Thursday, November 2, 2017

Yahoo! News: Weight Loss News

Yahoo! News: Weight Loss News


Trump Did Not Rule Out Meeting With Putin During Election: CNN Report

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 08:29 AM PDT

Trump Did Not Rule Out Meeting With Putin During Election: CNN ReportWASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump "didn't say yes and he didn't say no" to a campaign adviser's suggestion last year that he meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a CNN report citing an unnamed official who was in the room at the time.


Facebook, Google won't commit to stop taking foreign cash for U.S. political ads

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 06:49 AM PDT

Facebook, Google won't commit to stop taking foreign cash for U.S. political adsFacebook and Google declined under repeated congressional questioning Tuesday to commit to stop taking Russian rubles and other foreign currencies as payment for American political advertisements, despite federal election law prohibiting payments from foreign nationals.


Fox News' Shepard Smith Gets Emotional Paying Tribute To New York City

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 08:50 PM PDT

Fox News' Shepard Smith Gets Emotional Paying Tribute To New York CityFox News anchor Shepard Smith took a moment on his Wednesday broadcast to pay tribute to the resilient spirit of New York City after a driver mowed down pedestrians and bikers Tuesday in lower Manhattan, killing at least eight people and injuring 12. "New York City made you proud last night," said the Mississippi native who calls Manhattan home.


All Saints' Day observed

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:10 PM PDT

All Saints' Day observedPeople around the world honor All Saints' Day by visiting the graves of loved ones.


Pakistan airline sorry for forgetting two corpses in NY

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:56 AM PDT

Pakistan airline sorry for forgetting two corpses in NYTwo corpses were left behind at a New York airport instead of being flown to Lahore, Pakistan's national airline said, apologising Wednesday for the latest embarrassing mishap to hit the troubled carrier. Following the mix-up, the corpse of Pakistani man Nasir Ali was delivered to Lahore Wednesday on a Etihad Airways flight, while the family of another man Nauman Badar has now decided to bury him in Maryland instead.


Defector: US strike would trigger automatic NK retaliation

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:30 PM PDT

Defector: US strike would trigger automatic NK retaliationWASHINGTON (AP) — A high-ranking North Korean defector told a congressional hearing Wednesday that a pre-emptive U.S. military strike on the country would trigger automatic retaliation, with the North unleashing artillery and short-range missile fire on South Korea.


In the hands of Trump, the past is a political weapon

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 09:54 AM PDT

In the hands of Trump, the past is a political weaponWhite House Chief of Staff John Kelly's remark that the Civil War should have been averted by "compromise" is in line with how the Trump White House has used history: as a political weapon to energize Trump's white Southern base.


College Student Arrested for Smearing Bodily Fluids on Roommate's Belongings

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:36 PM PDT

College Student Arrested for Smearing Bodily Fluids on Roommate's BelongingsA white college student has been expelled from school after reportedly admitting to smearing her bodily fluids on her black roommate's belongings.


Truck attack suspect's New Jersey city a haven for Muslim immigrants

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 07:37 AM PDT

Truck attack suspect's New Jersey city a haven for Muslim immigrantsWith its enormous Muslim population and reputation as a welcoming home for immigrants of some 50 nationalities, the New Jersey city of Paterson was the perfect place for the suspect in the New York City truck attack to go largely unnoticed. Sayfullo Saipov, 29, lived there with his wife and three young children for more than a year before authorities say he drove a rented truck through throngs of people on a lower Manhattan bike path on Tuesday, killing eight people in what officials called an act of terrorism.


JetBlue Is Offering $49 Flights In An Awesome, 2-Day Flash Sale

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 10:20 AM PDT

JetBlue Is Offering $49 Flights In An Awesome, 2-Day Flash SaleJetBlue is giving travelers the gift of discounted flights this holiday season.


