| European nations raise pressure on Venezuela's Maduro Posted: 04 Feb 2019 06:21 AM PST  LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A key group of European Union countries endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president on Monday, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and let the country hold a new presidential election.
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| Stark warning on melting Himalayan glaciers Posted: 04 Feb 2019 03:54 AM PST  Two-thirds of Himalayan glaciers, the world's "Third Pole", could melt by 2100 if global emissions are not reduced, scientists warned in a major new study issued Monday. Glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region are a critical water source for some 250 million people in the mountains as well as to 1.65 billion others in the river valleys below, the report said.
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| TSA officer jumps to his death at Orlando airport Posted: 02 Feb 2019 03:35 PM PST  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An officer from the Transportation Security Administration jumped to his death from a balcony inside Florida's busiest airport Saturday, creating panic that brought some security checkpoints to a halt for hours, grounded flights and caused serious delays.
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| Zimbabwe vice president returns to South Africa for treatment: newspaper Posted: 03 Feb 2019 11:33 PM PST  Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is receiving treatment in South Africa, the second time in four months, after falling ill last week, a privately owned newspaper reported on Monday. The health of Chiwenga, 62, is closely followed in Zimbabwe because he is widely seen as the power behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the front-runner to succeed him. The former military general led the coup that ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017.
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| Erdogan says cannot understand US 'silence' over Khashoggi murder Posted: 03 Feb 2019 12:42 PM PST  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday accused the United States of maintaining a "silence" on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who killed by a Saudi hit team in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. "I cannot understand America's silence... We want everything to be clarified because there is an atrocity, there is a murder," Erdogan told an interview with state-run TRT television. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and Saudi regime critic, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
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| Hawaiian Airlines flight returns to Los Angeles three times for three separate issues Posted: 03 Feb 2019 10:24 AM PST ![Hawaiian Airlines flight returns to Los Angeles three times for three separate issues]( "Hawaiian Airlines flight returns to Los Angeles three times for three separate issues") A Maui-bound Hawaiian Airlines flight returned to Los Angeles International Airport three times over the weekend before finally getting canceled.
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| See 35 Years of the Chrysler Minivan's Family-Hauling History Posted: 04 Feb 2019 09:01 AM PST |
| The Latest: Canada's leader pledges aid for Venezuelans Posted: 04 Feb 2019 09:34 AM PST  MADRID (AP) — The Latest on Venezuela's political crisis (all times local):
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| After surviving IS, Yazidi women ask to go home Posted: 04 Feb 2019 01:30 AM PST  Among thousands fleeing the crumbling dream of an Islamic State group "caliphate" in eastern Syria are alleged jihadists but also survivors of some of their worst atrocities. "I'll never forget," 40-year-old Bissa says softly, as she recounts being "bought and sold" by six different jihadists. Bissa was one of at least seven Yazidi women and girls to finally escape captivity last week, after years as "sex slaves" at the hands of the extremist group.
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| Rep. Roger Marshall: I’ve been to the border, I know a crisis when I see it Posted: 03 Feb 2019 11:18 AM PST  Kansas Republican Rep. Roger Marshall says if the wall is not built the only person to blame will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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| Pentagon sending another 3,750 troops to Southwest border Posted: 03 Feb 2019 02:38 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Sunday it will send 3,750 more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to put up another 150 miles of concertina wire and provide other support for Customs and Border Protection.
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| 2019 Chevy Blazer Test Drive: What Happened When GM Tried To Make the Crossover Cool Posted: 04 Feb 2019 04:00 AM PST  Slap a Camaro's face on a juiced-up crossover and here's what you get.
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| Head of Ukraine's new orthodox church enthroned Posted: 03 Feb 2019 03:36 AM PST  The leader of the new independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church was enthroned in a ceremony in Kiev on Sunday, formalising a break with the Russian Orthodox Church that has enraged Moscow. During the three-hour event in the gold-decked 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral, Metropolitan Yepifaniy became head of the Church, having been elected by bishops last year. The 40-year-old is a critic of Moscow's religious influence in Ukraine and has helped organise humanitarian aid for Kiev's army in its struggle against Russian-backed separatist movements.
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| General Motors expected to start cutting 4,000 white-collar workers Monday Posted: 04 Feb 2019 07:50 AM PST ![General Motors expected to start cutting 4,000 white-collar workers Monday]( "General Motors expected to start cutting 4,000 white-collar workers Monday") General Motors is expected to start its white-collar job cuts on Monday, but the carmaker might slash fewer jobs than it initially expected.
