| Accused Russian agent Maria Butina pleads guilty to attempting to sway US policy Posted: 13 Dec 2018 01:18 PM PST  A Russian woman has admitted to acting as an agent for the Kremlin to get close to the Republican party in an effort to influence US policies. Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy in a court in Washington on Thursday, admitting to working under the direction of a top Russian official to infiltrate the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful gun rights group closely aligned with senior Republican politicians. She is the first Russian citizen to be convicted of working to shape US policy in the run up and through the 2016 election campaign, agreeing to co-operate with prosecutors for less prison time. Appearing before Judge Tanya Chutkan, she admitted to conspiring to work with Alexander Torshin, a former deputy governor of Russia's central bank, and two US citizens as a Russian agent from 2015 until her 2018 arrest. Butina, a former graduate student at American University in Washington who publicly advocated for gun rights, was arrested in July and has been held in jail without bail ever since. Maria Butina was said to be directed by Alexander Torshin, previously described as Vladimir Putin's "emissary" Credit: AP She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her but in the last week it was revealed she had reversed course and agreed to co-operate with prosecutors. Her aim was to make contacts with officials at the NRA, conservative figures and 2016 presidential candidates in order to set up unofficial back channels with high-ranking American politicians. Butina is known to have met with the president's son, Donald Trump Jnr, during one of the NRA's conventions as well as reportedly hosting a party in Washington attended by Trump campaign aides in November 2016. Prosecutors told the court that Butina drafted a March 2015 "Diplomacy Project" that called for establishing unofficial channels of communication between high-ranking American politicians in order to help advance Russia's interests. In this courtroom sketch, Maria Butina, left, is shown next to her attorney Robert Driscoll Credit: AP To carry out the plan, Butina requested $125,000 (£98,000) from a Russian billionaire to attend conferences and set up "separate meetings with interested parties" such as other Russian businessmen or people with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they added. The prosecutors said Butina invited "powerful members" of the NRA for a visit to Moscow where they met with high-level Russian officials. Apparent photos of the NRA Moscow trip are posted on her social media accounts. After the visit, according to court records, she sent a Russian official a message apparently referencing the NRA saying, "We should let them express their gratitude now, we will put pressure on them quietly later." The alleged Russian agent was arrested in July Credit: Reuters Butina also hosted "friendship dinners" in the hope of establishing ties with people who "would have the ear of the next US presidential administration," prosecutors said. After the 2016 election, she proposed creating a dialogue with President Donald Trump's advisors, but the Russian official told her he did not think the foreign affairs ministry would "go for it," prosecutors said. The actions occurred during the same time period that US intelligence agencies have concluded Russia engaged in a campaign of propaganda and hacking to sow discord during the 2016 presidential race and boost Mr Trump's chances against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Butina was a gun rights activist Butina's lawyers previously identified the Russian official as Alexander Torshin, who was a deputy governor of Russia's central bank and was targeted with US Treasury Department sanctions in April. One of the two Americans referenced in the prosecution's case was Paul Erickson, an conservative political activist who was romantically linked to Butina. His lawyer William Hurd said: "Paul Erickson is a good American. He has done nothing to harm our country and never would." Russian officials hit back at the case, calling it a "modern political inquisition" in comments quoted by the RIA state news agency. She faces a maximum of five years in prison and deportation. As part of her agreement prosecutors dropped a second charge of violating a law that requires foreigners working for their government to register with the US Justice Department. Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, estimated that under sentencing guidelines for similar crimes Butina could face up to six months in prison. Because of Butina's ongoing co-operation, the judge did not set a sentencing date but scheduled a hearing for February 12.
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| 'Christmas miracle': 3 suspected thieves rescued after days in West Virginia mine Posted: 13 Dec 2018 07:34 AM PST !['Christmas miracle': 3 suspected thieves rescued after days in West Virginia mine]( "'Christmas miracle': 3 suspected thieves rescued after days in West Virginia mine") Three people who disappeared in a closed West Virginia mine five days ago have been rescued and taken to a hospital in what a family member called a "Christmas miracle."
