| Trump Threatens Long Jail Sentences Over Campaign ‘Spying’ Posted: 17 May 2019 04:46 AM PDT  "My Campaign for President was conclusively spied on. Nothing like this has ever happened in American Politics," Trump said Friday on Twitter. Trump has said he's in favor of Attorney General William Barr's decision to investigate the origins of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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| Boeing says it has corrected simulator software of 737 MAX jets Posted: 17 May 2019 06:39 PM PDT ![Boeing says it has corrected simulator software of 737 MAX jets]( "Boeing says it has corrected simulator software of 737 MAX jets") Boeing Co has made corrections to simulator software that mimics the flying experience of its 737 MAX jets, which were involved in two fatal crashes, and the company has provided additional information to device operators, a spokesman said on Friday. The spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said the changes will ensure that the simulator experience is representative across different flight conditions and will improve the simulation of force loads on the manual trim wheel that helps control the airplane. The comments came after the New York Times on Friday reported https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/business/boeing-737-max-simulators.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage that Boeing recently discovered that the flight simulators airlines use to train pilots could not adequately replicate conditions that played a role in the 737 MAX crashes.
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| New details emerge on F-16 jet that crashed into warehouse Posted: 17 May 2019 10:32 AM PDT  The pilot of the aircraft safely ejected before the aircraft crashed, injuring 12 people.
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| IM Pei death: World-renowned architect who redesigned the Louvre dies, aged 102 Posted: 17 May 2019 12:25 AM PDT  I. M. Pei, one of the last great modernist architects of the 20th century, has died aged 102.Tributes have poured in for the man who designed the controversial glass pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris and the multi-shaped rock 'n' roll hall of fame in the United States.A spokesperson for Mr Pei's New York architecture firm confirmed the death on Thursday and his son said he died overnight.The multiple award-winning architect worked internationally over many decades and was known for designs which had an emphasis on precision geometry and natural light.Born in Guangzhou, China, in 1917, Mr Pei came to the United States at the age of 17 to study architecture. His works ranged from the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC to the towers of the National Centre of Atmospheric Research that blend in with the reddish mountains in Boulder, Colorado.He also designed the steel and glass Bank of China skyscraper in Hong Kong.Some of his most recent projects were the Museum of Islamic Art, built on an artificial island just off the waterfront in Doha, Qatar, and the Macau Science Centre in China.Mr Pei wanted his designs to inspire people. "At one level my goal is simply to give people pleasure in being in a space and walking around it," he said. "But I also think architecture can reach a level where it influences people to want to do something more with their lives. That is the challenge that I find most interesting."The pyramid outside the Louvre, which contrasts with the classic French style of the museum, opened in 1993 with a mixed response. A slight man who wore distinctive round glasses and was considered to be a skilled diplomat, Mr Pei officially retired in 1990 but continued to work on projects. His wife Eileen, whom he married in 1942, died in 2014. He is survived by two sons, Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei, as well as a daughter, Liane.
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| Missouri's GOP-led Legislature passes 8-week abortion ban Posted: 17 May 2019 07:18 PM PDT  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led House on Friday passed sweeping legislation designed to survive court challenges, which would ban abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy.
