| Iran gears up for high-stakes diplomacy amid tension with US Posted: 09 Jun 2019 10:33 AM PDT  As its nuclear deal with world powers unravels amid heightened tensions with the U.S., Iran will see a week of high-stakes diplomacy capped by the first visit of a Japanese prime minister to Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Shinzo Abe will arrive on Wednesday in Iran after earlier meeting with President Donald Trump, whose maximalist approach toward the Islamic Republic has seen America re-impose sanctions once lifted by the 2015 accord and create far-reaching newer ones. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also will visit Tehran as well this week.
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| New York helicopter crash: Pilot killed in fiery accident on top of Manhattan skyscraper Posted: 10 Jun 2019 05:24 PM PDT  A helicopter crash-landed on top of a 51-storey building in New York City on Monday, catching fire and killing the pilot. The helicopter took off at 1:32pm from the heliport on 34th Street, and flew for 11 minutes before crashing. The pilot was named by local media on Monday night as Tim McCormack, and he had been flying a private client shortly before the accident. He had finished the trip, and was heading home to Linden, New Jersey, when the crash happened. The helicopter was reportedly owned by a company called American Continental Properties Inc, the New York Post said. Firefighters work on the roof of 787 Seventh Avenue at 51st Street after a helicopter crashed there Credit: Getty Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, said it was "a very unusual situation". He added: "Helicopters have not been landing on New York buildings for decades. The helicopter should not have been in this area." Mr de Blasio said "a horrible incident" had been avoided, given that the helicopter was "obliterated", but very little debris hit the ground. He said the pilot was an experienced commercial pilot, and they had no idea yet what caused the crash. The fire was extinguished rapidly by the city's fire fighters. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said they believe the pilot was the only passenger on board. They said the helicopter was an Augusta A109E. Damage is visible after a helicopter crashed on the roof of 787 Seventh Avenue at 51st Street Credit: Getty Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, said it appeared that the helicopter pilot made an emergency landing. The city was doused in heavy rain on Monday, with thick clouds causing delays of 90 minutes at the major airports. "If you are a New Yorker you have a level of PTSD from 9/11," said Mr Cuomo. "That's immediately where your mind goes. "But there is no indication at the moment of anything more than that. This is only preliminary, and it evolves all the time, but that's what we know." Nicolas Estevez was standing across the street from the building when a 30 cm piece of metal that appeared to be from the helicopter landed on the pavement just feet away. The crash, which sent people streaming out of the building within seconds, reminded him of September 11, Estevez said. "I saw the explosion and the smoke coming out," he said. Donald Trump tweeted his admiration of the emergency services, saying they did a "phenomenal job", and saying the federal administration was ready to help in any way. I have been briefed on the helicopter crash in New York City. Phenomenal job by our GREAT First Responders who are currently on the scene. THANK YOU for all you do 24/7/365! The Trump Administration stands ready should you need anything at all.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2019 It remained unclear why the helicopter was in the air. Helicopter sightseeing tours are popular, and television and photography crews fly frequently, but the visibility was extremely limited. Executives use helicopters to arrive in and leave the city, but they usually avoid going over central Manhattan. There was not believed to be a helicopter landing pad on the roof. New York - Helicopter crash Workers inside the office building told of feeling a shaking sensation, and then being asked to evacuate. The stairwells were crowded, many said, yet people remained calm. Morgan Aries, working inside the building on the 14th floor, said he felt a large tremor. They were told initially to stay in their seats, but after five minutes were told to leave. "It was a little unnerving in the stairwell, as no one knew what was going on," he told CNN. "We were all checking our phones, looking for updates. There were a lot of sirens, but we didn't see any smoke or debris." 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.
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| Crane collapses on Dallas apartment building, killing one, injuring six Posted: 09 Jun 2019 05:02 PM PDT  The building's parking garage was also heavily damaged, and authorities planned a thorough search of the entire structure for anyone else who may have been trapped or killed inside, the spokesman, Jason Evans, told reporters at the scene. "We're hoping that what we have at this point is where it ends" in terms of casualties, Evans said during the televised news briefing. The collapse occurred just before 2 p.m. CDT as a bout of severe weather blew through the city, according to Evans and a number of eyewitness accounts reported in the news media.
