| The Latest: Saudi Arabia says it shot down Yemen drone Posted: 25 Jun 2019 07:35 PM PDT  Saudi Arabia says it has shot down a drone launched into the kingdom by Yemen's Iranian-allied Houthi rebels. The Houthi drone attacks have picked up amid tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the Persian Gulf as Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers unravels. President Donald Trump says Iran still takes his threats seriously even after he decided against approving strikes in retaliation for Tehran's downing of a more than $100 million American surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
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| UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran Posted: 25 Jun 2019 04:13 AM PDT ![UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran]( "UK foreign minister Hunt says cannot envisage joining U.S.-led war with Iran") Britain does not expect the United States to request that the United Kingdom joins a war with Iran and London would be unlikely to agree to join such a conflict, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday. "The U.S. is our closest ally, we talk to them the whole time, we consider any requests that they say carefully, but I cannot envisage any situation where they request or we agree to any moves to go to war," Hunt told parliament.
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| Jussie Smollett: Chicago police share previously unseen video of rope around actor's neck Posted: 25 Jun 2019 07:34 AM PDT  In video shared by Chicago police, Jussie Smollett is seen wearing a noose, and men are seen buying supplies to carry out the allegedly-staged attack.
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| Missing University of Utah Student Last Seen Meeting Someone in a Park By Her Lyft Driver, Police Say Posted: 25 Jun 2019 06:48 AM PDT  University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck, 23, was last seen by a Lyft driver meeting someone in a park in North Salt Lake City.
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| Susan Collins of Maine is the last New England Republican in Congress. But for how long? Posted: 25 Jun 2019 02:00 AM PDT  Collins has served in the Senate for 22 years, but her opponents hope one vote can pull her down: the one she cast for Brett Kavanaugh.
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| Knock Knock, Who’s There? A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:55 AM PDT  Orange you glad it's for sale?This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS in Hugger Orange is no joke, though. It's for sale right now through Sports Car Digest (SCD) Garage in Charlotte, North Carolina with just 40,000 original miles on the odometer. The Hugger Orange paint code is GMs version of the classic racing orange found on the Z28s, Corvettes and several other '60s and '70s classic muscle cars. The "Hugger" nickname was used when marketing the vehicle in magazine ads and commercials. The term was a direct nod to the Camaro's impressive cornering abilities.Apart from its desirable color, this 1969 Chevy Camaro SS is a prized possession in and of itself. The first-gen Camaros are especially sought after for their classic appeal and historical value. This Hugger Orange example features a stunning black houndstooth interior that elevates the cabin to new levels. The interior appears to be in excellent condition with no unusual wear and tear. The car was clearly well taken care of and that translates through the photos.This bad boy is powered by Chevy's 350 cubic-inch V8 engine mated to a Muncie four-speed manual transmission. It includes an electronic ignition with power steering and power brakes. This SS has a front disc brake conversion and is equipped with long-tube headers. The V8 fires up on the first crank and settles into a lopey idle. Once you put the Hurst shifter in first gear, the transmission effortlessly shifts through all four speeds with no grinding or issues. The Autometer water temperature and oil pressure gauges attest to its quality condition too.The SS pictured here is fitted with new BF Goodrich Radian T/A tires that hug the timeless rally wheels. (Note: it used to wear Foose custom wheels, which are also available). The car was recently serviced and is ready to be enjoyed. A stunning piece of American car culture such as this ought to be shown off and given the TLC it deserves. Read more... Super Rare Vivid Rallye Green 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Is A Stunner Here's Your Chance To Own A Very Rare Factory 1969 Z28 Camaro
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| 2021 Ford Bronco to Get 2.3-Liter EcoBoost Engine, according to an Online Parts Configurator Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:30 AM PDT  Multi-line retailer Canadian Tire inadvertently revealed the future Bronco's engine on its website.
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| Supreme leader says Iranians won't budge over US sanctions Posted: 26 Jun 2019 04:39 AM PDT  Iran's supreme leader said Wednesday that Iranians will not budge or change their stand following new U.S. sanctions targeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his associates, the latest in a torrent of sharp verbal responses from Tehran in the wake of the measures. President Donald Trump enacted the new sanctions against Khamenei and others on Monday and U.S. officials also said they plan sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The sanctions followed Iran's downing last week of a U.S. surveillance drone, worth over $100 million, over the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating the crisis.
