency this need to move fast,” added Mr Feinberg. “But then we have to be super careful because we do not want to erode trust if people stop coming to Google it is game over. At the same time, we have tools to make care better and we need to get them out.” Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The internet is a key source of information for many people who want to find out more about their health - but it’s important for everyone to be aware that there is a huge amount of fake or dubious health news out there, so it’s encouraging to hear that senior representatives at Google now recognise this and want to address it. “It’s a good thing for patients to take an interest in their health, but we would recommend that they use reputable, unbiased UK websites, such as NHS.uk, as a source of safe reliable health advice.”

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 14:01:48 -0400The Telegraph

Google wants to harness the billion health-related questions people ask it every day to provide better healthcare, despite criticism that the Search giant has played a role in spreading dangerous misinformation about measles vaccinations. Google Health boss David Feinberg said that around 7 per cent of Google’s daily searches were health related, equivalent to 70,000 every minute. “People are asking us about conditions, medication, symptoms and insurance questions,” he said during a technology conference in Austin, Texas. “In this case we are organising the world’s health information and making it accessible to everyone.” The former chief executive of major American healthcare provider, Geisinger Health, said that Google was trying to correct its fake news problem and “teams” of doctors and nurses analysing search results following public uproar over the appearance of conspiracy theories relating vaccinations to health problems. “If you Google ‘how am I going to kill myself’, the first thing that comes up is a suicide prevention note...If you Google ‘holocaust’ and ‘myth’ the information that comes up is authoritative advice. If you Google ‘vaccines and autism’ it comes up with the original study that says [the study] was flawed and not appropriate,” he insisted. Some of the company’s most popular services, like YouTube or Maps, have more than one billion users per day. Mr Feinberg said Google hopes that the same will be true of its health products. “We can streamline care, and the purpose for that is we want your nurse to look you in the eye and not at the computer,” he said. “We want the person on the end of the phone to say ‘we have been expecting you’. We want to know everything about you”. Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA GPs have for years warned against “Dr Google”, claiming that patients checking symptoms online has increased pressure on already stretched doctors in the National Health Service. Google has made some impressive moves in healthcare, applying artificial intelligence to traditional roles of radiologists to diagnose. DeepMind, part of Google parent company Alphabet, introduced a Streams app to the Royal Free London hospital in January 2017, which could diagnose acute kidney injuries - which can lead to a patient depending on dialysis - in 14 minutes, almost four hours quicker than a human doctor. When it used complex algorithms to crunch the patient data, it was able to predict injury two days prior. I feel this urgency this need to move fast,” added Mr Feinberg. “But then we have to be super careful because we do not want to erode trust if people stop coming to Google it is game over. At the same time, we have tools to make care better and we need to get them out.” Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The internet is a key source of information for many people who want to find out more about their health - but it’s important for everyone to be aware that there is a huge amount of fake or dubious health news out there, so it’s encouraging to hear that senior representatives at Google now recognise this and want to address it. “It’s a good thing for patients to take an interest in their health, but we would recommend that they use reputable, unbiased UK websites, such as NHS.uk, as a source of safe reliable health advice.”

Taxes 2019: How long should I keep my tax returns?

How long you should keep tax returns and supporting documents depends on your tax situation and when the audit period of limitations runs out.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 14:33:56 -0400USA TODAY

How long you should keep tax returns and supporting documents depends on your tax situation and when the audit period of limitations runs out.

British IS runaway teen's baby son dies in Syria

The British government drew fresh criticism Saturday over its decision to revoke citizenship from a London teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria, after her baby died in a refugee camp. Shamima Begum, 19, had asked to return home after giving birth to her son Jarrah last month in the camp in northeastern Syria, but London refused. A spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, Mustefa Bali, told AFP the baby had died, without giving further details.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 11:08:36 -0500AFP

The British government drew fresh criticism Saturday over its decision to revoke citizenship from a London teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria, after her baby died in a refugee camp. Shamima Begum, 19, had asked to return home after giving birth to her son Jarrah last month in the camp in northeastern Syria, but London refused. A spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, Mustefa Bali, told AFP the baby had died, without giving further details.

