| British ex-spy will not talk to U.S. prosecutor examining Trump probe origins: source Posted: 28 May 2019 10:33 AM PDT ![British ex-spy will not talk to U.S. prosecutor examining Trump probe origins: source]( "British ex-spy will not talk to U.S. prosecutor examining Trump probe origins: source") Christopher Steele, a former Russia expert for the British spy agency MI6, will not answer questions from prosecutor John Durham, named by Barr to examine the origins of the investigations into Trump and his campaign team, said the source close to Steele's London-based private investigation firm, Orbis Business Intelligence. Trump has given Barr broad authority to declassify intelligence materials related to the investigations. Last week Trump ordered the heads of U.S. spy and law enforcement agencies to cooperate with Durham.
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| Dangerous tornado touches down in Kansas City; severe weather moves east into Missouri Posted: 29 May 2019 07:04 AM PDT  A dangerous tornado touched down on the western edge of Kansas City, Kansas, forcing local residents to take shelter.
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| Everest deaths blamed on budget firms and influx of inexperienced climbers Posted: 28 May 2019 07:18 PM PDT  An American mountaineer has become the 11th person in two weeks to die on Mount Everest as Sherpas and tour operators alike blame an influx of inexperienced climbers and budget tour operators for the spike in fatalities. Christopher John Kulish, 61, from Colorado, did not show any sign of distress when summiting the world's highest mountain on Monday morning but died suddenly after descending. With a record number of climbers permitted to climb Everest this year, bottle necks have also contributed to greater exhaustion and in some instances, death. The death toll this season is the highest since 2015. The Nepalese government granted permission for 381 mountaineers to scale Everest from the southern side this spring season. Roughly 130 others will attempt to summit from the northern side in Tibet. Only around 5,000 people have climbed Everest since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first scaled the 8,848m peak in 1953. With a permit costing $11,000 (£8,675) to scale the mountain the increase in numbers has been attributed to the Nepalese government making money to support its economy which has been hampered by political unrest and the devastating 2015 earthquake. Is it time to ban Western travellers - and their egos - from Mount Everest? Adventure tourism also plays a vital part in financially supporting the inhabitants of remote communities in north-east Nepal. However, in permitting more summits the government has allowed dozens of local budget climbing companies to emerge who charge cheaper prices but cut corners on safety. Climbing Everest with a premium, international firm can cost up to $100,000 (£78,900) while some cut-price local mountaineers charge only a quarter of this fee. The Nepalese government has for the first time said it may reduce the number of permits given to climbers next year. A government spokesperson told the Telegraph: "There are no such plans for now but there is possibility of doing so." "The biggest factor is that many inexperienced climbers are booking with low budget, local operators, who are not providing adequate support such as guide services, oxygen, medicines and leadership to ensure the climbers can ascend and descend safely," said Garrett Madison, an American mountaineer specialising in Everest summits. Mr Madison led 29 people to a busy summit on May 23 where climbers say a bottleneck at the top caused people to wait for around 45 minutes in the perilous "death zone". A major clean-up operation ended with the recovery of 10,000 kilograms of rubbish and four dead bodies Credit: NARENDRA SHRESTHA/EPA-EFE/REX While the government says it implements background checks on prospective climbers, such as only allowing those to climb with experience of a summit over 6,000m, it has been accused of turning a blind eye to those who don't meet criteria. "I wouldn't say that people who sign up for Everest aren't fully prepared as they practice for years but all who are currently attempting the summit are not professional mountaineers," said Krishma Poudel, the Manager at Peak Promotions, a company that has organised expeditions for over 25 years. Her comments were echoed by Temba Tsheri Sherpa, who leads summits at Asia Voyage. "The largest number of climbers dying this season is because they have run out of oxygen… there are too many commercial expeditions where you pay less but get less of a service and less experienced guides," he said. "A lot of climbers don't have enough experience and they think the climbing is easy." "If you want to maintain safety, the first thing is to minimise [the numbers] of climbers," Mr Tsheri Sherpa added. The Nepalese government told the Telegraph that it didn't want to speculate on the cause of the recent spike in deaths. However, it said there was a possibility that they would reduce the number of permits given to climbers next year. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings. Are you an avid mountaineer? What motivates you to climb the world's tallest peaks? We want to hear from you in the comments section below.
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| College student pleads guilty to sneaking into Mar-a-Lago Posted: 28 May 2019 03:07 PM PDT  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A college student pleaded guilty Tuesday to sneaking into Mar-a-Lago during President Donald Trump's Thanksgiving visit in a manner similar to how a Chinese national gained admission four months later.
