| Trump administration loses bid to lift bar on funds for border wall Posted: 03 Jul 2019 06:00 PM PDT  The ruling was another setback in President Donald Trump's effort to construct a border wall, one of his top promises in the 2016 presidential campaign. "Congress did not appropriate money to build the border barriers defendants seek to build here," a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 ruling. "Congress presumably decided such construction at this time was not in the public interest.
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| Authorities Begin Arrests in Hong Kong as Beijing Ramps Up the Rhetoric Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:07 AM PDT  Tensions over the protests are also simmering between China and the U.K.
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| Strongest earthquake in 20 years rattles Southern California Posted: 04 Jul 2019 08:47 PM PDT  The strongest earthquake in 20 years shook a large swath of Southern California and parts of Nevada on Thursday, rattling nerves on the July 4th holiday and causing injuries and damage in a town near the epicenter, followed by a swarm of ongoing aftershocks. Emergency crews were also dealing with small vegetation fires, gas leaks and reports of cracked roads, said Kern County Fire Chief David Witt. Kern County District Supervisor Mick Gleason told CNN there were some structural issues with the hospital and some patients had to be moved from one ward to another and that others were taken to a neighboring building.
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| Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:18 PM PDT ![Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez]( "Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez") The former vice president has continued to tout his more moderate proposals as some other 2020 Democrats are supporting more left-leaning ideas.
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| Buttigieg hits back at ‘black people’ question: ‘Racism is not going to help’ Posted: 04 Jul 2019 02:09 PM PDT  "Sir, I think racism is not going to help us get out of this drama," Buttigieg said.
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| Pakistan’s Leader Imran Khan Has $684,000 in Assets. And Four Goats Posted: 04 Jul 2019 05:03 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has assets worth 108 million rupees ($684,000), operates four foreign currency accounts and owns four goats.The cricketer turned politician, who takes a chopper to work, doesn't own a car and the first lady doesn't possess any jewelry, The Express Tribune reported, citing assets disclosed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.The South Asian nation leader's wealth dwarfs many of the 340 politicians that are part of the lower house of parliament. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari owns assets worth 1.5 billion rupees, more than double his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari, who owns arms worth 16.6 million rupees and horses worth 10 million."These number may give an idea but are not the actual worth," said Samiullah Tariq, director research at Karachi-based Arif Habib Ltd. "They can sometimes be misleading since assets are valued at the time they were bought, not at current value."Khan has been leading a cost-cutting drive from the front. He has moved out of the official residence and sold unnecessary government assets including luxury cars.To contact the reporter on this story: Faseeh Mangi in Karachi at fmangi@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Arijit Ghosh at aghosh@bloomberg.net, Ravil ShirodkarFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Trump asks Americans to 'stay true to our cause' at Salute to America Fourth of July celebration in Washington Posted: 04 Jul 2019 08:28 PM PDT  Supporters welcomed his tribute to the military while protesters assailed him for putting himself center stage on a holiday devoted to unity.
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| China says existing U.S. tariffs must be removed for a trade deal Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:21 AM PDT ![China says existing U.S. tariffs must be removed for a trade deal]( "China says existing U.S. tariffs must be removed for a trade deal") Existing U.S. tariffs will have to be removed if there is to be a trade deal between Beijing and Washington, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday. The leaders of the two countries agreed last weekend to relaunch trade talks that had stalled in May after U.S. officials accused China of pulling back from commitments made in the text of a pact negotiators had said was nearly finished. Trade teams from both countries are in contact, commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told a regular media briefing.
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| UN calls for Libya ceasefire as death toll climbs to 1,000 Posted: 05 Jul 2019 05:02 PM PDT  The UN Security Council called Friday for a ceasefire in Libya as the death toll from a three-month offensive on Tripoli reached 1,000 including scores killed in an air strike that hit a detention center for migrants. Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces hold eastern Libya and much of the country's south, launched an offensive in early April to wrestle the capital from forces loyal to the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). Air strikes and ground fighting have since left nearly 1,000 people dead and some 5,000 wounded, the UN's World Health Organization said.
