| Top Asian News 4:51 a.m. GMT Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:52 PM PST ![Top Asian News 4:51 a.m. GMT]( "Top Asian News 4:51 a.m. GMT") MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Two bombs exploded outside a Roman Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are active, killing at least 19 people and wounding nearly 50 during a Sunday Mass, officials said. The first bomb went off in or near the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital, followed by a second blast outside the compound as government forces were responding to the attack, security officials said. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said that at least 19 people died and 48 were wounded. Police and military reports said the casualties included both troops and civilians. Photos on social media showed debris and bodies lying on a busy street outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which has been hit by bombs in the past.
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| Louisiana shootings: Gunman on the run after five killed Posted: 26 Jan 2019 01:29 PM PST  Five people have been killed in shootings in two areas of Louisiana. Police said they have identified a suspect who is still at large and said to be "armed and dangerous". Dakota Theriot, 21, is accused of killing his parents and three other people on Saturday in Ascension and Livingston parishes, about 70 miles west of New Orleans.
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| Second Vale dam burst in Brazil likely to curb mining risk appetite Posted: 26 Jan 2019 10:00 AM PST  Brazilian rescue workers on Saturday were searching for roughly 300 people missing after a tailings dam burst at a Vale iron ore mine in the town of Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state. Brazil is still reeling from the 2015 collapse of a larger dam, owned by the Samarco Mineracao SA joint venture between Vale and BHP , that killed 19 people in the South American nation's worst environmental disaster. Lawyers representing victims of the Samarco dam collapse say the financial implications of the new tragedy are open-ended and potentially crippling for Vale.
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| Kamala Harris kicks off campaign with Oakland rally, defends her record as a prosecutor Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:43 AM PST  The Democratic senator from California capped the first week of her 2020 presidential campaign with a launch rally in the city where she grew up.
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| Anti-Semitic killings in 2018 'highest' in decades: Israel Posted: 27 Jan 2019 05:55 AM PST  The number of Jews murdered in anti-Semitic attacks around the world in 2018 reached its "highest" level in decades after a mass shooting at a US synagogue, an Israeli government report said Sunday. A total of 13 Jews were killed in three separate attacks over the year, according to the 2018 Global anti-Semitism Report released on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A gunman shot dead 11 people at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh in October in America's deadliest ever anti-Semitic attack.
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| 'Minimize talking' outside: Polar vortex bears down on North as Deep South braces for snow Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:29 AM PST  Snowstorms lash the Midwest and South as record-smashing cold from polar vortex drives a deep freeze across the US.
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| Trump attacks Fox News reporters and mistakenly names random teenage girl on Twitter Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:45 AM PST  Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on two Fox News reporters over their coverage of his border wall negotiations, and accidentally involved a random teenage girl in the ensuing furore. In a tweet, the US president criticised chief White House correspondent John Roberts and and another person he wrongly believed was Washington-based journalist Gillian Turner over their "understanding" of the issue. "Never thought I'd say this but I think @johnrobertsFox and @JillianTurner @FoxNews have even less understanding of the Wall negotiations than the folks at FAKE NEWS CNN & NBC!" Mr Trump tweeted.
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| Multiple boats escape from Hudson River, crash into Amtrak bridge Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:27 AM PST  Eight large barges, including a cruise boat, broke loose and floated down the Hudson River towards Albany.
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| How to Read Your ACT Score Report Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:00 AM PST ![How to Read Your ACT Score Report]( "How to Read Your ACT Score Report") Both the ACT and the SAT are accepted by college admissions committees, and both are extremely popular among college applicants. To accurately interpret test results and make well-reasoned decisions thereafter -- as well as set appropriate target scores at the onset of their test prep -- ACT test-takers must know how to read and understand their ACT score report ( see sample here). Your composite score is another word for your total score, and it is calculated by averaging and rounding your four section scores.
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| Fatal Game of 'Russian Roulette' Leaves 1 St. Louis Officer Dead, Another Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter Posted: 26 Jan 2019 10:03 AM PST  The officer died from a gunshot wound to her chest
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| May to seek binding changes to Irish backstop: Boris Johsnon in The Telegraph Posted: 27 Jan 2019 02:34 PM PST  British Prime Minister Theresa May will seek legally binding changes to the Irish backstop from the European Union in an attempt to break the deadlock over Brexit, lawmaker Boris Johnson wrote in The Telegraph on Sunday, citing senior government sources. The PM is looking to change the text of the agreement to insert either a sunset clause or a mechanism for the UK to escape without reference to the EU, Boris Johnson said in The Telegraph. The contentious backstop arrangement is designed to prevent a hard border between Ireland and the UK province of Northern Ireland by requiring Britain to keep some EU rules if it was unable to agree a trade deal with the bloc.
