| Acting U.S. attorney general disregards advice on Russia probe recusal Posted: 20 Dec 2018 09:54 PM PST ![Acting U.S. attorney general disregards advice on Russia probe recusal]( "Acting U.S. attorney general disregards advice on Russia probe recusal") The decision by Whitaker, known for making comments critical of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe before being appointed last month by President Donald Trump, was conveyed in a letter to congressional leaders by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd. Boyd said in the three-page letter department ethics officials determined that Whitaker lacked any personal, political or business conflicts that would disqualify him from supervision of Mueller's investigation. Boyd said the "appearance-of-impartiality" test in Whitaker's case was deemed a "close call" in which "credible arguments could be made either way," a finding he said Whitaker cited in his decision to retain his discretion to oversee the Mueller investigation.
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| Ottawa seeks help for release of Canadians held in China Posted: 22 Dec 2018 12:14 PM PST  Canada's top diplomat on Saturday called on allies for support in securing the release of Canadians detained in China, noting that the arrests are a "worrying precedent" for the entire international community. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that China's detention of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor is "not only a Canadian issue.
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| Eat avocados without washing them? That's an avoca-don't, FDA says Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:24 AM PST  The concern is that when you cut into an avocado, the knife could bring pathogens on the peel to the edible fleshy part.
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| Brazil court overrules injunction on Boeing-Embraer tie-up Posted: 22 Dec 2018 05:40 AM PST  A Brazilian court on Saturday shot down a fresh injunction by a judge over a plan by planemakers Boeing of the US and Embraer of Brazil to create a $5.26-billion joint venture, Brazil's state news agency said. It was the second time this month an appeals court has overruled decisions by a Sao Paulo judge, Victorio Guizio Neto, seeking to temporarily block the deal. The higher court said Saturday it was not up to Guizio Neto to decide the future of the proposed joint venture, noting that the Brazilian government held a "golden share" in Embraer that allowed it to veto strategic decisions if it wished, according to state news agency Agencia Brasil.
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| Ford Recalls F-150 and Super Duty Pickup Trucks for Engine-Block Fire Risk Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:44 AM PST  More than 400,000 pickups in the U.S. alone are affected by the recall.
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| Kremlin says would welcome Rusal minimizing impact of U.S. sanctions Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:14 AM PST ![Kremlin says would welcome Rusal minimizing impact of U.S. sanctions]( "Kremlin says would welcome Rusal minimizing impact of U.S. sanctions") The Kremlin can only welcome Russian aluminum giant Rusal succeeding in minimizing the impact of U.S. sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury said it would lift sanctions on the core empire of Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, including Rusal and its parent En+, as they have agreed to restructure to reduce Deripaska's stakes. The deal is a corporate matter for Rusal only, Peskov said, when asked whether the Kremlin had approved it.
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| Fresh anti-India protests in Kashmir as troops kill 6 rebels Posted: 22 Dec 2018 03:22 AM PST  SRINAGAR, India (AP) — A gunbattle between Indian troops and Kashmiri rebels early Saturday left six militants dead and triggered a new round of anti-India protests in the disputed Himalayan region.
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| More Gatwick Airport chaos: New drone sighting halts flights, again Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:03 AM PST  There's more chaos for holiday travelers at London's Gatwick Airport, where flights have been suspended again on Friday "a "suspected drone sighting."
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| Groups of illegal immigrants apprehended in Arizona where no border fence is present as lawmakers debate funding on Hill Posted: 21 Dec 2018 06:45 AM PST  Border Patrol apprehends two large groups of illegal immigrants in a remote area of desert between Yuma and Tucson, Arizona; William La Jeunesse reports.
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| Shutdown over Trump’s wall will hurt border security, U.S. border patrol agent says Posted: 21 Dec 2018 10:33 AM PST  As President Trump threatens a government shutdown over funding for his border wall, one U.S. Border Patrol agent offered some insight on the immediate impact that would have.
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| Van Jackson: My North Korea Prediction for 2019 Posted: 22 Dec 2018 07:11 AM PST  The appearance of progress belies the reality of an unchanging—or even worsening—situation below the surface.
