| Putin hails US for helping prevent terror attack in Russia Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:38 AM PST  Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hailed the FBI for sharing information that helped thwart a terror attack by adherents of the Islamic State group in St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays. The FSB in December announced the detention of two Russian men who confessed to plotting the terror attacks in St. Petersburg.
|
| 2 socialites have reportedly died after their Mercedes fell off a ferry leaving the most expensive ZIP code in the United States Posted: 20 Feb 2020 07:24 AM PST  The only way to get to Miami's exclusive Fisher Island is by a seven minute ferry, and two women inexplicably fell off it and died last night.
|
| US military truck caught on camera ramming Russian jeep off the road in Syria Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:48 AM PST  A video circulating on Twitter shows US military forces in Syria running a Russian military vehicle off the road.
|
| Elizabeth Warren defends Amy Klobuchar for forgetting the name of Mexico's president Posted: 19 Feb 2020 07:17 PM PST  Last week, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) was asked by a reporter if she could name the president of Mexico, and after thinking about it, responded, "No." This came back to haunt her during Wednesday's Democratic debate, but a fellow candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), had her back.Klobuchar said that she doesn't believe "that momentary forgetfulness actually reflects what I know about Mexico and how much I care about it," and reminded the audience that she is "the one person on this stage that came out first to say I was for the U.S.-Mexico-Canadian trade agreement that is going to be one of the No. 1 duties of the president, to implement that." Forgetting Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's name was "an error," she continued. "I think having a president that is maybe humbled and able to admit that here and there maybe wouldn't be a bad thing."Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg responded that Klobuchar is "staking your presidency on your Washington experience," and not knowing a world leader's name was bad form. "Are you trying to say that I'm dumb?" Klobuchar snapped. "Or you're mocking me?" Buttigieg responded that he is "saying you shouldn't trivialize it."That's when Warren jumped in. "This is not right," she said. "I understand that she forgot a name — it happens. It happens to everybody on this stage. You want to ask about whether or not you understand trade policy with Mexico? Have at it. And if you get it wrong, you ought to be held accountable for that. ... But let's just be clear, missing a name all by itself does not indicate that you do not understand what's going on. I just think this is unfair."More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
| Suspects in abduction, murder of 7-year-old Mexican girl detained Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:52 PM PST  Mexican authorities arrested a couple believed to have kidnapped, tortured and murdered a seven year-old girl on Wednesday, days after the discovery of the victim's body sparked protests in the violence-wracked country. The suspects "were detained in a town in the State of Mexico," Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum tweeted, without giving more detail. Prosecutors on Tuesday released pictures of the two suspects -- identified as Giovana and Mario Alberto "N" -- after searching a house near the victim's home.
|
| China says will help manage Mekong as report warns of dam danger Posted: 20 Feb 2020 06:35 AM PST  VIENTIANE/BANGKOK (Reuters) - China on Thursday said it was helping its downstream neighbors cope with a prolonged drought by releasing more water from its dams on the Mekong River, adding it would consider sharing information on hydrology to provide further assistance in the future. The statement came as a new economic report predicted that the building of dams to harness hydropower on the Mekong River would reshape the economies of five countries along the waterway, fuelling long-term inflation and dependence on China. The drought over the past year has severely hurt farming and fishing in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, and many blame China's 11 dams on the upper Mekong - which China calls the Lancang River - as well as climate change.
|
| Coronavirus updates: 2 passengers die after leaving 'chaotic' cruise ship Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:31 AM PST  The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed to 2,118 in China. Here is the latest for Thursday.
|
| Mike Lee Slams Equal Rights Amendment as Part of ‘Radical Pro-Abortion Agenda’ Posted: 20 Feb 2020 06:55 AM PST  Senator Mike Lee (R., Utah) on Wednesday criticized the Equal Rights Amendment during a town hall appearance in Salt Lake City, Utah.Lee said he disagreed with the amendment and even with its name, which is euphemism designed to conceal the amendment's actual implications."By passing this amendment, we would be upending decades of legal precedent that makes these things clear, putting into their place uncertainty and putting into their place a radical pro-abortion agenda with which I passionately disagree with," Lee told the audience. Republicans contend the amendment would be used as a constitutional protection for legalized abortion at any stage.On February 13, the House passed a resolution scrapping the deadline for passage of the amendment, which expired almost 40 years ago. Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment in January.The Justice Department has opposed the amendment's adoption, emphasizing the expiry date and arguing that any states that signed on after that date are not valid signatories. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has also voiced her opposition to enacting the amendment by repealing the deadline."There's too much controversy about latecomers — Virginia [approved it] long after the deadline passed," Ginsburg said at a February 10 event at Georgetown University. However, the justice said she would like to see the amendment passed if the state ratification process could be started from the beginning.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asserted the amendment would not affect abortion rights, while pro-abortion organizations such as the National Organization for Women and NARAL Pro-Choice America have stated the amendment may give courts the support needed to roll back pro-life legislation.