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| Vale's Dam Breach in Brazil Leaves Dozens Dead; Stock Plunges Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:32 AM PST  Mayor Avimar de Melo of the city of Brumadinho, which was partly leveled by the spill, is seeking millions in damages and blamed Vale's "incompetence" for the incident. Brazil's Prosecutor General Raquel Dodge said company executives may be held responsible. "Given that this is the second dam burst linked to Vale, we would expect more stringent remediation requirements and tougher penalties," Macquarie Capital Ltd. analysts including Grant Sporre wrote on Monday.
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| Saudi Arabia hopes to lure over $425 bln in investments Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:14 AM PST  Saudi Arabia on Monday launched an ambitious programme which it hopes will attract $427 billion in investments in the industrial and logistics sectors, as the OPEC kingpin bids to reduce dependence on oil. To kickstart the 12-year programme, the Gulf state announced the signing of 37 agreements worth $55 billion with foreign and local investors at a ceremony attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The programme is part of the kingdom's 2030 Vision, the brainchild of Prince Mohammed, that aims to diversify its economy which has been heavily dependent on oil prices.
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| Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:30 AM PST ![Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts]( "Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts") Newark change comes amid broader cuts, mostly intra-Europe routes dropped at Norwegian's operation in Rome. No other U.S.-Europe routes are being cut.
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| Nato members increase defence spending by $100 billion after Donald Trump called them 'delinquents' Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:53 AM PST  Nato states will increase their defence spending by 100 billion dollars in response to Donald Trump's demands that European allies shoulder a greater financial burden, the alliance's secretary general has said. Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the alliance had heard Mr Trump's call for non-US members to shoulder a greater financial burden "loud and clear" and that allies are "stepping up." In conciliatory comments apparently designed to smooth over repeated public criticism of other alliance members by the US leader, Mr Stoltenberg said member states had agreed to add $100 billion to defence budgets over the next two years. Mr Trump has repeatedly complained that other members of Nato do not meet their spending commitments, including a blistering tirade at the NATO summit in Brussels in July in which called other member governments "delinquent." Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, just stated that because of me NATO has been able to raise far more money than ever before from its members after many years of decline. It's called burden sharing. Also, more united. Dems & Fake News like to portray the opposite!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2019 He sent shockwaves through NATO last year when he questioned the alliance's value to the US. Last week the New York Times reported that he had multiple discussions with his top security advisers in 2018 about withdrawing. Speaking on Fox News, a channel favoured by the president, Mr Stoltenberg praised Mr Trump's tough line. "President Trump has been very clear. He is committed to NATO… but at the same time he has clearly stated that NATO allies need to invest more," said the former Norwegian prime minister. "So we see some real money and real results, and we see that a clear message from President Trump is having an impact. NATO allies have heard the president loud and clear. NATO allies are stepping up." "What he's doing is to help us adapt the alliance, which we need," he added. "This is a clear message to Russia and I think they see that." Member nations agreed in 2014 to spend two percent of their gross domestic products on defence by 2024. But only four of the alliance's 29 countries have already met that target with just 15 expected to reach it by the deadline. Later on Sunday Mr Trump welcomed the praise, taking credit for the pledge of additional funding. He tweeted: "Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, just stated that because of me NATO has been able to raise far more money than ever before from its members after many years of decline. It's called burden sharing. Also, more united. Dems & Fake News like to portray the opposite!" Mr Trump's public doubts about the utility of the Nato alliance have alarmed European allies concerned about a repeat of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and invasion of east Ukraine.
