| Trump denounces Mueller's investigative team as 'hardened Democrats' Posted: 18 Mar 2018 09:11 AM PDT  President Trump accused Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections of Democratic bias on Sunday morning.
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| Treasure hunters and FBI search for lost Civil War gold in Pennsylvania Posted: 18 Mar 2018 09:43 AM PDT  A story that $55 million in Union gold was lost during the Civil War has long been dismissed as a myth — but this week, a team of FBI agents joined the search in rural Pennsylvania.
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| Cirque Du Soleil Aerialist Dies After Falling During Show in Florida Posted: 18 Mar 2018 01:21 PM PDT  A Cirque du Soleil aerialist is dead after falling during a performance in
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| Putin continues to consolidate power Posted: 18 Mar 2018 10:47 AM PDT  Russian President Vladimir Putin overwhelming won an allegedly tainted reelection in a time of escalating conflict with the West.
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| Final Victims Recovered From Florida Bridge Wreckage Posted: 18 Mar 2018 02:09 AM PDT  Following an around-the-clock rescue effort at the site of a collapsed
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| Thomas Phelan, a 9/11 Hero, Dies of Cancer Linked to Toxic Dust Posted: 19 Mar 2018 08:41 AM PDT  He's credited with rescuing hundreds people on the tragic day.
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| The Latest: German, Polish leaders back UK after poisoning Posted: 19 Mar 2018 12:34 PM PDT  BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in Britain (all times local):
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| Freight Train Collision In Kentucky Sends 4 To Hospital Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:03 AM PDT  Four people were taken to a hospital after two freight trains collided and
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| Congress aims for six-month shutdown ... of budget squabbles Posted: 18 Mar 2018 07:09 AM PDT  By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress, facing yet another government shutdown deadline at midnight on Friday, will try this week to approve a massive spending bill that would end lawmakers' nettlesome budget infighting, at least through Sept. 30. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives hope to unveil soon the product of long negotiations over a $1 trillion spending bill. It would fund all of the federal government's activities, except for the gigantic "mandatory entitlement" programs such as Social Security and Medicare, which do not have to be renewed annually.
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| Two men injured in fourth explosion in Austin, Texas, this month Posted: 18 Mar 2018 08:57 PM PDT  An explosion in Austin on Sunday wounded two men, thought to be in their 20s, authorities said, as Federal Bureau of Investigation agents rushed to the scene in the Texas capital, where earlier this month three parcel bombs killed two people. Police told a press conference that the wounded men were taken to a hospital, but their injuries were not life threatening. The scene after another bomb exploded earlier this month Credit: Reuters "We have a scene where it is obvious an explosion has taken place," said Brian Manley, Austin police chief. "We just simply do not know a lot at this point." He also told people to stay in their homes and avoid touching any suspicious packages, but did not say whether there was any link between the latest blast and the earlier parcel bombs. The FBI said on Twitter that its agents were at the scene of Sunday's explosion in a residential neighbourhood on the west side of the city, several miles from where the east side neighborhoods where the earlier blasts occurred. Initial Statement from Chief Manley regarding explosion https://t.co/CCydXhmQ8e— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 19, 2018 Agents from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were also attending the scene, the FBI said. "Residents in immediate area ... wait in your homes and follow instructions of officers," Austin police said on their Twitter feed. Investigators are still looking for the culprits behind the three parcel bombs that exploded in three separate east side neighbourhoods of the city, killing two African-American males and leaving a 75-year-old Hispanic woman fighting for her life. More than 500 federal agents have joined Austin police in the murder investigation. APD responding to Bomb Hotshot call in the 4800 block of Dawn Song Dr. Two male patients transported with unknown injuries. Please avoid the area. Media staging area is 4635 SW Pkwy, corner of SW Pkwy and Boston Ln. APD PIO— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 19, 2018 Earlier on Sunday, Austin police said whoever was responsible for the bombs was trying to send a message and should contact authorities to explain any motive. "We are not going to understand that (message) until the suspect or suspects reach out to us to talk to us about what that message was," Mr Manley said. He added that police were also investigating the bombings as possible hate crimes. The first bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. It ripped a hole in a home entrance wall and damaged the front door. A bomb last Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a 17-year-old African American teenager and promising musician. It also injured his mother. A few hours later, a third bombing injured the 75-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been named. Police have received more than 735 calls about suspicious packages since the three parcel bomb attacks, but authorities had not found any that posed a security risk, Mr Manley said. A reward of $115,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.
