| Pelosi shows pragmatic streak in pursuit of border deal Posted: 09 Feb 2019 01:39 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have vilified Nancy Pelosi for years as a San Francisco liberal and now they're trying to portray her as a captive of resurgent left-wingers in her Democratic Party.
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| Gosnell : When Art Collides with Reality and Exposes the Truth Posted: 10 Feb 2019 03:37 PM PST  Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer is the true story of a doctor who went to prison for life in 2013 for stabbing several infants he had delivered alive inside his hellhole of an abortion clinic in Philadelphia. At the same time, infanticide became a key issue in major stories in Virginia and New York. Last week, Virginia governor Ralph Northam became engulfed in a controversy over whether he had appeared in his medical-school yearbook in costume, either in blackface or in the white sheet and hat of a Ku Klux Klan member.
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| Exclusive: Venezuela shifts oil ventures' accounts to Russian bank - document, sources Posted: 10 Feb 2019 07:18 AM PST  PDVSA's move comes after the United States imposed tough, new financial sanctions on Jan. 28 aimed at blocking Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's access to the country's oil revenue. Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido said recently that a fund would be established to accept proceeds from sales of Venezuelan oil. The United States and dozens of other countries have recognized Guaido as the nation's legitimate head of state.
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| Saudi King Approves $3.1 Billion Plan to Ease Expat Fee Costs Posted: 09 Feb 2019 11:52 PM PST  Authorities will exempt some companies from paying the 2018 fees or reimburse those that have already paid, according to the official-Saudi Press Agency. To qualify for the aid, businesses need to have made strides in hiring more Saudi nationals. The fees were introduced in 2018 as part of a drive to increase non-oil government revenue -- a key goal of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's economic transformation plan -- but have drawn fire from business owners in a country accustomed to cheap foreign labor.
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| Miami police investigate possible abduction of woman Posted: 09 Feb 2019 09:17 PM PST  Miami police are investigating a possible abduction of a woman. The possible abduction was caught on video.
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| Snowstorm buries Pacific Northwest, with more on the way Posted: 09 Feb 2019 06:16 PM PST  SEATTLE (AP) — Residents of the Pacific Northwest took to neighborhood hills with skis, sleds or even just laundry baskets Saturday to celebrate an unusual dump of snow in a region more accustomed to winter rain.
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| New shutdown threat as US budget talks stall Posted: 10 Feb 2019 08:35 AM PST  US budget talks have hit another impasse over immigration, a key Republican negotiator said Sunday, raising the prospect of a second government shutdown if no agreement is reached by this week's deadline. "I think the talks are stalled right now," Richard Shelby, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on Fox News Sunday. Negotiators had been optimistic Friday an agreement would be reached that includes some funds for a border "barrier," although less than the $5.6 billion US President Donald Trump has demanded.
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| Duke of Edinburgh car crash victim feels 'safer' now he's given up his licence Posted: 10 Feb 2019 09:08 AM PST  A woman who broke her wrist in a car crash involving the Duke of Edinburgh has said she feels "safer" now he has given up his driving licence. Emma Fairweather, 46, who was a passenger in a Kia Carens that collided with the Duke's Land Rover last month, said: "He's making the most sensible decision he can. It's a shame he didn't make it a bit sooner but it's the right thing to do." The Duke, 97, voluntarily surrendered his licence after "careful consideration", Buckingham Palace announced this weekend. It comes almost a month after the accident, in which his Land Rover was overturned on a crossroads near the Queen's Norfolk estate. The Duke said he was blinded by the sun before he pulled out of a sideroad into the path of an oncoming car. Norfolk Police have passed their file on the crash to prosecutors, although he is now unlikely to face action. Nick Freeman, the lawyer known as Mr Loophole for his successful defence of celebrities charged with traffic offences, said: "What would be the point in prosecuting a 97-year-old man who has dedicated the majority of his life to public service and who has already given up his licence? Emma Fairweather appears on ITV's This Morning Credit: ITV/PA "I'm not saying (the decision) was designed to achieve that but the net effect of it would render a prosecution a totally futile exercise. It would achieve nothing." Mr Freeman said a potential prosecution would have to be in the public interest. "If he had not given up his licence I think it's without doubt they would have gone down the prosecution route," he said. "They may have thought they had a duty to take him off the roads, they could have made him retake his test, but surrendering his licence scuppers any prosecution." Ms Fairweather, 46, a mother-of-two from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, told the Sunday Mirror: "Undoubtedly the roads will be safer now. It won't have been easy for him to make as it is a loss of independence. But he can work around it." She said she had done "nothing but cry" this week after having an op to screw a metal plate into her arm. The Duke's decision to relinquish his licence is in marked contrast to his attitude in the aftermath of the January 17 accident, when he took delivery of a replacement Land Rover and drove it on public roads without a seat belt. He later wrote to the victims to express his contrition.
