| Who's been sitting in Pelosi's chair? Democrat Ocasio-Cortez Posted: 10 May 2019 08:05 PM PDT  In another first for rookie congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the liberal Democrat from New York on Friday became the youngest woman to preside over the U.S. House of Representatives. Sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's chair as part of a routine rotation of House members, Ocasio-Cortez took her turn with the gavel and ran the chamber for about an hour. The duty is shared day-to-day by members of the House majority, currently the Democrats.
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| Pence at Liberty, UNCC-Charlotte graduation, Mother's Day: 5 things you need to know this weekend Posted: 11 May 2019 06:35 AM PDT  Vice President Mike Pence will speak at Liberty University, millions of moms will celebrate Mother's day and more of the weekend's news to know.
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| Man Nicknamed ‘Sovereign’ Hacked Appalachian Trail Hiker to Death Weeks After Release From Jail: Feds Posted: 12 May 2019 01:46 PM PDT  Photo Illustration by The Daily BeastA man who calls himself "Sovereign" was charged with attacking two Appalachian Trail hikers with a machete, killing one of them—just weeks after he pleaded guilty to threatening other trekkers and was set free, authorities said on Sunday.James L. Jordan, 30, from West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, allegedly knifed an unidentified man and woman early Saturday morning in an isolated stretch of the 2,190-mile hiking trail that runs through Wythe County, Virginia. The man died and the woman was seriously wounded.The U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Virginia called it a "senseless and brutal attack" but did not provide any other details. A criminal complaint will be filed Monday as Jordan makes his initial court appearance.He faces one count of murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of assault with the intent to murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Jordan has allegedly been menacing people on the trail, which is in the midst of its high season, for weeks."He was well-known," said Brian King, a spokesman for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which manages the trail through 14 states with two federal agencies. "The trail has always had a fantastic grapevine."Larry Smith, a hiker from Charleston, South Carolina, told The Daily Beast that he ran into Jordan at a trail shelter in Atkins, Virginia, in early April. Smith said he'd gone to bed after feasting on hamburgers and beer with fellow hikers but awoke to someone entering the shelter and starting a fire at about 10 p.m."He was ranting, and raving," Smith said. After disappearing upstairs for a moment, Smith added, the man returned, and said, "I'm gonna burn this shelter down." When Smith asked if he was alright, the man jumped up on a table, threw his cigarette in Smith's face, and challenged him to a fight. Smith said when retreated to the parking lot to call 911, the man followed, then disappeared into the frigid night."At that time, I thought he was just another hiker who'd gotten drunk, or one of the locals who'd gotten a little drunk," he added. But when another trail blogger posted Jordan's mug shot a few weeks later, he realized that he "looked just like the guy" who had threatened to burn down the shelter. On April 21, Unicoi County, Tennessee, Sheriff Mike Hensley raised the alarm about the erratic figure nicknamed Sovereign, writing that he "ran hikers out of shelters with a shovel" and "brandished a knife and machete and stated it was going to be a bad day for hikers."Several days later, Jordan was arrested after an altercation with hikers on the Tennessee/North Carolina border; police found he was carrying a knife with a 20-inch blade. He reportedly pleaded guilty to several charges, was sentenced to a fine, and was then released."When he was arrested a few weeks ago, the hikers did the right thing—they called 911 and went to the sheriff and got him arrested," King said. "The problem is when you are thru-hiking, you are on a timetable, and they couldn't or wouldn't go in to testify, and that's why he went through the system so fast."The Washington Post reported Jordan apparently resurfaced in Virginia and went after a group of four hikers camped out for the night. They fled, but the knife-wielding attacker caught up to two of them and began slashing away.The woman "pretended to be dead and when [Jordan] walked away after his dog, she took off running," Wythe County Sheriff Keith Dunagan told the newspaper. She managed to walk six miles and get help.Deputies in Bland County, Virginia, began looking for the assailant, Sheriff Thomas Roseberry II told The Daily Beast. But it was deputies in Wythe County, reportedly following an SOS signal activated by the male victim before he died, who found Jordan and the knife."I'm very appreciative that they acted as quick as they did, and apprehended him as quickly as they did, and that no one else was hurt," Roseberry said.The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine, and an estimated 2 million people hike at least part of it each year. At the moment, many thru-hikers—who try to go from end to end in one trip—would have been passing through the area where the murder took place."Everybody is sad and sick to their stomach," King said. "But the message is that this is rare and an aberration. The trail is still a refuge, and you can't guard against every evil in the world."Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| US to move Patriot missile defence system to Middle East to counter ‘escalating’ threat from Iran Posted: 11 May 2019 03:32 AM PDT  The US is to install an air defence missile system in the Middle East to counter the "escalating" threat posed by Iran, the Pentagon has said.The Department of Defence confirmed it was sending the Patriot surface-to-air missile system to the region in response to "indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against US forces".An official said the decision was made after intelligence showed Iran had loaded military equipment and missiles onto small boats controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).It comes amid rising tensions between the two countries after the US deployed an aircraft carrier to the Middle East this week in response to concerns Iran was planning an attack on American forces or interests in the region.Tehran responded by announcing it would partially pull out from its commitments to the 2015 international nuclear deal and increase uranium enrichment unless a new agreement is reached in 60 days.On