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| NRA shuts down production at TV channel amid leadership coup attempt and legal troubles Posted: 26 Jun 2019 03:34 AM PDT  The National Rifle Association has shut down production at NRA TV.The NRA on Tuesday also severed all business with its estranged advertising firm, Ackerman McQueen, which operates NRA TV, the NRA's live broadcasting media arm, according to interviews and documents reviewed by The New York Times.While NRA TV may continue to air past content, its live broadcasting will end and its on-air personalities – Ackerman employees who included Dana Loesch — will no longer be the public faces of the NRA.It remained unclear whether the NRA might try to hire some of those employees, but there was no indication it was negotiating to do so.The move comes amid a flurry of lawsuits between the NRA and Ackerman, and increasing acrimony that surfaced after two prominent NRA board members first criticised NRA TV in an article in The Times in March. The separation had become inevitable: The two sides said last month that they were ending their three-decade-plus partnership."Many members expressed concern about the messaging on NRA TV becoming too far removed from our core mission: defending the Second Amendment," Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's longtime chief executive, wrote in a message to members that was expected to be sent out by Wednesday."So, after careful consideration, I am announcing that starting today, we are undergoing a significant change in our communications strategy. We are no longer airing 'live TV' programming."In a notice to Ackerman's chief executive, Revan McQueen, sent on Tuesday night, the NRA said it "regrets that a long-standing, formerly productive relationship comes to an end in this fashion."Ackerman, in its own statement, said it was "not surprised that the NRA is unwilling to honour its agreement to end our contract and our long-standing relationship in an orderly and amicable manner.""When given the opportunity to do the right thing, the NRA once again has taken action that we believe is intended to harm our company even at the expense of the NRA itself," the company added.It said it "will continue to fight against the NRA's repeated violations of its agreement with our company with every legal remedy available to us."The development is the latest in what has been a tumultuous year for the NRA. It has struggled to right its finances; faced investigations in Congress and by Letitia James, the New York attorney general; and witnessed a leadership struggle that pitted Oliver North, the NRA's former president, against Mr LaPierre.Last week, The Times reported that the NRA had suspended Christopher W Cox, its longtime second-in-command, after a legal filing by the NRA implicated him in a failed plot to oust Mr LaPierre. Mr Cox has strongly rejected such allegations.NRA officials had grown leery of the cost of creating so much live content for NRA TV, which was started in 2016, and wondered whether it was worth the return on its investment. The site's web traffic was minuscule, with 49,000 unique visitors in January, according to a report provided by comScore.Some NRA board members and officials were also unnerved by the breadth of its content, which strayed far beyond gun rights and encompassed several right-wing talking points, including criticism of immigration and broadsides against the FBI. A show hosted by Ms Loesch that put Ku Klux Klan hoods on talking trains from the popular children's programme Thomas & Friends drew outrage from some within the organisation.But the dispute between the NRA and Ackerman goes deeper than NRA TV. It has its origins in threats by Ms James last summer to investigate the NRA's tax-exempt status. The NRA began an audit of its contractors, and has said that Ackerman, which was paid roughly $40m (£31.5m) annually by the NRA, refused to comply. Ackerman has disputed that allegation.Ackerman has assailed the role of the NRA's outside attorney, William A Brewer III, over the size of his legal fees, and has seen him as its chief antagonist. The contention has a bitter family twist because Mr Brewer is the brother-in-law of Mr McQueen, Ackerman's chief executive.The schism between the organisations has been shocking. They had a closely intertwined partnership going back to the "I'm the NRA" campaign in the 1980s, and Ackerman came to be known as the voice of the NRA.But by Tuesday night, splitting up was seen as inevitable."This is just an affirmation of what we've known is going to happen," said Joel Friedman, an NRA board member.The New York Times
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| Millions of people are traveling to New York for WorldPride. Why are some opting to skip? Posted: 26 Jun 2019 07:14 AM PDT  WorldPride, the annual LGBTQ celebration, is in New York this year — and LGBTQ people of all stripes are making the global trek.
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| The Latest: Mass RMV head resigns over crash that killed 7 Posted: 25 Jun 2019 07:04 PM PDT  The head of the Massachusetts motor vehicle division has resigned for failing to terminate the commercial driving license of man whose collision with a group of motorcyclists in New Hampshire left seven dead. Twenty-three-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seven counts of negligent homicide and was ordered to remain in preventive detention in New Hampshire, with a judge saying his driving record poses a potential danger to the public and himself.
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| U.A.E. Splits With U.S. Over Blame for Oil Tanker Attack in May Posted: 26 Jun 2019 04:23 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- The United Arab Emirates appeared to distance itself from U.S. claims that pinned attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz on Iran."Honestly we can't point the blame at any country because we don't have evidence," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Wednesday in Moscow. "If there is a country that has the evidence, then I'm convinced that the international community will listen to it. But we need to make sure the evidence is precise and convincing."While an investigation by the U.A.E., Norway and Saudi Arabia concluded that a "state actor" was most likely behind the incident in May, no nation was singled out. Still, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has said that Iran was almost certainly responsible.The attack predated the pair of strikes in the Gulf of Oman this month that the U.S. has also blamed on Iran. Vessels were targeted off the U.A.E. coast in May as they made their way toward the Strait of Hormuz, the world's foremost oil shipping chokepoint.Iran's foreign minister has labeled Bolton and the leaders of the U.A.E., Israel and Saudi Arabia as the "B-team" that's prodding President Donald Trump into going to war with the Islamic Republic. Trump slapped new sanctions on Tehran this week.With tensions on the rise across the Middle East, the U.A.E.'s top diplomat tried to change tack after talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov."We are in a region that is tense and important for the world and we don't want more tension," said Sheikh Abdullah.\--With assistance from Zainab Fattah and Verity Ratcliffe.To contact the reporter on this story: Abbas Al Lawati in Dubai at aallawati6@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Paul Abelsky, Mark WilliamsFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Strong quake hits Costa Rica-Panama border, likely 'significant damage': USGS Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:50 PM PDT  San José (AFP) - A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Panama-Costa Rica border around midnight on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, with the potential to cause casualties and "significant damage". The shallow quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), about two kilometers from the nearest town of Progreso in Panama, USGS said.