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| ‘Fox & Friends’ Host Brian Kilmeade: Border Crisis Is ‘Almost Like’ 9/11 Posted: 17 May 2019 08:15 AM PDT  Remember when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 3,000 people and sending the U.S. down a path of never-ending war? Or when the financial markets melted down in 2008, causing the Great Recession with millions of jobs lost?According to Fox News host Brian Kilmeade the influx of asylum-seeking migrants arriving at America's southern border is akin to both.During Friday's broadcast of President Trump's favorite morning show Fox & Friends, the curvy-couch crew discussed the president's recently unveiled immigration plan. After co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt and Steve Doocy seemed to acknowledge the president's proposal likely won't go very far, Kilmeade pivoted to the situation at the border."But you know what I want and I think we all want?" Kilmeade declared. "There is a five-alarm fire out on our southern border right now and the men and women every day need some help. And this plan—this plan is not going to help."Doocy jumped in, claiming this was why Trump "essentially rolled this out," adding that the president is saying he wants immigration reform and the only way to achieve it is "to elect more Republicans."This prompted Kilmeade to take aim at Democrats, scolding the party's leaders for calling the situation at the border a "manufactured crisis" before likening it to the worst terror attack in the nation's history."But there's an opportunity because there are times when Democrats and Republicans come together," he exclaimed. "When the market fell apart in 2008 and after 9/11, this is almost like that at the border."Kilmeade added: "We have never seen these numbers before and the men and women who have to round up these illegals who want to become part of our country are saying please help us."This is far from the first time that the conservative cable news host has fear-mongered on immigration. He's repeatedly warned about non-English speaking kids "flooding" American school systems and floated putting missiles on drones to stop "people storming the border."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Vineyard Vines arrives at Target on Saturday. How to shop the limited-edition collaboration Posted: 18 May 2019 09:44 AM PDT  Set your alarm clock if you're interested in shopping Target's latest designer collaboration, Vineyard Vines. The new collection goes on sale May 18.
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| Here Is Russia's Plan to Build a Fleet of Su-57 Stealth Fighters Posted: 18 May 2019 02:45 AM PDT  The Su-57 is coming—76 of them over the next decade, to be exact.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at a Kremlin meeting that the Russian Defense Ministry plans to procure 76 Su-57 fifth-generation fighters by 2028, himself acknowledging that these new quantities dwarf previous Russian defense ministry estimates: "The 2028 arms program stipulated the purchase of 16 such jets… In the nearest future we will sign a package contract to supply 76 such jets equipped with modern weapons of destruction and provided with the necessary land infrastructure."The announcement defies the western defense analysis consensus, which concluded that the Su-57 will not enter production until the late 2020's. Even then, it was alleged that Russia lacks the industrial output to churn out Su-57 fighters in militarily meaningful numbers.If the Kremlin's new forecast proves to be accurate, what accounts for this drastic output increase?
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| 2020 Vision: There are 14 white male Dems running for president. So why should Kamala Harris settle for veep? Posted: 17 May 2019 09:39 AM PDT  Few have suggested that any of the white guys in the race would be better suited to serve as vice president. That dubious honor, it seems, has so far been reserved for candidates of color — black women in particular.
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| Erdogan Slams Turkish Tycoon Who Dared to Criticize Policies Posted: 17 May 2019 01:49 AM PDT ![Erdogan Slams Turkish Tycoon Who Dared to Criticize Policies]( "Erdogan Slams Turkish Tycoon Who Dared to Criticize Policies") "What was Turkey's per capita income 17 years ago, and what is it now?" Erdogan said late Thursday during a speech in Istanbul. Ozilhan this week made comments seen as criticism of Turkey's economy and governance.
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| Nearly 180 former Ohio State University students claim sexual abuse by doctor Posted: 17 May 2019 07:31 PM PDT  Dr. Richard Strauss was accused of abusing at least 177 male students when he worked as a physician for the university's athletic department and the student health center from 1978 to 1998, the report said, detailing the findings of a year-long independent investigation. Staff members knew of the abuse as early as 1979, but complaints were never elevated to administrators and senior officials of the athletics or student health departments until 1996. At that time, the school suspended and ultimately removed Strauss after a "very limited investigation" into a student's claim that the doctor fondled him during an exam, the report said.
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| View Photos of the First Hot Wheels Toy Based on a Fan's Custom Car Posted: 18 May 2019 08:01 AM PDT |
| 'Heartbeat bills' reveal extremist anti-abortion view that values unborn over women Posted: 17 May 2019 10:32 AM PDT  The anti-abortion movement pays lip service to caring for women, but there is only one thing they care about: the unborn. I care about all lives.
