| House Republican lays into Democrats' corruption probe of Trump Posted: 07 Mar 2019 12:10 PM PST  The House Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Doug Collins, said the panel's investigation into obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power under Trump surpasses the scope of legitimate legislative inquiry and violates the U.S. Constitution. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler launched the investigation on Monday by sending document requests to 81 government agencies, business entities and individuals associated with Trump, including his adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. "Your requests are part of a concerted effort to target and punish associates of the president," Collins wrote to Nadler in a March 7 letter released by the Republican's office.
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| Parents charged with child abuse after Olive Garden waitress posts photo on Facebook Posted: 08 Mar 2019 09:11 AM PST  Two Tennessee parents were charged with child abuse and aggravated assaultafter an observant Olive Garden waitress posted about their distressingbehavior on Facebook
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| Scientists solve weighty matter of Milky Way mass Posted: 07 Mar 2019 09:32 AM PST  Astronomers said Thursday they had accurately calculated the mass of the Milky Way for the first time, using new data sets that include the weight of dark matter. In a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency's Gaia observation craft, a team of experts calculated our galaxy to be around 1.5 trillion solar masses. Pervious estimates put the mass of the Milky Way ranging between 500 billion and 3 trillion times the mass of the Sun.
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| Heads bowed to the ground, suspected IS members surrender Posted: 07 Mar 2019 10:53 AM PST  OUTSIDE BAGHOUZ, Syria (AP) — Suspected Islamic State group members, including foreign fighters, sat in a long line in a field of bright yellow flowers, exhausted and hunched over as they were questioned and searched Thursday by U.S.-led coalition members and Kurdish fighters. They were the latest group to surrender from the besieged final pocket of Syrian territory held by the militant group.
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| Chris Watts confesses to killing daughters for first time: 'I didn’t want to do this, but I did it' Posted: 07 Mar 2019 12:57 PM PST  Christopher Watts drove his daughters to an oil site after killing wife, Shanann, in their Colorado home, Watts recently told investigators.
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| Could Sen. Martha McSally’s rape disclosure revive the Equal Rights Amendment? Posted: 08 Mar 2019 04:39 AM PST  Attitudes, protections and opportunities to redress grievances have not all changed with the times, as abuse endured by McSally and other women shows.
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| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expertly shuts down conservatives calling for boycott after learning she was a Girl Scout Posted: 07 Mar 2019 01:33 PM PST  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will happily buy all the cookies from the Girl Scouts of America. The freshman Democrat shot down calls to boycott the nationwide organisation after conservative columnist Jane Chastain wrote that the group has become "a far cry from those of my youth, which trained us to put God and country before everything else". Sharing a headline that read "Conservative calls for cookie boycott because AOC used to be a Girl Scout," Ms Ocasio-Cortez posted a series of tweets on Thursday mocking the development and celebrating a local Girl Scout group in her district.
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| Huawei Sues to Challenge U.S. Law Banning Its Products Posted: 07 Mar 2019 11:36 AM PST  Huawei's complaint was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, which includes its U.S. headquarters. It objects to Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law in August, which prohibits federal agencies and related contractors from doing business with the company.The State Department has expressed concerns that President Xi Jinping's government could use Huawei's smartphones to spy on Americans. Huawei has in turn brushed that worry aside, claiming that as a private company it has no affiliation with the government."They'll steal American technology and, frankly, use those systems to invade your privacy," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday. "Huawei is owned by the state of China and has deep connections to their intelligence service. That should send off flares for everybody who understands what the Chinese military and Chinese intelligence services do. We have to take that threat seriously.""Huawei has an excellent security record and program. No contrary evidence has been offered," said Huawei's chief legal officer, Song Liuping.In a 13-count indictment filed in New York City in January, the Justice Department charged the company and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, with a laundry list of crimes including conspiracy, money laundering, bank and wire fraud, flouting U.S. sanctions on Iran, and obstruction of justice. Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver in December and is currently awaiting extradition to the U.S.
