| Venezuela: Maduro calls on armed groups to keep order amid electricity rationing Posted: 01 Apr 2019 08:09 AM PDT  President announces 30-day rationing plan and says pro-government colectivos must 'defend the peace of every block' Nicolás Maduro said: 'We are facing a group of monsters who want to destroy Venezuela.' Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro has called on armed pro-government groups to help subdue unrest as he announced a 30-day electricity rationing plan set to inflict further pain on the population. In a televised address, Maduro said he had no choice but to take drastic measures while his government rebuilt key sections of Venezuela's national grid following a succession of crippling power failures since 7 March. Experts and Maduro's political opponents say the repeated collapse of Venezuela's electricity system – which has left millions without light or water – is a consequence of years of neglect, corruption and incompetence. But in his late-night appearance Maduro repeated the Socialist party line that Venezuela had suffered a series of "brutish attacks" masterminded by his political opponents and their supporters in the White House. "We are facing a group of monsters who want to destroy Venezuela," Maduro said, claiming their aim was to topple his government by "making the people and the country go mad". Amid growing fears that Venezuela's crisis could be moving into a violent new phase, Maduro instructed "revolutionary and patriotic" government supporters and armed pro-government gangs known as colectivos to mobilize "to defend the peace of every barrio, of every block". "They will not take away our peace," Maduro vowed. Last week Maduro's second-in-command, Diosdado Cabello, appeared in a menacing video flanked by dozens of masked men and women who he referred to as "peace defenders" but who many fear have been tasked with violently repressing dissent. There were signs on Sunday that such groups had begun responding to the government's calls. As further blackouts struck Venezuela and citizens took to the streets to protest, photographs and videos circulated appearing to show armed men confronting demonstrators in the capital, Caracas. Two protesters were reported to have been shot after burning blockades were set up in streets near the presidential palace. "We're here fighting for water and power, we've gone twenty-some days without water," Yofre Gamez, 32, told Reuters as shots rang out. In the western state of Zulia, perhaps the worst affected by the electricity crisis, opposition leaders claimed a 70-year-old woman had been shot dead by members of one colectivo during a protest. Footage also circulated on social media that appeared to show paramilitaries and police special forces searching a housing estate for protesters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela's fourth largest city. Maduro's challenger, Juan Guaidó, claimed such paramilitary groups were trying – but failing – to suppress popular opposition to Hugo Chávez's successor, who has led Venezuela into economic crisis. "We must stay strong and stay in the streets," tweeted Guaidó, who most western governments have recognized as Venezuela's legitimate leader. The Venezuelan human rights group Provea said Maduro's so-called "peace squads" were actually paramilitary gangs tasked with spreading violence and shooting protesters. "Maduro's peace means violence against the people," Provea said. As Venezuelans braced for weeks of hardship and uncertainty, Maduro urged them to have faith in his government – and in God. "God must accompany us with his blessings in this, the most difficult of battles that we must face," Maduro said, before being applauded by senior political and military leaders.
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| Nancy Pelosi calls on Joe Biden to join the ‘straight arm club’ after women share discomfort with his physical interactions Posted: 02 Apr 2019 10:13 AM PDT  Nancy Pelosi has called on Joe Biden to join the "straight arm club" after multiple women expressed discomfort over their physical interactions with the former vice president.The Democratic House speaker was answering questions about whether accusations from Lucy Flores and Amy Lappos about seemingly inappropriate contact with Mr Biden disqualified him from running in the 2020 presidential elections, as he has been considering in recent months. Neither women claimed their exchanges with Mr Biden reached the level of assault or sexual misconduct. Ms Pelosi said she did not believe the controversy disqualified Mr Biden from potentially joining the race, though she encouraged him to acknowledge that "people's space is important to them.""I'm a member of the straight-arm club," she said, fully extending her arm as if to shake a hand from a small distance. "I just pretend you have a cold, and I have a cold."Mr Biden "has to understand that in the world we're in now, people's space is important to them, and what's important is how they receive it, and not necessarily how you intended it," Ms Pelosi said on Tuesday during an interview with Politico that was live-streamed. The House speaker added that her grandchildren "love Joe Biden," who she said she knows well and described as "a very affectionate person." Both Ms Flores and Ms Lappos have accused Mr Biden of inappropriately touching them in public in seemingly awkward exchanges with the former vice president, who has been occasionally referred to as "Creepy Uncle Joe" by critics who believe he has been too hands-on with women along the campaign trail. "I think it's important for the vice president and others to understand, it isn't what you intended, it's how it was received," Ms Pelosi said on Tuesday. She added, "It's how it is received, so to say, 'I'm sorry that you were offended' is not an apology. 'I'm sorry I invaded your space,' but not 'I'm sorry you were offended.'"
