| Sessions vows to crack down on leakers—and sends a warning to reporters Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:54 AM PDT  U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) speaks as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats (L) listens during an event at the Justice Department August 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed Friday to crack down on what he called a "staggering" number of leaks of classified information since the Trump administration took office. He promised to step up criminal investigations of suspected leakers, and to review department guidelines governing media subpoenas, raising the prospect of a renewed effort by federal prosecutors to compel reporters to reveal their confidential sources.
|
| US Navy ends search for sailor thought lost in west Pacific Posted: 04 Aug 2017 08:14 PM PDT  TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. Navy has ended a three-day search for a sailor who is believed to have gone overboard during operations in the South China Sea.
|
| Fugitive Microbiology Professor and Oxford Employee Arrested in Brutal Stabbing Death Posted: 05 Aug 2017 05:46 AM PDT  "Biggest mistake of my life"
|
| Venezuela's new legislative superbody opens despite wide criticism Posted: 04 Aug 2017 11:40 AM PDT  By Eyanir Chinea and Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela on Friday inaugurated a new legislative superbody that is expected to rewrite the constitution and give vast new powers to the ruling Socialist Party, defying worldwide condemnation that the new assembly undermines democratic freedoms. The 545-member assembly unanimously elected well-known allies of President Nicolas Maduro to its leadership in a show of unity, signaling that the socialists have put aside differences to focus on consolidating the all-powerful body. Former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, a close Maduro ally was elected to the presidency while former Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz will serve as vice president.
|
| 4-Year-Old And Her Grandfather Drown After He Jumps Into Pool to Save Her Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:54 AM PDT  They both could not swim.
|
| Myanmar govnt probe finds no campaign of abuse against Rohingya Posted: 06 Aug 2017 02:41 AM PDT  A government-appointed commission on Sunday cleared Myanmar security forces of systematic rape, murder and arson against Rohingya Muslims, dismissing UN allegations of widespread abuses during a recent crackdown. The commission examined the deadly violence which began in northwestern Rakhine State in October last year after attacks by Rohingya militants on police posts near the Bangladesh border. Giving their conclusions on Sunday, a state-backed commission said it found no evidence that Myanmar security forces carried out a systematic campaign of rape, murder or arson.
|
| Google Anti-Diversity Manifesto Sparks Response From Company's VP Of Diversity Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:01 PM PDT  A Google engineer's opinions on diversity have sparked further conversation within the company.
|
| China Leaving US Behind on Green Energy Jobs Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:59 AM PDT  Richard Engel looks at how countries like India are pushing for a greener future, and China is leading the way in wind and solar manufacturing and the jobs that come with it, while Donald Trump holds the U.S. back with a focus on coal.
|
| Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit Posted: 05 Aug 2017 04:51 PM PDT ![Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit]( "Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit") OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When Randy Gamel and his husband were looking for a retirement home, a six-bedroom fixer upper in the tiny western Oklahoma town of Hitchcock caught their eye.
