| Pompeo briefs Iraqi leaders on U.S. security concerns over Iran Posted: 07 May 2019 04:12 PM PDT  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Tuesday and met with Iraq's prime minister and other top officials to discuss the safety of Americans in Iraq and explain U.S. security concerns amid rising Iranian activity. The visit came two days after U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said the United States was deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and a bomber task force to the region because of a "credible threat by Iranian regime forces." The concern about a threat from Iranian forces comes after Washington has ramped up sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program in recent months and designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group. "We talked to them about the importance of Iraq ensuring that it's able to adequately protect Americans in their country," Pompeo told reporters after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
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| Slain teen charged attacker in Colorado school shooting Posted: 08 May 2019 05:53 PM PDT  HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (AP) — When a gunman burst into his high school classroom, Kendrick Castillo did not hesitate.
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| Pelosi’s Dangerous Battle Against Trump Posted: 07 May 2019 03:00 PM PDT  All of which is another way of saying that a corrupt executive is the problem of Congress, not of prosecutors. Republican complicity in protecting Trump undermines Congress, and leaves Pelosi fighting an epic institutional battle alone.
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| Apple’s new iPhone 11R design just leaked for the first time Posted: 08 May 2019 06:26 AM PDT  Apple's next-generation iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max smartphones have been leaking like crazy lately. We've gotten all sorts of detail from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the most accurate Apple insider in the world, and it's obviously safe to say that the info he shared is accurate. Then we saw the actual designs leak courtesy of CAD files that were stolen from the Foxconn factory where Apple's new iPhone models will be manufactured. These new renders basically confirmed everything we had heard, that the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max will look just like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, but they'll have a new triple-lens camera arrays on the back of each phone.The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max are Apple's flagship smartphones for 2019, so they're obviously the most talked about models right now. When it comes to popularity and sales, however, it's practically guaranteed that the third new 2019 iPhone model will top both of the flagships. The iPhone 11R, or whatever Apple ends up calling it, is expected to be priced in line with the current iPhone XR, just as Apple's iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max are seen carrying the same price tags as the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max do now. With pricing that soars as high as $1,500, it's no wonder that the iPhone XR outsells its flagship counterparts.Just like the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, the iPhone 11R will apparently also get a minor design refresh in 2019. And now, a new leak seemingly shows us Apple's final iPhone 11R design for the first time.Twitter user OnLeaks is the often the source of unreleased smartphone renders based on CAD files that have been stolen from computers at Foxconn's factory. Since they're based on files that come straight from the entity tasked with building all of these smartphones, these renders almost always end up being accurate depictions of unreleased handsets. OnLeaks is once again the source of these new renders, and they were shared in partnership with an Indian gadget blog called Pricebaba.As you can see in the render above, the front of the iPhone 11R appears completely unchanged as compared to the iPhone XR. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, of course, since the exact same thing can be said of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max. And as is the case with the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, the back of the iPhone 11R is also the same aside from one huge difference.Apple's mid-range iPhone 11R is not expected to have the same triple-lens rear camera as its pricier counterparts, but it seemingly will have a similar square camera bump. This is in line with earlier rumors we've heard. Rather than housing three lenses, an LED flash, and a rear-facing microphone, the camera bump on the iPhone 11R will hold two lenses along with the flash and mic.A video showcasing the leaked iPhone 11R design is embedded below, and more renders can be found on Pricebaba.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xetWpPkPmLA
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| How UN keeps Iran's nuclear programme in check Posted: 06 May 2019 08:35 PM PDT  Wednesday marks a year to the day since US President Donald Trump dramatically withdrew from the 2015 agreement between Tehran and world powers on Iran's nuclear programme. In each of its quarterly reports on Iran, the IAEA has so far said Tehran is adhering to the terms of the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, under which Iran agreed to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of biting sanctions.
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| Jake Paul: Woman suspects she was drugged at party hosted by YouTube star Posted: 07 May 2019 07:14 AM PDT  The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating a complaint from a woman who suspects that she was drugged at a party at YouTube star Jake Paul's home.Police received a report from the woman Sunday night, following a birthday party Mr Paul hosted for rapper Desiigner's on Saturday. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that detectives were looking into the alleged incident. "On Sunday, May 5, 2019, the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff's Station was made aware of a possible single occurrence of unwillful impairment related to a party attended on May 4, 2019," the spokesperson said. "Detectives are in the beginning stages of information gathering for the incident. The Sheriff's Department treats allegations such as these seriously, and will use all known resources to investigate."A police official said that Police Station 68 responded to three separate calls regarding Mr Paul's home on Saturday night.He confirmed that at least two calls were for a "sick person" and that two people were transported to a local hospital in the early hours of the morning.A third visit to the house was in response to a noise complaint after a guest "jumped onto another person's property and scared an elderly woman, who fell down."The Daily Mail reports that a mother in a private Facebook group warned other parents that her daughter had been "drugged" at the same party."The house was a mansion filled with young people," the parent wrote in a post shared on social media. "She ended up in the hospital with eight other girls who had been drugged and ended up at West Hills Hospital incoherent. Something was put in their drinks."Mr Paul, 22, posted several snippets of the party on Instagram, as did his guests. The Independent has reached out to representatives for Mr Paul for comment.
