| Two killed in bombing in troubled south Philippines Posted: 31 Dec 2018 05:57 AM PST  Two people were killed and around 35 others wounded Monday after a bomb went off outside a shopping mall in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato, police said. The explosion prompted officers to search the mall, leading to the discovery of another suspected bomb which they destroyed, said local police spokesman Chief Inspector Rowell Zafra.
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| Replacing Mattis: 4 Things Trump Needs In His Next Secretary of Defense Posted: 30 Dec 2018 04:34 PM PST  He doesn't need an ideologue. He doesn't need a business person. He needs a solid conservative national-security leader.
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| Judge Who Ruled Against Obamacare Halts Order Pending Appeal Posted: 30 Dec 2018 03:57 PM PST  "Because many everyday Americans would otherwise face great uncertainty during the pendency of appeal, the court finds that the Dec. 14, 2018, order declaring the individual mandate unconstitutional and inseverable should be stayed," U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor said in a filing Sunday in federal court in Fort Worth. O'Connor had agreed with a coalition of Republican states led by Texas that the ACA, the signature health-care overhaul by President Barack Obama, needed to be eviscerated after Congress in 2017 zeroed out a key provision -- the tax penalty for not complying with the requirement to buy insurance.
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| North Carolina Animal Sanctuary 'Devastated' by Death of Intern Mauled by Lion Posted: 31 Dec 2018 02:19 PM PST  The Center confirmed that Matthai was euthanized by necessity by first responders. Matthai was born at the Center not long after his mother was placed there as the result of a government-assisted confiscation in 2004.
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| Vatican spokesman, deputy resign amid crisis period for pope Posted: 31 Dec 2018 12:51 PM PST  VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, and his deputy resigned abruptly Monday amid an overhaul of the Vatican's communications operations and a crisis period in Pope Francis' papacy.
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| Sydney kicks off global 2019 parties with dazzling spectacle Posted: 31 Dec 2018 06:34 AM PST  Australia's largest city Sydney put on its biggest-ever fireworks display in a spectacular welcome to the New Year, kicking off a wave of celebrations for billions around the world. A record amount of pyrotechnics as well as new fireworks effects and colours lit up the city's skyline for 12 minutes and dazzled the more than 1.5 million spectators who packed the harbour front and parks. The party atmosphere will sweep across major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas as the clock ticks past midnight.
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| 4-year-old undergoes surgery after swallowing magnets from popular toy Posted: 31 Dec 2018 08:27 AM PST  Mother issues warning to parents after she says her son had to have part of his colon and intestines removed after swallowing 13 tiny magnets from a toy.
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| The 16 Most Beautiful Highways for Road Trips Posted: 31 Dec 2018 05:00 AM PST |
| Iraqi warplanes strike Islamic State leaders in Syria: military Posted: 31 Dec 2018 04:53 AM PST ![Iraqi warplanes strike Islamic State leaders in Syria: military]( "Iraqi warplanes strike Islamic State leaders in Syria: military") Iraqi warplanes hit a meeting of Islamic State leaders near Deir al-Zor in Syria on Monday, destroying the building they were gathered in, the military said in a statement, without giving further details about the militants targeted. The statement said F-16 fighter jets carried out the raid around al-Sousa village in eastern Syria, as "30 leaders from Daesh (Islamic State) gangs" met in the building. The strike came a day after Iraq's government hinted at greater involvement for its armed forces in Syria as the U.S. begins withdrawing troops from the country.
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| Bali's Agung volcano spews ash in fresh eruption Posted: 30 Dec 2018 12:47 AM PST  A volcano on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali erupted Sunday, belching ash high into the air and over nearby villages as officials warned tourists to keep clear of the area. Mount Agung has been erupting periodically since it rumbled back to life in 2017, when it grounded hundreds of flights and left 120,000 visitors stranded. "Residents near Mount Agung as well as climbers and tourists should not carry out any activity in the danger zone or within four-kilometre radius from the crater," the centre said in a statement.