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| Yemen's warring parties agree to ceasefire in Hodeidah and U.N. role Posted: 13 Dec 2018 02:45 PM PST  At the close of a week of talks in Sweden, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a framework for political negotiations would be discussed at the next round of talks at the end of January between the Iranian-aligned Houthis and the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Western nations, some of which supply arms and intelligence to the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, had pressed the two sides to agree confidence-building steps to pave the way for a wider truce and a political process to end the war, which has killed tens of thousands of people. The conflict has pushed Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, to the verge of famine.
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| President Trump: Michael Cohen case is meant to embarrass me Posted: 13 Dec 2018 10:20 AM PST  President Donald Trump reacts to the sentencing of his former personal attorney and his 46 percent job approval rating in an exclusive interview with Harris Faulkner on 'Outnumbered Overtime.'
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| Imprisoned former Venezuela oil minister dies: prosecution Posted: 12 Dec 2018 06:08 PM PST  Former Venezuelan oil minister Nelson Martinez, imprisoned over corruption allegations, died Wednesday of health complications, the prosecutor's office said. Martinez, who also served as president of state oil firm PDVSA, was arrested on November 30 last year, four days after President Nicolas Maduro removed him from his position. "Nelson Martinez was suffering from a serious chronic illness whose progression aggravated his condition and led to his death.
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| Georgia officer killed after traffic stop; suspect dead Posted: 13 Dec 2018 10:48 PM PST  DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia police officer and a suspect died Thursday night after a traffic stop led to a foot chase and shooting just east of Atlanta, authorities said.
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| Porsche presents EV ‘FastCharge' solution Posted: 13 Dec 2018 03:13 AM PST  The automaker Porsche has presented a prototype charging station in Germany with an output of up to 450kW. It can be used by electric models of all brands compatible with the European standard Type 2 variant of the widely used Combined Charging System (CCS). Increasing the available charge capacity to up to 450kW considerably reduces the charging time, in turn increasing the number of vehicles able to use the technology in a given space of time.
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| Former Baylor fraternity president accused of rape is banned from graduation, University of Texas campus Posted: 13 Dec 2018 03:32 AM PST  Jacob Anderson, accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student, has been banned from University of Texas at Dallas, but will receive a degree.
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| Girl dies after being detained by U.S. Border Patrol-Washington Post Posted: 13 Dec 2018 06:33 PM PST  A 7-year-old girl from Guatemala died of dehydration and shock hours after she was taken into U.S. Border Patrol custody, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. Early on Dec. 7, the girl started having seizures, and emergency responders measured her body temperature at 105.7 degrees, the Post said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.
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| In farewell speeches, senators bemoan downfall of the 'world's greatest deliberative body' Posted: 13 Dec 2018 12:57 PM PST  In their farewell addresses on the Senate floor, senators call out the hyperpartisan atmosphere that has taken hold of the U.S. Capitol.
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| Johnson & Johnson 'kept secret' that its Baby Powder contained asbestos Posted: 14 Dec 2018 11:50 AM PST  Johnson & Johnson knew that its talcum powder contained asbestos but failed to tell customers for over three decades, an investigation has found. Shares in the company plunged 12 per cent following the release of the report by news agency Reuters, wiping £37bn ($47bn) off the company's value. The investigation also found that the pharmaceutical company had employed a range of tactics to shape research into the problem and protect its Baby Powder brand. In one case, the company commissioned and paid for a study, told the researchers their desired results and then hired a ghostwriter to redraft the article presenting the findings. The investigation centres on a cache of documents released by Johnson & Johnson relating to the 11,700 plaintiffs claiming that the company's talc caused their cancers. The documents show that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company's raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public. A case in July, in which a judge ordered the company to pay $4.69bn in damages to 22 parties, was the first to succeed with a claim that the talc caused ovarian cancer. Johnson and Johnson said it will appeal the recent verdicts against it and maintains that its talc is safe, adding that the recently divulged court papers show its commitment to ensuring its products are asbestos-free. has been required to divulge in recent litigation shows the care the company takes to ensure its products are asbestos-free
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| US airliner turned back after human heart left on board Posted: 13 Dec 2018 01:37 PM PST  A Southwest Airlines flight headed from Seattle to Dallas was turned back mid-flight after it was discovered that a human heart had been left on board, officials said Thursday. The plane had was over eastern Idaho -- around 600 miles (950 kilometers) into the journey -- when staff discovered the "life critical cargo shipment," meant for delivery back in a Seattle hospital after being transported from California. "Once we realized the error we immediately worked to return to Seattle," airline spokesman Dan Landson told AFP.
