2017年3月4日星期六

Yahoo! News: Terrorism

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Terrorism


As Trump blames Democrats for Cabinet delays, GOP senators look to White House for paperwork

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 08:48 AM PST

As Trump blames Democrats for Cabinet delays, GOP senators look to White House for paperworkFormer Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, left, and former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta. While President Trump continues to attack Democrats for delays in his Cabinet confirmations, Republicans in the Senate point to the White House as the source of the problem. "So, if the Democrats who have – all you have to do is look at where they are right now," said Trump in a February press conference.


Russian foreign minister echoes Trump, calls Sessions scandal ‘a witch hunt’

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 06:47 AM PST

Russian foreign minister echoes Trump, calls Sessions scandal 'a witch hunt'Sergey Lavrov, left, and President Trump characterized the Jeff Sessions scandal the same way. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov weighed in Friday amid reports of contacts between members of the Trump campaign-turned-administration and Moscow, using a phrase that mimicked Trump's response to the simmering scandal. "All this looks very much like a witch hunt," Lavrov said, according to the RIA news agency.


2nd suspect arrested in case of missing Georgia teacher

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:29 PM PST

2nd suspect arrested in case of missing Georgia teacherFITZGERALD, Ga. (AP) — A second man was arrested Friday in connection with the slaying of Georgia high school teacher who vanished nearly 12 years ago, with warrants saying the new suspect helped the woman's killer dispose of her body.


UN Security Council shines light on Lake Chad crisis

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 09:59 AM PST

UN Security Council shines light on Lake Chad crisisYaoundé (AFP) - UN Security Council envoys on Friday vowed to turn the spotlight on a "neglected crisis" as they began a mission to the Lake Chad region, where hunger, poverty and a Boko Haram insurgency have triggered a major humanitarian emergency. Straddling Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, the region's problems are also exacerbated by poor governance and climate change. The 15 ambassadors from the UN's top decision-making body began their mission in Cameroon, seeking to draw global attention to the emergency affecting 21 million people.


The Devastating Way Woolly Mammoths Went Extinct

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 08:57 AM PST

The Devastating Way Woolly Mammoths Went ExtinctEvolution: Examining why woolly mammoths went extinct holds lessons for protecting endangered species today. Can we bring mammoths back?


Philippines' Duterte will pay price for drugs killings, detained senator says

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 05:45 AM PST

Philippines' Duterte will pay price for drugs killings, detained senator saysA senator and detained critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs has warned he and his "blind followers" will pay for ignoring alleged extrajudicial killings, and should stop trying to fool the world their crackdown was above board. Leila de Lima, who last year led a Senate probe into alleged summary killings during Duterte's anti-drugs campaign, was arrested last week and has been remanded in police detention on drug charges. "In due time, your president and those who blindly enforce his illegal orders to kill, fabricate evidence and concoct lies will be held accountable," De Lima said in a handwritten note posted on her official Facebook page on Friday.


Elephant All-Nighters? Giant Beasts Sleep Only 2 Hours

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 06:20 AM PST

Elephant All-Nighters? Giant Beasts Sleep Only 2 HoursA sample size of two is small, but if the two matriarchs are representative of their species, African elephants may be the shortest-sleeping mammals on Earth, the researchers said. "Elephants really don't sleep all that much, and this appears to be related to their large size," said study lead researcher Paul Manger, a professor in the School of Anatomical Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Previous studies have described elephant sleep, but many of those studies have flaws — either using captive elephants, which have different sleep schedules than wild elephants, or failing to consistently distinguish between rest and sleep, Manger said.


Trump’s Promises to Defeat ISIS ‘Quickly’ Run Into Syria Buzzsaw

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:39 PM PST

Trump's Promises to Defeat ISIS 'Quickly' Run Into Syria BuzzsawThe agonizing decision whether to arm the Kurds to beat ISIS, or defer to Turkey's sensibilities, is Trump's first big test.


Third Jewish cemetery damaged in surge of US anti-Semitic acts

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 08:05 AM PST

Third Jewish cemetery damaged in surge of US anti-Semitic actsVandals tumbled and defaced headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Rochester, New York, local officials confirmed Friday, the third such cemetery in the United States to suffer damage in a surge in apparent anti-Semitic acts. Meredith Dragon, chief executive of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, said local police were not yet ready to determine whether the toppling of a dozen or more headstones in the Stone Road or Waad Hakolel Cemetery overnight Wednesday was an act of petty vandalism or a targeted hate crime. Nationally, a total of three cemeteries -- the others in St Louis, Missouri and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- have now seen large numbers of overturned and broken headstones, and hundreds of bomb threats have been phoned in to Jewish community centers and day schools.