|
| Husband Arrives to Help Wife With Overheated Car and Finds 2 Kids, Mother-in-Law Dead Posted: 05 Aug 2017 02:06 PM PDT  Police say they found open beer cans in one of the cars
|
| Where to buy your eclipse glasses before the total solar eclipse on August 21 Posted: 06 Aug 2017 06:00 AM PDT  Ever since you were a kid, your parents probably told you not to look directly at the sun. The only issue with that is that if you want to watch the upcoming total solar eclipse on August 21, you kind of need to stare straight in our closest star's direction. Luckily, there are literally dozens of eclipse glasses you can use to protect your eyes from the sun's strong rays. But knowing which ones to buy, whether they'll actually protect your eyes, and where to buy them can get a little murky. SEE ALSO: August is an awesome month for skywatching: Here's how to make the most of it If you're itching to watch the eclipse, but don't know where to begin looking for the right pair of protective glasses, we've got you covered. Why do I need solar eclipse glasses anyway? The total eclipse will cut across the contiguous United States from coast to coast, giving millions of people around the country a chance to see the moon pass in front of and blot out the sun. While it's safe to look at the sun when the moon is completely covering it during the eclipse, it's not safe to look at it at any other time. If you're planning to watch the solar eclipse in person, you need to be sure to pick up some high-quality eclipse glasses. A map of the path of the eclipse.Image: NASAYou should be able to look up at the sun and watch as the moon slowly moves in front of the star with a good pair of eclipse glasses. Without the glasses, you could do serious harm to your eyesight, and on top of that, you just won't have a very good view of the rare eclipse. The total eclipse isn't something you want to miss, either. This marks the first time a total eclipse has graced skies above the lower 48 states since 1979. Are all glasses the same? Not every pair of tinted lenses will protect your eyes. The first thing you need to look for in a pair of glasses is a special-purpose safe solar filter, not an average polarized filter or color filter. You should also avoid any eclipse glasses that are older than three years, have scratches, or are wrinkled. And never attempt to make your own solar filter. Solar filters are many more times darker than the darkest sunglasses you own. The filters are made to let you safely look directly at the sun by reducing the levels of harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation hitting your eyes. As eclipse fever hits the U.S., it's more important than ever to be sure that you're getting real eclipse glasses, not the fakes that have been popping up recently, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) said. The AAS did recommend that people look for the ISO 12312-2 safety standard on their eclipse glasses, but after a recent influx of counterfeit eclipse glasses, the organization is now recommending people buy from one of the venders on its curated list. Some of the recommended manufacturers on the list include Baader Planetarium, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17, and American Paper Optics. There are dozens more out there, but just remember you can no longer simply trust the ISO 12312-2 certification. Be sure to research the quality and rating of your glasses before using them. NASA is also warning skywatchers about the fake eclipse glasses that have flooded the market. Check for the ISO number.Image: nasaWhere can you buy them? Whether you're planning a huge watch party or you just want to walk outside and take a look, it's time to start planning ahead. With this in mind, here are a few places you can get a free pair: Mystery Science and Google are donating 15,000 pairs of glasses to elementary schools. NASA Library Initiative and the Moore Foundation are providing free glasses to be picked up at 4,800 local libraries across the nation. Astronomers Without Borders is donating glasses to veteran's hospitals, homeless youth shelters, and other underserved communities. For those of you who can't get your hands on a free pair and like to shop in person, here's where to find your glasses. 7-Eleven Bi-Mart Casey's General Store Circle K Hobby Town Kirklands Kroger Love's Travel Stops Lowe's Menards Pilot/Flying J Toys "R" Us Walmart And for the rest of you who would rather purchase your glasses online, here's your list. Keep in mind that a lot of these vendors sell their goods on Amazon, too. 123 Sales 3Dstereo.com Educational Innovations Electronic Analyst Firefly Buys (FFB) Fred Meyer Freedom Hill Mega-Fun Toys Off the Wall Toys & Gifts Run to Shop Skyhawk Ventures Soluna/GSM Sales Squirrellynuts Your 5 Star General Store Now that you know what you're looking for, be sure to pick up your eclipse glasses as soon as you can. The big eclipse is only a couple weeks away, and you don't want to miss out on it due a lack of planning. WATCH: Sun spots
|
| Rebuilding Aleppo’s Old City Posted: 06 Aug 2017 08:10 AM PDT ![Rebuilding Aleppo's Old City]( "Rebuilding Aleppo's Old City") Reconstructing the Old City of Aleppo in Syria is vital not just to Syria's cultural heritage but to the country's economy.
|
| Russia's Lavrov meets Tillerson, says feels U.S. ready to continue dialogue Posted: 06 Aug 2017 06:40 AM PDT  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday he believed his U.S. colleagues were ready to continue dialogue with Moscow on complex issues despite bilateral tensions. Lavrov, who met U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of an international gathering in Manila, said the first thing that Tillerson asked about was Russia's retaliation to new U.S. sanctions against Moscow.
|
| Brazil troops storm Rio slums to catch gang leaders Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:28 PM PDT  Thousands of Brazilian army troops raided Rio de Janeiro slums in a pre-dawn crackdown on crime gangs on Saturday, leaving parts of the city looking like a war zone on the first anniversary of the opening of the Olympic Games. Five favelas were targeted by around 1,300 police and 3,600 troops in a sweep starting at 4 am (0700 GMT), the Rio state security service said in a statement. Rio state authorities say there were 10,000 cases of cargo theft last year.
