| Papadopoulos says that Trump personally encouraged him to arrange meeting with Putin, new book reports Posted: 12 Mar 2018 06:00 PM PDT  According to "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump," George Papadopoulos told federal investigators that during the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump personally encouraged him to follow up with mysterious Russian-connected figures in the United Kingdom in order to set up a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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| 1 Typo Makes Sean Spicer's Rex Tillerson Tweet Unintentionally Truthful Posted: 13 Mar 2018 09:08 AM PDT  Sean Spicer wanted to show support for ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
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| CDC doctor's disappearance: Agency shares update on missing employee Timothy Cunningham Posted: 13 Mar 2018 07:05 AM PDT  The acting director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday that an employee who went missing over a month ago was not recently passed up for a promotion, as police had previously reported. Timothy Cunningham, a highly regarded epidemiologist at the CDC, disappeared without a trace after he left work mid-day on Feb. 12, complaining of feeling ill. Atlanta Police Department Major Michael O'Connor had initially said that on the morning of Cunningham's disappearance, the 35-year-old doctor spoke with his supervisor about a promotion that he didn't receive and expressed disappointment to several coworkers about being passed up for the position.
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| Declassified Military Video Shows Fast-Moving UFO Tracked By Navy Fighter Pilots Posted: 13 Mar 2018 02:01 AM PDT  A newly declassified video obtained by a research company shows a fast-moving UFO off the East Coast as it was tracked by two U.S. Navy pilots in 2015.
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| Police link two package bombs in Texas to earlier attack Posted: 12 Mar 2018 03:20 PM PDT  By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Two package bombs exploded miles apart in the capital city of Texas on Monday, killing a teenager and injuring two women in attacks that Austin police linked to a deadly blast earlier this month. In all three cases, a package was left at the front of a residence and exploded after an unsuspecting victim picked it up or tried to open it, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters. "We are looking at these incidents as being related," Manley said, adding that federal investigators were among those looking for suspects and a possible motive for the attacks.
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| Final moments of NYC helicopter crash captured on Instagram Posted: 12 Mar 2018 10:02 AM PDT  The final moments of a helicopter crash in NYC were captured by one of the victims on Instagram. The pilot, who was the only survivor, told investigators that the accident may have been caused by a passenger's luggage hitting the emergency fuel shutoff button.
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| Austria: motives of Iran residence knife attacker a mystery Posted: 12 Mar 2018 08:01 AM PDT  BERLIN (AP) — Austrian authorities searched the Vienna home Monday of a man who attacked a guard outside the Iranian ambassador's residence and was then fatally shot, but said they still have no information on his motives.
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| Spy poisoning: UK considers 'full range' of retaliation Posted: 13 Mar 2018 09:17 AM PDT  Prime Minister Theresa May has warned that Britain is considering a "full range" of retaliatory measures if it concludes that Russia was responsible for a nerve agent attack in an English city. Options mooted in recent days include the expulsion of Russian diplomats, a retaliatory cyber attack and asset seizures of Russian nationals suspected of human rights abuses, as well as possible joint international action with the EU or NATO. "The UK can convince EU countries to adopt sanctions against Russia, but it will be difficult," Sam Greene, head of the Russian Institute at King's College London, told AFP.
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| 9 Of The Best Women's Hanging Toiletry Bags Posted: 12 Mar 2018 03:18 PM PDT  Even the most practically packed person relies on a few unique travel accessories to get the job done. From packing cubes and shoe bags to travel scarfs with zippered pockets, there are all kinds of ways you can smartly pack for your next getaway.
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| White House denounces U.K. nerve agent attack, mum on Russia Posted: 12 Mar 2018 01:01 PM PDT  The White House on Monday denounced the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England with a nerve agent as "an outrage" but did not echo London's charge that Moscow was "highly likely" to be behind the attack.
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| Bride Busted For DUI On The Way To Her Wedding Posted: 13 Mar 2018 04:38 AM PDT  Maybe next time she'll say "I do" ― to driving sober.
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| Activists Blast Trump's Secretary Of State Pick For Anti-LGBTQ Record Posted: 13 Mar 2018 01:11 PM PDT  President Donald Trump's choice of Mike Pompeo as his new secretary of state
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| Fitbit is dead set on taking down the Apple Watch Posted: 13 Mar 2018 05:00 AM PDT  Fitbit (FIT) is determined to wrestle the smartwatch market away from Apple (AAPL). Available for presale March 13, the $199 Versa smartwatch easily undercuts the more costly Apple Watch, which starts at $249 for the older Series 1 model and jumps to $329 for the current Series 3. "The launch of Versa at this price point is going to give us a much fuller portfolio that I think better captures the overall opportunity," explained Fitbit CEO James Park.
