| UK paper pays damages to Melania Trump over false report Posted: 26 Jan 2019 03:53 AM PST  LONDON (AP) — Britain's Telegraph newspaper has apologized and paid damages to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump after publishing an article it says contains many false statements.
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| Dakota Theriot, suspect in 5 killings in Louisiana, arrested at gunpoint in Virginia Posted: 27 Jan 2019 01:07 PM PST  Authorities said the killings in two areas around Baton Rouge appeared to involve a domestic dispute.
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| Hopes dim in search for survivors after Brazil dam collapse Posted: 27 Jan 2019 01:46 PM PST  Search efforts were paralyzed for much of the day on fears another dam could give way in the Vale SA iron ore mining complex in the state of Minas Gerais. The collapsed dam at Vale's Corrego do Feijao mine buried mining facilities and nearby homes in the town of Brumadinho and killed at least three dozen people. Firefighters spent Sunday morning evacuating thousands from their homes before resuming search-and-rescue efforts in the afternoon once civil defense authorities ruled out the risk of another dam burst and called off the evacuation.
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| Pompeo Tells UN: Venezuela's Choice Is Freedom or Mayhem Posted: 26 Jan 2019 10:00 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Michael Pompeo took the U.S. effort to recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader to the United Nations, part of a broader campaign to replace President Nicolas Maduro, and said the choice is between freedom and mayhem.
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| U.S. college official who told Chinese students to speak English quits Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:36 AM PST ![U.S. college official who told Chinese students to speak English quits]( "U.S. college official who told Chinese students to speak English quits") Megan Neely left her position as director of graduate studies for the biostatistics master's program "effective immediately," the dean of the school told students in a letter on Sunday, according to the university's newspaper, The Chronicle. The dean, Mary Klotman, said Duke's Office of Institutional Equity would conduct a thorough review of the program. The email by Neely, who remains an assistant professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at Duke, said she was approached by two faculty members who wanted details of first-year students "they observed speaking Chinese (in their words, VERY LOUDLY)" on campus.
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| Merkel's Coal Commission Wants Germany to Quit Fuel by 2038 Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:25 AM PST  The commission, appointed by Merkel to set a roadmap for Germany's exit from coal, recommends the nation should quit coal by 2038 at the latest, with an earlier exit dependent on construction of renewable-energy infrastructure, according to a statement. Regions impacted by the closures should receive 40 billion euros ($45.6 billion) to help with the transition, the commission said. The recommendations, subject to amendment by government and parliament, are intended to help Germany make up lost ground in meeting its emissions targets.
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| Patton Oswalt: Twitter troll who attacked comedian overwhelmed when literally repaid with kindness Posted: 26 Jan 2019 05:40 AM PST  Discovering his assailant was battling grave health problems, he donated $2,000 towards his unpaid medical bills – then urged his 4.5 million followers to follow suit. The heartwarming exchange between Oswalt, an Emmy Award winner, and Michael Beatty - a 64-year-old Vietnam veteran from Huntsville, Alabama - was sparked on Thursday after the celebrity posted an unflattering poem about Donald Trump. "I expected a scathing retort or just to be ignored," Mr Beatty told the Washington Post on Friday.
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| Shutdowns remain a legitimate tool Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:40 PM PST  Voters have little cause to judge President Trump for doing one of the only things he can to tell Congress he resents its agenda, writes Raheem Kassam of the Claremont Institute
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| Teachers succeed by framing strikes as for common good Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:55 AM PST  Los Angeles teachers who declared a victory after a six-day strike have added momentum to a successful wave of activism by educators framing their cause as a push to improve public education, not just get pay raises.
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| Not 'politically viable' for Trump to pardon Stone if convicted: Chris Christie Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:02 AM PST  On "This Week," former New Jersey governor and ABC News contributor Chris Christie discusses his new book "Let Me Finish: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics."
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| Suspect sought in 5 killings, including his parents, near Baton Rouge in an apparent domestic dispute Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:00 PM PST  Authorities said the killings in two areas around Baton Rouge appeared to involve a domestic dispute.
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| The Indefensible Morality of Andrew Cuomo Posted: 26 Jan 2019 03:30 AM PST  The Catholic Church is no exception — it is, like all churches and all religions, full of sinners. Andrew Cuomo, their brother in baptism, has yet to find his road to Damascus. The governor of New York is proud to be a Catholic, but, like his father before him, only when it suits his political purposes.
