| Mueller wrote indictments charging Trump with obstruction and witness tampering, Michael Wolff claims Posted: 28 May 2019 08:51 AM PDT  Special Counsel Robert Mueller drafted indictments against Donald Trump before ultimately deciding against charging the sitting president with obstruction of justice, according to a new book penned by author Michael Wolff. The alleged three-count obstruction of justice indictment was immediately disputed by a spokesperson for the special counsel after first being reported on Tuesday. The Guardian reportedly viewed the indictment documents while reviewing a copy of the book Siege: Trump Under Fire.However, according to Mr Mueller's spokesperson Peter Carr, those documents "do not exist."The reported draft document would have allegedly charged Mr Trump with influencing, obstructing or impeding a pending proceeding before a department or agency of the United States, according to the outlet, along tampering with a witness, victim or informant and retaliating against a witness, victim or informant. The charges fall under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1505, 1512 and 1513 respectively. The alleged indictment went on to describe "extraordinary lengths" the president took "to protect himself from legal scrutiny and accountability, and to undermine the official panels investigating his actions," according to Mr Wolff — whose explosive first book about the Trump presidency, called Fire and Fury, sold nearly five million copies.Revelations of the alleged indictments arrive as Congressional Democrats seek to bring the special counsel before committees investigating the president's potential obstruction of justice outlined in Mr Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The massive report detailed at least 11 cases in which the president possibly committed obstruction of justice. Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill have suggested the special counsel was passing the decision to Congress about whether to implicate the president in a high crime or misdemeanour. Mr Mueller has not yet indicated whether he intends to testify before Congress, and rarely releases public statements through his spokespeople. But the author's controversial new claims could almost certainly be expected to lead the news cycle as Mr Trump returns from his official state visit to Japan over the holiday weekend. More than a thousand former federal prosecutors have signed an open letter stating Mr Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice based on the special counsel's report, were it not for Justice Department guidelines that say a sitting president cannot be charged. The alleged indictments against Mr Trump reportedly dispute those guidelines, however. "The Impeachment Judgment Clause, which applies equally to all civil officers including the president … takes for granted … that an officer may be subject to indictment and prosecution before impeachment," the reported document reads, according to The Guardian. "If it did not, the clause would be creating, for civil officers, precisely the immunity the Framers rejected."The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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| PHOTOS: Tornadoes rip through Ohio and Oklahoma Posted: 28 May 2019 07:50 AM PDT  A tornado pulverized buildings around Dayton, Ohio, early on Tuesday, injuring at least 35 people.
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| NASA just released a hype video for a Moon mission that probably won’t happen Posted: 28 May 2019 01:41 PM PDT  NASA has planned on returning to the Moon for some time now, hashing out plans for its Lunar Gateway which will eventually serve as a jumping-off point for travelers headed to the Moon's surface. Then, back in March, the current presidential administration decided it wanted NASA to complete a return to the Moon as soon as possible, offering a mere five years to complete the task.The request was, to put it bluntly, absurd. NASA doesn't have the funding to pull it off, and even if it did it would require a truly monumental effort to meet the arbitrary deadline. Despite this, Trump-appointed NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine eagerly accepted the "challenge," and while everyone waits to see whether lawmakers will provide enough cash for a Moon 2024 mission to be possible, NASA just launched a hype video of sorts to assure everyone that a 2024 Moon mission is definitely, totally happening.The video emphasizes the collaborative efforts of NASA and its international partners, which is a good thing since there's no way the United States would be able to pull off the Gateway without help from just about everyone.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9KQfnquknoWhat's so interesting about this whole thing -- aside from the fact that a million hurdles stand between NASA and a Moon mission in 2024 -- is that when Trump sent Pence to deliver the new directive to NASA back in March, he did so while dismissing the efforts of many of NASA's key allies and emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be the superior space power.Now, NASA's hype video plays up collaboration and, presumably, was made to drum up some support for the mission among those who have influence in approving the funding NASA needs to make it a reality.Could NASA pull off the Moon 2024 mission? Absolutely, but the most important factors in whether it will even have the chance (like funding) are almost entirely out of its control. If the mission falls through it likely won't be because of a shortcoming on NASA's part, but because the demand was never realistic in the first place.The Lunar Gateway will be built, that much is certain. Whether it's built in time for the Moon 2024 mission, and whether that mission ever even comes close to happening at all, remains to be seen.
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| Officials: Taliban attacks kill 10 Afghan troops, 4 police Posted: 27 May 2019 03:03 AM PDT  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A roadside bombing claimed by the Taliban killed 10 Afghan soldiers in the country's west while insurgent attacks on security checkpoints in northern Afghanistan killed four policemen, local officials said Monday.
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| Pope denies prior knowledge of now expelled U.S. cardinal McCarrick's sexual misconduct Posted: 28 May 2019 03:40 PM PDT  Pope Francis has denied he knew about sexual misconduct by former U.S. cardinal Theodore McCarrick before the start of Church investigations that found him guilty. McCarrick, once one of the most powerful men in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy, was expelled from the Roman Catholic priesthood in February after he was found guilty of sexual crimes against minors and adults. "I knew nothing about McCarrick, naturally nothing," Francis said in an interview with Mexico's Televisa broadcaster which was published in Vatican media on Tuesday.
