| Impeachment 'may be the only remedy' if Trump-Ukraine reports are true: House intel chair Posted: 22 Sep 2019 11:10 AM PDT  Adam Schiff, head of the House Intelligence Committee, suggests impeachment is in order if President Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
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| Indonesia forest fires: Video shows sky turned blood red by 'scary phenomenon' Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:14 AM PDT  Skies over Indonesia turned a frightening shade of blood red this weekend, leaving some locals frightened by their surroundings.
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| High school player collapses, dies in twin brother's arms: 'I'm about to pass out' Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:01 AM PDT  A high school is struggling to come to terms with the death of a football player after he suddenly collapsed and died in his twin brother's arms.
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| Mother, grandmother charged with neglect after unsupervised child struck sibling with knife Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:34 AM PDT ![Mother, grandmother charged with neglect after unsupervised child struck sibling with knife]( "Mother, grandmother charged with neglect after unsupervised child struck sibling with knife") Five kids were left home alone for about 30 minutes. Their mother and grandmother were charged with neglect after one child hit another with a knife.
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| 'How dare you?' Greta Thunberg asks world leaders at UN Posted: 23 Sep 2019 08:25 AM PDT  United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A visibly angry Greta Thunberg berated world leaders as she addressed a UN climate summit on Monday, accusing them of betraying her generation by failing to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and asking "How dare you?"
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| U.S. Air Force is Prototyping a Replacement for the Stealth F-35 Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:18 AM PDT  And it could be revolutionary.
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| China buys about 10 cargoes of U.S. soybeans after trade talks Posted: 23 Sep 2019 09:28 AM PDT  Chinese importers bought about 10 boatloads of U.S. soybeans on Monday following deputy-level trade talks in Washington last week that were overshadowed by the abrupt cancellation of a U.S. farm state visit by Chinese agriculture officials. Benchmark U.S. soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade <0#S:> jumped about 1.5% on news of the renewed buying, the market's steepest rise since Chinese buyers bought a large volume of U.S. soybeans on Sept. 12. Purchases of U.S. agricultural products like soybeans, the most valuable U.S. farm export, and pork are seen as key to securing a deal to end a bilateral trade war between the United States and China that has lasted more than a year.
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| Afghan officials: 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:04 AM PDT  Anti-Taliban raids by Afghan forces backed by U.S. airstrikes killed at least 40 civilians attending a wedding party in the southern Helmand province, Afghan officials said. The civilian deaths in Sunday night's raids on Taliban hideouts further rattled Afghanistan amid an upsurge in violence that's followed the collapse this month of U.S.-Taliban peace talks to end America's longest war. "We are saddened and divested to hear that civilians have lost their lives in an incident in Helmand despite President Ghani's repeated call for extra cautions in conducting military operations," said Sediq Sediqqi, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman.
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| White House press secretary: Trump stopped briefings because reporters were mean Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:51 PM PDT  Any hope that Americans may one day see Trump's new press secretary taking questions from reporters in a formal White House press briefing went out the window on Monday morning when Stephanie Grisham sat down for her first appearance on "Fox & Friends" since taking over for Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year.
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| These DIY instant noodles are healthier than the store-bought versions and so easy to make Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:48 PM PDT  These homemade ramen noodle recipes are quick and easy, and you can make them up to four days in advance.
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| US military apologises for threat to blow up millennials if they stormed Area 51 Posted: 22 Sep 2019 07:39 AM PDT  The US military has apologised for threatening to deploy a stealth bomber on millennials who had been planning to "storm" the Area 51 test base in the Nevada desert. Over the weekend, an estimated 150 people descended on the highly secretive base, about two hours drive from Las Vegas, which has long been a magnet for UFO enthusiasts convinced that it housed aliens from outer space. Thousands had been expected after a student created a Facebook page in June called "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us". The page became a viral sensation with more than three million people expressing an interest in turning up to "see them aliens". On Friday, fearing a mass invasion, the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) - the US military PR arm - posted a picture of service personnel standing by a B-2 stealth bomber alongside the caption: "The last thing Millennials will see if they attempt the area51raid today". In reality, the feared flood of alien-spotters turned out to be little more than a trickle of eccentrics in an eclectic array of costumes who were an irritant rather than a danger to national security. Last night a DVIDSHUB employee posted a Tweet that in NO WAY supports the stance of the Department of Defense. It was inappropriate and we apologize for this mistake.— DVIDSHub (@DVIDSHub) September 21, 2019 Given the festive atmosphere and small crowd, military chiefs soon realised that their stealth bomb threat was a rather excessive response to a bunch of curiosity seekers whose presence had led to a handful of arrests for such heinous offences as public urination. DVIDS sought to undo the damage by deleting the offending tweet and posting on Saturday saying that the previous day's message "in NO WAY supports the stance of the Department of Defence. It was inappropriate and we apologise for this mistake." The local police approach to the good-natured invasion had been somewhat more measured, advising those who pitched up to watch out for rattlesnakes and setting out some rudimentary ground rules. This was not the first time the US military has been obliged to say sorry for posting inappropriate tweets. On December 31, US Strategic Command, which is responsible for the country's strategic arsenal apologised for a tweet saying it was ready, if necessary, to drop something "much, much bigger" than the New Year's Eve ball in New York.