|
| Sanders 'socialism' represents a battle for the soul of the Democratic Party Posted: 20 Feb 2020 07:07 AM PST  If the election comes down to debating whether Sanders better fits the definition of a socialist or communist, Trump has nothing to worry about.
|
| Pope tenderly kissed on forehead by man in front-row seat Posted: 19 Feb 2020 10:44 AM PST  Well-wishers at Pope Francis' weekly audience have thrust soccer T-shirts, flowers and many a wailing baby into his arms. On Wednesday, Francis seemed to thoroughly enjoy a surprise expression of affection: a long, tender kiss planted on his forehead by a man in one of the front-row seats reserved for ailing or disabled people at the end of his audience. Francis appeared to be smiling when the man, who stood up when the pontiff approached to greet him and others in the front row, pulled the pope's head toward him and gave a kiss lasting several seconds, pressing his nose against Francis' forehead in the process.
|
| Coronavirus: Self-quarantined family shunned as neighbour calls 911 on them Posted: 18 Feb 2020 03:15 PM PST  A California family in self-quarantine over the coronavirus after a visit to China have found themselves shunned, and even had the police called on them.Amy Deng and her eight-year-old daughter, Daisy, have no symptoms, but following a trip to visit family in Guangzhou over Chinese New Year, they are in self-quarantine monitored by local officials in Santa Rosa, The East Bay Times reports.
|
| Chuck Todd gets existential with billionaire Michael Bloomberg: 'Should you exist?' Posted: 19 Feb 2020 07:56 PM PST  Some of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's rivals don't think he should exist.Or rather, they don't think the billions of dollars he has in the bank should've ever been his. So during Wednesday night's Democratic, Meet The Press host Chuck Todd posed the very meta question to Bloomberg himself.Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) answered the "should billionaires exist" question first, affirming his previously declaration that no, they should not. Todd then asked Bloomberg "should you exist," to which Bloomberg said "I can't speak for all billionaires." But he's "been very lucky" and "worked hard" for his money, Bloomberg said and he deserves it because he's "giving it all away to make this country better. > .@chucktodd: "Mayor Bloomberg, should you exist?"@MikeBloomberg: "I can't speak for all billionaires. All I know is, I've been very lucky, made a lot of money and I'm giving it all away to make this country better." pic.twitter.com/gy18iIXVap> > -- Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 20, 2020More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
| Four things to know about Pope Pius XII's archives Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:04 AM PST  The March 2 unsealing of the archives of Pope Pius XII, the controversial World War II-era pontiff, whose papacy lasted from 1939 to 1958, has been awaited for decades by Jewish groups and historians. The controversy over Pius XII hinges on whether the head of the Catholic Church, a former diplomat of the Holy See in Germany, remained too silent during the Holocaust, never publicly condemning the Nazis. The most sensitive archives, comprising the World War II period, have already been largely published by the Vatican.
|
| Former Mexico President Pena Nieto investigated in corruption probe: report Posted: 19 Feb 2020 04:33 PM PST  Mexican law enforcement authorities are investigating a former president, Enrique Pena Nieto, as part of an inquiry into corruption, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Pena Nieto has become embroiled in the investigation of Emilio Lozoya, the former chief executive of Mexico's state oil firm Petróleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. Lozoya is accused of corruption related to a wide-ranging bribery and money-laundering case involving Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht SA. Lozoya, who was arrested in Spain last week, has denied wrongdoing.
|
| 9 Rural Farms of the 21st Century Featuring Stunning Modern Design Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:53 AM PST |
| 2 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have died from the coronavirus Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:48 PM PST  The deaths came amid initial groups of passengers disembarking from the ship this week, and hundreds being evacuated back to the US.
