| Trump's ex-lawyer Cohen says testimony 'could have been clearer': lawyer Posted: 13 Mar 2019 04:15 PM PDT  U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen's testimony to Congress regarding any potential pardon for his crimes "could have been clearer," but he never personally asked the president for such a reprieve, Cohen's lawyer said. In a statement to lawmakers on Tuesday, Cohen's legal team sought to clarify his recent testimony amid questions over whether Cohen sought, or Trump offered, a pardon to the man who once declared he would take a bullet for the Republican president but later flipped to cooperate with federal prosecutors. Cohen, who is to report to prison in May for campaign finance crimes and previously lying to Congress, said at a public hearing before a U.S. House of Representatives panel last month, "I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump." Trump himself challenged that claim.
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| Mum of Swedish girl named in NZ killer's manifesto condemns attacks Posted: 15 Mar 2019 06:01 AM PDT  The mother of a Swedish girl killed in a 2017 jihadist attack expressed her horror at Friday's New Zealand mosque gun rampage, committed by a man who claimed to want to avenge the child's death.
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| Ford Shelby GT500 in Grabber Lime Has Saint Patrick's Day Spirit and Then Some Posted: 15 Mar 2019 03:00 AM PDT  Something tells us Dearborn won't need any luck of the Irish to sell these hi-po Mustangs.
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| Historic blizzard wanes as it barrels east after pounding parts of U.S Posted: 14 Mar 2019 09:19 AM PDT  A blizzard of "historic proportions" that hit the U.S. Rocky Mountain and Plains states this week was moving eastward on Thursday as it weakened, hurling hurricane-force winds, tornadoes and heavy rain on its way, weather officials said. "While the storm has reached its lowest pressure and will gradually weaken over the next few days, strong winds will continue on the west side of the storm across portions of the Central and Northern Plains," Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), said on Thursday in a weather advisory. A day earlier, the NWS had described the blizzard - previously dubbed a "bomb cyclone" by U.S. meteorologists for its quick, late season punch - as being of "historic proportions" in a post on Twitter.
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| Hawaiian Airlines was the most punctual airline in the US for 2018: DOT Posted: 14 Mar 2019 08:54 AM PDT  When it comes to air travel in the US, 2018 was a good year with fewer people getting bumped from their flight and fewer onboard animal-related incidents. On the other hand, the rate of baggage mishandling and tarmac delays increased last year.
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| Parliament Narrowly Passes Amendment Ruling Out a No-Deal Brexit Posted: 13 Mar 2019 12:37 PM PDT  British parliament on Wednesday approved an amendment prohibiting a so-called no-deal Brexit, in which the U.K. would exit the E.U. without first securing alternative trade and immigration arrangements.The amendment, which passed 312–308, came one day after Prime Minister Theresa May suffered yet another defeat in her ongoing effort to secure parliamentary approval for the Brexit deal she painstakingly negotiated with the European leaders following the 2016 referendum in which U.K. voters decided to leave the E.U.Having now rejected the default position that the U.K. will exit the E.U. on March 29 regardless of whether a deal has been secured, Parliament is expected to vote Thursday on an amendment that would extend the Brexit deadline until May 22.Should parliament vote to extend the deadline, May must secure the support of all 27 E.U. member states for the extension before March 29. But E.U. officials have thus far maintained that an extension will not be granted for the sole purpose of continuing negotiations. Liam Fox, Britain's international-trade secretary, warned lawmakers that the E.U. would likely demand further concessions before approving an extension, "and it is not clear what price the E.U. might extract" in return.While Wednesday's vote represents a concerted effort to avoid a so-called crash out, in which the E.U. would be thrust into economic uncertainty, it is legally non-binding, which means that should the attempt to extend the Brexit deadline fail, a no-deal Brexit remains the legal default."If Parliament votes repeatedly to say 'the moon is made of cheese,' it doesn't mean the moon is made of cheese," Rob Ford, a professor of politics at the University of Manchester, told the Washington Post of the vote's significance. "Parliament can say, repeatedly, that they don't want no deal, but the legal reality is that no deal will happen unless they vote for something else to happen."