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| Baby Archie receives traditional African name Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:53 AM PDT  "This name of Xhosa African origin means 'pillar of strength.' May you always be a pillar of strength for those who need you."
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| 15 Coffee Tables Under $300 (That You'll Actually Like) Posted: 23 Sep 2019 02:06 PM PDT |
| Huawei exec in Canada court, bids to quash extradition Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:49 PM PDT  Top Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou and her lawyers went to court on Monday to try to have her extradition case thrown out, arguing that her rights were violated. The United States wants to put Meng on trial for fraud for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to US banks -- accusations her lawyers dispute. The arrest of Meng -- a rising star whose father Ren Zhengfei founded Huawei and over three decades grew it into a global telecom giant -- caused an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Canada and China.
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| Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg sets stare on Donald Trump at UN in viral video Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:49 PM PDT  The video of the 16-year-old Swede came after she delivered an emotional speech regarding the climate crisis, telling world leaders, "How dare you?"
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| Florida police officer suspended for arresting two 6-year-olds Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:07 PM PDT ![Florida police officer suspended for arresting two 6-year-olds]( "Florida police officer suspended for arresting two 6-year-olds") A Florida police officer has been suspended and is being investigated after arresting two 6-year-olds for separate disciplinary incidents at their school, police and a prosecutor said on Monday. Dennis Turner arrested the children on Thursday while working as a resource officer at a charter school in Orlando, charging them both with misdemeanor battery, Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala told a news conference. Ayala said Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón told her he did not intend to prosecute the children and had asked for the charges to be dropped.
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| Long-live the Electoral College! All of the Reasons to Keep It Posted: 22 Sep 2019 08:30 AM PDT  Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., recently proposed killing it on the grounds that the presidential selection mechanism leads candidates to focus on just a handful of "swing states" that are most likely to determine the election.
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| The Latest: Hong Kong protesters trample Chinese flag Posted: 22 Sep 2019 03:26 AM PDT  Protesters in Hong Kong have trampled a Chinese flag, vandalized a subway station and set a fire across a wide street, as pro-democracy demonstrations took a violent turn once again. Sunday's action began peacefully, as protesters filled a shopping mall and, in a new twist, folded paper "origami" cranes that they tied onto a large rigging that they assembled in the mall in the Shatin district. Some put a Chinese flag on the floor and took turns running over it, before defacing it and putting it in a dumpster outside, which they then pushed into a nearby river.
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| How a routine training flight ended with 6 Marines killed in a tragic midair collision and 4 officers out of a job Posted: 23 Sep 2019 08:01 AM PDT  The deadly incident led to to a loss of "trust and confidence" in a squadron commander and saw the firing of another three Marine Corps officers.
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| Indonesia finds design flaw, oversight lapses in 737 MAX crash: WSJ Posted: 22 Sep 2019 03:56 PM PDT  The draft conclusions, expected to be the first formal government finding of flaws in the design and U.S. regulatory approval, also identify a string of pilot errors and maintenance mistakes as causal factors of the Lion Air crash, the WSJ https://www.wsj.com/articles/indonesia-to-fault-737-max-design-u-s-oversight-in-lion-air-crash-report-11569185664?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1 said. The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded since March in the aftermath of two fatal crashes in five months. A Boeing spokesman did not comment on the newspaper report but said the plane maker continued to offer support to the investigating authorities as they complete their report.
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| GM furloughs 1,225 more workers as strike enters 2nd week Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:55 PM PDT  General Motors temporarily laid off an additional 1,225 workers in Canada and the United States on Monday as a strike entered its second week. The actions affect 525 hourly workers at its DMAX engine plant in Moraine, Ohio, a GM spokesman said. DMAX is a joint venture owned 60 percent by GM and 40 percent by Isuzu.