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| Poll: Biden’s Hyde Amendment Reversal Helps Him with Primary Voters Posted: 11 Jun 2019 08:41 AM PDT  Former vice president Joe Biden's decision to abandon his support for a ban on taxpayer funding of abortion may have increased his support among Democratic primary voters, according to a new poll.About 32 percent of those likely to vote in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries said they are more likely to vote for Biden after he announced his opposition to the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for most abortions, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Tuesday. Only 19 percent said Biden's new stance makes him less likely to get their vote."I've been struggling with the problems that Hyde now presents," Biden said Thursday at a Democratic fundraiser in Atlanta. "If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment."The Hyde Amendment, originally passed in 1976 a few years after Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide, prohibits funding the procedure through Medicaid except in cases where the mother's life is in danger or the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. The amendment has loomed large in the 2020 debate. Despite voting in September for a spending bill that included it, many candidates in the crowded Democratic presidential field have come out against it.Democratic primary voters are nearly split on the amendment. About 38 percent want to keep the restrictions on federal abortion funding in place while 45 percent oppose them. The larger electorate wants to preserve the measure, however: 49 percent of all voters said they support it, 33 percent said they would scrap it, and about 19 percent said they have no stance on it.
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| Sporting Rifles: The 5 Best That Can Fire a Bullet (Who Made the List?) Posted: 09 Jun 2019 10:00 PM PDT  Introduced to the American civilian market in 2007, the MR556 is the civilian version of the Heckler and Koch 416 assault rifle. Like the 416, the MR556 uses the gas-piston operating system, a significant break from the direct impingement system used in the AR-15. In fact, the system is similar to that used in the Mini-14. The result is a rifle that releases dirty gases instead of using them to cycle the rifle, making the weapon cleaner running and less prone to overheating. The MR556 is identical to the 416, lacking only the ability to fire burst or fully automatic fire. The U.S. Marine Corps new standard infantry weapon, the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, is based upon the 416.(This first appeared last year.)The field of modern sporting rifles—semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines—has exploded in popularity over the past decade. The expiration of the Federal 1994–2004 Assault Weapons Ban and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan fueled an interest in these weapons. Innovation, in part due to research and development into military small arms, introduced new and interesting rifle designs. Here are the top five modern sporting rifle designs.AR-15
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| Japan says human error likely cause of F-35A jet crash Posted: 09 Jun 2019 11:42 PM PDT  Human error was the likely cause of an F-35A fighter jet crash in April, Japan's defence ministry said Monday, and flights of the stealth jet will resume after new training measures. The jet crashed into the sea in April after the 41-year-old pilot suffered "spatial disorientation", in which a person loses their sense of balance, the ministry concluded. "The crash was likely caused by spatial disorientation of the pilot, not technical problems with the aircraft," a ministry official told AFP.
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| Photos of the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur Sedan Posted: 11 Jun 2019 04:00 AM PDT |
| Billionaire Tom Steyer Jacks Up Pressure on House Dem Leaders to Back Impeachment Posted: 10 Jun 2019 02:23 AM PDT  Justin Sullivan/GettyNeed to Impeach, the advocacy group backed by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, is trying to increase the pressure on Democratic leadership to get behind impeachment proceedings for President Donald Trump. This week, The Daily Beast has learned, organizers at the group will kick off a new campaign to target 12 districts held by Democratic lawmakers who do not yet back impeachment. The group plans to spend $360,000 in the first few weeks of the effort, which will fund targeted digital ads, billboards, organizing activities, and events like so-called "Impeach-ins," which are intended to make the case for impeachment.The dozen Democrats whom Need to Impeach is targeting are either all prominent members of party leadership or hold positions on key House committees. They include Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the number three House Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the Democratic Caucus Chairman. Tom Steyer Pays for Ground Troops in His War for ImpeachmentThose three members represent heavily Democratic districts where impeachment pressure could build. As sources previously told The Daily Beast, Jeffries was, according to aides, feeling conflicted about impeachment. A spokesman for Jeffries told The Daily Beast on Monday that the Democrat is not "waffling" on the issue.Clyburn, meanwhile, spent the last week walking back a CNN appearance where he suggested impeachment proceedings were inevitable.Other lawmakers being targeted by Need to Impeach include Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a candidate for president and Pelosi ally who sits on the House Judiciary and Intelligence panels; Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), who chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee and is another close Pelosi ally; and several Democrats representing liberal districts in southern California and Florida. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is another target. A Need to Impeach source provided an example of a billboard that could soon be going up in his district. "Rep. Luján: We need an impeachment inquiry now," it reads. The billboard displays the phone number for the D.C. office of Luján, a top member of House Democratic leadership and candidate for Senate, and urges constituents to call in with their thoughts.Tom Steyer Pours Millions Into Pro-Impeachment Ads Across Early Primary StatesThe new campaign by Need to Impeach comes as a growing number of House Democrats have begun calling for the launch of impeachment proceedings against the president. The group, along with others organizing for impeachment, believe that building support among voters in progressive districts is key to persuading lawmakers on the fence to take a stand—which would ultimately put pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to take up impeachment, an option she has repeatedly dismissed at this stage. Some 60 Democrats have so far come out in support of launching an inquiry, accounting for a quarter of the party's House membership. In a statement, Steyer said that momentum behind impeachment is growing by the day. "The leaders of the Democratic Party deserve to know where their constituents stand, and alongside millions of Americans, we're calling on them to stop putting political expediency ahead of what's right," he said.Need to Impeach has targeted 47 members of Congress so far this year, and the group says its organizers and volunteers have visited over 100 congressional offices to make the impeachment case. In January, Steyer announced he would pour $6 million into a nationwide ad campaign to boost his message.The agitating from Steyer has gotten him crosswise with Pelosi, who represents the hedge fund billionaire's hometown of San Francisco. Steyer has blasted Pelosi's declaration Trump isn't "worth" the effort: "Shall America just stop fighting for our principles and do what's politically convenient?" he asked in a March tweet.This piece has been updated with additional reporting.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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| Republicans attack Watergate's John Dean in messy partisan hearing Posted: 10 Jun 2019 12:07 PM PDT  Democrats had hoped the hearing with Nixon's former White House counsel would draw attention to the substance of Mueller's findings.
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| Michigan hotel offers free room to women seeking abortions Posted: 10 Jun 2019 02:39 PM PDT ![Michigan hotel offers free room to women seeking abortions]( "Michigan hotel offers free room to women seeking abortions") A hotel manager in Michigan's rural Thumb region is offering free lodging to women who come from states that have passed tough abortion restrictions to have the procedure. The Detroit Free Press reports Yale Hotel manager Shelley O'Brien proffered an invitation on Facebook that includes roundtrip transportation to appointments. O'Brien, a 55-year-old mother and grandmother, says she wants to help women "maintain autonomy" over their bodies.
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| Philadelphia's first openly gay deputy sheriff found dead Posted: 10 Jun 2019 11:20 AM PDT  Philadelphia's first openly gay deputy sheriff apparently died by suicide just before the city's annual Pride parade and festival, authorities said.
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| Mike Pence says banning pride flags at US embassies is 'the right decision' Posted: 11 Jun 2019 09:18 AM PDT  Pence said that he was aware of reports that only the American flag was allowed to be flown, and added, 'I support that.'
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| American Airlines cancels 737 MAX flights through September 3 Posted: 09 Jun 2019 12:40 PM PDT  American Airlines has canceled all scheduled flights with Boeing 737 MAX jets through September 3, extending the grounding of its fleet after two crashes involving the same aircraft model killed 346 people. The airline had previously canceled all 737 MAX flights through August 19 as it awaited recertification of the aircraft in the wake of the crashes. The extension means that American Airlines will have canceled 115 flights since grounding its 14 737 MAX aircraft.
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| China Claims It Has the Tech to Track F-22s over the East China Sea Posted: 10 Jun 2019 02:30 AM PDT  Real or fake news? You decide. State-run Chinese media is claiming that the People's Liberation Army has been able to track the U.S. Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighters over the East China Sea. While the Chinese report might be easily dismissed as propaganda—it is not beyond the realm of possibility. In fact—it's very possible that China can track the Raptor. Stealth is not a cloak of invisibility, after all. Stealth technology simply delays detection and tracking.(This first appeared in 2016.)First off, if a Raptor is carrying external fuel tanks—as it often does during "ferry missions"—it is not in a stealth configuration. Moreover, the aircraft is often fitted with a Luneburg lens device on its ventral side during peacetime operations that enhances its cross section on radar.That being said, even combat-configured F-22s are not invisible to enemy radar, contrary to popular belief. Neither is any other tactical fighter-sized stealth aircraft with empennage surfaces such as tailfins—the F-35, PAK-FA, J-20 or J-31. That's just basic physics.
