| US sends naval strike group as tensions rise with Iran Posted: 11 May 2019 01:34 AM PDT  The United States is deploying an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to bolster an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers already sent to the Gulf, ratcheting up pressure Saturday on archfoe Iran. In response to alleged threats from Iran, the USS Arlington, which transports marines, amphibious vehicles, conventional landing craft and rotary aircraft, and the Patriot air defence system will join the Abraham Lincoln carrier group, the Pentagon announced Friday. The carrier and a B-52 bomber task force were ordered towards the Gulf, as Washington reiterated that intelligence reports suggested Iran was planning some sort of attack in the region.
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| Houthi rebels claim to begin withdrawal from key Yemen ports Posted: 11 May 2019 12:21 PM PDT  SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday began a long-delayed withdrawal of forces from the port facility in the key city of Hodeida, the group said, following the terms of a December cease-fire aimed at alleviating the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The government described the Houthi claim as a "farce."
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| More contempt citations ahead for Trump advisers: senior U.S. Democrat Posted: 10 May 2019 07:22 PM PDT  U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said lawmakers may bundle numerous contempt citations from different committees into a single resolution that the full House of Representatives could then vote on. "There obviously are going to have to be, perhaps from our committee and certainly from other committees, other contempt citations to enforce subpoenas," Nadler told reporters.
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| Boeing crash payouts would be partly based on how long passengers knew they were doomed Posted: 12 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT  Settlements to the families of 346 people who died in the two catastrophic Boeing Max plane crashes will be calculated, in part, by how long the victims knew they were doomed. Lawyers handling claims against the US aerospace company said the longer the passengers and crew were aware of their desperate fate, the larger the likely payout. "There's a better chance of (financial) recovery if it took minutes rather than seconds for the plane to crash,'' Joe Power, a personal-injury lawyer representing some Ethiopian victims, told Bloomberg this weekend. The first passenger plane, Lion Air Flight 610, ditched into the Java Sea 12 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia on October 29th last year. Six months later on March 10th, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed six minutes after take off from Addis Ababa. In both cases, the jets were Max 8 models and in both cases, all aboard died. Experts say the Boeing Company could be facing payouts in excess of $1 billion (£770 million) if it can be proved that it had knowledge that the model had safety flaws. Thirty individual law suits have now been filed against Boeing on behalf of families with many more expected. Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER that disappeared from air traffic control screens in 2011 Credit: AP "The bottom line is Boeing's exposure is much more substantial than in any other case that I've been a part of in my quarter-century of representing families'" in plane-crash cases, said Brian Alexander, a New York aviation lawyer for victims of the Ethiopian Airlines jet . "You get into 'What did you know and when did you know it.'" The two disasters, with similar characteristics, led to the worldwide grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 8 models. Both pilots desperately struggled to take control of the aeroplanes as they intermittently dived while reaching speeds of close to 600 miles per hour. Investigators have zeroed in on the malfunctioning Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, an automated safety feature designed to prevent a stall. Earlier this month Dennis Muilenburg, the Boeing CEO acknowledged its automatic flight control system played a role in the two crashes. "The full details of what happened in the two accidents will be issued by the government authorities in the final reports, but, with the release of the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident investigation, it's apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information."