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| The 2019 Mazda 3 in Photos Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:45 PM PST |
| Venezuelan U.S. defense attache breaks with Maduro as diplomats leave Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:31 PM PST  The diplomatic friction and defection was triggered by U.S. recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Washington, Canada and most Latin American nations said Maduro's second-term election win was fraudulent. "Today I speak to the people of Venezuela, and especially to my brothers in the armed forces of the nation, to recognize President Juan Guaido as the only legitimate president," Colonel Jose Luis Silva said in a video recorded at the embassy in Washington, seated at a desk alongside the Venezuelan flag.
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| Double trouble: Venezuelans and their two 'presidents' Posted: 26 Jan 2019 01:52 PM PST  Anibal Garcia chooses to make light of a situation which has left him and many other residents of Caracas unsure as to who is in charge of Venezuela. Prolonged economic crisis has now been joined by high-stakes political turmoil in the country whose official president is Nicolas Maduro, but where National Assembly chief Juan Guaido on Wednesday proclaimed himself in charge, on an acting basis. Guaido pledged to install a transitional government and hold free elections.
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| Mother’s lifesaving surgery stopped at last minute because her bank blocked payment for operation Posted: 26 Jan 2019 09:49 AM PST  A British mother's lifesaving neuro-surgery in America had to be cancelled while she was being prepped for the operation – because her bank blocked payment after an automatic fraud alert was generated. Samantha Smith, from Rochdale, flew to Arizona for the £250,000 procedure to rebuild her neck, which has been weakened by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The 32-year-old, whose condition means her neck has become too weak to support her skull, was lying in her hospital bed at the Mayo Clinic, in Phoenix, when doctors broke the news to her.
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| Trump Says His Pressure for NATO Spending Boost Is Paying Off Posted: 27 Jan 2019 07:49 AM PST  Trump commented on Twitter within minutes after Jens Stoltenberg, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's secretary-general, said on Fox News Sunday that NATO allies will add $100 billion in military outlays by the end of next year. "We see that the clear message from President Trump is having an impact," Stoltenberg said. "NATO allies have heard the president loud and clear and now NATO allies are stepping up.
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| The Latest: Fight at California funeral ends in killing Posted: 25 Jan 2019 07:41 PM PST ![The Latest: Fight at California funeral ends in killing]( "The Latest: Fight at California funeral ends in killing") COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a deadly shooting at a Compton funeral (all times local):
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| Britain's Prince Philip 'deeply sorry' after car crash Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:16 AM PST  Queen Elizabeth's 97-year-old husband Prince Philip has written to a woman injured in a crash involving his Land Rover this month to say he was "deeply sorry". The apology, which was signed "Yours sincerely, Philip," came after the Royal Family was widely criticized over its response to the accident. Philip also received a warning from police for driving without a seatbelt two days after the crash.
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| Taxes 2019: When to file and what big changes to expect Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:29 AM PST ![Taxes 2019: When to file and what big changes to expect]( "Taxes 2019: When to file and what big changes to expect") Tax filers need to realize, though, that it won't be business as usual when it comes to filing their 2018 tax returns.
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| St. Louis officer charged after deadly game with revolver Posted: 25 Jan 2019 06:21 PM PST  ST. LOUIS (AP) — A male St. Louis police officer was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver.