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| Scouted: Give Your Bath Towels a Much Needed Upgrade With These Five Options Posted: 28 May 2019 03:00 PM PDT  You haven't known luxury until you've found the bath towel you'd rather stay in than putting on anything else. Everyone deserves that luxury, which is why we wanted to round up the best towels for lounging around, drying off in the speed of light, or just looking good hanging from the back of your bathroom door. You use your bath towel on a regular basis, so it's time to treat it like any other necessity that you have to upgrade.Plush Bath Sheet, $39 from Riley HomePlush Bath Sheet, $39 from Riley Home: These are the towels I have in my home and I refuse to use any other. I literally wash them and reuse them, with a back up set only for emergencies (as in I forget to do laundry). They're plush and super absorbent and come in regular bath towel size or the luxurious bath sheet.Dusen Dusen Flip Bath Towel, $40 from Need SupplyDusen Dusen Flip Bath Towel, $40 from Need Supply: If you want something that will turn heads from behind your bathroom door, look no further than Dusen Dusen. The Flip is a really awesome optical-illusion pattern that is featured on 100% cotton, terrycloth towels.Honeycomb Bath Towel, $22 from SnoweHoneycomb Bath Towel, $22 from Snowe: If you're all about the absorbency of your towels, the new honeycomb ones from Snowe are your answer. They waffle design makes them incredibly absorbent and quick-drying, so you don't have to worry about possibly having to dry off with a slightly wet towel (honestly, the worst feeling).Resort Cotton Bath Towels, $21 from FrontgateResort Cotton Bath Towels, $21 from Frontgate: These towels have a crazy good rating (4.6 stars out of over 2,400 reviews) and come in 22 different colors. You can get an entire set of matching bath towels, bath sheets, hand towels, and washcloths made from plush long-staple Turkish cotton.Luxury Hotel & Spa Bath Towel, $35 on AmazonLuxury Hotel & Spa Bath Towel, $35 on Amazon: This list wouldn't be complete without a highly-rated set of towels from Amazon and these don't disappoint. With a 4.3-star rating and almost 2,000 reviews, these soft, luxurious Turkish-made towels come in a set of four and your choice of 14 different color options.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Fox News Chris Wallace schools Lindsey Graham with clip of him lashing Clinton over subpoenas Posted: 27 May 2019 12:10 PM PDT  Fox News host Chris Wallace confronted Sen. Lindsey Graham R-S.C. on Sunday with the lawmaker's own words captured on video lashing Bill Clinton for ignoring a congressional subpoena.
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| So many Democrats. So little debate time: Today's Toon Posted: 28 May 2019 04:11 PM PDT  Want to keep up with USA TODAY's editorial cartoons? Bookmark this page. We'll update it frequently.
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| Pence calls on US Supreme Court to take up 'selective' abortion Posted: 28 May 2019 01:56 PM PDT  Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday waded into the growing debate in the United States about the hot-button issue of abortion, urging the Supreme Court to bar "selective" abortions based on sex, race or potential disability of the fetus. The comments by Pence, a devout Christian who signed anti-abortion bills while serving as governor of Indiana, coincide with moves by Republican-led legislatures in several states to restrict access to the procedure. Opponents of abortion are seeking to eventually challenge the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling in the case of Roe vs Wade, which made abortion legal nationwide.
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| How to Pack like an Automotive Journalist Posted: 28 May 2019 01:16 PM PDT |
| Factbox: Oklahoma becomes first U.S. state to take drugmaker to trial over opioids Posted: 28 May 2019 07:52 PM PDT ![Factbox: Oklahoma becomes first U.S. state to take drugmaker to trial over opioids]( "Factbox: Oklahoma becomes first U.S. state to take drugmaker to trial over opioids") The case, filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, is the first of more than 2,000 lawsuits to go to trial over claims that opioid manufacturers deceptively marketed painkillers to downplay the risk of addiction. Opioids, including prescription painkillers and heroin, played a role in a record 47,600 U.S. overdose deaths in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nonjury trial will be heard by Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman in Norman, Oklahoma.
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| U.S. Lawyer Who Perished on Crowded Everest Died ‘Doing What He Loved’ Posted: 27 May 2019 02:00 PM PDT  Phurba Tenjing/ReutersThe 11th person to die on a crowded Mount Everest this climbing season was a Colorado lawyer who had just achieved his dream of reaching the top of the highest peak on each continent.Christopher John Kulish, 62, was just descending from the summit when he died; the cause was unclear, but others have perished of altitude sickness at that level."He saw his last sunrise from the highest peak on Earth. At that instant, he became a member of the '7 Summit Club,'" his brother, Mark Kulish, said in a statement.The brother said Kulish had been climbing for 50 years. "He passed away doing what he loved," he said in the statement obtained by the Denver News. "We are heartbroken at this news."Kulish's death came amid growing concerns about potentially fatal overcrowding on the mountain. This is the deadliest year on Everest since an avalanche in 2015 killed more than 22 people.Authorities have said many of the deaths in recent weeks were likely caused by exhaustion, since a record 381 people have been allowed to scale the mountain from the Nepalese side this year and another 130 people have climbed Everest from Tibet, Reuters reports. The climbing season lasts from March through May, and the good weather this year has increased crowds, as climbers try to work their way up and down the summit in a single file line at 29,000 feet."I have had bottlenecks on mountains before but not this many people at such high altitude," Nirmal Purja, a climber who took a photo of the precarious-looking crowds, told the The New York Times.A tour group's manager for Arun Treks and Expedition blamed the death last week of 54-year-old Indian woman Anjali Kulkarni on the overcrowding, according to the Times. "Due to the huge traffic yesterday and the delay in being able to return back, she couldn't maintain her energy," Thupden Sherpa told the newspaper.A British climber who died of altitude sickness on Saturday even warned of the dangers of overcrowding on his last ever Instagram post, and a Canadian documentarian who summited Everest last week used the social media site to post a photo of a dead body he passed on his trek, calling it "horrific.""Here we all were, chasing a dream and beneath our very feet there was a lifeless soul," he wrote. "Is this what Everest has become?"Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Despite Trump's stance, Bolton amps up accusations of Iran sabotage, desire for nuclear weapons Posted: 29 May 2019 09:28 AM PDT  John Bolton essentially accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and said the regime was behind the alleged sabotage of four oil tankers off UAE coast.
