| Group that escorts migrant caravans draws more scrutiny Posted: 23 Dec 2018 10:24 AM PST  TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Thousands of Central Americans journeying toward the United States were 2,500 miles from their destination in October when they reached a moment of decision: Should they press on toward the U.S. border? Or should they stop and put down roots in Mexico, where the government offered to let them stay?
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| Snow to spread through Great Lakes, northeastern US prior to Christmas Posted: 23 Dec 2018 02:13 AM PST  A storm may bring just enough snow to cause slippery travel from the upper Great Lakes to the Northeast through Christmas Eve.
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| UK police release two people arrested in Gatwick drone investigation Posted: 23 Dec 2018 06:06 AM PST  "Both people have fully co-operated with our inquiries, and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick," Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said on Sunday. A damaged drone had been recovered a close to the perimeter of the airport, he said, and it was being forensically examined, for example for clues about whether it was controlled remotely from afar or by somebody in the vicinity.
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| 2 opposing views of Syria and Mattis, from Bob Corker and Rand Paul Posted: 23 Dec 2018 08:36 AM PST  Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee accused President Trump of making a hasty decision, whereas Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky applauded the president's decision to withdraw from Syria.
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| Pair freed without charge in London airport drones probe Posted: 23 Dec 2018 08:09 AM PST  A man and a woman arrested over the drone disruption that brought Christmas getaway flights to a standstill at London's Gatwick Airport were released without charge on Sunday, police said. A 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from the town of Crawley, near Britain's second-busiest airport, were arrested on Saturday. "Both people have fully co-operated with our enquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick," Sussex Police detective chief superintendent Jason Tingley said in a statement.
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| David Hogg: Parkland shooting survivor taunted by Fox News host wins place at Harvard Posted: 23 Dec 2018 06:30 AM PST  In mid-December, Harvard's early-entry candidates began logging onto the application status portal to learn whether they'd been accepted to one of the world's most prestigious universities. For David Hogg, it was the last laugh. "Thank you all for the well wishes," Mr Hogg tweeted Saturday morning.
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| National Christmas Tree to Stay Dark During Holiday Due to Government Shutdown Posted: 24 Dec 2018 07:57 AM PST  The tree sustained some damage on Friday when a man climbed it
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| What my dad, who died on Christmas Day, taught me by always giving awful presents Posted: 24 Dec 2018 03:00 AM PST  My dad was a terrible gift-giver, but it didn't matter. We loved his awful presents because he loved sharing his favorite things with us kids.
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| Was the Austin Metro really Britain's biggest motoring failure? Posted: 23 Dec 2018 01:00 AM PST  On this day in 1997, the Austin Metro and Rover 100-series production line fell silent. We commemorate 21 years with a look back on one of the Britain's less loved cars
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| Severe weather poised to threaten southern US immediately after Christmas Posted: 24 Dec 2018 07:50 AM PST  After drizzle puts a damper on Christmas Day, the threat for severe weather is expected to ramp up from Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley Wednesday into Thursday.
