| Brazil dam collapse: Search for survivors resumes as death toll reaches 58 Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:47 AM PST  Firefighters in Brazil have resumed their search for hundreds of people missing in the wake of a massive dam collapse. The dam burst at Vale's Corrego do Feijao mine in southeastern Brazil unleashed a torrent of mud on Friday, burying the mining facilities and nearby homes in the town of Brumadinho. Nearly 300 people are still missing, with the list of those unaccounted for being constantly updated, Flavio Godinho, a spokesman for the Minas Gerais civil defense agency, said.
|
| As US teachers ramp up pressure, face reality: L.A. strike was about control, not students Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:07 AM PST  Don't let myths perpetuate a massive, outdated system. The hope for students lies in charter schools. That's what public education should look like.
|
| Search underway for Savannah Spurlock, missing Kentucky mother Posted: 26 Jan 2019 09:55 PM PST  Police seized a car and executed a search warrant as part of the ongoing investigation to find missing Kentucky mother Savannah Spurlock; Matt Finn reports.
|
| The Latest: UK food retailers warn of price hikes, shortages Posted: 28 Jan 2019 05:58 AM PST  LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Britain's plans to leave the European Union (all times local):
|
| Hezbollah's Finances are Its Achilles' Heel Posted: 27 Jan 2019 11:36 AM PST  Fighting Hezbollah is not only a military competition, but a financial one.
|
| Saudi Arabia hopes to lure over $425 bln in investments Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:14 AM PST  Saudi Arabia on Monday launched an ambitious programme which it hopes will attract $427 billion in investments in the industrial and logistics sectors, as the OPEC kingpin bids to reduce dependence on oil. To kickstart the 12-year programme, the Gulf state announced the signing of 37 agreements worth $55 billion with foreign and local investors at a ceremony attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The programme is part of the kingdom's 2030 Vision, the brainchild of Prince Mohammed, that aims to diversify its economy which has been heavily dependent on oil prices.
|
| Arctic blasts sub-zero freeze towards U.S. upper Midwest, Northeast Posted: 28 Jan 2019 05:05 AM PST  By Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, Chicago will hit an astounding 20-to-25 below-zero Farhenheit, the National Weather Service said.
|
| AP Explains: US sanctions to hit Venezuelan oil company Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:53 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, its harshest economic punishment to date against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. and other countries no longer recognize as the legitimate leader of the South American country.
|
| Death toll rises to 58 as hope dims after Brazil dam collapse Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:56 PM PST ![Death toll rises to 58 as hope dims after Brazil dam collapse]( "Death toll rises to 58 as hope dims after Brazil dam collapse") Rescuers worked past sunset to search a bus thought to have bodies inside and a home where three bodies were already found, state fire department spokesman Pedro Aihara told reporters. The collapsed dam at Vale SA's Corrego do Feijao mine buried mining facilities and nearby homes in the town of Brumadinho, killing dozens and leaving the community in shock. "Obviously, given the nature of the accident, as time passes, this chance will go down." After announcing the latest number of confirmed dead, state civil defense agency spokesman Flavio Godinho told reporters he expected the death toll to continue rising.
|
| How to Read Your ACT Score Report Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:00 AM PST ![How to Read Your ACT Score Report]( "How to Read Your ACT Score Report") Both the ACT and the SAT are accepted by college admissions committees, and both are extremely popular among college applicants. To accurately interpret test results and make well-reasoned decisions thereafter -- as well as set appropriate target scores at the onset of their test prep -- ACT test-takers must know how to read and understand their ACT score report ( see sample here). Your composite score is another word for your total score, and it is calculated by averaging and rounding your four section scores.
