| Air traffic controllers' union sues over unpaid work during government shutdown Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:52 AM PST  The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that requiring 16,000 controllers to work without pay violates their constitutional rights and a federal wage law in a lawsuit in federal court in Washington D.C. "America wants its air traffic controllers to be laser-focused on landing planes safely and monitoring America's runways, not distracted by financial issues and anxiety of financial instability," the union said in the lawsuit. NATCA also moved for a court order requiring the government to restore air traffic controllers' pay while the lawsuit is pending. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has funds to pay the workers despite the ongoing shutdown, the union said.
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| Tax The Rich, Then Tax Them Some More Posted: 12 Jan 2019 05:00 AM PST  If you close your eyes and listen, sometimes you can hear the Overton Window
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| China seeks consular access for Huawei employee arrested in Poland: state media Posted: 11 Jan 2019 09:29 PM PST  China is seeking consular access for Huawei employee Wang Weijing who was arrested in Poland over espionage allegations, state media reported on Saturday. Citing China's foreign ministry of affairs, state broadcaster CCTV said Beijing is "closely following" the detention of Wang Weijing and has asked to arrange a consular visit "as soon as possible". Both men are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn.
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| Rep. Steve King rejects the 'label' and 'evil ideology' of white supremacy Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:04 PM PST  Iowa Republican Steve King tries to explain the context behind racist remarks attributed to him in the New York Times.
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| Everything We Learned about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC at CES Posted: 11 Jan 2019 02:19 PM PST |
| 'She is doing as well as circumstances allow': Jayme Closs reunited with aunt Posted: 12 Jan 2019 06:49 AM PST  Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme planned to rejoin additional family members Friday and that her aunt has taken custody of her.
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| FBI 'probed whether Donald Trump secretly worked for Russia after Comey firing' Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:00 PM PST  The FBI secretly launched an investigation into whether Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia while in office, according to an explosive report by The New York Times. The decision was said to have been taken after Mr Trump fired James Comey, the FBI director leading the Russia election meddling investigation at the time, in May 2017. FBI agents had been weighing up the move for months but decided to act when Mr Trump linked the firing to the relief it would bring from the Russia probe, according to the paper. The move would have put the FBI in an extraordinary position - having to consider whether the US president himself posed a national security risk to the country he was leading. The investigation reportedly was only a few days old when Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the Russia investigation. It is unknown whether he is still pursuing that line of inquiry. Mr Trump on Saturday morning sent six tweets hitting out at the Russia probe. Referencing the New York Times article, the US president said FBI leaders had launched the investigation "for no reason and with no proof". Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019 The reported decisions date back to the chaotic days in Washington DC after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey just four months into his presidency. The investigation into Russian election meddling - which included whether Trump campaign figures had conspired with the Kremlin - was already up and running, being led by the FBI. Mr Trump reportedly wanted to reference Mr Comey's handling of the Russia investigation in the letter announcing his dismissal. The US president also made the connection in a TV interview, saying "this Russia thing" was a reason he acted. Those two events convinced FBI leaders that they had to investigate whether Mr Trump was knowingly working for or unwittingly being influenced by Moscow, according to The New York Times. Outgoing FBI director Robert Mueller speaks during an interview at FBI headquarters Credit: AP As well as investigating whether Mr Trump has committed obstruction of justice in firing Mr Comey - a criminal offence - the bureau looked into whether he was a national security threat, which is a counterintelligence matter, the paper reported. Mr Mueller's appointed as special counsel around a week after Mr Comey's firing meant that the FBI handed all aspects of its investigation over to his team. Rudolph Giuliani, a lawyer for Mr Trump, played down the significance of the investigation to The New York Times, saying: "The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing." Mr Comey wrote later on Saturday morning: "I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made." — FDR— James Comey (@Comey) January 12, 2019
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| Saudi teen who fled family leaves Thailand for asylum in Canada Posted: 11 Jan 2019 12:42 PM PST  BANGKOK/TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto. Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," he told reporters.