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| Tornadoes in Ohio leave at least one dead, widespread damage Posted: 28 May 2019 03:13 PM PDT  Ohio residents inspected destroyed homes and debris-strewn streets Tuesday after powerful tornadoes ripped through the US state overnight, killing at least one person and causing widespread damage and power outages. One twister that barreled through the city of Dayton left 80,000 people without power as day broke, the city's assistant fire chief Nicholas Hosford told ABC News. "We have homes flattened, entire apartment complexes destroyed, businesses throughout our community where walls have collapsed," Hosford said.
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| Satellite images show fields in northwest Syria on fire Posted: 28 May 2019 02:01 PM PDT  New satellite images show fields, orchards and olive groves burning in northwest Syria, where the army has waged an assault against rebels in their last major stronghold. Government air strikes, backed by Russia, have focused on the south of Idlib province and nearby parts of Hama, uprooting nearly 250,000 people. The bombing has killed 229 civilians and injured 727 others, according to the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) charity.
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| Joe Biden’s Simple but Pricey Facebook Ad Strategy: Target the Olds Posted: 28 May 2019 02:17 AM PDT  Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/GettyFormer Vice President Joe Biden has aggressively invested on Facebook advertising since entering the presidential contest in late April, having spent more than $1 million on the social networking site and outpacing President Trump's reelection campaign in three of the last four weeks. But it's not just spending for spending's sake. For Team Biden, there appears to be a decidedly straightforward strategy behind the ad investment: Facebook is increasingly a good place to reach older people, and older people are the ones who tend to vote. According to the Democratic communications firm Bully Pulpit Interactive, which has been tracking Facebook spending for the candidates, an estimated 49.4 percent of the money Biden's campaign has spent on Facebook has reached users between the ages of 45-64. An additional 32.7 percent has reached the 65 and older crowd. Just 17.4 percent has reached 25-44 year-olds. During that same time—March 30-May 18—President Trump's campaign had 45.2 percent of their ads reach the 45-64 age demographic, with 27.9 percent for 65 and older and 22.1 percent for those between the ages of 25 and 44. The data could be the result of older Biden and older Trump supporters being more engaged with the content the campaigns are offering. But experts say it's likely not entirely coincidental."Age is a targeting setting the campaign has to choose when setting up ads," Mike Schneider, a partner at BPI explained. "Of course, who is reached is somewhat based on Facebook's user base—but safe to say major differences between campaigns are based on intentional decisions." The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the tactics behind their Facebook ad purchasing.What Will Joe Biden Do?That they would invest in trying to reach older audiences makes political sense. It's the demographic that's been pushing him to an early primary lead. In an early May poll of New Hampshire conducted by Monmouth University, Biden held a clear overall lead over his nearest competitor, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). But while he was trailing Sanders 27 percent to 20 percent among voters aged 18-49, he was beating him 36 percent to 19 percent among the 50-64 crowd, and crushing among the 65 and older crowd: 53 percent to 9 percent.The Sanders camp has appeared to pursue almost the inverse model of Biden. According to the BPI analysis, from March 30-May 18, Sanders' Facebook ads were seen 50.1 percent by voters aged 25-44, 25.7 percent by voters aged 45-64, and 12.7 percent voters by aged 65 and older. Over that span of time, only a few candidates had their Facebook ads seen by a larger share of voters over the age of 65 than Biden, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), and former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD). An estimated 39.1 percent of Klobuchar's ads were seen by that age demographic, though her campaign spent just a fraction of what Biden did. And for Delaney it was 40.4 percent, also with significantly less spending. An estimated 49.4 percent of Bennet's ads reached that bracket. According to the Pew Research Center, around 79 percent of those aged 18 to 29 use Facebook while only 46 percent among those aged 65 and older say they do. But the percentage of older users has more than doubled since August 2012, when 20 percent of people 65 and older said they used it. While two septuagenarian candidates have led the early polling, the 2020 Democratic primary field is also stocked with younger candidates like former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). And the breakdown of their ad reach and spending on Facebook suggests that they, like Sanders, are aiming for a younger demographic. According to BPI, 21.6 percent of Buttigieg's ads in the aforementioned timeframe reached users ages 13-24, while 43.8 percent reached ages 25-44, and 24.9 reached ages 45-64. O'Rourke's ads are more evenly distributed, with 32.9 percent reaching those aged 25-44, 31 percent reaching those aged 45-64, and 20.6 percent reaching those aged 65 and older. The candidate whose ads reached the youngest set of users, according to the data, is entrepreneur Andrew Yang, whose candidacy began as an online phenomenon. An estimated 29 percent of his ads reached users aged 13-24, with 52.8 percent reaching the 25-44 age bracket and only 15.3 percent reaching those between the ages of 45 and 64.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Top Asian News 3:41 a.m. GMT Posted: 28 May 2019 08:41 PM PDT ![Top Asian News 3:41 a.m. GMT]( "Top Asian News 3:41 a.m. GMT") NAMCHE, Nepal (AP) — Scaling Mount Everest was a dream few realized before Nepal opened its side of the mountain to commercial climbing a half-century ago. This year the government issued a record number of permits, leading to traffic jams on the world's highest peak that likely contributed to the greatest death toll in four years. As the allure of Everest grows, so have the crowds, with inexperienced climbers faltering on the narrow passageway to the peak and causing deadly delays, veteran climbers said. After 11 people died this year, Nepal tourism officials have no intention of restricting the number of permits issued, instead encouraging even more tourists and climbers to come "for both pleasure and fame," said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
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| Suspect in Missing Utah Child Case Came into Gas Station, Employee Says Posted: 28 May 2019 03:13 PM PDT  A Logan 5-year old girl is still missing, nearly two full days since she vanished from her home. Logan Police said they've been able to find surveillance video showing the suspect in her disappearance.
