| Vatican Feels 'Shame And Sorrow' Over Abuse By Pennsylvania Priests, Spokesman Says Posted: 16 Aug 2018 02:00 PM PDT  As Catholics in the U.S. grapple with fallout from a grand jury's shocking
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| Trump revokes security clearance of former CIA director who has criticized the White House Posted: 15 Aug 2018 02:38 PM PDT  White House press secretary Sarah Sanders began her briefing on Wednesday by reading a statement from President Trump announcing his decision to revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, a prominent critic of the current administration. The statement went on to list other current and former officials whose clearances would be under review.
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| Stranded Parrot 'Turns Air Blue' Cursing Out Firefighter During Rescue Attempt Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:13 AM PDT  Jessie the parrot was decidedly unimpressed when a firefighter came to rescue
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| Why did the Genoa bridge collapse - and how thousands of other structures in Italy are at risk Posted: 15 Aug 2018 01:16 AM PDT  Italian prosecutors are opening an investigation into the Genoa bridge collapse, as questions swirled over what caused the structure to crumble. At least 38 people died when a 650-foot portion of the Morandi motorway bridge in northern Italy disintegrated on Tuesday. The 51-year-old structure, designed by celebrated Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, has been beset with problems since its construction in the 1960s, leading to expensive maintenance and drawing fierce criticism from engineering experts. Possible mafia connections have been raised. Dave Parker, Technical Editor Emeritus of New Civil Engineer told Radio 4's Today programme that the quality of the materials could have been affected by mafia involvement in the construction industry. "According to urban myths, the mafia had a very big finger in the pie of the concrete industry back then, charging full price and putting less cement in," he said. Genoa motorway bridge collapses Concerns have also been raised about the integrity of other structures built following the Second World War, with one engineering body saying tens of thousands of bridges and viaducts in Italy could be at risk. Giuseppe Conte, the Prime Minister, said "all infrastructure" across the country needed to be double-checked. "We must not allow another tragedy like this to happen again," he added. Danilo Toninelli, the Transport Minister, said the collapse was "unacceptable" and that if negligence played a role "whoever made a mistake must pay." Built between 1963 and 1967, the bridge had a maximum span of 718 feet, a total length of 0.7 miles, and concrete piers - vertical structures buttressing the arches of a bridge - that reach 295 feet in height. 'Structural doubts' over design The technology of pre-stressed reinforced concrete used in the construction was the hallmark of its designer, Mr Morandi, who died in 1989. Dubbed patent "Morandi M5", he had used the technology for other works, including a wing of the Verona Arena in 1953. This technique also characterises another, even longer and just as problematic Morandi bridge: the 5.4 mile long General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge that spans the bay of Maracaibo, Venezuela, and was completed in 1962. It partially collapsed in 1964 after being hit by an oil tanker and was rebuilt. The Morandi bridge in Genoa had always presented "structural doubts", according to an article published by specialist engineering website "Ingegneri.info", which called it "a tragedy waiting to happen". Antonio Brencich, a professor of reinforced concrete construction at the University of Genoa, echoed those concerns. "It was affected by extremely serious corrosion problems linked to the technology that was used (in construction). Morandi wanted to use a technology that he had patented that was no longer used afterwards and that showed itself to be a failure," Professor Brencich told Radio Capitale. Professor Brencich has long been a critic of the bridge. Two years ago, he told "Ingegneri.info" that the bridge's construction went over budget and poor calculations over concrete viscosity led to an uneven road surface which wasn't fully corrected until the 1980s. Safety work had been commissioned Mr Toninelli said the company that has the concession to operate that section of highway said its maintenance on the bridge was up to date and no work was being done at the time of the collapse. But he added that they were about to launch a 20 million euro (£17.8 million) bidding process for significant safety work on the bridge. "There has not been sufficient maintenance and checks, and safety work for many bridges and viaducts and bridges in Italy constructed - almost all - during the 1960s," he said. The tender provided for a strengthening of the bridge's pier cables, including those of pier nine, the one that collapsed on Tuesday. Notwithstanding the importance of a road that sees 25 million vehicles pass along it every year, the demolition of the bridge was being studied as far back as 2009. Bridges such as the Morandi viaduct should have a lifespan of at least a century, "Ingegneri.info" reported, but the structure had been the subject of major maintenance work in the years after its completion, in particular to repair cracks and combat degradation of the concrete. In the early 2000s the suspension cables put in place in the 1980s and 1990s were replaced. "Fifty years ago, we had unlimited confidence in reinforced concrete, we thought it was eternal, but now we know that it only lasted a few decades," Diego Zoppi, former president of the Genoa branch of the order of architects, told reporters on Tuesday. Rescue teams work among the rubble of the collapsed Morando highway bridge in Genoa Credit: AP Mr Zoppi warned that it was impossible to say similar tragedies would not happen again without serious work on infrastructure built after the Second World War. "The Italy built in the 1950s and 1960s is in urgent need of renovation. The risk of collapses is underestimated, the works built at that time are coming to an age when they are at risk." 