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| U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint Posted: 11 May 2019 06:46 AM PDT ![U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint]( "U.S. states sue Teva, 19 other drug companies in price-fixing complaint") Forty-four U.S. states have filed a lawsuit accusing 20 drug companies including Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc of a sweeping scheme to inflate drug prices and stifle competition for more than 100 generic drugs, state prosecutors said on Saturday. The complaint, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut, said the drug companies engaged in "numerous illegal conspiracies in order to unreasonably restrain trade, artificially inflate and manipulate prices and reduce competition," according to state attorneys general. Representatives of Teva and Sandoz, another company named in the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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| Scouted: Add an Extra Level of Sun Protection This Year and Get Yourself UPF Clothing and Accessories Posted: 12 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT  While broad-spectrum sunscreen is your first and foremost defense against skin cancer and early-aging, you can add an additional layer of protection in the form of UPF clothing. While SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is standard in sunscreens, UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) takes your clothing a step further so you're protected from the broad-spectrum of UV rays that the sun emits. This protection is built into swimsuits, cover-ups, T-shirts, and even sun hats. We've rounded up a few to add to your outdoor plans this year.REI Co-Op Sahara Long-Sleeve Shirt, $60 from REIREI Co-Op Sahara Long-Sleeve Shirt, $60 from REI: Wear this button-down alone or thrown over a tank top to give yourself another layer of UPF 35 sun protection. It comes in five different neutral shades, so maybe it's worth getting them all.Vapor Apparel Men's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $20 on AmazonVapor Apparel Men's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $20 on Amazon: With over 2,800 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, this long sleeve will keep you dry and protected in the warmer months. Choose from 22 different colors.Coolibar UPF 50+ Women's Everyday Beach Shawl, $29 on AmazonCoolibar UPF 50+ Women's Everyday Beach Shawl, $29 on Amazon: A simple cover-up for the beach can also be an easy way to add sun protection. This breezy shawl gives you UPF 50+ sun protection and comes in a multitude of color options to go with any swimsuit.Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat, $32 from REISunday Afternoons Havana Hat, $32 from REI: Besides the fact that this hat doesn't really look like a sun hat, the best part is that it's crushable and packable, so you won't end up with a wonky piece of headgear. With UPF 50+ sun protection, this is your go anywhere, do anything hat.prAna Men's Stretch Zion Pants, $42-$85 from REIprAna Men's Stretch Zion Pants, $42-$85 from REI: These pants are ready for anything. Not only do they have UPF 50+ sun protection, but they're also DWR-coated, so they're water-resistant as well. They even have roll-up leg snaps so you can give your ankles a little breeze.Toad&Co; Jetlite Pant, $55- $80 from BackcountryToad&Co; Jetlite Pant, $55- $80 from Backcountry: A pair of pants that are lightweight, quick-drying, DWR-coated, and has UPF 50+ sun protection is like a gift from the outdoor gods. There's even a hidden zippered thigh pocket to keep your valuables secure.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| Pence at Liberty, UNCC-Charlotte graduation, Mother's Day: 5 things you need to know this weekend Posted: 11 May 2019 06:35 AM PDT  Vice President Mike Pence will speak at Liberty University, millions of moms will celebrate Mother's day and more of the weekend's news to know.
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| India's marathon election reaches next-to-last phase Posted: 12 May 2019 09:04 AM PDT  NEW DELHI (AP) — Indians voted Sunday in the next-to-last round of a six-week-long national election marked by a highly acrimonious campaign that has seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi blame opposition party chief Rahul Gandhi's family for the country's ills.
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| Police: Explosion and fire at Virginia gas station leaves three people dead Posted: 11 May 2019 04:47 PM PDT  Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause and origin of the explosion.
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| India is going forward with an antitrust case against Google’s Android Posted: 10 May 2019 08:07 PM PDT  Google has lost a number of antitrust cases in recent years, which netted the tech company three record-setting fines in Europe. The European Commission looked at Google's Search, Android, and online ads practices and found that Google abused its position in the market.Separately, Russian regulators investigated the same alleged Android abuse, which resulted in a different fine, albeit not comparable to the EU's. In each case, Google had to make several concessions regarding Android. And now India appears to be Google's next nightmare when it comes to antitrust investigations.Google has allegedly abused its dominant position in the market to block rivals, two sources familiar with India's antitrust watchdog's actions told Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the local regulator that started looking at a complaint against Google last year. The CCI determined in mid-April that the complaint had merit, ordering its investigation unit to launch a full probe into the matter."It is a strong case for the CCI, given the EU precedent," a source said. "The CCI has (preliminarily) found Google abused its dominant position."The EU hit Google with a €4.34 billion ($5 billion) fine in the Android case. Google said it'd fight the ruling, but at the same time decided to modify Android in Europe to give users more choice when it comes to internet browsing apps and default search engines. The EU found that Google's contracts with Android vendors forced them to install Google Search and Chrome browsers on devices, alongside Google Play.The CCI's investigation could take about a year, and Google execs might be summoned before the Commission in the coming months, Reuters reports. Indian regulators could impose fines of up to 10% of the relevant turnover of Google's last three financial years. However, it's unclear how much money Google makes from Chrome and Search in the region.Google meanwhile said via a spokesman that the company is working with the CCI "to demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less." He said that Android had enabled millions of Indians to connect to the internet by making mobile devices more affordable.
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| Who's been sitting in Pelosi's chair? Democrat Ocasio-Cortez Posted: 10 May 2019 08:05 PM PDT  In another first for rookie congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the liberal Democrat from New York on Friday became the youngest woman to preside over the U.S. House of Representatives. Sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's chair as part of a routine rotation of House members, Ocasio-Cortez took her turn with the gavel and ran the chamber for about an hour. The duty is shared day-to-day by members of the House majority, currently the Democrats.