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| Supreme Court issues rulings on abortion, bathrooms and the border Posted: 28 May 2019 03:14 PM PDT  The Supreme Court strikes a compromise on an Indiana abortion law, staying out of the broader fight for now; senior political correspondent Mike Emanuel reports.
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| Kamala Harris wants some states to get preclearance before passing abortion laws Posted: 28 May 2019 02:42 PM PDT  Harris wants Congress to pass legislation requiring some states to seek DOJ preclearance before instituting new laws impacting abortion rights.
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| Open Hatch Nearly Sunk India's New $3 Billion Nuclear Missile Submarine Posted: 28 May 2019 01:49 AM PDT  It isn't hard to sink a submarine, it would seem. The modern submarine is not a simple machine. A loss of propulsion, unexpected flooding, or trouble with reactors or weapons can doom a sub crew to a watery grave.Also, it's a good idea to, like, close the hatches before you dive.(This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. This article first appeared in 2018.)Call it a lesson learned for the Indian navy, which managed to put the country's first nuclear-missile submarine, the $2.9 billion INS Arihant, out of commission in the most boneheaded way possible.The Hindu reported yesterday that the Arihant has been out of commission since suffering "major damage" some 10 months ago, due to what a navy source characterized as a "human error" — to wit: allowing water to flood to sub's propulsion compartment after failing to secure one of the vessel's external hatches.
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| UK interior minister Javid enters leadership race Posted: 27 May 2019 07:24 AM PDT  UK interior minister Sajid Javid became the ninth candidate Monday to enter the race to replace Theresa May as premier, promising to "deliver Brexit" after repeated delays. Referring to the drubbing May's Conservatives received in European Parliament elections, Javid said the new party leader had to restore voters' trust. "As last night's results made all too clear, we must get on and deliver Brexit to make sure there is renewed trust in our democracy," Javid said in a video message posted on Twitter.
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| Melania Trump's most fashionable looks in Japan Posted: 28 May 2019 08:18 AM PDT  Melania Trump is known for her designer taste and statement-making fashion -- and her trip to Japan this weekend was no exception.
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| Today’s best deals: Fire TV Stick for $29.99, $25 true wireless earbuds, big Apple Watch Series 4 sale, more Posted: 27 May 2019 07:41 AM PDT  There are all kinds of big sales happening for Memorial Day 2019, but you don't even have to leave your home to get the best deals. Highlights from today's daily deals roundup include the best-selling $40 Fire TV Stick for $29.99, the upgraded $50 Fire TV Stick 4K for $39.99, $20 off Apple's new AirPods 2 (order now to lock in the discount even though they're out of stock), best-selling true wireless earbuds on sale for just $25.49, tons of different Apple Watch Series 4 models all on sale at their lowest prices ever, a one-day deal on the popular Eufy RoboVac 12 robot vacuum that cuts the price to just $168, up to $100 off already affordable 4K TVs with built-in Fire TV software, an awesome electric toothbrush bundle for $28, killer prices on SanDisk microSD cards, and plenty more. See all of today's top deals below.
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| The Latest: Saudi airport targeted by Yemen rebel drone Posted: 26 May 2019 07:23 PM PDT  BAGHDAD (AP) — The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local):
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| Ohio tornadoes: Thousands without power and at least one dead in ‘dangerous’ storms Posted: 28 May 2019 07:05 AM PDT  Tornadoes swept through western Ohio on Monday night, destroying homes and causing widespread power outages. One person was killed and dozens were injured.The storms were among 53 twisters that forecasters said touched down on Monday across eight states stretching eastward from Idaho and Colorado.Jeffrey Hazel, the mayor of Celina, near Dayton, said 81-year-old Melvin Delhanna died during the tornado "as a direct result of a vehicle entering his house".In Mercer County, where Celina is located, emergency management director Mike Robbins said that 12 people were injured in the storm. Mr Hazel said three of those injuries are considered to be serious but none are life-threatening.The National Weather Service (NWS) said on Tuesday morning that roughly five million people throughout the state had been affected by the power outages.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center showed that 14 suspected tornadoes touched down in Indiana, 11 in Colorado and nine in Ohio.Dayton, the fifth-largest city in Ohio with 140,000 residents, was particularly affected. Nearly 60,000 residents were without power after the storm. Homes and apartment complexes were levelled during the storm, devastating residents and leaving authorities scrambling."I don't know that any community that is fully prepared for this type of devastation," Dayton assistant fire chief Nicholas Hosford said on ABC's Good Morning America.The city tweeted that first responders are currently "performing search and rescue operations and debris clearing".The NWS says that it "will be conducting damage surveys for the next few days". Utilities are expecting restoration to take several days.For now, Dayton city officials have asked residents to conserve water, as power was lost in the city's water plants and pump stations.Montgomery County, where Dayton is located, Miami County, and Greene County were the most affected by the tornadoes, which authorities described as large and dangerous. The National Guard has been deployed in the aftermath.Tornadoes also touched down in nearby Trotwood, where the mayor told residents that power lines and trees were down. Ohio's tornado spree marks the latest in a particularly harsh year for tornadoes in the US, which have caused major damage and several deaths in Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, and several other states.