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| Donald Trump will keep troops in Iraq to 'watch Iran' Posted: 03 Feb 2019 10:52 AM PST  The United States will keep troops in Iraq in order to "watch" Iran, Donald Trump said on Sunday. Mr Trump said he wanted to maintain a military presence in the country even though he had repeatedly described the original decision to invade Iraq as one of the "greatest mistakes" ever made by the US. "We spent a fortune on building this incredible base. We might as well keep it," Mr Trump said in a wide-ranging interview on the CBS flagship political programme, Face the Nation. "One of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want to be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem." The base, he said, was perfectly situated for looking across the whole of the Middle East. "We're going to keep watching and we're going to keep seeing and if there's trouble, if somebody is looking to do nuclear weapons or other things, we're going to know it before they do." US military personnel in the Middle East The US president has faced criticism over his approach to the Middle East, alarming senior Republicans over his determination to disengage from the region. Mr Trump, however, reiterated his unhappiness with the endless and costly wars in Syria and Afghanistan as he sought to clarify and justify his approach to the region. Just before Christmas, Mr Trump announced that he was pulling 2,000 troops out of Syria against the wishes of his defence secretary at the time, James Mattis, who quit in protest. In the Face the Nation interview, the US president said he had asked for Mr Mattis to resign because he was unhappy with his performance. "He resigned because I was very nice to him. But I gave him big budgets and he didn't do well in Afghanistan," he said. Global Isil attacks However, in the interview he was non-committal over the timescale for withdrawing troops from Syria because of the US commitment to protecting Israel. On Afghanistan, Mr Trump, who has been a critic of America's involvement in the country, confirmed that some troops would remain after some forces are withdrawn. "I'll leave intelligence there. Real intelligence, by the way. I'll leave intelligence there and if I see nests forming, I'll do something about it." But at the same time, he hinted that he was hopeful a peace deal could be negotiated with the Taliban. "We've been there close to 19 years. And it's time. And we'll see what happens with the Taliban. They want peace. They're tired. "Everybody's tired. We'd like to have - I don't like endless wars. This war. What we're doing is got to stop at some point." Mr Trump's determination to reduce America's presence in the Middle East and his scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal flies in the face of the advice he has been given by the US intelligence establishment. But Mr Trump was unrepentant over his decision to ignore his own intelligence experts who have said that Iran has complied with the nuclear deal. US military personnel in the Middle East "I disagree with them 100 per cent. It is a vicious country that kills many people," Mr Trump said. "So when my intelligence people tell me how wonderful Iran is - if you don't mind, I'm going to just go by my own counsel." He blamed the intelligence services for America's involvement in Iraq. "Those intel people didn't know what the hell they were doing, and they got us tied up in a war that we should have never been in. And we've spent seven trillion dollars in the Middle East and we have lost lives." Stephen Myrow, managing partner with Beacon Policy Advisors, a Washington DC-based policy analysis firm, said the US president was using the interview to move the debate on from the government shutdown. "He is trying to turn the page," he said. "He is clearly in campaign mode and this is aimed at his 'America First' base. "For the first time he is facing pushback from his own party in Washington and this is a case of his saying 'promises made, promises kept'."
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| As Venezuelans protest, struggling Maduro seeks early parliament vote Posted: 02 Feb 2019 03:03 PM PST  As domestic and international pressure on Maduro to step down mounts, a senior air force general disavowed him in a video that circulated earlier on Saturday, expressing his allegiance to parliament head and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido. The military's support is crucial for Maduro, who is deeply unpopular, largely due to an unprecedented economic crisis that has prompted an exodus of millions. Maduro claims he is victim of a coup directed by the United States.
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| China's Super Assault Rifle: Meet the QBZ-95-1 Posted: 03 Feb 2019 06:00 AM PST  Is it ready for battle?
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| Southern California rain: Storm strengthens, drenches SoCal with torrential rain Posted: 02 Feb 2019 05:25 PM PST  A large and steady storm is dousing the Southland and is getting stronger as the day progresses on Saturday.
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| Powerful storm hits Southern California, flooding highways Posted: 02 Feb 2019 08:32 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The second in a string of powerful storms battered California on Saturday, shutting key highways after water and mud rushed into lanes from bare hillsides in wildfire burn areas where thousands of residents were under evacuation orders.
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| Ocasio-Cortez Invites Woman Who Confronted Flake in Kavanaugh Fight to SOTU Posted: 04 Feb 2019 08:53 AM PST  Ana Maria Archila, the woman who publicly confronted Senator Jeff Flake over his support for then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, will attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday at the invitation of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.). Archila, a longtime liberal activist and co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action, cornered Flake in a Capitol Hill elevator and berated him for supporting Kavanaugh's confirmation despite the numerous sexual-assault allegations leveled against the nominee by former classmates. "What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court.
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| Erdogan says Turkey keeping 'low-level' contact with Syria Posted: 03 Feb 2019 01:09 PM PST  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said his government maintained "low-level" contact through its spy agency with the Syrian regime despite being one of its most fervent critics. Ankara fell out with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad following the 2011 crackdown on popular dissent, with Erdogan denouncing him as "killer Assad". The Turkish leader has ruled out any direct talks with Assad and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in December Ankara was only in contact with Damascus through third parties, namely Russia and Iran.
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| Jussie Smollett tearfully speaks out at first concert since attack: 'I fought ... back' Posted: 03 Feb 2019 09:08 AM PST  "Empire" star Jussie Smollett took the stage Saturday in L.A. for his first concert since being attacked in what Chicago police call a "hate crime."
