| Iran sees no prospect of negotiations with U.S.: foreign ministry Posted: 28 May 2019 01:05 AM PDT  Iran sees no prospect of negotiations with the United States, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal with Tehran on its nuclear program was possible. Washington withdrew last year from a 2015 international nuclear deal with Tehran, and is ratcheting up sanctions in efforts to strangle Iran's economy by ending its international sales of crude oil.
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| PHOTOS: Tornadoes rip through Ohio and Oklahoma Posted: 28 May 2019 07:50 AM PDT  A tornado pulverized buildings around Dayton, Ohio, early on Tuesday, injuring at least 35 people.
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| Sanders 2020 looks like Sanders 2016, challenges and all Posted: 28 May 2019 02:44 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — It was supposed to be different this time.
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| Climber who warned of Everest overcrowding perishes during descent Posted: 27 May 2019 05:08 PM PDT  Climbing Mt. Everest used to be something that very few people even considered, much less attempted. Today, things are a bit different, and at any given time there are hundreds of climbers in various stages of their journey, with huge numbers of adventurers reaching the summit when the weather is agreeable.Unfortunately, this means that crowding can become a major problem, and many climbers find themselves unceremoniously waiting in queues for the path to clear so they can experience what it's like at the very top. Deaths are unfortunately not uncommon, and one climber who wrote about the challenges of navigating the crowds is the latest to be claimed by the mountain.Robin Hayes, who wrote at length about Everest's crowded queues just a week ago, completed his summit on Saturday, but died of what is assumed to be altitude sickness upon his descent.In a long and detailed post on Instagram, Hayes explained the situation on the mountain:https://www.instagram.com/p/BxofaW7ljpj/?utm_source=ig_embedThe post, which is definitely worth reading in its entirety, is an eye-opening look at what a climber has to deal with in order to fulfill their dream of summiting Everest. Weather conditions and the physical demands aside, mountaineers are faced with hundreds of peers who are hoping to do the exact same thing, and there's only so much room on the narrow mountain paths.Hayes wrote about his plan to wait a few days in order to summit on the 25th in the hopes that some of the larger teams would have already cleared out by then. "Unless of course everyone else plays the same waiting game," Hayes wrote, doubting his own predictive wisdom.Weather patterns can dramatically change how a trip to Everest plays out, and climbers can only stay near the top for so long before suffering some serious health effects. Once a climber enters the so-called "death zone," which is past the 26,000 foot mark, the clock is ticking, and an attempt at the summit has to be made when the time is right or teams have to retreat to safer altitudes and wait. This is one of the things that causes queues to form.A total of 11 people have died so far this year on the mountain.
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| Photos of the New BMW 1-Series Hatchback Posted: 28 May 2019 09:10 AM PDT |
| Could a third party be the key to a breakthrough with Iran? Posted: 28 May 2019 02:25 AM PDT  President Trump welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Abe's offer to mediate talk with Iran; reaction and analysis from Behnam Ben Taleblu, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
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| Open Hatch Nearly Sunk India's New $3 Billion Nuclear Missile Submarine Posted: 28 May 2019 01:49 AM PDT  It isn't hard to sink a submarine, it would seem. The modern submarine is not a simple machine. A loss of propulsion, unexpected flooding, or trouble with reactors or weapons can doom a sub crew to a watery grave.Also, it's a good idea to, like, close the hatches before you dive.(This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. This article first appeared in 2018.)Call it a lesson learned for the Indian navy, which managed to put the country's first nuclear-missile submarine, the $2.9 billion INS Arihant, out of commission in the most boneheaded way possible.The Hindu reported yesterday that the Arihant has been out of commission since suffering "major damage" some 10 months ago, due to what a navy source characterized as a "human error" — to wit: allowing water to flood to sub's propulsion compartment after failing to secure one of the vessel's external hatches.