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| Saudi Arabia calls urgent Gulf, Arab League meetings over tensions Posted: 18 May 2019 03:09 PM PDT  Saudi Arabia has called for urgent meetings of the regional Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to discuss escalating tensions in the Gulf, the Saudi official news agency said on Saturday. The Saudi Press Agency said King Salman had invited Gulf leaders and Arab states to two emergency summits in Mecca on May 30 to discuss recent "aggressions and their consequences" in the region.
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| Huawei's HiSilicon says it has long been preparing for U.S. ban scenario Posted: 16 May 2019 10:37 PM PDT ![Huawei's HiSilicon says it has long been preparing for U.S. ban scenario]( "Huawei's HiSilicon says it has long been preparing for U.S. ban scenario") Huawei Technologies' chip arm HiSilicon said on Friday it has long been prepared for the "extreme scenario" that it could be banned from purchasing U.S. chips and technology, and is able to ensure steady supply of most products. HiSilicon, which mainly designs chips for Huawei equipment, made the comments in a letter to staff attributed to President He Tingbo dated "the small hours of May 17", shortly after the United States officially banned Huawei from buying U.S. technology without special approval. HiSilicon has been secretly developing back-up products for years in anticipation of the unlikely scenario that Huawei may one day be unable to obtain advanced chips and technology from the United States, He said in the letter.
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| Boeing says 737 MAX software update is complete Posted: 16 May 2019 10:11 PM PDT  Boeing said Thursday that it completed its software update on the 737 MAX after two deadly crashes resulted in a global grounding of the aircraft. "With safety as our clear priority, we have completed all of the engineering test flights for the software update and are preparing for the final certification flight," said Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement. Boeing's announcement sent shares up 2.6 percent to $354.44 in afternoon trading.
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| No Longer a Trade Tiff: China Screams ‘People’s War’ Posted: 17 May 2019 04:00 AM PDT  "People's war." That's the Communist Party's new term for the trade dispute with the United States.The Global Times, the party's nationalist tabloid, used that phrase on the May 13, but China's leaders obviously approved of the rhetorical escalation. Both People's Daily, the self-described "mouthpiece" of China's ruling organization, and the official Xinhua News Agency carried the piece to wider audiences.There seems to be a mismatch in perceptions. President Donald Trump, in comments to reporters on Tuesday, characterized the trade disagreement this way: "We're having a little squabble with China."Trump was calming jittery markets. The party, on the other hand, was inflaming passions. The stoking of emotions—"people's war" suggests America is an enemy of all Chinese—suggests a trade agreement between the planet's two largest economies is not in the cards anytime soon.For months, market participants outside China, buying into the persistent cheerleading of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, assumed the two giants would reach a trade pact this spring. Most observers ignored, among other things, internal Chinese factors pushing Beijing away from agreement with the United States.
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| UPDATE 1-Argentina grants offshore oil, gas exploration permits in Malvinas West basin Posted: 17 May 2019 08:06 PM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Argentina grants offshore oil, gas exploration permits in Malvinas West basin]( "UPDATE 1-Argentina grants offshore oil, gas exploration permits in Malvinas West basin") Argentina awarded permits for hydrocarbon exploration in 18 areas off its southern coast to companies including Exxon Mobil Corp, Total SA , YPF SA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the government said on Friday. The winning companies offered bids totaling $724 million, the government said in official statements, and won the rights to explore for up to 13 years in areas of the South Atlantic, some near the Malvinas Islands under the control of the British government but whose sovereignty is claimed by Argentina. The other companies that will make up exploration consortia in Argentina's Malvinas West basin include BP, Qatar Petroleum, Tullow Oil, Pluspetrol , Wintershall, Equinor, Eni , Mitsui &Co Ltd and Tecpetrol SA.