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| Two years after María, many in Puerto Rico 'are still living as if the hurricane happened yesterday' Posted: 22 Sep 2019 04:18 PM PDT  Outside of the town of Yabucoa, Fermín Pérez keeps his new refrigerator in a box and his new mattress in its packaging. He keeps them stored so they aren't damaged by the water that still leaks from his roof when it rains, despite the aid that came to repair it after Hurricane María made landfall practically in his backyard two years ago.María made came ashore as a strong Category 4 storm on Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, tearing into his home. Not having the money to make repairs and no family around to help, the 71-year-old man had reached out for aid. Even then, it wasn't until a year later in 2018 when he received electricity after the news organization Metro Puerto Rico brought attention to his story.The news outlet visited Pérez three times: last year, again when aid arrived within the week and a third time last week. Fermín Pérez stands in front of his house in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, a year after Hurricane María made landfall as a strong Category 4 storm. The storm had broken his windows, his door and had damaged his roof. A year later, after having asked for aid, no help came until Metro Puerto Rico covered his story. (Metro Puerto Rico/José Encarnación) When Metro Puerto Rico returned in 2019, Pérez's door, roof and windows had been repaired after María had pummeled the city, though the outlet noted the job had looked rushed. The ceiling leaked when it rained. Pérez's house wasn't one of the thousands of roofless homes still shielded by blue tarp, but mold still clung to the walls, and the living conditions hadn't looked much better than when they had first met Pérez a year ago. They noted that while there is water, electricity and a standing structure, the home that was once there was gone.Pérez told Metro Puerto Rico that FEMA had given him the fridge and some Americans had been in charge of the infrastructure, but Peréz wasn't living in much better conditions than when the hurricane had hit. Fermín Pérez lived for about a year without electricity after Hurricane María made landfall in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. (Metro Puerto Rico/José Encarnación) "Many Puerto Ricans are still experiencing a livelihood or a situation that is very similar to Sept. 21, Sept. 22 after Hurricane Maria. Many Puerto Ricans are still living below blue tarps," Penn State assistant professor of human development and family studies Alexis Santos told AccuWeather. "Many Puerto Ricans are still living as if the hurricane happened yesterday, and we strive and we hope that we can help them get their lives back to normality even if it's two years after the hurricane has happened."Santos had been a part of a research effort that was run from Penn State with support from individuals from the University of Texas at San Antonio, which published a study in early August of 2018 that contributed additional deaths in the months following María to the death toll. Originally, the Puerto Rican government had said 64 people had died from María. Santos said their estimates had placed them between 1,200 to 1,300 at the time before the official investigation by the Milken Institute School of Public Health.Metro Puerto Rico editor and reporter Ronald Ávila-Claudio, who has been reporting on María since before the storm made landfall, has said that the time that Puerto Rico will take to recover will depend on the money they receive for aid. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has estimated that Hurricane María caused about $90 billion in damages.Recently, Trump falsely claimed in a pair of tweets in July and again in August that Congress had given $92 billion to Puerto Rico for hurricane relief. Although Congress has allocated $42.5 billion to disaster relief for the United States territory, Puerto Rico has only received about $14 billion. In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Alma Morales Rosario poses for a portrait between the beams of her home being rebuilt after it was destroyed by Hurricane María a year earlier in the San Lorenzo neighborhood of Morovis, Puerto Rico. On Friday, May 10, 2019, The Associated Press has found that stories circulating on the internet that Puerto Rico has received $91 billion from Congress for hurricane disaster relief, more than any state in the U.S, are untrue. Congress has approved $41 billion in aid for recovery efforts in the U.S. territory, but only about $11 billion of that aid has been dispersed. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Bureaucracy has also slowed down recovery and has impacted the lives of the people on the island, Ávila said."There are still a lot of people today who don't have a roof. There are buildings with blue tarp because the bureaucracy of the housing departments," he said.Ávila has described the government's response as "negligent," and that they are still fighting for information and to get accountability from the state and federal government."We received a lot of aid from outside. I have to be honest, I didn't see a lot of this aid and help in the hands of the people," Ávila said, though admitted that it was difficult to keep tabs on the government's activity while communications had been down.