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| Oklahoma, Johnson & Johnson face off in first opioid crisis trial Posted: 28 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT ![Oklahoma, Johnson & Johnson face off in first opioid crisis trial]( "Oklahoma, Johnson & Johnson face off in first opioid crisis trial") Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson is set to face trial in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit by the state of Oklahoma aimed at pinning the blame for the opioid epidemic on its painkiller marketing. Lawyers for the state and J&J are scheduled to appear on Tuesday in a state court in Norman, Oklahoma, to deliver their opening statements at the start of the first trial to result from more than 2,000 similar lawsuits against opioid manufacturers nationally. The lawsuits by state and local governments seek to hold the J&J and other companies responsible for a drug abuse epidemic that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says led to a record 47,600 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017.
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| How to Pack like an Automotive Journalist Posted: 28 May 2019 01:16 PM PDT |
| Kamala Harris Wants States to Get DOJ Permission Before Passing Anti-Abortion Laws Posted: 28 May 2019 09:57 AM PDT  Mike BlakeSen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday evening will unveil a new plan, called the Reproductive Rights Act, to stop states from instituting unconstitutional restrictions on abortion.According to a senior campaign official, the California senator and 2020 presidential candidate will announce during an MSNBC town hall that as president she would implement, for the first time, a pre-clearance requirement for states and localities attempting to restrict women's reproductive rights.The plan would go above and beyond codifying the landmark Roe v. Wade decision with federal law by requiring that states and localities with a history of violating the Supreme Court decision obtain approval from Harris' Department of Justice before any abortion law or practice can take effect. Under Harris' plan, states and localities will be subject to the pre-clearance requirement if they have a pattern of violating Roe v. Wade in the preceding 25 years, akin to a requirement in the Voting Rights Act. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, between 1998 and 2013, 86 proposed election changes to voting rights were blocked with VRA pre-clearance requirements. The Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision effectively neutered pre-clearance and has left Congress to attempt to restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act through legislation. Harris' proposal dictates that any change in a covered jurisdiction will not be enforceable until DOJ determines that it comports with standards of Roe v. Wade and the Women's Health Protection Act, a Harris-sponsored bill that would ban certain abortion limitations. Guardrails under the plan, like public determinations and required reviews, would ensure DOJ enforcement even under an administration hostile to reproductive rights, the campaign official said, and patients and providers will have the opportunity to sue if the federal agency does not. "We have to get really serious about the degree to which the Republicans have really targeted women's access to abortion as their political way of winning of elections," Laurie Rubiner, former vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood said, praising the Harris plan. "I do think that the way that she has thought about this is very creative. I really like that what she is saying is 'we're going to shift that burden to the state' especially in places where they have a history of passing these unconstitutional laws," she said referring to how it is currently often incumbent upon providers to file suit against state laws now. Sasha Bruce, Senior Vice President of NARAL Pro-Choice America was also encouraged by the proposal and hoped to see the rest of the field continue to adopt concrete plans. "Every candidate in this field should know it's not enough to simply call yourself pro-choice," she said in a statement. "All candidates need to back up their words with a concrete plan for action, especially given the tenuous thread by which reproductive freedom hangs."Harris, like many of her Democratic competitors, also wants to nominate judges who uphold the Roe decision, work to repeal the Hyde Amendment (which bars any federal funds from being spent on abortion), and protect providers like Planned Parenthood from defunding.The senator's plan comes as as a number of states like Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri have passed restrictive anti-abortion laws in recent weeks. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Greek Snap Elections Send Bond Yields to Record Low Levels Posted: 27 May 2019 01:57 AM PDT  Greece is back at odds with creditors from the euro area and the International Monetary Fund after Tsipras announced a series of relief measures, including a reduction of the country's primary surplus target.
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| Hazardous storms continue to pummel central US Posted: 28 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT  It will be no rest for the weary across the central United States as lives and property will continue to be threatened by severe weather and flooding.
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| Huawei founder: Without Apple, ‘we would not see the beauty of this world’ Posted: 27 May 2019 11:42 AM PDT ![Huawei founder: Without Apple, 'we would not see the beauty of this world']( "Huawei founder: Without Apple, 'we would not see the beauty of this world'") As calls have mounted in China for the central government to officially retaliate against Apple as a way to strike back over US trade tensions and over the increasing ostracization of Huawei, the billionaire founder of one of China's leading consumer electronics brands insists he's squarely against going that route.In a new interview with Bloomberg, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei was effusive in his praise of the iPhone maker, describing Apple per a translation of his remarks as "my teacher" and that "As a student, why should I oppose my teacher? I would never do that.""Apple is the world's leading company," Zhengfei continued during the interview, which also touched on the emergency maneuvers Huawei is taking to deal with being cut off from smartphone component suppliers, as well as from Google. "If there were no Apple, there would be no mobile internet. If there was no Apple to help show us the world, we would not see the beauty of this world."His praise of the company followed a question he was asked about whether he thought China hitting at Apple might be a kind of ace in the hole for the government, given how important a market China is for Apple. "That will not happen, first of all," Zhengfei insisted. "And second of all, if that happens, I'll be the first to protest. Apple is my teacher (and) it is advancing in front of us."As we and others have reported on for more than a week now, the US officially blacklisted Huawei back on May 17, accusing it of being basically a proxy for Chinese authorities in Beijing. In light of that action, Google then followed suit and promptly cut off Huawei from access to its Android mobile operating system, which in turn was followed by Huawei being further cut off from component suppliers.That sequence of events has been described as crippling, and perhaps worse, for the number two smartphone vendor in the world which had been vocal about wanting to ascend to the top of the industry in relatively short order.Naturally, Zhengfei decided to level some blistering criticism at President Trump, over his role in prolonging the US trade tensions as well as the decision to blacklist Huawei. Zhengfei had tried a different route a few months ago, praising Trump as "a great president," but is now apparently switching tactics. "I see his tweets and think it's laughable because they're self-contradictory," the Huawei boss told Bloomberg. "How did he become a master of the art of the deal?"And about the contention that Huawei aggressively steals technology, Zhengfei added this:"I stole the American technologies from tomorrow. The U.S. doesn't even have those technologies. We are ahead of the U.S. If we were behind, there would be no need for Trump to strenuously attack us."