|
| How Humans Have Affected Evolution Posted: 04 Aug 2017 06:40 PM PDT  Evolution no longer has to take millions of years.
|
| WannaCry hero Marcus Hutchins could face 40 years in US prison Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:57 AM PDT  The young computer expert who stopped the WannaCry global cyber attack could face decades in a US prison following accusations that he helped create and sell a malicious software that targeted bank accounts. Marcus Hutchins, who saved the NHS from cyber criminals, could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison in the US if he is found guilty of the charges. Hutchins, who was at a hacking conference in Las Vegas when he was arrested by the FBI, faces six counts of helping to create, spread and maintain the banking Trojan Kronos between 2014 and 2015. According to the US Department of Justice indictment, the alleged offences took place between July 2014 and July 2015. Hutchins was jointly charged with another individual who was not named. The indictment alleged that Hutchins "created the Kronos malware" and the other person later sold it for $2,000 (£1,500) online. "The maximum statutory sentence he could face is decades, roughly 40 years," said Tor Ekeland, a US lawyer who specialises in defending alleged cyber criminals. "Would he get that? I doubt it, it would be a bizarre outcome. Is it possible? It sure is." Hutchins is due to appear in court later on Friday, when he could plead guilty or not guilty. If he pleads guilty he could be sentenced to a short prison sentence or supervised release. If he pleads not guilty, he will be moved to Wisconsin, where the charges have been brought, to face trial, which could start any time between three months and three years, Ekeland said. "The main thing to do now is enter a not guilty plea as soon as you can, get him out on bail, and then you've got some breathing room," said Ekeland. But he added it is "highly likely" Hutchins will be refused bail, because he is a foreign national in the US and could be deemed a flight risk. Ekeland described the allegations against Hutchins as "very thin". "There's not a single allegation that he made any money or anybody came to any harm from it," he said. "The indictment is very thin. It's legally bizarre and there's little detail." Hutchins was arrested at an airport in Las Vegas on Wednesday shortly before he was due to fly back to the UK. Priority boarding so you can add to the time you're sat on a plane that is nowhere near ready to fly ��— MalwareTech (@MalwareTechBlog) 2 August 2017 The Kronos malware was spread through emails with malicious attachments and allowed users steal money using credentials such as internet banking passwords. It was allegedly sold on the dark web marketplace AlphaBay, which the US Government shut down at the end of July. The allegations are unrelated to the WannaCry attack he was credited with halting, according to a US official. The security expert, from Devon, was hailed a hero in May when he discovered a "kill switch" for the WannaCry ransomware, which spread to hundreds of thousands of computers across 150 countries. Among the victims were dozens of NHS Trusts, which were forced to delay operations and turn people away. About | WannaCry Hutchins, who stopped the attack from his bedroom under the pseudonym MalwareTech, has reportedly helped GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre since the incident. A a source said the organisation collaborated with many private individuals and was "very much embedded in the community," of which Hutchins is a part. On his arrest, an NCSC spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation. This is a law enforcement matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further." Janet Hutchins, his mother, told the Telegraph she was trying to find out exactly what had happened to her son but said she had not yet managed to get anything confirmed. "I think I'm going to be rather busy tonight," she added. Cyber attack 'hero': I was just 'doing my bit' 00:59 A security expert who was staying with Hutchins at the DefCon hacking conference in Nevada said he had been arrested at Las Vagas's McCarran International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The friend, who also works in the cyber security industry, said: "He was detained at McCarran airport yesterday. He checked into his flight and I think he was sitting in the Virgin upper class lounge. "He was escorted out of the airport and never made his flight." Around 20 hours after he went missing, Hutchins' parents told the friend he had been arrested. After his arrest, Hutchins was taken to Henderson Detention Center in Nevada before being moved to the Las Vegas FBI field office. "I had been trying to get in contact with him for the past 20 hours," the friend told the Telegraph. "I finally located him this morning but they moved him before visiting hours. Now he's in the wind again." A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are in touch with local authorities in Las Vegas following reports of a British man being arrested." The UK's National Crime Agency said: "We are aware a UK national has been arrested but it's a matter for the authorities in the US." I can confirm @MalwareTechBlog was detained yesterday and FBI/US Marshalls won't tell me where he is. https://t.co/lV5SxZjsRi— Andrew Mabbitt (@MabbsSec) August 3, 2017 Hutchins stopped the spread of the WannaCry ransomware when he accidentally discovered a "kill switch". Working on his own from his small bedroom in his parent's home, Hutchins has been lauded for his computer skills in the wake of the attack. The WannaCry attack spread to more than 230,000 computers in scores of countries, affecting major organisations including the NHS, Renault and O2. Using a vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows operating system discovered by US security agencies, WannaCry locked victims' computers and demanded a $300 ransom. Hutchins found a way to stop the virus from rapidly spreading. He was given a $10,000 (£7,600) reward for the effort, which he donated to charity. The ethical hacker, who is largely self-taught and did not go to university, was in the US for the world's largest annual conventions for security experts, BlackHat and DefCon. His arrest comes as more than £100,000 of digital currency bitcoin that was paid by victims of the WannaCry attack was withdrawn from the hackers' online wallets. There is no indication that the two events are connected. Victims were asked to pay around £230 in Bitcoins to get back control of their systems and monitoring websites showed the wallets holding the payments had been emptied on Thursday. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but experts have connected it to Lazarus, a group also linked to the 2014 Sony Pictures hack. Experts warned the incident will send a "really bad message" to the cyber security community. "There are major implications for cyber security," said Ekeland, the US lawyer. "By doing this they've made the internet less safe because nobody in their right mind is likely to help the US Government stop attacks now. "They've sent a really bad message that even if you help the US Government stop a worldwide major malware attack and save people millions of dollars and potentially saved lives, you could be arrested because someone you supposedly associated with supposedly sold malware for $2,000." Ekeland added that creating and distributing malicious software is different to using it to commit crimes. "They're messing with a multi-billion dollar market," he said. "If I was a certain type of software manufacturer, I would be very concerned about my work right now. I don't understand why this type of software isn't legal." WannaCry ransomware map - locations of infection
|
| Michael Flynn Discloses Ties to Firm Related to Controversial Data Analysis Company Posted: 05 Aug 2017 05:18 AM PDT  The company aided the Trump campaign
|
| Turkey warns new military moves in Syria imminent Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:25 AM PDT ![Turkey warns new military moves in Syria imminent]( "Turkey warns new military moves in Syria imminent") ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's president reiterated Saturday that new cross-border operations into Syria are in the works as the country boosts its military presence along the border against threats from Kurdish militants in war-torn Syria.
|
| The Latest: Nissan says workers reject UAW in Mississippi Posted: 04 Aug 2017 09:08 PM PDT  CANTON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on an election deciding whether the United Auto Workers union will represent workers at a Nissan plant in Mississippi (all times local):
|
| U.S. Army halts use of Chinese-made drones over cyber concerns Posted: 04 Aug 2017 01:47 PM PDT  By Alwyn Scott NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Army has ordered its members to stop using drones made by Chinese manufacturer SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd because of "cyber vulnerabilities" in the products. An Aug. 2 Army memo posted online and verified by Reuters applies to all DJI drones and systems that use DJI components or software. It requires service members to "cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media and secure equipment for follow-on direction." The memo says DJI drones are the most widely used by the Army among off-the-shelf equipment of that type.
|
| Interior Department watchdog to investigate threat to Alaska senator on healthcare Posted: 05 Aug 2017 10:50 AM PDT  The Interior Department's inspector general said it would investigate a reported threat by the agency's head, Ryan Zinke, against Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski's state of Alaska last week over her opposition to her party's efforts to repeal Obamacare.
|
| U.S. pushes U.N. to slash North Korea exports by a third over missile tests Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:06 PM PDT  By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution, seen by Reuters on Friday, aims to slash by a third North Korea's $3 billion annual export revenue by banning the country's trade of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. A council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was a "high confidence" that North Korea ally China and Russia would support the draft resolution, which was circulated to the 15 Security Council members on Friday. The United States is aiming for a vote on Saturday to impose the stronger sanctions over North Korea's two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in July, though Russia and some other council members are asking for more time, diplomats said.