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| Beware: This new robocall scam could cost you big time Posted: 07 May 2019 06:03 PM PDT  It seems that robocallers have have begun to evolve a bit, as media coverage brings increased scrutiny and potential regulatory action in response to their practices. Now that consumers are starting to get wise to the barrage of robocalls and the myriad spam calls that flood their phones on the daily, robocallers have increasingly found themselves less able to trick unsuspecting consumers into actually answering their phones and engaging with them. Which is why they've moved on to a new strategy -- the one-ring call.It's a significant enough move on their part that the Federal Communications Commission has already decided to issue a warning to consumers about this new tactic, hoping you'll be able to avoid it. So what is it, exactly?Just like the name implies, the idea is for the robocaller to let the phone ring just once. Hoping that you'll have heard it, and your curiosity will overtake you enough to want to call back and ask whether someone just called you from this number. (Narrator: Don't do it.)Anecdotally, many people have started reporting this scam as seeming to originate from Sierra Leone, given the frequency of calls that include Sierra Leone's 232 country code in their number. The FCC's warning specifically mentions other calls coming from Mauritania, in Africa."These calls are likely trying to prompt consumers to call the number back, often resulting in per minute toll charges similar to a 900 number," the FCC's warning explains. It goes on to note that "News reports have indicated widespread overnight calling in New York State and Arizona."Generally, the One Ring scam takes place when a robocaller calls a number and hangs up after a ring or two. They may call repeatedly, hoping the consumer calls back and runs up a toll that is largely paid to the scammer."In order to help fight back, the FCC is recommending consumers file a complaint with the FCC (by visiting www.fcc.gov/complaints) if you get one of these calls. Another thing you can do, if you never make international calls, is to consider talking to your phone company about blocking outbound international calls to prevent accidental toll calls. All of this is, of course, in addition to not returning these calls in the first place if you get them.The fact that robocallers are evolving is certainly worth keeping an eye on, because the problem remains a particularly acute one across the US. One that regulatory action has so far seemed completely ineffective in making a dent in. A recent estimate from YouMail, for example, estimated that US consumers were hit with about 4.9 billion robocalls just in April alone.
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| Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after same-sex couple claims discrimination Posted: 08 May 2019 09:39 AM PDT ![Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after same-sex couple claims discrimination]( "Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after same-sex couple claims discrimination") Two men said they were stopped with their three young children and the children's grandmother during family boarding on a flight to Fort Lauderdale.
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| Two Reuters reporters freed in Myanmar after more than 500 days in jail Posted: 07 May 2019 07:37 AM PDT  Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, had been convicted in September and sentenced to seven years in jail in a case that raised questions about Myanmar's progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. It is customary in Myanmar for authorities to free prisoners across the country around the time of the traditional New Year, which began on April 17. Swamped by media and well-wishers as they walked through the gates of Insein Prison, on the outskirts of Yangon, a grinning Wa Lone gave a thumbs up and said he was grateful for the international efforts to secure their freedom.
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| Older of two students arrested in Colorado shooting appears in court Posted: 08 May 2019 02:50 PM PDT  The 18-year-old defendant being charged as an adult, Devon Erickson, sat silently at a small table with his head bowed and his hands shackled to his waist, flanked by two defense lawyers as a pair of sheriff's deputies stood just behind them. It was not immediately clear whether his accused accomplice, who is under the age of 18, would be charged in adult court or as a juvenile. The two teenagers are accused of opening fire on fellow students in two classrooms at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Denver.
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| The Latest: US ready to shift military assets in Middle East Posted: 08 May 2019 04:06 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the United States and Iran (all times local):
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| Sri Lanka's post-attacks nightlife loses fizz Posted: 07 May 2019 04:09 AM PDT  Before jihadi bombers targeted Sri Lanka in deadly Easter attacks, Rangana Wijesuriya used to party until the small hours in the pulsating restaurants, bars and clubs of downtown Colombo. Sri Lanka remains on high alert after bombers targeted three hotels and churches in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. The pedestrianised Park Street Mews used to be heaving, its many bars and chic restaurants the place to be seen for Sri Lanka's party set, plus a few tourists.
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| A sixth US state enacts 'heartbeat' abortion ban Posted: 07 May 2019 10:02 AM PDT  The governor of the US state of Georgia on Tuesday signed into law a ban on abortion from the moment a fetal heartbeat is detected -- one of the most restrictive such laws in the country. The signing makes Georgia the sixth US state to enact a law banning abortion after six weeks of gestation, despite adverse court rulings and a welter of legal challenges. "We protect the innocent, we champion the vulnerable, we stand up and speak for those unable to speak for themselves," Governor Brian Kemp said before signing the law.
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| The Next-Gen Honda Fit Debuts This October—but Will It Come to the U.S.? Posted: 08 May 2019 11:36 AM PDT  The new Fit will offer a new hybrid drivetrain, but what we still don't know is when-or if-it will come to America.
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| Kamala Harris' bill seeks to ease burden on public defenders Posted: 08 May 2019 02:13 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California is introducing legislation, including a $250 million grant program, to ease the burden on public defenders around the country.