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| Pete Buttigieg: I’m Proud to Be Standing on the Shoulders of Giants in a Tradition That Goes Back to Stonewall Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:39 AM PDT  Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast/Photos GettyIn this special series, LGBT celebrities and public figures talk to Tim Teeman about the Stonewall Riots and their legacy—see more here.Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is running to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2020 presidential election. If successful, he would be the first openly gay president of the United States.Buttigieg did not respond to these four questions sent to him by The Daily Beast: When and how did you first hear about the Stonewall Riots and what did you make of them? What is their significance for you? How far have LGBT people come since 1969? What would you like to see, LGBT-wise, in the next 50 years?Bill T. Jones: We Must Work Harder to Connect Stonewall to the World's Other Liberation StrugglesInstead, Buttigieg sent this statement:"In the 50 years since Stonewall, it's been extraordinary to see the awakening of the LGBTQ+ community. As the first out elected official running for president, it's hard to believe how quickly these changes have come to our society, but also hard to live with just how much work remains ahead of us. "And in those 50 years we've seen a remarkable transformation: the awakening of an identity that learned how to exert political force and issue a moral call for our nation to do better when it comes to equality. I'm proud to be a part of that, standing on the shoulders of giants in a tradition that goes back to Stonewall and before, and I'm eager for the gains to be made on the road ahead."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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| NATO calls on Russia to destroy new missile, warns of response Posted: 25 Jun 2019 06:46 AM PDT  On Tuesday, NATO urged Russia to destroy a new missile to save a treaty that keeps land-based nuclear warheads out of Europe or face a more determined alliance response in the region.
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| 50+ Father's Day Dinners That Will Show Dad How Much You Care Posted: 24 Jun 2019 03:02 PM PDT |
| Would U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Lose a War to Iran? Posted: 25 Jun 2019 04:50 AM PDT  The recent oil tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman reinforce the need to reestablish a highly visible U.S. naval deterrent in the Middle East. For eight months last year, no aircraft carrier strike group plied the region, the longest such interruption this millennium. With the United States needing a more robust posture against Iran and confronting renewed challenges in Asia and Europe, several immediate measures and concerted longer-term efforts are critical to ensure America has the carriers it needs.The requirement to maintain carrier presence in the Middle East is a critical part of a broader national security strategy, in which U.S. global security interests necessitate a worldwide force presence. Indeed, the Navy's mission demands remain as high as those of the Cold War, calling on ships to be everywhere seemingly at once, but today's fleet is less than half the size it was 30 years ago.During the Obama administration, a "rebalance" supposedly allowed the Pentagon to focus on Asia and Europe while washing its hands of the Middle East. In reality, we never effectively rebalanced forces in the Indo-Pacific, and the situation on the ground forced us to remain deeply involved in the Middle East. Now with a growing Iranian threat, it would be imprudent to suddenly abandon the region, even as we face renewed challenges in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean.Indeed, Iran's threat to the region continues growing as its recent attacks against oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman demonstrate. Its reliance on violent sectarianism helps fuel Sunni extremist groups like ISIS. This also places Tehran's proxies on the borders of key U.S. allies. Beginning next year, Tehran can start upgrading its conventional and missile arsenals as U.N. arms embargoes expire. It is also threatening to resume progress toward nuclear weapons.The Trump Administration is pursuing robust sanctions, but these alone are likely insufficient to prevent Tehran's aggression and reassure our regional allies.Credible forward deployed military capability – like a carrier strike group – provides real options for American policymakers. Last month's intelligence suggesting Iran was ready to move against U.S. interests in the Middle East demonstrates how the absence of such forces could embolden Iran. Responding to this intelligence, the prompt movement of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group into the region has dramatically increased the U.S. force posture. Effective deterrence of Iran will require persistent, visible, and credible military capability.A combination of far-reaching and short-term policy changes can address this challenge.
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| Trump aide Conway will not testify before Congress: White House Posted: 24 Jun 2019 06:07 PM PDT  President Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway will not testify before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee this week on her alleged violations of the Hatch Act, the White House told the panel's chairman on Monday. "In accordance with long-standing precedent, we respectfully decline the invitation to make Ms. Conway available for testimony before the Committee," White House legal counsel Pat Cipollone told Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings in a letter. The Oversight Committee has said it would vote on a potential subpoena if Conway does not testify before lawmakers on Wednesday.
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| Fatal Hawaii skydiving plane crash renews NTSB's call for stricter rules: 'Accidents continue to happen' Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:41 AM PDT  An NTSB official put the FAA on notice Monday, calling for regulations on parachute operations after a skydiving plane crash in Hawaii killed 11.