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| New Zealand shooting: Trump tweets link to Islamophobic website amid Christchurch terror attack Posted: 15 Mar 2019 08:01 AM PDT  The tragedy, in which two mosques were seemingly the target of a terrorist attack spearheaded by an Australian 28-year-old white male, occurred on Friday in Christchurch, New Zealand — the same day Breitbart featured an interview with Mr Trump on its homepage. The president responded to the mass shootings the following morning on Twitter in a statement that failed to describe the event as an act of terror, as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had called it the night before.
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| France probes 737 MAX black boxes as Boeing halts deliveries Posted: 15 Mar 2019 03:17 AM PDT  A French investigation into the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash that killed 157 passengers and crew opened Friday as US aerospace giant Boeing stopped delivering the top-selling aircraft. An Ethiopian delegation delivered the black boxes to France's BEA air safety agency "and the investigation process has started in Paris", Ethiopian Airlines said Friday on Twitter. The BEA confirmed it had received the black box recorders from the plane, which was just four months old and crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday.
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| A Yale soccer coach caught in a sting: How the FBI broke open the sweeping college admission scandal Posted: 15 Mar 2019 05:47 AM PDT  The FBI learned about an elaborate college admissions bribery scheme through a tip about the Yale women's soccer coach while working a separate case.
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| Brexiteers locked in high-stakes alliance with EU Remainers Posted: 14 Mar 2019 01:12 PM PDT  In opposing Prime Minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal even after MPs voted to delay Britain's departure, hardline Brexiteers are now locked in a high-stakes alliance with those out to stop the process entirely. Remainers and Brexiteer Leavers alike declared victory on Tuesday when the House of Commons overwhelmingly rejected May's EU withdrawal agreement for a second time. May will bring her divorce deal before parliament for a third time next week -- possibly the last chance Brexiteers will have to stop Brexit being delayed.
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| Goldman Asked to Defend Role in 1MDB Deals by Malaysia Regulator Posted: 14 Mar 2019 08:21 PM PDT ![Goldman Asked to Defend Role in 1MDB Deals by Malaysia Regulator]( "Goldman Asked to Defend Role in 1MDB Deals by Malaysia Regulator") The Securities Commission sent a show-cause letter to the bank in December, asking Goldman to explain why such action shouldn't be taken against the bank, the regulator said in a Friday statement. The commission has the power to impose administrative sanctions and undertake civil enforcement proceedings as well as criminal prosecutions, the statement added. A spokesman for Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
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| 'Bomb cyclone' pushes east across U.S. after winter siege of Midwest, Rockies Posted: 15 Mar 2019 10:17 AM PDT  Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts also issued an emergency declaration after rain-swollen rivers and dam breaches left many bridges and roads impassable and prompted thousands of residents of the farm state to evacuate. "Widespread and extremely dangerous flooding will continue today and tonight," the National Weather Service office in Omaha, Nebraska, said on Friday in a statement.
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| Air strikes destroy buildings in Gaza, after two rockets launched at Tel Aviv Posted: 15 Mar 2019 01:46 AM PDT  Israeli military aircraft bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip early on Friday, hours after two rockets were launched at Tel Aviv in the first such attack since a 2014 war. Rough cut (no reporter narration)
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| This Poor Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette C8 Prototype Broke Down Posted: 14 Mar 2019 11:17 AM PDT |
| Trump says 'there should be no Mueller report' in furious rant, as president escalates campaign to undermine Russia investigation Posted: 15 Mar 2019 08:03 AM PDT  Donald Trump has said "there should be no Mueller report" in a series of tweets denouncing the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It was just the latest misleading tirade Mr Trump has launched in recent months as the special counsel's investigation appears to come to a close. "This was an illegal & conflicted investigation in search of a crime.