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| Virginia leader accused of rape will have to resign if claims are true: governor Posted: 10 Feb 2019 10:43 AM PST  In a CBS interview to be broadcast on Monday, Governor Ralph Northam said he had learned from the controversy that erupted on Feb. 1 when a racist photo surfaced from his medical school yearbook, and that as a former pediatrician he could help Virginians heal. Virginia also needs someone who is strong, who has empathy, who has courage and who has a moral compass," Northam told CBS "This Morning" co-host Gayle King. "And that's why I'm not going anywhere." According to excerpts of the interview provided on Sunday by CBS, Northam was asked about allegations of sexual crimes, including rape, that have been made by two women against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, a fellow Democrat and the state's second-highest elected official.
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| What will your tax refund be? So far, they're smaller by an average of $170 Posted: 09 Feb 2019 05:24 AM PST  The average tax refund issued so far declined to $1,865, down 8.4 percent from $2,035 at the same time last year, according to IRS statistics.
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| Israel arrests Palestinian over killing of Israeli woman Posted: 09 Feb 2019 10:42 AM PST ![Israel arrests Palestinian over killing of Israeli woman]( "Israel arrests Palestinian over killing of Israeli woman") Israeli security forces arrested a Palestinian man on Saturday suspected of killing an Israeli woman found dead two days ago in a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem, police said. The Israeli Shin Bet internal security service and police said in a statement that the 29-year-old Palestinian suspect was seized over the killing of the 19-year-old woman during a raid in the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Shin Bet said the suspect left his home in the Palestinian city of Hebron carrying a knife, saw the victim in the forest and killed her.
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| Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon boss Bezos Posted: 10 Feb 2019 02:21 PM PST  A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source. "What happened was the story was given to the National Enquirer by a reliable source that had been given information to the National Enquirer for seven years prior to the story.
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| Woman smashed Bronx restaurant windows with bat over out-of-stock beef patties, police say Posted: 09 Feb 2019 01:02 PM PST  The incident last month began when the unknown suspect entered a Jamaican and American eatery, and ordered a beef patty with cheese, police say.
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| The Latest: Winter weather hits Hawaii, too Posted: 10 Feb 2019 05:54 AM PST  HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on winter weather in parts of the U.S. (all times local):
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| Congressional Talks on Border Security Have Broken Down Posted: 10 Feb 2019 02:36 PM PST  Negotiations can still get back on track, and some key lawmakers planned to talk via phone on Sunday afternoon, but the prospect of getting a deal by Friday's deadline seem to have derailed just as lawmakers thought they were on track to reach a compromise. The sticking point is a sudden shift to enforcement matters, as Democrats and Republicans spar over the number and purpose of immigration detention beds in the U.S. The issue would typically be regarded as a side-note to the broader talks about the amount of funding for border security. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that Democrats were trying to create a distraction after "a very bad week" of news.