Oklahoma Native American tribe sues energy companies for quake damage

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:22 PM PST

Oklahoma Native American tribe sues energy companies for quake damageBy Lenzy Krebiel-Burton PAWNEE, Okla. (Reuters) - The Pawnee Nation filed a lawsuit on Friday in tribal court in Oklahoma against 27 oil and gas producers, seeking damages for an earthquake they said was caused from man-made activity related to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The Native American group claimed that wastewater injected into disposal wells helped trigger a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in September, the strongest on record in the state, that damaged several Pawnee Nation buildings, including several that are more than 100 years old. Lawyers for the Pawnee Nation said they believe the case is the first of its sort filed in a tribal court.


Sinn Fein surge creates new Northern Ireland landscape

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 04:37 AM PST

Sinn Fein surge creates new Northern Ireland landscapeDUBLIN (AP) — Northern Ireland's snap election has left the rival extremes of politics virtually neck and neck for the first time — and facing a bruising battle to put their Catholic-Protestant government back together again in an increasingly polarized landscape.


Italy migrant rescues hit new high as Libya exit rises

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 12:10 PM PST

Italy migrant rescues hit new high as Libya exit risesThe number of migrants rescued at sea this year in operations run by Italy's coastguard topped 15,000 Friday after another 900 people were saved, including eight-month-old Syrian twins and five other babies. The latest operations confirm the pattern of a sharp upward spike in winter departures from troubled Libya. Migrant arrivals in Italy from its former colony are up by between 57 and 81 percent this year in comparison to the opening two months of 2015 and 2016, according to Italian interior ministry figures.


Russia Tested NATO Aircraft Four Times In Same Day

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 07:03 AM PST

Russia Tested NATO Aircraft Four Times In Same DayThe U.S Air Force's top general in Europe and Africa said Russia gave little information on why the encounters occurred.


Body of Indianapolis Woman Found Near River After She Was Reported Missing

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 01:11 PM PST

Body of Indianapolis Woman Found Near River After She Was Reported MissingPolice have not ruled the case a homicide yet.


Uber used secret tool to deceive authorities: NY Times

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 01:19 PM PST

Uber used secret tool to deceive authorities: NY Times(Reuters) - Ride hailing company Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] has for years used a secret tool to deceive the authorities in markets where its service faced resistance by law enforcement or was banned, the New York Times reported, citing sources. An Uber tool called Greyball used data collected from the Uber app and other methods to find and circumvent officials, the NYT reported on Friday.


Trump to students at Florida Catholic school: ‘We’re going to make you famous’

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:01 PM PST

Trump to students at Florida Catholic school: 'We're going to make you famous'On Friday, March 3, President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos met with students at a Florida Catholic School. He took photos with two students and said, "We're going to make you famous."


Bali gears up for Saudi king's extravagant visit

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 12:26 AM PST

Bali gears up for Saudi king's extravagant visitLuxury hotels have been booked out and security forces deployed across Bali as the resort island geared up Friday for the arrival of Saudi King Salman on the latest leg of his extravagant Indonesian tour. Hundreds of top-end cars and SUVs are ready to transport the king, who arrives Saturday, and his vast entourage, while 396 tons of equipment have been flown in to the popular holiday island for the visit. After disembarking from his plane on a escalator, he was whisked in a convoy past cheering crowds and greeted at a presidential palace by a 21-gun salute and marching band.


I met the company that’s reimagining multitouch

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 11:20 AM PST

I met the company that's reimagining multitouch

We're all expecting the computing future envisioned by Minority Report to actually happen, and I'm mostly talking about the fantastic user interface from the movie, although a system that can predict crime might also come in handy. Tom Cruise's character uses a sophisticated computer that can interpret spatial gestures and provide instant responses. The entire room becomes a huge 3D screen where any type of gesture can be recognized.

Well, we're not quite there yet. But a company called Qeexo is reinventing multitouch so that it feels more natural to the user, and I got to see it in action at Mobile World Congress.

Touching a display or touchpad is now the norm when it comes to interacting with devices, whether they're smartphones, tablets, or PCs. And these devices can recognize a variety of touch patterns as long as you remember what those patterns are. But what if you could touch the screen in a more intuitive way, one that would come naturally without having to remember what a three-finger swipe to the left does?