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| Lion kills young worker at North Carolina wildlife sanctuary Posted: 30 Dec 2018 04:45 PM PST  A lion at a North Carolina private wildlife sanctuary fatally mauled a 22-year-old worker on Sunday before being shot and killed.
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| Origin of virus that hobbled newspapers still unclear Posted: 30 Dec 2018 04:02 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The origins of a suspected computer attack that disrupted the Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing newspapers remained unclear Sunday after causing delivery delays and being brought to the attention of federal investigators.
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| New for New Year's Eve Times Square: NYPD drone will watch over crowd Posted: 31 Dec 2018 09:30 AM PST  As revelers in New York City's Times Square sway to old acquaintances they don't want to forget, there will be a new one on hand: a tethered drone.
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| Emerging Markets at Mercy of Trade and Fed After Painful 2018 Posted: 30 Dec 2018 08:28 PM PST  The tweet in question this week is President Donald Trump's declaration that "big progress" is being made toward a deal between the U.S. and China, and it may spur gains across emerging markets. "Emerging markets have been particularly hard hit so I expect to see a relief bounce in January," said Tarek Fadlallah, the Dubai-based chief executive officer at Nomura Asset Management Middle East.
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| Lindsey Graham to CNN host on Iraq withdrawal issue: 'That's a bunch of bulls***' Posted: 30 Dec 2018 08:23 AM PST  Sen. Lindsey Graham said that former President Barack Obama is to blame for "everything we're dealing with today" because of his decision to withdraw from Iraq in 2011.
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| French defence minister in Jordan to visit troops fighting IS Posted: 31 Dec 2018 10:30 AM PST  France's defence minister arrived in Jordan on Monday to visit troops battling the Islamic State group, showing Paris's determination to continue the fight after a shock US decision to withdraw from Syria. After a stopover in Amman, where Florence Parly is set to meet with Jordanian Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz, she is expected to visit the H5 airbase from which French fighter jets take off for sorties against the jihadists. The minister's last-minute trip to Jordan comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump's surprise decision in mid-December to pull out all 2,000 American troops stationed in Syria, saying "we've won" against IS.
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| Suspect in murder of a California police officer was making a run for Mexico when he was apprehended, officials say Posted: 30 Dec 2018 11:27 AM PST  Eight people have now been arrested in the death of Newman police officer Col. Ronil Singh; Jeff Paul reports.
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| We're proud to be in the Fiesta Bowl, but fostering social mobility matters more Posted: 31 Dec 2018 09:43 AM PST  The power of education isn't about picking the student who's already most likely to succeed. It's about identifying talent with grit and spirit.
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| Taliban dismiss Afghanistan's peace talks offer Posted: 29 Dec 2018 10:04 PM PST  Representatives from the Taliban, the United States and regional countries met this month in the United Arab Emirates for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan. "We will meet the U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia in January next year and we will start our talks that remained incomplete in Abu Dhabi," a member of the Taliban's decision-making Leadership Council told Reuters. "However, we have made it clear to all the stakeholders that we will not talk to the Afghan government." Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said the leaders of the group would not talk to the Afghan government.
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| Detailed Photos of the 2019 McLaren Senna Supercar Posted: 31 Dec 2018 08:31 AM PST |
| Russia: 4 die in building collapse; searchers race weather Posted: 31 Dec 2018 02:58 PM PST  MOSCOW (AP) — Hundreds of rescue workers raced bitterly cold weather in Russia's Ural Mountains region Monday as they searched for survivors in the hulking concrete blocks from a partially collapsed apartment building where at least four people died.
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| Defective bracket discovered on collapsed jetway bridge at Baltimore-Washington International Airport Posted: 31 Dec 2018 11:01 AM PST  Investigators discovered a defective metal bracket on the jetway that partially at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, injuring six people.
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| Read Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' Farewell Message Posted: 31 Dec 2018 07:18 AM PST  Jim Mattis, the outgoing Secretary of Defense, told staff to "keep the faith in our country" in a farewell message sent on Monday.