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| Venezuela's Juan Guaidó rallies his supporters as President Maduro clamps down Posted: 11 May 2019 12:36 PM PDT  Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó on Saturday urged his supporters once again to protest nationwide against President Nicolás Maduro, who has slowly ratcheted up the pressure on the lawmaker since a failed military uprising.
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| Rouhani calls for unity to face 'unprecedented' US pressure Posted: 12 May 2019 04:54 AM PDT  Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has warned of a wave of coming economic hardships worse than in the 1980s as "unprecedented" pressure from international sanctions brings the country to its knees. "During the war we did not have a problem with our banks, oil sales or imports and exports, and there were only sanctions on arms purchases," Mr Rouhani said. "But I do not despair and have great hope for the future and believe that we can move past these difficult conditions provided that we are united," he said. The leader's comments, made to activists in Tehran, come as US-Iran relations, frosty since President Donald Trump pulled out the nuclear deal a year ago, hit a new low. Last week, the US deployed forces including an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to counter what it says is a rising threat from Iran to US forces there. The presence of USS Abraham Lincoln, replacing a carrier rotated out last month, has been seen as a clear provocation by Iran's security establishment. "An aircraft carrier that has at least 40 to 50 planes on it and 6,000 forces gathered within it was a serious threat for us in the past but now... the threats have switched to opportunities," said Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Iranian Guards' aerospace division. "If (the Americans) make a move we will hit them in the head," he said. In a parliament session on Sunday, the commander of the Guards accused the US of starting a "psychological war" in the region. The regional sabre-rattling is picking up pace, with an Israeli cabinet minister on Sunday warning that Israel may be in the line of Iranian fire if the standoff escalates. "Things are heating up," Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said of the Gulf. "If there's some sort of conflagration between Iran and the United States, between Iran and its neighbours, I'm not ruling out that they will activate Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, or even that they will try to fire missiles from Iran at the State of Israel," he told Israel's Ynet TV. Both Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad are Iranian-sponsored militant groups active on Israel's borders. Back in Tehran, Mr Rouhani's warning of hard times to come appears designed to rally support for his embattled government, which has been criticised by hardliners since Mr Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal a year ago. Despite the increasingly loud voices of hawkish members of his administration including national security advisor John Bolton, who led the military expansion into the Gulf, Mr Trump, at least, appears open to discussion. "What I'd like to see with Iran, I'd like to see them call me," he said.
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| Mueller won't testify next week, talks ongoing: House Democrat Posted: 10 May 2019 11:51 PM PDT  Robert Mueller, the US special counsel whose report on Russian election interference has shaken a divided Washington, will not testify before Congress next week, a top Democrat said Friday. House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler had wanted Mueller to testify on May 15, but he said a date for the highly anticipated appearance before lawmakers remained under discussion. "It won't be next week," Nadler told reporters.
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| 3 Ways To Make A Glock Gun Even Better Posted: 11 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT  The Glock Safe Action Pistol is the most popular Pistol in the United States. Gaston Glock's plastic fantastics came about in a time where most guns featured metal frames and were hammer fired. Polymer striker fired guns had been done before, but never succeeded like the Glock.Since then the Glock has gone on to become an insanely popular handgun. Part of that popularity is modularity. Glock pistols in general have three different frame sizes, the standard, the larger, and the single stack. By frame size I don't mean length and width, I mean compatibility.For example, the Glock 26 and Glock 17 are the same standard frame. There are differences in overall size, but they can accept the same magazines and the same internals. This makes it very easy to find upgradeable parts for any Glock.Today, we are looking and talking about the most popular Glock upgrade out there, the trigger. The compatibility we mentioned is important, because you have to be selective about your trigger, and ensure it fits your Glock frame.
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| 20+ Healthy Picnic Recipes Perfect For Lunch In The Park Posted: 12 May 2019 01:46 PM PDT |
| Anti-Israel imam delivers prayer in House chambers Posted: 12 May 2019 05:56 AM PDT  New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin says Omar Suleiman has compared Israelis to Nazis.
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| Pope gives church 19 new priests in Vatican ceremony Posted: 12 May 2019 05:20 AM PDT  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has given the church 19 new priests, ordaining the men in an elaborate ceremony Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica, as the credibility of the Vatican and many of its clergy is threatened by widespread scandals of pedophile priests and systematic efforts at cover-ups.
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| Indians vote in penultimate phase of seven-round general election Posted: 12 May 2019 11:16 AM PDT ![Indians vote in penultimate phase of seven-round general election]( "Indians vote in penultimate phase of seven-round general election") Polling kicked off on April 11 with Modi as front-runner after an escalation of tension with neighboring Pakistan. The president of the main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, said the main issues in the election were unemployment, economic hardship in the countryside, the de-monetization of bank notes and a new sales tax. "Narendra Modi used hatred, we used love.