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| FBI backflip agent who accidentally shot man in nightclub spared jail Posted: 23 Dec 2018 07:08 AM PST  The FBI agent who went viral when he accidentally shot someone as he performed a back flip on a dance floor will not be sent to jail, a court has ruled. Chase Bishop was on holiday when he visited the Mile High Spirits nightclub in Denver, Colorado one evening last June With a crowd of late night revellers cheering him on, the 30-year-old showed off the impressive gymnastic manoeuvre during which his loaded gun fell from the waistband of his trousers. As Bishop bent down to pick up the weapon from the floor, it discharged into the screaming crowd and hit Tom Reddington, a 24-year-old former Amazon warehouse worker, in the leg. A video of the incident, which shows the agent walking off the dance floor with his hands in the air, subsequently went viral on social media. At the time, Mr Reddington told US media that he thought "some idiot had set off a fire cracker" before looking down at his leg and seeing the blood. FBI agent Chase Bishop was spared a prison term Credit: REUTERS/File Photo He told the court hearing in Denver on Friday that he has since lost his job and may never be able to run again as a result of the injury. "I have done months of physical therapy," he said. "I have sought counselling. However, being in public, especially seeing law enforcement with guns, makes me very uncomfortable." However, he added that he does not hold a personal grudge against Bishop and didn't think he deserved to spend years in jail. "I've done stupid things at bars to impress girls, too," he said but that he hoped he would not be allowed to own a gun for a "long time". Under his deal with prosecutors, Bishop was sentenced to two years probation. He was also fined $1,200 and ordered to pay compensation to the victim. Speaking in court, he said: "My whole goal in life is to care, protect and serve people," the agent told the judge as he pleaded guilty to third degree assault. "I never expected the result of my actions to lead to something like this." Kelsey Pietranton, an FBI spokeswoman, declined to say if he would continue to work at the agency.
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| France's Macron deeply regrets Trump decision on troops in Syria Posted: 23 Dec 2018 01:38 PM PST  French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he deeply regretted U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.
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| Police 'unequivocally' affirm London airport drone sightings Posted: 24 Dec 2018 12:52 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Chagrined county police in England insisted Monday that drone sightings over London's Gatwick Airport were authentic, while a local man who was arrested and cleared as a suspect in the aerial mystery that brought days of travel havoc said he felt "completely violated."
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| Detailed Photos from Our Trip to Iceland with the 2019 Lamborghini Urus Posted: 24 Dec 2018 06:30 AM PST |
| U.S. military tracking Santa despite partial government shutdown Posted: 24 Dec 2018 02:14 PM PST  The partial U.S. government shutdown is not preventing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from tracking Santa Claus as he embarks on his global trek to deliver Christmas gifts to children across the world, the command said on Monday. A holiday tradition, which allows parents and children to track Santa Claus online on his globe-trotting journey, will continue on Christmas Eve even though NORAD receives funding from the Department of Defense. NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian command responsible for aerospace and maritime control and warning missions, is "on duty 24/7, 365 days a year…committed to protect the citizens of both our countries," the agency said in a statement.
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| Goose, gull recover after ingesting pills left discarded at California park Posted: 23 Dec 2018 08:06 AM PST  A Canada goose and gull recovered at an animal care center after they both ingested discarded pills left on the grass at a California park.
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| Israel to hold early elections in April Posted: 24 Dec 2018 11:45 AM PST  Israel's government decided Monday to hold early elections in April with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struggling to keep together a one-seat majority in parliament as he also faces potential corruption charges. Despite Netanyahu's recent legal and political troubles, polls have indicated he would remain prime minister after new elections, putting him in line to become Israel's longest-serving premier. Heads of parties in Netanyahu's coalition agreed to hold the polls in early April "in the name of budgetary and national responsibility," a statement issued on their behalf said.