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| Impeachment talk is rising among Democrats. Nancy Pelosi is right to shut it down Posted: 27 May 2019 08:04 AM PDT  Opening an impeachment inquiry would start a process many Americans would see as an attempt to circumvent the 2020 election 'Attempting to short-circuit the 2020 election would harm America's democracy, not enhance it.' Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP Upon taking control of Congress in 2006, the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, declared that impeachment of then President George W Bush was "off the table". Her remarks dismayed many critics of Bush, who continued to press Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to pursue impeachment against the Republican president. They pointed to the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance, the illegal war in Iraq and the use of torture. Articles of impeachment were authored by the Ohio Democratic representative Dennis Kucinich, who netted a small group of co-sponsors for his resolution. But as we all know, no impeachment proceedings were ever launched against Bush, and the administration's officials escaped any accountability from its successors. President Obama memorably said he preferred to "look forward as opposed to looking backwards" when it came to accountability on issues like torture and wiretapping. To many onlookers, the approach by Democratic leadership towards President Donald Trump seems to be a case of deja vu. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has repeatedly rebuffed calls to begin impeachment proceedings against the president. "I'm not for impeachment … Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he's just not worth it," she said in March. Compared with Bush, the logic of impeaching Trump is far less straightforward. There are real concerns about whether Trump is violating the emoluments clause and his contempt of Congress, but neither of these issues compare to Bush's illegal behavior, which severely violated the rights of millions of Americans and others. Although House Democrats are frustrated by Trump's attempt to block their subpoenas and investigations of his financial dealings across the world, they do not have a clearcut case of high crimes and misdemeanors that could set the stage for a successful impeachment – the same way warrantless surveillance or waterboarding presented one. Impeachment is a sort of last resort the legislative branch has to deploy against a president who is acting outside the boundaries of the law. It is important for Congress to never declare that impeachment is off the table – as Pelosi did in 2006 – because it sends a message to the executive branch that its members cannot be held legally accountable. That sort of impunity would be antithetical to our system of checks and balances. But what Pelosi is arguing this time around is much more reasonable. She supports congressional oversight and investigations into the Trump administration and the president's personal financial dealings as a way to expose possible wrongdoing. And she is leaving the door open to impeachment if the facts suggest that it is necessary. These investigations can inform the American public about the way Trump is choosing to govern and allow them to make an educated choice in the 2020 election, without setting off what could be an extremely polarizing and contentious impeachment proceeding that is unlikely to succeed. It is true that the president is stonewalling some of these investigations, and that's one reason some Democrats are warming to an impeachment inquiry that they believe would allow them to get at information they currently can't obtain. Yet within the halls of Congress, the votes don't seem to be there for an impeachment, according to the House's third-ranking Democrat, South Carolina's Jim Clyburn. Meanwhile, the US Senate is run by the Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, who would never go along with an effort to remove the president. Opening an impeachment inquiry would start a process many Americans would see as an attempt to circumvent the 2020 election – denying voters the ability to have the final say on Trump's conduct as president. Americans simply aren't ready for as divisive a process as trying to impeach the president; even many who are critical of Trump don't support impeaching him. A Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted in April found that only 37% of Americans support opening an impeachment inquiry. Perhaps what Pelosi understands is that what Americans want Congress to focus on is bread and butter issues and a forward-looking agenda. Gallup polling released in November of 2018 found that 80% of voters said healthcare was extremely or very important to their vote; the Russia investigation, the nexus of many of the impeachment calls against President Trump, was 12th among issues polled, sitting at just 45%. This doesn't mean that Congress shouldn't investigate the conduct of the Trump administration or the president's personal financial dealings as they relate to the public interest. It is important for the public to have all the relevant information in order to make educated choices in the upcoming election. And if Trump continues to stonewall these investigations, voters have every right to punish him for it. It is also well past time for Congress to pass reforms that could prevent abuses of presidential power in the future. While the then judiciary committee chair, the Michigan Democratic representative John Conyers, declined to start impeachment proceedings against Bush, he did introduce legislation to establish a commission on war powers and civil liberties; sadly, it did not go anywhere. If Pelosi is serious about investigating and holding the executive branch accountable, she could help set up a similar commission that could help create reforms in the law to rein in an unaccountable executive in the future. But ultimately it is voters who will decide President Trump's fate. The votes in Congress aren't there for impeachment, and Americans aren't convinced that it is justified based on the facts. Pelosi is wise to avoid invoking this nuclear option, which would only further polarize a country that is increasingly at odds with itself over political differences. We have a democratic process to empower Americans to choose their leaders. Attempting to short-circuit the 2020 election would harm America's democracy, not enhance it.
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| Rescues underway after tornadoes smash across Ohio, Indiana; 1 dead Posted: 28 May 2019 09:11 AM PDT  At least half a dozen communities from eastern Indiana through central Ohio suffered damage, according to the National Weather Service.
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| Labour's Corbyn backs taking Brexit back to the people, in election or public vote Posted: 27 May 2019 03:47 AM PDT ![Labour's Corbyn backs taking Brexit back to the people, in election or public vote]( "Labour's Corbyn backs taking Brexit back to the people, in election or public vote") Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Monday Brexit could only be resolved by taking the issue back to the people, either at a new national election or a public vote. "With the Conservatives disintegrating and unable to govern, and parliament deadlocked, this issue will have to go back to the people, whether through a general election or a public vote," he said in a statement. "We will not let the continuing chaos in the Conservative Party push our country into a no deal exit from the EU.