That's how Qeexo CEO Sang Won Lee explained the company's TouchTools software to me.

Pretend you're picking up an eraser while touching the screen, and an eraser will magically appear. Move your hand around while maintaining contact with the screen and you'll erase everything the eraser touches. Want to write? Use your finger and a pen will appear on the screen. Want to change colors or settings for your pen? Just imagine you're rotating a dial that brings up extra menus, and one will appear.

Swipe up with a hand just as you would with a real ruler on a piece of paper, and the ruler will appear and stay on the screen so that you can draw a straight line with your other hand.

The software can simulate a camera as well, or a tape measure (that actually lets you measure on-screen elements), and they're all enabled by touch. These tools disappear from the screen the moment you lift your finger, freeing up as much space as possible for content. Here's a video demo of Qeexo's tech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWWzi5y6LC0

The best part about it is that the technology can be used on any device that accepts touch. It can be a big screen TV — that's the kind of device I tried it on — but also something smaller like a car's infotainment system. It can run Android, like the huge screen above, but it can also work on an iPad or anything else.

Do we really need it? Imagine being able to control the volume in your car by reaching to the touchscreen and performing a motion that's similar to what you'd do with an actual physical volume knob. All that would happen without having to take your eyes off the road — and without having to remember a special gesture.

Imagine using the tech in a classroom instead of the regular chalk and blackboard. It would eliminate wasted time, and you would not have to physically clean the blackboard or dive through menus looking for a certain feature on a conventional digital device.

I was even shown an iOS version of the app that simulates mouse interaction, complete with buttons and scroll wheel that actually work.

All that might be available in the future on a wide range of devices. The only thing Qeexo could tell me at the show is that it's aiming for a 2017 launch of a version of what I had seen on the show floor. Did I also mention that there's on-device machine learning involved in all of this? Yes, the future does look interesting, even if we're not quite where Minority Report was.

Until we get to see TouchTools in commercial products, you can try a version of it on Huawei phones like the P10, or some of last year's handsets. The tech is called FingerSense, and uses many of the same solutions. The phone knows how you touch the screen, whether you use a finger or a knuckle, whether you draw a line or a letter, and it responds accordingly. It also works as soon as the display is turned on. Here's a demo of FingerSense in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAb37ykYD1I


Guest lecturer calls protesting students 'seriously scary'

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 03:45 PM PST

Guest lecturer calls protesting students 'seriously scary'MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (AP) — A libertarian author who has been called a white nationalist said college students who protested his guest lecture this week were "scary."


Exclusive: Trump administration considering separating women, children at Mexico border

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 05:28 PM PST

Exclusive: Trump administration considering separating women, children at Mexico borderBy Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women and children crossing together illegally into the United States could be separated by U.S. authorities under a proposal being considered by the Department of Homeland Security, according to three government officials. Part of the reason for the proposal is to deter mothers from migrating to the United States with their children, said the officials, who have been briefed on the proposal. Children would be put into protective custody with the Department of Health and Human Services, in the "least restrictive setting" until they can be taken into the care of a U.S. relative or state-sponsored guardian.


To catch a terrorist: Why extreme vetting may be an outdated solution

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 09:02 AM PST

To catch a terrorist: Why extreme vetting may be an outdated solutionExtreme vetting may be a solution in search of a problem, according to an internal Homeland Security intelligence report. This result suggests a shift in the nature of the threat from Al Qaeda like "terrorism-directed" activity to the ISIS "terrorism-inspired" activity.


The Latest: 2nd man arrested in Georgia missing teacher case

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 10:54 AM PST

The Latest: 2nd man arrested in Georgia missing teacher caseOCILLA, Ga. (AP) — The Latest on the murder case involving a Georgia teacher who went missing in 2005. (all times local):


An anniversary for the Missouri controversial compromise

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 07:55 AM PST

An anniversary for the Missouri controversial compromiseOn March 3, 1820, Congress approved the Missouri compromise, a law that maintained a balance in the Senate between free and slave states. The pact only lasted 24 years, and its elimination was one of the contributing factors that led to the Civil War.


German Right-Wing Party Calls For End To Nazi-Era Guilt

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 12:59 AM PST

German Right-Wing Party Calls For End To Nazi-Era GuiltThe Alternative for Germany party said that Germany's fixation over the Nazis' World War II crimes has had an adverse impact on how its citizens view the country's history.