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| Border patrol agents mock migrants with racist messages in Facebook group Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:14 AM PDT  A second secret Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Facebook group has been exposed for its derogatory depiction of migrants in a series of vulgar and inappropriate posts. The group, called "Real CBP Nation", was discovered after two individuals familiar with the page sent screenshots to journalists at CNN. The page contained posts mocking the separation of migrant families, racist and racially divisive comments about Asian and African American people, and memes mocking congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.The group had around 1,000 members. In one post, a meme posted of a border patrol agent apprehending someone was captioned: "Felt kinda cute, might separate some families today idk."The immigration authority said: "CBP received screenshots of social media posts allegedly by CBP employees and has shared those posts with the office of professional responsibility, the office charged with investigating potential employee misconduct". It added it planned to launch an investigation. The spokesperson continued: "If the investigation verifies that employees posted content in violation of CBP's code of conduct, the findings will inform management decisions regarding appropriate disciplinary action." The news of this CBP Facebook group comes after another page, called "I'm 10-15", was exposed by ProPublica for mocking dead migrants, posting sexist and sexually suggestive imagery of Ms Ocasio-Cortez, and using offensive and dehumanising language concerning asylum seekers.These posts included accusations that the picture of drowned migrants Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, who died while trying to cross the Rio Grande in June, was faked by "dems and liberal parties" because the migrants were "so clean". The picture of the father and daughter was taken by a Mexican journalist, Julia Le Duc.One member posted doctored images of Donald Trump pushing Ms Ocasio-Cortez's head towards his genitals, captioned: "That's right b*tches. The masses have spoken and today democracy won."The "I'm 10-15" group had over 9,000 members, and several posters had been reported to CBP higher-ups. The two groups are now undergoing internal investigations.
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| The Latest: Police cite protesters blocking July 4th parade Posted: 05 Jul 2019 12:02 AM PDT  Several dozen members of a group protesting treatment of migrants and asylum seekers have been cited after briefly interrupting a Fourth of July parade in Philadelphia. Police say about 300 people had marched to the Independence Mall area Thursday, within sight of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, after demonstrating outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency headquarters.
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| He was abducted and forced into a deadly scheme to extort marijuana from his father Posted: 05 Jul 2019 06:32 AM PDT  Young entrepreneur Curtis Jenkins III from Camden was kidnapped and killed after being lured to Fairview address, authorities say.
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| Iran's Most Powerful Weapon Against America: Meet the IRGC Posted: 04 Jul 2019 01:48 AM PDT  No other branch of the Iranian military can claim the notoriety that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has earned for itself over the last several decades.Earlier this year, the White House took the unprecedented step of designating the IRGC as an organization that "actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft." It was an IRGC fast attack craft that almost sparked open military conflict between the U.S. and Iran in June by staging an unprovoked attack against two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.The IRGC continues to comprise a substantial part of the Iranian armed forces, but their influence—both within Iran and across the Middle-East region—extends far beyond raw combat capabilities. To understand the full extent of IRGC's current role within the Iranian military, we must go back to back to the birth of the Iranian Islamic Republic.The IRGC was founded in the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Skeptical of the intentions of the inherited government and wary of a counter-coup, Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini founded the IRGC as a counterweight to the existing Iranian security apparatus.
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| What's open and closed on July 4th: Mail, banks, and stores impacted by Independence Day Posted: 04 Jul 2019 03:45 AM PDT  As America celebrates the Fourth of July, the post office, DMV and most banks will be closed. Many stores and restaurants are open. Costco is closed.
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| 'Wah, Wah, Wah.' Megan Rapinoe Responds to Critics of Alex Morgan's Tea Sipping Goal Celebration Posted: 04 Jul 2019 08:18 AM PDT  "I mean, it's like, we're at the World Cup, what do you want us to do?"
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| Joe Biden says having a woman as 2020 running mate would 'help' campaign Posted: 05 Jul 2019 06:36 AM PDT  2020 Democrat and former Vice President Joe Biden has said it would be "great" to have a female deputy if he won the nomination.In an interview which aired on Friday at CNN, Mr Biden said, "I think it helps having a woman on the ticket."Despite this, Mr Biden has not named or publicly considered any potential running mates.When asked during the interview if he would consider Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor and California senator who is also vying for the presidency, Mr Biden said he was not going to get into specifics because "I don't even have the nomination".Ms Harris brought up Mr Biden's questionable history regarding integration via busing and working with segregationists like James Eastland during the Democratic debates.The California senator said: "I do not believe you are a racist," to Mr Biden. She continued: "And I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground." "But it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and careers on the segregation of race in this country."She cited her own experience as a young girl who was part of the second wave of students integrating her childhood school, to much applause. Ms Harris beat her previous highest fundraising record in the 24 hours after the debate as she surged in the polls.
