| Assad Is Close to Victory, But New Conflicts Are Bubbling Up in Syria Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:00 PM PST  President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops has fanned much of the flames. While it would leave the field to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's Russian and Iranian allies, it has also emboldened Israel to advertise that it's pummeling Iranian positions, practically taunting Tehran to respond. Some analysts warn of a confrontation between them that could spark a regional war also drawing in Lebanon and Iraq.
|
| AP Explains: US sanctions to hit Venezuelan oil company Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:53 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, its harshest economic punishment to date against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. and other countries no longer recognize as the legitimate leader of the South American country.
|
| Brazil prosecutor says Vale dam burst may scramble Samarco talks Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:42 AM PST ![Brazil prosecutor says Vale dam burst may scramble Samarco talks]( "Brazil prosecutor says Vale dam burst may scramble Samarco talks") Federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio said that depending on Vale's culpability in the new disaster, it may change how his task force handles a 155 billion reais ($41 billion) case against Samarco Mineracao SA, a Vale joint venture with BHP Group . "Now an intervening fact has appeared and that may completely change the course of those talks," Sampaio said in a telephone interview. On Friday, a burst tailings dam at a Vale mine in the town of Brumadinho, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the Samarco complex, sent a torrent of mud tearing through the miner's facilities.
|
| Hezbollah's Finances are Its Achilles' Heel Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:36 AM PST  Fighting Hezbollah is not only a military competition, but a financial one.
|
| 12 immigrant workers at Trump Westchester golf course fired, lawyer says Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:47 PM PST  A dozen immigrant workers at one of President Donald Trump's golf clubs in New York, who are in the U.S. illegally, were fired this month even though managers had known about their legal status for years, a lawyer for the workers said.
|
| US charges Huawei with fraud for violating Iran sanctions Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:50 PM PST  American prosecutors have unveiled criminal charges against Huawei, accusing one of China's top companies of violating sanctions against Iran and stealing trade secrets. The 23 charges filed on Monday threatened to escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing just 48 hours before senior Chinese officials were due to fly to the White House for a new round of trade talks. Matthew Whitaker, the acting US attorney general, said Huawei had attempted to evade sanctions against Iran by setting up a separate company called Skycom, which fraudulently conducted more than $100m (£76m) worth of transactions through the US financial system over four years. Mr Whitaker said Huawei had lied to the US government to obstruct investigations, moved potential witnesses back to China, and misled banks to continue to process transactions. In a second set of charges, the Justice Department said the company had attempted to steal technology from the US telecoms network T-Mobile. Employees of a US subsidiary allegedly attempted to steal details of a robot arm named Tappy used to test smartphone touchscreens. Huawei's CHO Meng Wanzhou was charged Credit: The Canadian Press The charges related to Iran include one against Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, who was arrested in Canada last month and faces US extradition. A request is due to be sent to the Canadian government by a deadline of this Wednesday. "By claiming that Skycom was a separate company - and not an affiliate which Huawei controlled - Huawei allegedly asserted that all of its Iran business was in compliance with American sanctions," Mr Whitaker said. Officials insisted that the charges were unrelated to trade talks between the US and China. "These indictments are law enforcement actions and wholly separate from our trade negotiations," the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross said. However, he said Chinese firms had spent years undermining US sanctions and exploiting the US financial system. Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, denied any link between the charges and this week's talks. "Those two things are not linked. They are a totally separate process," she said during a briefing. Huawei did not comment immediately after the charges were announced.
|
| Brazil dam collapse: Hopes fade for hundreds missing as search suspended in Brumadinho Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:16 AM PST  Hopes are fading for hundreds of people still missing after a dam collapse at an iron ore mine in Brazil, after officials suspended the search for survivors amid fears a nearby dam was at risk of breaking as well. Rescue teams had been searching for survivors at the facility near the city of Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state following the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste, sending out waves of mud for several miles. Throughout Saturday, scores of families awaited word on their loved ones as Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais, admitted that most recovery efforts would entail pulling out bodies.