|
| Debate shows Bernie Sanders could win most votes but be denied nomination Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:19 AM PST  The Vermont senator was alone in saying he would back whoever won a plurality of delegates – with others open to superdelegates tipping the balance for another candidate at the conventionAmid the Mike Bloomberg pile-on and the Pete Buttigieg-Amy Klobuchar squabbling, there was a key point that slipped by almost unnoticed during Wednesday's tumultuous Democratic debate – one that could potentially prevent Bernie Sanders from becoming the nominee.Towards the end, each of the six candidates was asked if – at the Democratic national convention this summer in Milwaukee – they would support the person who has won the most delegates – even if that person hasn't achieved a majority.Five of the candidates said they would not. The Democratic socialist and Vermont senator said he would.It might seem a wonky, opaque detail, but it raises the prospect that Sanders, who has a commanding lead in the polls and has emerged as the frontrunner, could win the most pledged delegates – those allocated on the basis of votes during the marathon Democratic primaries – but be swindled, at the last, by the Democratic party elite.That's because of superdelegates.Superdelegates, who are chosen by the central Democratic party, are different from pledged delegates, who are effectively voted for during the primaries. As of 20 February, Buttigieg is in the lead in terms of pledged delegates, with 22 to Sanders' 21.But Sanders is better-placed than Buttigieg to pick up more pledged delegates in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina the following week. He is also likely to add to his total again on Super Tuesday, when 14 states vote, yielding a total of 1,357 delegates.If Sanders' popularity endures, he could amass more delegates than his rivals by the time of the July convention, when the pledged delegates effectively vote for the nominee in a first round of voting that is meant to pick the nominee.However, if Sanders does not have an absolute majority – more than 50% – during the first ballot when the pledged delegates line up behind their chosen nominee, then it is the superdelegates who will join the vote in a second round of voting.Superdelegates, who in the past have aligned with the center, "establishment" wing of the Democratic party, will be free to wade in and vote for whomever they choose in this second ballot.With Sanders a resolute outsider in Democratic terms – he sits as an independent in the Senate, and had to sign a pledge last year committing to the party – he is unlikely to be a favorite of these party grandees.If the superdelegates vote for a more centrist figure, that could mean Sanders – even if he has secured a majority of votes in the primaries – would be pipped at the post, and not be the nominee.That's why that moment in the Nevada debate was so important. Five of the candidates were effectively saying that even if they were losing at the Democratic national convention, they were open to the unelected superdelegates weighing in in their favor, potentially gifting them the nomination even though they did not win the support of the most actual voters in the whole race.It's a prospect that would leave Sanders' supporters irate – and even upset some non-supporters. Marianne Williamson, Sanders' erstwhile rival for the nomination, was among those to criticize the process on Wednesday night."The Democratic Party should be on notice: if you even think about using superdelegates to take the nomination from someone who has the plurality of delegates going into Milwaukee, we the people will not take it lying down," Williamson wrote on Twitter.The superdelegate rules were changed in 2018 after criticism from Sanders and others. Until then, superdelegates could vote for whomever they chose in the first round of the convention, and an overwhelming majority supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, although she was also ahead of Sanders in pledged delegates and rank-and-file votes.At the time, Sanders called the 2018 change "an important step forward in making the Democratic party more open, democratic and responsive to the input of ordinary Americans".With the prospect of superdelegate interference once again looming over his presidential chances, however, it is likely Sanders feels more reforms are needed.
|
| US judge sides with migrants in case against Border Patrol Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:55 PM PST  A U.S. judge in Arizona sided Wednesday with migrants who have long-complained about inhumane and unsanitary conditions in some U.S. Border Patrol facilities in the state. The ruling came weeks after the conclusion of a seven-day trial in which attorneys for migrants who sued in 2015 argued that the agency holds immigrants in extremely cold, overcrowded, unsanitary and inhumane conditions. The order makes permanent a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bury issued in 2016 requiring the Tucson Sector to provide clean mats and thin blankets to migrants held for longer than 12 hours and to allow them to clean themselves.
|
| Stone’s sentencing to begin after judge refuses new trial request Posted: 20 Feb 2020 03:39 AM PST  Roger Stone, a longtime ally of President Trump and a self-described political dirty trickster, is set to be sentenced on Thursday for his attempts to sabotage a congressional investigation that posed a political threat to the president.
|
| Bloomberg referred to trans women as 'some guy in a dress' in second resurfaced video Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:08 AM PST  In a video recorded last year, presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg refers to transgender women as "some guy in a dress." This is the second time Mr Bloomberg has been recorded making such statements in recent years.The March 2019 video also has Mr Bloomberg referring to transgender people as "he, she or it" in comments aimed at warning 2020 Democratic candidates against emphasising transgender issues, arguing that they would not play well in parts of America.
|
| Pompeo says 'mature, responsible countries' don't 'restrict speech' after China expels reporters Posted: 19 Feb 2020 10:35 AM PST  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is condemning China for its decision to expel three reporters from The Wall Street Journal from the country."Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions," Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday. "The correct response is to present counter arguments, not restrict speech."This came after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said three journalists from the Journal would have their credentials revoked over the paper's recent headline, "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia," The New York Times reports. The reporters weren't actually involved with the article, which was an opinion piece, but Beijing called the story "racist" and "malicious." The journalists, two of whom are American and one of whom is Australian, have been ordered to leave China within five days, although the Times notes it's not clear if that's possible, as one of is currently in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus.Journal editor Matt Murray called China's actions "harsh and unprecedented," saying the paper "will continue in the coming days to push for this action to be reversed." The Foreign Correspondents' Club also called the expulsion "an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations." The Journal noted this is "the first time in the post-Mao era that the Chinese government has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization at the same time."Pompeo's condemnation came after he warned African countries in a speech Wednesday to "be wary of authoritarian regimes and their empty promises" in an apparent swipe at China. The State Department also told China Tuesday that five major Chinese news outlets will be treated as foreign state operatives by the United States going forward.More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
| Faye Marie Swetlik abducted, killed by South Carolina neighbor, officials say after autopsy Posted: 18 Feb 2020 02:16 PM PST  Autopsy results were released Tuesday in the death of South Carolina girl Faye Marie Swetlik. She was killed by Coty Scott Taylor, authorities said.