Wednesday, Donald Trump ordered new sanctions on Iran targeting the country's steel, aluminium, copper and iron sectors, and warned of "further actions unless it [Iran] fundamentally alters its conduct".A Defence Department official told Associated Press moving the missile system was discussed earlier in the week but it took a few days to get final approval to move the Patriot, a long-range air defence system used to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.The USS Arlington, an amphibious transport ship, will also move to the Middle East earlier than expected, according to the Pentagon.The US removed Patriot systems from Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan late last year.Iran and the US have each said they are not seeking conflict but both countries have adopted confrontational stances in recent weeks.In the Pentagon statement, the Defence Department said it was "postured and ready to defend US forces and interests in the region."Earlier this week, Yadollah Javani, deputy head of political affairs in the IRGC, said no negotiations would be held with the US and warned "Americans will not dare take military action against us," according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency.When announcing the initial move on Sunday, John Bolton, the national security adviser, cited "troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Iran but did not explain what they were.On Friday, a defence official said threats could include attacks by Iranian proxies, such as Shia militias in Iraq.US officials told Reuters intelligence indicated Iran had moved missiles onto boats along its shore and an American official suggested missiles were capable of being launched from a small ship.However, several officials said they have not yet seen any tangible move by Iran in reaction to the US military shifts in the area. They also noted there have been no attacks.Agencies contributed to this report
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| Boeing crash payouts would be partly based on how long passengers knew they were doomed Posted: 12 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT  Settlements to the families of 346 people who died in the two catastrophic Boeing Max plane crashes will be calculated, in part, by how long the victims knew they were doomed. Lawyers handling claims against the US aerospace company said the longer the passengers and crew were aware of their desperate fate, the larger the likely payout. "There's a better chance of (financial) recovery if it took minutes rather than seconds for the plane to crash,'' Joe Power, a personal-injury lawyer representing some Ethiopian victims, told Bloomberg this weekend. The first passenger plane, Lion Air Flight 610, ditched into the Java Sea 12 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia on October 29th last year. Six months later on March 10th, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed six minutes after take off from Addis Ababa. In both cases, the jets were Max 8 models and in both cases, all aboard died. Experts say the Boeing Company could be facing payouts in excess of $1 billion (£770 million) if it can be proved that it had knowledge that the model had safety flaws. Thirty individual law suits have now been filed against Boeing on behalf of families with many more expected. Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER that disappeared from air traffic control screens in 2011 Credit: AP "The bottom line is Boeing's exposure is much more substantial than in any other case that I've been a part of in my quarter-century of representing families'" in plane-crash cases, said Brian Alexander, a New York aviation lawyer for victims of the Ethiopian Airlines jet . "You get into 'What did you know and when did you know it.'" The two disasters, with similar characteristics, led to the worldwide grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 8 models. Both pilots desperately struggled to take control of the aeroplanes as they intermittently dived while reaching speeds of close to 600 miles per hour. Investigators have zeroed in on the malfunctioning Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, an automated safety feature designed to prevent a stall. Earlier this month Dennis Muilenburg, the Boeing CEO acknowledged its automatic flight control system played a role in the two crashes. "The full details of what happened in the two accidents will be issued by the government authorities in the final reports, but, with the release of the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident investigation, it's apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information."
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| Why I left the Colorado school shooting vigil: Students want change but first let us mourn Posted: 12 May 2019 11:20 AM PDT  Watching politicians and activists use our classmate's death and our pain to promote their agendas was disrespectful and inappropriate.
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| Venezuela reopens border where migrants used trails to reach Brazil Posted: 12 May 2019 08:09 AM PDT ![Venezuela reopens border where migrants used trails to reach Brazil]( "Venezuela reopens border where migrants used trails to reach Brazil") Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed the only formal crossing between the countries in February to block an opposition attempt to bring U.S. aid in from Brazil and Colombia. Opposition leader Juan Guaido has urged the military to oust Maduro, branding him a dictator, while the government in turn calls Guaido a puppet of Washington and a coup-monger. Venezuelan Economy Vice President Tareck El Aissami said on Friday the border was being reopened to restore development of the border economy for the benefit of both nations.
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| Houthi rebels claim to begin withdrawal from key Yemen ports Posted: 11 May 2019 12:21 PM PDT  SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday began a long-delayed withdrawal of forces from the port facility in the key city of Hodeida, the group said, following the terms of a December cease-fire aimed at alleviating the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The government described the Houthi claim as a "farce."
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| Hearing in Colorado school shooting put off until next week Posted: 10 May 2019 07:30 PM PDT  DENVER (AP) — Prosecutors investigating the case against two students suspected of shooting nine classmates, one fatally, in a suburban Denver charter school have until next week to decide what charges to pursue, a judge ruled Friday.