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| U.S. Warns Hong Kong on Extraditions as Fresh Protests Planned Posted: 10 Jun 2019 08:56 PM PDT  The U.S. expressed "grave concern" over Hong Kong legislation that would for the first time allow extraditions to mainland China, raising pressure on Beijing as the city braces for new protests and potential strikes amid a showdown over the proposal. The bill "could undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and negatively impact the territory's long-standing protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic values," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters Monday in Washington. Opponents of the legislation on Sunday staged one of the largest protests since the former British colony's return to China: Organizers said more than 1 million participants showed up, while police put the figure at 240,000.
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| George Conway to Trump: 'You would have been fired from any other job by now' Posted: 09 Jun 2019 02:42 PM PDT  Outspoken Trump critic George Conway on Sunday said the president "would have been fired from any other job by now," after Trump, in a series of tweets, lambasted media reports that devalued his deal with Mexico.
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| Facebook is building a massive solar project in Texas Posted: 10 Jun 2019 10:10 PM PDT  Facebook is building a massive solar farm in West Texas that's believed to be one of the largest solar projects in the nation and the social media giant's first direct investment in renewable energy. Boston-based renewable energy developer Longroad Energy recently announced it was partnering with Facebook on the $416 million project, just as Facebook is finishing construction of a data center near Albuquerque.
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| How Does the Chevrolet Silverado's New Duramax Turbo-Diesel Engine Compare against Ford and Ram? Posted: 10 Jun 2019 11:48 AM PDT  We look at the numbers: It's a dog-eat-dog truck world out there, and Chevrolet just took a big bite.
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| Supreme Court to hear Comcast appeal in Byron Allen racial bias suit Posted: 10 Jun 2019 06:52 AM PDT  The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear cable television operator Comcast Corp's bid to throw out comedian and producer Byron Allen's racial bias lawsuit accusing the company of discriminating against black-owned channels. The justices will review a decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that cleared the way for a $20 billion civil rights lawsuit against Comcast to proceed. At issue in the litigation is the refusal by Comcast to carry channels operated by Entertainment Studios Networks, owned by Byron Allen, who is black.
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| Spirit Airlines bans passenger whose e-cigarette set off a plane's smoke alarm: reports Posted: 09 Jun 2019 03:04 PM PDT  Spirit Airlines has banned a traveler who set off a plane's smoke alarm after using an e-cigarette, according to multiple reports.
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| 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV with 7 seats targets families Posted: 11 Jun 2019 08:00 AM PDT  Just a couple of months after the concept version was shown off at Auto Shanghai 2019, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the production model of the GLB, the newest member of the company's compact SUV lineup.
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| Chicago-area woman accused of murdering both her parents Posted: 10 Jun 2019 06:55 AM PDT  A 43-year-old woman has been charged with murder after police said she killed both of her parents.
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| 70 Super Simple Healthy Seafood Recipes Posted: 10 Jun 2019 11:04 AM PDT |
| Could Driverless Cars Damage Demand for Air Travel? Posted: 10 Jun 2019 06:15 AM PDT  As driverless cars become more capable and more common, they will change people's travel habits not only around their own communities but across much larger distances. Our research has revealed just how much people's travel preferences could shift, and found a new potential challenge to the airline industry.Imagine someone who lives in Atlanta and needs to travel to Washington, D.C., for business. This is about a 10-hour drive. A flight takes about two hours, assuming no delays. Add to that the drive to the airport, checking in, the security line and waiting at the gate. Upon arrival in D.C., it may take another 30 minutes to pick up any checked bags and find a rental car – and even more time to drive to the specific destination. The average person would estimate a total travel time of four to five fours. Most people would choose to fly instead of driving themselves.