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| Boeing, airlines face tough path after 737 MAX grounding Posted: 14 Mar 2019 01:18 PM PDT  Days after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 that killed 157 people and led to the plane being grounded worldwide, Boeing and commercial airlines are trying to get a handle on the fallout. Boeing will have to restore confidence in its product, and pay the costs of any modifications, while airlines try to find workarounds to replace the popular aircraft in their lineup of flights. The US on Wednesday grounded the 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 models while it continues the search for the cause of the crash, which happened less than five months after a Lion Air plane of the same model went down in Indonesia, killing 189.
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| Ex-Hillary Flack: ‘White Guy’ Beto ‘Not the Face of the New Democratic Party’ Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:38 AM PDT  Jess McIntosh, who served as director of communications outreach for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, said Thursday that Beto O'Rourke's identity as a white man will likely harm the former Texas congressman's 2020 presidential campaign."We have the most exciting, diverse field of candidates right now. And he has rightfully acknowledged that there might be a little bit of a misstep with him being a white guy and maybe that's not the face of the new Democratic party," McIntosh told CNN's Poppy Harlow when asked whether O'Rourke's race and gender will be an impediment to his recently announced presidential candidacy.As McIntosh noted, O'Rourke acknowledged during a recent interview with Vanity Fair that his race and gender will likely hinder his ability to court progressive voters, but said he wouldn't blame them for voting against him based on his immutable characteristics."The government at all levels is overly represented by white men," O'Rourke said. "That's part of the problem, and I'm a white man. So if I were to run, I think it's just so important that those who would comprise my team looked like this country. If I were to run, if I were to win, that my administration looks like this country. It's the only way I know to meet that challenge.""But I totally understand people who will make a decision based on the fact that almost every single one of our presidents has been a white man, and they want something different for this country," he continued. "And I think that's a very legitimate basis upon which to make a decision. Especially in the fact that there are some really great candidates out there right now."O'Rourke kicked off his presidential campaign Thursday with a rally in Kiokuk, Iowa, the first stop on a three-day tour through the Eastern part of the first state in the nation to vote for presidential nominees.
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| New Zealand mosque gunman livestreamed shooting, published manifesto Posted: 14 Mar 2019 05:24 PM PDT  An Australian gunman whose assaults on two New Zealand mosques Friday left at least 49 people dead, published a racist manifesto on Twitter before livestreaming his rampage. The New Zealand government said it could be illegal to share the video, which showed the gunman repeatedly shooting at worshippers from close range. The Facebook Live video, taken with a camera that appeared to be mounted on the gunman's body, shows a clean-shaven, Caucasian man with short hair driving to the Masjid al Noor mosque in central Christchurch.
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| Want to Help Fight Climate Change? Have More Children Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:00 AM PDT  (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Fear of climate change is justified. It is not, however, a reason not to have children. That's because those kids of yours are more likely to be part of the solution than the problem.
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| Venezuela seeks to restore power amid looting; China offers help Posted: 13 Mar 2019 02:27 PM PDT  Power had returned to many parts of Venezuela after a nationwide outage last week, with the country's main port terminal of Jose, which is crucial for oil exports, resuming operations. The ruling Socialist Party blamed the outage on an act of U.S. sabotage, accusing President Donald Trump of being responsible for several cyber attacks on Venezuela's main dam. "About 100 people came into the store and took all the food, the point of sale terminals," said Maria Centeno, 29, the owner of a store selling food and furniture that was looted on Sunday.
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| What to expect from Apple's WWDC 2019? Posted: 15 Mar 2019 07:09 AM PDT  Apple has announced that its next Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held June 3-7, 2019, at the McEnery Convention Center in San José, California, USA. Apple claims to have 1.4 billion active devices worldwide currently running its operating systems (iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS). Like each year, the firm's developers' conference will offer those attending insight into the changes and progress in store for the firm's various platforms, allowing developers to anticipate projects and, above all, meet Apple engineers first hand.