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| We can expect a coal-free Germany by 2038 Posted: 27 Jan 2019 12:44 PM PST  It took hours, but Germany finally agreed on a plan to close its coal power plants and rely heavily on renewable energy sources. The country will shut down 84 coal-based power plants -- that's all of them -- by 2038 a government group decided on Saturday. The commission convened in Berlin to map out how to move away from coal. Fossil fuels still account for about 40 percent of Germany's power, according to The Guardian, despite recent gains in renewable energy sources. The country also plans to move away from nuclear energy by 2022. Once it gets there, renewable energy will be the main source of power. The 2038 goal will cost $45 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times. The decision comes ahead of an energy report from the German coal commission to be released on Feb. 1. Around the world Saturday, climate change activists held die-ins and other protests to spur government action like Germany's plan. > .@XRebelDC, @XR_NYC, @XRebellionLA & many other #ConscientiousProtectors across the US are rising up today to demand that government acts on the climate & ecological crisis:https://t.co/dVLcl1jfsI #ExtinctionRebellion @ExtinctionRebel#RebellionDay > > ✊✊✊✊ > > ️ > pic.twitter.com/J9US30UNOj > > -- Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) January 26, 2019 A look at U.S. coal consumption shows we have a ways to go. In 2018 the U.S. consumed 691 million tons, down from a 2007 peak, but it's still a heavy user. China is also consuming tons of coal numbering in the billions: 3.82 billion metric tons in 2017. SEE ALSO: Guess what? U.S. carbon emissions popped back up in a big way The UK is racing ahead with renewable sources now that coal provides only 5 percent of energy. ## WATCH: This waste-to-energy plant doubles as a ski slope
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| ‘I Feel Like a Second-Class Citizen.’ Shutdown Pain Continues for Furloughed Government Contractors Who Don’t Get Back Pay Posted: 26 Jan 2019 02:22 PM PST  "I feel like a second class citizen now more than ever"
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| Hezbollah chief warns Israel against continuing strikes in Syria Posted: 26 Jan 2019 05:20 PM PST  The chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement on Saturday warned Israel against continuing strikes in Syria targeting mainly Iranian positions, saying it could fuel war in the region. "At any moment the Syrian leadership and the axis of resistance can take a decision to deal with the Israeli aggression in a different manner," Nasrallah said, referring to the alliance between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. Israel has said the first strikes targeted mainly facilities it claimed belonged to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force.
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| Zuckerberg to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger: New York Times Posted: 27 Jan 2019 12:19 AM PST ![Zuckerberg to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger: New York Times]( "Zuckerberg to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger: New York Times") Facebook said it is working on adding end-to-end encryption, which protects messages from being viewed by anyone except the participants in a conversation, to more of its messaging products, and considering ways to make it easier for users to connect across networks. Integrating the messaging services could make it harder for antitrust regulators to break up Facebook by undoing its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram, said Sam Weinstein, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
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| Mueller investigation: Trump confidant Roger Stone says he could cooperate with special counsel Posted: 27 Jan 2019 12:13 PM PST  Roger Stone, the longtime ally of President Donald Trump, said on Sunday he will not rule out potentially cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller over the ongoing investigation regarding possible links between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives. Mr Stone told ABC's This Week he would have to consult with his lawyers before possibly cooperating with the special counsel team. Mr Trump's longtime confidant insisted he will not testify against the president, a promise he repeated on Friday morning after he was charged with witness tampering and for lying to Congress about communicating with WikiLeaks and seeking Russian-hacked emails involving Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
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| Intimidated by taxes? These online tools can help you navigate your federal returns Posted: 27 Jan 2019 05:01 AM PST ![Intimidated by taxes? These online tools can help you navigate your federal returns]( "Intimidated by taxes? These online tools can help you navigate your federal returns") Doing your taxes is often a pain, but this year could be extra torturous with tax law changes, These online tools can help.
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| Hotel Wall Collapses, Killing at Least 15 During Wedding in Peru Posted: 27 Jan 2019 12:29 PM PST  A hotel wall collapsed during a wedding celebration in Peru, killing at least 15 people on Sunday, authorities said.
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| 'El Chapo's' lawyers face tough choices at trial's end Posted: 27 Jan 2019 02:23 PM PST  Guzman, 61, the alleged leader of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the United States in 2017. The main defense argument, as put forth by Guzman lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman in his opening statement, has been that the real leader of the Sinaloa Cartel is Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, and that Zambada bribed the Mexican and U.S. governments to frame Guzman.
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| US envoy claims 'significant progress' in talks with Taliban Posted: 26 Jan 2019 10:58 AM PST  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan said Saturday that "significant progress" was made during lengthy talks with the Taliban in Qatar and that he was traveling to Afghanistan for more discussions aimed at ending the country's destructive 17-year war.