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| German FM meets Iran's Zarif to discuss nuclear deal Posted: 10 Jun 2019 01:17 AM PDT  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas held talks Monday with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on the future of the 2015 nuclear deal which he described as "extraordinarily important" for Europe. The two shook hands in front of cameras before their closed-door meeting at the foreign ministry in Tehran, AFP reporters said. The nuclear deal is "extraordinarily important" for Europe's security, Maas told reporters overnight after arriving in Tehran on the last leg of a regional tour that took him to Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
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| Pride Month isn't just rainbow flags but pansexual flags, transgender flags and more: Here's what they mean Posted: 09 Jun 2019 12:56 PM PDT  Pride Month brings rainbow flags, but you may see others waving, too. Pansexual flags, transgender flags and others are growing in visibility.
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| Google Maps could alert passengers when their taxi goes off route Posted: 10 Jun 2019 07:15 AM PDT  According to a media report, Google Maps is testing a new feature that would send users an alert if their taxi strays 500 meters off route. Later this summer, Maps will also send you an alert if your route could be affected by a crisis and will likewise reroute the path to avoid any dangers. Adding alerts for route deviations is just another way Google is working to keep users safe.
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| Trump says Huawei dispute could be solved 'as part of trade talks' with China despite national security threat claims Posted: 10 Jun 2019 06:10 AM PDT  Donald Trump has claimed that his dispute with Huawei could be resolved through trade talks, despite repeated accusations that the Chinese tech firm poses a national security risk.Huawei has said the US president's attacks are motivated by a desire to advance American economic interests and have nothing to do with national security. Washington claims Huawei could use its network equipment to spy on US citizens.Asked on Monday whether Huawei was in fact a "chess piece" to be used in talks with Beijing, the Mr Trump said the situation could be fixed "as a part of trade negotiations", apparently undermining his previous national security argument.During a phone call to CNBC's Squawk Box, Mr Trump threatened China with additional tariffs if Xi Jinping doesn't meet with him at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, this month. But Mr Trump said he expects the Chinese premier to attend. Mr Trump called into the show after the US Chamber of Commerce criticised him for using the threat of tariffs to force Mexico to stem the flow of migrants across its northern border."They have to start representing the United States, not just the companies that are members of the US Chamber of Commerce," said Mr Trump. The outburst came after news that Mr Trump's acting budget chief is reportedly pushing to delay implementing parts of a law that restricts the US government's business with Huawei.According to the Wall Street Journal, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, sent a letter to the vice president and nine members of Congress, urging them to postpone parts of the law that would effectively ban the tech giant from doing business in the US. "While the Administration recognises the importance of these prohibitions to national security," Mr Vought's letter states, "a number of agencies have heard significant concerns from a wide range of potentially impacted stakeholders who would be affected" by the rules as written.Last month China created a blacklist of "unreliable" foreign firms causing harm to Chinese interests in a move widely seen to be retaliation for Mr Trump's decision to target Huawei.China will set up a mechanism listing foreign enterprises, organisations and individuals that don't obey market rules, violate contracts and cut off supplies for non-commercial reasons or severely damage the legitimate interests of Chinese companies, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng said. That could include the likes of Google and Intel which have suspended their dealings with Huawei.Huawei has been damaged by Google's decision to block it from using Android apps on its devices.
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| The iPhone XR and XS screens scratch way too easily, so you need these $2 screen protectors Posted: 10 Jun 2019 11:09 AM PDT  Apple didn't announce anything official with regard to the oleophobic coating on its latest iPhone models, the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. But there's no question whatsoever that the company made some big changes to the oil-resistant layer on top of its newest iPhone displays. As a result, there are two big changes that everyone notices. First, the new iPhones resist oil much better than earlier models, and the oleophobic coating lasts much longer before wearing off. Second, it is ridiculously easy to scratch. You can be the safest person in the world and you're still going to get find scratches all over your iPhone screen -- that is, unless you pick up a high-quality screen protector like the TETHYS Glass Screen Protector. You can snag a 3-pack right now on Amazon for as little as $5.59 (that's $1.86 per screen protector!), so definitely grab a pack while they're discounted.Here's some additional info from the product page: * Tethys' Tempered glass screen protector provides edge-to-edge protection for your Device against scratches, bumps and minor drops. Enjoy your phone's clear display with no worries! * Ultra clear - transparent screen protection; it's like you have nothing there! The screen protector is made with 9H screen hardness, offering maximum coverage for your screen including the front sensor. (Note: fits with most cases except cases with hefty raised edges such as battery cases.) * Easy Installation - it's super easy to install! Comes with an installation guidance frame to assist with the application process. * Touchscreen accessible - receive full access to all buttons, 3D touch, touch ID, facial recognition and other functions on your phone. Box content includes 3X glass screen protector, guidance frame, wet/dry wipes, user guide, dust Removal/guide stickers. * Warranty - Tethys is proud to provide a lifetime warranty for the protection of your phone screen.
