| Pakistan reimposes ban on Islamist charities linked to militant leader Posted: 22 Feb 2019 01:54 AM PST ![Pakistan reimposes ban on Islamist charities linked to militant leader]( "Pakistan reimposes ban on Islamist charities linked to militant leader") Pakistan has re-instated a ban on two charities linked to the founder of an Islamist militant group that has carried out attacks in India, the interior ministry said on Friday. The ban comes as Pakistan faces international pressure to act against militant groups, amid escalating tension with its nuclear-armed neighbor, India, following a suicide bomb attack on Indian police in the disputed region of Kashmir. The attack, in which 40 Indian paramilitary troops were killed, was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group.
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| Venezuela aid from US lands in Curacao Posted: 21 Feb 2019 06:47 PM PST  Willemstad, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles) (AFP) - A plane carrying food and medical aid from the United States landed on the Caribbean island of Curacao Thursday en route to Venezuela, whose government has vowed to block it. AFP reporters saw the jet land at the airport in Curacao, one of the focal points of a volatile standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and self-declared head of state Juan Guaido.
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| The Latest: Sex abuse victims speak of lost childhoods Posted: 23 Feb 2019 10:27 AM PST  VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Latest on the sex abuse prevention summit at the Vatican (all times local):
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| Feinstein Unveils Green Deal Alternative After Kid Confrontation Posted: 22 Feb 2019 07:30 PM PST  Feinstein's proposed draft plan seeks to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 - 20 years later than the Green New Deal - and also explicitly calls for achieving those reductions through a price on carbon, among other ways. During a meeting with youth activists from the progressive Sunrise Movement, some of whom the group said were as young as age 7, the California Democrat suggested the ambitious climate plan was not achievable. "You didn't vote for me," Feinstein told one 16-year-old after learning she was under the legal voting age.
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| Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren reportedly say they support reparations for black Americans affected by slavery Posted: 22 Feb 2019 06:47 AM PST  Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren reportedly say they support reparations for black Americans affected by slavery.
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| Vietnam announces traffic ban for possible Kim Jong Un summit arrival route Posted: 22 Feb 2019 10:35 AM PST  Vietnam has been preparing for Kim to arrive by train for the Feb. 27-28 summit in Hanoi, two sources with direct knowledge of security and logistics planning told Reuters on Wednesday. Kim's train will stop at the border station of Dong Dang where he will disembark and proceed 170 km (105 miles) to Hanoi by car, the sources said. Traffic on that route will be partially banned from 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 and fully banned from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 26, the ruling Communist Party's Nhan Dan paper reported, citing the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.
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| Airlines admit having cameras installed on back of passengers’ seats Posted: 23 Feb 2019 09:28 AM PST  Three of the world's biggest airlines have admitted some of their planes have cameras installed on the backs of passenger seats. American Airlines, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines have new seat-back entertainment systems that include cameras. Companies that make the entertainment systems are fitting them with cameras to offer passengers options such as seat-to-seat video conferencing, according to an American Airlines spokesman.
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| Trump 'surprised' Patriots owner Kraft was charged in prostitution probe Posted: 22 Feb 2019 12:50 PM PST  "It's very sad," Trump said. "I was very surprised to see it. He's proclaimed his innocence totally. But I was very surprised to see it."
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| Two killed as Venezuela aid showdown turns violent Posted: 23 Feb 2019 03:33 PM PST  Ureña (Venezuela) (AFP) - A high-risk operation to get humanitarian aid into Venezuela descended into deadly chaos Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro's security forces fired on demonstrators and aid trucks were set ablaze. Two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in clashes with security forces on the Brazil-Venezuela border amid efforts to bring in aid there, a human rights group said. Hundreds were wounded at border crossings with Colombia.
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| Saudi Sisters Stranded for Months in Hong Kong After Fleeing the Kingdom, Rights Group Says Posted: 22 Feb 2019 02:13 AM PST  They were trying to seek asylum in Australia but were stopped in Hong Kong
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| India seeks to control rivers into Pakistan as punishment Posted: 21 Feb 2019 11:48 PM PST ![India seeks to control rivers into Pakistan as punishment]( "India seeks to control rivers into Pakistan as punishment") NEW DELHI (AP) — India says it is building dams to stop its share of water from flowing into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir as it seeks to punish its longtime rival for an attack on paramilitary soldiers last week that left 40 dead.