|
| Make government shutdowns a thing of the past: 3 changes to consider Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:45 PM PST  The 5-week shutdown that ended Friday was colossally stupid, not so much the mother of all shutdowns as the screaming baby of all shutdowns: Our view
|
| US charges Huawei with fraud for violating Iran sanctions Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:50 PM PST  American prosecutors have unveiled criminal charges against Huawei, accusing one of China's top companies of violating sanctions against Iran and stealing trade secrets. The 23 charges filed on Monday threatened to escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing just 48 hours before senior Chinese officials were due to fly to the White House for a new round of trade talks. Matthew Whitaker, the acting US attorney general, said Huawei had attempted to evade sanctions against Iran by setting up a separate company called Skycom, which fraudulently conducted more than $100m (£76m) worth of transactions through the US financial system over four years. Mr Whitaker said Huawei had lied to the US government to obstruct investigations, moved potential witnesses back to China, and misled banks to continue to process transactions. In a second set of charges, the Justice Department said the company had attempted to steal technology from the US telecoms network T-Mobile. Employees of a US subsidiary allegedly attempted to steal details of a robot arm named Tappy used to test smartphone touchscreens. Huawei's CHO Meng Wanzhou was charged Credit: The Canadian Press The charges related to Iran include one against Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, who was arrested in Canada last month and faces US extradition. A request is due to be sent to the Canadian government by a deadline of this Wednesday. "By claiming that Skycom was a separate company - and not an affiliate which Huawei controlled - Huawei allegedly asserted that all of its Iran business was in compliance with American sanctions," Mr Whitaker said. Officials insisted that the charges were unrelated to trade talks between the US and China. "These indictments are law enforcement actions and wholly separate from our trade negotiations," the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross said. However, he said Chinese firms had spent years undermining US sanctions and exploiting the US financial system. Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, denied any link between the charges and this week's talks. "Those two things are not linked. They are a totally separate process," she said during a briefing. Huawei did not comment immediately after the charges were announced.
|
| Heavy snow hitting parts of Midwest; dangerous cold coming Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:55 PM PST  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Heavy snow and powerful wind created blizzard-like conditions Monday across parts of the Midwest, prompting officials to cancel about 1,000 flights at Chicago's airports and close hundreds of schools. But forecasters warned the most dangerous weather is yet to come: frigidly low temperatures that the region hasn't seen in a quarter century.
|
| Hezbollah chief warns Israel against continuing strikes in Syria Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:11 PM PST  The chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement has warned Israel against continuing strikes in Syria targeting mainly Iranian positions, saying it could fuel war in the region. Israel's army has since 2013 claimed hundreds of attacks on what it says are Iranian military targets and arms deliveries to Tehran-backed Hezbollah, with the goal of stopping its main enemy Iran from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria. In the latest strikes nearly a week ago 21 people were killed, the majority of them Iranians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.
|
| Trump accuses Hillary Clinton of being behind Russia dossier in Twitter rant after Roger Stone arrest Posted: 27 Jan 2019 09:15 AM PST  Donald Trump attacked the media and Hillary Clinton following the arrest of his former adviser Roger Stone, accusing the 2016 Democratic candidate of paying for the infamous dossier alleging ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. The president sent out a series of angry tweets attempting to distance himself from his campaign ally and divert attention towards Ms Clinton late on Saturday. The FBI arrested Mr Stone on seven charges in connection with Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference, including giving false statements and witness tampering.
|
| You could win a $1.7 million mansion by writing a standout letter Posted: 27 Jan 2019 08:45 AM PST  Broke English majors, take your places. A homeowner in Alberta, Canada is selling her $1.7 million (CAD) home via essay contest. Alla Wagner is searching for a new owner for her 5,000 square foot home, which, according to a report from CNN, has "three bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths, in addition to a wine cellar, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and a pond." Not bad. Here's how it works: Entrants must write a short letter (maximum 350 words) explaining why they should get the house, then mail or email it to Wagner along with a $25 entry fee. Once Wagner collects roughly 68,000 entry fees -- enough to cover the house's value -- she will publish a group of semi-finalist essays on social media so people can vote for their favorites. Then, the 500 entries with the most votes will be whittled down by an "independent panel of judges," who will select three finalists. These three finalists will then be interviewed. One of them will get the house. SEE ALSO: Apple wants you to send your best iPhone photos in return for, cough, exposure The contest began on Jan. 5, and Wagner plans to run it until April 5. If there are nearly enough entries by then, she'll extend it another three months. If she's nowhere near her goal, she'll cancel the contest and refund everyone's entry fees. As of Friday, Wagner had collected around 5,000 entries. The contest is getting more attention, though, so 68,000 may not be too far away. If you want a $25 mansion, better get that entry in. ## WATCH: Vitaminwater is offering $100,000 to keep off your smartphone for a year
|
| 25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:26 AM PST ![25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree]( "25 Best Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree") No bachelor's degree? No problem.