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| Boris Johnson faces court hearing for Brexit 'lies' Posted: 28 May 2019 05:20 PM PDT  Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to become Britain's next prime minister, must attend court over allegations that he knowingly lied during the Brexit referendum campaign, a judge announced Wednesday. Johnson, the former foreign secretary, will be summoned to appear before a court over allegations of misconduct in public office, judge Margot Coleman said in a written decision, without specifying the date. The case is over the claim that Britain sends £350 million ($440 million, 400 million euros) a week to the European Union.
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| Think America Could Invade Venezuela? We Have No Aircraft Carriers Available. Posted: 27 May 2019 01:35 PM PDT  The United States' legacy in Latin America is much older than Trump and Graham are. It's a legacy that weighs heavily on the Pentagon's reluctance to sail major warships through Latin American waters.A failed coup attempt targeting Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on April 30 ended in confusion and failure. Russian and Cuban advisors and a strong core of the Venezuelan military continues to support Maduro amid economic collapse and widespread protests.(This first appeared several weeks ago.)U.S. president Donald Trump in 2018 threatened military action against Maduro but didn't make good on the threat. Washington instead imposed sanctions in order to pressure Maduro to step down.But at least one lawmaker wants to escalate Washington's involvement in the Venezuelan tragedy. "Cuba, Russia send troops to prop Maduro up in Venezuela … while we talk/sanction," Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, on May 3, 2019 tweeted. "Where is our aircraft carrier?"It's true that U.S. Southern Command permanently controls none of the U.S. Navy's 11 aircraft carrier and few other major forces. But there's a good reason for that. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in 1973 backed Chilean general Augusto Pinochet in his military coup against the socialist government of Salvador Allende.
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| Felicity Huffman is just the beginning: Who's pleaded guilty in the college admissions scandal — and who's still fighting Posted: 28 May 2019 06:38 AM PDT  An up-to-date breakdown who's pleaded guilty in the nation's college admissions bribery scandal.
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| Exclusive: Huawei reviewing FedEx relationship, says packages 'diverted' Posted: 28 May 2019 03:09 AM PDT  Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei is reviewing its relationship with FedEx Corp after it claimed the U.S. package delivery company, without detailed explanation, diverted two parcels destined for Huawei addresses in Asia to the United States and attempted to reroute two others. Huawei told Reuters on Friday that FedEx diverted two packages sent from Japan and addressed to Huawei in China to the United States, and attempted to divert two more packages sent from Vietnam to Huawei offices elsewhere in Asia, all without authorisation, providing images of FedEx tracking records.
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| Trump news – live: President attacked over support for 'murderous dictator' Kim Jong-un as he returns from Japan to face renewed impeachment calls Posted: 28 May 2019 12:17 AM PDT  Donald Trump returns from his red-carpet trip to Japan on Tuesday with his endorsement of remarks made by the leader of North Korea leader - highly critical of US national security adviser John Bolton and 2020 rival Joe Biden \- meeting with severe criticism."Kim Jong-un is a murderous dictator and Vice-President Biden served this country honourably", 2020 challenger Pete Buttigieg responded after President Trump responded to Mr Kim's suggestion that Mr Biden was "a low IQ individual" by saying: "He probably is, based on his record. I think I agree with him on that."Touching down in Washington, the president is expected to face renewed Democratic calls for his impeachment from the House of Representatives but Republicans have vowed to fight any such initiatives in the Senate.Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
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| Voter Apathy in Nigeria Clouds President Buhari's New Tenure Posted: 29 May 2019 03:05 AM PDT  While Buhari won 56% of the ballots cast on Feb. 23, only 15.2 million of the 29 million registered voters backed him. The 35% turnout, down from 44% in the last elections four years ago and a peak of 69% in 2003, is the latest indicator of mounting voter apathy in Africa's biggest democracy. "Many Nigerians, particularly the poor, are yet to feel the impact of democracy in terms of improved welfare and livelihood," said Idayat Hassan, executive director of the Abuja-based Centre for Democracy and Development.
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| Powerful EF3 tornado kills 2, injures 29 in Oklahoma town recovering from flooding Posted: 27 May 2019 11:09 AM PDT  A deadly tornado ripped through an Oklahoma City suburb Saturday night, destroying a motel and causing massive damage.