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| Young people 'embracing Satan' at fault for violent crime, US police say Posted: 21 Dec 2018 04:55 AM PST  In a now-deleted Facebook post on Tuesday police in the town of Opp, Alabama, detailed a number of killings in the area over the past year, before offering an unusual explanation. Opp police appear to regularly promote Christian messages on their Facebook page.
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| Goldman Sachs CEO defends bank in 1MDB scandal Posted: 22 Dec 2018 12:31 AM PST  The head of Goldman Sachs defended the investment bank's handling of the scandal-plagued Malaysian fund 1MDB on Friday, saying much criticism of the financial giant was unfair. "I cannot stress enough how integrity is a cornerstone of our culture," newly-installed Chief Executive David Solomon said in a year-end message to employees. Goldman helped 1MDB to issue $6.5 billion of bonds but Kuala Lumpur accuses the bank and its former employees of misappropriating $2.7 billion during the process.
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| Subaru to brings S model STI to the US for the first time Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:58 AM PST  The camouflaged star of Subaru's new teaser doesn't leave much to the imagination apart from the exterior paint color. Whereas most special-edition STIs don't make it to the US, this one definitely will -- and it's likely the S209, for which Subaru just filed a trademark for in the US. The clip features the disguised car speeding around some foggy, vacant country roads.
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| Barn find 1955 Chevy Corvette hasn't seen daylight in 40 years Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:09 AM PST  Tucked away for 40 years, this 1955 Chevrolet Corvette looks worse-for-wear in its hiding place – but now it's out, don't even think about trying to buy it.
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| These Are the Most Valuable Hot Wheels Cars of All Time Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:11 AM PST |
| London's Gatwick airport reopens after drone saboteur creates chaos Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:43 AM PST  The British army and police are continuing to hunt for a rogue drone operator as the nation's second largest airport reopens after a 36-hour shutdown.
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| 8-year-old Congolese boy dies after undergoing surgery in Los Angeles to remove facial tumor Posted: 22 Dec 2018 08:09 AM PST  The 8-year-old boy who went to California to have a massive tumor removed from his face died Friday night.
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| As Trump vows to leave Syria, Kurds fear a power grab by Iran and Russia Posted: 21 Dec 2018 03:05 PM PST  Officials in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, are now struggling to prepare for the consequences of what they fear will result from a hasty U.S. military withdrawal from Syria, the announcement of which caught them and even senior members of the Trump administration off-guard.
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| North Korea warns it will not give up nuclear weapons until US removes 'threat' Posted: 20 Dec 2018 08:13 PM PST  North Korea has vowed not to unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons unless the US reciprocates by removing its own nuclear threat to Pyongyang, in a blunt statement that casts fresh doubt on whether the current impasse in disarmament talks can be resolved. The lengthy rebuke of Washington's "hostile" policy towards the reclusive regime was delivered by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday. It accused the US of "high-handed practices and pressure" and offered one of the clearest explanations to date of how North Korea views the denuclearisation process. At an unprecedented summit in Singapore in June, Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, the US president, reached an agreement in vague terms to "work towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." Talks have since stalled as the two sides have failed to agree on the definition of denuclearisation or on how to move forward. "When we refer to the Korean Peninsula, they include both the area of the DPRK [North Korea] and the area of South Korea where aggression troops, including the nuclear weapons of the US, are deployed," the KCNA commentary clarified. Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump met in Singapore in June Credit: Evan Vucci/AP "When we refer to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it, therefore, means removing all elements of nuclear threats from the areas of both the north and the south of Korea and also from surrounding areas from where the Korean Peninsula is targeted," it said. American nuclear weapons were deployed in South Korea from 1958 to 1991 but now Washington supports Japan and South Korea using bombers and submarines based elsewhere. It also maintains 28,500 American troops in South, which could be a potential sticking point in disarmament negotiations. The regime's statement denounced Washington's policy since the Singapore summit as "misguided", saying that it was "aghast" at Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state's assertion that Pyongyang had "committed itself to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea." It added: "The US must have a clear understanding of the phrase, denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and study geology in particular, before it is too late." The latest missive from Pyongyang jars with the more optimistic soundings from Seoul in recent months about Kim's willingness to cooperate. The North Koreans have criticised US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his statements Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP However, it also validates warnings from North Korea analysts and experts, who have consistently argued that Kim Jong-un will not voluntarily relinquish his nuclear arsenal, which he views as both a security guarantee and as giving him a stronger hand in diplomatic negotiations. "It has always said this. Some people wanted to delude themselves into believing otherwise. But North Korea is nothing if not consistent," tweeted Vipin Narang, an associate professor of political science at MIT. Writing in NK News, Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin university in Seoul, described the KCNA dispatch as simply "an honest admission of Pyongyang's real intentions." "This statement might have come as a shock to the few remaining nuclear optimists…However, a more unbiased observer should not be surprised at all," he wrote. "North Korea has never had the slightest intention to surrender their nuclear weapons. They saw what happened in Iraq and, more importantly, in Libya, and have long believed that without nuclear weapons they will become vulnerable to both a foreign invasion and a local revolution."