|
| Prince Philip sends personal apology to victims of Sandringham car crash Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:48 AM PST  The Duke of Edinburgh has personally written to the two women injured in the car crash he was involved in on the Sandringham estate to say he is "deeply sorry." The 97-year-old wrote to Ellie Townsend, the driver of the Kia Carens that collided with his Land Rover as he pulled out of a sideroad, and her passenger, Emma Fairweather. It follows mounting criticism of the way both Buckingham Palace and the police handled the fallout from the crash. The Duke was pictured back at the wheel without a seatbelt just two days later, which was deemed "insensitive and inconsiderate" to the victims. In his letter to Ms Fairweather, the Duke admitted he had "failed to see the car coming" and blamed the bright winter sun that was low in the sky. He wished her a "speedy recovery from a very distressing experience" and said he felt "very contrite about the consequences." He admitted he was left "somewhat shaken" after the accident, which resulted in him having to be pulled through the sunroof of his vehicle after it flipped onto its side, and explained that he had been advised to return to Sandringham House by a police officer shortly after the collision. The letter sent to Emma Fairweather from the DUke of Edinburgh Credit: Steve Bainbridge The Duke is understood to have given a written statement to police investigating the January 17 incident and officers are considering whether there is enough evidence to charge him with careless driving. In his later, dated January 21, he wrote: "I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads. "I have been across that crossing any number of times and I know very well the amount of traffic that uses that main road. "It was a bright sunny day and at about three in the afternoon, the sun was low over the Wash. "In other words, the sun was shining low over the main road. In normal conditions I would have no difficulty in seeing traffic coming from the Dersingham direction, but I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming." The note, thought to have been hand delivered and seen by the Sunday Mirror, was signed "Yours sincerely, Philip." He also sent similarly "personal letters" to the passersby who helped pull him to safety from the wreckage. Emma Fairweather, who was injured in a car crash involving the Duke of Edinburgh Credit: PA Ms Fairweather, 46, who broke her wrist in the January 17 accident, had previously criticised the Duke for driving his replacement Land Rover on public roads so soon after the accident and complained that she had received no personal communication from him. But she said she was "chuffed" with the letter and described it as the act of "human kindness" that she had wanted. Ms Townsend. the 28-year-old driver of the car, is understood to have been left shaken by the experience after fearing for her nine-month-old baby son who was in the back seat. Prince Philip car crash scene near Sandringham Photo Buckingham Palace said Philip was "fully complying with the police investigation". Norfolk police said: "The collision investigation is ongoing and we will not comment any further at this time." If found to be at fault, the Duke is likely be offered a driver awareness course, with a lesson to improve their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case.
|
| The Latest: Sheriff to return shooting suspect to Louisiana Posted: 27 Jan 2019 07:56 PM PST  GONZALES, La. (AP) — The Latest on a shooting in Louisiana that killed five people (all times local):
|
| US calls to 'stand with freedom' in Venezuela as EU gives ultimatum Posted: 26 Jan 2019 06:24 PM PST  The United States pressed all nations Saturday to "stand with the forces of freedom" in Venezuela, encouraged by a tougher European line as Russia stood in the minority in backing embattled leader Nicolas Maduro. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a forceful case at a special session of the United Nations Security Council, where he described Maduro as part of an "illegitimate mafia state" responsible for Venezuela's economic collapse.
|
| Michael Cohen Hires New Lawyers as He Heads to Prison Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:30 PM PST  Michael Monico and Barry Spevack of Chicago will take over for attorney Guy Petrillo as Cohen focuses on cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, they said in a joint statement Monday. The new lawyers will also represent Cohen during congressional probes and in talks with New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office sued Trump's personal charity for fraud.
|
| Secret Trump supporter no more: Why this model has decided to be open about her support for the president Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:57 AM PST  Elizabeth Pipko explains why she decided to be open about her support for Trump in the liberal fashion industry.