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| Fox News’ Chris Wallace: Bill Barr ‘Clearly Is Protecting’ Trump Posted: 17 May 2019 09:54 AM PDT  Reacting to a Fox News interview with Attorney General William Barr that included Barr essentially threatening Democrats who criticize him and justifying the president calling the Mueller probe a "witch hunt," Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said Friday that Trump now has a new fixer.In the interview that was aired Friday, Barr told Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer that House Democrats who have accused him of contempt of Congress are discrediting him because they're likely "concerned about the outcome of a review of what happened during the election." Furthermore, the attorney general said he wants to see if FBI officials "put their thumb on the scale" during the Russia investigation, especially during the origins of it.During Friday's broadcast of America's Newsroom, Wallace praised Hemmer's interview of the attorney general, claiming he did a "hell of a job and squeezed the sponge dry getting everything that Bill Barr was prepared to say."Fox News' Chris Wallace Trashes Barr: He Acted as Trump's Defense LawyerThe Fox News anchor went on to note that we had heard Trump complain openly for the past two years that he didn't have an attorney general who would look out for him and protect his interests."He clearly has that now with Bill Barr," Wallace asserted. "Not saying that Barr isn't right in everything he says. But he clearly is protecting this president and advocating his point of view on a lot of these issues."He added: "I suspect that as President Trump, who probably has watched some of this interview himself, is saying: 'Finally no Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr instead.'"This isn't the first time that Wallace has dinged Barr for acting on the president's personal behalf. Following Barr's presser ahead of the release of the redacted Mueller report, the Fox News Sunday host said that the attorney general was acting like Trump's defense lawyer. He later called Barr's decision not to charge the president with obstruction of justice was "troubling" and "politically-charged" based on Mueller's conclusions.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| AOC asks pharma CEO why $2,000 HIV drug costs just $8 in Australia: 'People are dying for no reason' Posted: 17 May 2019 10:13 AM PDT  New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had a simple question for the head of a major drug company: why should a $2,000 HIV treatment be available for just $8 in Australia? "You're the CEO of Gilead. Is it true that Gilead made $3bn in profits from Truvada in 2018," Ms Ocasio-Cortez asked Daniel O'Day, the CEO of California-based Gilead Sciences, during a hearing of the House committee on oversight and reform.Mr O'Day replied that the company had generated $3bn in revenues, not profits.Referring to Truvada, a drug used to reduce the transmission of HIV, Ms Ocasio-Cortez, pointed out that while it cost almost $2,000 in the US, it was available for just $8 in places such as Australia. In South Africa, it costs just $6."Truvada still has patent protection in the United States and in the rest of the world it is generic," said Mr O'Day said. "It will be generically available in the United States as of September 2020."According to The Hill, the congresswoman replied: "I think it's important here that we notice that we the public, we the people, developed this drug. We paid for this drug, we lead and developed all the patents to create Prep and then that patent has been privatised despite the fact that the patent is owned by the public, who refused to enforce it."There's no reason this should be $2,000 a month. People are dying because of it and there's no enforceable reason for it."Gilead disputes that the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the preeminent public health body in the US, owns part of the patent for Truvada, a so-called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, treatment.Mr O'Day cited a number of examples in which scientists had researched use of the drug for PrEP, as the prevention use is known, before the CDC filed its patent application in 2006, according to the Washington Post.Committee chairman Elijah Cummings and other Democrats, said tens of millions of dollars in government grants, as well as direct research conducted by government scientists, had helped prove Truvada could be used to prevent HIV. He said Gilead's high prices were preventing broader use of the drug; only about 20 per cent of the 1.1m people who should be taking it for prevention, were using it."This treatment was developed as a result of investment made by the American taxpayers," said Mr Cummings. "The problem is that Gilead, the company that now sells the drug, charges astronomical prices.The hearing came as activists for cheaper medicines filed a lawsuit this week, claiming that for years, major drugs firms acted to prevent a cheaper, generic version of HIV treatment becoming available.Activist Brenda Goodrow said: "The anticompetitive actions alleged in this case are shocking and help explain why the prices we pay for our antiviral pills just keep going up and up. "This gross profiteering explains why less than half of people living with HIV in the U.S. are virally suppressed, one of the lowest rates among the world's high-income countries."
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| Strict anti-abortion laws like Alabama's are aimed at Supreme Court, which may prove to be an obstacle Posted: 17 May 2019 10:27 AM PDT  Red-state governors and legislators rush to enact tough anti-abortion laws in hopes that the Supreme Court is ready to rule favorably.