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| Anti-Semitism part of wave of 'depraved hatred', pope says Posted: 08 Mar 2019 05:35 AM PST  In comments to members of the American Jewish Committee during a visit to the Vatican, he also reiterated that it was sinful for Christians to hold anti-Semitic sentiments because they shared a heritage with Jews. "A source of great concern to me is the spread, in many places, of a climate of wickedness and fury, in which an excessive and depraved hatred is taking root," Francis said. "I think especially of the outbreak of anti-Semitic attacks in various countries." Francis did not name any of those countries, but government statistics released last month showed more than 500 anti-Semitic attacks occurred last year in France, which has Europe's biggest Jewish community.
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| Founder of Florida day spa tied to Robert Kraft's prostitution case attended Trump's Super Bowl party, report says Posted: 08 Mar 2019 03:48 PM PST  The founder of a Florida day spa where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was busted for allegedly soliciting prostitution watched this year's Super Bowl at a party hosted by President Donald Trump.
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| The Army's killer drones: How a secretive special ops unit decimated ISIS Posted: 07 Mar 2019 02:00 AM PST  Although the military has thrown a cloak of secrecy over its operations, the Echo Company of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is increasingly being lauded in special operations and Army aviation circles.
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| Wide-Area Walk Mowers: When You Have More Lawn Than a Simple Push Mower Can Handle Posted: 08 Mar 2019 07:53 AM PST |
| Venezuelan authorities release detained US journalist Posted: 06 Mar 2019 06:03 PM PST  A US journalist who was detained for more than 12 hours by Venezuelan security services was released Wednesday after more than 12 hours in custody, one of the networks he worked for reported. Cody Weddle, who worked in Venezuela for several years as a correspondent for a variety of US media, "has been released after being detained by Venezuelan authorities," Miami's WPLG Local 10 News said on Twitter. Venezuela's National Union of Press Workers, known by its Spanish acronym SNTP, added he had been taken to Caracas' Simon Bolivar International Airport where he would be deported.
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| Florida teen accused of allegedly setting caged cat on fire and feeding it to dogs Posted: 07 Mar 2019 10:15 AM PST  Alarming alleged case of animal abuse caught on surveillance camera in Miami. Prosecutors accuse Roberto Hernandez of dousing a cat with a flammable liquid, setting it on fire and then feeding it to his dogs.
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| Elizabeth Warren Imagines Big Tech After the Breakup Posted: 08 Mar 2019 11:42 AM PST  Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, joins a growing chorus across the political spectrum voicing concern about the power of Silicon Valley and proposing some kind of government action. At the center of Warren's is the argument that certain parts of the tech industry have become utilities. The services these companies provide are so ubiquitous and essential that they're now similar to electricity and water: basics for human existence that must have their supply and price regulated for the benefit of society. This isn't necessarily a new idea -- Donald Trump's former adviser Stephen Bannon suggested this.
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| EU makes counter-offer as Brexit pressure rises Posted: 08 Mar 2019 10:11 AM PST  The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday proposed that Britain could leave the bloc's customs union after the divorce though the offer would not include Northern Ireland which will anger London. The last minute-bid by Barnier comes just days before British Parliament is due to vote on a withdrawal deal agreed between the two sides, in which the fate of the Irish border is seen as a key issue. Both the EU and Great Britain want to prevent a "hard border" that would bring controls between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland after the Brexit.
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| Iran cleric linked to 1988 mass executions to lead judiciary Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:47 AM PST  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A hard-line cleric once thought to be a possible successor to Iran's supreme leader was appointed head of the Islamic Republic's judiciary Thursday, sparking concern from rights activists over his involvement in the execution of thousands in the 1980s.
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| French cardinal convicted of covering up sex abuse allegations Posted: 07 Mar 2019 05:59 AM PST  A high-ranking French Catholic cleric, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, was convicted on Thursday of failing to report allegations of sexual abuse in his diocese and said he would submit his resignation to Pope Francis. Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon and the highest-profile cleric to be caught up in the child sex abuse scandal inside the French Catholic Church, was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence. The court in Lyon ruled that between July 2014 and June 2015 Barbarin covered up allegations of sexual abuse of boy scouts in the 1980s and early 1990s by a priest who is due to go on trial later this year.
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| Southwest flights to Hawaii: 12 things travelers need to know Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:10 AM PST  Yes, bags will fly free (though surfboards don't). No, you won't be served mahi mahi or free mai tais.