|
| Minnesota mosque blast Posted: 05 Aug 2017 01:02 PM PDT ![Minnesota mosque blast]( "Minnesota mosque blast") A bomb was thrown through the window of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Ind., as people were preparing for morning prayers, damaging the imam's office but not injuring anyone.
|
| Human Evolution May Have Been Random Chance Posted: 04 Aug 2017 01:22 PM PDT  Some scientists think humans evolved as a response to prehistoric climate change, but this analysis suggests we are completely random.
|
| Police Discover More Than 1000 Animals, Many Dead, in Warehouse Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:31 AM PDT  Police are investigating the case of animal cruelty.
|
| Woman Died at the Bottom of Grand Canyon After She Ran Out of Water Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:14 AM PDT  She was hiking with two school-aged children
|
| Venezuelan attorney general fired by newly-installed constituent assembly as her office surrounded by troops in 'siege' Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:18 AM PDT  Venezuela's contested new assembly fired the country's dissident attorney general, Luisa Ortega, on Saturday, and ordered she stand trial, in a move certain to provoke greater international criticism. The body, which made the sacking its first order of business, also said it planned to operate as Venezuela's supreme power for up to two years. Troops surrounded the office of Ms Ortega on Saturday ahead of the move, as the newly installed constituent assembly began the session aimed at removing her from power. Ms Ortega was suspended by the supreme court on Friday evening, hours after the assembly - derided by government critics as an illegitimate power grab - convened for the first time. On Saturday morning she tweeted a photo of the soldiers outside her office, saying: "I reject this siege by the public ministry. I denounce before the national and international community this arbitrariness." Rechazo asedio al @MPvenezolano. Denuncio esta arbitrariedad ante la comunidad nacional e internacional #5Agpic.twitter.com/un7QWGBGJ7— Luisa Ortega Díaz (@lortegadiaz) August 5, 2017 She told reporters she was roughed up as she tried to enter her office, claiming that one officer hit her with his body shield. She left on a motor bike amid the chaos. Later, in a statement, released by the public prosecutor's office, she accused Mr Maduro's government of leading a "coup against the constitution". She added: "I do not recognize the decision." Her dismissal was, she said, "just a tiny example of what's coming for everyone that dares to oppose this totalitarian form of ruling." The constituent assembly replaced Ms Ortega with President Nicolas Maduro's human rights ombudsman, Tarek Saab, a government ally who the opposition says has turned a blind eye to state abuses. Ms Ortega, 59, has become a lightning rod for government fury after she turned against Mr Maduro, speaking out against what she saw as an erosion of democracy. On Thursday she filed legal proceedings to attempt to block the constituent assembly from convening. On Friday, when her attempt failed, Delcy Rodriguez, the former foreign minister and Maduro confidant who heads the assembly, said they would prioritise punishing opponents. Delcy Rodriguez, in red, listens in as Diosdado Cabello, head of the ruling socialist party, addresses the constituent assembly on Friday "Don't think we're going to wait weeks, months or years," she said, after she was voted unanimously by all the pro-government delegates who make up the assembly to lead. "Tomorrow we start to act. The violent fascists, those who wage economic war on the people, those who wage psychological war, justice is coming for you." Before the assembly convened, Mr Maduro said it would be used to strip opposition politicians of their immunity, and described the body as "a super power". It will have sweeping powers to upend institutions, rewrite the constitution and in theory could even remove Mr Maduro. One of its first tasks could be the closure of the opposition-controlled congress and the removal of Ms Ortega, a long-time supporter of late president Hugo Chavez. The constitutional assembly was seated despite strong criticism from the United States, other countries and the Venezuelan opposition, which fear the assembly will be a tool for imposing dictatorship. Supporters say it will pacify a country rocked by violent protests. Protests in Venezuela on July 30 But the opposition is struggling to regain its footing in the face of the government's strong-arm tactics and the re-emergence of old, internal divisions. Several opposition activists have been jailed in recent days, others are rumoured to be seeking exile and one leader has broken ranks with the opposition alliance