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| The Best (Good-Looking, Great-Working) Furniture for Small Spaces Posted: 24 Dec 2018 04:00 AM PST |
| Indonesia tsunami: Death toll rises to 373 amid fears Krakatoa could trigger another wave any time Posted: 24 Dec 2018 03:41 PM PST  Rescuers searched for more survivors and victims on debris-strewn beaches on Monday as Indonesia reeled from the second deadly tsunami to hit it this year. The waves that swept terrified people into the sea on Saturday night along the Sunda Strait followed an eruption and possible landslide on Anak Krakatau, whose name means "Child of Krakatoa and is one of the world's most infamous volcanic islands. Scientists said on Monday that a large chunk of the southern flank of the volcanic island may have slipped into the ocean just minutes before the tsunami hit. Such a scenario could strike anytime without any warning. The death toll has risen to 373, with more than 1,000 people injured along the coastlines of western Java and southern Sumatra islands, the national disaster agency said on Monday. "The number of victims and damage will continue to rise," said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Aid agencies were quick to deploy to the area, located just a few hours drive from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The roads were challenging but passable, Aulia Arriani, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Red Cross told the Telegraph. Indonesia tsunami after eruption - in pictures "Our challenge is to find the missing and to evacuate the people who are still trapped. In the first phase of emergency response we will be evacuating people for the next two to three days," she said. Ms Arriani added that local hospitals and clinics had been flooded with casualties and dead bodies. "People in the disaster are need food, drinking water, tarpaulins and medical help," she said. The Indonesian Medical Association says it is sending more doctors and medical equipment and that many of the injured are in need of orthopedic and neurosurgery expertise. It says most patients are domestic tourists who were visiting the beach during the long holiday weekend. Indonesian earthquake and tsunami The tsunami that struck the island of Sulawesi on September 28 was accompanied by a powerful earthquake that gave residents a brief warning before the waves struck. On Saturday night, the ground did not shake beforehand to alert people to the oncoming wave that ripped buildings from their foundations in seconds and swept terrified concertgoers on a resort beach into the sea. Dramatic video posted on social media showed the Indonesian pop band Seventeen performing under a tent on Tanjung Lesung beach at a concert for employees of a state-owned electricity company. At least four band members and support crew were killed, lead singer Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah told followers in a tearful Instagram account. The band's drummer was among the missing, as was his wife, Dylan Sahara, whose 26th birthday it was on Sunday. An Indonesia policeman searches for victims amongst the debris at the Mutiara Carita Cottages in Carita in Banten province The worst-affected area was the Pandeglang region of Java's Banten province, which encompasses Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, the agency said. Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president, who is scheduled to visit the stricken area on Monday, expressed his sympathy and ordered government agencies to respond quickly to the disaster. "My deep condolences to the victims in Banten and Lumpung provinces," he said. "Hopefully, those who are left have patience." In the city of Bandar Lampung on Sumatra, hundreds of residents took refuge at the governor's office, while at the popular resort area of Anyer beach on Java, some survivors wandered in the debris. A man walks through debris after hit by tsunami as they carry their belongings Many of those affected were domestic tourists enjoying the long holiday weekend, but foreigners were visiting the area ahead of Christmas as well. Some roads remained blocked by debris and traffic, with families streaming out of the area for fear of further tsunamis. Why a landslide was the likely trigger Scientists said on Monday that the consensus, based on satellite images and the information available, was that the collapse of a portion of the volcano triggered the killer waves. This aerial picture taken on December 23, 2018 by Bisnis Indonesia shows the Anak (Child) Krakatoa volcano erupting in the Sunda Straits off the coast of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java Images captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite showed that a large portion on the southern flank of the volcano slid off into the ocean. "Underwater landside is the leading theory," said Sam Taylor-Offord, a seismologist at GNS Science in Wellington. "So when that land pushes into the ocean ... it displaces the ocean surface causing the vertical displacement that causes the tsunami," he said, adding however that the lack of data and access made it impossible to ascertain this theory. Wow. This is the volcano "Child of Krakatoa" believed to have caused the Indonesian Tsunami. Video courtesy of Susi Air #tsunamipic.twitter.com/v99DT1KJ4N— David Lipson (@davidlipson) December 23, 2018 Anak Krakatau, halfway between Java and Sumatra, has been spewing ash and lava for months. It erupted about 24 minutes before the tsunami struck, and that could have triggered the landslide. Taylor-Offord said the eruption and "high noise environment" may be why the landslide was not recorded seismically. The fact the tsunami was triggered by a volcano, and not by an earthquake, may be the reason why no tsunami warning was signalled, scientists said. Coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs, such as an earthquake or receding water along the shore, before waves up to 10 feet high surged in. Jose Borrero, coastal engineering expert specialising in tsunami hazards at eCoast Marine Consulting, said landslide-generated volcanic tsunami behave idiosyncratically, compared