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| Sheriff: Mom abused her children, boiled puppies to death Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:24 PM PDT  A woman beat and tortured at least some of her 15 children and forced them to watch as she brutally killed their pets, authorities said in New Mexico, the latest place where the woman and her husband have been the subject of complaints. Martha Crouch and her husband Timothy of Aztec, New Mexico, were arrested Monday following interviews with a number of their adult and young children living in different states, according to court records. It was not immediately clear if all the allegations made by the children had been verified by authorities.
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| Japan's Abe wants G-20 to unite on trade, Middle East Posted: 26 Jun 2019 03:34 AM PDT  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Wednesday to seek a consensus on trade and other contentious issues when he chairs this week's summit of the Group of 20 countries in Osaka. Abe stressed the importance of global leaders overcoming their differences and joining hands in tackling difficult issues to send a strong message to the rest of the world. "I hope to lead the summit by patiently finding common ground in order to achieve concrete results, rather than stressing or focusing on differences of opinion," Abe told a news conference marking the end of the parliamentary session.
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| Images of drowned Salvadoran migrant and 2-year-old child stir outrage Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:05 PM PDT  Shocking images of a drowned Salvadoran migrant and his two-year-old daughter who died while trying to cross the Rio Grande river from Mexico to the United States have sparked outrage, underscoring the dangers faced by asylum-seekers. Twenty-five-year-old Oscar Martinez Ramirez fled El Salvador with his 21-year-old wife and their daughter and decided to make the risky crossing from Mexico to the US on Sunday afternoon, according to a Mexican court report seen by AFP. A series of haunting photographs showing the young father and child lying face-down in water have stirred anger in El Salvador and Mexico, where the government had faced sharp criticism for its treatment of migrants.
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| Leaked hi-res images give us our best look yet at Apple’s iPhone 11 Posted: 25 Jun 2019 05:17 AM PDT  There will be several high-profile flagship smartphone launches between now and early September, but Apple's upcoming new iPhone 11 is already stealing the spotlight. We've got the Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Note 10, and several big launches coming up in China. In fact, the world's first smartphone with a hidden under-display selfie camera could be announced as soon as tomorrow. Still, all eyes are already on Apple's unreleased iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max, and iPhone 11R (or whatever Apple ends up calling them), the designs of which have been revealed in a series of leaks from numerous reliable sources.In much the same way that the iPhone 7 was really the "iPhone 6ss" since it used the exact same design but spiced things up with exciting new features, the iPhone 11 is shaping up to be an "iPhone Xss." It'll sport the same overall design with a few minor tweaks and a massive new camera bump on the back. That new camera bump will be a bit of an eyesore at first, but it's also the key to several of the best new features expected to arrive on the iPhone 11, such as an enhanced night mode for the camera that should yield low-light photos that rival Google's Pixel phones.We have indeed seen the iPhone 11 leak plenty of times already, but this latest leak comes from a source with a terrific track record and it might give us our best look yet at Apple's unreleased iPhone 11.Online retailer Mobile Fun is often the recipient of renders from one third-party accessory maker in particular that depict unreleased smartphones. That accessory maker is Olixar, and it's back with a new set of protective cases. This time around, they're for Apple's upcoming new iPhone 11 Max, the phablet-sized iPhone 11 model Apple will release later this summer.There aren't any surprises in these new renders per se, but Mobile Fun sent us hi-resolution versions of the images and they give us a great up-close look at Apple's iPhone 11 Max design. Here they are in all their glory:The renders show Apple's gold iPhone 11 Max from every conceivable angle, and we can see all of the subtle design changes like the new round mute switch -- as well as the not-so-subtle one: the massive new camera array on the back. While we expect the finished product to look just like this, aside from one big mistake that Olixar made when creating the renders. The area around the lenses in the square camera array on Apple's next-generation iPhones is expected to be color-matched to the rest of the back of the phone, according to several sources including top Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo. In these renders, however, Olixar colored that area black like it is on Apple's past iPhone models. Most people agree that it looks better this way, but the real gold iPhone 11 Max that Apple releases in a few months will have the same gold coloring between the rear camera lenses and flash.Apple's new iPhone 11 series is expected to be announced sometime in early September with a release date to follow in mid to late September.