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| Mueller’s Preposterous Rationale for Tainting the President with ‘Obstruction’ Allegations Posted: 08 May 2019 07:51 AM PDT  In gross violation of Justice Department policy and constitutional norms, a prosecutor neither charges nor recommends charges against a suspect, but proceeds to smear him by publishing 200 pages of obstruction allegations. Asked to explain why he did it, the prosecutor says he was just trying to protect the suspect from being smeared.This is the upshot of the Mueller report's Volume II. It might be thought campy if the suspect weren't the president of the United States and the stakes weren't so high.The smear-but-don't-charge outcome is the result of two wrongs: (1) Mueller's dizzying application of Justice Department guidance, written by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), holding that a president may not be indicted while he is in office; and (2) the media-Democrat complex's demand that only laws they like -- those that serve their anti-Trump political purposes -- be enforced.On the matter of the OLC guidance, the Mueller report exhibits the same sleight-of-hand that I detailed in Monday's column regarding its account of the George Papadopoulos saga -- in which Mueller obscures the fact that the FBI's counterintelligence investigation ("Crossfire Hurricane") was opened on the false pretense that a Russian agent named Joseph Mifsud confided to Trump adviser Papadopoulos that Russia had thousands of Clinton emails, which Papadopoulos told Australian diplomat Alexander Downer the Kremlin planned to publish in a manner timed to damage Clinton for Trump's benefit. To the contrary, if you wade through the fine print of Mueller's report, you learn that Mifsud was not a Russian agent; there's a good chance he did not tell Papadopoulos anything about emails; in relating to Downer that Russia might have damaging information on Clinton, Papadopoulos said nothing about emails or about Russia trying to help Trump; but, two months after they spoke and the hacked DNC emails were published, Downer (in consultation with the Obama State Department) leapt to the overwrought conclusions that Papadopoulos must have been referring to those emails (he wasn't) and that Russia and the Trump campaign must be collaborating to undermine the election (they weren't).The narrative head fakes and legal mumbo-jumbo make you wonder what's going on here. Who is running this show, Mueller -- or some of his notoriously aggressive staffers, recruited from the Obama Justice Department and private practice stints representing the Clintons?On the matter of the OLC guidance, if you can follow his reasoning, the special counsel twists himself into the position that it would have been unfairly prejudicial to Trump to recommend charges when the president would not have been able to defend himself in a judicial proceeding -- but, somehow, it was perfectly fair to Trump for Mueller to publish his evidence in a document manifestly written for exploitation by congressional Democrats and the media.Flaws in the OLC Guidance For what it's worth, I have always thought the OLC guidance is wrong. I do not believe the Framers intended to insulate a sitting president from indictment.The Constitution presumes that the check on a rogue president will be impeachment. It elaborates, however, that impeachment is no impediment to indictment. Further, the Constitution does not say that indictment must await either impeachment or other departure from office. (Article I, Section 3, says a "party convicted" of impeachment is liable to court prosecution, but this does not necessarily mean prosecution may occur only after a president either has been convicted in a Senate impeachment trial, or his term otherwise ends.)While there was significant discussion of impeachment when the Constitution was being drafted in 1787 (I outlined much of it in Faithless Execution), I doubt the Framers gave much thought to the timing of a president's indictment. There were no federal prosecutors to speak of at the time (there was no Justice Department until 1870 and no FBI until 1908), and the federal Constitution would not have barred action by state prosecutors. The Constitution presumes it is Congress's job to check a wayward president -- and not a job to be delegated to a prosecutor.More to the point, it makes no sense that a president should be spared indictment under seal. This is how the Justice Department routinely deals with cases in which (a) a crime must be charged to prevent the statute of limitations from lapsing, but (b) the indictment should not be publicized for some good policy reason (usually, because the accused is at large and, if put on notice, could flee and destroy evidence). The OLC guidance's objective is simply to delay prosecution in deference to the chief executive's weighty responsibilities; it is not supposed to put the president above the law by giving him a statute-of-limitations defense that would not be available to the rest of us.Consequently, if there is a truly serious offense and enough evidence to support prosecution, a president should be indicted under seal (i.e., under court-supervised secrecy). Then the indictment could be unsealed once a president is out of office, and the criminal case could proceed in the normal course.Whether I am right or wrong about this, it is indisputable that we are talking only about timing. The OLC guidance does not say a president may never be indicted; just that he can't be indicted while serving.Indefensible Decision Not to Decide That means the OLC guidance should be irrelevant to the prosecutor investigating the case. Even if we stipulate, for argument's sake, that a president may not be indicted in the here and now, he may still be prosecuted for any indictable offense at some future point. Therefore, someone must decide if there is a crime worth charging. That someone, obviously, is the prosecutor assigned to investigate the case. Since there is no bar on investigating a sitting president, it makes no sense to refrain from making the prosecution judgment -- to charge or not to charge -- until later (potentially, years later) when witnesses' memories have faded and evidence has gone stale or missing.If there is sufficient evidence, then it is the prosecutor's job to recommend indictment. The question of whether the OLC guidance should then be invoked to delay indictment should then be up to the attorney general. The guidance should not burden the prosecutor's analysis of whether there is an indictable case.Yet Mueller chose not to see it that way. His thinking on the matter, it appears, was muddled, evolving over a few weeks' time as he groped for a way to rationalize his failure to make a decision about whether obstruction should be charged.In recent Senate testimony, Attorney General Bill Barr related that he and his staff met with the Mueller team a couple of weeks before the report was completed. Mueller surprised them with the news that he would not be resolving the obstruction question. When asked to explain, Mueller said his rationale for this non-decision was not yet fully developed -- such temporizing, of course, is often the sign of handwringing as one tries to rationalize a determination one knows is wrong. Nevertheless, Barr reports