5 Tax Troubles That Only Affect Retirees

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 07:23 AM PST

5 Tax Troubles That Only Affect RetireesSome retirees leave their money in a retirement account until they need it to pay for expenses. "Many people come in and tell me how they are only going to take out what they need," says Greg Hammer, president of Hammer Financial Group in Schererville, Indiana. Hammer argues retirees would be better served by taking money out of their retirement funds early, before they begin Social Security.


Gay Mardi Gras lights up Sydney

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 08:05 AM PST

Gay Mardi Gras lights up SydneyOrganisers estimated around a quarter of a million people turned out to watch the colourful spectacle, as some 180 floats made their way down Oxford Street, Sydney's gay hub, awash with rainbow flags and sequins. The flamboyant displays included a giant sparkling gold women's shoe inspired by Andy Warhol. "From pure celebration and creative self-expression, to floats with a wild and witty protest call to action, the 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will be bursting at the seams with pride and passion," said Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Terese Casu.


Judge accused of helping illegal immigrant elude ICE agents

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 05:24 AM PST

Judge accused of helping illegal immigrant elude ICE agentsOregon judge investigated for allegedly guiding man through private courthouse entrance to avoid agents after DUI hearing


Avoid marijuana while pregnant urges new health advice

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 03:17 AM PST

Avoid marijuana while pregnant urges new health adviceDespite the growing trend for marijuana use in the US, new advice warns women against smoking marijuana while pregnant, as the drug could affect the brain of the developing fetus. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vital Statistics Reports, more than one in five US births now occur in states where marijuana is legal, following moves by many states to legalize medical use for adults, as well as decriminalize or legalize recreational use.


U.S. State Department criticized over quiet release of human rights report

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 04:04 PM PST

U.S. State Department criticized over quiet release of human rights reportBy Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department released its annual report on human rights around the world on Friday but the release was overshadowed by criticism that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave the report little of the traditional attention or fanfare. Tillerson declined to unveil the report in person, breaking with precedent established during both Democratic and Republican administrations. "The report speaks for itself," the official said in response to a question about why Tillerson did not unveil it.


Iraqi forces on schedule in Mosul fight: US general

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 10:27 AM PST

Iraqi forces on schedule in Mosul fight: US generalIraqi security forces are progressing as planned in their battle to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State group but the fighting will get tougher as they approach the city center, a US general said Saturday. "We are on (a good) timeline and we are fairly confident that the Iraqis are learning every day, and we are fairly confident they are going to continue to progress well," said Brigadier General Rick Uribe, a deputy commanding general for coalition land forces. The US-led coalition has been providing training and continual air support for Iraqi security forces as they fight to remove IS from the nation, and some of the bloodiest battles have taken place in Mosul since operations began there in October.


The Latest: Reporter says bomb threat suspect harassed him

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 04:11 PM PST

The Latest: Reporter says bomb threat suspect harassed himNEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on an arrest in connection with threats made to Jewish institutions nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League's headquarters in New York (all times local):


Firefighters Rescue 150-Pound Dog From Rooftop Twice in One Day After He Climbs Out Window

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 12:53 PM PST

Firefighters Rescue 150-Pound Dog From Rooftop Twice in One Day After He Climbs Out WindowFirefighters helped Maverick the malamute back into the home, but not thirty minutes later, they received a 911 call saying he had done it again.


Google Assistant APK Now Available

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 01:25 AM PST

Google Assistant APK Now AvailableGoogle rolled out the Assistant feature to Android Nougat and Android Marshmallow devices on Thursday.


Obama to receive 2017 Profile in Courage Award

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 11:09 AM PST

Obama to receive 2017 Profile in Courage AwardSince leaving office, former President Barack Obama has stayed largely out of the public eye. In May, however, he will be invited back into the spotlight to receive an award for his political service. On Thursday, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that Mr. Obama would be the 2017 recipient of its John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award.


Survivor of Kansas bar shooting released from hospital

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 09:16 AM PST

Survivor of Kansas bar shooting released from hospitalKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who survived an apparently racially motivated shooting at a suburban Kansas City restaurant and bar is out of the hospital and has already visited the scene of the attack.