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| Trump once denied he paid off Stormy Daniels. Now he says it 'was not a campaign contribution.' Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:18 AM PST  President Trump on Thursday appeared to shift his defense for the hush money payments his former lawyer made on the eve of the 2016 presidential election to women who alleged they had extramarital affairs with him.
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| Russia doesn’t appear thrilled with SpaceX Crew Dragon’s success Posted: 07 Mar 2019 02:02 PM PST  SpaceX made history earlier this week with a successful launch of its Crew Dragon capsule, sending it to the International Space Station where it successfully docked and allowed ISS crew members to explore its interior. It's a major step for both NASA and SpaceX, but Russia's space agency might not feel the same way.Roscosmos, the state-owned space corporation of Russia, and its Soyuz rockets have been the one and only ride available to NASA astronauts since the Space Shuttle program was shut down. The U.S. pays Russia a handsome fee, hundreds of millions of dollars, every year to secure seats for NASA crew members who need to go into space. That's about to end, and as Ars Technica reports, the public-facing smile Roscosmos is putting forth may not be entirely genuine.Roscosmos and NASA have what might be considered a marriage of convenience. Both groups are big players in space and both have helped make the International Space Station what it is today. They have a good relationship, or at least appear to get along well, and Russia has shouldered the responsibility of getting NASA astronauts into space.For NASA, this arrangement isn't perfect. NASA has to pay, of course, and the actual launch of each new group of crew members is largely out of their control. Ideally, NASA would have its own vehicles that it could send to the space station whenever it needs to, and that's what SpaceX's Crew Dragon (and later Boeing's Starliner) will provide.It's hard to know exactly what Roscomos thinks about all of this, but it's not hard to read between the lines. During the docking of the Crew Dragon to the ISS, Roscosmos instructed cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko to remain in the Russian arm of the space station.Roscosmos claimed that decision was made for safety reasons, later tweeting a vague congratulatory message (in Russian) to NASA. The tweet also noted "that flight safety must be immaculate." A subsequent tweet in English congratulated NASA without mentioning its apparent safety concerns.Later, when Crew Dragon was about to dock with the ISS, Roscosmos tweeted a self-congratulatory message highlighting the use of Russian-made gas masks by the crew members set to explore the insides of the SpaceX vehicle.https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1102542883087937536Reports out of Russia later mentioned "an unusual smell" and apparently elevated levels of isopropyl alcohol in the air of the ISS after the Crew Dragon vehicle docked. The smell was gone after the space station's air was cycled, but the unnamed source within Russia's space program made sure everyone knew about it.Russia has been critical of SpaceX and Elon Musk before, and it's no secret that some of the biggest names in Russia's space science scene aren't super fond of the company or its boss. NASA astronauts showing up to the space station in a SpaceX capsule probably doesn't sit well with some of the country's top space executives, especially when Roscosmos itself is relying on Soyuz rocket technology originally developed in the 1960s.It'll be interesting to see how things develop in the months and years to come. NASA's first crewed flight of Crew Dragon is expected to come sometime this summer.
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| 12 Fresh Asparagus Salads Perfect For Spring Posted: 08 Mar 2019 11:01 AM PST |
| North Korea state media says people blame U.S. for summit breakdown Posted: 08 Mar 2019 05:18 AM PST  Trump however was open to more talks with North Korea aimed at North Korea's denuclearization, his national security adviser said, despite reports it is reactivating parts of its missile program. "The public at home and abroad that had hoped for success and good results from the second DPRK-U.S. summit in Hanoi are feeling regretful, blaming the U.S. for the summit that ended without an agreement," Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary. North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