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| Man who sexually assaulted woman on flight while she slept is jailed for nine years Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:16 AM PST  Prabhu Ramamoorthy, 34, was also sitting next to his wife on the overnight flight in January. Ramamoorthy had molested the victim while unbuttoning her blouse and unzipping her trousers as she slept. US attorney Matthew Schneider said: "Everyone has the right to be secure and safe when they travel on aeroplanes.
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| UNAIDS head to quit post early following scathing report Posted: 13 Dec 2018 10:12 AM PST  GENEVA (AP) — The head of the U.N. agency focusing on AIDS said he would leave the job six months early, bowing to apparent pressure just a week after independent experts looking into sexual harassment blasted the "defective leadership" at UNAIDS. At least one major donor reportedly threatened to halt its funding.
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| EU's Tusk says no more Brexit negotiations Posted: 14 Dec 2018 08:25 AM PST  By Gabriela Baczynska and Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday he had no mandate to reopen Brexit negotiations with Britain, while the head of the bloc's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, said he "admired" Prime Minister Theresa May. Tusk and Juncker were speaking at a news conference after two days of talks at an EU summit that were dominated by the issue of Brexit and saw the other 27 national leaders of the bloc offer May only vague assurances over their Brexit deal. "I have no mandate to organize any further negotiations. ...
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| Cash deposited in Robinhood's 3% checking and savings isn't insured, SIPC says Posted: 14 Dec 2018 01:51 PM PST  Cash in Robinhood's new checking and savings products that were rolled out this week is not insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corp.
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| DHS Secretary Blames Migrant Family For Child's Harrowing Death Posted: 14 Dec 2018 12:53 PM PST  Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Friday blamed
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| Yes, he really said that. What Trump gets about his presidency that critics don't. Posted: 13 Dec 2018 02:00 AM PST  When Trump flouts the conventions of the office, he's winning with his core voters. It doesn't matter what he's saying — what matters is that he's making the rest of us howl in indignation.
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| Christmas Day restaurant bookings are on the rise – but would you swap a home-cooked lunch for dining out? Posted: 13 Dec 2018 10:00 AM PST  Would you choose a restaurant for the Christmas Day meal just to avoid the inevitable mountain of washing up? Or is there nothing that can tempt you away from lunch at home and your own perfectly crisp roast potatoes? For an increasing number of us it's the former that most appeals, according to a recent OpenTable survey which showed that restaurant bookings on Christmas Day have risen by 240 per cent in the last five years. Between 2016 and 2017, reservations jumped by 14 per cent, and they are expected to increase again this Christmas. British cuisine is the most popular choice for a meal out, with 19 per cent of people heading out for traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, but Italian restaurants are also a firm favourite for Christmas Day, counting for 12 per cent of bookings. For many Telegraph readers the choice to eat out is a simple one when faced with the prospect of cooking for a crowd (or, indeed, spending more time than is necessary with certain members of the extended family), as it takes the stress out of prepping the food as well as the clearing up afterwards. "My family have gone out for Christmas Day dinner for the last few years," says Natalie Richardson, from Leeds. "It reduces the hassle of ordering ingredients and the hours spent preparing the food, giving us more time to enjoy the day," she explains. "We often go to a local pub which does three-course offer. Once, we went to our local curry house and had chicken korma for Christmas dinner." Electing to gather at a restaurant also means that the cook of the house isn't left out of the celebrations. "For me, it means no stressing in the kitchen while everyone else gets to relax, chat and enjoy a drink," says Abigail Theodosiou, from Sanderstead in Croydon. "We tend to have a lovely easy breakfast (Waitrose frozen croissants and scrambled eggs), get ready, go out, and then head home as soon as the meal is finished to relax in a tidy(ish!) house and open our presents, followed by cheese and chocolates." Theodosiou