with tsunami generated by earthquakes, which are better studied. This is because there are so many different variables and there is a "sweet spot" of exactly the right speed and volume of rocks slipping into and sea and deeper to generate a wave. "In Indonesia, we've all been waiting for another big earthquake tsunami and then boom, here we have a volcanic landslide one," Mr Borrero said. Krakatoa eruption - map "I've seen a few bits of imagery that suggest there's some sort of slant collapse that may extend underwater but none of this will be confirmed until there can be an offshore survey where they go and map the sea floor." Anak Krakatau or "child of Krakatau" emerged from the Krakatau volcano, which in 1888 erupted with such force the blast was heard all the way in Perth, said Mika McKinnon, a geophysicist based in Vancouver, Canada. Further eruptions have continued from the massive crater left behind. Mr McKinnon said volcanoes were weak, sloppy heaps of loosely bound rocks all slanted downhill and they slip off all the time. There are no early warnings systems that can detect such landslide-driven tsunami and Anak Krakatau is so close to shore there would never have been enough time to react and clear out the population. "It's hard to identify landslide-triggered tsunami, especially quickly enough to issue useful warnings," said Mr McKinnon. "A similar event at Anak Krakatau might trigger another one, or it might not. Maybe a month later, or year from now. We will never know," she said.
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| James Mattis exits, along with the guardrails for Donald Trump's foreign policy Posted: 23 Dec 2018 09:08 AM PST  Defense secretary and president have clashing worldviews. Mattis believes in respecting allies and confronting authoritarians: Our view
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| Frazzled by the holidays? Get out all of that unresolved hostility and celebrate Festivus today Posted: 23 Dec 2018 12:07 PM PST  Frank Costanza of 'Seinfeld' got sick and tired of the consumerism that has overtaken the holidays. This is how he takes action Dec. 23 of every year.
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| JD.com Averts a Crisis as Billionaire CEO Cleared in Rape Probe Posted: 23 Dec 2018 01:00 PM PST  Chief Executive Officer Richard Liu won't be charged in connection with a rape investigation in Minneapolis, ending a months-long probe that made global headlines and cast doubt over JD's leadership. On Friday, JD gained 5.9 percent to $21.08 -- still well below roughly $30 before Liu's arrest became public. Liu, who controls a majority of the $35 billion company's voting rights, was arrested Aug. 31 and accused of raping a 21-year-old female Chinese undergraduate student.
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| Guyana condemns 'hostile act' by Venezuela in local waters Posted: 23 Dec 2018 12:22 PM PST ![Guyana condemns 'hostile act' by Venezuela in local waters]( "Guyana condemns 'hostile act' by Venezuela in local waters") GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana's foreign ministry has condemned what it says was a dangerous incursion into local waters after a Norwegian ship hired by ExxonMobil was "intercepted" by a Venezuelan naval vessel.
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| The world’s most popular Instant Pot is back on sale for the first time since Cyber Week Posted: 24 Dec 2018 05:42 AM PST ![The world's most popular Instant Pot is back on sale for the first time since Cyber Week]( "The world's most popular Instant Pot is back on sale for the first time since Cyber Week") If you thought that the end of the holiday shopping season would also be the end of great deals on Instant Pot multi-use cookers, you're in for a pleasant surprise. We've seen a bunch of different Instant Pot models go on sale at discounts in recent weeks, but one in particular was absent from the list. Now, for the first time since Cyber Week, the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is available on Amazon at a discount. This is the best-selling Instant Pot model in the world and it has more than 23,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Definitely grab one while it's on sale, or if you want a model with even more functions, the Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is on sale for just $10 more. Here are the highlights from the product page: * Duo, the number 1 selling multi-cooker, combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Marker and Warmer, prepares dishes up to 70% faster to support your busy lifestyle * Features 14 Smart Programs - Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saute/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button * Healthy, stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot made from food grade 304, no chemical coating, 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution, fully sealed environment traps the flavours, nutrients and aromas within the food * Built with the latest 3rd generation technology, the microprocessor monitors pressure, temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heating intensity and duration to achieve your desired results every time.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL and ULC certified with 10 safety mechanisms to provide you with added assurance, designed to eliminate many common errors.Accessories include, stainless steel steam rack with handles, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, condensation collector and recipe booklet * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz
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| Ottawa seeks help for release of Canadians held in China Posted: 22 Dec 2018 06:00 PM PST  Canada's top diplomat on Saturday called on allies for support in securing the release of Canadians detained in China, noting that the arrests are a "worrying precedent" for the entire international community. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that China's detention of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor is "not only a Canadian issue.