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| Huawei founder: Without Apple, ‘we would not see the beauty of this world’ Posted: 27 May 2019 11:42 AM PDT ![Huawei founder: Without Apple, 'we would not see the beauty of this world']( "Huawei founder: Without Apple, 'we would not see the beauty of this world'") As calls have mounted in China for the central government to officially retaliate against Apple as a way to strike back over US trade tensions and over the increasing ostracization of Huawei, the billionaire founder of one of China's leading consumer electronics brands insists he's squarely against going that route.In a new interview with Bloomberg, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei was effusive in his praise of the iPhone maker, describing Apple per a translation of his remarks as "my teacher" and that "As a student, why should I oppose my teacher? I would never do that.""Apple is the world's leading company," Zhengfei continued during the interview, which also touched on the emergency maneuvers Huawei is taking to deal with being cut off from smartphone component suppliers, as well as from Google. "If there were no Apple, there would be no mobile internet. If there was no Apple to help show us the world, we would not see the beauty of this world."His praise of the company followed a question he was asked about whether he thought China hitting at Apple might be a kind of ace in the hole for the government, given how important a market China is for Apple. "That will not happen, first of all," Zhengfei insisted. "And second of all, if that happens, I'll be the first to protest. Apple is my teacher (and) it is advancing in front of us."As we and others have reported on for more than a week now, the US officially blacklisted Huawei back on May 17, accusing it of being basically a proxy for Chinese authorities in Beijing. In light of that action, Google then followed suit and promptly cut off Huawei from access to its Android mobile operating system, which in turn was followed by Huawei being further cut off from component suppliers.That sequence of events has been described as crippling, and perhaps worse, for the number two smartphone vendor in the world which had been vocal about wanting to ascend to the top of the industry in relatively short order.Naturally, Zhengfei decided to level some blistering criticism at President Trump, over his role in prolonging the US trade tensions as well as the decision to blacklist Huawei. Zhengfei had tried a different route a few months ago, praising Trump as "a great president," but is now apparently switching tactics. "I see his tweets and think it's laughable because they're self-contradictory," the Huawei boss told Bloomberg. "How did he become a master of the art of the deal?"And about the contention that Huawei aggressively steals technology, Zhengfei added this:"I stole the American technologies from tomorrow. The U.S. doesn't even have those technologies. We are ahead of the U.S. If we were behind, there would be no need for Trump to strenuously attack us."
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| Hawaii woman rescued from forest told self not to give up Posted: 26 May 2019 12:26 PM PDT  WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — A Hawaii woman who was found alive in a forest on Maui island after going missing more than two weeks ago said she at times struggled not to give up.
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| Israeli missile hits Quneitra, Syria reports casualties Posted: 27 May 2019 12:32 PM PDT  Syria said Israel carried out a missile attack that caused casualties on Monday, in what Israel's army said was a retaliatory strike. "An Israeli missile targeted Tel al-Shaar in Quneitra," the Syrian news agency said, adding a "military vehicle was targeted and there are wounded". The Israeli military confirmed it carried out an air strike in Syria in retaliation for what it said was anti-aircraft fire targeting one of its fighter jets.
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| How to pay off student loans without a billionaire bailout Posted: 27 May 2019 11:04 AM PDT  College is an investment but staggering debt is depressing. What do grads need to do, if they're not lucky enough to have someone pay the bill.
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| West Point Just Graduated the Most Diverse Class in its History Posted: 26 May 2019 01:24 PM PDT  On Saturday, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduated the most diverse class in the academy's history.Of the 980 cadets who are commissioning into the U.S. Army as second lieutenants, there was the highest number of African American women, Hispanic women, and highest number of women overall since the first class of women graduated in 1980, according to a West Point press release.Frank Demaro, West Point spokesman, told CNN that last year's class had 27 African American women graduates — this year had 34 — and they expect "next year's class will be even larger than this year's."The academy also graduated its 5,000th female cadet, 1,000th Jewish cadet, and the first international student from the Netherlands. The number of African American graduates from Saturday, 110, is double the number it was in 2013, according to CBS.Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the commencement ceremony, recognizing the "historic milestones that we're marking today." He also told the graduates that the world is a "dangerous place," where they will almost certainly see combat.
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| Yoga instructor lost for 16 days in Hawaii ate moths and berries to survive Posted: 26 May 2019 10:15 AM PDT  A yoga instructor who was lost for more than two weeks in the wilds of Hawaii 'ate moths' as she battled to survive. Amanda Eller, 35, spoke for the first time this weekend about her ordeal, saying she almost gave up deep in the jungle. Miss Eller spent 16 days wondering the Makawao Forest Reserve on the island of Maui after becoming lost during what was meant to be a quick three-mile hike. So quick, in fact, that she had left her mobile phone and water battle behind in her car. Speaking to the New York Times on Saturday, 24 hours after she was spotted by a search helicopter hired by her frantic parents, she said from her hospital bed: "I wanted to give up. "But the only option I had was life or death. "I heard this voice that said, 'If you want to live, keep going." After several days, tracking in an area inahabited by wild boars, she fell twenty feet into a deep ravine and fractured her leg. Weak and injured, she began to crawl instead of walk. "I was getting so skinny that I was really starting to doubt if I could survive." Julia Eller, her relieved mother, told local news outlets that wild berries and even a few moths were all that sustained her. She tried to catch some crawfish but was "not very successful." Eller smiles surrounded by her rescuers Credit: AFP Mrs Eller added: "She lost quite a bit of weight, as you can imagine, being lost for that amount of time. "But she was able to survive it. She had the right skills and did the right things to buy time so that we had a chance to find her." One night, Miss Eller took shelter in a boar's den. She covered herself in leaves and mud to stay warm. On the 17th day of her disappearance, she was spotted by an elated rescuer 4 miles away from the original search area. The local fire crew went in to retrieve her. She was sunburnt and malnourished. "I looked up and they were right on top of me," said Miss Eller of the moment she saw the helicopter. "I was like, 'Oh my God,' and I just broke down and started bawling."