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| Facebook criticised for promoting 'legal loophole' in US gun ownership laws Posted: 10 Feb 2019 12:08 PM PST  Facebook has been criticised by a gun safety group for taking millions of dollars in advertising money to promote a legal "loophole" that allows Americans to obtain "concealed carry" weapon permits without any physical training. The social network's own records show at least $3.7 million has been spent since May advertising the so-called "Virginia loophole". It enables would-be gun carriers to get permits in a few minutes by answering 10 simple questions on their mobile phone, without ever actually touching a firearm, or meeting an instructor. A company promoting the controversial scheme has been designated a "political advertiser" by Facebook, and has become the third biggest spender, after Donald Trump and Beto O'Rourke. They are far ahead of other big political advertisers, including Democrat 2020 front-runner Kamala Harris, and the oil giant ExxonMobil. David Chipman, senior policy adviser at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said: "A company has choices to make, to look if it's in the interests of their company to support people carrying guns that haven't been trained to use them. "I would just want them [Facebook] to make that decision with eyes wide open. You don't get that training by answering multiple guess questions on the internet." Mr Chipman, a former SWAT team officer, and a concealed carry permit holder, added: "I would not be surprised if they [Facebook] had no idea what is happening. Their lawyers were probably satisfied nothing illegal was occurring." The situation grew out of the gun-friendly state of Virginia, where it is legal for non-residents to obtain a concealed carry licence by taking a test online. Due to reciprocity agreements with other states those licences can be obtained by people sitting at computers, or on their smartphones, in 30 other states, around 70 per cent of America. The rules in their home state may be much more stringent. For example, thousands of people in Texas alone have obtained non-resident Virginia licences, which are then valid in their home state. Had they sought a Texas licence they would have needed to spend four hours being trained in a classroom, and demonstrate proficiency loading and shooting on a firing range. Travis Bond, a firearms instructor in Dallas, told local television there: "It's not smart at all. It's crazy in my view." The adverts on Facebook, thousands of them, urge users to "Jump on the LEGAL LOOPHOLE" which is "STILL IN EFFECT FOR NOW!". They tell people to "BEAT THE BAN! before "GUN-GRABBING DEMOCRATS" change the law. With little background gun knowledge The Telegraph passed the test, consisting of 10 multiple choice questions, in a few minutes without even watching the accompanying instruction video. Facebook lobbyist, and former UK deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE One of the questions was: "True or false - you should not use drugs or alcohol before or while shooting". A qualification certificate can then be downloaded for a charge of $65 and sent off to Virginia State Police. The adverts appear to have contributed to a surge in people getting the permits online. Virginia State Police records show 8,760 were issued in 2017, 25 per cent up from the year before. The $3.7 million has been spent, on more than 16,000 adverts, by Concealed Online, a California-based company which put together the online test and profits from the fees paid by those getting permits. It has an 'F' rating, the lowest, with the Better Business Bureau, which said it had "failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints". On its website the company says would-be concealed carry permit holders can "do the whole thing on your cell phone or computer, its that easy". It says the test is "beyond simple" and "you never need to fire a gun, much less touch one. All you need is an internet connection". The website also warns that "secret factions in the US government are making it harder for you to enjoy your Second Amendment rights". The company did not immediately return a request for comment. It has previously pointed out that it follows the law and has done nothing wrong. Facebook's guidelines allow adverts for "safety courses for firearm training or licences". They ban "adverts promoting the brandishing of firearms" and the sale of weapons. The social network said it had reviewed the "Virginia loophole" adverts and they did not violate its policies. They were classed as "political advertising" because they included "advocacy" related to an issue of national importance, specifically guns. A Facebook spokesperson said it was "transparent" about adverts it accepts. That was shown by the fact it had opened its "Ad Archive" to the public. The archive includes records of spending by all political advertisers, along with copies of their adverts. The transparency push followed Russia's attempts to use Facebook to influence the 2016 election. Facebook said it has a "high standard" for political adverts and they have to be authorised. The spokesperson added: "Our goal is to increase transparency on Facebook and prevent foreign interference in elections. This is why we have implemented the authorisation process, including requiring a 'paid for by' disclosure, and released a searchable Ad Archive. "Separately, we do not allow weapon sales in ads on Facebook, which is outlined in our advertising policies."
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| Virginia governor appears at funeral as pressure grows on his No. 2 Posted: 09 Feb 2019 04:04 PM PST ![Virginia governor appears at funeral as pressure grows on his No. 2]( "Virginia governor appears at funeral as pressure grows on his No. 2") Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, the state's second-highest elected official, faces the prospect of impeachment proceedings at the hands of another Democrat next week after two women separately accused him of sexual crimes, including rape. Fairfax, who is African-American, has denied both claims and called them a "coordinated smear campaign." He has been as defiant as Northam in refusing to step down. After staying out of sight since he faced the press on Feb. 2 to deny he was pictured in the racist photo on his yearbook page, but admitting that he had worn blackface on another occasion, Northam, 59, returned to the public eye to attend the funeral of a slain state trooper.
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| Are stocks a good value? The beginner's guide to finding out Posted: 10 Feb 2019 08:41 AM PST ![Are stocks a good value? The beginner's guide to finding out]( "Are stocks a good value? The beginner's guide to finding out") The financial industry bombards us with complicated analysis and unnecessarily intimidating jargon. How can you simplify it to what matters?