to say his party will field candidates in regional elections in December, despite widespread mistrust of Venezuela's electoral system. In a sign of its apparent demoralised state, only a few hundred demonstrators showed up for a Friday protest against the constitutional assembly - one of the smallest turnouts in months. But an increasing number of foreign governments have sided with the opposition, refusing to recognise the constitutional assembly and further isolating Mr Maduro's government. On Friday, the Vatican urged Mr Maduro to suspend the new body, expressing "deep worry for the radicalization and worsening" of the turmoil in Venezuela. Strongly condemn removal of #Venezuelan Prosecutor General on first day of Constituent Assembly. Independent powers must be protected. pic.twitter.com/NaSMJTnNzr— Sir Alan Duncan MP (@AlanDuncanMP) August 5, 2017 Foreign ministers from several South American nations said they would gather on Saturday in Brazil for an emergency meeting to decide whether to expel Venezuela from the Mercosur trade bloc for violating its democratic norms. Venezuela was suspended from the group in December. Ms Ortega's removal was condemned by Sir Alan Duncan, Britain's minister for Europe and the America's on Twitter as he called for her independent powers to be protected.
|
| AP FACT CHECK: Trump and his real, and unreal, phone calls Posted: 05 Aug 2017 05:50 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Donald Trump's universe, the past week was distinguished by two phone calls that happened and two that didn't.
|
| 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti: Special Comes Standard Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:57 AM PDT  The Quadrifoglio's four-cylinder sibling still offers style aplenty and a distinct driving experience.
|
| US special forces supporting ops against AQAP in Yemen Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:48 AM PDT  US special operations forces are helping Emirati and local forces as they conduct new operations against Al-Qaeda in Yemen, the Pentagon said Friday. The operations center on Shabwa province, where Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has an established presence. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the aim was to "degrade" AQAP's ability to coordinate external terrorist operations and plotting.
|
| U.S. appeals court agrees to reconsider 'Making a Murderer' conviction Posted: 04 Aug 2017 04:59 PM PDT  A federal magistrate, William Duffin, threw out the guilty verdict against Brendan Dassey last August, ruling the conviction was based on a coerced confession that the defendant, now 27, gave as a 16-year-old youth with a learning disability. The 7th Circuit on Friday granted that request, vacating the earlier decision of its three-judge panel and setting a new round of oral arguments to be heard on Sept. 26.
|
| 11 Snacks That Do a Great Job of Cutting Sugar Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:01 AM PDT  With these recipes, you can make your favorite snack foods with fruit-derived sugar sources, all-natural sweeteners, or no sugars at all. Luckily, this delicious recipe allows you to have your chips and eat them too! Super easy to make, sugar free, and delicious, these zucchini chips are perfect for a snack any time of the day. Get the recipe.
|
| Immigrants denied credit by Wells Fargo may sue bank, judge says Posted: 05 Aug 2017 03:48 PM PDT  Young immigrants denied credit by Wells Fargo Bank because they are not permanent U.S. residents can sue the bank under a post-Civil War law barring discrimination on the basis of immigration status, a federal judge ruled.
|
| Watch: Rhino Charges At Oncoming Traffic In India Posted: 04 Aug 2017 10:04 AM PDT  While some said it was funny, others said it was fake.
|
| Donald Trump claims reports he called the White House a dump are 'fake news' Posted: 04 Aug 2017 11:41 AM PDT  Donald Trump has branded claims he called the White House a "dump" while chatting with his golf buddies as "fake news" — but the reporter behind the story says eight or nine people heard him say it. According to a piece written by Sports Illustrated journalist Alan Shipnuck, Mr Trump is reported to have joked about the poor state of the 18th century mansion while playing golf in Bedminster, New Jersey. The quote was quickly seized on by Mr Trump's critics and the White House was forced to put out a statement denying the claims.
|
| US 'disturbed by irregularities' in Rwanda landslide vote Posted: 05 Aug 2017 09:38 AM PDT  KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — The United States said Saturday it was "disturbed by irregularities observed during voting" in Rwanda's election, which longtime President Paul Kagame won with nearly 99 percent of the vote.