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| Gov. John Kasich 'seriously look at' running for president in 2020, says dysfunction in Washington is 'very disturbing' Posted: 23 Dec 2018 07:01 AM PST  The Ohio governor speaks out on 'Fox News Sunday' on his timeline for making a decision to challenge President Trump.
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| Pilgrims gather at Jesus's traditional birthplace for Christmas Posted: 24 Dec 2018 02:38 AM PST  Pilgrims from across the world gathered in Bethlehem on Monday for Christmas Eve, taking in a parade and queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born. Crowds, some wearing Santa hats or holding balloons, looked on at the square decked out with a giant Christmas tree and a manger as carols in Arabic played through speakers.
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| Trump loses US envoy to anti-IS coalition over Syria plan Posted: 23 Dec 2018 08:19 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, has resigned in protest over President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, joining Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in an administration exodus of experienced national security figures. McGurk described Trump's decision as a "shock."
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| 5 Danish holiday traditions to make Christmas last a whole month Posted: 24 Dec 2018 01:30 AM PST  Christmas represents a shining beacon of light in a dark, dark time, and that's why we make the most of it. Despite Lucia being a Sicilian saint, the celebration of Lucia day is actually a Nordic tradition.
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| Best Bites: Roast beef with slow-cooked tomatoes and garlic Posted: 24 Dec 2018 05:00 AM PST  Welcome to Best Bites, a twice-weekly video series that aims to satisfy your
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| Bahrain summons Iraqi diplomat over criticism from ex-PM Maliki Posted: 24 Dec 2018 12:55 AM PST  Bahrain's Foreign Ministry summoned the deputy charge d'affaires of the embassy of Iraq on Monday to denounce footage of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki criticizing Manama's crackdown on the Shi'ite opposition. Maliki who now heads an Iraqi coalition called "the State of Law", attended a meeting last week organized by the February 14 movement, a Bahraini activist group which Manama designated a terrorist group in 2014. "Discrimination, marginalization ... have reached a severe limit on the people of Bahrain," Maliki said according to videos from the event published by Iraqi media.
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| Cash is still king and people still use banks – here's where technology hasn't taken over Posted: 23 Dec 2018 05:00 AM PST  Smartphones, new investments and changes in the banking field have transformed the financial lives of millions of Americans but not for all of us.
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| Analysts Say Brace for a Steeper Plunge as Shutdown Drags On Posted: 24 Dec 2018 06:49 AM PST  Analysts and strategists say investor sentiment is weakening further amid the federal government shutdown, with no quick end in sight. Mattis's resignation could be a "material negative event" for 2020 budget negotiations, Credit Suisse analyst Robert Spingarn said on Dec. 21, noting that Mattis enjoyed broad bipartisan support.
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| Most popular Yahoo News photo galleries of 2018 — the countdown Posted: 24 Dec 2018 04:00 AM PST  Check back in because we'll be counting down the top 10 until New Year's Eve.