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| Yemeni conjoined twins die in blockaded Sanaa: rebels Posted: 09 Feb 2019 09:53 PM PST  Newborn Yemeni conjoined twins whose plight sparked a plea for urgent medical treatment overseas died in Sanaa Saturday, rebels in the blockaded capital said. Abdelkhaleq and Abdelrahim were born outside Sanaa around two weeks ago and shared a kidney and a pair of legs but had separate hearts and lungs. The head of paediatrics at Sanaa's Al-Thawra hospital, Dr Faisal al-Babili, said his department lacked the facilities to treat or separate the newborn boys and appealed on Wednesday for help from abroad.
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| Renault denounces Nissan over Ghosn investigation: report Posted: 09 Feb 2019 10:52 PM PST  Lawyers for French carmaker Renault have criticised their Japanese alliance partner Nissan for its handling of an internal probe into the Carlos Ghosn scandal, a Sunday newspaper has reported. In a letter to Nissan dated January 19, the lawyers said they had "serious concerns about the methods used" by the company and its legal team, including the way they treated some Renault employees, according to France's Le Journal du Dimanche. Former head of the alliance Ghosn is being held in Japan on charges he under-reported millions of dollars in pay as head of Nissan.
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| Delta Seeks EasyJet Partnership for Alitalia Stake: Corriere Posted: 10 Feb 2019 02:12 AM PST  The discussions are complex and in a delicate phase, Corriere said, citing four people working on the matter being handled by Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato, the national railroad operator. Both Delta and U.K.-based low-cost carrier EasyJet submitted separate bids in November as the government seeks a buyer for the bankrupt national airline. The government may favor a deal with Delta because it would be easier to implement and wouldn't require job cuts, La Stampa reported in early January, citing an official.
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| Icy, snowy winter storm to snarl the Northeast early this week Posted: 10 Feb 2019 10:14 AM PST  A multifaceted winter storm is expected to overspread the Northeast during the first half of the week, bringing traffic-snarling snow, wind and ice to the region.
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| Democrat Schiff questions if Mueller probing Trump-Deutsche Bank link Posted: 10 Feb 2019 02:14 PM PST  The Democratic chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he was concerned that Special Counsel Robert Mueller may not be investigating President Donald Trump's ties to Deutsche Bank AG. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff announced last week a wide investigation into attempts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election as well as Trump's financial dealings, including "credible reports of money laundering and financial compromise" related to Trump business interests.
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| Thailand puzzles over political surprises from royals Posted: 09 Feb 2019 04:35 PM PST  BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai political party swore loyalty to the king after its stunning decision to nominate the monarch's sister as its candidate for prime minister backfired when the king called the move inappropriate and unconstitutional.
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| Poll: Virginia split on whether Gov. Ralph Northam should resign; he insists, 'I'm not going anywhere' Posted: 10 Feb 2019 08:31 AM PST  Gov. Ralph Northam vowed to remain in office Sunday while Virginians appeared split on whether the besieged Democrat should resign from office.
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| Police used stun gun 11 times, Arizona couple's lawsuit says Posted: 10 Feb 2019 12:09 PM PST ![Police used stun gun 11 times, Arizona couple's lawsuit says]( "Police used stun gun 11 times, Arizona couple's lawsuit says") GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A man and his wife are suing a Phoenix suburb and three of its police officers, alleging they used excessive force during a 2017 traffic stop.
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| Shoplifter extortion case against Walmart, other retailers is dismissed Posted: 09 Feb 2019 11:50 AM PST  In a decision late on Friday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, found no proof of a nationwide conspiracy to steer accused shoplifters into paying $400 up front or $500 in installments for the classes from Utah-based Corrective Education Co, and admitting guilt, to avoid prosecution. Koh said the three plaintiffs, who were accused in 2017 of shoplifting from Walmarts in Florida, Georgia and Texas, did not show that the retailers had specific knowledge of a conspiracy. "The only alleged commonality each of the defendants have with one another is CEC, whom plaintiffs have chosen not to sue," Koh wrote.