|
| Anti-Semitic killings in 2018 'highest' in decades: Israel Posted: 27 Jan 2019 05:55 AM PST  The number of Jews murdered in anti-Semitic attacks around the world in 2018 reached its "highest" level in decades after a mass shooting at a US synagogue, an Israeli government report said Sunday. A total of 13 Jews were killed in three separate attacks over the year, according to the 2018 Global anti-Semitism Report released on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A gunman shot dead 11 people at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh in October in America's deadliest ever anti-Semitic attack.
|
| Duke professor sparks online outrage after telling Chinese students to only speak English Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:37 PM PST ![Duke professor sparks online outrage after telling Chinese students to only speak English]( "Duke professor sparks online outrage after telling Chinese students to only speak English") A Duke University official stepped down Saturday after her email telling students to "commit to using English 100% of the time" sparked outrage online.
|
| Trump Says His Pressure for NATO Spending Boost Is Paying Off Posted: 27 Jan 2019 07:49 AM PST  Trump commented on Twitter within minutes after Jens Stoltenberg, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's secretary-general, said on Fox News Sunday that NATO allies will add $100 billion in military outlays by the end of next year. "We see that the clear message from President Trump is having an impact," Stoltenberg said. "NATO allies have heard the president loud and clear and now NATO allies are stepping up.
|
| Polar vortex to freeze U.S. upper Midwest and Northeast Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:37 AM PST  The U.S. Midwest and Northeast were braced for dangerous subzero temperatures this week, as the polar vortex was set to blast arctic conditions unusually far south, the National Weather Service said on Monday. The system was set to extend from the Dakotas through New England, with Chicago expecting temperatures to plunge as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 Celsius) overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, the weather service said. The polar vortex - the frigid winds that circulate around the North Pole - is extending further south into the Upper Midwest, said weather service meteorologist Brian Hurley.
|
| After interviewing Roger Stone, it didn't surprise me that he turned his indictment into an event Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:00 AM PST  Stone was smiling, laughing and cracking jokes in Vero Beach, Florida, days before being indicted by the special counsel, Robert Mueller
|
| Markets Right Now: Stocks sink on China slowdown fears Posted: 28 Jan 2019 01:08 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
|
| You could win a $1.7 million mansion by writing a standout letter Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:45 AM PST  Broke English majors, take your places. A homeowner in Alberta, Canada is selling her $1.7 million (CAD) home via essay contest. Alla Wagner is searching for a new owner for her 5,000 square foot home, which, according to a report from CNN, has "three bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths, in addition to a wine cellar, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and a pond." Not bad. Here's how it works: Entrants must write a short letter (maximum 350 words) explaining why they should get the house, then mail or email it to Wagner along with a $25 entry fee. Once Wagner collects roughly 68,000 entry fees -- enough to cover the house's value -- she will publish a group of semi-finalist essays on social media so people can vote for their favorites. Then, the 500 entries with the most votes will be whittled down by an "independent panel of judges," who will select three finalists. These three finalists will then be interviewed. One of them will get the house. SEE ALSO: Apple wants you to send your best iPhone photos in return for, cough, exposure The contest began on Jan. 5, and Wagner plans to run it until April 5. If there are nearly enough entries by then, she'll extend it another three months. If she's nowhere near her goal, she'll cancel the contest and refund everyone's entry fees. As of Friday, Wagner had collected around 5,000 entries. The contest is getting more attention, though, so 68,000 may not be too far away. If you want a $25 mansion, better get that entry in. ## WATCH: Vitaminwater is offering $100,000 to keep off your smartphone for a year
|
| U.S. charges China's Huawei with bank fraud, stealing trade secrets Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:50 PM PST  The United States on Monday charged China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, its chief financial officer and two affiliates with bank and wire fraud to violate sanctions against Iran in a case that has escalated tensions with Beijing. In a 13-count indictment filed in New York, the Justice Department said Huawei misled a global bank and U.S. authorities about its relationship with the subsidiaries, Skycom Tech and Huawei Device USA Inc, in order to conduct business in Iran.