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| If Trump closed the border with Mexico, the U.S. auto industry would shut down in days Posted: 02 Apr 2019 01:29 PM PDT  Automotive and parts production would take months to restart. Even a short shutdown could weaken the US economy and push it into recession.
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| 'That's unacceptable': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stops person who insulted Republican Posted: 31 Mar 2019 05:52 PM PDT  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shut down an audience member at an MSNBC town hall after someone called former Rep. Bob Inglis a "moron."
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| Chronology of key events in the killing of Kim Jong Nam Posted: 31 Mar 2019 11:45 PM PDT  SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AP) — Two Southeast Asian women were the only suspects charged with murder after an outcast from North Korea's ruling family was poisoned with VX nerve agent at a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, airport two years ago. The trial ended abruptly Monday after a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and is expected to be freed next month. It comes just three weeks after prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Siti Aisyah of Indonesia.
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| 'Something no human has seen before': The first-ever photograph of a black hole will likely be unveiled next week Posted: 02 Apr 2019 02:30 PM PDT !['Something no human has seen before': The first-ever photograph of a black hole will likely be unveiled next week]( "'Something no human has seen before': The first-ever photograph of a black hole will likely be unveiled next week") They've captivated us for decades, but we've never actually photographed a black hole before – until now.
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| Smollett Conspiracy Theories Target George Soros Posted: 02 Apr 2019 01:41 PM PDT  Nuccio DiNuzzo/GettyThis story originally appeared in Right Richter, a newsletter by Will Sommer. Subscribe now to see what's happening in right-wing media from the safety of your inbox.A couple dozen protesters gathered in Chicago yesterday to demonstrate against the decision to drop charges against former Empire actor Jussie Smollett for his alleged hate crime hoax. But amid the signs criticizing Smollett and prosecutor Kim Foxx, there was one surprising name that drew protesters' ire: billionaire Democratic financier George Soros. Soros has nothing to do with the charges being dropped against Smollett, nor any other discernible connection to the actor. But that hasn't stopped the rumor that Soros and other top Democrats are pulling the strings in the Chicago prosecutor's office over Smollett from circulating widely on the right. In Soros's case, the Smollett "connection" comes in the form of $408,000 Soros gave to support Foxx's election campaign in 2016. Those donations came nearly three years before the Smollett "MAGA Country" incident, but that hasn't stopped various hoaxers on the right from suggesting that Soros paid off Foxx to let Smollett go or is otherwise involved. MAGA personality Jack Murphy falsely tweeted that Soros gave Foxx $408,000 "in return for all charges being dropped," a claim that garnered more than 7,000 retweets. InfoWars claimed that Soros and Barack Obama were "behind" the decision to drop charges."Where is the media covering this connection?" tweeted Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk. Soros and Obama aren't the only prominent Democrats who have been tenuously pulled into the Smollett saga. A viral graphic passed around on social media claims, wrongly, that Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is dating Smollett's sister. Meanwhile, columnist Michelle Malkin is blaming the Obamas because they are from Chicago. "How did hate crime huckster Jussie Smollett get away with it?" Malkin wrote in her widely syndicated columnist last week. "All crooked roads in Chicago lead back to the Obamas."The rumors and hoaxes have had the effect of making the Smollett case the kind of lingering mystery that can be "investigated" on the right forever. On Fox News, Laura Ingraham has already promised her audience that she'll investigate whether Soros intervened to save Smollett. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe to Right Richter here.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
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| Venezuelans Protest Power Cuts That Put Maduro in a Bind Posted: 31 Mar 2019 09:55 PM PDT  Power went out in all of western Zulia state at 9:55 a.m., Willy Casanova, mayor of the city of Maracaibo, said on Twitter. Netblocks.org, which tracks internet disruptions globally, said only 15 percent of the country had internet after the power failure. Weeks of power cuts have increased instability in Venezuela.
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| Lithuanian man flies alone on huge plane to Italy Posted: 02 Apr 2019 12:49 PM PDT  A Lithuanian man flying to Italy got a pleasant surprise when he boarded the plane: He was the only passenger on the Boeing 737-800.