Ávila first found himself in the dark a few hours after María had hit. He had been reporting in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on their preparations and had taken shelter at an Emergency Management base when María had struck, taking down communications with it. With no power or way to communicate over long distances, the island was in the dark on the amount of devastation María had caused. Ávila couldn't reach his newsroom, his editors or even his family. Hurricane María decimated Puerto Rico's power grid, causing the largest blackout in U.S. history. This photo from Dec. 2017 shows a fraction of the destruction caused. (Photo/Dan Vineberg) "All of the coverage plan was down, so I started to improvise what I could do now to get all the information I could so I could write it all down and get the news to the people," Ávila said.Only a few hours after María had left the island, Ávila found out from a first responder that a woman in the community had died from the storm. It was the first death he had heard of from María.He did some investigating, finding his way to her public housing building, where the woman's neighbors directed him to her first-floor apartment. The elderly woman had lived alone. Ávila said she hadn't been able to walk and had died in her bed from the water that had flooded her room."When I got down there, the body was on the floor. It was...it was really tough for me, and that's the moment when I started to realize the devastation was really big," Ávila said, who had been 24 at the time. "It was the hardest part of my coverage there in Aguadilla."It was one of the first of the 2,975 deaths that would illuminate the reality of María."Socioeconomics seems to be the driving force here not only for deaths, but for getting back on their feet during recovery or after the hurricane and mitigating the recovery efforts," Santos said. He estimates about 30,000 houses still have blue tarps covering their homes in the place of an absent roof. In this Oct. 19, 2017, file photo, homes in the Cantera area are covered with FEMA tarps, where buildings from the Hato Rey area stand in the background in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The U.S. government announced Tuesday, April 10, 2018, that it will award $18.5 billion worth of disaster recovery grants to Puerto Rico to help repair homes, businesses and its crumbling power grid as the U.S. territory struggles to recover from Hurricane María. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) In the aftermath, Santos and his research team found that it was the people with low income levels who were more likely to end up suffering from the post-disaster dynamics. Research had also found that older persons were more likely to die post-María, whereas people more likely to leave the island were younger people.In his research, Santos and his team found that deaths were concentrated in places like nursing homes, where people were already vulnerable to pre-disaster conditions. People with a cardiovascular disease were also more likely to die than someone who didn't have one. People with diabetes also found themselves vulnerable.After María, "People were leaving the elderly patients in the hospital because if they stayed at home, they were going to face certain death," Santos said. Nerybelle Perez poses with a portrait of her father, World War II veteran Efrain Perez, who died inside an ambulance after being turned away from the largest public hospital when it had no electricity or water, days after Hurricane Maria passed, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Thursday, June 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) It was the experiences of his mother, a nurse at one of the major hospitals in Puerto Rico, which encouraged him to venture into his research on the original death toll. The numbers hadn't matched her narrative. Her story had been one of devastation, one that had made her sick as she drove to the hospital."The hospital was overrun by patients," Santos said.He describes María both as an environmental event and environmental disaster - an event with stronger impacts than what might be considered normal and that is tied to the environment and climate."This was the worst hurricane I have seen in my life," Ávila said, having experienced a few on the island before. In this December 2017 photo, debris is piled at the side of the road as residents begin to clean up the destruction caused by Hurricane María. Blue tarp still covers thousands of homes even two years after the storm. (Photo/Dan Vineberg) Seeing the devastation of buildings collapsed and overturned and listening to the stories from the people in Aguadilla after the hurricane, Ávila eventually was brought to the point where he could no longer stay in the city. He needed to know about his family."When I started to find all these buildings that were down or houses that were moved and all the people without anything, because people lost everything, I yelled, I said I have to go back to my house and my home to see my mom," he said. In this Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, file photo, the foundation of a heavily damaged house stands amid broken trees in the mountains after the passing of Hurricane María in the San Lorenzo neighborhood of Morovis, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa,File) After driving nearly the entire length of the island, Ávila found his family was safe in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. He continues to cover the impacts of María, despite the psychological challenges it has presented."The coverage of the emergency process of the response of the government, it was really difficult for us journalists here in Puerto Rico," Ávila said. "I went six months without power in my apartment, so I was covering this, I was visiting the island, I was talking with people that lost everything and when I get back to my house, I was living that too. It was really stressful for us. It was a psychological challenge for us journalists to cover it."People across Puerto Rico pulled blue tarp over their homes in the place of the roofs that had been blown away or demolished by María. Two years later in late August, Puerto Rico and its 30,000 blue tarp-covered houses braced for a hit from Dorian. The storm took mercy upon the island.The people of Puerto Rico are well aware of where they are and the probability of another hurricane hitting the island. Ávila said that now they know what to prepare for."The people know that there's the probability that we have to save ourselves," he said. "There is no one that is going to go up to your house and help you."