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| Exclusive - U.S. may scale back Huawei trade restrictions to help existing customers Posted: 17 May 2019 10:20 PM PDT ![Exclusive - U.S. may scale back Huawei trade restrictions to help existing customers]( "Exclusive - U.S. may scale back Huawei trade restrictions to help existing customers") The Commerce Department, which had effectively halted Huawei's ability to buy American-made parts and components, is considering issuing a temporary general license to "prevent the interruption of existing network operations and equipment," a spokeswoman said. Potential beneficiaries of the license could, for example, include internet access and mobile phone service providers in thinly populated places such as Wyoming and eastern Oregon that purchased network equipment from Huawei in recent years. In effect, the Commerce Department would allow Huawei to purchase U.S. goods so it can help existing customers maintain the reliability of networks and equipment, but the Chinese firm still would not be allowed to buy American parts and components to manufacture new products.
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| Glock 31 Gun: All You Need To Know About this Powerful Pistol Posted: 18 May 2019 04:30 AM PDT  In the early 1990s, a handful of calibers emerged to challenge the nine-millimeter as the dominant semi-automatic handgun round. One of these, the .357 Sig, is the caliber of choice for the Glock 31 pistol. The Glock 31 is the company's offering for those into high velocity or long distance handgun shooting. The G31 also comes with a large magazine capacity, making it an excellent self-defense or duty sidearm.The now infamous 1986 FBI Miami shootout was a watershed moment in the history of law enforcement. Eight FBI agents armed with pistols and shotguns engaged two bank robbers armed with superior weapons. Over the course of the gun battle, which saw the federal agents pinned down by suppressive fire from a Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, two agents were killed and another five wounded. The two bank robbers were hit multiple times by incoming fire but were both able to continue shooting, contributing to the very high law enforcement casualty rate.In the aftermath of the shootout, the FBI and other government agencies began the search for a new, more powerful handgun round. Nine-millimeter and .38 Special proved ineffective at stopping the robbers, while .357 Magnum was a revolver cartridge that limited the user's carrying capacity to six rounds at a time. Law enforcement wanted a powerful round that could be carried in large quantities.
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| Trump says 'good chance' Democrats will back his immigration, border plan Posted: 17 May 2019 07:27 PM PDT  A day after unveiling a plan to shift to a "merit-based" immigration system, the Republican president said there was a "good chance" that Democrats would back him and provide funding to manage record migrant flows along the U.S.-Mexico border. "The Democrats now realize that there is a National Emergency at the Border and that, if we work together, it can be immediately fixed. Such talk of bipartisan cooperation on the explosive immigration issue for years has ended in failure and finger-pointing.
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| Grumpy Cat, Whose Frown Made the Internet Smile, Dies After Infection Posted: 17 May 2019 07:27 AM PDT  Grumpy Cat, whose seemingly unamused facial expressions shot her to viral fame in 2012, has died at the age of seven, her owners have said.
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| US: Flynn described efforts to interfere with cooperation Posted: 17 May 2019 03:28 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn told the special counsel's office that people connected to the Trump administration and Congress sought to influence his cooperation with the Russia investigation, and he provided a voicemail recording of one such communication, prosecutors said in a court filing made public Thursday.
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| Alabama governor signs near-total abortion ban into law Posted: 17 May 2019 10:08 AM PDT  Law criminalizing procedure in nearly all cases likely to face legal challenges
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| China's Luckin raises $561 mln as it hopes to topple Starbucks Posted: 16 May 2019 10:18 PM PDT  Chinese coffee chain Luckin, battling to dethrone Starbucks in the Asian giant, has raised $561 million ahead of its Wall Street listing, an IPO consulting firm said Thursday. It sold 33 million American depository receipts (ADRs) after initially marketing 30 million, said Renaissance Capital, which specializes in initial public offerings. ADRs allow foreign companies to list in America without being subject to strict rules that apply to US-based companies.