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| Trump publicly disagrees with Japan’s Abe over North Korea missile threat, calling Kim ‘smart man’ Posted: 27 May 2019 03:27 AM PDT  Donald Trump has said he is unfazed by North Korea's recent short-range missile tests, putting him publicly at odds with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe who is hosting the US president on a state visit.The two leaders disagreed on the issue during a joint press conference designed to showcase US-Japan relations in Tokyo on Monday. Mr Abe, standing alongside Mr Trump following hours of talks, said Pyongyang's missile tests earlier this month violated UN Security Council resolutions and were "of great regret".He added the missiles posed a security threat to Japan, which neighbours North Korea. But Mr Trump said: "My people think it could have been a violation, as you know. I view it differently."North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a "smart man" who "perhaps … wants to get attention", he suggested. "Who knows? It doesn't matter," the president added.Asked if he was "bothered" by the missile tests, he replied: "I'm not. I personally am not." Mr Trump sought to downplay the significance of the missile tests, despite his own national security adviser, John Bolton, saying last week there was "no doubt" they had violated UN resolutions.North Korea's foreign ministry on Monday lashed out at Mr Bolton, whom a Pyongyang spokesperson described as "more than ignorant" and "a structurally defective guy"."Our military drill neither targeted anyone nor endangered the surrounding countries, but Bolton makes dogged claims that it constitutes a violation of the 'resolutions', impudently poking his nose into other's internal matters," North Korean state media quoted the spokesperson as saying.Mr Trump continues to hold out hope of persuading Mr Kim to relinquish his nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, despite two rounds of talks with the North Korean leader breaking down with little progress."All I know is there have been no nuclear tests, no ballistic missiles going out, no long-range missiles going out, and I think that someday we'll have a deal," the US president said during Monday's press conference, although he added he was in "no rush".During the press conference at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, the leaders largely glossed over their differences on trade, despite the potentially crippling tariffs on foreign cars that Mr Trump is threatening to impose on Japan and the European Union. The US president declined to say what Japan would have to do to avoid those tariffs, but complained of an "unbelievably large" trade imbalance with the nation. Earlier on Monday, Mr Trump said he backed his Japanese counterpart's interest in leveraging his country's good relations with Iran to help broker dialogue between the US and its Middle Eastern adversary. Mr Abe could could visit Iran next month in a bid to diffuse escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.Mr Trump's talks with Mr Abe came hours after the US president became the first world leader to meet Japan's new emperor, Naruhito, who ascended to the throne on 1 May.The meeting with Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, was preceded by a grand outdoor welcome ceremony at Japan's Imperial Palace, where Mr Trump walked alone across red carpets, reviewing Japanese troops as the guest of honour.Mr Trump's four-day state visit also included a round of golf with Mr Abe, the presentation of a trophy to a sumo wrestling champion, and dinner in Tokyo with the leaders' wives.
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| Why these tables were empty at Chick-fil-As around the country this weekend Posted: 28 May 2019 07:31 AM PDT  To honor soldiers who died while serving in the Armed Forces, the fast food chain set up "Missing Man Tables" at locations for Memorial Day weekend.
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| Factbox: A United Kingdom divided over Brexit - Results of EU election Posted: 28 May 2019 02:10 AM PDT ![Factbox: A United Kingdom divided over Brexit - Results of EU election]( "Factbox: A United Kingdom divided over Brexit - Results of EU election") The Brexit Party came out on top and smaller pro-European Union parties also gained ground, while the Conservatives and Labour hemorrhaged votes to parties that took unequivocal positions for or against Brexit. WHO GETS ELECTED?
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| Alibaba eyes $20 bn second listing in HK: report Posted: 27 May 2019 08:02 PM PDT  Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba Group is exploring a potential second listing in Hong Kong that could raise $20 billion as Beijing seeks to encourage its tech titans to list closer to home, a report on Tuesday said. US-listed Alibaba is aiming to file an application in Hong Kong as early as the second half of 2019, Bloomberg News reported, quoting unidentified people with knowledge of the plans. The listing would be intended to open up new funding channels for Alibaba, whose 2014 listing in New York raised $25 billion in the world's largest initial public offering.
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| 4 suspects arrested after Lyon bomb attack that wounded 13 Posted: 27 May 2019 05:33 AM PDT  PARIS (AP) — French police have arrested four suspects following a blast in the city of Lyon that wounded 13 people last week, authorities said Monday.