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| Blindsided by FCA-Renault talks, Nissan risks being left by the roadside Posted: 28 May 2019 07:06 AM PDT ![Blindsided by FCA-Renault talks, Nissan risks being left by the roadside]( "Blindsided by FCA-Renault talks, Nissan risks being left by the roadside") TOKYO/BEIJING, May 28 (Reuters) - Nissan found out about Renault's merger talks with Fiat Chrysler just days before they became public, four sources told Reuters, stoking fears at the Japanese carmaker that a deal could further weaken its position in a 20-year alliance with Renault. Nissan Motor Co Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa likely first caught wind of the merger plan through his own chief operating officer, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, who also serves on Renault's board, one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
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| Is the Syrian regime about to retake Idlib? Posted: 29 May 2019 04:35 AM PDT  Syria's regime has increased its deadly bombardment of Idlib in recent weeks, but analysts say that is unlikely to signal an all-out offensive on the jihadist bastion. Eight years into Syria's civil war, the government has notched up a series of victories against rebels and jihadists, and controls around 60 percent of the country. Two regions largely remain beyond its control: a Kurdish-held swathe of the northeast and a northwestern region controlled by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
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| Scouted: Yes, You Can Get A Top-Rated Coffee Table on Amazon Posted: 28 May 2019 01:10 PM PDT  Getting the right coffee table for your couch requires careful deliberation, as does choosing which coffee table books to adorn it with, whether they're essential must-haves, travel-specific, or focused on the art of science fiction. And while we're fans of several furniture retailers, we felt we had to show some love to the coffee table universe over at Amazon, where you can get any of the styles you like with the two-day shipping and easy returns Prime members are used to. So we compiled some of the best-selling and top-rated coffee tables we could find on Amazon to inform your responsible and convenient journey to a new member of your living room.Yaheetech's Adjustable Lift Top Coffee Table, $90 on AmazonYaheetech's Adjustable Lift Top Coffee Table, $90 on Amazon: Hidden storage can be everything when you need extra space (and a very nice-to-have when you don't). The effortless and noiseless mechanism in this table makes it one the top-rated choice for coffee tables with an adjustable and liftable top. Whether you want to use the movable top for storage only or to also create a workspace in seconds, there's a lot of function in this analog mainstay furniture piece — and the espresso style is nice on the eyes.Emerald Home's Chandler Rustic Industrial Coffee Table, $158 on AmazonEmerald Home's Chandler Rustic Industrial Coffee Table, $158 on Amazon: The combination of distressed solid wood and industrial steel makes this coffee table a stable staple for your living room and a companion piece for years to come. Nearly 1,300 reviewers left the Chandler a 4.7-star average rating.Mecor's Rectangle Glass Coffee Table, $89 on AmazonMecor's Rectangle Glass Coffee Table, $89 on Amazon: Sleek and elegant, this highly rated glass coffee table gives you a unique-yet-functional appearance. The undercarriage is perfect for storage that is still visible, which means more room for books or laptops or last week's Sunday edition. This easy-to-install coffee table garnered a 4.3-star average from more than 100 reviewers.GreenForest's Round Coffee Table Round, $130 on AmazonGreenForest's Round Coffee Table, $130 on Amazon: The water-resistant and durable top on this coffee table shouldn't fool you — there's great style here. The round style is great for allowing better access to the table and couches around it. This table's reviewers left it a 4.5-star average rating and you can get it in an oak or walnut style.Vasagle's Coffee Table with Storage Shelf for Living Room, $86 on AmazonVasagle's Coffee Table with Storage Shelf for Living Room, $86 on Amazon: Though sparingly designed, this two-layer coffee table gives you two full-sized surfaces for storage and for coffee activities. It's perfect for couch diners and lazy evenings when you keep a computer or tablet on the coffee table while you surf for something to watch and want your essentials nearby. It's a new release on Amazon but that hasn't stopped it from earning a 4.5-star average rating from more than 500 reviewers.Best Choice Products's Round Tempered Glass Coffee Table, $90 on AmazonBest Choice Products's Round Tempered Glass Coffee Table, $90 on Amazon: The elegant gold trim on this glass coffee table is a perfect accent for a glass coffee table, in my opinion — and I'm not a huge fan of glass coffee tables. The design opens up your room and accentuates the table's surroundings. A plant and a small display or candle will perfect your living room.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Man who scammed Alabama town pleads guilty to theft Posted: 28 May 2019 09:03 AM PDT  OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — A man already sentenced to federal prison in a $2 million scam pleaded guilty Tuesday to an additional charge in state court, capping an odd saga that took in an entire Alabama town.
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| The F-35 Is Getting Old: Why 6th Generation Fighters Will Dominate Everything Posted: 27 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT  One of the F-35's key innovations is its ability to soak up sensor data and share it via datalinks to friendly forces, creating a composite 'picture.' This could allow a stealth aircraft to ride point and ferret out adversaries, while friendly forces maneuver into advantageous positions and sling missiles from further back without even turning on their radars.The American development and deployment of Fifth-Generation stealth aircraft like the F-35 Lightning is one of the central stories of today's security zeitgeist. But behind the scenes, several countries are already looking ahead to the design of a Sixth-Generation jet.(This first appeared last year.)The relentless pace of research is arguably driven less by combat experience—of which there is little—and more by a sober assessment that development of a successor will take multiple decades and is better started sooner rather than later.The Sixth-Generation fighter developers can be divided into two categories: the United States, which has developed and deployed two stealth fighter types, and countries that have skipped or given up on their attempt to build Fifth Generations jets. These latter countries have concluded that doing so is so time-consuming and expensive that it makes more sense to focus on tomorrow's technology than try to catch up with today's.
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| Trump, in Japan, attacks Biden and heaps praise on Kim Posted: 28 May 2019 06:17 AM PDT  President Trump wrapped up his trip to Japan by continuing to attack former Vice President Joe Biden for supporting legislation that had a disproportionate impact on African-Americans.