is one of a number who choose a country-style pub over a restaurant; "with lovely big fires, they're cosier." And there's no doubt that it takes the pressure off catering for different dietary requirements. "With a mix of meat-eaters and vegetarians, we can order whatever we like." At a glance | The top cuisines booked for Christmas Day dining last year But for The Telegraph's award-winning cookery writer Diana Henry, to book a table out is to lose something of the essential spirit of Christmas. "I've only been out for Christmas lunch once – when my parents had builders in, so the kitchen was out of action – and it was a disaster. The entire family just muttered about how much better it was at home. I think something is really missing in restaurants – you have to be quieter, so you can't have that unbuttoned bonhomie and largesse that is part of Christmas." The cost of eating out might be another reason to host at home, she reasons. "You can open another bottle of wine without considering how big a bill you're racking up; you can have seconds; you can tell risqué jokes. Things are just a little more sedate in a restaurant. Plus, no matter where you go outside the home, a Christmas dinner will always taste kind of institutional away from it. Roast potatoes that have been hanging round for an hour or more just don't cut it." Get cooking | Diana Henry's latest recipes Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay agrees, and suggests the chief cook of the house simply enlists helpers for the washing up, to minimise the pressure. "Eating out is a great option if you find the whole meal a massive stress fest, but don't kid yourself that it'll be the same as hanging out at the family table," she says. "Few restaurants offer second helpings, and if you want a sofa to stagger to after lunch, you may need to book a table at a hotel with a decent lounge area. Prices will, quite properly, be inflated – the staff will need a hefty bonus to justify coming in to work." For many people, having the whole family descend on the house for an unending supply of food and drink is simply unthinkable – especially if space is tight. "I love going to parties but I wouldn't want to host one myself," says the award-winning travel blogger Sofie Couwenbergh. "My home is my safe space, plus it's far too small!" It's always worth checking before splashing out, says Xanthe Clay. "If you are booking the big dinner out to give the cook a rest, do check it's actually what they want – not just a way to alleviate your own guilt for not manning the kitchen yourself. They may complain, but lots of home cooks actually love the opportunity for a bit of culinary muscle flexing. Bear in mind that their Christmas wish may be as simple as appreciation in ladlefuls, and all the washing up done well into the New Year." Ultimately, it depends on the nature of the gathering, says Diana Henry. "In a restaurant you don't get those golden moments when the entire family gather round the oven looking at the turkey saying 'Do you think it's cooked yet?'. The whole meal is an event that you all take part in." Should you still prefer the idea of rocking up to a reservation, heading off on a walk and coming home to a kitchen that doesn't look like the scene of a crime, here are some of our favourite restaurants across the country taking bookings for Christmas Day itself... Our pick of the best | Restaurants taking bookings on Christmas Day 2018
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| The 6 Best Smartwatches of 2018 Posted: 13 Dec 2018 02:39 PM PST |
| French armed police launch operation in Strasbourg district: Reuters witness Posted: 13 Dec 2018 06:58 AM PST  PARIS (Reuters) - Armed French police launched an operation in Strasbourg's Neudorf neighborhood on Thursday, a Reuters photographer said, as they pursue the hunt for a gunman who killed three people in an attack on a Christmas market. Elite officers from the RAID police unit fanned out along one street, some with their guns trained on the houses in front of them, live television pictures showed. Other officers extended a security perimeter in the neighborhood. ...
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| NY sues Walmart, Target for selling toys with high lead levels Posted: 13 Dec 2018 05:10 PM PST  New York state authorities on Thursday announced a lawsuit against retail giants Walmart and Target for selling Chinese-made toys that had up to 10 times the legal limit of lead. The lawsuit seeks up to $6,000 in penalties for each of the thousands of Cra-Z-Jewelz jewelry kits the retailers and importer LaRose Industries sold from 2015 to 2016 before they were recalled. Authorities also are asking the three companies to take steps to prevent dangerous toys from reaching store shelves.