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| Taj Ma Garaj Collection Being Sold Without Reserve Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:10 PM PDT  The single day sale through RM Sotheby's is set for September 28th in Ohio. Well-know late car collector, John Dixon's, collection of more than 30 highly sought after Porsches and Volkswagens is soon going under the hammer with no reserve set in the Taj Ma Garaj Collection. The auction is happening in Dayton, OH, and will feature over 350 lots of automobila and collectibles. John Dixon's obsession with the Porsche models started when he was passed by a 911 in his muscle car in high school - from there, he was blown away by the car. He bought his own Porsche a year later, and really got serious about his car collection in the 90s. The Taj Ma Garaj collection is now considered to be one of the most eclectic Porsche and Volkswagen collections, along with Porsche unobtainium, rare literature, collectibles, engines, and an assortment of arcade ephemera. The collection was opened by John to thousands of visitors and enthusiasts over the years."RM Sotheby's is honored to present the Taj Ma Garaj Collection on behalf of John's beloved wife Vickie and the Dixon family," says Senior Car Specialist Donnie Gould, RM Sotheby's. "The Taj Ma Garaj building is truly a Porsche enthusiast's heaven. John Dixon was as knowledgeable about his cars as he was passionate, and what he has assembled represents sought-after high watermarks in Porsche production, alongside cars like a wrought-iron Beetle that are just plain fun. We look forward to presenting the Collection this fall and welcoming fellow Porsche collectors from far and wide."Offered in the lots are:A 1952 Porsche 356 Cabriolet by Gläser, chassis no. 12355 (Est. $375,000 - $425,000) A 1957 Porsche 356 A Carrera GT Speedster Coachwork by Reutter, chassis no. 83622, (Est. $1,500,000 - $2,000,000) A 1967 Porsche 911 S Coupe, chassis no. 305860 S, (Est. $350,000 - $450,000) An exceedingly rare 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport, chassis no. WP0ZZZ93ZBS710038, (Est. $250,000 - $350,000) A 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo, chassis no. WP0AC2996VS375198, (Est. $225,000 - $275,000) A 1953 Porsche 356 Limousine Custom, chassis no. 50146, (Est. $150,000 - $250,000) The Taj Ma Garaj collection is a Porsche lover's dream, and it's being offered up on behalf of John's beloved wife Vickie and the Dixon family. It is sure to grab the attention of enthusiasts all over the world this September in Ohio. Source: RM Sotheby's Read More... Porsche Featured At 64th Annual Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance Rothmans Replica: 1983 Porsche 911 SC Safari
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| New-gen Raspberry Pi out now from $35 Posted: 25 Jun 2019 02:57 AM PDT  The Raspberry Pi Foundation has unveiled the fourth-generation version of its famous compact and affordable single-board computer. The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is out now, priced from $35.
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| SpaceX Is Launching 152 Human Remains Into Space Posted: 24 Jun 2019 07:30 PM PDT  The third launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy features a variety of payloads from science experiments and satellites, but along for the ride are more than 150 humans, well a small part of them.Celestis, a company that has been sending symbolic portions of human remains on space flights since 1997, has partnered with General Atomics to hitch a ride on the Orbital Test Bed satellite alongside NASA's new Deep Space Atomic Clock, a solar array for the U.S. Air Force and other customers.The remains of 152 individuals have been installed on the small satellite, which is slated to orbit the Earth for 25 years.The cost advertised for the trip to space, dubbed the Heritage Flight, on celestis.com is $4,995 a person.Celestis also advertises its Earth Rise Service for $2,495, in which cremated remains or DNA get sent into zero G space and return to Earth. The Heritage Flight is the next level up, the Earth Orbit service.Beyond that is the Luna Service to the moon's surface and Voyager Service into deep space for $12,500 each.This will be the 16th overall launch for Celestis, and the seventh into Earth orbit. The company did send the remains of one person to the moon in 1998.It worked with friends of planetary geologist Eugene Shoemaker to place some of his remains on the NASA Lunar Prospector, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Jan. 6, 1998 and made impact on the moon on July 31, 1999.A second lunar surface flight is planned for 2020 with Celestis contracting with the company Lunar Express, a commercial company approved by the U.S. for a lunar landing mission.A deep space mission is also in the works, and included on that flight will be some of the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.The four-hour window for tonight's SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch from Kennedy Space Center opens at 11:30 p.m. and closes at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.This article by War is Boring originally appeared at War is Boring.Image: Reuters.
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| Trump news – live: President imposes 'hard hitting' sanctions on Iran as White House put on lock down Posted: 24 Jun 2019 08:15 AM PDT  Donald Trump is facing criticism on multiple fronts as the week begins, including escalating tensions with Iran and domestic outcry over the treatment of migrant children held in "filthy" border detention centres. Meanwhile, questions have been raised after documents were released showing the president's transition team "red flagged" the appointed of a senior general for a top administration post over his opposition to the use of torture.After postponing the mass deportation of immigrants at the request of Democrats over the weekend, the president gave an interview to NBC's Meet the Press in which he fielded questions about possible Russian election hacking in 2020, the state of the US economy, and the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is meanwhile in Saudi Arabia this week to address tensions in the Middle East, threatening "significant" new sanctions against Tehran while expressing an interest in opening talks with the regime.Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
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| Joe Biden keeps stepping in it – and voters couldn’t care less Posted: 25 Jun 2019 02:02 AM PDT ![Joe Biden keeps stepping in it – and voters couldn't care less]( "Joe Biden keeps stepping in it – and voters couldn't care less") None of the controversies that have buffeted the Biden campaign, including the most recent one, have damaged his standing in the polls.
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| Boris Johnson fails to answer questions on private quarrel Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:58 AM PDT  Boris Johnson failed to shut down questions about his private life Tuesday as a round of media appearances served only to bog him down further in questions about character and trust. Johnson, who is running to be the next leader for both the Conservative Party and the nation, has refused to address personal questions despite an ongoing clamor to face public scrutiny after a reported quarrel with his girlfriend last week prompted a police visit. In break from his previous strategy, the front-runner took part in three interviews in less than 24 hours, responding to challenger Jeremy Hunt's criticism that he was a "coward" and needed to face greater public scrutiny if he is to become prime minister.