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| REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America Posted: 05 Jul 2019 05:00 AM PDT ![REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America]( "REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America") Marilyne Tatang, 23, crossed nine borders in two months to reach Mexico from the West African nation of Cameroon, fleeing political violence after police torched her house, she said. Tatang, who is eight months pregnant, took a raft across a river into Mexico on June 8, a day after Mexico struck a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump to do more to control the biggest flows of migrants heading north to the U.S. border in more than a decade.
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| Migrants still detained at site of deadly Libyan air strike Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:02 PM PDT  Hundreds of migrants were still held Thursday in a centre days after it was hit by an air strike that killed 44 people, amid outrage over the plight of those still trapped in Libya. The announcement by a UN agency came as the internationally recognised government based in the capital Tripoli said it is considering closing migrant detention centres in the North African country. The Government of National Accord "is currently reviewing the closure of shelters and the release of illegal migrants to ensure their safety and security", GNA interior minister Fathi Bachagha said.
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| UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan Posted: 04 Jul 2019 10:46 AM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan]( "UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan") The families of victims of an Ethiopian air disaster on Thursday criticised Boeing's plan to donate $100 million to unspecified charities and communities affected by two crashes, saying it was too vague and that families should have been consulted first. Some of the families said Wednesday's announcement from the U.S. planemaker also triggered an avalanche of unwelcome phone calls from relatives and acquaintances who believed they had just received compensation. The crash of the Boeing 737 MAX jet came only five months after the same model of plane plunged into the sea off Indonesia.
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| Jury to consider death penalty in Chinese scholar killing Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:23 AM PDT  A federal jury that convicted a former University of Illinois doctoral student of kidnapping, torturing and killing a young scholar from China now must decide if Brendt Christensen should be put to death. While the state of Illinois, where she was killed, does not have the death penalty, the case was brought under federal law, which does allow capital punishment. The jury returned a guilty verdict on June 24 after deliberating for less than 90 minutes, in part, because the 30-year-old Christensen's own lawyers told jurors from the outset that he did kill 26-year-old Yingying Zhang, saying their sole objective was to persuade jurors to spare his life.
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| Human remains belong to mother and child missing since June 2018, police say Posted: 05 Jul 2019 10:05 AM PDT  Police identified the human remains found in the backyard of a Lansing, Michigan, home as those of mother and son missing since June 2018.
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| Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod Posted: 04 Jul 2019 06:42 AM PDT ![Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod]( "Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod") (Bloomberg) -- Iran will only negotiate with the U.S. if the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei agrees to it, a minister said."Negotiation between Iran and America will take place if the supreme leader gives the permission," Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi was cited as saying by state-run IRNA news agency on Thursday. "The U.S. president thought that sanctions would bring Iran to its knees but the Islamic Republic will not succumb to negotiations under the pressure of global arrogance."Major state-run news agencies, including IRNA, later simultaneously ran a statement from the intelligence ministry denying that there was any mention of negotiations by the minister.Iran's leaders, including Khamenei, have repeatedly refused to negotiate with the U.S. while under crippling sanctions.(Updates with denial in 3rd paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Arsalan Shahla in Dubai at ashahla@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Lin NoueihedFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Explained: F-22 Raptors Are Headed to the 'Salute to America' Celebration Posted: 04 Jul 2019 03:53 AM PDT  The aircraft was first introduced in December of 2005; the F-22 Raptor fighter jet delivered some of the first strikes in the U.S.-led attacks on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, when aerial bombing began in 2014, service officials told Warrior.The Air Force and Lockheed Martin have now "validated" several new weapons on the F-22 Raptor to equip the stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, a wider targeting envelope or "field of regard" and new networking technology enabling improved, real-time "collaborative targeting" between aircraft.(This first appeared several months ago and is being reposted due to breaking events.)The two new weapons, which have been under testing and development for several years now, are advanced variants of existing weapons - the AIM-9X air-to-air missile and the AIM 120-D. Upgraded variants of each are slated to be operational by as soon as next year.The new AIM-9X will shoot farther and reach a much larger targeting envelope for pilots. Working with a variety of helmets and display systems, Lockheed developers have added "off-boresight" targeting ability enabling pilots to attack enemies from a wide range of new angles."It is a much more agile missile with an improved seeker and a better field of regard. You can shoot over your shoulder. If enemies get behind me in a close-in fight, I have the right targeting on the plane to shoot them," Ken Merchant, Vice President, F-22, Lockheed, told Warrior Maven in an interview.