|
| 50 years after the Santa Barbara oil spill: How the catastrophe sparked a modern environmental movement Posted: 28 Jan 2019 07:41 AM PST  Jan. 28, 2019, marks 50 years since the pristine shores and Pacific waters of Santa Barbara, California, were blemished and blackened by an estimated 3 million gallons of crude oil.
|
| Saudi Arabia hopes to lure over $425 bln in investments Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:14 AM PST  Saudi Arabia on Monday launched an ambitious programme which it hopes will attract $427 billion in investments in the industrial and logistics sectors, as the OPEC kingpin bids to reduce dependence on oil. To kickstart the 12-year programme, the Gulf state announced the signing of 37 agreements worth $55 billion with foreign and local investors at a ceremony attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The programme is part of the kingdom's 2030 Vision, the brainchild of Prince Mohammed, that aims to diversify its economy which has been heavily dependent on oil prices.
|
| Trump attacks Fox News reporters and mistakenly names random teenage girl on Twitter Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:45 AM PST  Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on two Fox News reporters over their coverage of his border wall negotiations, and accidentally involved a random teenage girl in the ensuing furore. In a tweet, the US president criticised chief White House correspondent John Roberts and and another person he wrongly believed was Washington-based journalist Gillian Turner over their "understanding" of the issue. "Never thought I'd say this but I think @johnrobertsFox and @JillianTurner @FoxNews have even less understanding of the Wall negotiations than the folks at FAKE NEWS CNN & NBC!" Mr Trump tweeted.
|
| Brazil's Search for Survivors Resumes After New Fears Ease Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:39 PM PST  Brumadinho city center and other nearby neighborhoods were evacuated early Sunday after alarms were raised due to rising waters in another dam at the Corrego do Feijao iron ore mining complex in the region. The death toll from Friday's accident stood at 58 on Sunday, Civil Defense spokesman Flavio Godinho said. The incident on Friday at the Feijao mine is the second deadly dam accident in just more than three years involving the world's biggest iron ore producer.
|
| U.S. sanctions Venezuelan state oil firm, escalating pressure on Maduro Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:27 PM PST  Minutes before the announcement, Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who proclaimed himself interim president last week with U.S. backing, said congress would name new boards of directors to the company and its U.S. subsidiary, Citgo. Guaido, supported by the United States and most countries in the Western Hemisphere, says Maduro stole his re-election and must resign to allow new, fair polls. Maduro, in a live national broadcast on Monday, accused the United States of trying to steal U.S. refining arm Citgo Petroleum, the OPEC member's most important foreign asset, which also owns a chain of U.S. gas stations.
|
| As US teachers ramp up pressure, face reality: L.A. strike was about control, not students Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:07 AM PST  Don't let myths perpetuate a massive, outdated system. The hope for students lies in charter schools. That's what public education should look like.
|
| This Week: Apple results, Fed meeting, nonfarm payrolls Posted: 28 Jan 2019 12:05 PM PST ![This Week: Apple results, Fed meeting, nonfarm payrolls]( "This Week: Apple results, Fed meeting, nonfarm payrolls") A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:
|
| U.N. Khashoggi investigator to meet Istanbul chief prosecutor Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:40 AM PST  ISTANBUL/GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights investigator leading the international inquiry into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will meet Istanbul's chief prosecutor on Tuesday, the prosecutor's office said. Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, on a week-long visit to Turkey with a forensic and legal team, met Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
|
| Piercing cold to threaten frozen pipes, frostbite in northeastern US Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:41 AM PST  The frigid air unleashed by the polar vortex in the Midwest will expand into the Northeast this week, bringing the coldest air for the region thus far in 2019.
|
| Near IS holdout, Syrian fighters face women suicide bombers Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:52 AM PST  Driving towards the frontline of what remains of the Islamic State group's self-declared "caliphate" in eastern Syria, US-backed fighters pass huge craters from air strikes and buildings reduced to rubble. Backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are battling to expel IS from a few hamlets in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
|
| Secret Trump supporter no more: Why this model has decided to be open about her support for the president Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:57 AM PST  Elizabeth Pipko explains why she decided to be open about her support for Trump in the liberal fashion industry.