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| Vietnamese relatives of bus blast victims arrive in Egypt Posted: 30 Dec 2018 06:33 AM PST  Relatives of Vietnamese tourists hit by a roadside bomb near Egypt's famed pyramids arrived on Sunday in Cairo, an airport source said. A group of five, which included family members, arrived in the capital two days after a blast hit a tour bus killing three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian guide. The attack, which took place in the Giza governorate, wounded 11 other Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian bus driver, Egypt's public prosecutor said.
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| Why the Range Rover P38a deserves space in your garage Posted: 30 Dec 2018 01:27 PM PST  Forever lampooned as a liability by keyboard warriors and marque snobs alike, the second generation Range Rover (P38a) remains criminally underrated. Stylish and incredibly capable as a 4x4 , here's why you should ignore the horror stories and buy one...
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| South Korea's Kim Jong-un fan clubs prepare welcome as North Korean leader vows visit to Seoul Posted: 30 Dec 2018 05:58 AM PST  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has written a rare letter to Seoul vowing to "frequently" meet Moon Jae-in, South Korea's president, to discuss nuclear disarmament. In the missive, described by South Korean officials as warm in tone, Kim pledged to pursue peace between the two countries and expressed regret that he had been so far unable to visit South Korea after Mr Moon invited him to do so in September. But he expressed a strong will to visit the South Korean capital in the future and Mr Moon welcomed his overtures via his social media account. "If we meet together with sincerity, there is nothing we cannot achieve," Mr Moon said. The North Korean leader, long denounced as a dictator in the South, can expect a warm welcome from at least a section of the South Korean population if he arrives. In recent months fan clubs have sprung up to prepare a welcoming party for his visit. Earlier this month, dozens of South Korean university students in black winter coats sat down on a frozen pathway in Seoul's Maronie Park to discuss their unlikely new hero. Clutching bunches of pastel pink rosebays, symbolising the sea of flowers that greeted Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, on his trip to Pyongyang in September, they broke into song. "Let's make reunification happen a minute sooner," the students chanted, in a refrain referring to their political goal to see the Korean peninsula unified. The meeting, attended by The Telegraph, was a stark reflection of the perceptional shift taking place in the South. "Until now, we did not know Kim's true self. We only saw the media portrayal of him as an evil man!" one speaker said. Such scenes would have been unthinkable in the South Korean capital one year ago. Not only because Pyongyang was still threatening Seoul and Washington with the prospect of war but because the South's National Security Act was prepped to jail anyone "praising, inciting or propagating the activities of an anti-government organisation." South Korean President Moon Jae-in was given a warm welcome in Pyongyang in September Credit: Pool/AP The enforcement of the 1948 law has been relaxed during President Moon's 18-month-old administration as he pursues a diplomatic détente with Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons and missiles programme and bring peace to the peninsula. The more tolerant political atmosphere has allowed at least a dozen civic groups – collectively known as the 'Paektu Praise Committee'- to spring up as an unofficial welcoming squad for Kim's planned visit to Seoul. Although the confirmation and timing of his unprecedented trip has not yet been nailed down, the groups are already preparing. Some are learning the dance moves of a North Korean art troupe, while others are visiting schools to collect welcome messages. At the Maronie Park event in mid-December, enthralled students watched a short drama about a local family excited about Kim coming to Seoul. "I like our Chairman Kim more than BTS!" yelled the family's father, referring to a K-pop band that has stormed the global charts this year. To one side, a pop-up photo gallery displayed highlights of 2018's Korean diplomatic calendar – Kim and President Moon's first meeting on the border in April, holding their hands in the air, smiling with their wives on a group trip to the North's Mount Paektu. A student welcome committee organised a pop-up gallery in Seoul of President Moon's meetings with Kim Credit: Junho Lee "I believe the events we hold influence people's reactions to Kim's visit. Many people who didn't really know about Kim's visit see our event and learn more," said participant Ha In-cheol, 23. "We do receive many positive reviews. People write postcards saying 'Welcome to the South', 'We hope you visit us soon'. We also sell stickers and badges welcoming Kim and many people buy