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| This 100 Year Old Gun Might Out Last Any Glock or Sig Sauer Posted: 27 May 2019 10:47 AM PDT  More than a century after its introduction, how much longer can the 1911 go on? As a pairing of high-powered bullet and frame, it's difficult to beat. Other manufacturers including Glock and Springfield Armory have come out with competing .45 ACP designs that also have lasting appeal.The 1911 is one of the most notorious handguns in history and easily the most famous in America, having seen action in every U.S. conflict since World War I. One of the most successful product designs ever, the 1911 has achieved something rare in the world of machines: immortality. Over a hundred years old, it remains largely unchanged.What Apple is to consumer electronics, John Browning was to late 19th and early 20th century firearms. The 1911 is his most famous design. The typical 1911 is 8.25 inches from tip to tail and weighs 2.49 pounds empty — about as much as a trade paperback book. The 1911 is made of steel, steel and more steel, and takes a magazine that holds seven bullets.The 1911 has seen service in World War I, Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic (twice), Lebanon, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iran, Grenada, Panama, the Gulf War, the Iraq War and Afghanistan. It has chased bad men from Pancho Villa to Osama Bin Laden.
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| Buttigieg rips Trump over potential pardons, says president implies 'being sent to war turns you into a murderer' Posted: 26 May 2019 02:54 PM PDT  Pete Buttigieg lambasted President Trump for considering pardons for accused or convicted war criminals over Memorial Day weekend.
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| Magnitude 8 Earthquake Strikes Amazon Jungle in Peru Posted: 26 May 2019 10:13 AM PDT  A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Amazon jungle in north-central Peru early Sunday, the U.S. Geological survey reported, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas.
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| Timeline: China's post-Tiananmen re-emergence onto the world Posted: 27 May 2019 12:27 AM PDT ![Timeline: China's post-Tiananmen re-emergence onto the world]( "Timeline: China's post-Tiananmen re-emergence onto the world") BEIJING (Reuters) - Next Tuesday, June 4, marks 30 years since China bloodily suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations in and around central Beijing's Tiananmen Square, when Chinese troops opened fire on their own people. Here are some landmark dates following the 1989 demonstrations: 1990: China's economic growth sinks to 3.9 percent due to international sanctions sparked by the Tiananmen crackdown. The Shanghai Stock Exchange, Communist China's first ever stock market, opens. ...
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| Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii Posted: 28 May 2019 05:53 AM PDT ![Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii]( "Delta Air Lines is delivering retiring Georgia mailman Floyd Martin on a free dream trip to Hawaii") For 35 years, Floyd Martin delivered mail to 500 customers along his route in Marietta, Georgia. Now, Delta Air Lines is delivering for "Mr. Floyd."
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| Maduro's Reign Will End Posted: 27 May 2019 01:41 PM PDT  Although the long-suffering people of Venezuela have endured much, and interim president Juan Guaidó is recognized by more than fifty countries, their ordeal is not over.The illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro averted its demise on April 30 after a showdown with the democratic forces of that nation under Guaidó. Americans cannot trivialize the apparent short-term success of the despot Maduro and his cohorts to continue to plunder Venezuela's country. Nonetheless, the efforts to restore democracy and the rule of law were not in vain, and the resolve by Guaidó and his internal and external allies should not wane. Additional pressure must be brought to bear on Maduro's unlawful government.While it was disappointing to see Venezuela's fractured military remain passively loyal to Maduro in what was the largest single unified effort to oust his illegitimate regime, the root causes for the Venezuelan people's grievances remain in place. Indeed, they are arguably deepening. Nevertheless, the country's democratic voices will prevail against the forces of a narco-criminal enterprise that have ruled for two decades. The United States must continue to rally external support for Guaidó and the pro-democracy forces of Venezuela in parallel to the commitment inside Venezuela to see democracy restored to a once prosperous Venezuela.