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| Ram Recalls Pickup Trucks Due to Risk of Tailgate Opening Posted: 17 May 2019 09:42 AM PDT  Certain 2015 to 2018 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks are being recalled because of concerns that the tailgate may open. If the vehicle is in transit, there is a risk that cargo could tumbl...
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| 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: AirPods 2, $35 Fire TV Stick 4K, $10 Philips Hue bulbs, more Posted: 18 May 2019 04:28 AM PDT ![10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: AirPods 2, $35 Fire TV Stick 4K, $10 Philips Hue bulbs, more]( "10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: AirPods 2, $35 Fire TV Stick 4K, $10 Philips Hue bulbs, more") We've got another great weekend edition of our daily deals roundups for you, because great deals never take a day off! Highlights include a rare opportunity to save $20 on Apple AirPods 2 (order now to lock in the discount and they'll ship soon, likely within a few weeks), the Fire TV Stick 4K for $35 instead of $50 and the Fire TV Stick for $25 instead of $40 (Prime members only), all-time low prices for the Apple Watch Series 3 starting at $199, all-time low prices on iPads starting at $249, just $11.50 for a SanDisk 64GB microSD card (other sizes on sale too!), Philips Hue white LED bulbs for $10 a piece when you buy a 4-pack, Alexa and Google enabled WiFi smart plugs for $7.25 each when you buy a 4-pack, and more. See all of today's top deals below.
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| The V-8 Engine Has No Future at Genesis Posted: 17 May 2019 11:39 AM PDT  The next-generation G80 sedan will go no higher than a V-6, and the G90's Tau V-8 will eventually be phased out.
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| 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH in Photos Posted: 17 May 2019 06:08 AM PDT |
| Saudi-led coalition in Yemen strikes Sanaa, casualties reported Posted: 16 May 2019 10:59 PM PDT ![Saudi-led coalition in Yemen strikes Sanaa, casualties reported]( "Saudi-led coalition in Yemen strikes Sanaa, casualties reported") The Sanaa strikes targeted nine military sites in and around the city, residents said, with humanitarian agencies reporting a number of casualties. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said two hospitals it supports in Sanaa took in 48 injured and four dead people as a result of the strikes. Preliminary reports indicated five children were among those killed, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen said.
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| Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage Posted: 17 May 2019 12:24 AM PDT  There were tears of joy among Taiwan's LGBT community on Friday after same-sex marriage was legalised in a historic first for Asia. The vote by Taiwan's parliament came two years after the self-ruled island's constitutional court ruled that not allowing same-sex couples to marry was a violation of the constitution, and told the parliament to take action to enforce its judgement. The panel of judges instructed MPs to amend or enact new laws before 24 May 2019. The new bill will now go into effect next week and gay couples are already lining up to officially wed. The landmark decision cements Taiwan's reputation as a beacon of liberalism in a region where the LGBT community faces increasing persecution, and will give a long-awaited boost to Asia's burgeoning gay rights movement. Thousands of LGBT activists and gay rights supporters who braved heavy rain outside the national parliament during the vote, waved rainbow flags and cheered as the decision was announced. The LGBT community had expressed increasing disillusionment with ruling politicians as parliament delayed passing legislation ahead of important local elections last November. The law survived a last-minute attempt to water it down by conservative lawmakers Credit: AFP While democratic Taiwan has been one of the most progressive societies in Asia in terms of respecting gay rights - it hosts the region's biggest annual gay pride parade - much of the population remains deeply conservative. Conservative and religious groups celebrated a controversial referendum victory in November in which 67 per cent of voters rejected the definition of marriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman. As next week's deadline approached, conservatives had mobilised to remove any reference to marriage in the new law, instead proposing watered-down rival bills that offered a solution closer to limited same-sex unions. Instead, the only successful piece of legislation was one which used the term "marriage." It was supported by LGBT groups, even though it did not offer full equality with heterosexual couple. The new legislation only allows for biological adoption and marriages with foreigners will not be recognised. Taiwan's LGBT community is celebrating the vote Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images Gay rights groups, however, accepted the compromise of being granted the right to a "marriage registration" as a move that would bring them closer parity to heterosexual couples, while vowing to fight in future for equal access to surrogacy and adoption. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, tweeted a rainbow flag following the vote, adding: "On May 17th, 2019 in Taiwan, LoveWon. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country." Ms Tsai had signalled her support for marriage equality ahead of her election in 2016 but has since remained largely silent on the issue, with critics accusing her of being cowed by low public approval ratings. With a new presidential election looming next year, the conservative Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation accused her of promoting the bill to attract young voters. However, the vote for marriage equality has been welcomed around the world. Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, congratulated the people of Taiwan on Twitter. "Great news for its LGBT community and another huge step forward for LGBT equality in Asia," he said.