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| Sen. Warren: US needs to address 'ugly history of racism' Posted: 22 Feb 2019 08:30 PM PST  MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said earlier this week that she supports reparations for black Americans who have been affected by slavery, told reporters Friday that the nation needs to confront its "ugly history of racism" and "talk about the right way to address it and make change."
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| Truckloads of civilians leave Islamic State enclave in Syria Posted: 22 Feb 2019 03:09 AM PST  Trucks loaded with civilians left the last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Friday, as U.S.-backed forces waited to inflict final defeat on the surrounded jihadists. Reporters near the front line at Baghouz saw dozens of trucks driving out with civilians inside them, but it was not clear if more remained in the tiny pocket. The village is all that remains for Islamic State in the Euphrates valley region that became its final populated stronghold in Iraq and Syria after it lost the major cities of Mosul and Raqqa in 2017.
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| Get the Insignia 8-Quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker for less than $40 at Best Buy Posted: 22 Feb 2019 07:39 AM PST  When you get home from a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour bent over a hot stove making dinner. Yeah you can pop something in a slow cooker before you leave for your day, but that takes advanced planning and sometimes you just don't have the time or energy for that. With a pressure cooker, you can just toss ingredients in like a slow cooker, but the food cooks in a fraction of the time. You've probably heard the craze about Instant Pots, but those can run a bit pricey. The Insignia 8-Quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker does virtually the same thing as an Instant Pot at a lower price point. Right now you can snag the Insignia pressure cooker for $39.99 at Best Buy, a savings of $80.The multi-function cooker has 12 one-touch preset programs for easy operation. Some of these options include keep warm, slow cook, steak/meat, rice/risotto, cake, and more. You can cook almost anything in a multi-function cooker. If you're skeptical about jumping full throttle into the multi-cooker world, the Insignia is a good starter option because it has the same sort of functionality as the name-brand pricier models. You'll get similar features as the Instant Pot DUO Plus which will cost you $139.95 at Amazon. That's $100 more than you'll drop on the Insignia. Best Buy reviewer Websaver writes:Get the Insignia 8-Quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker for $39.99 at Best Buy. Image: insignia Save $80 on the Insignia 8-Quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker at Best Buy See Details
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| Girl banned from wearing MAGA hat claims school is violating her First Amendment rights Posted: 23 Feb 2019 04:31 AM PST  A California high school student who was banned from wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat on campus is challenging her school district for impinging on her First Amendment rights. Maddie Mueller, who attends Clovis North High School in Fresno, is a member of Valley Patriots. The conservative activist group asked its affiliates to wear the well-known hat bearing Donald Trump's campaign motto on Wednesday.
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| 'It's snowing in Hollywood!' Snowflakes seen in and around Los Angeles Posted: 21 Feb 2019 11:02 PM PST  Forget the red carpet Sunday, the Oscars may have a white carpet!