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| How A Company Working For Trump's Campaign Misused Data From 50 Million Facebook Accounts Posted: 19 Mar 2018 04:23 AM PDT  ## TOP STORIES
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| Vladimir Putin wins re-election for fourth term Posted: 18 Mar 2018 09:28 AM PDT  The result of Russia's presidential election was known before any ballots were cast, with the only variable how many citizens would show up to cast votes. Many in the opposition abstained from voting, instead observing polling places for irregularities.
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| Alabama Lawmaker Opposes Arming Teachers Because 'Lady Teachers' Are 'Scared Of Guns' Posted: 19 Mar 2018 08:29 AM PDT  An Alabama lawmaker says arming teachers to protect against gun violence in
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| Missing 16-Year-Old Amy Yu Found, 45-Year-Old Man Arrested Posted: 18 Mar 2018 06:53 AM PDT  She'd been missing since March 5.
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| US Supreme Court gives go ahead to Flint water lawsuits Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:58 AM PDT  The US Supreme Court on Monday gave the go ahead to two class-action lawsuits filed by residents of Flint, Michigan in response to a lead-contaminated water crisis. Residents of the decaying industrial city, where over 100,000 people were potentially exposed to high levels of lead in the drinking water, are pursuing civil rights claims against city and state officials. The high court also rejected arguments put forward against the suits by the city of Flint, Genesee County and environment officials in Michigan.
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| Cambridge Analytica Execs Bragged Of Using Fake News, Sex To Sway Elections Posted: 19 Mar 2018 12:21 PM PDT  Disturbing undercover interviews with executives from U.K.-based political
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| Syrian President Assad visits troops on Ghouta's front line Posted: 18 Mar 2018 10:15 AM PDT  DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad visited troops Sunday on the front line in the newly captured areas of eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus, hailing their recent advances as a part of a larger battle against global terrorism.
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| Collector who bought Jesse James picture for just £7 on eBay told it could be worth £2 million Posted: 19 Mar 2018 05:28 AM PDT  A collector has hit the jackpot after being told that an old photograph he picked up on eBay for just £7 was a genuine portrait of infamous Wild West outlaw Jesse James, worth up to £2 million. Justin Whiting, 45, bought the photograph in July 2017 and immediately tracked down Will Dunniway, a 19th century photography expert from California. He was astonished when forensic experts confirmed his picture of infamous Wild West outlaw Jesse James was genuine and could sell for six figures. Single Justin, from Spalding, Lincs., said: "Anything is possible on eBay so I kept buying the odd photograph for a few quid, like other people would buy a lottery ticket. "I noticed the picture for sale - it was ten dollars. It was a bit blurry on the site but when I got it, it was a lot clearer. "I thought to myself: 'Gee wizz, this could be a real photo!' I've been obsessed with American outlaws for years and read lots of books and study their faces. Justin Whiting's photo of Jesse James (right) and an existing picture of the outlaw at a similar age Credit: Justin Whiting / SWNS.com "The picture was identical to the one in my book, except it was full length. All my friends said it was the same but I knew I needed to contact experts. "I didn't dare to believe they would say it was genuine and worth at least two million." Expert Mr Dunniway confirmed the photograph was a genuine portrait of bank robber Jesse taken when the babyfaced outlaw was just 14. His report said: "The age of this image was about 1861-2 and is correct in every way to this period. "When it is compared to the much used comparison image I believe it was taken on the same day by the same photographer. "It is very evident by the face, hair cut, jacket, shirt and tie that this is the same image of Jesse James at 14 years old. One of the originals." The eBay listing from which Justin Whiting picked up an old photo Credit: Justin Whiting / SWNS.com Justin then sent the 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches Victorian tintype photograph to Los Angeles forensic expert Kent Gibson who has verified evidence for the FBI. Mr Gibson confirmed the image was authentic and said: "All power to Justin. An authentic photograph of outlaw Billy the Kid sold for $5million in 2015 so the sky's the limit. "Jesse James is a very famous outlaw so this is obviously a valuable image." Justin, who has been out of work since 2003 due to back problems, has already been in touch with posh London auction house Christie's and is looking forward to spending his windfall. He said: "I'm definitely selling it. I'll be able to buy my own house and my own car. I can't wait. Good things do happen sometimes." Jesse may have robbed a few banks in his time, but Justin isn't taking any chances with his haul. He said: "I'm being super careful. That photograph is the most valuable thing I've ever had in my possession. It's staying in my friend's safe for now."