them," he said. In a Telegraph interview, Kim Han-sung, 28, who heads up the 'Korea Progressive University Student's Union', a branch of the praise committee, said the welcoming parties had been inspired in part by President Moon's warm reception in Pyongyang. "The people there welcomed him with the Unified Korea flag and flowers. We plan on doing the same thing when Kim comes here. We are also planning for a candlelight cultural festival, campaigns, and street performances to welcome him," he said. The groups are practicing songs popular with the North's Samjiyon orchestra, a traditional music ensemble that performed at the South Korea Winter Olympics earlier this year. The orchestra's greatest hits include "Let us run towards the future" and "We welcome you". Left wing groups in Seoul are taking a positive view of Kim Jong-un Credit: Junho Lee "All these songs are very meaningful in the relationship of the two Koreas," said Mr Kim. But he admitted that, despite a generally positive public reaction to their street activities, pro-Pyongyang activists were coming under fire online. "We receive lot of attacks on the internet," he said. The rise of left-wing groups promoting positive engagement with Kim Jong-un has also sparked a backlash from conservatives which analysts say could erode public support for Mr Moon. The president's ratings are already on a downward spiral due to the country's economic woes. Meanwhile, defectors who have taken shelter in the South after fleeing hardships and persecution in the pariah regime have also been left aghast at Kim's sudden surge in popularity after long being portrayed as a ruthless dictator. At the Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) office in Seoul, some said they were baffled by the positive reactions to his planned visit, reported the Korea Times. "I had a miserable life in North Korea, I was sentenced to one of the harsh prison camps. Later, after I was released, I escaped, but I got captured and sent back. Then my life in that living hell became even worse," said Eunhwa, a woman who arrived in the South in 2015. "I'm so surprised to hear South Koreans saying nice things about Kim Jung-un. It means they really don't understand the evil to the north." Mikyung, a woman who escaped North Korea in 2016 said she was amazed at the South's high expectations about Kim's desire for peace. "It should be clear to anyone who understands the regime that it is seeking survival on its own terms, not to compromise," she said. "He will continue trying to exert complete control over everyone within North Korean territory and maybe even the entire Korean Peninsula."
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| Iraq hints at bigger role in Syria after U.S. withdrawal Posted: 30 Dec 2018 02:08 PM PST  Iraq's prime minister said on Sunday that top security officials from Baghdad had met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, and hinted at a bigger Iraqi role fighting Islamic State militants as U.S. troops withdraw from Syria. "This issue has a lot of complications," Adel Abdul Mahdi told reporters, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement this month that he will withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq's neighbor. "If any negative development takes place in Syria it will affect us.
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| 29 states have minimum wages above the federal level Posted: 30 Dec 2018 10:26 AM PST  The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has remained the same since 2009. Since then, 29 states and the District of Columbia have set minimum wages above the federal level. Twenty states have minimum ...
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| Police chief admits there isn't Zika in meth after Facebook post goes viral Posted: 31 Dec 2018 05:28 AM PST  The Harahan Police Department never had reason to believe Zika, a mosquito-born virus, was able to contaminate meth.
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| Stephen Miller steps into spotlight amid chaos in 'zombie' White House press shop Posted: 30 Dec 2018 08:24 AM PST  Former officials said White House adviser Stephen Miller's media appearances have been a "disaster" and are a sign of a communications operation in disarray.
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| Here Are All the Stores Open and Closed on New Year's 2019 Posted: 31 Dec 2018 03:01 AM PST  Including hours for grocery stores and more
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| Fatah says Hamas arrests members in Gaza ahead of rally Posted: 31 Dec 2018 06:13 AM PST  Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party said Monday that its rival Hamas had carried out widespread arrests of its members in the Gaza Strip ahead of a rally marking the anniversary of the movement's founding. Hamas denied the accusation, with a spokesman for the enclave's interior ministry saying 38 people had been held for questioning over concerns that opposing Fatah factions in Gaza would clash at the rally set for later in the day.