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| EU antitrust watchdog considering Apple probe: Vestager Posted: 14 Mar 2019 08:45 AM PDT  The European Union's competition watchdog is considering opening a probe of Apple over allegations that it uses its app store to gain an advantage on its own services over rivals', the authority's chief said on Thursday. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, told German newspaper Tagesspiegel her watchdog would examine if there were parallels with Google, which in 2017 was fined over 2 billion euros for unfairly disadvantaging rivals on its platform. "We have to examine the role of Apple and Apple's app store," she was quoted as saying.
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| Mueller investigation: US House passes resolution calling for Trump-Russia report to be made public Posted: 14 Mar 2019 08:37 AM PDT  The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in support of a resolution demanding special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election be made public and provided to Congress upon its completion. The House resolution is unable to actually force Donald Trump, the White House or the US Justice Department to send Congress materials related to the report that may violate current law or the agency's rules surrounding official releases of investigatory findings, however.
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| Death toll rises to nine in collapsed Lagos school building Posted: 14 Mar 2019 12:48 AM PDT  Another body has been recovered from the rubble of a building housing a school that collapsed in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, rescue workers said Thursday, taking the death toll to nine. "We worked through the night and one body was recovered," the southwest coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, told AFP. The dilapidated building in the densely populated Lagos Island area of the city came down without warning on Wednesday morning.
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| The 8 Most Beautifully Designed Botanical Gardens in America Posted: 14 Mar 2019 01:07 PM PDT |
| GM's new Corvette is so powerful, it's warping the frame in tests, report says Posted: 14 Mar 2019 11:40 AM PDT  The redesigned Chevrolet Corvette C8 for 2020 has a new engine that is reportedly so powerful it's compromising the vehicle's structural integrity.
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| The Feast of St Patrick's Day: celebrate with these traditional Irish recipes Posted: 14 Mar 2019 03:49 AM PDT  This weekend cities all over the country will erupt in shades of green to celebrate St Patrick's Day, and with the Six Nations game on the Saturday, what better excuse to get down to your local and say cheers to a pint of Guinness (or three)? And although drinking the black stuff undoubtedly play its part in the day's celebrations (as many as 13 million pints of Guinness are expected to be poured on St Patrick's Day), food is also an important feature as families feast on traditional Irish fare like soda bread, Irish stews and colcannon. No corned beef and cabbage, though – this 'tradition' was invented by the Irish immigrants living in America, as is the rather unappetising sounding 'green beer' served across the pond. So in the spirit of St Patrick, we've gathered together a few of our favourite recipes from the best chefs and cookery writers from the Emerald Isle to form a fantastic authentic feast of Irish flavours. Start with freshly poached sea mullet with Darina Allen's homemade soda bread for mopping up the juices, before tucking into beef and Guinness pies with chocolate or a perfectly roasted saddle of lamb – heaps of colcannon mash are obligatory. Round off the meal with a gloriously indulgent salted caramel whisky bread and butter pudding, and perhaps a tot of Irish whisky on the side. Sláinte mhaith! RECIPES | St Patrick's Day dishes
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| Italy outraged as court finds victim too ugly to be raped Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:15 AM PDT  Italy's Justice Ministry has ordered a preliminary inquiry into an appeals court ruling that overturned a rape verdict in part by arguing that the woman who was attacked was too ugly to be a credible rape victim. The appeals sentence was handed down by an all-female panel.