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| Saudi general 'may have been tortured to death' during Ritz-Carlton crackdown Posted: 12 Mar 2018 07:08 AM PDT  A Saudi general may have been tortured to death and several wealthy businessmen were allegedly abused in captivity at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's recent crackdown on powerful figures in Saudi Arabia, according to a newspaper report. More than 200 businessmen, princes and government officials were detained in November and imprisoned at the luxury hotel in Riyadh in what the Saudi government said was an anti-corruption drive. According to the New York Times, some of the powerful detainees may have suffered abuse at the hands of their captors as they were coerced into agreements to hand over billions of dollars to the Saudi government in return for their freedom. Saudi Arabia has dismissed the allegations of abuse as "absolutely untrue". The most dramatic accusation involves Major General Ali al-Qahtani, an aide to a senior Saudi prince seen as a potential rival to the 32-year-old Prince Mohammed, who died in government custody in mid-December. The report was published shortly before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in the US for meetings with the Trump administration Credit: AFP PHOTO / Saudi Royal Palace / BANDAR AL-JALOUD Sources told the newspaper that the general's "neck was twisted unnaturally as though it had been broken" and that his body had burn marks which appeared to be the result of electric shocks. General Qahtani was taken to hospital in November but was reportedly returned to his interrogation after being seen by doctors. The government has not offered an official explanation for how he died. The general's death had been widely reported in Arab and Iranian media previously but not in detail. The US report comes shortly before Prince Mohammed, known by his initials "MBS", is due in Washington for meetings with the Trump administration. General Qahtani was an aide to Prince Turki bin Abdullah, a former governor of Riyadh who is from a rival line of the Saudi royal family to Prince Mohammed. Prince Turki was himself detained during the November crackdown on allegations of corruption. He was eventually released. The rise of MBS A further 16 detainees were allegedly left in need of medical treatment after their abuse. Some reportedly told family members they had been beaten, deprived of sleep, or interrogated with hoods over their heads. "All allegations of abuse and torture of those investigated during the anti-corruption proceedings are absolutely untrue," a Saudi official said.
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| Charlottesville car attack witness sues Alex Jones, others Posted: 13 Mar 2018 10:18 AM PDT  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A former State Department official who became the target of harassment after posting a video showing the car attack during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville sued right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and others Tuesday.
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| Google guru Page tests flying taxis in New Zealand Posted: 13 Mar 2018 02:59 PM PDT  Pilot-less flying taxis are being tested in New Zealand as part of a project backed by Google co-founder Larry Page that supporters say will revolutionise personal transport. New Zealand regulators late Tuesday approved plans for Zephyr Airworks, a subsidiary of Page's company Kitty Hawk, to develop and test the futuristic air taxis. Known as Cora, the electric aircraft has a dozen small lift rotors on its wings, making it capable of vertical take-off and landing like a helicopter.
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| Justice Department's School Safety Plan Puts Black, Brown Students In Danger, Critics Say Posted: 12 Mar 2018 05:17 PM PDT  Federal funds will flow to local jurisdictions that want to put more cops in schools under a new plan announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday. As part of a plan announced in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last month, the Justice Department will prioritize grant money to local law enforcement agencies that want to add school resource officers. The Justice Department included the news in a package highlighting recent initiatives aimed at preventing school shootings.
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| What O.J. Simpson Said About Night of Ex-wife's Murder in Previously Unseen Interview Posted: 12 Mar 2018 09:00 PM PDT  In the 2006 interview, he theorized what happened during the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, ahead of the planned release of his book "If I Did It."
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| Joy Behar of 'The View' apologizes for Christianity comment Posted: 13 Mar 2018 10:08 AM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — Joy Behar of "The View" apologized Tuesday for suggesting mental illness was behind claims by people that Jesus Christ talks to them, in remarks made on her show last month about Vice President Mike Pence.
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| Her Husband Killed 49 People In Orlando. Now She's On Trial For Terrorism. Posted: 12 Mar 2018 09:26 AM PDT  One year and nine months after Omar Mateen opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 and wounding dozens, his widow will stand trial on federal terrorism charges. Noor Salman, 31, is charged with aiding and abetting Mateen in his attempt to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and obstruction of justice. The trial is being held in downtown Orlando at the Middle District of Florida courthouse, just two miles from Pulse nightclub, where the crime occurred.