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| Democratic Politicians Ignore Pro-Life Women Posted: 17 May 2019 03:30 AM PDT  Senator Doug Jones (D., Ala.) tweeted in response to anti-abortion legislation passed by the Alabama legislature: "I refuse to believe that these Republican men represent the views of most Alabamians. Their action is both unconstitutional and shameful. The people of Alabama deserve to be on the rightsideofhistory - not the side of extremists. Women deserve better."It seems much more likely that Senator Jones is the one who is out of step. A 2014 Pew poll found that Alabama is among the most pro-life states in the country, with 58 percent saying the procedure should be illegal in "all or most cases." It's possible that among the 58 percent who oppose abortion in Alabama, some will find the legislation passed this week to be too extreme, but don't count on it. Just last year, voters approved a state constitutional amendment declaring that it is "the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children." Fifty-nine percent of voters voted in favor.Since the vote making abortion illegal in Alabama, Republican members of the Alabama senate have been targets of accusations -- mostly that they are male and white. A number of outlets pointed to the fact that all 25 votes in favor of legislation were white, male Republicans. Okay. But the Alabama house has lots of Republican women. The bill's sponsor in the lower chamber was a woman, as was the governor who signed the bill.Those who fixate on the "problem" of whiteness may think this is some sort of knock-out blow, but the truth is that these senators are accurately representing the views of their constituents, including women. A 2018 PRRI survey found that 60 percent of Republican women agreed with the statement "Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned." This compared with only 47 percent of Republican men. Democratic pollster Celinda Lake notes that women tend to be more religious than men, and this aligns with more conservative views on abortion.Still, partisan lines remain blurry on abortion. More than a third of Republicans favor keeping abortion legal. Until Brett Kavanaugh's ascension to the Supreme Court, the issue may not have ranked very high for them. They could vote for Republicans -- with whom they agree on other issues -- safe in the knowledge that nothing would threaten the regime of legal abortion throughout the nation. Now that the Court has a possible majority for overturning Roe, the calculations of moderate Republicans may change.Moderate Democrats may be out in the cold too. In the aftermath of the 2018 election, Democrats burst from the gate with legislation that expanded abortion even beyond Roe's contours. New York passed the Reproductive Health Act that permits even late-term abortions in the "absence of fetal viability, or [when] the abortion is necessary to protect the patient's life or health." When health is interpreted to mean "mental health," it opens a gaping loophole. Sometimes late-term pregnancies must be terminated to save the mother's physical health -- but that doesn't mean an abortion is required. Even very premature infants commonly survive these days.Democrats also painted themselves as abortion extremists by opposing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, insisting -- falsely -- that late-term abortions are only performed when there are severe fetal abnormalities or when the mother's life is at risk.But now Republicans risk being viewed as extremists. With seven states having passed abortion laws that may transgress the boundaries established by Roe, the question now is whether the pro-life cause is best served by this frontal-assault strategy. The Alabama law makes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. And while it's true that the child bears no guilt for the way he or she was conceived, it may not be prudent to refuse to concede that ground. A 2018 Gallup poll found that 77 percent of respondents want abortion to be legal in cases of rape and incest. The exception has long been included in other pro-life legislation, such as the Hyde Amendment.Whatever happens, these stirrings at the state level may provoke an overdue reckoning about the truth of abortion. It isn't rare. It is usually performed on perfectly healthy mothers and babies. And it isn't the only alternative for women unable to raise a child. There are 36 couples waiting for an adoptive child for every one placed. Why is that humane solution so commonly overlooked?© 2019 creators.com
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| Joementum: Biden ramps up 2020 bid with wind at his back Posted: 17 May 2019 11:13 PM PDT  As the one true known quantity in the Democratic nomination race, former vice president Joe Biden sits atop the pack of 2020 presidential contenders, relishing the prime position as he hosts a kickoff rally Saturday. No one knows whether the man who served as number two to popular Democratic president Barack Obama for eight years will run away with this contest -- his third White House bid in as many decades -- or fade out in the months-long test of political skill and stamina to come. After a month of modest events at union halls and pizza joints in early-voting states like Iowa, Biden is counting on making a splash at a rally in Philadelphia, the largest city in must-win Pennsylvania, a state Trump snatched from Democrats in 2016.