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| Priest named in Pennsylvania church sex abuse probe jailed Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:17 PM PST  A Roman Catholic priest on Friday became the first person sentenced to prison as a result of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation that found hundreds of clergy had abused children over seven decades.
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| Indonesia takes majority stake in massive Grasberg mine Posted: 21 Dec 2018 03:13 AM PST  Indonesia on Friday finalised a $3.8 billion deal with US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan to take a 51 percent stake in the giant Grasberg mine, the president said. The announcement finally brings an end to a fierce standoff between Freeport and the government over rights to one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines. Indonesian state-owned mining firm Inalum will get the majority interest in the Grasberg mine, from just under 10 percent now, the company said in a statement.
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| Florida to be battered by strong winds in the wake of Thursday's violent storms Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:40 AM PST  In the wake of severe thunderstorms that damaged dozens of homes in Florida on Thursday, gusty winds on Friday will threaten to cause even more damage across the state.
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| This 1993 Bugatti EB110 was the dawn of a new era Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:24 AM PST  Long before Volkswagen Group ownership and the Bugatti Veyron, the EB110 was making headlines with its 213mph top speed and quad-turbo V12 engine
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| Facebook, Twitter remove fake news sites in Bangladesh ahead of election Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:32 AM PST ![Facebook, Twitter remove fake news sites in Bangladesh ahead of election]( "Facebook, Twitter remove fake news sites in Bangladesh ahead of election") Facebook and Twitter said on Thursday they had removed accounts and fake news pages linked to the Bangladesh government that had posted anti-opposition content, days ahead of an election in the South Asian nation. Facebook, Bangladesh's most popular social network with an estimated 30 million users, said it had removed nine fake news pages "linked to individuals associated with the Bangladesh government" which mimicked those of independent news outlets. Bangladesh's interior minister, Assaduzzaman Khan, said action would be taken against people behind the fake accounts.
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| One of World Trade's Top Prognosticators Is Worried About 2019 Posted: 20 Dec 2018 09:00 PM PST  "When you look at those leading indicators, they continue to weaken. It's almost like a death from a thousand cuts," Robert Koopman said in an interview Thursday. Financial markets have been increasingly concerned about a possible slowdown in the world economy next year and the impact of President Donald Trump's trade wars.
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| The 8 Best Buildings Completed in 2018 Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:18 AM PST |
| Donald Trump disputes departing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis over Russia, China Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:35 AM PST  Trump did not cite Mattis by name, but his tweet came the morning after Mattis cited Russia and China in a resignation letter.
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| China calls US ‘arrogant and selfish’ over hacking charges Posted: 21 Dec 2018 04:27 AM PST  China has called the US "arrogant and selfish" after two Chinese citizens were charged for allegedly participating in a global hacking campaign to steal trade secrets and other sensitive information from American government agencies and corporations. Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong are accused of trying to illegally obtain intellectual property, technology secrets and the personal data of over 100,000 US navy members over a 12-year period. The crimes were apparently part of several campaigns lasting years that targeted dozens of companies as well as several foreign governments, according to the US department of justice.
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| Wallace C. Gregson: My North Korea Prediction for 2019 Posted: 21 Dec 2018 05:36 AM PST  We must reconsider our policy and strategy.