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| Melania Trump's most fashionable looks in Japan Posted: 28 May 2019 08:18 AM PDT  Melania Trump is known for her designer taste and statement-making sartorialchoices -- and her trip to Japan over Memorial Day Weekend was no exception
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| Behold: Stunning renders show the iPhone 11 we wish Apple would make Posted: 28 May 2019 05:17 AM PDT  Apple's new iPhone 11 lineup is set to debut just over than three months from now, but a fairly complete picture has already formed. We know that this year's iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max, and iPhone 11R will look exactly like last year's iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR from the front, with the same all-screen design interrupted by the same large notch at the top of the display. We also know that the new iPhone 11 series will feature new rear cameras on the back of each handset. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max will have triple-lens cameras in a large square camera bump, while the iPhone 11R (or whatever Apple ends up calling it) will feature the same square camera bump but with only a dual-lens camera, likely the same setup that can currently be found on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.Beyond the new cameras and a few other changes like frosted glass backs and a round mute switch, there isn't much excitement to speak of when it comes to Apple's iPhone designs in 2019. Meanwhile, Android vendors have moved past the iPhone X design they all copied last year and begun to develop some sleek new designs of their own. Samsung's Galaxy S10 lineup features a beautiful all-screen design with hole-punch cameras instead of a notch, and phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro don't even break up the screen with a hole. Instead, they feature true-all screen designs and have a selfie camera that pops up out of the top edge of the phone when needed.Apple's iPhone 11 design is indeed a bit stale in comparison, which is likely why one graphic designer took all of the leaks and rumors we've seen so far and added his own unique spin to create an iPhone 11 with a much sleeker and more modern design.The image above shows the front of Apple's current-generation iPhone XS, which looks exactly like Apple's previous-generation iPhone X from 2017. It's a fine design, and we all know that people who use a smartphone with a notch don't even notice the notch anymore after a very short time. But it has been about two years since Apple first introduced this design, so there's no question that it's feeling a bit dusty at this point. That's especially true now since so many Android phone makers have released handsets with more modern looks.Graphic designer Muhsin M. Belaal Auckburaully, who goes by DBS Designing on YouTube, seems to agree that Apple's upcoming new iPhone 11 series is a bit dated. The overall look of the phone is still gorgeous, of course, so he took the iPhone 11's design and stuck a more modern display on the front, which includes a small hole at the top for Apple's front-facing cameras rather than a large notch. Here's how it came out:Now, there's no question that a display that extends farther to the edges of the front and a hole-punch screen with a tiny hole for the cameras is a bit improvement over Apple's actual iPhone 11 design. There's also no question that it could never happen. The TrueDepth camera system Apple uses for Face ID has more components than just two tiny lenses like the ones we see above, so it needs much more room.Around back, the graphic designer's iPhone 11 mockup looks exactly like the real thing, but he decided to add a fourth camera lens in the bottom-right corner of the square camera bump. We're not sure why, considering that there will be a rear-facing microphone there to capture audio for videos and Live Photos, but it doesn't really change the overall look of the phone.You can find more images of Auckburaully's iPhone 11 on his Behance page, and a video showcasing the design is embedded below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvmtrmAKtu0
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| 'Assad destroyed my house': Hundreds dead as Syria escalates attack on final rebel stronghold Posted: 27 May 2019 08:27 AM PDT  It was only after the dust from the air strike settled that Fareed al-Mhlol realised his home had taken a direct hit. The walls of his house in the town of Ma'arat al-Nu'man, in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, had crumbled in, injuring his entire family and killing his aunt. Rebel-held Idlib on Sunday faced its heaviest day of strikes since the latest government offensive began on April 30, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Bombs have been raining down indiscriminately on residential areas, on schools and on hospitals for weeks, as President Bashar al-Assad's forces attempt to retake the final opposition stronghold. "I ran first towards my mother and my sisters. I took them out of the house where I thought they would be safer," Mr Mhlol told the Telegraph by phone on Monday. Fareed al-Mhlol leads his mother out of the house after an air strike in Idlib Credit: AFP "Then I ran in the direction of my aunt in order to reassure her. It was then I saw an unspeakable scene - the wall had fallen on her and she had been covered in rubble. She was dead. "I don't know what we are going to do now, where we are going to go," Mr Mhlol messaged. "There's nowhere safe left." The family had already been forced to move from their last home after it was destroyed by strikes. His aunt and uncle had been living with them as theirs too had been levelled. "Assad destroyed my house and destroyed all my memories," he said. "Assad wants to kill me and kill my family because I am an activist and a journalist trying to get the truth out to the world of the massacres going on in Idlib." Ma'arat al-Nu'man has been a regular target for the regime. The town has been the most vocal in its opposition not only to Assad but also to ruling Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), countering Assad's narrative that all those remaining in Idlib are terrorists and sympathisers. Pls, friend, raise a flower, take a photo/video,share it withRISE4IDLIB htg. YOU CAN SAVE US,rising as a human being. Stand up for IDLIB with your soul.Let me know it, and let others know you are outraged by what Assad, Putin, Iran and others, are doing to us. Eyesonidlibpic.twitter.com/jBB3KsfLwK— Marwa from Syria (@Marwa76175721) 13 May 2019 Mr Mhlol's seven-year-old sister Marwa, who was wounded in Sunday's attack, has herself campaigned on social media for attacks on Idlib to stop. "You are sending your bombs on me, do I look like a terrorist?" she wrote on her Twitter account in March. "If I die, today or tomorrow, remember that my only weapon was my smile." Ma'arat al-Nu'man is not a strategic town, but activists believe it is being targeted in order to terrify the civilian population into surrendering. Idlib has swollen to more than three million after fighters and civilians from other parts of Syria were sent there from rebel-held areas recaptured by the government. Al-Assad helicopters receive explosive barrels at civilians while they were sleeping in the village of al_Fataira in the village of Idlib. One woman was killed and another wounded SyriaidlibEyesOnIdlibRise4Idlibpic.twitter.com/LBxLUAvrZx— FARED ALMHLOL (@FARED_ALMHLOL) 26 May 2019 HTS has become the most dominant militia in the province, having swallowed up the more moderate groups. They have reportedly rejected offers to "reconcile" with the government and with nowhere left to be sent, they are now fighting to the death. Its militants have been mounting a fierce defence for Idlib and the government and its Russian backers have been struggling to make progress. The Observatory, which tracks Syria's civil war, reported on Monday that 815 people, including 226 civilians have been killed since April 30. According to the United Nations, over 200,000 people were forced to flee the continuous bombing and shelling of towns in southern Idlib and northern Hama and have few options to seek safety. Up to 80,000 of those who have fled are sleeping rough with no shelter, and many others are crammed into overcrowded homes. A man evacuates a girl after a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies in the rebel-held Syrian town of Ma`arat al-Nu`man in the southern Idlib province Credit: AFP Rights groups say that government strikes have hit at least 18 health facilities, including five identified to Damascus and Moscow through the UN. Some of the facilities were targeted twice. Those working on the ground in Syria say they are disappointed by the UN's inaction. "Last year, our medical staff on the ground agreed to share hospital coordinates as part of the UN de-confliction mechanism, said Dr Ahmad Tarakji, president of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). "The United Nations has a responsibility to protect these hospitals and present a tangible plan to deter such attacks. The people of Syria have the right to know who is attacking and destroying their hospitals." A group of 44 Syrian and international NGOs signed a letter on Monday calling for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and hospitals in Idlib. "With no concrete actions taken beyond political statements and promises, Syria and the world may soon be witnessing the worst humanitarian tragedy of the 21st century," they warned.