|
| 26 of the Best Stainless-Steel Bathroom Faucets Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:29 PM PST |
| Oracle Employee Speaks Out Against Her Boss Raising Money for Trump Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:53 PM PST  Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, one of the largest software companies in the world, hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump's re-election on Wednesday at the tech titan's Southern California estate. The event was expected to bring in some $7 million for the incumbent president. Some of Ellison's employees were less than pleased about that, signing a protest petition and, according to Recode, planning to walk out on Thursday to demand Ellison and Oracle donate an equivalent amount to humanitarian causes and denounce what they see as the Trump administration's failings.Kristine Lessard, an Oracle sales account manager based in Massachusetts, signed the first petition with a personal appeal. "As an Oracle employee and mom of a transgender young adult," she wrote, "I have appreciated the health benefits and HR Diversity and Inclusion support I've received for 8 years working here. I object to [Ellison] enabling this President who has specifically targeted Transgender youth to take away their rights by rescinding Executive Orders covering them."Lessard's son is a trans man in his 20s, she explained to the Daily Beast in an interview around the time the fundraiser took place Wednesday. She believes the Trump administration has mounted a broad onslaught against LGBTQ civil rights (she cited a Washington Post editorial titled "Trump has a Devastating Record on LGBT rights." in a message), and that even if she might not have a history in tech activism—and even if her company is not known for its restive workforce—she had to speak out.The Silicon Valley Giant Bankrolling Devin Nunes"Oracle funds some advocacy and fundraisers on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community," Lessard said, adding that she herself has participated in LGBTQ affinity groups at Oracle as an ally. "But in one fell swoop, this fundraiser could raise multiple millions that would work against those goals and hard earned gains," she said.Oracle declined to comment to the Daily Beast, but Recode noted that employees who complained to the company had received a statement saying they could participate in politics on a personal level even as the company itself was not endorsing a candidate. "I'm disoriented. [Ellison] supporting the potential enabling of the president to get reelected doesn't match up with our corporate values of social responsibility, especially two of the top ones: equality and environmental protection," Lessard said. Lessard was surprised and disappointed Ellison spoke in favor of Trump now, given that he didn't appear to support the president in the 2016 election. The co-founder is a registered Democrat, but donated $250,000 to Marco Rubio's campaign in 2016, according to federal election records. He and other executives also have a history of backing Republican Rep. Devin Nunes. Lessard has discussed her opposition to Ellison's decision with coworkers, she said, but she did not indicate whether she intended to walk out of work Thursday. "I'm expressing my opinion as an employee about what the company represents," she said. The discussion within Oracle is not monolithic, she added—some employees feel they can only throw up their hands at Ellison's behavior, some feel compelled to speak out, and some have said little. Others may support the president.> Do you work at Oracle or another tech company? Do you agree or disagree with Larry Ellison's decision to host a fundraiser for President Trump? Contact this reporter securely at blake.montgomery@protonmail.com.Lessard said she would be watching the Democratic candidates debate onstage in Nevada in the hours after the fundraiser Wednesday, though she said she doesn't have a favorite candidate. Federal election records show no donations under her name. Oracle's workforce has not engaged in much public activism. By contrast, Google employees seem to have been in a state of constant revolt for the past three years, advocating for the search giant to drop a contract with the Pentagon, and questioning the ouster of union organizers and an employee protesting the company's work with immigration officials, among other disputes. Google has told its employees to stop talking about politics at work.The size and scope of a potential walkout remained to be seen late Wednesday. But if Lessard was any indication, some employees were increasingly willing to spar with a boss some feel has gone rogue."When you have this amount of people signing a petition, it really means it did strike a nerve," she said.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.
|
| Burisma Consultant with Links to Hunter Biden Tried to Meet with State Dept. Official about ‘Troubling Events’ in Ukraine Posted: 19 Feb 2020 06:24 AM PST  A consultant for Burisma with links to Hunter Biden approached a top State Department official in June 2016 to discuss "troubling events" in Ukraine, according to newly released State Department emails.Consultant Sally Painter of Blue Star Strategies was at the time working with Burisma, the Ukrainian natural gas company, to quash corruption investigations into the firm. Painter approached then-deputy secretary of state Tony Blinken at an event for the Truman National Security Project, and sent an email to Blinken's top aide three days later requesting a second meeting with the deputy secretary."Per my conversation with Tony at the Truman event, [Painter's Blue Star partner] Karen Tramontano and I would like to have a brief coffee with Tony at his earliest convenience regarding some troubling events we are seeing n [sic] Ukraine," Painter wrote in a June 27, 2016 email first reported by the Daily Caller.The email shows an instance of Burisma's efforts to contact State Department officials at the same time it was being investigated for corruption. However, the email does not specify whether Painter discussed Burisma with Blinken. Other emails show that Tramontano had been in contact with the state department specifically regarding Burisma.Painter and Hunter Biden both served on the board of the Truman Project, a D.C.-based liberal think tank (Biden left the Project in 2019). The New York Times has reported that Biden connected Burisma with Painter's firm, Blue Star.Hunter Biden served on Burisma's board from 2014 to 2019, overlapping with Joe Biden's tenure as vice president. President Trump and allies have repeatedly accused Hunter Biden of a conflict of interest and corruption over his business dealings in Ukraine.On Tuesday, the Daily Caller reported that Hunter Biden was director of the Center for U.S. Global Leadership, a trade group, from 2012 to 2018. The group lobbied for increased aid to Ukraine at the same time Joe Biden was pressing the Obama administration to increase Ukraine funding.