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| There are so many great Philips Hue deals that’ll still arrive before Christmas Posted: 22 Dec 2018 06:05 AM PST ![There are so many great Philips Hue deals that'll still arrive before Christmas]( "There are so many great Philips Hue deals that'll still arrive before Christmas") Philips Hue smart LED lighting products are always best-sellers during the holiday shopping season, and the reasons for that isn't exactly a mystery. Philips Hue is super popular, and it's also a super expensive brand so people jump at the opportunity to save. One such opportunity is happening right now on Amazon, and the best part is all the products on sale will be delivered in time to give as Christmas gifts! That includes Philips Hue Single Premium A19 Smart Bulbs, Philips Hue White A19 4-Packs, the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance LightStrip Plus, and even more. Check out all the deals below. ## Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance LightStrip Plus Dimmable LED Smart Light * MAXIMUM COMPATIBILITY: Pair your Hue smart bulbs with any voice or Smart Home assistant (Hub required and included). Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, SmartThings, IFTTT. * HASSLE-FREE CONNECTIVITY: Smart Lights that won't clog up your Wi-Fi network. Control up to 50 Hue lights on one Hue Hub without adding a Wi-Fi extender or extra router * HOW TO USE: Install the flexible 80-inch LightStrip under bars, bed frames, or cabinets, with included adhesive tape. Trim it to the perfect size with the included cut marks. Extend your Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus up to 33 feet by adding the 40 inch Hue Lightstrip Extension to cover larger surfaces and enable wider applications" * ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE: Sync your Hue lights with Gaming, Music and Movies using your PC via the Hue Sync app * NEXT-LEVEL AUTOMATION: Hue is a Smart Lighting system that remembers your light routines and timers, even when your Wi-Fi goes down * CONTROL LIGHTING FROM ANYWHERE: Take your Smart Light control using your mobile device with you when you travel. Control lights, edit routines and set timers even when you're away from home * INDUSTRY STANDARD: Philips Hue is the only smart lighting product with Energy Star certification and its smart light bulbs last up to 22 years. * LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES: Philips Hue works with the most Voice Assistant and Premium smart home brands. Connect your Hue lights with Nest, Logitech, Razer Gaming, and Xfinity (download for free on Meethue) ## Philips Hue Single Premium A19 Color Smart Bulb * Works with Alexa for voice control (hub required, Alexa device and hub sold separately) * Choose from 16 million colors to instantly change the look and atmosphere of your room or control your lights with your Voice device. Requiring the Hue hub (sold separately) for the full Hue experience * Voice control: Control your Philips Hue lights with your voice using Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant. Pair it for home automation with your existing Nest or Samsung SmartThings system * To install, simply screw in the smart bulbs into your desired light location, download the Hue mobile app and pair your Hue Hub. Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App. Ideal for your favorite ceiling fan lights, floor lamps, table lamps, pendant lights, and more throughout your home * Easily expand your lighting system with accessories (sold separately), such as a Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor. Lifespan : 25,000 Hours ## Philips Hue White A19 4-Pack * VOICE ACTIVATED: The Philips Hue White Starter Kit works with Alexa for voice control (smart hub required, Alexa device and hub sold separately). For the full Hue experience and to take advantage of voice activation purchase the Philips Hue Hub (Model: 458471). Search "Philips Hue Hub" or "B016H0QZ7I" to find this product on Amazon. * LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES: Add additional Smart light points to your smart home and expand your Philips Hue ecosystem with this 4-bulb White Smart Bulb pack. Requires the Philips Hue Hub for full experience, sold separately. * TAKE CONTROL: Turn smart lights on/off, dim to the desired level and set up schedules from wherever you have WiFi connection using the Philips Hue App (iOS and Android). Control your Philips Hue lights with your voice using Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant. * EASY INSTALLATION: To install the Philips Hue white 4 pack starter kit, simply screw the smart bulbs into your desired light location, download the Hue mobile app and pair your Hue Bridge (sold separately). Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App. * EXPAND YOUR SMART HOME: Connect the smart bulbs directly to your other Smart Home Devices like Amazon Echo Plus, Nest, or SmartThings systems. Easily expand your smart lighting system with accessories (sold separately), such as a Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor ## Philips Hue 2-Pack Premium Smart Light Starter Kit * LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES: The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance 2- Pack Smart Bulb Kit lets you choose from 16 million colors and shades of white to turn your everyday lighting into an extraordinary experience. These color lights are controlled remotely with your smartphone or tablet, create custom scenes and unleash your creativity. This is the perfect way to personalize your smart home. * VOICE ACTIVATED: Works with Alexa for voice control (smart hub required and included, Alexa device sold separately). * LASTS A LIFETIME: Lasts 25,000 hours or 23 years with normal use. To install, simply screw in the smart bulbs into your desired smart lighting location, download the hue mobile app and pair your smart hub. Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead smart lights via the Philips hue app. Ideal for your favorite Ceiling Fan lights, floor lamps, table lamps, Pendant lights, and more throughout your smart home. * EXPAND YOUR SMART HOME: Easily expand your smart lighting system with alexa-enabled accessories (sold separately), such as a Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor. * COMPLETE PACKAGE: Comes with 2 Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 60W Energy Star Certified LED Smart Bulbs (able to fit most lamps, overhead lights, and 4-inch recessed cans), Philips hue hub and three-year warranty for the ultimate Philips Hue Smart Lighting experience. ## Philips Hue Single Premium Flood Smart Bulb * Works with Alexa for voice control (hub required, Alexa device and hub sold separately). For the full Hue experience and to take advantage of voice activation purchase the Philips Hue Hub (Model: 458471). Search "Philips Hue Hub" or "B016H0QZ7I" to find this product on Amazon. * LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES: Choose from 16 million colors to instantly change the look and atmosphere of your smart home or control your lights with your Voice. Requiring the Philips Hue Hub (sold separately) for the full Hue experience. Designed to fit 5-6 inch recessed cans. * SMART VOICE CONTROL: Control your Philips Hue smart lights with your voice using Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant. Pair it for home automation with your existing Nest or Samsung SmartThings system. * EASY INSTALLATION: To install, simply screw the smart bulbs into your desired light location, download the Hue mobile app and pair your Hue Hub. Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App. * EXPAND YOUR SMART HOME: Easily expand your smart lighting system with alexa, google home, and apple homekit-compatible accessories (sold separately), such as a Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor.
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| The Latest: Drastic changes mulled over PG&E safety concerns Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:12 PM PST ![The Latest: Drastic changes mulled over PG&E safety concerns]( "The Latest: Drastic changes mulled over PG&E safety concerns") SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on California regulators considering splitting up Pacific Gas & Electric (all times local):
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| Google Celebrates the Shortest Day of the Year With a Winter Solstice Doodle Posted: 21 Dec 2018 02:04 AM PST  It's that time again
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| The New 2020 Ford Explorer Officially Debuts January 9 Posted: 21 Dec 2018 07:32 AM PST  Here's what we know about the redesigned SUV so far.
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| Sen. Mazie Hirono on live TV: It's 'bs' if Trump blames Democrats for government shutdown Posted: 20 Dec 2018 07:51 PM PST  The Hawaiian senator appeared Thursday night on 'All in With Chris Hayes' on MSNBC hours after the Trump administration was involved in several major news developments.
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| Dozens of bodies 'found in IS mass grave' in Iraq Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:23 AM PST  Iraqi authorities said they uncovered a new mass grave containing the remains of dozens of people in an area of northern Kirkuk province once held by the Islamic State group. Security forces have discovered dozens of mass graves since they drove out IS in 2017 after three years of occupation of swathes of northern and western Iraq. The United Nations said in November that more than 200 mass graves containing up to 12,000 victims had been found in Iraq that could hold vital evidence of war crimes by the jihadists.
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| Police: Colorado woman likely killed at home, fiance charged Posted: 21 Dec 2018 06:59 PM PST  The fiance of a Colorado woman who has been missing since Thanksgiving Day was arrested Friday on allegations of killing the mother of his child, and police said she likely died at her house in a mountain town.