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| Government warns people against using conditioner after a nuclear explosion Posted: 23 Sep 2019 08:30 AM PDT  Last month, the United States pulled out of a nuclear treaty with Russia that prohibited the two nations from possessing, producing or testing thousands of land-based missiles. The U.S. then conducted a missile test that would have been forbidden under the treaty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a few dos and don'ts that citizens should remember in case a nuclear explosion were to take place.
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| Greta Thunberg overshadows Trump at U.N. climate summit Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:42 PM PDT  The Swedish teenager delivers a blistering critique of countries like the United States for not addressing climate change.
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| Florida caretaker napped while man with Down syndrome died in hot car, according to police Posted: 23 Sep 2019 07:14 AM PDT  Joshua Russell took Kratom and fell asleep, leaving the 'non-verbal' man inside a van reaching 125 degrees, Pinellas County officials said.
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| Why This Russian "Stealth" Submarine Is a Major Threat to America Posted: 23 Sep 2019 02:45 AM PDT  Here's what we know.
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| Lawsuit calls for full public view of executions in Virginia Posted: 23 Sep 2019 12:40 PM PDT  Prison officials are unconstitutionally limiting public access to executions in Virginia by blocking witnesses from seeing certain steps in the process, four news organizations allege in a federal lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond allegesthe department is violating the First Amendment by using curtains to block witnesses from seeing "crucial steps" in carrying out a lethal injection or electrocution — the two execution methods allowed under state law. "These limits on witnesses's ability to view Virginia's executions severely curtail the public's ability to understand how those executions are administered, or to assess whether a particular execution violates either the Constitution or the state's prescribed execution procedures, or is otherwise botched," the news organizations state in the lawsuit.
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| A Thomas Cook flight attendant says she only learned that the company collapsed and she lost her job on Facebook Posted: 23 Sep 2019 05:08 AM PDT  Thomas Cook, the travel group and airline, filed for bankruptcy early on Monday morning, leaving 600,000 people stranded around the world.
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| CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-At least 40 civilians at wedding party killed during nearby U.S.-backed Afghan army raid Posted: 23 Sep 2019 02:03 AM PDT ![CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-At least 40 civilians at wedding party killed during nearby U.S.-backed Afghan army raid]( "CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-At least 40 civilians at wedding party killed during nearby U.S.-backed Afghan army raid") HELMAND, Afghanistan/KABUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - At least 40 civilians attending a wedding party were killed by explosions and gunfire during a raid by U.S.-backed Afghan government forces on a nearby Islamist militant hideout, officials in Helmand province said on Monday. The raid, days after a U.S. drone strike aimed at militants hiding among farmers killed 32 pine nut harvesters, showed how civilians have borne the brunt of a war that has re-intensified since U.S.-Taliban peace talks collapsed two weeks ago.
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| Delta has an incredible fare sale through Wednesday with flights as low as $97 Posted: 22 Sep 2019 06:06 AM PDT  Regular travelers probably don't associate the idea of sales and low-fares with a carrier like Delta Airlines, which are more in the wheelhouse of a low-cost brand like Southwest that offers up flash fare sales on the regular.Nevertheless, that's exactly what Delta has going at the moment \-- a fare sale with deals that start as low as only $97, though they come with a few important catches.One is that you've only got until September 25, to lock one of these fares in. Just as important to know: These are Delta basic economy fares, a classification that leaves several things to chance. You'll be assigned a seat at check-in, for example, and you'll be stuck in the last boarding group and thus will probably have to gate-check your luggage.If you can be fine with those limitations, though, there are some great deals to be had. In most cases, they're fares that are meant for travel happening sometime between October and February 2020, and the deals include a $97 round-trip offer in basic economy between Atlanta and Nashville; a $99 round-trip offer between Los Angeles and San Diego; a $117 offer between Austin and Cincinnatti; and a $127 offer between Seattle and San Jose.The full list of routes and discounted fares offered can be found on Delta's sale website. Of course, just because a fare that's discounted here looks pretty low doesn't mean you won't find a comparable offer elsewhere -- one that may also have some of the perks like earlier boarding that you're denied through this Delta sale. Speaking of those basic economy limitations here, savvy travelers should be able to easily get around them using certain co-branded credit cards that offer perks like early boarding, luggage benefits and the like.If you decide these deals are worth it, though, remember -- you've only got a few more days to decide, as the fare sale is only good through Wednesday.