|
| 'We don't have a history of murdering our citizens': A Saudi official says reports that the Saudi Crown Prince is connected to the death of Jamal Khashoggi are 'ridiculous' Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:04 PM PST  Saudi Arabia has made "great progress in terms of human rights," Adel al-Jubeir said, urging outsiders to educate themselves better on its state of affairs.
|
| Family of man killed by trooper seeking more than $10M Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:38 AM PST  Relatives of a Connecticut man killed by a state trooper are seeking more than $10 million in wrongful death damages from state and local police, according to legal notices filed Thursday. Lawyers for the family of Mubarak Soulemane, 19, asked the state claims commissioner for permission to sue the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and top state police officials including Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella for $10 million.
|
| Why Aren't Countries Buying This Powerful Chinese Drone? Posted: 19 Feb 2020 10:30 PM PST  China isn't known for its quality technology.
|
| Bloomberg campaign suggests other candidates drop out so Bloomberg can stop Sanders Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:27 AM PST  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) could soon build an "insurmountable" delegate lead, Michael Bloomberg's campaign warned in a memo, per Axios. And they think other, more centrist candidates should get out of the billionaire's way so he can stop him."The fact is if the state of this race remains status quo – with [former Vice President Joe] Biden, [former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor] Pete [Buttigieg], and [Sen.] Amy [Klobuchar (D-Minn.)] in the race on Super Tuesday — Bernie is likely to open up a delegate lead that seems nearly impossible to overcome," said Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg's top strategist. "I don't think many people understand the dire consequences here."In the memo, Sheekey and his colleague Howard Wolfson, wrote the three candidates mentioned above have "no path" to accruing delegates and would essentially block Bloomberg from ably challenging Sanders.Former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe backed up Sheekey's claim that Sanders could be close to locking things up, saying he'll "never relinquish" his lead if projections hold true and he's still on top after Super Tuesday in March. Read more at Axios.More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
| Coronavirus: CDC issues new travel notices for Hong Kong, Japan Posted: 20 Feb 2020 07:53 AM PST  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new advisories on Wednesday for travelers going to Hong Kong and Japan due to coronavirus.
|
| Apple might finally let iPhone and iPad users change their default internet and email apps, according to a new report Posted: 20 Feb 2020 06:37 AM PST  Apple is reportedly considering a massive change to the iPhone and iPad: Allowing users to choose their own default email and web browser apps.
|
| Disgraced governor Rod Blagojevich leaves jail after wife's campaign of Trump flattery Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:46 AM PST  Following several appearances on Fox News appealing directly to Donald Trump, the wife of a convicted former governor of Illinois appeared to have helped secure her disgraced husband's release, after he spent eight years in prison for offering up an open senate seat in his state in exchange for campaign contributions.Patti Blagojevich, whose husband Rod Blagojevich was among an unusual list of presidential pardon recipients on Tuesday, has commanded the political family's spotlight after her husband's conviction. On television, Ms Blagojevich frequently appeared on Fox to praise the president and urge for her husband's release, wrote op-eds in the conservative press, and shared flattering messages about the president on social media.
|
| DOJ Denies Coordination between Barr and Giuliani in Letter Detailing Ukraine ‘Intake Process’ Posted: 18 Feb 2020 01:17 PM PST  The Justice Department informed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) in a Tuesday letter that deputy attorney general Jeffrey Rosen had tasked the top prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Pennsylvania to oversee the process of reviewing "unsolicited" information from Ukraine."The Deputy Attorney General implemented this policy to avoid duplication of efforts across Offices and components, to facilitate information sharing, to ensure there are no conflicts among potentially overlapping matters, and to efficiently marshal the resources of the Department," Rosen wrote.He detailed that Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney Richard Donoghue would "assist in coordinating such matters," while U.S. attorney Scott Brady in Pittsburgh would "assist in the receipt, processing, and preliminary analysis of new information provided by the public that may be relevant to matter relating to Ukraine."Rosen's letter also emphasized that attorney general William Barr "has not discussed matters relating to Ukraine with Rudolph Giuliani," and that the DOJ "remains vigilant against the significant threat of disinformation.""As always, the Department will reject information it finds to be non-credible while continuing to discharge its duty to pursue all meritorious leads and investigations," the letter reads, while not elaborating what information is being explored.Attorney general William Barr confirmed on February 10 that the Justice Department has "established an intake process" to handle Ukrainian information, days after Giuliani claimed that he was aware of three Ukrainian witnesses ready to "name names" in a "smoking gun" that will "totally vindicate" Trump, and after Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson obtained financial records from the Treasury Department as part of a probe into Hunter Biden's activities in Ukraine."The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant," Barr said during a presser at the Justice Department, but did not explain further. Nadler, who said earlier this month that House Democrats would "likely" continue exploring Trump's actions with regard to Ukraine by subpoenaing former national security adviser John Bolton, then sent a letter to Barr asking for more information.