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| The 2019 Mazda 3 in Photos Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:45 PM PST |
| We can expect a coal-free Germany by 2038 Posted: 27 Jan 2019 12:44 PM PST  It took hours, but Germany finally agreed on a plan to close its coal power plants and rely heavily on renewable energy sources. The country will shut down 84 coal-based power plants -- that's all of them -- by 2038 a government group decided on Saturday. The commission convened in Berlin to map out how to move away from coal. Fossil fuels still account for about 40 percent of Germany's power, according to The Guardian, despite recent gains in renewable energy sources. The country also plans to move away from nuclear energy by 2022. Once it gets there, renewable energy will be the main source of power. The 2038 goal will cost $45 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times. The decision comes ahead of an energy report from the German coal commission to be released on Feb. 1. Around the world Saturday, climate change activists held die-ins and other protests to spur government action like Germany's plan. > .@XRebelDC, @XR_NYC, @XRebellionLA & many other #ConscientiousProtectors across the US are rising up today to demand that government acts on the climate & ecological crisis:https://t.co/dVLcl1jfsI #ExtinctionRebellion @ExtinctionRebel#RebellionDay > > ✊✊✊✊ > > ️ > pic.twitter.com/J9US30UNOj > > -- Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) January 26, 2019 A look at U.S. coal consumption shows we have a ways to go. In 2018 the U.S. consumed 691 million tons, down from a 2007 peak, but it's still a heavy user. China is also consuming tons of coal numbering in the billions: 3.82 billion metric tons in 2017. SEE ALSO: Guess what? U.S. carbon emissions popped back up in a big way The UK is racing ahead with renewable sources now that coal provides only 5 percent of energy. ## WATCH: This waste-to-energy plant doubles as a ski slope
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| Hezbollah could 'for years' enter Israel, group's leader says after tunnels found Posted: 26 Jan 2019 01:52 PM PST  Israel's unveiling of what it called Hezbollah "attack tunnels" last month, and Lebanon's accusation that an Israeli border barrier crosses into its territory, have increased tensions. Speaking in an interview with al-Mayadeen TV, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah did not want to draw Lebanon into a war with Israel. Both Israel and Hezbollah have already indicated that any new war between them would be greater in scope than the last one, fought in 2006 in Lebanese territory.
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| The shutdown today: Workers to get paid 'in the coming days' Posted: 26 Jan 2019 02:11 PM PST  What's up now that the partial government shutdown ended after 35 days:
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| What Venezuela's Interim President Must Do Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:25 AM PST  There is a chance to restore democracy.
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| World men's champion Chen grabs lead at US skating finals Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:28 PM PST  Reigning world champion Nathan Chen landed an impressive quadruple and triple toe loop combination to seize the men's lead after Saturday's short program at the US Figure Skating Championship. The 19-year-old from Salt Lake City, seeking his third consecutive US men's crown, scored 113.42 points to take command over second-place Jason Brown, the 2015 champion, on 100.52 and third-place Vincent Zhou on 100.25. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won their second consecutive US ice dance crown while Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc captured the US pairs title in other events contested at Detroit, Michigan.
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| Suspect sought in 5 killings, including his parents, near Baton Rouge in an apparent domestic dispute Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:00 PM PST  Authorities said the killings in two areas around Baton Rouge appeared to involve a domestic dispute.
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| Trump lifts sanctions on Russia oligarch Oleg Deripaska in 'huge gift to Putin' Posted: 28 Jan 2019 12:45 AM PST  The Trump administration has lifted sanctions against companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, defying efforts led by congressional Democrats to block the move. Earlier this month, 11 Republicans in the Senate joined Democrats in a bid to keep restrictions on aluminium producer Rusal, its parent En+ Group and JSC EuroSibEnergo, a private energy company. On Sunday, the Treasury Department ended the sanctions against Mr Deripaska's business empire, having announced its intention to do so last month.
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| Toyota Is Replacing the Old Yaris with a Rebadged Mazda 2 Hatchback Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:06 AM PST  Like the current Yaris sedan, it's looking like the 2020 Yaris hatch will also be built by Mazda.
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| Heavy snow hitting parts of Midwest; dangerous cold coming Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:43 AM PST  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Heavy snow and powerful wind created blizzard-like conditions Monday across parts of the Midwest, prompting officials to cancel roughly 1,000 flights in Chicago and close hundreds of schools in several states. But forecasters warn the most dangerous weather is yet to come: frigidly low temperatures that the region hasn't seen in a quarter century.
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| Secret Trump supporter no more: Why this model has decided to be open about her support for the president Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:57 AM PST  Elizabeth Pipko explains why she decided to be open about her support for Trump in the liberal fashion industry.
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| Israeli settlers kill Palestinian in the West Bank Posted: 26 Jan 2019 10:20 AM PST ![Israeli settlers kill Palestinian in the West Bank]( "Israeli settlers kill Palestinian in the West Bank") Israeli settlers shot and killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Palestinian officials and the Israeli military said. The incident followed a confrontation between settlers and Palestinians near the city of Ramallah in which a settler was lightly injured, the military said. "Initial details suggest that shortly thereafter, a conflict erupted between Israeli civilians and Palestinians in the area, in which live rounds were fired by the civilians.