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| When is the next full moon? Lunar calendar dates for 2019, including February's Snow Moon Posted: 04 Feb 2019 08:02 AM PST  Dust off those binoculars because space fans are in for a celestial treat this month. The upcoming Snow Moon will be the second super moon of 2019 to grace our skies, appearing bigger and brighter to the human eye than usual as it makes its closest approach to Earth in the lunar cycle. As one of 12 full moons to admire every year, February's moon was nicknamed the Snow Moon by early Native Americans to symbolise the country's heavy snowfall and challenging hunting conditions. But when and how can you see it? Here we've compiled a complete guide to our moon, Earth's only natural satellite and the largest and brightest object in our night sky which has enchanted and inspired mankind for centuries. From super moon to blue moon, here's everything explained in one place. How often does a full moon occur? A full moon occurs every 29.5 days and is when the Moon is completely illuminated by the Sun's rays. It occurs when Earth is directly aligned between the Sun and the Moon. Why do full moons have names? The early Native Americans didn't record time using months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Instead tribes gave each full moon a nickname to keep track of the seasons and lunar months. Most of the names relate to an activity or an event that took place at the time in each location. However, it wasn't a uniform system and tribes tended to name and count moons differently. Some, for example, counted four seasons a year while others counted five. Others defined a year as 12 moons, while others said there were 13. Colonial Americans adopted some of the moon names and applied them to their own calendar system which is why they're still in existence today, according to the Farmer's Almanac. January: Wolf Moon This moon was named because villagers used to hear packs of wolves howling in hunger around this time of the year. Its other name is the Old Moon. The first full moon of 2019 was a spectacular sight, dubbed the 'super blood wolf moon'. Occurring as the product of three different phenomena: it was a supermoon, a wolf moon and a blood moon. While it was said to be the UK's last visible total lunar eclipse for 10 years, it was pictured across skies around the world with a deep orange hue. In January 2018 there were two Wolf Moons, both of which were supermoons. When two moons occur in one month, the second is called a blue moon. While blue moons typically occur only once every two to three years, last year we were treated to two moons - the second appearing at the end of March. When? January 21 Super Wolf Blood Moon: The total lunar eclipse, in pictures from around the world February: Snow Moon The Snow moon is named after the cold white stuff because historically it's always been the snowiest month in America. It's also traditionally referred to as the Hunger Moon, because hunting was very difficult in snowy conditions. While February 2018 had no full moon at all, this year's Snow Moon will also be the second of three supermoons to occur in 2019. Rising in the sky at 3.53pm, the moon will make its closest approach to Earth all year and appear visibly bigger and brighter to the naked eye. When? February 19 March: Worm Moon As temperatures warm, earthworm casts begin to appear and birds begin finding food. It's also known as Sap Moon, Crow Moon and Lenten Moon. This year's Worm Moon will also be the third super moon of 2019, appearing 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent bigger to the human eye. When? March 21 April: Pink Moon April's full moon is known as the Pink Moon, but don't be fooled into thinking it will turn pink. It's actually named after pink wildflowers, which appear in the US and Canada in early spring. This moon is also known as Egg Moon, due to spring egg-laying season. Some coastal tribes referred to it as Fish Moon because it appeared at the same time as the shad swimming upstream. This moon is important because it is used to fix the date of Easter, which is always the Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This year, that moon appears on Friday April 19, which means Easter Sunday falls two days later, on Sunday April 21. When? April 19 May: Flower Moon Spring has officially sprung by the time May arrives, and flowers and colourful blooms dot the landscape. This moon is also known as Corn Planting Moon, as crops are sown in time for harvest, or Bright Moon because this full moon is known to be one of the brightest. Some people refer to it as Milk Moon. When? May 18 June: Strawberry Moon This moon is named after the beginning of the strawberry picking season. It's other names are Rose Moon, Hot Moon, or Hay Moon as hay is typically harvested around now. This moon appears in the same month as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (June 21) in which we can enjoy approximately 17 hours of daylight. When? June 17 July: Thunder Moon Named due to the prevalence of summer thunder storms. It's sometimes referred to as the Full Buck Moon because at this time of the year a buck's antlers are fully grown. When? July 16 August: Sturgeon Moon Tribes in North America typically caught Sturgeon during this month, but also it is when grain and corn were gathered so is also referred to as Grain Moon. August will also see what is known as a 'black moon' in the UK, which is when there are two new moons in one month. The first will be on August 1 and the second on August 30. This month's full moon appears in the same month as the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on August 12. When? August 15 September: Harvest Moon The Harvest Moon is the name given to the first full moon that takes place closest to the Autumn equinox, which this year will come on September 14. The Harvest Moon arrived late in 2017, on October 5 - it normally rises in September. It was during September that most of the crops were harvested ahead of the autumn and this moon would give light to farmers so they could carry on working longer in the evening. Some tribes also called it the Barley Moon, the Full Corn Moon or Fruit Moon. When? September 14 October: Hunter's Moon As people planned ahead for the cold months ahead, the October moon came to signify the ideal time for hunting game, which were becoming fatter from eating falling grains. This moon is also known as the travel moon and the dying grass moon. When?October 13 November: Frost Moon The first of the winter frosts historically begin to take their toll around now and winter begins to bite, leading to this month's moon moniker. It is also known as the Beaver Moon. When? November 12 December: Cold Moon Nights are long and dark and winter's grip tightens, hence this Moon's name. With Christmas just a few weeks away, it's also referred to as Moon before Yule and Long Nights Moon. When? December 12 Total lunar eclipses Space fans will remember that a total lunar eclipse graced our skies on January 21. In total the phenomenon - which was also a full moon and a supermoon - lasted five hours, 11 minutes and 33 seconds, with its maximum totality peaking at 5.12am. The celestial spectacle, otherwise known as a 'blood