2016 Range Rover Td6 Diesel

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 11:35 AM PST

2016 Range Rover Td6 DieselA winter wonder but an electronic misanthrope.


Daisy the dog gets a second chance at motherhood after losing her puppies

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 09:26 AM PST

Daisy the dog gets a second chance at motherhood after losing her puppiesMeet Daisy Woodruff—this adorable, happy dog from Roseburg, Oregon:  IT ME DAISY THE DOG HELLO HI! Image: Daisy Woodruff/Facebook According to Daisy's mom, Jessica Woodruff, Daisy unfortunately lost all seven of her puppies in a barn fire on Feb. 20. "We had a nice bed made for Daisy to have her pups inside but she found her own spot down at the barn. We noticed the fire and it was too late," Woodruff stated. They also lost four goats, one pig and the entire barn in the fire. SEE ALSO: Fun dad allows family dog to get a very unfortunate haircut After she lost her puppies, Daisy just wasn't the same.  "Daisy wondered [ sic] the 80+ acres lost, sad and confused," she said. "As a mother, I couldn't fathom her loss." Image: Jacque Barnett In order to help Daisy recover from her loss, the search was on to get her foster puppies for Daisy to take care of. So, Woodruff's sister, Jacque Barnett, posted a note on a local Facebook page, searching for anyone who could help.  Once the post was up, a local radio host saw it, and took the story to air. After hearing the story air on the radio, KPIC, a local news station, met with Woodruff and Daisy to cover their story on TV. And from there, an owner of eight orphaned puppies contacted Woodruff, and brought the pups over the next day.  8 happy little pups Image: Jacque Barnett Daisy nursing her new foster pups. Image: Jacque Barnett Ever since she's gotten a second chance at motherhood, Daisy got back to her old self again, much to the delight of her owner.  "Daisy was in heaven!," Woodruff said. "It was so amazing to see the change. She had purpose again. She laid down to feed them, cleaned them, and even protects them." Image: Daisy woodruff/facebook Although the arrangement's temporary, Daisy will care for the pups until they are weaned. They'll then be returned home. "We aren't keeping any of the pups to live at the ranch but we are keeping the runt and gifting him to our Grandmother and Grandfather," said Woodruff. Daisy, fostering puppies. Image: jacque barnett "With out [ sic] a doubt, these foster pups have helped her," Woodruff said. "We have our Daisy dog back."  Such pride. Image: Daisy woodruff/Facebook BONUS: Play fetch and crawl through tunnels in this dog-inspired bootcamp


U.S. suspends fast processing of high-tech visa applications

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 10:10 AM PST

U.S. suspends fast processing of high-tech visa applicationsForeigners aiming for temporary jobs at high-tech U.S. companies will undergo a longer visa approval process after the Trump administration announced it will temporarily suspend expedited applications for H-1B visas. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Friday that starting April 3 it will suspend "premium processing" for up to six months. Under this expedited procedure, applicants can be eligible for visa approvals within 15 days, instead of a regular review period that can last for up to a few months.


Philippine defence chief visits US carrier in S. China Sea

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 09:20 AM PST

Philippine defence chief visits US carrier in S. China SeaThe Philippines' defence secretary on Saturday visited a US aircraft carrier patrolling the South China Sea, hailing the "strong relationship" with Washington despite President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot away from Manila's traditional ally. The US Navy said the USS Carl Vinson had been engaging in "routine operations in the South China Sea" since last month to assert freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway claimed by Beijing, Manila and a host of other Southeast Asian nations.


Woman who streamed Minnesota shooting charged in assault

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 05:12 PM PST

Woman who streamed Minnesota shooting charged in assaultST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A woman who livestreamed the fatal police shooting of her boyfriend during a traffic stop in Minnesota last year was charged Friday in a reported assault.


Turkey Death Dance: Viral Video Shows Birds in Bizarre Dance Around Dead Cat

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:22 PM PST

Turkey Death Dance: Viral Video Shows Birds in Bizarre Dance Around Dead CatThe birds got into the insane formation just outside Boston.


Did You Get A Blank Email From Bank Of America? Lots Of People Did

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 10:47 AM PST

Did You Get A Blank Email From Bank Of America? Lots Of People DidBank of America customers were reporting blank emails with no subject and emails concerning their debit cards to the company Friday.


Dire Measures to Combat Hunger in Venezuela

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 08:57 AM PST

Dire Measures to Combat Hunger in VenezuelaProminent priest calls on Venezuelans to label trash that contains food for the hungry.