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| The mysterious SpaceX Crew Dragon explosion is still being investigated Posted: 29 May 2019 07:12 AM PDT  SpaceX has been on a real hot streak as of late, with many successful missions and firsts, like the successful docking of its Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. A small speed bump in that otherwise smooth road came in late April when a test of the Crew Dragon resulted in an explosion and total loss of the spacecraft.Details regarding the accident have been hard to come by, and SpaceX waited quite a while before even acknowledging that it had lost the Crew Dragon in the incident. Several weeks have now passed and, despite a small info dump that came over a week after the explosion, the investigation into why the craft detonated remains ongoing.As SpaceNews reports, a presentation on Wednesday to a committee of the NASA Advisory Council offered a few more details on the explosion and the ongoing investigation.The error or glitch that caused the explosion is still being referred to as "an anomaly," which doesn't tell us anything about the reason the spacecraft self-destructed, but NASA's Kathy Lueders did offer some insight into the chain of events that immediately followed the incident."I will tell you that the team did a great job," Lueders explained. "The team followed the mishap plan beautifully. All the notifications were made. The SpaceX folks did a tremendous job."The Crew Dragon Demo-1 spacecraft, which was the one that suffered the anomaly, was being tested on a static platform when the incident occurred. The SpaceX team was testing its thrusters, including those that would be used for an in-flight abort to push the capsule away from its rocket if a failure or other serious issue was detected in the midst of a launch.NASA says SpaceX is conducting the investigation into the vehicle failure alongside a team of NASA's own investigators, and that the findings of the investigation shouldn't be rushed. However, both NASA and SpaceX will need to ensure the investigation is wrapped up before the Crew Dragon program can push forward and eventually send crewed missions into space.
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| Robert Mueller: Charging the president with a crime was not an option we could consider Posted: 29 May 2019 08:29 AM PDT  Speaking publicly for first time since the release of Russia report, special counsel Robert Mueller says there were 'multiple, systematic efforts' to interfere with the presidential election, that his team found insufficient evidence to charge a broader conspiracy, and that if there was confidence that the president did not commit a crime, the report would have said so.
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| Pope says he would confront Trump directly on border wall Posted: 28 May 2019 11:26 AM PDT  In a wide-ranging television interview with Mexico's Televisa aired on Tuesday, the pope also shrugged off criticism from ultra-conservative Roman Catholics who call him a heretic. Francis, who has clashed with Trump before on migration issues, discussed the situation at the U.S.-Mexican border with veteran Vatican reporter Valentina Alazraki, who is Mexican. "I don't know what's happening with this new culture of defending territories by building walls.
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| Israel moves towards election rerun as deadline looms Posted: 29 May 2019 09:30 AM PDT  Israelis faced the increasing likelihood Wednesday of another general election only months after April polls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition talks deadlocked hours ahead of a midnight deadline. Confronted with the seeming impossibility of forming the coalition he seeks, Netanyahu has turned his efforts in recent days towards pushing for new elections as an alternative if Wednesday's deadline approaches without an agreement. Doing so could prevent Netanyahu's nightmare scenario of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin selecting another parliament member to try to form a government.
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| Venezuela gun violence plummets because bullets and weapons are too expensive, gang members say Posted: 28 May 2019 03:05 AM PDT  The feared street gangster El Negrito sleeps with a pistol under his pillow and says he has lost track of his murder count. But despite his hardened demeanour, he is quick to gripe about how Venezuela's failing economy is cutting into his profits. Firing a gun has become a luxury. Bullets are expensive at $1 (78p) each and with less cash circulating on the street, he says robberies do not pay like they used to. For the 24-year-old, that has all given way to a simple fact: Even for Venezuelan criminals, it is become harder to get by. "If you empty your clip, you're shooting off $15 (£12)," said El Negrito, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition he be identified only by his street name and photographed wearing a hoodie and face mask to avoid attracting unwelcome attention."You lose your pistol or the police take it and you're throwing away $800." Officials of President Nicolas Maduro's socialist administration stopped publishing statistics charting crime trends long ago. But in something of an unexpected silver lining to the country's all-consuming economic crunch, experts say armed assaults and killings are plummeting in one of the world's most violent nations.At the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, a Caracas-based nonprofit group, researchers estimate homicides have plunged up to 20 per cent over the last three years based on tallies from media clippings and sources at local morgues.The decline has a direct link to the economic tailspin that has helped spark a political battle for control of the once-wealthy oil nation.Soaring inflation topped 1 million per cent last year, making the local bolivar nearly useless, even though ATM machines have been unable to dispense more than a dollar's worth of scrip anyway.The severe scarcity of food and medicine has driven some 3.7 million to seek better prospects in places like Colombia, Panama and Peru — the majority of them young males from whom gangs recruit. Workdays are frequently curtailed due to nationwide strikes.But as the country descends into a state of lawlessness, many Venezuelans who turn to crime find themselves subject to the same chaos that has led to a broader political and social meltdown.Critics blame 20 years of the socialist revolution launched by the late President Hugo Chavez, who expropriated once-thriving businesses that today produce a fraction of their potential under government management.Earlier this year, opposition