|
| The C-List Caper Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:06 AM PST  Special Counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of Roger Stone, rumored for months to be imminent, is more telling for what it omits than what it alleges. Stone is charged with lying during congressional investigations of what happed in 2016 rather than for anything directly related to his laughably inept efforts to gather information on what WikiLeaks was about to dump on Hillary Clinton during the campaign. Allegedly, Stone testified falsely about his communications with two associates in 2016, Jerome Corsi, Stone's confederate at the Infowars conspiracy-theory site, and Randy Credico, a left-wing comedian and talk-show host.
|
| The world’s most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019 Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:54 AM PST ![The world's most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019]( "The world's most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019") Everyone knows that the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is the best-selling and most popular Instant Pot model in the world. In fact, even with its steep retail price of $100, it's easily among the world's most popular pressure cookers, period. If you haven't already experienced the glory that is the Instant Pot DUO60, today is your lucky day because a surprise Amazon sale just slashed it to the lowest price of 2019 so far. There's no telling when this deal will end, but it definitely won't last long so grab one while you still can. Here's some additional info 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.Accessories include, stainless steel steam rack with handles, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, condensation collector and recipe booklet * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz
|
| How to Read Your ACT Score Report Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:00 AM PST ![How to Read Your ACT Score Report]( "How to Read Your ACT Score Report") Both the ACT and the SAT are accepted by college admissions committees, and both are extremely popular among college applicants. To accurately interpret test results and make well-reasoned decisions thereafter -- as well as set appropriate target scores at the onset of their test prep -- ACT test-takers must know how to read and understand their ACT score report ( see sample here). Your composite score is another word for your total score, and it is calculated by averaging and rounding your four section scores.
|
| US hits Venezuela with oil sanctions to pressure Maduro Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:27 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday sanctioned Venezuela's state-owned oil company, ratcheting up pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro to cede power to the U.S.-backed opposition in the oil-rich nation in South America.
|
| Nvidia cuts fourth-quarter revenue estimate on weak China demand; shares sink Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:21 AM PST  Nvidia's caution signaled more challenges for the micro chip industry after mixed quarterly results from major companies last week. "Q4 was an extraordinary, unusually turbulent, and disappointing quarter," Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said. Shares of Nvidia were down 13.9 percent at $137.91 in morning trade.
|
| Russian police detain daylight robber for gallery heist Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:23 AM PST  Authorities in Russia said they had detained a suspect after a painting reportedly worth around $1 million was stolen from a Moscow gallery on Sunday.
|
| Before Tom Brokaw 'Meet(s) the Press' he should meet the Latinos Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:47 AM PST  Brokaw's offensive comments don't show much understanding of what is happening with Hispanics in America. We're assimilating just fine, thank you.
|
| Photos: Over 1,000 flights canceled as snow sweeps across midwestern US Posted: 28 Jan 2019 01:38 PM PST  Disruptive snow blanketed the midwestern United States during the latter part of the weekend and into the start of the workweek, dropping up to a foot of snow over the region.
|
| Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:30 AM PST ![Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts]( "Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts") Newark change comes amid broader cuts, mostly intra-Europe routes dropped at Norwegian's operation in Rome. No other U.S.-Europe routes are being cut.