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| Boris Johnson calls for 'Trump deal' to fix Iran nuclear standoff Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:48 PM PDT  PM says president could come up with better pact, in apparent shift from European positionBoris Johnson arriving at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan on Monday. Photograph: Craig Ruttle/APBoris Johnson has sided with Donald Trump in calling the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran a "bad deal", while praising the US president as a "very brilliant negotiator" capable of achieving a better one.The prime minister's remarks, made in a NBC interview, marked a sharp change in UK rhetoric. British leaders, including Johnson, had until now upheld the 2015 accord between six major powers and Iran as a major diplomatic achievement.British officials insisted that the prime minister continued to support full compliance with that deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Programme of Action (JCPOA).However, Johnson had clearly come to the UN determined to emphasise his personal relationship with Trump, who reneged on the JCPOA last year, praising him highly in the interview. Asked about the JCPOA, Johnson said: "The reality is, as President Trump rightly said, it was a bad deal. It had many defects. Iran was and is behaving disruptively in the region.""If it was a bad deal – and I'm willing to accept that, it had many, many defects – then let's do a better deal."And I think there's one guy who can do a better deal and one guy who understands how to get a difficult partner like Iran over the line and that is the president of the United States."Johnson described Trump as a "very, very brilliant negotiator" who could produce a "Trump deal".On the prospect of a US military response to the attacks, Johnson replied: "It's not something that I think will necessarily help the situation."Johnson's remarks came as the UK, France and Germany declared they were convinced that Iran was responsible for airstrikes against Saudi oil installations on 14 September and called on Iran to negotiate over its role in the Middle East and its development of missiles as well as its nuclear programme.In a joint statement at the UN general assembly on Monday, the three European governments supported the US and Saudi claim that Iran had carried out the missile and drone attack on 14 September against an oil field and petrochemical processing facility, but added they maintained support for the JCPOA."It is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack. There is no other plausible explanation. We support ongoing investigations to establish further details," the statement said following a meeting between Johnson, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron.The statement said that the attack raised the risk of a major new conflict, which was of concern to the whole world. It underlined the importance of collective security and multilateral action.The statement also restated the European nations' commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal.Asked whether Johnson's undertaking in the European statement clashed with his remarks on the US evening news, a UK official insisted there was a coherent message."What this is about is achieving compliance, and we're open to various ways of achieving that," he said."Our commitment is to working with all of our partners to find solutions to bring Iran into compliance. In his interview I think he was clear he wants to work with all our partners."The European agreement called for Iran to return to the limits on its nuclear programme imposed by that agreement, which Tehran has begun to ignore more than a year after the US withdrew from the deal.But the statement said Iran would now have to go further, arguing "the time has come for Iran to accept a long-term negotiation framework for its nuclear program, as well as regional security issues, which include its missile programs," the statement said.Iran has denied responsibility, insisting the strikes were launched from Yemen by their Houthi allies.On Monday night Iran ruled out the possibility of negotiating a new deal with major powers. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet that European partners have failed to fulfil their commitments under a 2015 nuclear pact.France has sent investigators to examine the weapons fragments collected at the site of the attacks. The UN has also sent an investigative team, which has yet to deliver a report. Iran has said it will not necessarily accept the results of that report, calling into question the impartiality of the UN team.The European statement comes as the US and Iran are poised to clash at the UN general assembly. Donald Trump is due to address the assembly on Tuesday, and the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, who has already arrived in New York, will speak the next day. Both are expected to blame the other for the worsening instability in the Gulf.
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| More blood pressure medicines recalled over possible cancer-causing impurity Posted: 23 Sep 2019 11:49 AM PDT  Three additional lots of losartan potassium tablets and two additional lots of losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets were under recall.
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| Why Russia's Air Force Is So Dangerous Posted: 22 Sep 2019 01:30 AM PDT  Cheaper than Western aircraft and almost just as good.
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| Karen Pence's attempt to help Trump 2020 online falls flat Posted: 23 Sep 2019 06:51 AM PDT  Karen Pence has joined Twitter to help with President Trump's reelection campaign, but it's not going well.
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| Jurors convict Iowa farmer in corn rake killing of wife Posted: 23 Sep 2019 01:25 PM PDT  A jury Monday convicted an eastern Iowa hog farmer of using a corn rake to kill his wife, agreeing with prosecutors who argued he was enraged that she was having an affair. Jurors found Todd M. Mullis, 43, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Amy Mullis, according to the Telegraph Herald . Prosecutors said Mullis had wanted to kill his wife for years and was irate that she was having an affair and fearful that he'd lose their farm if she divorced him.