New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov charged with terrorism after 'being spurred by online propaganda'

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 08:48 PM PDT

New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov charged with terrorism after 'being spurred by online propaganda'Federal prosecutors brought terrorism charges on Wednesday against the Uzbek immigrant accused in the truck rampage that left eight people dead, saying he was spurred to attack by online jihadist propaganda.  The charges against 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and with his feet shackled, could bring the death penalty. During his court appearance, Saipov was ordered detained and didn't enter a plea. His lawyers didn't seek bail. Even as he lay wounded in the hospital from police gunfire, Saipov asked to display the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant flag in his room and said "he felt good about what he had done," prosecutors said in court papers. "NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!" President Donald Trump tweeted.  Meanwhile, the FBI said it wanted to question a second Uzbek - 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov - and had found him. A law enforcement official said Kadirov might not have a role in the case, but investigators became suspicious when they couldn't find him as he was one of Saipov's few friends. Sayfullo Saipov, the suspect in the New York City truck attack, is seen in this courtroom sketch appearing in Manhattan federal courtroom in a wheelchair  Credit: Reuters Saipov, accused of driving the rented Home Depot pickup truck that barrelled down a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, was charged with providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles, resulting in death. His lawyers did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Prosecutors said he had 90 videos and 3,800 photos on one of his two mobile phones, many of them Isil-related pieces of propaganda, including images of prisoners being beheaded, shot or run over by a tank. Saipov left behind knives and a note, in Arabic and English, that included Islamic religious references and said, "Islamic Supplication. It will endure" - "it will endure" is phrase that commonly refers to Isil, FBI agent Amber Tyree said in court papers. Questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov said he had been inspired by ISIS videos that he watched on his cellphone and began plotting an attack about a year ago, deciding to use a truck about two months ago, Tyree said. Saipov, the suspect in the New York City truck attack is seen in this handout photo Credit: NEW YORK-ATTACK/SUSPECT During the last few weeks, Saipov searched the internet for information on Halloween in New York City and for truck rentals, the agent said. Saipov even rented a truck on October 22 to practise making turns, and he initially hoped to get from the bike path across lower Manhattan to hit more pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge, Tyree said. He even considered displaying Isil flags on the truck during the attack but decided against it because he did not want to draw the attention, authorities said. On Tuesday, as a city grieved over its worst terror attack since 9/11, new details were emerging about the suspect and what happened on Monday afternoon.  Police announced it took just four minutes for Saipov to drive around a mile down a bike path, smashing into pedestrians before eventually crashing into a school bus.  Then attacker then emerged carrying a paintball and pellet gun shouting "Allahu Akbar" - which means God is Great - before being shot by a 28-year-old cop nearby. Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on October 31, 2017 Credit: AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images A handwritten note in Arabic found in the rented truck had a message to the effect of "the Islamic State will endure forever". Eight people were killed in the attack, which is believed to have been planned for weeks, and a further 12 were injured.  As investigators attempted to piece together Saipov's motivation, more about his backstory emerged. Saipov arrived in America in March 2010 and is believed to have become radicalised while in the country.  He initially attempted to improve his English and get a job, according to US media reports. He occasionally played football and "liked to sleep in".  In 2013, Saipov married fellow Uzbek national Nozima Odilova, 19 at the time, in Ohio. The pair are believed to have three children together. Records show he lived in Florida, Ohio and most recently New Jersey and was working for the last six months as a driver for the taxi app Uber. Footage shows New York terror suspect wielding fake guns 01:08 But at some point Saipov's thoughts turned to violence as friends noticed his increasingly extreme views about religion. One said the pair had argued "on a religious issue" several months ago and Saipov had displayed "very radical views." "After that argument, he stopped contacting us," the friend told Radio Free Europe. "We warned him over his radical views." Saipov seemed to be depressed, he said, adding: "He kept everything inside him. He isolated himself from the outside world." The Uzbeck had not been investigated by the FBI or the New York Police Department before the attack, but appears to have been known to some authorities.  Officers said he might have been linked to others under investigation, while there were also reports he had been issued with traffic tickets.  Saipov's home country of Uzbekistan was also in the spotlight. No fewer than four terror attacks - including this one - with links to former Soviet republics in Central Asia have occurred in the last year.  Investigators work around the wreckage of a Home Depot pickup truck, a day after it was used in an terror attack in New York Credit: AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images Discussing the inspiration behind the attack, John Miller, a New York police Deputy Commissioner, pointed to online posts from jihadist groups. "He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a tee, the instructions that Isis has put out in their social-media channels ... on how to carry out such an attack," Mr Miller said. A series of chilling online posts by accounts linked to Isil which warned that attacks were coming have also emerged.  One photo taken around the spot where the truck mounted the bike lane and showing an Isil symbol was posted two months ago, according to the respected Site group, which monitors terror activity. Donald Trump calls for visa programme used by New York attacker to be scrapped 02:09 Another message posted by French jihadists called for extremists to "Terrorise October 31", though the graphic included a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  Bill De Blasio, the New York mayor, praised the spirit and resilience of the city's people and urged them to go about their lives as normal.  "We understand this was an attack on our values. It was an effort to break our spirit. But as an effort to break our spirit it failed," he said.  He added: "Be New Yorkers. Be strong, be proud, be resilient. Show the whole world right now that we will not be moved by terror."