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| Can a man wear trainers at work? Posted: 08 Mar 2019 12:00 AM PST  The news this week that Goldman Sachs had issued a decree relaxing its dress codes comes as no surprise; formalwear has taken an almighty battering in the last decade, with a huge decline in suit sales and millennials opting for casual, sports-inflected attire. Which is perhaps appropriate; fewer of us sit behind mahogany desks these days like Captains of Industry. Our lives are much more dynamic and fluid than those of the be-suited Baby Boomers. Hot desking, We Works cultures and a boom in tech and media industries have seen to that. But there's one quandary that the city boys at Goldman Sachs - and readers and colleagues who raise the subject with me - always mull over: what to wear on their feet? See, then, the rise of the smart trainer. Leather trainers, £170, Grenson Smart trainers, which have nothing to do with track and field or the gym and are most definitely for a cityfied, office-centric environment, have been a bubbling menswear phenomenon since Lanvin created the DBB1 trainer, a glossy patent leather shoe that became a sell-out cult item in the early 2010s. Men might traditionally blanche at the idea of wearing these trainers in anything but a casual set-up, but best approach is to think of it not as dressing down, but that the humble trainer has punched up and elevated itself to new style heights. And as we segue into spring and the warmer months, this is particularly pertinent. Heavy-duty brogues and Oxfords of winter start feeling cumbersome, but the likes of espadrilles and deck shoes still fall too far into the spectrum of "holiday wardrobe". Stan Smith trainers, £74.95, Adidas The smart trainer's your saviour here; designed with the clean sophistication of a shoe but with the lightness and dynamism of a trainer; so much so that Italian artisanal footwear brand Tod's trademarked their version '"Shoeker" earlier this year; a hybrid creation that traverses the two. What to look for in the smart trainer? A minimal, smart design that doesn't come with the styling tricks and technology of a sports trainer. Look for a subtle colour palette, simple sole and also materials that will elevate it vastly - instead of tech mesh, plastics and nylons, opt for suedes and leathers. These are the subtle details that will make it a happy partner to a suit or work-appropriate chinos and you'll be running streaks ahead in the style stakes.
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| Grenade attack in India's Jammu injures 18: police Posted: 07 Mar 2019 12:00 AM PST  Eighteen people were injured on Thursday when a grenade exploded at a bus stop in the Indian city of Jammu, in the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The blast comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after 40 Indian troops were killed on February 14 in the part of Kashmir that New Delhi controls. Four people are critical," a second police officer told AFP.
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| McSally says in Senate hearing she was raped in Air Force Posted: 07 Mar 2019 09:06 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, the first female Air Force fighter pilot to fly in combat, said she was sexually assaulted by a superior officer and later, when she tried to talk about it to military officials, she "felt like the system was raping me all over again."
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| Convicted Australian cardinal sued over alleged abuse Posted: 07 Mar 2019 12:11 AM PST  Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell faced a fresh legal challenge Thursday after a civil suit was filed against him for further alleged abuse in the 1970s. Pell -- the most senior Vatican official to be found guilty of child sex crimes -- is currently in detention awaiting sentencing for assaulting two choirboys in Melbourne in the 1990s. Pell had also faced trial on charges of abusing boys in a swimming pool in his home town of Ballarat in Victoria state, decades before, but the case was dropped by Australian prosecutors after his conviction.
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| American Airlines cancels 40 flights amid aircraft issue, takes planes out of service Posted: 07 Mar 2019 01:13 PM PST ![American Airlines cancels 40 flights amid aircraft issue, takes planes out of service]( "American Airlines cancels 40 flights amid aircraft issue, takes planes out of service") The airline is removing more than a dozen planes from service after discovering an overhead-bin issue that led to cancellation of nearly 40 flights.
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| Ocasio-Cortez attacks sentence handed to Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort: 'The system is broken' Posted: 08 Mar 2019 04:13 AM PST  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has attacked the "broken" US justice system after Donald Trump's former campaign manager was jailed for 47 months for a $6m (£4.5m) tax and bank fraud. The New York Congresswoman said Paul Manafort's punishment – well below the 19 to 24 years sought by prosecutors – was an example of how rich people were treated differently in court. The sentencing by federal judge TS Ellis, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, prompted lawyers and politicians to compare it to other cases involving longer prison terms, particularly those involving small amounts of drugs.