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| Let one hero's quest to pet 100 dogs at a dog show inspire you Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:56 AM PST  A dog show is already a magical land where dreams come true, but one innovative attendee made a good thing even better. Sally Kuchar arrived at the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show on Saturday with one goal: Pet 100 dogs. It was an optimal place for such an undertaking. The Golden Gate show is a bench show, which means that the dogs hang on on assigned benches (and are available for meet and greets) while they're not being shown. "Folks are encouraged to walk around and familiarize themselves with the breeds, and petting is very, very encouraged," Kuchar explained via email. So Kuchar made the rounds. Throughout the day, she took 100 videos of 100 dogs, each better (or good-er, if you're still into that lingo) than the last. > I'm at a dog show. The goal is to pet 100 dogs. pic.twitter.com/9IbbSAmPui > > -- Sally Kuchar (@sallykuchar) January 26, 2019 SEE ALSO: Do dogs like wearing clothes? A few highlights: Kuchar said that although she's been to the Golden Gate show five times before, this is the first time she's taken on the 100 dog challenge. "I like doing public challenges because it holds me accountable," she said. As for her favorite dog, that's obviously #100. (It's her own dog, Skippy.) But she did also enjoy #64. "We just got along really well," she said. And for the most part, the dog owners were cool with Kuchar's wholesome project. She only had one weird run-in: "I was having a great conversation with a bulldog's owner and did let her know that I was trying to pet 100 dogs," she said. "She looked at me quizzically and changed the subject." She'll understand once she sees Kuchar's Twitter thread. ## WATCH: This robot delivery dog can bring your parcel right to your doorstep
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| When a boy called 911 after tough day at school, the dispatcher was there to help Posted: 26 Jan 2019 07:13 PM PST  Lafayette Police Chief Pat Flannelly says homework help isn't the best use of 911 but lauds dispatcher who talked an student through a tough moment
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| Trump wounded by border wall retreat in deal to end shutdown Posted: 26 Jan 2019 04:22 PM PST  With Americans exasperated over the 35-day shutdown's impact on everyday life, including air travel, Trump finally gave in and agreed to reopen the government until Feb. 15, without getting the $5.7 billion he had demanded for a border wall. "Perhaps he lost the short-term battle," one senior administration official said. On Thursday night, Vice President Mike Pence and senior adviser Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, presented Trump with four options, including declaring a national emergency right away, which would let him fund the building of border a wall without congressional approval but guaranteeing a court challenge.
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| Nick Clegg swaps Putney townhouse for £7million California mansion ahead of new Facebook role Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:33 AM PST  Former deputy Prime Minister Sir Nick Clegg has relocated to a £7million home in California as he prepares to start his new executive role at Facebook, it has been revealed. The former Lib Dem leader, 52, and his wife, lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, 50, bought the "luxurious" new home in December. The five-bedroom property, worth a reported fee of $9million (£7million) stands in almost an acre of land, and was described by its estate agent as "a timeless classic". The house boasts a roomy kitchen with marble worktops and an island seating area, as well as a separate dining room and a library. Among the "luxurious amenities" for Sir Nick and his family to enjoy are a hot tub, a swimming pool, and a large patio with an outdoor log-burning fire. Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez Credit: Andrew Parsons / i-Images The sprawling home is situated in the Silicon Valley town of Atherton, near San Francisco, which was last year named "the most expensive zip code in the country" by Forbes magazine. And the area is just three miles away from Facebook HQ in Menlo Park, where Sir Nick will be working as Vice-President of Global Affairs. The couple have now moved into their new home with their three sons, aged 16, 14 and nine. Sir Nick is believed to have kept his townhouse in Putney in south-west London, reportedly worth £2million. His lavish new home is thought to reflect his new bumper pay packet, rumoured to be worth up to £7million including bonuses. Nick Clegg's five bedroom Californian mansion, which is worth a reported fee of $9million (£7million) Credit: Zillow.com Sir Nick's appointment in Octoberwas met with criticism, with some accusing him of hypocrisy owing to his previous scorn towards Facebook for paying too little tax. Less than three years ago, he described the social media giant's 'messianic Californian new-worldy-touchy-feely culture' as 'a little grating'. Sir Nick, who lost his Sheffield Hallam seat in the 2015 general election, can now count former Google chairman Eric Schmidt, and Facebook deputy Sheryl Sandberg, among his new neighbours. In an interview this month Ms Gonzalez Durantez said of the family's move to the US: "California is the more European of all the states. They are constantly looking to the future." This week she shared a picture on Instagram of a trip to the beach, writing: "It could be Dorset but it is the Pacific." Facebook declined to comment.
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| Arizona governor calls for removal of Hacienda HealthCare board, slams protection of ex-CEO Posted: 26 Jan 2019 05:23 PM PST  The governor said on Twitter, "My confidence level in that institution and its leadership is zero."
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| Criminal Charges Filed Against Cop Accused of Accidentally Shooting Off-Duty Officer to Death Posted: 25 Jan 2019 06:54 PM PST  The St. Louis Circuit Attorney`s Office filed criminal charges Friday against a St. Louis police officer involved in the shooting death of Officer Katlyn Alix.