'Tens of thousands need to be replaced' The Italian CNR civil engineering society said structures as old as the Morandi Bridge had exceeded their lifespan. It called for a "Marshall Plan" to repair or replace tens of thousands of bridges and viaducts built in the 1950s and 1960s. Updating and reinforcing the bridges would be more expensive than destroying and rebuilding them with technology that could last a century. They cited previous accidents: a bridge that fell in April 2017 in the northern province of Cuneo, crushing a carabinieri police car after the officers and driver had barely managed to get away in time; and an overpass that in the northern city of Lecco that collapsed under exceptional weight, crushing a car and killing the driver. A truck is seen at the collapsed Morandi Bridge site in the port city of Genoa, Italy Credit: Reuters Experts also said it was possible the thunderstorm could have contributed to the collapse after witnesses said it was struck by lightning shortly before it crumbled. "As this reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridge has been there for 50 years it is possible that corrosion of tendons or reinforcement may be a contributory factor," said Ian Firth, former president of The Institution of Structural Engineers. He called the bridge "an unusual design." "The fact that there was reported to be a storm at the time may or may not be particularly relevant." Mehdi Kashani, an associate professor in structural mechanics at the University of Southampton, said maintenance issues and pressure from "dynamic loads," such as traffic and wind, could have resulted in "fatigue damage in bridge components."
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| No injuries reported after 2 planes collide at Chicago O'Hare Airport Posted: 15 Aug 2018 04:10 PM PDT  Two planes collided on the ground at Chicago O'Hare Airport on Wednesday.
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| Judge threatened over granting bail for suspects in New Mexico compound case Posted: 15 Aug 2018 11:06 AM PDT  The courthouse was locked down after a backlash against the judge's decision culminated in threats.
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| Vatican expresses 'shame and sorrow' over Pennsylvania child abuse scandal Posted: 16 Aug 2018 02:51 PM PDT  The Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, right, pictured with Pope Francis, issued a statement in which he said victims 'should know that the pope is on their side'. The Vatican has expressed "shame and sorrow" over the sexual abuse of at least 1,000 children by more than 300 Catholic priests in Pennsylvania, and has said Pope Francis is "on the side" of survivors. In response to the publication on Tuesday of a detailed grand jury investigation into abuse in the state over a 70-year period, the pope's spokesman issued a statement on Thursday saying "the Holy See condemns unequivocally the sexual abuse of minors".
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| Vice President Mike Pence Prays With Mollie Tibbetts' Family During Visit to Iowa Posted: 16 Aug 2018 08:35 AM PDT  The missing college student hasn't been seen since July 18.
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| Vermont primary: Christine Hallquist becomes first transgender candidate to win governor nomination for major party Posted: 15 Aug 2018 05:56 AM PDT  Christine Hallquist has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party's nomination for governor. A former utility executive and engineer from Vermont, Ms Hallquist defeated three other Democrats in Tuesday's Vermont primary. The 62-year-old former CEO is part of a wave of LGBTQ candidates seeking higher office across the US.
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| Jury in Manafort trial asks U.S. judge about 'reasonable doubt' Posted: 16 Aug 2018 04:54 PM PDT  The case is the first to go to trial stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election, although the charges largely predate Manafort's five months working on Trump's campaign, including three as chairman. Before wrapping up their work for the day, the jurors asked U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis their first questions, including the definition of "reasonable doubt." In a criminal case the jury must find a defendant guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt." "The government is not required to prove beyond all possible doubt," Ellis said, responding to a note from the jury with the questions. Ellis added that reasonable doubt was "doubt based on reason." The other questions delved into details of the case.
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| Masterpiece Cakeshop Owner Sues Colorado After Refusing To Bake Trans Woman's Cake Posted: 15 Aug 2018 12:10 PM PDT  Months after winning a Supreme Court case over his refusal to make a wedding
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| Wisconsin flipped for Trump. Minnesota nearly did. What do their primaries predict for the midterms? Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:42 PM PDT  The results of Tuesday's primaries in Minnesota and Wisconsin were the latest in a series of revealing soundings from the region — tremors on the electoral Richter scale that help delineate the underlying forces shaping American politics.