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| Smart LED bulbs can cost as much as $60 each, but this one is just as good for $17 Posted: 07 Mar 2019 09:54 AM PST  I recently was at a friend's house, and they were talking about how much they loved their new LIFX smart LED bulbs. Yeah, it took all of my willpower to bite my tongue and keep my mouth shut. Spending $60 a bulb is absolutely crazy when you can get MagicLight WiFi Smart Light Bulbs for just $17 each. You can do everything with these bulbs that you can do with LIFX bulbs, but you can get seven MagicLight bulbs for the price of just two LIFX bulbs. It's definitely a no-brainer.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * ✔ Compatible with Alexa & Google Assistant: Voice Control your MagicLight WiFi light bulb with your Amazon Echo or Echo Dot and Google Home Assistant * ✔ Works with IFTTT: DIY Your WiFi Light Bulb Depending on Various Events by Connecting it to IFTTT * ✔ Works with iOS/Android: Personalize Your WiFI Smart Lights to Match Your Mood, Control Your Smart WiFi Lights Bulb Remotely When You are not at Home * ✔ Various Scene Modes: Color Palette, Group Control, Sunlight, Music Mode, Timer, Sunrise, Sunset, Dimmable, MIC Function, DIY Mode, Scene Mode, Energy Saving...... * ✔ Application: This is a WiFi enabled light bulb, no hub required. Multiple lighting patterns, suitable for a showcase, residential, office, hotel, shop, exhibition room, landscaping, indoor, home etc.
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| Graham: Our laws are broken and we need a barrier Posted: 06 Mar 2019 06:41 PM PST  New illegal immigrant numbers intensify border debate; South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham reacts on 'Hannity.'
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| Venezuela's Guaido urges more sanctions after German envoy's expulsion Posted: 07 Mar 2019 04:52 AM PST  Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido urged Europe to tighten financial sanctions against the government of Nicolas Maduro after it expelled Germany's ambassador. Russia and China, meanwhile, continue to support Socialist Maduro and urge no outside interference. Caracas declaring ambassador Daniel Kriener persona non grata "represents a threat against Germany," Guaido was quoted on Thursday as telling Der Spiegel.
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| St Patrick's Day 2019: Shamrocks, snakes and how a British slave became Ireland's patron saint Posted: 08 Mar 2019 01:08 AM PST  Erin go bragh! St Patrick's Day is nearly here, with events in honour of the patron saint of Ireland set to take place across the globe this month. Recognised annually since the 1700s, the people of Ireland celebrate their heritage and culture on St Patrick's Day, with the day growing as a commercial occasion rather than a religious event in recent years. While Ireland embraces its patron saint day by holding vibrant, green parades, wearing shamrocks and flying Irish flags more than usual, celebrations also take place in other countries around the world, including the UK, United States, Egypt and Australia. Here is everything you need to know about St Patrick's Day, from the patron saint himself to Irish recipes and worldwide celebrations. When is St Patrick's Day 2019? St Patrick's Day, the patron saint day of Ireland, falls each year on March 17. The first parade in name of the saint took place in Boston in 1737, followed by the first "official" parade in New York in 1766. The celebration of St Patrick later spread to Dublin and other American cities and in recent years has grown in popularity elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Who was St Patrick? St Patrick's exact birthplace is unknown and debated. Born as Maewyn Succat around the year of 385 AD in either England, Scotland or Wales, the patron saint was captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland as a slave. Working as a shepherd, Patrick was held captive for six years and grew closer to spirituality and prayer during this period of isolation. After a voice in his dream told him it was time to leave Ireland, Patrick successfully fled his master and sailed back to Britain to continue studying Christianity. Shortly after his return home, an angel in Patrick's dream told him to go back to Ireland as a missionary, and following this, he decided to travel to Gaul, to study religious instruction under Germanus, bishop of Auxerre. Later ordained a bishop and eventually returning to Ireland, Patrick began his mission to spread the Christian message. During this time, Patrick converted thousands of people to Christianity and built churches, schools and monasteries across the country. Legend suggests that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock on his mission to explain the Holy Trinity, teaching his followers that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit exist as individual elements of the combined entity. While some experts claim this story was invented centuries later, the tale has led to the common practice of people wearing the symbol on the feast day. Patrick is also thought to have banished snakes from Ireland to help remove the evil and introduce a new age. But experts claim this is a myth due to evidence snakes never existed in the country in the first place. Some say this was due to the icy waters of the Irish Sea while others believe the cold weather stopped the snakes travelling to Ireland from Britain or afar. Around 431 AD, Patrick was appointed as successor to St Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland, and during his later years, he wrote about his spirituality and life in his 'Confession'. Believed to have died on March 17, in the year 461, Patrick's spiritual path led him to become a legendary figure, as he left behind an established church and an island of Christians. Today, his work is commemorated annually on March 17. Symbols and images associated with Ireland and St Patrick's Day The colours