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| The 2019 Ford Ranger XL SuperCab Is Cheap and Quick Posted: 10 Jun 2019 11:05 AM PDT  At less than $30,000, Ford's base Ranger is a solid, largely vice-free workhorse.
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| United Technologies and Raytheon poised for merger Posted: 09 Jun 2019 02:24 PM PDT  Raytheon and United Technologies, two major American aeronautics and defense groups, are poised to announce as early this week plans for a massive merger, according to US media. The Wall Street Journal revealed on Saturday, citing an anonymous source, that talks have been under way between the two pillars of the aeronautics and defense industries worldwide. Unless the negotiations break down, a deal is expected to be announced in the coming days, a source close to the matter told the Journal.
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| Detroit chief says neo-Nazis sought gay pride event violence Posted: 10 Jun 2019 04:31 PM PDT ![Detroit chief says neo-Nazis sought gay pride event violence]( "Detroit chief says neo-Nazis sought gay pride event violence") Detroit police officers prevented violence by a neo-Nazi group that wanted to spark "Charlottesville No. 2" during a gay pride festival over the weekend, the city's police chief said Monday. Chief James Craig said five people among about 15 white supremacists were openly carrying firearms — which is allowed under Michigan law — while they traded barbs with 15-20 counterprotesters during the Motor City Pride festival in downtown Detroit. Officers worked to keep the two groups separate after getting word that the neo-Nazi group wanted to spark violence similar to the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Craig said.
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| CEOs for Abortion Posted: 11 Jun 2019 03:30 AM PDT  Clarity of thought and expression about moral issues is not a core competency of CEOs.If anyone had any doubt, look no further than the "historic" pro-abortion statement by nearly 200 CEOs that ran in a full-page ad in the New York Times. It is a festival of absurdity and euphemism, an exercise in perverse virtue-signaling to a progressive audience that believes that maintaining one of the most permissive pro-abortion regimes in the developed world is a virtue. The CEOs define abortion as "equality" ("Don't Ban Equality") and, of course, refer to it as "comprehensive reproductive care," the ubiquitous phrase that has the advantage of sounding like the opposite of what it's describing. The CEOs contend that abortion is central to their businesses, which might be true if all of their companies had the same business model as Planned Parenthood, one of the organizers of the effort. But Bloomberg L.P., Amalgamated Bank, and H&M, to name three of the companies whose CEOs signed the ad, are hardly dependent on abortion to thrive. The old saw was, "What's good for General Motors is good for America." Now, according to top CEOs, what's good for abortion is good for American business. They seem to consider abortion a crucial component of GDP just like personal consumption, business investment, government spending, and net exports. They argue that "equality in the workplace" is an important business issue, and it is impossible to achieve without unrestricted access to abortion. Any restriction "threatens the health, independence and economic stability of our employees and customers." The idea that abortion is necessary for the health of women is one of the most misleading pro-abortion cliches. Comprehensive data from Florida last year shows that three-quarters of abortions were elective, and another one-fifth were for social and economic reasons. A small percentage involve a threat to the mother's life or health, and pro-life laws account for such cases — even the sweeping Alabama law has a health exception. The contention that restrictions put "the economy at risk" is nonsensical. Are we supposed to believe that the reduction of the abortion rate in the U.S. from its high in 1980 of 29.3 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age to its post-Roe v. Wade low of 14.6 as of 2014 has been a calamity for corporate America? On what grounds? Do these CEOs really lament that we don't have the abortion rate of Bulgaria, Cuba, or Kazakhstan? By this standard, Utah must be a terrible place to do business since its abortion rate is so low, and the District of Columbia an enticing place to do business since its abortion rate is so high. (To the contrary, Forbes ranks Utah as the second-best state for business in the country.)The implication is that these CEOs prefer that their employees and customers not become mothers, or if they are mothers, not have more children. It apparently hasn't occurred to them that unborn children will grow up to buy their products or perhaps work for their firms one day, and indeed all the employees they claim to be protecting were themselves, once, vulnerable in the womb. At the end of the day, their argument isn't really about restrictions being "bad for business." What they care about most is that such policies, as they say, go "against our values." The CEO ad is another sign that the debate over abortion has entered a new phase. It isn't enough to say that abortion should be safe, legal and rare, the old Bill Clinton formulation, because that implies a moral disapproval. Now, abortion is a positive good. A stance that used to be limited to the fringes is mainstream enough that CEOs are willing to sign up for it. Pro-life laws will have to prevail against this inflamed pro-abortion sentiment — and the swath of big business that shares it.© 2019 by King Features Syndicate
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| Biden to Hit Trump’s Tariffs in Iowa in Possible 2020 Preview Posted: 11 Jun 2019 09:35 AM PDT  Trump will visit the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy project in Council Bluffs to celebrate a promise he delivered on ethanol. The president plans to target Biden in remarks at a fundraiser later in the day, where Republicans expect to raise about $700,000, two people familiar with the matter said. Biden, too, will be going on the offense, blasting Trump on the impact his tariffs have had on farming and manufacturing, his "childishness" in attacking rivals while overseas for a D-Day commemoration and his stance on climate change.
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| Rooms 50% off and ads in Russia: Sri Lanka woos tourists after attacks Posted: 09 Jun 2019 11:18 PM PDT  Sri Lanka's battered tourism industry is trying to woo visitors back to beaches deserted after deadly Easter bombings, slashing hotel rates and pushing promotions in key markets like Russia. Tourism, which accounts for 5% of Sri Lanka's gross domestic product, tanked after Islamist bombers on April 21 attacked luxury hotels and churches, killing 250 people, including 40 foreigners. England, India and the United States were among countries that issued travel advisories for Sri Lanka, a diverse island with pristine beaches, ancient Buddhist temples, and lush hills that Lonely Planet selected as its top 2019 destination.
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| Over-the-Top Ice Cream Sandwich Recipes That Are Worth Every Calorie Posted: 10 Jun 2019 12:48 PM PDT |
| California to become first state to give free healthcare to undocumented immigrants Posted: 10 Jun 2019 09:33 AM PDT  California is set to become the first state to extend health care coverage to young, undocumented immigrants with a $98 million plan that would help some 100,000 low-income people in the state.The policy is being considered by the state's legislature, and would expand coverage for the state's Medicaid program — known as Medi-Cal — to those undocumented immigrants between the ages of 19 and 25.The deal is a bit less ambitious than a previous plan approved in the state Senate to include coverage for immigrants 65 and older. Governor Gavin Newsom has signalled support for expanding coverage for younger immigrants in California, but said the expansion for older undocumented immigrants would be too expensive."We will continue to pursue steps towards the Governor's & Legislature's shared goal of getting to universal coverage in the next few years," wrote Anthony Wright, the executive director of the advocacy group Health Access, in a statement posted on Twitter. Californian politicians are wrestling with how to extend health insurance coverage to everyone in the state, in an effort that could lead to a sweeping expansion to coverage in one of America's most populous and progressive states.The health insurance expansion would also make the state the first to subsidize insurance for middle-income families. That subsidy would make families of four in the state making as much as six times the federal poverty level eligible for $100 a month in help from the government to pay for insurance.State senator Holly Mitchell, a Democrat who led the budget negotiations, said that she and her colleagues believe that health care should be available to all Californians."California believes that health is a fundamental right," Ms Mitchell said.In order to pay for the programme, the state would begin taxing those who are uninsured. The approach is similar to a portion of Barack Obama's health care law, which was eliminated in 2017 by a tax code overhaul.The Associated Press contributed to this report
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| US carrier in Persian Gulf a clear signal to Iran Posted: 10 Jun 2019 09:10 AM PDT  United States Navy fighter jets were flying missions from an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, a signal to Iran of America's global military reach. (June 8)
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