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| Amazon’s huge lead in the smart speaker race is starting to shrink Posted: 20 Dec 2018 08:07 PM PST ![Amazon's huge lead in the smart speaker race is starting to shrink]( "Amazon's huge lead in the smart speaker race is starting to shrink") Smart speakers represent one of the next great battlefronts as the biggest tech giants race to capture new territory in the war for user attention -- and, of course, advertising real estate. And while Amazon has been the far and away market leader in the category for some time, new research shows its dominance appears to be eroding. The latest forecast from eMarketer predicts that next year, the user base for Amazon's line of Echo speakers will for the first time slip to less than two-thirds of all US smart speaker users. Obviously, two thirds of the category is still a strong leadership position, but the trend line here for Amazon is nevertheless going in the wrong direction. Looking at the category as a whole, it seems that a growing number of people are embracing the use of smart speaker technology. In the US next year, eMarketer is predicting that 74.2 million people will use one -- a 15 percent increase over 2018. Additionally, more than 25 percent of the US adult population will be using one by the end of 2019. Among other takeaways from eMarketer's forecast: Amazon is also starting to face tougher competition in this space from an ascendant Google, which will capture 31 percent of all smart speaker users next year. Sonos One and Apple, with its HomePod, are likewise making inroads. So much so that Amazon's market share is predicted to keep shrinking next year as well as the year after that, while everyone else sees gains. Axios has more: "Amazon's voice technology is getting clobbered outside the US, as Google and Chinese companies look to expand their voice footprints internationally. eMarketer notes that Amazon has managed to maintain its lead up to this point by brokering partnerships in which its voice assistant could be used on other premium speakers, like Sonos. But now other companies, like Google, are doing the same." As we noted earlier today, Amazon has also made some privacy-related missteps with Alexa, which also could play into the rise of its competitors. Among other data points that eMarketer highlights, meanwhile: Smart speaker hardware sales in the US are predicted to hit $3.2 billion this year, which would be a 64 percent jump over the $2 billion seen in 2017. Also, e-commerce revenue generated via smart speakers is expected to jump to a whopping $40 billion by 2022.
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| UBS to pay US states $68M in rate manipulation settlement Posted: 21 Dec 2018 01:38 PM PST ![UBS to pay US states $68M in rate manipulation settlement]( "UBS to pay US states $68M in rate manipulation settlement") HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Swiss bank UBS has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a multistate investigation into the bank's role in manipulating an interest rate used to price everything from credit cards to mortgages, officials said Friday.
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| U.S. plan to keep asylum seekers in Mexico sows confusion Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:39 PM PST  Mexico's government said on Friday it wanted more details from the United States on the plan, and vowed not to deport people seeking refuge. It is not clear how Mexico plans to house what could be thousands of people from Central America for the months, or years, it takes U.S. immigration cases to be heard. There is currently a backlog of more than 800,000 cases pending in immigration courts.
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| Altria takes stake in Juul e-cigarettes for $12.8 bn Posted: 20 Dec 2018 10:00 PM PST  US tobacco giant Altria, maker of major brands such as Marlboro and Chesterfield, announced Thursday that it will buy a 35 percent stake in popular e-cigarette maker Juul for $12.8 billion. The deal comes as US regulators increase scrutiny of usage among young consumers of the fast-growing vaping products that tobacco companies hope will compensate for declines in conventional cigarette sales. The investment more than doubles the value of Juul to $38 billion.
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| Giving Gift Cards for the Holidays: Pros and Cons Posted: 21 Dec 2018 03:07 PM PST  As the holiday season shifts into high gear, many last-minute shoppers face the great Christmas conundrum: Is a gift card an okay gift to give, or is it viewed as too impersonal, proof of my lack...
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| Companies will build you a 'new' 1960s Ford Bronco — for $200,000 Posted: 21 Dec 2018 04:42 AM PST  Customizers are adding new features and luxury to classic Ford Bronco SUVs in advance of a 2020 model coming from Ford Motor Co.
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| Iran says U.S. presence in Syria was a mistake from the start Posted: 22 Dec 2018 05:52 AM PST ![Iran says U.S. presence in Syria was a mistake from the start]( "Iran says U.S. presence in Syria was a mistake from the start") Iran said that the U.S. military presence in Syria had been "a mistake, illogical and a source of tension", in Tehran's first reaction to President Donald Trump's planned pull-out. Trump has begun what will be a total withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, saying on Wednesday they had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State and were no longer needed in the country. "From the start, the entry and presence of American forces in the region has been a mistake, illogical and a source of tension, and a main cause of instability," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by state media on Saturday.
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| Supreme Court liberal Ginsburg has cancerous nodules removed from lung Posted: 21 Dec 2018 10:41 AM PST  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the eldest justice of the minority liberal faction on the US Supreme Court, underwent surgery Friday to remove two malignant nodules on her left lung, the court announced. Ginsburg, 85, underwent the pulmonary lobectomy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The nodules were discovered last month in x-rays after she fell and fractured three ribs.
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