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| Ex-Cardinal McCarrick, others flouted 2008 restrictions Posted: 28 May 2019 12:09 PM PDT  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Email correspondence shows disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was placed under Vatican restrictions in 2008 for sleeping with seminarians, but regularly flouted those travel rules with the apparent knowledge of Vatican officials under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
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| Iran has sapped U.S. capacity for war: Revolutionary Guards chief Posted: 28 May 2019 02:26 PM PDT  Iran's "absolute power" in its region has sapped the capacity of arch-enemy the United States to wage war against it, the commander of its elite Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday, according to semi-official Mehr news agency. "We have been able to...empty the enemy's capacity for war.
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| The F-35 Is An Antique: Japan Is Going All In On a 6th Generation Fighter Posted: 26 May 2019 09:00 PM PDT  Technologies tested in the X-2 that could reappear in the F-3 include EMP-resistant fiber-optic fly-by-wire avionics, and 'self-repairing' flight systems that detect and automatically compensate for damage to an aircraft's control-surfaces.Japan's 2019 Mid-Term Defense review quietly revealed that after years of hesitation, Tokyo has decided to press ahead with development of its own domestically designed sixth-generation Mitsubishi F-3 air-superiority stealth fighter, rather than purchasing an additional foreign stealth design to supplement its growing fleet of F-35s.(This first appeared last month.)In February 2019, the Japanese Ministry of Defense explicitly confirmed these intentions to Jane's. Reportedly, F-3 performance requirements are set to be released in the 2020 budget, with development officially beginning in 2021 and a first flight targeted for 2030.The new F-3 jets would then begin replacing Japan's over one hundred home-built Mitsubishi F-2 single-engine fighters—heavily upgraded (and over-priced) F-16s—starting in the mid to late 2030s.
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| Six New Six-Figure Convertibles to Kick-Start Summer Posted: 28 May 2019 02:04 PM PDT |
| Illinois House Passes Bill Repealing Partial-Birth-Abortion Ban Posted: 28 May 2019 01:07 PM PDT  The Illinois House on Tuesday passed a bill that would repeal the state's previous partial-birth-abortion ban and require that insurance providers cover contraception and abortion services.The Reproductive Health Act, which passed 64–50, removes virtually all restrictions on late-term abortions and the penalties currently imposed on doctors who perform them. The legislation must now receive majority support in the state Senate before it can be signed into law.The bill's proponents have argued that the legislation codifies existing practice and is necessary in light of the recent passage of restrictive abortion laws in a number of Republican-controlled states, as well as the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which many pro-choice activists are concerned might overturn Roe v. Wade."RHA codifies our existing practices and -- and this is critical -- treats abortion care just like any other health care, because it is," said the bill's sponsor, state representative Kelly Cassidy (D., Chicago). "Make no mistake, it doesn't end here. Since Roe was decided in 1973, our opponents have fought to impede access to care and these efforts have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable population."Illinois Republican party chairman Tim Schneider said the legislation was reflective of the Democratic party's recent embrace of abortion extremism."In just a few short years, the Democrat party in Illinois went from advocating 'safe, legal and rare' to abortion on-demand, at any time, for any reason, and funded by taxpayers," he said in a statement. "This is not the typical pro-life vs. pro-choice debate I have been accustomed to in my lifetime. The RHA goes much further."Six states have passed increased restrictions on abortions in recent weeks.Alabama governor Kay Ivey signed the nation's most restrictive abortion law earlier this month, effectively banning the practice entirely, including in cases of rape and incest. Ivey admitted that the law is likely unenforceable but argued it was important step toward overturning Roe V. Wade via the courts.Georgia governor Brian Kemp also recently signed a law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which usually occurs around six weeks. And the last remaining abortion clinic in Missouri is about to be shuttered by state authorities who have refused to renew its license as they prepare to implement similarly restrictive legislation.
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| Britain's Brexit Party triumph raises chances of no-deal Posted: 27 May 2019 11:57 AM PDT  Nigel Farage's anti-EU Brexit party topped European Parliament polls in Britain, putting intense pressure on the ruling Conservatives who suffered a historic rout and raising the chances of a no-deal outcome. The populist party, founded just three months ago, capitalised on public anger over delays to Britain's exit from the European Union, winning 31.6 percent of the vote and picking up 29 seats, final results showed. Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party meanwhile slumped to 9.1 percent, its worst national election result since 1832.