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| Caught in Syria, foreign jihadist suspects may face trial in Iraq Posted: 09 Feb 2019 06:10 PM PST  Their home countries don't want them and holding trials in Syria isn't an option: now suspected foreign jihadists could end up facing tough justice over the border in Iraq. As the final shred of the once-sprawling jihadist "caliphate" crumbles in eastern Syria, Kurdish-led forces backed by the US have captured hundreds more diehard foreign fighters. The American military -- which spearheads an international coalition fighting IS -- has in the past shown itself willing to hand those captured in Syria to the authorities in Iraq.
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| Exclusive look at FBI raid on Roger Stone's home Posted: 08 Feb 2019 07:01 PM PST  Home security footage of the FBI raiding Roger Stone's home in Florida on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.'
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| 11 good dogs FaceTiming with their humans Posted: 10 Feb 2019 11:49 AM PST  It's a scientifically proven fact that dogs love you. Yes, you! It's also known that dogs experience homesickness whenever we're away for too long. Oof, ouch, you hear that? That's the sound of my heart breaking into a million pieces. SEE ALSO: The weird and wonderful world of relaxation videos for dogsBut you know what's incredibly healing? Seeing people utilize apps like FaceTime to chat with their furry friends. Finally, a near perfect use of smartphone technology. Below are some examples of the most uplifting interactions between humans and dogs over video call. 1\. A couple of good boys right here> my girlfriend fell asleep and me n the dog jus been talkin... pic.twitter.com/ZDqsx69syb> > -- sam (@spicegirlsam) February 6, 2019 2\. Omw to steal your girl> it's been plenty time my boyfriend left his phone and his dog be comin out of no where pic.twitter.com/3WBtmBLKgB> > -- a$aindollpothead (@babyybenjiis) February 7, 2019 3\. Look at all the love in her eyes! > View this post on Instagram> > A post shared by Sadie Leigh Bennet (@sadie.b.the.doodle) on Jun 21, 2017 at 7:15pm PDT 4\. Patience is a virtue> View this post on Instagram> > A post shared by Zorro & Zita (@zorro_the_jack) on Jun 25, 2017 at 9:41am PDT 5\. A real family man> This is my dog realizing hes fting with me & my family because were away on vacay and look how happy he got. pic.twitter.com/ywXpE651iQ> > -- Edz (@deeeameddie) January 16, 2017 6\. Oh no, my heart 7\. Even celebs FaceTime their doggos> View this post on Instagram> > A post shared by ✌️ (@tomholland2013) on Oct 30, 2017 at 5:51am PDT 8\. Don't worry girl, she'll be back soon> OKAY SO IM AT COLLEGE AND I WATED MY DAD PUT MY DOG ON FACETIME AND AS I WAS SAYING HI TO HER AND SHE LOOKED DOWN THE STAIRS TO SEE IF I WAS HOME BC SHE HEARD MY VOICE THROUGH THE PHONE...MY HEART BROKE (sorry there's no sound lol) pic.twitter.com/IF4FR3yN5R> > -- gillian♡ (@gillcalbi) February 7, 2019 9\. Now this is true friendship> My bff and I made our dogs FaceTime each other. pic.twitter.com/kYMN2DAyBi> > -- Kelli Gunn (@jabroniii92) February 6, 2019 10\. She's right there! > My mom put the phone down and had me talk to my dog on FaceTime so then he crawled into my bed thinking I was home STOP IT HURTS pic.twitter.com/WXtVlfA2Jo> > -- kenz (@mykenziegaarza) February 6, 2019 11\. A family who FaceTimes together> my mom broke her ipad so we use fb messenger to facetime with my nephew and my dog knows the ringing noise so he just sits and waits for them to pop up on the screen pic.twitter.com/KGwI4s9NFg> > -- ㅤً (@wantyoutilidie) February 5, 2019While these interactions are peak Wholesome Content™, don't blame your pup if they're unresponsive over the phone -- scientists say that dogs have a harder time recognizing their owners' faces over small screens. A dog's sensory input is also much more attuned to your scent and tone of voice than visual images. According to a HuffPost article, dogs also process visuals 25 percent faster than humans. So when Fido looks at the screen, they may only be seeing a jerky, fuzzy picture of your face. That shouldn't stop you from FaceTiming your pet if you want to see their beautiful face, though. If you're worried about your best bud being homesick, know that if they can hear your voice, they most likely know it's you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be in the corner, crying over all the love dogs have in their hearts for us. WATCH: Dogs are eating edibles in record numbers
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| The Latest: More snowfall begins in Pacific Northwest Posted: 10 Feb 2019 04:23 PM PST  SEATTLE (AP) — The Latest on winter weather in the Pacific Northwest (all times local):
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| Two Competing Forces Are Setting the Price of Oil Posted: 09 Feb 2019 10:00 PM PST  The price rally that greeted the new year has fizzled out as renewed concerns about demand growth outweigh the tightening of oil supply through OPEC cuts and U.S. sanctions. U.S. production growth has stalled — for now — and President Donald Trump's sanctions on oil flows from a second OPEC producer (Venezuela joins Iran on the naughty step) will cut supplies even further. The flow of OPEC crude to the U.S. fell to the lowest in five years in January, according to data from the cargo-tracking and intelligence company Kpler.