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| The 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback in Photos Posted: 01 Apr 2019 01:22 PM PDT |
| 'I Don't Think It's Disqualifying.' Pelosi Hedges Criticism of Joe Biden Posted: 02 Apr 2019 08:10 AM PDT  'To say "I'm sorry that you were offended" is not an apology'
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| Mexican president wants to 'bring order' to Central American migration to U.S Posted: 01 Apr 2019 03:53 PM PDT  Speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to close the U.S. southern border if Mexico did not halt illegal immigration immediately, Lopez Obrador said he would not have a confrontation with the United States. "I prefer love and peace," Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference. The leftist president has consistently refused to get drawn into a war of words with Trump over the border.
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| India’s missile test sent dangerous space trash hurling near ISS: NASA chief Posted: 02 Apr 2019 10:57 AM PDT  NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said India's test of an anti-satellite weapon was a 'terrible thing,' creating debris posing a risk to the ISS.
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| Comedian advances to runoff against incumbent in Ukraine presidential race Posted: 01 Apr 2019 06:51 AM PDT  Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who plays Ukraine's president on television, has won the first round of the struggling country's presidential election and is set to face the incumbent in a runoff this month. The political newcomer had garnered more than 30 per cent of Sunday's vote with four-fifths of the ballots counted on Monday afternoon. President Petro Poroshenko, known as 'the chocolate king' for his expansive candy business, was in second place with 16 per cent. Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was expected to miss the runoff with 13 per cent of the vote, even though she has claimed that her own parallel vote count has her advancing to the second round. On Sunday night, she suggested she would dispute the results and called for supporters to come to polling places to prevent alleged falsifications for Mr Poroshenko A simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east continues to plague Ukraine, which last year became the poorest country in Europe. There has been agonisingly slow progress on reforms undertaken after a pro-Russian president was ousted by protests in 2014 and Crimea was annexed by Russia. Surveys in March suggested that Mr Zelenskiy would handily defeat Mr Poroshenko if they faced each other in the second round. The leading candidate has promised to tackle corruption but shunned a detailed platform and campaign in favour of a feel-good comedy tour. President Petro Poroshenko speaks at his campaign headquarters after the vote on Sunday Credit: Efrem Lukatsky/AP Mr Poroshenko declared that he would win the runoff, calling Mr Zelenskiy a marionette of Ihor Kolomoisky, the self-exiled oligarch who owns the channel that runs his programmes. Mr Zelenskiy responded by calling Mr Poroshenko a marionette of the former deputy head of his security council, a reference to a corruption scandal in which the official's son was found to have sold the defence ministry overpriced equipment smuggled in from Russia. The comedian has been hit by his own scandals. A company he owns was found to have made money in Russia after he said he had no business there, and an investigation on Thursday found he owned an undeclared 15-room villa in an Italian resort favoured by Russian oligarchs. Mr Zelensiky has said he would sit down with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to solve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Asked by journalists on Sunday night what he would say to Mr Putin, he said he would force him to give back Ukrainian territory and demand compensation for occupying it. Mr Putin's spokesman said on Monday that the leader would explain that Russia is not occupying Ukrainian territory, adding that Crimea was "not open for discussion". Spanish and Canadian warships docked in Odessa on Monday as part of a Nato mission to the Black Sea following last year's Kerch Strait crisis. Russia in November seized three Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea and captured 24 sailors who are now on trial in Moscow. Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko votes on Sunday Credit: Pyotr Sivkov/TASS/Barcroft Mr Poroshenko is expected to focus on Mr Zelenskiy's lack of experience and try to embarrass him in debates in the second round. An influx of cash subsidies to pensioners could also help mobilise support. His challenger tried to appeal to disaffected voters by focusing on the president's business empire and corruption allegations against him. Only nine per cent of Ukrainians support their government, according to polls. Reports emerged on Sunday that Mr Zelenskiy might form a parliamentary coalition with Ms Tymoshenko, which would set her up to become prime minister. Both candidates denied they were in talks. Much of the country's opposition would support Mr Zelenskiy and try to turn the second round into a referendum on Mr Poroshenko, whose disapproval rating is up to 50 per cent, analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said. "I would bet on Zelenskiy in second round, there are risks but he has more of a chance," Mr Fesenko said. "It will depend on the turnout of his voters and how unified the opposition is, but there is a lot of dissatisfaction with Poroshenko."
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| US suspends F-35 program deliveries to Turkey over Russian arms Posted: 01 Apr 2019 05:05 PM PDT  The United States said Monday it was halting all deliveries and joint work with Turkey on the F-35 fighter jet program after the NATO ally insisted on a major arms purchase from Russia. After months of warnings, the United States said that Turkey's decision to buy Russia's S-400 missile system was incompatible with remaining part of the emblematic US warplane program. "Until they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability," Pentagon chief spokesman Charles E. Summers Jr. said.