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| Colorado climber dies after reaching top of Mount Everest Posted: 27 May 2019 05:23 PM PDT  DENVER (AP) — A Colorado climber died shortly after getting to the top of Mount Everest and achieving his dream of scaling the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, his brother said Monday.
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| Man who scammed Alabama town pleads guilty to theft Posted: 28 May 2019 09:03 AM PDT  OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — A man already sentenced to federal prison in a $2 million scam pleaded guilty Tuesday to an additional charge in state court, capping an odd saga that took in an entire Alabama town.
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| RPT-UPDATE 1-Trump says Iran nuclear deal achievable as sanctions sting Posted: 27 May 2019 01:25 PM PDT ![RPT-UPDATE 1-Trump says Iran nuclear deal achievable as sanctions sting]( "RPT-UPDATE 1-Trump says Iran nuclear deal achievable as sanctions sting") U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday a deal with Iran on its nuclear program was possible, crediting economic sanctions for curbing activities Washington has said are behind a spate of attacks in the Middle East. "I really believe that Iran would like to make a deal, and I think that's very smart of them, and I think that's a possibility to happen," Trump said during a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. "It has a chance to be a great country with the same leadership," Trump said.
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| This 100 Year Old Gun Might Out Last Any Glock or Sig Sauer Posted: 27 May 2019 10:47 AM PDT  More than a century after its introduction, how much longer can the 1911 go on? As a pairing of high-powered bullet and frame, it's difficult to beat. Other manufacturers including Glock and Springfield Armory have come out with competing .45 ACP designs that also have lasting appeal.The 1911 is one of the most notorious handguns in history and easily the most famous in America, having seen action in every U.S. conflict since World War I. One of the most successful product designs ever, the 1911 has achieved something rare in the world of machines: immortality. Over a hundred years old, it remains largely unchanged.What Apple is to consumer electronics, John Browning was to late 19th and early 20th century firearms. The 1911 is his most famous design. The typical 1911 is 8.25 inches from tip to tail and weighs 2.49 pounds empty — about as much as a trade paperback book. The 1911 is made of steel, steel and more steel, and takes a magazine that holds seven bullets.The 1911 has seen service in World War I, Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic (twice), Lebanon, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iran, Grenada, Panama, the Gulf War, the Iraq War and Afghanistan. It has chased bad men from Pancho Villa to Osama Bin Laden.
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| Should Nancy Pelosi be concerned about her job security? Posted: 28 May 2019 02:26 AM PDT  Far-left Democrats challenge Speaker Pelosi new-found power; reaction from former Campaign Regional Field Director for President Obama Robin Biro and Inez Stepman from the Independent Women's Forum.
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| Pence calls on US Supreme Court to take up 'selective' abortion Posted: 28 May 2019 11:58 AM PDT  US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to take up a case about abortions based on sex, race or potential disability of the fetus, after the high court sidestepped the issue. While serving as governor of Indiana, Pence had signed into law a ban on so-called "selective" abortions. A lower court struck it down, and earlier Tuesday, the US Supreme Court opted not to weigh in until lower courts do so.
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| EU election UK results and maps: Brexit Party wins nine of 10 regions, Lib Dems triumph in London Posted: 26 May 2019 11:37 PM PDT  The Brexit Party has won nine of the 10 regions to declare its results in the European elections, claiming 28 of 64 seats in the European Parliament. Nigel Farage's party came top in the North East, North West, East of England, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, the South West and South East. This came largely at the expense of the Conservative Party. Theresa May's party have lost a huge share of the vote across all regions, so far losing 15 MEP seats to a total of three. The party is in fifth place, with its lowest vote share in a national election since they formed in 1834. In London, the Liberal Democrats - who have performed well in all regions so far declared - topped the poll. They place second, with 21 per cent of the vote and 15 seats. Scotland and Northern Ireland are still to declare. European election: UK results Follow all the latest European elections news in our liveblog Results analysis: How the Brexit Party won the most UK seats Every region of England and Wales have elected at least one Brexit Party MEP. Mr Farage's party attracted very high shares of the vote in many regions. In the North East they recorded 39 per cent of the vote, while they achieved 38 per cent of the vote in the East of England, West Midlands and East Midlands. This compares to the Lib Dems, Greens and Change UK, who collectively failed to win seats in Wales and the North West. EU election: UK region vote share map The only concern for Mr Farage's party will be the the fact that straightforwardly pro-Brexit parties were out-polled by those who are arguing for a second referendum and a halt to Brexit. The Lib Dems, Greens, Plaid and Change UK - all backers of a second referendum - collectively gained the support of 40.3 per cent of the public in England and Wales, against no-dealers Ukip and the Brexit Party's collective 36.7 per cent. These policies commanded 77 per cent of the vote, against the 23 per cent of the pro-compromise parties of Labour and the Conservatives. Pro-Brexit parties outperformed anti-Brexit ones in the EU elections Who is my MEP? So far, some 64 MEPs have been declared in the UK - and they include some big names. Annunziata Rees-Mogg said her brother Jacob would be "devastated" after the Brexit Party won three European seats in the East Midlands. Ann Widdecombe was another successful Brexit Party candidate, winning one of three seats for the party in the South West. UK MEPs elected in 2019 European Elections Europe-wide establishment parties expected to lose their majority The Grand Coalition of the centre-right and centre-left in the European Parliament are set lose their 40-year majority, with the two main blocs collectively losing over 80 seats. The European Peoples' Party (EPP) and Socialists & Democrats (S&D;) are predicted to suffer heavy losses amidst a surge of both populist and liberal support, with voter turnout at a 25-year high and potentially reaching 51 per cent. European election: EU results In France, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party are predicted to take top spot with 23.7 per cent of the vote, against Emmanuel Macron's centrist grouping on 22.5 per cent. Speaking after the initial results were announced, Ms Le Pen said: "I see this as a victory for the people, who with pride and dignity have taken back power", and claimed that the President should now dissolve the French parliament. In Germany, Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the centre-left Social Democratic Union could be on course for their worst ever result at European elections, while the Green Party look like the biggest winners grabbing second spot. The German CDU are polling just 28.6 per cent of the vote, down from 38 per cent in 2014 - a result which would be a significant blow to Mrs Merkel. Political groups of the European Parliament In Europe, the centrist Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (Alde) has announced that it will join forces with Emmanuel Macron's 22 MEPs in the next parliament, which will give the new alliance some 102 of the parliament's 751 seats making it a major player. The liberal bloc has performed strongly in the results, picking up 40 seats, leaving them on a total of 107 and the third largest bloc in the European Parliament. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberals, said: "Europe is back and Europe is popular. We will form and establish a new group of around 100 seats. It will be a crucial group. For the first time in 40 years, the two classical parties will no longer have a majority." European elections 2019
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| Scouted: Yes, You Can Get A Top-Rated Coffee Table on Amazon Posted: 28 May 2019 01:10 PM PDT  Getting the right coffee table for your couch requires careful deliberation, as does choosing which coffee table books to adorn it with, whether they're essential must-haves, travel-specific, or focused on the art of science fiction. And while we're fans of several furniture retailers, we felt we had to show some love to the coffee table universe over at Amazon, where you can get any of the styles you like with the two-day shipping and easy returns Prime members are used to. So we compiled some of the best-selling and top-rated coffee tables we could find on Amazon to inform your responsible and convenient journey to a new member of your living room.Yaheetech's Adjustable Lift Top Coffee Table, $90 on AmazonYaheetech's Adjustable Lift Top Coffee Table, $90 on Amazon: Hidden storage can be everything when you need extra space (and a very nice-to-have when you don't). The effortless and noiseless mechanism in this table makes it one the top-rated choice for coffee tables with an adjustable and liftable top. Whether you want to use the movable top for storage only or to also create a workspace in seconds, there's a lot of function in this analog mainstay furniture piece — and the espresso style is nice on the eyes.Emerald Home's Chandler Rustic Industrial Coffee Table, $158 on AmazonEmerald Home's Chandler Rustic Industrial Coffee Table, $158 on Amazon: The combination of distressed solid wood and industrial steel makes this coffee table a stable staple for your living room and a companion piece for years to come. Nearly 1,300 reviewers left the Chandler a 4.7-star average rating.Mecor's Rectangle Glass Coffee Table, $89 on AmazonMecor's Rectangle Glass Coffee Table, $89 on Amazon: Sleek and elegant, this highly rated glass coffee table gives you a unique-yet-functional appearance. The undercarriage is perfect for storage that is still visible, which means more room for books or laptops or last week's Sunday edition. This easy-to-install coffee table garnered a 4.3-star average from more than 100 reviewers.GreenForest's Round Coffee Table Round, $130 on AmazonGreenForest's Round Coffee Table, $130 on Amazon: The water-resistant and durable top on this coffee table shouldn't fool you — there's great style here. The round style is great for allowing better access to the table and couches around it. This table's reviewers left it a 4.5-star average rating and you can get it in an oak or walnut style.Vasagle's Coffee Table with Storage Shelf for Living Room, $86 on AmazonVasagle's Coffee Table with Storage Shelf for Living Room, $86 on Amazon: Though sparingly designed, this two-layer coffee table gives you two full-sized surfaces for storage and for coffee activities. It's perfect for couch diners and lazy evenings when you keep a computer or tablet on the coffee table while you surf for something to watch and want your essentials nearby. It's a new release on Amazon but that hasn't stopped it from earning a 4.5-star average rating from more than 500 reviewers.Best Choice Products's Round Tempered Glass Coffee Table, $90 on AmazonBest Choice Products's Round Tempered Glass Coffee Table, $90 on Amazon: The elegant gold trim on this glass coffee table is a perfect accent for a glass coffee table, in my opinion — and I'm not a huge fan of glass coffee tables. The design opens up your room and accentuates the table's surroundings. A plant and a small display or candle will perfect your living room.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.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| NASA sent a helicopter on a nosedive to test Mars landing hardware Posted: 27 May 2019 01:37 PM PDT  NASA's Mars 2020 mission could teach us some incredible new things about our planetary neighbor, and even provide us with valuable insights that will shape plans for future manned missions to the Red Planet. It could be a very big deal for mankind... but first it has to actually, you know, land.One of the most crucial components of the Mars 2020 lander is the Lander Vision System, or VLS. The VLS will allow the spacecraft to specify its landing location automatically as it's cruising down to the surface, and NASA recently put it through its paces by strapping it to the front of a helicopter.There are many reasons why touching down on another planet is difficult. For spacecraft headed to Mars, the huge distance means communication delays that prevent anything resembling real-time control, and that means the Mars 2020 lander needs to be smart enough to choose where to land as it's descending.The Mars 2020 spacecraft will be the first to have this ability, and as with any new technology, it requires a lot of testing. NASA explains:> On a test flight in Death Valley, California, anAirbus helicopter carried an engineering model of the Lander Vision System (LVS) that will help guide NASA's next Mars mission to a safe touchdown on the Red Planet. During the flight - one in a series -- the helicopter (which is not part of the mission and was used just for testing) and its two-person crew flew a pre-planned sequence of maneuvers while LVS collected and analyzed imagery of the barren, mountainous terrain below.NASA's Mars 2020 missing is currently slated to begin sometime in July of next year. It won't actually reach Mars until 2021, but when it does it will rely on the VLS to determine the safest spot in the landing area on which to touch down.Avoiding large rocks and other hazardous terrain is a top priority for NASA. The lander will eventually deploy the Mars 2020 rover, and the robot will become NASA's most advanced piece of Mars exploration hardware to date. It will be capable of performing many different duties, including gathering Mars samples and storing them for later missions to return to Earth.