leader Juan Guaido launched a bold campaign with the support of the US and more than 50 nations to oust Mr Maduro, who succeeded Chavez.However, Mr Guaido has yet to make good on his promises to restore democracy, spark a robust economy and make the streets safer. As a result of the chaos, crime has not so much disappeared as simply morphed in form. While assaults are down, reports of theft and pilfering of everything from copper telephone wires to livestock are surging.Meanwhile, drug trafficking and illegal gold mining have become default activities for organised crime.When night falls, streets in Caracas clear as most residents abide by an undeclared curfew out of fear for their safety. Despite the significant drop in killings, Venezuelans tend not to gaze at their mobile phones in the streets. Many leave gold and silver wedding rings in secure places at home, while others have grown accustomed to checking whether they are being followed. "Venezuela remains one of the most violent countries in the world," said Dorothy Kronick, who teaches political science at the University of Pennsylvania and has carried out extensive research in Caracas' slums. "It has wartime levels of violence — but no war." El Negrito leads for-hire hoodlums called the Crazy Boys, a band that forms part of an intricate criminal network in Petare, one of Latin America's largest and most feared slums.The gangster, who agreed to an interview with two associates at their hillside hideout in Caracas, said his group now carries out roughly five kidnappings a year, down considerably from years past. Such express abductions are big business. Typically, a victim is nabbed and held hostage for up to 48 hours while loved ones scramble to gather as much cash as they can find, with kidnappers focused on speed and a quick return rather than on the size of the payout. El Negrito said the ransom they set depends on what a victim's car costs and a deal can turn deadly if demands are not met. But like many of his associates, he has considered leaving the trade in Venezuela and emigrating. He said some people have quit the world of crime and sought more honest work abroad, fearing stiff penalties in other countries where laws are more enforced. While explaining that he struggles to support his wife and young daughter, El Negrito passed a silver pistol between his hands. A Bible lay open to Proverbs on a dresser as a breeze turned the pages. Robert Briceno, director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, said the decline in homicides is a matter of basic economics: As cash becomes scarce in Venezuela, there is less to steal. "These days, nobody is doing well — not honest citizens who produce wealth or the criminals who prey on them," he said. One associate of the Crazy Boys, who gave only his nickname, Dog, said he has no trouble finding ammunition for his guns on the black market. He said the challenge is paying for them in a country where the average person earns $6.50 a month. "A pistol used to cost one of these bills," he said, crumbling up a 10 bolivar bill that can no longer be used to buy a single cigarette. "Now, this is nothing."Associated Press
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| Best Tech Deals in May 2019 Posted: 29 May 2019 08:32 AM PDT  Amazon Deals | Walmart Deals | Apple Deals | TV Deals | Gaming Deals | Laptop DealsGreat news if your arsenal of gadgets is due for an upgrade. Retailers are currently offering extended Memorial Day sales with discounts on everything from smart home devices to game consoles. Nintendo Switch owners can score Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle for $19.99 from Walmart. Normally, this game is priced at $60, so that's $40 off its regular price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen for this game. Amazon and Best Buy also offer this deal. With its gorgeous world that's fun to explore and multiplayer mode, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a must have game for Nintendo Switch. For Pokemon fans, Walmart also offers Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! w/ Poke Ball for $79.44 ($21 off). Bargain shopping for a new unlocked phone? Then you might be interested in knowing that B&H has the Sony Xperia XZ3 Unlocked 64GB w/ Prepaid SIM Card on sale for $529.99 ($330 off). It's the lowest price we've ever seen for this device and one of the best smartphone deals we've seen this month. With the imminent arrival of Amazon Prime Day 2019, soon we'll be gathering the best Amazon Prime Day deals. In the meantime, here are some of the best tech deals we're seeing right now. Amazon Hardware DealsAmazon is currently offering many of its proprietary devices at discounted pricing. * Fire TV Cube with Alexa for $79.99 ($40 off) [NEW] * Fire TV Recast Over-the-Air DVR for $189.99 ($40 off) [NEW] * Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote for $29.99 ($10 off) [NEW] * Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote for $39.99 ($10 off) [NEW] * Fire 7 Tablet 7th Gen for $39.99 ($10 of) * Fire HD 8 Tablet (3-Pack) for $179.97 ($60 off) [NEW] * Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet (2-Pack) for $194.99 ($65 off) * Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet (2-Pack) for $299.98 ($100 off) Echo Auto for $24.99 ($25 off) * Echo 2nd Generation (2-Pack) for $119.98 ($80 off) * Echo Plus (2nd Gen) with Philips Hue Bulb for $149.99 ($15 off) * All-New Fire 7 Tablet w/ $10 Appstore Credit for $49.99 ($10 off) * All-New Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet w/ Toy Story Headphones for $99.99 ($22 off, preorder) * Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Smart Speaker (3-Pack) for $70 ($80 off) * Echo Spot Smart Alarm Clock (2-Pack) for $219.98 ($40 off) * Ring Stick-Up Wireless Cam w/ Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for $179.99 ($50 off) * Ring Smart Lighting Spotlights (2-pack) for $99.99 ($30 off) Top Tech Deals Right Now * Apple 11-inch iPad Pro (2018) for $674 ($125 off) [NEW] * Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones for $229.97 ($120 off) * Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop for $399 ($100 off) * Apple AirPods 2nd Gen (Back-order) for $139.99 ($19 off) * Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (Wi-Fi, 512GB) for $699 ($450 off) * Apple 9.7-inch iPad for $249 ($81 off) TV Deals * Sharp 40-inch Full HD TV for $129.99 ($100 off) * TCL 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV for $299.99 ($300 off) * Samsung 49-inch Q60 Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2019) for $797.99 ($202 off) * Sharp 65-inch 4K Smart TV for $429.99 ($270 off) * Vizio 50-inch 4K HDR Smart TV for $279.99 ($120 off) * Sony 