that Mueller was emphatic that the OLC guidance was not what drove his decision to abdicate.Yet when we finally saw the Mueller report, we found that the obstruction volume begins with a discussion of the OLC guidance. It is, by turns, vaporous and preposterous. It is no wonder Barr has said he does not know exactly what Mueller was thinking.Here's my take.Mueller deduces that the guidance (a) prohibits indictment in order to avoid a public charge that would undermine the capacity of a president to govern, but (b) permits investigation with an eye toward post-presidency prosecution. The special counsel pretends that this gives him "fairness concerns" over the president's due-process rights: If, after a thorough investigation, a prosecutor made a judgment that the president had committed a crime but did not charge him, Mueller reasons that the poor president would bear all the stigma of a criminal accusation but would have no opportunity to clear his name in formal court proceedings. That is, the OLC guidance denies him his day in court.Mind you: Mueller says this as a précis to pouring out over 200 pages' worth of obstruction evidence -- and, implying that this evidence is quite serious indeed, he is at pains to tell you he will not "exonerate" the president, even though he hasn't charged him. That is, Mueller's report is designed to taint the president when he does not have the constitutional protections of a criminal defendant -- exactly the thing Mueller claimed to be avoiding by not making a decision on obstruction.Of course, there would be no such danger if the report had been kept confidential, as federal regulations require. There would be no such danger if Mueller had simply done his job, made the required binary decision about whether or not the evidence supported indictment, and left the application of the OLC guidance to the attorney general. And there would be no such danger if the OLC guidance provided for a sealed indictment, such that the question of whether prosecution is warranted could be resolved now, and the timing of prosecution could be tabled -- for the president sake, and the country's -- until the end of Trump's term (or terms).This would have had no bearing on Congress's ability to consider impeachment.It would also have allowed for internal Justice Department deliberation over the law of obstruction. Right now, the report has been publicized when it should not have been. Moreover, Attorney General Barr had to know that if he had tinkered with the report's legal analysis, this would have resulted in cries that he was protecting the president, so he had to stay his hand. As a result, the Mueller report's construction of federal obstruction law appears to stand as a definitive Justice Department position, even though Mueller's interpretation is controversial -- the attorney general has indicated that he and the deputy attorney general have disagreements with it; I suspect OLC would have qualms, too.A live debate over the correct construction of unsettled law, or its novel application, is something the Justice Department is supposed to sort out internally before publicizing a voluminous set of allegations. Here, the special counsel's legal argument almost surely does not reflect the Justice Department's position.But the politics have landed us in the place, not the law. Democrats and their echo chamber have insisted that Mueller must write a report because the special-counsel regulations require one. Yet the same regulations require the report to be confidential: just between the special counsel and the attorney general, to resemble how charging decisions are always made in the Justice Department -- non-publicly, by prosecutors and their supervisors. If Barr had followed those supposedly binding federal regulations, House Democrats would already have impeached him -- just as they now ridiculously propose to hold him in contempt for redacting from Mueller's report grand-jury information he is legally obligated by congressional statute to withhold.The closer you look at this fiasco, the worse it seems.
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| Ford plans to take medical transport venture nationwide Posted: 07 May 2019 11:30 AM PDT ![Ford plans to take medical transport venture nationwide]( "Ford plans to take medical transport venture nationwide") Ford Motor Co plans to expand its GoRide medical transportation service to 40 cities nationwide over the next four years, moving into Ohio and Florida this year and other large states by 2020, the company said on Tuesday. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has been testing various ways to grow beyond its traditional business of building and selling cars and trucks, aiming to compete with technology industry startups such as Uber Technologies Inc for a share of money spent on transportation as a service. GoRide uses Ford Transit and Transit Connect vans to give rides to people who need medical care but do not need an ambulance.
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| China's Luckin Coffee Is More 7-11 Than Starbucks — And That Could Be a Big Problem Posted: 08 May 2019 07:51 AM PDT  The high-tech Chinese coffee company is brewing up an IPO — but can it compete?
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| Early F-150 Lightning Up For Auction With GT40 Cylinder Heads Posted: 08 May 2019 11:40 AM PDT  This 1993 Lightning comes in black and looks ready for both the builders merchant and the drag strip. Out of all the names seen on special production vehicles over the years, Lightning has to be one of the coolest. In 1993, Ford decided to drop their first performance orientated truck, the F-150 Lightning, like the one featured here by GAA Classic Cars.
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| France suggests sanctions could be reimposed if Iran reneges on deal Posted: 07 May 2019 04:05 PM PDT  The U.S. military said on Tuesday that B-52 bombers would be part of additional forces being sent to the Middle East to counter what the Trump administration says are "clear indications" of threats from Iran to U.S. forces there. Iran dismissed announcement of a U.S. aircraft carrier deployment as old news, recycled for psychological warfare, and said it would soon announce plans to roll back some of its commitments under the 2015 deal. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit to Iran's neighbor Iraq on Tuesday and met with the Iraqi prime minister after telling reporters Washington was concerned about Iraqi sovereignty because of increasing Iranian activity.
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| Australian republicans send cheeky congrats to Harry and Meghan Posted: 06 May 2019 06:44 PM PDT  Australians campaigning to end the former colony's allegiance to the British monarchy "warmly" congratulated Harry and Meghan on Tuesday on the birth of their son. Australians voted to keep the British monarch as their head of state in a 1999 referendum, but the opposition Labor party has vowed to hold a new plebiscite on the issue if they win national elections on May 18, as opinion polls predict. Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a supporter of the monarchy, tweeted "huge congratulations" to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their baby son was born overnight.