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| Alaska heat wave: Coldest state could see all-time record today Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:35 PM PDT  Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city, is struggling with dry conditions, wildfires and what could become the hottest day on record.
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| Biden: I 'wasn't prepared' for Harris's attack in debate Posted: 05 Jul 2019 05:29 AM PDT ![Biden: I 'wasn't prepared' for Harris's attack in debate]( "Biden: I 'wasn't prepared' for Harris's attack in debate") The California senator has surged in 2020 polls in the wake of her debate performance, powered in large part by her attack of the former vice president's record on racial issues.
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| Melania Trump: ‘Disgraceful’ wooden statue of first lady prompts complaints in Slovenia Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:35 AM PDT  A wooden statue of Melania Trump has reportedly been erected in the first lady's home country of Slovenia, despite criticism from locals. The conceptual statue — which depicts Ms Trump standing in the blue outfit she wore to her husband's inauguration in 2016 — was commissioned by US artist Brade Downey and created by artist Ales Zupevc, known as Maxi, according to ITV.The life-sized statue is planted atop a wooden plank with shrubbery in a field near her hometown of Sevnica, according to photographs released this week.Locals complained about the statue, not due to the first lady's affiliation with Donald Trump, but rather because they say the wooden sculpture does not look like Ms Trump at all. "It doesn't look anything like Melania," one local told the outlet. "It's a smurfette. It's a disgrace."Another local reportedly echoed those comments, telling the reporter, "It's not okay. It's a disgrace. That's what I have to say."Mr Downey reportedly did not include any instructions with his request for the artist to build the conceptual design of the first lady — except that it must feature the same dress she wore to the inauguration. The first lady has become one of her home country's most famous exports ever since her husband became the US president.Businesses and storefronts in Slovenia began selling Melania slippers, cake and even honey, branding their products with the first lady's image.Ms Trump reportedly hired a local law firm in 2017 to prevent shops from using her likeness to sell products. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
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| MagicLights are just as good as $50 Philips Hue bulbs, but they’re down to $13 right now Posted: 04 Jul 2019 05:40 AM PDT  At $50 a pop, Philips Hue smart bulbs really do toe the line. They're awesome, but a decent setup will inevitably cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars since they're so darn expensive. If you want bulbs that are just as good but you don't want to go broke buying them, then there's a sale happening right now on Amazon for July 4th that you definitely have to check out. MagicLight WiFi Smart Light Bulbs are among our favorite LED smart bulbs out there, and they do everything Philips Hue bulbs can do, but without the need for a hub. They even work with Alexa and Google Assistant. $21 per bulb is a perfectly fair price, but Amazon is selling them right now for just $13 a pop. Hurry!Here are the highlights from the product page: * ✔ Compatible with Alexa & Google Assistant: Voice Control your MagicLight WiFi light bulb with your Amazon Echo or Echo Dot and Google Home Assistant * ✔ Works with IFTTT: DIY Your WiFi Light Bulb Depending on Various Events by Connecting it to IFTTT * ✔ Works with iOS/Android: Personalize Your WiFI Smart Lights to Match Your Mood, Control Your Smart WiFi Lights Bulb Remotely When You are not at Home * ✔ Various Scene Modes: Color Palette, Group Control, Sunlight, Music Mode, Timer, Sunrise, Sunset, Dimmable, MIC Function, DIY Mode, Scene Mode, Energy Saving...... * ✔ Application: This is a WiFi enabled light bulb, no hub required. Multiple lighting patterns, suitable for a showcase, residential, office, hotel, shop, exhibition room, landscaping, indoor, home etc.
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| China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests Posted: 05 Jul 2019 08:10 AM PDT ![China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests]( "China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests") China's Defence Ministry on Friday denied U.S. accusations that the Chinese military had recently carried out missile tests in the disputed South China Sea, saying instead that they had held routine drills that involved the firing of live ammunition. The Pentagon said on Tuesday the missile launches were "disturbing" and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarise the strategic waterway. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said China tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles over the weekend.