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| Alexa and Google can control things outdoors, too, with this discounted weatherproof smart plug Posted: 13 Mar 2019 02:01 PM PDT ![Alexa and Google can control things outdoors, too, with this discounted weatherproof smart plug]( "Alexa and Google can control things outdoors, too, with this discounted weatherproof smart plug") You know what's cooler than having those gorgeous outdoor string lights in your backyard? Having those gorgeous outdoor string lights in your backyard and being able to control them with your voice using Alexa. The iClever Outdoor Smart Plug is a weatherproof Wi-Fi smart plug with two outlets, and each one can be controlled individually using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. Plug your string lights into one outlet, your fountain pump into the other, and enjoy! This nifty weatherproof smart plug typically sells for $28, but you can snag one for just $22 today if you hurry.Here's some more info from the product page: * [An Amazing Voice Controlled Power Strip]: Controlling your technology has never been that simple. You can now use Alexa and Google Assistant to operate the devices around your home! You'll be able to use simple voice commands to activate your appliances' functions * [Power in the Palm of your Hand]: Thanks to the free app, you can operate your devices on your smartphone! Simply plug in a device, connect to your Wi-Fi network, and download the iClever Smart Home app. It's as easy as one, two, three. Note：It only supports 2. 4GHz Wi-Fi network, not support 5. 0GHz Wi-Fi. * [Handy Automatic Timers]: Need to leave your house for a while but don't want people to know you're gone? Want to come home to a place that's nice and cozy after a long day at work? Set your own automatic timers! Your lights and other devices will turn on (or off) automatically at the time you specify * [Hazard-Proof]: At iClever, we put your safety first. This power strip is equipped with surge protection and timing settings that eliminates potential hazards like power surges and overheating. Both you and your devices will stay safe from harm * [Inside, Outside, and Everywhere in Between]: Power your next barbecue or backyard party! Because the Power Strip is completely water-resistant, you can use it outside as well as inside. It's a great to use for your sprinklers, sound system, and more
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| Trump Faces Twin Rebukes From Congress With GOP Defections Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:54 AM PDT  Now, senators are poised to reject on Thursday Trump's declaration of an emergency on the southern border. The reprimands -- both requiring defections from Republican ranks -- come as Trump seeks to consolidate the party's support ahead of what promises to be a tough fight for re-election in 2020. While Republicans in Congress have occasionally criticized the administration, the two measures this week mark the first instances in which party leaders haven't been able to stop bills that embarrass Trump.
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| Polish church admits clergy abused hundreds of children Posted: 14 Mar 2019 11:17 AM PDT  Poland's powerful Catholic church on Thursday published a report admitting that nearly 400 of its clergy had sexually abused children and minors over the last three decades, reflecting findings published last month by a charity focused on abuse in the church. The Polish Bishops' Conference said in its report that it found 382 clergy sexually abused a total of 624 victims, including 198 under 15 years of age and 184 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18. The statistical report which covers the period between 1990 and 2018, did not include the names of perpetrators.
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| U.S. judge rules Qualcomm owes Apple nearly $1 billion rebate payment Posted: 14 Mar 2019 04:59 PM PDT  Judge Gonzalo Curiel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday ruled that Qualcomm, the world's biggest supplier of mobile phone chips, was obligated to pay nearly $1 billion in rebate payments to Apple, which for years used Qualcomm's modem chips to connect iPhones to wireless data networks. The payments were part of a business cooperation agreement between the two companies amid the peculiar patent licensing practices of the consumer electronics industry. In general, the contract factories that built Apple's iPhones would pay Qualcomm billions of dollars per year for the use of Qualcomm's patented technology in iPhones, a cost that Apple would reimburse the contract factories for.