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| Turkey stands by S-400s, says F-35 partners disapprove of U.S. Posted: 24 Jun 2019 01:49 PM PDT  Turkey has purchased Russian missile defenses and is discussing a delivery date irrespective of any U.S. sanctions, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday, adding the United States is isolated as it also squeezes Turkey on F-35 jets. The Pentagon announced earlier this month that training by Turkish pilots on F-35 fighter jets had been halted at a U.S. air base in Arizona following Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems. Washington says the S-400 is incompatible with NATO's defense network and could compromise its F-35 fighter jets, an aircraft Turkey is helping build and planning to buy.
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| Student debt a 'life sentence' for millions of Americans Posted: 24 Jun 2019 01:51 PM PDT  Haley Walters is five years away from earning her law degree. If everything goes according to plan, she will be under a mountain of $100,000 in student debt by the time she enters the work force. Like millions of Americans, Walters is paying a steep price for an education that will likely weigh her down financially for much of her adult life.
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| Corruption Crisis: How Criminal Politicians Poisoned the Dominican Republic Posted: 24 Jun 2019 10:19 AM PDT  The recent deaths of American tourists and shooting of former Boston Red Sox superstar David Ortiz have shed a light on the Dominican Republic's lack of security, its poor public-health regulations, its failed criminal justice system, and its high levels of corruption and impunity.Over the past fifteen years, the Dominican Republic has become the ideal place for domestic and transnational criminals to operate with impunity. The criminal activities that transpire in the Dominican Republic range from armed robberies and improvised laboratories that specialize in counterfeiting booze and medications to drug trafficking, political corruption, contract killings, illegal arms trade and human trafficking. Every ten minutes a robbery takes place in the Dominican Republic.The Dominican criminal justice system's credibility has declined steadily since the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana, PLD) rose to power in 2004. As a result, crime has skyrocketed to levels the likes of which the country has never seen before. In addition, the institutions and law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting the public health and providing security of human drugs, biological products, medications, consumer goods and food supply are virtually operating unchecked.Few countries have as corrupt a criminal justice system as the Dominican Republic. The scarce but well-intended efforts that law-enforcement officials have made to arrest criminals and raid clandestine laboratories and drug spots are often hampered by the Dominican Republic's weak criminal justice system, which, in many cases, fails to prosecute and imprison perpetrators due to their influence within or association to the PLD.Due to intractable criminal activity and continuous health and security breaches, adulterated pesticides and counterfeit alcoholic beverages have potentially killed tourists like Robert Wallace, David Harrison, Miranda Schaup, Yvette Monique, Edward Holmes and Cynthia Day. Both substances are regularly present at Dominican Republic's luxury hotels. A failed criminal justice system.
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| Mueller Sets Up Airing of Trump Probe With Risks for Both Sides Posted: 26 Jun 2019 06:17 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Special Counsel Robert Mueller agreed to testify publicly before two House panels, setting up a dramatic hearing that promises to reinvigorate the national debate over his findings on Russian election interference and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler and Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, both Democrats, announced the July 17 joint hearing on the eve of Wednesday's first Democratic presidential debate, where several of the candidates on the Miami stage are likely to remind viewers that they support an impeachment inquiry of the president.The chairmen said that Mueller, who issued his report in April, would appear in an open session and that he had agreed to the appearance under subpoenas.The session, sure to be televised live, sets up one of the most dramatic hearings of the Trump presidency -- and a confrontation between Democrats who have been pursuing investigations of the president since they took control of the House and Trump's Republican supporters who dismissed the inquiries as fishing expeditions.Until now, the White House has stymied investigations by Nadler, Schiff and other House Democratic chairmen by refusing to let present and former officials appear.Mueller said in his report that he couldn't conclude whether Trump's 2016 campaign conspired with Russia and also couldn't exonerate the president from attempting to obstruct the investigation.Trump has repeatedly denounced the inquiry and steadfastly denied any wrongdoing. The president has tweeted in the past that "after total exoneration by Robert Mueller & the Mueller Report," Democrats "want a Do Over.""It never ends," Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo. "We had no obstruction. We had no collusion."Trump also said Mueller "obviously wasn't a Trump fan."Soon after the Mueller hearing was announced, his Twitter post contained just two words: "Presidential Harassment!"Lawmakers from both parties are likely to tread carefully in their questioning of Mueller, a former F.B.I director, federal prosecutor and decorated Vietnam War veteran with a reputation for scrupulousness. He has said next to nothing about his investigation beyond the report, and made it clear that he'd prefer to say no more."Americans have demanded to hear directly from the special counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia's attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign's acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates' obstruction of the investigation into that attack," Schiff and Nadler said in a statement.In a letter accompanying the subpoenas, the chairmen tell Mueller that they understood that there were "certain sensitivities" associated with his testifying in public, including criminal investigations, some of which