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| 'I have a plan for that': Elizabeth Warren leads the Democratic 'ideas primary' Posted: 11 May 2019 08:57 AM PDT  As candidates follow the senator in churning out progressive proposals, some activists warn the priority must be beating Trump Elizabeth Warren speaks in Ames, Iowa. Photograph: Charlie Neibergall/AP Elizabeth Warren has a plan for that. And that. And that as well. On Wednesday, the Massachusetts senator unveiled the 12th major policy proposal of her presidential run, a $100bn plan to combat the opioid crisis. Warren's reputation as the ideas generator has gained widespread attention. But she is not the only candidate for the Democratic nomination who has white papers to flaunt. In the last few days, Bernie Sanders has rolled out a package of proposals to "rebuild rural America" and released legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 15%. Kamala Harris has come out with a bill to financially assist public defenders. Cory Booker has proposed sweeping reforms to the nation's gun laws. Kirsten Gillibrand has vowed to only nominate supreme court justices who would uphold Roe v Wade. Amy Klobuchar has laid out a $100bn plan to combat drug and alcohol addiction and improve mental healthcare. The "ideas primary" is shaping up to be one of the most revealing fronts in the 21-candidate contest for the Democratic nomination. Taking advantage of a field full of 2020 hopefuls eager to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, activists are injecting into the debate proposals once dismissed as too radical and too ambitious. I think voters understand that the differences between candidates are not as critical as the differences with Trump Neera Tanden From Medicare for All to a Green New Deal, affordable housing to baby bonds, ideas are the currency of progressive politics. But in a presidential primary personality, identity, experience and electability – an elusive measure of the ability to beat Donald Trump – count too. Sometimes even more. "Policy provides really important cues about the character and priorities of a candidate," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal thinktank in Washington. "But with Trump as president, I think voters also understand that the differences between candidates are not as critical as the differences with Trump." Ahead of the first debate in late June, progressive activists are ramping up efforts to influence the contest of ideas. At candidate forums in Washington, Texas and New York, and in televised town halls, activists and voters have pushed candidates on fraught issues such as reparations for slavery, electoral college reform and voting rights for prisoners. "The grassroots activism that helped shepherd in the most diverse, most progressive Congress in our country's history has not died down any since the 2018 election," said Jennifer Epps-Addison, the president and co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action, which co-hosted the We the People summit in Washington last month. "It has transformed into an even bigger force in communities all around the country that is pushing presidential candidates to speak to the needs of everyday Americans." The 'Grim Reaper' The youth-led Sunrise Movement is the force behind one of the most successful activist-driven campaigns: the Green New Deal, a sprawling social and economic initiative to fight climate change and address income and racial inequality. Nearly every candidate has been asked if they support the plan. "Having such an open field forces a more robust discussion about the values, the principles, the policies that differentiate the candidates," said Varshini Prakash, executive director of the group. She added: "Given the moment that we find ourselves in, the candidates that have the most powerful and potent climate policies will rise to the top." Mitch McConnell speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill this week. Photograph: Aaron P Bernstein/Reuters As the candidates build their policy agendas, many policies are still ideas lacking details. And even if a Democrat wins the White House, many of their proposals under discussion aren't politically feasible with a Republican-controlled Senate. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has vowed to be the "Grim Reaper" of progressive policies, singling out the Green New Deal and Medicare for All as "socialist" policies he would pronounce "dead on arrival" in the Senate. "More important than the details of any one policy idea that these candidates may have is a plan for how they would actually achieve it," said Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, a progressive group that aims to rally liberals around the federal judiciary. "Without a strategy for overcoming Mitch McConnell in the Senate and a supreme court that's been packed by Donald Trump, a lot of the policy conversation is going to be purely academic." His group has applauded candidates who embrace norm-shattering reforms such as abolishing the Senate filibuster and expanding the supreme court. Nonetheless, the 2020 policy debate illustrates how far the party has moved left on healthcare, taxes, gun control and more. That has forced many candidates to embrace progressive and populist policies as they reckon with past positions out of step with the new left. An increasingly vocal cohort of Democrats fear contenders are being pushed too far, potentially hobbling the eventual nominee in a fight against Trump. This House was won not on the platform of national single-payer healthcare but on a commitment to improve the ACA Heidi Heitkamp In an opinion piece for the Washington Post this week, the former North Dakota senator Heidi Heitkamp wrote: "In their rush to earn the support of the party's highly energized primary electorate, some of the best prospective Democratic standard- bearers are embracing positions that would present serious risks when it comes to challenging and defeating Trump in the general election." Heitkamp urged Democrats not to abandon Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act in favor of Medicare for All, citing as evidence the 2018 midterms. "This House majority was won not on the platform of national single-payer healthcare," she wrote, "but on a commitment to improve the ACA." Not all candidates are leading with policy ideas. The former vice-president Joe Biden has risen in the polls since entering the race with a promise to restore a sense of normalcy after a Trump presidency. In his first visit to Iowa, Biden promised he was "gonna talk a lot over this campaign about what my policies are". Noting his audience were all standing, however, he promised to not "go into great detail" just yet. Pete Buttigieg holds a town hall in North Charleston, South Carolina. Photograph: Meg Kinnard/AP Similarly, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor, Pete Buttigieg, has leapt to the front of the pack with an appeal