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| U.S. Air Force again halts deliveries of Boeing KC-46 tanker aircraft Posted: 02 Apr 2019 10:24 AM PDT ![U.S. Air Force again halts deliveries of Boeing KC-46 tanker aircraft]( "U.S. Air Force again halts deliveries of Boeing KC-46 tanker aircraft") Back in February, deliveries of the aircraft were halted by the U.S. Air Force because of the same issue in one of the aircraft. Deliveries resumed in March after Boeing ramped up the inspection process. "Our inspectors identified additional foreign object debris and areas where Boeing did not meet quality standards," U.S. Air Force spokesperson Captain Hope Cronin said.
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| 2020 Ford Escape Revives the Hybrid and Adds a Plug-In Variant Posted: 02 Apr 2019 07:45 AM PDT  Here are details on the new Escape's available gas-electric powertrains.
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| 13 Striking Buildings by Zaha Hadid Posted: 02 Apr 2019 01:47 PM PDT |
| Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea Posted: 01 Apr 2019 12:08 AM PDT  BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:
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| Chilling surveillance video shows South Carolina student entering car of accused killer Posted: 02 Apr 2019 03:23 AM PDT  Surveillance video posted on Facebook shows a University of South Carolina student climbing into the vehicle of the person accused of killing her.
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| Border Patrol Union President: ‘This Is the Worst Crisis’ in Agency’s History Posted: 02 Apr 2019 08:47 AM PDT  Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said Tuesday that the influx of migrants currently flooding over the southern border represents the "worst crisis" U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have confronted since the agency was formed in 1924."This is the worst crisis the Border Patrol has ever faced in the history of the Border Patrol and we're going back to 1924," Judd told WMAL radio host Vince Coglianese."In my 21-year career as a Border Patrol agent, I've never seen it like this and I've worked in the busiest locations. . . . In the history of the Border Patrol it's never been like this before. This is the worst it's ever been and if we don't do something it's going to continue to get worse."Judd's comments come after the Department of Homeland Security announced that there were 100,000 apprehensions at the southern border in the month of March and 76,000 in February. The numbers for both months were the highest in ten years.The problem is exacerbated by the composition of the migrant population; they are overwhelmingly family units and, as such, cannot be held in facilities designed for the single males who accounted for most illegal immigration in the 1990s and mid 2000s. As Judd notes, the lack of adequate holding facilities has forced Border Patrol agents to release thousands of migrants "on their own recognizance" with an order to return for their asylum hearing. According to Judd, many of them never show up.Asked whether he believes President Trump should follow through on his threat to completely shut down the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the flow of illegal immigration, Judd said Trump should "absolutely" pursue that option in order to place economic pressure on the Mexican government to harden their southern border."Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures. That's going to be very drastic . . . but what he's doing is looking at hitting them where it counts the most and that's in the pocketbook," he said. "The Mexican economy relies on those ports of entry to get their goods into the U.S."
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| Erdogan's ruling AKP suffers setback in Turkey's local election Posted: 31 Mar 2019 07:56 PM PDT  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP suffered a blow in Sunday's local election with the ruling party set to lose the capital Ankara and risking defeat in the country's economic hub Istanbul. Losing Turkey's two major cities would be a clear setback for Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) who won every vote in a decade and a half in power thanks in part to economic growth. Erdogan portrayed the vote for mayors and district councils as a fight for Turkey's survival, but the election was a test for the AKP as an economic slowdown took hold after a collapse of the lira currency.
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| Explainer: Can Democratic subpoenas force the release of Mueller's Trump-Russia report? Posted: 02 Apr 2019 02:39 PM PDT  Attorney General William Barr, who has broad authority under Justice Department regulations to decide how much of Mueller's report to release, sent lawmakers a four-page letter on March 24 explaining Mueller's "principal conclusions" and has promised to release the nearly 400-page report by the middle of this month, with some parts blacked out, or "redacted." That has not satisfied Democrats, who control the House. The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Wednesday to authorize a subpoena to compel the Justice Department to hand over the complete report, without redactions, as well as underlying evidence. Here is an explanation of the legal hurdles Democrats must clear in their subpoena effort, important judicial precedents and Barr's rationale for keeping parts of the report confidential.