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| Brazil take first step in program to join nuclear-powered sub club Posted: 14 Dec 2018 09:52 AM PST  President Michel Temer and his right-wing successor, President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, both pressed the button that lowered into the sea the 1,700-ton submarine named Riachuelo at a Rio de Janeiro naval base. Temer's wife, Marcela, had christened the vessel, by smashing a champagne bottle against its hull. The submarines being built by the Brazilian Navy in partnership with France's defense company Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS, are a modified version of the Scorpene class diesel-powered submarine.
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| The 2020 Toyota Supra Finally Debuts in January and the First One Will Be Auctioned for Charity Posted: 13 Dec 2018 06:49 AM PST  The long wait for Toyota's revived sports car is almost over.
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| EU to Step Up Plans for No-Deal Brexit as Bloc Plays Hardball With May Posted: 13 Dec 2018 04:22 PM PST  May had come to Brussels hoping to secure some additional "assurances" on the most controversial part of her Brexit deal -- the so-called Irish border backstop. "Theresa May has led a courageous fight but unfortunately we are not seeing the results," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters.
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| On criminal justice reform, policy prevails over politics Posted: 13 Dec 2018 02:32 PM PST  The First Step Act is expected to be passed by the Senate soon and then to be signed by President Trump, reversing more than two decades of tough-on-crime policies.
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| Pope-appointed missionary travels US to do good Posted: 13 Dec 2018 10:07 PM PST  Father Jim Sichko had a calling and it wasn't just to God. It was to, well, everybody. Pope Francis named the Kentucky-based priest to a newly created fleet of Papal Missionaries, ministers who travel the world offering acts of mercy. (Dec. 14)
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| China urges Japan to ensure rights of 2 in shrine protest Posted: 14 Dec 2018 04:53 AM PST  BEIJING (AP) — China has urged Japan to ensure the legal rights of two Hong Kong residents who staged a protest this week at a Tokyo shrine honoring Japan's war dead, the foreign ministry said Friday.
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| Brad Ford and The Hudson Company Team Up for a Connecticut Showroom That Emphasizes Craftsmanship Posted: 13 Dec 2018 02:47 PM PST  The designer and Hudson Company founder Jamie Hammel bring their shared passion for fine craftsmanship to Ridgefield
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| Lost girls of Indonesia among 61k dead and missing migrants Posted: 13 Dec 2018 01:59 PM PST  FATUKOKO, Indonesia (AP) — The stranger showed up at the girl's door one night with a tantalizing job offer: Give up your world, and I will give you a future.
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| Netanyahu to 'legalise' more settler homes after West Bank attack Posted: 13 Dec 2018 09:45 AM PST  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will legalise thousands of settlement homes built without even Israeli permits in the occupied West Bank following a deadly attack, he announced Thursday. All settlements are considered illegal under international law, but Israel draws a distinction between those it sanctions and those constructed without permission. Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would seek to legalise thousands of homes built without Israeli permits in the West Bank.
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| Cadillac's 3-row XT6 SUV loses camouflage for Detroit Auto Show Posted: 13 Dec 2018 07:01 AM PST  Cadillac confirmed this week that the forthcoming XT6 crossover SUV will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next month. The Caddy that we got a camouflaged sneak peek at a couple months ago has been confirmed for the Detroit Auto Show in January according to Automotive News. The XT6 SUV is expected to fill the vacancy in the Cadillac portfolio between the midsize XT5 crossover and the full-size Escalade, featuring three-rows of sets like its bigger sibling.
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| As Trump Cries ‘No Collusion,’ Other Campaign Probes Close In Posted: 13 Dec 2018 05:41 AM PST  A tabloid publisher, American Media Inc., told prosecutors that the president's lawyer and at least one Trump campaign member helped hatch the plan to buy and bury such stories more than a year before the election -- and federal prosecutors in New York are continuing to investigate. The hush-money case was referred to federal prosecutors in New York by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, who have unearthed a raft of other legal problems while pursuing possible collusion with Russia. The investigation into the suppression of negative news has already resulted in a guilty plea by Trump's ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen.
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| Alaska Airlines to give priority boarding to people in ugly sweaters Posted: 13 Dec 2018 11:32 AM PST  Alaska Airlines will let passengers wearing ugly sweaters board early on Friday, Dec. 21 in honor of National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day.