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| Tapping into sorority network, Kamala Harris returns to SC Posted: 25 Jan 2019 10:23 PM PST  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Kamala Harris returned to South Carolina on Friday, using her first visit to this early-voting state as an official presidential contender to tap into a sorority network that could prove crucial as she develops her campaign.
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| Palestinians attend funeral of man shot in settlement clashes Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:32 AM PST  Around 3,000 people attended the funeral Sunday of a Palestinian killed the day before in clashes with Israeli civilians near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. Hamdi Nassan, 38, died after being shot in the back with live ammunition, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli army said clashes had erupted after a "physical confrontation" between residents of Mughayir village near Ramallah and a settler from nearby Adei Ad settlement.
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| High-schoolers get face time with extremists in class Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:23 AM PST  WORTHINGTON, Ohio (AP) — Last week's videotaped encounter at the Lincoln Memorial left many wondering about the state of reasoned political discourse in the country, or if it exists at all in a hyperpartisan era of red "Make America Great Again" hats versus pink women's march caps.
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| As nations turn on Maduro, Venezuela leader parades with military Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:27 PM PST  Maduro, 56, is confronting an unprecedented challenge to his authority after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president citing a fraudulent election. Guaido has won wide international support and offers amnesty to soldiers who join him. On Sunday, Israel joined the countries backing the 35-year-old leader, and President Donald Trump's administration said it had accepted Venezuelan opposition figure Carlos Alfredo Vecchio as the country's diplomatic representative in the United States.
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| Wisconsin DA says he has no plans to file charges related to Jayme Closs' 88-day captivity Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:54 PM PST ![Wisconsin DA says he has no plans to file charges related to Jayme Closs' 88-day captivity]( "Wisconsin DA says he has no plans to file charges related to Jayme Closs' 88-day captivity") Jayme Closs's accused kidnapper, Jake Patterson, already faces charges of intentional homicide, kidnapping and armed burglary in abduction.
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| Emerging Asia Market Rebound in Sight With China, Trade Caveats Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:53 PM PST  Malaysia's ringgit was their favorite of eight regional currencies as the nation's central bank is seen as unlikely to ease policy, while for bonds, China was the top pick. "A more flexible Fed is definitely positive for Asia, while the U.S.-China trade spat has already been priced in and has shown some signs of improvements, supporting the scenario of a rebound," said Koji Fukaya, chief executive officer at FPG Securities Co. in Tokyo.
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| Don't tell cancer patients they are 'brave', says Macmillan following poll Posted: 27 Jan 2019 04:01 PM PST  Loved-ones should not tell cancer sufferers they are brave because this risks putting them under pressure to appear positive, Macmillan Cancer Support has said. Six out of 10 people with cancer do not want to be described as a fighter, while many object to the suggestion they are battling the disease, a survey suggests, a new survey by the charity has found. The poll found many felt that battling or fighting words were inappropriate to describe them - but equally they do not want to be called a hero. Many prefer factual language to be used to describe themselves and the disease, rather than being considered cancer stricken or a cancer victim, the results suggest. The survey of more than 2,000 people who have or have had cancer found that words such as hero, cancer victim and cancer stricken were inappropriate as they were disempowering (42 per cent), isolating (24 per cent) and put people under pressure to be positive (30 per cent). People with cancer most hated being described as cancer stricken, followed by being a hero and then a cancer victim. When it comes to death, 64 per cent said people should be described as having died from cancer, with others preferring passed away. Meanwhile more than four in ten thought it was inappropriate to say someone had lost their battle while 37 per cent objected to the idea they had lost their fight. Most said this was because it implied somebody was defeated by cancer while many thought it undermined a person's strength and courage. Karen Roberts, chief nursing officer at Macmillan, said: "We know that there is no such thing as a 'typical' person with cancer, so it follows that people will prefer different ways of talking about it. "We hear from people every day who face this problem, that at its worst could even stop people getting the support they need. "By drawing attention to this we want to encourage more people to talk about the words they prefer to hear, and stop the damage that can be caused to people's wellbeing and relationships."
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| US and Canadian jet fighters scrambled to escort Russian bombers off American coast Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:53 AM PST  US and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian strategic bombers heading for the North American coastline.
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| Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:30 AM PST ![Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts]( "Norwegian Air drops Newark-Paris route; no other US cuts") Newark change comes amid broader cuts, mostly intra-Europe routes dropped at Norwegian's operation in Rome. No other U.S.-Europe routes are being cut.
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