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| Threat To Iran Deal Grows With Rex Tillerson’s Ouster Posted: 13 Mar 2018 11:16 AM PDT  WASHINGTON ― When President Donald Trump floated pulling the United States out
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| U.S. warns if Security Council doesn't act on Syria, it will Posted: 12 Mar 2018 12:25 PM PDT  U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned on Monday that if the U.N. Security Council fails to act on Syria, Washington "remains prepared to act if we must," just as it did last year when it bombed a Syrian government air base over a deadly chemical weapons attack. "It is not the path we prefer, but it is a path we have demonstrated we will take, and we are prepared to take again," Haley told the 15-member Security Council. "When the international community consistently fails to act, there are times when states are compelled to take their own action." Haley's warning came as the United States asked the Security Council to demand an immediate 30-day ceasefire in Damascus and rebel-held eastern Ghouta, where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by Russia and Iran, say they are targeting "terrorist" groups which are shelling the capital.
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| US scientists rescued in Antarctica by Argentina icebreaker Posted: 12 Mar 2018 01:08 PM PDT  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A group of American scientists who were stranded in an ice-bound island off the northeastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula were rescued Sunday by an Argentine icebreaker, U.S. and Argentine authorities said Monday.
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| Researchers find 'critical' security flaws in AMD chips Posted: 13 Mar 2018 01:22 PM PDT  Security researchers said Tuesday they discovered flaws in chips made by Advanced Micro Devices that could allow hackers to take over computers and networks. Israeli-based security firm CTS Labs published its research showing "multiple critical security vulnerabilities and exploitable manufacturer backdoors" in AMD chips. The report comes weeks after Intel disclosed similar hardware-based flaws dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, sparking widespread computer security concerns and a congressional inquiry.
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| Photo of Donald Trump Jr. and a Life Size Chocolate Bunny Inevitably Memed Itself Posted: 13 Mar 2018 05:57 AM PDT  It's an Easter treat
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| Southwest passengers leap from wing after emergency landing Posted: 12 Mar 2018 11:12 PM PDT  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Dallas-bound flight made an emergency landing at Albuquerque International Sunport, sending panicked passengers leaping from a wing onto the tarmac after crew members screamed at them to get away from the aircraft, passengers and officials said.
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| Prosecutors drop 27 cases worked on by police officer filmed attacking black man Posted: 13 Mar 2018 11:05 AM PDT  Prosecutors have dropped 27 criminal cases worked on by a white police officer who was filmed appearing to attack a black man during an arrest. US media reports said footage showed North Carolina officer Christopher Hickman choking and beating Johnnie Rush, who had been accused of jaywalking, and telling him he was "going to get f***ed up". Mr Hickman, 31, was arrested and charged with assault by strangulation after the video emerged last week.
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| Parkland Survivor To Trump: 'Show Us That You Aren't Owned By The NRA' Posted: 12 Mar 2018 01:10 PM PDT  In a Monday interview with CNN, David Hogg and Alfonso Calderon expressed disappointment over the White House's new gun and school safety proposals, which include arming teachers to help prevent future on-campus shootings. Trump endorsed changing the age requirement last month during a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers at the White House in the wake of the Florida shooting in which the suspected gunman used a semi-automatic rifle.
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| Palestinian prime minister survives assassination attempt in Gaza as bomb hits his convoy Posted: 13 Mar 2018 05:52 AM PDT  The Palestinian prime minister survived an assassination attempt during a rare visit to Hamas-controlled Gaza on Tuesday, putting a fresh strain on the already torrid relations between the two leading Palestinian factions. Rami Hamdallah, the prime minister of the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority, had just entered Gaza when a roadside explosive detonated near his convoy. Mr Hamdallah was not injured but seven of his guards and aides suffered slight wounds, according to Palestinian media. The explosion came hours before the White House was due to hold a summit on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attempted assassination but a spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said he held Hamas responsible as "the de facto power in Gaza". Hamas immediately hit back at Mr Abbas, saying that his claims played into the hands of Israel. "We strongly reject the hasty accusations of the Palestinian presidency against the movement, which satisfies the goals of the criminals," the group said in a statement. Rami Hamdallah (centre) continued his visit despite the bombing Credit: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images The largely secular Fatah and the Islamist movement Hamas have been at odds since 2006, when Hamas beat Fatah in elections and then seized control of Gaza by force, fighting gun battles in the streets against Fatah-aligned security troops. The estrangement has left Gaza under the control of Hamas while the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority is in charge of some parts of the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli military controls other parts. The two Palestinian factions have gone through several faltering attempts at reconciliation in the last decade and Mr Hamdallah's visit to Gaza was part of the latest reconciliation effort, which has been brokered by Egypt. The