2019年10月21日星期一

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Yahoo! News: Brazil


House Democrats reject resolution to censure Schiff over his handling of impeachment inquiry

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:27 PM PDT

House Democrats reject resolution to censure Schiff over his handling of impeachment inquiryThe House voted 218-185, along party lines, to table a GOP resolution to condemn and censure Democratic House Intel Cmte. Chairman Adam Schiff.


Spain will exhume dictator Francisco Franco's remains on Thursday

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:24 AM PDT

Spain will exhume dictator Francisco Franco's remains on ThursdaySpain will on Thursday remove the 1.5-tonne slab which has covered the tomb of dictator Francisco Franco for the past 44 years and fly his remains by helicopter away from a state mausoleum, government sources told reporters on Monday. The ruling Socialists have long sought to exhume Franco's remains and turn the Valley of the Fallen complex near the capital Madrid into a memorial to the 500,000 people who were killed during the 1936-39 civil war he unleashed. A crane will lift the slab and, if the original zinc-lined wood coffin is too degraded, the dictator's remains will be transferred into a new coffin, the sources said.


Three people hospitalised by chemical leak on board American Airlines plane

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 09:24 AM PDT

Three people hospitalised by chemical leak on board American Airlines planeThree people have been hospitalised after a cleaning product leaked on an American Airlines flight forcing it to make an emergency landing in Dublin. The plane was less than an hour into its flight from London Heathrow to Philadelphia when two crew members fell unconscious due to the powerful smell. Several passengers complained of burning eyes and skin irritation and one traveller was also taken to hospital in Ireland. 287 passengers and 12 Philadelphia-based crew members were on board flight AA729, which had been cleared for take off despite concerns over the leaked liquid. Reports suggest the product was left behind in one of the bathrooms. In audio from the cockpit, the pilot explained that although the product is believed to be non-toxic, the crew required immediate assistance.  He said: "We've actually covered the container of the substance. It was a cleaning product that was used at London Heathrow, if you wait a moment I actually have a picture of the container that I have in a plastic bag.  "It was spilled and for some reason the container itself was left behind in the aircraft in one of the lavatories and continued to seep into the carpeting and produce what I'm told is not, it is not a toxic substance. "We require paramedics to come on board the airplane and render immediate assistance. We've had two of our flight crew staff made, excuse me, the cabin staff have actually lost consciousness, but I think they're back to a state of consciousness just now and there are general complaints about burning eyes and skin problems." The pilot added that the leaking product was an aircraft interior cleaner made by Callington, a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer.  One passenger told The Telegraph the plane had been delayed at Heathrow whilst reports of an "unusual smell" were investigated.  He said: "Before take off the captain came on the loudspeaker saying the flight attendants had reported an unusual smell, and the flight was delayed while they investigated. They must've judged it safe because we flew out after, only to be rerouted to Dublin a short time later." @AmericanAir There aren't even chairs, we're not allowed to leave this area where we're penned in like cattle, and we've not been fed by the likes of you since boarding four plus hours ago. You're the worst. pic.twitter.com/PqnelJ2P2u— Philip Ott (@Blasphevism) October 21, 2019 He added that the flight's 287 passengers were "penned in like cattle" at Dublin airport before been taken by bus to stay overnight in a hotel. They have not been told when they can expect onward travel.  Another passenger expressed concern for others onboard, calling the incident a "sickness outbreak".  Ok, so this hasn't quite gone to plan. Chemical spillage has led to sickness outbreak and an emergency landing in Dublin. firecrewparamedicspolice— Katie Phillips (@KatieHJP) October 21, 2019 A statement released by American Airlines said: "American Airlines flight 729 from London Heathrow to Philadelphia diverted to Dublin due to an odor caused by a spilled cleaning solution in the galley." "The flight landed safely in Dublin at 1:15 p.m. local time, and taxied to the gate." "Medical personnel have met the aircraft to evaluate any crew members or passengers who may need additional assistance." The Telegraph has contacted Callington for comment.  Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings.


Democrats are lining up to take Elijah Cummings' Oversight Committee chairmanship

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 12:43 PM PDT

Democrats are lining up to take Elijah Cummings' Oversight Committee chairmanshipThere's a long line of Democrats ready to take up one helm of the impeachment probe.House Oversight Committee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) died last week after longstanding health problems, leaving open his spot at one of the committees investigating President Trump. Talks of his replacement have been quiet out of respect for Cummings, but a handful of Democrats have said they're looking to take the position, The Washington Post reports.Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) is the most senior Democrat on the oversight committee and is currently serving as its active chair. She briefly told the Post on Friday she's looking to become the full-time chair, but wouldn't expand on her goals due to how recently Cummings had died. She'll likely campaign for the role based on past legislative wins like the permanent 9/11 victims' compensation fund.Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), both on the committee, are also reportedly looking to take up Cummings' gavel, two people familiar with their plans tell the Post. They declined to comment, but have both "been noticeably more involved in the impeachment probe than Maloney," the Post writes. Also in the running is Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), the third-highest ranking Democrat on the panel who some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are attempting to get into the role, people familiar with background discussions tell the Post. Washington, D.C., Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who is the second-highest ranking Democrat, will try for the role if Maloney opts out, people familiar with her plans say.Cummings will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, followed by a Friday funeral at his longtime Baltimore church.


China Is Building 'The Mother of All Bombs': Report

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 07:44 AM PDT

China Is Building 'The Mother of All Bombs': ReportAmerica already has one.


Michael Bloomberg ‘still looking at’ a presidential run ... but only if Biden is out

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 11:00 PM PDT

Michael Bloomberg 'still looking at' a presidential run ... but only if Biden is outThe former New York mayor's attitude towards wealth is staunchly opposite to Elizabeth Warren's, with whom he's repeatedly clashedMichael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, is teasing a presidential run if former vice-president Joe Biden were to fall back. Photograph: Ritzau Scanpix/ReutersFormer New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is at it again – teasing a presidential run. At 77, he won't even be the oldest in the field, and the billionaire is certainly not short of funding to be able to throw his hat in the ring.Over the past several weeks, he's signaled renewed interest in the democratic nomination, telling friends and associates he's "still looking at" running for president. But he has cautioned he'd only join the race if former vice-president Joe Biden's faltering centrist campaign takes a decisive hit or pulls out early in primary season, according to a report by CNBC.Biden's collapse would likely leave Elizabeth Warren as frontrunner, a liberal candidate with whom he has repeatedly clashed over her anti-corporate policies and fears she will push the party too far to the left and eliminate the chance of a Democratic candidate unseating Donald Trump next year.Bloomberg's disagreements with Warren are stark. In January, when he was considering a run for president, he described Warren's wealth tax proposals in extreme terms ."We shouldn't be embarrassed about our system," he said. "You want to look at a system that's not capitalistic, just take a look at what was perhaps the wealthiest country in the world and now people are starving to death. It's called Venezuela."More recently, at an anti-gun event in Iowa hosted by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, a group Bloomberg founded and supports, he was again asked about Warren's wealth tax proposals."I just said to Senator Warren on the way out, 'Senator, congratulations, it's a nice talk. But let me just remind you if my company hadn't been successful, we wouldn't be here today, so enough with this stuff'," he said.Bloomberg's attitude to wealth is diametrically opposed to Warren, whose criticisms of the financial sector's excesses are legion. Before he ever ran for New York mayor, his company threw a party in London complete with entertainers – representing avarice – instructed to wave bundles of cash and shout: 'Money, ain't it gorgeous?'Forbes recently put his wealth at $51bn.Bloomberg has previously flirted with presidential ambitions, but he decided not to run in 2016 after concluding he might split the Democratic vote. It is not clear that dynamic has changed, nor whether Democratic primary voters really have the taste for a billionaire candidate. But others see a possible centrist path to the White House."The reality is both parties, Republican and Democrat, are in serious trouble, they are not functioning, and they've gone to extremes," says veteran strategist Hank Sheinkopf. "Could Mike Bloomberg unite the centre of the party and bring people to the center if he can prove he can win? The answer is yes.""Bloomberg has up-top professionals ready if he needs them, and he could assemble an operation in days and go to work. Whether the Democrats like him as centrist or not, they want to win the White House. He provides an extraordinary alternative to losing."People familiar with Bloomberg's thinking says his aims are clear – and they're grouped neatly as gun control, climate change, coal, education and health."He doesn't understand why people don't talk about his five points more. If he happens to mention something about the presidency at a cocktail party and they get talked about more, that's a good thing for him," one source said.Strengthening the rumor mill is Bloomberg's appointment of his former deputy Patti Harris to his company's management committee. Harris has been at the company since 1994. As Bloomberg's deputy during his three terms as New York mayor, Harris was regarded, in personal and political terms, as the keeper of the Bloomberg brand, his personal gate keeper and point person on all strategic and staffing decisions."She's the most important person in his life and director of all his political aspiration," says the source. "If you believe in this line of gossip, putting Harris in to run the company frees him up to run for president. You can argue that he's setting himself up to do something."When Bloomberg was last considering a run, almost exactly a year ago, a Quinnipiac University poll found he had an overall unfavorable rating of 32%, and 19% of Democrats viewed him negatively. Howard Wolfson, a top political advisor, hinted at how much Bloomberg would look to invest in a campaign for president."Mike spent more than $100m in his last mayor's race. Last time I looked, NYC is a fraction of the size of the country as a whole," Wolfson explained, pointing out that he spent at least more than $110m backing Democrats during the 2018 congressional midterm elections.Asked what Bloomberg would spend on his own campaign, Wolfson replied, "Whatever is required."With Biden appearing to be running low on funds, and a Warren or possibly Bernie Sanders candidacy looming, it's not surprising that Bloomberg's interest is again stirring. Last month, Fox Business reported that he still has a team of political advisors on the payroll."I think it's something he wants. He has not been shy about that," a Bloomberg ally told CNBC. "Bloomberg is in if Biden is out," a billionaire friend added.


'Lost' Road Built by Christ's Executioner Unearthed

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 10:52 AM PDT

'Lost' Road Built by Christ's Executioner UnearthedPontius Pilate likely commissioned the street during or after 31 AD.


US targets Cuba tourism with tighter airline sanctions

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 11:57 AM PDT

US targets Cuba tourism with tighter airline sanctionsThe US moved to further hurt Cuba's vital tourism industry by tightening the ability of the country's airlines to lease aircraft. The US Department of Commerce said it was revoking existing licenses for US companies leasing aircraft to Cuban carriers, and will deny future applications for aircraft leases. The move could make it harder for Cuba to service its rapidly growing tourism sector, a key source of foreign revenue for the poor country.


Mulvaney’s Ukraine Story Undercut by Trump’s Former Diplomat to the Country

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 10:09 AM PDT

Mulvaney's Ukraine Story Undercut by Trump's Former Diplomat to the CountryWin McNamee/GettyIn his eye-popping press conference last week, White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said that the Trump administration withheld military aide from Ukraine in part to secure cooperation with a Justice Department investigation into the origins of Robert Mueller's Russia probe. But a former top U.S. envoy to Ukraine has said the DOJ never actually asked the White House for that help. Mulvaney has since tried to walk back his claim, saying the administration only held up military aid to Ukraine because of the country's corruption and because other countries weren't giving more aid as well. But the fact that his initial version of events differed so far from the testimony of another main player in the Ukraine saga highlights the White House's struggle to defend itself.During his congressional deposition earlier this month, former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the Trump administration's Department of Justice never officially asked Ukrainian law enforcement for help probing 2016 election interference or the company where Hunter Biden was a board member, according to sources familiar with what Volker said. Trump himself asked Ukraine's president to scrutinize that company, Burisma, according to a memorandum of their conversation. But Volker has said that to his knowledge the Justice Department never officially made its own ask. A DOJ spokesperson and a lawyer for Volker both declined to comment for this story. Mick Mulvaney Melts Down Under Brutal Grilling By Fox's Chris WallaceVolker said the topics of Burisma and election interference came up as he, Rudy Giuliani, and European Union Amb. Gordon Sondland worked with a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a statement about U.S.-Ukraine relations. Zelensky wanted to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House after having recently been inaugurated, and Volker and Sondland also wanted Trump and Zelensky to meet. But Giuliani––Trump's personal lawyer and close outside advisor––said the Ukrainians should first release a public statement on corruption. And he wanted it to mention two things: alleged Ukraine meddling in the 2016 election and Burisma. The Zelensky aide, Andrey Yermak, wanted to know if the U.S. Justice Department had officially asked Ukraine for help on those two matters. Volker told Congress that he reached out to Bruce Swartz, a senior DOJ official who deals with international issues, but that he didn't hear back. He said that he was later told that DOJ made no such official request. The Ukrainians and Volker ultimately agreed that it was best not to release a statement, in part because the DOJ hadn't officially asked them for help on 2016 interference or Burisma. Volker has said that, at the time, he was not aware that Trump had directly asked Zelensky about the Bidens. Mick Mulvaney Admits Trump's Quid Pro Quo on Ukraine: 'Get Over It'The narrative of events appears to counter Mulvaney's Thursday press conference, during which the acting chief of staff said that the administration temporarily withheld military aid from the Ukrainians for three reasons. "Three issues for that," he said. "The corruption in the country, whether or not other countries were participating in the support of the Ukraine, and whether or not they were cooperating in an ongoing investigation with our Department of Justice. That's completely legitimate." The Justice Department pushed back against Mulvaney's comments shortly after his press conference on Thursday. "If the White House was withholding aid in regards to the cooperation of any investigation at the Department of Justice, that's news to us," one senior DOJ official told reporters. And on Sunday, Mulvaney insisted he never actually said there were three issues for holding up aid. "Again, that's not what I said, that's what people said I said," Mulvaney said. "Here's what I said… there were two reasons that we held up the aid."Volker's testimony is consistent with the DOJ statement, and goes further––indicating that, as far as one of America's top envoys to Ukraine knew, the Justice Department under the Trump administration never officially asked the Ukrainians for help probing Burisma and 2016 election interference. But while DOJ may not have made the ask, the president himself certainly did. On their July 25 phone call, Trump pushed Zelensky to talk with Giuliani about the removal of a Ukrainian prosecutor who had scrutinized Burisma.  "I will ask him [Giuliani] to call you along with the Attorney General," Trump told Zelensky, according to the White House's memo on their call. "I will have Mr. Giuliani give you a call and I am also going to have Attorney General Barr call and we will get to the bottom of it," Trump added. Volker has maintained that he did not know Trump offered to have Barr and Giuliani call Zelensky until the public knew. If Volker's understanding of the issue is accurate, then the DOJ did not officially follow up with Ukraine's Ministry of Justice regarding Burisma and 2016. According to The Wall Street Journal, the DOJ has said Trump didn't ask Barr to reach out to Kyiv––despite telling Zelensky he would do so.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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.


Rioting migrants torch cars, injure policeman at Maltese holding centre

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 01:41 AM PDT

Rioting migrants torch cars, injure policeman at Maltese holding centreRioting migrants in Malta set at least five staff cars on fire and injured a policeman in their holding centre as they demanded their freedom. The violence broke out Sunday night at a former British army barrack in Hal Far, close to Malta's airport. The migrants took control of part of the compound, but a police spokesman said the situation was brought back under control in the early hours of Monday.


Petrol bombs thrown in Hong Kong as anger flares over 'triad' attack on protest leader

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 08:34 AM PDT

Petrol bombs thrown in Hong Kong as anger flares over 'triad' attack on protest leaderPolice and protesters exchanged tear gas and petrol bombs in Hong Kong on Sunday amid anger over an attack on a leading activist by men allegedly linked to triad gangsters.   Clashes broke out as tens of thousands took to the streets for an unsanctioned anti-government march, many also defying a face mask ban introduced in a bid to curb the protests.  Tensions ran high after Jimmy Sham, the leader the Civil Human Rights Front which called the march, was attacked earlier in the week by a group of men wielding metal poles and hammers. Witnesses said that those responsible for the assault were associated with pro-Beijing triads that have been blamed for previous violence against protesters.   On Saturday afternoon, a 19-year-old man was also hospitalised after being stabbed in the abdomen while handing out pro-democracy flyers in Tai Po, a district in northern Hong Kong.  Politically motivated attacks and vandalism have been on the rise as the situation continues to escalate in what is now the twentieth consecutive week of protests.  Protesters are now vandalising and destroying shops, banks, and businesses associated with mainland China. As moderate, peaceful marchers branched off from the more radical, black-clad frontline protesters near Tsim Sha Tsui police station, violence flared. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon, drenching Hong Kong's biggest mosque with blue dye in what they said was an accident Credit: Kyle Lam/Bloomberg Protesters threw molotov cocktails and set fire to makeshift barricades, while riot police charged with batons and fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets.  Throughout the afternoon a water cannon truck chased protesters down Nathan Road, one of the city's busiest shopping thoroughfares, leaving it streaked with blue dye from the vehicle's turrets. The dye, used to identify protesters, also contains a painful pepper solution. The entrance to the city's biggest mosque was painted blue when the truck fired at a handful of people outside. Police said hitting the building was an accident. Vivek Mahbubani, a Hong Kong-born comedian, stood with a group of friends on Nathan Road, handing out water and egg tarts to marchers. "People passing by today shared our smiles and instead of feeling worried when passing. They all agreed that we are all Hongkongers," he told The Telegraph.  "When I heard about the attack on Jimmy Sham, I was horrified. To think that Hong Kong has become a place where something like this can happen was shocking."


There's a reasonable explanation why this mom saw a 'ghost baby' in her sleeping son's crib

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 01:38 PM PDT

There's a reasonable explanation why this mom saw a 'ghost baby' in her sleeping son's cribThis mom's 'ghost baby' baby monitor mix-up has us all laughing.


Judge asked to stop student suspension over note about rape

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 11:47 AM PDT

Judge asked to stop student suspension over note about rapeA high school activist's comment about rape posted on a bathroom mirror represents constitutionally protected free speech — and punishing her would discourage young victims from coming forward, an attorney said Monday. The sticky note that proclaimed "There's a rapist in our school and you know who it is" aimed to call attention to the unaddressed problem of sexual assaults, said Emma Bond from the American Civil Liberties of Maine. U.S. District Judge Lance Walker, who listened to the arguments on Monday, said he'll rule soon on Aela Mansmann's request to intervene to stop a three-day suspension imposed by school administrators.


See Photos of 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 12:34 PM PDT

See Photos of 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback


The U.S. Army Has Big Plans to Smash Enemy Drones in a War

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 03:56 AM PDT

The U.S. Army Has Big Plans to Smash Enemy Drones in a WarThe U.S. Army is fast-tracking what could be called an entire sphere of counter-drone weapons


Pete Buttigieg 2020 campaign hired staff recommended by Mark Zuckerberg

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 09:44 AM PDT

Pete Buttigieg 2020 campaign hired staff recommended by Mark ZuckerbergPete Buttigieg reportedly gave jobs to two staffers who were referred to his 2020 presidential campaign by Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook founder's wife Priscilla Chan.The Democratic hopeful hired Eric Mayefsky and Nina Wornhoff to serve as his campaign's senior digital analytics adviser and organising data manager after Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan passed on their CVs.


Trump 'like a squirrel caught in traffic' during Pentagon meeting: Aide

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 10:41 AM PDT

Trump 'like a squirrel caught in traffic' during Pentagon meeting: AideIn President Trump's first full briefing at the Defense Department, he requested a grand "Victory Day" parade with "vehicles and tanks on Main Street" and down Pennsylvania Avenue, like the "amazing" parade he'd just witnessed in France, Guy Snodgrass, a top aide to then-Defense Secretary James Mattis, recounts in his new book, "Holding the Line." "The Fourth of July is too hot," Trump added.


Hillary Clinton posts parody Kennedy letter mocking Trump

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 05:45 PM PDT

Hillary Clinton posts parody Kennedy letter mocking TrumpHillary Clinton on Sunday posted a joke letter on Twitter supposedly sent by John F. Kennedy during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, written in the excitable style of US President Donald Trump's recent letter to Turkey. The parody letter, originally from ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" TV show, is written on mocked-up White House letterhead and addressed to Russia's then leader Nikita Khrushchev. Get your missiles out of Cuba," starts the letter pretending to be from president Kennedy.


WikiLeaks founder Assange appears confused at extradition hearing

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:48 AM PDT

WikiLeaks founder Assange appears confused at extradition hearingWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared confused at a London court hearing on Monday, struggling to recall his name and age in his first public appearance in months as he sought to fight extradition to the United States. Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's embassy before he was dragged out in April, faces 18 counts in the United States including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.


Trump Cheated (Shocker!) on Property Tax; But Will Anyone Go to Jail?

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 04:00 AM PDT

Trump Cheated (Shocker!) on Property Tax; But Will Anyone Go to Jail?Chip SomodevillaProPublica published a piece Wednesday that put the spotlight once again on some questionable financial practices of the Trump Organization, which showed one set of books to banks (inflating value) and another to New York City tax authorities (deflating value).Is this just the usual Trump mendacity, or can prosecutors see this as part of a pattern? And if so, could it be prosecuted? Who would be tagged as the defendant(s)? If not, what more is needed to bring the guilty parties to justice?Before we explore these questions, let's look at the facts. Both versions of them.ProPublica obtained property tax docs for four Trump properties. These docs became public when Trump appealed the tax bills, and the loan records became public when Trump's lenders sold the debt on the properties. Significant discrepancies were unearthed between the tax records and loan records for two of the properties: Trump International Hotel & Tower, on Central Park West, and 40 Wall St.Tax and loan documents for 40 Wall St. showed significant discrepancies in how certain costs such as insurance were reported. Further, Trump representatives reported different occupancy rates to lenders and tax officials: 81 percent to lenders (rising later to 95 percent), and just 59 percent to tax authorities. Rising occupancy rates are valued by lenders because they are indicative of rising income level which is material to securing refinancing, while lower rates, of course, mean lower taxes.Meanwhile, documents for the Trump International Hotel & Tower showed that city tax officials were advised that this property made about $822,000 in 2017 from renting space in the building to other businesses, while loan officials were told that the building made about $1.67 million. ProPublica further notes that Trump appeared not to report income from leasing space for television antennas on tax documents but did report the income on loan docs.Each of the above-noted discrepancies is indicative of potential fraud. But do they represent instances of a prosecutable case?The short answer is: not yet. The discrepancies do reflect a situational ethics approach toward financial obligations and responsibilities. But more evidence will be needed to prosecute anyone should criminal prosecution be considered by the authorities.Who might be prosecuted here? It is unclear just who is responsible for submitting the doctored financial statements to the lending authorities and tax officials. Were the folks who submitted the documents the same folks who prepared them? If so, what were their marching orders? Who directed the Trump Organization officials to tailor the financial statements to minimize property taxes or maximize occupancy rates to obtain loans?Investigators need to home in on the work papers prepared to support the finagled financial statements in order to determine "willful intent," or "mens rea" that James Comey so infamously referenced. Such evidence may well be found at Mazars USA—the Trump Organization accounting firm that is the subject of intensive litigation with regard to subpoenas served by both the U.S. Congress and the Manhattan DA's office.Accountant work papers have been found to be beneficial when uncovering evidence of intent to defraud in case after case of white-collar fraud, specifically tax fraud. In fact, accountant work files and testimony provided critical evidence leading to the conviction of Paul Manafort in the Mueller investigations and prosecutions. It should be noted that tax fraud, bank fraud, and the falsification of business records may result in felony charges that could be contemplated by the Manhattan DA and provide for prison sentences that could lead the convicted defendants to land in Rikers Island for a stretch with the aforementioned Manafort. Evidence of corrupt intent to defraud either a financial institution or a public tax authority is critical to a successful criminal prosecution. The use of a double or triple set of books and records by company officials for fraudulent purposes is a terrific example of overt acts of corrupt intent. But further evidence will be needed here to link all those involved in each of the instances denoted above. Email, texts, voice mail, notes to the file and other evidence of directions to finagle the financial docs are needed. Further forensic analysis of the documents, for example fingerprint analysis, ink chemistry analysis and handwriting analysis are investigative tools available to the prosecutors to tighten the vise and provide the links in the chain of potential targets.Cohen was reportedly debriefed in detail recently by the Manhattan DA's office. His testimony will be needed to outline just who in the Trump Organization was responsible for the preparation of the questionable documents referenced above. Cohen's credibility will clearly be attacked in court by the defendant(s) and will become a question for the jury to grapple with. Cohen provided the Southern District of New York with a prosecutive path for those responsible for cooking the books at the Trump Organization with regard to the reimbursement of "hush money" payments to Cohen. That path is now available to the Manhattan DA. Add Cohen's now corroborated congressional testimony outlining the transactional financial ethics referenced above, used by the Trump team in their shady business dealings and the jury will likely be sitting on the edge of their seats. All the DA needs to do now is fill in some blanks in combination with demonstrating a pattern of fraud over time—the closing argument is shaping up to be very persuasive.The allegation that the Trump Organization appeared not to report income from leasing space for television antennas to tax authorities but did report the income on loan docs revives memories of the landmark New York Times tax fraud series on Fred Trump and Donald Trump's financial shenanigans in the '90s wherein the Times detailed multiple instances of unreported income streams tailored by Fred Trump for the Donald. While the statute of limitations has long expired with regard to the multi-million dollar gift tax evasion schemes entered into by Donald Trump, prosecutors can use evidence of historical frauds to depict a pattern of fraudulent conduct on the part of a defendant no matter how long ago the fraud occurred. It goes to willfulness or corrupt intent exhibited by Individual-1.The Manhattan DA's case against the Trump Organization may appear to be on its surface just a mundane business fraud type of case. But fraudulent documents don't change stories, particularly when there are witnesses available to tie the documents and the corrupt intent together. Add the historical pattern of fraud engaged in by Individual-1 and the Manhattan DA's case appears to be silently moving along like a stealth nuclear submarine under the radar and there are no available defenses available like an Office of Legal Counsel opinion to protect the prospective defendants from a potentially lethal prosecutorial attack.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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.


The Orionid meteor shower is coming Monday night

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 12:53 PM PDT

The Orionid meteor shower is coming Monday nightKeep your eyes to the night sky Monday night: You might get a peek at the Orionid meteor shower.


Nestor heads into Georgia after tornados damage Florida

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:02 AM PDT

Nestor heads into Georgia after tornados damage FloridaNestor raced across Georgia as a post-tropical cyclone late Saturday, hours after the former tropical storm spawned a tornado that damaged homes and a school in central Florida while sparing areas of the Florida Panhandle devastated one year earlier by Hurricane Michael. The storm made landfall Saturday on St. Vincent Island, a nature preserve off Florida's northern Gulf Coast in a lightly populated area of the state, the National Hurricane Center said. Nestor was expected to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to drought-stricken inland areas on its march across a swath of the U.S. Southeast.


Ex-model says Jean-Luc Brunel, model agent and Jeffrey Epstein's friend, spiked her drink and raped her

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 08:33 AM PDT

Ex-model says Jean-Luc Brunel, model agent and Jeffrey Epstein's friend, spiked her drink and raped herThe fashion industry veteran is currently facing allegations of sexual assault and harassment from several former models.


Will Germany Choose America's F-15EX as Its New Fighter?

Posted: 19 Oct 2019 10:30 PM PDT

Will Germany Choose America's F-15EX as Its New Fighter?Or the F-35?


Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg surging as moderate alternative to Joe Biden in Iowa poll

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 11:28 AM PDT

Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg surging as moderate alternative to Joe Biden in Iowa pollDemocratic candidate Pete Buttigieg has seen a surge in support to put him in third place in Iowa, according to a new poll, closely trailing the race's front runners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in the crucial state. Mr Buttigieg, once viewed as an obscure Midwestern mayor, received 13 per cent of support from voters in a Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll in Iowa - the first state to vote in the Democratic primary.  Mr Biden, a former US Vice President, and Ms Warren, a senator for Massachusetts are closely tied with 18 per cent and 17 per cent of support respectively in a survey of 500 likely Democratic voters in the state. The new poll shows a significant boost in support for Mr Buttigieg, who has presented himself as the alternative moderate candidate to Mr Biden, and received just six per cent of support among likely caucus goers in a June poll. Ms Warren has also seen an increase in support, increasing by four points since June.  Mr Buttigieg's performances in the televised live debates between the candidates may be behind the jump in support.  Pete Buttigieg has struck a chord with debate watchers Credit: Heidi Gutman  The new survey, conducted between October 16 - 18, after last week's debate, also found that Mr Buttigieg enjoys more support than either Mr Biden and Ms Warren among debate-watchers, receiving 19 per cent of support compared to 17 per cent for each of the other two.  By contrast Mr Biden, who led the crowded Democratic field with 24 per cent in June, has failed to shine in the gruelling 3-hour long debates.  Meanwhile support for Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who challenged Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016, has remained steady at nine per cent for the last few months.  Mr Buttigieg, 37,  currently mayor of the small town of South Bend, Indiana, has stunned fellow Democrat candidates, leapfrogging many who have vastly more experience to gain traction on the national stage.  However Mr Biden is still benefiting from his higher public profile and his support base largely appears to be holding strong in the race to take on Donald Trump in 2020. Another poll released on Friday, found that the former Vice President had expanded his lead in the Democratic race as the impeachment inquiry into Mr Trump continues.  Democrat candidates The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between October 17-18 found that 21 per cent of Democrats and independents said they would vote for Mr Biden in the Democratic primaries that begin next year, up 3 per centage points from a similar poll that was conducted at the end of September. Democrats in the House of Representatives are currently holding hearings to investigate whether Mr Trump improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate Mr Biden and his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. So far, the inquiry does not appear to have shaken up public support for Mr Biden or the other candidates for the Democratic nomination. According to the poll, which surveyed 1,116 adults, 16 per cent of Democrats and independents said they would support Mr Sanders and 15 per cent said they would back Ms Warren. Mr Buttigieg received just five per cent of support in that poll. With less than four months to go before Iowa holds the first nomination contest, the race for the Democratic nomination appears to be wide open. About 1 in 5 said they remain undecided, and nearly two-thirds of Democrats and independents said they could still change their minds.


Gun control advocate: Pushing mandatory buybacks will hand victory to the NRA, again

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:00 AM PDT

Gun control advocate: Pushing mandatory buybacks will hand victory to the NRA, againWe can pass significant gun safety laws but not if the 2020 campaign is about confiscating assault weapons. This is not timidity, it's reality.


China's top diplomat says 'confident' of investment deal with EU

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 09:59 AM PDT

China's top diplomat says 'confident' of investment deal with EUChina's foreign minister said Monday that he was confident of a investment deal being clinched with the European Union, while pressing for talks "as soon as possible" on a free trade accord. China is engaged in a long-running tariff war with US President Donald Trump, which has started to take a toll on its economic growth.


Poll: Majority of Mexicans say organized crime stronger than government after El Chapo’s son released

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 11:41 AM PDT

Poll: Majority of Mexicans say organized crime stronger than government after El Chapo's son releasedA majority of Mexicans see organized crime as more powerful than the Mexican government after government forces capitulated to drug-cartel strongmen and released the son of the former cartel leader Joaquín Guzmán, known as "El Chapo."


Apology accepted, Hong Kong's Muslims lament water cannon staining mosque

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 03:21 AM PDT

Apology accepted, Hong Kong's Muslims lament water cannon staining mosqueMunicipal workers scrubbed away noxious blue dye from the steps of Hong Kong's biggest mosque on Monday, while Muslim worshippers expressed frustration over police firing a water cannon outside the mosque during a large anti-government march. Senior police officers visited the Kowloon mosque to explain it was hit accidentally during Sunday's clashes with demonstrators, and Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam met with community leaders on Monday to apologise. "It was unnecessary to drag this place of worship into this conflict between the government and the people," Arabi Mohideen, 60, said after attending dawn prayers at the mosque in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district.


Ozone hole shrinks to smallest size on record, and it's not related to global warming

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 10:25 AM PDT

Ozone hole shrinks to smallest size on record, and it's not related to global warmingThanks to unusually warm temperatures high above Antarctica this month, the ozone hole shrank to its smallest size on record, scientists reported.


Artist sues over Missouri's 'Indian-made' law

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 07:57 AM PDT

Artist sues over Missouri's 'Indian-made' lawPeggy Fontenot alleges that the law is a violation of her First Amendment right to free speech. The lawsuit over the Missouri law, which was passed last year, was filed in August in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Fontenot previously sued over a similar law in Oklahoma and won.


Nancy Pelosi led a bipartisan delegation to Jordan to talk Middle East peace amid the Syrian crisis

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 01:30 PM PDT

Nancy Pelosi led a bipartisan delegation to Jordan to talk Middle East peace amid the Syrian crisisPelosi was joined by other House members in Jordan on Saturday for diplomacy meetings with top officials, including King Abdullah II and his son.


View Photos of the 2020 Ford Ranger

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 12:32 PM PDT

View Photos of the 2020 Ford Ranger


Trump's actions worse than Nixon's - and Democrats must impeach him immediately, George Bush's former ethics lawyer warns

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 05:25 AM PDT

Trump's actions worse than Nixon's - and Democrats must impeach him immediately, George Bush's former ethics lawyer warnsDonald Trump's multiple abuses of office are more serious than those even of Richard Nixon, and Democrats must trigger their effort to impeach him before the end of the year, a former top Republican administration lawyer has claimed.Richard Painter, who served as an ethics lawyer to the administration of George W Bush but who quit the party after it moved sharply to the right, claims Mr Trump's offences are unique even when considered against the many misdeeds of his predecessors.


Why Russia's Navy Is Becoming a Smaller, Regional Force

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:44 AM PDT

Why Russia's Navy Is Becoming a Smaller, Regional Force(But is still deadly.)


Thousands protest against Bangladesh police after deadly shootings

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:52 AM PDT

Thousands protest against Bangladesh police after deadly shootingsThousands protested against police across Bangladesh on Monday, a day after at least four people died when officers fired on a crowd in one of the country's deadliest religious riots to date. Some 20,000 Muslims called for the execution of a young Hindu man on Bhola island Sunday for writing Facebook messages that allegedly defamed the Prophet Mohammed, with police saying they opened fire after rocks were thrown at officers. Mob attacks over online posts perceived to be blasphemous have emerged as a major headache for security forces in Bangladesh, where Muslims make up some 90 percent of the country's 168 million people.


Democrats Seek Insider Trading Probe After ‘Trump Chaos’ Article

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:09 PM PDT

Democrats Seek Insider Trading Probe After 'Trump Chaos' Article(Bloomberg) -- Democratic lawmakers are increasingly demanding that U.S. authorities investigate allegations raised in a recent magazine article that traders might be using non-public government information to reap huge illegal profits, even as the exchange where the transactions purportedly took place called the story "patently false."In a Monday letter, 14 Democratic senators urged the heads of the Justice Department, FBI, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission to probe "disturbing reports of suspicious trading in our futures and equities markets" described in a Vanity Fair piece. The magazine referred to the transactions as "Trump Chaos Trades."Since the story's publication, the suggestion that White House leaks could be a factor in futures traders making billions of dollars from well-timed bets ahead of major geopolitical announcements has fueled endless chatter from Washington to Wall Street. Still, the article has been met with widespread skepticism from the financial industry.CME Group Inc., the world's biggest futures exchange, has dismissed the claims, arguing that the trades highlighted in the story couldn't have been based on inside information because too many market participants were involved. The article describes five big transactions in S&P 500 e-mini futures from June 28 to Sept. 13, ranging from 55,000 to 420,000 contracts."As it relates to the Vanity Fair article published on October 17, 2019, regarding activities in the E-mini S&P futures contract, the allegations about the trading activity are patently false," CME said in an Oct. 18 statement.In Monday's letter, Democrats said they wanted federal authorities "to investigate immediately whether any rules, laws or regulations were violated." The lawmakers added that "if any wrongdoing is uncovered, we demand that you swiftly hold violators accountable to the fullest extent possible."Spokesmen for the SEC and Justice Department declined to comment, while spokesmen for the FBI and CFTC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.The wagers cited by Vanity Fair were made shortly before market-moving news -- three times involving the U.S.-China trade war, once involving the bombing of Saudi oil fields and once involving Hong Kong politics. Thanks to market reactions, the magazine said, people involved in the transactions could've booked gains of between $82.5 million on the smallest to $1.8 billion on the biggest.The story's author, William D. Cohan, has said that finance professionals with decades of experience alerted him to the trades. Cohan, a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist, has said that factors other than illegal buying-and-selling could explain the transactions and that he doesn't know whether any nefarious activity actually occurred.Earlier Monday, Angus King, an independent Maine senator who caucuses with the Democrats, also called on the SEC to investigate. Last week, Democratic Representatives Ted Lieu and Kathleen Rice requested a federal investigation into the timing around sales of e-mini futures contracts before significant geopolitical events or statements from Trump.\--With assistance from Nick Baker.To contact the reporters on this story: Ben Bain in Washington at bbain2@bloomberg.net;Matt Robinson in New York at mrobinson55@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Jesse Westbrook at jwestbrook1@bloomberg.net, Gregory MottFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


Putin steps up drive for clout in Africa with broadside against West

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 02:03 AM PDT

Putin steps up drive for clout in Africa with broadside against WestPresident Vladimir Putin stepped up Russia's push for influence in Africa days before he hosts a summit with African leaders, saying on Monday that Moscow could offer help without strings attached unlike what he cast as the exploitative West. The Kremlin has said it expects 47 African leaders to converge on the Black Sea city of Sochi for the Oct. 23-24 event, Moscow's first Russia-Africa summit and part of an ambitious push for influence and business in Africa. For Moscow, the prize is greater political influence on a continent with 54 United Nations member states, sprawling mineral wealth, and potentially lucrative markets for Russian-manufactured weapons.


Hillside brush fire in Los Angeles threatens affluent Pacific Palisades homes, forces evacuations

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:02 PM PDT

Hillside brush fire in Los Angeles threatens affluent Pacific Palisades homes, forces evacuationsCalifornia firefighters are wrestling with the Palisades Fire burning in a Los Angeles hillside and threatening multimillion-dollar homes.


She's back: Argentines contemplate possible role for "CFK"

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 08:31 AM PDT

She's back: Argentines contemplate possible role for "CFK"At least, that was the opinion of giddy supporters who chanted "We will return!" as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina's former president, campaigned ahead of national elections on Oct. 27. Fernández de Kirchner, who embodies Argentina's enduring cycle of hope and despair, appears close to a return to power, this time as a candidate for vice president. Naturally, views diverge over the impact of Fernández de Kirchner's outsized, polarizing persona on the leadership of a nation long starved of economic stability.


The story behind a soldier's act of solidarity with the US allies Trump is leaving behind in Syria

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 12:32 PM PDT

The story behind a soldier's act of solidarity with the US allies Trump is leaving behind in SyriaA US solider was photographed wearing a patch in apparent solidarity with the Kurdish-backed forces that the US is leaving behind.


Mick Mulvaney Melts Down Under Brutal Grilling By Fox’s Chris Wallace

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 09:58 AM PDT

Mick Mulvaney Melts Down Under Brutal Grilling By Fox's Chris WallaceDays after his disastrous White House press briefing in which he admitted President Donald Trump was seeking out a quid pro quo with Ukraine before saying never mind, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney struggled to walk back his comments under the intense and relentless grilling of Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace.Almost immediately during the Sunday morning broadcast, Wallace pressed Mulvaney on his remarks, asking why he said during the press conference that military aid to Ukraine depended on investigating the actions of Democrats during the 2016 election, prompting Mulvaney to assert that he never actually said that."Again, that's not what I said, that's what people said I said," he replied before saying there were "two reasons" why the United States would have held up aid: corruption and whether other European nations were helping with aid.Mick Mulvaney Has Conservatives Asking: WTF Are You Doing?Wallace, meanwhile, didn't let Mulvaney's spin go unchecked, telling the chief of staff that anyone listening to the briefing could "come to only one conclusion" before playing clips Mulvaney confirming that Trump withheld aid unless the Ukrainians investigated the Democrats.Mulvaney continued to insist that he had been misinterpreted and that aid was only contingent on corruption and additional European assistance, causing the Fox News anchor to fire back."I hate to go through this but you said what you said," Wallace stated. "And the fact is, after that exchange with [ABC News correspondent] Jonathan Karl, you were asked another time why the aid was held up. What was the condition for the aid? And you didn't mention two conditions, you mentioned three conditions."Wallace, once again, threw Mulvaney's own remarks back in his face, playing yet another clip from the press briefing of Mulvaney claiming military aid to Ukraine was contingent upon them cooperating with the Trump administration and investigating the Democrats.The Trump aide, however, attempted to brush off his previous remarks by saying he didn't actually use the words "quid pro quo," prompting Wallace to point out that when Karl pressed him on whether or not there was a quid pro quo, Mulvaney said that "happens all the time."Fox News Host Ed Henry: Not 'Media's Fault' Mick Mulvaney Admitted Quid Pro QuoThe two would go back and forth over this issue for a few more minutes, with Wallace repeatedly cornering Mulvaney over his previous comments and the chief of staff flailing away and struggling to present even a laughable defense.At one point, Wallace asked Mulvaney whether he had offered his resignation to Trump in the wake of the blowback and criticism he received over the press briefing. Mulvaney said the topic was "absolutely not" discussed with the president, adding that he is "very happy working there."CNN, meanwhile, reported Sunday that prior to the impeachment crisis that Trump finds himself currently embroiled in, there were internal efforts to push Mulvaney out as acting chief of staff. Those efforts subsided, however, when the push for impeachment heated up in the wake of the Ukraine scandal late last month.Besides the issues surrounding the Ukraine scandal and impeachment, Wallace also grilled Mulvaney on the president's sudden reversal on next year's G7 summit, which Mulvaney announced last week would be held at Trump's personal property. Asked by Wallace why the president "caved" to the bipartisan backlash, Mulvaney said Trump was "honestly surprised at the level of pushback," adding that the president "still considers himself to be in the hospitality business."Wallace seized on the "hospitality business" comment and pressed Mulvaney if the president understood why it "looked lousy." The acting chief of staff's retort: "I think he thinks people think it looks lousy."Sean Hannity Goes Off on Mick Mulvaney: 'I Just Think He's Dumb'Read more at The Daily Beast.Get 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.


Does the U.S. Navy Have Too Many Admirals?

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 07:00 PM PDT

Does the U.S. Navy Have Too Many Admirals?Today, there are more Admirals than during both World Wars. Problem?


Philippine police recommend drug charges against ex-chief

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 06:30 AM PDT

Philippine police recommend drug charges against ex-chiefPhilippine police recommended graft and drug charges against its former chief on Monday over a new scandal that has put President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-narcotics crackdown under the spotlight. The police face allegations some officers are involved in the illegal drugs trade and that they had the protection of former chief Oscar Albayalde. It is the latest controversy to engulf the Philippine police force, which is waging a drug war launched by President Duterte in 2016.


Japan's Uniqlo pulls ad after South Korean fury

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 03:52 AM PDT

Japan's Uniqlo pulls ad after South Korean furyJapanese retail giant Uniqlo has pulled a commercial featuring a 98-year-old US fashion figure from South Korean screens, it said on Monday (Oct 21) after it was accused of whitewashing colonial history. South Korea and Japan are both United States allies, democracies and market economies faced with an overbearing China and nuclear-armed North Korea, but their relationship is deeply strained by the legacy of Tokyo's 20th-century expansionism. The latest example is an advert for Uniqlo fleeces showing elderly fashion celebrity Iris Apfel chatting with designer Kheris Rogers, 85 years her junior. The last line has the white-haired Apfel, asked how she used to dress as a teenager, innocuously responding: "Oh my God. I can't remember that far back." But Uniqlo's Korean arm subtitled its version of the ad slightly differently, reading: "I can't remember things that happened more than 80 years ago."  Iris Apfel  Credit: Rex That would put the moment as 1939, towards the end of Japan's brutal colonial rule over the Korean peninsula, where the period is still bitterly resented, and some South Koreans reacted furiously. "A nation that forgets history has no future. We can't forget what happened 80 years ago that Uniqlo made fun of," commented one Internet user on Naver, the country's largest portal. The phrase "Uniqlo, comfort women", in reference to women forced to become sex slaves to Japanese troops during World War II, was among the most searched terms on Naver at the weekend, and demonstrators protested outside Uniqlo shops on Monday. Seoul and Tokyo are currently locked in a bitter trade and diplomatic row stemming from historical disputes, and South Korean consumers have mounted boycotts of Japanese products. South Korean protesters denounce Uniqlo Credit: AFP/YONHAP Uniqlo - which has 186 stores in South Korea - has itself been one of the highest-profile targets, while Japanese carmakers' sales dropped nearly 60 per cent year on year in September. The company denied the allegations in a statement, saying the text was altered to highlight the age gap between the individuals and show that its fleeces were for people "across generations". "The ad had no intention whatsoever to imply anything" about colonial rule, a Uniqlo representative told AFP on Monday, adding the firm had withdrawn the ad in an effort at damage control. Analysts said the controversy demonstrated the politicisation of the neighbours' complex history. The reaction was excessive, said Mr Kim Sung-han, a former foreign affairs vice-minister who teaches at Korea University, involving a "jump in logic" that "assumes everything Uniqlo does is political as a Japanese company". "I don't see how her remark could be linked to the comfort women issue," he added. "This is overly sensitive."


The FBI says at least 3 American tourists died of natural causes in the Dominican Republic, not tainted alcohol

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 10:18 AM PDT

The FBI says at least 3 American tourists died of natural causes in the Dominican Republic, not tainted alcoholThis year saw a spate of tourist deaths that sparked fears over tainted alcohol or other mysterious conditions before the investigation was launched.


Severe storms, isolated tornadoes to rattle Deep South early this week

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 02:50 AM PDT

Severe storms, isolated tornadoes to rattle Deep South early this weekSevere thunderstorms, including a few tornadoes, tore through the southern Plains Sunday night, but the storms will still pack a punch farther east in the central United States into Monday evening.The necessary ingredients for thunderstorm development came together Sunday night as a cold front collided with the warm, moist air in place across the southern Plains.Thunderstorms exploded from southern Kansas to central Texas late Sunday evening and expanded as they moved eastward later Sunday night.The storms congealed into a powerful line of thunderstorms, or squall line, as the night progressed. The squall line persisted into the first thing Monday morning, but has morphed into a swath of heavy, gusty thunderstorms during the midday hours. "The main threats from the storms into Monday evening will be from blinding downpours and strong wind gusts but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled-out," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards.Cities in the path of the storms include Nashville, Tennessee; London, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio; Jackson, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Galveston, Texas; and Huntsville, Alabama.Just after 9 p.m. CDT, a confirmed tornado caused damage near Dallas, Texas. About half an hour later, over 50,000 customers were without power in Dallas County, Texas, according to PowerOutage.US.As the storms rolled through Memphis, Tennessee, at the start of Monday, damaging winds and a tornado warning prompted evacuations of airline passengers who had boarded planes. Delays followed as many passengers had to pass through security checkpoints again.It is a good idea to keep cell phones charged with the volume turned up and severe weather alerts enabled. This will allow you to be notified if a severe thunderstorm or tornado is heading for your community before you wake up.Straight-line wind gusts up to an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 55 mph can toss around loose outdoor items, such as lightweight furniture or fall decorations, that are not brought inside or secured beforehand.Tree damage and sporadic power outages can also occur in such winds.The thunderstorms will move along at a quick enough pace across the Tennessee Valley to limit concerns for flash flooding. However, storms near the Gulf coast will move at a slower pace and have a greater potential to cause flash flooding.As the storms continue to advance, people in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans could be hit with disruptive weather later Monday afternoon. Strong storms may even survive the trip into Atlanta Monday evening.Although the threat for tornadoes will be less on Monday than what it was on Sunday night, there is the still the potential for an isolated. The tornado could be wrapped in rain and difficult to spot.Drier, cooler air will sweep in from west to east across the South behind the thunderstorms, aiding any cleanup operations that may be needed. Download the free AccuWeather app to see the latest forecast and advisories for your region. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.


The Latest: Mayor expects ruined hotel will be demolished

Posted: 20 Oct 2019 05:28 PM PDT

The Latest: Mayor expects ruined hotel will be demolishedThe mayor of New Orleans mayor says she expects a partially collapsed hotel in her city will ultimately be demolished. Mayor LaToya Cantrell said at a news conference Sunday that officials successfully detonated and toppled two dangerous cranes that had leaned for days over the ruins of the Hard Rock Hotel, which collapsed Oct. 12 while under construction. Three workers died in the partial hotel collapse but only one body was removed.


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