|
| Donald Trump: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz doesn't have 'guts' to run for president Posted: 28 Jan 2019 11:45 AM PST  Donald Trump has said former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz does not have the "guts" to run for US president and questioned his intellect just 24 hours after news broke of a possible White House bid. Mr Trump took to Twitter to mock the announcement that Mr Schultz, who led the coffee chain for three decades, was "seriously considering" running for the 2020 presidency as an independent candidate. Mr Schultz's pitch was also treated with disdain by some Democrats, who fear his candidacy would take votes off their party's nominee and hand Mr Trump a second term in office. There has even been suggestions of a Starbucks boycott from figures on the Left – despite Mr Schultz declaring there would be a "complete separation" from his former business and his campaign. The 65-year-old acknowledged his ambitions would trigger "hate" and "anger" from Democrats in an interview released on Monday but insisted the country had lost faith with the two main political parties. The question I think we all should be asking ourselves is: at this time in America when there's so much evidence that our political system is broken - that both parties at the extreme are not representing the silent majority of the American people - isn't there a better way? pic.twitter.com/Gy1wf1cf8F— Howard Schultz (@HowardSchultz) January 28, 2019 Mr Schultz announced his interest in running on the flagship CBS News show 60 Minutes on Sunday, saying he would take soundings during a countrywide book tour over the coming months before making a final decision. During the interview he waved away concerns that a Trump tweetstorm would soon follow his appearance, saying: "I think, like most people, I've become bored with President Trump and his tweets." But Mr Trump obliged, tweeting on Monday morning: "Howard Schultz doesn't have the 'guts' to run for President! Watched him on 60 Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the 'smartest person.' "Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!" The intellect jibe referred to when Mr Schultz, challenged about his qualifications to be commander-in-chief, said he had a "long history of recognising I'm not the smartest person in the room", adding that he builds teams "smarter", "more experienced" and "more skilled" people than himself. Howard Schultz doesn't have the "guts" to run for President! Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the "smartest person." Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019 For all of Mr Trump's attacks, it is the Democrats who most fear an independent bid by Mr Schultz. Historically, independent candidates have harmed candidates seeking to defeat an incumbent president. While Mr Schultz did single out free healthcare for all, a policy backed by leading Democrats, for criticism - he called it unaffordable - the businessman is closer in policy to that party that then the Republicans. Neera Tanden, president of liberal think tank Center for American Progress, tweeted: "If he enters the race, I will start a Starbucks boycott because I'm not giving a penny that will end up in the election coffers of a guy who will help Trump win."
|
| Global stocks mostly down as slowing China weighs on some earnings Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:12 PM PST  Global stocks mostly fell Monday as a heavy week of earnings and economic news kicked off with a pair of disappointing US reports that underscored worries about slowing Chinese growth.
|
| Rivals Maduro and Guaido vie for Venezuelan military backing Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:04 PM PST  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The struggle for control of Venezuela turned to the military Sunday, with supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido handing leaflets to soldiers detailing a proposed amnesty law that would protect them for helping overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.
|
| One dead after protesters storm Turkish military camp in north Iraq: Kurdish officials Posted: 26 Jan 2019 11:24 PM PST ![One dead after protesters storm Turkish military camp in north Iraq: Kurdish officials]( "One dead after protesters storm Turkish military camp in north Iraq: Kurdish officials") One protester was killed and at least 10 others wounded when they stormed a Turkish military camp near Dohuk in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Saturday, burning two tanks and other vehicles, residents and Kurdish officials said. Najib Saeed, the chief health official in the area, said it was not yet clear what caused the death. Baghdad's foreign ministry criticized the Turkish troops for opening fire and said it would summon Turkey's ambassador over the incident.
|
| Search on for Louisiana man suspected in 5 deaths Posted: 26 Jan 2019 09:16 PM PST  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities in Louisiana said they are searching for an "armed and dangerous" 21-year-old accused of killing his parents and three others in two separate but related shootings Saturday.
|
| 25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:26 AM PST ![25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree]( "25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree") No bachelor's degree? No problem.
|
| The Latest: Havana hit by Category F3 tornado Posted: 28 Jan 2019 10:57 AM PST  HAVANA (AP) — The Latest on Cuba's deadly weather (all times local):
|
| Trump lifts sanctions on Russia oligarch Oleg Deripaska in 'huge gift to Putin' Posted: 28 Jan 2019 12:45 AM PST  The Trump administration has lifted sanctions against companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, defying efforts led by congressional Democrats to block the move. Earlier this month, 11 Republicans in the Senate joined Democrats in a bid to keep restrictions on aluminium producer Rusal, its parent En+ Group and JSC EuroSibEnergo, a private energy company. On Sunday, the Treasury Department ended the sanctions against Mr Deripaska's business empire, having announced its intention to do so last month.
|