|
| Photos: Over 1,000 flights canceled as snow sweeps across midwestern US Posted: 28 Jan 2019 01:38 PM PST  Disruptive snow blanketed the midwestern United States during the latter part of the weekend and into the start of the workweek, dropping up to a foot of snow over the region.
|
| U.S. charges China's Huawei with bank fraud, stealing trade secrets Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:50 PM PST  The United States on Monday charged China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, its chief financial officer and two affiliates with bank and wire fraud to violate sanctions against Iran in a case that has escalated tensions with Beijing. In a 13-count indictment filed in New York, the Justice Department said Huawei misled a global bank and U.S. authorities about its relationship with the subsidiaries, Skycom Tech and Huawei Device USA Inc, in order to conduct business in Iran.
|
| U.N. Khashoggi investigator to meet Istanbul chief prosecutor Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:40 AM PST  ISTANBUL/GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights investigator leading the international inquiry into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will meet Istanbul's chief prosecutor on Tuesday, the prosecutor's office said. Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, on a week-long visit to Turkey with a forensic and legal team, met Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
|
| Justin Trudeau fires Canadian ambassador to China over Huawei executive extradition remarks Posted: 26 Jan 2019 11:00 PM PST  Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has fired his ambassador to China after the envoy said it would be "great" if the US dropped its extradition request for a Chinese tech executive arrested in Canada. Mr Trudeau said on Saturday he had asked for and accepted John McCallum's resignation on Friday night. Mr McCallum made the remark to the Toronto Star on Friday.
|
| Joshua Tree rally decries shutdown's impact on park Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:52 PM PST  Originally aimed at calling on the government to stop the shutdown, the event turned into a stock-taking of the ecological and economic impacts.
|
| The Latest: Florida city's vigil honors bank attack victims Posted: 27 Jan 2019 07:29 PM PST ![The Latest: Florida city's vigil honors bank attack victims]( "The Latest: Florida city's vigil honors bank attack victims") SEBRING, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on a vigil for Florida's bank shooting victims (all times local):
|
| Near IS holdout, Syrian fighters face women suicide bombers Posted: 27 Jan 2019 06:52 AM PST  Driving towards the frontline of what remains of the Islamic State group's self-declared "caliphate" in eastern Syria, US-backed fighters pass huge craters from air strikes and buildings reduced to rubble. Backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are battling to expel IS from a few hamlets in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
|
| Trump Slaps De-Facto Oil Ban on Venezuela Posted: 28 Jan 2019 05:02 PM PST  The move ratchets up pressure on Maduro to resign and cede power to National Assembly leader Juan Guaido by cutting off the regime from the market where it gets the bulk of its cash. The U.S. and other countries recognized Guaido last week as Venezuela's rightful president, and he said Monday he would take control of Venezuelan accounts abroad and appoint new boards to PDVSA and its Houston-based subsidiary Citgo Petroleum. U.S. President Donald Trump assailed Maduro in a letter to Congress explaining an executive order he issued sanctioning PDVSA and Venezuela's central bank.
|
| The world’s most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019 Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:54 AM PST ![The world's most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019]( "The world's most popular Instant Pot is down to its lowest price of 2019") Everyone knows that the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is the best-selling and most popular Instant Pot model in the world. In fact, even with its steep retail price of $100, it's easily among the world's most popular pressure cookers, period. If you haven't already experienced the glory that is the Instant Pot DUO60, today is your lucky day because a surprise Amazon sale just slashed it to the lowest price of 2019 so far. There's no telling when this deal will end, but it definitely won't last long so grab one while you still can. Here's some additional info from the product page: * Duo, the number 1 selling multi-cooker, combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Marker and Warmer, prepares dishes up to 70% faster to support your busy lifestyle * Features 14 Smart Programs - Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Saute/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button * Healthy, stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot made from food grade 304, no chemical coating, 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution, fully sealed environment traps the flavours, nutrients and aromas within the food * Built with the latest 3rd generation technology, the microprocessor monitors pressure, temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heating intensity and duration to achieve your desired results every time.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL and ULC certified with 10 safety mechanisms to provide you with added assurance, designed to eliminate many common errors.Accessories include, stainless steel steam rack with handles, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, condensation collector and recipe booklet * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz
|
| Piercing cold to threaten frozen pipes, frostbite in northeastern US Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:41 AM PST  The frigid air unleashed by the polar vortex in the Midwest will expand into the Northeast this week, bringing the coldest air for the region thus far in 2019.