moon', occurs when the moon moves into the Earth's shadow. At the distance of the moon this shadow appears like the bull's eye at the centre of a dartboard. The umbral shadow slowly creeps across the moon's disc until it engulfs it completely. You might think the moon would disappear from view at this point but this is typically not the case. The Earth's atmosphere acts like a lens, refracting or bending the Sun's red light to infill the otherwise dark umbra. This results in the moon's usual bright white hue transforming into a deep blood orange. July 2018 saw the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting from 8.49pm to 10.13pm in London. Making the phenomenon even more spectacular, Mars was at its closest point to Earth since 2003, meaning the Red Planet was close to maximum brightness. Once in a blue moon Does this well-known phrase have anything to do with the moon? Well, yes it does. We use it to refer to something happening very rarely and a blue moon is a rare occurrence. It's the name given to a second full moon that occurs in a single calendar month and this typically occurs only once every two to three years. There's lots of other moons, too - how many do you know? Full moon: We all know what these are. They come around every month and light up the night at night. Harvest moon: The full moon closest to the autumn equinox. Black moon: Most experts agree that this refers to the second new moon in a calendar month. The last black moon was at the start of October 2016 and the next one is expected in August 2019; the first of the month will be on the 1st and the second will fall on the 30th. Blood moon: Also known as a supermoon lunar eclipse. It's when the shadow of Earth casts a reddish glow on the moon, the result of a rare combination of an eclipse with the closest full moon of the year. There was one in the UK in January 2019, but the next one won't be until 2029. Strawberry moon: A rare event when there's a full moon on the same day as the summer solstice. It happened in June 2016 for the first time since 1967 when 17 hours of sunlight gave way to a bright moonlit sky. Despite the name, the moon does appear pink or red. The romantic label was coined by the Algonquin tribes of North America who believed June's full moon signalled the beginning of the strawberry picking season. What is a supermoon? Ever looked up at the night sky to see a full moon so close you could almost touch it? Well you've probably spotted a supermoon. The impressive sight happens when a full moon is at the point in its orbit that brings it closest to Earth. To us Earth-lings, it appears 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent bigger to the naked eye. How a supermoon is generated Supermoon is not an astrological term though. It's scientific name is actually Perigee Full Moon, but supermoon is more catchy and is used by the media to describe our celestial neighbour when it gets up close. Astrologer Richard Nolle first came up with the term supermoon and he defined it as "… a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90 per cent of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit", according to earthsky.org. How many supermoons are there in 2019? The first full moon supermoon of 2019 appeared on January 21. Two more supermoons will take place on February 19 and March 21. The first of these supermoons was a total lunar eclipse, with the totality lasting 1 hour, 1 minute and 58 seconds in the UK. However, the peak of the eclipse was at 5:12am, which meant stargazers had to get up early to catch it. There will also be three new moon supermoons in 2019: one on August 1, one on August 31 and another on September 28. Unfortunately, stargazers may be unable to see these moons as new moons are generally obscured by the light of the sun. What do I look for? Head outside at sunset when the moon is closest to the horizon and marvel at its size. As well as being closer and brighter, the moon (clouds permitting) should also look orange and red in colour. Why? Well, as moonlight passes through the thicker section of the atmosphere, light particles at the red end of the spectrum don't scatter as easily as light at the blue end of the spectrum. So when the moon looks red, you're just looking at red light that wasn't scattered. As the moon gets higher in the sky, it returns to its normal white/yellow colour. Will the tides be larger? Yes. When full or new moons are especially close to Earth, it leads to higher tides. Tides are governed by the gravitational pull of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. Because the sun and moon go through different alignments, this affects the size of the tides. Tell me more about the moon The moon is 4.6 billion years old and was formed between 30-50 million years after the solar system. It is smaller than Earth - about the same size as Pluto in fact. Its surface area is less than the surface area of Asia - about 14.6 million square miles according to space.com Gravity on the moon is only 1/6 of that found on Earth. The moon is not round, but is egg-shaped with the large end pointed towards Earth. It would take 135 days to drive by car to the moon at 70 mph (or nine years to walk). The moon has "moonquakes" caused by the gravitational pull of Earth. Experts believe the moon has a molten core, just like Earth. How was the Moon formed? How the Moon was formed Man on the Moon Only 12 people have ever walked on the moon and they were all American men, including (most famously) Neil Armstrong who was the first in 1969 on the Apollo II mission. The last time mankind sent someone to the moon was in 1972 when Gene Cernan visited on the Apollo 17 mission. Although Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin was the first man to urinate there. While millions watched the moon landing on live television, Aldrin was forced to go in a tube fitted inside his space suit. Buzz Aldrin Jr. beside the U.S. flag after man reaches the Moon for the first time during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. Credit: AP When the astronauts took off their helmets after their moonwalk, they noticed a strong smell, which Armstrong described as "wet ashes in a fireplace" and Aldrin as "spent gunpowder". It was the smell of moon-dust brought in on their boots. The mineral, armalcolite, discovered during the first moon landing and later found at various locations on Earth, was named after the three Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. An estimated 600 million people watched the Apollo 11 landing live on television, a world record until 750 million people watched the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. An estimated 600 million people watched the Apollo 11 landing live on television, a world record until 750 million people watched the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. How the Daily Telegraph reported Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon in 1969 One of President Nixon's speechwriters had prepared an address entitled: "In Event of Moon Disaster". It began: "Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay to rest in peace." If the launch from the Moon had failed, Houston was to close down communications and leave Armstrong and Aldrin to their death.