are continuing. That may indicate that they weren't ruling out closed-door questioning on some matters."You have also explained that you prefer for the Special Counsel's Office's written work to speak for itself," they added. "Nevertheless, the American public deserves to hear directly from you about your investigation and conclusions," they write, saying they will work with Mueller to address his legitimate concerns.The announcement comes after Republicans have taunted Nadler for not producing Mueller for a public hearing sooner.One of Trump's closest congressional allies, conservative Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows of North Carolina, warned on Fox News, "Bob Mueller had better be prepared because he will be cross-examined and the American people will see the flaws in his report."But next month's hearing carries risks for both parties.Some Democrats have taken comments by Mueller as a virtual invitation to open impeachment proceedings, a course that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has resisted so far and has said could result in a political backlash because the Republican-controlled Senate would be unlikely to follow up by removing Trump from office.Mueller has said Justice Department rules prohibit the indictment of the nation's chief executive, and "the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing."Now, Mueller will be available to directly answer whether impeachment proceedings are what he's suggesting. If he says that, it will be difficult for Pelosi to continue putting off demands to move forward.For Republicans, their gamesmanship in heckling Democrats for not subpoenaing Mueller to this point could come home to roost. Their claims that Democrats have misinterpreted Mueller's findings could be proven false.At a Judiciary hearing in April, after the release of the Mueller report, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Doug Collins of Georgia, chastised Nadler and Democrats for not having produced Mueller as a witness.Collins said that absent an impeachment inquiry, calling Mueller himself to testify would be the best way to learn about his findings — and that the hearing should be held.The timing of the scheduled testimony comes a week before the House is set to break for a six-week summer recess, and members are not scheduled to return to Washington until early September.(Updates with Trump comments beginning in eighth paragraph.)To contact the reporters on this story: John Harney in Washington at jharney2@bloomberg.net;Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Kevin Whitelaw at kwhitelaw@bloomberg.net, Wendy BenjaminsonFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| To save its 'Catholic identity,' Indianapolis' Cathedral High School is firing a gay teacher Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:32 AM PDT  Cathedral High School is one of 68 schools Catholic recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and serves about 1,100 students in grades 9-12.
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| Baby rescued from plastic bag in Georgia Posted: 25 Jun 2019 01:49 PM PDT  Georgia sheriff's office realeased dramatic body-cam video showing the rescue of a newborn girl who was found alive inside a plastic bag in the woods. (June 25)
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| The 10 Craziest, Most Powerful Hypercars to Look Forward To Posted: 24 Jun 2019 05:01 PM PDT |
| Feds: Rep. Duncan Hunter paid for affairs with campaign cash Posted: 25 Jun 2019 06:04 PM PDT  U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California illegally used campaign money to finance romantic flings with lobbyists and congressional aides, spending thousands of dollars on meals, cocktails and vacations, federal prosecutors say. A government court filing late Monday detailed allegations about the married Republican congressman's affairs with five women following an indictment last year charging Hunter and his wife with misspending more than $200,000 in campaign funds on trips and other personal expenses. Margaret Hunter, who served as the six-term congressman's campaign chairwoman, pleaded guilty this month to one count of corruption and agreed to testify against her husband.
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| The first big discount on AirPods 2 with Apple’s wireless charging case is still available on Amazon Posted: 24 Jun 2019 11:57 AM PDT  Last week, Apple AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case got a sizable discount for the first time ever. They're normally a buck under $200, but they dropped to $179.99 on Amazon with free Prime shipping. Our readers couldn't take advantage fast enough, and they quickly sold out -- though Amazon kept taking orders despite the fact that they were marked as out of stock. Well, if you missed that big sale last week, we have some fantastic news for you on Monday. Actually, we have two bits of great news. First, they're still on sale. Second, they're back in stock and available to be Prime-shipped as soon as today if you live close enough to an Amazon warehouse that has inventory!There's absolutely no way to tell how much longer they're going to be in stock and on sale at a discount on Amazon, so definitely pick up a pair while you still can.Here are the key details from the product page: * Automatically on, automatically connected * Easy setup for all your Apple devices * Quick access to Siri by saying "Hey Siri" * Double-tap to play or skip forward * New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices * Charges quickly in the case * Case can be charged either wirelessly using a Qi-compatible charging mat or using the Lightning connector * Rich, high-quality audio and voice * Seamless switching between devices * Listen and talk all day with multiple charges from the Wireless Charging Case
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| Afghanistan's Ghani to visit Pakistan in bid to step up peace effort Posted: 26 Jun 2019 04:17 AM PDT  Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani will visit Pakistan on Thursday to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, less than a week after its neighbor hosted Afghan opposition leaders to discuss ways to end an 18-year-long war. Ghani's third visit since 2014 comes as efforts have intensified to reach a political settlement with the Taliban and end decades of war in Afghanistan, which has long accused Pakistan of supporting the Islamist insurgent movement.