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| Japan chooses new imperial era of 'Reiwa' from Japanese rather than Chinese source for first time Posted: 31 Mar 2019 09:06 PM PDT  The name of Japan's new imperial era unveiled yesterday/MON was selected from Japanese rather than Chinese texts for the first time in more than 1,000 years, hinting at the government's nationalist leanings. Following months of secret discussions, the name of the new era was announced by the Japanese government as Reiwa, which can be translated as "auspicious harmony". The Reiwa era, which will become the 248th era – or "gengo" - in Japanese history, will commence on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne, following the abdication of his father Emperor Akihito the previous day. Unusually, the new era name was not selected from traditional Chinese texts, as has been the case since Japan's first gengo began more than 1,300 years ago in 645AD. Instead, Reiwa was taken from a Japanese classic for the first time in the nation's history, with the word originating from 7th century Manyoshu, the country's oldest existing collection of poetry. The abdication of Emperor Akihito will bring to an end the 30-year Heisei era – meaning "achieving peace" - a period likely to be associated with the collapse of the bubble economy as well as the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and Princess Aiko are seen on arrival at Nagano Station on March 25, 2019 Credit: The Asahi Shimbun The decision to subvert tradition and use a Japanese rather than Chinese text to mark a new and modern era for Japan appears to tie in with the nationalist leanings of prime minister Shinzo Abe's conservative government. Bilateral tensions with China and regular flare-ups over territorial disputes have become a near-constant backdrop to Mr Abe's tenure in power, while the PM has also regularly voiced his determination to revise the nation's pacifist postwar constitution by 2020. Announcing the new gengo live on television, Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary, held up a framed placard with the era name written in two calligraphic black kanji symbols on white paper. Shortly after the announcement, Mr Abe highlighted the positivity of the new name, explaining that it reflected how culture is born and grows when people come together and "care for each other beautifully". He added: "With this selection of a new era name, I renew my commitment to pioneer a new era that will be filled with hope." Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces the new imperial era, which will begin next month Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP The characters are taken from one particular poem referencing plum blossoms that reads: "It is now the choice month of early spring; the weather is fine, the wind is soft. The plum blossoms open - powder before a mirror; the orchids exhale - fragrance after a sachet." The unveiling of new era name was hotly awaited in Japan, as the Imperial calendar remains widely used on coins and in official documents such as driving licences as well as by newspapers. Reiwa was selected after the government spent months studying proposals from scholars of both Japanese and Chinese literature and history. Suggestions were then discussed by a panel of nine experts, including Sadayuki Sakakibara, former chairman of the Japan Business Federation, novelist Mariko Hayashi and Nobel Prize winning scientist Shinya Yamanaka. While gengo names are traditionally announced after the succession of a new emperor, the announcement was brought forward on this occasion in order to minimise disruption to businesses and computer systems. T-shirts have been manufactured marking the new era Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Some experts cited concerns relating to potential computer glitches caused by the calendar change, with companies such as Microsoft offering support to customers preparing for the switch. Japan originally imported the imperial calendar system from China and is today the only country in the world that uses a "gengo" era name system. The gengo system is often used alongside the Western calendar in modern-day Japan. A recent Mainichi newspaper survey revealed that around 34 per cent of Japanese use the Imperial calendar in daily life, another 34 per cent use both gengo and the Western calendars and a quarter use mainly the Western system. Sign up for your essential, twice-daily briefing from The Telegraph with our free Front Page newsletter.
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| India shot a missile at a satellite and now the debris might hit the International Space Station Posted: 02 Apr 2019 08:55 AM PDT  You can't exactly see it from down here on Earth, but there's a whole lot of junk floating around in the space around our planet. The vast majority of it is man-made, including pieces of satellites, entire defunct spacecraft, and bits and pieces of past space missions. Now, thanks to a hilariously bad decision by India, there's even more of it.In a new test of its growing space might, India decided to launch a missile to shoot down one of its own satellites. The country's thinking was that the demonstration would be a message to the world that India is now "a major space power." In reality the test created hundreds of pieces of space debris that now threaten the safety of future missions, and might even pose a danger to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.Nice one.NASA and other space groups were quick to track the debris created by the missile and subsequent destruction of the satellite. The satellite itself was in low orbit, but the blast pushed many pieces of debris into and above the orbit of the ISS."What we are tracking right now, objects big enough to track -- we're talking about 10 centimeters (six inches) or bigger -- about 60 pieces have been tracked," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement to NASA staff. "That is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris at an apogee that goes above the International Space Station. That kind of activity is not compatible with the future of human spaceflight."Bridenstine went on to call the move "unacceptable," and the agency is now tracking around two dozen larger pieces of debris that it now has to account for when tracking the path of the space station around the Earth. Even a relatively small piece of space debris can cause huge problems for astronauts aboard the ISS as well as those embarking on later missions that will take them out of Earth's atmosphere.The majority of the risk to ISS inhabitants will peak over the next ten days, NASA says. After that point much of the debris will have fallen back to Earth, but some of it will remain indefinitely. In any case, it was a dumb move, and India's space program just created a major headache for the rest of the world.