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| Lin Manuel Miranda And Ben Platt Join Forces For Ultimate Broadway Mashup Posted: 19 Mar 2018 08:05 AM PDT  If we don't live to see their glory, at least we'll have this moving
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| We Now Know When Navy Aircraft Carriers Will be Armed with F-35s Posted: 19 Mar 2018 06:41 AM PDT  US Navy leaders have announced that the first-of-its kind carrier-launched F-35C stealth fighter will deploy for its first operational deployment on the USS Carl Vinson -- in 2021. Adm. S.D. Conn, Director, Air Warfare Chief of Naval Operations, told Congress. "Stealth technology and advanced integrated systems enable the F-35C to counter rapidly evolving air-to-air and surface-to-air threats.
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| Parkland Survivors Call Out Media For Ignoring Gun Violence In Black Communities Posted: 19 Mar 2018 02:06 PM PDT  A group of students who survived last month's deadly school shooting in
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| US student found dead in Bermuda after intense search Posted: 19 Mar 2018 02:47 PM PDT  HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — A Pennsylvania college student who disappeared following a rugby tournament in Bermuda was found dead Monday after an intensive search of the British island territory.
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| President Trump's New Opioid Plan Includes the Death Penalty for Drug Traffickers Posted: 18 Mar 2018 06:32 PM PDT  Trump has mused in recent weeks about subjecting drug dealers to the "ultimate penalty"
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| What You Need To Know About Deleting Your Facebook Account Posted: 19 Mar 2018 04:32 PM PDT  Breaking up with Facebook is hard to do. The ubiquitous social media giant
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| Russian spy may have been poisoned via air vents in his BMW, intelligence officials believe Posted: 18 Mar 2018 06:47 AM PDT  Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have been exposed to the nerve agent used in their attempted assassination through the Russian spy's car ventilation system, intelligence sources have told a US television channel. ABC News said sources had told it that intelligence officials "now have a clearer picture of just how the attack was conducted". Agencies reportedly now believe the toxin - identified as a fourth generation nerve agent called Novichok - was used in a "dust-like powdered form" and that it circulated through the vents of Colonel Skripal's BMW. ABC News, citing three intelligence officials, said that the Novichok agent had been delivered in a powdered form. "It is a Cold War substance, something they [Russia] claimed never to have," an intelligence official told ABC News. Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned The US news channel said that claims that Skripal was angry - he allegedly had been shouting and "acting incoherently" - in a pizza restraunt before his collapse was consistent with the early stages of exposure to a nerve agent. Boris Johnson has claimed that Britain has evidence from within the last decade that Russia has been "creating and stockpiling" the Novichok nerve agent used in the attack. Moscow has long insisted that the production of chemical agents stopped in 1992 and that its stockpile of material was completely destroyed by 2017. But Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, said the UK had evidence "within the last 10 years" that Russia had been making such nerve agents and investigating how to use them for assassinations. Mr Johnson's claims came in response to comments made by Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassador to the European Union, who insisted "Russia had nothing to do" with the poisoning of the former double agent and his daughter. Mr Chizhov also risked the further worsening of relations between the UK and Russia as he suggested that the nerve agent identified in Salisbury may have come from the UK Government's nearby Porton Down defence laboratory. Mr Johnson said Russia's response to the incident was "not the response of a country that really believes itself to be innocent" as he detailed the UK's belief that Moscow had been making chemical agents in recent years. He told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One: "I might just say in response to Mr Chizhov's point about Russian stockpiles of chemical weapons, we actually have evidence within the last 10 years that Russia has not only been investigating the delivery of nerve agents for the purposes of assassination but has also been creating and stockpiling Novichok itself." He continued: "Listening to the Russian response, listening again to the response of the Russian ambassador to the EU, with his satirical suggestion that this was done by UK agents from Porton Down, this is not the response of a country that really believes itself to be innocent. "This is not the response of a country that really wants to engage in getting to the bottom of the matter." Mr Chizhov had earlier suggested that Russia had never actually made the Novichok agent, telling the same programme: "No. Actually, Russia has stopped production of any chemical agents back in 1992. "So you cannot even talk about any chemical agents produced by Russia. All that had been produced previously was produced by the Soviet Union. "In 1992, the then president Boris Yeltsin signed a decree stopping all production and according to the international convention of prohibition of chemical weapons last year in 2017 Russia destroyed all its stockpiles. "There is only one country today which hasn't done so, which is still retaining its chemical stockpiles, and that is the United States of America." Salisbury spy attack timeline He then appeared to suggest that the nerve agent may have come from Porton Down. He said: "But when you have a nerve agent or whatever you check it against certain samples that you will retain at your laboratories and Porton Down as we now all know is the largest military facility in the United Kingdom, that has been dealing with chemical weapons research and it is actually only eight miles from Salisbury." Asked if he was actually suggesting that Porton Down may have been responsible for the nerve agent, he replied: "I don't know. I don't know." Theresa May told MPs in the House of Commons on Monday that Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with Novichok "a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia". Russian spy poisoning | Read more The Prime Minister then said on Wednesday that there was "no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable" for the poisoning as she expelled 23 Russian diplomats "identified as undeclared intelligence officers" in retaliation. Russia responded on Sunday by expelling 23 UK diplomats. Mr Johnson confirmed that experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will come to the UK on Monday to begin the process for the testing of samples of the nerve agent found in Salisbury.
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| Jim Carrey Starts Controversy With Painting That Looks Like Sarah Huckabee Sanders Posted: 19 Mar 2018 11:38 AM PDT  Comedian Jim Carrey ruffled feathers Saturday when he tweeted a photo of a
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| Erdogan says Turkey may extend Afrin campaign along whole Syrian border Posted: 19 Mar 2018 01:34 PM PDT  By Ece Toksabay and Mehmet Emin Caliskan ANKARA/AFRIN, Syria (Reuters) - Turkish forces will press their offensive against Kurdish YPG fighters along the length of Turkey's border with Syria and if necessary into northern Iraq, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. Turkish troops and their rebel allies swept into the northwest Syrian town of Afrin on Sunday, the culmination of an eight-week campaign to drive the Kurdish YPG fighters from the region. After seizing control of Afrin, the main town in a pocket of Kurdish-controlled territory in northwest Syria, Erdogan said Turkey would also target a region stretching nearly 400 km (250 miles) east to the northern Syrian town of Qamishli.
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| Uber self-driving car kills Arizona pedestrian Posted: 19 Mar 2018 11:52 AM PDT  Ride-sharing giant Uber said Monday it is suspending its self-driving car program after one of the vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in the US state of Arizona. Uber has suspend use of self-driving cars it was testing or using in Tempe, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and San Francisco, according to the company. Uber was only using autonomous vehicles as part of its regular passenger service in Pittsburgh and Tempe.