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| Russian Orthodox church calls on UN for help in Ukraine Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:05 AM PST  MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday called on the United Nations, the leaders of Germany and France, the pope and other spiritual leaders to protect believers in Ukraine in the face of pressure on Moscow-affiliated clerics.
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| 20 Financial New Year's Resolutions for 2019 Posted: 13 Dec 2018 09:12 AM PST ![20 Financial New Year's Resolutions for 2019]( "20 Financial New Year's Resolutions for 2019") Nearly one-third of Americans plan to make a money resolution for 2019, according to a Fidelity Investments survey, with 48 percent of them planning to save more, 29 percent aiming to pay down debt and 15 percent aspiring to spend less. Identify financial goals. Before you can make progress toward any financial goals, identify what they are.
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| Iran urges West to end 'absurdities' on missiles Posted: 13 Dec 2018 08:53 AM PST  Iran on Thursday urged the United States and its allies to stop their "absurd" accusations about Iranian missile tests, a day after Washington urged the UN to adopt punitive measures against Tehran. "US & allies should cease their hypocritical absurdities abt Iran's missiles," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter. Beneath the text, Zarif published a graphic detailing arms exports to Saudi Arabia from 2013 to 2017 using figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
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| Puma is bringing back its 1980s ‘smart shoes’ because why not Posted: 12 Dec 2018 07:01 PM PST ![Puma is bringing back its 1980s 'smart shoes' because why not]( "Puma is bringing back its 1980s 'smart shoes' because why not") When Puma launched its "RS" computerized sneakers way back in 1986, the company thought it might be the dawning of a new era in smart wearables. Things didn't quite go as well as planned, however, and the shoes fell onto a heaping pile of gadgets that were just way too far ahead of their time. Today, wearable technology is common, so Puma has decided it wants to take another crack at its innovative smart shoes, and it's doing so with a reissue that stays true to the original (now retro) design. The RS (which stands for "Running System") shoes were downright futuristic for the mid-1980s. The shoes were capable of tracking metrics like workout times, distance traveled, and even a rough estimation of energy expenditure -- all things we now expect from smartwatches and fitness bands. The original shoes required that you hooked the bulky rear of the shoes to a computer in order access exercise statistics, but the reissue will make things a lot easier thanks to Bluetooth connectivity. The retro-futuristic kicks will track a full month of activity, and the hardware buttons on the back of the right shoe can be pressed to show a readout of step count and battery charge level on a tiny digital display. Back in 1986 the shoes weren't exactly popular, but Puma thinks they'll be much more sought-after this time around, especially since they'll be an extremely limited edition product. Only 86 pairs of the shoes are being produced, and they'll all be individually numbered, making them true collector's items. The shoes will go on sale on December 13th, but you'll need to be in Toyko, Berlin, or London in order to score them in person. Alternatively you could get lucky and snatch a pair online at one of Puma's retail partners, but that's a long shot at best.
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| Tijuana official: Some caravan migrants breaking into homes Posted: 13 Dec 2018 05:38 PM PST  Tijuana delegate Genaro Lopez on the impact the migrant caravan is having on the city.
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| U.S.-backed Syrian forces close to seizing town from Islamic State: spokeswoman Posted: 14 Dec 2018 07:52 AM PST ![U.S.-backed Syrian forces close to seizing town from Islamic State: spokeswoman]( "U.S.-backed Syrian forces close to seizing town from Islamic State: spokeswoman") The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces will soon seize the town of Hajin from Islamic State (IS) in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, a spokeswoman said on Friday. Hajin is the last big town Islamic State holds in its remaining enclave east of the Euphrates River. The SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, has battled to eliminate the jihadists there for several months.
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| Shamir Shah Creates a Serene Model Unit With Global References at the Kent Posted: 14 Dec 2018 12:48 PM PST |
| Canada to Trump administration: Don’t play politics with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou extradition case Posted: 14 Dec 2018 01:41 PM PST ![Canada to Trump administration: Don’t play politics with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou extradition case]( "Canada to Trump administration: Don’t play politics with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou extradition case") Canada's foreign minister warned the Trump administration not to politicize the pending extradition of Chinese technology executive Meng Wanzhou.
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