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| Rising sea levels threatens coastal cities with more tsunamis, scientists warn Posted: 15 Aug 2018 10:00 PM PDT  Tsunamis will become more common and more ferocious with global warming, scientists have warned after a study found that global sea level rises will increase the risk of coastal cities being wiped out. Smaller earthquakes that currently pose no serious tsunami threat could unleash waves capable of inundating coastal cities, researchers found in a study focusing on the city of Macau in China. Currently it is considered safe from tsunamis, despite lying within a major earthquake zone. At today's sea level, it would take a very powerful earthquake tipping past magnitude 8.8 to cause widespread tsunami flooding in Macau. But a half-metre rise in sea level - predicted to occur in the region by 2060 - could more than double the chances of a huge tsunami swamping the territory, according to the research. A three-foot sea level rise, expected by 2100, would increase the risk up to 4.7 times. The source of the earthquake danger is the Manila Trench, a massive crack in the floor of the South China Sea formed by the collision of two tectonic plates. It has generated numerous earthquakes, though none larger than magnitude 7.8 since the 1560s. A modest rise in sea levels would greatly amplify the tsunami threat from smaller earthquakes, the computer simulation study showed. Cities most prone to natural disaster Lead researcher Dr Robert Weiss, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in the US, said: "Our research shows that sea-level rise can significantly increase the tsunami hazard, which means that smaller tsunamis in the future can have the same adverse impacts as big tsunamis would today. "The South China Sea is an excellent starting point for such a study because it is an ocean with rapid sea-level rise and also the location of many mega cities with significant worldwide consequences if impacted." The team's findings are reported in the journal Science Advances.
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| Genoa bridge collapse a disaster 'waiting to happen' Posted: 15 Aug 2018 02:49 AM PDT  Genoa's Morandi motorway bridge, a 200-metre (650-foot) portion of which collapsed on Tuesday killing dozens of people, has been riddled with structural problems since its construction in the 1960s, which has led to expensive maintenance and severe criticism from engineering experts. The technology of pre-stressed reinforced concrete used in the construction was the hallmark of its designer, the celebrated Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, who died in 1989. Dubbed patent "Morandi M5", he had used the technology for other works, including a wing of the Verona Arena in 1953.
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| NYU To Cover Tuition For All Medical Students Posted: 16 Aug 2018 11:15 AM PDT  New York University will pay for the tuition of all its medical students, the
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| Russia's S-500: How Putin Could Kill Air Force F-22s and B-2 Stealth Bombers? Posted: 16 Aug 2018 06:02 AM PDT  Russia's fearsome new S-500 air and missile defense system has apparently entered production—and is setting new records for missile engagement range.
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| Subaru Ascent Owners Will Get New Cars in Recall Posted: 15 Aug 2018 11:23 AM PDT  Subaru replaces nearly 300 cars that have compromised frames.
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| Police: Shooting followed dispute in Walmart checkout lines Posted: 14 Aug 2018 07:59 PM PDT  WYNCOTE, Pa. (AP) — A man pulled a gun during a dispute with another customer in Walmart checkout lines near Philadelphia and opened fire, wounding several people before fleeing but was later arrested after crashing into a police vehicle, police said Tuesday night.
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| Ilhan Omar Wins Democratic Primary For Congress In Minnesota Posted: 14 Aug 2018 07:00 PM PDT  Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary on Tuesday for the
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| Anger at Italy bridge operator as hunt for survivors goes on Posted: 15 Aug 2018 09:27 AM PDT  It is in continual maintenance." "In the '90s they added some reinforcements on one part, but also underneath you can see rust." As cranes moved in to shift truck-sized chunks of broken concrete, hundreds of firefighters searched for survivors, while public shock and grief turned to anger over the state of the 1.2 km-long bridge, completed in 1967 and overhauled two years ago. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a state of emergency for Genoa, one of Italy's busiest ports, whose main land corridor with France has effectively been severed. Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, visiting the disaster scene, said bridge operator Autostrade per l'Italia would have to contribute to the cost of its reconstruction as well as pay heavy fines.
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| Hundreds Of Newspapers Are Challenging Trump's Attacks: 'We Are Not The Enemy’ Posted: 16 Aug 2018 03:17 AM PDT  Hundreds of U.S. newspapers are banding together this week to fight back
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| National Guard deploys thousands of soldiers to California Posted: 15 Aug 2018 02:33 PM PDT  National Guard soldiers are supporting response efforts, providing unique military capabilities to contain the fires.
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| 12 Ways Teachers Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping Posted: 15 Aug 2018 02:31 PM PDT |
| New Zealand curbs foreign property ownership to cool market Posted: 15 Aug 2018 07:47 PM PDT  New Zealand has passed legislation curbing foreigners' ability to buy residential property in a bid to rein in the South Pacific nation's booming housing prices. The law, which passed late Wednesday, meets a key campaign pledge from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who vowed to make housing more affordable before her election last year. The new restrictions mean an almost complete ban on non-nationals buying residential property in New Zealand, with only a couple of exemptions.