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| Detained China lawyer to stand trial on Boxing Day Posted: 24 Dec 2018 02:16 AM PST  A Chinese human rights lawyer charged with state subversion over two years ago will make a court appearance the day after Christmas, his wife said Monday. Li Wenzu, who last week shaved her head in protest of her husband's indefinite detention, posted on Twitter that Wang Quanzhang would be going to trial in two days in the northern city of Tianjin. "On December 24, 2018, Christmas Eve, I found out: the trial starts the day after Christmas," Li wrote.
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| New evidence in case of missing Colorado mom Kelsey Berreth discovered in Idaho Posted: 24 Dec 2018 12:06 PM PST  Investigation into death of missing Colorado mother is ongoing after discovery of new evidence; former federal prosecutor Steven Mulroy weighs in.
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| Chaos at home, fear abroad: Trump unleashed puts western world on edge Posted: 22 Dec 2018 10:00 PM PST  Donald Trump waves as he arrives to speak in Tupelo, Mississippi, in November. The US stumbled into the holiday season with a sense of unravelling, as a large chunk of the federal government ground to a halt, the stock market crashed and the last independently minded, globally respected, major figure left in the administration announced he could no longer work with the president. The defense secretary, James Mattis, handed in his resignation on Thursday, over Donald Trump's abrupt decision to pull US troops out of Syria.
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| Here Are All the Restaurants Open on Christmas 2018 Posted: 24 Dec 2018 03:30 AM PST  What restaurants are open on Christmas? See the full list of restaurants
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| Hey Siri, this rapper sounds just like you Posted: 23 Dec 2018 06:56 PM PST  Doing a decent impression of Siri is a high-flying goal for some, but a Maryland rapper has nailed it. "For everyone saying that i'm faking the siri you hear in the background is me being previously recorded on someone else's phone and my friend asked me to do it again," she tweeted. Folks on Twitter thought so too.
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| Al Shabaab bomber executed in Somalia Posted: 24 Dec 2018 12:17 AM PST ![Al Shabaab bomber executed in Somalia]( "Al Shabaab bomber executed in Somalia") The mastermind of militant car bombs that killed 26 people and injured nearly 40 others in Mogadishu in 2017 was executed in Somalia on Monday, the prosecutor of the military court said. Abdulle Bule said al Shabaab member Abdikadir Abukar was convicted of being behind a hotel bombing that killed 10, one near the ministry of sport that killed nine, and a car bomb near an Italian restaurant in the capital that killed seven. Al Shabaab wants to overthrow the weak, U.N.-backed Somali government and impose strict Islamic law.
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| Susan Collins Delivered 2018's Most Shameful Hijacking Of Feminism Posted: 24 Dec 2018 05:00 AM PST  To mark the end of 2018, we asked writers to revisit some of the year's most
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| In areas backed by Turkey, Syrians welcome US withdrawal Posted: 23 Dec 2018 10:00 AM PST  Residents and fighters in territory held by pro-Turkish rebels in northern Syria cautiously welcomed Washington's decision to pull out troops, viewing it as a chance to push further into Kurdish territory. "The withdrawal is positive", said Mustafa Hamush, a resident of Azaz, a city at the heart of a Turkish zone of influence in Syria's bewilderingly complex civil war. "When the US withdraws its forces, the Kurdish authorities will automatically be weakened," said the 20-year-old fashion designer, adding that Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies could seize Kurdish-held regions east of the Euphrates River.
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| Early winter weather puts U.S. safe-haven corn planting in doubt Posted: 23 Dec 2018 11:21 PM PST  Illinois farmer Brent Johnson had planned to bump up his corn acreage by 10 percent in 2019 and plant fewer soybeans as a way to shelter himself from the lower soy prices caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with China. As soybeans are far more affected by the U.S. trade war with China than corn, the trend adds to economic risk across a U.S. farm belt the Trump administration recently said would get up to $12 billion in aid to make up for trade related losses. China resumed buying U.S. soybeans in December as part of a trade war truce following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, but the amount of purchases remains well behind the pace of previous years.
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