The Latest: Attorney: Man accused of IS aims needs support

Posted: 04 Mar 2017 12:10 PM PST

The Latest: Attorney: Man accused of IS aims needs supportNEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the prosecution of a New York man accused of repeatedly traveling to the Middle East to try to join the Islamic State or another extremist group (all times local):


GOP lawmakers search for new healthcare bill

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 01:54 AM PST

GOP lawmakers search for new healthcare billSen. Rand Paul leads hunt for elusive Obamacare replacement bill


Mercedes-Benz recalls 354,000 vehicles due to fire risk

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 07:41 AM PST

Mercedes-Benz recalls 354,000 vehicles due to fire riskMercedes-Benz has issued a massive recall affecting more than 354,000 vehicles from the 2015, 2016, and 2017 model years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of those cars may be at risk of catching fire.  The problem with the vehicles is electrical in nature and is rooted in the starting current limiter, manufactured by Gruner AG. Like most limiters, this one is designed to manage electrical currents, protecting other components from being damaged and preventing fuse overloads. ALSO SEE: Utah is about to lower its drunk-driving limit, is your state next? Unfortunately in this case, it's the protector that needs protecting. NHTSA's defect bulletin explains that the limiter in these Mercedes-Benz vehicles isn't designed to handle the heavy current draw that may occur when an engine or transmission is damaged, preventing the car from starting: "In the event the starter is blocked due to engine/transmission damage (e.g. hydro locked engine), a very high electric current would flow through the starting current limiter during the subsequent start attempt. Should the driver attempt to start the engine repeatedly despite the engine not cranking, the very high electric current draw might lead to overheating of the starting current limiter." That overheating can cause nearby components to melt, and in worst-case scenarios, could result in a fire.  The list of vehicles included in the recall is long and, thanks to Mercedes-Benz's naming system, a little complicated. We've done our best to alphabetize it:  2015-2017 C300 2017 C300 Cabrio 2017 C300 Coupe 2015-2017 C300 4Matic  2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio 2017 C300 4Matic Coupe 2016 C350e 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport 2015-2017 CLA250  2015-2017 CLA250 4Matic 2015-2017 CLA45 AMG 2017 E300 2017 E300 4Matic 2017 E400 4Matic Wagon 2017 E43 AMG 4Matic 2017 GLA250 2017 GLA250 4Matic 2017 GLC300 4Matic Coupe 2016 GLC300 2016 GLC300 4Matic All told, there are 354,434 of those vehicles registered in the U.S. READ: First ride: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas prototype Sadly, none of those vehicles can be repaired yet, because Mercedes-Benz doesn't have an ample supply of parts. Owners will receive interim recall notices in late March, which will alert them to the problem. The automaker expects to have parts on hand in July 2017 and will mail a second recall notice then.  That second notice will include instructions for scheduling service with Mercedes-Benz dealerships. NHTSA says that dealers will install an extra fuse in the electrical line to the starter, which will resolve the issue.  If you own one of these vehicles and have further questions, you're encouraged to contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Or, if you prefer, you can call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #17V114000.


India's Paytm E-Commerce raises $200 million from Alibaba, SAIF Partners

Posted: 03 Mar 2017 02:35 AM PST

India's Paytm E-Commerce raises $200 million from Alibaba, SAIF PartnersMUMBAI (Reuters) - India's Paytm E-Commerce Pvt Ltd has raised $200 million from China's Alibaba Group Holding and venture capital fund SAIF Partners to expand its online retail business in a market dominated by homegrown Flipkart and U.S. tech giant Amazon. Alibaba.com Singapore E-Commerce Pvt Ltd picked up a 36.31 percent stake in Paytm E-Commerce for investing $177 million, according to a regulatory filing by the Indian company that runs an online marketplace. Alibaba and its associates are also the largest shareholders in One97 Communications, which has a stake in Paytm E-Commerce. ...


Financial risks hang over China legislature meeting

Posted: 02 Mar 2017 10:10 PM PST

Financial risks hang over China legislature meetingChina's rubber-stamp legislature convenes this weekend with the script focused on containing worrisome economic risks while President Xi Jinping consolidates power ahead of a pivotal Communist Party meeting later this year. The gathering of 3,000 National People's Congress (NPC) delegates at Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People is staged annually by the all-powerful party to portray a facade of popular rule. It typically has little actual bearing on politics but will be scrutinised this year for clues ahead of this autumn's far more consequential Communist Party Congress, an event held only every five years.


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