for a new generation of leadership. Pressed during a CNN town hall on why his campaign website doesn't have a policy section, he said he planned to take his time. "It's important we don't drown people in minutiae before we've vindicated the values that animate our policies," he said. "We go right to the policy proposals and we expect people to be able to figure out what our values must be from that." The former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke was pilloried as a policy lightweight when he entered the race. But last week he became the first candidate to unveil a major proposal on climate change. The plan calls for a $5tn investment in infrastructure and innovation over a decade and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 'Challenging power' Policy, of course, is no guarantee of success. Hillary Clinton lost to Trump though her platform was far more expansive and detailed. But even in defeat, policy presents an opportunity to shape the agenda. In 2016, Sanders lost the primary to Clinton but popularized the concept of Medicare for All. It now enjoys support from several candidates and has received its first real congressional hearing in decades. Even the long-shot candidate Andrew Yang has found some success injecting his plan for a "universal basic income" into the policy debate. All that said, Warren has undoubtedly set the pace, churning out so many policies that her unofficial campaign slogan has become: "I have a plan for that!" The senator has plans to break up Big Tech, to create universal childcare, to cancel student-loan debt and to invest in public housing. More proposals are likely before the first debate. "Senator Warren is clearly winning the ideas primary," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which has endorsed her. Green said it was not only the depth and volume of Warren's plans that was winning converts and boosting her in the polls. It was also the way she weaves her ambitious agenda into a "narrative about challenging power". "We're still living in an outsider moment," he said. "To defeat Trump, we need someone who is seen as an equal and opposite change agent and who will shake up the system, but do it for real on behalf of regular people and not the special interests."
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| Anti-Israel imam delivers prayer in House chambers Posted: 12 May 2019 05:56 AM PDT  New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin says Omar Suleiman has compared Israelis to Nazis.
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| India is going forward with an antitrust case against Google’s Android Posted: 10 May 2019 08:07 PM PDT  Google has lost a number of antitrust cases in recent years, which netted the tech company three record-setting fines in Europe. The European Commission looked at Google's Search, Android, and online ads practices and found that Google abused its position in the market.Separately, Russian regulators investigated the same alleged Android abuse, which resulted in a different fine, albeit not comparable to the EU's. In each case, Google had to make several concessions regarding Android. And now India appears to be Google's next nightmare when it comes to antitrust investigations.Google has allegedly abused its dominant position in the market to block rivals, two sources familiar with India's antitrust watchdog's actions told Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the local regulator that started looking at a complaint against Google last year. The CCI determined in mid-April that the complaint had merit, ordering its investigation unit to launch a full probe into the matter."It is a strong case for the CCI, given the EU precedent," a source said. "The CCI has (preliminarily) found Google abused its dominant position."The EU hit Google with a €4.34 billion ($5 billion) fine in the Android case. Google said it'd fight the ruling, but at the same time decided to modify Android in Europe to give users more choice when it comes to internet browsing apps and default search engines. The EU found that Google's contracts with Android vendors forced them to install Google Search and Chrome browsers on devices, alongside Google Play.The CCI's investigation could take about a year, and Google execs might be summoned before the Commission in the coming months, Reuters reports. Indian regulators could impose fines of up to 10% of the relevant turnover of Google's last three financial years. However, it's unclear how much money Google makes from Chrome and Search in the region.Google meanwhile said via a spokesman that the company is working with the CCI "to demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less." He said that Android had enabled millions of Indians to connect to the internet by making mobile devices more affordable.
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| Netanyahu says needs more time to form new Israel government Posted: 12 May 2019 02:44 AM PDT  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would ask President Reuven Rivlin for more time to form a new coalition government, citing recent holidays and the Gaza flare-up. Netanyahu's Likud won 35 seats in the April 9 general election, with most party chiefs represented in the 120-seat parliament recommending that he forms the next governing coalition. On April 17 Rivlin formally tasked him with the mission, which by law needs to be completed within 28 days -- although a 14-day extension is automatically granted upon request.
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| U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint Posted: 11 May 2019 06:46 AM PDT ![U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint]( "U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint") Forty-four U.S. states have filed a lawsuit accusing 20 drug companies including Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc of a sweeping scheme to inflate drug prices and stifle competition for more than 100 generic drugs, state prosecutors said on Saturday. The complaint, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut, said the drug companies engaged in "numerous illegal conspiracies in order to unreasonably restrain trade, artificially inflate and manipulate prices and reduce competition," according to state attorneys general. Representatives of Teva and Sandoz, another company named in the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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| Brexit Party Has More Support Than Britain's Main Parties: Poll Posted: 11 May 2019 03:11 PM PDT  The party, fronted by Nigel Farage and founded only last month, would take 34% of the vote in the May 23 election, compared with 21% for Labour and just 11% for Theresa May's Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats would get 12%. The Conservatives, on 22%, trail Labour in that survey by six percentage points and lead the Brexit party by just one point.