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| Crazy sale slashes the Alexa enabled Roomba 671 to its lowest price ever, today only Posted: 07 May 2019 04:54 AM PDT ![Crazy sale slashes the Alexa enabled Roomba 671 to its lowest price ever, today only]( "Crazy sale slashes the Alexa enabled Roomba 671 to its lowest price ever, today only") You probably didn't wake up this morning thinking to yourself, "today is the day I'm finally going to buy a robot vacuum!" You should be thinking that to yourself right now though, because Amazon is running a one-day sale that is definitely too good to pass up. The iRobot Roomba 671 Robot Vacuum is a well-reviewed model with all the bells and whistles you want in a Roomba, and it also has Wi-Fi connectivity and Alexa support. It's a bargain at its full retail price of $350, but Amazon's Gold Box deal on Tuesday slashes the price all the way down to just $229.99. That's a crazy deal for this model, so grab one while you can!Here are the highlights from the product page: * 3-Stage Cleaning System and Dual Multi-Surface Brushes pick up everything from small particles to large debris * Patented Dirt Detect sensors alert Roomba to work harder on concentrated areas of dirt, such as high-traffic zones of your home * Full suite of intelligent sensors guide the robot under and around furniture to help thoroughly clean your floors * Edge-Sweeping Brush is specially designed at a 27-degree angle to sweep debris away from edges and corners * Clean and schedule from anywhere with the iRobot HOME App; compatible with Alexa and the Google Assistant * Runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging * Featuring these other Roomba robot essentials - Wi-Fi Connectivity, Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head, Works on Carpets and Hard Floors * Box Content: 1 Home Base Charging Station, 1 North American Line Cord * iRobot does not the quality or authenticity of products purchased from non-authorized resellers on , and they are not eligible for or replacement from iRobot
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| 25+ Mother's Day Desserts That Are Better Than A Gift Posted: 07 May 2019 02:58 PM PDT |
| Venezuela's top court targets opposition lawmakers Posted: 07 May 2019 02:25 PM PDT  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's top court on Tuesday opened a criminal investigation against six opposition lawmakers following a failed attempt to spark a military uprising against President Nicolás Maduro.
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| Barr Says Trump May Cite Executive Privilege on Mueller Report Posted: 07 May 2019 09:24 PM PDT  Barr on Tuesday night raised the stakes in his clash with Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York, hours before the committee was scheduled a vote to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress. "In the face of the committee's contempt vote, the attorney general will be compelled to request that the president invoke executive privilege with respect to the materials subject to the subpoena," Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote in a letter to Nadler.
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| Honda e Is the Name for Honda's Adorable New Rear-Wheel-Drive EV Hatchback Posted: 08 May 2019 07:15 AM PDT  The super-cute electric car was previewed by 2017's Urban EV concept, and it's going into production this year.
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| South Africa's ANC seeks to reverse sliding support in tough election Posted: 07 May 2019 04:04 PM PDT  Voting in parliamentary and provincial elections begins at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and polling stations will close at 9 p.m.. The exact timing of results is uncertain. The national election is the first under President Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma as head of state in February 2018 after four years as Zuma's deputy. Ramaphosa, who took over from Zuma as ANC leader in December 2017, is trying to restore faith in the governing party once led by Nelson Mandela after its image was tarnished during Zuma's decade-long leadership.
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| California Police Release Body Camera Footage of Officer Body Slamming Woman Posted: 07 May 2019 08:31 PM PDT  Eight videos were released by the Rio Vista Police Department from a traffic stop that resulted in an officer body slamming a woman over the weekend.
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| SanDisk’s most popular memory cards start at just $6 right now on Amazon Posted: 07 May 2019 06:03 AM PDT ![SanDisk's most popular memory cards start at just $6 right now on Amazon]( "SanDisk's most popular memory cards start at just $6 right now on Amazon") Look, if you're in need of microSD cards in pretty much any size, today is definitely the day you should buy them. Why? Because Amazon is running a big sale on SanDisk digital storage that slashes prices of a bunch of different sizes to all-time lows. 16GB cards cost $5.77 in the sale, but definitely don't buy one because 32GB cards are somehow only $7! 64GB cards are an absolute steal at $11.75, and $19.95 for 128GB cards matches the lowest price ever. 200GB cards cost $32.48, 256GB cards are down to $37.99, and you can get a massive 400GB card for $73 and change. What are you waiting for!?Here are the highlights from the product page: * to 400GB (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.) to store even more hours of Full HD video (Approximations; results and Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors.) * Class 10 for Full HD video recording and playback (Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes, and other factors.) * Up to 100MB/s transfer read speed (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors.) lets you move up to 1200 photos in a minute (Based on 4.1GB transfer of photos (avg. file 3.5MB) with USB 3.0 reader. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors.) * Load apps faster with A1-rated performance (Results may vary based on host device, app type and other factors.) * Ideal for Android smartphones and tablets, and MIL cameras.Form Factor:microSDXC * SanDisk Memory Zone app for easy file management (Download and Installation Required) * 10-year limited manufacturer warranty
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| Roughly 80 cats, some dead, seized from Doylestown home Posted: 07 May 2019 02:01 PM PDT  SPCA officials in Bucks County have seized dozens of cats from a Doylestown home on Tuesday.
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| US to send hospital ship to help with Venezuelan refugees Posted: 07 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy hospital ship will embark on another humanitarian mission to help countries cope with an influx of Venezuelans fleeing a deep economic and political crisis, the Trump administration announced Tuesday.
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| Tempur-Pedic introduces bed-in-a-box mattress: Tempur-Cloud debuts Posted: 07 May 2019 06:30 AM PDT ![Tempur-Pedic introduces bed-in-a-box mattress: Tempur-Cloud debuts]( "Tempur-Pedic introduces bed-in-a-box mattress: Tempur-Cloud debuts") Tempur Pedic is entering the battle for the best bed bed-in-a-box introducing mattresses that will compete with brands like Casper and Leesa.