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| Rothmans Replica: 1983 Porsche 911 SC Safari Posted: 25 Jun 2019 11:58 AM PDT  While it may be a replica of the real deal, this 911 SC is ready for rallying.One of the coolest things about the 1980s was production-based racecars, which were born in order to satisfy motorsport homologation requirements. Nowadays, these vehicles are extremely valuable, due to the fact that many of them were purposefully used and driven hard.Porsche's iconic 911 is one of these vehicles where ownership is expensive, with many examples being restoration items that are usually reserved for collectors. However, this 1983 Porsche 911 SC is both restored and ready for hard driving, as it is a replica of the Rothman East African Safari 911SCRS racecar.Trissl Sports Cars in Florence, Alabama offers this unique Porsche for sale. When the car arrived with them, it needed a full restoration after sitting in a field for 20 years. At that point, they decided to pay tribute to one of their favorite racecars of all time.Martin's Classic Cars in Huntsville, AL rebuilt the 3.0-liter engine, and it features upgrades such as ported and polished heads from Ollie's Engineering, an improved carburetor, Dougherty Camshafts, and race cams. Additionally, the transmission received a reseal and it utilizes a lightweight clutch kit. Trissl believes that there are around 100 miles on the engine build, but they do not have sufficient documentation to prove this, so the vehicle is sold with the true miles unknown.Vintage Auto Craft in Nashville, TN handled the paint on this Porsche, using pictures and measurements from the original Rothmans car to perfect its look. They also custom fabricated the TRE Motorsports front oil cooler to work with the factory front bumper, and sourced a rear lightweight Porsche wing and molded it to the factory trunk lid. TRE Motorsports also created a custom Hella light pod for the front of the vehicle, while Freddie Louis Auto Accessories from Huntsville, AL tackled the exterior graphics.Last but not least, this 911 rides on the factory Fuchs wheels and also features tires tread set up for usage in snow and ice. The brake system consists of Bremtek Racing parts, while TRE Motorsports cooked up a set of custom-made Bilstein coilovers.The asking price for this rally-ready 911 is $123,942, which certainly makes it harder to justify putting this Porsche through its paces. What would you do with this beautiful Porsche? Read More... Could The Singer DLS Be The Greatest Porsche 911 Ever Made? 1983 Porsche 911 SC Formerly Owned By Alton Brown Is For Sale
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| The Secret Is Out: How a Russian MiG-31 Shot Down Another MiG-31 Posted: 25 Jun 2019 05:06 AM PDT  It has now emerged that the twin-engine fighter was brought down by another MiG-31 which fired an R-33 air-to-air missile mistakenly.A report appeared on Baza claims that "… the accident of the MiG-31 aircraft was the result of omissions in the activities of officials in the organization of the LUT (flight tactical exercises – Approx. Ed. precluding their mutual falling into the zone of permitted launches of guided missiles R-33)…"The report continues: "… the accident of the MiG-31 aircraft as a result of the crew's violation of safety measures and missions for flight, expressed in the premature activation of the aircraft's on-board radar station by the navigator and the unauthorized launch of the R-33 guided missiles by the commander of the MiG-31 fighter aircraft…"In short, the MiG-31 mistakenly shot down its wingman.The MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) was developed during 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau as supersonic interceptor aircraft and was aimed to replace the earlier MiG-25 "Foxbat." In fact the MiG-31 is based on, and shares design elements with the MiG-25.The MiG-31 has the distinction of being one of the fastest combat jets in the world and continues to be operated by the Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF).Thanks to its astonishing flight characteristics the Foxhound was able to intercept and (according to MiG-31 pilots) potentially shoot down the legendary SR-71 Blackbird.To undertake this mission the MiG-31 relied on the Vympel R-33 (NATO reporting name: AA-9 Amos), an air-to-air long range missile capable to shoot down fast targets like the SR-71 Blackbird.This article by Dario Leone originally appeared on The Aviation Geek Club in 2019.
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| Oman denies sending US message to Iran Posted: 24 Jun 2019 11:06 AM PDT  The sultanate of Oman denied Monday that it had sent a message from the United States to Iran after the Islamic republic shot down a US drone in the Gulf. Media reports late last week said Muscat had sent a message to Tehran from US President Donald Trump, warning the Islamic republic of an impending American attack. A military strike ordered in retaliation for the downing of the US drone was called off by Trump at the last minute.
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| Miss Hooters Tennessee finalist arrested, accused of trashing boyfriend's house after breakup Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:25 AM PDT  Madison Rogers, Miss Hooters Tennessee contestant, faces burglary and vandalism charges after police said she destroyed part of ex-boyfriend's house.
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| Replica clock find sparks hope for Notre-Dame restoration Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:16 AM PDT  An accidental discovery of a 19th-century clock in a dusty church storage room in Paris has sparked hopes that it can be used to replace a timepiece destroyed in the fire at Notre-Dame cathedral. The ruined clock in Notre-Dame, which measured two metres (6.5 feet) across, was located beneath the roof and spire of the Gothic monument which crashed down in the blaze that stunned France in April. Then French clockmaker Jean-Baptiste Viot stumbled across an almost identical version while completing an inventory last month at Saint Trinite church in northern Paris, four kilometres (2.5 miles) away from Notre-Dame.
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| The Ford Puma, a Fiesta-Based Crossover, Is about to Make Its Debut Posted: 25 Jun 2019 05:59 AM PDT  For now, the Puma is for Europe only, but we suspect that will change.
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