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| Don't tell cancer patients they are 'brave', says Macmillan following poll Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:01 PM PST  Loved-ones should not tell cancer sufferers they are brave because this risks putting them under pressure to appear positive, Macmillan Cancer Support has said. Six out of 10 people with cancer do not want to be described as a fighter, while many object to the suggestion they are battling the disease, a survey suggests, a new survey by the charity has found. The poll found many felt that battling or fighting words were inappropriate to describe them - but equally they do not want to be called a hero. Many prefer factual language to be used to describe themselves and the disease, rather than being considered cancer stricken or a cancer victim, the results suggest. The survey of more than 2,000 people who have or have had cancer found that words such as hero, cancer victim and cancer stricken were inappropriate as they were disempowering (42 per cent), isolating (24 per cent) and put people under pressure to be positive (30 per cent). People with cancer most hated being described as cancer stricken, followed by being a hero and then a cancer victim. When it comes to death, 64 per cent said people should be described as having died from cancer, with others preferring passed away. Meanwhile more than four in ten thought it was inappropriate to say someone had lost their battle while 37 per cent objected to the idea they had lost their fight. Most said this was because it implied somebody was defeated by cancer while many thought it undermined a person's strength and courage. Karen Roberts, chief nursing officer at Macmillan, said: "We know that there is no such thing as a 'typical' person with cancer, so it follows that people will prefer different ways of talking about it. "We hear from people every day who face this problem, that at its worst could even stop people getting the support they need. "By drawing attention to this we want to encourage more people to talk about the words they prefer to hear, and stop the damage that can be caused to people's wellbeing and relationships."
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| Pope fears 'bloodbath' in Venezuela Posted: 28 Jan 2019 05:06 AM PST  Pope Francis said Monday he was terrified the political crisis enveloping Venezuela would descend into a "bloodbath". A bloodbath," the first Latin American pontiff told journalists aboard a plane on his return trip from Panama, adding that "the problem of violence terrifies me". Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido have been locked in a power struggle since Guaido proclaimed himself "acting president" Wednesday amid fierce protests over economic woes.
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| Let one hero's quest to pet 100 dogs at a dog show inspire you Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:56 AM PST  A dog show is already a magical land where dreams come true, but one innovative attendee made a good thing even better. Sally Kuchar arrived at the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show on Saturday with one goal: Pet 100 dogs. It was an optimal place for such an undertaking. The Golden Gate show is a bench show, which means that the dogs hang on on assigned benches (and are available for meet and greets) while they're not being shown. "Folks are encouraged to walk around and familiarize themselves with the breeds, and petting is very, very encouraged," Kuchar explained via email. So Kuchar made the rounds. Throughout the day, she took 100 videos of 100 dogs, each better (or good-er, if you're still into that lingo) than the last. > I'm at a dog show. The goal is to pet 100 dogs. pic.twitter.com/9IbbSAmPui > > -- Sally Kuchar (@sallykuchar) January 26, 2019 SEE ALSO: Do dogs like wearing clothes? A few highlights: Kuchar said that although she's been to the Golden Gate show five times before, this is the first time she's taken on the 100 dog challenge. "I like doing public challenges because it holds me accountable," she said. As for her favorite dog, that's obviously #100. (It's her own dog, Skippy.) But she did also enjoy #64. "We just got along really well," she said. And for the most part, the dog owners were cool with Kuchar's wholesome project. She only had one weird run-in: "I was having a great conversation with a bulldog's owner and did let her know that I was trying to pet 100 dogs," she said. "She looked at me quizzically and changed the subject." She'll understand once she sees Kuchar's Twitter thread. ## WATCH: This robot delivery dog can bring your parcel right to your doorstep
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| When a boy called 911 after tough day at school, the dispatcher was there to help Posted: 26 Jan 2019 07:13 PM PST  Lafayette Police Chief Pat Flannelly says homework help isn't the best use of 911 but lauds dispatcher who talked an student through a tough moment
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| Roger Stone open to talking with Mueller in Russia probe Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:23 AM PST  Arrested at his waterfront home in Florida on Friday in a dawn raid by FBI agents, Stone told reporters he would not "bear false witness against the president." Stone was charged with lying to Congress about the Trump campaign's efforts to use stolen emails to undercut Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Asked on ABC's "This Week" if he would cooperate with Mueller, he said: "You know, that's a question I would have to – I have to determine after my attorneys have some discussion." "I'd also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the president," he said. "It's true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature, they're benign, and there is certainly no conspiracy with Russia." Stone, 66, will be arraigned in federal court in Washington on Tuesday.