bomb went off at the side of the road shortly after Mr Hamdallah's motorcade entered Gaza from Israel. The prime minister was accompanied by Majid Faraj, the Palestinian intelligence chief, who was also uninjured in the attack. Suspicion for the attack immediately fell on the smaller, more radical Islamist factions which operate in Gaza. The factions include Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which sometimes cooperates with Hamas and is other times a rival to them. Video shows the moment of the explosion #فيديو جديد يوثق لحظة استهداف موكب رئيس الوزراء رامي الحمد الله pic.twitter.com/q79nSqmCbO— فلسطين الآن (@paltimes2015) March 13, 2018 Mr Hamdallah went ahead with a planned speech at a sewage treatment plant in Gaza, as heavily armed guards surrounded him. He said the attack would not stop him from returning to Gaza and continuing to work towards Palestinian unity. Mr Hamdallah, a former academic, is seen as a political moderate and has maintained cordial relations with the US, EU and even some Israeli officials. His conciliatory tone after the bombing was not matched by Mr Abbas, the Palestinian president, who has taken a hard line against Hamas and last year cut back electricity payments to Gaza to put pressure on the group. "The Palestinian presidency condemned the attack and held Hamas, the de facto power in Gaza, responsible," said a statement from the official Palestinian news agency. "Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the attack on the consensus government is an attack on the unity of the Palestinian people." A bodyguard of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a Hamas security officer escort the PM's convoy as he leaves Gaza City Credit: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images The explosion came shortly before Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son in law and key aide for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, was due to host a "brainstorming session" on Gaza at the White House. The goal was to find "real solutions to the problems that Hamas has caused", said Jason Greenblatt, Mr Trump's peace envoy. The summit will include officials from Israel and several Arab countries as well as Europe. But the meeting has been derided because no Palestinian representatives will be present. Hamas is considered a terrorist group by the US and was not invited. The Palestinian Authority are boycotting US initiatives after Mr Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December. Mr Greenblatt condemned the assassination attempt. "Gazans have been brought to the brink of collapse by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other extremist groups. Attack on Palestinian Authority delegation opening water treatment plant is an attack on the welfare of the people of Gaza," he said on Twitter
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| Turkey seeks life term for U.S. pastor over failed coup: Dogan Posted: 13 Mar 2018 06:32 AM PDT  By Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish prosecutor on Tuesday sought a life sentence for a U.S. pastor over alleged links to a failed coup attempt in 2016, Dogan news agency reported, a move that threatens to undermine efforts to mend bilateral ties. Washington believes Andrew Brunson, who has been in jail since December 2016, is one of several Americans unjustly detained in Turkey. During a visit to Ankara last month, former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for him to be freed.
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| 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid rated by EPA at 47 mpg combined Posted: 12 Mar 2018 07:45 AM PDT  The EPA has now released the fuel-efficiency ratings for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, and they came in 1 mpg below the combined number the company had hoped to reach. At a drive event last fall, Honda said it hoped the redesigned Accord Hybrid could manage the same fuel-efficiency ratings as last year's model: 49 mpg city, 47 highway, 48 combined—or perhaps slightly better.
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| Little-known Pakistani politician appointed Senate chairman Posted: 12 Mar 2018 08:46 AM PDT  By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A little-known politician beat the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to become chairman of Pakistan's Senate on Monday, in a vote the PML-N said was a stitch up by opposition parties. Sadiq Sanjrani, a senator from a remote part of the southwestern Baluchistan province, was a compromise candidate backed by opposition parties in a rare show of unity. PML-N officials, who allege elements of the military are trying to weaken their party, accuse Sanjrani of being a "pro-establishment" candidate.
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| Bizarre battle over body of Charles Manson won by grandson Posted: 12 Mar 2018 11:17 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A grandson of cult leader Charles Manson won the bizarre California court battle Monday over the killer's body.
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| S-Hooks Are for So Much More Than Just Kitchen Organization Posted: 12 Mar 2018 02:46 PM PDT  4 other ways they'll up your storage game
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| Convicted 'Accountant of Auschwitz' reported dead at 96 Posted: 12 Mar 2018 02:47 PM PDT  BERLIN (AP) — German prosecutors said Monday they were notified that a former Nazi death camp guard dubbed the "Accountant of Auschwitz" died before he could begin serving his 4-year sentence.
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| Stormy Daniels offers to pay Donald Trump $130,000 for freedom to tell her story Posted: 12 Mar 2018 12:52 PM PDT  Michael Avenatti, an attorney for actress Stormy Daniels, sent a letter to the president's counsel on Monday telling him that Ms Daniels would pay back all the money she was given in exchange for the ability to "speak openly and freely about her prior relationship with the president and the attempts to silence her". Ms Daniels claims she and Mr Trump initiated a sexual relationship in 2006, shortly after his wife, Melania, gave birth to their son. Mr Trump has denied the affair occurred.