70-Inch 4K UHD Smart TV for $1,098 ($500 off) Tech Under $50 * Apple Lightning to USB Cable for $15 ($4 off) * SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSD Card for $12 ($13 off) * Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds for $44.99 ($20 off) * Chocotech Wireless Charging Stand for $8.99 ($8 off via coupon, "LZTVD9NI") * Logitech M705 Marathon Wireless Mouse for $24.97 ($25 off) * Spotify Premium Membership for $0.99 ($27 off, ends 6/30) Smartwatch Deals * Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro w/ $125 GC for $199.99 ($125 off) * Garmin Fenix 5S Plus for $599.99 ($200 off) also at Best Buy * Garmin Fenix 5X Plus for $649.99 ($150 off) also at Best Buy * Garmin Fenix 5 for $349.99 ($150 off) also at Best Buy Phones * Sony Xperia XZ3 Unlocked 64GB w/ Prepaid SIM Card for $529.99 ($330 off) [NEW] * Samsung Galaxy Note Unlocked 128GB for $664 ($336 off) * Motorola Moto Z3 Black (Verizon) for $24 ($456 off with contract) * Google Pixel 3 XL 128GB Unlocked for $779.99 ($220 off) * Apple iPhone SE Unlocked for $249 ($100 off) Cameras * Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera w/ 18-55mm VR Lens for $396.95 ($103 off) * Canon EOS M100 Mirrorless Camera w /15-45mm Lens for $399 ($200 off) * Panasonic Lumix LX10 4K Digital Camera for $497.99 ($202 off) * Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera for $498 ($150 off) * Canon PowerShot SX530 Digital Camera for $229 ($150 off) Games and Consoles * Nintendo Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle for $19.99 ($40 off) [NEW] also at Amazon and Best Buy * Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! w/ Poke Ball for $79.44 ($21 off) [NEW] * WWE 2K19 Deluxe Edition for $39.99 ($50 off) also at Amazon and Best Buy * Retro Games THEC64 Mini Console for $29.99 ($50 off) * Rainbow Six Siege Advanced Edition for $28.66 ($31 off) * MS Xbox One S 1TB Console for $206 ($94 off) * Marvel's Spider-Man for PS4 for $35 ($25 off) also at Amazon * Kingdom Hearts 3 for PS4 for $28.98 ($31 off) * Kingdom Heart 3 for Xbox One for $29.99 ($30 off) * Red Dead Redemption 2 for PS4 for $34.99 ($25 off)
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| No Bull, This Lamborghini Gallardo Is Rear-Wheel Drive Posted: 28 May 2019 05:49 AM PDT  The limited-run Gallardo LP550-2 Black Edition's V10 exclusively powers its rear wheels. The Lamborghini Gallardo proved to be the Italian marque's best selling car in its history. While some 14,000 Lamborghini Gallardos were built from 2003 - 2013, there were several very special edition models, this LP550-2 Black Edition listed by Lamborghini Dallas being one of them.
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| The Latest: Iran's Guard says it doesn't fear war with US Posted: 28 May 2019 02:20 AM PDT  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local):
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| Tesla starts delivering the entry-level Model 3 with locked down features Posted: 27 May 2019 03:04 PM PDT  While demand for Tesla's Model 3 has never been much of a problem, the company took its sweet time before making the $35,000 configuration available to prospective buyers. This naturally rubbed many the wrong way given that the entire impetus behind the Model 3 was to offer up an affordable EV for the masses. Instead, the cheapest Model 3 for quite a while was priced at $42,900.The reasoning behind this, not surprisingly, involves Tesla's ongoing struggles to generate as much cash as possible. Explaining Tesla's thought process on the matter, Elon Musk last year said that if Tesla were to ship the minimum cost Model 3 right out of the gate, it "would cause Tesla to lose money and die." In short, Tesla prioritized selling higher-margin versions of the Model 3 above all else.With that said, the highly-anticipated $35,000 Model 3 configuration wasn't officially available for purchase until February of this year. A few weeks later, in characteristic Tesla fashion, something odd happened out of the blue: the $35,000 configuration disappeared from the company's online store, with Tesla noting that the only way to order the $35,000 model would be in person at a company store or via the phone.One month later, the price of all Model 3 variants went up by $400. And through it all, deliveries of the entry-level Model 3 with locked down features were seemingly non-existent.But the fun has apparently come to an end.Electrek is reporting that Tesla recently started delivering the entry-level Model 3 with locked down features such as limited range and no access to live mapping. Incidentally, if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a Model 3 with a range of 310 miles and significantly faster acceleration.
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| Sears buyer Eddie Lampert wants to avoid up to $43M in severance pay from bankruptcy Posted: 29 May 2019 08:33 AM PDT ![Sears buyer Eddie Lampert wants to avoid up to $43M in severance pay from bankruptcy]( "Sears buyer Eddie Lampert wants to avoid up to $43M in severance pay from bankruptcy") The investor who bought Sears' assets out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is now trying to back out of an agreement to pay severance to laid-off workers.
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| Acura NSX May Add a 650-HP Type R Model and a Convertible Variant Posted: 28 May 2019 10:08 AM PDT  Rumors have circulated for years that a more hard-core NSX was coming, and a new report suggests it might arrive in 2019.
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| Brazil's mangroves on the front line of climate change Posted: 28 May 2019 04:30 AM PDT  Instead he parks his two-foot-wide boat at the shore of the Caratingui river and wends his way on foot through the tangle of mangroves to dig out crabs with his hands from the dark muck. Water levels have risen 20-30 centimeters over the past 100 years in coastal Bahia state, where Cairu is located, according to climate researcher Carlos Nobre at the University of Sao Paulo.
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| Six New Six-Figure Convertibles to Kick-Start Summer Posted: 28 May 2019 02:04 PM PDT |
| Venezuela talks in Norway must focus on Maduro departure: US Posted: 28 May 2019 11:53 AM PDT  Talks in Norway between Venezuela's government and the US-backed opposition should focus only on President Nicolas Maduro's removal, Washington said Tuesday. "We note the talks in Norway. As we have repeatedly stated, the United States believes the only thing to negotiate with Nicolas Maduro is the conditions of his departure," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters.
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