Turkey's Erdogan stands by Russia missile deal

Turkey's deal to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems had "nothing to do" with the security of the US, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday after a Pentagon warning. "It is very clear why Turkey has bought this air defence system, under what conditions it has bought them and how it will be used," Erdogan said in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The "issue was not about the S-400s" but about Turkey "taking actions on its own accord", especially in Syria, he added.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 16:29:04 -0500AFP

Turkey's deal to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems had "nothing to do" with the security of the US, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday after a Pentagon warning. "It is very clear why Turkey has bought this air defence system, under what conditions it has bought them and how it will be used," Erdogan said in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The "issue was not about the S-400s" but about Turkey "taking actions on its own accord", especially in Syria, he added.

Biden eyes fundraising challenge amid new sense of urgency

NEW YORK (AP) — On the cusp of another White House run, Joe Biden faces a daunting challenge that could complicate his path to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination: money.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 10:14:03 -0500Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — On the cusp of another White House run, Joe Biden faces a daunting challenge that could complicate his path to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination: money.

Could this be our first glimpse of the Galaxy Fold 2?

We're about a month away now from Samsung's first attempt at a foldable phone hitting the market, with the $1,980 Galaxy Fold set for an April release after months of hype and speculation about what exactly a foldable handset will mean for the smartphone market. Not to mention how it will be received by consumers. As we said last week, though, Samsung isn't exactly waiting around for those reactions to start rolling in before the company figures out where to take its foldable phone ambitions next. Samsung has also got two more foldable phones being teed up to follow the Galaxy Fold, one of which includes a clamshell design -- the patent details for which have just emerged. Which gives us, in effect, what could be our first look at a device we may end up calling the Galaxy Fold 2.The above drawings give an indication of what's being considered for this upcoming foldable. The details come via Dutch tech blog LetsGoDigital, which reports that the plan is for a foldable device with the display on the outside -- which stands in contrast to the Galaxy Fold and its interior display that folds closed like a book.According to the patent details, this next foldable also consists of two housing parts held together by a hinge. Additionally, there's a lock on the back that can be moved into position to keep the phone locked close, which presumably means you won't have to worry about this device accidentally unfolding open.What Samsung appears to be considering in terms of the display arguably represents an unusual setup for a clamshell phone, where you'd expect to see the display on the inside of the device so as to better protect it from scratches and other irritants. But perhaps this can be explained as Samsung taking an experimental approach, trying a few different variations on the foldable theme before it decides what will be the most well-received -- or at least what will be the best-received of the different variants Samsung is prepping for release.Among the details that aren't clear from this new patent documentation is how many cameras this phone will have. What we do know, though, is that in addition to this new clamshell design the Galaxy Fold, of course, is up first, with a release that's just a few weeks away. We also know, thanks to reporting from Bloomberg, that Samsung is preparing this clamshell foldable for release sometime between later this year and 2020.Samsung is also working on what sounds like a phablet similar to the Huawei Mate X that features a larger exterior screen and includes a vertical, book-style fold. It would hit the market sometime after this second foldable phone arrives.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:18:26 -0400BGR News