Navy recommends sweeping changes after ship collisions

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 11:44 AM PDT

Navy recommends sweeping changes after ship collisionsWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy leaders are recommending a sweeping list of changes in sailor training, crew requirements and safety procedures to address systemic problems across the Pacific fleet that led to two deadly ship collisions earlier this year that killed 17 sailors, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Associated Press.


Texas father 'forced abused daughter to brush teeth with faeces and wear shock collar'

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 05:51 AM PDT

Texas father 'forced abused daughter to brush teeth with faeces and wear shock collar'A father in Texas has been arrested after he was accused of subjecting his two daughters to a campaign of horrific abuse. James Howard Chalkley is accused of making his five-year-old daughter brush her teeth with faeces and wear a shock collar, and flushing his 10-year-old daughter's head in a toilet. The 32-year-old from Converse, Texas has been charged with one count of injury to a child while his wife Cheyanne Chalkley, the children's stepmother, has been charged with two counts of injury to a child.


Michelle Obama Appears To Throw Shade At Donald Trump With Twitter Advice

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 02:50 AM PDT

Michelle Obama Appears To Throw Shade At Donald Trump With Twitter AdviceMichelle Obama is on a mission to make people think before they tweet, and that includes President Donald Trump.


White House defends Kelly's civil war remarks and calls criticism 'outrageous'

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 04:04 PM PDT

White House defends Kelly's civil war remarks and calls criticism 'outrageous'Sarah Sanders and John Kelly confer at the White House on Tuesday. The White House on Tuesday stood by chief of staff John Kelly's defense of Confederate monuments and his assertion that a failure to compromise led to the American civil war.


The Kurds Are Right Back Where They Started

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 10:38 AM PDT

The Kurds Are Right Back Where They StartedIn a televised address on October 29, the president of the Iraqi Kurdish region, Masoud Barzani, declared that he would step down from his post. It remains unclear whether Barzani, son of the legendary founder of the Kurdish national movement, Mustafa Barzani, would reemerge as leader in a different guise, but clearly his announcement was not part of a well-laid plan.


The Best Food Processors, According To Amazon Reviewers

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 02:36 PM PDT

The Best Food Processors, According To Amazon ReviewersFood processors are often viewed as the underrated step-child of the blender, but they are so much more than a pint-sized smoothie maker. Blenders are better for puréeing liquids and frozen foods like soups, frozen berries and ice. Food processors, on the other hand, make quick work out of chopping rough foods like nuts and spices, and are better when dealing with smaller quantities of food like garlic and herbs for sauces, dressings, dips, and homemade flours.


Prince Philip’s nickname for wife Queen Elizabeth is actually baffling

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:31 PM PDT

Prince Philip's nickname for wife Queen Elizabeth is actually bafflingUndoubtedly one of the cutest couples on the planet, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth have been married for nearly 70 years.


Saudi Arabia to begin issuing tourist visas

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:51 AM PDT

Saudi Arabia to begin issuing tourist visasSaudi Arabia plans to start issuing tourist visas "soon", authorities said Tuesday, as the ultra-conservative kingdom seeks to attract international visitors in a radical overhaul of its oil-dependent economy. "Tourist visas will be introduced soon," Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, head of the Saudi tourism authority, was quoted as saying in a statement. Aside from millions of Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, most visitors currently face a tedious visa process and exorbitant fees to enter the kingdom.


Meth Found In Child's Halloween Candy Prompts Warning From Wisconsin Police

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 02:07 PM PDT

Meth Found In Child's Halloween Candy Prompts Warning From Wisconsin PoliceWisconsin authorities urged parents to inspect their children's Halloween candy after a small bag of methamphetamine was distributed to a child near Green Bay.