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| Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii Posted: 28 May 2019 05:53 AM PDT ![Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii]( "Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii") For 35 years, Floyd Martin delivered mail to 500 customers along his route in Marietta, Georgia. Now, Delta Air Lines is delivering for "Mr. Floyd."
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| 30+ Delish Wraps To Make Lunchtime Way More Exciting Posted: 28 May 2019 03:06 PM PDT |
| The Latest: Iran's Guard says it doesn't fear war with US Posted: 28 May 2019 02:20 AM PDT  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local):
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| Brazil's mangroves on the front line of climate change Posted: 28 May 2019 04:30 AM PDT  Instead he parks his two-foot-wide boat at the shore of the Caratingui river and wends his way on foot through the tangle of mangroves to dig out crabs with his hands from the dark muck. Water levels have risen 20-30 centimeters over the past 100 years in coastal Bahia state, where Cairu is located, according to climate researcher Carlos Nobre at the University of Sao Paulo.
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| Rare True Hillbank Built 2015 Mustang Has Only 58K Miles Posted: 28 May 2019 06:50 AM PDT  Hillbank Motorsports, an aftermarket and performance shop in Irvine California, offers performance and style parts for Mustangs, Camaros, and trucks – alongside an extensive inventory of rare and custom built performance cars. Masterfully done, this unique build rides on TSW Rotory Forged Turbina wheels, wrapped in Toyor R88 and R888 tires.
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| EU election results analysis: How the Brexit Party won the most UK seats Posted: 26 May 2019 10:41 PM PDT  Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has won the most UK seats in the European elections, with 28 of their candidates elected across the country compared to Labour's 10 and the Tories' three. Just under a third of voters backed the Brexit Party while the Conservatives slumped to their lowest share of the vote ever in a national ballot. This pattern fits into a continent-wide trend of traditionally large parties taking a hit, with smaller outfits gaining support. It has resulted in the two large establishment blocs in the European Parliament losing their combined majority under rising populist and liberal support. Labour, as well as the Conservatives, lost ground with the pro-Remain Lib Dems and Greens picking up seats alongside the pro-Brexit Brexit Party. The Lib Dems ended up in second place in the UK, while the Greens managed to top the Conservatives nationally. European election: UK results The Brexit Party gained seats across the country So far, with only Scotland and Northern Ireland yet to declare, the Brexit Party have secured a seat in every region of the UK. Mr Farage's party secured over 35 per cent of the vote in every region but London, the North West and Wales, with its best showing in the North East, where it picked up 38.7 per cent of the vote. This compares to the Lib Dems, Greens and Change UK, who collectively failed to win seats in Wales and the North West. Of the Remain-backing parties, Change UK received by far the worst results, failing to win a single seat. EU election: UK region vote share map Farage beat his 2014 level Nigel Farage's attempt to win the 2019 European election surpassed his 2014 attempt with Ukip, which is impressive considering the fact that the Brexit Party is only six weeks old. In 2014, Ukip won the European election with 27.5 per cent of the vote. Farage built on this this time round, securing 33.3 per cent of the national vote and 28 seats - four more than his tally five years ago. The rise of the Brexit Party in the polls was significant, going from around 10 per cent of the vote 40 days ago, to over 30 per cent today. Brexit polling - Farage 2019 ahead of Farage 2014 Brexit parties were out-polled those backing Remain The only concern for Mr Farage's party will be the the fact that straightforwardly pro-Brexit parties were out-polled by those who are arguing for a second referendum and a halt to Brexit. The Lib Dems, Greens, Plaid and Change UK - all backers of a second referendum - collectively gained the support of 40.3 per cent of the public in England and Wales, against no-dealers Ukip and the Brexit Party's collective 36.7 per cent. These policies commanded 77 per cent of the vote, against the 23 per cent of the pro-compromise parties of Labour and the Conservatives. Pro-Brexit parties outperformed anti-Brexit ones in the EU elections As predicted, the lack of a Remain alliance - with the Lib Dems, Greens and Change UK all competing and splitting the pro-European vote - made their job of converting votes into seats even harder. With the vote being read as a proxy for a second referendum, Nigel Farage's does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Brexit Party managed to unite the pro-Brexit vote under one banner, which helped him under the voting system used in the EU election. The D'Hondt system is a list system of voting where multiple MEPs are elected per constituency after each voter has cast a single vote for a party (rather than a specific candidate). The vote