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| The Quick Read on the Top Geopolitical Risks of 2019 Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:31 AM PST  How my risk consultancy the Eurasia Group came up with our annual list
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| China's Huawei fires employee detained in Poland Posted: 12 Jan 2019 06:41 AM PST Huawei said Saturday it has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland on espionage allegations, as China's telecom giant distanced itself from the case amid Western concerns that it could act as a proxy for Chinese security services. This week's detention of Wang Weijing follows the December arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. While China's government has vociferously defended Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and demanded her release, the firm swiftly sacked Wang, who works at its representative office in Poland.
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| 911 call reveals when woman who was in vegetative state gives birth Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:09 PM PST  A new 911 call reveals the moments when a woman at an Arizona care facility who had been in a vegetative state for years suddenly went in to labor, shocking caregivers.
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| Embraer Soars in Sao Paulo as Bolsonaro Approves Boeing Deal Posted: 11 Jan 2019 08:36 AM PST  President Jair Bolsonaro said yesterday on Twitter that it became clear that the country's interests and sovereignty were safeguarded. Also, the Union doesn't oppose the process moving forward, Bolsonaro wrote after a meeting with representatives for Ministries of Defense, Science, Foreign Affairs and Economy. Brazil's antitrust agency expects to start reviewing the deal over the next weeks, agency head Alexandre Barreto told Bloomberg.
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| Moscow demands U.S. explain charges against Russian Trump Tower lawyer Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:18 AM PST  Russia on Friday demanded an explanation from the United States about charges brought against a Russian lawyer who attended a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower who was this week charged in a separate case. Natalia Veselnitskaya, who represented Russian defendants in a money laundering case settled in 2017, has been charged with obstructing justice in that case for submitting a declaration that she falsely represented came from the Russian government independently, U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday. Speaking at a weekly news conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it had become a habit in the United States to open criminal against Russians based on vague claims.
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| Man killed in helicopter accident at Tampa Bay area airport. Posted: 10 Jan 2019 07:02 PM PST  Aerial footage of Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport where officials investigate the scene of the accident.
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| President Trump Thinks the Shutdown Will Give Him His Wall. Here's How Presidents Have Fared in Past Shutdowns Posted: 12 Jan 2019 07:33 AM PST  "Shutdowns create far more problems than they solve for both sides"
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| The Latest: Truck crash closes highway lanes in Indiana Posted: 12 Jan 2019 02:28 PM PST  ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Latest on a winter storm sweeping across parts of the Midwest this weekend (all times local):
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| 'Jayme is the hero' sheriff says of Wisconsin girl who escaped captor Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:35 PM PST  Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone. Relying on what Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," a disheveled Closs escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Barron. "Jayme is the hero in this case.
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| 'Bird Box Challenge' crash: Teen was driving with eyes covered, police say Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:22 PM PST  Police in Utah say a teen driver covered her eyes and participated in the so-called "Bird Box Challenge" when she crashed into another vehicle Monday.
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| Increased costs bit US retailers despite higher holiday sales Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:11 PM PST  Holiday shopping reports released Thursday underscored anew the challenges US retailers face in the Amazon era -- even if consumers are willing to open their wallets to spend. Shares in Macy's plunged almost 20 percent, while nearly every major retailer was pulled down as well. The results were an ugly finale to a holiday shopping season that opened with high expectations owing to robust consumer confidence amid a strong employment market, relatively low gasoline prices and a boost from tax cuts.
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| Cadillac Is Launching an EV and Will Lead GM's Electrification Push Posted: 11 Jan 2019 08:11 AM PST  A new Cadillac model will be the first vehicle to use GM's new battery-electric vehicle architecture.
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| Julian Castro Jumps Into 2020 Democratic Presidential Fray Posted: 12 Jan 2019 11:28 AM PST  Castro has been considered a rising star in the Democratic Party -- he was a contender to be Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016 -- but he'll be entering a race that's likely to include candidates with higher national profiles and well-established fundraising operations. "We're going to make sure that the promise of America is available to everyone,'' Castro said before a cheering crowd on Saturday in his home town of San Antonio, Texas.