|
| Fearing infection, residents protest coronavirus evacuees landing in Ukraine Posted: 20 Feb 2020 12:50 AM PST  Residents in central Ukraine protested the arrival of a plane carrying evacuees from China's Hubei province on Thursday, fearing they could be infected with the coronavirus despite authorities insisting there was no danger. The protest prompted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to issue a statement reassuring Ukrainians that there was no danger, that the authorities had done everything possible to make sure the virus would not spread to Ukraine. In addition to 45 Ukrainians, there were 27 citizens of Argentina on the plane that landed in Ukraine on Thursday, as well as citizens from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Costa Rica and other countries.
|
| Sandusky prosecutor and former Penn State lawyer disciplined Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:56 AM PST  A lawyer who led the child molestation investigation and prosecution of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky lost his law license for a year Wednesday over his handling of a grand jury witness in the case, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled. The justices issued a 5-1 decision to suspend Frank Fina's license for a year and a day, agreeing with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel that Fina's actions were improper in obtaining grand jury testimony about three top university officials by then-Penn State General Counsel Cynthia Baldwin. Baldwin, who also was accused of violating professional rules for lawyers in her representation of the officials, was given a public reprimand by the high court Wednesday.
|
| Some Americans are attempting the journey back home to Wuhan Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:05 AM PST  "I was married in Wuhan. I had a son in Wuhan. Wuhan is my home, and I will forever be tied to this city, so I need to be there," Christopher Suzanne said.
|
| George Zimmerman is suing Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg over Trayvon Martin birthday tweets Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:24 AM PST  George Zimmerman, who in 2013 was acquitted after being charged with murder for his fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, has filed a lawsuit against two Democratic presidential candidates seeking $265 million in damages. The complaint, reported Wednesday, accuses Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg of defamation.At issue are tweets each candidate posted on what would have been Martin's 25th birthday in early February:> My heart goes out to @SybrinaFulton and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today.> > We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children—especially young Black boys—can grow up safe and free. https://t.co/9lXXlRnvzL> > — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 6, 2020> Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today.> > How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?BlackLivesMatter> > — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 5, 2020The posts were made "for political gain in misguided and malicious attempts to bolster their standings amongst African-American voters, all at Zimmerman's expense," the lawsuit filing claims, arguing the timing was merely "a pretext to demagogue and falsely brand Zimmerman as a white supremacist and racist to their millions of Twitter followers."Zimmerman is already suing Martin's family, including his mother, whom Warren tagged in her tweet. That lawsuit seeks $100 million in damages and alleges falsified testimony.More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
| Two former passengers from Japan cruise ship die Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:09 PM PST  Two elderly former passengers from the coronavirus-wracked Diamond Princess died Thursday, Japanese authorities said, as fears mount for those who have left the ship after testing negative for the virus. The man and woman, both Japanese and in their 80s, were taken off the cruise ship last week and died in hospital, the first fatalalities among the more than 600 passengers and crew who have tested positive for the virus. The man had a pre-existing condition of bronchial asthma and a history of angina treatment, the health ministry said in a statement, but the woman had no known pre-existing conditions.
|
| After job is eliminated, police chief strips down to underwear and walks home in snowstorm Posted: 20 Feb 2020 08:59 AM PST  Richard Lee was the police chief of Croydon, New Hampshire for 20 years. The town's selectboard eliminated his one-man department Tuesday night.