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| Turkey calls on China to close internment camps for Muslims Posted: 10 Feb 2019 07:20 AM PST ![Turkey calls on China to close internment camps for Muslims]( "Turkey calls on China to close internment camps for Muslims") Turkey called on China to close its internment camps for Muslims, saying the camps which reportedly hold a million ethnic Uighur people are a "great shame for humanity". Last week, rights activists urged European and Muslim nations to take the lead in establishing a U.N. investigation into China's detention and "forced indoctrination" of up to 1 million Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language, and other Muslims in Xinjiang province. "The policy of systematic assimilation against the Uighur Turks carried out by the authorities of China is a great shame for humanity," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement late on Saturday.
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| Democratic Party of Virginia wants Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax out amid sexual assault claims Posted: 09 Feb 2019 11:07 AM PST  The second accusation of sexual assault against Fairfax prompts one lawmaker to threaten impeachment proceedings.
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| Trump's Afghan envoy intensifies peace efforts with Taliban Posted: 10 Feb 2019 09:38 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's special envoy for Afghanistan is returning to the country after stops in Europe and the Middle East for an extended diplomatic tour aimed at pushing a U.S. peace initiative.
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| Wild meat and vegan Yorkshire puddings: the restaurants taking Sunday roasts to a new level Posted: 09 Feb 2019 04:01 AM PST  Sunday lunch at Kricket in White City, London, is, in many ways, a classic roast. The key elements are there: juicy roast pork belly with crispy skin, golden roasties, sprouts and gravy. And yet… as I bite into the potatoes, subtly spiced with cumin and curry leaf, dip a pumpkin half-moon into the masala gravy, and scoop up a forkful of mustard-spiced greens and shredded Brussels (all pictured above), it's clear that we're in new territory. Kricket's Sunday lunch is one of a growing band of "new roasts". Restaurants such as Ceviche, Native and Brigadiers, all in London, are also offering exciting twists on Sunday lunch, which helps to lure diners through the doors during one of the week's most competitive sittings: when restaurants are up against pubs as well as each other. Peruvian restaurant Ceviche in Shoreditch now serves pollo a la brasa – rotisserie-style chicken – every day of the week. "It is a very common dish for Peruvian families to have on a Sunday," says Daniel Ribeiro, Ceviche's executive chef. Ceviche's chefs marinade the birds with amarillo chilli and spices, and serve them with roast sweet potato wedges or chips (find the recipe, tweaked for home cooks, below). Native, a London restaurant that specialises in foraged foods and game, has launched a monthly "wild roast". Seasonal meat such as venison is served as a communal feast, while trimmings can include roast potatoes with mugwort or heritage carrots with a seaweed salsa verde. Even in midwinter, there are plenty of foraged foods to add interest to a roast, say Ivan Tisdall-Downes and Imogen Davis, Native's founders. "We use juniper berries, crab apple and rowan berries, and make pine-needle salt for a dry rub on lamb." Restaurants are after the vegan (and vegetarian) pound, too. Greens in Manchester does a vegan roast with a pecan and hazelnut or red lentil loaf and all the trimmings – including Yorkshire puds. Kricket offers a weekly meat-free roast, such as roasted broccoli, kori-spiced mushrooms or delica pumpkin. Chef Matt Davies at Greens in Didsbury, with his vegan roast dinner Credit: PAUL COOPER Roasts are more flexible than you might think. Just ask The Telegraph's cookery writer, Diana Henry, whose book A Bird in the Hand contains enough twists for a month of Sundays (lemon grass and turmeric roast chicken, Indonesian roast spiced chicken, caraway roast potatoes). "Roast meats work well with Indian spices," says Kricket's Will Bowlby. "White meats like chicken work particularly well with lighter spices like fenugreek and turmeric. Red meats take on spices even better and, at this time of year, we like to pair spices like peppercorns, cloves, star anise, Kashmiri chilli and saffron