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| U.S. Interior chief defends travel spending, blasts 'insults' Posted: 13 Mar 2018 12:56 PM PDT  By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Tuesday defended his use of private planes and challenged reports of lavish spending, saying he was tired of "innuendo" and "insults." Zinke, who spoke before a Senate committee, has been dogged by the release of details of his use of charter planes and helicopters for travel, as well as recent receipts showing the department spent more than $130,000 to install new doors at his office at a time of proposed budget cuts and fee hikes at national parks. "I resent the fact of your insults, and I resent the fact that you mislead," Zinke told Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee, after she pressed him on his spending. The hearing concerned the Interior Department's 2019 budget.
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| Gigi Hadid And Zayn Malik Announce Their Breakup To Fans Posted: 13 Mar 2018 01:27 PM PDT  Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have broken up, ending their relationship after more
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| Red tape traps teenagers seeking refuge in U.S. Posted: 12 Mar 2018 11:16 AM PDT  Like most teenagers in the United States, Luis looked forward to his 18th birthday. Unlike most teens, Luis's excitement was not about being able to vote or buy cigarettes or other American rites of passage associated with turning 18, but about the prospect of being released from custody and reunited with his family.
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| 2 fertility clinics respond to egg, embryo storage failures Posted: 12 Mar 2018 07:28 PM PDT  CLEVELAND (AP) — Two fertility clinics across the country from each other experienced equipment failures on the same day that may have damaged hundreds of frozen eggs and embryos, something that a fertility expert called a stunning coincidence and that is already producing lawsuits from crestfallen couples.
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| March Madness odds: Which team has the best chances to win the title? Posted: 12 Mar 2018 11:32 AM PDT  After months of competition, the 68 teams selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament were revealed on Sunday night. After defeating North Carolina to claim the ACC championship, the Virginia men's basketball team secured the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
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| China's Xi joins Russia, Zimbabwe in global autocrat club Posted: 11 Mar 2018 08:25 PM PDT  BEIJING (AP) — Recent history offers sobering lessons to China's Communist Party following its decision to allow President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely.
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| Mattis in Kabul, says elements in Taliban open to peace talks Posted: 13 Mar 2018 10:10 AM PDT  Elements of the Taliban are open to talks with the Afghan government, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday, a potentially significant move that runs counter to the insurgents' long-term refusal to talk to Kabul. Mattis flew into the war-torn nation on an unannounced visit two weeks after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, Afghanistan's biggest militant group. The Taliban have so far given no formal response to Kabul's offer for negotiations, but have published a lengthy statement and an online commentary that analysts say are an oblique rejection of the proposal.
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| We're all going to die one day, much like these two merging galaxies Posted: 12 Mar 2018 02:58 PM PDT  Everything in the universe comes with an expiration date. Our planet, for example, will likely be swallowed by the sun in 7 or 8 billion years, when it begins to run out of fuel, heading toward its own death. Milk, on the other hand, spoils after a couple of weeks. And of course, even some of the largest structures in our universe, galaxies, will also die ... some in a far more dramatic fashion than others. SEE ALSO: 2 galaxies merge as 1 in remarkable Hubble Telescope photo Two galactic drama queens located about 350 million light-years away have just started to merge into one, effectively ending their lengthy, cosmic loneliness. The galaxies, called Arp 256, were spotted in the process of merging by the Hubble Space Telescope, our esteemed eye in the sky since 1990. "This image suspends them in a single moment, freezing the chaotic spray of gas, dust, and stars kicked up by the gravitational forces pulling the two galaxies together," the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a statement. "Though their nuclei are still separated by a large distance, the shapes of the galaxies in Arp 256 are impressively distorted. The galaxy in the upper part of the image contains very pronounced tidal tails — long, extended ribbons of gas, dust, and stars." One day, our Milky Way galaxy will also merge with the Andromeda galaxy. That galactic crash is expected to happen in about 4 billion years. But even in galactic death, there is new life. Gravitational forces have produced new hotbeds of star formation within the galaxies. "The galaxies are ablaze with dazzling regions of star formation: The bright blue fireworks are stellar nurseries, churning out hot infant stars," ESA said. "These vigorous bursts of new life are triggered by the massive gravitational interactions, which stir up interstellar gas and dust out of which stars are born." WATCH: The most massive black holes on record were just discovered 3.5 billion light-years away
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