|
| Louisiana man suspected of killing spree is arrested in Virginia Posted: 27 Jan 2019 02:15 PM PST ![Louisiana man suspected of killing spree is arrested in Virginia]( "Louisiana man suspected of killing spree is arrested in Virginia") Sheriff's deputies in Virginia on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old man wanted on suspicion of shooting five people to death in Louisiana including his parents, his girlfriend and members of her family. Following a multistate manhunt, Dakota Theriot was arrested in Richmond County, Virginia, after pointing a firearm out the window of a home, officials said. Theriot will be taken back to Louisiana to face charges including first-degree homicide, home invasion and illegal use of weapons, the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana said.
|
| How many Democrats are willing to vote for a border wall? Posted: 27 Jan 2019 10:31 AM PST  Florida Republican Rep. Francis Rooney says that he believes Democrats are more focused on securing the border in a variety of ways that may include a fence barrier.
|
| The Real Lesson of the Shutdown Posted: 28 Jan 2019 10:10 AM PST  One of the lessons of the Trump–Pelosi standoff on border security is that government shutdowns are a foolish way to resolve partisan disputes. The partial shutdown, with agencies such as the Transportation, Agriculture, and State Departments, as well as other independent agencies, closed for business, demonstrated how irrelevant so much of our $4 trillion government is to the everyday lives of Americans. As I traveled over the last several weeks to Florida, California, and many states in between, and asked people what they thought of the shutdown, many said they didn't even know the government was shut down for more than a month.
|
| Search on for Louisiana man suspected in 5 deaths Posted: 26 Jan 2019 09:16 PM PST  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities in Louisiana said they are searching for an "armed and dangerous" 21-year-old accused of killing his parents and three others in two separate but related shootings Saturday.
|
| Trump blasts former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who critics fear could help president win re-election Posted: 28 Jan 2019 10:12 AM PST  Critics fear an independent bid by the former Starbucks CEO could help Trump in his re-election bid.
|
| Factbox: U.S. refiners revisiting crude supplies amid new PDVSA sanctions Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:23 PM PST ![Factbox: U.S. refiners revisiting crude supplies amid new PDVSA sanctions]( "Factbox: U.S. refiners revisiting crude supplies amid new PDVSA sanctions") U.S. refiners on Monday said they would comply with the Trump administration's new sanctions on dealings with Venezuelan state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and take steps to lessen any impacts on consumers. PHILLIPS 66 Phillips 66 said in an email it is confident it could obtain alternative sources of oil to lessen any disruption to its operations. The company said it complies with all U.S. laws, and noted that Venezuelan crude historically has made up a small percentage of its oil supply.
|
| Venezuela crisis: Maduro displays military might as US warns of ‘significant response’ to threats against diplomats Posted: 27 Jan 2019 03:48 PM PST  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro oversaw a display of the army's Russian hardware on Sunday, with anti-aircraft flak and tank rounds pounding a hillside to show military force and loyalty in the face of an international ultimatum for new elections. Mr 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.
|
| 50 years after the Santa Barbara oil spill: How the catastrophe sparked a modern environmental movement Posted: 28 Jan 2019 07:41 AM PST  Jan. 28, 2019, marks 50 years since the pristine shores and Pacific waters of Santa Barbara, California, were blemished and blackened by an estimated 3 million gallons of crude oil.
|
| Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans Posted: 28 Jan 2019 06:43 AM PST ![Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans]( "Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans") Although financial aid, including scholarships, grants and federal student loans, can offer low- or no-cost ways to pay for a degree, private student loans can bridge the gap between student aid and the actual cost of attending school. Here's what you need to know about the pros and cons of private student loans before signing on the dotted line. There are two major types of student loans to choose from: federal student loans, which are issued through the U.S. Department of Education, and private student loans, which are offered by individual financial institutions.
|