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| Nissan's Iconic RB26 Engine Returns To Production Posted: 01 Apr 2019 06:07 AM PDT  The iconic engine unit that powered Nissan's R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-R can once again be bought new! The Nissan Skyline GT-R remains a household name for one very simple reason. While now ageing, the iconic R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-Rs are officially supported by Nissan's Nismo Heritage Parts program.
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| Elections looming, Netanyahu to head to Moscow to meet Putin Posted: 02 Apr 2019 05:15 AM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Russia this week for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
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| Candace Cameron Bure still supporting 'Fuller House' co-star Lori Loughlin: We're 'family' Posted: 02 Apr 2019 09:47 AM PDT  Candace Cameron Bure has unconditional love for her "Fuller House" co-star Lori Loughlin amid college admissions scandal.
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| Pope rounds off Morocco visit with mass for thousands Posted: 31 Mar 2019 09:46 PM PDT  Pope Francis has called for tolerance and peace at a mass for thousands of Catholics during a rare visit by a pontiff to Morocco, after warning the faithful there against trying to convert others. Ten thousand worshippers, many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, packed a sports complex in Rabat on Sunday as the pope rounded off his two-day stay in the Muslim North African state. "Often we are tempted to believe that hatred and revenge are legitimate ways of ensuring quick and effective justice," the 82-year-old pontiff told those gathered.
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| Kellyanne Conway bristles at 'really inappropriate question' about husband on Fox News Posted: 01 Apr 2019 10:21 AM PDT  "What are you, Oprah now?" Conway said to "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace. "I think it's a really inappropriate question."
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| Trump aides repeat threat to shut down U.S.-Mexico border over migrant issue Posted: 31 Mar 2019 06:03 PM PDT ![Trump aides repeat threat to shut down U.S.-Mexico border over migrant issue]( "Trump aides repeat threat to shut down U.S.-Mexico border over migrant issue") Faced with a surge of asylum seekers from Central American countries who travel through Mexico, Trump said on Friday there was a "good likelihood" he would close the border this coming week if Mexico did not stop unauthorized immigrants from reaching the United States. Speaking to ABC's "This Week" show, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the president had few other options in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change the immigration law.
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| The Echo Dot is discounted today, but get this $20 Alexa speaker instead Posted: 01 Apr 2019 06:14 AM PDT  Amazon's newest Echo Dot is on sale right now at a $10 discount, which drops the price to $40. That's definitely a good deal, but you still shouldn't buy one. Why? Because the eufy Genie Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa is pretty much the same thing and it only costs $19.99! It's nice and compact just like the Echo Dot. It also gives you hands-free access to all your favorite Alexa skills. So why would you pay double for a Dot when the Genie is just as good?Here are the highlights from the product page: * eufy Genie is a voice-controlled smart speaker with Amazon's intelligent Alexa voice assistant. Just say the wake word "Alexa" and Genie plays music, controls your smart home devices, answers your questions, sets calendars, reports the weather and news and more.(2.4GHz Wi-Fi Network Support Only, No Bluetooth) If you have more than one Eufy Genie or Echo in your home, Spatial Perception Technology intelligently selects the Eufy Genie or Echo closest to you to answer your request. * Built with a 2W speaker that delivers dynamic audio and room-filling sound, so you can truly enjoy your favorite playlists from streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Pandora and iHeartRadio. Call or message almost anyone hands-free with your Eufy Genie and instantly connect to other Alexa-enabled devices in your home using just your voice. * Enables a true voice-controlled smart home experience. Use Genie to control all Alexa-compatible Eufy smart products, such as RoboVac 11c and Lumos LED Smart Bulbs, in addition to other brands that work with Alexa. * Easy setup with the free EufyHome app. Use the Amazon Alexa app to access 10000+ skills and services, such as Sirius XM, Domino's Pizza, Uber, ESPN, NPR News, and much more. Plus, Genie is always getting smarter. Future updates include: Alexa messaging and calling. (EufyHome requires a smartphone or tablet running iOS 8.0 (and above) or Android 4.3 (and above) to operate.) * What You Get: eufy Genie, AC power adapter (5ft/1.5m), AUX cable (5ft/1.5m), user manual, safety instruction card, our worry-free 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support.