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| Last remaining US diplomats leave Venezuela Posted: 14 Mar 2019 05:58 PM PDT  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The last remaining American diplomats in Venezuela left the country on Thursday, amid deteriorating ties between Washington and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
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| New York Judge Rules Unvaccinated Students Can't Go Back to Class Posted: 14 Mar 2019 02:11 AM PDT  The parents of 44 unvaccinated students in a New York suburb sued
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| St Patrick's Day 2019: Shamrocks, snakes and how a British slave became Ireland's patron saint Posted: 14 Mar 2019 02:45 AM PDT  Erin go bragh! St Patrick's Day is nearly here, with events in honour of the patron saint of Ireland set to take place across the globe this week. Recognised annually since the 1700s, the people of Ireland celebrate their heritage and culture on St Patrick's Day, with the day growing as a commercial occasion rather than a religious event in recent years. While Ireland embraces its patron saint day by holding vibrant, green parades, wearing shamrocks and flying Irish flags more than usual, celebrations also take place in other countries around the world, including the UK, United States, Egypt and Australia. Here is everything you need to know about St Patrick's Day, from the patron saint himself to Irish recipes and worldwide celebrations. When is St Patrick's Day 2019? St Patrick's Day, the patron saint day of Ireland, falls each year on March 17. The first parade in name of the saint took place in Boston in 1737, followed by the first "official" parade in New York in 1766. The celebration of St Patrick later spread to Dublin and other American cities and in recent years has grown in popularity elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Who was St Patrick? St Patrick's exact birthplace is unknown and debated. Born as Maewyn Succat around the year of 385 AD in either England, Scotland or Wales, the patron saint was captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland as a slave. Working as a shepherd, Patrick was held captive for six years and grew closer to spirituality and prayer during this period of isolation. After a voice in his dream told him it was time to leave Ireland, Patrick successfully fled his master and sailed back to Britain to continue studying Christianity. Shortly after his return home, an angel in Patrick's dream told him to go back to Ireland as a missionary, and following this, he decided to travel to Gaul, to study religious instruction under Germanus, bishop of Auxerre. Later ordained a bishop and eventually returning to Ireland, Patrick began his mission to spread the Christian message. During this time, Patrick converted thousands of people to Christianity and built churches, schools and monasteries across the country. Legend suggests that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock on his mission to explain the Holy Trinity, teaching his followers that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit exist as individual elements of the combined entity. While some experts claim this story was invented centuries later, the tale has led to the common practice of people wearing the symbol on the feast day. Patrick is also thought to have banished snakes from Ireland to help remove the evil and introduce a new age. But experts claim this is a myth due to evidence snakes never existed in the country in the first place. Some say this was due to the icy waters of the Irish Sea while others believe the cold weather stopped the snakes travelling to Ireland from Britain or afar. Around 431 AD, Patrick was appointed as successor to St Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland, and during his later years, he wrote about his spirituality and life in his 'Confession'. Believed to have died on March 17, in the year 461, Patrick's spiritual path led him to become a legendary figure, as he left behind an established church and an island of Christians. Today, his work is commemorated annually on March 17. Symbols and images associated with Ireland and St Patrick's Day The colours of the Irish flag represent Catholicism (green) and Protestantism (orange), unified by peace (white). Since the 18th century, green has also represented sympathy for Irish independence. Despite St Patrick popularising shamrocks, with many choosing to wear them on the patron saint day, he is historically associated with the red Saltire of St Patrick, featured in the flag of the United Kingdom. The patron saint of Ireland is also associated with the colour blue, after the creation of the Order of St Patrick in the 1780s made it the official colour. "St Patrick's Blue" can be found on Ireland's Presidential Standard, and in the plume of bearskins worn by the Irish Guards. The legend of the Leprechaun has also become a modern day symbol of Ireland. Known for their mischievous behaviour and leaving pots of gold at the end of rainbows, today, the mythical creatures feature heavily as a tourist symbol and some people choose to wear Leprechaun costumes and hats to St Patrick's Day parades. Dublin even has its very