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| Target sells a Hershey's toolbox to organize your s'mores ingredients Marie Kondo style Posted: 17 May 2019 09:07 AM PDT  Target is selling a caddy to carry the s'mores ingredients for $10. It's just the box. No snacks included.
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| You’re crazy if you don’t get an Apple Watch while it’s on sale for $199 Posted: 17 May 2019 05:46 AM PDT  The Apple Watch has become an absolutely essential accessory for iPhone users and today is definitely the day to buy one if you don't already have one. Or, if you have an older model like a Series 1 or Series 2 Apple Watch, today is the perfect day to upgrade. Amazon is selling the Apple Watch Series 3 right now starting at just $199 for a 38mm model that retails for $279. If you have a bigger wrist and need to size up, the 42mm model is down to $229 from $309. Those are both huge $80 discounts, and they're also both all-time low prices for a brand new Apple Watch Series 3. So what are you waiting for!?Here are the highlights from the product page: * GPS * Optical heart sensor * Digital Crown * S3 with dual-core processor * Accelerometer and gyroscope * Swim proof * watch OS 5 * Aluminum case
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| Hit The Open Road With This Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Posted: 17 May 2019 05:31 AM PDT  Harley-Davidson is arguably the most famed motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with its reputation acknowledged even by those who know nothing of bikes or American culture. If that's you, this highly specified 2017 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide might be your two-wheeled ticket. Finished in jet black and looking great after a professional detail, the American Motorcycle Trading Company humbly present this 2017 CVO Street Glide.
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| Conrad Black speaks out after being pardoned by President Trump Posted: 16 May 2019 08:11 PM PDT  Former media mogul Conrad Black joins 'The Ingraham Angle' for his first U.S. interview since being pardoned.
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| U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for second straight week -Baker Hughes Posted: 17 May 2019 10:02 AM PDT ![U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for second straight week -Baker Hughes]( "U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for second straight week -Baker Hughes") U.S. energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs operating for the second week in a row, with the rig count at its lowest since March 2018, as some drillers follow through on plans to cut spending. Drillers cut three oil rigs in the week to May 17, bringing the total count down to 802, below the 844 units operating a year ago, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday. Major oil companies, like Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp, however, are boosting their presence, particularly in the Permian, the largest U.S. shale oil field.
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| U.S.-China Feud Widens, Europe Populists Buoyant Posted: 18 May 2019 12:00 AM PDT  U.S.-China relations hit a new low this week after President Donald Trump's administration slapped new tariffs on imports from China and targeted its biggest technology company, Huawei Technologies. Elsewhere, residents in the Iranian capital, Tehran, worry more about feeding their families than the rumors of war with the U.S., and populists hoped to score unprecedented gains in next week's elections to the European Parliament.Read about those topics and more in this edition of Weekend Reads, and click here for some of Bloomberg's most compelling political images from the past seven days. China Vows 'People's War' as Trade Fight Takes Nationalist TurnAs China's state media ratchets up the rhetoric in the deepening trade dispute with the U.S., Peter Coy reports on how Trump's tariffs on China will place a heavier burden on America's poor and working class.
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