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| The Latest: Election observers urge Turkey to honor results Posted: 01 Apr 2019 07:27 AM PDT  ISTANBUL (AP) — The Latest on Turkey's local elections (all times local):
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| Easter 2019: Forbidden eggs, Eostre and how the date is decided Posted: 02 Apr 2019 12:56 AM PDT  Easter weekend is fast approaching with all the fondant-filled Creme Eggs, sticky hot cross buns and sugar-coated Mini Eggs our stretchiest waistbands can withstand. Of course, the Christian festival is far more than its associated confectionery. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ who, according to the New Testament, died on the cross on Good Friday and came back to life three days later. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Sunday, which also marks the end of Lent's 40-day period of fasting. From the origins of the Easter bunny to the celebrations' ever-changing dates, here is your essential guide to the holiday. Jump to it, bunny: Your complete guide to Easter decorations When is Easter 2019? This year, Good Friday falls on April 19, Easter Sunday on April 21 and Easter Monday on April 22 - three weeks later than they did last year. While the holiday is a movable feast, it always falls somewhere between March 21 and April 25 every year. It is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring. The full moon is known as the Paschal (Passover) Full Moon. Methods for calculating Easter are fiendishly complicated and a uniquely baffling synthesis of mathematics, astronomy and theology. As Christians believe Jesus was crucified during the Jewish Passover festival, Easter is celebrated around the same time. Nonetheless, different Christian groups were already marking it on separate dates by the end of the 2nd Century. Q&A; | Maundy Thursday These date-led disagreements even set the course of history for the British Isles at the Synod of Whitby in 664AD when the preferred date of the Roman - rather than the Celtic - church became the standard. The decision is said to have catapulted Britain into the European sphere of influence. Though disputes over Easter's exact timing have been used as proxies for deeper power struggles for centuries, most now accept that it falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox - which the Church approximated as March 21. This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 21, the longest stretch following March 21's full moon – which falls on a Sunday. In 2016, the Archbishop of Canterbury suggested Easter should fall on the same Sunday every year and the Most Rev Justin Welby said Anglican leaders would join discussions with other church leaders to fix the date for the first time, theoretically putting an end to almost 2,000 years of controversy. The 10 best destinations for Easter sun What do eggs have to do with Easter? Eggs illustrate new life, just as Jesus began his new life on Easter Sunday after the miracle of his resurrection. When eggs are cracked open they are said to symbolise an empty tomb. Originally, eating eggs was forbidden in the week leading up to Easter (known as Holy Week). They were saved and decorated in the run-up to the celebration and given to children as gifts. Sometimes they were coloured red, in recognition of the blood sacrificed by Jesus when he was crucified. Green was also used to symbolise spring re-growth after the winter. The first chocolate eggs appeared in France and Germany during the 19th century. As chocolate-making techniques improved, the Easter egg as we know it was popularised. Where does the Easter Bunny fit in to all of this? Rabbits and hares have been associated with spring for hundreds of years. It is thought that the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, Eostre – who many believe the Christian event is named after – had a hare as her companion, symbolising fertility and rebirth. It's hardly surprising that rabbits and hares have become associated with fertility as they are both prolific breeders and regularly give birth to large litters in early spring. The legend of the Easter Bunny is thought to have originated among German Lutherans, where the 'Easter Hare' judged whether children had been good or bad in the run-up to Easter. Easter bunnies and eggs are symbols of spring and fertility. Over time it has been incorporated into Christian celebrations, becoming especially popular in Britain during the 19th century. Many children believe that the Easter Bunny lays and hides baskets of coloured eggs, sweets and toys in their homes or around the garden the night before Easter Sunday – much like Father Christmas delivering gifts on Christmas Eve. This has given rise to the tradition of the Easter egg hunt which is still popular among children today. Why do we eat hot cross buns? A hot cross bun is a spiced, sweet bun marked with a cross on top. They are traditionally eaten on Good Friday as the cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus, while the spices are said to remind Christians of the spices put on his body. Hot cross buns appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1733 but they are believed to have existed long before. Enriched, sweetened bread dough dates back to the Romans. Long before Christianity, loaves and buns were baked with symbols on them, one of which was a cross. Small, spiced cakes were also baked to honour the Saxon goddess Eoestre and celebrate spring, but it was the Tudors who began to link the spiced currant buns we know today with feast days, celebrations and - eventually - Lent. Delicious recipes to cook this Easter Wild garlic and parsley soup Jose Pizarro's roast rack of lamb with braised peas and lemon-thyme salsa Hot cross bun panna cotta Paul Hollywood's Easter simnel cake How is Easter celebrated around the world? In many central and eastern European countries decorating eggs with beautiful patterns is especially popular. In Switzerland, Easter eggs are delivered by a cuckoo and, in some areas of Germany, a fox. The egg-giving tradition arrived in the United States in the 18th century via protestant German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area. Traditional Easter foods from around the world On Easter Monday, the President of the United States holds an annual Easter egg roll on the lawn of the White House for young children. In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland it is a day of remembrance for the men and women who died in the Easter Rising which began on Easter Monday 1916.