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| Trump Attacks McCabe, Comey And Mueller Probe In Sunday Tweet Barrage Posted: 18 Mar 2018 07:52 AM PDT  President Donald Trump once again attempted to dismantle the credibility of
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| Russia Feared Hitler's Panzer Tanks. But They Might Have Feared Who Led Them Even More. Posted: 18 Mar 2018 06:25 AM PDT  Using speed and daring, Panzer leader Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz achieved multiple victories on the Eastern Front in World War II. Russia Feared Hitler's Panzer Tanks. Strachwitz attended the Volksschule and the Gymnasium of Oppeln.
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| Massive volcano described in apocalyptic poem ushered in Christianity for Iceland's Vikings Posted: 18 Mar 2018 05:01 PM PDT  A massive volcanic eruption helped convert Iceland's Vikings to Christianity more than a thousand years ago, according to new research. Memories of the largest lava flood in the history of Iceland, recorded in a medieval poem, were used to drive the island's conversion to Christianity, suggests the study. A team of scientists and historians, led by Cambridge University researchers, has used information contained within ice cores and tree rings to accurately date the massive eruption, which took place soon after the island was first settled. Having dated the eruption, the researchers found that Iceland's most celebrated medieval poem, which describes the end of the pagan gods and the coming of a new, singular god, describes the eruption and uses memories of it to stimulate the Christianisation of Iceland. The eruption of the Eldgjá in the 10th Century is known as a lava flood: a rare type of prolonged volcanic eruption in which huge flows of lava engulf the landscape, accompanied by a haze of sulphurous gases. Iceland specialises in this type of eruption - the last example occurred in 2015, and it affected air quality hundreds of miles away in Ireland. An Icelandic lava flow Credit: Telegraph The Eldgjá lava flood affected southern Iceland within a century of the island's settlement by Vikings and Celts around 874. But until now the date of the eruption has been uncertain, hindering investigation of its likely impacts. Scientists say it was a "colossal" event with around 20 cubic kilometres of lava erupted - enough to cover all of England up to the ankles. The Cambridge-led team pinpointed the date of the eruption using ice core records from Greenland that preserve the volcanic fallout from Eldgjá. Using the clues contained within the ice cores, they found that the eruption began around the spring of 939 and continued at least through the autumn of 940. At a glance | Deadliest volcanic eruptions Study first author Dr Clive Oppenheimer, of Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: "This places the eruption squarely within the experience of the first two or three generations of Iceland's settlers. "Some of the first wave of migrants to Iceland, brought over as children, may well have witnessed the eruption." Once they had a date for the eruption, the team then investigated its consequences. First, a haze of sulphurous dust spread across Europe, recorded as sightings of an exceptionally blood-red and weakened Sun in Irish, German and Italian chronicles from the same period.
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| US, South Korea, Japan discuss denuclearization, summits Posted: 19 Mar 2018 04:00 AM PDT  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Top U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials discussed how to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during weekend talks ahead of upcoming inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean summits, Seoul said Monday.
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| Alleged Costco Thieves Busted by Their Predictable Getaway Habits, Cops Say Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:41 AM PDT  Cops say they backed their truck up to the back door of the store.
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| President says Zimbabwe to hold elections in July Posted: 18 Mar 2018 05:35 AM PDT ![President says Zimbabwe to hold elections in July]( "President says Zimbabwe to hold elections in July") Zimbabwe's first presidential and parliamentary elections since the end of former strongman Robert Mugabe's long rule will take place in July, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Saturday. The polls will be the first major test of the new leader, who took power in November after a de facto military coup forced the 94-year-old Mugabe to resign. "As a nation, party and government, we are looking forward to very peaceful, transparent and harmonised elections in July this year," Mnangagwa told reporters after a meeting with South Africans President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday night.