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| Jussie Smollett news: 'Empire' actor's attorneys argue for Chicago lawsuit to be moved to federal court Posted: 04 Jul 2019 04:36 AM PDT  Jussie Smollett wants the lawsuit that the city of Chicago filed against him moved from state court to federal court.
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| Photos of the 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Posted: 04 Jul 2019 04:00 AM PDT |
| Police break up huge 'modern day slavery' ring in UK Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:53 AM PDT  Details about what prosecutors have called one of Britain's largest-ever modern day slavery rings have emerged with the conviction of eight people originally from Poland. Prosecutors say more than 400 victims were forced to work for minuscule wages while their masters earned some 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) and lived a luxurious lifestyle. Reporting restrictions were lifted Friday, allowing details to be published.
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| Meet the M1 Abrams: The Tank Making the 'Rounds' at the Salute to America Bash Posted: 04 Jul 2019 03:28 AM PDT  As a result, the Army developed the M829A2 and M829A3 rounds, which featured increased-length penetrators and special tips to defeat the heavy ERA threat. The M829A3 round is the current wide-issue for M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams crews and likely can defeat the armor of most tanks in the world today, including early T-72B3s and T-90As which still use Kontakt-5 ERA.In the 1970s, the situation for NATO tank forces in Europe was grim. The program to develop the next generation battle tank for both Germany and the United States, the MBT-70, was about to crumble and fail, and the next generation of Soviet tanks was about to reach the front lines.(This first appeared late last year.)The tank forces of the U.S. and its allies were reliant on the aging M60 tank or roughly comparable analogues. Declassified CIA documents from the period shared a pessimistic estimate of the balance of forces: the Soviet tanks were more numerous and technically superior.Following the failure of the MBT-70, Congress forced the Army to begin a new tank program under strict cost and time limitations. A developmental concept paper (DCP) for this new tank was created in 1972 and approved in 1973. The DCP called for competitive evaluations, trialing of turbine versus diesel engines and concurrent operational and engineering trials.The armor and armament of the new tank, now dubbed the XM1, aimed to incorporate the latest developments in armor technology. The Army specified that the British-developed Chobham armor be incorporated into the design.
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| Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway Posted: 05 Jul 2019 09:53 AM PDT ![Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway]( "Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway") The Coast Guard is searching for a 37-year-old crew member who fell overboard from the cruise ship Carnival Victory northwest of Cuba.
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| Biden Returns to Campaign Trail With Strong Defense of Obamacare Posted: 03 Jul 2019 07:54 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Joe Biden returned to the campaign trail Wednesday with a defense of the Affordable Care Act, consciously drawing a contrast with other Democratic presidential hopefuls after spending weeks focused almost exclusively on President Donald Trump."I fundamentally disagree with anyone who says scrap Obamacare," the former vice president told voters in Waterloo, Iowa, at his first public appearance since last Thursday's primary debate. "I'm against any Republican who wants to scrap it, I'm against any Democrat who wants to scrap it."Biden's comments touched on a divide within the Democratic Party that was on view during both nights of last week's debates in Miami – over whether to end the existing private insurance system that covers millions of Americans and replace it with Medicare for All."I'm going to be very blunt with you: it's going to be a debate among us all in this race," he said, adding that there are "a lot of good people running."The opponents closest to Biden in the polls – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Kamala Harris of California and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren – back Medicare for All, which would eventually include the elimination of private insurance that remains popular with many voters.Biden has not yet rolled out his full health care plan, but suggested Wednesday that he would favor a hybrid public-private system that could help the uninsured get coverage."We can't start over. There's no time to start over in my view," he said. "Building on what we've got, not starting over. Allowing people to keep their employer-based insurance or their private insurance or any insurance they have if they want. But if they don't, allowing them the ability to buy into a public option, a health care plan like Medicare."He pointed out that many presidents before Barack Obama had tried to pass a health care bill and not succeeded. "We have to finish the job and make health care a right not a privilege," he said. Biden's shift to a more direct comparison with other candidates for the Democratic nomination comes after he stumbled last week when facing an attack from Harris on his opposition to federally mandated busing to desegregate schools during the 1970s and has since seen his poll numbers drop.A Quinnipiac national poll released Tuesday found Biden slipping to 22%, just 2 percentage points ahead of Harris at 20%. Warren was next with 14% then Sanders with 13%. A CNN national poll found Biden slipping 10 percentage points in one month — to 22%. Behind him was Harris with 17%, 9 percentage points higher than in CNN's previous poll, and Warren with 15%, an 8-percentage-point gain, and Sanders with 14%, a 4-percentage-point drop.Biden's campaign said Wednesday that it raised $21.5 million in the second quarter, second to Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, who took in $24.8 million.Biden's team was quick to note that he entered the race on April 25, nearly a month into the quarter, meaning that he took in more per day than any other candidate. Sanders said that his campaign raised $18 million during the second quarter. Harris and Warren have not yet disclosed their fundraising totals.On Thursday, Biden plans to march in a July 4 parade in Independence, Iowa, and to take in an Iowa Cubs game in Des Moines, the state capital.