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| Everything we know about Neom, a 'mega-city' project in Saudi Arabia with plans for flying cars and robot dinosaurs Posted: 23 Sep 2019 07:12 AM PDT  Saudi Arabia has called its giga-project Neom, a new city 33 times the size of New York City, "the world's most ambitious project" — and it sounds it.
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| Mexican president praises historian at center of dispute with business leaders Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:26 PM PDT  Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday praised a historian whose comments about the killers of a prominent industrialist in the 1970s sparked an angry response from a top business lobby and other corporate leaders. Last week, Pedro Salmeron, head of the National Institute of Historical Studies of the Revolutions of Mexico (INEHRM), described the left-wing guerrillas who fatally shot Eugenio Garza Sada in 1973 as "courageous youths" in a blog post. Garza, an 81-year-old businessman from the northern city of Monterrey, was killed along with several others when resisting a failed kidnapping attempt by members of a group known as the Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre (September 23 Communist League).
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| Israeli woman dies months after wounds from Gaza rocket Posted: 23 Sep 2019 08:07 AM PDT  An Israeli woman wounded by Palestinian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in November 2018 has died from her injuries, officials said Monday. The southern coastal city of Ashkelon, where she lived, announced the death of Nina Genisdanova in a statement. Israeli media said she was 74 and died last week.
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| Will the Supreme Court Nix Montana’s Anti-Catholic ‘Blaine Amendment’? Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:30 AM PDT  As a second-grader, Raelyn Sukhbir used to cry every night. She was being bullied "unmercifully" in the public school she was attending. Life at home was miserable because the poor girl was so anxious and despondent — which had her parents worried about how bad things might be all the rest of the time, when she wasn't home. Raelyn "did not want to be around other kids and was clingy whenever we would visit friends," her mother told lawyer Andrea Picciotti-Bayer. "She did not want to participate in any activities or sports." Her father, a retired army veteran who was injured in Afghanistan, talked to the teachers and administrators, but there was no improvement.Brittany and Kyle Sukhbir had heard good things about the nearby St. Mary's Catholic school — that it had a "zero tolerance policy" against bullying. Picciotti-Bayer writes that "the Sukhbirs did not think that they could afford private school, but the daily bullying simply became too much for Raelyn to bear." They contacted the school just before Christmas, and Raelyn spent a day trying on the school. "Every single teacher knew her name, and every student was excited to meet Raelyn and play with her," her mother said.Two years later, the girl is transformed. She's not shy and reserved anymore, but outgoing. She fully participates in the life of the school, including sports. "St. Mary's is teaching self-confidence and kindness," her mother reports. She's thriving academically, and even the Sukhbirs' family life is better. "Now that Raelyn is no longer crying when she comes home from school, we can really enjoy being together," Brittany says.Brittany works as an office manager at a local physical-therapy clinic, and Kyle works in North Dakota on an oil field two weeks of every month. Their combined salaries would not cover tuition for Raelyn, now eight, and their son, five-year-old Wyatt. She used to think that "St. Mary's was only for rich kids," she says. "But I now know that that is 100 percent not the case." Knowledge of tuition assistance from the school or other widely available helps from private and public sources could help save other families from similar situations. "My kid would not be the kid she is today if we did not have the scholarship supports to send her to St. Mary's," Brittany notes. Raelyn "really has flourished into an amazing child."Piccioti-Bayer interviewed Brittany Sukhbir and other parents of children benefiting from tuition assistance, for an amicus brief just filed at the U.S. Supreme Court by the Catholic Association Foundation. The brief is in support of a challenge to a decision by the Montana supreme court that religious schools cannot benefit from public tuition aids — not even from tax credits for people donating to private scholarship funds. (The Institute for Justice is representing moms of Montana.) The case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Taxation, has the potential to remove the anti-Catholic Blaine amendments that remain in many state constitutions. Such a decision could change children's lives in America.Other parents profiled by Piccioti-Bayer include Christina and Justin Schye, who had sent three children to public schools. Their nine-year-old with Down syndrome needed something else, they concluded. His public-school situation was "traumatic." By contrast, when he went to St. Francis school, some eighth-grade boys would wait for Kellan's arrival every morning, giving him "hugs and high-fives" as he entered school. He was immediately a welcome part of the community, and his needs were attended to. If he needed extra time, including time for eating lunch, he would get it. School staff and families of students rallied for him when he competed in this first Special Olympics. (The teacher