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| Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution Posted: 22 Feb 2019 10:36 AM PST  If you're a fan of hating on the New England Patriots, you're probably enjoying a bit of schadenfreude right about now.New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was charged with "two misdemeanor counts of soliciting a prostitute" on Friday, part of a widespread Florida investigation into prostitution and potential sex trafficking. The announcement came just a day after Deadspin noted some peculiar NFL-related questions at a press conference about arrest warrants being issued.SEE ALSO: Speaking out against human trafficking -- and learning along the wayAs of early Friday afternoon, Kraft had yet to be arrested on the charges. The incidents allegedly happened at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida and authorities say they have video evidence supporting their case against Kraft.An attorney for Kraft denied the allegations.> Statement from a spokesperson for Robert Kraft: > > "We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further."> > -- Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 22, 2019In all, 10 such spas were shut down across a part of Florida that also included Orland and Palm Beach County, according to CBS Miami. > An "active arrest warrant" has been issued for Kraft, according to Jupiter PD. > Typically, a charge of soliciting results in a pre-trial diversion program where the defendant attends a class on the hazards of prostitution. After which the charge is usually dropped. @CBSMiami> > -- Jim DeFede (@DeFede) February 22, 2019SEE ALSO: 7 sexual health issues facing teen girls globally -- and how you can helpThe first arrests were made on Tuesday and have continued, two of which came from the spa that Kraft is alleged to have visited. On Thursday, Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey expressed hope the arrests from the investigation would "put a heck of a dent in human trafficking and sex trade" in the area, according to Treasure Coast News.He continued:Over 50 arrests have reportedly been made and nearly 200 warrants have been issued so far in relation to the widespread investigation. Kraft is the highest profile person to have been named in the sweep so far. WATCH: This 10-year-old won a science fair by 'proving' Tom Brady is a cheater
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| Fiery Skirmishes Erupt as Guaido Tries to Bring Venezuela Aid Posted: 23 Feb 2019 12:28 PM PST  On the border with Colombia, National Guard soldiers fired volleys of tear gas and plastic pellets at supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who were trying to persuade them to defect and permit tons of food and medicine into the country. Masked paramilitary gangs supporting the autocrat Maduro tore through the area there on motorcycles, firing guns in the air. Maduro said on state television that his forces had managed to repel an invasion and said he was breaking off diplomatic relations with Colombia.
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| Decision time, not extra time, EU Brexit negotiator says Posted: 22 Feb 2019 03:15 AM PST  Brexit talks now require a "decision" rather than going into "extra time", the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Friday as the clock runs down on March 29 when Britain is set to leave the block, with or without an exit deal. Brussels however appears open to adopting a more ambitious political declaration that would set a roadmap for negotiating close EU-UK trade ties during a transition period after March 29.
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| Sen. Feinstein debates children over climate change Posted: 23 Feb 2019 11:50 AM PST  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a group of San Francisco Bay Area students squared off over climate change in a sometimes tense exchange captured on video and widely shared on social media.
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| China, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela in hot seat at U.N. rights forum Posted: 22 Feb 2019 10:40 AM PST  Saudi Arabia will face criticism for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its failure to cooperate with a U.N.-led inquiry, diplomatic sources said. Western countries look to Turkey and other members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to shine a spotlight on what China calls re-education and training facilities. U.N. experts say the camps hold a million Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language, and other Muslims.
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| Colombia demolishes drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's former home Posted: 22 Feb 2019 07:25 PM PST  Colombia has demolished an infamous apartment building which was once home to Pablo Escobar after concerns it had become a tourist destination. Rough cut (no reporter narration).
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| View Photos of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2.7T Four-Cylinder Posted: 22 Feb 2019 08:09 AM PST |
| Vietnam readying for Kim train arrival next week: sources Posted: 22 Feb 2019 06:40 PM PST  Vietnamese authorities are preparing for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to arrive by train next week ahead of his summit with US president Donald Trump, several sources told AFP Friday. The leaders are slated to meet in Hanoi on February 27-28 to follow up on their first meeting last June in Singapore that ended with vaguely worded commitments on dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear programme. In the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong, which borders on North Korea, there were signs that Kim's train could be crossing over into China imminently en route to Vietnam.