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| Greece: Stock market rallies after PM calls early election Posted: 27 May 2019 07:58 AM PDT  ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek markets reacted positively Monday to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' call for snap general elections following a resounding defeat of his left-wing Syriza party in European and local elections.
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| U.S. billionaire, co-founder of Quicken Loans, hospitalized Posted: 26 May 2019 09:26 PM PDT  Gilbert, 57, who is also the majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team in Ohio, was hospitalized near Detroit early on Sunday, the Detroit News said. Neither an official diagnosis nor details of his condition were released late on Sunday.
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| Mortgage refinancing jumps as rates tumble but loans for home purchases drop again Posted: 28 May 2019 06:17 AM PDT  Mortgage rates fell for the fourth straight week leading to a surge in refinancing. But mortgage applications for home purchases fell.
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| Venezuela's Guaido defends planned talks with Maduro representatives Posted: 26 May 2019 02:10 PM PDT  "We have to play on all the boards... we have to have an active presence in all places," Guaido told hundreds of supporters in Barquisimeto in Venezuela's Lara state. Guaido, recognized by the United States and dozens of other countries as Venezuela's interim president, said Saturday that the opposition delegation will be headed by deputy legislative speaker Stalin Gonzalez and the ex-deputy Gerardo Blyde.
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| Don't Believe the War Hype on Iran Posted: 27 May 2019 01:40 PM PDT  With American B-52's being dispatched to the Persian Gulf and fears growing about Iranian-backed proxies preparing attacks against the United States or its friends in the region, Washington and Tehran are one miscalculation away from a large military confrontation neither the American or Iranian people want. The ascendance of National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo—two public figures who have spent their careers pushing for regime change in Iran—has helped instigate an unnecessary and unwise escalatory spiral when President Donald Trump prefers to negotiate with Iran.But as dangerous as the situation is today, Washington's Iran policy has been pock-marked by errors for decades. The counterproductive drive toward a war with Iran—either to eliminate their undesirable weapons capabilities or by accident—is based on unsupported dogma about Iran's supposed regional power; the Middle East's strategic importance; and a misreading (intentional or otherwise) about what sanctions and military pressure can achieve.Yet Washington foreign-policy elites try to sell the American people a bill of goods about the Middle East. The Washington establishment has not adjusted to the strategic reality in the region. They overstate the region's importance and over define U.S. interests there (if they ever define them at all). To them, the region is of immense political and economic significance due to its abundance of oil reserves.
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| You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99 Posted: 27 May 2019 11:00 AM PDT ![You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99]( "You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99") Last week, Amazon has a one-day Gold Box deal that slashed the price of the Insignia NS-43DF710NA19 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV HDR - Fire TV Edition to just $199.99. That's right, a penny under $200 for a top-rated 43-inch 4K TV with Amazon's beloved Fire TV software built right in! The deal must have done pretty well, because Amazon has already brought it back -- and the 50-inch and 55-inch models are both discounted, as well. There's no telling how long these deals will be around though, so get in on the action while you still can.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * Insignia 4K UHD Smart TV - Fire TV Edition delivers true-to-life 4K Ultra HD picture quality with over 8 million pixels for stunning clarity, deep contrast, and vivid colors. * With the Fire TV experience built-in, enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and more. * Fire TV Edition seamlessly integrates live over-the-air TV and streaming channels on a unified home screen (HD antenna required). * Easily control your TV with the included Voice Remote with Alexa--plus, launch apps, search for titles, play music, switch inputs, control smart home devices, and more, using just your voice. * Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 38.2" x 22.5" x 3.2", TV with stand: 38.2" x 24.3" x 8.9". Multiple device input/output options: 3 HDMI including 1 with ARC, USB, composite input, antenna/cable input, digital output (optical), audio output, Ethernet.