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| 3 Ways To Make A Glock Gun Even Better Posted: 11 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT  The Glock Safe Action Pistol is the most popular Pistol in the United States. Gaston Glock's plastic fantastics came about in a time where most guns featured metal frames and were hammer fired. Polymer striker fired guns had been done before, but never succeeded like the Glock.Since then the Glock has gone on to become an insanely popular handgun. Part of that popularity is modularity. Glock pistols in general have three different frame sizes, the standard, the larger, and the single stack. By frame size I don't mean length and width, I mean compatibility.For example, the Glock 26 and Glock 17 are the same standard frame. There are differences in overall size, but they can accept the same magazines and the same internals. This makes it very easy to find upgradeable parts for any Glock.Today, we are looking and talking about the most popular Glock upgrade out there, the trigger. The compatibility we mentioned is important, because you have to be selective about your trigger, and ensure it fits your Glock frame.
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| Police: Explosion and fire at Virginia gas station leaves three people dead Posted: 11 May 2019 04:47 PM PDT  Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause and origin of the explosion.
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| Pope gives church 19 new priests in Vatican ceremony Posted: 12 May 2019 05:20 AM PDT  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has given the church 19 new priests, ordaining the men in an elaborate ceremony Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica, as the credibility of the Vatican and many of its clergy is threatened by widespread scandals of pedophile priests and systematic efforts at cover-ups.
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| Trump says the U.S. is 'right where we want to be with China' Posted: 12 May 2019 02:09 PM PDT ![Trump says the U.S. is 'right where we want to be with China']( "Trump says the U.S. is 'right where we want to be with China'") President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States is "right were we want to be with China," adding that Beijing "broke the deal with us" and then sought to renegotiate. "We will be taking in Tens of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs from China. Buyers of product can make it themselves in the USA (ideal), or buy it from non-Tariffed countries," Trump said on Twitter.
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| Lime-Yellow 1973 Datsun 240Z up for Auction is the Cleanest We've Seen outside a Museum Posted: 12 May 2019 11:00 AM PDT  This pristine Japanese sports coupe is a Me Decade time machine.
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| The Google Play Store is nagging some users to get rid of old apps Posted: 12 May 2019 11:08 AM PDT  There have been a handful of updates to the Google Play Store's operation that garnered headlines in recent days, such as the news that apps' rating calculations will start being more heavily weighted toward the most recent user ratings. Meanwhile, some users have started seeing something new from the Play Store -- a notification gently reminding them to remove apps they may have downloaded years ago and long since stopped using.The folks at Android Police note that the reminder is reminiscent of the Play Store's uninstall manager from back in 2016. The way this new reminder shows up is as a notification in the store's notification section, which you can then tap to see a list of apps that haven't gotten used for a while. Decide which ones you want to axe, and then you can also see how much space it's freed up.It doesn't appear to be a notification that's showing up across the board yet, which makes sense especially if you don't download many apps and don't, you know, need this reminder in the first place.This news comes, as we said, at a time of change for the Play Store, with Google confirming at I/O in recent days that the change to app ratings will manifest itself come August."Many of you told us that you want a rating that reflects a more current version of your app, not what it was years ago -- and we agree," Google Play project lead Kobi Glick explained in a company blog post. "So instead of a lifetime cumulative value, your Google Play Store rating will be recalculated to give more weight to your most recent ratings. Users won't see the updated rating in the Google Play Store until August, but you can preview your new rating in the Google Play Console today."Meanwhile, as we reported here, Google also in recent days booted one of the biggest app developers from the Play Store (and removed their apps) after a BuzzFeed analysis found that several of them may have been sharing data they collect with the Chinese government.
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| May expected to clarify resignation timetable: senior MP Posted: 11 May 2019 09:17 AM PDT  British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to set out her departure plans within days, the leader of backbench lawmakers in her governing Conservative Party said Saturday. Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of rank-and-file Conservative MPs, said he expected May to provide clarity on her exit timetable at a meeting with him on Wednesday. "I find it very hard to see how that route can lead to any sensible resolution," Brady told BBC radio.