of the Irish flag represent Catholicism (green) and Protestantism (orange), unified by peace (white). Since the 18th century, green has also represented sympathy for Irish independence. Despite St Patrick popularising shamrocks, with many choosing to wear them on the patron saint day, he is historically associated with the red Saltire of St Patrick, featured in the flag of the United Kingdom. The patron saint of Ireland is also associated with the colour blue, after the creation of the Order of St Patrick in the 1780s made it the official colour. "St Patrick's Blue" can be found on Ireland's Presidential Standard, and in the plume of bearskins worn by the Irish Guards. The legend of the Leprechaun has also become a modern day symbol of Ireland. Known for their mischievous behaviour and leaving pots of gold at the end of rainbows, today, the mythical creatures feature heavily as a tourist symbol and some people choose to wear Leprechaun costumes and hats to St Patrick's Day parades. Dublin even has its very own Leprechaun Museum. The best things to do in Dublin St Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland Unlike St David's Day and St George's Day, St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Ireland, allowing the Irish to fully embrace the festivities. The people of Ireland honour their patron saint day every year by joining parades and dressing head to toe in green, white and orange, the colours of the Irish flag. Dublin's famous St Patrick's Festival Parade will take place on Sunday March 17 this year, starting at Parnell Square, with music and live performances from bands helping to convey the 2019 theme of storytelling. Historically the "Feast of St Patrick", the day has been observed by the Irish for over 1,000 years and families would traditionally attend church in the morning, before celebrating with dance, drink and a feast of bacon and cabbage. Today, Irish stews and pints of Guinness are often enjoyed as part of the celebration. As many as 13 million pints of Guinness are poured on St Patrick's Day alone, increasing from the average 10 million glasses poured every day around the world. In fact, 1.8 billion are sold each year and the Guinness Storehouse is situated in the heart of St James's Gate, Dublin, with visitors able to book a tour of the famous site. Popular Irish toasts on St Patrick's Day, include: "Sláinte mhaith", meaning "good health" in Irish Gaelic, and "may the good St Patrick protect ye, and the devil neglect ye". Other celebrations around the world March 17 sees millions of people around the world, even those without Irish connections, turn out to celebrate St Patrick. In the United States, the White House first recognised the Irish holiday and the countries' relations more than 50 years ago, after President Harry Truman received a box of shamrocks from Ireland's ambassador. In 1956, the first St Patrick's Day meeting between the President and the Irish Taioseach took place and since the 1990s, the White House visit has been held annually. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Donald Trump during the annual shamrock presentation ceremony at the White House in Washington DC Credit: Niall Carson/PA Every year, London showcases Irish heritage and culture as part of its annual St Patrick's Day festival and parade. While live stage performances and food stalls can be enjoyed in Trafalgar Square, colourful floats, dancers and Irish communities make their way through the capital's streets. This year, the festivities take place on Sunday March 17. In Tokyo, the "I Love Ireland" parade takes place over two days, on March 16 and 17, with vibrant costumes and marching bands, while in New York, 150,000 people join the parade travelling up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In fact, a range of celebrations are held across the globe to celebrate the legendary Irish figure, including parades in Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Oslo, Norway. In the British West Indies, the island of Montserrat has a public holiday for St Patrick's Day and observes the patron saint with a seven day festival and parade. Dubbed the "Emerald Isle" in memory of their Irish settlers, Montserrat even use a green shamrock as their official passport stamp. St Patrick's Day is also a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, where a significant number of Irish people emigrated to during the 18th and 19th centuries. In Chicago, their river has been traditionally dyed bright green on March 17 since 1962, with thousands heading to the city to see one of the most famous St Patrick's Day sights. Rowers navigate the Chicago River shortly after it was dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images Other countries join Chicago in turning their famous landmarks green on March 17, including the London Eye and HMS Belfast in London, the pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. The best Irish recipes Clodagh McKenna's beef and Guinness stew Beautifully tender beef, cooked in the beloved Irish beverage. This hearty winter dish is served perfectly with creamy mash or roast potatoes. Beef stew Credit: The Picture Pantry/Alloy Slow-cooked red cabbage with apples and raisin Traditionally served with beef, pork or turkey, red cabbage brings a sweet flavour to any dish and can also be eaten cold in sandwiches. Red cabbage Credit: Getty Images Rachel Allen's Barmbrack (báirín breac) This traditional Irish sweetened bread, packed with sultanas, raisins or currants, makes a delicious treat and can be enjoyed fresh, toasted or buttered. Barmbrack, a traditional Irish fruit loaf Credit: D and S Food Photography/Alamy The best Irish drinks While Ireland is the place to be for a pint of Guinness, it is also home to an array of famous alcoholic beverages including Jameson whiskey and Irish cream liqueur. If Guinness doesn't take your fancy, the Thinking Drinkers have selected the best alternatives to drink on St Patrick's Day, from craft whiskey to post poitin.