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| Death benefits of Cook County sheriff deputy killed in crash in question, colleagues say Posted: 27 Jan 2019 09:24 PM PST  Colleagues of a Cook County sheriff's deputy who was killed last week in a crash en route to work are upset because they say the department has determined he was not technically on-duty.
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| Turn a plain brown paper bag into the perfect popcorn maker Posted: 28 Jan 2019 07:25 AM PST  Microwave popcorn is a great idea_in theory. But most packaged options have a long list of unnatural ingredients and don't taste very good. This fun recipe turns a plain old brown paper bag_the kind you might use to hold your lunch_into a microwave-safe package for popping corn kernels.
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| Apple's Partners Quicken Shift From China as Trade Tensions Rise Posted: 27 Jan 2019 05:32 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.'s main assemblers are shifting more output to India and Southeast Asia as trade tensions threaten to escalate costs in their longstanding production base of China.
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| President Ghani assures Afghans as US envoy reports progress Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:39 AM PST  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan president on Monday assured his people that their rights will not be compromised in the name of peace with the Taliban, days after the U.S. envoy tasked with resolving America's longest war reported significant progress in talks with the insurgents.
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| US and Canadian jet fighters scrambled to escort Russian bombers off American coast Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:53 AM PST  US and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian strategic bombers heading for the North American coastline.
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| Whole Foods recalls salads, wraps with baby spinach for possible salmonella contamination Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:25 AM PST  Whole Foods is issuing a recall for foods containing baby spinach sold at its stores in eight states over concern for potential Salmonella risk.
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| Nvidia cuts fourth-quarter revenue estimate on weak China demand; shares sink Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:21 AM PST  Nvidia's caution signaled more challenges for the micro chip industry after mixed quarterly results from major companies last week. "Q4 was an extraordinary, unusually turbulent, and disappointing quarter," Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said. Shares of Nvidia were down 13.9 percent at $137.91 in morning trade.
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| A cookie in a skillet? Sure, you're skeptical. But try it Posted: 28 Jan 2019 07:27 AM PST  A cookie in a skillet? We admit this Internet phenom made us skeptical_until we tried it. Unlike making a traditional batch of cookies, this treatment doesn't require scooping, baking and cooling multiple sheets of treats; the whole thing bakes at once in a single skillet.
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| Trump's Spat With Ally South Korea Raises Fears of U.S. Pullback Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:07 PM PST  At issue is the Trump administration's insistence that South Korea accepts as much as a 50 percent increase in what it pays for U.S. military protection, including subsidizing the nuclear-capable bombers stationed thousands of miles away on Guam. The prospect of getting a deal before an April 15 deadline seems poor, according to a South Korean official familiar with the talks. A State Department spokesperson said Friday that South Korea must contribute "significantly more" more than has offered to achieve what the administration believed was a fair balance of costs.
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| Syria air defenses target suspected drones over Russia base Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:41 AM PST ![Syria air defenses target suspected drones over Russia base]( "Syria air defenses target suspected drones over Russia base") DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria state media said Sunday the country's air defense systems intercepted and destroyed three "hostile" targets over a Russian air base in the country's coastal region.
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| World stocks retreat as traders brace for China-US talks Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:59 AM PST  Global stock markets slid Monday on jitters over looming high-level trade talks between China and the United States that outweighed positive corporate earnings, analysts said. European equities were firmly in the red at the close, while in late morning New York business the DJIA posted losses of nearly 1.5 percent. Global equities started the week "on the back foot", said Dean Popplewell at Oanda.
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| Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:43 AM PST ![Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans]( "Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans") Although financial aid, including scholarships, grants and federal student loans, can offer low- or no-cost ways to pay for a degree, private student loans can bridge the gap between student aid and the actual cost of attending school. Here's what you need to know about the pros and cons of private student loans before signing on the dotted line. There are two major types of student loans to choose from: federal student loans, which are issued through the U.S. Department of Education, and private student loans, which are offered by individual financial institutions.
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