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| Scouted: Add an Extra Level of Sun Protection This Year and Get Yourself UPF Clothing and Accessories Posted: 12 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT  While broad-spectrum sunscreen is your first and foremost defense against skin cancer and early-aging, you can add an additional layer of protection in the form of UPF clothing. While SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is standard in sunscreens, UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) takes your clothing a step further so you're protected from the broad-spectrum of UV rays that the sun emits. This protection is built into swimsuits, cover-ups, T-shirts, and even sun hats. We've rounded up a few to add to your outdoor plans this year.REI Co-Op Sahara Long-Sleeve Shirt, $60 from REIREI Co-Op Sahara Long-Sleeve Shirt, $60 from REI: Wear this button-down alone or thrown over a tank top to give yourself another layer of UPF 35 sun protection. It comes in five different neutral shades, so maybe it's worth getting them all.Vapor Apparel Men's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $20 on AmazonVapor Apparel Men's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $20 on Amazon: With over 2,800 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, this long sleeve will keep you dry and protected in the warmer months. Choose from 22 different colors.Coolibar UPF 50+ Women's Everyday Beach Shawl, $29 on AmazonCoolibar UPF 50+ Women's Everyday Beach Shawl, $29 on Amazon: A simple cover-up for the beach can also be an easy way to add sun protection. This breezy shawl gives you UPF 50+ sun protection and comes in a multitude of color options to go with any swimsuit.Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat, $32 from REISunday Afternoons Havana Hat, $32 from REI: Besides the fact that this hat doesn't really look like a sun hat, the best part is that it's crushable and packable, so you won't end up with a wonky piece of headgear. With UPF 50+ sun protection, this is your go anywhere, do anything hat.prAna Men's Stretch Zion Pants, $42-$85 from REIprAna Men's Stretch Zion Pants, $42-$85 from REI: These pants are ready for anything. Not only do they have UPF 50+ sun protection, but they're also DWR-coated, so they're water-resistant as well. They even have roll-up leg snaps so you can give your ankles a little breeze.Toad&Co; Jetlite Pant, $55- $80 from BackcountryToad&Co; Jetlite Pant, $55- $80 from Backcountry: A pair of pants that are lightweight, quick-drying, DWR-coated, and has UPF 50+ sun protection is like a gift from the outdoor gods. There's even a hidden zippered thigh pocket to keep your valuables secure.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| 20+ Healthy Picnic Recipes Perfect For Lunch In The Park Posted: 12 May 2019 01:46 PM PDT |
| India's marathon election reaches next-to-last phase Posted: 12 May 2019 09:04 AM PDT  NEW DELHI (AP) — Indians voted Sunday in the next-to-last round of a six-week-long national election marked by a highly acrimonious campaign that has seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi blame opposition party chief Rahul Gandhi's family for the country's ills.
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| Pope: It's OK to organize pilgrimages to Bosnian shrine Posted: 12 May 2019 10:14 AM PDT  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has given Roman Catholic faithful his OK to make pilgrimages to a Bosnian shrine where children said the Virgin Mary appeared to them, but the Catholic Church hasn't yet authenticated their vision, the Vatican said Sunday.
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| Iran's Rouhani calls for unity to face 'unprecedented' U.S. pressure Posted: 11 May 2019 02:48 PM PDT  President Hassan Rouhani called on Saturday for unity among Iran's political factions to overcome conditions which he said may be harder than those during the 1980s war with Iraq, state media reported, as the country faces tightening U.S. sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Iran's leaders talk with him about giving up their nuclear program and said he could not rule out a military confrontation.U.S. Trump made the offer as he increased economic and military pressure on Iran, moving to cut off all Iranian oil exports this month while beefing up the U.S. Navy and Air Force presence in the Gulf.
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| Ex-fiance of missing girl's mom in custody, charged with evidence tampering Posted: 11 May 2019 06:24 PM PDT  Authorities say Derion Vence is facing a charge of evidence tampering, namely a corpse, in the 4-year-old's disappearance.
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| 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more Posted: 11 May 2019 04:28 AM PDT ![10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more]( "10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more") We've got some fantastic daily deals for you to check out on Saturday, and a few of them are fleeting so definitely hurry up if you want to get in on the action. Highlights include an extremely rare opportunity to save $20 on Apple AirPods 2 (they're out of stock but you can still order, and they should ship in a couple of weeks), a different pair of popular true wireless earbuds for just $25.49 with coupon code FSOVHC7U if discounted AirPods 2 are still a bit too pricey, a brand new Apple Watch Series 3 starting at an all-time low price of just $199, 16.4-foot warm white LED light strips for only $8 a piece, all-time low prices on SanDisk microSD cards starting at $7, the lowest price of 2019 on the best-selling Instant Pot in the world, a one-day deal that gets you a renewed Dyson V7 Animal cordless vacuum for only $189.99, a free Echo Dot when you buy a Ring Video Doorbell 2 for $80 off or a Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $100 off, and more. Check out all 10 of today's top deals below.
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| Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election Posted: 12 May 2019 12:33 PM PDT ![Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election]( "Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election") Facebook said on Sunday it had taken down numerous Italian accounts on its platform that were false or were spreading fake news ahead of a European parliamentary election later this month. The European Union has warned of foreign interference in campaigning for the vote of May 23-26, and in April the European Commission urged Google, Facebook and Twitter to do more to tackle fake news before the poll. "We have removed a series of false and duplicated accounts which violated our authenticity policy, as well as several pages due to violation of rules on name changing," a spokesman for Facebook in Italy said in an emailed statement.
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| A Mazda Dealer Surprised a Loyal Customer by Refurbishing His First-Gen MX-5 Miata's Seats for Free Posted: 11 May 2019 06:00 AM PDT  Longeuil Mazda in Quebec wanted to thank André Frève for his loyalty, so it gave his Miata's interior some TLC.
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| Nadler: Mueller will not testify before Congress next week Posted: 11 May 2019 11:57 AM PDT  Nadler said he will subpoena Mueller if necessary.