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| The Oceans Are Warming Faster Than We Thought, a New Study Says Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:43 PM PST  Sea levels could rise 30cm by the year 2100, according to newly published data
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| Gaza officials say woman killed by Israeli fire at protest Posted: 11 Jan 2019 09:30 AM PST  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman during mass protests on the Gaza frontier Friday, according to Palestinian medics, and the Israeli military said aircraft struck two Hamas posts in response to the violent demonstrations.
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| Factbox: Impact on U.S. government widens on 21st day of shutdown Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:13 AM PST  The White House and congressional Democrats remain divided over Republican President Donald Trump's demand for money for a border wall, even as the president warned in Texas on Thursday that he may use emergency powers to bypass Congress and get billions of dollars to build it. The shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, is the 19th since the mid-1970s, although most have been brief. A 1995-1996 shutdown over a funding battle between Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich also lasted 21 days.
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| Ford axes e-shuttle service Chariot just two years after takeover Posted: 11 Jan 2019 09:04 AM PST  Ford is shutting down its e-shuttle service as the US motoring giant begins a shake-up of its business in an attempt to cut costs. Chariot, a commuter shuttle startup acquired by Ford in 2016 for $65m (£51m), has been available in London as well as 10 US cities, but will see UK operations cease on January 25. All operations of the service will come to an end in March. The San Francisco-headquartered company, which was founded in 2014, emerged as a player in the increasingly expanding tech-transport sector led by Uber. It offers a microtransit service through an app that allows users to book a seat in one of Chariot's turquoise and white transit vans for a cheaper trip during rush hour. The company also operates an enterprise service tailored to business clients. Chariot has carried out just over 3 million rides since its inception but has said that going forward its service "was not sustainable". Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA In 2015, Ford launched its "Ford Smart Mobility" unit to invest in "innovative mobility startups and technologies", and made Chariot its first acquisition. Ford claims the deal made Chariot a "cornerstone of the company's mobility strategy". In a blog post on the startup's website, Chariot's chief executive Dan Grossman expressed gratitude to commuters and partners. "In today's mobility landscape, the wants and needs of customers and cities are changing rapidly. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause Chariot's riders and our enterprise customers," he said. "We are committed to ensuring our customers are aware of the decision and have time to make alternative transportation arrangements."
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| The Latest: Wisconsin couple describes finding Jayme Closs Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:30 PM PST  BARRON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on authorities in Wisconsin finding 13-year-old Jayme Closs alive nearly three months after her parents were killed and she disappeared (all times local):
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| Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:01 PM PST ![Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members]( "Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members") It's about to become harder to keep some New Year's resolutions. Krispy Kreme is releasing four new chocolate doughnuts Monday.
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| Infosys share buyback as profits slide Posted: 11 Jan 2019 05:16 AM PST  India's second-largest software exporter Infosys reported on Friday a 30 percent fall in quarterly profits amid seasonal weakness in the IT sector and mounting expenses. The Bangalore-headquartered company also announced board approval for the buyback of shares worth 82.60 billion rupees ($1.184 billion) and raised its revenue forecast for the current financial year. "We had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1 percent growth and large deals at $1.57 billion which gives us confidence entering 2019," chief executive Salil Parekh said in a statement.
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| China declares its Moon landing a success as it releases photos of the far side of the Moon Posted: 11 Jan 2019 07:49 AM PST  China has plenty of reason to celebrate here in early 2019, and not just because it's a new year. The country's space agency, CNSA, successfully landed its Chang'e 4 lunar lander on the far side of the Moon and deployed a rover which scientists will use to study the surface. It's a monumental achievement for China, which has been playing a bit of "catch up" in space exploration lately. Now, with its rover exploring the hidden side of the Moon for the first time, the country is declaring the mission a success, and it's shared some new images to boot. "The No. 4 mission is the first mission of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project," CNSA said in a translated statement. "For the first time in human history, the spacecraft made a soft landing and patrol survey on the back of the moon, and for the first time realized the relay communication with the Earth on the back of the moon, and with many countries." CNSA emphasized that the success of the mission was thanks to cooperation and contributions from many different countries, citing "significant international cooperation" a major reason for the mission's success. CNSA also published some new panorama and 360-degree images taken by the lander. While China certainly has reason to celebrate the accomplishments thus far with the Chang'e 4 mission, the country still has months of scientific observation and study ahead of it before it can declare all of its objectives complete. One of the most interesting experiments that CNSA will carry out is the observation of a "Lunar Micro Ecosystem" which was installed on the lander prior to its departure. A small module contains a self-sustaining ecosystems consisting of plants, soil, water, and silkworms. The enclosed unit will be used to study the effects of low gravity on an Earth-like ecosystem, but that will take some time. The lander's mission is expected to stretch on for a full year, while the rover will have a shorter three-month mission. China's declaration of success obviously doesn't mean it's ready to wrap things up, but it's nice to know the country's space agency is happy with what it's accomplished thus far.