arranged the transportation, and parents even chipped in to get pizza for him and for all the three second-grade classes who came to cheer him on.) The flexibility and love at St. Francis for Kellan is a "huge blessing" for the whole Schye family. "We have peace of mind now that Kellan is where he belongs," his mother says.Some but not all of the parents Piccioti-Bayer interviewed are Catholic. Catholic schools serve all. In some settings, such as Montana, the students are mostly non-Catholic. Parents choose these schools because of they are staffed by educators with a missionary, vocational approach. The families Piccioti-Bayer talked with experienced religious education as the leaven it is — communities where human dignity is respected and served in gratitude for the gift of life.It worth a prayer not only that this case winds up a win for religious liberty and school choice — for families across the country who shouldn't be deprived of giving their children the best chance at a good life — but that it is a reinvigoration of Catholic education and our collective need for it. In their book Lost Classroom, Lost Community: Catholic Schools' Importance in Urban America (2014), Notre Dame law professors Margaret F. Brinig and Nicole Stelle Garnett make the case that, statistically, when a Catholic school closes, social capital, "the web of connections and trust between people," declines. Catholic schools have been closing, and we see the deterioration in our culture. Let's do everything we can to ensure that families have access to the good ones in operation. A Supreme Court win here for these Montana families would be no small dose of hope for family life, freedom, and the health of our nation.This column is based on one available through Andrews McMeel Universal's Newspaper Enterprise Association.
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| Iran Demands a $15 Billion Credit Before Resuming Talks With Trump and EU Posted: 22 Sep 2019 06:01 PM PDT  Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily BeastForeign Minister Javad Zarif said Sunday that Iran would not resume talks with President Donald Trump and his administration until a French plan to extend $15 billion of credit to Tehran goes into full effect."The credit we are talking about is not a charity. We are a wealthy nation," Zarif told a group of reporters in New York on Sunday. "The credit is in lieu of the oil [the French] were supposed to buy." Zarif said Iran is requesting the $15 billion credit be extended until December, at which point in time it would request $3 billion per month. "That was one way for the French—not just the French but the European Union—in order for them to come back into compliance with the JCPOA," Zarif said, referring the Iran nuclear deal. He said the U.S. would eventually "lose its leverage" if it continued to block Tehran from selling its oil."They are the ones who are dependent on the global market," Zarif said.Iran has been in conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron for weeks about the possibility of accessing billions of dollars from either the French central bank or the European Central Bank to compensate for the money Iran lost in oil sales due to American sanctions. Trump Flirts With $15 Billion Bailout for Iran, Sources SayZarif, who is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, said the $15 billion deal was just one of several of the Iranian government's demands for the European Union and the U.S. It also wants to be able to sell its oil and access the revenue made from oil sales. Zarif said the Trump administration's sanctions campaign was "starving" the Iranian people and equated it to "economic terrorism," saying Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should "be prepared to face the consequences in the International Criminal Court."On CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, Pompeo said: "I don't know why anyone listens to the Iranian foreign minister. It's beneath the dignity of anyone to listen to him."Since the early days of 2017, the Trump administration, with the help of hawkish Washington think tanks and politicos, has rolled out what it calls a "maximum-pressure campaign." The policy relies almost entirely on the implementation of targeted economic sanctions on Iran's most important leaders, sectors, and industries. The plan was in part crafted by former National Security Adviser John Bolton. Following Bolton's departure, it was unclear exactly how President Trump would move forward with Iran. He has long tried to avoid military confrontation with Iran, but members of his administration, notably Pompeo and Brian Hook, the special representative for Iran, have quietly lauded Bolton's maximum-pressure campaign and aggressive attitude toward Tehran.On Friday, the Trump administration announced that it had placed the Iranian central bank under the strictest of sanctions, making it almost impossible for France or any other country to extend it a line of credit. Trump called them the sanctions package the "highest sanctions ever". Zarif blamed Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a think tank in Washington that has been instrumental in the shaping of the Trump administration's Iran policy."Mark Dubowitz wanted to make sure that neither this president or his successor will not be able to normalize relations with Iran," Zarif said. "I think President Trump knowingly or unknowingly closed the door to negotiations on Friday." In August, Iran blacklisted FDD, accusing it of "economic terrorism.""In America, think tanks research analyze and offer policy ideas. Elected officials and their deputies make the decisions," Dubowitz said. "Mr. