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1,301 | The 'Ivanka drop | Ivanka Trump | (CNN) President Donald Trump has a longtime habit in high-profile meetings that's no "Art of the Deal" secret: a casual drop-by from daughter Ivanka Trump.
Take Wednesday's meeting with congressional leaders: Ivanka Trump who also serves as a White House adviser "entered the Oval Office to 'say hello' and the meeting careened off-topic " a congressional source briefed on the meeting told CNN's Deirdre Walsh.
Some Republican leaders were "visibly annoyed by Ivanka 's presence " the source said.
Marc Short White House director of legislative affairs confirmed the purpose of Ivanka Trump's visit.
"We asked Ivanka to briefly join the meeting for an update on the child care tax credit and how we are working to make tax reform a bipartisan issue " he said. "It was a quick and productive conversation."
1:2 Just concluded a great meeting on #TaxReform & the Child Tax Credit w/ coalitions supporting tax relief for American working families. pic.twitter.com/sj07COcW8P — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 6 2017
Ivanka Trump also joined her father Wednesday afternoon in North Dakota where he gave a tax reform speech.
In the middle of his remarks the President brought her onstage.
"By the way Ivanka Trump ? Everybody loves Ivanka Trump " he said. "Come on should I bring Ivanka up?
He added that his daughter had asked to join him on the trip.
Ivanka Trump made brief remarks on stage before leaving the stage.
While Trump was speaking to The New York Times in July Ivanka Trump and daughter Arabella Kushner popped in to say "hello" as he was answering a question about former FBI Director James Comey's testimony on Capitol Hill.
" His testimony is loaded up with lies OK? But people didn't -- we had a couple people that said -- 'Hi baby how are you?' " Trump said as his granddaughter entered the room.
"Just wanted to come say 'hi ' " Ivanka Trump said as she stood in the doorway according to a transcript of the interview.
The President asked his granddaughter to say hello to the reporters in Mandarin touting the six-year-old's "good smart genes " before returning to the topic at hand.
Later that month Ivanka Trump dropped by an interview the President was having with The Wall Street Journal. | (CNN) President Donald Trump has a longtime habit in high-profile meetings that's no "Art of the Deal" secret: a casual drop-by from daughter Ivanka Trump.
Take Wednesday's meeting with congressional leaders: Ivanka Trump who also serves as a White House adviser "entered the Oval Office to 'say hello' and the meeting careened off-topic " a congressional source briefed on the meeting told CNN's Deirdre Walsh.
Some Republican leaders were "visibly annoyed by Ivanka 's presence " the source said.
Marc Short White House director of legislative affairs confirmed the purpose of [TGT]visit.
"We asked Ivanka to briefly join the meeting for an update on the child care tax credit and how we are working to make tax reform a bipartisan issue " he said. "It was a quick and productive conversation."
1:2 Just concluded a great meeting on #TaxReform & the Child Tax Credit w/ coalitions supporting tax relief for American working families. pic.twitter.com/sj07COcW8P — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 6 2017
[TGT]also joined [TGT] father Wednesday afternoon in North Dakota where [TGT] gave a tax reform speech.
In the middle of [TGT] remarks the President brought [TGT] onstage.
"By the way Ivanka Trump ? Everybody loves [TGT]" he said. "Come on should I bring Ivanka up?
He added that his daughter had asked to join him on the trip.
[TGT]made brief remarks on stage before leaving the stage.
While [TGT]was speaking to The New York Times in July [TGT]and daughter Arabella Kushner popped in to say "hello" as [TGT] was answering a question about former FBI Director James Comey's testimony on Capitol Hill.
" [TGT] testimony is loaded up with lies OK? But people didn't -- we had a couple people that said -- 'Hi baby how are you?' [TGT]said as [TGT] granddaughter entered the room.
"Just wanted to come say 'hi ' " [TGT]said as [TGT] stood in the doorway according to a transcript of the interview.
The President asked his granddaughter to say hello to the reporters in Mandarin touting the six-year-old's "good smart genes " before returning to the topic at hand.
Later that month [TGT]dropped by an interview the President was having with The Wall Street Journal. | 2Positive
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1,302 | Anthony Scaramucci : If I were John Kelly I'd apologize over the Rob Porter scandal | Anthony Scaramucci | (CNN) Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci suggested that John Kelly is handling the fallout from the Rob Porter scandal poorly by trying to "cover it up."
"The cover-up is always worse than the crime " Scaramucci told David Axelrod in an upcoming segment of "The Axe Files " a podcast from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN.
"I would say 'Jeez you know I knew about it. I was going to give the guy a pass because he told me it wasn't true and I apologize to the American people for that. He's been let go and I'd still like to keep my job "' Scaramucci explained. "That's what I would do if I was General Kelly."
Scaramucci said if he were the White House chief of staff he wouldn't say he "didn't know about it when ( he ) knew about it or try to cover it."
"We're in a society now where everyone's going to find out everything anyway " he noted. | (CNN) Former White House communications director [TGT] suggested that John Kelly is handling the fallout from the Rob Porter scandal poorly by trying to "cover it up."
"The cover-up is always worse than the crime " Scaramucci told David Axelrod in an upcoming segment of "The Axe Files " a podcast from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN.
"I would say 'Jeez you know I knew about it. I was going to give the guy a pass because he told me it wasn't true and I apologize to the American people for that. He's been let go and I'd still like to keep my job "' Scaramucci explained. "That's what I would do if I was General Kelly."
Scaramucci said if he were the White House chief of staff he wouldn't say he "didn't know about it when ( he ) knew about it or try to cover it."
"We're in a society now where everyone's going to find out everything anyway " he noted. | 2Positive
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1,303 | Patrick Stewart happily picking apples is ripe for a Photoshop battle | Patrick Stewart | Like most but not all of us Patrick Stewart is enjoying apple picking season.
He shared a photo of his joyful experience on Twitter Sunday claiming he 's been partaking in the fall activity before it was a trend. He 's cooler than Instagram and we all know it.
But he forgot to mention his other very cool activities like hanging out in space pretending to be Adam in a Michelangelo painting and trying to poison Snow White.
I've been picking apples in the autumn since before it was cool to post about it on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/9hJLCwV6Fc — Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) October 22 2017
Where's Patrick Stewart ? Hint: He 's all the way to right.
Who knew he had moves?
How dare he try to poison Snow White? | Like most but not all of us [TGT]is enjoying apple picking season.
[TGT] shared a photo of [TGT] joyful experience on Twitter Sunday claiming [TGT] 's been partaking in the fall activity before it was a trend. [TGT] 's cooler than Instagram and we all know it.
But [TGT] forgot to mention [TGT] other very cool activities like hanging out in space pretending to be Adam in a Michelangelo painting and trying to poison Snow White.
I've been picking apples in the autumn since before it was cool to post about it on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/9hJLCwV6Fc — Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) October 22 2017
Where's [TGT] ? Hint: [TGT] 's all the way to right.
Who knew [TGT] had moves?
How dare [TGT] try to poison Snow White? | 2Positive
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1,304 | UFC Fight Night 121 Werdum Vs. Tybura: 10 Things You Should Know About Saturday's Card | Velickovic Welterweight Matthews | Matchup Weight Class Odds Prediction DraftKings Pick? Anthony Hamilton Vs. Adam Wieczorek Heavyweight Wieczorek -160 Hamilton +130 Wieczorek by TKO Wieczorek Jenel Lausa Vs. Eric Shelton Men's Flyweight Shelton -400 Lausa +300 Shelton by UD Alex Chambers Vs. Nadia Kaseem Strawweight Kaseem -150 Chambers +125 Kaseem by TKO Kaseem Damien Brown Vs. Frank Camacho Lightweight Brown -114 -114 Camacho Brown by TKO Brown Rashad Coulter Vs. Tai Tuivasa Heavyweight Tuivasa -187 Coulter +165 Coulter by TKO Coulter Nik Lentz Vs. Will Brooks Lightweight Brooks -315 Lentz +270 Brooks by SUB Ryan Benoit Vs. Ashkan Mokhtarian Men's Flyweight Benoit -221 Mokhtarian +179 Benoit by SUB Alexander Volkanovski Vs. Shane Young Featherweight/ Lightweight Volkanovski -526 Young +375 Volkanovski by TKO Elias Theodorou Vs. Daniel Kelly Middleweight Theodorou -221 Kelly +179 Theodorou by UD Jake Matthews Vs. Bojan Velickovic Welterweight Matthews -169 Velickovic +141 Matthews by UD Matthews Tim Means Vs. Belal Muhammad Welterweight Means -248 Muhammad +192 Means by TKO Bec Rawlings Vs. Jessica Rose-Clark Women's Flyweight Rawlings -145 Clark +118 Rawlings by UD Rawlings Fabricio Werdum Vs. Marcin Tybura Heavyweight Werdum -286 Tybura +190 Werdum by SUB
Saturday's event will be the 12th from the promotion in Australia. It's the sixth in the Qudos Bank Arena (formerly known as Acer and AllPhones Arena). Eight of the fighters have fought in Australia for the UFC in the past. Matthews and Kelly have the most fights in Australia for the promotion at five apiece.
Matthews is 3-2 in his home country while Kelly has one loss in five fights before his countrymen. Rawlings is the only fighter on the card with two or more fights in Australia and no losses Down Under.
Brooks came to the UFC with some fanfare but he's lost his last two fights after winning his debut. If the former Bellator champion hopes to rise to similar heights in the UFC he needs to beat Lentz. Matthews is another fighter hoping to avoid a three-fight losing streak. He has long been considered one of the best young prospects in the UFC.
At 23 years old it's time he starts to get his arrow pointing upward again. A loss to the dangerous Velickovic could be disastrous. Rawlings has also lost two in a row. She's a major draw in Australia but she has to be getting concerned about a potential release if she continues to look less than stellar in the Octagon. | Matchup Weight Class Odds Prediction DraftKings Pick? Anthony Hamilton Vs. Adam Wieczorek Heavyweight Wieczorek -160 Hamilton +130 Wieczorek by TKO Wieczorek Jenel Lausa Vs. Eric Shelton Men's Flyweight Shelton -400 Lausa +300 Shelton by UD Alex Chambers Vs. Nadia Kaseem Strawweight Kaseem -150 Chambers +125 Kaseem by TKO Kaseem Damien Brown Vs. Frank Camacho Lightweight Brown -114 -114 Camacho Brown by TKO Brown Rashad Coulter Vs. Tai Tuivasa Heavyweight Tuivasa -187 Coulter +165 Coulter by TKO Coulter Nik Lentz Vs. Will Brooks Lightweight Brooks -315 Lentz +270 Brooks by SUB Ryan Benoit Vs. Ashkan Mokhtarian Men's Flyweight Benoit -221 Mokhtarian +179 Benoit by SUB Alexander Volkanovski Vs. Shane Young Featherweight/ Lightweight Volkanovski -526 Young +375 Volkanovski by TKO Elias Theodorou Vs. Daniel Kelly Middleweight Theodorou -221 Kelly +179 Theodorou by UD Jake Matthews Vs. Bojan Velickovic Welterweight Matthews -169 Velickovic +141 [TGT] by UD Matthews Tim Means Vs. Belal Muhammad Welterweight Means -248 Muhammad +192 Means by TKO Bec Rawlings Vs. Jessica Rose-Clark Women's Flyweight Rawlings -145 Clark +118 Rawlings by UD Rawlings Fabricio Werdum Vs. Marcin Tybura Heavyweight Werdum -286 Tybura +190 Werdum by SUB
Saturday's event will be the 12th from the promotion in Australia. It's the sixth in the Qudos Bank Arena (formerly known as Acer and AllPhones Arena). Eight of the fighters have fought in Australia for the UFC in the past. [TGT]and Kelly have the most fights in Australia for the promotion at five apiece.
[TGT]is 3-2 in [TGT] home country while Kelly has one loss in five fights before [TGT] countrymen. Rawlings is the only fighter on the card with two or more fights in Australia and no losses Down Under.
Brooks came to the UFC with some fanfare but he's lost his last two fights after winning his debut. If the former Bellator champion hopes to rise to similar heights in the UFC he needs to beat Lentz. [TGT]is another fighter hoping to avoid a three-fight losing streak. [TGT] has long been considered one of the best young prospects in the UFC.
At 23 years old it's time [TGT] starts to get [TGT] arrow pointing upward again. A loss to the dangerous Velickovic could be disastrous. Rawlings has also lost two in a row. She's a major draw in Australia but she has to be getting concerned about a potential release if she continues to look less than stellar in the Octagon. | 2Positive
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1,305 | Video shows John Kelly was wrong about Wilson bragging about funding | Frederica Wilson | A video shows that White House chief of staff John Kelly was wrong about Rep. Frederica Wilson's 2015 speech.
The video shows Wilson took credit for fast-tracking an FBI building's naming process rather than securing its funding.
White House chief of staff John Kelly's claim that Rep. Frederica Wilson had boasted about procuring funding for an FBI field office in 2015 was proven wrong by a video released by The Sun Sentinel on Friday backing up Wilson 's claim that she had only taken credit for working across the aisle to name the building after two FBI agents who were killed in the line of duty.
Kelly called Wilson an "empty barrel" on Thursday and rebuked her for taking credit for securing funding for the future FBI building. Wilson however shot back and denied the claim which was corroborated by the video of her speech.
The video shows that Wilson described how after she was informed of the long process it would take to finalize the building's name she "went into attack mode."
"Immediately I went into attack mode... They hotlined it to the Senate floor in just two days " she said in the speech. "And guess what? The president signed the bill into law this past Tuesday April 7th 2015 with a bang bang bang!"
Wilson was elected to Congress in 2010 one year after the funding for the building was secured according to CNN.
The White House stood by Kelly's characterization of Wilson 's speech.
"Gen. Kelly said he was 'stunned' that Rep. Wilson made comments at a building dedication honoring slain FBI agents about her own actions in Congress including lobbying former President Obama on legislation " press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement sent to Business Insider. "As Gen. Kelly pointed out if you're able to make a sacred act like honoring American heroes about yourself you're an empty barrel."
The back-and-forth between Wilson and Kelly follows another feud between the Florida congresswoman and President Donald Trump himself in which Wilson criticized Trump for making an insensitive call to the widow of a fallen US soldier. | A video shows that White House chief of staff John Kelly was wrong about [TGT]'s 2015 speech.
The video shows [TGT]took credit for fast-tracking an FBI building's naming process rather than securing its funding.
White House chief of staff John Kelly's claim that [TGT]had boasted about procuring funding for an FBI field office in 2015 was proven wrong by a video released by The Sun Sentinel on Friday backing up [TGT] claim that [TGT] had only taken credit for working across the aisle to name the building after two FBI agents who were killed in the line of duty.
Kelly called Wilson an "empty barrel" on Thursday and rebuked her for taking credit for securing funding for the future FBI building. [TGT]however shot back and denied the claim which was corroborated by the video of [TGT] speech.
The video shows that [TGT]described how after [TGT] was informed of the long process it would take to finalize the building's name [TGT] "went into attack mode."
"Immediately I went into attack mode... They hotlined it to the Senate floor in just two days " she said in the speech. "And guess what? The president signed the bill into law this past Tuesday April 7th 2015 with a bang bang bang!"
[TGT]was elected to Congress in 2010 one year after the funding for the building was secured according to CNN.
The White House stood by Kelly's characterization of Wilson 's speech.
"Gen. Kelly said he was 'stunned' that [TGT]made comments at a building dedication honoring slain FBI agents about [TGT] own actions in Congress including lobbying former President Obama on legislation " press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement sent to Business Insider. "As Gen. Kelly pointed out if you're able to make a sacred act like honoring American heroes about yourself you're an empty barrel."
The back-and-forth between [TGT]and Kelly follows another feud between the Florida congresswoman and President Donald Trump himself in which [TGT]criticized Trump for making an insensitive call to the widow of a fallen US soldier. | 2Positive
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1,306 | Gay Figure Skater Objects to Pence Leading Olympic Delegation | Adam Rippon | Adam Rippon the 2016 U.S. men’s figure skating pitched a particularly nasty hissy fit — telling USA Today he would prefer not to shake the vice president’s hand before the opening ceremony.
Mr. Rippon is believed to be the first openly gay Winter Olympian — and he took great umbrage at the vice president’s devout Christian faith.
“You mean Mike Pence the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?” Rippon snarled. “I’m not buying it .”
“I don’t think he has a real concept of reality ” Mr. Rippon said. “To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory. If he’s okay with what’s being said about people and Americans and foreigners and about different countries that are being called ‘s***holes ’ I think he should really go to church.”
Adam Rippon may know how to land a triple axel but when it comes to civility and grace he ’s skating on thin ice. | [TGT]pitched a particularly nasty hissy fit — telling USA Today [TGT] would prefer not to shake the vice president’s hand before the opening ceremony.
[TGT]is believed to be the first openly gay Winter Olympian — and [TGT] took great umbrage at the vice president’s devout Christian faith.
“You mean Mike Pence the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?” Rippon snarled. “I’m not buying it .”
“I don’t think he has a real concept of reality ” [TGT]said. “To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory. If he’s okay with what’s being said about people and Americans and foreigners and about different countries that are being called ‘s***holes ’ I think he should really go to church.”
[TGT] may know how to land a triple axel but when it comes to civility and grace [TGT] ’s skating on thin ice. | 2Positive
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1,307 | Maryland plan to build toll lanes on Beltway I | Pete K. Rahn | Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn dangled a $9 billion carrot Wednesday in front of more than 100 companies potentially interested in adding express toll lanes to the Capital Beltway Interstate 270 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
“It’s amazing ” Rahn quipped to more than 320 highway engineers designers and builders in a ballroom at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum. “You can get a lot of attention when you put a nine in front of a ‘B.’”
“I don’t want to just do something ” Rahn told the crowd. “I want to do something that delivers a ‘wow’” for traffic relief.
One big unknown: the cost of the tolls. After the meeting Rahn said he was aware variable rates on toll lanes that opened last week on part of Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia had soared to as high as $40.
“Obviously that caught my attention ” Rahn said.
However he noted the I-66 toll has since peaked at about $14. He said Maryland will know the range of toll rates on its highways just before it chooses a winning proposal. Like Northern Virginia’s toll lanes there will be no limit on how high tolls could go to keep traffic moving.
The state is not expecting to pay anything on the Beltway or I-270 projects Rahn said.
Rahn said the state will leave details of the design to bidders in hopes of receiving the most creative ideas. Maryland officials said proposals also will be judged on how the teams plan to build the lanes quickly keep traffic moving during construction and limit impacts on adjacent homes and businesses. | [TGT]dangled a $9 billion carrot Wednesday in front of more than 100 companies potentially interested in adding express toll lanes to the Capital Beltway Interstate 270 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
“It’s amazing ” [TGT]quipped to more than 320 highway engineers designers and builders in a ballroom at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum. [TGT] can get a lot of attention when you put a nine in front of a ‘B.’”
“I don’t want to just do something ” [TGT]told the crowd. “I want to do something that delivers a ‘wow’” for traffic relief.
One big unknown: the cost of the tolls. After the meeting [TGT]said [TGT] was aware variable rates on toll lanes that opened last week on part of Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia had soared to as high as $40.
“Obviously that caught my attention ” [TGT]said.
However [TGT] noted the I-66 toll has since peaked at about $14. [TGT] said Maryland will know the range of toll rates on its highways just before it chooses a winning proposal. Like Northern Virginia’s toll lanes there will be no limit on how high tolls could go to keep traffic moving.
The state is not expecting to pay anything on the Beltway or I-270 projects [TGT]said.
[TGT]said the state will leave details of the design to bidders in hopes of receiving the most creative ideas. Maryland officials said proposals also will be judged on how the teams plan to build the lanes quickly keep traffic moving during construction and limit impacts on adjacent homes and businesses. | 2Positive
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1,308 | A Chinese Social Media Credit System for Us All | Rachel Botsman | In her witty new book Australian technology author and TED celebrity Rachel Botsman tells us why it did not work. Who Can You Trust? How Technology Brought Us Together and Why It Could Drive Us Apart might be a bit too perky for some but it reveals some deep truths.
With industrial power collapsed social media’s “distributed trust” began its run to win popular trust. Botsman even claims to have predicted the next stage of evolution anticipating Airbnb Zipcar and Uber in her previous book. At first the masses took to social technology like ducks to water but few thought through the costs of power flowing from institutional experts to less sophisticated individuals. It turned out that these social media had institutions too if less hierarchical but still leading to someone at the top with a great degree of control over the people’s “open” media below them.
Botsman says she would not have written her book if she did not think distributed networks could solve many problems and develop popular trust but the many examples presented in her book demonstrate that “distributed trust always seem to lead us back to centralized power ” with Facebook Amazon and Alibaba leading the list.
Her thesis is that distributed systems need to know who is telling the truth in order to be social but their media technology develop so fast and anonymously it becomes difficult to trace accountability. Perhaps 75 percent of automobiles will self-drive by 2040. How can sufficient trust develop in such a major activity in such a short time? Blockchains like Bitcoin may replace governmental currency and financial transactions. Robots threaten to take everyone’s job. The most famous bot was HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey and we all know what happened then. Some “trust pause” will certainly be necessary for such major social transitions.
Take the number one social media technology guy Mark Zuckerberg who created Facebook to be an open forum for public discussion. Yet after social media was accused of biasing the presidential election even he had to reluctantly concede (the second time) that there was an abundance of fake news on his site which he then promised to fix in a socially positive way. His solution was to balance alternative views by adding “additional perspectives ” including noting after doubtful material that fact checkers disputed the claims in the original published news. But who would do the “fact checking”?
Botsman does not mention it but Google’s top scientist Ray Kurzweil had bigger ideas. Computers would be thinking for themselves by 2014 with humans becoming immortal soon after. Humans would become immortal under Kurzweil’s Calico project to replicate nature’s control of mitochondrial DNA by moving toxic bacteria into the cell nucleus to stop aging. With age under control people would live forever. At the same time artificial intelligence would develop computers that learn by themselves. Ageless individuals could then link an AI machine to their brain so they could give accurate and immediate responses to every kind of question. But if this takes place instantly is that a person still a person or a computer?
China’s Social Credit System would produce a “social credit score” for every Chinese citizen and introduce national networks of shame to ameliorate and control unruly segments of the population. This system should have a bullish future in much of the world now under authoritarian governments. Botsman quips: “Today China tomorrow a place near you.”
Not a place in the U.S. with its democratic government protecting privacy right? One big obstacle to such protection mentioned by Botsman is that government regulation simply cannot keep up with the explosive rate of change in private social media technology. There is that free speech and press stuff but Congress just approved another renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act seventeen years after 9/11 and few doubt that some similar future horrendous terrorist act would make the government’s surveillance even more intrusive.
Botsman ’s general solution to increase social trust is to rely upon reputation which is sound but extremely difficult to evaluate as her book proves.
How do we even know if Botsman isn’t a bot already predicting China for us all? | In her witty new book Australian technology author and [TGT] tells us why it did not work. Who Can You Trust? How Technology Brought Us Together and Why It Could Drive Us Apart might be a bit too perky for some but it reveals some deep truths.
With industrial power collapsed social media’s “distributed trust” began its run to win popular trust. [TGT]even claims to have predicted the next stage of evolution anticipating Airbnb Zipcar and Uber in [TGT] previous book. At first the masses took to social technology like ducks to water but few thought through the costs of power flowing from institutional experts to less sophisticated individuals. It turned out that these social media had institutions too if less hierarchical but still leading to someone at the top with a great degree of control over the people’s “open” media below them.
[TGT]says [TGT] would not have written [TGT] book if [TGT] did not think distributed networks could solve many problems and develop popular trust but the many examples presented in [TGT] book demonstrate that “distributed trust always seem to lead us back to centralized power ” with Facebook Amazon and Alibaba leading the list.
Her thesis is that distributed systems need to know who is telling the truth in order to be social but their media technology develop so fast and anonymously it becomes difficult to trace accountability. Perhaps 75 percent of automobiles will self-drive by 2040. How can sufficient trust develop in such a major activity in such a short time? Blockchains like Bitcoin may replace governmental currency and financial transactions. Robots threaten to take everyone’s job. The most famous bot was HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey and we all know what happened then. Some “trust pause” will certainly be necessary for such major social transitions.
Take the number one social media technology guy Mark Zuckerberg who created Facebook to be an open forum for public discussion. Yet after social media was accused of biasing the presidential election even [TGT] had to reluctantly concede (the second time) that there was an abundance of fake news on [TGT] site which [TGT] then promised to fix in a socially positive way. [TGT] solution was to balance alternative views by adding “additional perspectives ” including noting after doubtful material that fact checkers disputed the claims in the original published news. But who would do the “fact checking”?
Botsman does not mention it but Google’s top scientist Ray Kurzweil had bigger ideas. Computers would be thinking for themselves by 2014 with humans becoming immortal soon after. Humans would become immortal under Kurzweil’s Calico project to replicate nature’s control of mitochondrial DNA by moving toxic bacteria into the cell nucleus to stop aging. With age under control people would live forever. At the same time artificial intelligence would develop computers that learn by themselves. Ageless individuals could then link an AI machine to their brain so they could give accurate and immediate responses to every kind of question. But if this takes place instantly is that a person still a person or a computer?
China’s Social Credit System would produce a “social credit score” for every Chinese citizen and introduce national networks of shame to ameliorate and control unruly segments of the population. This system should have a bullish future in much of the world now under authoritarian governments. Botsman quips: “Today China tomorrow a place near you.”
Not a place in the U.S. with its democratic government protecting privacy right? One big obstacle to such protection mentioned by Botsman is that government regulation simply cannot keep up with the explosive rate of change in private social media technology. There is that free speech and press stuff but Congress just approved another renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act seventeen years after 9/11 and few doubt that some similar future horrendous terrorist act would make the government’s surveillance even more intrusive.
Botsman ’s general solution to increase social trust is to rely upon reputation which is sound but extremely difficult to evaluate as her book proves.
How do we even know if Botsman isn’t a bot already predicting China for us all? | 2Positive
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1,309 | Russian officials bar Navalny from running for president | Alexei Navalny | Russian election officials on Monday formally barred Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny from running for president prompting calls from him for a boycott of next year's vote.
Navalny is implicitly barred from running for office because of a conviction in a fraud case which has been viewed as political retribution. He could have run if he was given a special dispensation or if his conviction was cancelled.
Incumbent Vladimir Putin is set to easily win a fourth term in office in the March 18 election with his approval ratings topping 80%.
Putin foe clears first step in bid for Russian presidency
Over the past year Navalny has mounted a grassroots campaign which reached out to the most remote corners of Putin 's heartland.
Navalny 41 is the most serious challenger that Putin has faced in all his years in power and the court cases against him have been widely seen as a tool to keep him from running for office.
In a pre-recorded video message that was released minutes after the Election Commission handed down the decision Navalny called on his supporters to boycott the vote.
"The procedure that we're invited to take part is not an election " he said. "Only Putin and the candidates he has hand-picked are taking part in it."
Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova told Navalny ahead of its vote to bar him that "maybe we would be interested if you were running " but said the conviction doesn't allow the commission to put him on the ballot.
Speaking before the vote Navalny told the commission that their decision to bar him would be a vote "not against me but against 16 000 people who have nominated me against 200 000 volunteers who have been canvassing for me."
The involvement of Ksenia Sobchak a 36-year-old star TV host could raise public interest in the race. While Sobchak has denied colluding with the Kremlin she could attract some of Navalny 's supporters and help boost attendance.
Sobchak criticized Navalny 's call for boycotting the vote saying Monday that the "election is the only way to change something and boycotting them is inefficient and harmful." | Russian election officials on Monday formally barred [TGT]from running for president prompting calls from [TGT] for a boycott of next year's vote.
[TGT]is implicitly barred from running for office because of a conviction in a fraud case which has been viewed as political retribution. [TGT] could have run if [TGT] was given a special dispensation or if [TGT] conviction was cancelled.
Incumbent Vladimir Putin is set to easily win a fourth term in office in the March 18 election with his approval ratings topping 80%.
Putin foe clears first step in bid for Russian presidency
Over the past year [TGT]has mounted a grassroots campaign which reached out to the most remote corners of Putin 's heartland.
[TGT]is the most serious challenger that Putin has faced in all his years in power and the court cases against him have been widely seen as a tool to keep him from running for office.
In a pre-recorded video message that was released minutes after the Election Commission handed down the decision [TGT] called on [TGT] supporters to boycott the vote.
"The procedure that we're invited to take part is not an election " he said. "Only Putin and the candidates he has hand-picked are taking part in it."
Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova told [TGT]ahead of its vote to bar him that "maybe we would be interested if you were running " but said the conviction doesn't allow the commission to put him on the ballot.
Speaking before the vote [TGT]told the commission that their decision to bar him would be a vote "not against me but against 16 000 people who have nominated me against 200 000 volunteers who have been canvassing for me."
The involvement of Ksenia Sobchak a 36-year-old star TV host could raise public interest in the race. While Sobchak has denied colluding with the Kremlin she could attract some of Navalny 's supporters and help boost attendance.
Sobchak criticized Navalny 's call for boycotting the vote saying Monday that the "election is the only way to change something and boycotting them is inefficient and harmful." | 2Positive
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1,310 | Donald Fagen on Walter Becker's Death Steely Dan's Future | Donald Fagen | In mid-December Donald Fagen sat down in Sirius XM’s studios for an in-depth interview – his first since the September death of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker – on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast hosted by Brian Hiatt. Here are some highlights from the conversation which spanned the entire history of Steely Dan. To hear the entire discussion see below or download and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify.
Fagen got to spend one last day with Becker in August. "When I heard he was really ill " he says "I was on the road in I think Salina Kansas and I flew back. I had a day off and he was in his apartment in New York. And I was really glad that I went. I could see he was really struggling. When I put a chair next to the bed he grabbed my hand. It was something he had never done ever before. And we had a great talk and you know he was listening to hard bop – his wife had put on Dexter Gordon records. He was very weak but he was still very funny. I'm really glad I had those hours."
If it were up to Fagen he would refer to the post-Becker touring incarnation of the band as " Donald Fagen and the Steely Dan Band." "I would actually prefer to call it Donald Fagen and the Steely Dan Band or something like that " he says noting that promoters have so far insisted that he call it Steely Dan for commercial reasons. "That's an ongoing debate. To me Steely Dan was just me and Walter really – it was like a concept we had together."
Fagen had hoped to record another Steely Dan album – which would have been the first since 2003's Everything Must Go – but Becker wasn't interested. "Walter had some health problems " says Fagen "and especially after 2011-12 I think just being ill for so long he had a little bit of a personality change and he was much more isolated and he kinda wasn't that interested in working on Steely Dan records anymore. It also might have to do with the specter of doing an album that would be on the same standard that we did previously. Maybe that scared him a little bit or maybe he didn't have the energy. I did ask him once in a while if he wanted to do something – and he'd usually say 'yeah sure ' but then he wouldn't call me or whatever so it was obvious that he lost some of the enthusiasm." | In [TGT]sat down in Sirius XM’s studios for an in-depth interview – his first since the September death of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker – on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast hosted by Brian Hiatt. Here are some highlights from the conversation which spanned the entire history of Steely Dan. To hear the entire discussion see below or download and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify.
[TGT]got to spend one last day with Becker in August. "When I heard [TGT] was really ill " he says "I was on the road in I think Salina Kansas and I flew back. I had a day off and he was in his apartment in New York. And I was really glad that I went. I could see he was really struggling. When I put a chair next to the bed he grabbed my hand. It was something he had never done ever before. And we had a great talk and you know he was listening to hard bop – his wife had put on Dexter Gordon records. He was very weak but he was still very funny. I'm really glad I had those hours."
If it were up to [TGT][TGT] would refer to the post-Becker touring incarnation of the band as " [TGT]and the Steely Dan Band." "I would actually prefer to call it [TGT]and the Steely Dan Band or something like that " [TGT] says noting that promoters have so far insisted that [TGT] call it Steely Dan for commercial reasons. "That's an ongoing debate. To me Steely Dan was just me and Walter really – it was like a concept we had together."
Fagen had hoped to record another Steely Dan album – which would have been the first since 2003's Everything Must Go – but Becker wasn't interested. "Walter had some health problems " says Fagen "and especially after 2011-12 I think just being ill for so long he had a little bit of a personality change and he was much more isolated and he kinda wasn't that interested in working on Steely Dan records anymore. It also might have to do with the specter of doing an album that would be on the same standard that we did previously. Maybe that scared him a little bit or maybe he didn't have the energy. I did ask him once in a while if he wanted to do something – and he'd usually say 'yeah sure ' but then he wouldn't call me or whatever so it was obvious that he lost some of the enthusiasm." | 2Positive
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1,311 | CBS PBS star Charlie Rose suspended after sexual misconduct claim: 'I am greatly embarrassed' | Charlie Rose | “CBS This Morning” co-host and longtime PBS star Charlie Rose has been accused by eight women of making unwanted sexual advances toward them and admitted to some of the misconduct in a statement according to the Washington Post. Both PBS and CBS suspended him .
Rose’s alleged misconduct includes making lewd phone calls walking around naked and groping the womens breasts buttocks or genital areas according to the Post. Rose’s accusers were employees or “aspired to work for Rose at The Charlie Rose show’ on PBS from the late 1990s to as recently as 2011.”
“CBS This Morning” has been growing rapidly since it launched in 2012 but still struggles to match the viewership of rivals “Today” and “Good Morning America ” while Rose ’s show on PBS has aired regularly since 1991. Rose ’s PBS show is filmed at the Bloomberg LP headquarters making three major media organizations tied up in the latest harassment scandal.
"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of ' Charlie Rose ' " PBS said in a statement.
CBS also suspended Rose but did not respond to request for additional comment.
Rose’s accusers were between 21 and 37 years old at the time of the alleged encounters and the Post noted that there are “striking commonalities” in the accounts of the women. His alleged behavior typically included offering jobs to females and then using his power to put them in uncomfortable positions of a sexual nature. He allegedly would offer women a six-figure position that disappeared once they rejected his advances.
“I have behaved insensitively at times and I accept responsibility for that though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate." - Charlie Rose
He has expressed remorse for some of the allegations.
“In my 45 years in journalism I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked ” Rose said in a statement provided to The Post. “Nevertheless in the past few days claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues… It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed.”
Rose continued: “I have behaved insensitively at times and I accept responsibility for that though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings even though I now realize I was mistaken.”
Ironically Rose once appeared as himself on an episode of the Netflix series “House of Cards ” which has been rocked by the accusations against Spacey.
According to the report by Post contributor Irin Carmon and investigative reporter Amy Brittain one accuser Reah Bravo was an intern and then associate producer for Rose ’s PBS show beginning in 2007. In various interviews she detailed unwanted sexual advances from Rose .
Another accuser Kyle Godfrey-Ryan was Rose ’s former assistant and detailed “at least a dozen instances where Rose walked nude in front of her while she worked in one of his New York City homes.” She claims the CBS and PBS star also “repeatedly called” her “at night or early in the morning to describe his fantasies of her swimming naked.” | “CBS This Morning” co-host and longtime [TGT]has been accused by eight women of making unwanted sexual advances toward them and admitted to some of the misconduct in a statement according to the Washington Post. Both PBS and CBS suspended [TGT] .
Rose’s alleged misconduct includes making lewd phone calls walking around naked and groping the womens breasts buttocks or genital areas according to the Post. Rose’s accusers were employees or “aspired to work for Rose at The Charlie Rose show’ on PBS from the late 1990s to as recently as 2011.”
“CBS This Morning” has been growing rapidly since it launched in 2012 but still struggles to match the viewership of rivals “Today” and “Good Morning America ” while Rose ’s show on PBS has aired regularly since 1991. [TGT] PBS show is filmed at the Bloomberg LP headquarters making three major media organizations tied up in the latest harassment scandal.
"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of [TGT] " PBS said in a statement.
CBS also suspended Rose but did not respond to request for additional comment.
Rose’s accusers were between 21 and 37 years old at the time of the alleged encounters and the Post noted that there are “striking commonalities” in the accounts of the women. [TGT] alleged behavior typically included offering jobs to females and then using [TGT] power to put them in uncomfortable positions of a sexual nature. [TGT] allegedly would offer women a six-figure position that disappeared once they rejected [TGT] advances.
“I have behaved insensitively at times and I accept responsibility for that though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate." - [TGT][TGT] has expressed remorse for some of the allegations.
“In my 45 years in journalism I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked ” [TGT]said in a statement provided to The Post. “Nevertheless in the past few days claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues… It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed.”
[TGT]continued: “I have behaved insensitively at times and I accept responsibility for that though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings even though I now realize I was mistaken.”
Ironically Rose once appeared as himself on an episode of the Netflix series “House of Cards ” which has been rocked by the accusations against Spacey.
According to the report by Post contributor Irin Carmon and investigative reporter Amy Brittain one accuser Reah Bravo was an intern and then associate producer for [TGT] ’s PBS show beginning in 2007. In various interviews she detailed unwanted sexual advances from Rose .
Another accuser Kyle Godfrey-Ryan was Rose ’s former assistant and detailed “at least a dozen instances where Rose walked nude in front of her while she worked in one of his New York City homes.” She claims the CBS and PBS star also “repeatedly called” her “at night or early in the morning to describe his fantasies of her swimming naked.” | 2Positive
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1,312 | Gunman kills four in Northern California shooting spree | Coy Ferreira | A parent Coy Ferreira said he was dropping off his daughter at the elementary school when he heard gunfire.
“One of the teachers came running out of the building and told us to all run inside because there was a shooter coming ” Ferreira told Redding California television station KRCR.
Ferreira said he heard gunfire for over 20 minutes and that a student in the room was struck.
Area resident Brian Flint told local media his neighbor was the shooter and had stolen his truck. | A parent [TGT]said [TGT] was dropping off [TGT] daughter at the elementary school when [TGT] heard gunfire.
“One of the teachers came running out of the building and told us to all run inside because there was a shooter coming ” [TGT]told Redding California television station KRCR.
[TGT]said [TGT] heard gunfire for over 20 minutes and that a student in the room was struck.
Area resident Brian Flint told local media [TGT] neighbor was the shooter and had stolen his truck. | 2Positive
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1,313 | Tropical Storm Nate : Louisiana Mississippi declare emergencies in coastal areas | Nate | The most active hurricane season in more than a decade doesn’t seem to be letting up as Tropical Storm Nate roars toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and threatens to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast likely as a hurricane this weekend.
Nate – the 15th system to form in the Atlantic basin – has already claimed 22 lives in Latin America dumping as much as 6 to 10 inches of rain as it moved over Honduras.
In Nicaragua Nate's arrival followed two weeks of near-constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides.
Louisiana's governor says Nate is forecast to move quickly rather than stall and drop tremendous amounts of rain on the state. State officials hope that means New Orleans won't run into problems with its pumps being unable to handle the water. | The most active hurricane season in more than a decade doesn’t seem to be letting up as Tropical Storm Nate roars toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and threatens to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast likely as a hurricane this weekend.
Nate – the 15th system to form in the Atlantic basin – has already claimed 22 lives in Latin America dumping as much as 6 to 10 inches of rain as it moved over Honduras.
In Nicaragua [TGT]'s arrival followed two weeks of near-constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides.
Louisiana's governor says [TGT] is forecast to move quickly rather than stall and drop tremendous amounts of rain on the state. State officials hope that means New Orleans won't run into problems with its pumps being unable to handle the water. | 0Negative
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1,314 | 'Black Panther' blows away box office with $192M weekend | Lupita Nyong'o | Cosplayers join Lupita Nyong'o's family for 'Black Panther' screening in actress' native Kenya
Chadwick Boseman stars as T'Challa/Black Panther in the first stand-alone film for the superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. The cast also features Michael B. Jordan Lupita Nyong'o Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright.
Lupita Nyong'o and Letitia Wright also star in the fim.
"Black Panther" vanquished those notions with $169 million in ticket sales. It was No. 1 in most international markets though "Fifty Shades Freed" bested it in Germany.
Its release in China will come later. This weekend the Chinese New Year holiday local productions led by "Monster Hunt 2" and "Detective Chinatown 2" dominated Chinese theaters with more than $150 million in ticket sales each. | Cosplayers join Lupita Nyong'o's family for 'Black Panther' screening in actress' native Kenya
Chadwick Boseman stars as T'Challa/Black Panther in the first stand-alone film for the superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. The cast also features Michael B. Jordan Lupita Nyong'o Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright.
Lupita Nyong'o and Letitia Wright also star in the fim.
"Black Panther" vanquished those notions with $169 million in ticket sales. It was No. 1 in most international markets though "Fifty Shades Freed" bested [TGT] in Germany.
[TGT] release in China will come later. This weekend the Chinese New Year holiday local productions led by "Monster Hunt 2" and "Detective Chinatown 2" dominated Chinese theaters with more than $150 million in ticket sales each. | 2Positive
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1,315 | Rohingya refugees find uneasy solace in Malaysia | Anwar Sadek Shah | "People were getting hit and killed and the police were arresting people. My whole village was burned down " 13-year-old Anwar Sadek Shah Ahmad says softly cowering into his teacher's shoulder.
Anwar and his family fled their fishing village in Myanmar's Rakhine State in 2013 after violence broke out.
His grandmother he said only fled Myanmar last year and is now in a refugee camp in Bangladesh where more than 680 000 Rohingya have fled to since August 2017.
he 's among the Rohingya refugees who escaped from Rakhine State by boat largely before 2015 when There are thousands of children like Anwar in Malaysia —he's among the Rohingya refugees who escaped from Rakhine State by boat largely before 2015 when Kuala Lumpur began turning back Rohingya arrivals.
Anwar's father has been working illegally in Penang since 2006 and paid smugglers to bring over his son daughter and wife by boat. Anwar also has an infant brother who was born in Malaysia. The family are now registered with the UNHCR.
Anwar studies at the Penang Peace Learning Centre also known as the School of Peace. On the morning CNN visited Anwar and the older students were being taught math while the younger students aged three to six did coloring. Their classroom was also home to two pet rabbits.
Malaysia is peaceful compared to what he left behind says Anwar . Now he spends his free time playing football with new friends from the neighborhood. | "People were getting hit and killed and the police were arresting people. My whole village was burned down [TGT]says softly cowering into [TGT] teacher's shoulder.
Anwar and his family fled their fishing village in Myanmar's Rakhine State in 2013 after violence broke out.
His grandmother he said only fled Myanmar last year and is now in a refugee camp in Bangladesh where more than 680 000 Rohingya have fled to since August 2017.
he 's among the Rohingya refugees who escaped from Rakhine State by boat largely before 2015 when There are thousands of children like Anwar in Malaysia —he's among the Rohingya refugees who escaped from Rakhine State by boat largely before 2015 when Kuala Lumpur began turning back Rohingya arrivals.
Anwar's father has been working illegally in Penang since 2006 and paid smugglers to bring over his son daughter and wife by boat. Anwar also has an infant brother who was born in Malaysia. The family are now registered with the UNHCR.
Anwar studies at the Penang Peace Learning Centre also known as the School of Peace. On the morning CNN visited Anwar and the older students were being taught math while the younger students aged three to six did coloring. Their classroom was also home to two pet rabbits.
Malaysia is peaceful compared to what he left behind says Anwar . Now he spends his free time playing football with new friends from the neighborhood. | 2Positive
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1,316 | Letters from Harper Lee to friend sell for $12 500 | Harper Lee | BIRMINGHAM Ala. (AP) — A batch of letters handwritten by "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee to a friend has sold for more than $12 000.
"On this Inauguration Day I count my blessings ... I'm also thinking of another friend Greg Peck who was a good friend of LBJ. Greg said to him 'Do you suppose we will live to see a black President?' LBJ said 'No but I wish her well '" Lee wrote.
The letters track years of correspondence between Lee and Itzkoff a New York resident whom the author referred to as "Clipper " short for "Yankee Clipper." Itzkoff died in 2011.
In a Christmas card from 2009 Lee wrote: "Most-loved Clipper: Don't know if you celebrate Christmas but it makes not a jot of difference to me . I am at heart a heathen."
Other letters talked about Lee 's Southern heritage and her father A.C. Lee the model for Finch.
Lee died in her hometown of Monroeville Alabama in February 2016 about seven months after publishing "Go Set a Watchman " a companion book to her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. | BIRMINGHAM Ala. (AP) — A batch of letters handwritten by "To Kill a Mockingbird" author [TGT] to a friend has sold for more than $12 000.
"On this Inauguration Day I count my blessings ... I'm also thinking of another friend Greg Peck who was a good friend of LBJ. Greg said to him 'Do you suppose we will live to see a black President?' LBJ said 'No but I wish her well '" Lee wrote.
The letters track years of correspondence between Lee and Itzkoff a New York resident whom the author referred to as "Clipper " short for "Yankee Clipper." Itzkoff died in 2011.
In a Christmas card from 2009 Lee wrote: "Most-loved Clipper: Don't know if you celebrate Christmas but it makes not a jot of difference to me . I am at heart a heathen."
Other letters talked about Lee 's Southern heritage and her father A.C. Lee the model for Finch.
Lee died in her hometown of Monroeville Alabama in February 2016 about seven months after publishing "Go Set a Watchman " a companion book to her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. | 1Neutral
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1,317 | Michelle Obama Dishes To Ellen About Melania Trump's Inauguration Gift | Michelle Obama | Former first lady Michelle Obama revealed to Ellen DeGeneres what was inside the Tiffany box she received from Melania Trump on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. Obama ’s perplexed expression and inability to find a place to put the box generated some laughs and the contents apparently remained unknown until now.
“It was a lovely frame ” Obama told DeGeneres in a preview clip of her sit-down with the talk show host to air Thursday.
Let’s rewind to Inauguration Day in January 2017 for a moment. Melania Trump presented the Tiffany & Co. box to Obama at the White House before the ceremony. Watch the awkwardness ensue.
“Well there’s all this protocol Obama ma said to DeGeneres in the footage posted by People. “I mean this is like a state visit so they tell you that you’re going to do this they’re going to stand here. Never before do you get this gift so I’m sort of like OK. Obama ma acknowledged tha she he was a bit flummoxed by the presentation. “What am I supposed to do with this gift? And everyone cleared out and no one would come and take the box. Barack Obama ma stepped in to smooth out the awkwardness. | Former first lady Michelle Obama revealed to Ellen DeGeneres what was inside the Tiffany box she received from Melania Trump on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. Obama ’s perplexed expression and inability to find a place to put the box generated some laughs and the contents apparently remained unknown until now.
“It was a lovely frame ” Obama told DeGeneres in a preview clip of her sit-down with the talk show host to air Thursday.
Let’s rewind to Inauguration Day in January 2017 for a moment. Melania Trump presented the Tiffany & Co. box to Obama at the White House before the ceremony. Watch the awkwardness ensue.
“Well there’s all this protocol Obama [TGT] said to DeGeneres in the footage posted by People. “I mean this is like a state visit so they tell you that you’re going to do this they’re going to stand here. Never before do you get this gift so I’m sort of like OK. [TGT] acknowledged tha [TGT] he was a bit flummoxed by the presentation. “What am I supposed to do with this gift? And everyone cleared out and no one would come and take the box. Barack Obama [TGT] stepped in to smooth out the awkwardness. | 2Positive
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1,318 | Serena Williams Will Face Zarina Diyas in Comeback Match at Indian Wells | Serena Williams | Serena Williams Will Face Zarina Diyas in Comeback Match at Indian Wells Image Serena Williams during a match against Zhang Shuai at the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Williams is set to play her first WTA match in more than a year on Thursday. Credit Kathy Willens/Associated Press
Serena Williams is scheduled to play Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan on Thursday night in Indian Wells Calif. in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open her first WTA tournament since the birth of her daughter.
Williams 36 has not played a tour event since winning the Australian Open on Jan. 28 2017 when she was about two months pregnant. She gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on Sept. 1 and then spent six weeks in bed because of serious complications from childbirth. She did not resume practicing until December.
Williams officially returned to professional tennis on Feb. 11 by playing a Fed Cup doubles match with her sister Venus against the Netherlands. They were beaten 6-2 6-3 by Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs after the United States had already clinched the victory in the first-round matchup.
Williams looked rusty at that event as she did in an exhibition against Jelena Ostapenko in late December. Williams also played in the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
After more than a year away from the tour Williams has no official ranking. If she defeats the 53rd-ranked Diyas she would face No. 29 seed Kiki Bertens in the second round with her sister Venus a possible third-round opponent.
In an interview with WTATennis.com Williams ’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou said: “The plan is to get back to her best level. She has been practicing hard for that and competition is part of the process. She needs more than anything to compete and that is why she will plan to play Indian Wells and Miami.
“We do not know how much time she will need to get her best level back and I think that we should give her the necessary time for that without having too much expectations at the start.”
He added that her target was to win Grand Slam titles and that he expected Williams to be back to her best by the French Open in May.
The Indian Wells tournament also marks the return of Victoria Azarenka. She has not played a tour event since Wimbledon last July. She has decided not to play outside of California where she lives until a custody dispute over her son Leo is resolved. Azarenka now ranked 204th will face Heather Watson in the first round and with a win would play 13th-seeded Sloane Stephens in the second round. | Serena Williams Will Face Zarina Diyas in Comeback Match at [TGT][TGT]is set to play her first WTA match in more than a year on Thursday. Credit Kathy Willens/Associated Press
Serena Williams is scheduled to play Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan on Thursday night in Indian Wells Calif. in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open [TGT] first WTA tournament since the birth of her daughter.
[TGT]36 has not played a tour event since winning the Australian Open on Jan. 28 2017 when [TGT] was about two months pregnant. [TGT] gave birth to [TGT] daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on Sept. 1 and then spent six weeks in bed because of serious complications from childbirth. [TGT] did not resume practicing until December.
[TGT]officially returned to professional tennis on Feb. 11 by playing a Fed Cup doubles match with [TGT] sister Venus against the Netherlands. They were beaten 6-2 6-3 by Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs after the United States had already clinched the victory in the first-round matchup.
[TGT]looked rusty at that event as [TGT] did in an exhibition against Jelena Ostapenko in late December. [TGT]also played in the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
After more than a year away from the tour [TGT]has no official ranking. If [TGT] defeats the 53rd-ranked Diyas [TGT] would face No. 29 seed Kiki Bertens in the second round with her sister Venus a possible third-round opponent.
In an interview with WTATennis.com [TGT] ’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou said: “The plan is to get back to her best level. She has been practicing hard for that and competition is part of the process. She needs more than anything to compete and that is why she will plan to play Indian Wells and Miami.
“We do not know how much time she will need to get her best level back and I think that we should give her the necessary time for that without having too much expectations at the start.”
He added that her target was to win Grand Slam titles and that he expected Williams to be back to her best by the French Open in May.
The Indian Wells tournament also marks the return of Victoria Azarenka. She has not played a tour event since Wimbledon last July. She has decided not to play outside of California where she lives until a custody dispute over her son Leo is resolved. Azarenka now ranked 204th will face Heather Watson in the first round and with a win would play 13th-seeded Sloane Stephens in the second round. | 2Positive
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1,319 | Players were giving NFL the moment it needed before an owner took it away | Jerry Richardson | It has been a long time since two teams induced as many sofa spasms as the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers did with those three false endings in the last two minutes. You thought finally the NFL is all about the game again. But just then the skin-crawly headline came across the bottom of the screen turning attention away from Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger to an old pot-belly named Jerry Richardson.
[Panthers owner Jerry Richardson announces plan to sell team amid NFL investigation]
Yet the viewer’s head swiveled back and forth between the Patriots-Steelers epic in the icing rain and the alleged fetishes and racial attitudes of Carolina Panthers owner Richardson in his owner suite. On Friday the Panthers announced that Richardson was being investigated for workplace abuses and by Sunday morning the story had exploded when Sports Illustrated published a host of sordid specific accusations ranging from sexual harassment to using a racial slur against an employee. These included Richardson supposedly asking to shave the legs of female employees and demanding to examine their backsides in their jeans.
But that wasn’t the end of the NFL day. Not thirty minutes after the final play in Pittsburgh with fans still filing out of the stadium came the seismic announcement that Richardson will be selling the Panthers the franchise he has owned since it was founded in 1993. No explanation was offered or needed. You have to assume that the disclosures were going to get uglier.
[Analysis: Forget the catch rule. The league has a replay problem]
Richardson is a perfect example of the extent to which the sheer girths of owners’ egos are eclipsing what should be the NFL’s true narrative: the game. Their incessant internecine rivalries and power struggles have become a chronic story line. It was Richardson who set the poisonous current tone of management-player relations when he declared during the 2011 collective bargaining that the owners had “a [expletive] deal and we’re going to take back our league and [expletive] do something about it.” It was Richardson who inexplicably grown arrogant on his Hardees franchise money sat across a table and barked at Peyton Manning: “Do I need to help you read a revenue chart son? Because I don’t know if you know how to read that.”
Richardson no doubt is also capable of individual kindness and other owners will profess sorrow over his decision to sell and wax nostalgic over the fact that he once caught passes from Johnny Unitas with the 1959-60 Baltimore Colts. Richardson is a self-made man the first player since George Halas to acquire an ownership stake. But Richardson sadly has acted as a toxic hardliner devoted to ensuring that no other player would ever be treated like a partner or equal. | It has been a long time since two teams induced as many sofa spasms as the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers did with those three false endings in the last two minutes. You thought finally the NFL is all about the game again. But just then the skin-crawly headline came across the bottom of the screen turning attention away from Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger to an old pot-belly named Jerry Richardson.
[[TGT] announces plan to sell team amid NFL investigation]
Yet the viewer’s head swiveled back and forth between the Patriots-Steelers epic in the icing rain and the alleged fetishes and racial attitudes of Carolina Panthers owner [TGT]in [TGT] owner suite. On Friday the Panthers announced that [TGT] was being investigated for workplace abuses and by Sunday morning the story had exploded when Sports Illustrated published a host of sordid specific accusations ranging from sexual harassment to using a racial slur against an employee. These included [TGT] supposedly asking to shave the legs of female employees and demanding to examine their backsides in their jeans.
But that wasn’t the end of the NFL day. Not thirty minutes after the final play in Pittsburgh with fans still filing out of the stadium came the seismic announcement that [TGT]will be selling the Panthers the franchise [TGT] has owned since it was founded in 1993. No explanation was offered or needed. You have to assume that the disclosures were going to get uglier.
[Analysis: Forget the catch rule. The league has a replay problem]
[TGT]is a perfect example of the extent to which the sheer girths of owners’ egos are eclipsing what should be the NFL’s true narrative: the game. Their incessant internecine rivalries and power struggles have become a chronic story line. It was [TGT]who set the poisonous current tone of management-player relations when [TGT] declared during the 2011 collective bargaining that the owners had “a [expletive] deal and we’re going to take back our league and [expletive] do something about it.” It was [TGT]who inexplicably grown arrogant on his Hardees franchise money sat across a table and barked at Peyton Manning: “Do I need to help you read a revenue chart son? Because I don’t know if you know how to read that.”
Richardson no doubt is also capable of individual kindness and other owners will profess sorrow over his decision to sell and wax nostalgic over the fact that he once caught passes from Johnny Unitas with the 1959-60 Baltimore Colts. [TGT]is a self-made man the first player since George Halas to acquire an ownership stake. But [TGT]sadly has acted as a toxic hardliner devoted to ensuring that no other player would ever be treated like a partner or equal. | 1Neutral
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1,320 | What Putin Really Wants | Putin Munich | “Have you been to Mamayev Kurgan yet? ” Minin asked me. He was referring to another hill where the battle was so intense it changed the hill’s shape. Now the Motherland Calls statue stands there a 170-foot concrete woman raising a sword to summon her countrymen into battle. It’s where Nazi Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus was captured Minin noted with reverence and looked into the sunny distance. “You know it’s important to see how young people defended their homeland.” When we got to the cafeteria I saw that it too was haunted by its Soviet past. Grouchy middle-aged women in hairnets dished out bland greasy cuisine. If it weren’t for students tapping at their smartphones it would have been hard to tell that the 21st century had ever arrived. I sat down at a table with a team from Astrakhan and told them I had been to their hometown once a romantically shabby old city by the Caspian Sea. The students smirked. “Everyone wants to leave ” a third-year named Anton said. “There’s nothing to do there ” his teammate Sergei added. “We did an amazing job … creating the illusion that Putin controls everything in Russia … Now it’s just funny” how much Americans attribute to him . Anton was hoping that Minin could help him get his foot in the door at one of the state security services. “It’s prestigious they pay well and the work is interesting ” he said. If he were accepted he could hope for a salary of 50 000 rubles (less than $900) a month which was almost double the average salary in Astrakhan. Was he motivated by any feelings of—“Patriotic conviction? ” Anton finished my sentence and started to chuckle. “No ” he said. “I don’t care what government I work for. If the French Foreign Legion takes me I’ll go!”
But most Russians don’t recognize the Russia portrayed in this story: powerful organized and led by an omniscient omnipotent leader who is able to both formulate and execute a complex and highly detailed plot. Gleb Pavlovsky a political consultant who helped Putin win his first presidential campaign in 2000 and served as a Kremlin adviser until 2011 simply laughed when I asked him about Putin ’s role in Donald Trump’s election. “We did an amazing job in the first decade of Putin ’s rule of creating the illusion that Putin controls everything in Russia ” he said. “Now it’s just funny” how much Americans attribute to him . A businessman who is high up in Putin ’s United Russia party said over an espresso at a Moscow café: “You’re telling me that everything in Russia works as poorly as it does except our hackers? Rosneft”—the state-owned oil giant—“doesn’t work well. Our health-care system doesn’t work well. Our education system doesn’t work well. And here all of a sudden are our hackers and they’re amazing?” The election hack “was a very emotional tactical decision.” The Kremlin was “very upset about the Panama Papers ” which cast light on Putin’s wealth. In the same way that Russians overestimate America seeing it as an all-powerful orchestrator of global political developments Americans project their own fears onto Russia a country that is a paradox of deftness might and profound weakness—unshakably steady yet somehow always teetering on the verge of collapse. Like America it is hostage to its peculiar history tormented by its ghosts.
None of these factors obviates the dangers Russia poses; rather each gives them shape. Both Putin and his country are aging declining—but the insecurities of decline present their own risks to America. The United States intelligence community is unanimous in its assessment not only that Russians interfered in the U.S. election but that in the words of former FBI Director James Comey “they will be back.” It is a stunning escalation of hostilities for a troubled country whose elites still have only a tenuous grasp of American politics. And it is classically Putin and classically Russian: using daring aggression to mask weakness to avenge deep resentments and at all costs to survive. I’d come to Russia to try to answer two key questions. The more immediate is how the Kremlin despite its limitations pulled off one of the greatest acts of political sabotage in modern history turning American democracy against itself. And the more important—for Americans anyway—is what might still be in store and how far an emboldened Vladimir Putin is prepared to go in order to get what he wants. Jeff Elkins; Alexey Kurbatov and Muti “It wasn’t a strategic operation ” says Andrei Soldatov a Russian journalist with deep sources in the security services who writes about the Kremlin’s use of cybertechnology. “Given what everyone on the inside has told me ” he says hacking the U.S. political system “was a very emotional tactical decision. People were very upset about the Panama Papers.”
In the spring of 2016 an international consortium of journalists began publishing revelations from a vast trove of documents belonging to a Panamanian law firm that specialized in helping its wealthy foreign clients move money some of it ill-gotten out of their home countries and away from the prying eyes of tax collectors. (The firm has denied any wrongdoing.) The documents revealed that Putin’s old friend Sergei Roldugin a cellist and the godfather to Putin’s elder daughter had his name on funds worth some $2 billion. It was an implausible fortune for a little-known musician and the journalists showed that these funds were likely a piggy bank for Putin’s inner circle. Roldugin has denied any wrongdoing but the Kremlin was furious about the revelation. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov whose wife was also implicated angrily ascribed the reporting to “many former State Department and CIA employees” and to an effort to “destabilize” Russia ahead of its September 2016 parliamentary elections. The argument was cynical but it revealed a certain logic: The financial privacy of Russia’s leaders was on par with the sovereignty of Russia’s elections. “The Panama Papers were a personal slight to Putin ” says John Sipher a former deputy of the CIA’s Russia desk. “They think we did it.” Putin’s inner circle Soldatov says felt “they had to respond somehow.” According to Soldatov’s reporting on April 8 2016 Putin convened an urgent meeting of his national-security council; all but two of the eight people there were veterans of the KGB. Given the secrecy and timing of this meeting Soldatov believes it was then that Putin gave the signal to retaliate.
It was almost like one of Minin’s hacking competitions but with higher stakes. The hackers are not always guys in military-intelligence uniforms Soldatov told me; in some cases they’re mercenary freelancers willing to work for the highest bidder—or cybercriminals who have been caught and blackmailed into working for the government. ( Putin has denied “state level” involvement in election meddling but plausible deniability is the point of working through unofficial hackers.) American officials noticed the same messy and amorphous behavior as the summer of 2016 wore on. A former staffer in Barack Obama’s administration says that intercepted communications between FSB and military-intelligence officers revealed arguing and a lack of organization. “It was ad hoc ” a senior Obama-administration official who saw the intelligence in real time told me. “They were kind of throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what would stick.”
When the Obama administration began to realize in the summer that the Russians were up to something more wide-ranging than what they’d done before the White House worried about only half the problem. At that point the most alarming development was Russian probing of states’ voting systems. The dumps of hacked data and the churn of false stories about Clinton seemed less troubling and also harder to combat without looking political. In September Obama approached Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou China and told him to “cut it out.” That fall National-Security Adviser Susan Rice hand-delivered a warning to the Russian ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak. The White House tasked the Treasury and State Departments with exploring new sanctions against Russia as well as the publication of information about Putin’s personal wealth but decided that such moves might backfire. If the White House pushed too hard the Russians might dump even more stolen documents. Who knew what else they had? Nevertheless with just a month to go until the election the Obama administration took the extraordinary step of alerting the public. On October 7 2016 a joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said “The U.S. Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails” from U.S. political organizations. “These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.”
A forgery a couple of groups of hackers and a drip of well-timed leaks were all it took to throw American politics into chaos. Whether and to what extent the Trump campaign was complicit in the Russian efforts is the subject of active inquiries today. Regardless Putin pulled off a spectacular geopolitical heist on a shoestring budget—about $200 million according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. This point is lost on many Americans: The subversion of the election was as much a product of improvisation and entropy as it was of long-range vision. What makes Putin effective what makes him dangerous is not strategic brilliance but a tactical flexibility and adaptability—a willingness to experiment to disrupt and to take big risks. “They do plan ” said a senior Obama-administration official. “They’re not stupid at all. But the idea that they have this all perfectly planned and that Putin is an amazing chess player—that’s not quite it. He knows where he wants to end up he plans the first few moves and then he figures out the rest later. People ask if he plays chess or checkers. It’s neither: He plays blackjack. He has a higher acceptance of risk. Think about it. The election interference—that was pretty risky what he did. If Hillary Clinton had won there would’ve been hell to pay.” Even the manner of the Russian attack was risky. The fact that the Russians didn’t really bother hiding their fingerprints is a testament to the change in Russia’s intent toward the U.S. Robert Hannigan a former head of the Government Communications Headquarters the British analogue to the National Security Agency said at the Aspen Forum. “The brazen recklessness of it … the fact that they don’t seem to care that it’s attributed to them very publicly is the biggest change.”
That recklessness nonetheless has clear precursors—both in Putin’s evolving worldview and in his changing domestic circumstances. For more than a decade America’s strategic carelessness with regard to Russia has stoked Putin’s fears of being deposed by the U.S. and pushed him toward ever higher levels of antagonism. So has his political situation—the need to take ever larger foreign risks to shore up support at home as the economy has struggled. These pressures have not abated; if anything they have accelerated in recent years. II. The History When it is snowing as it was on this spring afternoon the gray crags of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations blend into the low-slung steely sky. This is where the Soviet state once minted its diplomats and spies. Here they mastered the nuances of the world before stepping out into it. Today the university’s role is much the same although it has been watered down by corruption: The wealthy often buy their children admission. I had been invited to listen to a lecture by one of the institute’s most prominent faculty members Andranik Migranyan who himself graduated from the school in 1972. Migranyan spent much of the past decade in New York where he ran the Institute for Democracy and Cooperation a Russian think tank reported to have ties to the Russian foreign ministry. Among his old classmates is Sergei Lavrov the foreign minister whom he still counts as a friend.
This afternoon Migranyan was lecturing on Putin’s speech at the 2007 Munich Conference on Security Policy a speech that seems to be Russia’s sole post-Soviet ideological document—and key to understanding how the relationship between Russia and the U.S. reached today’s nadir. Putin still a painfully awkward speaker at the time was seven years into his now nearly two-decade reign. Eighteen years prior in 1989 he had been a KGB officer stationed in Dresden East Germany shoveling sensitive documents into a furnace as protesters gathered outside and the Berlin Wall crumbled. Not long after that the Soviet Union was dead and buried and the world seemed to have come to a consensus: The Soviet approach to politics—violent undemocratic—was wrong even evil. The Western liberal order was a better and more moral form of government. For a while Putin had tried to find a role for Russia within that Western order. When Boris Yeltsin Russia’s first post-Soviet president named him his successor in 1999 Russia was waging war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya. On 9/11 Putin was the first foreign leader to call President George W. Bush hoping to impress on him that they were now allies in the struggle against terrorism. He tried to be helpful in Afghanistan. But in 2003 Bush ignored his objections to the invasion of Iraq going around the United Nations Security Council where Russia has veto power. It was a humiliating reminder that in the eyes of the West Russia was irrelevant that “Russian objections carried no weight ” as Migranyan told his students. But to Putin it was something more: Under the guise of promoting democracy and human rights Washington had returned to its Cold War–era policy of deposing and installing foreign leaders. Even the open use of military force was now fair game.
In 2007 speaking to the representatives and defenders of the Western order Putin officially registered his dissent. “Only two decades ago the world was ideologically and economically split and its security was provided by the massive strategic potential of two superpowers ” Putin declaimed sullenly. But that order had been replaced by a “unipolar world” dominated only by America. “It is the world of one master one sovereign.” A world order controlled by a single country “has nothing in common with democracy ” he noted pointedly. The current order was both “unacceptable” and ineffective. “Unilateral illegitimate action” only created “new human tragedies and centers of conflict.” He was referring to Iraq which by that point had descended into sectarian warfare. The time had come he said “to rethink the entire architecture of global security.” This was the protest of a losing side that wanted to renegotiate the terms of surrender 16 years after the fact. Nonetheless Putin has spent the decade since that speech making sure that the United States can never again unilaterally maneuver without encountering friction—and most important that it can never ever depose him. “You should have seen the faces of [John] McCain and [Joe] Lieberman ” a delighted Migranyan told his students who appeared to be barely listening. The hawkish American senators who attended Putin’s speech “were gobsmacked. Russia had been written off! And Putin committed a mortal sin in Munich : He told the truth.”
The year that followed Migranyan said “was the year of deed and action.” Russia went to war with neighboring Georgia in 2008 a move that Migranyan described as a sort of comeuppance for nato which had expanded to include other former Soviet republics. But Western encroachment on Russia’s periphery was not the Kremlin’s central grievance. The U.S. Migranyan complained had also been meddling directly in Russian politics. American consultants had engineered painful post-Soviet market reforms enriching themselves all the while and had helped elect the enfeebled and unpopular Yeltsin to a second term in 1996. The U.S. government directly funded both Russian and American nongovernmental organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy to promote democracy and civil society in Russia. Some of those same NGOs had ties to the so-called color revolutions which toppled governments in former Soviet republics and replaced them with democratic regimes friendly to the West. The Rose Revolution in Georgia the Orange Revolution in Ukraine the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan—“Russia looks at this with understandable mistrust ” Migranyan told his students. He pointed out that the United States by its own admission had spent $5 billion in Ukraine to promote democracy—that is to expand the liberal Western order. Through this prism it is not irrational to believe that the U.S. might be coming for Moscow—and Putin —next. This is why in 2012 Russia kicked out USAID. It is why Russia banned the National Endowment for Democracy in 2015 under a new law that shuttered “undesirable” organizations. Putin is said to have watched the video of Qaddafi’s lynching over and over obsessively. He feared the Americans would come for him next. Putin’s Munich doctrine has a corollary: Americans may think they’re promoting democracy but they’re really spreading chaos. “Look at what happened in Egypt ” Migranyan said beginning a litany of failed American-backed revolutions. In 2011 the Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak stepped down following protests the U.S. had supported Migranyan contended. But after “radical Islamists” won power democratically the U.S. turned a blind eye to a military coup that deposed the new leaders. Then there was Libya. “You toppled the most successful government in North Africa ” Migranyan said looking in my direction. “In the end we got a ruined government a brutally murdered American ambassador chaos and Islamic radicals.”
“If we count all the American failures maybe it’s time you start listening to Russia? ” Migranyan said growing increasingly agitated. “If [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] has to go then who comes in in place of Assad? … Don’t destroy regimes if you don’t know what comes after!” Putin had always been suspicious of democracy promotion but two moments convinced him that America was coming for him under its guise. The first was the 2011 nato intervention in Libya which led ultimately to the ousting and gruesome lynching of the Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Afterward many people who interacted with Putin noticed how deeply Qaddafi’s death troubled him . He is said to have watched the video of the killing over and over. “The way Qaddafi died made a profound impact on him ” says Jake Sullivan a former senior State Department official who met repeatedly with senior Russian officials around that time. Another former senior Obama-administration official describes Putin as “obsessed” with Qaddafi’s death. (The official concedes “I think we did overreach” in Libya.) The second moment was in November 2013 when young Ukrainians came out onto the Maidan—Independence Square—in the capital Kiev to protest then-President Viktor Yanukovych pulling out of an economic agreement with the European Union under pressure from Putin . The demonstrators stayed all winter until the police opened fire on them killing some 100 people. The next day February 21 2014 Yanukovych signed a political-reconciliation plan brokered by Russia America and the EU but that night he fled the capital. To Putin it was clear what had happened: America had toppled his closest ally in a country he regarded as an extension of Russia itself. All that money America had spent on prodemocracy NGOs in Ukraine had paid off. The presence of Victoria Nuland a State Department assistant secretary handing out snacks on the Maidan during the protests only cemented his worst fears.
“The Maidan shifted a gear ” Ben Rhodes Obama’s deputy national-security adviser for strategic communications told me. “ Putin had always been an antagonist and aggressive. But he went on offense after the Maidan. The gloves were off in a way. To Putin Ukraine was such a part of Russia that he took it as an assault on him .” (A source close to the Kremlin confirmed this account.) Putin and Lavrov were known within the Obama administration for their long tirades chastising the American president for all the disrespect shown to Russia since 1991—like the time in 2014 that Obama listed Russia and Ebola as global threats in the same speech. Yanukovych’s fall made these tirades far more intense. “For two years afterwards there wasn’t a phone call in which [ Putin ] wouldn’t mention it ” accusing the U.S. of supporting regime change in Ukraine Rhodes recalled. Regime change in Libya and Ukraine led to Russia propping up Bashar al-Assad in Syria. “Not one more” is how Jon Finer former Secretary of State John Kerry’s chief of staff characterizes Putin’s approach in Syria. It also led inexorably to Russian meddling in the U.S. election: Russia would show the U.S. that there was more than one regime-change racket in town. III. The Player For Russia a country relentlessly focused on its history 2017 was a big year. November marked 100 years since the Bolsheviks a radical minority faction of socialists brought guns into a fledgling parliament and wrested Russia onto an equally radical path. That bloody experiment itself ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union; December 2016 marked its 25th anniversary. Both anniversaries were largely ignored by the Kremlin-controlled media because they are uncomfortable for Putin . Bolsheviks were revolutionaries and Putin a statist to his core loathes revolutions. But he was also raised to be a person of the Soviet state to admire its many achievements which is why he famously referred to the fall of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.”
Putin governs with the twin collapses of 1917 and 1991 at the forefront of his thinking. He fears for himself when another collapse comes—because collapse always comes because it has already come twice in 100 years. He is constantly trying to avoid it. The exiled oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky has publicly spoken of deposing Putin and until recently did not eschew violent means. People like Alexey Navalny the opposition leader openly talk about putting Putin and his closest associates on trial. The Russian opposition gleefully waits for Putin to fall to resign to die. Every misstep every dip in oil prices is to them just another sign of his coming personal apocalypse. The hungry anticipation is mirrored in the West especially in the United States.
Fear of collapse is also why Russian propaganda is intent on highlighting the bloody aftermath of revolutions the world over. Things may not be great in Russia now—the country has struggled mightily since 2012—but the country’s news programs suggest things can always get worse. That’s what Russians are told happened in the 1990s in the nine frenetic years between the Soviet Union’s collapse and Putin ’s ascent to power. “When you have two governmental collapses in 100 years people are scared of them ” Migranyan told me. Many Russians remember the last one personally. But the number who do is shrinking. One in four Russian men dies before the age of 55. Putin turned 65 in October and is surrounded by people who are as old as he is if not older. Russia is now “in an autumnal autocracy ” Ekaterina Schulmann a political scientist in Moscow says. “The more it tries to seem young and energetic the more it obviously fails.” As Aleksey Chesnakov a former Kremlin insider told me in Russia “the most active voters”—the people who buy in most fully to what Putin ’s selling—“are the pensioners.” To Putin ’s supporters his regime isn’t an autocracy exactly. “It can be described as demophilia ” Migranyan explained. “It is not a democracy but it is in the name of the people and for the people. Putin ’s main constituency is the people. All of his power comes from his rating with the people and therefore it’s important that he gives them the fruits of his rule.” The Kremlin calls it “managed democracy.”
This too is crucial to understanding why Putin acts as he does and how he is likely to think about new campaigns against the United States. The Kremlin’s direction of the press the close eye it keeps on polls and approval numbers and especially its foreign policy—they all exist to buttress Putin ’s legitimacy to curry favor with his 144 million subjects. It’s a complicated hiccuping feedback loop designed to guarantee that Putin ’s authoritarian rule remains popular and unthreatened. This is why Putin insists on having elections even if the result is always predictable. “Without renewing the mandate the system can’t survive ” Chesnakov said. “According to polls two-thirds of Russians don’t want a monarchy. They want a democracy. But they have a different sense of it than Americans and Europeans.” Putin ’s third presidential term is up in the spring of 2018. He didn’t bother to declare that he ’d run for reelection until December 6 (the election is in March) and he likely won’t campaign.* This is Putin ’s carefully cultivated image at home: the phlegmatic leader who hovers coolly above the fray as it churns on beneath him . But in the past year or so the fray has given him reason to worry. On a chilly afternoon this spring I watched college students standing on the steps of a nondescript building off Volgograd’s central square waiting to meet with Alexey Navalny. The opposition leader and anti-corruption crusader has captured the imagination of many young Russians as well as that of Westerners who see him as a potential rival of or even replacement for Putin . Navalny has declared that he is running for president in the upcoming election. Police had blocked off the street in front of the building which housed Navalny’s local campaign office. They stood groggily watching as Cossacks members of a southern Russian tribe who have historically acted as the state’s vigilante enforcers strolled up and down the block casually swinging their black-leather whips. Angry-looking young men in track pants and sneakers—the other fists-for-hire preferred by the Kremlin—paced around the students eyeing them menacingly. Young women in vertiginous heels—plainclothes cops—milled around. Every few minutes they took out identical camcorders tagged with numbered yellow stickers and filmed the students standing on the steps zooming in on their faces. Navalny had recently been attacked by progovernment thugs who splashed “Brilliant Green ” a Soviet-era antiseptic on his face. His supporters subsequently posted an image of The Motherland Calls the giant statue commemorating the Soviet victory at Stalingrad with its face Photoshopped green to publicize his rally in Volgograd. The image touched a nerve in a country where the government fetishizes World War II. Within hours pro-Kremlin social-media accounts were using the image to fuel local outrage. By the time Navalny arrived in Volgograd from Moscow the youth wing of Putin’s party was waiting with a protest. The students standing on the steps of the campaign office found the manufactured outrage funny. They were at an age when most things were funny even when the state was clearly watching them. The FSB had recently sent a summons to the home of Vlad a fourth-year student at Volgograd State University who had previously picketed in support of Navalny’s Progress Party. Roman a bespectacled third-year student in veterinary science had been called into the dean’s office for participating in a protest. “The dean said ‘Don’t go to Navalny’s protests. His political position is wrong ’ ” Roman told me shrugging and shoving his hands into the pockets of his puffy red jacket. These young men would soon graduate into an economy that had only recently started to grow again after a five-year malaise. But the growth is barely perceptible while prices for basic goods have soared. Some of their neighbors and family acquaintances hadn’t been paid in months they said. “Our parents say things have gotten worse ” Roman told me. But their parents also knew the potential cost of openly opposing the government and weren’t happy that their sons were at the rally that day. They also believed from watching state TV that Navalny was an American agent. The young men laughed at this too. Navalny had begun to build his base about a decade earlier with a blog on LiveJournal that carefully documented how government officials supposedly carved thick slices off the state budget and stashed the money in Moscow mansions or real estate abroad. A few years ago Navalny launched a YouTube channel where he posts slickly produced videos describing alleged government corruption schemes. On another YouTube channel Navalny Live he and his team at the Anti-Corruption Foundation host talk shows about politics the kind of programming that would never be allowed on state-controlled television. Together the channels have more than 1.5 million subscribers and the videos have collected hundreds of millions of views. As the students and I stood chatting a retinue of preschoolers marched past the office with their teachers. The college students broke into laughter and cheers. “Everyone says that Navalny’s supporters are really young but I didn’t know they were this young! ” Roman said. But things quickly lost their comic lightness when a young man in track pants started loudly arguing with an older Navalny supporter saying Navalny was funded by the U.S. State Department and noting the personal offense he took at the green-faced Motherland Calls statue. “It’s a monument to a great victory!” his friend another angry young man in track pants screamed. “It was built on bones! My grandfather fought for Stalingrad!” (His grandfather he later admitted to me had been born in Georgia in 1941.) Suddenly scores of anti-Navalny protesters appeared some with brooms as if preparing to sweep him out of their city. “Navalny come out!” a middle-aged man with a shaved head screamed into a megaphone as the protesters surged across the sidewalk toward the campaign office. “Navalny come out!” they yelled in response. The college students packed in tightly on the campaign office’s front steps ready to defend their leader. The two camps started pushing and shoving the crowd swaying violently. The cops watched. I looked up and saw Roman’s red jacket. He had taken off his glasses and stood on the top step blinking and squinting into the noise. The swagger and irony had gone off his face. He looked vulnerable like a child. Navalny emerged at the top of the steps calm as ever. Part of the crowd started chanting “Shame! Shame! Shame!” Navalny invited the man with the megaphone and his comrades up the steps to talk with him calmly face-to-face. They came up and grabbed him by the legs and started to drag him toward the hostile part of the crowd. Finally the cops acted freeing Navalny and pushing the crowd back toward the street. Navalny escaped into his campaign office where for the next three hours he fielded questions in a room so packed with supporters that his hair was soon dripping with sweat. He spoke about the contrast between government elites’ luxurious lifestyles and the region’s sagging wages; about rising utility fees despite falling energy prices; about the pitiful state of the roads. “Alexey!” one of his supporters yelled out. “There’s nothing left in our city since 1945 except the victory!” Everyone clapped. Navalny laughed at the state’s accusations that his supporters—the hundreds of people sweating with him in the room—had been paid by the U.S. State Department to show up. “This is the real political force of the country ” he said. “And we will win. We are destined for victory because in any culture in any civilization people like us win because they lie and we tell the truth.” I wiped clear a small rectangle on a fogged-up window. There was nothing left of the angry crowd not even the police. They had vanished as quickly as they had materialized. Two days later on March 26 Navalny rushed back to Moscow where thousands of people had heeded his call to come out and protest state corruption. Tens of thousands more came out in nearly 100 other Russian cities and towns across Russia’s 11 time zones—an unexpected showing that grabbed international headlines. Earlier that month Navalny had posted an hour-long exposé on YouTube about the extensive luxury-real-estate holdings of the prime minister and former president Dmitry Medvedev—who in 2008 had lamented that a sum equivalent to a third of the Russian federal budget had disappeared to corruption. Navalny contrasted the opulence of Medvedev’s many homes filmed by drones with his awkward call for austerity to the residents of Crimea who on joining Russia had lost access to a steady supply of water electricity and reasonably priced food. “There’s no money ” Medvedev advised them two years after the annexation in 2016 “but you hang in there.” By the time of the mass protests the exposé had been watched almost 12 million times. A couple of schoolboys climbed up on a lamppost in Moscow’s iconic Pushkin Square packed with protesters and called to the cops trying to get them down “There’s no money but we’re hanging in there!” In recent years as the economy has struggled Putin has purchased his popularity with a series of tactical measures. Putin pays extremely close attention to his approval ratings to see what works and what doesn’t. He and his advisers are addicted to polls. According to Alexander Oslon who runs the Public Opinion Foundation which does polling for the Kremlin “They can’t live without them.” Putin ’s approval rating surged in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea—and by extension Russia’s return to imperial grandeur. It was a risky maneuver the equal perhaps of Putin ’s later interference in the U.S. election. And it paid off at least in the short term. Russians rallied behind the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine—and behind Putin their audacious president. “There was a spike in loyalty” toward “every organ of the state ” Kirill Rogov a political analyst in Moscow who studies Russian polling told me—“a conservative shift in all directions. People started paying more attention to the news they watched more TV and they became more indoctrinated.” For a decade a majority of Russians had told pollsters that they would rather be well-off than live in a great power. In 2014 those preferences flipped. But the rush of patriotism provided by the Crimean annexation proved fleeting. Connected by land only to Ukraine Crimea is hard to supply from Russia. The peninsula is facing severe water shortages in its near future and tourism a mainstay of the local economy has plummeted. On a recent trip there I was told by even the most ardently pro-Russia locals Cossacks who had staged protests supporting Moscow in 2014 that they had come to regret their stance. The violent lawlessness and corruption of Moscow had reached their home and life had become much harder as Russian citizens. In some ways they missed being Ukrainian. Meanwhile the already sluggish Russian economy has lost cheap Western financing following the imposition of American and European sanctions. Putin ’s response to those sanctions—banning food imports from the United States and the EU—made food prices climb by double-digit percentages. The economy sank into recession. By the beginning of 2017 the government’s approval numbers had nearly returned to pre-annexation levels. “It’s the brand of the year ” Minin said of Russia’s hackers. “It’s a good thing when aside from oil we have cutting-edge specialists” whom the whole world talks about. Russia’s intervention in Syria which began in the fall of 2015 offered another flag-wrapped distraction. As America shrank from its traditional role in the Middle East Russia expanded its own making an ostentatious show of fighting Islamist terrorists on behalf of a reluctant Western Christendom. Shortly after the Syrian army aided by Russian airpower and commandos retook the ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State the Russian military flew the Mariinsky Orchestra in from St. Petersburg for a concert in front of the city’s historic ruins—and a dozen press cameras. (Russian TV barely covered the loss of the city by Russian-backed forces to isis half a year later.) There will inevitably be a reckoning for the Syrian adventure too. For the entirety of his reign Putin has struggled to contain an Islamist insurgency in Russia’s North Caucasus mountains from which terrorists have launched attacks on Moscow. But on a trip this spring to Dagestan a mostly Muslim enclave in the heart of the mountains I found that the region once extremely violent was peaceful. Worried about potential terror attacks in nearby Sochi during the 2014 Olympics the Russian secret services had allowed hundreds if not thousands of Islamist rebels all of them Russian citizens to go to Syria. According to one report in Novaya Gazeta the FSB even provided some of them with a passport and transportation to the Russian border. It was a shortsighted counterterrorism strategy. Two Dagestani men who traveled to isis-controlled territories in Syria in order to bring back their children told me that they heard as much Russian as Arabic on the streets of isis cities. An October report by the Soufan Center a security-intelligence nonprofit showed that more foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria came from Russia than from any other country. What will become of these Russian fighters now better trained and battle-hardened as isis territory continues to shrink? Some 400 have already returned to Russia according to the Soufan Center report but even those who don’t return home can wreak havoc: In April a suicide bomber blew himself up at a St. Petersburg metro station killing 13 people. Russian speakers outside the country who had joined isis were suspected of having radicalized him. Russia’s interference in the U.S. election was just as shortsighted. At first Donald Trump’s victory seemed to be a great coup for Putin . Kremlin loyalists celebrated Trump’s inauguration in Moscow including at a live watch party with free-flowing champagne. And it conferred on Russia prestige of a sort. When I asked Victor Minin the former Russian-government cybersecurity specialist who runs hackathons across Russia about the effect of American media coverage of Russian hackers he said “It’s the brand of the year. It’s a good thing when aside from oil we have cutting-edge specialists and the whole world is talking about them.” But this victory has burned out even faster than the others. The fingerprints that the Russians left behind once discovered raised an uproar in Washington. Congress in a rare near-unanimous vote stripped Trump of the ability to unilaterally lift American sanctions on Russia. They will very likely remain in place indefinitely a prospect Medvedev bemoaned in a Facebook post the day Trump reluctantly signed the bill into law. Unable to get back the two diplomatic compounds in the U.S. that had been seized during the last days of the Obama administration the Russians plunged headfirst into a destructive tit for tat—which resulted in the seizure of three more Russian diplomatic posts. Ironically one of the Russian institutions to suffer the most blowback for the Russian hack is the FSB one of the agencies believed to be behind the 2016 interference. “Before 2016 the FSB had a good reputation in Washington ” Andrei Soldatov the Russian journalist told me. The head of the FSB “was considered a reliable partner in fighting terrorism.” But “it all ended in 2016 and it ended very badly.” FSB officers were put on the FBI’s most-wanted list for cybercriminals an unprecedented retaliation. The head of the FSB’s elite cyber unit and his deputy were forced out; two other top officers from the unit ended up in Moscow’s most notorious jail. “They’re now under incredible pressure both from the inside and the outside ” Soldatov said. “Sometimes ” says Michael Hayden a director of the National Security Agency under George W. Bush “you have successful covert operations that you wish hadn’t succeeded.” Meddling in the U.S. election might have destabilized the American political system but it is unclear how carefully Putin considered the potential consequences for his country. His goal is to stay in power another day another year and to deal with complications when—and if—they arise. The protests sparked by Navalny are a complication that has for now been dealt with. Police arrested 1 043 people on March 26 in Moscow alone. On October 7 following another smaller round of protests they arrested hundreds more. Navalny will not be allowed on the election ballot according to various reports and one Kremlin insider I spoke with; a recent court finding against him following trumped-up charges of embezzlement will most likely be used to disqualify him. These were hardly the first protests that Putin has weathered. Massive prodemocracy anti- Putin demonstrations rocked Moscow in the winter of 2011–12—and were followed by a violent police crackdown on May 6 2012 the day before Putin was sworn in for a third time. Dozens of people some of them first-time protesters were given multiyear prison sentences. The Kremlin soon raised the penalties for participating in any kind of unsanctioned protest. Several people are now in jail simply for sharing or liking posts on social media. Olga Romanova who founded the NGO Russia Behind Bars to provide Russians with legal assistance told me that the lesson the government is preparing for this new batch of young protesters “will be bigger and harsher” than the one in 2012 and that “it will last years.” She said the state was threatening to separate protesting minors from their parents. The feared Investigative Committee “is calling in school principals school psychologists teachers for questioning ” Romanova said. “And they testify against the kids.” (This summer under pressure from the Russian government Romanova fled to Western Europe.) | “Have you been to Mamayev Kurgan yet? ” Minin asked me. He was referring to another hill where the battle was so intense it changed the hill’s shape. Now the Motherland Calls statue stands there a 170-foot concrete woman raising a sword to summon her countrymen into battle. It’s where Nazi Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus was captured Minin noted with reverence and looked into the sunny distance. “You know it’s important to see how young people defended their homeland.” When we got to the cafeteria I saw that it too was haunted by its Soviet past. Grouchy middle-aged women in hairnets dished out bland greasy cuisine. If it weren’t for students tapping at their smartphones it would have been hard to tell that the 21st century had ever arrived. I sat down at a table with a team from Astrakhan and told them I had been to their hometown once a romantically shabby old city by the Caspian Sea. The students smirked. “Everyone wants to leave ” a third-year named Anton said. “There’s nothing to do there ” his teammate Sergei added. “We did an amazing job … creating the illusion that Putin controls everything in Russia … Now it’s just funny” how much Americans attribute to him . Anton was hoping that Minin could help him get his foot in the door at one of the state security services. “It’s prestigious they pay well and the work is interesting ” he said. If he were accepted he could hope for a salary of 50 000 rubles (less than $900) a month which was almost double the average salary in Astrakhan. Was he motivated by any feelings of—“Patriotic conviction? ” Anton finished my sentence and started to chuckle. “No ” he said. “I don’t care what government I work for. If the French Foreign Legion takes me I’ll go!”
But most Russians don’t recognize the Russia portrayed in this story: powerful organized and led by an omniscient omnipotent leader who is able to both formulate and execute a complex and highly detailed plot. Gleb Pavlovsky a political consultant who helped Putin win his first presidential campaign in 2000 and served as a Kremlin adviser until 2011 simply laughed when I asked him about [TGT] ’s role in Donald Trump’s election. “We did an amazing job in the first decade of [TGT] ’s rule of creating the illusion that Putin controls everything in Russia ” he said. “Now it’s just funny” how much Americans attribute to [TGT] . A businessman who is high up in Putin ’s United Russia party said over an espresso at a Moscow café: “You’re telling me that everything in Russia works as poorly as it does except our hackers? Rosneft”—the state-owned oil giant—“doesn’t work well. Our health-care system doesn’t work well. Our education system doesn’t work well. And here all of a sudden are our hackers and they’re amazing?” The election hack “was a very emotional tactical decision.” The Kremlin was “very upset about the Panama Papers ” which cast light on Putin’s wealth. In the same way that Russians overestimate America seeing it as an all-powerful orchestrator of global political developments Americans project their own fears onto Russia a country that is a paradox of deftness might and profound weakness—unshakably steady yet somehow always teetering on the verge of collapse. Like America it is hostage to its peculiar history tormented by its ghosts.
None of these factors obviates the dangers Russia poses; rather each gives them shape. Both Putin and his country are aging declining—but the insecurities of decline present their own risks to America. The United States intelligence community is unanimous in its assessment not only that Russians interfered in the U.S. election but that in the words of former FBI Director James Comey “they will be back.” It is a stunning escalation of hostilities for a troubled country whose elites still have only a tenuous grasp of American politics. And it is classically Putin and classically Russian: using daring aggression to mask weakness to avenge deep resentments and at all costs to survive. I’d come to Russia to try to answer two key questions. The more immediate is how the Kremlin despite its limitations pulled off one of the greatest acts of political sabotage in modern history turning American democracy against itself. And the more important—for Americans anyway—is what might still be in store and how far an emboldened Vladimir Putin is prepared to go in order to get what he wants. Jeff Elkins; Alexey Kurbatov and Muti “It wasn’t a strategic operation ” says Andrei Soldatov a Russian journalist with deep sources in the security services who writes about the Kremlin’s use of cybertechnology. “Given what everyone on the inside has told me ” he says hacking the U.S. political system “was a very emotional tactical decision. People were very upset about the Panama Papers.”
In the spring of 2016 an international consortium of journalists began publishing revelations from a vast trove of documents belonging to a Panamanian law firm that specialized in helping its wealthy foreign clients move money some of it ill-gotten out of their home countries and away from the prying eyes of tax collectors. (The firm has denied any wrongdoing.) The documents revealed that Putin’s old friend Sergei Roldugin a cellist and the godfather to Putin’s elder daughter had his name on funds worth some $2 billion. It was an implausible fortune for a little-known musician and the journalists showed that these funds were likely a piggy bank for Putin’s inner circle. Roldugin has denied any wrongdoing but the Kremlin was furious about the revelation. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov whose wife was also implicated angrily ascribed the reporting to “many former State Department and CIA employees” and to an effort to “destabilize” Russia ahead of its September 2016 parliamentary elections. The argument was cynical but it revealed a certain logic: The financial privacy of Russia’s leaders was on par with the sovereignty of Russia’s elections. “The Panama Papers were a personal slight to Putin ” says John Sipher a former deputy of the CIA’s Russia desk. “They think we did it.” Putin’s inner circle Soldatov says felt “they had to respond somehow.” According to Soldatov’s reporting on April 8 2016 Putin convened an urgent meeting of his national-security council; all but two of the eight people there were veterans of the KGB. Given the secrecy and timing of this meeting Soldatov believes it was then that Putin gave the signal to retaliate.
It was almost like one of Minin’s hacking competitions but with higher stakes. The hackers are not always guys in military-intelligence uniforms Soldatov told me; in some cases they’re mercenary freelancers willing to work for the highest bidder—or cybercriminals who have been caught and blackmailed into working for the government. ( Putin has denied “state level” involvement in election meddling but plausible deniability is the point of working through unofficial hackers.) American officials noticed the same messy and amorphous behavior as the summer of 2016 wore on. A former staffer in Barack Obama’s administration says that intercepted communications between FSB and military-intelligence officers revealed arguing and a lack of organization. “It was ad hoc ” a senior Obama-administration official who saw the intelligence in real time told me. “They were kind of throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what would stick.”
When the Obama administration began to realize in the summer that the Russians were up to something more wide-ranging than what they’d done before the White House worried about only half the problem. At that point the most alarming development was Russian probing of states’ voting systems. The dumps of hacked data and the churn of false stories about Clinton seemed less troubling and also harder to combat without looking political. In September Obama approached Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou China and told him to “cut it out.” That fall National-Security Adviser Susan Rice hand-delivered a warning to the Russian ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak. The White House tasked the Treasury and State Departments with exploring new sanctions against Russia as well as the publication of information about Putin’s personal wealth but decided that such moves might backfire. If the White House pushed too hard the Russians might dump even more stolen documents. Who knew what else they had? Nevertheless with just a month to go until the election the Obama administration took the extraordinary step of alerting the public. On October 7 2016 a joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said “The U.S. Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails” from U.S. political organizations. “These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.”
A forgery a couple of groups of hackers and a drip of well-timed leaks were all it took to throw American politics into chaos. Whether and to what extent the Trump campaign was complicit in the Russian efforts is the subject of active inquiries today. Regardless Putin pulled off a spectacular geopolitical heist on a shoestring budget—about $200 million according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. This point is lost on many Americans: The subversion of the election was as much a product of improvisation and entropy as it was of long-range vision. What makes Putin effective what makes him dangerous is not strategic brilliance but a tactical flexibility and adaptability—a willingness to experiment to disrupt and to take big risks. “They do plan ” said a senior Obama-administration official. “They’re not stupid at all. But the idea that they have this all perfectly planned and that Putin is an amazing chess player—that’s not quite it. He knows where he wants to end up he plans the first few moves and then he figures out the rest later. People ask if [TGT][TGT] plays chess or checkers. It’s neither: [TGT] plays blackjack. [TGT] has a higher acceptance of risk. Think about it. The election interference—that was pretty risky what [TGT] did. If Hillary Clinton had won there would’ve been hell to pay.” Even the manner of the Russian attack was risky. The fact that the Russians didn’t really bother hiding their fingerprints is a testament to the change in Russia’s intent toward the U.S. Robert Hannigan a former head of the Government Communications Headquarters the British analogue to the National Security Agency said at the Aspen Forum. “The brazen recklessness of it … the fact that they don’t seem to care that it’s attributed to them very publicly is the biggest change.”
That recklessness nonetheless has clear precursors—both in Putin’s evolving worldview and in his changing domestic circumstances. For more than a decade America’s strategic carelessness with regard to Russia has stoked Putin’s fears of being deposed by the U.S. and pushed him toward ever higher levels of antagonism. So has his political situation—the need to take ever larger foreign risks to shore up support at home as the economy has struggled. These pressures have not abated; if anything they have accelerated in recent years. II. The History When it is snowing as it was on this spring afternoon the gray crags of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations blend into the low-slung steely sky. This is where the Soviet state once minted its diplomats and spies. Here they mastered the nuances of the world before stepping out into it. Today the university’s role is much the same although it has been watered down by corruption: The wealthy often buy their children admission. I had been invited to listen to a lecture by one of the institute’s most prominent faculty members Andranik Migranyan who himself graduated from the school in 1972. Migranyan spent much of the past decade in New York where he ran the Institute for Democracy and Cooperation a Russian think tank reported to have ties to the Russian foreign ministry. Among his old classmates is Sergei Lavrov the foreign minister whom he still counts as a friend.
This afternoon Migranyan was lecturing on Putin’s speech at the 2007 Munich Conference on Security Policy a speech that seems to be Russia’s sole post-Soviet ideological document—and key to understanding how the relationship between Russia and the U.S. reached today’s nadir. Putin still a painfully awkward speaker at the time was seven years into his now nearly two-decade reign. Eighteen years prior in 1989 he had been a KGB officer stationed in Dresden East Germany shoveling sensitive documents into a furnace as protesters gathered outside and the Berlin Wall crumbled. Not long after that the Soviet Union was dead and buried and the world seemed to have come to a consensus: The Soviet approach to politics—violent undemocratic—was wrong even evil. The Western liberal order was a better and more moral form of government. For a while Putin had tried to find a role for Russia within that Western order. When Boris Yeltsin Russia’s first post-Soviet president named him his successor in 1999 Russia was waging war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya. On 9/11 Putin was the first foreign leader to call President George W. Bush hoping to impress on him that they were now allies in the struggle against terrorism. He tried to be helpful in Afghanistan. But in 2003 Bush ignored his objections to the invasion of Iraq going around the United Nations Security Council where Russia has veto power. It was a humiliating reminder that in the eyes of the West Russia was irrelevant that “Russian objections carried no weight ” as Migranyan told his students. But to Putin it was something more: Under the guise of promoting democracy and human rights Washington had returned to its Cold War–era policy of deposing and installing foreign leaders. Even the open use of military force was now fair game.
In 2007 speaking to the representatives and defenders of the Western order Putin officially registered his dissent. “Only two decades ago the world was ideologically and economically split and its security was provided by the massive strategic potential of two superpowers ” Putin declaimed sullenly. But that order had been replaced by a “unipolar world” dominated only by America. “It is the world of one master one sovereign.” A world order controlled by a single country “has nothing in common with democracy ” he noted pointedly. The current order was both “unacceptable” and ineffective. “Unilateral illegitimate action” only created “new human tragedies and centers of conflict.” He was referring to Iraq which by that point had descended into sectarian warfare. The time had come he said “to rethink the entire architecture of global security.” This was the protest of a losing side that wanted to renegotiate the terms of surrender 16 years after the fact. Nonetheless Putin has spent the decade since that speech making sure that the United States can never again unilaterally maneuver without encountering friction—and most important that it can never ever depose him. “You should have seen the faces of [John] McCain and [Joe] Lieberman ” a delighted Migranyan told his students who appeared to be barely listening. The hawkish American senators who attended Putin’s speech “were gobsmacked. Russia had been written off! And Putin committed a mortal sin in Munich : He told the truth.”
The year that followed Migranyan said “was the year of deed and action.” Russia went to war with neighboring Georgia in 2008 a move that Migranyan described as a sort of comeuppance for nato which had expanded to include other former Soviet republics. But Western encroachment on Russia’s periphery was not the Kremlin’s central grievance. The U.S. Migranyan complained had also been meddling directly in Russian politics. American consultants had engineered painful post-Soviet market reforms enriching themselves all the while and had helped elect the enfeebled and unpopular Yeltsin to a second term in 1996. The U.S. government directly funded both Russian and American nongovernmental organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy to promote democracy and civil society in Russia. Some of those same NGOs had ties to the so-called color revolutions which toppled governments in former Soviet republics and replaced them with democratic regimes friendly to the West. The Rose Revolution in Georgia the Orange Revolution in Ukraine the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan—“Russia looks at this with understandable mistrust ” Migranyan told his students. He pointed out that the United States by its own admission had spent $5 billion in Ukraine to promote democracy—that is to expand the liberal Western order. Through this prism it is not irrational to believe that the U.S. might be coming for Moscow—and [TGT] —next. This is why in 2012 Russia kicked out USAID. It is why Russia banned the National Endowment for Democracy in 2015 under a new law that shuttered “undesirable” organizations. Putin is said to have watched the video of Qaddafi’s lynching over and over obsessively. He feared the Americans would come for him next. Putin’s Munich doctrine has a corollary: Americans may think they’re promoting democracy but they’re really spreading chaos. “Look at what happened in Egypt ” Migranyan said beginning a litany of failed American-backed revolutions. In 2011 the Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak stepped down following protests the U.S. had supported Migranyan contended. But after “radical Islamists” won power democratically the U.S. turned a blind eye to a military coup that deposed the new leaders. Then there was Libya. “You toppled the most successful government in North Africa ” Migranyan said looking in my direction. “In the end we got a ruined government a brutally murdered American ambassador chaos and Islamic radicals.”
“If we count all the American failures maybe it’s time you start listening to Russia? ” Migranyan said growing increasingly agitated. “If [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] has to go then who comes in in place of Assad? … Don’t destroy regimes if you don’t know what comes after!” Putin had always been suspicious of democracy promotion but two moments convinced him that America was coming for him under its guise. The first was the 2011 nato intervention in Libya which led ultimately to the ousting and gruesome lynching of the Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Afterward many people who interacted with Putin noticed how deeply Qaddafi’s death troubled him . He is said to have watched the video of the killing over and over. “The way Qaddafi died made a profound impact on him ” says Jake Sullivan a former senior State Department official who met repeatedly with senior Russian officials around that time. Another former senior Obama-administration official describes Putin as “obsessed” with Qaddafi’s death. (The official concedes “I think we did overreach” in Libya.) The second moment was in November 2013 when young Ukrainians came out onto the Maidan—Independence Square—in the capital Kiev to protest then-President Viktor Yanukovych pulling out of an economic agreement with the European Union under pressure from Putin . The demonstrators stayed all winter until the police opened fire on them killing some 100 people. The next day February 21 2014 Yanukovych signed a political-reconciliation plan brokered by Russia America and the EU but that night he fled the capital. To Putin it was clear what had happened: America had toppled his closest ally in a country he regarded as an extension of Russia itself. All that money America had spent on prodemocracy NGOs in Ukraine had paid off. The presence of Victoria Nuland a State Department assistant secretary handing out snacks on the Maidan during the protests only cemented his worst fears.
“The Maidan shifted a gear ” Ben Rhodes Obama’s deputy national-security adviser for strategic communications told me. “ Putin had always been an antagonist and aggressive. But he went on offense after the Maidan. The gloves were off in a way. To Putin Ukraine was such a part of Russia that he took it as an assault on him .” (A source close to the Kremlin confirmed this account.) Putin and Lavrov were known within the Obama administration for their long tirades chastising the American president for all the disrespect shown to Russia since 1991—like the time in 2014 that Obama listed Russia and Ebola as global threats in the same speech. Yanukovych’s fall made these tirades far more intense. “For two years afterwards there wasn’t a phone call in which [ [TGT] ] wouldn’t mention it ” accusing the U.S. of supporting regime change in Ukraine Rhodes recalled. Regime change in Libya and Ukraine led to Russia propping up Bashar al-Assad in Syria. “Not one more” is how Jon Finer former Secretary of State John Kerry’s chief of staff characterizes Putin’s approach in Syria. It also led inexorably to Russian meddling in the U.S. election: Russia would show the U.S. that there was more than one regime-change racket in town. III. The Player For Russia a country relentlessly focused on its history 2017 was a big year. November marked 100 years since the Bolsheviks a radical minority faction of socialists brought guns into a fledgling parliament and wrested Russia onto an equally radical path. That bloody experiment itself ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union; December 2016 marked its 25th anniversary. Both anniversaries were largely ignored by the Kremlin-controlled media because they are uncomfortable for [TGT] . Bolsheviks were revolutionaries and Putin a statist to his core loathes revolutions. But he was also raised to be a person of the Soviet state to admire its many achievements which is why he famously referred to the fall of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.”
Putin governs with the twin collapses of 1917 and 1991 at the forefront of his thinking. He fears for himself when another collapse comes—because collapse always comes because it has already come twice in 100 years. He is constantly trying to avoid it. The exiled oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky has publicly spoken of deposing Putin and until recently did not eschew violent means. People like Alexey Navalny the opposition leader openly talk about putting Putin and his closest associates on trial. The Russian opposition gleefully waits for Putin to fall to resign to die. Every misstep every dip in oil prices is to them just another sign of his coming personal apocalypse. The hungry anticipation is mirrored in the West especially in the United States.
Fear of collapse is also why Russian propaganda is intent on highlighting the bloody aftermath of revolutions the world over. Things may not be great in Russia now—the country has struggled mightily since 2012—but the country’s news programs suggest things can always get worse. That’s what Russians are told happened in the 1990s in the nine frenetic years between the Soviet Union’s collapse and [TGT] ’s ascent to power. “When you have two governmental collapses in 100 years people are scared of them ” Migranyan told me. Many Russians remember the last one personally. But the number who do is shrinking. One in four Russian men dies before the age of 55. Putin turned 65 in October and is surrounded by people who are as old as he is if not older. Russia is now “in an autumnal autocracy ” Ekaterina Schulmann a political scientist in Moscow says. “The more it tries to seem young and energetic the more it obviously fails.” As Aleksey Chesnakov a former Kremlin insider told me in Russia “the most active voters”—the people who buy in most fully to what [TGT] ’s selling—“are the pensioners.” To [TGT] ’s supporters [TGT] regime isn’t an autocracy exactly. “It can be described as demophilia ” Migranyan explained. “It is not a democracy but it is in the name of the people and for the people. [TGT] ’s main constituency is the people. All of [TGT] power comes from [TGT] rating with the people and therefore it’s important that he gives them the fruits of his rule.” The Kremlin calls it “managed democracy.”
This too is crucial to understanding why Putin acts as he does and how he is likely to think about new campaigns against the United States. The Kremlin’s direction of the press the close eye it keeps on polls and approval numbers and especially its foreign policy—they all exist to buttress [TGT] ’s legitimacy to curry favor with [TGT] 144 million subjects. It’s a complicated hiccuping feedback loop designed to guarantee that [TGT] ’s authoritarian rule remains popular and unthreatened. This is why Putin insists on having elections even if the result is always predictable. “Without renewing the mandate the system can’t survive ” Chesnakov said. “According to polls two-thirds of Russians don’t want a monarchy. They want a democracy. But they have a different sense of it than Americans and Europeans.” [TGT] ’s third presidential term is up in the spring of 2018. [TGT] didn’t bother to declare that [TGT] ’d run for reelection until December 6 (the election is in March) and [TGT] likely won’t campaign.* This is [TGT] ’s carefully cultivated image at home: the phlegmatic leader who hovers coolly above the fray as it churns on beneath [TGT] . But in the past year or so the fray has given [TGT] reason to worry. On a chilly afternoon this spring I watched college students standing on the steps of a nondescript building off Volgograd’s central square waiting to meet with Alexey Navalny. The opposition leader and anti-corruption crusader has captured the imagination of many young Russians as well as that of Westerners who see him as a potential rival of or even replacement for [TGT] . Navalny has declared that he is running for president in the upcoming election. Police had blocked off the street in front of the building which housed Navalny’s local campaign office. They stood groggily watching as Cossacks members of a southern Russian tribe who have historically acted as the state’s vigilante enforcers strolled up and down the block casually swinging their black-leather whips. Angry-looking young men in track pants and sneakers—the other fists-for-hire preferred by the Kremlin—paced around the students eyeing them menacingly. Young women in vertiginous heels—plainclothes cops—milled around. Every few minutes they took out identical camcorders tagged with numbered yellow stickers and filmed the students standing on the steps zooming in on their faces. Navalny had recently been attacked by progovernment thugs who splashed “Brilliant Green ” a Soviet-era antiseptic on his face. His supporters subsequently posted an image of The Motherland Calls the giant statue commemorating the Soviet victory at Stalingrad with its face Photoshopped green to publicize his rally in Volgograd. The image touched a nerve in a country where the government fetishizes World War II. Within hours pro-Kremlin social-media accounts were using the image to fuel local outrage. By the time Navalny arrived in Volgograd from Moscow the youth wing of Putin’s party was waiting with a protest. The students standing on the steps of the campaign office found the manufactured outrage funny. They were at an age when most things were funny even when the state was clearly watching them. The FSB had recently sent a summons to the home of Vlad a fourth-year student at Volgograd State University who had previously picketed in support of Navalny’s Progress Party. Roman a bespectacled third-year student in veterinary science had been called into the dean’s office for participating in a protest. “The dean said ‘Don’t go to Navalny’s protests. His political position is wrong ’ ” Roman told me shrugging and shoving his hands into the pockets of his puffy red jacket. These young men would soon graduate into an economy that had only recently started to grow again after a five-year malaise. But the growth is barely perceptible while prices for basic goods have soared. Some of their neighbors and family acquaintances hadn’t been paid in months they said. “Our parents say things have gotten worse ” Roman told me. But their parents also knew the potential cost of openly opposing the government and weren’t happy that their sons were at the rally that day. They also believed from watching state TV that Navalny was an American agent. The young men laughed at this too. Navalny had begun to build his base about a decade earlier with a blog on LiveJournal that carefully documented how government officials supposedly carved thick slices off the state budget and stashed the money in Moscow mansions or real estate abroad. A few years ago Navalny launched a YouTube channel where he posts slickly produced videos describing alleged government corruption schemes. On another YouTube channel Navalny Live he and his team at the Anti-Corruption Foundation host talk shows about politics the kind of programming that would never be allowed on state-controlled television. Together the channels have more than 1.5 million subscribers and the videos have collected hundreds of millions of views. As the students and I stood chatting a retinue of preschoolers marched past the office with their teachers. The college students broke into laughter and cheers. “Everyone says that Navalny’s supporters are really young but I didn’t know they were this young! ” Roman said. But things quickly lost their comic lightness when a young man in track pants started loudly arguing with an older Navalny supporter saying Navalny was funded by the U.S. State Department and noting the personal offense he took at the green-faced Motherland Calls statue. “It’s a monument to a great victory!” his friend another angry young man in track pants screamed. “It was built on bones! My grandfather fought for Stalingrad!” (His grandfather he later admitted to me had been born in Georgia in 1941.) Suddenly scores of anti-Navalny protesters appeared some with brooms as if preparing to sweep him out of their city. “Navalny come out!” a middle-aged man with a shaved head screamed into a megaphone as the protesters surged across the sidewalk toward the campaign office. “Navalny come out!” they yelled in response. The college students packed in tightly on the campaign office’s front steps ready to defend their leader. The two camps started pushing and shoving the crowd swaying violently. The cops watched. I looked up and saw Roman’s red jacket. He had taken off his glasses and stood on the top step blinking and squinting into the noise. The swagger and irony had gone off his face. He looked vulnerable like a child. Navalny emerged at the top of the steps calm as ever. Part of the crowd started chanting “Shame! Shame! Shame!” Navalny invited the man with the megaphone and his comrades up the steps to talk with him calmly face-to-face. They came up and grabbed him by the legs and started to drag him toward the hostile part of the crowd. Finally the cops acted freeing Navalny and pushing the crowd back toward the street. Navalny escaped into his campaign office where for the next three hours he fielded questions in a room so packed with supporters that his hair was soon dripping with sweat. He spoke about the contrast between government elites’ luxurious lifestyles and the region’s sagging wages; about rising utility fees despite falling energy prices; about the pitiful state of the roads. “Alexey!” one of his supporters yelled out. “There’s nothing left in our city since 1945 except the victory!” Everyone clapped. Navalny laughed at the state’s accusations that his supporters—the hundreds of people sweating with him in the room—had been paid by the U.S. State Department to show up. “This is the real political force of the country ” he said. “And we will win. We are destined for victory because in any culture in any civilization people like us win because they lie and we tell the truth.” I wiped clear a small rectangle on a fogged-up window. There was nothing left of the angry crowd not even the police. They had vanished as quickly as they had materialized. Two days later on March 26 Navalny rushed back to Moscow where thousands of people had heeded his call to come out and protest state corruption. Tens of thousands more came out in nearly 100 other Russian cities and towns across Russia’s 11 time zones—an unexpected showing that grabbed international headlines. Earlier that month Navalny had posted an hour-long exposé on YouTube about the extensive luxury-real-estate holdings of the prime minister and former president Dmitry Medvedev—who in 2008 had lamented that a sum equivalent to a third of the Russian federal budget had disappeared to corruption. Navalny contrasted the opulence of Medvedev’s many homes filmed by drones with his awkward call for austerity to the residents of Crimea who on joining Russia had lost access to a steady supply of water electricity and reasonably priced food. “There’s no money ” Medvedev advised them two years after the annexation in 2016 “but you hang in there.” By the time of the mass protests the exposé had been watched almost 12 million times. A couple of schoolboys climbed up on a lamppost in Moscow’s iconic Pushkin Square packed with protesters and called to the cops trying to get them down “There’s no money but we’re hanging in there!” In recent years as the economy has struggled Putin has purchased his popularity with a series of tactical measures. Putin pays extremely close attention to his approval ratings to see what works and what doesn’t. He and his advisers are addicted to polls. According to Alexander Oslon who runs the Public Opinion Foundation which does polling for the Kremlin “They can’t live without them.” [TGT] ’s approval rating surged in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea—and by extension Russia’s return to imperial grandeur. It was a risky maneuver the equal perhaps of [TGT] ’s later interference in the U.S. election. And it paid off at least in the short term. Russians rallied behind the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine—and behind Putin their audacious president. “There was a spike in loyalty” toward “every organ of the state ” Kirill Rogov a political analyst in Moscow who studies Russian polling told me—“a conservative shift in all directions. People started paying more attention to the news they watched more TV and they became more indoctrinated.” For a decade a majority of Russians had told pollsters that they would rather be well-off than live in a great power. In 2014 those preferences flipped. But the rush of patriotism provided by the Crimean annexation proved fleeting. Connected by land only to Ukraine Crimea is hard to supply from Russia. The peninsula is facing severe water shortages in its near future and tourism a mainstay of the local economy has plummeted. On a recent trip there I was told by even the most ardently pro-Russia locals Cossacks who had staged protests supporting Moscow in 2014 that they had come to regret their stance. The violent lawlessness and corruption of Moscow had reached their home and life had become much harder as Russian citizens. In some ways they missed being Ukrainian. Meanwhile the already sluggish Russian economy has lost cheap Western financing following the imposition of American and European sanctions. [TGT] ’s response to those sanctions—banning food imports from the United States and the EU—made food prices climb by double-digit percentages. The economy sank into recession. By the beginning of 2017 the government’s approval numbers had nearly returned to pre-annexation levels. “It’s the brand of the year ” Minin said of Russia’s hackers. “It’s a good thing when aside from oil we have cutting-edge specialists” whom the whole world talks about. Russia’s intervention in Syria which began in the fall of 2015 offered another flag-wrapped distraction. As America shrank from its traditional role in the Middle East Russia expanded its own making an ostentatious show of fighting Islamist terrorists on behalf of a reluctant Western Christendom. Shortly after the Syrian army aided by Russian airpower and commandos retook the ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State the Russian military flew the Mariinsky Orchestra in from St. Petersburg for a concert in front of the city’s historic ruins—and a dozen press cameras. (Russian TV barely covered the loss of the city by Russian-backed forces to isis half a year later.) There will inevitably be a reckoning for the Syrian adventure too. For the entirety of his reign Putin has struggled to contain an Islamist insurgency in Russia’s North Caucasus mountains from which terrorists have launched attacks on Moscow. But on a trip this spring to Dagestan a mostly Muslim enclave in the heart of the mountains I found that the region once extremely violent was peaceful. Worried about potential terror attacks in nearby Sochi during the 2014 Olympics the Russian secret services had allowed hundreds if not thousands of Islamist rebels all of them Russian citizens to go to Syria. According to one report in Novaya Gazeta the FSB even provided some of them with a passport and transportation to the Russian border. It was a shortsighted counterterrorism strategy. Two Dagestani men who traveled to isis-controlled territories in Syria in order to bring back their children told me that they heard as much Russian as Arabic on the streets of isis cities. An October report by the Soufan Center a security-intelligence nonprofit showed that more foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria came from Russia than from any other country. What will become of these Russian fighters now better trained and battle-hardened as isis territory continues to shrink? Some 400 have already returned to Russia according to the Soufan Center report but even those who don’t return home can wreak havoc: In April a suicide bomber blew himself up at a St. Petersburg metro station killing 13 people. Russian speakers outside the country who had joined isis were suspected of having radicalized him. Russia’s interference in the U.S. election was just as shortsighted. At first Donald Trump’s victory seemed to be a great coup for Putin . Kremlin loyalists celebrated Trump’s inauguration in Moscow including at a live watch party with free-flowing champagne. And it conferred on Russia prestige of a sort. When I asked Victor Minin the former Russian-government cybersecurity specialist who runs hackathons across Russia about the effect of American media coverage of Russian hackers he said “It’s the brand of the year. It’s a good thing when aside from oil we have cutting-edge specialists and the whole world is talking about them.” But this victory has burned out even faster than the others. The fingerprints that the Russians left behind once discovered raised an uproar in Washington. Congress in a rare near-unanimous vote stripped Trump of the ability to unilaterally lift American sanctions on Russia. They will very likely remain in place indefinitely a prospect Medvedev bemoaned in a Facebook post the day Trump reluctantly signed the bill into law. Unable to get back the two diplomatic compounds in the U.S. that had been seized during the last days of the Obama administration the Russians plunged headfirst into a destructive tit for tat—which resulted in the seizure of three more Russian diplomatic posts. Ironically one of the Russian institutions to suffer the most blowback for the Russian hack is the FSB one of the agencies believed to be behind the 2016 interference. “Before 2016 the FSB had a good reputation in Washington ” Andrei Soldatov the Russian journalist told me. The head of the FSB “was considered a reliable partner in fighting terrorism.” But “it all ended in 2016 and it ended very badly.” FSB officers were put on the FBI’s most-wanted list for cybercriminals an unprecedented retaliation. The head of the FSB’s elite cyber unit and his deputy were forced out; two other top officers from the unit ended up in Moscow’s most notorious jail. “They’re now under incredible pressure both from the inside and the outside ” Soldatov said. “Sometimes ” says Michael Hayden a director of the National Security Agency under George W. Bush “you have successful covert operations that you wish hadn’t succeeded.” Meddling in the U.S. election might have destabilized the American political system but it is unclear how carefully Putin considered the potential consequences for his country. His goal is to stay in power another day another year and to deal with complications when—and if—they arise. The protests sparked by Navalny are a complication that has for now been dealt with. Police arrested 1 043 people on March 26 in Moscow alone. On October 7 following another smaller round of protests they arrested hundreds more. Navalny will not be allowed on the election ballot according to various reports and one Kremlin insider I spoke with; a recent court finding against him following trumped-up charges of embezzlement will most likely be used to disqualify him. These were hardly the first protests that Putin has weathered. Massive prodemocracy anti- Putin demonstrations rocked Moscow in the winter of 2011–12—and were followed by a violent police crackdown on May 6 2012 the day before Putin was sworn in for a third time. Dozens of people some of them first-time protesters were given multiyear prison sentences. The Kremlin soon raised the penalties for participating in any kind of unsanctioned protest. Several people are now in jail simply for sharing or liking posts on social media. Olga Romanova who founded the NGO Russia Behind Bars to provide Russians with legal assistance told me that the lesson the government is preparing for this new batch of young protesters “will be bigger and harsher” than the one in 2012 and that “it will last years.” She said the state was threatening to separate protesting minors from their parents. The feared Investigative Committee “is calling in school principals school psychologists teachers for questioning ” Romanova said. “And they testify against the kids.” (This summer under pressure from the Russian government Romanova fled to Western Europe.) | 2Positive
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1,321 | Women's sexual harassment claims rattle California capital | Pamela Lopez | (CNN) Lobbyist Pamela Lopez walked into a bathroom and felt the rush of a large man behind her .
He pushed her inside she said and before Lopez could turn around she heard the door lock.
The man began to masturbate and told her to "touch his penis " she told CNN. "I was terrified. I backed myself against the wall and thought 'What am I going to do?'"
Lopez 's story sounds similar to the ones told by more than 40 women over the last two weeks accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. Lopez was inspired by those women to speak up.
The man Lopez accuses of assault she says is a current California state legislator. She 's one of nearly 150 women who have signed a public letter decrying a culture of sexual harassment in California's state politics which takes root when lawmakers staffers and lobbyists descend on Sacramento each year for the legislative session.
Lopez says she firmly told the man "No I'm not going to touch you " causing him to plead that she at least touch another part of his body as he gratified himself .
Lopez refused and says that after he finished she insisted they "walk out that door" and return to the party.
" He said 'OK don't tell anybody this happened.'" Lopez recalls. "I felt like he 'd done this before; he wasn't shy."
Lopez says she's not afraid to speak up now because she is a high-level partner at the K Street Consulting firm and has the support of her colleagues.
As for Lopez 's claim of assault by a legislator Daniel Alvarez secretary of the state Senate called it "startling and unsettling." In a statement he added that even though there is no formal complaint "We take the allegation very seriously and we are currently reviewing the matter."
For Lopez she said she continues to see the man she says assaulted her and calls his lack of apology "dehumanizing."
"They know they can get away with it and they don't owe you the slightest apology " Lopez said. "It's a challenge many women in politics have to deal with." | (CNN) [TGT]walked into a bathroom and felt the rush of a large man behind her .
[TGT] pushed [TGT] inside [TGT] said and before [TGT]could turn around [TGT] heard the door lock.
The man began to masturbate and told [TGT] to "touch his penis " she told CNN. "I was terrified. I backed myself against the wall and thought 'What am I going to do?'"
Lopez 's story sounds similar to the ones told by more than 40 women over the last two weeks accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. [TGT]was inspired by those women to speak up.
[TGT]is a current California state legislator. [TGT] 's one of nearly 150 women who have signed a public letter decrying a culture of sexual harassment in California's state politics which takes root when lawmakers staffers and lobbyists descend on Sacramento each year for the legislative session.
[TGT]says [TGT] firmly told the man "No I'm not going to touch you " causing [TGT] to plead that [TGT] at least touch another part of [TGT] body as [TGT] gratified [TGT] .
[TGT]refused and says that after [TGT] finished [TGT] insisted they "walk out that door" and return to the party.
" [TGT] said 'OK don't tell anybody this happened.'" [TGT]recalls. "I felt like [TGT] 'd done this before; [TGT] wasn't shy.[TGT]says [TGT]'s not afraid to speak up now because [TGT] is a high-level partner at the K Street Consulting firm and has the support of [TGT] colleagues.
As for Lopez 's claim of assault by a legislator Daniel Alvarez secretary of the state Senate called it "startling and unsettling." In a statement he added that even though there is no formal complaint "We take the allegation very seriously and we are currently reviewing the matter."
For [TGT][TGT] said [TGT] continues to see the man [TGT] says assaulted [TGT] and calls his lack of apology "dehumanizing."
"They know they can get away with it and they don't owe you the slightest apology " [TGT]said. "It's a challenge many women in politics have to deal with." | 2Positive
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1,322 | Donald Trump Jr. Declines to Answer Key Russia Question | Donald Trump Jr. | President Donald Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. declined to discuss with lawmakers on Wednesday a conversation he had with his father about emails related to a June 2016 meeting he attended with Trump associates and Russians a congressional panel member said.
Representative Adam Schiff the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigating allegations of Russian interference in last year’s U.S. election said Trump Jr. answered the “overwhelming majority” of questions from committee members in his hours of testimony.
But Trump Jr. claimed attorney-client privilege in declining to respond to queries about that discussion with his father because a lawyer was in the room when it took place. The discussion between then-Republican candidate Trump and his son took place after the emails became public Schiff said. Trump Jr. released the emails in July.
Representative Mike Conaway the Republican leading the investigation said Trump Jr. had answered all of his questions.
Trump Jr. arrived and left without being seen by reporters.
Lawmakers said they want to question him about a meeting with a Russian lawyer in June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York at which he had said he hoped to get information about the “fitness character and qualifications” of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the Democrat who was his father’s presidential election opponent.
It was at least the second time Trump Jr. has testified to a congressional committee investigating any Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion with Moscow by the Trump campaign.
He arrived shortly before 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) and was questioned for most of the next eight hours by members of the intelligence panel.
A person familiar with knowledge of Trump Jr’s testimony said Trump had said repeatedly he did not remember things he was asked about including some details about information provided by Russians during the Trump Tower meeting.
Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller is also investigating. He has announced the first charges of Trump associates and Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.
The House intelligence panel also released on Wednesday a transcript of testimony last week of Erik Prince a Trump supporter and founder of the Blackwater military contractor. A focus of that testimony was a report that Prince tried to set up a “back channel” for communications between Trump associates and Russia. Prince denied such a plan.
Trump Jr.’s appearance coincided with criticism of the Russia probes from some of his father’s fellow Republicans who control both houses of Congress and accuse investigators of bias against Trump . Other lawmakers Republicans as well as Democrats say the goal of the investigations is to guarantee the integrity of U.S. elections not to target Trump and his associates.
Trump Jr. like his father denies collusion with Russia. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 campaign to boost Trump ’s chances of defeating Clinton. Moscow denies any such effort. | President Donald Trump’s eldest son [TGT]declined to discuss with lawmakers on Wednesday a conversation [TGT] had with [TGT] father about emails related to a June 2016 meeting [TGT] attended with Trump associates and Russians a congressional panel member said.
Representative Adam Schiff the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigating allegations of Russian interference in last year’s U.S. election said [TGT]answered the “overwhelming majority” of questions from committee members in [TGT] hours of testimony.
But [TGT]claimed attorney-client privilege in declining to respond to queries about that discussion with [TGT] father because a lawyer was in the room when it took place. The discussion between then-Republican candidate Trump and his son took place after the emails became public Schiff said. [TGT] released the emails in July.
Representative Mike Conaway the Republican leading the investigation said [TGT]had answered all of [TGT] questions.
[TGT]arrived and left without being seen by reporters.
Lawmakers said they want to question [TGT] about a meeting with a Russian lawyer in June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York at which [TGT] had said [TGT] hoped to get information about the “fitness character and qualifications” of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the Democrat who was [TGT] father’s presidential election opponent.
It was at least the second time [TGT]has testified to a congressional committee investigating any Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion with Moscow by the Trump campaign.
[TGT] arrived shortly before 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) and was questioned for most of the next eight hours by members of the intelligence panel.
A person familiar with knowledge of Trump Jr’s testimony said Trump had said repeatedly he did not remember things he was asked about including some details about information provided by Russians during the Trump Tower meeting.
Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller is also investigating. He has announced the first charges of Trump associates and Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.
The House intelligence panel also released on Wednesday a transcript of testimony last week of Erik Prince a Trump supporter and founder of the Blackwater military contractor. A focus of that testimony was a report that Prince tried to set up a “back channel” for communications between Trump associates and Russia. Prince denied such a plan.
Trump Jr.’s appearance coincided with criticism of the Russia probes from some of his father’s fellow Republicans who control both houses of Congress and accuse investigators of bias against [TGT] . Other lawmakers Republicans as well as Democrats say the goal of the investigations is to guarantee the integrity of U.S. elections not to target [TGT]and his associates.
Trump Jr. like his father denies collusion with Russia. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 campaign to boost Trump ’s chances of defeating Clinton. Moscow denies any such effort. | 2Positive
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1,323 | Dealership gives new truck to veteran who helped Las Vegas shooting victims | Taylor Winston | (CNN) Iraq war veteran Taylor Winston became a hero on the night of the mass shooting in Las Vegas after he used a stranger's truck to rush critically wounded victims to the hospital.
Now Winston has a new truck of his own.
An Arizona car dealership rewarded him Monday with a free customized Ford F-150 in appreciation for his bravery and quick thinking on October 1 when Winston made two trips to the hospital while officials were still scrambling to get ambulances to the concert venue. Winston credited his military training for helping him keep a "cool head."
"It was still quite scary but we just knew they (the victims) had to get to the hospital immediately " Winston told CNN's Anderson Cooper last week. "No ambulances were immediately available. There was far too many casualties for anyone to handle."
B5 Motors would like to give #vegashero Taylor Winston a free truck. Please help us find him . #HelpB5MotorsfindTaylorWinston pic.twitter.com/2dJICGLvyI — B5 Motors (@B5Motors) October 4 2017 | (CNN) [TGT]became a hero on the night of the mass shooting in Las Vegas after [TGT] used a stranger's truck to rush critically wounded victims to the hospital.
Now [TGT]has a new truck of [TGT] own.
An Arizona car dealership rewarded [TGT] Monday with a free customized Ford F-150 in appreciation for [TGT] bravery and quick thinking on October 1 when [TGT]made two trips to the hospital while officials were still scrambling to get ambulances to the concert venue. [TGT]credited [TGT] military training for helping [TGT] keep a "cool head."
"It was still quite scary but we just knew they (the victims) had to get to the hospital immediately " [TGT]told CNN's Anderson Cooper last week. "No ambulances were immediately available. There was far too many casualties for anyone to handle."
B5 Motors would like to give [TGT]. Please help us find [TGT] . #HelpB5MotorsfindTaylorWinston pic.twitter.com/2dJICGLvyI — B5 Motors (@B5Motors) October 4 2017 | 2Positive
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1,324 | Jeffrey Lord: Elaine Chao 'Undercurrent' in Trump | Elaine Chao | Former Nixon aide Jeffrey Lord noted to Newsmax TV on Tuesday that the "undercurrent" in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell most likely is the Kentucky Republican's wife Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao .
" He doesn't hesitate to say what's on his mind which is a good thing " Lord told "Newsmax Now" host Bill Tucker of their news conference on Monday at the White House. " He doesn't do the whole political schmoozing.
"When he 's pleased he 'll say so. When he 's displeased he will say so.
"And one of the other undercurrents here one of the things that we should always be aware of the secretary of transportation is named Elaine Chao. | Former Nixon aide Jeffrey Lord noted to Newsmax TV on Tuesday that the "undercurrent" in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell most likely is the Kentucky Republican's wife Transportation Secretary [TGT] .
" He doesn't hesitate to say what's on his mind which is a good thing " Lord told "Newsmax Now" host Bill Tucker of their news conference on Monday at the White House. " He doesn't do the whole political schmoozing.
"When he 's pleased he 'll say so. When he 's displeased he will say so.
"And one of the other undercurrents here one of the things that we should always be aware of the secretary of transportation is named [TGT]. | 2Positive
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1,325 | Princess Kate makes 1st public appearance since announcing her pregnancy | Kate | Princess Kate pregnant with her third child made her first public appearance in six weeks to join Prince William and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace to mark World Mental Health Day.
Kate 35 showed a slight baby bump beneath the tea-length Temperley dress she wore to the event thanking supporters for helping to change public perceptions about mental health.
Kensington Palace announced Kate 's pregnancy on Sept. 4 when she was forced to cancel a planned engagement as a result of hyperemesis gravidarum. Kate also missed the first day of school for her son Prince George a few days later.
Kate has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum or acute morning sickness with each of her pregnancies. The palace announced that with this pregnancy Kate is being cared for at Kensington Palace.
The last time Kate was seen in public prior to today was in late August when she joined William and Harry in viewing the Diana Memorial Garden at Kensington Palace on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death.
"The Duchess' condition is improving but she is still suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum " an aide to Princess Kate said today. "The Duchess is delighted to be here tonight."
William Kate and Harry founded Heads Together in 2016 to change the conversation on mental health.
William told guests that it was Kate who first pointed out the royal trio's shared interest in mental health advocacy. They have each been engaged with their individual charitable work on the issue: Harry with the armed forces; William with young men suicide and homelessness; and Kate on addiction and childhood mental health issues.
William Kate and Harry announced Sunday they have invested 2 million pounds of their Royal Foundation funds in the second phase of their Heads Together campaign which is designed to create online tools to help people with mental health issues. | [TGT]pregnant with [TGT] third child made [TGT] first public appearance in six weeks to join Prince William and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace to mark World Mental Health Day.
[TGT]showed a slight baby bump beneath the tea-length Temperley dress [TGT] wore to the event thanking supporters for helping to change public perceptions about mental health.
Kensington Palace announced Kate 's pregnancy on Sept. 4 when [TGT] was forced to cancel a planned engagement as a result of hyperemesis gravidarum. [TGT]also missed the first day of school for [TGT] son Prince George a few days later.
[TGT]has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum or acute morning sickness with each of [TGT] pregnancies. The palace announced that with this pregnancy [TGT]is being cared for at Kensington Palace.
The last time [TGT]was seen in public prior to today was in late August when [TGT] joined William and Harry in viewing the Diana Memorial Garden at Kensington Palace on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death.
"The Duchess' condition is improving but she is still suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum " an aide to [TGT] said today. "The Duchess is delighted to be here tonight."
[TGT] and Harry founded Heads Together in 2016 to change the conversation on mental health.
[TGT] told guests that it was [TGT] who first pointed out the royal trio's shared interest in mental health advocacy. [TGT] have each been engaged with [TGT] individual charitable work on the issue: Harry with the armed forces; [TGT] with young men suicide and homelessness; and Kate on addiction and childhood mental health issues.
[TGT]Kate and Harry announced Sunday [TGT] have invested 2 million pounds of [TGT] Royal Foundation funds in the second phase of their Heads Together campaign which is designed to create online tools to help people with mental health issues. | 2Positive
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1,326 | Trump: 'If Alabama Elects Liberal Dem Doug Jones' Pro | Jones Jones | In a robocall for populist conservative Roy Moore Trump pleaded with Alabama voters to support his pro-American immigration agenda — which includes building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border deporting illegal aliens punishing sanctuary cities that harbor criminal illegal aliens opposing amnesty and reducing legal immigration levels to benefit American workers — by opposing Jones in the December 12 election.
“ Democrat Jones is soft on crime weak on immigration supports abortion he ’s bad for our military and bad for our vets ” Trump says. “We don’t want him . And he also by the way wants higher taxes.”
“We need Roy voting for us ” Trump says. “I’m stopping illegal immigration and crime rebuilding a stronger military and protecting the Second Amendment and our pro-life values.”
Jones has taken immigration positions that have put him in-line with the open borders lobby and corporate interests all of which advocate for more immigration and more imported foreign workers while American workers are forced to compete with a cheaper imported foreign workforce further driving down their already stagnant wages.
When previously asked about sanctuary cities Jones deflected the question.
“I’ll let someone else talk about sanctuary cities in California ” Jones told the Montgomery Advertiser in July.
Despite its popularity among Alabama voters Jones has increasingly been a vocal opponent of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that would serve as the first path to ending illegal immigration in the country.
As Breitbart News reported Jones said of the wall:
“No I do not. I think it’s too expensive ” Jones told Fox News when asked if he supported the construction of the border wall. “I don’t think we need to be spending $20 billion dollars ” Jones continued blasting the border wall. “I want to put it on healthcare I want to get tax cuts for the middle class.”
Jones’s supposed concerns about the cost of the border wall fail to mention the annual cost of illegal immigration that while benefitting multinational corporations and the wealthy upper class has been a detriment to America’s working and middle classes.
Jones even went as far as to use talking points from the most pro-open borders governor in the country California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) Breitbart News reported. In July Jones compared the building of a border wall to stop illegal immigration to the Berlin Wall the same comparison made by Brown just months earlier.
Aside from opposing Trump’s border wall Jones also supports giving amnesty to illegal aliens. Last month Jones said he not only supported the President Obama-created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program but also supported the DREAM Act which could lead to all 12 to 30 million illegal aliens in the U.S. receiving a pathway to citizenship. | In a robocall for populist conservative Roy Moore Trump pleaded with Alabama voters to support his pro-American immigration agenda — which includes building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border deporting illegal aliens punishing sanctuary cities that harbor criminal illegal aliens opposing amnesty and reducing legal immigration levels to benefit American workers — by opposing Jones in the December 12 election.
“ Democrat Jones is soft on crime weak on immigration supports abortion he ’s bad for our military and bad for our vets ” Trump says. “We don’t want him . And he also by the way wants higher taxes.”
“We need Roy voting for us ” Trump says. “I’m stopping illegal immigration and crime rebuilding a stronger military and protecting the Second Amendment and our pro-life values.”
Jones has taken immigration positions that have put him in-line with the open borders lobby and corporate interests all of which advocate for more immigration and more imported foreign workers while American workers are forced to compete with a cheaper imported foreign workforce further driving down their already stagnant wages.
When previously asked about sanctuary cities Jones deflected the question.
“I’ll let someone else talk about sanctuary cities in California ” Jones told the Montgomery Advertiser in July.
Despite its popularity among Alabama voters Jones has increasingly been a vocal opponent of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that would serve as the first path to ending illegal immigration in the country.
As Breitbart News reported Jones said of the wall:
“No I do not. I think it’s too expensive ” Jones told Fox News when asked if he supported the construction of the border wall. “I don’t think we need to be spending $20 billion dollars ” Jones continued blasting the border wall. “I want to put it on healthcare I want to get tax cuts for the middle class.”
Jones’s supposed concerns about the cost of the border wall fail to mention the annual cost of illegal immigration that while benefitting multinational corporations and the wealthy upper class has been a detriment to America’s working and middle classes.
Jones even went as far as to use talking points from the most pro-open borders governor in the country California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) Breitbart News reported. In July Jones compared the building of a border wall to stop illegal immigration to the Berlin Wall the same comparison made by Brown just months earlier.
Aside from opposing Trump’s border wall Jones also supports giving amnesty to illegal aliens. Last month Jones said he not only supported the President Obama-created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program but also supported the DREAM Act which could lead to all 12 to 30 million illegal aliens in the U.S. receiving a pathway to citizenship. | 2Positive
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1,327 | Bitcoin slides as website drops South Korea prices from virtual currency rates | CoinMarketCap | NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin sank on Monday after website CoinMarketCap removed prices from South Korean exchanges from its calculations of digital currency rates without any warning resulting in a steep drop in all virtual coins they track.
CoinMarketCap shows real-time prices and market capitalizations for more than 1 300 cryptocurrencies and is widely followed by market participants. The exclusion of data from South Korean exchanges where virtual currencies trade at a wide premium sowed confusion and triggered a broad selloff.
Market participants said CoinMarketCap removed data without any explanation from three of the largest South Korean exchanges: Bithumb Coinone and Korbit.
CoinMarketCap was not immediately available to comment on its move.
Traders said XRP was the most severely affected by CoinMarketCap’s removal of South Korean prices because it was trading at a 50 percent premium in that country. | NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin sank on Monday after [TGT] removed prices from South Korean exchanges from its calculations of digital currency rates without any warning resulting in a steep drop in all virtual coins they track.
[TGT] shows real-time prices and market capitalizations for more than 1 300 cryptocurrencies and is widely followed by market participants. The exclusion of data from South Korean exchanges where virtual currencies trade at a wide premium sowed confusion and triggered a broad selloff.
Market participants said [TGT]removed data without any explanation from three of the largest South Korean exchanges: Bithumb Coinone and Korbit.
[TGT]was not immediately available to comment on [TGT] move.
Traders said XRP was the most severely affected by CoinMarketCap’s removal of South Korean prices because it was trading at a 50 percent premium in that country. | 2Positive
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1,328 | Native Americans Who Can't Afford Heat Take Desperate Measures To Stay Warm | Jimmy Two Bulls | “She was tired of waking up cold ” Jimmy Two Bulls a Pine Ridge resident who’s helping out the girl’s family told HuffPost. “Reservation life is a hard life to live. It’s a struggle.”
Jimmy Two Bulls who’s employed by One Spirit grew up on the reservation and still chokes up when he talks about the conditions he ’s seen. He ’s been to homes that have gaping holes in the floor. He recently visited an elderly woman who didn’t have a handle on her front door and used a rag to keep it shut.
Outside of his work with the nonprofit Two Bulls donates what he can when he ’s able.
An older woman recently approached Two Bulls with a Mason jar filled with $67 in coins. She asked him how much the loose change could buy her. Two Bulls handed over a load of wood free of charge.
“All around ” he said “it’s a hard thing to witness.” | “She was tired of waking up cold ” [TGT]a Pine Ridge resident who’s helping out the girl’s family told HuffPost. “Reservation life is a hard life to live. It’s a struggle.”
[TGT]who’s employed by One Spirit grew up on the reservation and still chokes up when he talks about the conditions he ’s seen. He ’s been to homes that have gaping holes in the floor. He recently visited an elderly woman who didn’t have a handle on her front door and used a rag to keep it shut.
Outside of his work with the nonprofit Two Bulls donates what he can when he ’s able.
An older woman recently approached Two Bulls with a Mason jar filled with $67 in coins. She asked him how much the loose change could buy her. Two Bulls handed over a load of wood free of charge.
“All around ” he said “it’s a hard thing to witness.” | 2Positive
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1,329 | 'I Couldn't Believe What I Was Seeing': Baltimore Hospital Bashed for Dumping Patient at Bus Stop | Imamu Baraka | One good Samaritan Dr. Imamu Baraka stepped in when he saw officials dumping the seemingly disoriented woman who was still dressed in her hospital gown and socks at a nearby bus stop.
Baraka says he was leaving his practice that evening when he saw what he calls "patient dumping" in action.
"At first I was shocked " he told The Associated Press. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I move beyond that to the next level from being shocked. I became … irritated and fearful for the young lady. And then I became angry."
He quickly grabbed his cell phone to document the scene.
Baraka a psychotherapist in the area says he hopes this unfortunate incident will open up a discussion of mental health in this country. | One good Samaritan [TGT]stepped in when [TGT] saw officials dumping the seemingly disoriented woman who was still dressed in [TGT] hospital gown and socks at a nearby bus stop.
[TGT]says [TGT] was leaving [TGT] practice that evening when [TGT] saw what [TGT] calls "patient dumping" in action.
"At first I was shocked " [TGT] told The Associated Press. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I move beyond that to the next level from being shocked. I became … irritated and fearful for the young lady. And then I became angry."
He quickly grabbed his cell phone to document the scene.
[TGT]says [TGT] hopes this unfortunate incident will open up a discussion of mental health in this country. | 2Positive
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1,330 | Hacker Informant and Party Boy of the Projects | Monsegur | Hackers concealed behind fanciful aliases on the Internet often appropriate larger-than-life dimensions. In reality other than in physical proportions Sabu seemed considerably smaller than life. A defensive-lineman-size man known as Booby he was raising the two young children of his imprisoned aunt in a public housing project. Court documents showed that Mr. Monsegur 28 paid bills with stolen credit cards and dabbled in drug sales.
Mr. Monsegur’s whereabouts are unknown and his lawyers declined to comment. His background remains gauzy but court records and interviews with relatives and neighbors offer an outline.
He was born in 1983. His father also named Hector Monsegur was arrested in 1997 along with his sister Iris for selling heroin. Both went to prison for seven years.
While his father was locked up Mr. Monsegur apparently moved in with his grandmother Irma who lived in a sixth-floor apartment in the Jacob Riis Houses a Lower East Side housing project.
School officials said Mr. Monsegur attended Washington Irving High School but left in 2001 without finishing ninth grade. In the transcript of his guilty plea Mr. Monsegur said that he went to college though it is unclear if he actually did.
After his release from prison in early 2003 Mr. Monsegur’s father found work with a sanitation company. The aunt Iris ran a credit repair company from her Staten Island home. Her involvement with drugs however continued. She was arrested again and returned to prison in 2010. By that point she had had two girls. They were entrusted to the care of the younger Mr. Monsegur and he gained legal custody of them.
Even after his aunt left prison last August her children remained with Mr. Monsegur .
He worked sporadically including for a few months at OpenPlans a nonprofit group that tries to improve government through technology. His profile on the networking site LinkedIn which listed him as a senior systems administrator there disappeared on Thursday. A former co-worker described him as friendly and competent.
Mr. Monsegur was active in computer and hacking circles as far back as the late 1990s and started a group for local programmers in 2002. “My name is Xavier ” he announced inviting others to join and “integrate their knowledge into one big mass of hairy information.”
He soon came to embrace strong antigovernment and anticapitalist ideologies that steered him into the hacking world.
In what was identified as a question-and-answer interview with Sabu published in New Scientist magazine last year he said that he became a hacktivist when he was 16. He said he became disturbed that the Navy was using Vieques Island in Puerto Rico as a bombing range for exercises and that he helped disrupt communications. In 2010 he said in the interview he was drawn to Anonymous a leaderless antiauthoritarian movement that has taken up a variety of political causes. The catalyst he said was his outrage over the arrest of Julian Assange founder of WikiLeaks the whistle-blower site.
In particular he became a leader of a splinter group Lulz Security or LulzSec which claimed to attack computer security companies for laughs or lulz rather than for financial gain.
Describing himself he said in the interview “I’m not some cape-wearing hero nor am I some supervillain trying to bring down the good guys. I’m just doing what I know how to do and that is counter abuse.” For his online handle he chose Sabu adopted from a former professional wrestler.
In 2010 and 2011 according to court documents Mr. Monsegur participated in a relentless string of online attacks against companies and governments. Targets included Visa MasterCard PayPal and Sony . He also played a role in attacks on computers belonging to the governments of Tunisia Yemen Algeria and Zimbabwe as well as those of the United States Senate .
Though he was self-taught Mr. Monsegur was probably among the most skilled technologists in the bunch. As the “rooter ” federal authorities say he was in charge of identifying vulnerabilities of LulzSec targets and creating the attack strategy.
Copies of LulzSec chat logs posted online show that he was sometimes wary of getting caught. In one discussion he is irate at his fellow hackers for revealing the name of a site used in an attack because it could expose his computer’s location. Another participant is deferential: “Mm okay ill not say anything further without conferring with you.” | Hackers concealed behind fanciful aliases on the Internet often appropriate larger-than-life dimensions. In reality other than in physical proportions Sabu seemed considerably smaller than life. A defensive-lineman-size man known as Booby he was raising the two young children of his imprisoned aunt in a public housing project. Court documents showed that Mr. Monsegur 28 paid bills with stolen credit cards and dabbled in drug sales.
[TGT]whereabouts are unknown and [TGT] lawyers declined to comment. [TGT] background remains gauzy but court records and interviews with relatives and neighbors offer an outline.
[TGT] was born in 1983. [TGT] father also named Hector [TGT]was arrested in 1997 along with [TGT] sister Iris for selling heroin. Both went to prison for seven years.
While his father was locked up [TGT]apparently moved in with his grandmother Irma who lived in a sixth-floor apartment in the Jacob Riis Houses a Lower East Side housing project.
School officials said [TGT]attended Washington Irving High School but left in 2001 without finishing ninth grade. In the transcript of his guilty plea [TGT]said that he went to college though it is unclear if he actually did.
After his release from prison in early 2003 Mr. Monsegur’s father found work with a sanitation company. The aunt Iris ran a credit repair company from her Staten Island home. Her involvement with drugs however continued. She was arrested again and returned to prison in 2010. By that point she had had two girls. They were entrusted to the care of the younger Mr. Monsegur and he gained legal custody of them.
Even after his aunt left prison last August her children remained with [TGT] .
He worked sporadically including for a few months at OpenPlans a nonprofit group that tries to improve government through technology. His profile on the networking site LinkedIn which listed him as a senior systems administrator there disappeared on Thursday. A former co-worker described him as friendly and competent.
[TGT]was active in computer and hacking circles as far back as the late 1990s and started a group for local programmers in 2002. “My name is Xavier ” [TGT] announced inviting others to join and “integrate their knowledge into one big mass of hairy information.”
[TGT] soon came to embrace strong antigovernment and anticapitalist ideologies that steered [TGT] into the hacking world.
In what was identified as a question-and-answer interview with Sabu published in New Scientist magazine last year [TGT] said that [TGT] became a hacktivist when [TGT] was 16. [TGT] said [TGT] became disturbed that the Navy was using Vieques Island in Puerto Rico as a bombing range for exercises and that [TGT] helped disrupt communications. In 2010 [TGT] said in the interview [TGT] was drawn to Anonymous a leaderless antiauthoritarian movement that has taken up a variety of political causes. The catalyst [TGT] said was [TGT] outrage over the arrest of Julian Assange founder of WikiLeaks the whistle-blower site.
In particular he became a leader of a splinter group Lulz Security or LulzSec which claimed to attack computer security companies for laughs or lulz rather than for financial gain.
Describing himself he said in the interview “I’m not some cape-wearing hero nor am I some supervillain trying to bring down the good guys. I’m just doing what I know how to do and that is counter abuse.” For his online handle he chose Sabu adopted from a former professional wrestler.
In 2010 and 2011 according to court documents [TGT]participated in a relentless string of online attacks against companies and governments. Targets included Visa MasterCard PayPal and Sony . He also played a role in attacks on computers belonging to the governments of Tunisia Yemen Algeria and Zimbabwe as well as those of the United States Senate .
Though he was self-taught [TGT]was probably among the most skilled technologists in the bunch. As the “rooter ” federal authorities say he was in charge of identifying vulnerabilities of LulzSec targets and creating the attack strategy.
Copies of LulzSec chat logs posted online show that he was sometimes wary of getting caught. In one discussion he is irate at his fellow hackers for revealing the name of a site used in an attack because it could expose his computer’s location. Another participant is deferential: “Mm okay ill not say anything further without conferring with you.” | 1Neutral
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1,331 | Bonus! Some consumers find free health insurance through Affordable Care Act | Dillon Vatick | Dillon Vatick said he couldn't believe it as he shopped online recently for next year's health plan. Vatick is a computer science student who lives in Jacksonville Florida. He qualified for a monthly subsidy of about $280 and he found a bronze plan with a premium of less than $270.
"My health care is technically free " said Vatick .
"Was it too good to be true?" he said he asked himself when he first saw the numbers. "Sure enough it wasn't."
Vatick said bronze plans aren't for everybody because they come with very high deductibles. But he 's in his 20s and figures he won't be going to the doctor much. He said he had been paying about $80 a month for coverage. | [TGT]said [TGT] couldn't believe [TGT] as [TGT] shopped online recently for next year's health plan. [TGT]is a computer science student who lives in Jacksonville Florida. [TGT] qualified for a monthly subsidy of about $280 and [TGT] found a bronze plan with a premium of less than $270.
"My health care is technically free " said [TGT] .
"Was it too good to be true?" he said he asked himself when he first saw the numbers. "Sure enough it wasn't."
Vatick said bronze plans aren't for everybody because they come with very high deductibles. But he 's in his 20s and figures he won't be going to the doctor much. He said he had been paying about $80 a month for coverage. | 2Positive
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1,332 | Hope Hicks Salary: What Does She Make Working for Trump? | Hope Hicks | Hope Hicks the White House communications director and trusted confidante of President Donald Trump abruptly announced on Wednesday she was resigning from the role that made her the youngest and highest-paid White House staff member.
The announcement came one day after Hicks reportedly told a House intelligence panel that she had sometimes told “white lies” for President Trump. But the White House released a statement in which Trump had nothing but praise for Hicks . “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future ” Trump said in the statement.
Hicks is a former model and public relations professional who is 29 years old. A document released last summer by the White House revealed that the highest annual salary for staffers was $179 700. A total of 22 White House personnel earned that $179 700 per year and Hope Hicks was among them.
Hicks was then listed as “Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Communications.” Several of the other White House staffers who were earning $179 700 per year have already left the administration including Steve Bannon Omarosa Manigault K.T. McFarland Robert Porter Reince Priebus and Sean Spicer. Dina Powell another $179 700-per-year Trump staffer resigned recently in her role as deputy national security and has rejoined Goldman Sachs where she worked before being hired by the White House. | Hope Hicks the White House communications director and trusted confidante of President Donald Trump abruptly announced on Wednesday she was resigning from the role that made her the youngest and highest-paid White House staff member.
The announcement came one day after Hicks reportedly told a House intelligence panel that she had sometimes told “white lies” for President Trump. But the White House released a statement in which Trump had nothing but praise for Hicks . “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future ” Trump said in the statement.
Hicks is a former model and public relations professional who is 29 years old. A document released last summer by the White House revealed that the highest annual salary for staffers was $179 700. A total of 22 White House personnel earned that $179 700 per year and [TGT] was among them.
Hicks was then listed as “Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Communications.” Several of the other White House staffers who were earning $179 700 per year have already left the administration including Steve Bannon Omarosa Manigault K.T. McFarland Robert Porter Reince Priebus and Sean Spicer. Dina Powell another $179 700-per-year Trump staffer resigned recently in her role as deputy national security and has rejoined Goldman Sachs where she worked before being hired by the White House. | 1Neutral
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1,333 | 1st American woman to win NYC Marathon in 40 years calls victory a 'pinch me' moment | Brendan McDermidReuters Flanagan | "I've been dreaming of a moment like this since I was a little girl " Flanagan said. "All athletes have these dreams and these visions and it's what motivates us to get out the door to train hard. I visualized a moment like this and so I was trying to soak it up but I was also running a little terrified that I was going to get caught.
This is Flanagan 's second New York City Marathon and she finished the course with a time of 2 hours 26 minutes 53 seconds.
Flanagan 's win comes just days after New York City was rocked with a terror attack that left eight people dead when a truck plowed into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in downtown Manhattan. The New York Police Department beefed up its security for Sunday's race in the aftermath of the deadly attack.
Flanagan who also competed in the Boston Marathon in 2013 when two bombs detonated near the finish line said New Yorkers were on her mind during this weekend's race. | "I've been dreaming of a moment like this since I was a little girl " Flanagan said. "All athletes have these dreams and these visions and it's what motivates us to get out the door to train hard. I visualized a moment like this and so I was trying to soak it up but I was also running a little terrified that I was going to get caught.
This is Flanagan 's second New York City Marathon and she finished the course with a time of 2 hours 26 minutes 53 seconds.
Flanagan 's win comes just days after New York City was rocked with a terror attack that left eight people dead when a truck plowed into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in downtown Manhattan. The New York Police Department beefed up its security for Sunday's race in the aftermath of the deadly attack.
Flanagan who also competed in the Boston Marathon in 2013 when two bombs detonated near the finish line said New Yorkers were on her mind during this weekend's race. | 2Positive
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1,334 | Panthers re | Marty Hurney | Marty Hurney will be calling the shots once again with the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina re-hired Hurney as its general manager on Wednesday marking his second full-time stint as general manager. Hurney previously worked for the Panthers from 1998-2012 beginning as GM in 2002. He rejoined the Panthers last July as on an interim basis.
Panthers COO Tina Becker said Hurney did an "exceptional" job in helping the Panthers to an 11-5 season last year.
The Panthers reinstated Hurney as interim general manager last week after an NFL investigation found no wrongdoing into charges of harassment by his ex-wife.
Hurney had been on a paid leave of absence during the investigation and had disputed all accusations through his attorney.
Hurney returned to the Panthers in an interim capacity in late July 2017 prior to the start of training camp after owner Jerry Richardson abruptly fired Dave Gettleman. Gettleman had served as the team's general manager since 2013 and had helped the Panthers get to the playoffs three times in four seasons behind a team that Hurney largely constructed.
"I have always felt a strong connection to this organization and viewed this job as one of the very best in the NFL because of the people here " Hurney said. "Mr. Richardson and Tina have been open and honest with me from the beginning and I am thankful for the trust they have placed in me."
The Panthers made three playoff appearances won two NFC South titles and played in two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl under Hurney during his first tenure.
FILE - In this July 19 2017 file photo Carolina Panthers interim general manager Marty Hurney speaks to the media during a news conference in Charlotte N.C. The Panthers have re-hired Marty Hurney as their full-time general manager. This will be Hurney’s second stint as Carolina’s general manager having previously worked for the Panthers from 1998-2012 beginning as GM in 2002. Hurney also worked with the Panthers since last July as the interim general manager.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton File)
Hurney also traded for tight end Greg Olsen and hit home runs on draft picks like center Ryan Kalil.
He also made a few mistakes along the way including overpaying to keep some veteran players and trading up to get wide receiver Armanti Edwards from Appalachian State a move that never panned out.
"I gained a lot of perspective being away and then back in an interim role last season " Hurney said. "I feel that I am the best person to help (coach) Ron (Rivera) and this team moving forward. We have a really special core of players in place and I'm extremely excited about the direction we are headed."
The Panthers went 11-5 last season with Hurney as their interim general manager but lost in the wild card round of the playoffs to the New Orleans Saints. | [TGT]will be calling the shots once again with the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina re-hired Hurney as [TGT] general manager on Wednesday marking [TGT] second full-time stint as general manager. [TGT]previously worked for the Panthers from 1998-2012 beginning as GM in 2002. [TGT] rejoined the Panthers last July as on an interim basis.
Panthers COO Tina Becker said [TGT]did an "exceptional" job in helping the Panthers to an 11-5 season last year.
The Panthers reinstated [TGT]as interim general manager last week after an NFL investigation found no wrongdoing into charges of harassment by his ex-wife.
[TGT]had been on a paid leave of absence during the investigation and had disputed all accusations through [TGT] attorney.
[TGT]returned to the Panthers in an interim capacity in late July 2017 prior to the start of training camp after owner Jerry Richardson abruptly fired Dave Gettleman. Gettleman had served as the team's general manager since 2013 and had helped the Panthers get to the playoffs three times in four seasons behind a team that Hurney largely constructed.
"I have always felt a strong connection to this organization and viewed this job as one of the very best in the NFL because of the people here [TGT]said. "Mr. Richardson and Tina have been open and honest with me from the beginning and I am thankful for the trust they have placed in me."
The Panthers made three playoff appearances won two NFC South titles and played in two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl under [TGT]during his first tenure.
FILE - In this July 19 2017 file photo Carolina Panthers interim general manager Marty Hurney speaks to the media during a news conference in Charlotte N.C. The Panthers have re-hired Marty Hurney as their full-time general manager. This will be Hurney’s second stint as Carolina’s general manager having previously worked for the Panthers from 1998-2012 beginning as GM in 2002. Hurney also worked with the Panthers since last July as the interim general manager.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton File)
Hurney also traded for tight end Greg Olsen and hit home runs on draft picks like center Ryan Kalil.
He also made a few mistakes along the way including overpaying to keep some veteran players and trading up to get wide receiver Armanti Edwards from Appalachian State a move that never panned out.
"I gained a lot of perspective being away and then back in an interim role last season " Hurney said. "I feel that I am the best person to help (coach) Ron (Rivera) and this team moving forward. We have a really special core of players in place and I'm extremely excited about the direction we are headed."
The Panthers went 11-5 last season with Hurney as their interim general manager but lost in the wild card round of the playoffs to the New Orleans Saints. | 2Positive
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1,335 | Danica done: Patrick drives in final race of NASCAR career | Danica Patrick | DAYTONA BEACH Fla. (AP) — Danica Patrick kissed her NASCAR career goodbye with a good luck smooch from NFL star and new boyfriend Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers put his hands on Patrick ’s shoulders and leaned in for the kiss just before she raced for the final time at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Patrick had hugged and fist-bumped family and crew pulled her hair into a ponytail and slid into her Chevy.
Her final NASCAR start fittingly came on the sport’s biggest stage — in front of 101 000 fans at the Daytona 500.
Patrick was in good spirits as she approached her car that had been swallowed by security fans media and members of Team Danica that made it futile to find a spot near the scrum. She posed for pictures with Rodgers the Green Bay Packers quarterback who was all smiles in a tight blue T-shirt and jeans before the race and watched from the pits. The starry-eyed sweethearts brought a dose of A-list gravitas to a pit road scene that was more fitting for a red carpet.
Patrick opened the first leg of the ballyhooed “Danica Double” on Sunday. She ’ll make a return in May to IndyCar and race the Indianapolis 500 before Patrick calls it quits on her racing career.
“When she first started at 10 I knew about two months into it I told my wife she’s going to change racing. I could see it ” said Patrick ’s father T.J.
Patrick was a driver at peace with her decision and ready to transition into the next chapter of her life.
Patrick has moved on from both NASCAR and longtime boyfriend and fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Patrick and Stenhouse once NASCAR’s it couple used to sit next to each other at the pre-race meeting. This week the exes were kept separated on media availability schedules.
Patrick posted a photo on Instagram on Saturday of her and Rodgers with her family at the beach. She wrote “Doing Daytona with all the people that mean the most to me .” The fitness fanatic and author of a workout book also posted a pic of rows of Krispy Kreme doughnuts with the caption “pre Daytona 500 prep.”
NASCAR recognized Patrick in the pre-race meeting in honor of her accomplishments in motorsports.
Patrick never had a top-five finish for Stewart-Hass Racing. She never won another pole after her breakthrough at the 2013 Daytona 500. She never had much success but carried the flag as one of NASCAR’s only true mainstream stars. But as results sank so did interest in funding her ride. Sponsors bailed cash dried up and she was out of a job.
Patrick is as much a brand these days as she is an athlete. Her love life Super Bowl ads and racy photo shoots were hot topics that generated more enthusiasm than her actual career accomplishments. She launched the clothing line “Warrior by Danica Patrick” after participating in the design process. She developed the workouts and meal plans for her book “Pretty Intense: The 90-Day Mind Body and Food Plan that will absolutely Change Your Life.” Patrick is still a bankable celebrity and should have her pick of any future projects. | DAYTONA BEACH Fla. (AP) — [TGT]kissed [TGT] NASCAR career goodbye with a good luck smooch from NFL star and new boyfriend Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers put his hands on [TGT] ’s shoulders and leaned in for the kiss just before [TGT] raced for the final time at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. [TGT]had hugged and fist-bumped family and crew pulled [TGT] hair into a ponytail and slid into [TGT] Chevy.
[TGT] final NASCAR start fittingly came on the sport’s biggest stage — in front of 101 000 fans at the Daytona 500.
[TGT]was in good spirits as [TGT] approached [TGT] car that had been swallowed by security fans media and members of Team Danica that made it futile to find a spot near the scrum. [TGT] posed for pictures with Rodgers the Green Bay Packers quarterback who was all smiles in a tight blue T-shirt and jeans before the race and watched from the pits. The starry-eyed sweethearts brought a dose of A-list gravitas to a pit road scene that was more fitting for a red carpet.
[TGT]opened the first leg of the ballyhooed “Danica Double” on Sunday. She ’ll make a return in May to IndyCar and race the Indianapolis 500 before [TGT]calls it quits on her racing career.
“When she first started at 10 I knew about two months into it I told my wife she’s going to change racing. I could see it ” said [TGT] ’s father T.J.
[TGT]was a driver at peace with [TGT] decision and ready to transition into the next chapter of [TGT] life.
[TGT]has moved on from both NASCAR and longtime boyfriend and fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Patrick and Stenhouse once NASCAR’s it couple used to sit next to each other at the pre-race meeting. This week the exes were kept separated on media availability schedules.
[TGT]posted a photo on Instagram on Saturday of [TGT] and Rodgers with [TGT] family at the beach. [TGT] wrote “Doing Daytona with all the people that mean the most to me .” The fitness fanatic and author of a workout book also posted a pic of rows of Krispy Kreme doughnuts with the caption “pre Daytona 500 prep.”
NASCAR recognized [TGT]in the pre-race meeting in honor of [TGT] accomplishments in motorsports.
[TGT]never had a top-five finish for Stewart-Hass Racing. [TGT] never won another pole after [TGT] breakthrough at the 2013 Daytona 500. [TGT] never had much success but carried the flag as one of NASCAR’s only true mainstream stars. But as results sank so did interest in funding [TGT] ride. Sponsors bailed cash dried up and [TGT] was out of a job.
[TGT] is as much a brand these days as [TGT] is an athlete. [TGT] love life Super Bowl ads and racy photo shoots were hot topics that generated more enthusiasm than [TGT] actual career accomplishments. [TGT] launched the clothing line “Warrior by Danica Patrick” after participating in the design process. [TGT] developed the workouts and meal plans for [TGT] book “Pretty Intense: The 90-Day Mind Body and Food Plan that will absolutely Change Your Life.” Patrick is still a bankable celebrity and should have her pick of any future projects. | 2Positive
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1,336 | Japan's 'Black Widow' gets death sentence for killing lovers | Chisako Kakehi | Image caption Chisako Kakehi is said to be suffering from dementia
Chisako Kakehi is accused of using cyanide to kill her lovers and make millions from insurance payouts. Her lawyers plan to appeal the sentence.
Prosecutors said she targeted wealthy men who were mostly elderly or sick.
She became known in Japanese media as the Black Widow after the female spider which kills its mates after sex.
Kyoto District Court ruled that Chisako Kakehi used cyanide "with a murderous intention" in the four cases and that she should be held responsible for the crimes even though she had been diagnosed with dementia.
Kakehi who was wearing a hearing aid and asked the judge to speak loudly during the proceedings showed no emotion when the sentence was handed down.
Ms Kakehi was accused of murdering her fourth husband 75-year-old Isao Kakehi on 28 December 2013 a month after they got married.
She was also accused of killing two other boyfriends aged between 70 and 80 and the attempted murder and robbery of another boyfriend - who later died of cancer - between 2007 and 2013.
The trial heard that she had joined matchmaking services in which she had specifically requested to meet men who were rich and childless.
She reportedly inherited around one billion yen ($8.8 million) in all although she later lost some of it through the stock market.
During the 135 day trial Kakehi appeared to admit killing Isao Kakehi saying he had not treated her well financially but later retracted it.
Her lawyers said at the time that her testimony could not be trusted because of her dementia. They have appealed against the death sentence to a higher court arguing that her dementia means she cannot be held criminally liable. | "Image caption Chisako Kakehi is said to be suffering from dementia
[TGT]is accused of using cyanide to kill [TGT] lovers and make millions from insurance payouts. [TGT] lawyers plan to appeal the sentence.
Prosecutors said [TGT] targeted wealthy men who were mostly elderly or sick.
[TGT] became known in Japanese media as the Black Widow after the female spider which kills its mates after sex.
Kyoto District Court ruled that [TGT] used cyanide "with a murderous intention" in the four cases and that [TGT] should be held responsible for the crimes even though [TGT] had been diagnosed with dementia.
Kakehi who was wearing a hearing aid and asked the judge to speak loudly during the proceedings showed no emotion when the sentence was handed down.
[TGT]was accused of murdering [TGT] fourth husband 75-year-old Isao Kakehi on 28 December 2013 a month after they got married.
She was also accused of killing two other boyfriends aged between 70 and 80 and the attempted murder and robbery of another boyfriend - who later died of cancer - between 2007 and 2013.
The trial heard that she had joined matchmaking services in which she had specifically requested to meet men who were rich and childless.
She reportedly inherited around one billion yen ($8.8 million) in all although she later lost some of it through the stock market.
During the 135 day trial [TGT]appeared to admit killing [TGT]saying [TGT] had not treated [TGT] well financially but later retracted it.
[TGT] lawyers said at the time that [TGT] testimony could not be trusted because of [TGT] dementia. They have appealed against the death sentence to a higher court arguing that [TGT] dementia means [TGT] cannot be held criminally liable." | 2Positive
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1,337 | 'Big gaps' persist in German military personnel equipment | Hans-Peter Bartels | The annual report by Hans-Peter Bartels parliamentary ombudsman for the armed forces follows a spate of media reports about shortfalls in everything from tanks to body armor that have raised concerns about whether Germany will be ready to take command of a NATO rapid response force next year.
German parliamentary armed forces ombudsman Hans-Peter Bartels whose job is to hear soldiers’ complaints presents his annual report on the state of the German military in Berlin Germany February 20 2018 . REUTERS/ Axel Schmidt
None of Germany’s six submarines are currently combat-ready and there have been days when no single A400M military transport was available for military use Bartels added.
Bartels said the German navy had only nine frigates available compared to 15 that had been planned and they were more frequently in maintenance because of their increasing age. | The annual report by [TGT]follows a spate of media reports about shortfalls in everything from tanks to body armor that have raised concerns about whether Germany will be ready to take command of a NATO rapid response force next year.
[TGT]presents [TGT] annual report on the state of the German military in Berlin Germany February 20 2018 . REUTERS/ Axel Schmidt
None of Germany’s six submarines are currently combat-ready and there have been days when no single A400M military transport was available for military use Bartels added.
Bartels said the German navy had only nine frigates available compared to 15 that had been planned and they were more frequently in maintenance because of their increasing age. | 2Positive
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1,338 | VA says it won't study medical marijuana's effect on veterans | David Shulkin | In a letter to U.S. Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said VA’s ability to research medical marijuana is hampered by the fact that the drug is illegal federally. Shulkin ’s letter came in response to an inquiry by 10 Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The letter asks Shulkin to commit the VA to investigating whether medical marijuana can help veterans suffering from PTSD and chronic pain and identify barriers to doing so.
“VA is committed to researching and developing effective ways to help Veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain conditions ” Shulkin wrote in a response to the members of Congress. “However federal law restricts VA’s ability to conduct research involving medical marijuana or to refer veterans to such projects.”
“VA’s response not only failed to answer our simple question but they made a disheartening attempt to mislead me my colleagues and the veteran community in the process” by stating that the VA is restricted from conducting marijuana research. Walz a veteran said he plans to send another letter to Shulkin asking for further clarification.
A spokesman for Shulkin pointed to the secretary’s past comments on medical marijuana. Shulkin said in May “My opinion is is that some of the states that have put in appropriate controls there may be some evidence that this is beginning to be helpful. And we’re interested in looking at that and learning from that. But until the time that federal law changes we are not able … to prescribe medical marijuana for conditions that may be helpful.”
Shulkin said VA is offering a suite of alternative treatments for patients with PTSD including yoga meditation acupuncture and hypnosis. The letter also said VA has a program to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed to patients with chronic pain; since 2013 Shulkin wrote 33 percent fewer patients were receiving opioids. | In [TGT]said VA’s ability to research medical marijuana is hampered by the fact that the drug is illegal federally. [TGT] came in response to an inquiry by 10 Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. [TGT] asks Shulkin to commit the VA to investigating whether medical marijuana can help veterans suffering from PTSD and chronic pain and identify barriers to doing so.
“VA is committed to researching and developing effective ways to help Veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain conditions ” Shulkin wrote in a response to the members of Congress. “However federal law restricts VA’s ability to conduct research involving medical marijuana or to refer veterans to such projects.”
“VA’s response not only failed to answer our simple question but they made a disheartening attempt to mislead me my colleagues and the veteran community in the process” by stating that the VA is restricted from conducting marijuana research. Walz a veteran said he plans to send another letter to Shulkin asking for further clarification.
A spokesman for Shulkin pointed to the secretary’s past comments on medical marijuana. Shulkin said in May “My opinion is is that some of the states that have put in appropriate controls there may be some evidence that this is beginning to be helpful. And we’re interested in looking at that and learning from that. But until the time that federal law changes we are not able … to prescribe medical marijuana for conditions that may be helpful.”
Shulkin said VA is offering a suite of alternative treatments for patients with PTSD including yoga meditation acupuncture and hypnosis. The letter also said VA has a program to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed to patients with chronic pain; since 2013 Shulkin wrote 33 percent fewer patients were receiving opioids. | 2Positive
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1,339 | A KKK robe showed up at a Maryland auction house. The auctioneers decided to donate the proceeds to a Nigerian student. | David Allen | David Allen owner of A&M Auctioneers and Appraisers never quite knows what’s going to turn up from the old homes and shops of the Eastern Shore.
Once he said he came across a box of wooden and metal washboards from an old general store 100 years old and looking new.
Allen said this was the first time he had come across a KKK robe as part of an estate.
Allen told her the auction house was contractually bound to sell all the items from the estate — including the robe. But together with the seller he arranged to donate proceeds from its sale toward college costs for one of his employees whom he described as an immigrant from Nigeria studying in the United States.
“We didn’t really want it publicized ” Allen said. But the solution was “something that we feel was fair ” he said given the item’s legacy.
Allen said that under the terms of the auction house’s contract he couldn’t reveal the buyer or the seller. But he said the robe which sold Feb. 7 during the online auction went for about $1 300.
“Take it or leave it it’s a piece of history ” Allen said. | [TGT]owner of A&M Auctioneers and Appraisers never quite knows what’s going to turn up from the old homes and shops of the Eastern Shore.
Once he said he came across a box of wooden and metal washboards from an old general store 100 years old and looking new.
[TGT]said this was the first time [TGT] had come across a KKK robe as part of an estate.
[TGT]told [TGT] the auction house was contractually bound to sell all the items from the estate — including the robe. But together with the seller [TGT] arranged to donate proceeds from its sale toward college costs for one of [TGT] employees whom [TGT] described as an immigrant from Nigeria studying in the United States.
“We didn’t really want it publicized ” [TGT]said. But the solution was “something that we feel was fair ” [TGT] said given the item’s legacy.
[TGT]said that under the terms of the auction house’s contract [TGT] couldn’t reveal the buyer or the seller. But [TGT] said the robe which sold Feb. 7 during the online auction went for about $1 300.
“Take it or leave it it’s a piece of history ” [TGT]said. | 2Positive
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1,340 | McMaster: Evidence Is 'Incontrovertible' That Russia Meddled in 2016 Election | McMaster | H.R. McMaster U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser said at the Munich Security Conference that the federal indictments showed the U.S. was becoming "more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion."
"As you can see with the FBI indictment the evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain " McMaster told a Russian delegate to the conference.
McMaster also scoffed at the suggestion that the U.S. would work with Russia on cyber security issues.
"I'm surprised there are any Russian cyber experts available based on how active most of them have been undermining our democracies in the West " he said to laughter. "So I would just say that we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere." | H.R. [TGT]U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser said at the Munich Security Conference that the federal indictments showed the U.S. was becoming "more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion."
"As you can see with the FBI indictment the evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain " [TGT] told a Russian delegate to the conference.
[TGT]also scoffed at the suggestion that the U.S. would work with Russia on cyber security issues.
"I'm surprised there are any Russian cyber experts available based on how active most of them have been undermining our democracies in the West " he said to laughter. "So I would just say that we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere." | 2Positive
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1,341 | Graham on North Korea: 'We're headed to a war if things don't change' | Graham | Washington (CNN) Sen. Lindsey Graham R-South Carolina warned against a potential conflict with North Korea "if things don't change."
"If we have to go to war to stop this we will " Graham told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday. "If there's a war with North Korea it will be because North Korea brought it on itself and we're headed to a war if things don't change."
Graham 's comments on CNN's "The Situation Room" come amid rising tension between the US and North Korea and on Tuesday the Pentagon confirmed that North Korea had launched what the US military believes to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Graham clarified that he doesn't think war would be the best outcome but said the US won't let Kim Jong Un have the ability to strike America's mainland. | Washington (CNN) [TGT]warned against a potential conflict with North Korea "if things don't change."
"If we have to go to war to stop this we will [TGT]told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday. "If there's a war with North Korea it will be because North Korea brought it on itself and we're headed to a war if things don't change."
[TGT] 's comments on CNN's "The Situation Room" come amid rising tension between the US and North Korea and on Tuesday the Pentagon confirmed that North Korea had launched what the US military believes to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.
[TGT]clarified that [TGT] doesn't think war would be the best outcome but said the US won't let Kim Jong Un have the ability to strike America's mainland. | 2Positive
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1,342 | Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield wins 2017 Heisman Trophy | Baker Mayfield | CLOSE Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield won the 2017 Heisman Trophy. USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield wins the 2017 Heisman Trophy. (Photo: Todd J. Van Emst USA TODAY Sports)
Baker Mayfield had been to this New York City ceremony before. This time he left with a statue.
There was little suspense Saturday night with the announcement that the Oklahoma quarterback is the 2017 Heisman Award recipient. Mayfield the fifth man to finish in the top four of the Heisman race three times is the sixth Sooner so honored overall and the third OU signal caller since 2003 to claim the trophy.
Mayfield received 732 first-place votes Love had 75 and Jackson got 47.
AWARDS: Baker Mayfield wins Walter Camp Award
"Wow. This is unbelievable for me " Mayfield said. "Being up her among these greats is something words can't describe. ... It's such an honor."
Baker Mayfield got choked up while thanking Lincoln Riley and his parents pic.twitter.com/eQf16E7MpM — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 10 2017
After the Sooners' 31-16 win at Ohio State Mayfield ran around the field at Ohio Stadium with a crimson OU flag then took it to the “O” at midfield and tried to stick it in the ground as his teammates celebrated around him.
On the following Monday Mayfield that he didn’t mean any disrespect. He said he should have saved his celebration for the locker room adding that he would be upset if someone did that on Oklahoma’s home field.
The next step for for the former walk-on: To once again prove some folks wrong. Listed at 6-1 220 pounds — and that might be a stretch — Mayfield is not the prototype NFL quarterback prospect but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the most prolific passers in college football history.
“I’m going to have the same work ethic and mentality ” Mayfield said Friday. “I think I’ve proven that size doesn’t matter. Even if you had a 6-5 quarterback you’re not going to see over my left tackle. He’s 6-8. I’m just excited to be able to play the game of football. Winning is fun and something that I work hard to do. That should be accounted for more than any size any measurement.”
Mayfield is likely to be a much-debated prospect in the months leading up to the NFL draft in late April. Same goes for fellow Heisman finalist Jackson.
Mayfield will likely be compared to other undersized quarterbacks like Drew Brees Russell Wilson and maybe Johnny Manziel. His mobility and ability to improvise makes those Wilson-Manziel comparisons seem more apt.
“Being compared to those guys is an honor ” Mayfield said.
The Manziel comparison is not necessarily positive. Manziel was a college superstar and Heisman winner who played a highly improvisational game. He was a much better and more frequent runner in college than Mayfield . Mayfield is a more refined passer. Manziel’s biggest issues though were not physical skills and talent. He came into the NFL with baggage when he was a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. After two years in the league he was released with some questioning his commitment to football. Manziel has had run-ins with the law in college and after. | CLOSE Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [TGT]won the 2017 Heisman Trophy. USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [TGT]wins the 2017 Heisman Trophy. (Photo: Todd J. Van Emst USA TODAY Sports)
[TGT] [TGT]had been to this New York City ceremony before. This time [TGT] left with a statue.
There was little suspense Saturday night with the announcement that the Oklahoma quarterback is the 2017 Heisman Award recipient. [TGT]the fifth man to finish in the top four of the Heisman race three times is the sixth Sooner so honored overall and the third OU signal caller since 2003 to claim the trophy.
[TGT]received 732 first-place votes Love had 75 and Jackson got 47.
AWARDS: [TGT] [TGT]wins Walter Camp Award
"Wow. This is unbelievable for [TGT] " [TGT]said. "Being up her among these greats is something words can't describe. ... It's such an honor."
[TGT] got choked up while thanking Lincoln Riley and [TGT] parents pic.twitter.com/eQf16E7MpM — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 10 2017
After the Sooners' 31-16 win at Ohio State [TGT]ran around the field at Ohio Stadium with a crimson OU flag then took it to the “O” at midfield and tried to stick it in the ground as his teammates celebrated around him.
On the following Monday [TGT]that he didn’t mean any disrespect. He said he should have saved his celebration for the locker room adding that he would be upset if someone did that on Oklahoma’s home field.
The next step for for the former walk-on: To once again prove some folks wrong. Listed at 6-1 220 pounds — and that might be a stretch — [TGT]is not the prototype NFL quarterback prospect but that hasn’t stopped [TGT] from becoming one of the most prolific passers in college football history.
“I’m going to have the same work ethic and mentality ” [TGT]said Friday. “I think I’ve proven that size doesn’t matter. Even if you had a 6-5 quarterback you’re not going to see over my left tackle. He’s 6-8. I’m just excited to be able to play the game of football. Winning is fun and something that I work hard to do. That should be accounted for more than any size any measurement.”
[TGT]is likely to be a much-debated prospect in the months leading up to the NFL draft in late April. Same goes for fellow Heisman finalist Jackson.
[TGT]will likely be compared to other undersized quarterbacks like Drew Brees Russell Wilson and maybe Johnny Manziel. His mobility and ability to improvise makes those Wilson-Manziel comparisons seem more apt.
“Being compared to those guys is an honor ” [TGT]said.
The Manziel comparison is not necessarily positive. Manziel was a college superstar and Heisman winner who played a highly improvisational game. He was a much better and more frequent runner in college than [TGT] . [TGT]is a more refined passer. Manziel’s biggest issues though were not physical skills and talent. [TGT] came into the NFL with baggage when [TGT] was a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. After two years in the league [TGT] was released with some questioning [TGT] commitment to football. Manziel has had run-ins with the law in college and after. | 2Positive
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1,343 | The Ancient Andean Tradition of Eating Clay May Have Helped To Protect Health | Aranibar | Bitter potato varieties are still harvested in the Andean highlands says Marcelino Aranibar an animal nutritionist and vice president of research at the National University of Juliaca. Especially at higher altitudes these hardy and frost-resistant varieties are a valuable food source.
Instead of detoxifying them with clay alone Aranibar says these bitter potatoes are often made into chuño a form of naturally dehydrated potato that also removes some of the toxins. Making chuño is considered an ancient Andean practice and allows for year-round potato storage.
Aranibar has researched how rats with gastritis recuperate after being fed chaco though he has not researched this in humans. Aranibar himself eats the pale tan or grey clay mixed with water once every day or two. He claims it has helped manage his own gastritis.
The practice of clay eating is now a part of the region's tradition says Aranibar .
"There are many people in the Peruvian-Bolivian high plateau that still consume clay but it's not because the potatoes are bitter " he says. "It is more of a custom than a necessity." | Bitter potato varieties are still harvested in the Andean highlands says [TGT]an animal nutritionist and vice president of research at the National University of Juliaca. Especially at higher altitudes these hardy and frost-resistant varieties are a valuable food source.
Instead of detoxifying them with clay alone [TGT] says these bitter potatoes are often made into chuño a form of naturally dehydrated potato that also removes some of the toxins. Making chuño is considered an ancient Andean practice and allows for year-round potato storage.
[TGT]has researched how rats with gastritis recuperate after being fed chaco though [TGT] has not researched this in humans. [TGT]eats the pale tan or grey clay mixed with water once every day or two. [TGT] claims [TGT] has helped manage [TGT] own gastritis.
The practice of clay eating is now a part of the region's tradition says [TGT] .
"There are many people in the Peruvian-Bolivian high plateau that still consume clay but it's not because the potatoes are bitter " he says. "It is more of a custom than a necessity." | 2Positive
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1,344 | Former presidents call for unity at hurricane aid concert | George W. Bush | Democrats Barack Obama Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Republicans George H.W. and George W. Bush gathered in College Station Texas home of Texas A&M University to try to unite the country after the storms.
Texas A&M is home to the presidential library of the elder Bush . At 93 he has a form of Parkinson’s disease and appeared in a wheelchair at the event. His wife Barbara and George W. Bush’s wife Laura were in the audience.
“This wonderful effort reminds us that we truly are one nation under God all unified by our values and devotion to one another ” Trump said in the greeting played during the concert.
Four of the five former presidents — Obama George W. Bush Carter and Clinton — made brief remarks that did not mention Trump. The elder Bush did not speak but smiled and waved to the crowd. They appealed for national unity to help those hurt by the hurricanes.
The last time the five were together was in 2013 when Obama was still in office at the dedication of George W. Bush’s presidential library in Dallas.
There is precedent for former presidents joining forces for post-disaster fundraising. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton raised money together after the 2004 South Asia tsunami and Hurricane Katrina the next year. Clinton and George W. Bush combined to seek donations after Haiti’s 2011 earthquake.
Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 25 unleashing historic flooding in Houston and killing more than 80 people. Shortly thereafter all five ex-presidents appeared in a commercial for a fundraising effort known as “One America Appeal.” In it George W. Bush says “People are hurting down here.” His father George H.W. Bush then replies “We love you Texas.” | Democrats Barack Obama Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Republicans George H.W. and [TGT]gathered in College Station Texas home of Texas A&M University to try to unite the country after the storms.
Texas A&M is home to the presidential library of [TGT] . At 93 he has a form of Parkinson’s disease and appeared in a wheelchair at the event. His wife Barbara and George W. Bush’s wife Laura were in the audience.
“This wonderful effort reminds [TGT] that [TGT] truly are one nation under God all unified by our values and devotion to one another ” Trump said in the greeting played during the concert.
Four of the five former presidents — Obama George W. Bush Carter and Clinton — made brief remarks that did not mention Trump. [TGT]did not speak but smiled and waved to the crowd. They appealed for national unity to help those hurt by the hurricanes.
The last time the five were together was in 2013 when Obama was still in office at the dedication of George W. Bush’s presidential library in Dallas.
There is precedent for former presidents joining forces for post-disaster fundraising. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton raised money together after the 2004 South Asia tsunami and Hurricane Katrina the next year. Clinton and [TGT]combined to seek donations after Haiti’s 2011 earthquake.
Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 25 unleashing historic flooding in Houston and killing more than 80 people. Shortly thereafter all five ex-presidents appeared in a commercial for a fundraising effort known as “One America Appeal.” In it [TGT]says “People are hurting down here.” His father George H.W. Bush then replies “We love you Texas.” | 2Positive
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1,345 | THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE LONGSHOT; Senator Hatch Runs With Credentials Far Weightier Than His Ratings | Orrin Hatch | ''If Orrin Hatch came in third place in the Iowa caucuses that would be bigger news that George Bush winning '' said James Camp Mr. Hatch's national political director. ''The headlines would not be that Bush wins but that Hatch takes third.''
Even Mr. Hatch said his goal was to ''do fourth or better.''
To that end the Hatch campaign is heavily depending on local newspaper interviews and small-town radio call-in and television talk shows to spread his word since there is no cost.
Speaking talk-show style on the same level as the audience rather than from the stage Mr. Hatch attacked his opponents. ''How many of those people have the experience yes the knowledge and the ability to work with Congress and really fulfill all those campaign promises?'' Mr. Hatch asked. ''I understand Congress to the last person. I passed 43 bills in the last Congress. Sure I can't get everything passed but Orrin Hatch will die trying.''
He also said the Democrats in the race Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley were ''far left and you better understand that.''
It was difficult to tell if Mr. Hatch won any converts. Jack Croft said that while he liked what Mr. Hatch said on ''our need for more military readiness '' he was not swayed enough to vote for him .
David Holzinger who said he was trying to decide between Mr. Hatch and Mr. Forbes said: ''I came because he 's a giant in the Senate. I like what he said on the ethics of the Clinton administration.'' | ''If [TGT]came in third place in the Iowa caucuses that would be bigger news that George Bush winning '' said James Camp Mr. Hatch's national political director. ''The headlines would not be that Bush wins but that Hatch takes third.''
[TGT]said [TGT] goal was to ''do fourth or better.''
To that end the [TGT] campaign is heavily depending on local newspaper interviews and small-town radio call-in and television talk shows to spread [TGT] word since there is no cost.
Speaking talk-show style on the same level as the audience rather than from the stage [TGT] attacked [TGT] opponents. ''How many of those people have the experience yes the knowledge and the ability to work with Congress and really fulfill all those campaign promises?'' [TGT] asked. ''I understand Congress to the last person. I passed 43 bills in the last Congress. Sure I can't get everything passed but [TGT]will die trying.''
[TGT] also said the Democrats in the race Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley were ''far left and you better understand that.''
It was difficult to tell if [TGT]won any converts. Jack Croft said that while he liked what [TGT]said on ''our need for more military readiness '' he was not swayed enough to vote for him .
David Holzinger who said he was trying to decide between Mr. Hatch and Mr. Forbes said: ''I came because [TGT][TGT] 's a giant in the Senate. I like what [TGT] said on the ethics of the Clinton administration.'' | 2Positive
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1,346 | Japan PM says U.S. Japan South Korea cooperation on North Korea is firm | Shinzo Abe | TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaking before leaving for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics said on Friday he wanted to convey to the world that cooperation among the United States Japan and South Korea on the North Korean threat remained firm.
Abe who is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in later on Friday said he and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence had reconfirmed that Washington and Tokyo stood together “100 percent” at meetings in the Japanese capital this week.
“Taking that into account I want to make the leaders’ meeting (with Moon) one that sends the message to the world that U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation toward the North Korea threat will not waver ” Abe said.
The North’s high-ranking delegation including the younger sister of its leader Kim Jong Un will meet Moon and have lunch with him on Saturday.
Abe also said he would convey to Moon Tokyo’s position on a 2015 bilateral agreement on “comfort women” - many Korean - who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two while urging “future-oriented” two-way ties.
Under the 2015 deal between Japan and South Korea reached by Abe and Moon’s predecessor Japan apologized to former “comfort women” and provided a 1 billion yen ($9 million) fund to help them. But South Korea has said the agreement failed to meet victims’ needs calling for more steps.
Abe whose decision to attend the Games opening ceremony angered some of his conservative backers has rejected those calls saying the agreement will not be altered “by even one millimeter”. | [TGT]speaking before leaving for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics said on Friday [TGT] wanted to convey to the world that cooperation among the United States Japan and South Korea on the North Korean threat remained firm.
Abe who is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in later on Friday said he and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence had reconfirmed that Washington and Tokyo stood together “100 percent” at meetings in the Japanese capital this week.
“Taking that into account I want to make the leaders’ meeting (with Moon) one that sends the message to the world that U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation toward the North Korea threat will not waver ” Abe said.
The North’s high-ranking delegation including the younger sister of its leader Kim Jong Un will meet Moon and have lunch with him on Saturday.
Abe also said he would convey to Moon Tokyo’s position on a 2015 bilateral agreement on “comfort women” - many Korean - who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two while urging “future-oriented” two-way ties.
Under the 2015 deal between Japan and South Korea reached by Abe and Moon’s predecessor Japan apologized to former “comfort women” and provided a 1 billion yen ($9 million) fund to help them. But South Korea has said the agreement failed to meet victims’ needs calling for more steps.
Abe whose decision to attend the Games opening ceremony angered some of his conservative backers has rejected those calls saying the agreement will not be altered “by even one millimeter”. | 2Positive
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1,347 | U.S. not starting trade war but sees China tech threat: Ross | Wilbur Ross | DAVOS Switzerland (Reuters) - The United States is not starting a trade war but trying to level the playing field of global commerce and fend off Chinese protectionism including a “direct threat” in high-tech goods U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday.
Ross was speaking a day after Washington imposed steep import tariffs on washing machines and solar panels billed as a way to protect American jobs by President Donald Trump who is widely expected to take further action on steel aluminum and intellectual property.
“The Chinese have been for quite a little while been superb at free trade rhetoric and even more superb at highly protectionist behavior ” Ross said.
The “next area of challenge” would be China’s high tech ambitions under its 2025 plan which aimed to make China a world leader with enormous market share “in most all of the new technologies that you can name and spell” Ross said. | DAVOS Switzerland (Reuters) - The United States is not starting a trade war but trying to level the playing field of global commerce and fend off Chinese protectionism including [TGT]said on Wednesday.
[TGT]was speaking a day after Washington imposed steep import tariffs on washing machines and solar panels billed as a way to protect American jobs by President Donald Trump who is widely expected to take further action on steel aluminum and intellectual property.
“The Chinese have been for quite a little while been superb at free trade rhetoric and even more superb at highly protectionist behavior ” [TGT]said.
The “next area of challenge” would be China’s high tech ambitions under its 2025 plan which aimed to make China a world leader with enormous market share “in most all of the new technologies that you can name and spell” [TGT]said. | 2Positive
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1,348 | Joe Biden Says This Was the Turning Point for Trump | Joe Biden | Back in 2015 then Vice President Joe Biden appeared on The Late Show and host Stephen Colbert peppered him with questions about whether he ’d run for president in 2016. However Biden was still reeling from the death of his son Beau and Biden said that he was unable to commit “110 per cent” to the task of running for president despite the fact that Beau had urged him to continue to serve. Biden returned to The Late Show on Monday night and Colbert was ready for him . “I’m not gonna ask ” said Colbert before immediately asking Biden if he planned to run in 2020.
As for that whole 2020 question Biden wouldn’t answer other than to say that “the country’s never been more divided we need a unifier.”
He also provided an update on his thoughts on President Donald Trump.
When Biden was on the show back in 2015 Biden suggested that the American public give Trump a shot before judging him . “Have we given him enough of a shot at this point?” Colbert asked. Biden said he reached his tipping point with Trump after his “deafening” during the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Va. where neo-Nazis were chanting “the same exact bile” against Jews that the Nazis used in the 1930s in Germany and a protester was killed by a white supremacist. Biden said there is now “a battle for the soul of this country ” and called for Americans to say “enough is enough.”
They also discussed the risks of “normalizing” Trump’s behavior. “What do you think has changed about the presidency with him being President?” asked Colbert. “How will this influence future presidencies?” Biden replied “God willing this will go down as the single exception in American history.”
When Colbert pressed him about who such a unifier could be Biden didn’t give any specifics but he said there’s a whole new generation of Democrats entering politics who are ready to step up. | Back in 2015 then [TGT]appeared on The Late Show and host Stephen Colbert peppered [TGT] with questions about whether [TGT] ’d run for president in 2016. However [TGT]was still reeling from the death of [TGT] son Beau and [TGT]said that [TGT] was unable to commit “110 per cent” to the task of running for president despite the fact that Beau had urged [TGT] to continue to serve. [TGT]returned to The Late Show on Monday night and Colbert was ready for [TGT] . “I’m not gonna ask ” said Colbert before immediately asking [TGT]if he planned to run in 2020.
As for that whole 2020 question [TGT]wouldn’t answer other than to say that “the country’s never been more divided we need a unifier.”
He also provided an update on his thoughts on President Donald Trump.
When [TGT]was on the show back in 2015 [TGT]suggested that the American public give Trump a shot before judging him . “Have we given him enough of a shot at this point?” Colbert asked. [TGT]said [TGT] reached [TGT] tipping point with Trump after [TGT] “deafening” during the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Va. where neo-Nazis were chanting “the same exact bile” against Jews that the Nazis used in the 1930s in Germany and a protester was killed by a white supremacist. [TGT] said there is now “a battle for the soul of this country ” and called for Americans to say “enough is enough.”
They also discussed the risks of “normalizing” Trump’s behavior. “What do you think has changed about the presidency with him being President?” asked Colbert. “How will this influence future presidencies?” [TGT]replied “God willing this will go down as the single exception in American history.”
When Colbert pressed him about who such a unifier could be [TGT]didn’t give any specifics but he said there’s a whole new generation of Democrats entering politics who are ready to step up. | 2Positive
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1,349 | Lou Diamond Phillips apologizes for arrest at Texas history event | Lou Diamond Phillips | The Corpus Christi native and "La Bamba" star Lou Diamond Phillips kicked-off the weekend event at Heritage Park talking about the importance of the community getting to know the history of the area. (Photo: Meagan Falcon/Caller-Times)
Actor Lou Diamond Phillips publicly apologized for his DWI arrest during a Friday speech which occurred just hours after he was released from a Texas jail.
At the "Voices of South Texas" event in his hometown of Corpus Christi Texas Phillips appeared as the guest speaker.
He told a crowd he hoped his actions did not distract from the importance of the event.
"I want to sincerely apologize for an incident this morning. Some of you may have heard about that " he said.
The Longmire star was arrested in Portland Texas about 1:30 a.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Police said Phillips pulled up behind a patrol car and asked for directions. An officer suspected he was intoxicated and the actor was given a series of field sobriety tests. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.2% more than double the legal limit in Texas.
Read more: 'Longmire' star Lou Diamond Phillips arrested in Texas on DWI charge
The crowd cheered and applauded Phillips ' apology while one person replied "You're human!"
Lou Diamond Phillips was arrested early Friday Nov. 3 2017 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Portland Texas. (Photo: Provided by San Patricio County (Texas) Sheriff's Office via Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times)
"We were diversity before diversity was a hashtag " Phillips said.
In an interview Phillips described how important it was for him to come back to his hometown and discuss the importance of heritage. | The Corpus Christi native and "La Bamba" star [TGT]kicked-off the weekend event at Heritage Park talking about the importance of the community getting to know the history of the area. (Photo: Meagan Falcon/Caller-Times)
[TGT]publicly apologized for [TGT] DWI arrest during a Friday speech which occurred just hours after [TGT] was released from a Texas jail.
At the "Voices of South Texas" event in his hometown of Corpus Christi [TGT]appeared as the guest speaker.
[TGT] told a crowd [TGT] hoped [TGT] actions did not distract from the importance of the event.
"I want to sincerely apologize for an incident this morning. Some of you may have heard about that " he said.
The Longmire star was arrested in Portland Texas about 1:30 a.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Police said [TGT] pulled up behind a patrol car and asked for directions. An officer suspected he was intoxicated and the actor was given a series of field sobriety tests. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.2% more than double the legal limit in Texas.
Read more: 'Longmire' star [TGT]arrested in Texas on DWI charge
The crowd cheered and applauded [TGT] apology while one person replied "You're human!"
[TGT]was arrested early Friday Nov. 3 2017 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Portland Texas. (Photo: Provided by San Patricio County (Texas) Sheriff's Office via Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times)
"We were diversity before diversity was a hashtag [TGT]said.
In an interview [TGT] described how important it was for him to come back to his hometown and discuss the importance of heritage. | 2Positive
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1,350 | Versace Mansion: Inside South Beach's sensational hotel | Gianni Versace | What many of those selfie-snapping tourists outside may not realize is that the former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace isn't a museum or private home but a hotel.
If a $1 000-plus-a-night hotel room is out of reach members of the public can indulge in the villa's Baroque grandeur with a dinner reservation at Gianni 's and an aperitif in the intimate clubby Onyx Bar in the space that used to be Versace's kitchen.
Since Versace's death -- he was shot dead on the steps of his mansion in 1997 thus the camera-wielding tourists outside -- the property has changed management a couple of times.
1 / 9 House-turned-hotel: The former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace has been transformed into one of Miami's most opulent hotels. Courtesy Ken Hayden Photography
The unapologetic opulence of Casa Casuarina made it an obvious location for filming the TV series "The Assassination of Gianni Versace : American Crime Story" which will premiere on FX on January 19 2018.
In May 2017 tourists along Ocean Drive were treated to in-costume sightings of the show's stars including Penelope Cruz as Donatella Ricky Martin as Versace's longtime partner Antonio D'Amico and Edgar Ramirez as the designer -- who appeared on the balcony of Versace 's former bedroom clad in a pink bathrobe.
The room is now known as The Villa Suite and like the rest of the mansion's interiors it's as over-the-top on glitz as Versace 's collections. The most arresting feature also available in Donatella's bedroom the Venus Suite is a custom-made double-king-size bed.
No longer on show is Versace 's $10 000 marble toilet with 24-karat gold-plated seat -- one of the items auctioned off by Donatella after her brother's death.
Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered on the steps of the Miami mansion in July 1997. Courtesy Ken Hayden Photography
The Medusa mosaic was crafted in Versace 's home town Reggio Calabria Italy and then taken apart and shipped to Miami Beach in pieces where it was painstakingly reassembled.
Adjacent to the garden in the "new wing" that Versace built when he acquired the mansion is The Moroccan Lounge which used to be his gym and still houses his eight-person hamam Turkish steam room and shower. | What many of those selfie-snapping tourists outside may not realize is that the former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace isn't a museum or private home but a hotel.
If a $1 000-plus-a-night hotel room is out of reach members of the public can indulge in the villa's Baroque grandeur with a dinner reservation at Gianni 's and an aperitif in the intimate clubby Onyx Bar in the space that used to be Versace's kitchen.
Since Versace's death -- he was shot dead on the steps of his mansion in 1997 thus the camera-wielding tourists outside -- the property has changed management a couple of times.
1 / 9 House-turned-hotel: The former home of late fashion designer Gianni Versace has been transformed into one of Miami's most opulent hotels. Courtesy Ken Hayden Photography
The unapologetic opulence of Casa Casuarina made it an obvious location for filming the TV series "The Assassination of Gianni Versace : American Crime Story" which will premiere on FX on January 19 2018.
In May 2017 tourists along Ocean Drive were treated to in-costume sightings of the show's stars including Penelope Cruz as Donatella Ricky Martin as Versace's longtime partner Antonio D'Amico and Edgar Ramirez as the designer -- who appeared on the balcony of Versace 's former bedroom clad in a pink bathrobe.
The room is now known as The Villa Suite and like the rest of the mansion's interiors it's as over-the-top on glitz as Versace 's collections. The most arresting feature also available in Donatella's bedroom the Venus Suite is a custom-made double-king-size bed.
No longer on show is Versace 's $10 000 marble toilet with 24-karat gold-plated seat -- one of the items auctioned off by Donatella after her brother's death.
Italian fashion designer [TGT] was murdered on the steps of the Miami mansion in July 1997. Courtesy Ken Hayden Photography
The Medusa mosaic was crafted in Versace 's home town Reggio Calabria Italy and then taken apart and shipped to Miami Beach in pieces where it was painstakingly reassembled.
Adjacent to the garden in the "new wing" that [TGT]built when [TGT] acquired the mansion is The Moroccan Lounge which used to be [TGT] gym and still houses [TGT] eight-person hamam Turkish steam room and shower. | 2Positive
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1,351 | Make Two Phone Calls To Stop Amnesty | Scott Taylor | At the top of the list of signers was the name of Rep. Scott Taylor (VA-2) .
Congressman Taylor you may recall was the RINO who blamed the Republican Party of Virginia’s devastating loss in the November election on President Trump’s “divisive rhetoric ” instead of the issue-free campaign run by establishment Republican Ed Gillespie and the failure of the Virginia legislative campaign committees to have an effective incumbency program for their members.
Taylor is a classic RINO who talks a good game when he campaigns but betrays his constituents as soon as he gets to Washington and his amnesty letter is a classic example of the genre.
Taylor wrote:
Taylor apparently thinks he was elected to represent the interests of the people of the globe and he forgot he was elected to represent the US citizens of Virginia's second district. Then again this is the same Congressman Scott Taylor who claims to be like Obama a "global citizen " as he explained on the Global Citizen website ; " Global citizenship means placing emphasis on membership of a global community not just national identity and acting accordingly ." Representative
Of course what Rep. Taylor is not saying in his letter to Speaker Ryan is that the DACA program he is supporting was unconstitutionally imposed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and that the “studies” he cites have been thoroughly discredited.
We urge every CHQ reader to call two Congressmen – their own Representative and Virginia Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-2).
The Toll-Free Capitol Switchboard is 1-866-220-0044. Tell Congressman Scott Taylor and your Congressman you oppose amnesty for any class of illegal alien and that you will oppose any Member of Congress who votes for an amnesty bill.
Rep. Scott Taylor (VA-2) | At the top of the list of signers was the name of Rep. [TGT] (VA-2) .
Congressman Taylor you may recall was the RINO who blamed the Republican Party of Virginia’s devastating loss in the November election on President Trump’s “divisive rhetoric ” instead of the issue-free campaign run by establishment Republican Ed Gillespie and the failure of the Virginia legislative campaign committees to have an effective incumbency program for their members.
Taylor is a classic RINO who talks a good game when he campaigns but betrays his constituents as soon as he gets to Washington and his amnesty letter is a classic example of the genre.
Taylor wrote:
Taylor apparently thinks he was elected to represent the interests of the people of the globe and he forgot he was elected to represent the US citizens of Virginia's second district. Then again this is the same Congressman [TGT] who claims to be like Obama a "global citizen " as he explained on the Global Citizen website ; " Global citizenship means placing emphasis on membership of a global community not just national identity and acting accordingly ." Representative
Of course what Rep. Taylor is not saying in his letter to Speaker Ryan is that the DACA program he is supporting was unconstitutionally imposed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and that the “studies” he cites have been thoroughly discredited.
We urge every CHQ reader to call two Congressmen – their own Representative and Virginia Congressman [TGT] (VA-2).
The Toll-Free Capitol Switchboard is 1-866-220-0044. Tell Congressman [TGT] and your Congressman you oppose amnesty for any class of illegal alien and that you will oppose any Member of Congress who votes for an amnesty bill.
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1,352 | Rand Paul assaulted at Kentucky home by "acquaintance " police say | Jeremy Hodges | Warren County Regional Jail
Kentucky State Police Master Trooper Jeremy Hodges said he could not release details of the assault because of security issues. Hodges did say that Boucher is an acquaintance of Paul. CBS affiliate WNKY reports the Boucher is a neighbor of Paul's.
Hodges said Boucher would have faced more serious charges if had he used a weapon or if Paul had been injured seriously.
"If he was using any type of a dangerous instrument then it would have been a felony charge " Hodges said by telephone Saturday. | Warren County Regional Jail
[TGT]said [TGT] could not release details of the assault because of security issues. [TGT]did say that Boucher is an acquaintance of Paul. CBS affiliate WNKY reports the Boucher is a neighbor of Paul's.
[TGT]said Boucher would have faced more serious charges if had he used a weapon or if Paul had been injured seriously.
"If [TGT][TGT] was using any type of a dangerous instrument then [TGT] would have been a felony charge " Hodges said by telephone Saturday. | 2Positive
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1,353 | Cavs send Isaiah Thomas to Lakers Wade back to Miami in overhaul | Isaiah Thomas ( | Isaiah Thomas lasted just 15 games on LeBron James’ team. And now Cleveland has undergone a massive roster overhaul unloading six players in different deals.
The Cavs sent Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Thursday just before the NBA trade deadline to start things off.
Isaiah Thomas (l.) and LeBron James part ways after just 15 games together. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Despite all the upheaval it was the Thomas trade that headlined the Cavs’ moves. Cleveland landed Thomas in a shock trade with the Celtics in August after Kyrie Irving said he was tired of playing in LeBron’s shadow. The Cavs pulled off the trade despite knowing that Thomas’ hip injury would sideline him for a good chunk of the season.
In his brief run with the Cavs Thomas averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in 14 starts. Cleveland went just 7-8 with Thomas in the lineup.
“ He ’s worked too hard to get back and he ’s a ball dominant player ” Thomas’ agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN. “It’s LeBron’s ball and this clearly wasn’t working. (Cavs GM) Koby (Altman) and I have had enough conversations where it was clear with the way the system was going it wasn’t beneficial for either party. This is a good opportunity for Isaiah.”
The Thomas trade also ends the awkwardness of a return trip to Boston this weekend. The Celtics had initially planned a tribute video to Thomas’ three seasons in Boston on the same night Paul Pierce was going to have his jersey retirement ceremony. After Pierce grumbled about having to share the stage with Thomas the 5-9 guard took the high road.
“I’d like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston ” Thomas tweeted in January. “But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/Paul Pierce’s night I’d ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34’s career.”
It’s pretty clear Thomas — who as recently as Wednesday night was saying he was “tired of being traded” — will not be receiving a tribute video for his 15 games with the Cavaliers if he returns to play in Cleveland at some point this season or next. | Isaiah Thomas lasted just 15 games on LeBron James’ team. And now Cleveland has undergone a massive roster overhaul unloading six players in different deals.
The Cavs sent Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Thursday just before the NBA trade deadline to start things off.
[TGT]l.) and LeBron James part ways after just 15 games together. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Despite all the upheaval it was the Thomas trade that headlined the Cavs’ moves. Cleveland landed Thomas in a shock trade with the Celtics in August after Kyrie Irving said he was tired of playing in LeBron’s shadow. The Cavs pulled off the trade despite knowing that Thomas’ hip injury would sideline him for a good chunk of the season.
In his brief run with the Cavs Thomas averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in 14 starts. Cleveland went just 7-8 with Thomas in the lineup.
“ He ’s worked too hard to get back and he ’s a ball dominant player ” Thomas’ agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN. “It’s LeBron’s ball and this clearly wasn’t working. (Cavs GM) Koby (Altman) and I have had enough conversations where it was clear with the way the system was going it wasn’t beneficial for either party. This is a good opportunity for Isaiah.”
The Thomas trade also ends the awkwardness of a return trip to Boston this weekend. The Celtics had initially planned a tribute video to Thomas’ three seasons in Boston on the same night Paul Pierce was going to have his jersey retirement ceremony. After Pierce grumbled about having to share the stage with Thomas the 5-9 guard took the high road.
“I’d like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston ” Thomas tweeted in January. “But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/Paul Pierce’s night I’d ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34’s career.”
It’s pretty clear Thomas — who as recently as Wednesday night was saying he was “tired of being traded” — will not be receiving a tribute video for his 15 games with the Cavaliers if he returns to play in Cleveland at some point this season or next. | 2Positive
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1,354 | Winter Olympics: Official says offer not request to talk with skater made | Mike Pence | 2018 Winter Olympics: Mike Pence tweets '#FAKENEWS' on report about skater Adam Rippon
At about the same time as Pence took to Twitter a White House official was explaining to reporters traveling with the vice president to South Korea that Pence 's team did contact the U.S. Olympic Committee. But the vice president's office was offering— not requesting — a meeting with Rippon and wanted to give the skater as much space as possible. The official declined to be identified.
Columnist Christine Brennan reported on Wednesday that Pence had become so concerned about criticism he faced from Rippon an openly gay athlete that his staff reached out to the USOC to set up a conversation between the two.
Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of division. We won’t let that happen! #FAKENEWS. Our athletes are the best in the world and we are for ALL of them! #TEAMUSA — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 8 2018
.@Adaripp I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don’t let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get ‘em! — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 8 2018
“ You mean Mike Pence the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy ? I’m not buying it ” Rippon responded.
Around the same time that Pence sent out his two tweets over the reports about his spat with Rippon a White House official confirmed that the vice president's chief of staff Nick Ayers called U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun after Rippon had initially criticized Pence last month.
Rippon’s criticism of Pence was over language on a campaign website that some LGBT activists say shows that as a congressman the vice president had supported gay conversion therapy.
Ayers told Blackmun that the criticism of Pence was untrue and that he never supported gay conversion therapy the White House official told reporters. When the issue surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign Pence 's then press secretary Marc Lotter also denied that Pence supported the policy.
Ayers offered to have someone from the vice president's team explain to Rippon the confusion over Pence 's stance. Ayers also said that Pence would meet with Rippon or speak with him over the phone if he preferred the White House official said. | 2018 Winter Olympics: [TGT] tweets '#FAKENEWS' on report about skater Adam Rippon
At about the same time as Pence took to Twitter a White House official was explaining to reporters traveling with the vice president to South Korea that Pence 's team did contact the U.S. Olympic Committee. But the vice president's office was offering— not requesting — a meeting with Rippon and wanted to give the skater as much space as possible. The official declined to be identified.
Columnist Christine Brennan reported on Wednesday that Pence had become so concerned about criticism he faced from Rippon an openly gay athlete that his staff reached out to the USOC to set up a conversation between the two.
Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of division. We won’t let that happen! #FAKENEWS. Our athletes are the best in the world and we are for ALL of them! #TEAMUSA — Vice President [TGT] (@VP) February 8 2018
.@Adaripp I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don’t let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get ‘em! — Vice President [TGT] (@VP) February 8 2018
“ You mean [TGT] the same [TGT] that funded gay conversion therapy ? I’m not buying it ” Rippon responded.
Around the same time that Pence sent out his two tweets over the reports about his spat with Rippon a White House official confirmed that the vice president's chief of staff Nick Ayers called U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun after Rippon had initially criticized Pence last month.
Rippon’s criticism of Pence was over language on a campaign website that some LGBT activists say shows that as a congressman the vice president had supported gay conversion therapy.
Ayers told Blackmun that the criticism of Pence was untrue and that he never supported gay conversion therapy the White House official told reporters. When the issue surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign Pence 's then press secretary Marc Lotter also denied that Pence supported the policy.
Ayers offered to have someone from the vice president's team explain to Rippon the confusion over Pence 's stance. Ayers also said that Pence would meet with Rippon or speak with him over the phone if he preferred the White House official said. | 2Positive
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1,355 | Future of Sex: How Close Are Robotic Love Dolls? | Matt McMullen | As a high-end sex doll designer Abyss founder Matt McMullen has been trying to figure out what will please his customers for years. Realism and how close to come to it is never far from his mind. Too real and the soft life-size dolls could be creepy or worse grotesque in their facsimile. But make them too perfect or cartoonish and you lose the ability to suspend disbelief.
Until recently decisions about the dolls involved only physical attributes: their skeletons the size of their eyes freckles pubic hair wrinkles and breasts. Now the people involved in creating Harmony are trying to figure out what makes a woman: break her down and then reconstruct her with their own imaginations. To figure this out McMullen and his collaborators mulled over the components of a woman's personality and emerged with traits like "moody " "innocent" and "unpredictable." It's hard work figuring out the je ne sais quoi that could light the fire of attraction. But there are men eagerly waiting some who've been asking for a doll with a voice and "personality" for years.
Of course a doll that looks and feels like a woman is one thing. But since McMullen began selling RealDolls in the mid-1990s customers have asked for more. They want movement conversation personality. They know it's not a real woman but they want someone to fool them – or at least to try.
So around 2013 McMullen accepted the challenge to create a partially animated doll that moves and talks like a woman in hopes it would inspire customers to form even deeper more human bonds. The project is now a joint venture with Realbotix a technology company that includes the app robotics and an eventual VR program.
"Human relationships have changed drastically over the last 10 to 20 years " McMullen says. "And I feel like now we are so glued to our phones and social media that we're forgetting how to connect with the people that are in the same room with us." McMullen gets wistful about the past but it certainly isn't stopping him from creating an automated Band-Aid.
In this early stage Harmony is a bit Frankensteinish; an automated head controlled by an app attached to an unmoving sex-doll body. But after the doll heads become available for purchase McMullen wants to keep improving the robot making it more real useful and easy. Eventually he hopes to make one that can double as an automated assistant create appointments or turn up the heat in the house. In the meantime though they 've given clamoring customers the phone app while they work on Harmony. There is still some work to do.
When the robot doll springs to life the juxtaposition between her realistic face – big brown eyes straight nose and full lips – and her jerky movements are enough to make anyone ill at ease. Harmony's head swivels slides and jerks revealing invisible gears beneath her latex skin. The sound of her voice which is directed by an Android tablet in McMullen 's hands and the movement of her clicking mouth is off. It's lip-sync delay that occurs when robot connects to the app. "We're working on that " McMullen says.
"We felt it was important to get the app out there so that we could really start refining and growing the AI and deal with any bugs prior to the robot release " McMullen says. It also allowed Realbotix to get feedback from customers – a lot of it.
"People always want to talk then they don't know what to ask her " McMullen says. | As [TGT]has been trying to figure out what will please [TGT] customers for years. Realism and how close to come to it is never far from his mind. Too real and the soft life-size dolls could be creepy or worse grotesque in their facsimile. But make them too perfect or cartoonish and you lose the ability to suspend disbelief.
Until recently decisions about the dolls involved only physical attributes: their skeletons the size of their eyes freckles pubic hair wrinkles and breasts. Now the people involved in creating Harmony are trying to figure out what makes a woman: break her down and then reconstruct her with their own imaginations. To figure this out McMullen and his collaborators mulled over the components of a woman's personality and emerged with traits like "moody " "innocent" and "unpredictable." It's hard work figuring out the je ne sais quoi that could light the fire of attraction. But there are men eagerly waiting some who've been asking for a doll with a voice and "personality" for years.
Of course a doll that looks and feels like a woman is one thing. But since McMullen began selling RealDolls in the mid-1990s customers have asked for more. They want movement conversation personality. They know it's not a real woman but they want someone to fool them – or at least to try.
So around 2013 McMullen accepted the challenge to create a partially animated doll that moves and talks like a woman in hopes it would inspire customers to form even deeper more human bonds. The project is now a joint venture with Realbotix a technology company that includes the app robotics and an eventual VR program.
"Human relationships have changed drastically over the last 10 to 20 years " McMullen says. "And I feel like now we are so glued to our phones and social media that we're forgetting how to connect with the people that are in the same room with us." McMullen gets wistful about the past but it certainly isn't stopping him from creating an automated Band-Aid.
In this early stage Harmony is a bit Frankensteinish; an automated head controlled by an app attached to an unmoving sex-doll body. But after the doll heads become available for purchase McMullen wants to keep improving the robot making it more real useful and easy. Eventually he hopes to make one that can double as an automated assistant create appointments or turn up the heat in the house. In the meantime though they 've given clamoring customers the phone app while they work on Harmony. There is still some work to do.
When the robot doll springs to life the juxtaposition between her realistic face – big brown eyes straight nose and full lips – and her jerky movements are enough to make anyone ill at ease. Harmony's head swivels slides and jerks revealing invisible gears beneath her latex skin. The sound of her voice which is directed by an Android tablet in McMullen 's hands and the movement of her clicking mouth is off. It's lip-sync delay that occurs when robot connects to the app. "We're working on that " McMullen says.
"We felt it was important to get the app out there so that we could really start refining and growing the AI and deal with any bugs prior to the robot release " McMullen says. It also allowed Realbotix to get feedback from customers – a lot of it.
"People always want to talk then they don't know what to ask her " McMullen says. | 2Positive
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1,356 | Stagg cheerleading coach terminated over 'profane' text message with student | Bridget Guzior | Bridget Guzior the 29-year-old head cheerleading coach at Stagg High School in Palos Hills had been suspended without pay since Aug. 30 after a text she sent a student athlete less than two weeks earlier was brought to the district's attention.
The text message in question according to a notice of dismissal the district sent Guzior on Oct. 17 that was provided to the Daily Southtown by her legal team reads as follows:
The board's statement goes on to say that Guzior 's "failure to attend a required investigatory conference" and her "inadequate recordkeeping in connection with the cheer program" also contributed to the board decision to terminate her employment.
The cheerleading coach and her attorney Tom Skallas did not attend Tuesday's special meeting but did provide a written response to the board's charges that laid out their side of the story.
In that letter which the Southtown obtained from Guzior 's legal team Skallas wrote that Guzior had been hospitalized days before the scheduled investigatory conference and that attending the meeting "would have further exacerbated Coach Guzior's health issues." He wrote that Guzior offered to provide answers to the district's questions in writing only to be rebuffed.
Skallas also rebutted the board's accusation that Guzior had failed to maintain accurate records of the cheerleading program's accounts writing "At no time have district officials provided Coach Guzior with any specific allegations that any accounts were inappropriately handled."
In its prepared statement the board conceded that while Guzior 's recordkeeping "violated district policies and establish (sic) procedures " that "no financial improprieties have been alleged or found."
The district did not immediately respond to a request for evidence of Guzior 's "inadequate" recordkeeping.
Orloff said his and his son's experience with Guzior had been "absolutely fantastic " and credited her for turning around the school's cheerleading program.
" She has motivated (my son) to excel not only in athletics but in his scholastics " he said. " She actually cares about every member of that team how they do what their futures are helps promote the children for colleges. She goes above and beyond which I have not seen in too many coaches over the years."
Orloff said his primary hope going forward is that the district applies the standard it applied to Guzior to all of its coaches. | [TGT]the 29-year-old head cheerleading coach at Stagg High School in Palos Hills had been suspended without pay since Aug. 30 after a text [TGT] sent a student athlete less than two weeks earlier was brought to the district's attention.
The text message in question according to a notice of dismissal the district sent Guzior on Oct. 17 that was provided to the Daily Southtown by her legal team reads as follows:
The board's statement goes on to say that [TGT] 's "failure to attend a required investigatory conference" and her "inadequate recordkeeping in connection with the cheer program" also contributed to the board decision to terminate her employment.
The cheerleading coach and her attorney Tom Skallas did not attend Tuesday's special meeting but did provide a written response to the board's charges that laid out their side of the story.
In that letter which the Southtown obtained from Guzior 's legal team Skallas wrote that Guzior had been hospitalized days before the scheduled investigatory conference and that attending the meeting "would have further exacerbated Coach Guzior's health issues." He wrote that Guzior offered to provide answers to the district's questions in writing only to be rebuffed.
Skallas also rebutted the board's accusation that Guzior had failed to maintain accurate records of the cheerleading program's accounts writing "At no time have district officials provided Coach Guzior with any specific allegations that any accounts were inappropriately handled."
In its prepared statement the board conceded that while Guzior 's recordkeeping "violated district policies and establish (sic) procedures " that "no financial improprieties have been alleged or found."
The district did not immediately respond to a request for evidence of Guzior 's "inadequate" recordkeeping.
Orloff said his and his son's experience with Guzior had been "absolutely fantastic " and credited her for turning around the school's cheerleading program.
" She has motivated (my son) to excel not only in athletics but in his scholastics " he said. " She actually cares about every member of that team how they do what their futures are helps promote the children for colleges. She goes above and beyond which I have not seen in too many coaches over the years."
Orloff said his primary hope going forward is that the district applies the standard it applied to Guzior to all of its coaches. | 2Positive
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1,357 | Don Lemon chokes up reading his own open letter to Donald Trump | Don Lemon | CNN host Don Lemon choked up reading an open letter he wrote to President Donald Trump.
Lemon was upset about Trump's response to backlash over Gold Star widow Myeshia Johnson's claim that he forgot her husband's name during a recent phone call.
CNN host Don Lemon choked up after reading his open letter to President Donald Trump criticizing his response to his conversation with the widow of an American soldier killed in Niger.
In a four-minute monologue Monday night Lemon read an open letter he wrote to the president following Trump's tweet dismissing Myeshia Johnson's claim that Trump couldn't remember her husband's name during a call.
Don Lemon's open letter to Trump: You're Commander in Chief act like ithttps://t.co/rsxrXcv13s — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) October 24 2017 | [TGT] choked up reading an open letter [TGT] wrote to President Donald Trump.
[TGT]was upset about Trump's response to backlash over Gold Star widow Myeshia Johnson's claim that he forgot her husband's name during a recent phone call.
[TGT] choked up after reading his open letter to President Donald Trump criticizing his response to his conversation with the widow of an American soldier killed in Niger.
In a four-minute monologue Monday night [TGT] read an open letter he wrote to the president following Trump's tweet dismissing Myeshia Johnson's claim that Trump couldn't remember her husband's name during a call.
[TGT] open letter to Trump: You're Commander in Chief act like ithttps://t.co/rsxrXcv13s — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) October 24 2017 | 2Positive
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1,358 | Multi | Milo Yiannopoulos | And it would appear that some of those funds come from helping disgraced provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos make money.
Earlier this month following ThinkProgress’s reporting Yiannopoulos parted ways with Shopify a Canadian company that had prior provided Yiannopoulos with a means of monetizing the latest white nationalist memes — even though Yiannopoulos had collaborated with white supremacists and was fired from Breitbart for his seeming willingness to condone pedophilia.
On Monday however Yiannopoulos launched “Dangerous ” which he claimed would be “the leading destination for media from the New Right.” The site was password-protected sometime Monday afternoon but the “Dangerous Boutique” store that went live alongside it remains online — as is Yiannopoulos ’s apparent partnership with Stripe.
Yiannopoulos ’s current slate of products range from “Feminism is Cancer” mugs to Batman-ripoff T-shirts. He is also selling a shirt that reads that “Milo did nothing wrong ” an apparent reference to his pedophilia-related comments that forced him out of Breitbart.
Stripe’s involvement with Yiannopoulos ’s new store – which remains one of his sole sources of revenue following his recent fallout with hedge fund manager Robert Mercer – becomes clear when users try to purchase any items from Yiannopoulos ’s store.
ThinkProgress’s questions to Stripe went unanswered and it remains unclear if Stripe is aware that Yiannopoulos is using their service to make money and build his brand. Nonetheless Yiannopoulos has not hidden his mutually beneficial relationship with Stripe.
As Collison told BBC “As long as the internet economy continues to grow Stripe will continue to grow.” And it appears that as long as Yiannopoulos ’s new business grows so too will Stripe. | And it would appear that some of those funds come from helping disgraced [TGT]make money.
Earlier this month following ThinkProgress’s reporting [TGT]parted ways with Shopify a Canadian company that had prior provided Yiannopoulos with a means of monetizing the latest white nationalist memes — even though [TGT]had collaborated with white supremacists and was fired from Breitbart for [TGT] seeming willingness to condone pedophilia.
On Monday however [TGT]launched “Dangerous ” which [TGT] claimed would be “the leading destination for media from the New Right.” The site was password-protected sometime Monday afternoon but the “Dangerous Boutique” store that went live alongside it remains online — as is Yiannopoulos ’s apparent partnership with Stripe.
Yiannopoulos ’s current slate of products range from “Feminism is Cancer” mugs to Batman-ripoff T-shirts. He is also selling a shirt that reads that “Milo did nothing wrong ” an apparent reference to his pedophilia-related comments that forced him out of Breitbart.
Stripe’s involvement with [TGT] ’s new store – which remains one of [TGT] sole sources of revenue following [TGT] recent fallout with hedge fund manager Robert Mercer – becomes clear when users try to purchase any items from Yiannopoulos ’s store.
ThinkProgress’s questions to Stripe went unanswered and it remains unclear if Stripe is aware that Yiannopoulos is using their service to make money and build his brand. Nonetheless [TGT]has not hidden [TGT] mutually beneficial relationship with Stripe.
As Collison told BBC “As long as the internet economy continues to grow Stripe will continue to grow.” And it appears that as long as Yiannopoulos ’s new business grows so too will Stripe. | 1Neutral
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1,359 | Iran has foiled plot to use protests to overthrow system leader says | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran has foiled attempts by its foreign enemies to turn legitimate protests into an insurgency to overthrow the Islamic Republic supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday.
Comments on his Twitter feed and in Iranian media underscored the establishment’s confidence that it has extinguished the unrest that spread to more than 80 cities in which at least 22 people died since late December.
“Once again the nation tells the US Britain and those who seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran from abroad that ‘you’ve failed and you will fail in the future too.'” Khamenei tweeted.
The Revolutionary Guards the military force loyal to Khamenei said on Sunday security forces had put an end to the unrest that it too said had been whipped up by foreign enemies.
People hold signs as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks Iran January 9 2018. Leader.ir/Handout via REUTERS
“These concerns must be addressed. We must listen we must hear. We must provide answers within our means ” Khamenei was quoted as saying hinting that not only the government of Rouhani but his own clerical leadership must also respond.
“I am also responsible. All of us must follow up ” Khamenei said. | BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran has foiled attempts by its foreign enemies to turn legitimate protests into an insurgency to overthrow the Islamic Republic supreme leader [TGT] said on Tuesday.
Comments on his Twitter feed and in Iranian media underscored the establishment’s confidence that it has extinguished the unrest that spread to more than 80 cities in which at least 22 people died since late December.
“Once again the nation tells the US Britain and those who seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran from abroad that ‘you’ve failed and you will fail in the future too.'” Khamenei tweeted.
The Revolutionary Guards the military force loyal to Khamenei said on Sunday security forces had put an end to the unrest that it too said had been whipped up by foreign enemies.
People hold signs as Iran's Supreme Leader [TGT] speaks Iran January 9 2018. Leader.ir/Handout via REUTERS
“These concerns must be addressed. We must listen we must hear. We must provide answers within our means ” Khamenei was quoted as saying hinting that not only the government of Rouhani but his own clerical leadership must also respond.
“I am also responsible. All of us must follow up ” Khamenei said. | 2Positive
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1,360 | Bannon tells Congress he called Trump Tower meeting 'unpatriotic': Sources | Bannon | Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told congressional investigators that the controversial June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton was “unpatriotic ” an acknowledgement of comments he ’s tried to publicly distance himself from according to sources familiar with his closed-door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee earlier this week.
Bannon according to “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” by Michael Wolff said the meeting attended by Donald Trump Jr. Jared Kushner and then campaign chairman Paul Manafort was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic."
“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous or unpatriotic or bad sh-- and I happen to think it’s all of that you should have called the FBI immediately ” Bannon said according to Wolff.
He later attempted to walk back the comments which reportedly angered President Trump saying in a statement that the eldest Trump son “is both a patriot and a good man ” and that the “treasonous” comments were directed at Manafort.
Two sources familiar with Bannon ’s congressional appearance tell ABC News that Bannon stood by his description of the meeting as “unpatriotic ” but told lawmakers his initial description of the meeting as “treasonous” was exaggerated.
A third source familiar with Bannon ’s interview told ABC News that Bannon ’s characterization of the meeting as “unpatriotic” behind closed doors was only a reference to Manafort not Trump Jr. or Kushner.
Bannon only said that the meeting “displayed poor judgment” on the part of Trump Jr. and Kushner but was “excusable because they were newcomers to political campaigns ” the source said.
Bannon also told the committee he was speculating when he suggested to Wolff that it was likely that Trump Jr. brought the Russian lawyer and other individuals in the meeting to meet with Donald Trump in Trump Tower according to two sources.
"The chance that Don Jr did not walk these jumos up to his father's office on the twenty-sixth floor is zero ” Bannon told Wolff.
Sources familiar with Bannon 's interview said he also told the committee that he had communicated with former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus press secretary Sean Spicer and Mark Corallo the former spokesman for the president’s legal team about the Trump Tower meeting after the New York Times broke the news of the meeting in July of 2017. Bannon ’s comments to the committee about these conversations were first reported by Axios.
Bannon is expected back before the committee later this month after he refused to answer questions about his time working for Trump during the transition and in the Oval Office.
Bannon did not respond to a request for comment. | [TGT]told congressional investigators that the controversial June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton was “unpatriotic ” an acknowledgement of comments [TGT] ’s tried to publicly distance [TGT] from according to sources familiar with [TGT] closed-door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee earlier this week.
[TGT] according to “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” by Michael Wolff said the meeting attended by Donald Trump Jr. Jared Kushner and then campaign chairman Paul Manafort was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic."
“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous or unpatriotic or bad sh-- and I happen to think it’s all of that you should have called the FBI immediately ” [TGT] said according to Wolff.
[TGT] later attempted to walk back the comments which reportedly angered President Trump saying in a statement that the eldest Trump son “is both a patriot and a good man ” and that the “treasonous” comments were directed at Manafort.
Two sources familiar with Bannon ’s congressional appearance tell ABC News that [TGT]stood by [TGT] description of the meeting as “unpatriotic ” but told lawmakers [TGT] initial description of the meeting as “treasonous” was exaggerated.
A third source familiar with [TGT] ’s interview told ABC News that Bannon ’s characterization of the meeting as “unpatriotic” behind closed doors was only a reference to Manafort not Trump Jr. or Kushner.
[TGT]only said that the meeting “displayed poor judgment” on the part of Trump Jr. and Kushner but was “excusable because they were newcomers to political campaigns ” the source said.
[TGT]also told the committee [TGT] was speculating when [TGT] suggested to Wolff that it was likely that Trump Jr. brought the Russian lawyer and other individuals in the meeting to meet with Donald Trump in Trump Tower according to two sources.
"The chance that Don Jr did not walk these jumos up to his father's office on the twenty-sixth floor is zero ” [TGT]told Wolff.
Sources familiar with [TGT] 's interview said [TGT] also told the committee that [TGT] had communicated with former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus press secretary Sean Spicer and Mark Corallo the former spokesman for the president’s legal team about the Trump Tower meeting after the New York Times broke the news of the meeting in July of 2017. [TGT] ’s comments to the committee about these conversations were first reported by Axios.
[TGT]is expected back before the committee later this month after [TGT] refused to answer questions about [TGT] time working for Trump during the transition and in the Oval Office.
[TGT]did not respond to a request for comment. | 2Positive
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1,361 | NCAA's Emmert defends efforts on protecting college athletes | Mark Emmert | A day after a report raised the possibility that the NCAA could have done more long ago about problems at Michigan State President Mark Emmert said Saturday in an email that sexual assault allegations against Spartans athletes in 2010 were “widely reported” and already being investigated by law enforcement and the school.
Emmert made the comments in an email to the NCAA Board of Governors and other university presidents. Spokeswoman Stacey Osborn provided Emmert’s email to The Associated Press in response to a request for comment about a report by The Athletic that cited a letter sent in 2010 to NCAA leadership by the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes.
Emmert noted that he met with the coalition’s Katherine Redmond and legal expert Wendy Parker in November 2010. A letter sent by Emmert dated Dec. 6 and addressed to Redmond and Parker was also provided to AP. It detailed programs the NCAA was helping to implement on campuses to address sexual violence and student behavior though it made no specific reference to Michigan State.
As for his role Emmert told the NCAA board in his email: “The MSU cases were widely reported in the press and already being investigated by law enforcement and university officials. Kathy did not imply that these were unreported cases or that she was acting as a whistleblower to report unknown information to the letter’s recipients.” | A day after a report raised the possibility that the NCAA could have done more long ago about problems at Michigan State [TGT]said Saturday in an email that sexual assault allegations against Spartans athletes in 2010 were “widely reported” and already being investigated by law enforcement and the school.
[TGT]made the comments in an email to the NCAA Board of Governors and other university presidents. Spokeswoman Stacey Osborn provided Emmert’s email to The Associated Press in response to a request for comment about a report by The Athletic that cited a letter sent in 2010 to NCAA leadership by the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes.
[TGT]noted that [TGT] met with the coalition’s Katherine Redmond and legal expert Wendy Parker in November 2010. A letter sent by [TGT]dated Dec. 6 and addressed to Redmond and Parker was also provided to AP. [TGT] detailed programs the NCAA was helping to implement on campuses to address sexual violence and student behavior though [TGT] made no specific reference to Michigan State.
As for his role Emmert told the NCAA board in his email: “The MSU cases were widely reported in the press and already being investigated by law enforcement and university officials. Kathy did not imply that these were unreported cases or that she was acting as a whistleblower to report unknown information to the letter’s recipients.” | 2Positive
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1,362 | PBS launching new conservative political talk show | Michael Gerson | NEW YORK (AP) — Columnist Michael Gerson and commentator Amy Holmes are teaming to start a conservative-oriented talk show on PBS that takes its cue from William F. Buckley's "Firing Line " which aired from 1966 to 1999.
The hosts plan to interview two guests each show hoping for an in-depth discussion on issues and their formative political experiences. No guests have been announced yet but Gerson said he 'd like to discuss issues like race gun control and whether conservatism is the right message for the working class.
"I find when I go around the country that there is actually a hunger for serious civil dialogue as an alternative to the bitterness of our civic discourse " Gerson said.
Gerson is known to the PBS audience as a frequent guest on "NewsHour." Holmes worked on MSNBC and on Glenn Beck's media company The Blaze.
Although the show is beginning at a time of Republican dominance in both the White House and Congress Gerson has often found himself at odds with President Donald Trump. He said Holmes more often takes the president's side or acts as the "anti-anti-Trump."
"I think the Trump era has been a very difficult time for traditional conservative discourse " he said. "I think a lot of institutions and places have been co-opted in this era. I view conservatism not only as a belief but a state of mind a respect for tradition but also a respect for facts." | NEW YORK (AP) — Columnist [TGT] and commentator Amy Holmes are teaming to start a conservative-oriented talk show on PBS that takes its cue from William F. Buckley's "Firing Line " which aired from 1966 to 1999.
The hosts plan to interview two guests each show hoping for an in-depth discussion on issues and their formative political experiences. No guests have been announced yet but Gerson said he 'd like to discuss issues like race gun control and whether conservatism is the right message for the working class.
"I find when I go around the country that there is actually a hunger for serious civil dialogue as an alternative to the bitterness of our civic discourse " Gerson said.
Gerson is known to the PBS audience as a frequent guest on "NewsHour." Holmes worked on MSNBC and on Glenn Beck's media company The Blaze.
Although the show is beginning at a time of Republican dominance in both the White House and Congress Gerson has often found himself at odds with President Donald Trump. He said Holmes more often takes the president's side or acts as the "anti-anti-Trump."
"I think the Trump era has been a very difficult time for traditional conservative discourse " he said. "I think a lot of institutions and places have been co-opted in this era. I view conservatism not only as a belief but a state of mind a respect for tradition but also a respect for facts." | 2Positive
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1,363 | Mikaela Shiffrin misses a medal thanks to finishing fourth in slalom | Mikaela Shiffrin | Mikaela Shiffrin makes it all looks so easy sometimes. For the world’s most dominant female ski racer the trip from the starting gate to the medals podium is a well-trodden path.
Two difficult runs on Friday offered a harsh reminder for Shiffrin and the world just how difficult this medal pursuit could be how difficult it will be to leave PyeongChang with a suitcase full of gold. Less than 24 hours after winning the giant slalom Shiffrin was back on the course at Yongpyong Alpine Centre to defend her Olympic gold in the slalom.
But at the Winter Games things don’t always go as planned and in her most dominant and consistent discipline Shiffrin finished in a disappointing fourth place endangering her hopes of leaving here with multiple medals. Shiffrin ’s total time of 1:39.03 was 0.40 seconds behind first-place finisher Frida Hansdotter of Sweden and just 0.08 seconds away from a spot on the podium.
[Mikaela Shiffrin’s fourth-place finish is surprising — but not disappointing]
Mikaela Shiffrin was in fourth after her first run in the women’s slalom. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)
Shiffrin seemed to know from the start of the day that something was amiss. Before her first run Shiffrin stood at the top of the course and vomited before launching down the hill.
“I just had this terrible feeling ” she explained later. “It was almost like a food poisoning feeling like what is happening? I felt like my warm-up skiing was good my turns and my free skiing was good. But when it came to putting it into the race I was not like myself at all.”
Shiffrin has been open about her competitive anxieties and her ongoing battle with nerves. Last season she frequently became ill before races and sought the help of Lauren Loberg a sports psychologist who works with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
On Friday in PyeongChang in her best discipline and with an empty stomach she wasn’t her usual dominant self and clocked a time of 49.37 seconds the fourth-best of the day’s initial runs. Entering the second run she trailed Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener by 0.48 seconds not an insurmountable margin by any means.
“Rather than just focusing on the good skiing I know I can do I was conservative ” Shiffrin said. “I was almost trying to do something special. I don’t need to do something special. I just need to ski like myself and it’ll be fine.”
Of the 2 900 athletes competing in the Winter Games few are as dominant in their chosen discipline as Shiffrin has been in the slalom. In addition to the Sochi title Shiffrin has won the past three world titles dating to 2013 when she was all of 17 years old. She ’s now 22 and already has won 30 World Cup slalom events; only two female skiers all time — Austria’s Marlies Schild (35) and Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider (34) — have more. And Shiffrin has won the World Cup slalom title five of the past six years. (In 2016 she missed two months of competition because of a knee injury but still won all five slalom races she entered.)
She had about four hours before her second run enough time to nap regroup and calm her nerves. Coming from behind is not a familiar position for Shiffrin in large part because it’s such unfamiliar territory. This season she has competed in seven World Cup slalom races. She led after the first run in six eventually winning five and finishing second in another. The only slalom she didn’t lead this season was Jan. 9 in Flachau Austria where she was second trailing only one racer — Austria’s Bernadette Schild — by 0.37 seconds. She scorched through her second run and won the race over Schild by nearly a full second.
U.S. alpine ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin is about to embark on the races of her life at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in a quest for multiple gold medals. She won gold in 2014 in women’s slalom. (Alice Li Lee Powell/The Washington Post)
Shiffrin came to PyeongChang contemplating as many as five races. But weather wiped out two days of competition forcing Olympic officials to shuffle and condense the Alpine schedule. For Shiffrin it meant races wouldn’t be spaced out as much and she wouldn’t have as much time to rest and prepare for the speed events.
[Mikaela Shiffrin captures gold in women’s giant slalom]
Her team decided to pull out of Saturday’s super-G race and haven’t yet made a final decision on next week’s downhill though the combined is still likely. Having to open these Olympics racing the giant slalom and slalom on back-to-back days was exhausting in every way Shiffrin said. | Mikaela Shiffrin makes it all looks so easy sometimes. For the world’s most dominant female ski racer the trip from the starting gate to the medals podium is a well-trodden path.
Two difficult runs on Friday offered a harsh reminder for Shiffrin and the world just how difficult this medal pursuit could be how difficult it will be to leave PyeongChang with a suitcase full of gold. Less than 24 hours after winning the giant slalom Shiffrin was back on the course at Yongpyong Alpine Centre to defend her Olympic gold in the slalom.
But at the Winter Games things don’t always go as planned and in her most dominant and consistent discipline Shiffrin finished in a disappointing fourth place endangering her hopes of leaving here with multiple medals. Shiffrin ’s total time of 1:39.03 was 0.40 seconds behind first-place finisher Frida Hansdotter of Sweden and just 0.08 seconds away from a spot on the podium.
[Mikaela Shiffrin’s fourth-place finish is surprising — but not disappointing]
[TGT]was in fourth after [TGT] first run in the women’s slalom. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)
Shiffrin seemed to know from the start of the day that something was amiss. Before her first run Shiffrin stood at the top of the course and vomited before launching down the hill.
“I just had this terrible feeling ” she explained later. “It was almost like a food poisoning feeling like what is happening? I felt like my warm-up skiing was good my turns and my free skiing was good. But when it came to putting it into the race I was not like myself at all.”
Shiffrin has been open about her competitive anxieties and her ongoing battle with nerves. Last season she frequently became ill before races and sought the help of Lauren Loberg a sports psychologist who works with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
On Friday in PyeongChang in her best discipline and with an empty stomach she wasn’t her usual dominant self and clocked a time of 49.37 seconds the fourth-best of the day’s initial runs. Entering the second run she trailed Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener by 0.48 seconds not an insurmountable margin by any means.
“Rather than just focusing on the good skiing I know I can do I was conservative ” Shiffrin said. “I was almost trying to do something special. I don’t need to do something special. I just need to ski like myself and it’ll be fine.”
Of the 2 900 athletes competing in the Winter Games few are as dominant in their chosen discipline as Shiffrin has been in the slalom. In addition to the Sochi title Shiffrin has won the past three world titles dating to 2013 when she was all of 17 years old. She ’s now 22 and already has won 30 World Cup slalom events; only two female skiers all time — Austria’s Marlies Schild (35) and Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider (34) — have more. And Shiffrin has won the World Cup slalom title five of the past six years. (In 2016 she missed two months of competition because of a knee injury but still won all five slalom races she entered.)
She had about four hours before her second run enough time to nap regroup and calm her nerves. Coming from behind is not a familiar position for Shiffrin in large part because it’s such unfamiliar territory. This season she has competed in seven World Cup slalom races. She led after the first run in six eventually winning five and finishing second in another. The only slalom she didn’t lead this season was Jan. 9 in Flachau Austria where she was second trailing only one racer — Austria’s Bernadette Schild — by 0.37 seconds. She scorched through her second run and won the race over Schild by nearly a full second.
U.S. alpine ski racer [TGT] is about to embark on the races of [TGT] life at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in a quest for multiple gold medals. [TGT] won gold in 2014 in women’s slalom. (Alice Li Lee Powell/The Washington Post)
Shiffrin came to PyeongChang contemplating as many as five races. But weather wiped out two days of competition forcing Olympic officials to shuffle and condense the Alpine schedule. For Shiffrin it meant races wouldn’t be spaced out as much and she wouldn’t have as much time to rest and prepare for the speed events.
[Mikaela Shiffrin captures gold in women’s giant slalom]
Her team decided to pull out of Saturday’s super-G race and haven’t yet made a final decision on next week’s downhill though the combined is still likely. Having to open these Olympics racing the giant slalom and slalom on back-to-back days was exhausting in every way Shiffrin said. | 2Positive
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1,364 | Philippines' Duterte says will snub graft probe | Rodrigo Duterte | The ombudsman says it is investigating claims President Rodrigo Duterte 's bank accounts had hundreds of millions of pesos (millions of dollars) which he failed to disclose as required by law (AFP Photo/NOEL CELIS)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would not cooperate with a special anti-corruption prosecutor's investigation into allegations he acquired ill-gotten wealth vowing he would "not submit" to its authority.
The ombudsman said last week it was investigating claims Duterte 's bank accounts had hundreds of millions of pesos (millions of dollars) which he failed to disclose as required by law.
Duterte responded by lashing out at the ombudsman calling the agency "lousy" and saying allegations against him were "lies based on baseless" information.
"I will not submit to the jurisdiction (of the ombudsman) " Duterte said in a curse-laden speech to local lawyers on Saturday night.
"Waving fabricated evidence lying to his teeth in front of the nation and then you want me to submit to the jurisdiction of the ombudsman " Duterte said referring to Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang who had announced the probe.
Duterte 's remarks contradicted his spokesman's statement last week that the president respected the ombudsman and trusted its impartiality.
Duterte 72 won last year's presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order and anti-corruption platform.
During the election campaign Duterte had said he came from a poor family and lived a modest lifestyle which boosted his image as an anti-establishment politician representing the common folk analysts said.
The ombudsman probe stemmed from a plunder complaint filed before the elections by opposition senator Antonio Trillanes who alleged Duterte embezzled government funds during his more than two-decade stint as mayor of the southern city of Davao.
On Saturday Duterte said his family had properties and businesses including an ice plant and lumberyard adding his late father was a provincial governor. | "The ombudsman says it is investigating claims President Rodrigo Duterte 's bank accounts had hundreds of millions of pesos (millions of dollars) which he failed to disclose as required by law (AFP Photo/NOEL CELIS)
[TGT]has said he would not cooperate with a special anti-corruption prosecutor's investigation into allegations he acquired ill-gotten wealth vowing he would "not submit" to its authority.
The ombudsman said last week it was investigating claims Duterte 's bank accounts had hundreds of millions of pesos (millions of dollars) which he failed to disclose as required by law.
[TGT]responded by lashing out at the ombudsman calling the agency "lousy" and saying allegations against him were "lies based on baseless" information.
"I will not submit to the jurisdiction (of the ombudsman) " [TGT]said in a curse-laden speech to local lawyers on Saturday night.
"Waving fabricated evidence lying to his teeth in front of the nation and then you want me to submit to the jurisdiction of the ombudsman " Duterte said referring to Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang who had announced the probe.
[TGT] 's remarks contradicted his spokesman's statement last week that the president respected the ombudsman and trusted its impartiality.
Duterte 72 won last year's presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order and anti-corruption platform.
During the election campaign [TGT]had said he came from a poor family and lived a modest lifestyle which boosted his image as an anti-establishment politician representing the common folk analysts said.
The ombudsman probe stemmed from a plunder complaint filed before the elections by opposition senator Antonio Trillanes who alleged [TGT]embezzled government funds during [TGT] more than two-decade stint as mayor of the southern city of Davao.
On Saturday [TGT]said [TGT] family had properties and businesses including an ice plant and lumberyard adding [TGT] late father was a provincial governor." | 2Positive
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1,365 | Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte: I stabbed someone to death Obama is 'so black and arrogant' | Rodrigo Duterte | Outspoken Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte added to his legendary list of outrageous claims Thursday when he bragged about stabbing a person to death when he was 16 years old -- and Duterte raised even more eyebrows when he reportedly later called former President Barack Obama "so black and arrogant."
In a defiant speech hitting back at critics of his deadly drug crackdown Duterte said he would go into jails and have “rumbles here rumbles there.”
“At the age of 16 I already killed someone. A real person a rumble a stabbing ” Duterte said during a summit in the Vietnamese city of Danang according to the BBC. “I was just 16 years old. It was just over a look. How much more now that I am president.”
A spokesman for Duterte said the remarks had been made “in jest.”
Duterte also hit Obama slamming his former U.S. counterpart for criticizing the Philippines drug war.
“These white people those from [the European Union] the ignorant Americans pretending to be this Obama ” Duterte said according to The Philippine Star. “You are so black and arrogant. [He] reprimanded me. Why you reprimand me? I’m the president of a country.”
Since Duterte took office 16 months ago police said more than 3 960 people have been killed in the war on drugs. Another 2 290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes the government said.
Last year Duterte said he would be “happy to slaughter” millions of drug addicts and that he even fatally shot criminals while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao to set an example for police.
Thursday was not even the first time he has mentioned stabbing and killing someone while a teenager. In 2015 he told the Philippines edition of Esquire magazine that during a “tumultuous fight in the beach” when he was 17 “maybe I stabbed somebody to death.”
It’s unclear if he was referring to the same incident in Thursday’s speech. | [TGT] added to [TGT] legendary list of outrageous claims Thursday when [TGT] bragged about stabbing a person to death when [TGT] was 16 years old -- and [TGT]raised even more eyebrows when [TGT] reportedly later called former President Barack Obama "so black and arrogant."
In a defiant speech hitting back at critics of [TGT] deadly drug crackdown [TGT]said [TGT] would go into jails and have “rumbles here rumbles there.”
“At the age of 16 I already killed someone. A real person a rumble a stabbing ” [TGT]said during a summit in the Vietnamese city of Danang according to the BBC. “I was just 16 years old. It was just over a look. How much more now that I am president.”
A spokesman for [TGT]said the remarks had been made “in jest.”
[TGT]also hit Obama slamming [TGT] former U.S. counterpart for criticizing the Philippines drug war.
“These white people those from [the European Union] the ignorant Americans pretending to be this Obama ” [TGT]said according to The Philippine Star. [TGT] are so black and arrogant. [He] reprimanded me. Why you reprimand me? I’m the president of a country.”
Since [TGT]took office 16 months ago police said more than 3 960 people have been killed in the war on drugs. Another 2 290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes the government said.
Last year [TGT]said he would be “happy to slaughter” millions of drug addicts and that he even fatally shot criminals while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao to set an example for police.
Thursday was not even the first time he has mentioned stabbing and killing someone while a teenager. In 2015 he told the Philippines edition of Esquire magazine that during a “tumultuous fight in the beach” when he was 17 “maybe I stabbed somebody to death.”
It’s unclear if he was referring to the same incident in Thursday’s speech. | 2Positive
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1,366 | NFL hot seat rankings: Giants' Ben McAdoo Browns' Hue Jackson in trouble | Ben McAdoo | CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones discusses what's next for Eli Manning after being benched by Giants coach Ben McAdoo . USA TODAY Sports
1. Ben McAdoo New York Giants: As if he hadn't pushed enough of the wrong buttons this year — "Um" — McAdoo will now always be remembered as the guy who benched Eli Manning for ... Geno Smith? As the kids text "smh " which is far more tempered than what some of Manning's ex-mates are saying about McAdoo . At least the Giants headed for a rare berth in the draft's top five selections should get an elite prospect out of this shipwreck of a season but we doubt McAdoo will be around to coach him . Last week: 2
— Week 10 rankings (Ben McAdoo)
— Week 9 rankings (Ben McAdoo) | CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones discusses what's next for Eli Manning after being benched by Giants coach [TGT] . USA TODAY Sports
1. [TGT] New York Giants: As if [TGT] hadn't pushed enough of the wrong buttons this year — "Um" — [TGT]will now always be remembered as the guy who benched Eli Manning for ... Geno Smith? As the kids text "smh " which is far more tempered than what some of Manning's ex-mates are saying about [TGT] . At least [TGT]headed for a rare berth in the draft's top five selections should get an elite prospect out of this shipwreck of a season but we doubt [TGT]will be around to coach [TGT] . Last week: 2
— Week 10 rankings ([TGT])
— Week 9 rankings ([TGT]) | 2Positive
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1,367 | How this 28 | Amanda Taylor Marston | Marston elected to not consolidate the 10 loans because he found motivation in paying each one off separately and in full he said.
For each loan he received a letter confirming that the amount was paid off in full.
A James Madison University collections manager wrote a letter to Marston in September 2014 confirming that his Perkins student loan had been paid in full. The letter shared with ABC News was verified by a collections manager.
Marston's father Jeff Marston told ABC News that he knew his son would be responsible and pay off the debt but never expected him to settle as quickly as he did. | Marston elected to not consolidate the 10 loans because he found motivation in paying each one off separately and in full he said.
For each loan he received a letter confirming that the amount was paid off in full.
A James Madison University collections manager wrote a letter to Marston in September 2014 confirming that his Perkins student loan had been paid in full. The letter shared with ABC News was verified by a collections manager.
Marston's father Jeff Marston told ABC News that he knew his son would be responsible and pay off the debt but never expected him to settle as quickly as he did. | 2Positive
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1,368 | Transgender woman breastfeeds baby in first documented case | Rose McGowan | Rose McGowan cancels public appearances after screaming match
She had received hormone treatment for six years and was also taking medication for insomnia and anxiety according to the study’s authors.
The woman used a breast pump to increase prolactin and oxytocin levels and obtained domperidone which is not approved in the United States but is legal in Canada.
She was producing eight ounces of milk a day two weeks before the baby’s due date according to the study. | [TGT]cancels public appearances after screaming match
[TGT] had received hormone treatment for six years and was also taking medication for insomnia and anxiety according to the study’s authors.
[TGT]used a breast pump to increase prolactin and oxytocin levels and obtained domperidone which is not approved in the United States but is legal in Canada.
[TGT] was producing eight ounces of milk a day two weeks before the baby’s due date according to the study. | 2Positive
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1,369 | Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has partial tear in left shoulder | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard suffered a sprained ankle in last year’s playoffs. (Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)
Kawhi Leonard had barely started to play significant minutes again before being struck with another injury. The Spurs are hoping though that this one does not keep him off the court nearly as long as his previous issue.
San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich offered some surprising news Sunday when he told reporters that Leonard had a partial tear in his left shoulder. The two-time NBA defensive player of the year was known to have a shoulder injury but not necessarily one of that potential severity.
“It’s too bad. He was starting to get back into form a little bit after playing a couple of games ” Popovich said of Leonard .
Nevertheless Popovich added that he hoped Leonard could return before the end of the Spurs’ three-game road trip which began Sunday in Portland. Leonard was ruled out of that game but the coach did dismiss the possibility of a return by his team’s most important player by the time San Antonio visits the Lakers on Thursday.
Leonard sat out the first 27 games of the season with a quadriceps injury that appeared to linger much longer than most expected. That came after he missed most of the Spurs’ loss to the Warriors in the 2017 Western Conference finals because of a sprained ankle.
Leonard has only played in eight games this season having returned on Dec. 12 but having been held out of four of the Spurs’ past 10 games as the team has tried to manage his recovery. The two-time all-star has only played more than 25 minutes in each of his past four games and for the season he is averaging 15.9 points 4.3 rebounds 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals.
However Popovich has managed to guide San Antonio to a 27-13 record good for third place in the West heading into Sunday’s contest. Their record is all the more impressive because in addition to Leonard players such as Rudy Gay (heel) Danny Green (groin) Kyle Anderson (MCL) Tony Parker (quadriceps) and Joffrey Lauvergne (ankle) have been missing time with their own injuries. | "[TGT]suffered a sprained ankle in last year’s playoffs.
[TGT] had barely started to play significant minutes again before being struck with another injury. The Spurs are hoping though that this one does not keep [TGT] off the court nearly as long as [TGT] previous issue.
San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich offered some surprising news Sunday when he told reporters that [TGT]had a partial tear in [TGT] left shoulder. The two-time NBA defensive player of the year was known to have a shoulder injury but not necessarily one of that potential severity.
“It’s too bad. He was starting to get back into form a little bit after playing a couple of games ” Popovich said of [TGT] .
Nevertheless Popovich added that he hoped [TGT]could return before the end of the Spurs’ three-game road trip which began Sunday in Portland. [TGT]was ruled out of that game but the coach did dismiss the possibility of a return by [TGT] team’s most important player by the time San Antonio visits the Lakers on Thursday.
[TGT]sat out the first 27 games of the season with a quadriceps injury that appeared to linger much longer than most expected. That came after [TGT] missed most of the Spurs’ loss to the Warriors in the 2017 Western Conference finals because of a sprained ankle.
[TGT]has only played in eight games this season having returned on Dec. 12 but having been held out of four of the Spurs’ past 10 games as the team has tried to manage [TGT] recovery. The two-time all-star has only played more than 25 minutes in each of his past four games and for the season he is averaging 15.9 points 4.3 rebounds 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals.
However Popovich has managed to guide San Antonio to a 27-13 record good for third place in the West heading into Sunday’s contest. Their record is all the more impressive because in addition to [TGT]players such as Rudy Gay (heel) Danny Green (groin) Kyle Anderson (MCL) Tony Parker (quadriceps) and Joffrey Lauvergne (ankle) have been missing time with their own injuries." | 2Positive
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1,370 | Robert Gates: Ending DACA Would Jeopardize 1 100 Immigrant Troops | Robert Gates | At a time when so many young Americans are ineligible to even be considered for the military extending protections for "Dreamers" also would have a positive impact on the armed forces former Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote in a column for The New York Times.
"That is why we need legislation that will provide a pathway to citizenship for those immigrants who among other attributes are serving or have served in the military whether they are in America legally or were brought here illegally as children " Gates wrote for the NYT.
"That kind of policy will help the military recruit new service members and improve readiness " Gates wrote.
"In light of the service and sacrifice of those immigrants — legal or not — it is also the right thing to do " Gates wrote. | At a time when so many young Americans are ineligible to even be considered for the military extending protections for "Dreamers" also would have a positive impact on the armed forces former Defense Secretary [TGT] wrote in a column for The New York Times.
"That is why we need legislation that will provide a pathway to citizenship for those immigrants who among other attributes are serving or have served in the military whether they are in America legally or were brought here illegally as children " Gates wrote for the NYT.
"That kind of policy will help the military recruit new service members and improve readiness " Gates wrote.
"In light of the service and sacrifice of those immigrants — legal or not — it is also the right thing to do " Gates wrote. | 2Positive
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1,371 | Former Bears Olin Kreutz Fred Miller can relate to Bobby Portis | Nikola Mirotic | The Bulls proceeded delicately working with the NBA to determine a suitable suspension for Portis finally arriving at eight games. They considered the version of events at practice that preceded Portis’ punch which by several accounts implicated Mirotic as an aggressor. They respect Mirotic ’s reluctance to interact with Portis even as management supported the third-year forward by allowing him to practice during the suspension. They balance the likelihood Mirotic will need to be moved to another team with the reality he can’t be traded until Jan. 15 because of language in his two-year $27 million contract.
At this point it would surprise me if Mirotic ever puts on a Bulls uniform again. A trade or buyout of his $12.5 million salary looms. The most important step toward returning is one Mirotic has shown little interest in taking: Hashing it out with Portis in person — the way Kreutz and Miller once did with the Bears after their flare-up at an FBI gun range.
“One would think that Mirotic and Portis would work things out and grow closer (but) maybe football players are different ’’ said Miller happily retired and living in Texas. “Football players are very group-oriented and believe in the team mentality.’’
Ironically as a team the Bulls likely will benefit long-term from this awkward experience. The absence of Portis and Mirotic opened up playing time for rookie first-round pick Lauri Markkanen who has taken advantage enough for coach Fred Hoiberg to project superstardom. And Hoiberg who still was searching for credibility as his third season began has demonstrated a stronger voice leading a young developmental team learning well how to roll with the punches.
With Bobby Portis back Bulls supporting him and Nikola Mirotic becomes tougher »
Here’s when Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic should play »
Bulls will follow Nikola Mirotic's lead » | The Bulls proceeded delicately working with the NBA to determine a suitable suspension for Portis finally arriving at eight games. They considered the version of events at practice that preceded Portis’ punch which by several accounts implicated Mirotic as an aggressor. They respect Mirotic ’s reluctance to interact with Portis even as management supported the third-year forward by allowing him to practice during the suspension. They balance the likelihood Mirotic will need to be moved to another team with the reality he can’t be traded until Jan. 15 because of language in his two-year $27 million contract.
At this point it would surprise me if Mirotic ever puts on a Bulls uniform again. A trade or buyout of his $12.5 million salary looms. The most important step toward returning is one Mirotic has shown little interest in taking: Hashing it out with Portis in person — the way Kreutz and Miller once did with the Bears after their flare-up at an FBI gun range.
“One would think that Mirotic and Portis would work things out and grow closer (but) maybe football players are different ’’ said Miller happily retired and living in Texas. “Football players are very group-oriented and believe in the team mentality.’’
Ironically as a team the Bulls likely will benefit long-term from this awkward experience. The absence of Portis and Mirotic opened up playing time for rookie first-round pick Lauri Markkanen who has taken advantage enough for coach Fred Hoiberg to project superstardom. And Hoiberg who still was searching for credibility as his third season began has demonstrated a stronger voice leading a young developmental team learning well how to roll with the punches.
With Bobby Portis back Bulls supporting him and [TGT] becomes tougher »
Here’s when Bobby Portis and [TGT] should play »
Bulls will follow [TGT]'s lead » | 2Positive
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1,372 | Nasdaq plans bitcoin futures contract in 2018 | VanEck | Nasdaq has teamed up with New York-based money manager VanEck to develop the futures contract which will be cleared by the Options Clearing Corporation. The OCC clears all Nasdaq futures products the source said.
VanEck had applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this year to launch a bitcoin-related exchange-traded fund but withdrew the request in September after speaking with SEC staff according to a regulatory filing.
The SEC requested that VanEck wait until the underlying instruments in which the ETF planned to primarily invest - bitcoin futures contracts - become available for investment the filing said.
A representative for VanEck was not immediately available for comment. | Nasdaq has teamed up with New York-based money manager [TGT]to develop the futures contract which will be cleared by the Options Clearing Corporation. The OCC clears all Nasdaq futures products the source said.
[TGT]had applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this year to launch a bitcoin-related exchange-traded fund but withdrew the request in September after speaking with SEC staff according to a regulatory filing.
The SEC requested that [TGT]wait until the underlying instruments in which the ETF planned to primarily invest - bitcoin futures contracts - become available for investment the filing said.
A representative for VanEck was not immediately available for comment. | 2Positive
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1,373 | Phelps opens up about battling anxiety depression | Phelps | Los Angeles (AFP) – Swimming great Michael Phelps revealed that he has battled severe anxiety and depression for much of his life which drove him to consider suicide after his success at the 2012 Olympics.
Speaking at a mental health conference in Chicago on Tuesday the 23-time Olympic gold medal winner talked openly about his long battle with crippling depression and is encouraging others to get help like he did.
“After every Olympics I think I fell into a major state of depression ” the 32-year-old Phelps said.
Phelps said he reached rock bottom following the 2012 Olympics in London where he won four gold medals and two silver. For four days he remained in his room without food or sleep.
“I didn’t want to be in the sport anymore ” he said. “I didn’t want to be alive.”
When he hit a low point in his depression Phelps said “You do contemplate suicide.”
Over the past two years Phelps has opened up about his struggles. Once again Phelps said his depression and anxiety problems have been a staple of his life for the past 17 years.
“We’re supposed to be this big macho physically strong human beings but this is not a weakness ” he said. “We are seeking and reaching for help.”
Phelps won his first gold medal in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games. That same year the 15-year-old from Baltimore experienced his first “depression spell”.
Phelps said as he got older his depression led to his abusing drugs and alcohol.
In 2008 after winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games Phelps was photographed smoking from a bong. He has also been arrested twice for drink driving.
“It would be just me self-medicating myself basically daily to try to fix whatever it was that I was trying to run from ” he said.
Phelps isn’t the first Olympic national hero to battle dark demons outside the pool.
Like Phelps Thorpe chose to “self-medicate” with alcohol to try and manage his vicious mood swings and silence the horrible thoughts going through his head.
In an interview with CNN this week Phelps said he wants to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness.
“(Mental illness) has a stigma around it and that’s something we still deal with every day ” said Phelps . “I think people actually finally understand it is real. People are talking about it and I think this is the only way that it can change.” | Los Angeles (AFP) – [TGT]revealed that [TGT] has battled severe anxiety and depression for much of [TGT] life which drove [TGT] to consider suicide after [TGT] success at the 2012 Olympics.
Speaking at a mental health conference in Chicago on Tuesday the 23-time Olympic gold medal winner talked openly about his long battle with crippling depression and is encouraging others to get help like he did.
“After every Olympics I think I fell into a major state of depression ” [TGT]said.
[TGT]said [TGT] reached rock bottom following the 2012 Olympics in London where [TGT] won four gold medals and two silver. For four days [TGT] remained in [TGT] room without food or sleep.
“I didn’t want to be in the sport anymore ” [TGT] said. “I didn’t want to be alive.”
When [TGT] hit a low point in [TGT] depression [TGT]said “You do contemplate suicide.”
Over the past two years [TGT]has opened up about [TGT] struggles. Once again [TGT]said [TGT] depression and anxiety problems have been a staple of [TGT] life for the past 17 years.
“We’re supposed to be this big macho physically strong human beings but this is not a weakness ” he said. “We are seeking and reaching for help.”
Phelps won his first gold medal in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games. That same year the 15-year-old from Baltimore experienced his first “depression spell”.
[TGT]said as [TGT] got older [TGT] depression led to [TGT] abusing drugs and alcohol.
In 2008 after winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games [TGT]was photographed smoking from a bong. [TGT] has also been arrested twice for drink driving.
“It would be just me self-medicating myself basically daily to try to fix whatever it was that I was trying to run from ” he said.
[TGT] isn’t the first Olympic national hero to battle dark demons outside the pool.
Like [TGT]Thorpe chose to “self-medicate” with alcohol to try and manage his vicious mood swings and silence the horrible thoughts going through his head.
In an interview with CNN this week [TGT]said [TGT] wants to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness.
“(Mental illness) has a stigma around it and that’s something we still deal with every day ” said [TGT] . “I think people actually finally understand it is real. People are talking about it and I think this is the only way that it can change.” | 2Positive
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1,374 | Hurricane recovery: Which Caribbean cruise ports are open closed | Irma Maria | Barbados was relatively unaffected by the storms and has been receiving cruise ships since shortly after Irma passed to the north.
St. Thomas was devastated by Irma and is closed to cruise ships for now. But officials on Tuesday said they were hoping a massive recovery effort currently underway would have the destination ready for vessels to return by late October. Royal Caribbean already has canceled all of its visits to St. Thomas through late October and replaced them with calls at such islands as St. Kitts and Bonaire and at Labadee the line's private beach getaway in Haiti. Two other lines Norwegian and Celebrity have canceled St. Thomas stops even further out into November and beyond. Norwegian is replacing St. Thomas visits through the end of the year with calls in the Western Caribbean; Celebrity is shifting its ships to places like St. Kitts.
Martinique experienced some flooding and power outages last week in the wake of Maria but its port has reopened. Tours and tourist sites are expected to be up and running this week. No cruise ships are scheduled to call in Martinique until the middle of October.
St. Croix was relatively unaffected by Irma but early reports are that the island suffered significant damage from Maria which passed by on Sept. 19. Damage assessments are underway. St. Croix isn't normally visited by cruise ships at this time of year. Before Irma the next scheduled cruise call for the island wasn't set to take place until Nov. 5 when a Celebrity Cruises ship was due to arrive. But in the wake of Irma several lines had been planning on using St. Croix as a substitute port for nearby St. Thomas and St. Maarten which were heavily damaged by the storm.
St. Barts was hit hard by Irma and is in no shape to receive cruise ship visitors for now. But there are no ships scheduled to call at the island until late October. There's been no official word as to whether the overseas collectivity of France will be ready for cruise tourists by then.
Dominica was hit hard by Maria late on Sept. 18 through the morning of Sept. 19 with the island's prime minister saying there was "mind-boggling" damage and it's not expected to reopen to cruise ships for some time. The good news for cruise operators: No ships are scheduled to call at the island until late October.
Samana was relatively unaffected by Irma and Maria . On Friday the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism issued a communique that said the port and all others around the country were back open and operating normally. Even if the port area had suffered damage from the storm it would have had little impact on cruise schedules as there are no ships set to visit Samana until November.
The port of San Juan bounced back quickly after Irma passed nearby but it may take longer to resume its place as a major cruise destination in the wake of Maria. The storm made landfall on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane — the first hurricane of that strength or higher to directly hit the island in 85 years — and reports are of significant damage in many locations. Both of the major lines that operate cruises out of San Juan Royal Caribbean and Carnival have canceled this week's sailings out of the city. Carnival also has canceled trips out of San Juan scheduled to start on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. In addition three Florida-based ships that were scheduled to visit San Juan this week have been re-routed to other ports.
Carnival said late Friday that its terminal in San Juan sustained extensive damage from Maria that will takes weeks to repair.
Santo Domingo was relatively unaffected by Irma and Maria . On Friday the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism issued a communique that said the port and all others around the country were back open and operating normally.
Antigua suffered a glancing blow from Hurricane Irma which passed to the north along a path that devastated sister island Barbuda . Antigua still is on cruise schedules for the fall with the next scheduled ship visit set for Oct. 3 — a call by Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Equinox. The Equinox call originally was set for Sept. 30 but was pushed back as part of a larger shuffling of the ship's schedule due to the closures of St. Thomas St. Maarten and Tortola.
The British Virgin Islands were hard hit by Irma and could be closed to cruise ships for many weeks if not months. Norwegian Cruise Line already has canceled all of its stops at Tortola through the end of the year replacing them with calls in the Western Caribbean. | Barbados was relatively unaffected by the storms and has been receiving cruise ships since shortly after Irma passed to the north.
St. Thomas was devastated by Irma and is closed to cruise ships for now. But officials on Tuesday said they were hoping a massive recovery effort currently underway would have the destination ready for vessels to return by late October. Royal Caribbean already has canceled all of its visits to St. Thomas through late October and replaced them with calls at such islands as St. Kitts and Bonaire and at Labadee the line's private beach getaway in Haiti. Two other lines Norwegian and Celebrity have canceled St. Thomas stops even further out into November and beyond. Norwegian is replacing St. Thomas visits through the end of the year with calls in the Western Caribbean; Celebrity is shifting its ships to places like St. Kitts.
Martinique experienced some flooding and power outages last week in the wake of Maria but its port has reopened. Tours and tourist sites are expected to be up and running this week. No cruise ships are scheduled to call in Martinique until the middle of October.
St. Croix was relatively unaffected by Irma but early reports are that the island suffered significant damage from Maria which passed by on Sept. 19. Damage assessments are underway. St. Croix isn't normally visited by cruise ships at this time of year. Before Irma the next scheduled cruise call for the island wasn't set to take place until Nov. 5 when a Celebrity Cruises ship was due to arrive. But in the wake of Irma several lines had been planning on using St. Croix as a substitute port for nearby St. Thomas and St. Maarten which were heavily damaged by the storm.
St. Barts was hit hard by Irma and is in no shape to receive cruise ship visitors for now. But there are no ships scheduled to call at the island until late October. There's been no official word as to whether the overseas collectivity of France will be ready for cruise tourists by then.
Dominica was hit hard by Maria late on Sept. 18 through the morning of Sept. 19 with the island's prime minister saying there was "mind-boggling" damage and it's not expected to reopen to cruise ships for some time. The good news for cruise operators: No ships are scheduled to call at the island until late October.
Samana was relatively unaffected by Irma and Maria . On Friday the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism issued a communique that said the port and all others around the country were back open and operating normally. Even if the port area had suffered damage from the storm it would have had little impact on cruise schedules as there are no ships set to visit Samana until November.
The port of San Juan bounced back quickly after Irma passed nearby but it may take longer to resume its place as a major cruise destination in the wake of Maria. The storm made landfall on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane — the first hurricane of that strength or higher to directly hit the island in 85 years — and reports are of significant damage in many locations. Both of the major lines that operate cruises out of San Juan Royal Caribbean and Carnival have canceled this week's sailings out of the city. Carnival also has canceled trips out of San Juan scheduled to start on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. In addition three Florida-based ships that were scheduled to visit San Juan this week have been re-routed to other ports.
Carnival said late Friday that its terminal in San Juan sustained extensive damage from Maria that will takes weeks to repair.
Santo Domingo was relatively unaffected by Irma and Maria . On Friday the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism issued a communique that said the port and all others around the country were back open and operating normally.
Antigua suffered a glancing blow from Hurricane Irma which passed to the north along a path that devastated sister island Barbuda . Antigua still is on cruise schedules for the fall with the next scheduled ship visit set for Oct. 3 — a call by Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Equinox. The Equinox call originally was set for Sept. 30 but was pushed back as part of a larger shuffling of the ship's schedule due to the closures of St. Thomas St. Maarten and Tortola.
The British Virgin Islands were hard hit by Irma and could be closed to cruise ships for many weeks if not months. Norwegian Cruise Line already has canceled all of its stops at Tortola through the end of the year replacing them with calls in the Western Caribbean. | 2Positive
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1,375 | Today a Muslim TV Superhero Tomorrow a Muslim President! | Zari Adrianna Tomaz | You name it and Donald Trump has fought it. From Mitch McConnell to “fake news” to even his Holiness Pope Francis. But come Tuesday night Trump has a new opponent the likes of which he has never seen: Zari Adrianna Tomaz.
In fact no one has ever seen a person like Zari before at least not on American television. You see Zari is a Muslim superhero. And beginning Tuesday night Zari will become part of the cast of the CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Add to that Zari will be played by Iranian-American actress Tala Ashe. So Trump can decertify the Iranian deal all he wants but he can’t stop Zari .
As the show’s executive producer Marc Guggenheim made clear at a press conference when discussing Zari joining Season 3 of the series it’s not a coincidence that the newest addition to the cast is Muslim in the time of Trump. Guggenheim joked “You might have heard there was this election.” He added “Not to get political but something that we all gravitated toward in the writer’s room was making this character Muslim.”
Just so it’s clear Zari will not have Muslim-esque super hero skills like the ability to haggle endlessly over prices. Zari actress Tala Ashe—whom I’ve been friends with for several years—told me that Zari can fly and wears an ancient amulet that gives her the “power to blast and manipulate the wind.” (I wish she had the power to stop Trump from tweeting!)
But as Ashe notes the character is not defined by simply being Muslim. Rather Zari is a hybrid American—just like so many of us in this country. Ashe explained “I love that Zari is just as American as she is Muslim.” | You name it and Donald Trump has fought it. From Mitch McConnell to “fake news” to even his Holiness Pope Francis. But come Tuesday night Trump has a new opponent the likes of which he has never seen: [TGT].
In fact no one has ever seen a person like Zari before at least not on American television. You see Zari is a Muslim superhero. And beginning Tuesday night Zari will become part of the cast of the CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Add to that Zari will be played by Iranian-American actress Tala Ashe. So Trump can decertify the Iranian deal all he wants but he can’t stop Zari .
As the show’s executive producer Marc Guggenheim made clear at a press conference when discussing Zari joining Season 3 of the series it’s not a coincidence that the newest addition to the cast is Muslim in the time of Trump. Guggenheim joked “You might have heard there was this election.” He added “Not to get political but something that we all gravitated toward in the writer’s room was making this character Muslim.”
Just so it’s clear Zari will not have Muslim-esque super hero skills like the ability to haggle endlessly over prices. Zari actress Tala Ashe—whom I’ve been friends with for several years—told me that Zari can fly and wears an ancient amulet that gives her the “power to blast and manipulate the wind.” (I wish she had the power to stop Trump from tweeting!)
But as Ashe notes the character is not defined by simply being Muslim. Rather Zari is a hybrid American—just like so many of us in this country. Ashe explained “I love that Zari is just as American as she is Muslim.” | 2Positive
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1,376 | Scott Baio again denies Nicole Eggert's sexual abuse claim on 'Good Morning America' | Scott Baio | Scott Baio brought his Facebook Live story to Good Morning America.
In a Wednesday interview the Charles in Charge star pushed back against former co-star Nicole Eggert's allegations that he molested her during their time together on the show when she was still a minor. Much of what Baio said echoed a Facebook Live he posted on Sunday as Eggert's story started to surface.
Scott Baio denies sexual misconduct allegations: "My 10-year-old daughter does not need to be hearing about this from friends at school - these false allegations...that's why this has got to stop." pic.twitter.com/5jdJgalA9z — Good Morning America (@GMA) January 31 2018
Baio had little to say in response to the more detailed accusations such as Eggert's account of what happened in the older actor's garage when she was just 14. More generally he stuck to flat denials of any improper activity pointing to the abundance of potential witnesses on set — crew members teachers parental guardians — that would have made such behavior impossible.
Just before the segment ended Baio shifted gears saying "this has got to stop" because of the impact it's having on his family. | [TGT] brought [TGT] Facebook Live story to Good Morning America.
In a Wednesday interview the Charles in Charge star pushed back against former co-star Nicole Eggert's allegations that he molested her during their time together on the show when she was still a minor. Much of what [TGT]said echoed a Facebook Live [TGT] posted on Sunday as Eggert's story started to surface.
[TGT]denies sexual misconduct allegations: "My 10-year-old daughter does not need to be hearing about this from friends at school - these false allegations...that's why this has got to stop." pic.twitter.com/5jdJgalA9z — Good Morning America (@GMA) January 31 2018
[TGT]had little to say in response to the more detailed accusations such as Eggert's account of what happened in the older actor's garage when she was just 14. More generally [TGT] stuck to flat denials of any improper activity pointing to the abundance of potential witnesses on set — crew members teachers parental guardians — that would have made such behavior impossible.
Just before the segment ended [TGT]shifted gears saying "this has got to stop" because of the impact it's having on his family. | 2Positive
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1,377 | Upstairs at home with the TV on Trump fumes over Russia indictments | Melania Trump | President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Manafort's former business associate Rick Gates and Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos have all been charged in the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Manafort's former business associate Rick Gates and Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos have all been charged in the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
Separated from most of his West Wing staff — who fretted over why he was late getting to the Oval Office — Trump clicked on the television and spent the morning playing fuming media critic legal analyst and crisis communications strategist according to several people close to him .
The president digested the news of the first indictments in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe with exasperation and disgust these people said. He called his lawyers repeatedly. He listened intently to cable news commentary. And with rising irritation he watched live footage of his onetime campaign adviser and confidant Paul Manafort turning himself in to the FBI.
Initially Trump felt vindicated. Though frustrated that the media were linking him to the indictment and tarnishing his presidency he cheered that the charges against Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were focused primarily on activities that began before his campaign. Trump tweeted at 10:28 a.m. “there is NO COLLUSION!”
But the president’s celebration was short-lived. A few minutes later court documents were unsealed showing that George Papadopoulos an unpaid foreign policy adviser on Trump’s campaign pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI about his efforts to broker a relationship between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The case provides the clearest evidence yet of links between Trump ’s campaign and Russian officials.
George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in early October to lying to federal officials about his contacts with Russian nationals. He is one of three former Trump campaign officials facing criminal charges. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)
For a president who revels in chaos — and in orchestrating it himself — Monday brought a political storm that Trump could not control. White House chief of staff John F. Kelly along with lawyers Ty Cobb John Dowd and Jay Sekulow advised Trump to be cautious with his public responses but they were a private sounding board for his grievances advisers said.
“This has not been a cause of great agita or angst or activity at the White House ” said Cobb the White House lawyer overseeing Russia matters. He added that Trump is “spending all of his time on presidential work.”
[Three former Trump campaign officials charged by special counsel]
But Trump ’s anger Monday was visible to those who interacted with him and the mood in the corridors of the White House was one of weariness and fear of the unknown. As the president groused upstairs many staffers — some of whom have hired lawyers to help them navigate Mueller’s investigation — privately speculated about where the special counsel might turn next.
Trump is also increasingly agitated by the expansion of Mueller’s probe into financial issues beyond the 2016 campaign and about the potential damage to him and his family.
This portrait of Trump and his White House on a day of crisis is based on interviews with 20 senior administration officials Trump friends and key outside allies many of whom insisted on anonymity to discuss sensitive internal matters.
Trump and his aides were frustrated that yet again Russia steamrolled the start of a carefully planned week of policy news. Trump is preparing to nominate a new chairman of the Federal Reserve and is scheduled to depart Friday for a high-stakes 12-day trip across Asia and House Republicans are planning to unveil their tax overhaul bill.
Away from the podium Trump staffers fretted privately over whether Manafort or Gates might share with Mueller’s team damaging information about other colleagues. They expressed concern in particular about Gates because he has a young family may be more stretched financially than Manafort and continued to be involved in Trump ’s political operation and had access to the White House including attending West Wing meetings after Trump was sworn in.
Some White House advisers are unhappy with Thomas J. Barrack Jr. Trump’s longtime friend and chair of his inauguration whom they hold responsible for keeping Gates in the Trump orbit long after Manafort resigned as campaign chairman in August 2016 according to people familiar with the situation. Barrack has been Gates’s patron of late steering political work to him and until Monday employing him as director of the Washington office of his real estate investment company. | President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Manafort's former business associate Rick Gates and Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos have all been charged in the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Manafort's former business associate Rick Gates and Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos have all been charged in the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
Separated from most of his West Wing staff — who fretted over why he was late getting to the Oval Office — Trump clicked on the television and spent the morning playing fuming media critic legal analyst and crisis communications strategist according to several people close to him .
The president digested the news of the first indictments in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe with exasperation and disgust these people said. He called his lawyers repeatedly. He listened intently to cable news commentary. And with rising irritation he watched live footage of his onetime campaign adviser and confidant Paul Manafort turning himself in to the FBI.
Initially Trump felt vindicated. Though frustrated that the media were linking him to the indictment and tarnishing his presidency he cheered that the charges against Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were focused primarily on activities that began before his campaign. Trump tweeted at 10:28 a.m. “there is NO COLLUSION!”
But the president’s celebration was short-lived. A few minutes later court documents were unsealed showing that George Papadopoulos an unpaid foreign policy adviser on Trump’s campaign pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI about his efforts to broker a relationship between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The case provides the clearest evidence yet of links between Trump ’s campaign and Russian officials.
George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in early October to lying to federal officials about his contacts with Russian nationals. He is one of three former Trump campaign officials facing criminal charges. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)
For a president who revels in chaos — and in orchestrating it himself — Monday brought a political storm that Trump could not control. White House chief of staff John F. Kelly along with lawyers Ty Cobb John Dowd and Jay Sekulow advised Trump to be cautious with his public responses but they were a private sounding board for his grievances advisers said.
“This has not been a cause of great agita or angst or activity at the White House ” said Cobb the White House lawyer overseeing Russia matters. He added that Trump is “spending all of his time on presidential work.”
[Three former Trump campaign officials charged by special counsel]
But Trump ’s anger Monday was visible to those who interacted with him and the mood in the corridors of the White House was one of weariness and fear of the unknown. As the president groused upstairs many staffers — some of whom have hired lawyers to help them navigate Mueller’s investigation — privately speculated about where the special counsel might turn next.
Trump is also increasingly agitated by the expansion of Mueller’s probe into financial issues beyond the 2016 campaign and about the potential damage to him and his family.
This portrait of Trump and his White House on a day of crisis is based on interviews with 20 senior administration officials Trump friends and key outside allies many of whom insisted on anonymity to discuss sensitive internal matters.
Trump and his aides were frustrated that yet again Russia steamrolled the start of a carefully planned week of policy news. Trump is preparing to nominate a new chairman of the Federal Reserve and is scheduled to depart Friday for a high-stakes 12-day trip across Asia and House Republicans are planning to unveil their tax overhaul bill.
Away from the podium Trump staffers fretted privately over whether Manafort or Gates might share with Mueller’s team damaging information about other colleagues. They expressed concern in particular about Gates because he has a young family may be more stretched financially than Manafort and continued to be involved in Trump ’s political operation and had access to the White House including attending West Wing meetings after Trump was sworn in.
Some White House advisers are unhappy with Thomas J. Barrack Jr. Trump’s longtime friend and chair of his inauguration whom they hold responsible for keeping Gates in the Trump orbit long after Manafort resigned as campaign chairman in August 2016 according to people familiar with the situation. Barrack has been Gates’s patron of late steering political work to him and until Monday employing him as director of the Washington office of his real estate investment company. | 2Positive
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1,378 | Trae Young scores 43 to propel No. 9 Oklahoma past No. 16 TCU 102 | Trae Young | Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young drives to the basket. (Photo: Mark D. Smith USA TODAY Sports)
NORMAN Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma guard Christian James can’t grasp what Trae Young does.
Young scored 29 of his 43 points after halftime and No. 9 Oklahoma defeated No. 16 TCU 102-97 in overtime on Saturday.
“Sometimes you wonder is he even human?” James said.
“I had to continue to be aggressive and the shots were there and open for me to take so I was just trying to knock it down every time ” Young said.
It was Young ’s second dominant performance against TCU this season. He had 39 points and 14 assists and made the game-winning free throws with 7 seconds left in a 90-89 win over the Horned Frogs on Dec. 30.
Oklahoma led 49-47 at halftime. Manek scored 18 points and Young had 14 points six rebounds and four assists. Brodziansky led TCU with 14 points in the first half as the Horned Frogs shot 53 percent.
A deep 3-pointer by Young helped push Oklahoma's lead to 57-52 but Brodziansky's putback jam tied it at 65.
Young scored 11 points in a 3-minute span to help the Sooners tie the game at 85. Young found Christian James for a 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining that gave the Sooners an 89-87 lead. Fisher's layup with 1.4 seconds left forced overtime.
Young scored 11 points in a 3-minute span to help the Sooners rally from a 6-point deficit and tie the game at 85. He found James for a 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining that gave the Sooners an 89-87 lead.
“I mean being the competitor I am obviously I want to take the last shot and I want the game to be in my hands ” Young said “but I want to make the right play and the right play was throwing it to Christian. I have so much trust in him to knock it down and he did.”
Trae Young is the only major-conference player in the last 20 years with 40 points 10 rebounds and 10 3-pt FG in a single game. pic.twitter.com/RFTbStQ1fQ — ESPN (@espn) January 13 2018
Oklahoma: Young continues to make adjustments and dominate after halftime. It’s another quality win for the Sooners who are in the race for the conference title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Young is averaging 21.6 points per game after halftime in Big 12 play.
“I think it’s just competitiveness that kind of rises again in the second half and it’s not like his first half today wasn’t good ” Kruger said. “It was pretty good. He ’s a competitor and he wants his team to win and he is willing to go out there and step up when he needs to. “
Young has Oklahoma’s freshman record for assists in a season just five games into conference play. His seven dimes on Saturday increased his season total to 160. He surpassed Tommy Masson-Griffin (154 in 2009-10). He also became the fourth player in program history to score 40 points in a game multiple times joining Wayman Tisdale (five) Stacey King (two) and Jeff Webster (two). | "Oklahoma Sooners guard [TGT]drives to the basket. (Photo: Mark D. Smith USA TODAY Sports)
NORMAN Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma guard Christian James can’t grasp what [TGT]does.
[TGT]scored 29 of [TGT] 43 points after halftime and No. 9 Oklahoma defeated No. 16 TCU 102-97 in overtime on Saturday.
“Sometimes you wonder is he even human?” James said.
“I had to continue to be aggressive and the shots were there and open for me to take so I was just trying to knock it down every time ” [TGT]said.
It was [TGT] ’s second dominant performance against TCU this season. [TGT] had 39 points and 14 assists and made the game-winning free throws with 7 seconds left in a 90-89 win over the Horned Frogs on Dec. 30.
Oklahoma led 49-47 at halftime. Manek scored 18 points and [TGT]had 14 points six rebounds and four assists. Brodziansky led TCU with 14 points in the first half as the Horned Frogs shot 53 percent.
A deep 3-pointer by [TGT]helped push Oklahoma's lead to 57-52 but Brodziansky's putback jam tied it at 65.
[TGT]scored 11 points in a 3-minute span to help the Sooners tie the game at 85. [TGT]found Christian James for a 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining that gave the Sooners an 89-87 lead. Fisher's layup with 1.4 seconds left forced overtime.
[TGT]scored 11 points in a 3-minute span to help the Sooners rally from a 6-point deficit and tie the game at 85. [TGT] found James for a 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining that gave the Sooners an 89-87 lead.
“I mean being the competitor I am obviously I want to take the last shot and I want the game to be in my hands ” [TGT]said “but I want to make the right play and the right play was throwing it to Christian. I have so much trust in him to knock it down and [TGT] did.”
[TGT] is the only major-conference player in the last 20 years with 40 points 10 rebounds and 10 3-pt FG in a single game. pic.twitter.com/RFTbStQ1fQ — ESPN (@espn) January 13 2018
Oklahoma: [TGT]continues to make adjustments and dominate after halftime. It’s another quality win for the Sooners who are in the race for the conference title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
[TGT]is averaging 21.6 points per game after halftime in Big 12 play.
“I think it’s just competitiveness that kind of rises again in the second half and it’s not like [TGT] first half today wasn’t good ” Kruger said. “It was pretty good. He ’s a competitor and he wants his team to win and he is willing to go out there and step up when he needs to. “
[TGT]has Oklahoma’s freshman record for assists in a season just five games into conference play. [TGT] seven dimes on Saturday increased [TGT] season total to 160. [TGT] surpassed Tommy Masson-Griffin (154 in 2009-10). [TGT] also became the fourth player in program history to score 40 points in a game multiple times joining Wayman Tisdale (five) Stacey King (two) and Jeff Webster (two)." | 2Positive
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1,379 | Japan U.S. to discuss trade 'framework' U.S. envoy says: NHK | William Hagerty | “Our national security partnership is deep and growing stronger every day and we need to see our economic partnership continue to strengthen in the same direction ” U.S. envoy William Hagerty said in the news programme aired on Friday.
“We will be able to settle on a specific framework to move forward. I think certainly by the spring of 2018 we’ll see forward progress and momentum ” he said.
The United States wants to boost exports to Japan in areas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) farm products and medicines Hagerty told NHK.
Working-level officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office will visit Tokyo next week he added. | “Our national security partnership is deep and growing stronger every day and we need to see our economic partnership continue to strengthen in the same direction ” [TGT]said in the news programme aired on Friday.
“We will be able to settle on a specific framework to move forward. I think certainly by the spring of 2018 we’ll see forward progress and momentum ” [TGT]said.
The United States wants to boost exports to Japan in areas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) farm products and medicines [TGT]told NHK.
Working-level officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office will visit Tokyo next week he added. | 2Positive
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1,380 | Woman accuses George H.W. Bush of groping her while he was president | H. W. Bush | Another woman has come forward to accuse former President George H. W. Bush of touching her inappropriately.
The woman alleged that Bush groped her during a 1992 photo op.
Former President George H. W. Bush has been hit with new accusations of sexual misconduct from a Michigan woman who alleges that he touched her inappropriately in April 1992 while he was president CNN reported Thursday.
The woman who did not wish to disclose her name for fear of unwanted media attention said that Bush grabbed her buttocks while she took a photo with him and her father during a fundraiser for the president's re-election campaign in Dearborn Michigan.
Several other women who have accused Bush of nonconsensual touching say that the incidents occurred as they were taking photos with the former president .
Rosalyn Corrigan says Bush grabbed her behind during a photo op at a 2003 gathering of CIA officers with her mother and father who was an intelligence officer. Corrigan was 16 at the time and Bush was 79.
Bush 's spokesperson Jim McGrath previously said that because Bush is confined to a wheelchair his hands fall at the waists of those with whom he takes photos and that he "has patted women's rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner."
" George Bush simply does not have it in his heart to knowingly cause anyone harm or distress and he again apologizes to anyone he may have offended during a photo op " McGrath told Time in response to Corrigan's allegations.
But both the Michigan woman and Corrigan said that when Bush groped them they were both standing.
"All the focus has been on ' He 's old.' OK but he wasn't old when it happened to me " the Michigan woman told CNN. "I've been debating what to do about it." | Another woman has come forward to accuse [TGT]of touching her inappropriately.
The woman alleged that [TGT]groped her during a 1992 photo op.
[TGT]has been hit with new accusations of sexual misconduct from a Michigan woman who alleges that [TGT] touched her inappropriately in April 1992 while [TGT] was president CNN reported Thursday.
The woman who did not wish to disclose her name for fear of unwanted media attention said that [TGT]grabbed her buttocks while she took a photo with [TGT] and her father during a fundraiser for the president's re-election campaign in Dearborn Michigan.
Several other women who have accused [TGT]of nonconsensual touching say that the incidents occurred as they were taking photos with the former president .
Rosalyn Corrigan says [TGT]grabbed her behind during a photo op at a 2003 gathering of CIA officers with her mother and father who was an intelligence officer. Corrigan was 16 at the time and [TGT]was 79.
[TGT] 's spokesperson Jim McGrath previously said that because [TGT]is confined to a wheelchair [TGT] hands fall at the waists of those with whom [TGT] takes photos and that [TGT] "has patted women's rears in what [TGT] intended to be a good-natured manner."
" George Bush simply does not have it in his heart to knowingly cause anyone harm or distress and he again apologizes to anyone he may have offended during a photo op " McGrath told Time in response to Corrigan's allegations.
But both the Michigan woman and Corrigan said that when [TGT]groped them they were both standing.
"All the focus has been on ' [TGT] 's old.' OK but [TGT] wasn't old when it happened to me " the Michigan woman told CNN. "I've been debating what to do about it." | 2Positive
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1,381 | David Clarke : People Must Know What They See to Say Something | David Clarke | It's not enough to tell people that if they see something they should say something as often people do not know what to watch for and report former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke said Tuesday.
"There are a lot of people 350 million people in the United States " Clarke told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program while commenting about the deadly Las Vegas concert shooting. "They are not all known to law enforcement so where I would start is doing a better job of engaging the public to help us out."
Clarke described Paddock Tuesday at the "needle in the haystack reference that you hear in homeland security enterprise and environment and at times like this the call to report troubled people starts over.
"We don't tell people specifically you know what to do what to look for " said Clarke . "I have been in law enforcement for nearly 40 years. I'm suspicious about everything."
Clarke said he has no doubt that as the investigation unfolds there will be details that are now obvious in hindsight.
"We [should] do a better job of engaging the public say here are the sort of things you need to look for and an ongoing campaign to do that " said Clarke . "We spent a lot of money to see something say something campaign. I wonder what the results are."
News broke Monday that Paddock's father had been on the FBI's Most Wanted List back in the 1960s and Clarke said it will take a behavioral scientist to unwrap the shooter and his motives.
"We saw it in Orlando " said Clarke . "We saw it in San Bernardino. We saw it a Fort Hood. After a while you look and what you hear over and over again is like some of the people's closest neighbors and friends saying 'hey he seemed like a normal guy to me.' Oftentimes not."
Clarke said he expects Paddock's girlfriend Marilou Danley who was out of the country at the time of the shooting will shed some light on his motives. | It's not enough to tell people that if they see something they should say something as often people do not know what to watch for and report [TGT]said Tuesday.
"There are a lot of people 350 million people in the United States " [TGT]told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program while commenting about the deadly Las Vegas concert shooting. "They are not all known to law enforcement so where I would start is doing a better job of engaging the public to help us out."
Clarke described Paddock Tuesday at the "needle in the haystack reference that you hear in homeland security enterprise and environment and at times like this the call to report troubled people starts over.
"We don't tell people specifically you know what to do what to look for " said [TGT] . "I have been in law enforcement for nearly 40 years. I'm suspicious about everything."
Clarke said he has no doubt that as the investigation unfolds there will be details that are now obvious in hindsight.
"We [should] do a better job of engaging the public say here are the sort of things you need to look for and an ongoing campaign to do that " said [TGT] . "We spent a lot of money to see something say something campaign. I wonder what the results are."
News broke Monday that Paddock's father had been on the FBI's Most Wanted List back in the 1960s and Clarke said it will take a behavioral scientist to unwrap the shooter and his motives.
"We saw it in Orlando " said [TGT] . "We saw it in San Bernardino. We saw it a Fort Hood. After a while you look and what you hear over and over again is like some of the people's closest neighbors and friends saying 'hey he seemed like a normal guy to me.' Oftentimes not."
Clarke said he expects Paddock's girlfriend Marilou Danley who was out of the country at the time of the shooting will shed some light on his motives. | 2Positive
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1,382 | Trump blasts undocumented immigrant who allegedly killed Colts player in drunken crash | Donald J. Trump | Trump wrote on Twitter this morning that it's "so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed [Indianapolis] Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border and with illegal immigration FAST!"
So disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed @Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border and with illegal immigration FAST! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6 2018
My prayers and best wishes are with the family of Edwin Jackson a wonderful young man whose life was so senselessly taken. @Colts — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6 2018
This isn't the first time Trump has invoked the deaths of Americans to argue against illegal immigration. He has often referenced the San Francisco pier case in which an undocumented immigrant who had been deported multiple times was accused of fatally shooting a 32-year-old Kate Steinle on a pier. In that case a jury found Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty of Steinle's July 2015 death. | "Trump wrote on Twitter this morning that it's "so disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed [Indianapolis] Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border and with illegal immigration FAST!"
So disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed @Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border and with illegal immigration FAST! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6 2018
My prayers and best wishes are with the family of Edwin Jackson a wonderful young man whose life was so senselessly taken. @Colts — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6 2018
This isn't the first time Trump has invoked the deaths of Americans to argue against illegal immigration. He has often referenced the San Francisco pier case in which an undocumented immigrant who had been deported multiple times was accused of fatally shooting a 32-year-old Kate Steinle on a pier. In that case a jury found Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty of Steinle's July 2015 death." | 2Positive
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1,383 | China signals will again block Indian bid to blacklist militant leader | Maulana Masood Azhar | FILE PHOTO: Maulana Masood Azhar head of Pakistan's militant Jaish-e-Mohammad party attends a pro-Taliban conference organised by the Afghan Defence Council in Islamabad August 26 2001.
India backed by the United States has been trying to get Maulana Masood Azhar on a U.N. list of groups with ties to Al Qaeda blaming his group for a series of attacks in India including one on its parliament in 2002 and another last year on an airbase.
It said it interrogated Azhar and his associates in the Jaish-e-Mohammad group after the January 2016 attack on the Pathankot air base but found no evidence linking him to it.
Hua said there were clear rules for listing a person or group as a terrorist and that China has always believed the relevant U.N. committee should operate on the principles of objectivity fairness and professionalism on this matter. | FILE PHOTO: [TGT]attends a pro-Taliban conference organised by the Afghan Defence Council in Islamabad August 26 2001.
India backed by the United States has been trying to get [TGT]blaming [TGT] group for a series of attacks in India including one on its parliament in 2002 and another last year on an airbase.
It said it interrogated Azhar and [TGT] associates in the Jaish-e-Mohammad group after the January 2016 attack on the Pathankot air base but found no evidence linking [TGT] to it.
Hua said there were clear rules for listing a person or group as a terrorist and that China has always believed the relevant U.N. committee should operate on the principles of objectivity fairness and professionalism on this matter. | 2Positive
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1,384 | Standoff ensues after 2 police officers shot near St. Louis | Shawn McGuire | The uniformed members of the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department were injured in an encounter with a gunman around 7:15 a.m. local time but expected to survive according to Sgt. Shawn McGuire of the St. Louis County Police Department.
McGuire said the incident began when the department received a call Wednesday night about shots fired in the suburb. Police were unable to locate the person related to the report but they remained in the area overnight near a residence where they thought the shots potentially came from.
In the morning police received a call from a neighbor who saw someone leave the house. Two officers located the individual a 37-year-old man walking down the street and tried to have a dialogue with him according to McGuire .
The officers ultimately attempted to take the man into custody and a scuffle ensued. At some point the man took out a firearm and shot the officers McGuire said.
Ballistic vests worn by the officers blocked the rounds of gunfire but they still suffered some injuries. Both were hospitalized for treatment and evaluation according to McGuire .
The firearm used to shoot the officers has not yet been recovered McGuire said. The St. Louis County Police Department was on scene assisting with the barricaded suspect. | The uniformed members of the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department were injured in an encounter with a gunman around 7:15 a.m. local time but expected to survive according to Sgt. [TGT][TGT]said the incident began when the department received a call Wednesday night about shots fired in the suburb. Police were unable to locate the person related to the report but they remained in the area overnight near a residence where they thought the shots potentially came from.
In the morning police received a call from a neighbor who saw someone leave the house. Two officers located the individual a 37-year-old man walking down the street and tried to have a dialogue with him according to [TGT] .
The officers ultimately attempted to take the man into custody and a scuffle ensued. At some point the man took out a firearm and shot the officers [TGT]said.
Ballistic vests worn by the officers blocked the rounds of gunfire but they still suffered some injuries. Both were hospitalized for treatment and evaluation according to [TGT] .
The firearm used to shoot the officers has not yet been recovered [TGT]said. The St. Louis County Police Department was on scene assisting with the barricaded suspect. | 2Positive
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1,385 | Amber Rose Fearful Over Breast Reduction Surgery On Wednesday | Amber Rose Fearful | Amber Rose posted a video Wednesday in which she told the surgeon performing her breast reduction that she looks forward to wearing spaghetti straps.
“I’m really scared and really excited at the same time ” she wrote on Instagram per People.
Using prayer-hand emojis Rose added that her doctors “are gonna take care of me.”
Rose known in part for showing off her curvaceous figure to promote a feminist message had said she was pondering a reduction.
“My boobs are stupid heavy my back hurts and I can’t wear cute lil shirts without a grandma bra ” she complained in an Instagram post in July. She also asked followers for advice about possible post-surgery scarring.
But in a video the day before her operation she appeared ready for the change.
“Spaghetti straps ” she said. “I’m really excited about spaghetti straps.” | [TGT] posted a video Wednesday in which [TGT] told the surgeon performing [TGT] breast reduction that [TGT] looks forward to wearing spaghetti straps.
“I’m really scared and really excited at the same time ” she wrote on Instagram per People.
Using prayer-hand emojis [TGT]added that [TGT] doctors “are gonna take care of me.”
[TGT]known in part for showing off [TGT] curvaceous figure to promote a feminist message had said [TGT] was pondering a reduction.
“My boobs are stupid heavy my back hurts and I can’t wear cute lil shirts without a grandma bra ” [TGT] complained in an Instagram post in July. [TGT] also asked followers for advice about possible post-surgery scarring.
But in a video the day before [TGT] operation [TGT] appeared ready for the change.
“Spaghetti straps ” [TGT] said. “I’m really excited about spaghetti straps.” | 2Positive
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1,386 | Shooting town hall: Rubio on the defensive on gun control | Marco Rubio | Republican Sen. Marco Rubio was put on the defensive Wednesday by angry students teachers and parents who are demanding stronger gun-control measures after the shooting rampage that claimed 17 lives at a Florida high school.
One of those confronting the Florida senator at a CNN's "Stand Up" town hall Wednesday night was Fred Guttenberg whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed on Feb. 14 with 16 others. Rubio was the lone Republican at the nationally broadcast gathering after Florida's GOP Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump declined invitations to appear at the event in Sunrise Florida.
Guttenberg told Rubio that his comments about the shooting "and those of your president this week have been pathetically weak."
People stood up and cheered Guttenberg as he challenged Rubio to tell him the truth to acknowledge that "guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids."
Rubio responded that the problems laid bare by the shooting rampage "cannot be solved by gun laws alone " drawing jeering whistles from the crowd. Rubio responded that he would support laws barring those 18 and under from buying such weapons support changing the background checks system and getting rid of bump stocks. | [TGT] was put on the defensive Wednesday by angry students teachers and parents who are demanding stronger gun-control measures after the shooting rampage that claimed 17 lives at a Florida high school.
One of those confronting the Florida senator at a CNN's "Stand Up" town hall Wednesday night was Fred Guttenberg whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed on Feb. 14 with 16 others. [TGT]was the lone Republican at the nationally broadcast gathering after Florida's GOP Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump declined invitations to appear at the event in Sunrise Florida.
Guttenberg told Rubio that his comments about the shooting "and those of your president this week have been pathetically weak."
People stood up and cheered Guttenberg as he challenged Rubio to tell him the truth to acknowledge that "guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids."
[TGT]responded that the problems laid bare by the shooting rampage "cannot be solved by gun laws alone " drawing jeering whistles from the crowd. [TGT]responded that [TGT] would support laws barring those 18 and under from buying such weapons support changing the background checks system and getting rid of bump stocks. | 2Positive
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1,387 | Harry Potter still casting his spell over Bloomsbury revenues | Harry Potter | LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter is continuing to work his magic for publisher Bloomsbury (BLPU.L) 20 years after his debut with special editions of his first adventure helping revenue rise 15 percent.
FILE PHOTO: Copies of the book of the play of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child parts One and Two are displayed at a bookstore in London Britain July 31 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo
Bloomsbury released new editions of J.K. Rowling’s “ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” with covers dedicated to wizarding school Hogwarts’ houses Gryffindor Slytherin Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw to mark the anniversary in June.
Revenue from Harry Potter grew 40 percent in the period the company said on Tuesday and the young wizard and his magical world will feature strongly in the publisher’s assault on the important Christmas market.
“We have a strong second-half list including the illustrated edition of ‘ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ’ the illustrated edition of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ and two major books to accompany the British Library’s Harry Potter exhibition ” said Chief Executive Nigel Newton.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds copies of the book of the play of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child parts One and Two at a bookstore in London Britain July 31 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo
Analyst Steve Liechti at Investec said Bloomsbury’s second-half list looked strong with cookery titles from Paul Hollywood Tom Kerridge and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as well as the new Harry Potter editions. | LONDON (Reuters) - [TGT]is continuing to work [TGT] magic for publisher Bloomsbury (BLPU.L) 20 years after [TGT] debut with special editions of [TGT] first adventure helping revenue rise 15 percent.
FILE PHOTO: Copies of the book of the play of [TGT]and the Cursed Child parts One and Two are displayed at a bookstore in London Britain July 31 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo
Bloomsbury released new editions of J.K. Rowling’s “ [TGT]and the Philosopher’s Stone” with covers dedicated to wizarding school Hogwarts’ houses Gryffindor Slytherin Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw to mark the anniversary in June.
Revenue from [TGT]grew 40 percent in the period the company said on Tuesday and the young wizard and his magical world will feature strongly in the publisher’s assault on the important Christmas market.
“We have a strong second-half list including the illustrated edition of ‘ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ’ the illustrated edition of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ and two major books to accompany the British Library’s [TGT]exhibition ” said Chief Executive Nigel Newton.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds copies of the book of the play of [TGT]and the Cursed Child parts One and Two at a bookstore in London Britain July 31 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo
Analyst Steve Liechti at Investec said Bloomsbury’s second-half list looked strong with cookery titles from Paul Hollywood Tom Kerridge and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as well as the new Harry Potter editions. | 2Positive
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1,388 | Abortion Could Be Deal | Roy Moore | For some Alabama voters supporting abortion rights may be a sin worse than some of the sexual misdeeds Alabama GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore has been accused of — allegations Moore has denied.
That's the conundrum facing the state's conservative deeply religious electorate: Embrace Democrat Doug Jones despite his liberal stance on abortion and other social issues or vote for Moore anyway even if they believe there is some truth to the sexual assault allegations against him.
"The abortion issue alone is enough to buy [ Moore ] a win " predicted Brent Buchanan an Alabama GOP pollster and consultant. "That's the one nonnegotiable for social conservatives. You're not as hardcore on taxes. 'I can give up on that ' some voters might think. But when you're talking about somebody else's life that's a whole different ballgame. And I think that's the big difference."
Moore has underscored that major divide frequently at his campaign events where he 's continued to deny the accusations against him but also refused to answer questions from the media about the swirling scandals. Multiple women have accused the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice of pursuing them romantically decades ago when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s and one woman has said he initiated sexual contact with her when she was just 14.
Moore 's allies have also doubled down on the abortion issue in the race's final stretch. America First PAC a pro-President Trump superPAC that's supporting Moore in the race released an ad this week calling Jones's position on abortion "unforgivable " showing an ultrasound and a heartbeat that then flatlines.
Moore spokeswoman Jane Porter was even less subtle when she appeared on CNN Tuesday talking to pregnant anchor Poppy Harlow and congratulating her on her "unborn child."
But Moore has seized upon the initial comments to MSNBC with his wife Kayla claiming that Jones supports "full-term abortion." PolitiFact rated that claim as false since there is no such thing as "full-term abortion."
Steven Taylor a political science professor at Alabama's Troy University agreed that social issues may be a sticking point that many conservative voters aren't able to overcome in voting for Jones. In addition to abortion Moore has hammered home his opposition to same-sex marriage and transgender rights.
"I think that without a doubt the social issues will motivate voters even if they are skeptical of the allegations against Moore " Taylor said. "Quite clearly abortion is probably the most salient issue in the race and more generally social issues."
The fact that Moore is seen as a champion on social issues is nothing new. It's what propelled him to national political stardom — and into plenty of controversy. In 2003 he was first removed from the state bench when he erected a statue of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama Judicial Building and refused to remove it even when ordered to do so by a federal court. He was elected again in 2012 but then subsequently suspended when he ordered state judges to defy the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide under the federal Constitution.
To Moore and his supporters that defiance is a badge of honor. And it's a big reason why many voters are likely reluctant to believe the sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations against him too given the Christian nationalist positions he's wholeheartedly embraced in the past. And at the crux of that is a stringent opposition to abortion. | For some Alabama voters supporting abortion rights may be a sin worse than some of the sexual misdeeds [TGT]has been accused of — allegations [TGT]has denied.
That's the conundrum facing the state's conservative deeply religious electorate: Embrace Democrat Doug Jones despite his liberal stance on abortion and other social issues or vote for [TGT]anyway even if they believe there is some truth to the sexual assault allegations against [TGT].
"The abortion issue alone is enough to buy [TGT] a win " predicted Brent Buchanan an Alabama GOP pollster and consultant. "That's the one nonnegotiable for social conservatives. You're not as hardcore on taxes. 'I can give up on that ' some voters might think. But when you're talking about somebody else's life that's a whole different ballgame. And I think that's the big difference.[TGT]has underscored that major divide frequently at [TGT] campaign events where [TGT] 's continued to deny the accusations against [TGT] but also refused to answer questions from the media about the swirling scandals. Multiple women have accused the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice of pursuing them romantically decades ago when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s and one woman has said he initiated sexual contact with her when she was just 14.
[TGT] 's allies have also doubled down on the abortion issue in the race's final stretch. America First PAC a pro-President Trump superPAC that's supporting [TGT]in the race released an ad this week calling Jones's position on abortion "unforgivable " showing an ultrasound and a heartbeat that then flatlines.
[TGT]spokeswoman Jane Porter was even less subtle when she appeared on CNN Tuesday talking to pregnant anchor Poppy Harlow and congratulating her on her "unborn child."
But [TGT]has seized upon the initial comments to MSNBC with [TGT] wife Kayla claiming that Jones supports "full-term abortion." PolitiFact rated that claim as false since there is no such thing as "full-term abortion."
Steven Taylor a political science professor at Alabama's Troy University agreed that social issues may be a sticking point that many conservative voters aren't able to overcome in voting for Jones. In addition to abortion [TGT]has hammered home [TGT] opposition to same-sex marriage and transgender rights.
"I think that without a doubt the social issues will motivate voters even if they are skeptical of the allegations against Moore " Taylor said. "Quite clearly abortion is probably the most salient issue in the race and more generally social issues."
The fact that [TGT]is seen as a champion on social issues is nothing new. It's what propelled [TGT] to national political stardom — and into plenty of controversy. In 2003 he was first removed from the state bench when he erected a statue of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama Judicial Building and refused to remove it even when ordered to do so by a federal court. He was elected again in 2012 but then subsequently suspended when he ordered state judges to defy the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide under the federal Constitution.
To [TGT] and [TGT] supporters that defiance is a badge of honor. And it's a big reason why many voters are likely reluctant to believe the sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations against him too given the Christian nationalist positions he's wholeheartedly embraced in the past. And at the crux of that is a stringent opposition to abortion. | 1Neutral
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1,389 | Mosques Consider Sanctuary For Immigrants : NPR | Omar Suleiman | "So I think that announcing yourself as a sanctuary has its implications whether you're a mosque a church a synagogue or anything " Imam Omar Suleiman told NPR's Renee Montagne.
Suleiman is the founder and president of the Yaqueen Institute for Islamic Research near Dallas Texas. He says ICE has been particularly aggressive in Dallas where the area leads the country in the number of deportations since the election of Donald Trump.
Last year Suleiman was one of the people calling for mosques to join the sanctuary movement in response to increased deportation. The adversity that the Muslim and Latino communities face is similar he said.
"I think the tools that have been employed against immigrants are the same tools that have been employed against refugees which are the same tools that have been employed against the Muslim community as a whole which is the dehumanization — the 'otherizing' — that allows people to subconsciously accept this idea that we somehow do not deserve the same level of dignity and respect and liberty that everybody else does " Suleiman says.
But there is already a deep anti-Muslim sentiment he adds pointing at mosque burnings that have taken place since President Trump was elected. He says Muslims are already under a lot of scrutiny and an additional layer to that could exacerbate something that is already an issue and endanger both the Muslim and the Latino communities. | "So I think that announcing yourself as a sanctuary has its implications whether you're a mosque a church a synagogue or anything [TGT]told NPR's Renee Montagne.
[TGT]is the founder and president of the Yaqueen Institute for Islamic Research near Dallas Texas. [TGT] says ICE has been particularly aggressive in Dallas where the area leads the country in the number of deportations since the election of Donald Trump.
Last year [TGT]was one of the people calling for mosques to join the sanctuary movement in response to increased deportation. The adversity that the Muslim and Latino communities face is similar [TGT] said.
"I think the tools that have been employed against immigrants are the same tools that have been employed against refugees which are the same tools that have been employed against the Muslim community as a whole which is the dehumanization — the 'otherizing' — that allows people to subconsciously accept this idea that we somehow do not deserve the same level of dignity and respect and liberty that everybody else does " Suleiman says.
But there is already a deep anti-Muslim sentiment he adds pointing at mosque burnings that have taken place since President Trump was elected. He says Muslims are already under a lot of scrutiny and an additional layer to that could exacerbate something that is already an issue and endanger both the Muslim and the Latino communities. | 1Neutral
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1,390 | How gender equality and diversity were addressed at 2018 Oscars | Mira Sorvino | Oscar winner Mira Sorvino who was one of the first women to speak out about the now disgraced producer was featured prominently in the clip saying "The status quo does not have to be status quo anymore."
She also said future filmmakers have the opportunity to "lionize beauty and truth and justice."
Sorvino and dozens of women accused Weinstein late last year of sexual misconduct including rape which allegedly happened over several decades. Though the former movie mogul has admitted to wrongdoing and sought professional help his spokeswoman told ABC News previously that "any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
Earlier on the red carpet Sorvino and her date for the night Judd spoke about the Time's Up gender equality campaign and legal fund.
"This movement isn't stopping " Sorvino said. "We're going forward until we have a safe and equitable world for women." | Oscar winner [TGT] who was one of the first women to speak out about the now disgraced producer was featured prominently in the clip saying "The status quo does not have to be status quo anymore."
She also said future filmmakers have the opportunity to "lionize beauty and truth and justice."
Sorvino and dozens of women accused Weinstein late last year of sexual misconduct including rape which allegedly happened over several decades. Though the former movie mogul has admitted to wrongdoing and sought professional help his spokeswoman told ABC News previously that "any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
Earlier on the red carpet Sorvino and her date for the night Judd spoke about the Time's Up gender equality campaign and legal fund.
"This movement isn't stopping " Sorvino said. "We're going forward until we have a safe and equitable world for women." | 2Positive
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1,391 | Trump lashes out at Vanity Fair over Clinton video | Clinton | WEST PALM BEACH Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at Vanity Fair after the magazine said an online video mocking Hillary Clinton “missed the mark.”
The video posted over the weekend shows editors of Vanity Fair’s Hive website offering toasts and New Year’s resolutions for Clinton including that she vow to take up knitting volunteer work or any hobby that would keep her from running again for president.
The backlash was swift. Among those to respond was actress Patricia Arquette who tweeted her own proposal — stop telling women what they should or can do.
Trump added that Anna Wintour “is beside herself in grief & begging for forgiveness!”
Wintour is the editor-in-chief of Vogue not Vanity Fair. She is also the artistic director of parent company Conde Nast which publishes both titles. | WEST PALM BEACH Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at Vanity Fair after the magazine said an online video mocking [TGT]“missed the mark.”
The video posted over the weekend shows editors of Vanity Fair’s Hive website offering toasts and New Year’s resolutions for Clinton including that [TGT] vow to take up knitting volunteer work or any hobby that would keep [TGT] from running again for president.
The backlash was swift. Among those to respond was actress Patricia Arquette who tweeted [TGT] own proposal — stop telling women what they should or can do.
Trump added that Anna Wintour “is beside herself in grief & begging for forgiveness!”
Wintour is the editor-in-chief of Vogue not Vanity Fair. She is also the artistic director of parent company Conde Nast which publishes both titles. | 2Positive
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1,392 | Do I even know you anymore? | John McCain | Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) . (Cliff Owen/Associated Press)
What happened to you ?
But boo Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) you did at the behest of President Trump during a rally in Alabama last week.
Mike Allen of Axios further reported this week that Trump has been “physically mocking” the thumbs-down gesture McCain used to deliver the deciding vote against the Republican health-care bill in July. Did that mocking involve an imitation of McCain ’s stiff arm movements? In case you haven’t read a newspaper in the 45 years since we played on the same Dixie Youth Baseball team together McCain got the hell beaten out of him by the communists who held him in the Hanoi Hilton for more than five years.
Meanwhile McCain continued receiving the beatings that would forever leave him incapable of lifting his arms over his head. He kept enduring torture because he refused to leave his band of brothers behind.
Do you have that kind of character? If you booed McCain at last week’s rally don’t bother answering. Someone has obviously failed you in your life; you probably need to spend some time figuring out who that was. And if you still go to church you may also want to pray for all those around you who put tribal politics ahead of basic humanity.
Then maybe you should drive home and tell your children the story of John McCain’s sacrifice. If you can teach your children that lesson of heroism there’s a chance they might grow up to have more character than the president you now praise. | [TGT] . (Cliff Owen/Associated Press)
What happened to you ?
But boo Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) you did at the behest of President Trump during a rally in Alabama last week.
Mike Allen of Axios further reported this week that Trump has been “physically mocking” the thumbs-down gesture [TGT]used to deliver the deciding vote against the Republican health-care bill in July. Did that mocking involve an imitation of McCain ’s stiff arm movements? In case you haven’t read a newspaper in the 45 years since we played on the same Dixie Youth Baseball team together [TGT]got the hell beaten out of [TGT] by the communists who held [TGT] in the Hanoi Hilton for more than five years.
Meanwhile [TGT]continued receiving the beatings that would forever leave [TGT] incapable of lifting [TGT] arms over [TGT] head. [TGT] kept enduring torture because [TGT] refused to leave [TGT] band of brothers behind.
Do you have that kind of character? If you booed McCain at last week’s rally don’t bother answering. Someone has obviously failed you in your life; you probably need to spend some time figuring out who that was. And if you still go to church you may also want to pray for all those around you who put tribal politics ahead of basic humanity.
Then maybe you should drive home and tell your children the story of John McCain’s sacrifice. If you can teach your children that lesson of heroism there’s a chance they might grow up to have more character than the president you now praise. | 2Positive
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1,393 | In Myanmar Pope Calls For Unity And Tolerance But Doesn't Mention Rohingya : The Two | Suu Kyi | "The arduous process of peace-building and national reconciliation can only advance through a commitment to justice and respect for human rights " the pope said after Myanmar's nominal leader Aung San Suu Kyi had made an address.
Francis who has spoken forcefully and passionately in the past of the plight of the world's displaced and persecuted minorities met with Suu Kyi and was to have also met separately with the country's powerful military chief and Buddhist monks.
Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign for democracy – much of it spent under house arrest. But although she has no direct authority over the country's military Suu Kyi has come under intense international pressure for not denouncing the army's crackdown.
Since the crackdown began in August refugees have poured across the border into Bangladesh carrying with them stories of brutality including beatings shootings and rape. Many bear the physical scars of abuse to back up their claims. Suu Kyi has remained largely silent on the alleged atrocities and Myanmar's military has denied they've taken place. | "The arduous process of peace-building and national reconciliation can only advance through a commitment to justice and respect for human rights " the pope said after Myanmar's nominal leader Aung [TGT] had made an address.
Francis who has spoken forcefully and passionately in the past of the plight of the world's displaced and persecuted minorities met with [TGT]and was to have also met separately with the country's powerful military chief and Buddhist monks.
[TGT]won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign for democracy – much of it spent under house arrest. But although she has no direct authority over the country's military [TGT]has come under intense international pressure for not denouncing the army's crackdown.
Since the crackdown began in August refugees have poured across the border into Bangladesh carrying with them stories of brutality including beatings shootings and rape. Many bear the physical scars of abuse to back up their claims. [TGT] has remained largely silent on the alleged atrocities and Myanmar's military has denied they've taken place. | 2Positive
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1,394 | Texas man with mental disability dies after police struggle | Stephen Gayle | Stephen Gayle died Thursday night after Temple police officers who responded to a disturbance call tried to put him in handcuffs. A Temple Police Department spokeswoman said Friday that the Texas Department of Public Safety will investigate the death and that there's no indication the officers "acted outside the scope of their duties."
Temple officers responded to a disturbance complaint around 7:30 p.m. Thursday near an apartment complex. They encountered Gayle believing he was responsible for the disturbance and said he was uncooperative and appeared intoxicated according to a police release. During a struggle the officers tried to handcuff Gayle and put him inside a police car police said.
The Temple Daily Telegram reports that Gayle 's family and people who witnessed the incident are questioning the account police have given. Witnesses who spoke to the newspaper said the officers who were white used excessive force to arrest Gayle who was black.
Wanda Nichols a church pastor who lives in the neighborhood said she saw Gayle walking down the street and yelling before police arrived. She said she thought he was trying to get the attention of a child who was practicing football nearby. | [TGT] died Thursday night after Temple police officers who responded to a disturbance call tried to put [TGT] in handcuffs. A Temple Police Department spokeswoman said Friday that the Texas Department of Public Safety will investigate the death and that there's no indication the officers "acted outside the scope of their duties."
Temple officers responded to a disturbance complaint around 7:30 p.m. Thursday near an apartment complex. They encountered Gayle believing he was responsible for the disturbance and said he was uncooperative and appeared intoxicated according to a police release. During a struggle the officers tried to handcuff Gayle and put him inside a police car police said.
The Temple Daily Telegram reports that Gayle 's family and people who witnessed the incident are questioning the account police have given. Witnesses who spoke to the newspaper said the officers who were white used excessive force to arrest Gayle who was black.
Wanda Nichols a church pastor who lives in the neighborhood said she saw Gayle walking down the street and yelling before police arrived. She said she thought he was trying to get the attention of a child who was practicing football nearby. | 2Positive
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1,395 | Mark Meadows Comes Out Swinging: ' Judge Roy Moore Has a Backbone of Steel' | Roy Moore | House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) joined Breitbart News Sunday live from Alabama to discuss his support of former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore for U.S. Senate .
Breitbart London editor Raheem Kassam and Washington Political editor Matt Boyle joined Congressman Meadows for an extended chat on Moore ’s Tuesday special primary election showdown with the Chamber of Commerce-endorsed appointed Sen. Luther Strange.
“I know Judge Roy Moore to be not only be a man of character in spite of the tens of millions of dollars that are flowing into Alabama to suggest otherwise ” Meadows said laying out the case for his chosen candidate.
Moore on the other hand is in Meadows opinion the kind of candidate who will not bend to “the Swamp.” He told Kassam and Boyle “A Judge Moore win really would make sure that the Trump agenda gets implemented ” adding “There’s all kinds of members of Congress and senators who will run and they really run so incredibly strong like they have a backbone of steel but they really have a backbone of a banana. You know when it’s peeled back it gets real mushy when they get to Washington DC. So we need to give them some steel. Judge Roy Moore has a backbone of steel. I’m glad to not only endorse him and support him but I look forward to serving with him in the coming days.”
Meadows also laid out his case against Luther Strange whom President Trump has chosen to endorse. He focused for example on Strange’s back-and-forth record on eliminating the filibuster for legislation in the Senate telling Boyle “Luther Strange has done the infamous flip-flop. I can tell you I was never so mad to see that he signed onto a letter that says we ought to keep the 60 vote filibuster rule in place that says you gotta have 60 votes in order to move anything in the Senate. That one thing has thwarted the Trump agenda over and over and over again in this first nine months. And yet he signed onto a letter that said we need to keep it. Well it was only when he got in a real tough race in this special election did he say just a few weeks ago ‘Oh no. I’m for doing away with the filibuster.’ The American people are smarter than that. I know the people in Alabama are smarter than that. They see it for what it is: a political stunt that he pulled at the last minute in hopes of trying to convince people that he is one of them.”
Meadows closed his appearance by offering his prediction. “Roy Moore is a man of faith. The power of prayer for so many is going up on his behalf right now. I think Tuesday night will be a great victory due in no small part to the wonderful efforts of all the listeners ” he said before signing off. | House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) joined Breitbart News Sunday live from Alabama to discuss his support of [TGT] for U.S. Senate .
Breitbart London editor Raheem Kassam and Washington Political editor Matt Boyle joined Congressman Meadows for an extended chat on Moore ’s Tuesday special primary election showdown with the Chamber of Commerce-endorsed appointed Sen. Luther Strange.
“I know Judge Roy Moore to be not only be a man of character in spite of the tens of millions of dollars that are flowing into Alabama to suggest otherwise ” Meadows said laying out the case for his chosen candidate.
[TGT]on the other hand is in Meadows opinion the kind of candidate who will not bend to “the Swamp.” He told Kassam and Boyle “A Judge [TGT] win really would make sure that the Trump agenda gets implemented ” adding “There’s all kinds of members of Congress and senators who will run and they really run so incredibly strong like they have a backbone of steel but they really have a backbone of a banana. You know when it’s peeled back it gets real mushy when they get to Washington DC. So we need to give them some steel. Judge Roy Moore has a backbone of steel. I’m glad to not only endorse him and support him but I look forward to serving with him in the coming days.”
Meadows also laid out his case against Luther Strange whom President Trump has chosen to endorse. He focused for example on Strange’s back-and-forth record on eliminating the filibuster for legislation in the Senate telling Boyle “Luther Strange has done the infamous flip-flop. I can tell you I was never so mad to see that he signed onto a letter that says we ought to keep the 60 vote filibuster rule in place that says you gotta have 60 votes in order to move anything in the Senate. That one thing has thwarted the Trump agenda over and over and over again in this first nine months. And yet he signed onto a letter that said we need to keep it. Well it was only when he got in a real tough race in this special election did he say just a few weeks ago ‘Oh no. I’m for doing away with the filibuster.’ The American people are smarter than that. I know the people in Alabama are smarter than that. They see it for what it is: a political stunt that he pulled at the last minute in hopes of trying to convince people that he is one of them.”
Meadows closed his appearance by offering his prediction. “Roy Moore is a man of faith. The power of prayer for so many is going up on his behalf right now. I think Tuesday night will be a great victory due in no small part to the wonderful efforts of all the listeners ” he said before signing off. | 2Positive
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1,396 | Hardliners give cautious welcome to May's Brexit vision | Theresa May | LONDON (Reuters) - The head of a hardline group of pro-Brexit lawmakers on Saturday gave a cautious welcome to Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for Britain’s future ties with Europe saying now was not the time to nitpick.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after delivering a speech about her vision for Brexit at Mansion House in London Britain March 2 2018. REUTERS/Leon Neal/Pool
With just over a year to go before Britain leaves the EU on March 29 2019 May softened her tone and called on Europe to show flexibility to help solve some of the more difficult problems.
She said she hoped to secure a tailor-made free trade deal that would include financial services and said Britain would aim for associate membership of EU agencies covering chemicals medicines and aerospace.
Britain’s newspapers as divided over Brexit as May’s party welcomed May ’s proposals as a way to return power to London without damaging trade from the world’s sixth biggest economy.
“For months the Brexit hardliners have called the tune ” the Financial Times said.“Mrs May has stopped dancing.” | LONDON (Reuters) - The head of a hardline group of pro-Brexit lawmakers on Saturday gave a cautious welcome to Prime Minister [TGT]’s plans for Britain’s future ties with Europe saying now was not the time to nitpick.
Britain's Prime Minister [TGT] leaves after delivering a speech about her vision for Brexit at Mansion House in London Britain March 2 2018. REUTERS/Leon Neal/Pool
With just over a year to go before Britain leaves the EU on March 29 2019 May softened her tone and called on Europe to show flexibility to help solve some of the more difficult problems.
She said she hoped to secure a tailor-made free trade deal that would include financial services and said Britain would aim for associate membership of EU agencies covering chemicals medicines and aerospace.
Britain’s newspapers as divided over Brexit as May’s party welcomed May ’s proposals as a way to return power to London without damaging trade from the world’s sixth biggest economy.
“For months the Brexit hardliners have called the tune ” the Financial Times said.“Mrs May has stopped dancing.” | 2Positive
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1,397 | Feds eye anti | Peter King | Strzok’s Democratic leanings also have piqued the interest of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Peter King (R-LI) told The Post Tuesday.
King said he and his fellow Intel members want to review Strzok’s “text messages e-mails and contacts ” along with his impact on the findings of the Clinton investigation and “why he was questioning Michael Flynn.”
“I think we should definitely question him . In fact he ’s one of the people we’ve been trying to get information on for the last several months ” King said.
“The FBI and Justice Department was stonewalling us. We had been tipped off about him .” | Strzok’s Democratic leanings also have piqued the interest of the House Intelligence Committee [TGT]) told The Post Tuesday.
[TGT]said [TGT] and [TGT] fellow Intel members want to review Strzok’s “text messages e-mails and contacts ” along with [TGT] impact on the findings of the Clinton investigation and “why [TGT] was questioning Michael Flynn.”
“I think we should definitely question him . In fact he ’s one of the people we’ve been trying to get information on for the last several months ” [TGT] said.
“The FBI and Justice Department was stonewalling us. We had been tipped off about him .” | 2Positive
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1,398 | Sean Hannity calls Hillary Clinton "President" on Fox News | Hillary Clinton | After discounting Manafort's indictment as irrelevant and shrugging off Papadopoulos' guilty plea with an "everybody makes mistakes" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fox News host Sean Hannity turned to the person whose crimes he thought investigators should be focusing on: President Hillary Clinton .
But his call out of Clinton didn't necessarily go as planned...
Yep he called Hillary Clinton the President on air. (If you care to listen to Hannity's dulcet tones the President Clinton slip comes in around 3:20.)
Even better he started to say " Hillary Clinton " then STOPPED and CORRECTED to "President Clinton" — Some nerdy chick (@imightbenerdy) October 31 2017
Now Hannity promises "incontrovertible evidence" about alleged Clinton crimes regarding uranium sales to Putin. "Few in the media will touch this story " Hannity says. Well here's what happened when @JoyAnnReid touched it yesterday https://t.co/LR7UnBGRFx — Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 31 2017
Fox News: President Hillary Clinton arrested on Russian pizza collusion pedophilia emails charges! — OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) October 30 2017
Sean Hannity just called Hillary “President Clinton” — if he’s privy to some info we’re not I’m open to it. — Sarah Wood (@sarahwoodwriter) October 31 2017
Really inappropriate of President Clinton to go on a book tour in the middle of her first term. — Molly (@isteintraum) October 31 2017
Recently Hillary Clinton a private citizen told attendees at her book tour that with Fox News' focus on her instead of on the Mueller investigation and Trump administration it "appears they don't know I'm not President." The jab is made only more hilarious with Hannity's word vomit.
Hannity just after calling her "President Clinton " is now going after Hillary for making a joke about how Fox News thinks she 's president. — Brian Tashman (@briantashman) October 31 2017
Here is Sean Hannity apparently living in an alternate universe talking about "President" Hillary Clinton . These people have lost it. 😂 pic.twitter.com/JByC2zoyFa — Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) October 31 2017 Clinton for her r part is painfully aware of the actual Trump presidency universe she e's living in. On Oct. 28 when Nate Silver marked the anniversary of the Comey letter (which Clinton n partially attributes her r election loss) on Twitter she e had this perfect response.
Oh is that today? https://t.co/AYy7CtYRWj — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 29 2017 | After discounting Manafort's indictment as irrelevant and shrugging off Papadopoulos' guilty plea with an "everybody makes mistakes" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fox News host Sean Hannity turned to the person whose crimes he thought investigators should be focusing on: [TGT] .
But [TGT] call out of [TGT]didn't necessarily go as planned...
Yep [TGT] called Hillary Clinton the President on air. (If you care to listen to Hannity's dulcet tones the President [TGT]slip comes in around 3:20.)
Even better [TGT] started to say " [TGT] " then STOPPED and CORRECTED to [TGT]" — Some nerdy chick (@imightbenerdy) October 31 2017
Now Hannity promises "incontrovertible evidence" about alleged [TGT]crimes regarding uranium sales to Putin. "Few in the media will touch this story " Hannity says. Well here's what happened when @JoyAnnReid touched it yesterday https://t.co/LR7UnBGRFx — Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 31 2017
Fox News: [TGT] arrested on Russian pizza collusion pedophilia emails charges! — OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) October 30 2017
Sean Hannity just called Hillary “President Clinton” — if he’s privy to some info we’re not I’m open to it. — Sarah Wood (@sarahwoodwriter) October 31 2017
Really inappropriate of [TGT] to go on a book tour in the middle of [TGT] first term. — Molly (@isteintraum) October 31 2017
Recently [TGT]a private citizen told attendees at [TGT] book tour that with Fox News' focus on [TGT] instead of on the Mueller investigation and Trump administration it "appears they don't know I'm not President." The jab is made only more hilarious with Hannity's word vomit.
Hannity just after calling [TGT] [TGT] " is now going after Hillary for making a joke about how Fox News thinks she 's president. — Brian Tashman (@briantashman) October 31 2017
Here is Sean Hannity apparently living in an alternate universe talking about "President" [TGT] . These people have lost it. 😂 pic.twitter.com/JByC2zoyFa — Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) October 31 2017 [TGT] for [TGT] r part is painfully aware of the actual Trump presidency universe she e's living in. On Oct. 28 when Nate Silver marked the anniversary of the Comey letter (which [TGT] n partially attributes [TGT] r election loss) on Twitter [TGT] e had this perfect response.
Oh is that today? https://t.co/AYy7CtYRWj — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 29 2017 | 2Positive
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1,399 | This Lumberjack Frat Once Had the Coolest Clubhouse in S.F. | Hoo Hoo Way | Peter Caravalho and Sarah Caravalho Khan love to walk around their Cupertino neighborhood. It’s got quiet side streets with beautiful gardens in front of cozy family homes. Over the past year they’ve become fascinated with a one particular street near their house — Hoo Hoo Way. Which brings us to this week’s Bay Curious question:
But the meaning behind Hoo Hoo Way in Cupertino isn’t any of those things. Its origin stretches back to the first green rush in California and one very wacky group.
How Did Hoo Hoo Way Come to Cupertino?
Editor’s Note: Hoo Hoo Way has been replaced by a street sign that reads Carmen Road. | Peter Caravalho and Sarah Caravalho Khan love to walk around their Cupertino neighborhood. It’s got quiet side streets with beautiful gardens in front of cozy family homes. Over the past year they’ve become fascinated with a one particular street near their house — [TGT]. Which brings us to this week’s Bay Curious question:
But the meaning behind Hoo Hoo Way in Cupertino isn’t any of those things. Its origin stretches back to the first green rush in California and one very wacky group.
How Did [TGT] Come to Cupertino?
Editor’s Note: Hoo Hoo Way has been replaced by a street sign that reads Carmen Road. | 2Positive
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1,400 | Trump: 'Sloppy' Michael Moore Broadway Show a 'Total Bomb' | Michael Moore | President Donald Trump took on one his most vocal celebrity critics Saturday in a message posted to his Twitter account calling filmmaker Michael Moore’s anti-Trump summer Broadway show a “total bomb” that was “forced to close.”
“While not at all presidential I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!” Trump tweeted Saturday evening about Moore’s show.
While not at all presidential I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28 2017
Trump was of course referring to Moore ’s Broadway show The Terms of My Surrender a play in which the filmmaker took aim at Trump and his policies and often brought out celebrity guests to help bash the president. The play opened in late summer and ran for twelve weeks at New York City’s Belasco Theater.
The show was also mostly panned by critics with one Los Angeles Times reviewer calling it a “support group for disheartened Democrats ” and one in which Moore casts himself both as a “victim of the right” and a “champion of all mankind.”
Moore fired back at the president Saturday in a series of tweets explaining that the show had always been intended to play as a limited engagement and saying at least one senior member of Trump’s White House was a fan of the filmmaker’s.
“You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency- which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early. NOT SAD ” Moore wrote in the first of eleven messages.
Moore also suggested that Trump was using the play as his “latest distraction” from his “crimes ” and called the president a “loser.”
“For now at least I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support Jared!)” he concluded his tweets.
10) On Broadway Donald they call it a "LIMITED ENGAGEMENT" — just like we’re planning on making your presidency. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29 2017
11) For now at least I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support Jared!) pic.twitter.com/mTwLxW4KgR — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29 2017
During one August performance Moore took the audience that had come to see him that night on a pair of double-decker buses to a protest outside Trump Tower where he was joined by celebrities including Mark Ruffalo and Olivia Wilde.
Moore told the audience at the protest that the group was there to perform a “citizen’s arrest.” | President Donald Trump took on one his most vocal celebrity critics Saturday in a message posted to his Twitter account calling filmmaker Michael Moore’s anti-Trump summer Broadway show a “total bomb” that was “forced to close.”
“While not at all presidential I must point out that [TGT]was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!” Trump tweeted Saturday evening about Moore’s show.
While not at all presidential I must point out that [TGT]was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28 2017
Trump was of course referring to Moore ’s Broadway show The Terms of My Surrender a play in which the filmmaker took aim at Trump and his policies and often brought out celebrity guests to help bash the president. The play opened in late summer and ran for twelve weeks at New York City’s Belasco Theater.
[TGT] was also mostly panned by critics with one Los Angeles Times reviewer calling [TGT] a “support group for disheartened Democrats ” and one in which Moore casts himself both as a “victim of the right” and a “champion of all mankind.”
Moore fired back at the president Saturday in a series of tweets explaining that [TGT] had always been intended to play as a limited engagement and saying at least one senior member of Trump’s White House was a fan of the filmmaker’s.
“You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency- which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early. NOT SAD ” Moore wrote in the first of eleven messages.
Moore also suggested that Trump was using the play as his “latest distraction” from his “crimes ” and called the president a “loser.”
“For now at least I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support Jared!)” he concluded his tweets.
10) On Broadway Donald they call it a "LIMITED ENGAGEMENT" — just like we’re planning on making your presidency. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29 2017
11) For now at least I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support Jared!) pic.twitter.com/mTwLxW4KgR — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29 2017
During one August performance Moore took the audience that had come to see him that night on a pair of double-decker buses to a protest outside Trump Tower where he was joined by celebrities including Mark Ruffalo and Olivia Wilde.
Moore told the audience at the protest that the group was there to perform a “citizen’s arrest.” | 1Neutral
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