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| Ryan Newman's 2007 Dodge Charger NASCAR Cup Car Is For Sale Posted: 02 Apr 2019 07:02 AM PDT  This race car was originally commissioned as a test vehicle for Team Penske and was used in 2004-2005 NASCAR Cup test sessions, but never competed in actual races. While driving for Team Penske in 2007, Ryan Newman earned seven top-fives, 15 top-10s, five pole positions, led 9873 laps and finished 13th in the year's NASCAR Cup Series season. Now, you have the opportunity to own this 2007 Dodge Charger bodied test car that Ryan Newman used during the 2004-2005 NASCAR sanctioned test sessions.
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| 405 crash, deadly crash orange county, family killed in crash, fountain valley crash, chp Posted: 31 Mar 2019 11:12 PM PDT  One person was killed in a crash involving a minivan on the 405 Freeway in Orange County late Saturday night.
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| North Korea’s Kim Urged to Restart Talks With U.S. by South Korea’s Moon Posted: 31 Mar 2019 10:19 PM PDT ![North Korea's Kim Urged to Restart Talks With U.S. by South Korea's Moon]( "North Korea's Kim Urged to Restart Talks With U.S. by South Korea's Moon") "I expect North Korea to respond to efforts made by South Korea and the U.S.," Moon said during a meeting with his senior advisers Monday in Seoul. Moon is expected to travel to the U.S. next week for his first meeting with the American leader since the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi fell apart without an agreement advancing North Korea's disarmament.
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| UK lawmakers discuss halting Brexit after petition hits 6 million Posted: 01 Apr 2019 10:23 AM PDT  British lawmakers debated halting Brexit on Monday after a record six million people signed a petition to revoke the process that set Britain on course to leave the European Union. Britons voted to leave the European Union by 52 percent to 48 percent in 2016, and the following year British Prime Minister Theresa May gave notice of the intent to leave the bloc on March 29, 2019 under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. The online petition to revoke Article 50 took off after a speech when May said that she was on the side of the British public over Brexit.
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| Grandma, 61, gave birth to own granddaughter so her son and his husband could be dads Posted: 31 Mar 2019 07:42 PM PDT ![Grandma, 61, gave birth to own granddaughter so her son and his husband could be dads]( "Grandma, 61, gave birth to own granddaughter so her son and his husband could be dads") A 61-year-old grandmother was cleared by doctors to be a surrogate using sperm from one father and an egg from the sister of another father.
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| This multi-cooker is pricey, but it’s got cool features you won’t find on any Instant Pot Posted: 01 Apr 2019 02:40 PM PDT ![This multi-cooker is pricey, but it's got cool features you won't find on any Instant Pot]( "This multi-cooker is pricey, but it's got cool features you won't find on any Instant Pot") At between $80 and $180, many people think Instant Pots are very expensive. They're worth the cost, of course, but that's a lot of money to spend on a multi-use cooker regardless of how great it is. Believe it or not, there's actually a model out there that's even more expensive -- but as is the case with Instant Pots, it's worth every penny. The Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro Multi Function Cooker costs well over $200, and for that sum you get 11 different cook settings. But you also get one of the most sturdy constructions we've ever tested, and a bunch of cool features like an LCD display that changes color to tell you what mode it's in.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * Color changing LCD tells you when the cooker is pressurizing, cooking or releasing steam * 3-Way Safety System/Safety locking lid, automatic hands-free steam release, safety valve * 11 pressure cook settings plus a custom setting to suit your favorite recipes * Keep Warm function turns on after cooking so food is ready to serve when you are * Removable cooking bowl with PTFE and PFOA free ceramic coating * Capacity : 6 quart (MAX), 1 quart (MIN).Dimensions:12.5 x 13.5 x 14 inches
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| China lists fentanyl as controlled substance in US gesture Posted: 01 Apr 2019 12:31 AM PDT  China announced Monday it will launch a crackdown on all fentanyl-like substances from May 1 following US pleas for Beijing to control a drug fuelling a deadly opioid crisis. China is suspected of being the main source of a powerful painkiller 50 times stronger than heroin that has caused record overdose deaths in the United States. The issue has figured in trade talks between the United States and China, with Beijing promising to list any type of fentanyl when presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a tariff truce in December.
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