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| Photos of the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Posted: 04 Feb 2019 09:08 AM PST |
| Venezuela crisis: Nicolas Maduro on brink as military top brass turn against him Posted: 02 Feb 2019 01:45 PM PST  Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Caracas to back opposition leader Juan Guaido's calls for early elections as international pressure increased on President Nicolas Maduro to step down. Mr Maduro addressed a rally in Caracas on Saturday and proposed bringing forward parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2020, to this year, as he sought to damp down demands for presidential elections. "You want elections? You want early elections? We are going to have parliamentary elections," he said. "There is no dictatorship in Venezuela, nor will there be." He said the constituent assembly, which he controls, would debate ordering elections in the rival national assembly, which is opposition controlled and headed by Mr Guaido. The suggestion will likely have little impact, however, as he ignored Mr Guaido and his supporters' demands to resign, and stopped short of the four EU nations' demand for presidential elections. It certainly had little impact on the tens of thousands of anti-Maduro demonstrators in the streets. Protests were held across the country, and remarkably, as the day edged towards evening, there was no reported violence, and no tear gas fired. Wearing t-shirts saying "Let's take back our country" and holding aloft banners and placards criticising Mr Maduro, they processed through Caracas demanding change. Nakary Coelho, 28, broke down in tears, Venezuelan flag around her neck, as she told why she was supporting Mr Guaido. "I want my country to be free, and I want freedom to be the way here again," she told The Telegraph. "There is too much suffering, and we have to bring democracy back. Today we are doing it." Opposition activists pour onto the streets on Saturday, to back Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's calls for early elections Bekis Seijas, a 60-year-old retired health ministry employee, said he and his two children were the only members of his family not to have fled the country. "We need humanitarian aid," he told The Telegraph. "We need medicines, we need food, and this government blocks everything. That's why I'm here." Mr Guaido announced on Twitter that humanitarian aid was on its way. The move is being seen as a test of whether the military remains loyal to Mr Maduro, and turns it away, or defies the commander in chief and helps the people. "You, soldier... have the decision in your hands" to allow it in or not, said Mr Guaido. In the northwestern city of Barquisimeto video on social media appeared to show riot police refusing to repress protesters, and walking away from the demonstrations. One officer hugged a protester. The demonstrations came as a general from the Venezuelan air force announced he no longer recognises Mr Maduro as the country's president, in what appears to be the highest ranking military defection to hit the regime. Major European countries have set a Sunday deadline for Mr Maduro to call snap presidential elections. Failing that, they will join the United States in recognising Mr Guaido, leader of the national assembly, as Venezuela's interim president. His announcement on Saturday does not meet their demands. "Maduro's tyranny must end and must end now," said Mike Pence, the US vice president, at a rally of exiled Venezuelans in Miami on the eve of the protest. An anti-government protester wears signs asking for humanitarian aid and a message on his chest that reads in Spanish: "Venezuelans die for lack of medicines. Maduro is an assassin" Mr Guaido in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa said he wanted the Vatican to intervene in his favour. "We hope to soon hear a pronouncement by the pope," he said. But the Argentine-born pontiff said a few days earlier that, although he is terrified there could be a bloodbath in Venezuela, his pastoral role does not let him take sides. Mr Guaido's call for a massive show of popular support coincides with a huge pro-Maduro demonstration. The ruling Socialist party celebrated the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduro's deceased predecessor, on Saturday. Mr Maduro told the crowd that the armed forces were "the spinal column" of the country, and that he had every faith in them. "If Venezuela wants a future, peace, then we must preserve our country's integrity," he said, praising his armed forces. "If you want peace, prepare yourself to defend it. We are a peaceful population. But we are warriors. The United States empire threatens us every day. We don't want another Vietnam. And I have a message for the people of the United States: stop the madness of Donald Trump." Clashes last week around the country left some 40 people dead, according to the United Nations. Chavez, the army officer whose oil-fueled spending raised millions of Venezuelans out of poverty, assumed office as Venezuela's president February 2, 1999 at the head of a socialist movement. Government supporters are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hugo Chavez's rise to power Credit: Ariana Cubillos/AP His hand-picked successor, Mr Maduro, has presided over the oil-rich country's economic collapse and is widely denounced as a dictator for ruthlessly cracking down on dissent amid chronic shortages of food and medicines. Mr Guaido, 35, is trying to force the socialist leader from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections. The United States and a dozen Latin American countries rapidly recognised Mr Guaido after he declared himself acting president in a January 23 speech, posing a direct challenge to Mr Maduro's authority. European Parliament politicians recognised Mr Guaido on Thursday as the acting head of state. And four major European powers - Britain, France, Germany and Spain - have said they will do so if Mr Maduro fails to call presidential elections by midnight on Sunday. The international heave against Mr Maduro's leftist regime came after weeks of behind-the-scenes diplomacy including secret talks in Washington between Mr Guaido and US officials. "Nicolas Maduro will do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America," Mr Pence warned on Friday. "Let me be very clear: this is no time for dialogue. This is time for action," the vice president said. "The time has come to end Maduro's dictatorship once and for all." Evo Morales, president of Bolivia, flew into Venezuela on Friday to offer Mr Maduro his support In a letter to the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay published Friday, Mr Guaido ruled out any negotiations with Maduro unless they "start the transition process, culminating in the holding of free elections." Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez have jointly called a conference in Montevideo next Thursday for "neutral" countries to discuss the crisis. Previous negotiations all had the same "unsatisfactory result," Mr Guaido wrote. "The dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has not changed its position. They have mocked the Venezuelan people to their face." The last 10 days of political upheaval have exacerbated economic meltdown in Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves but has suffered hyperinflation and shortages of basic necessities. The UN says 2.3 million people have fled the country, unleashing a migration crisis in South America. Mr Guaido has acknowledged "clandestine meetings" with members of the armed forces and security forces, who he is trying to woo with an amnesty offer. So far, the military high command has remained loyal to Mr Maduro.