|
| Why ABC News Icon Sam Donaldson Is Backing Bloomberg to Beat ‘Sick’ Trump Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:11 PM PST  "I'm not just lolling around here!" Sam Donaldson told The Daily Beast this week in that booming broadcaster's voice with which he delighted in irritating at least four American presidents—from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton—when he was a network White House correspondent.The retired ABC News anchor, who turns 86 in March, was at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, studying his talking points as he prepared to go on the road for Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg and tell campaign audiences in Denver this Sunday and St. Louis on Monday why the Wall Street mega-billionaire, who was elected mayor of New York City as a Republican two decades ago, is the Democratic Party's last best hope to vanquish Donald Trump—in Donaldson's opinion a "dangerous" and "sick" man whose mental faculties are rapidly eroding."Is this just something to do? Or I can't stand that there's no limelight? No. I want to get in because every election I've covered as a working reporter, people said that 'this is the most important election of my lifetime.' And I never thought that was true," said Donaldson, who—before he shed his cloak of journalistic neutrality to send money to Hillary Clinton in 2016—covered every presidential race since he rode on Barry Goldwater's campaign press bus in 1964."I didn't think the country was going down the drain," he continued. "I think that now. This is the most important election in this country to maintain not only our values, but also our competitive place in the world." Addressing Trump's anti-immigrant, high-tariff, multilateral-treaty-loathing "America First" policies, Donaldson added, "If we think we can keep the rest of the world at bay, it's suicide for our grandchildren. It's nuts."Donaldson has known Trump since 1990, when he grilled the flashy real-estate mogul about his highly leveraged casinos and eponymous airline, and other failing businesses, and Trump pronounced him "rude," "ignorant," and "out to get him.""In those days he could present just fine without wandering off into some delirium," Donaldson recalled. "He had his dialectic down. And he looked pretty good, too, compared to what you see today. I gave him my treatment, and he was blowing smoke, lying, all of that stuff… a bunch of bullshit."These days, however, "I think he's very dangerous," Donaldson said. "I think, frankly, he's sick. I'm not a medical man, but I believe that from the time I interviewed him way back then to over the years, something has happened to his mind… He's a sick, ignorant man—corrupt and mean. I find very few redeeming qualities."And Bloomberg?"He's not a blushing violet," Donaldson said, noting that he first got to know his favorite presidential candidate two decades ago when he sat next to Bloomberg at Washington's white-tie-and-tails Gridiron Dinner. "He's not a guy who says, 'Well, I have some qualities, but I'm a pretty humble guy.' Wrong! Some people say—I'm not saying it—that Bloomberg shows his touch of arrogance, or something like that. But if you're up against Donald J. Trump, by God you better be confident in yourself. When he dishes it out to you, you better just give it back."Still, Donaldson stressed that "even if I thought he'd be a tough guy who could take on Trump," he wouldn't be supporting the diminutive billionaire "if I didn't think he'd be a reasonably good president."Predictably, Donaldson's metamorphosis from journalist to political activist has provoked its share of second-guessing. His former ABC News colleague Brit Hume (who left ABC in 1996 to work for Roger Ailes' Fox News) tweeted "Never thought I'd see this," over a Bloomberg campaign commercial featuring Donaldson talking straight to camera.The Poynter Report's senior media writer Tom Jones, meanwhile, lamented that Donaldson "might have been crossing a line," adding that "it's misguided to think someone who worked in journalism for more than 50 years—someone whose name is associated with tough but fair reporting—can now express a political opinion and not have it do serious damage to the credibility of those currently working in the media. Much of the public already believes the media is biased and Donaldson's endorsement of Mike Bloomberg for president feeds into that belief. It especially lends credence to those who believe much of the media is out to get President Donald Trump."Donaldson responded: "I figured I would [get criticized]. I'm disappointed that some of my people I know the best over the years have taken issue with it. But they have a right to do that."After he departed Washington, D.C., and settled in his home state of New Mexico, where for years he has owned and operated a sheep ranch, "I felt free now to express myself in political ways," Donaldson said, noting that he donated to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca's unsuccessful 2018 primary race. "I'm no longer working in the business. I'm a private citizen, and I have that right as a citizen who is not holding forth in the news business to an audience or readers as someone who is just reporting the news as it occurs and the facts as I see them."Donaldson, a longtime registered independent who claims to have voted pretty much equally for presidential candidates of both major parties since he cast his first ballot as an active-duty Army artillery officer in 1956, lost his political-activism virginity at least four years ago, when he started writing checks to the Hillary Clinton campaign, the Democratic Party, and a variety of other Democratic candidates and incumbents in House and Senate races.Among the beneficiaries of Donaldson's largesse (totaling around $30,000, according to Federal Election Commission records) are former 2016 Republican presidential candidate John Kasich, former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro, New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and—to the tune of $2,000—current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden."I've known Biden a long time, a lifetime, and everyone says the same thing. I like him. He's a decent human being and all that, but he doesn't have the fire in the belly. Remember he tried twice before, and he finally said this time, 'Well, all right, I'm gonna run,' as if to save us. 