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| The Latest: House intel panel subpoenas full Mueller report Posted: 08 May 2019 04:17 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report (all times local):
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| The 2021 Ford F-150, Spied Testing, Looks Pretty Evolutionary Posted: 08 May 2019 01:20 PM PDT  The new F-150 looks pretty much like the old F-150-a wildly popular traditional pickup truck, just like God and Henry Ford intended.
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| Growing up in Windsor: what will life be like for baby Sussex? Posted: 07 May 2019 11:00 PM PDT  Only once Meghan has merged from the post birth fog, will she discover quite what a good move she has made to Windsor. She might be sleep deprived and sore and living in a building site but within a few miles of Frogmore, her newly renovated "forever home" is everything a new mother could need from organic supermarkets and luxury spas to Buggy Fit classes and cafes serving proper coffee. "New mums want to stay in touch with reality and get back into their favourite dresses and round here there are loads of stylish, outdoorsy ways of doing it," explains Sue Barnes of Lavender Green Flowers, a Windsor local who regularly does the flowers at events at the Royal palaces. Plus, Heathrow is only a short drive away – easy for when granny Doria flies in to help and, in case of emergencies, the Peter Jones nursery department is only 22 miles up the M4. There will presumably be times when Meghan will crave the bustle of city life but Barnes insists Windsor is a playground for new mums. "I can imagine them taking the baby on a slipper boat down the Thames with a picnic," she says. "Or he will play polo at Coworth Park while she relaxes in the spa and the baby sleeps in the crèche. Round here you can also attend society events such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show with your baby in tow, which Meghan will appreciate." If the Duchess is open to making new friends there will also be plenty of kindred spirits to hang out with, says local mother and parenting blogger Jodie Humphries. "It's so easy for new mums to make friends around here as many have, like Meghan, moved out of the Royal Borough for a better quality of life," she says. "We arrive as strangers but form strong friendships through local baby and toddler groups. It's really helpful to have a set of friends who are all experiencing similar things at the same time." The question is: will Meghan flit between Frogmore and five-star spa hotels – or brave the Windsor playgroups? Windsor's Buggy Fit crowd meets weekly on the Long Walk - but will Meghan join them? Meghan's guide to being a new mum in Windsor The post birth boot camp Meghan has installed a gym and yoga studio at Frogmore, and will presumably ship in private trainers to come to the house – maybe Chloe Hodgson, who takes the pilates classes at Soho Farmhouse, or Notting Hill-based postnatal yoga guru Tara Lee. She might also take ballet barre and legs, bums and tums classes at the Cliveden Club, the private members club and gym attached to the five-star hotel where she stayed the night before her wedding. And then there are Her Majesty's horses to canter around the Great Park – great for toning the post birth core. She would do well, though, according to Humphries, to pull down her baseball cap and mingle in with the Buggy Fit crowd, which meets weekly on the Long Walk, a few minutes from Frogmore. For this she will need to ditch the traditional royal pram in favour of a sporty buggy such as a BOB Revolution Flex or, if it's twins, a Bugaboo Donkey. The new mum friends Her friends the Clooneys live 20 minutes away at Sonning – Amal's twins are now nearly two, so she can teach Meg the basics – and Elton John and his two children live in Old Windsor. Anna Friel is also a local Windsor mum and over at Henley-on Thames, mother-of-four Sascha Wrottesley, whose father Urs Schwarzenbach is a local polo patron and is a great mate of Prince Charles, will be able to introduce Meghan to the local polo mums. Meanwhile in Virginia Water are pop star Jessica Taylor, who is married to Kevin Pietersen, and TV presenter Kirstie Gallagher both with two children. If she's prepared to brave the local baby classes, however (see below), she will meet a raft of other local mums, and can bond over coffee and cake in the cafe at the Windsor Farmshop or on breezy walks in the Great Park. We'd say unlikely, but the option is at least there. The baby classes There is so much on offer for babies around Windsor that Meghan could risk over stimulating Baby Sussex: baby massage in Maidenhead , Hartbeeps sensory sessions in Windsor and two soft plays, the Jelly Lounge and the Little Gym in Windsor. For older babies Humphries recommends Concertini, live concerts for babies at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead. "My little boy went to his first concert when he was around six months," she says. Perhaps most appropriate for Meghan will be Yoga Babes at the Positivity Centre next to Cliveden. "It's postnatal exercises for mum and groovy moves to nursery rhymes for baby," Humphries explains. Me time When Meghan wants to escape the house for some 'me time', she should stroll to the Savill garden in Windsor Great Park, says Humphries, which has a great café and stunning scenery. Cliveden will undoubtedly become another favourite with its spa café serving healthy meals and tranquil sitting areas. There is no shortage of baby classes in Windsor Credit: Paul Edwards/PA Wire Not only do they do lovely afternoon teas and two-hour restorative flotation therapies (£185), there is also a playground in the National Trust estate for when the baby gets a bit older too. She might bump in to Cliveden regulars Poppy Delevigne and Gabby Logan. Date night Once