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| Why a Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 was worth waiting 22 years for Posted: 30 Dec 2018 01:36 PM PST  The long wait only made getting this 1992 Skyline GT-R that much sweeter for Mark Hutchinson, after he dreamed of owning one for decades
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| China Seeks Talks With India to Push Asia Trade Pact, Sources Say Posted: 31 Dec 2018 02:00 PM PST  The 16-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Agreement has been in the works for a while and China is keen to conclude it by end of 2019, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is not public. India's wariness about a possible flood of Chinese goods, and its demand for looser immigration rules for its tech professionals remain sticking points. China's inability to close the trade deal highlights the continuing suspicion among its Asian trading partners over Beijing's effort to increase its influence in the region.
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| Syria deaths at wartime low in 2018 as Assad made gains Posted: 31 Dec 2018 07:54 AM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — Nearly 20,000 people were killed in 2018 in Syria's war, the lowest annual death toll since the war began nearly eight years ago, a group that closely tracks the conflict said Monday.
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| Ceramicists Are Making Lamps and We're Fully On Board Posted: 31 Dec 2018 04:00 AM PST  Here are a few of our faves
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| Ask the Captain: What airplanes did you fly in your career? Posted: 30 Dec 2018 06:00 AM PST ![Ask the Captain: What airplanes did you fly in your career?]( "Ask the Captain: What airplanes did you fly in your career?") Prior to becoming an aviation safety consultant, and USA TODAY columnist, John Cox flew a wide variety of commercial airplanes.
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| Vatican spokesman, deputy resign suddenly Posted: 31 Dec 2018 08:41 AM PST  The spokesman for the Vatican and his deputy resigned suddenly on Monday, an official statement said. Matthew Larotonda reports
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| Where do the investigations related to Trump stand? Posted: 30 Dec 2018 09:01 PM PST  Where the investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him:
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| Oil posts first year of losses since 2015 Posted: 31 Dec 2018 01:02 PM PST  "OPEC is out there cutting, but the market isn't really pricing that in." Oil prices fell more than a third this quarter, the steepest quarterly decline since the fourth quarter of 2014. Crude oil futures posted modest gains on Monday.
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| Merkel says Germany must fight for 'our convictions' Posted: 30 Dec 2018 03:08 PM PST  Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said Germany must "stand fast, argue, and fight for our own convictions" and assume greater responsibilities at a time when multilateralism is coming under intense pressure. In her New Year's address to Germans, Merkel said long-held certainties about international cooperation were being put to the test. Global challenges including climate change, immigration and the fight against terrorism could not be solved by countries going it alone, she warned.
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| New York's Times Square gears up for soggy New Year's Eve Posted: 31 Dec 2018 12:43 PM PST  Hundreds of tourists, some wrapped in raincoats, clustered in a rainy Times Square on Monday afternoon to await the midnight descent of the illuminated ball that has marked the arrival of the new year in New York City for more than a century. Christina Aguilera, New Kids on the Block and Sting were among the musical performers slated to entertain throngs filling the streets ahead of the ball drop, the focal point of New Year's Eve celebrations across the United States. Steady rain was forecast in New York City into the new year.
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| 5 Died After Falling Off Cruises in 2 Months. Advocates Say Cruise Lines Can Do More to Protect Passengers Posted: 31 Dec 2018 01:58 PM PST  The cruise industry says that man overboard incidents rare and caused by poor passenger behavior. But safety advocates disagree.
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| Brexit May Not Happen, Trade Secretary Says Posted: 30 Dec 2018 03:01 AM PST  "If we were not to vote for that, I'm not sure I would give it much more than 50-50," the veteran campaigner for Brexit told the newspaper. Fox told his fellow lawmakers that it was a "matter of honor" to back May and he'd rather accept an agreement that falls short of the ideal than risk Brexit's failure. "For me, the worst possible outcome of this process would be no Brexit," he said in the interview.
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