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| Does Russia Have a Plan to Solve the North Korea Nuclear Crisis? Posted: 02 Feb 2019 01:42 PM PST  Some think so.
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| Taptica looks to firm U.S. footprint with $177 million RhythmOne deal Posted: 04 Feb 2019 01:26 AM PST ![Taptica looks to firm U.S. footprint with $177 million RhythmOne deal]( "Taptica looks to firm U.S. footprint with $177 million RhythmOne deal") (Reuters) - Mobile video advertising company Taptica International Ltd said on Monday it agreed to buy U.S.-focused peer RhythmOne Plc for about 135 million pounds ($176.6 million) in stock as it looks to expand in the United States.
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| People don't believe ICE's arrest of 21 Savage in Atlanta is a coincidence Posted: 03 Feb 2019 02:39 PM PST  British-born rapper 21 Savage was arrested in Atlanta on Sunday when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials picked him up on an expired visa. Atlanta is also the site of Sunday's Super Bowl LIII. Twitter is struggling to accept the timing as a coincidence, to say the least. SEE ALSO: The history behind the 'bread and roses' theme to the London Women's March According to ICE, 21 Savage -- a 26-year-old whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph -- entered the country illegally in 2005, and then proceeded to stay after his year-long immigrant visa expired. (Yes, that means he was around 12 when he arrived.) ICE initially cited a 2014 felony drug conviction as a reason for the arrest, per CBS News, though a subsequent local report noted that there's no such conviction, and that the rapper's lawyer has been trying to get the "2014 1st offender drug case" sealed. 21 Savage is currently being held in custody in Georgia as deportation proceedings begin. As news of what happened began to make its way around social media, observers were quick to point out that the arrest came as all eyes are on Atlanta for the NFL's annual Super Bowl championship game. Many seem to think this was no accident, though one local reporter notes that unnamed officials said the arrest wasn't part of a "#SuperBowl-related ICE operation." > Important new info on #21Savage arrest: am told it was NOT part of a #SuperBowl -related ICE operation, that he was in car with another hip hop artist who was subject of a local police bust @wsbtv https://t.co/oXms9qyWjo > > -- Mark Winne (@MarkWinneWSB) February 3, 2019 Donald Trump's presidency has been rife with anti-immigrant rhetoric and outright racism directed at people of color. In the midst of all the noise and controversy, ICE has often found itself at the center of various national security debates -- and in news headlines for its sometimes questionable activities. While none of this proves that ICE's action against 21 Savage in Atlanta on Super Bowl Sunday is some kind of strategic PR move -- and there are reports from anonymous officials, at least, that it wasn't -- plenty of people aren't buying it. > I am curious as to why 21 Savage is being arrested now by ICE. Wasn't he arrested for something a few years ago? The timing of this is > > -- Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 3, 2019 > They are CLEARLY trying to catch undocumented immigrants in Atlanta who are out/working during Super Bowl weekend. I'm willing to bet this "operation" is way bigger than 21 Savage. > > -- Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 3, 2019 > Houseless folks arrested by APD to clean the streets. > ICE arresting immigrants, and apparently 21 Savage. > The deaths of two Black men at the hands of APD being ignored by the mayor until the end of the Super Bowl. > Stings being set up to catch sex workers. > > What else? > > -- Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) February 3, 2019 > But like, how was 21 Savage living in the spotlight and traveling overseas for shows and not being caught? But build that Wall right?.... > > -- iSH (@TheNameIsIsh) February 3, 2019 > The timing is just real interesting given his recent speaking out and community work, and we all know ICE has a political agenda. Why now? I'm not even a 21 Savage fan or anything, this is more about not trusting ICE. > > -- Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 3, 2019 ## WATCH: 2018 was the year of the youth activist
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| 19-year-old University of Vermont student found dead outdoors after frigid night Posted: 02 Feb 2019 05:19 PM PST ![19-year-old University of Vermont student found dead outdoors after frigid night]( "19-year-old University of Vermont student found dead outdoors after frigid night") The student died in the early morning hours after attempting to take a shortcut, according to police.