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| Empire star Jussie Smollett charged with staging racist attack in 'desperate publicity stunt' Posted: 21 Feb 2019 07:38 PM PST  One of America's leading black television actors has been charged with staging a racist attack on himself in a "despicable publicity stunt" which he hoped would get him a raise on his $65,000-an-episode salary. Jussie Smollett, 36, who stars in "Empire," was accused by police in Chicago of "exploiting the pain and anger of racism" in a "shameful" attempt to boost his own profile. The saga began on Jan 29 when the actor reported that he had been attacked by two white men who put a noose around his neck and yelled "This is MAGA country," a reference to Donald Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again". Following his arrest the US president wrote on Twitter: "Jussie Smollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? MAGA." The actor, who is gay, also claimed his attackers hurled homophobic insults at him during the incident at 2am in downtown Chicago. Police charged him with making a false statement, which could lead to a sentence of up to three years in jail if convicted. A mugshot showed him staring impassively at the camera. This photo released by the Chicago Police Department shows Jussie Smollett Credit: AP In a press conference Eddie Johnson, Chicago's police superintendent, lambasted the star, accusing him of "dragging Chicago through the mud" by "staging a hate crime". Mr Johnson, who is black, said: "Empire actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career. The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. When we discovered the actual motive, quite frankly, it p----d everybody off. "I'm left hanging my head asking why? Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false allegations. I'm offended by what's happened. and I'm also angry." Smollett's legal team issued a statement on Thursday night, calling the actor a "man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence." The statement also said Mr Johnson's press conference was "an organised law enforcement spectacle." Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson speaks during a press conference at Chicago police headquarters about the arrest of Empire actor Jussie Smollett Credit: Getty "The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett," the statement read. Hollywood trade publication Variety reported that Smollett returned to the set of "Empire" - a drama about a music empire and a family dynasty - after being released by police on Thursday. The actor reportedly made a salary of $65,000 per episode for the last season of Empire, which follows the story of a family in the recording industry. There were 18 episodes, putting his annual salary at well over $1 million. Mr Johnson detailed how the actor had allegedly first sent a threatening, racist and homophobic letter to himself at the studios of Fox, which makes Empire. He then allegedly paid $3,500 to a pair of Nigerian brothers - Abel Osundairo and Ola Osundairo - who had previously appeared as extras on Empire to carry out the fake attack. Jussie Smollett timeline Police said he had hoped it would be caught on CCTV, but a nearby camera was pointed in the wrong direction. However, CCTV did capture the two brothers, who are black, fleeing the scene and getting in a taxi. They went to Chicago's O'Hare Airport, where they boarded a flight to Nigeria. Detectives established they had return tickets and arrested them at the airport when they came back on Feb 13. CCTV also emerged of the brothers buying ski masks and a red MAGA-style hat before the attack. But after two days of questioning the brothers were released without charge. Their lawyer said they had "manned up" and confessed the plot, including the actor's alleged motive to get a bigger salary. Police said they had established through phone records that the actor spoke to the brothers an hour before, and an h our after, the attack. Interview with actor Jussie Smollett on ABC's "Good Morning America" Credit: Getty Mr Johnson, the Chicago police chief, called on the actor to apologise to the city and pay the costs of the investigation, which could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. He added: "I'll continue to pray for this troubled young man who resorted to both drastic and illegal tactics to gain attention."
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| Venezuela: Two killed in clashes over humanitarian aid as Maduro breaks relations with Colombia Posted: 23 Feb 2019 11:09 AM PST  At least two people have been killed in Venezuela in clashes with security forces over the opposition's plan to bring in humanitarian aid from neighbouring Brazil and Colombia, doctors said. Hospital staff in a town near the border said another 18 were injured as violence between residents and soldiers erupted, though Bogota later claimed a much higher figure of 285. Images suggested some of the wounded were Venezuelan soldiers.
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| CORRECTED: Microsoft workers demand it drop $480 million U.S. Army contract Posted: 22 Feb 2019 03:30 PM PST  The organising effort, described to Reuters by three Microsoft workers, offers the latest example in the last year of tech employees protesting cooperation with governments on emerging technologies. Microsoft won a contract in November to supply the Army with at least 2,500 prototypes of augmented reality headsets, which digitally displays contextual information in front of a user's eyes. In a petition to Microsoft executives, posted on Twitter, workers said they "did not sign up to develop weapons, and we demand a say in how our work is used." They called on the company to develop "a public-facing acceptable use policy" for its technology and an external review board to publicly enforce it.
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| Global equities climb on hopeful trade talk vibes Posted: 22 Feb 2019 08:55 AM PST  World stock markets advanced Friday as investors awaited what they hoped will be encouraging news from US-China trade talks in Washington, dealers said.
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| Alabama woman who joined Islamic State sues to return to US Posted: 21 Feb 2019 07:52 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The father of an Alabama woman who joined the Islamic State in Syria filed suit against the Trump administration Thursday in an effort to allow her return to the United States.
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| Why North Carolina's Election Fraud Hurts American Democracy Posted: 22 Feb 2019 08:04 AM PST  The North Carolina State Board of Elections ordered a new election in the state's Ninth Congressional District.