We're about a month away now from Samsung's first attempt at a foldable phone hitting the market, with the $1,980 Galaxy Fold set for an April release after months of hype and speculation about what exactly a foldable handset will mean for the smartphone market. Not to mention how it will be received by consumers. As we said last week, though, Samsung isn't exactly waiting around for those reactions to start rolling in before the company figures out where to take its foldable phone ambitions next. Samsung has also got two more foldable phones being teed up to follow the Galaxy Fold, one of which includes a clamshell design -- the patent details for which have just emerged. Which gives us, in effect, what could be our first look at a device we may end up calling the Galaxy Fold 2.The above drawings give an indication of what's being considered for this upcoming foldable. The details come via Dutch tech blog LetsGoDigital, which reports that the plan is for a foldable device with the display on the outside -- which stands in contrast to the Galaxy Fold and its interior display that folds closed like a book.According to the patent details, this next foldable also consists of two housing parts held together by a hinge. Additionally, there's a lock on the back that can be moved into position to keep the phone locked close, which presumably means you won't have to worry about this device accidentally unfolding open.What Samsung appears to be considering in terms of the display arguably represents an unusual setup for a clamshell phone, where you'd expect to see the display on the inside of the device so as to better protect it from scratches and other irritants. But perhaps this can be explained as Samsung taking an experimental approach, trying a few different variations on the foldable theme before it decides what will be the most well-received -- or at least what will be the best-received of the different variants Samsung is prepping for release.Among the details that aren't clear from this new patent documentation is how many cameras this phone will have. What we do know, though, is that in addition to this new clamshell design the Galaxy Fold, of course, is up first, with a release that's just a few weeks away. We also know, thanks to reporting from Bloomberg, that Samsung is preparing this clamshell foldable for release sometime between later this year and 2020.Samsung is also working on what sounds like a phablet similar to the Huawei Mate X that features a larger exterior screen and includes a vertical, book-style fold. It would hit the market sometime after this second foldable phone arrives.

Tesla's Musk nears deadline to respond to U.S. SEC contempt bid

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk has until the end of the day on Monday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for recent tweets that U.S. securities regulators say violated a September fraud settlement. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission asked a federal court in Manhattan to hold Musk in contempt after he tweeted about Tesla's production volume, saying he breached the agreement requiring him to get company approval before sharing any material information on social media. The renewed public battle between Tesla's CEO and the SEC adds pressure on Musk, the public face of the electric vehicle-maker who is struggling to make it profitable after cutting the price of its Model 3 sedan to $35,000.

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:34:00 -0400Reuters

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk has until the end of the day on Monday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for recent tweets that U.S. securities regulators say violated a September fraud settlement. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission asked a federal court in Manhattan to hold Musk in contempt after he tweeted about Tesla's production volume, saying he breached the agreement requiring him to get company approval before sharing any material information on social media. The renewed public battle between Tesla's CEO and the SEC adds pressure on Musk, the public face of the electric vehicle-maker who is struggling to make it profitable after cutting the price of its Model 3 sedan to $35,000.

Ilhan Omar suggests Obama was a 'pretty face who got away with murder'

Representative Ilhan Omar has suggested Barack Obama is a “pretty face” who “got away with murder”.

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 11:00:00 -0500The Independent

Representative Ilhan Omar has suggested Barack Obama is a “pretty face” who “got away with murder”.

Nvidia offers bid for Israeli chip firm Mellanox: report

Nvidia Corp has submitted an offer to buy Israeli chip designer Mellanox, the Calcalist financial news website said on Sunday. Nvidia is competing for Mellanox with Intel Corp, which has already offered $6 billion for the Israeli company, Calcalist said. It cited estimates that Nvidia would pay at least 10 percent more than the price offered by Intel.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:27:44 -0400Reuters

Nvidia Corp has submitted an offer to buy Israeli chip designer Mellanox, the Calcalist financial news website said on Sunday. Nvidia is competing for Mellanox with Intel Corp, which has already offered $6 billion for the Israeli company, Calcalist said. It cited estimates that Nvidia would pay at least 10 percent more than the price offered by Intel.