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| Trump pushes withdrawal from 'endless' Afghanistan, Syria wars Posted: 03 Feb 2019 10:02 AM PST  Pushing back against Republican opposition, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his determination to pull US troops out of "endless wars" in Syria and Afghanistan, in an interview that aired Sunday. Trump cited the high cost in blood and money after years of fighting in Afghanistan, in arguing for a US withdrawal from the place where the 9/11 attacks were hatched. Trump's comments come in the face of warnings by US intelligence chiefs that a hasty US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Syria could allow a resurgence by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
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| Israel releases report on links between BDS and militants Posted: 03 Feb 2019 01:37 PM PST ![Israel releases report on links between BDS and militants]( "Israel releases report on links between BDS and militants") JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government released a report Sunday claiming to reveal close links between the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel and militant groups.
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| Walmart introduces paid time-off for sick days and other absences Posted: 03 Feb 2019 02:53 PM PST  Walmart employees can now earn paid time-off unplanned absences from work. The retailer will pay a higher bonus to those with spotless attendance.
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| Verily working on smart shoe prototype that can track your health Posted: 04 Feb 2019 06:04 AM PST  As reported by CNBC, Alphabet research company Verily has been looking for partners to co-develop a pair of smart shoes that can track a wearer's weight and detect falls. Verily, the branch under Google's parent company Alphabet previously known as Google Life Sciences, has allegedly been showing off a pair of prototype smart shoes to potential partners who could aid in the development of the intelligent sneaks, according to CNBC who spoke with three individuals familiar with the matter. The weight-tracking feature could potentially be used to prevent life-threatening conditions like congestive heart failure by alerting wearers to sudden weight gain, a common symptom of the malady resulting from internal fluid retention.
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| Top Yemeni commander wounded in rebel drone strike dies Posted: 03 Feb 2019 08:08 AM PST  Yemen's deputy chief of staff died Sunday from wounds sustained last month in a drone attack by Huthi rebels on the country's largest air base, the information minister said. "Major General Saleh al-Zandani, deputy chief of staff, was martyred while undergoing treatment after he was wounded in the terrorist bombing at the Al-Anad base," Moammer al-Eryani wrote on Twitter. Zandani was among 11 wounded in the January 10 drone attack on a military parade at the base in Lahij, a province some 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Yemen's second city Aden.
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| The 2020 Kia Telluride Is Shaping Up to Be a Good Value Posted: 03 Feb 2019 03:42 PM PST  Here is the info you need on the new three-row SUV's pricing and trim levels.
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| 15 panorama fails that are actually art Posted: 03 Feb 2019 05:00 AM PST  Over the past few years, our camera-equipped phones have given us the gift/curse of the panorama fail. Some of these photos end up being truly hilarious, while others look like something that walked straight out of a Stephen King novel. From distorted dogs to disturbingly flat faces, here are some of the funniest, and most horrifying panorama fails that are honestly real works of art. ## 1\. This man is truly a pano fail king > View this post on Instagram > > These honestly never fail to make me laugh #PanoramaFail > > A post shared by Miles Myerscough-Harris (@milesmh) on Mar 23, 2018 at 8:31am PDT ## 2\. Poetry in motion > View this post on Instagram > > Wally's beach St Mary's reservoir #skimboarding #skimboard #beach #panofail #panofails #panoramafails #nofilter #panowin #funny #funnypano #funnypanorama #funnypanofail > > A post shared by Corinne (@claod_idia) on Jul 31, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT ## 3\. I often feel like I've forgotten my head, but this isn't what I had in mind > @PanoramaFails the headless bearded drinker pic.twitter.com/wZYd2mca9l > > -- Mia & Dolly (@Miameeze) May 6, 2018 ## 4\. We're not entirely sure if this is a sheep or a dog, but either way it's a baaaaa-d panorama > @PanoramaFails pic.twitter.com/J6vA1WJ8KK > > -- Gemma Thomas (@gemma_thomas7) September 3, 2017 ## 5\. "Who you callin' pinhead?" ## 6\. Nice ## 7\. It's a twin thing > Ever feel two-faced? Yeah, me neither.#universalorlando #Throwback #panoramafail pic.twitter.com/0oVJ3E9vPb > > -- CharWer (@char_wer) August 3, 2018 ## 8\. This one's actually pretty smooth > Sooo I love my Google Pixel, but the AI/auto image creator doesn't know it's cattle! You can't just stitch a black #brangus heifer onto the rear end of a red bull to make a Panorama! Photo fail at #ekka. @BushBabeofOz @pipcourtney @troysetter @FinlayBrent pic.twitter.com/UKGQWuRitG > > -- Sam Trethewey (@Sam_Trethewey) August 9, 2018 ## 9\. These dogs seem to have the opposite problem > Don't worry your dog could have been like mine #panoramafail pic.twitter.com/xeYD4V8UPI > > -- Nat Miller (@natmiller) June 1, 2018 ## 10\. Just a very normal 2-legged horse > Sometimes, my #panorama #photo can go wrong. Can you spot it?..#London #oopsiedaisies #fail pic.twitter.com/xaamTHBWHD > > -- Alastair Hilton (@London_W4) May 25, 2016 ## 11\. Don't worry, girl, I have close-set eyes too > when panorama fails you pic.twitter.com/JhZsmbNR60 > > -- Krystina (@ktinastan) December 21, 2015 ## 12\. Heads up, bro ## 13\. Riding the bus is for squares ## 14\. Ahh, the ghosts of Crocs past > View this post on Instagram > > A post shared by Vera Vang (@vera_z_vang) on Oct 20, 2018 at 8:29pm PDT ## 15\. This is like the slinky dog just like the one in Toy Story > View this post on Instagram > > I do what I want-Harley #panoramafail #forpugssake > > A post shared by Harley the Pug (@forpugssake) on Sep 24, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT Hope you enjoyed these pano fails, which if you did makes them more of pano wins. ## WATCH: In a killer SAG Awards monologue, host Megan Mullally goes after ageism and sexism in Hollywood
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| Will Sears survive? 5 things to watch at Monday's hearing to decide the company's fate Posted: 03 Feb 2019 09:01 PM PST ![Will Sears survive? 5 things to watch at Monday's hearing to decide the company's fate]( "Will Sears survive? 5 things to watch at Monday's hearing to decide the company's fate") The fate of Sears Holdings will be decided in a dramatic showdown that begins Monday in a federal bankruptcy court in New York.