own Leprechaun Museum. The best things to do in Dublin St Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland Unlike St David's Day and St George's Day, St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Ireland, allowing the Irish to fully embrace the festivities. The people of Ireland honour their patron saint day every year by joining parades and dressing head to toe in green, white and orange, the colours of the Irish flag. Dublin's famous St Patrick's Festival Parade will take place on Sunday March 17 this year, starting at Parnell Square, with music and live performances from bands helping to convey the 2019 theme of storytelling. Historically the "Feast of St Patrick", the day has been observed by the Irish for over 1,000 years and families would traditionally attend church in the morning, before celebrating with dance, drink and a feast of bacon and cabbage. Today, Irish stews and pints of Guinness are often enjoyed as part of the celebration. As many as 13 million pints of Guinness are poured on St Patrick's Day alone, increasing from the average 10 million glasses poured every day around the world. In fact, 1.8 billion are sold each year and the Guinness Storehouse is situated in the heart of St James's Gate, Dublin, with visitors able to book a tour of the famous site. Popular Irish toasts on St Patrick's Day, include: "Sláinte mhaith", meaning "good health" in Irish Gaelic, and "may the good St Patrick protect ye, and the devil neglect ye". Other celebrations around the world March 17 sees millions of people around the world, even those without Irish connections, turn out to celebrate St Patrick. In the United States, the White House first recognised the Irish holiday and the countries' relations more than 50 years ago, after President Harry Truman received a box of shamrocks from Ireland's ambassador. In 1956, the first St Patrick's Day meeting between the President and the Irish Taioseach took place and since the 1990s, the White House visit has been held annually. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Donald Trump during the annual shamrock presentation ceremony at the White House in Washington DC Credit: Niall Carson/PA Every year, London showcases Irish heritage and culture as part of its annual St Patrick's Day festival and parade. While live stage performances and food stalls can be enjoyed in Trafalgar Square, colourful floats, dancers and Irish communities make their way through the capital's streets. This year, the festivities take place on Sunday March 17. In Tokyo, the "I Love Ireland" parade takes place over two days, on March 16 and 17, with vibrant costumes and marching bands, while in New York, 150,000 people join the parade travelling up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In fact, a range of celebrations are held across the globe to celebrate the legendary Irish figure, including parades in Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Oslo, Norway. In the British West Indies, the island of Montserrat has a public holiday for St Patrick's Day and observes the patron saint with a seven day festival and parade. Dubbed the "Emerald Isle" in memory of their Irish settlers, Montserrat even use a green shamrock as their official passport stamp. St Patrick's Day is also a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, where a significant number of Irish people emigrated to during the 18th and 19th centuries. In Chicago, their river has been traditionally dyed bright green on March 17 since 1962, with thousands heading to the city to see one of the most famous St Patrick's Day sights. Rowers navigate the Chicago River shortly after it was dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images Other countries join Chicago in turning their famous landmarks green on March 17, including the London Eye and HMS Belfast in London, the pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. The best Irish recipes Clodagh McKenna's beef and Guinness stew Beautifully tender beef, cooked in the beloved Irish beverage. This hearty winter dish is served perfectly with creamy mash or roast potatoes. Beef stew Credit: The Picture Pantry/Alloy Slow-cooked red cabbage with apples and raisin Traditionally served with beef, pork or turkey, red cabbage brings a sweet flavour to any dish and can also be eaten cold in sandwiches. Red cabbage Credit: Getty Images Rachel Allen's Barmbrack (báirín breac) This traditional Irish sweetened bread, packed with sultanas, raisins or currants, makes a delicious treat and can be enjoyed fresh, toasted or buttered. Barmbrack, a traditional Irish fruit loaf Credit: D and S Food Photography/Alamy The best Irish drinks While Ireland is the place to be for a pint of Guinness, it is also home to an array of famous alcoholic beverages including Jameson whiskey and Irish cream liqueur. If Guinness doesn't take your fancy, the Thinking Drinkers have selected the best alternatives to drink on St Patrick's Day, from craft whiskey to post poitin.
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| R. Kelly: Witness corroborates accusers' hotel room encounter when they were teens Posted: 13 Mar 2019 09:10 PM PDT  Singer R. Kelly was accused by two new women of sexual misconduct when they were teens in the mid-1990s.