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| Pakistan seizes religious schools in intensified crackdown on militants Posted: 07 Mar 2019 01:36 AM PST  The move represents Pakistan's biggest move against banned organizations in years and appears to be targeting Islamic welfare organizations that the United States says are a front for militant activities. Pakistan is facing pressure from global powers to act against groups carrying out attacks in India, including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which claimed responsibility for the Feb. 14 attack that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police. Pakistani officials say the crackdown is part of a long-planned drive and not a response to Indian anger over what New Delhi calls Islamabad's failure to rein in militant groups operating on Pakistani soil.
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| Stealth Surprise: The F-22 Raptor Has Left the Middle East Posted: 06 Mar 2019 08:00 PM PST  After five years of continuous operations, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors stealth fighters have left the Middle East. Older F-15C fighters have taken their place.
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| Toyota warns could leave UK under no-deal Brexit: report Posted: 06 Mar 2019 06:38 PM PST  Toyota Europe's CEO has warned the firm could end production in Britain by 2023 if the country exits the European Union without a deal, the Nikkei business daily said Thursday. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Johan van Zyl told reporters that "if the business environment becomes very, very difficult to operate," a withdrawal "should be on the agenda as well," the Nikkei said. A Toyota spokesman confirmed van Zyl's comments.
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| T-Mobile’s latest pitch for Sprint merger: Taking on cable internet and TV Posted: 08 Mar 2019 06:30 AM PST  T-Mobile's latest pitch to regulators to approve its merger with Sprint: They need to team up to take on home broadband.
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| AP FACT CHECK: Trump puts words in mouth of Manafort judge Posted: 08 Mar 2019 09:48 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Claiming an exoneration that was not given, a "very honored" President Donald Trump is putting words in the mouth of the judge who sentenced former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to nearly four years in prison. Trump is misrepresenting a statement by Manafort's lawyer, too.
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| R. Kelly says he has $350K in the bank: 'People have been stealin' my money' Posted: 07 Mar 2019 11:05 AM PST  R. Kelly told Gayle King he has approximately $350,000 in a bank account. Wednesday he was jailed for failure to pay child support.
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| Controversial ‘Rape Day’ game removed from Steam platform Posted: 08 Mar 2019 08:39 AM PST  Video game developer Valve removes the controversial 'Rape Day' from its platform Steam in response to backlash.
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| Ghosn's defense team to monitor calls, surveillance footage while he awaits trial Posted: 08 Mar 2019 12:33 AM PST  After paying $9 million in bail, former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is out of a Japanese jail cell where he spent 108 days, but he must live under a host of restrictions while he awaits trial, which could be a year away. As part of the bail deal arranged by his new legal team hired last month, Ghosn is banned from accessing the internet and email, and only allowed to use a computer not linked to the web at the office of one of his lawyers. Ghosn, who has French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship, was indicted for under-reporting his salary and breach of trust.
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| 2020 Cadillac XT6 Base Pricing Announced, and It's Not a Value Play Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:19 AM PST  It may lack luxury panache, but the XT6 at least looks handsome and is usefully packaged.
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| Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Pi Posted: 07 Mar 2019 06:55 AM PST |
| Venezuela releases American journalist after full day in custody: media Posted: 06 Mar 2019 05:55 PM PST ![Venezuela releases American journalist after full day in custody: media]( "Venezuela releases American journalist after full day in custody: media") In the latest crackdown on a challenge to his rule by opposition leader Juan Guaido, Maduro also expelled the German ambassador, accusing him of repeated meddling in the country's affairs. The United States said it was set to impose sanctions on banks to ramp up pressure on Maduro to leave office. Most Western countries, including the United States and Germany, have recognized Guaido as the OPEC nation's legitimate head of state and back his plan to install a transition government ahead of free elections.