|
| From fighting regime to anti-IS, Syria rebel traces US policy shifts Posted: 04 Aug 2017 07:15 PM PDT  From special forces officer to brigade-hopping rebel, Abu Jaafar has seen Syria's uprising from all angles. "I fall apart, I get annoyed and I want to leave but I say no -- if I leave and others do too, the country will be even more destroyed than it is now," Abu Jaafar told AFP in interviews via a messaging app. In some ways, his trajectory has tracked Washington's shifting policy, which originally backed anti-regime factions but is now focused on battling the Islamic State group.
|
| 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli - 'America's most hated man' - convicted of securities fraud Posted: 04 Aug 2017 12:20 PM PDT  Martin Shkreli, the eccentric former pharmaceutical CEO notorious for a price-gouging scandal and for his snide "Pharma Bro" persona on social media, was convicted on Friday on federal charges he deceived investors in a pair of failed hedge funds. A Brooklyn jury deliberated five days before finding Shkreli guilty on three of eight counts. He had been charged with securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors had accused Shkreli of repeatedly misleading investors about what he was doing with their money. Mostly, he was blowing it with horrible stock picks, forcing him to cook up a scheme to recover millions in losses, they said. Martin Shkrelli Credit: Lucas Jackson/Reuters Shkreli, 34, told "lies upon lies," including claiming he had $40 million in one of his funds at a time when it only had about $300 in the bank, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alixandra Smith said in closing arguments. The trial "has exposed Martin Shkreli for who he really is - a con man who stole millions," added another prosecutor, Jacquelyn Kasulis. But the case was tricky for the government because investors, some wealthy financiers from Texas, testified at the trial that Shkreli's scheme actually succeeded in making them richer, in some cases doubling or even tripling their money on his company's stock when it went public. The defence portrayed them as spoiled "rich people" who were the ones doing the manipulating. Ex-pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli leaves after his appearance at the U.S. District Court f Credit: Kevin Hagen/Getty "Who lost anything? Nobody," defence attorney Ben Brafman said in his closing argument. Some investors had to admit on the witness stand that partnering with Shkreli was "the greatest investment I've ever made," he added. For the boyish-looking Shkreli, one of the biggest problems was not part of the case - his purchase in 2014 of rights to a life-saving drug that he promptly raised the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Several potential jurors were kept off the panel after expressing distain for the defendant, with one calling him a "snake" and another "the face of corporate greed." The defendant also came into the trial with a reputation for trolling his critics on social media to a degree that got him kicked off Twitter and for live-streaming himself giving maths lessons or doing nothing more than petting his cat, named Trashy. Among his other antics: boasting about buying a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album for $2 million. During about a month of testimony, Shkreli appeared engaged at times, grinning when his lawyer described him as a misunderstood misfit. Other times he looked bored, staring into space and playing with his hair. Shkreli, who comes from an Albanian family in Brooklyn, was arrested in 2015 on charges he looted another drug company he founded, Retrophin, of $11 million in stock and cash to pay back the hedge fund investors. Investors took the witness stand to accuse Shkreli of keeping them in the dark as his scheme unfolded. "I don't think it mattered to him - it was just what he thought he could get away with," said Richard Kocher, a New Jersey construction company owner who invested $200,000 with Shkreli in 2012. "It was insulting." Shkreli's lawyer agreed his client could be annoying, saying, "In terms of people skills, he's impossible," and referring to him as a "nerd" and a "mad scientist." But he said his hedge fund investors knew what they were getting. "They found him strange. They found him weird. And they gave him money. Why? Because they recognised genius," Brafman said, adding that they had signed agreements that his client wasn't liable if they lost their money. Jurors also heard odd vignettes befitting the quirky defendant: how Shkreli slept on the floor of his office in a sleeping bag for two years; how a drug company board member and former American Express executive wrote an email saying he'd meet with Shkreli "only if I can touch your soft skin"; how Shkreli wrote a letter to the wife of an employee threatening to make the family homeless if the man didn't settle a debt. Shkreli didn't testify. But rather than lay low like his lawyers wanted, he got into the act by using Facebook to bash prosecutors and news organisations covering his case. In one recent post, he wrote, "My case is a silly witch hunt perpetrated by self-serving prosecutors. ... Drain the swamp. Drain the sewer that is the (Department of Justice.)" The judge ordered Shkreli to keep his mouth shut in and around the courtroom after another rant to new reporters covering the trial. Prosecutors "blame me for everything," he said. "They blame me for capitalism."