with game." Is tinkering with the classics a risky move, or does novelty give pubs and restaurants a competitive edge? The Lygon Arms in Worcestershire certainly thinks it's the latter. The Cotswolds inn has introduced "Wellington Sundays", with a trolley of venison, salmon and vegetarian Wellingtons wheeled around the dining room. "We wanted to offer something a little different," says Ed Fitzpatrick, its deputy general manager. The new roasts might not win a purist's approval. But for curious diners, there's never been a better time to tuck into Sunday lunch – whether you're eating out, or cooking at home, thanks to the simple, inventive recipes below supplied by the chefs from Kricket, Greens and Ceviche. Newsletter promotion - Food and drink - end of article Five ways to jazz up your roast Give a lamb or beef joint an Indian spice rub or marinade. "Start a couple days in advance to allow the marinade to penetrate the meat as best it can," says Will Bowlby. Make Yorkshire pudding more nutritious by switching half your white flour for quinoa flour, as pioneered at Ceviche. The restaurant also sprinkles cooked black quinoa on top for texture and crunch. "Make a delicious foraged jelly to complement your meat," suggest Ivan Tisdall-Downes and Imogen Davis. "You can easily find crab apples early in the year, along with rowan berries and hawthorn berries. These are high in pectin, so you only need a little sugar." A few easy tweaks can make most of your roast suitable for vegans. Switch from animal fat to vegetable oil for just-as-golden roasties. You can even make Yorkshire pudding without eggs, as they do at Greens, where they use soya milk. Adding a little warm water to the batter helps them rise (see the recipe in the box below, and other recipes online). Feeling adventurous? "Gather acorns* or chestnuts to make stuffing," suggests the Native team. Or grind up clean pine needles in a pestle and mortar, then add a little salt. Use in moderation for a dry-rub on lamb. "They're fragrant like rosemary, with a hint of citrus." *Acorns should only be eaten when brown, not green, and need to be treated before eating. The Woodland Trust has a useful guide on how to do this (woodlandtrust.org.uk). Ramp up your roast
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| Poland to buy US rocket system for $414 million Posted: 10 Feb 2019 09:19 AM PST  Poland said Sunday it will buy mobile rocket launchers worth $414 million (365 million euros) from the United States, as Warsaw seeks closer ties with Washington amid concerns over a resurgent Russia. The deal, due to be signed Wednesday, will "significantly increase the Polish army's capacities," Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told journalists Sunday, adding that delivery was expected by 2023. Made by US weapons giant Lockheed Martin, the HIMARS system can launch six guided rockets with a range of 70 kilometres (37 miles), or a single missile with a 300-kilometre range.
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| Pfizer Japan recalls high blood pressure drug over cancer-causing impurity Posted: 08 Feb 2019 06:57 PM PST  The Japanese subsidiary of Pfizer Inc is recalling a drug for high blood pressure which was found to contain a carcinogenic substance in its active ingredient valsartan, the drugmaker said on Friday. More than 763,000 tablets of the drug Amvalo, manufactured from April to July in Mylan Laboratories Limited in India, are the subject of recall, Pfizer Japan Inc said in a statement, adding there were no reports of any damage to health. "We will fully pay careful attention to our manufacturing and quality control to prevent a recurrence," Pfizer Japan President Akihisa Harada said.
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| Factbox: Brexit - What will happen in the British parliament on February 14? Posted: 10 Feb 2019 03:41 AM PST ![Factbox: Brexit - What will happen in the British parliament on February 14?]( "Factbox: Brexit - What will happen in the British parliament on February 14?") The British parliament is set to hold a debate on Brexit on Feb. 14 but this is not a re-run of a vote last month on whether to approve the exit deal Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiated with the European Union. May will make a statement to parliament on Feb. 13 updating lawmakers on her progress so far in seeking changes to her deal. The debate on Feb. 14 will be on a motion -- a proposal put forward for debate -- about Brexit more generally.