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| Graduation gifts: Why stocks are better than straight cash Posted: 12 May 2019 08:10 AM PDT  Cash and gift cards are popular graduation gifts, but stocks can have a more lasting financial effect.
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| Lime-Yellow 1973 Datsun 240Z up for Auction is the Cleanest We've Seen outside a Museum Posted: 12 May 2019 11:00 AM PDT  This pristine Japanese sports coupe is a Me Decade time machine.
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| White House Top Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow Undercuts Trump on Tariffs Posted: 12 May 2019 08:13 AM PDT  Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty ImagesPresident Trump's top economic adviser admitted on Sunday that American companies and consumers would have to pay for new tariffs on Chinese goods—undercutting the president, who has repeatedly claimed that China would somehow be paying for the new penalties directly.On Fox News Sunday, anchor Chris Wallace pressed the White House's Larry Kudlow: "It's not China that pays the tariffs, it's the American importers, the American companies that pay what, is in fact, a tax increase.""Fair enough," responded Kudlow, though he insisted "both sides will pay in these things."On Friday, Trump tweeted that he would hike tariffs on imported Chinese goods as his administration and the Chinese government hit an impasse during negotiations for a sweeping new trade deal."Tariffs are NOW being paid to the United States by China of 25% on 250 Billion Dollars worth of goods & products," he tweeted. "These massive payments go directly to the Treasury of the U.S."The new tariffs will not be paid by China and go into Treasury's coffers: in fact, their cost will be passed on to the American companies and consumers who buy Chinese goods. A March study from leading economists found that Americans have already borne the brunt of tariffs on Chinese goods, which have been in place since last year. Kudlow argued that China would suffer due to the new tariffs, but not because the costs would somehow be charged to or paid for by them. "The Chinese will suffer GDP losses and so forth with respect to a diminishing export market," he said.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| May expected to clarify resignation timetable: senior MP Posted: 11 May 2019 09:17 AM PDT  British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to set out her departure plans within days, the leader of backbench lawmakers in her governing Conservative Party said Saturday. Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of rank-and-file Conservative MPs, said he expected May to provide clarity on her exit timetable at a meeting with him on Wednesday. "I find it very hard to see how that route can lead to any sensible resolution," Brady told BBC radio.
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| Nike’s app will use augmented reality to determine your shoe size Posted: 11 May 2019 06:01 AM PDT  Do you know your own shoe size? You might think you do, but there's a good chance you're walking around in shoes that aren't actually a perfect fit. Nike thinks it can change that with a new addition to its smartphone app that leverages the power of augmented reality to perform a super-accurate scan of your feet, matching you with the ideal size, depending on the kind of shoe you're shopping for.In a new blog post, Nike calls out the current system of shoe sizing as "antiquated," calling it "a gross simplification of a complex problem." That's where Nike Fit, the new sizing feature, comes in.Nike describes Nike Fit as "a new scanning solution that uses a proprietary combination of computer vision, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and recommendation algorithms."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMXc_1qCa8EThat's a whole bunch of flashy terms that don't mean a whole lot to the average shoe shopper, but the gist of it is that the app will allow you to take a scan of your feet when you're about to buy a pair of kicks. Nike Fit will be an option alongside the traditional sizing list, but the company is obviously promoting this as the ideal way to get the perfect fit."Using your smartphone's camera, Nike Fit will scan your feet, collecting 13 data points mapping your foot morphology for both feet within a matter of seconds," Nike explains. "This hyper-accurate scan of your unique foot dimension can then be stored in your NikePlus member profile and easily used for future shopping online and in-store."Your Nike Fit scan will be stored and can be accessed by the app whenever it needs to guide you to your perfect pair of new shoes. Perhaps most interesting, this new sizing system may actually change its size recommendation for you based on the kind of shoe you're shopping for.Nike says "different shoes are made with different performance intent," meaning that you'll probably want something like a running shoe to be a little bit tighter than the kind of everyday sneaker you wear in casual situations. The app handles all those decisions on the backend, and Nike seems pretty sure it knows exactly how to set you up with the size you need.The feature isn't available just yet but it should be available sometime in July in the U.S. and August in Europe.
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| Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces trial for 'pedo' insult of diver Posted: 10 May 2019 05:59 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk will have to go to trial to defend himself for mocking a British diver as a pedophile in a verbal sparring match that unfolded last summer after the underwater rescue of youth soccer players trapped in a Thailand cave.