(Updates with additional quote, in eighth paragraph. An earlier version corrected the day that Biden spoke, in sixth paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Jennifer Epstein in Washington at jepstein32@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, John Harney, Max BerleyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| View Photos of the Lexus LC Convertible Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:41 AM PDT |
| Trump donor killed in helicopter crash in Bahamas Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:26 AM PDT  A billionaire coal baron who donated $1m (£798,505) to Donald Trump's inaugural committee was among seven Americans killed in a helicopter crash on Thursday, officials said.Chris Cline, who reportedly would have turned 62 on Friday, and six others died as the helicopter was returning to Florida from the Bahamas.West Virginia Governor Jim Justice confirmed Mr Cline was among those killed in the crash on Twitter, writing in a statement: "Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend.""Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give," the governor added. "What a wonderful, loving, and giving man."Among those killed was one of Mr Cline's daughters, West Virginia's Register-Herald newspaper said, citing unnamed friends of Mr Cline.The helicopter reportedly went down shortly after takeoff in the Atlantic Ocean early Thursday near Walker's Cay, the northernmost island in the Bahamas.The group was travelling back to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, from the Bahamas for the Fourth of July holiday.Forbes listed Mr Cline at number 1,281 on its billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $1.8bn (£1.4bn), listing him as self-made.Before donating to Mr Trump's inaugural committee, he contributed to Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign.He started working in the coal mines aged 15 and later dropped out of Marshall University, Forbes said.A major business breakthrough came in the early 2000s when he reportedly bought up high-sulphur coal reserves in Illinois, gambling that improved technology would make it more economical to burn dirty fuel.Mr Cline took coal mining firm Foresight Energy public in 2014, and sold a controlling stake in 2015 for $1.4bn (£1.1bn) cash.Additional reporting by Reuters
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| Putin bestows top state honors on sailors killed in submarine fire Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:51 AM PDT  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday bestowed top state honors on 14 sailors killed in a fire on a secret nuclear submarine in recognition of what the Russian military has called their outstanding bravery. The sailors were killed on Monday when a fire broke out while their deep-water research submarine was carrying out a survey of the sea floor near the Arctic, the Russian defense ministry has said. Putin, in a decree published on the Kremlin's website on Friday, gave four of the dead submariners Russia's highest state award - the title of Hero of Russia.
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| Sony WH1000XM3 noise cancelling headphone refurbs are back down the lowest price of 2019 Posted: 04 Jul 2019 10:39 AM PDT  Look, at this point pretty much everyone knows that the Sony WH1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are the best noise cancelling headphones on the planet. In fact, Bose just released a brand new pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones, but Sony's are still better. The noise cancellation tech Sony uses is pretty much wizardry, and it comes at a price: $350 if you buy them new. Head over to Amazon right now though, and you'll find refurbs available at the lowest price of 2019!Just scroll down to the "other sellers" section and you'll find Sony WH1000XM3 headphones in black for only $252.97, or you can get them in silver for $2 more. That's an insane price for these incredible headphones, and they're definitely going to sell out!Here's what you need to know from the product page: * Renewed products work and look like new. These pre-owned products have been inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers. Box and accessories may be generic. All Renewed products come with the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. * HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1 * Smart Listening by Adaptive Sound Control / SENSE ENGINE for virtual surround sound * Hi-Res audio / 1.57″ LCP drivers for up to 40kHz frequency * Bluetooth 4.1 LDAC connection / Connect to the Sony Headphones Connect App
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| California outlaws hair discrimination with new bill Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:42 AM PDT  California has become the first US state to make race-related hair discrimination illegal. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the 'CROWN Act' into law on Wednesday, prohibiting employers and schools from enforcing hair-grooming policies that restrict natural hairstyles such as Afros and protective styles. "The CROWN Act is redefining the cultural norms of 'professional images' for all people," said Senator Holly J. Mitchell, who first introduced the bill, ushering it through the California Senate in April and the California Assembly in June.