|
| Bacon Pickle Fries Are The Salty Snack Of Our Dreams Posted: 04 Aug 2017 01:43 PM PDT  What isn't better wrapped in bacon?
|
| NATO soldiers suppress attempted insider attack in Afghanistan Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:23 AM PDT ![NATO soldiers suppress attempted insider attack in Afghanistan]( "NATO soldiers suppress attempted insider attack in Afghanistan") Romanian soldiers from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan killed an Afghan policeman who was trying to carry out an insider attack after a training session in the southern province of Kandahar on Saturday, officials said. One Romanian was wounded in the attack while an Afghan policeman was wounded in the crossfire, a statement from Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul said. "The advisers had completed a scheduled law enforcement training and were preparing to return to base when they were attacked by a member of the Afghan National Civil Order Police," the statement said.
|
| Suspect Makes Throat-Slashing Motion Before Fatal Shootings at Florida Resort Posted: 05 Aug 2017 07:54 AM PDT  Authorities are still looking for the suspect and have set an $18,000 reward
|
| Keep Your Pets Safe From Tick Bites Posted: 04 Aug 2017 03:14 PM PDT  For many of us, summertime means spending happy hours outdoors: hiking, running, walking in the woods. But even if you remember to wear insect repellent and regularly check yourself for ticks, it...
|
| The United States is going to miss out on an awesome sight in space on Monday night Posted: 04 Aug 2017 08:12 PM PDT 
August is a big month for skywatchers in the US thanks to the highly anticipated total solar eclipse slated to occur on August 21st. It'll be quite a sight, provided clouds are at a minimum and you manage to look skyward at the right time, but those outside of North America won't get treated to the same show. But those of us lucky enough to be in a good position for the solar eclipse are going to miss out on an entirely different celestial sight this coming Monday night, when a lunar eclipse will give those in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia a reason to stare at the stars.
The event — which won't be full, but rather a partial lunar eclipse —will occur on Monday evening in the aforementioned territories as well as Antarctica. During the eclipse, the earth will block out a portion of the sun's light from the hitting the moon, making our only natural satellite appear as though its bottom half has been dipped in darkness. Unlike the solar eclipse that will occur later this month, the partial lunar eclipse will last for a couple of hours, appearing its darkest and most clear at around 18.20 UTC, which is around 2:20 p.m. EST if you feel like converting. If you're a seasoned skywatcher who lives outside of North America, a partial solar eclipse might not be much of a replacement for a total solar eclipse, but at least it's something, right? Plus, you don't need to wear goofy glasses to enjoy it.
|
| 27 Turkey Stuffing Recipes Your Thanksgiving Needs Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:05 PM PDT |
| In red-state Alabama, Democrats won't cede Senate race Posted: 04 Aug 2017 11:50 AM PDT  DECATUR, Ala. (AP) — Democrats in Alabama were fired up inside a century-old art deco theater, where candidates in the party's U.S. Senate primary took turns dismissing President Trump's proposed border wall as stupid, swapping stories of people in poverty suffering without health care, and vowing to protect Planned Parenthood.
|
| China ups ante in high-altitude standoff with India Posted: 04 Aug 2017 07:27 PM PDT  For more than a month, Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff on a remote but strategically important Himalayan plateau near where Tibet, India and Bhutan meet. It is a line that has been echoed almost word for word this week by the foreign ministry, the official Xinhua news agency, the ruling Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, the official military news website of the Chinese armed forces, and other outlets. On Wednesday, the foreign ministry released a 15-page document of "facts" about the border dispute, which included a map of alleged intrusions and photographs of what it stated were Indian troops and military vehicles on China's side of the frontier.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment