| Full Flake Interview: I'm 'Concerned About the Direction' of GOP Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:03 PM PDT  In exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Jeff Flake tells Chuck about his new book which takes aim at the role of the Conservative movement within the Republican Party.
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| U.S. Marine Osprey Crashes off Australian Coast Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:31 AM PDT  A search-and-rescue operation was underway Saturday after three Marines went missing when their aircraft crashed into the sea off the eastern coast of Australia during landing, the Marine Corps said.
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| Michael Flynn Discloses Ties to Firm Related to Controversial Data Analysis Company Posted: 05 Aug 2017 05:18 AM PDT  The company aided the Trump campaign
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| Iran's Rouhani sworn in as tensions simmer over nuclear deal Posted: 05 Aug 2017 07:32 AM PDT  Iran's President Hassan Rouhani warned the US against tearing up the nuclear deal as he was inaugurated for a second term Saturday, but he also faces challenges closer to home amid accusations he is rolling over to conservatives. Rouhani met with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini before the ceremony and called for greater efforts to safeguard the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in the face of new US sanctions. "Iran will not be the first to violate the nuclear deal... but nor will it stay silent when the United States fails to respect its commitments," he told the packed parliament hall.
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| Manufacturer says corrosion caused ride to break apart Posted: 06 Aug 2017 02:21 PM PDT  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Excessive corrosion on a support beam caused a "catastrophic failure" of a thrill ride at the Ohio State Fair that killed an 18-year-old man and injured seven others, the ride's Dutch manufacturer said in a statement posted Sunday on Facebook.
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| Panda gives birth to twins at French zoo, one cub dies Posted: 04 Aug 2017 11:58 PM PDT  Huan Huan, on loan to Beauval zoo in central France from China, delivered the first cub at 10:18 pm (2018 GMT) and the second at 10:32. The Chinese experts, who have experience of this, saw it straight away," zoo director Rodolphe Delord said. The youngster has been put in an incubator so vets can give first-time mum Huan Huan a helping hand, zoo officials said.
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| Kansas Grandmother Deported for Voter Fraud Leaves U.S. in Tears Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:41 AM PDT  Margarita Fitzpatrick, who left her family in Kansas and returned to her native Peru, says that she registered to vote by accident because of what she says is a flaw in the law.
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| Russia probe intensifies as Mueller zeroes in on Trump's inner circle Posted: 06 Aug 2017 09:03 AM PDT  ABC News' George Stephanopoulos recaps the latest in politics on "This Week."
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| China sacks senior Xinjiang official for not fighting extremism Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:23 PM PDT ![China sacks senior Xinjiang official for not fighting extremism]( "China sacks senior Xinjiang official for not fighting extremism") China has sacked and will prosecute a senior official in its violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang after a probe found he wasn't doing enough to tackle extremism in one of the most sensitive parts of the country and had taken bribes. Anti-graft watchdog the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement late on Saturday that Zhang Jinbiao, who was Communist Party chief for the Hotan region in Xinjiang's deep south, had broken party rules. Zhang "seriously violated political discipline and political rules and did not exert himself in carrying out his counter-terrorism and stability maintenance responsibilities, causing serious consequences", it said.
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| Minnesota mosque blast Posted: 05 Aug 2017 01:02 PM PDT ![Minnesota mosque blast]( "Minnesota mosque blast") A bomb was thrown through the window of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Ind., as people were preparing for morning prayers, damaging the imam's office but not injuring anyone.
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| Flake: 'I Expect to Vote Against the President' on Trade Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:11 PM PDT  Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) tells Chuck Todd that he'll vote, "with the president when I believe he's right, and vote against him when I think he's wrong."
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| Miami-Bound American Airlines Flight Bursts Into Flames Posted: 05 Aug 2017 05:59 AM PDT  One of the flight attendants described the scene inside the plane as chaotic with the panicked passengers jumping over the seats in order to get to the exit.
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| Syria army takes last IS-held town in Homs: monitor Posted: 05 Aug 2017 07:29 PM PDT  Syria's army seized the last Islamic State group stronghold in the country's Homs province on Saturday, clearing their path to attack the jihadists in the country's east, a monitor said. Al-Sukhna, some 70 kilometres (45 miles) northeast of the famed ancient city of Palmyra, is the last town on the road to the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where a government garrison has held out under IS siege since early 2015. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said government forces had captured the town after heavy army artillery fire and air strikes by government ally Russia.
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| Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit Posted: 05 Aug 2017 04:51 PM PDT ![Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit]( "Gay, small-town Oklahoma clerk claims harassment in lawsuit") OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When Randy Gamel and his husband were looking for a retirement home, a six-bedroom fixer upper in the tiny western Oklahoma town of Hitchcock caught their eye.
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| Chicago Murder Manhunt Ends as Suspects Surrender to Police in California Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:38 AM PDT  Wyndham Lathem, an associate professor at Northwestern University and Andrew Warren, an employee at Oxford University in the UK, surrendered separately to authorities in California on Friday, ending a nationwide manhunt, a U.S. Marshals official said.
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| Hangry Woman Stabs Ex-Boyfriend In The Back For Refusing to Make Her Food Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:48 AM PDT  In case you need another reason not to cook dinner with ex-boyfriends.
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| Michelle Obama's long journey to the White House is a story spanning five generations Posted: 06 Aug 2017 07:38 AM PDT  Former First Lady Michelle Obama's family sure has come a long way in five generations. American filmmaker and Selma director Ava DuVernay shared a compelling tweet paying tribute to the former First Lady's great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia "Mattie" Shields McGruder, who was born a slave in South Carolina in 1844. SEE ALSO: Michelle Obama wished Barack Obama a happy birthday with some absolutely adorable throwback pics Become your ancestor's wildest dream. pic.twitter.com/4xvyBZauwY — Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 5, 2017 DuVernay tweeted: "Become your ancestor's wildest dreams." The inscription on the tombstone states that, at age six, Mattie was brought to the Shields farm, located in what is now the community of Rex, in Georgia's Clayton County. Decades later, Mattie's great-great-great granddaughter, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, not only went to Princeton University but also earned her law degree from Harvard University before going on to become the 44th First Lady of the United States of America. The story of Black America is one of strength, faith, and constant endurance. Still striving, but we have a lot to be proud of. https://t.co/fUhx0HnmhS — Erica Bennett (@EricaANjax) August 5, 2017 DuVerney's tweet even inspired a Columbia University faculty member to share how far his own lineage has come since the days of slavery. My great-grandfather William Johnson Moore was a slave in Tennessee. I am now the head of @nycpublicdesign and on the faculty at @Columbia. pic.twitter.com/y8azy1TReI — Justin Garrett Moore (@jgmoore) August 5, 2017 No doubt, it's a true testament to recognize how far black America has come since the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was adopted into the U.S. Constitution in 1865, 21 years after Shields was born. What a wonderful testimony of what is possible in the USA! https://t.co/IGNQpN85aU — John London (@jlondon8932) August 5, 2017 It's only a matter of time before Malia and Sasha Obama continue to hold up this upward line of endurance and success, and make their great-great-great-great grandma Shields a proud lady. No pressure, girls. WATCH: Michelle Obama's final farewell: "Lead by example with hope, never fear"
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| Mercosur suspends Venezuela, urges immediate transition Posted: 05 Aug 2017 02:09 PM PDT ![Mercosur suspends Venezuela, urges immediate transition]( "Mercosur suspends Venezuela, urges immediate transition") By Silvio Cascione SAO PAULO (Reuters) - South American trade bloc Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely on Saturday, adding more international pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to dismantle a newly created pro-government constituent assembly and restore democracy. Foreign ministers of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil announced the decision in Sao Paulo, urging Maduro to release prisoners and immediately start a political transition. It is not possible to inflict such torture on the people," Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes said after the meeting.
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| Ex-soldier held in Turkey on terror charges is innocent, parents insist Posted: 06 Aug 2017 07:45 AM PDT  A British solider arrested on holiday for fighting Isil was only in Syria "to help people", his parents have claimed, as they appealed for his release. Joe Robinson, 24, from Accrington, Lancs, was arrested on 22 July while on holiday in the town of Didim in south-west Turkey. He was accused of "being a member of a terrorist organisation", apparently in connection with time he spent in Syria fighting with the Kurdish militia in 2014, and was initially held alongside his girlfriend and her mother. Joseph Robinson Credit: Facebook They were released after six days, but Robinson remains in custody. "I just want information," his mother, Sharon, 48, told the Guardian. "We don't know if there's a court date, how he is coping or what he's actually being charged with. "I've asked if there's any way we can get in touch with him but I've heard nothing at all. "I had no idea about the situation in Turkey and I don't think Joe did either, otherwise he wouldn't have gone there on holiday." Robinson's father Andrew, 53, added: "We can't get anywhere. I'm ringing Turkey and getting no response. "It's not the Foreign Office's fault – they're ringing Turkey and Turkey aren't telling them anything. "He's only just managed to get an English-speaking solicitor after more than a week in custody." Robinson's solicitor, Kaya Kayaoglu, who visited Robinson on Tuesday, told the BBC he was in jail in the town of Aydin, western Turkey. Joseph Robinson Credit: Facebook "He looked fine and in good spirits but we do not know when he will be taken to court," he said, adding that it could take months for prosecutors to write an indictment. Robinson's girlfriend, Mira Rojkan, 22, said: "We were still wet and in our towels when about 20 armed plain-clothed police surrounded us and took us inside the house we were staying in. "They searched the house for more than an hour but found nothing except a water pistol we'd been messing around with the day before. "It was just awful. They said someone had sent them an email saying we were terrorists about to do something in Turkey. "That is complete rubbish. They said pictures on Facebook of Joe in Kurdish uniform proved he is a terrorist." Sharon Robinson insisted her son was "not capable of anything like that". "He's impulsive, he's crackers, but he's not that. He's a really good lad." A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of the detention of a British national in Turkey and have requested consular access."
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| Google Anti-Diversity Manifesto Sparks Response From Company's VP Of Diversity Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:01 PM PDT  A Google engineer's opinions on diversity have sparked further conversation within the company.
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| Japan marks the 72nd anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Posted: 06 Aug 2017 12:13 PM PDT ![Japan marks the 72nd anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima]( "Japan marks the 72nd anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima") Japan marks the 72nd anniversary of the first atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. on Hiroshima, Aug.6, 1945, killing an estimated 70,000 people with many thousands more dying over years from the effects of radiation.
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| China sets conditions for start of talks on sea feud code Posted: 06 Aug 2017 07:42 AM PDT  MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China's top diplomat said Sunday that talks for a nonaggression pact aimed at preventing clashes from erupting in the disputed South China Sea may start this year if "outside parties" don't cause a major disruption.
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| At least 11 killed in 'barbaric' Nigeria church shooting Posted: 06 Aug 2017 04:06 PM PDT  At least 11 worshippers were shot dead at a church in southeast Nigeria on Sunday, with authorities suggesting the bloodshed was due to a local feud. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, describing the incident as "an appalling crime against humanity and unspeakable sacrilege," his office said. At around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) at least one gunman opened fire at Saint Philip's church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, unleashing terror on the congregation.
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| Donald Trump thanked a black entrepreneur on Twitter, but she might not be real Posted: 06 Aug 2017 12:40 PM PDT  UPDATE: Aug. 6, 2017, 5:56 p.m. EDT A representative of heavy.com has contacted Mashable, explaining they have spoken with "the woman whose name was used to create multiple accounts connected to ProTrump45," who claims her identity has been stolen and plans to file a police report. Heavy's story has since been substantially altered, removing mentions of the real Mincy, who forcefully stated that she doesn't sell Trump merchandise or have anything to do with him. Further, Trump's earlier Twitter shout-out now points to the same tweet as before, but from a different account. This one belongs to @AlexandriaM0ra, and features the same profile photo as the earlier fake Mincey account. There's obviously more to this story than anyone knows right now. We'll Original post follows: Sure, fake news runs rampant now more than ever—but don't let it distract you from another threat: fake Twitter accounts. When Donald Trump tweeted his appreciation on Saturday to a "supporter" named Nicole Mincey/@protrump45, Twitter user @Rschooley debunked the account's identity, explaining in a thread exactly why "Nicole" and a variety of other Twitter users were in fact fakes, not actual Trump supporters. Buckle up—this gets interesting. SEE ALSO: Meet the Twitter bot that will give you all the Trump news you ever need So the person Trump retweeted today that's accused of being a bot. She joined Twitter in January, a full blown Trump believer. — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 Schooley shared an article from Heavy.com that lays out a vague backstory for Nicole: she's a hardworking student who grew up in poverty and went on to start a pro-Trump apparel company. The Heavy article makes a case that Nicole is not the "bot" some have proclaimed her to be, pointing to social media accounts belonging to a woman named Ahyanah Nicole Mincy. It's worth noting that none of the publicly visible activity on those other accounts makes mention of Trump or the ProTrump45 business. Further, Schooley points out that all the information uncovered in that article come from another source, the Daily Caller, and that other article seems to have been provided to the site by Nicole herself. I didn't see any real autobiographical details, such as college name or parents name. — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 We could find only one other instance of ProTrump45's Nicole Mincey appearing in the media, in an apparent interview with WorldNetDaily, a right-leaning news aggregator. Schooley doesn't discuss the WND story, but it's worth noting that the quotes attributed to Nicole are as vague about her life and background as they are in her Daily Caller story. The plot thickens even further here, as other, apparently fake Twitter users — all of which tweet each other — enter the picture. Schooley found one account, allegedly belonging to Kendra Manning, that actively supports Nicole. Manning claims to be a woman who blogs at Buzzfeed — though she has no bylines on the site. Photos of her on the account are also suspicious: most — possibly all — seem to come from Placeit, a stock photo service that includes pictures of young people in blank shirts. Just your typical young hipster Trump supporter. https://t.co/EyRTxxtfRk pic.twitter.com/KyCUHM67ap — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 Nicole also has a connection to Placeit. Her old, since-changed Twitter profile photo — which originally appeared (and still appears, as of this writing) in the Heavy story — was also from the stock image site. The woman in Heavy's header image (on the right in the tweet below) is just an extreme close-up of the woman in the stock photo, on the left. #6 She isn't a real person. pic.twitter.com/p81dYu2rNV — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 At some point after Schooley's above tweet, Heavy changed the article's top image to one of Ahyanah Nicole Mincy. See here: Different day, different photographImage: Meanwhile, Manning's Medium account — which, as of this writing, is suspended — has a blog post about Nicole and her Trump-focused apparel company—only it's the same exact piece as the ones that appear in the Daily Caller and elsewhere. Schooley also found that many of the bots, Nicole's included, circulate memes and fake news stories. Literally dozens of these memes on this bot account. pic.twitter.com/i4k31mrrZi — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 While diversity might be an issue in Trump's base, in Schooley's view that definitely isn't the case when it comes to fake followers. Never let it be said that Trump doesn't have diverse fictional followers. pic.twitter.com/qbt7UdmOpK — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 6, 2017 Despite overwhelming evidence provided by Schooley's detailed theory, the safest bet to confirm whether or not the person behind the account and ProTrump45 store is real is to hear from the women in the photographs themselves. Mashable has reached out to Ahyanah Nicole Mincy — not through @ProTrump45 — for further clarification. With that being said—will the real Nicole Mincey please stand up? WATCH: 5 things millennials have ruined
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| Germany's FDP urges new approach to Russia's annexation of Crimea Posted: 05 Aug 2017 04:05 PM PDT  Germany may have to accept Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine as a "permanent provisional arrangement," the head of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) told a newspaper chain in comments published on Saturday. FDP chief Christian Lindner underscored the importance of good ties with Moscow for Germany and the European Union, and said it might be necessary to "encapsulate" the Crimea issue in order to offer Russian President Vladimir Putin face-saving options to change his policies.
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| British model kidnapped in Milan as captor 'tried get $300,000 ransom before auctioning her online' Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:06 AM PDT  A British model has been left traumatised after she was drugged and kidnapped in Milan while her captor sought to "auction" her on the internet if her agent did not pay $300,000 (£230,000), Italian police said Saturday. Police said the model, who has not been named, was sent by her UK agent to Milan for a photo shoot on July 10 and was brutally kidnapped the following day by a man who posed as a photographer. They are searching for at least one accomplice. "The psychological pressure on the girl has been extreme," said Serena Ferrari, one of the senior police from Milan involved in the investigation. "She was very afraid." Images supplied by Italian police showing a simulation of the kidnapping Credit: Polizia Di Stato When the 20-year-old model arrived at the fake studio near the city's central railway station on July 11, she was injected with the drug ketamine before being undressed and photographed. Her kidnapper and an accomplice then handcuffed the young woman, taped her mouth shut and stuffed her in a large bag in the boot of their car before driving her more than two and a half hours to a remote house in Borgial, a tiny hamlet 120 miles from Milan close to the French border. She was kept handcuffed to a wooden chest of drawers inside a rented house for a week. Police said she was not raped. Her British agent notified police when she failed to return to London and he received the subsequent ransom demand. Lukasz Pawel Herba, 30, a Polish national from Szczecin who lives in the UK, was arrested by police and charged with the attack. Police said he had confessed to the kidnapping, which investigators described as an elaborate plot that involved months of planning. The model was held in a remote house Credit: Alberto Cattaneo Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari described him as "dangerous". The model was held captive for seven days while her kidnappers sought to "auction" her through a "dark web" network named as "Black Death", a group that investigators claimed had been previously investigated by Europol. "Europol found traces of this group on the "dark web" a couple of years ago," the chief of the Milan branch of Italy's state police, Lorenzo Bucossi, told the Daily Telegraph. "We don't know if the accused is linked to an organisation or created his own version of Black Death." Prosecutor Mr Storari said it was unclear whether this organisation really existed or whether it was created by Mr Herba. However, he added: "We can say the accused was about to create an auction online. Police allege Mr Herba used a fake passport Credit: Polizia Di Stato "We have evidence he had contact with people who have kidnapped women in the past." Police alleged there were three other cases of women being auctioned for sexual slavery on the kidnapper's computer, but this was the only concrete case of an auction they had found. The model was released because she was a mother with a young child. "You have a two-year-old child and our rules exclude mothers," the kidnapper allegedly told her, according to a report in the Corriere della Sera newspaper. When she was finally released, the captor demanded $50,000 and threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to the police. The kidnapper issued a chilling warning in what appears to be a contract taken from the accused's computer. "You are being released with a warning. You are certainly aware of your value on human slavery market. A mistake was made by capturing you," the document said in English. Pictures of the handcuffs supplied by Italian police Credit: Polizia Di Stato "You have agreed to pay outstanding costs of your release of $50,000. We expect that money to be paid in Bitcoin within one month. Any sort of disobedience will result in your elimination. "You have been treated fairly with respect and we expect to hear the same about us in return." Milan police swooped when the kidnapper accompanied the woman to the UK Consulate in Milan on July 17. It is unclear why he accompanied her. Italian police said British and Polish investigators had been working with them closely on the investigation. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We have been providing consular support to a British woman in Italy and are in touch with local authorities." Police are now seeking to identify and trace at least one accomplice. Police believe Mr Herba had spent months planning the attack and had obtained a false Polish passport under the name Daniel Zawada through the internet in May 2017. He allegedly used it to acquire a legitimate tax file number and rent two properties in Italy. He is also alleged to have acquired two balaclavas and a Bitcoin device on the web. Mr Herba's neighbours in Birmingham described him as a loner who had few friends. The model was held for seven days in a small town outside Turin Credit: Alberto Cattaneo One man, who lives in the block next to Mr Herba's described how he would come and go, dressed in a cheap suit and driving a "banged up" car. "I would see him quite a lot, going in and out of the flat. He would always be wearing a suit when he was going to work," he said. "It wasn't an expensive-looking suit. He would go off to work in the morning, and then every half hour or so he would come back into the flat. It was weird." Another resident added: "You'd see him coming in and going again all of the time, but you could never really chat to him. Nobody ever came back with him." Police confirmed that a raid was carried out on Mr Herba's flat in the early morning of 18 July. A neighbour said: "I woke up to the sound of an officer shouting: 'Break the door down'. There was then a massive banging noise, and the door crashed open. "When I looked out of my window, I could see police officers in their uniforms moving plastic bags out of the flat and into their cars." One local resident, Sinead Boyce, 23 described Mr Herba as "a strange, strange bloke" who would walk around with rat on his shoulder. "He would come and go all the time with his brother, I think they were working on something together. They just seemed to use the flat as a bit of a base. "Every now and then, we'd see him carrying a rat around with him. I don't think he had a name, the rat. "But during the summer months in particular, he'd have this rat on him. It was bizarre, really strange. One day my mum asked him if she could see it. "He came up close to her and she had a good look. But even then, he wouldn't speak to us. "I've never seen him with anyone else, either, other than his brother." Another resident added: "Yeah, I'd see him with the rat every now and then. I don't know why he had it."
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| How Humans Have Affected Evolution Posted: 04 Aug 2017 06:40 PM PDT  Evolution no longer has to take millions of years.
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| Attack on Venezuela army base repelled, leaving two dead: Maduro Posted: 06 Aug 2017 02:18 PM PDT  Two of the attackers were killed and eight were captured, President Nicolas Maduro said on state television, claiming the group of "mercenaries" -- whose total number he put at around 20 -- had ties to Colombia and the United States. In Valencia, a major northwestern city, military helicopters flew overhead as tactical armored vehicles patrolled the streets in a climate of tension.
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| Google 'anti-diversity manifesto' sparks backlash among employees Posted: 06 Aug 2017 09:00 AM PDT  A widely shared internal Google memo arguing against gender diversity had prompted outrage from certain staff and members of the public. The anti-diversity memo, published in full by Gizmodo, argued that the disparities in gender at the tech giant could be explained by biological differences between men and women. "We need to stop assuming that gender gaps imply sexism," he wrote, adding that Google's educational programmes for young women was one example of "bias causing harm".
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| Despite Kremlin's warnings, Russians flock to Montenegro Posted: 06 Aug 2017 07:42 AM PDT  PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Russian tourists are flocking to Montenegro despite warnings from Moscow against visiting its former ally and the latest NATO-member country.
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| Footage emerges of moment American Airlines plane burst into flames Posted: 05 Aug 2017 01:56 AM PDT  Dramatic footage has been released of the moment when a plane was engulfed in flames shortly before taking off Chicago last October. Miraculously nobody was seriously hurt when the right-hand side of the American Airlines caught fire. The blaze started when the plane, a Boeing 767, blew a tire shortly before take off on a flight to Miami. Within seconds part of the plane was in flames after debris smashed through fuel lines to one of the engines. The pilot aborted the takeoff and terrified passengers fled for safety, with some seen dragging their luggage across the grass verge by the runway. Heavy smoke can be seen coming from an American Airlines Boeing 767 after it burst into flames at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Emergency escape chutes were deployed and the 161 passengers and nine crew were evacuated two minutes and 21 seconds after the plane had come to a complete stop. Video posted online at the time showed passengers coming down an emergency slide, and running away from the tarmac as black smoke billowed from the plane. It is estimated that more than 2,000 gallons of fuel escaped, turning one of the wings into a fireball. The footage, obtained by the US broadcaster, NBC, captures the moment when the plane caught fire and the scene as it unfolded as fire trucks rushed to the scene. Passengers flee American Airlines plane after catching fire during take-off 00:27
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| Democratic Campaign Chief Suggests Party Back Anti-Abortion Candidates Posted: 05 Aug 2017 07:57 AM PDT  The basic message: Don't go there
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| Trump eyes top policy aide for communications director role: official Posted: 05 Aug 2017 04:47 PM PDT  By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House may appoint a senior policy adviser with hardline views on immigration, who recently sparred with reporters in a televised briefing, as its new communications director, a senior administration official said on Saturday. Stephen Miller, a top aide and speechwriter for President Donald Trump, is a candidate to lead the White House's communications team after a series of personnel changes in the more than six months that Trump has been president. The official did not say how many people were on the short list but the Axios news site reported on Saturday that Miller is not the top contender.
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| 9-Year-Old 'Guardian of the Galaxy' Applies to NASA Job: 'I Can Learn to Think Like an Alien' Posted: 05 Aug 2017 01:19 PM PDT  The job pays more than $100,000.
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| Rebuilding Aleppo’s Old City Posted: 06 Aug 2017 08:10 AM PDT ![Rebuilding Aleppo's Old City]( "Rebuilding Aleppo's Old City") Reconstructing the Old City of Aleppo in Syria is vital not just to Syria's cultural heritage but to the country's economy.
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| Chinese tourists arrested after Hitler salutes in Germany Posted: 05 Aug 2017 09:25 AM PDT ![Chinese tourists arrested after Hitler salutes in Germany]( "Chinese tourists arrested after Hitler salutes in Germany") German police on Saturday arrested two Chinese tourists for making illegal "Heil Hitler" salutes in front of the historic Reichstag building that houses the German parliament. Berlin police officers say they detained the two men, aged 36 and 49, after they were seen striking the Nazi-era pose and photographing each other with their mobile phones. Germany has strict laws on hate speech and symbols linked to Hitler and the Nazis, who ruled between 1933 and 1945.
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| Brazil troops storm Rio slums to catch gang leaders Posted: 05 Aug 2017 06:28 PM PDT  Thousands of Brazilian army troops raided Rio de Janeiro slums in a pre-dawn crackdown on crime gangs on Saturday, leaving parts of the city looking like a war zone on the first anniversary of the opening of the Olympic Games. Five favelas were targeted by around 1,300 police and 3,600 troops in a sweep starting at 4 am (0700 GMT), the Rio state security service said in a statement. Rio state authorities say there were 10,000 cases of cargo theft last year.
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| Doing the Math on Tesla's Solar Roof (Again) Posted: 04 Aug 2017 05:54 PM PDT  Now that Tesla has announced detailed pricing for its Solar Roof, which the company started rolling out in August, potential customers can get an estimate on an installation using the company's o...
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| The Latest: War crimes expert quits UN panel in frustration Posted: 06 Aug 2017 02:26 PM PDT ![The Latest: War crimes expert quits UN panel in frustration]( "The Latest: War crimes expert quits UN panel in frustration") BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on developments in Syria (all times local):
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| Woman Died at the Bottom of Grand Canyon After She Ran Out of Water Posted: 05 Aug 2017 08:14 AM PDT  She was hiking with two school-aged children
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| Eight still missing at flooded Russian diamond mine Posted: 05 Aug 2017 02:59 AM PDT  Rescuers Saturday helped an injured worker out of a flooded Russian diamond mine but the search continued for eight other still missing in the disaster, mine owners Alrosa said. Rescue efforts were continuing for eight other miners reported missing since Friday's flooding at the Mir mine in Russia's vast Sakha region some 4,160 kilometres (2,600 miles) east of Moscow. It is believed to have been caused by an "uncontrolled increase in the flow of water" out of the mine's abandoned crater into the underground shaft, Alrosa said.
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| US 'disturbed by irregularities' in Rwanda landslide vote Posted: 05 Aug 2017 09:38 AM PDT  KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — The United States said Saturday it was "disturbed by irregularities observed during voting" in Rwanda's election, which longtime President Paul Kagame won with nearly 99 percent of the vote.
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| Where to buy your eclipse glasses before the total solar eclipse on August 21 Posted: 06 Aug 2017 06:00 AM PDT  Ever since you were a kid, your parents probably told you not to look directly at the sun. The only issue with that is that if you want to watch the upcoming total solar eclipse on August 21, you kind of need to stare straight in our closest star's direction. Luckily, there are literally dozens of eclipse glasses you can use to protect your eyes from the sun's strong rays. But knowing which ones to buy, whether they'll actually protect your eyes, and where to buy them can get a little murky. SEE ALSO: August is an awesome month for skywatching: Here's how to make the most of it If you're itching to watch the eclipse, but don't know where to begin looking for the right pair of protective glasses, we've got you covered. Why do I need solar eclipse glasses anyway? The total eclipse will cut across the contiguous United States from coast to coast, giving millions of people around the country a chance to see the moon pass in front of and blot out the sun. While it's safe to look at the sun when the moon is completely covering it during the eclipse, it's not safe to look at it at any other time. If you're planning to watch the solar eclipse in person, you need to be sure to pick up some high-quality eclipse glasses. A map of the path of the eclipse.Image: NASAYou should be able to look up at the sun and watch as the moon slowly moves in front of the star with a good pair of eclipse glasses. Without the glasses, you could do serious harm to your eyesight, and on top of that, you just won't have a very good view of the rare eclipse. The total eclipse isn't something you want to miss, either. This marks the first time a total eclipse has graced skies above the lower 48 states since 1979. Are all glasses the same? Not every pair of tinted lenses will protect your eyes. The first thing you need to look for in a pair of glasses is a special-purpose safe solar filter, not an average polarized filter or color filter. You should also avoid any eclipse glasses that are older than three years, have scratches, or are wrinkled. And never attempt to make your own solar filter. Solar filters are many more times darker than the darkest sunglasses you own. The filters are made to let you safely look directly at the sun by reducing the levels of harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation hitting your eyes. As eclipse fever hits the U.S., it's more important than ever to be sure that you're getting real eclipse glasses, not the fakes that have been popping up recently, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) said. The AAS did recommend that people look for the ISO 12312-2 safety standard on their eclipse glasses, but after a recent influx of counterfeit eclipse glasses, the organization is now recommending people buy from one of the venders on its curated list. Some of the recommended manufacturers on the list include Baader Planetarium, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17, and American Paper Optics. There are dozens more out there, but just remember you can no longer simply trust the ISO 12312-2 certification. Be sure to research the quality and rating of your glasses before using them. NASA is also warning skywatchers about the fake eclipse glasses that have flooded the market. Check for the ISO number.Image: nasaWhere can you buy them? Whether you're planning a huge watch party or you just want to walk outside and take a look, it's time to start planning ahead. With this in mind, here are a few places you can get a free pair: Mystery Science and Google are donating 15,000 pairs of glasses to elementary schools. NASA Library Initiative and the Moore Foundation are providing free glasses to be picked up at 4,800 local libraries across the nation. Astronomers Without Borders is donating glasses to veteran's hospitals, homeless youth shelters, and other underserved communities. For those of you who can't get your hands on a free pair and like to shop in person, here's where to find your glasses. 7-Eleven Bi-Mart Casey's General Store Circle K Hobby Town Kirklands Kroger Love's Travel Stops Lowe's Menards Pilot/Flying J Toys "R" Us Walmart And for the rest of you who would rather purchase your glasses online, here's your list. Keep in mind that a lot of these vendors sell their goods on Amazon, too. 123 Sales 3Dstereo.com Educational Innovations Electronic Analyst Firefly Buys (FFB) Fred Meyer Freedom Hill Mega-Fun Toys Off the Wall Toys & Gifts Run to Shop Skyhawk Ventures Soluna/GSM Sales Squirrellynuts Your 5 Star General Store Now that you know what you're looking for, be sure to pick up your eclipse glasses as soon as you can. The big eclipse is only a couple weeks away, and you don't want to miss out on it due a lack of planning. WATCH: Sun spots
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| Police Discover More Than 1000 Animals, Many Dead, in Warehouse Posted: 05 Aug 2017 11:31 AM PDT  Police are investigating the case of animal cruelty.
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| Venezuelan asylum seekers in Mexico surge as crisis deepens Posted: 05 Aug 2017 01:54 PM PDT  By Stefanie Eschenbacher MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Venezuela's deepening political and economic crisis has provoked a surge of asylum seekers to Mexico this year, government figures show, with applications to stay in Mexico setting a record pace. During just the first six months of this year, 1,420 Venezuelans have sought asylum in Mexico, a nearly four-fold jump compared to the 361 total Venezuelan asylum applicants for all of 2016.
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| Why the smartphone era is causing a mental health crisis in teens Posted: 06 Aug 2017 09:00 AM PDT 
The number of ways in which the smartphone has made our lives easier is vast. Whether it's using Shazam to identify a song on the radio or having a sophisticated camera at the ready 24/7, the smartphone era ushered in by the iPhone has fundamentally changed the way the world uses and interacts not only with technology, but also with each other. While there are no shortage of examples which illustrate how the smartphone has improved our lives, a more interesting and novel thought experiment would have us explore some of the more detrimental side effects associated with our collective addiction to smartphones and society's unending need to constantly stay connected.
Tackling this very topic, a fascinating piece from Jean M. Twenge of The Atlantic articulates that adolescents who have grown up in a world dominated by smartphones are more prone to a variety of mental health problems than adolescents from previous generations. Twenge categorizes kids born between 1995 and 2012 under a group she calls iGen, and the problems she's seen in these kids -- who have never known a life without the Internet -- transcends gender, class and ethnicity. One of the more intriguing data points Twenge presents is that kids from the iGen generation are more likely to commit suicide or experience depression than Millennials. "It's not an exaggeration to describe iGen as being on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades," Twenge writes. "Much of this deterioration can be traced to their phones." Twenge writes that the connections smartphones provide are truly only surface-level, and that as kids spend more and more time connecting with friends digitally, actual human interaction becomes markedly rarer. One of the ironies of iGen life is that despite spending far more time under the same roof as their parents, today's teens can hardly be said to be closer to their mothers and fathers than their predecessors were. "I've seen my friends with their families—they don't talk to them," Athena told me. "They just say 'Okay, okay, whatever' while they're on their phones. They don't pay attention to their family." Like her peers, Athena is an expert at tuning out her parents so she can focus on her phone. She spent much of her summer keeping up with friends, but nearly all of it was over text or Snapchat. "I've been on my phone more than I've been with actual people," she said. "My bed has, like, an imprint of my body."
Twenge also cites studies which find that kids and teens who spend more time on their smartphones tend to be, on average, more unhappy than their counterparts who aren't as tied to their smartphones. All in all, Twenge's full write-up is well worth a read for anyone with even a passing interest in how the modern day smartphone era is potentially wreaking havoc on the minds of today's youth. For as much good as the smartphone has introduced, Twenge's report underscores the fact that too much of a good thing can often result in unforeseen consequences.
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