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| Scouted: Brooklinen Sheets, Weighted Sleep Masks, and More of What Scouted Readers Are Buying Posted: 11 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT  At Scouted, we're Internet shopping with a pulse, and part of that pulse is you, the collection of readers that continue to buy the things we recommend. We've decided to take a look at some of the top-selling products that Scouted readers are picking up and if other Scouted readers are snatching up these hot-ticket items, maybe it's time to invest in something, too. Here's a look at some of the recent best-sellers that Scouted readers really loved (and bought a lot of). Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, $90 on AmazonWaterproof Kindle Paperwhite, $90 on Amazon: I have a Kindle that I love. Scouted editor Gideon Gideon has a Kindle that he loves. And many, many Scouted readers now have Kindles, as well. They're on sale right now for $90 and will give you a whole new way to experience literature. Don't forget about accessories like a case or a charging cord (which you can get in a bundle!) and upgrade to Kindle Unlimited so you never run out of new reading material.nodpod: Weighted Sleep Mask, $30 on Amazonnodpod: Weighted Sleep Mask, $30 on Amazon: We featured the nodpod after Scouted writer Rachel Krantz penned a love note to the weighted sleep mask. It can help block out light and ease you into sleep, while also helping you stay asleep. It can also be put in the fridge to help with headaches or just to give you a nice cooldown.Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $219 from BrooklinenLuxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $219 from Brooklinen: Brooklinen recently celebrated their 5th birthday and did so with a sitewide discount. Scouted readers took advantage of this and outfitted their bedrooms with luxurious sheets in all kinds of patterns. Side note: the best sheets I own are from Brooklinen and I am considering getting an additional set so I don't wistfully think of them while laying on my other non-Brooklinen sheets.Desktop Glass Dry-Erase Board, $29 from QuartetDesktop Glass Dry-Erase Board, $29 from Quartet: It's kind of crazy how much Scouted readers loved the Quartet desktop whiteboard, but then again, I love mine so much (and so does half my office). In the same vein as kicking your single-use plastic habit, help ween yourself off of jotting down notes that will only be thrown away in due time by using a reusable, erasable whiteboard that fits perfectly on any desk.Commuter Dress Shirt, $118 from RhoneCommuter Dress Shirt, $118 from Rhone: Rhone makes some incredibly durable, technical clothing that can be worn every day, and when they came out with their newest Commuter Shirt, Scouted readers gobbled them up. It has four-way stretch, moisture-wicking properties, and a natural wrinkle release so it'll be an everyday dress shirt that you'll actually enjoy wearing.EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33 on AmazonEltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33 on Amazon: We took some time to give you a top-level look at what exactly to pay attention to when it comes to sunscreen (hint: look for "broad-spectrum" on the label). Scouted readers took this to heart and added a bunch of the Amazon best-selling Elta MD facial sunscreen to their routine. It's got broad-spectrum SPF 46, plus some skin care ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| The Latest: Shanahan says troops aim to help secure border Posted: 11 May 2019 12:11 PM PDT  MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Latest on acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border (all times local):
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| North Korea, China Tensions With U.S. Are Back: Weekend Reads Posted: 11 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT  U.S. President Donald Trump shattered a six-month trade truce with China, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reignited tensions with a fresh round of weapons launches. Elsewhere, South Africans went to the polls and the transition to Germany's next chancellor remains shrouded in uncertainty. Trump's China Tariff Hikes Could Cut U.S. Growth in HalfSustained levies of 25 percent would induce a slowdown, undermining the president's argument that duties are good for the economy.
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| Big Bullet: The New AMP Round Means U.S. M1 Abrams Tanks Kill Everything Posted: 11 May 2019 07:00 AM PDT  In a 2016 Army statement on AMP, quoting a senior program manager, describes it impact this way…. "Right now our crews face the dilemma as they go into combat of deciding what rounds to load in the turret and carry in the gun. If they choose wrong, they could have a mismatch between target and ammunition, which will cost them valuable seconds while in enemy contact."A single emerging US Army Abrams tank round is engineered to attack and destroy enemy tanks, bunkers, concrete walls, light armored vehicles and even small groups of enemy fighters - by enabling crews to instantly adjust its explosive effect within seconds.The Army's Advanced Multi-Purpose 120 mm ammunition round is being prepared for a far-superior M1A2 SEP v4 Abrams tank variant for the 2020s and beyond — designed to be more lethal, faster, lighter weight, better protected, equipped with new sensors and armed with upgraded, more effective weapons, service officials said.(This article by Kris Osborn originally appeared in DefenseMaven in 2019 and is being republished due to reader interest.) The AMP round, according to Northrop Grumman and Army developers, will replace four tank rounds now in use by consolidating various possible blast effects into a single round, using variable "fuse" adjustments and an advanced Ammunition Data Link.