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| Trump: Government shutdown will go on 'for long time unless Democrats come back from their holidays' Posted: 12 Jan 2019 12:31 PM PST  Donald Trump defended his partial government shutdown strategy on Twitter on Saturday, claiming that critics were wrong to say he did not have a plan for the longest federal closure in American history as it reaches its 22nd day and counting. The shutdown, caused by an impasse between Mr Trump and Democrats over $5.6bn (£4.4bn) request for a border wall, has resulted in more than 800,000 federal workers missing their paychecks on Friday. Both Mr Trump and Congress have come out with proposed solutions to end the government shutdown.
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| Scientists May Have Solved One of Easter Island's Most Puzzling Mysteries Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:25 AM PST  Scientists believe they may have solved one of the many mysteries of Easter Island's enigmatic statues: why they are there.
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| Russia condemns UK foreign army base plans, says ready to defend interests Posted: 11 Jan 2019 06:47 AM PST  Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened. British defense minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that London was working on plans to build two new foreign bases "within the next couple of years" after it left the European Union. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, on Friday described Williamson's comments as baffling and warned such plans could destabilize world affairs.
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| British Traffic Jams, China’s Secret Children and Nurdles: Weekend Reads Posted: 12 Jan 2019 03:00 AM PST  Keeping Wall Promise Is Blocking Other Signature Trump PledgesMore than a dozen federal agencies have been closed in the fight over funding for the wall along the southern border, keeping the president from honoring some high-profile campaign pledges and policy priorities, Ryan Beene and Jennifer A. Dlouhy report. To read about one city where the people voted with gusto to leave the EU and now serve as a warning over the dangers of a second referendum, click here. Watch out for a vote by U.K. lawmakers on May's Brexit deal set for Jan. 15 . The Key to Nancy Pelosi's Legislative AgendaAs the Democratic Party went from the majority to the minority and back again, Nancy Pelosi worked consistently to keep her bloc united and its legislative agenda intact - and virtually everyone in Washington agrees the house speaker is a master strategist.
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| Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter Posted: 11 Jan 2019 04:59 PM PST ![Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter]( "Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter") Three people were killed and nearly two dozen were injured on Friday when a double-decker bus struck a bus shelter in the Canadian capital of Ottawa during rush hour, city officials said. "It is with deep sadness that I report there were three confirmed casualties, two of which were on the bus and one that was on the platform," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told reporters at a news conference late on Friday. The Ottawa Hospital confirmed on Twitter that it had received nine patients in critical condition from the crash.
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| Greek minister criticizes police over clashes with teachers Posted: 11 Jan 2019 12:08 PM PST  ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's public order minister strongly criticized riot police for their handling of a violent protest Friday by school teachers in Athens who were demonstrating against government plans for hiring new teachers.
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| American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight Posted: 11 Jan 2019 04:22 AM PST ![American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight]( "American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight") The airline says two pilots and three flight attendants asked to be taken to the hospital as a precaution.
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| Your Doomsday Prep Work Is Done Thanks to This 27-Pound Bucket of Mac and Cheese With a Crazy Long Shelf Life Posted: 11 Jan 2019 08:16 AM PST  Get the supplies then the doomsday bunker
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| Trump tweets incorrect immigrant crime statistics in defence of Mexico border wall Posted: 12 Jan 2019 11:32 AM PST  Donald Trump has tweeted incorrect criminal statistics on immigration in as effort to support his border wall and publicly pressure Democrats to hand over $5.6bn (£4.4bn) for its construction.
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