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| War crimes court-martial ends with Navy SEAL walking free Posted: 03 Jul 2019 10:20 PM PDT  One of the U.S. military's most significant war crimes cases ended with a decorated Navy SEAL walking out of court a free man after acknowledging moral and ethical mistakes, including posing in photographs with the body of an Islamic State captive he was cleared of killing. Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher will spend no time in jail for the only charge he was convicted of — posing with a human casualty — despite being given the maximum sentence of four months' confinement for the offense Wednesday by a military jury. Gallagher turned to his wife, shook his head and pretended to unpin his "anchors" — the insignia of a chief — and fling them across the courtroom.
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| Florida man contracts flesh-eating bacteria infection despite not entering water Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:23 AM PDT  Florida man said he contracting flesh-eating bacteria infection despite not entering water.
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| UN Says ‘Grave Violations’ of Rights Committed in Venezuela Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:19 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations called on the Venezuelan government to take "immediate, concrete measures to halt and remedy the grave violations" of economic, social and civil rights, in a report following High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's visit to Venezuela last month.Nicolas Maduro's regime has used social programs in a discriminatory manner based on political grounds as a tool for social control, the report said. At the same time, the ruling authorities persecute groups and individuals it perceives as threats, including members of the opposition. Security forces often resort to torture or inhuman treatment, including electric shocks, suffocation, beatings and sexual violence to extract confessions.The report recommends the dissolution of the national police's feared Special Action Force, known by the Spanish abbreviation FAES, which it blames for thousands of extrajudicial executions, mainly of young men, who have been killed in confrontations with state forces during recent years. It also calls for the disarmament of colectivos -- gangs loyal to Maduro."I sincerely hope the authorities will take a close look at all the information included in this report and will follow its recommendations," Bachelet said in an emailed press release. "We should all be able to agree that all Venezuelans deserve a better life, free from fear and with access to adequate food, water, healthcare, housing and all other basic human needs."The report comes on the heels of an attack on 16-year-old high school student Rufo Chacon, who was blinded on Monday after police fired buckshot at protesters in the western state of Tachira, and the death of Rafael Acosta Arevalo, a navy captain who died days after he was arrested on treason charges in Caracas. In a hearing the day before his death, Arevalo was seen using a wheelchair, his face bruised and his nails marked with blood.The UN findings also note the shortages of 60 to 100% of essential drugs in four of Venezuela's major cities, including Caracas. Lack of all types of contraceptives have led to higher risk of HIV and an increase in preventable maternity mortality, with an estimated 20% linked to unsafe abortions.In a 11-page response, Venezuela's government said the UN's report showed ``an openly biased truth'' that minimized measures taken by the state to improve people's lives and ignored official data. It also fails to mention the opposition's violent actions, the statement shared by Venezuela's Information Ministry said.Bachelet's VisitIn a visit in late June, Bachelet said she spoke to families of people tortured by the government and those of government supporters whose rights have been violated. She also visited opposition leader and National Assembly head Juan Guaido, who raised the issue of the nearly 700 political prisoners detained in Venezuela, according to NGO Penal Forum.In a nod to the Venezuelan government's claims about the country's crisis, she acknowledged that recent sanctions have made the situation worse, but added that its economy was already in distress before their implementation.Roughly 4 million citizens have fled Venezuela's spiraling economic and political crisis, according to the latest figures from the United Nations.Venezuela has denied victims of their "rights to truth, justice, and reparation," the report said. "If the situation does not improve, the outflow of Venezuelan migrants and refugees will continue, and the living conditions for those remaining will worsen."(Includes Venezuelan government response in seventh paragraph)To contact the reporters on this story: Patricia Laya in Caracas at playa2@bloomberg.net;Alex Vasquez in Caracas Office at avasquez45@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Cancel at dcancel@bloomberg.net, Bruce DouglasFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| 'Real Housewives' star Meghan King Edmonds reveals son has 'irreversible brain damage' Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:19 AM PDT  "Real Housewives" star and mother of three Meghan King Edmonds started off by writing that she always knew something was wrong with 1-year-old son Hart.