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| 'I went the extra $5,000': Despite a cooling housing market, buyers bust their budgets Posted: 27 May 2019 10:38 AM PDT !['I went the extra $5,000': Despite a cooling housing market, buyers bust their budgets]( "'I went the extra $5,000': Despite a cooling housing market, buyers bust their budgets") U.S. homebuyers are topping their spending limits because prices are still climbing and inventory remains relatively low.
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| EU election results analysis: How the Brexit Party won the most UK seats Posted: 26 May 2019 10:41 PM PDT  Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has won the most UK seats in the European elections, with 28 of their candidates elected across the country compared to Labour's 10 and the Tories' three. Just under a third of voters backed the Brexit Party while the Conservatives slumped to their lowest share of the vote ever in a national ballot. This pattern fits into a continent-wide trend of traditionally large parties taking a hit, with smaller outfits gaining support. It has resulted in the two large establishment blocs in the European Parliament losing their combined majority under rising populist and liberal support. Labour, as well as the Conservatives, lost ground with the pro-Remain Lib Dems and Greens picking up seats alongside the pro-Brexit Brexit Party. The Lib Dems ended up in second place in the UK, while the Greens managed to top the Conservatives nationally. European election: UK results The Brexit Party gained seats across the country So far, with only Scotland and Northern Ireland yet to declare, the Brexit Party have secured a seat in every region of the UK. Mr Farage's party secured over 35 per cent of the vote in every region but London, the North West and Wales, with its best showing in the North East, where it picked up 38.7 per cent of the vote. This compares to the Lib Dems, Greens and Change UK, who collectively failed to win seats in Wales and the North West. Of the Remain-backing parties, Change UK received by far the worst results, failing to win a single seat. EU election: UK region vote share map Farage beat his 2014 level Nigel Farage's attempt to win the 2019 European election surpassed his 2014 attempt with Ukip, which is impressive considering the fact that the Brexit Party is only six weeks old. In 2014, Ukip won the European election with 27.5 per cent of the vote. Farage built on this this time round, securing 33.3 per cent of the national vote and 28 seats - four more than his tally five years ago. The rise of the Brexit Party in the polls was significant, going from around 10 per cent of the vote 40 days ago, to over 30 per cent today. Brexit polling - Farage 2019 ahead of Farage 2014 Brexit parties were out-polled those backing Remain The only concern for Mr Farage's party will be the the fact that straightforwardly pro-Brexit parties were out-polled by those who are arguing for a second referendum and a halt to Brexit. The Lib Dems, Greens, Plaid and Change UK - all backers of a second referendum - collectively gained the support of 40.3 per cent of the public in England and Wales, against no-dealers Ukip and the Brexit Party's collective 36.7 per cent. These policies commanded 77 per cent of the vote, against the 23 per cent of the pro-compromise parties of Labour and the Conservatives. Pro-Brexit parties outperformed anti-Brexit ones in the EU elections As predicted, the lack of a Remain alliance - with the Lib Dems, Greens and Change UK all competing and splitting the pro-European vote - made their job of converting votes into seats even harder. With the vote being read as a proxy for a second referendum, Nigel Farage's does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Brexit Party managed to unite the pro-Brexit vote under one banner, which helped him under the voting system used in the EU election. The D'Hondt system is a list system of voting where multiple MEPs are elected per constituency after each voter has cast a single vote for a party (rather than a specific candidate). The vote share from these party level votes is then used to determine how many MEPs are elected from each party. Our interactive explainer, below, explains how it all works. European Parliament elections: how the UK's seats were assigned Brexit debate fires increase in EU election turnout Early indications are that UK turnout in the European election is at its highest level since 2004 - although admittedly this was a low bar to surpass. The previous high for European election turnout in the UK was just 38.5 per cent, hit in 2004. With two regions yet to declare, turnout in England and Wales is estimated at 36.5 per cent - an increase of almost one percentage point on 2014. Turnout across Europe increased significantly, to its highest level for 20 years at 51 per cent. The increased enthusiasm was seen by some commentators as a response to challenges ranging from climate change to the rise of eurosceptic parties. European election turnout in UK In the rest of the EU, establishment parties suffered At a continent level, the European Union's established centre-Left and centre-Right blocs were forecast to lose their combined majority in the elections. The latest polls indicate that the two large pan-European blocs, the EPP and the S&D;, will lose seats under a tide of both populist and liberal support. Respectively, they won 221 and 191 seats in the 2014 election. European election: EU results The loss of their combined majority is likely going to be because of the rise of the liberal Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and eurosceptic Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF). These parties are currently forecast to pick up an extra 37 and 34 seats, respectively. The latter of these blocs, the populist-Right ENF, is likely to morph into a new group called European Alliance of People and Nations after the election, under Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. The ALDE and ENF are forecast to make the largest gains in the election, leading experts to warn that the new Parliament could be more fractious with majorities harder to come by.
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