share from these party level votes is then used to determine how many MEPs are elected from each party. Our interactive explainer, below, explains how it all works. European Parliament elections: how the UK's seats were assigned Brexit debate fires increase in EU election turnout Early indications are that UK turnout in the European election is at its highest level since 2004 - although admittedly this was a low bar to surpass. The previous high for European election turnout in the UK was just 38.5 per cent, hit in 2004. With two regions yet to declare, turnout in England and Wales is estimated at 36.5 per cent - an increase of almost one percentage point on 2014. Turnout across Europe increased significantly, to its highest level for 20 years at 51 per cent. The increased enthusiasm was seen by some commentators as a response to challenges ranging from climate change to the rise of eurosceptic parties. European election turnout in UK In the rest of the EU, establishment parties suffered At a continent level, the European Union's established centre-Left and centre-Right blocs were forecast to lose their combined majority in the elections. The latest polls indicate that the two large pan-European blocs, the EPP and the S&D;, will lose seats under a tide of both populist and liberal support. Respectively, they won 221 and 191 seats in the 2014 election. European election: EU results The loss of their combined majority is likely going to be because of the rise of the liberal Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and eurosceptic Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF). These parties are currently forecast to pick up an extra 37 and 34 seats, respectively. The latter of these blocs, the populist-Right ENF, is likely to morph into a new group called European Alliance of People and Nations after the election, under Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. The ALDE and ENF are forecast to make the largest gains in the election, leading experts to warn that the new Parliament could be more fractious with majorities harder to come by.
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| Acura NSX May Add a 650-HP Type R Model and a Convertible Variant Posted: 28 May 2019 10:08 AM PDT  Rumors have circulated for years that a more hard-core NSX was coming, and a new report suggests it might arrive in 2019.
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| Breathe new life into your Instant Pot with 12 great accessories for $25 Posted: 28 May 2019 11:25 AM PDT ![Breathe new life into your Instant Pot with 12 great accessories for $25]( "Breathe new life into your Instant Pot with 12 great accessories for $25") If you think you love your Instant Pot as much as you possibly can, just wait until you unlock a whole world of new functionality with the Tecvinci 12-Piece Instant Pot Accessories Set. For just $24.99 after you clip the $4 coupon, you get 12 different accessories that let you cook food in your Instant Pot in a whole bunch of new ways. We particularly love the silicone egg molds and the non-stick springform pan. If you have any instant pot with a capacity between 5 and 8 quarts, definitely check it out.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * PERFECT INSTANT POT SET: Our product comes in a full kit of 12 pieces instant pot accessories which perfectly meets almost your needs for making the best meals.! Include: 1*Stainless Steel Steamer Basket, 1*Non-stick Springform Pan, 1*Egg Rack,1*Silicone basting Brush, 1*Silicone Egg Mold, 1*Plate Clip,1*Silicone Trivet Mats, 3*Magnetic Cook Time Cheat Sheets, 1*Food Tong, 1 pair of mini Mitts and Bouns Free Recipe Ebook ( START DOWNLOAD BY SCANNING THE QR CODE THAT STICKED ON THE BOX) * SUPER VERSATILE: Steam favorite veggies, meats in the steamer baskets, bake delicious cake in the cheesecake pan, cook a dozen eggs with stackable egg steamer rack, lift food out of deep pot with food tongs and mits, adhere 3 different magnetic cheat sheets to fridge & pot to convert your favorite recipes, protect your kitchen surfaces with silicone trivet mats. * PREMIUM QUALITY AND 100% SAFETY: Your safety is our first priority. We only using the FDA certificated material of food-grade silicone and 304 stainless steel, which is PBA free. These products are easy to clean, sturdy, durable and dishwasher safe. * FITS 5, 6 & 8 QT AND OTHER BRAND PRESSURE COOKER：this set is compatible with most instant-Pot models including IP-DUO50, IP-DUO60, IP-LUX60 and IP-DUO80. It also fits other multi quarts (6 quarts and above) electric pressure cookers such as Kuhn Rikon, Power XL, Cuisinart, Fagor, Costaway, Faberware, T-fal, Elite, GoWise, Secura and Gourmia. * 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: This 12 pieces pressure cooker accessories set includes everything you need to cook without costing you a lot of time and money to buy each piece individually, will leave a lasting impression on your cooking and baking for years to come, you won't disappointed!
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| Why these tables were empty at Chick-fil-As around the country this weekend Posted: 28 May 2019 07:31 AM PDT  To honor soldiers who died while serving in the Armed Forces, the fast food chain set up "Missing Man Tables" at locations for Memorial Day weekend.
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