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| Couple whose caravan wheel sparked California wildfire told ‘it’s not your fault’ Posted: 15 Aug 2018 11:37 AM PDT  A couple whose caravan accident started one of the largest wildfires in California history have been told by local residents told:: "It's not your fault". Authorities have not identified the owners of the mobile home vehicle, but that has not stopped the community affected by the Carr wildfire to send an outpouring of support in Facebook posts, letters, and cards. The trailer experienced a flat tyre on 23 July near Redding, California, and the steel rim of the wheel scraped against the asphalt, creating the spark which ignited dry brush near the side of the road.
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| US, Mexico announce new strategies on cartels Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:36 PM PDT  CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials unveiled some additional strategies in combating Mexican drug cartels Wednesday in Chicago alongside members of the Mexican government, military and federal police, who said one priority was to capture the leader of the increasingly powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
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| Christine Hallquist Scores Historic Win In Vermont's Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Posted: 14 Aug 2018 06:17 PM PDT  Christine Hallquist on Tuesday became the country's first openly transgender
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| At least 76 overdose on synthetic marijuana in 24-hours at US park Posted: 16 Aug 2018 04:49 AM PDT  A man has been arrested after more than 76 people overdosed in 24 hours after taking synthetic marijuana suspected of being laced with fentanyl – an opioid. The first overdoses were reported at Connecticut's New Haven Green, a park close to Yale University, late on Tuesday night.
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| Sarah Huckabee Sanders Admits Mistake On Obama's Black Employment Numbers Posted: 14 Aug 2018 09:57 PM PDT  White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday admitted she
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| Kellyanne Conway tries to criticize her husband anonymously, but it backfires Posted: 16 Aug 2018 06:15 AM PDT  Kellyanne Conway, President Trump's chief counselor, found a unique way to let her husband know how she feels about his public bashing of her boss.
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| The 84 Most Delish Lasagnas Posted: 15 Aug 2018 08:03 AM PDT |
| Taiwan company bows to China after boycott threat Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:57 AM PDT  A Taiwanese coffee chain has become the latest business to bow to pressure from Beijing after Chinese web users threatened a boycott over a visit to one of its stores by the island's president. Tsai Ing-wen stopped off at a Los Angeles branch of the 85C Bakery Cafe this week during a US stopover in which she became the first Taiwanese leader to give a public speech on American soil in 15 years. Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy that considers itself a sovereign state but has never declared formal independence.
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| Alert level raised for tiny volcanic isle in southern Japan Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:05 AM PDT  TOKYO (AP) — Japan raised alert levels on a small southern volcanic island on Wednesday, urging its 105 residents to prepare for an evacuation amid growing risks of an eruption.
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| Republicans Are Using An Unprecedented Partisan Vetting Process To Rush Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Posted: 16 Aug 2018 12:54 PM PDT  WASHINGTON ― Republicans are circumventing the normal vetting process for
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| Arizona Father Accused of Killing Man Who Allegedly Followed His Daughter Into Bathroom: Cops Posted: 15 Aug 2018 09:18 AM PDT  Melvin Harris, 40, was waiting in his car when his 16-year-old daughter and her two friends told him that a man had tried entering the bathroom stall the teen was using.
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| 'Twelve Apostles' help migrants cross Mexico Posted: 14 Aug 2018 10:48 PM PDT  In a few minutes, hundreds of undocumented migrants chasing the American dream will ride by atop the train as it passes through her village, Cordoba, crossing the eastern state of Veracruz on its way to the United States. Then one day "The Beast" ground to a halt in Cordoba, and the men jumped to the ground and begged her for help.
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| Facebook is ‘a surveillance system,’ sci-fi author Cory Doctorow says Posted: 15 Aug 2018 02:00 AM PDT  The novelist reflects on the way that the social media platform spies on its customers.
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| Jahana Hayes Could Be Connecticut's First Black Democrat In Congress Posted: 14 Aug 2018 06:37 PM PDT  With her primary win in Connecticut's 5th Congressional District on Tuesday,
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| Swimmer Suffers Puncture Wounds in Shark Attack on Cape Cod Posted: 15 Aug 2018 06:46 PM PDT  A 61-year-old man suffered puncture wounds to his torso and legs as he was attacked by a shark in Cape Cod
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| Japan Had Plans to Build Battleships with 20-Inch Guns. This Is Why It Never Happened. Posted: 16 Aug 2018 09:47 AM PDT  Had the war not come, Japan would have bankrupted itself spending on these massive ships.
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