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| Pope: It's OK to organize pilgrimages to Bosnian shrine Posted: 12 May 2019 10:14 AM PDT  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has given Roman Catholic faithful his OK to make pilgrimages to a Bosnian shrine where children said the Virgin Mary appeared to them, but the Catholic Church hasn't yet authenticated their vision, the Vatican said Sunday.
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| Iran commander calls U.S. military in Gulf a target not a threat: ISNA Posted: 12 May 2019 01:49 PM PDT  A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander said on Sunday the U.S. military presence in the Gulf used to be a serious threat but now represents a target, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported. The U.S. military has sent forces, including an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, to the Middle East in a move that U.S. officials said was made to counter "clear indications" of threats from Iran to American forces in the region.
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| Reuters Health News Summary Posted: 12 May 2019 05:55 AM PDT ![Reuters Health News Summary]( "Reuters Health News Summary") Patients who see their doctors in the morning are a lot more likely to be referred for screenings for breast and colon cancer than patients with end-of-the-day appointments, a new study suggests. Researchers poring over records of more than 50,000 patients who were eligible for breast or colon cancer screening saw a big drop in referrals as the day progressed. China has pledged to stem a flood of the synthetic opioid fentanyl onto America's streets, where it kills thousands of people a month, but U.S. security experts are skeptical about whether Beijing is willing, or even able, to follow through.
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| A Mazda Dealer Surprised a Loyal Customer by Refurbishing His First-Gen MX-5 Miata's Seats for Free Posted: 11 May 2019 06:00 AM PDT  Longeuil Mazda in Quebec wanted to thank André Frève for his loyalty, so it gave his Miata's interior some TLC.
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| 15+ Game-Changing Avocado Salads Posted: 12 May 2019 02:10 PM PDT |
| 'I have a plan for that': Elizabeth Warren leads the Democratic 'ideas primary' Posted: 11 May 2019 08:57 AM PDT  As candidates follow the senator in churning out progressive proposals, some activists warn the priority must be beating Trump Elizabeth Warren speaks in Ames, Iowa. Photograph: Charlie Neibergall/AP Elizabeth Warren has a plan for that. And that. And that as well. On Wednesday, the Massachusetts senator unveiled the 12th major policy proposal of her presidential run, a $100bn plan to combat the opioid crisis. Warren's reputation as the ideas generator has gained widespread attention. But she is not the only candidate for the Democratic nomination who has white papers to flaunt. In the last few days, Bernie Sanders has rolled out a package of proposals to "rebuild rural America" and released legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 15%. Kamala Harris has come out with a bill to financially assist public defenders. Cory Booker has proposed sweeping reforms to the nation's gun laws. Kirsten Gillibrand has vowed to only nominate supreme court justices who would uphold Roe v Wade. Amy Klobuchar has laid out a $100bn plan to combat drug and alcohol addiction and improve mental healthcare. The "ideas primary" is shaping up to be one of the most revealing fronts in the 21-candidate contest for the Democratic nomination. Taking advantage of a field full of 2020 hopefuls eager to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, activists are injecting into the debate proposals once dismissed as too radical and too ambitious. I think voters understand that the differences between candidates are not as critical as the differences with Trump Neera Tanden From Medicare for All to a Green New Deal, affordable housing to baby bonds, ideas are the currency of progressive politics. But in a presidential primary personality, identity, experience and electability – an elusive measure of the ability to beat Donald Trump – count too. Sometimes even more. "Policy provides really important cues about the character and priorities of a candidate," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal thinktank in Washington. "But with Trump as president, I think voters also understand that the differences between candidates are not as critical as the differences with Trump." Ahead of the first debate in late June, progressive activists are ramping up efforts to influence the contest of ideas. At candidate forums in Washington, Texas and New York, and in televised town halls, activists and voters have pushed candidates on fraught issues such as reparations for slavery, electoral college reform and voting rights for prisoners. "The grassroots activism that helped shepherd in the most diverse, most progressive Congress in our country's history has not died down any since the 2018 election," said Jennifer Epps-Addison, the president and co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action, which co-hosted the We the People summit in Washington last month. "It has transformed into an even bigger force in communities all around the country that is pushing presidential candidates to speak to the needs of everyday Americans." The 'Grim Reaper' The youth-led Sunrise Movement is the force behind one of the most successful activist-driven campaigns: the Green New Deal, a sprawling social and economic initiative to fight climate change and address income and racial inequality. Nearly every candidate has been asked if they support the plan. "Having such an open field forces a more robust discussion about the values, the principles, the policies that differentiate the candidates," said Varshini Prakash, executive director of the group. She added: "Given the moment that we find ourselves in, the candidates that have the most powerful and potent climate policies will rise to the top." Mitch McConnell speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill this week. Photograph: Aaron P Bernstein/Reuters As the candidates build their policy agendas, many policies are still ideas lacking details. And even if a Democrat wins the White House, many of their proposals under discussion aren't politically feasible with a Republican-controlled Senate. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has vowed to be the "Grim Reaper" of progressive policies, singling out the Green New Deal and Medicare for All as "socialist" policies he would pronounce "dead on arrival" in the Senate. "More important than the details of any one policy idea that these candidates may have is a plan for how they would actually achieve it," said Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, a progressive group that aims to rally liberals around the federal judiciary. "Without a strategy for overcoming Mitch McConnell in the Senate and a supreme court that's been packed by Donald Trump, a lot of the policy conversation is going to be purely academic." His group has applauded candidates who embrace norm-shattering reforms such as abolishing the Senate filibuster and expanding the supreme court. Nonetheless, the 2020 policy debate illustrates how far the party has moved left on healthcare, taxes, gun control and more. That has forced many candidates to embrace progressive and populist policies as they reckon with past positions out of step with the new left. An increasingly vocal cohort of Democrats fear contenders are being pushed too far, potentially hobbling the eventual nominee in a fight against Trump. This House was won not on the platform of national single-payer healthcare but on a commitment to improve the ACA Heidi Heitkamp In an opinion piece for the Washington Post this week, the former North Dakota senator Heidi Heitkamp wrote: "In their rush to earn the support of the party's highly energized primary electorate, some of the best prospective Democratic standard- bearers are embracing positions that would present serious risks when it comes to challenging and defeating Trump in the general election." Heitkamp urged Democrats not to abandon Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act in favor of Medicare for All, citing as evidence the 2018 midterms. "This House majority was won not on the platform of national single-payer healthcare," she wrote, "but on a commitment to improve the ACA." Not all candidates are leading with policy ideas. The former vice-president Joe Biden has risen in the polls since entering the race with a promise to restore a sense of normalcy after a Trump presidency. In his first visit to Iowa, Biden promised he was "gonna talk a lot over this campaign about what my policies are". Noting his audience were all standing, however, he promised to not "go into great detail" just yet. Pete Buttigieg holds a town hall in North Charleston, South Carolina. Photograph: Meg Kinnard/AP Similarly, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor, Pete Buttigieg, has leapt to the front of the pack with an appeal for a new generation of leadership. Pressed during a CNN town hall on why his campaign website doesn't have a policy section, he said he planned to take his time. "It's important we don't drown people in minutiae before we've vindicated the values that animate our policies," he said. "We go right to the policy proposals and we expect people to be able to figure out what our values must be from that." The former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke was pilloried as a policy lightweight when he entered the race. But last week he became the first candidate to unveil a major proposal on climate change. The plan calls for a $5tn investment in infrastructure and innovation over a decade and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 'Challenging power' Policy, of course, is no guarantee of success. Hillary Clinton lost to Trump though her platform was far more expansive and detailed. But even in defeat, policy presents an opportunity to shape the agenda. In 2016, Sanders lost the primary to Clinton but popularized the concept of Medicare for All. It now enjoys support from several candidates and has received its first real congressional hearing in decades. Even the long-shot candidate Andrew Yang has found some success injecting his plan for a "universal basic income" into the policy debate. All that said, Warren has undoubtedly set the pace, churning out so many policies that her unofficial campaign slogan has become: "I have a plan for that!" The senator has plans to break up Big Tech, to create universal childcare, to cancel student-loan debt and to invest in public housing. More proposals are likely before the first debate. "Senator Warren is clearly winning the ideas primary," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which has endorsed her. Green said it was not only the depth and volume of Warren's plans that was winning converts and boosting her in the polls. It was also the way she weaves her ambitious agenda into a "narrative about challenging power". "We're still living in an outsider moment," he said. "To defeat Trump, we need someone who is seen as an equal and opposite change agent and who will shake up the system, but do it for real on behalf of regular people and not the special interests."
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| Female Afghan former journalist shot dead in Kabul Posted: 11 May 2019 12:56 PM PDT  A former journalist who worked for the Afghan parliament was shot and killed in Kabul on Saturday, an official said, in the latest brazen attack to rock Afghanistan's capital. Mena Mangal was well known in Kabul circles for her work presenting shows on several television networks, before she left journalism to become a cultural advisor to parliament. According to interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi, Mangal was gunned down in eastern Kabul in broad daylight.