they feel up to it they will be able book a discreet table at numerous fancy restaurants near Frogmore – the Fat Duck and Royal Oak are 15 minutes away at Bray and both the Waterside Inn and Skindles can be accessed by boat. "Or the Barn at Coworth Park, is relaxed chic and serves amazing food and is out of the spotlight," says local parenting blogger Melanie Kentish. Brad Pitt has stayed at Coworth and it was where former Dr Who star Matt Smith introduced his girlfriend Lily James to polo. The Sussexes also have a sentimental connection as Harry stayed here on the eve of their wedding. Family outings There will surely be family picnics on the lawns at Guards Polo, where Harry regularly plays and cream teas at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, a favourite with the Pony Club set including dressage star Laura Tomlinson, Harry's cousins Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall – her youngest, Lena, will be a partner in crime for Baby Sussex – and Jessica Springsteen, Bruce's champion showjumper daughter. "It's smart but also very family orientated," Barnes says. And then there's Henley Royal Regatta, where Harry can catch up with his "wet bob" school chums. Harry might also suggest they go Carters Steam Fair, a traditional fairground, where he rode on the dodgems as a child. "It's a great place to go if he wanted to show Meghan some British traditions," Humphries says. School stress It may feel like much too soon to be talking schools but places are coveted at Asquith Nursery - one of the best nurseries in Windsor, according to Kentish, while Puddleduck Preschool, which has a similar vibe to Westacre Montessori, the small nursery on the Sandringham Estate where Prince George began his school days is also highly sought after. Another Montessori option is Children of the World Montessori School, which has small class sizes and a large playground. Royal baby Sussex | Read more Little Sussex might go on to Upton House where Fergie and Andrew sent their girls or Bishopsgate prep, at the entrance to Windsor Park, which is popular with local yummy mummies. Perhaps the most obvious choice, though, is St George's, at the foot of Windsor Castle, founded in 1348 to educate the choristers of the chapel where the Sussexes were married. And then of course there's Harry's alma mater, Eton, just across the river – although Meghan might put her foot down at that. Mothers help If Baby Sussex starts making her life difficult she could call up Hummingbird Home Staff, which provides local maternity nurses, night nannies and sleep trainers. Of course leading baby experts from across Britain will also be on hand to dash to the Duchesses side: miracle breastfeeding consultant Clare Byam Cook, for example, and Magic Sleep Fairy Alison Scott-Wright. Lady Sophie Windsor, who is married to Harry's cousin Lord Fredrick Windsor, might suggest she consults sleep counsellor Andrea Grace, who helped with her children's sleep issues. Newsletter Promotion - Royal Appointment - in article Beating the baby blues Even for new mums like Meghan, with a luxury home and an entourage, motherhood can be lonely. "The key is to have realistic expectations and to surround yourself with people that make you feel confident," Humphries says. Parenting podcasts are a good way to feel connected during solitary night feeds or lonely days at home; Marina Fogle's Parenthood is a good one, as is Motherkind – or Scummy Mummies if Meghan is feeling less than perfect. And there's nothing like a good catch up with an old friend – or a new one. "Thankfully there is a great sense of community within Windsor," Kentish says. "Which wards off the loneliness that being a new mum can bring."
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| Key parties in South Africa's elections Posted: 08 May 2019 04:45 AM PDT  A potpourri of 48 political parties contested South Africa's general election Wednesday -- a record number. The African National Congress rose from a liberation movement to govern Africa's most industrialised country, but its once-glorious image has been tainted by its record in office. It was founded in Bloemfontein in 1912 to fight against the white minority government's restrictions on free movement and land ownership by blacks.
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| Cinnabun Cake, Mimosa Fruit Salad, and More Breakfast-In-Bed Recipes Your Mom Will Love Posted: 07 May 2019 02:48 PM PDT |
| Google launches $399 Pixel phone, more U.S. carriers will sell it Posted: 07 May 2019 11:33 AM PDT  NEW YORK/MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google launched more affordable versions of its Pixel smartphone on Tuesday at about half the price of its current models, and dropped an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with Verizon Communications Inc, signaling a major shift in the tech giant's hardware strategy.
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| Google launches Israel programme to help startups grow globally Posted: 07 May 2019 03:04 AM PDT  Alphabet Inc's Google said on Tuesday it has launched a four-month programme in Israel to help startups grow globally using its experts and tools. The Google Startup Growth Lab Programme has picked eight companies, after a pilot was completed in 2018. "This is a programme for startups that are beginning their growth period or have growth challenges," Lior Noy, startup growth lead at Google, told Reuters.
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| Qatar to send money for West Bank, Gaza after Israel truce Posted: 07 May 2019 09:56 AM PDT  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar on Tuesday said it is sending $480 million to Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip after a cease-fire deal ended the deadliest fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants since a 2014 war.