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| US pride hits record low, poll shows Posted: 04 Jul 2019 10:00 AM PDT  As the US celebrates Independence Day, a new poll suggests less Americans feel pride in their country than at any other time since 2001. While 70 per cent of US adults claim to be proud to be Americans, only 45 per cent identified as "extremely proud" in the survey, marking the second consecutive year that this falls below the majority level. The highest reported levels of pride in the US government and being an American came in 2002 and 2004, after the 9/11 attacks. During those years, 70 per cent of people identified as "extremely proud" to be American. While Democrats have historically reported lower levels of extreme patriotism among their ranks, the polling, carried out by Gallup, found this year their "extreme pride" has hit an all-time low. At this point, only 22 per cent of Democrats identify as "extremely proud". Before Donald Trump was elected, it was nearly twice that. Democrat-voting women, liberals, and younger people all experience lower levels of pride than the rest of the US population.Independents echo similar sentiments, with a record low of 41 per cent reporting extreme pride. Republicans, on the other hand, have reported that 76 per cent of them remain in the "extremely proud" group, a ten per cent decrease from the highest recording in 2003.In a new question introduced this year, Gallup found that Americans largest sources of pride were in science (91 per cent), arts (85 per cent), and the US military (89 per cent). On the contrary, US citizens were least proud of the political system (32 per cent) and the health and welfare system (37 per cent).Gallup attributed the new record low in part to a divisive political climate, noting similar figures have been also been reported once before during the time Mr Trump has been in office.
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| Realistic new renders give us our closest look yet at Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ Posted: 05 Jul 2019 06:36 AM PDT  Samsung on Friday morning announced that the company expects its second-quarter operating profit to plummet by a gut-wrenching 56% on-year to $5.6 billion. To make matters even worse, that figure includes a one-time payment from Apple of nearly $700 million because it failed to meet its minimum commitment for iPhone OLED displays. Samsung's chip business had been booming and the Galaxy S10 series was supposed to be a huge help to its slumping smartphone division. And yet the first full quarter of Galaxy S10 sales turned out to be a dismal one, and the company's Galaxy Fold debacle certainly didn't help either. Considering the Galaxy Note series has never sold anywhere near as well as the Galaxy S series, we're not sure how much of a boost the upcoming new Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ will be for Samsung's bottom line. What we are sure of, however, is that Samsung's soon-to-be-released Galaxy Note 10 series is shaping up to be its most impressive new smartphone series yet. And now, thanks to a new set of leaked images shared by an insider, we just got our closest look yet at both upcoming new Galaxy Note 10 phones. When Samsung saw that Apple was planning to release a new "entry-level" iPhone model alongside its flagship iPhones in 2018, the company was quick to copy the strategy. While overall Galaxy S10 sales didn't do much to help Samsung's plummeting profit in Q2 this year, word on the street is that the less expensive Galaxy S10e has been the best-selling Galaxy S10 model ever since the S10 series was first released back in March. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Samsung is using the same strategy next month when it launches the new Galaxy Note 10 series. High-end smartphones have gotten so expensive that companies like Apple and Samsung now have to dial back some of the features in order to offer stripped-down versions that are at least somewhat affordable. So instead of just releasing one new Galaxy Note phone in 2019 like Samsung has done in previous years, the company plans to release an "entry-level" Galaxy Note 10 and a high-end Galaxy Note 10+. Now, model upcoming new models have been shown in great detail thanks to a fresh leak. Twitter user Sudhanshu Ambhore is somewhat new on the scene, but he has already been the source of several smartphone leaks that ended up being accurate. On Friday, he posted newly leaked renders of both the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+. https://twitter.com/Sudhanshu1414/status/1147002935143854082 https://twitter.com/Sudhanshu1414/status/1147001883577315328 Here's a closer look at the Galaxy Note 10: And here's the Galaxy Note 10+: Both models might look the same at first glance, but you can tell them apart by the back of each phone. The Galaxy Note 10 has an LED flash next to its new triple-lens rear camera, while the Galaxy Note 10+ has a fourth TOF sensor and one other sensor in addition to the LED flash. The plus version of the Note 10 is also expected to have a larger display. The new Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ will both be unveiled during a press conference in New York on August 7th, and they're expected to go on sale in the weeks that follow.
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