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| The Google Play Store is nagging some users to get rid of old apps Posted: 12 May 2019 11:08 AM PDT  There have been a handful of updates to the Google Play Store's operation that garnered headlines in recent days, such as the news that apps' rating calculations will start being more heavily weighted toward the most recent user ratings. Meanwhile, some users have started seeing something new from the Play Store -- a notification gently reminding them to remove apps they may have downloaded years ago and long since stopped using.The folks at Android Police note that the reminder is reminiscent of the Play Store's uninstall manager from back in 2016. The way this new reminder shows up is as a notification in the store's notification section, which you can then tap to see a list of apps that haven't gotten used for a while. Decide which ones you want to axe, and then you can also see how much space it's freed up.It doesn't appear to be a notification that's showing up across the board yet, which makes sense especially if you don't download many apps and don't, you know, need this reminder in the first place.This news comes, as we said, at a time of change for the Play Store, with Google confirming at I/O in recent days that the change to app ratings will manifest itself come August."Many of you told us that you want a rating that reflects a more current version of your app, not what it was years ago -- and we agree," Google Play project lead Kobi Glick explained in a company blog post. "So instead of a lifetime cumulative value, your Google Play Store rating will be recalculated to give more weight to your most recent ratings. Users won't see the updated rating in the Google Play Store until August, but you can preview your new rating in the Google Play Console today."Meanwhile, as we reported here, Google also in recent days booted one of the biggest app developers from the Play Store (and removed their apps) after a BuzzFeed analysis found that several of them may have been sharing data they collect with the Chinese government.
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| Connecticut man accused of sending letters threatening to kill President Trump Posted: 12 May 2019 01:23 PM PDT  A Connecticut man has been indicted on charges that he threatened to kill President Trump and sent letters he claimed contained anthrax.
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| With the 2020 GR Supra, Toyota Gets In Touch With Its Fun Side Posted: 12 May 2019 03:00 PM PDT  Toyota always knew how to build fun cars. Now they're doing it again.
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| The Latest: Guaidó asks for relations with US military Posted: 12 May 2019 02:24 AM PDT  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local):
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| Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election Posted: 12 May 2019 12:33 PM PDT ![Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election]( "Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election") Facebook said on Sunday it had taken down numerous Italian accounts on its platform that were false or were spreading fake news ahead of a European parliamentary election later this month. The European Union has warned of foreign interference in campaigning for the vote of May 23-26, and in April the European Commission urged Google, Facebook and Twitter to do more to tackle fake news before the poll. "We have removed a series of false and duplicated accounts which violated our authenticity policy, as well as several pages due to violation of rules on name changing," a spokesman for Facebook in Italy said in an emailed statement.
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| Scouted: Brooklinen Sheets, Weighted Sleep Masks, and More of What Scouted Readers Are Buying Posted: 11 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT  At Scouted, we're Internet shopping with a pulse, and part of that pulse is you, the collection of readers that continue to buy the things we recommend. We've decided to take a look at some of the top-selling products that Scouted readers are picking up and if other Scouted readers are snatching up these hot-ticket items, maybe it's time to invest in something, too. Here's a look at some of the recent best-sellers that Scouted readers really loved (and bought a lot of). Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, $90 on AmazonWaterproof Kindle Paperwhite, $90 on Amazon: I have a Kindle that I love. Scouted editor Gideon Gideon has a Kindle that he loves. And many, many Scouted readers now have Kindles, as well. They're on sale right now for $90 and will give you a whole new way to experience literature. Don't forget about accessories like a case or a charging cord (which you can get in a bundle!) and upgrade to Kindle Unlimited so you never run out of new reading material.nodpod: Weighted Sleep Mask, $30 on Amazonnodpod: Weighted Sleep Mask, $30 on Amazon: We featured the nodpod after Scouted writer Rachel Krantz penned a love note to the weighted sleep mask. It can help block out light and ease you into sleep, while also helping you stay asleep. It can also be put in the fridge to help with headaches or just to give you a nice cooldown.Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $219 from BrooklinenLuxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $219 from Brooklinen: Brooklinen recently celebrated their 5th birthday and did so with a sitewide discount. Scouted readers took advantage of this and outfitted their bedrooms with luxurious sheets in all kinds of patterns. Side note: the best sheets I own are from Brooklinen and I am considering getting an additional set so I don't wistfully think of them while laying on my other non-Brooklinen sheets.Desktop Glass Dry-Erase Board, $29 from QuartetDesktop Glass Dry-Erase Board, $29 from Quartet: It's kind of crazy how much Scouted readers loved the Quartet desktop whiteboard, but then again, I love mine so much (and so does half my office). In the same vein as kicking your single-use plastic habit, help ween yourself off of jotting down notes that will only be thrown away in due time by using a reusable, erasable whiteboard that fits perfectly on any desk.Commuter Dress Shirt, $118 from RhoneCommuter Dress Shirt, $118 from Rhone: Rhone makes some incredibly durable, technical clothing that can be worn every day, and when they came out with their newest Commuter Shirt, Scouted readers gobbled them up. It has four-way stretch, moisture-wicking properties, and a natural wrinkle release so it'll be an everyday dress shirt that you'll actually enjoy wearing.EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33 on AmazonEltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33 on Amazon: We took some time to give you a top-level look at what exactly to pay attention to when it comes to sunscreen (hint: look for "broad-spectrum" on the label). Scouted readers took this to heart and added a bunch of the Amazon best-selling Elta MD facial sunscreen to their routine. It's got broad-spectrum SPF 46, plus some skin care ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid.Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| Farage Surge Heaps Pressure on May, Labour Ahead of Brexit Talks Posted: 12 May 2019 05:53 AM PDT  The government has been in talks with Jeremy Corbyn's Labour for a month in search of a Brexit compromise, but with no deal in sight and Brexit delayed to October, May's Tory party has been hemorrhaging voters. According to an Opinium survey for the Observer newspaper, the Brexit Party would take 34% of the vote in the May 23 European Parliament elections, compared with 21% for Labour and just 11% for the Conservatives.
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| 'Love vs. hate' in penultimate Indian election round Posted: 12 May 2019 12:23 AM PDT  Tens of millions voted Sunday in the penultimate round of India's increasingly bad-tempered election, with all eyes on the coveted capital New Delhi after an ugly campaign of slaps and savage pamphlets. India's almost-seven week election, the biggest on Earth with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a new term from the 900 million voters, wraps up next Sunday with results due on May 23. Notoriously unreliable opinion polls put Modi, 68, as favourite but likely with a reduced majority, with the vote seen as a referendum on the Hindu nationalist's five years in power in the world's biggest democracy.
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| 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more Posted: 11 May 2019 04:28 AM PDT ![10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more]( "10 deals you don't want to miss on Saturday: Rare AirPods 2 sale, $8 LED light strip, Dyson deal, more") We've got some fantastic daily deals for you to check out on Saturday, and a few of them are fleeting so definitely hurry up if you want to get in on the action. Highlights include an extremely rare opportunity to save $20 on Apple AirPods 2 (they're out of stock but you can still order, and they should ship in a couple of weeks), a different pair of popular true wireless earbuds for just $25.49 with coupon code FSOVHC7U if discounted AirPods 2 are still a bit too pricey, a brand new Apple Watch Series 3 starting at an all-time low price of just $199, 16.4-foot warm white LED light strips for only $8 a piece, all-time low prices on SanDisk microSD cards starting at $7, the lowest price of 2019 on the best-selling Instant Pot in the world, a one-day deal that gets you a renewed Dyson V7 Animal cordless vacuum for only $189.99, a free Echo Dot when you buy a Ring Video Doorbell 2 for $80 off or a Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $100 off, and more. Check out all 10 of today's top deals below.
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| Big Bullet: The New AMP Round Means U.S. M1 Abrams Tanks Kill Everything Posted: 11 May 2019 07:00 AM PDT  In a 2016 Army statement on AMP, quoting a senior program manager, describes it impact this way…. "Right now our crews face the dilemma as they go into combat of deciding what rounds to load in the turret and carry in the gun. If they choose wrong, they could have a mismatch between target and ammunition, which will cost them valuable seconds while in enemy contact."A single emerging US Army Abrams tank round is engineered to attack and destroy enemy tanks, bunkers, concrete walls, light armored vehicles and even small groups of enemy fighters - by enabling crews to instantly adjust its explosive effect within seconds.The Army's Advanced Multi-Purpose 120 mm ammunition round is being prepared for a far-superior M1A2 SEP v4 Abrams tank variant for the 2020s and beyond — designed to be more lethal, faster, lighter weight, better protected, equipped with new sensors and armed with upgraded, more effective weapons, service officials said.(This article by Kris Osborn originally appeared in DefenseMaven in 2019 and is being republished due to reader interest.) The AMP round, according to Northrop Grumman and Army developers, will replace four tank rounds now in use by consolidating various possible blast effects into a single round, using variable "fuse" adjustments and an advanced Ammunition Data Link.
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