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| Older Americans are relying too much on Social Security as a main source of income Posted: 08 May 2019 06:03 AM PDT ![Older Americans are relying too much on Social Security as a main source of income]( "Older Americans are relying too much on Social Security as a main source of income") Older Americans are relying too heavily on Social Security as their main income source. Many are claiming benefits at age 62, lowering monthly payouts
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| Held in contempt: what does House committee's vote mean for William Barr? Posted: 08 May 2019 04:42 PM PDT  Vote further intensifies the conflict between the Trump administration and the legislative branch of the US government House judiciary committee Democrats voted to hold William Barr in contempt of Congress. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Democrats on the House judiciary committee voted on Wednesday to hold the attorney general, William Barr, in contempt of Congress, intensifying the conflict between Donald Trump's administration and the legislative branch of the US government. The move by Democrats comes as Barr refuses to share with Congress the full unredacted version of Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. But the immediate ramifications of the vote were largely symbolic – and unlikely to change the fraught negotiations over the special counsel's report or Barr's fate as attorney general. What does it mean to be held in contempt of Congress? Last week, the House judiciary committee chairman, Jerrold Nadler, called on Barr to turn over the unredacted Mueller report and underlying evidence by 6 May. If Barr failed to meet the deadline, Nadler threatened to schedule a vote in his committee to hold the attorney general in contempt. Members of Congress can begin contempt proceedings against individuals over the failure to comply with a subpoena – which in this case was Barr's refusal to give US lawmakers access to the full Mueller report. There are three types of contempt referrals Congress can pursue: criminal statutory contempt, which would be prosecuted by the justice department; civil contempt, which would be enforced by the courts under a lawsuit; or inherent contempt, under which Congress can use its own authority to fine or jail an individual. Democrats have not yet said how they plan to proceed. Given the unlikelihood that the justice department would enforce punishment against its own top official, the likely course of action would be for Democrats to pursue the matter in the courts. But first, the full House chamber must approve the contempt resolution against Barr – which it likely will under Democratic control. Would Congress actually use its powers to jail William Barr? While the inherent contempt authority grants US lawmakers the power to jail those who defy a subpoena from Congress, it's highly unlikely that Democrats will go that route. The last time Congress exercised its inherent contempt powers was in the 1930s. But that's not to say some Democrats haven't expressed support for returning to such drastic measures. Representative Elijah Cummings, the chairman of the House oversight committee, said earlier this week: "There is no tool in our toolbox that we should not explore." One challenge for Democrats is that litigating these issues in court could take several months, if not years. Do Democrats have a legitimate case to hold William Barr in contempt? Prior to holding the contempt vote on Wednesday, Nadler said the Trump administration's stonewalling of his committee's requests amounted to a "constitutional crisis". Barr has thus far rejected Democrats' demands for the full unredacted Mueller report, instead choosing to make a less redacted version available to the top 12 members of Congress, which includes leadership in both chambers and committee heads. Those lawmakers are, however, prohibited from discussing the report's contents with their colleagues. The redactions cover classified information, as well as evidence that pertains to continuing criminal investigations. In an attempt to negotiate with the justice department, Nadler narrowed the scope of his committee's request and asked the attorney general to work with Democrats to obtain the grand jury information contained in the Mueller report through a court order. Those talks failed to break the stalemate, resulting in Wednesday's contempt vote. Barr's handling of the Mueller report has drawn a great deal of controversy, with some Democrats going so far as to call for the attorney general's impeachment. It also fits a pattern of the Trump administration stymying Democrats in Congress. This week alone, the White House instructed its former counsel, Don McGahn, not to comply with a subpoena to testify before Congress, while the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, denied a request from the House ways and means committee to release Trump's tax returns. At a minimum, Democrats are sending a clear warning with the contempt vote against Barr that there will be consequences for rebuffing their oversight requests.
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| Markets Right Now: Late selling leaves stocks slightly lower Posted: 08 May 2019 01:11 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
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| New Parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Let Their Clothes Speak for Them Posted: 08 May 2019 12:23 PM PDT  Dominic Lipinski/GettyJust two days old, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor made his television debut swaddled in white cloth and matching his mother, Meghan Markle. The new parent, also clad in cream, wore a sleeveless trench dress for the Windsor Castle press conference. Though the midi was first reported to be from Givenchy, the house that made Markle's wedding dress, it was later clarified to come courtesy of London-based menswear designer Grace Wales Bonner. Unlike her royal predecessors Kate Middleton and Lady Diana, who opted for bright, patterned frocks during their first post-birth appearances, Markle chose a pristine, clear eggshell hue. The duchess highlighted her midsection with not just her artfully bowed belt, but a row of six brown buttons, slanted pockets, and a v neckline that pointed directly down to it.The Daily Mail so helpfully dubbed Markle's waist "mum tum," and the duchess earned points for realism in accentuating her maternal figure. There are approximately 250 babies born per minute, and no doubt their mothers also experience uterine expansion. The fact that anyone—Markle included—should be celebrated for a very normal reaction to motherhood is absurd. Lest we dub her a bastion of relatability too quickly, draw your eyes downward and notice Markle also walked in wearing $700 four inch Manolos. Regardless of price, Markle's look seemed thoughtfully crafted, perhaps the product of several team members and various discussions. People reported that designer Grace Wales Bonner "uses her mixed-race heritage as a key reference in her collections." The young Londoner has championed gender fluidity and black culture in her work.Markle opting to wear Bonner seems fitting, considering Archie is the first mixed race baby in the royal family, Did such historical significance need to be verbalized during a light-hearted press conference given by two exhausted new parents? No—but Markle's sartorial nod spoke just loudly enough. Though Markle stroked Archie's head while she spoke in a low, measured voice to reporters, she silently broke another royal tradition. In the past while leaving the hospital, Kate Middleton has held her children with Prince Williams standing at her side. Diana cradled her sons, too.But Harry held his baby with confidence, two days in and now a smooth professional. He wore a light gray, slim-fitting suit and skinny navy tie. The smart tailoring looked sleek enough to match Markle's elevated, urban Earth Mother ease. Harry-as-Hot-Dad came as a slight surprise, considering he first announced Archie's birth in a rather bro-y sweater and jeans combination. Today, remnants of Harry the Bro remained in his accessories—desert boots and beaded bracelets. While leaving with Archie, Markle put her arm around Harry's back. Their body language mimicked the hug they gave each other walking away from reporters after announcing their engagement in 2017. (Markle also wore a white trench for that occasion.) Much has changed since them—including the addition of another tiny human to their family—but the statement remains: when it comes to image, they are in total control. Read more at The Daily Beast.
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