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| Twitter rips PETA for criticizing Steve Irwin's Google doodle on the late conservationist's birthday Posted: 23 Feb 2019 11:58 AM PST ![Twitter rips PETA for criticizing Steve Irwin's Google doodle on the late conservationist's birthday]( "Twitter rips PETA for criticizing Steve Irwin's Google doodle on the late conservationist's birthday") Steve Irwin would have turned 57 on Friday, and to honor "The Crocodile Hunter" host, Google changed the logo its search page, which PETA criticized.
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| EU's Barnier says cannot rule out that Brexit gets postponed Posted: 21 Feb 2019 11:42 PM PST  The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday that he cannot rule out the possibility that Britain's EU withdrawal is pushed back. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking further concessions on her Brexit deal in hope of winning the support of a deeply divided British Parliament.
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| The Latest: Judge imposes gag order on Trump confidant Stone Posted: 21 Feb 2019 08:17 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Roger Stone (all times local):
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| Coast Guard officer, self-described white nationalist, planned terror attack to 'kill almost every last person,' feds say Posted: 22 Feb 2019 04:13 AM PST  A U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant and self-described white nationalist planned a domestic terrorist attack targeting politicians and journalists.
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| As tensions over aid rise, Venezuelan troops fire on villagers, kill two Posted: 22 Feb 2019 02:06 PM PST  The United States, which is among dozens of Western nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend. With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation. The socialist president has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed and threatened to do the same with the Colombian border ahead of a Saturday deadline by the opposition to bring in humanitarian assistance.
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| Ford launches probe into actual emissions of its vehicles Posted: 22 Feb 2019 09:10 AM PST  Ford has launched an investigation into the actual emissions of its vehicles after employees reported errors in data given to authorities, the automaker said. "In September, a handful of employees raised a concern... regarding the analytical modeling that is part of our US fuel economy and emissions compliance process," Kim Pittel, an executive responsible for sustainability, environment and safety engineering, said in a statement released late Thursday. "We have hired an outside firm to conduct an investigation" into specifications used in testing and "applications to certify emissions and fuel economy," Pittel said.
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| Was that ballot fraud in North Carolina US House race? Posted: 21 Feb 2019 09:21 PM PST  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The country's last vacant congressional seat will stay that way for months after North Carolina's election board, hearing evidence of ballot fraud and testimony that the Republican ignored warning signs, ordered a new election.
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| An Organization-Obsessed Store Owner’s Top Storage Essentials Posted: 22 Feb 2019 02:33 PM PST  Your clutter never looked so good
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| U.S. judge will not block Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan health venture's new hire Posted: 22 Feb 2019 10:12 AM PST  A federal judge on Friday declined to block a UnitedHealth Group Inc unit's former executive from working at a new healthcare venture launched by Amazon.com Inc, Berkshire Hathaway Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The decision by U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf in Boston came in a lawsuit closely watched in the industry for clues about the future plans of the venture, which was announced in January 2018 with a goal of lowering healthcare costs. UnitedHealth's Optum unit had sought a court order blocking David Smith from working at the venture, saying he could share trade secrets that would give it a competitive advantage.
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| Procter & Gamble backs the eradication of animal testing Posted: 22 Feb 2019 06:32 AM PST  Personal care giant Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is taking a bold stance against animal testing. The conglomerate, which counts Olay, Pantene and SK-II among its brands, has teamed up with the animal protection organization the Humane Society International (HSI) to back its #BeCrueltyFree campaign fighting to ban animal testing for cosmetics in all major global beauty markets by the year 2023. P&G will lend its support to the campaign -- which has been running since 2012 -- via joint education and capacity-building programs for non-animal alternatives as well as by continuing to explore animal-free approaches to safety assessment, and advocating for legislative change in key markets.
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| How long should it take to get my tax refund this year? Posted: 21 Feb 2019 06:05 PM PST  In general, the IRS expects most tax refunds to be issued in less than 21 days. Here's how to find out the status of your tax refund.
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| Attempted Rapist Arrested After Woman Throws Hot Coffee at His Face, Police Say Posted: 22 Feb 2019 02:51 PM PST  A man has been arrested after a woman threw a hot cup of coffee into his face to stop an attempted rape in Manhattan, police said.
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| Check Out Every Photo of the 2020 Volvo XC90 R-Design Posted: 22 Feb 2019 09:17 AM PST |