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| Ex-politburo member faces second graft trial Vietnam Posted: 19 Mar 2018 04:37 AM PDT  A former politburo member went on trial in Vietnam Monday in his second corruption case this year, as the communist state continues its public crackdown on powerful figures in politics and business accused of graft. Dinh La Thang, who was also the former head of state-run oil giant PetroVietnam (PVN), is already serving a 13-year jail term for a previous conviction for corruption. The new trial sees him accused of approving a $35 million investment of state funds in Ocean Bank in 2008 without the authorisation of PVN's board or the Prime Minister.
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| Saudi Crown Prince Must Answer For Atrocities In Yemen Posted: 18 Mar 2018 01:22 PM PDT  Saudi Arabia's much-discussed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is coming to
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| Chrysler's Turbine Car Secretly Used a Ford Part Posted: 19 Mar 2018 09:00 AM PDT  To make the Chrysler Turbine Car drivable, engineers had to obtain a crate of parts from a Ford factory under shady circumstances.
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| Military-style squads swoop on kissing students on Chinese college campus Posted: 19 Mar 2018 05:09 AM PDT  AChinese college has come under fire for deploying squads dressed in military uniforms to crack down on couples who kiss and cuddle on campus. The student patrols wear camouflage and helmets, and perform intimidating night-time drills marching around Binzhou Vocational College, in the eastern Shandong province, according to videos shared on Chinese social media. A college official said the squads were responsible for clamping down on a range of "inappropriate behaviour", including smoking and dropping litter. But many in China were outraged that they have also been given powers to warn couples against showing public affection, and to threaten them with being named and shamed for their behaviour. Many in China - particularly older generations - are deeply conservative, and public affection is rare in the country. But an adventurous generation of young, mainly urban Chinese are pushing back the frontiers of what is accepted, and attitudes are far removed from the puritan days of radical Communist Party rule that their parents lived under. An adventurous generation of young, mainly urban Chinese are pushing back the frontiers of what is accepted Credit: ChinaFotoPress/Getty The campus crackdown comes amid a wider war on immoral living that has been launched since President Xi Jinping assumed leadership of the Party in 2012. Crass and vulgar comment has been targeted on the Chinese Internet, while authorities have sought to curb news reports which promote "Western values". Strict regulations on gluttony and "improper sexual relations" have also been rolled out for the Communist Party's 88 million members. But Binzhou Vocational College's student squads sparked a backlash on social media after a video went viral showing a trio of men wearing helmets and military attire confronting a couple who were embracing. The Paper, a Shanghai-based news portal, quoted a college employee saying that the patrol had only sought to give the couple a warning, but that the male student "threw a fit". There were many comments on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, expressing anger that touchy-feely couples were being intimidated by the military-style squads. "What a freak school!" said one. "The headmaster obviously doesn't have a happy marriage." Another said: "College students can get married, so why can't they have romantic relationships?" Media reports said the school had warned in an online post that "serious offenders" could have their names released and face public criticism on the campus. It comes after another college in the city of Rizhao - which is also in Shandong province - came under fire last year for rolling out a campaign against kissing, cuddling and "uncivilised" behaviour. The Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College set up a designated room where students could see photographs of their peers who been involved in "uncivilised behaviour", such as holding hands. Additional reporting by Christine Wei
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| NKorean diplomat heads to Finland for talks with US, SKorea Posted: 18 Mar 2018 07:01 AM PDT  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A senior North Korean diplomat who handles North American affairs was heading to Finland on Sunday for talks with the United States and South Korea.
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| Martina Navratilova: John McEnroe Made Far More For Wimbledon Commentary Posted: 19 Mar 2018 08:27 AM PDT  Tennis great Martina Navratilova said her salary for Wimbledon commentary was
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| What does Turkey's seizure of Afrin mean for Syria war? Posted: 18 Mar 2018 01:33 PM PDT  The capture of Afrin from the Kurds by Turkish-led fighters on Sunday could have major repercussions for Syria's protracted war. Here we look at what it means for Turkey, the Syrian regime and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia who were in control of the city. Forces led by Turkey launched an offensive on January 20 to retake the enclave of Afrin from the YPG, which Ankara considers to be a "terrorist" offshoot of its own outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
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