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| Nissan scraps plan to build new X-Trail model in Britain Posted: 03 Feb 2019 07:28 PM PST ![Nissan scraps plan to build new X-Trail model in Britain]( "Nissan scraps plan to build new X-Trail model in Britain") Carmaker Nissan has scrapped plans to build its new X-Trail SUV in Britain and will produce it solely in Japan, warning two months before Brexit that uncertainty over Britain's departure was making it harder to plan for the future. Falling demand for diesel cars in Europe has forced Nissan to invest in other technologies and save costs. It cut hundreds of jobs at its Sunderland factory in the north of England, Britain's biggest car plant, last year as output slumped 11 percent, hit by levies and crackdowns on diesel.
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| Top Asian News 4:17 a.m. GMT Posted: 03 Feb 2019 08:17 PM PST ![Top Asian News 4:17 a.m. GMT]( "Top Asian News 4:17 a.m. GMT") BANGKOK (AP) — A soccer player who has refugee status in Australia pleaded outside a Bangkok court on Monday for Thailand to not send him home to Bahrain, which is seeking his extradition to serve a prison sentence for a crime he denies. "Please speak to Thailand, don't send me to Bahrain. Bahrain won't defend me," a chained Hakeem al-Araibi shouted to reporters outside court as he was escorted by prison guards into the hearing. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent a letter last month urging Thailand to stop the extradition, and soccer governing bodies and human rights activists have urged the country to let him return to Australia where he lives and plays for a semi-professional team in Melbourne.
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| How to Approach Law School Seat Deposits Posted: 04 Feb 2019 06:41 AM PST ![How to Approach Law School Seat Deposits]( "How to Approach Law School Seat Deposits") Simply put, law schools don't know whether -- or where -- you've accepted an offer while reviewing your application. Many applicants are apprehensive about approaching law school admission offices for fear that it would reflect poorly on them.
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| Passenger slits Uber driver's throat, survives injuries Posted: 03 Feb 2019 05:45 AM PST  The attacker has been charged with second degree attempted murder and aggravated assault with a weapon.
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| The 12 Iconic Movie Cars You Missed in Walmart's Super Bowl Commercial Posted: 03 Feb 2019 06:34 PM PST |
| Israel's Uphill Battle with Iran in Syria Posted: 03 Feb 2019 12:05 PM PST  It is not a coincidence that the end of the Syrian conflict has dovetailed with the rise in the Israel-Iran confrontation in Syria.
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| Normandy chicken with cream and cider Posted: 02 Feb 2019 10:00 PM PST  This rich and satisfying dish is good served with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. SERVES six INGREDIENTS 50g butter Oil, for cooking 6 chicken breasts, well seasoned 2 medium onions, finely sliced, or 12 baby onions 2 Discovery apples, halved Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Ground white pepper, to season 500ml cider 150ml double cream METHOD Heat half of the butter in a large pan with a dash of oil and colour the chicken breasts on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the remaining butter to the pan. Add the onions and apples and cook for about five minutes, until the onions start to soften – but don't let them take on colour. Add the chicken breasts back to the pan and season with a touch of nutmeg and ground white pepper. Add the cider and cook over a low heat to reduce the liquid by two thirds, cooking the chicken at the same time. This takes about 30 minutes. Add the cream and emulsify with the cider sauce. If the sauce seems too runny, remove the chicken and apples and reduce the cream over a low-medium heat. Pour the sauce over the chicken and apples and serve immediately. Recipes | Angela Hartnett's French bistro classics
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| Gang-weary Salvadorans elect Nayib Bukele as new president Posted: 04 Feb 2019 12:16 AM PST  Salvadorans on Sunday elected Nayib Bukele, the popular former mayor of San Salvador, as the Central American country's new president -- a result that ends the near 30-year grip on power of its two largest parties. The 37-year-old president-elect, of the conservative Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) party, wore jeans and a leather jacket as he celebrated with supporters -- thousands chanting his name and waving flags in the capital's central Plaza Morazan. Bukele's opponents -- Carlos Calleja of the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), and Hugo Martinez of the leftist Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN) -- quickly recognized the win.
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