Parisian taxi driver charged over Manchester United fan stabbing

A Paris taxi driver who allegedly stabbed a Manchester United fan in the chest after the club’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain last week has been charged with attempted murder, a judicial source said on Sunday.  Mike Jackson, 44, from Bolton, said in a Facebook post that he is slowly recovering after a “traumatic four days”.   He was travelling in a taxi with friends to central Paris after watching his team’s dramatic Champions League victory over PSG on Wednesday evening when the driver reportedly took offence at their boisterous celebrations.  After they started singing loudly, the driver stopped the car and ordered the four passengers to get out. He then allegedly pulled out a knife, threatening the woman in the group and stabbing Mr Jackson in the chest when he stepped in to try to protect her. He was left lying on the pavement fighting for his life.  His friends managed to flag down a passing car to rush him to hospital. He required emergency surgery to remove blood on his lung at the Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris.  On Saturday, Mr Jackson put up a statement on Facebook: "From going from [a] jubilant evening watching Manchester United pulling off the unthinkable result against PSG to one hour or so later to be fighting for my life these have been a traumatic four days. "I'm slowly recovering in a hospital in Paris. Your support, well wishes have been truly amazing, each and every message means more than you could ever imagine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Manchester United sent their support to the fan.  “We were shocked to hear about the incident with one of our fans who was stabbed while in Paris for the Champions League game,” United said in a statement. “Everyone at the club wishes him well during his recovery”.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 10:58:36 -0400The Telegraph

A Paris taxi driver who allegedly stabbed a Manchester United fan in the chest after the club’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain last week has been charged with attempted murder, a judicial source said on Sunday.  Mike Jackson, 44, from Bolton, said in a Facebook post that he is slowly recovering after a “traumatic four days”.   He was travelling in a taxi with friends to central Paris after watching his team’s dramatic Champions League victory over PSG on Wednesday evening when the driver reportedly took offence at their boisterous celebrations.  After they started singing loudly, the driver stopped the car and ordered the four passengers to get out. He then allegedly pulled out a knife, threatening the woman in the group and stabbing Mr Jackson in the chest when he stepped in to try to protect her. He was left lying on the pavement fighting for his life.  His friends managed to flag down a passing car to rush him to hospital. He required emergency surgery to remove blood on his lung at the Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris.  On Saturday, Mr Jackson put up a statement on Facebook: "From going from [a] jubilant evening watching Manchester United pulling off the unthinkable result against PSG to one hour or so later to be fighting for my life these have been a traumatic four days. "I'm slowly recovering in a hospital in Paris. Your support, well wishes have been truly amazing, each and every message means more than you could ever imagine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Manchester United sent their support to the fan.  “We were shocked to hear about the incident with one of our fans who was stabbed while in Paris for the Champions League game,” United said in a statement. “Everyone at the club wishes him well during his recovery”.

Get paid for your data? California governor wants tech companies to show you the money

Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a bill that would compensate users for their data, but critics warn it could be complicated.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 16:18:34 -0400USA TODAY

Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a bill that would compensate users for their data, but critics warn it could be complicated.

Jana Kramer to daughter: No 'drunken, one-night-stand first-time sex'

The "One Tree Hill" alum talked how she'll tell her daughter, now 3, about first-time sex and sharing her own first time. She also shared fertility woes.

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 17:11:18 -0400USA TODAY

The "One Tree Hill" alum talked how she'll tell her daughter, now 3, about first-time sex and sharing her own first time. She also shared fertility woes.

California man arrested after dousing neighbor’s door in diesel

A California man was arrested after dousing his neighbor’s door in diesel because he ‘saw a ghost.’

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 14:45:29 -0400FOX News Videos

A California man was arrested after dousing his neighbor’s door in diesel because he ‘saw a ghost.’

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Delivered to your email account weekly, this online rent-to-own newsletter is the place to find out what is going in the rent-to-own world. Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry, and this newsletter really drives that point home. is trying to bring the RTO industry to the forefront of everyone?s daily lives. With plenty of articles regarding current events, you will always be p to speed with the daily RTO happenings. You will also find information on any conferences, meetings or shows that are coming up in the next few months. Sign up for Today!Rent Frigidaire 18 Cu. Ft. Top Mount Refrigerator, WhiteAuto PartsSillones reclinablesRent to Own ASHLEY Furniture at Virginia's. Check out our ASHLEY furniture options today at Virginiarents.com.furniture, living room, bedroom, dining room, tv stands, accessories, rent to own, rent, used, new, second hand, bed, table, sofa, couch, sectional, recliner, chair