New York attack victims include Freedom Tower worker and mother to newborn baby

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:12 PM PDT

New York attack victims include Freedom Tower worker and mother to newborn babyTwo US victims in the Halloween terror attack in New York have been identified among the eight dead, which include visitors from Argentina and Belgium. Darren Drake, 33, of New Jersey worked at Moody's Investors Service in the Freedom Tower, the former location of the World Trade Centre, and was riding his bike in between meetings along the West Side Highway path where suspect Sayfullo Saipov had allegedly driven a pickup truck south approximately 20 blocks. The young man was also pursuing a second Masters degree at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, said his father.


Prosecutors: Thousands of cases impacted by lab misconduct

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 12:33 PM PDT

Prosecutors: Thousands of cases impacted by lab misconductBOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors have identified at least 6,000 cases impacted by a former chemist who authorities say was high almost every day for eight years while she worked at a state drug lab, officials said Tuesday.


Trump's Already Urging Policy Changes After NYC Terrorist Attack -- Without Waiting For 'The Facts'

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 06:58 AM PDT

Trump's Already Urging Policy Changes After NYC Terrorist Attack -- Without Waiting For 'The Facts'WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning was quick to call for policy changes in response to Tuesday's deadly terrorist attack in New York City ― blaming one of his frequent critics, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and urging more stringent immigration measures.


White House: Trump campaign gave Papadopoulos emails to special counsel

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 10:30 AM PDT

White House: Trump campaign gave Papadopoulos emails to special counselThe White House said on Tuesday the Trump campaign provided the special counsel investigating ties between it and Russia with emails involving George Papadopoulos, a campaign adviser who has pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials.


NYPD on scene after shooting, vehicular attack reported in Manhattan

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 01:11 PM PDT

NYPD on scene after shooting, vehicular attack reported in ManhattanA deadly truck attack in lower Manhattan this afternoon killed eight people and injured 13 others. The suspect in custody was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa, Florida.


NPR news chief Oreskes ousted after harassment allegations

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:30 PM PDT

NPR news chief Oreskes ousted after harassment allegationsNEW YORK (AP) — Michael Oreskes was ousted Wednesday as National Public Radio's news chief following sexual harassment accusations, some dating to when he was Washington bureau chief at The New York Times in the 1990s.


Here's the little-known history behind Duchess Kate's sapphire blue engagement ring

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 12:46 PM PDT

Here's the little-known history behind Duchess Kate's sapphire blue engagement ringDuchess Kate's blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring still rings every bit iconic to this day.


Donna Brazile Says Clinton Campaign Took Over The DNC

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 07:44 AM PDT

Donna Brazile Says Clinton Campaign Took Over The DNCDonna Brazile, former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, opened up about the financial chaos within the DNC and said that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign gained control of the committee well before Clinton was the party's nominee.


See The Celebrities Who Went All Out For Halloween This Year

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 07:08 AM PDT

See The Celebrities Who Went All Out For Halloween This YearHollywood did not come to play this Halloween. 


Boyfriend of Woman Who Vanished 28 Years Ago Is Arrested in Her Murder

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:05 PM PDT

Boyfriend of Woman Who Vanished 28 Years Ago Is Arrested in Her MurderMichael Kufrin had long been suspected in the disappearance of Peggy Sue Case, his live-in girlfriend who vanished in July 1988.


Donald Trump Jr.'s Bizarre Halloween 'Lesson' Backfires Spectacularly

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 07:35 PM PDT

Donald Trump Jr.'s Bizarre Halloween 'Lesson' Backfires SpectacularlyDonald Trump Jr. doesn't seem to know how Halloween works.


Savannah Chrisley Opens Up About Split from Ex-Boyfriend Luke Kennard: ‘I Dodged a Bullet’

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 06:55 AM PDT

Savannah Chrisley Opens Up About Split from Ex-Boyfriend Luke Kennard: 'I Dodged a Bullet'Savannah Chrisley is opening up about her split from ex-boyfriend Luke Kennard