'It's my duty to run and beat Trump.' Well, don't do us any favors, Joe! If you don't have a passion to be president, as in 'This is what I'm going to do for the country'—never mind."By late January, Donaldson had forsaken Biden and decided to support Bloomberg in the nomination race. At the time, he was a featured speaker at a writers' conference in San Miguel de Allende—a Mexican cultural mecca favored by expats from the north of the border—and he and his fourth wife, Sandy, happened to be sitting across a dinner table from Toby Usnik, a public relations executive who, it turned out, was an unpaid volunteer in the Bloomberg campaign.As Donaldson tells it, when he shared his desire to volunteer for Bloomberg, Usnik (who, through a campaign spokesperson, declined an interview request) offered to hook Donaldson up with the campaign hierarchy and soon he and Sandy were in Manhattan visiting with campaign manager Kevin Sheeky and others at Bloomberg for President headquarters.In his business life, of course, Bloomberg's main source of wealth is the leasing of computer terminals that provide valuable and microscopically detailed financial information to Wall Street firms and other businesses. Yet he also owns one of the largest journalistic organizations on the planet—Bloomberg News—with a staff of around 2,700 who now find themselves in the painfully awkward position of being limited, by company policy, on how deep their reporting can be concerning a major presidential candidate who happens to be their boss."I think maybe if I were working for Bloomberg—and he's a candidate and there are other candidates, and our job is to assess the field—I would feel not just left out, but I'd question the policy," Donaldson said."On the other hand, I think it would be very difficult, if I were Mike Bloomberg, to say 'Have at me, boys! Get in there! Be the first to publish about the women! Get in there! Don't let me get away with stop-and-frisk and all that!' You're asking Bloomberg to be a saint from the standpoint of not lifting a finger" to restrain his employees' campaign reporting.As a result, the Trump campaign typically excludes Bloomberg News reporters from its rallies, press conferences and other events, and the campaigns of Bloomberg's Democratic rivals are sympathetic if wary.Still, Donaldson added, "I would trust that they [Bloomberg News journalists] know the ethics of the business, that they not only would not pull their punches, but they would not seek favor with the boss. But it would be very difficult to work for this guy, who's got a shot at being president of the United States, and cover him as you would any other candidate. I'm not sure how you do that."Donaldson predicted that in contrast to the president, "I think we'll see Bloomberg's tax returns, and I think he would do it right, at least far as other presidents have done it, as far as divestiture is concerned. I don't think we would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire from Donald J. Trump to Michael Bloomberg."Indeed, Bloomberg committed this week to releasing his tax returns, and, should he be elected, placing his privately held company, of which he's the majority shareholder, into a blind trust before ultimately selling it.Donaldson, meanwhile, said he's expecting no billionaire-style perks as he heads onto the campaign trail."They're paying for a coach seat for me on the airplanes and a hotel room. It's a basic one, I'm sure," he said, sounding very much like the dream surrogate. "You can think of some other costs that might come up—if I have to rent a car or something. But I'm paying all the incidentals myself." 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.
|
| The Air Force just started testing its new Grey Wolf helicopter, the replacement for the Huey Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:22 PM PST  The Air Force got its first in-flight look at the capabilities of the new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter.
|
| 8 Statement-Making Cabinets to Make Any Room Posted: 20 Feb 2020 05:00 AM PST |
| Tennessee governor won't intervene in execution Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:10 PM PST  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Wednesday that he will not grant clemency to a death row inmate whose group of supporters includes family members of his victims and prison workers.
|
| Looted 18th century crown returned to Ethiopia after decades Posted: 20 Feb 2020 03:29 AM PST  A rare and looted crown from the 18th century was returned to Ethiopia on Thursday after it was discovered in the Netherlands two decades ago. The Dutch government facilitated the handover "with the belief that it has a duty to restitute this important artifact back to Ethiopia," the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, sharing photos of a smiling Abiy holding the ceremonial crown. "This is a historic day for us," Hirut Kassaw, Ethiopia's minister for culture and tourism, told The Associated Press.
|
| The Vietcong Proved That America's Enemies Don't Need Missiles To 'Sink' An Aircraft Carrier Posted: 20 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST  Naval vessels often have a mystique about them, but they are vulnerable to attack.
|
| Taliban's deputy leader writes New York Times op-ed detailing 'what we want' Posted: 20 Feb 2020 07:51 AM PST  A leader of one of the most notorious terrorist groups in the world just got a megaphone from The New York Times.On Thursday, the Times published an op-ed from Taliban deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani ominously titled "What we, the Taliban, want." It comes as the Taliban continues to work out a peace deal with the U.S., and in it, Haqqani insists "everyone is tired of war" on their side too.Haqqani paints a thoroughly positive picture of his terrorist organization, and apparently the Times just decided to roll with it. "We did not choose our war with the foreign coalition led by the United States. We were forced to defend ourselves." Haqqani writes. But because "the long war has exacted a terrible cost from everyone," the Taliban decided to try negotiating with the U.S. even though "our confidence that the talks would yield results was close to zero," Haqqani continues. Even when President Trump called off those talks after a Taliban attack, the group kept the door open -- a testament to "our commitment to ending the hostilities and bringing peace to our country," Haqanni rosily describes.As The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe noted in a tweet, "The fact that this New York Times op-ed by Sirajuddin Haqqani exists at all is remarkable." Mujib Mashal, an Afghanistan correspondent for the Times, had a more pointed critique. > The piece by Siraj Haqqani in @nytopinion \- which's independent of our news operations & judgment - omits the most fundamental fact: that Siraj is no Taliban peace-maker as he paints himself, that he's behind some of most ruthless attacks of this war with many civilian lives lost> > -- Mujib Mashal (@MujMash) February 20, 2020More stories from theweek.com The growing crisis in cosmology Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved
|
No comments:
Post a Comment