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| VIDEO: Woman struck in NC hit-and-run was walking with driver's ex-boyfriend Posted: 09 Feb 2019 08:51 AM PST  Police have identified the at-large suspect in a dramatic hit-and-run that was caught on surveillance video last week in Wilmington, North Carolina.
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| Racism and redemption: Virginia blackface row stirs painful past Posted: 10 Feb 2019 11:49 AM PST  Can a politician be forgiven for racist behavior from the past? What if that behavior evoked the darkest chapters of American history, from slavery to segregation? The 59-year-old Democrat is refusing to resign over a yearbook photograph showing a person in blackface and another wearing Ku Klux Klan robes -- denying either was him.
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| Duchess of Sussex visit leads to first international donations for sex workers charity Posted: 09 Feb 2019 01:00 PM PST  Until recently the Bristol-based project One25 had been a little-known charity quietly trying to improve the lives of vulnerable sex workers. But now, following a visit by the Duchess of Sussex, it has found fame across the world, even receiving its first ever donations from overseas. In an example of what is being called 'the Meghan effect' the charity has been sent hundreds of pounds from donors in the US, New Zealand and Jamaica. Donations have also come in from Switzerland and Canada. Photographs of the Duchess touring the project - and writing messages of support for the sex workers on bananas included in food parcels for them - were seen around the world, leading to One25's website receiving a surge in visits, with thousands more logging on to read about their work. As a result of media coverage of the Duchess's visit others also sent in items for distribution to sex-workers operating on the street, such as umbrellas, socks and gloves Anna Smith, the charity's chief executive, said: "The upsurge in interest in our work as a result of Meghan's visit has been incredible. We've had our first donations from overseas. There's been lots of interest from America, but also from other countries." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet with CEO Anna Smith during their visit to One25, a charity specialising in helping women to break free from street sex work and addiction Credit: Toby Melville/PA The Duchess, who visited the charity alongside Prince Harry to see for herself its work in trying to help women break free from sex work, homelessness and addiction, decided she wanted to send a personal, handwritten message to those in need. During a tour of the kitchen at One25, she asked for a felt tipped pen to draw hearts and notes, including the words: "You are strong", "You are loved", "You are brave", "You are special". As the Royal couple were shown the food bags being prepared, the Duchess said: "Oh actually do you have a Sharpie marker? I have an idea. "I saw this project this woman had started somewhere in the States on a school lunch programme. On each of the bananas she wrote an affirmation, to make the kids feel really, like, empowered. It was the most incredible idea – this small gesture." The fruit was turned into banana bread included in a food parcel for sex workers and subsequently delivered by van, along with blankets, condoms, hot water bottles and advice from the charity's experts, to women on the streets. Ms Smith said the women who received the banana bread, along with photographs of the Duchess's messages, had been deeply touched by her gesture. "One said it was just so lovely to be thought of in that way," she said. "Our service users were so happy at the idea that she had visited the project." Ms Smith said the Royal visit had highlighted the work of the charity, which operates on an annual turnover of £1.2 million. in trying to encourage and help women women trapped in street sex work to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction. The Duchess's interest in an unfashionable cause such as sex work has been likened to visits made by Prince Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to people with HIV and AIDS, at a time when they were still being shunned by parts of wider society. Ms Smith said: "The plight of our women is often misunderstood, and they are stigmatised and hidden from the world. The way the Duchess carried out her visit made a huge difference to the way our work is seen." Following the visit one former sex worker called Sam, who now volunteers at One25, said: "By being there in a non-judgmental, loving way you all made me see I could be more – and for that I will always be eternally grateful!"
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| Afghan lawmaker says airstrikes kill 21 civilians Posted: 10 Feb 2019 01:53 AM PST ![Afghan lawmaker says airstrikes kill 21 civilians]( "Afghan lawmaker says airstrikes kill 21 civilians") KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Airstrikes in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province have killed 21 civilians, including women and children, a lawmaker from the region said Sunday.
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| Gushing profits for oil majors on crude price Posted: 10 Feb 2019 01:54 AM PST  The world's top energy companies booked enormous profits last year thanks to higher oil prices and keeping a tight lid on spending, even if that risked limiting their medium-term production capacity. Higher oil prices didn't hurt, of course, although the fourth quarter was marked by strong volatility. Overall, the price of Brent crude was $71 per barrel last year, compared with $54 in 2017.
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