Hidden chamber discovered in Great Pyramid of Giza

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 06:06 AM PDT

Hidden chamber discovered in Great Pyramid of GizaScientists have found a hidden chamber in Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, the first such discovery in the structure since the 19th century and one likely to spark a new surge of interest in the pharaohs. In an article published in the journal Nature on Thursday, an international team said the 30-metre void deep within the pyramid is situated above the structure's Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross-section. The purpose of the chamber is unclear, and it's not yet known whether it was built with a function in mind. The scientists made the discovery using cosmic-ray imaging, recording the behavior of subatomic particles called muons that penetrate the rock similar to X-rays, only much deeper. Their paper was peer-reviewed before appearing in Nature, an international science journal. CEA's muon telescope setup in front of Khufu's Pyramid North Face Credit: ScanPyramids / SWNS.com The pyramid is also known as Khufu's Pyramid for its builder, a 4th Dynasty pharaoh who reigned from 2509-2483BC.  Visitors to the pyramid, on the outskirts of Cairo, can walk, hunched over, up a long tunnel to reach the Grand Gallery. The newly discovered chamber does not appear to be connected to any known internal passages. Scientists involved in the scanning called the find a "breakthrough" that highlighted the usefulness of modern particle physics in archaeology. "This is a premier," said Mehdi Tayoubi, a co-founder of the ScanPyramids project and president of the Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute. The void's function is unknown Credit: ScanPyramids / SWNS.com "It could be composed of one or several structures... maybe it could be another Grand Gallery. It could be a chamber, it could be a lot of things." "It was hidden, I think, since the construction of the pyramid," he added. The Giza pyramids, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, have captivated visitors since they were built as royal burial chambers some 4,500 years ago. Experts are still divided over how they were constructed, so even relatively minor discoveries generate great interest. Scientists have found, but not yet examined, a mysterious, Boeing-sized "void" Credit: AFP PHOTO / NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP AND ScanPyramids mission Late last year, for example, thermal scanning identified a major anomaly in the Great Pyramid - three adjacent stones at its base which registered higher temperatures than others, stoking imaginations worldwide. Speculation that King Tutankhamun's tomb contains additional antechambers stoked interest in recent years, before scans by ground-penetrating radar and other tools came up empty, raising doubts about the claim. The muon scan is accomplished by planting special plates inside and around the pyramid to collect data on the particles, which rain down from the earth's atmosphere. The pyramid is known as Khufu's Pyramid after the Pharaoh who commissioned it as his tomb Credit: ScanPyramids / SWNS.com They pass through empty spaces but can be absorbed or deflected by harder surfaces, allowing scientists to study their trajectories and discern what is stone and what is not. Several plates were used to triangulate the void discovered in the Great Pyramid. Mr Tayoubi said the team plans to work with others to come up with hypotheses about the area.


Scott Pruitt’s Professor Regrets ‘Unleashing’ EPA Chief On 'Unsuspecting Public’

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 09:54 AM PDT

Scott Pruitt's Professor Regrets 'Unleashing' EPA Chief On 'Unsuspecting Public'Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, is nothing if not lawyerly.


Can the Hennessey Venom F5 blow away the competition?

Posted: 02 Nov 2017 04:18 AM PDT

Can the Hennessey Venom F5 blow away the competition?"[We expect the F5] to be the first road car capable of achieving more than 300mph and have worked closely with Pennzoil to get us across the finish line," said John Hennessey of the new car. The biggest automotive obstacle to overcome will be the Bugatti Chiron. Like the Venom, it has yet to make a run at setting an ultimate top speed but in early tests the car, which has a 16-cylinder, 8-litre 1500hp engine, can comfortably hit 261mph.


A Dog’s Life: Hilarious images of dogs enjoying New York’s iconic tourist hotspots

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 10:20 AM PDT

A Dog's Life: Hilarious images of dogs enjoying New York's iconic tourist hotspotsThese hilarious images show dogs enjoying a day out exploring New York's most iconic tourist hotspots Photographer Mark McQueen captured the canines hanging out near landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, on 5th Avenue and Times Square.


Utah nurse settles over rough arrest caught on video

Posted: 31 Oct 2017 05:28 PM PDT

Utah nurse settles over rough arrest caught on videoSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah nurse who was arrested for refusing to let a police officer draw blood from an unconscious patient settled Tuesday with Salt Lake City and the university that runs the hospital for $500,000.


Trump Blamed The Visa Lottery For A Terrorist Attack. But Ending It Wouldn't End Terrorism.

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 03:23 PM PDT

Trump Blamed The Visa Lottery For A Terrorist Attack. But Ending It Wouldn't End Terrorism.President Donald Trump and his White House are using the Tuesday terrorist attack in New York City to push their goal of cutting legal immigration by misleading the public about the diversity visa lottery system.