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| Nike’s app will use augmented reality to determine your shoe size Posted: 11 May 2019 06:01 AM PDT  Do you know your own shoe size? You might think you do, but there's a good chance you're walking around in shoes that aren't actually a perfect fit. Nike thinks it can change that with a new addition to its smartphone app that leverages the power of augmented reality to perform a super-accurate scan of your feet, matching you with the ideal size, depending on the kind of shoe you're shopping for.In a new blog post, Nike calls out the current system of shoe sizing as "antiquated," calling it "a gross simplification of a complex problem." That's where Nike Fit, the new sizing feature, comes in.Nike describes Nike Fit as "a new scanning solution that uses a proprietary combination of computer vision, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and recommendation algorithms."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMXc_1qCa8EThat's a whole bunch of flashy terms that don't mean a whole lot to the average shoe shopper, but the gist of it is that the app will allow you to take a scan of your feet when you're about to buy a pair of kicks. Nike Fit will be an option alongside the traditional sizing list, but the company is obviously promoting this as the ideal way to get the perfect fit."Using your smartphone's camera, Nike Fit will scan your feet, collecting 13 data points mapping your foot morphology for both feet within a matter of seconds," Nike explains. "This hyper-accurate scan of your unique foot dimension can then be stored in your NikePlus member profile and easily used for future shopping online and in-store."Your Nike Fit scan will be stored and can be accessed by the app whenever it needs to guide you to your perfect pair of new shoes. Perhaps most interesting, this new sizing system may actually change its size recommendation for you based on the kind of shoe you're shopping for.Nike says "different shoes are made with different performance intent," meaning that you'll probably want something like a running shoe to be a little bit tighter than the kind of everyday sneaker you wear in casual situations. The app handles all those decisions on the backend, and Nike seems pretty sure it knows exactly how to set you up with the size you need.The feature isn't available just yet but it should be available sometime in July in the U.S. and August in Europe.
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| Venezuela's Guaido urges backers to reject 'fear' as Maduro clamps down Posted: 11 May 2019 01:37 PM PDT  Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday urged his supporters to reject fear and maintain nationwide protests against President Nicolas Maduro, who has been ratcheting up pressure on the lawmaker since a failed military uprising. Some 1,500 to 2,000 people filled a square in an opposition-friendly part of eastern Caracas to hear Guaido, but that was far fewer than the several thousands who took part in earlier protests. The smaller turnouts were seen as a sign of possibly waning interest -- or simply exhaustion -- after months of protests climaxed in a failed uprising April 30, leaving six people dead.
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| Reuters Health News Summary Posted: 12 May 2019 05:55 AM PDT ![Reuters Health News Summary]( "Reuters Health News Summary") Patients who see their doctors in the morning are a lot more likely to be referred for screenings for breast and colon cancer than patients with end-of-the-day appointments, a new study suggests. Researchers poring over records of more than 50,000 patients who were eligible for breast or colon cancer screening saw a big drop in referrals as the day progressed. China has pledged to stem a flood of the synthetic opioid fentanyl onto America's streets, where it kills thousands of people a month, but U.S. security experts are skeptical about whether Beijing is willing, or even able, to follow through.
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| Kodak Black arrested at Rolling Loud Music Festival Posted: 12 May 2019 12:29 PM PDT  The U.S. Marshals Service said Kodak Black was charged with a crime in connection with weapons but didn't elaborate.
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| 15+ Game-Changing Avocado Salads Posted: 12 May 2019 02:10 PM PDT |
| Border Detention Centers Are So Overcrowded, Authorities Are Now Using Planes To Relocate Migrants: Report Posted: 11 May 2019 09:05 AM PDT  HERIKA MARTINEZThe Trump administration has taken an unprecedented step to combat the growing number of migrants detained at the border: organizing aircraft flights for relocation to other detention facilities for processing.According to The Washington Post, Customs and Border Protection began transporting migrants by plane last week to several border detention centers along the border to mitigate the reports of overcrowding and understaffing. "This is the worst I have ever seen it, by far," one Border Patrol veteran told the Post about the number of migrants apprehended along the southern border. The damage control tactic began on Friday, transferring migrants from McAllen, Texas to a facility about five hours away, and the flights are scheduled to continue daily next week, the newspaper reported, citing three Homeland security officials. Each flight costs $16,000 and can transport about 135 adults per flight, the The Washington Post reported.While the U.S. has used airplanes to transport migrants to various detention facilities before, this is the first time airplanes have been used to transport migrants to booking and processing facilities. Nearly 100,000 migrants were apprehended along the border in April, according to the Department of Homeland Security. "For the first time in over a decade, CBP is performing direct releases of migrants when [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is unable to provide bed space to relieve overcrowding," Kevin McAleenan, acting DHS secretary and head of Customs and Border Protection, said in March on the increasing number of illegal border crossings. "That breaking point has arrived this week at our border."Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost echoed these concerns before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration on Wednesday, testifying the "apprehension numbers are off the charts" and have already broken a 10-year record in only seven months."We cannot address this crisis by shifting more resources. It's like holding a bucket under a faucet. It doesn't matter how many buckets you give me if we can't turn off the flow," she said.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
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| Buttigieg describes his coming out, need to bridge divides Posted: 11 May 2019 10:18 PM PDT  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg described Saturday his public coming out as a gay man in 2015 and how the exclusion he experienced made him conscious of what it means to belong and the need to overcome divisions.
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