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| US general warns of IS resurgence as 'caliphate' nears collapse Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:57 AM PST  A top US commander warned Thursday that the battle against the Islamic State group was "far from over" despite the jihadists' loss of territory, as survivors abandoned the last shred of the group's collapsing "caliphate" in eastern Syria. A fierce assault by US-backed forces has sparked an exodus of dust-covered children, veiled women dragging suitcases and dishevelled men, many of them wounded, from the village of Baghouz where besieged IS fighters are making a last stand. The Syrian Democratic Forces are waiting for more survivors to leave before dealing what they hope will be a final blow to jihadists holed up in a makeshift camp along the banks of the Euphrates.
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| Pornhub reveals what women are searching in honor of International Women's Day Posted: 08 Mar 2019 07:28 AM PST  Friday is International Women's Day, and Pornhub is on it.They've just released some new findings about what women seek out when it comes to porn. Using anonymous data collected by Google Analytics, Pornhub is able to determine where women users are coming from and what they're looking for. According to their data, the top category searched by women varies across the world, but the overall most popular category among women was "lesbian." according to Pornhub's internal data. Image: PornhubWorldwide, the "lesbian" category was the most popular across North and South America and well as most of Europe. "Hentai" dominated Russia while "anal" and "ebony" were also popular in other corners of the globe. Pornhub's full report goes even further, detailing top categories in each country relative to other countries. For example, and not surprisingly, women users in France are over 1,000% more into the "French" category than the rest of the world and women users in Germany are over 1,200% more into the "German" category.Pornhub also broke down the top categories per state relative to other states in the U.S. For instance, South Dakota's top category compared to the rest of the nation is "vintage" while Utah's is "striptease."Pornhub's map of women's top category by state, relative to other statesImage: PornhubEven more enlightening are the top searches by state compared to other states. For instance, South Dakota's top search compared to the rest of the U.S. is "cartoon" while Idaho's is "my little pony." There are other nuggets to dig up as well: that Pennsylvania's top result compared to other states is "Philly" is the most Philadelphia thing ever.Image: pornhubThey've also broken down searches by age group. Women ages 18 to 24 are 81% more likely to search for "hentai," while women age 45 to 54 are 39% more likely to search "mature." Here's the full breakdown: The entire report is available to read through here and is filled with even more revelations for better understanding what women are seeking in their porn. WATCH: YouPorn has an app now, so you can watch porn in public
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| Out of the shadows: Loyal money man swept into Trump probes Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:03 AM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Weisselberg is seemingly everything his longtime boss, Donald Trump, isn't.
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| Payless, Gymboree and Victoria's Secret are just some of the brands closing stores in 2019 Posted: 08 Mar 2019 12:42 PM PST ![Payless, Gymboree and Victoria's Secret are just some of the brands closing stores in 2019]( "Payless, Gymboree and Victoria's Secret are just some of the brands closing stores in 2019") While 2019 is on track to be a record year for store closings, it's not expected to bring the same amount of empty retail space as last year.
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| Alibaba, Ant Said to Form Oversight Body to Tighten Control Posted: 08 Mar 2019 01:19 AM PST  China's top online retailer and its biggest internet financial services giant will create a so-called "new economy body," headed up by Alibaba Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang. Ant Financial Chairman Eric Jing will be his deputy, the people said. The move creates a high-powered team to stand watch over the financial and commerce empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma, and comes as Alibaba prepares to take a one-third equity stake in its affiliate.
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| Mexico's 'hearts and minds' battle to loosen organized crime's grip Posted: 07 Mar 2019 12:55 PM PST  The central town of Santa Rosa de Lima, a few miles east of Salamanca, home to one of the nation's main oil refineries, is close to a center of the nation's auto industry. It is also a microcosm of the lawlessness permeating swathes of Mexico where cartels have for years replaced the state as benefactors, providing jobs and handouts in return for residents' loyalty. Lopez Obrador said he was winning the battle for hearts and minds against a gang of fuel thieves in Santa Rosa.
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