Woman Says She Wants to Win Lottery to Pay Off Student Loan Debt, Wins $300,000 From Bingo Ticket Same Day

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:14 PM PDT

Woman Says She Wants to Win Lottery to Pay Off Student Loan Debt, Wins $300,000 From Bingo Ticket Same DayTalk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Modernizing America's Nuclear Arsenal May Not Be as Expensive as You Think

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 06:27 AM PDT

Modernizing America's Nuclear Arsenal May Not Be as Expensive as You ThinkA new Congressional Budget Office report sheds light on the issue. A recent CBO report takes on the commonly-heard myths of nuclear modernization in the United States. The Congressional Budget Office gave nuclear modernization supporters a Halloween "treat" by releasing their much-anticipated report on the 30-year costs of the U.S. nuclear arsenal yesterday.


Trove of Bin Laden documents reveal Iran's secret dealings with al-Qaeda

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 01:35 PM PDT

Trove of Bin Laden documents reveal Iran's secret dealings with al-QaedaA newly released trove of documents recovered from Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound have revealed "secret dealings" between Iran and al-Qaeda.  Nearly half a million files found on the computer seized in the May 2, 2011, US raid on the al-Qaeda founder's hideout in Abbottabad were released by the CIA on Wednesday.  A never-before-seen 19-page document purportedly written by a senior member of al-Qaeda details an arrangement between Iran and members of the group to strike American interests in "Saudi Arabia and the Gulf."  In exchange, Shia Iran offered Sunni militants "money, arms" and "training in Hizbollah camps in Lebanon." Iranian intelligence facilitated the travel of some operatives with visas, while sheltering others.  The author of the file, described as "well-connected," explains that al-Qaeda's forces violated the terms of the agreement of the deal, however, resulting in several men being detained. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House Credit: AP Iranian connections to Hizballah and Palestinian militant groups, such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, are well-documented, but its ties to al-Qaeda have until now mostly been shrouded in secrecy. The timing of the release comes as US President Donald Trump is trying to decertify a bilateral deal agreed with Iran to end its nuclear proliferation programme, which was negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama and one which he has described as the "worst deal ever made". Mr Trump has been keen to portray Tehran as America's greatest threat and will no doubt seize upon the documents as proof of the Islamic republic's support for terrorism in the region.  Speaking at a national security seminar organised by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington DC last month about the release of the documents, Mike Pompeo, CIA director, said al-Qaeda and Iran have always built "secret and open" ties. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo arrives for a closed briefing before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. Credit: Reuters Mr Pompeo attributed the relationship between the two parties to the fact that they view the West as a common enemy, referring to an "ideological consensus" of their cooperation against the West. He added that the two sides did not fight against each other because they considered the West a greater threat to them. Mr Pompeo stressed that CIA is still watching these relations, especially with the complexity of the situation in Syria, noting that US intelligence is tracking the terrorist organisations' loss of territories  in Syria and Iraq. His comments have raised alarm bells among critics of Mr Trump's new strategy to counter Iranian influence, wary that hawks like Mr Pompeo may be making a case for war. The documents also contained a log of bin Laden's video collection, which included pornographic material, several Hollywood movies and three documentaries about himself.  Two newly-released videos also show scenes from the wedding of bin Laden's son Hamza, the first picture of the heir apparent as an adult.  First video of Osama bin Laden's son Hamza as an adult 00:57 The images are not current, but they are much more recent than the photo al-Qaeda is willing to distribute.  According to Thomas Joscelyn and Bill Roggio, scholars from the foundation who were allowed to study the trove before it was made public, it provides new insights. "The Abbottabad repository confirms that bin Laden was anything but retired when US forces knocked down his door. He was not a mere figurehead," they write in the Long War Journal.  "During the final months of his life, Osama bin Laden was communicating with subordinates around the globe. Recovered memos discuss the various committees and lieutenants who helped bin Laden manage his sprawling empire of terror." With 470,000 files released in one trance, it will likely take weeks for journalists, academics, and other researchers to shift through the documents in the trove and contextualise their significance.


Meghan McCain Gets Engaged To Conservative Writer Ben Domenech [UPDATED]

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 04:58 PM PDT

Meghan McCain Gets Engaged To Conservative Writer Ben Domenech [UPDATED]Meghan McCain has a lot on her plate these days, but her life is about to get even busier.


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