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| New render might give us our first look at Google’s Pixel 4 design Posted: 15 Mar 2019 05:21 AM PDT  Google's Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL aren't even five months old at this point, and leaks have told us that there are still two more versions of the Pixel 3 coming this year. That's right, Google will harken back to the beloved Nexus smartphone line it discontinued and release two lower-cost versions of its most recent Pixel handsets. We're definitely looking forward to seeing what Google has in store for the mid-range smartphone market, but it looks like attention is already turning to a point a bit further in the future.A leak on Thursday showed us a supposed sketch of the design Google will use for its upcoming Pixel 4 XL. The Pixel 4 series isn't expected to be released for another seven months, and we have yet to see any solid rumors about what Google might have in store for Android fans this year. According to that sketch and a new leaked render, however, Google may be planning to finally release new flagship phones with designs that aren't stuck in the past.Google's Pixel phone lineup has always been great, but it has also always been stuck in the past. The original Pixel phones were designed by HTC for Google, and they were blatant iPhone 6 ripoffs. The next two Pixel generations would move away from Apple's designs, for the most part, but they were also always behind the times. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the best illustration of that fact. By late 2018 when the Pixel 3 was released, it was the only flagship phone from a major smartphone vendor that still featured massive bezels above and below the screen. The Pixel 3 XL was better, but only marginally -- it has an oversized notch at the top, but still has a huge bezel down below the display.In 2019, Google might finally catch up with the times. The big trend in smartphone design this year is the hole-punch display like the one on Samsung's new Galaxy S10, and a leaked design sketch yesterday showed us a supposed Google Pixel 4 XL sketch with a dual-lens front-facing camera peaking through a hole cut out of the phone's top-right corner. Google's current Pixel 3 XL has a dual-lens selfie cam setup, so the sketch certainly makes sense, though there were some things about it that made us skeptical. Now, adding a bit of fuel to the fire, a Bulgarian blog called iDroidbg has posted a supposed render of the upcoming Pixel 4.The render shows a design that is quite similar to the Pixel 4 XL sketch we saw yesterday, but there's only a single lens selfie cam peering through the display.Apart from the modernized hole-punch display, there are two other key takeaways from this render. First, there is no longer a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. If the render is indeed accurate, it would indicate that Google is going with an in-display sensor like many other flagship Android phones. Second, and perhaps most importantly, the Pixel 4 XL sketch and this new Pixel 4 render both show a new dual-lens camera on the back of the phone. Google's Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are considered to be among the best camera phones in the world despite having single-lens rear cameras, so it will be interesting to see if Google decides to change its winning formula and adopt a dual-lens setup.
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| Hundreds surrender in last IS enclave, SDF advance Posted: 15 Mar 2019 05:37 AM PDT  Islamic State militants along with women and children surrendered in the hundreds to U.S.-backed forces in eastern Syria on Thursday as the jihadists lost ground in their last shred of territory. Mia Womersley reports.
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| 70+ Comfort Food Recipes Cozier Than Your Favorite Pair Of Sweatpants Posted: 14 Mar 2019 02:13 PM PDT |
| Trump says 'I feel very badly' after Paul Manafort was sentenced to more prison time Posted: 13 Mar 2019 01:13 PM PDT  The president described it as a "very sad situation."
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| California governor halts death penalty: 'I couldn't sleep' Posted: 13 Mar 2019 03:45 PM PDT  California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday halted the death penalty, saying he was deeply troubled by the possibility of executing an innocent person even though California voters have repeatedly backed capital punishment. Newsom was convinced by statistics suggesting that perhaps dozens of the 737 inmates on the state's death row were innocent. The state has not held an execution since 2006 but appeared to be moving toward resuming them.
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| Four dead, hundreds detained after Venezuela blackout: rights groups Posted: 14 Mar 2019 11:25 AM PDT  The OPEC nation suffered its worst blackout in history last week following technical problems that the government of President Nicolas Maduro called an act of U.S.-backed sabotage but critics dismissed as the result of incompetence. Rights groups Provea and the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict said via Twitter that three people were killed in the central state of Lara and one person was killed in the western state of Zulia. Alfredo Romero of rights group Foro Penal said at a news conference that 124 people had been detained in protests over public services since the March 8 blackout and that another 200 were arrested over looting.
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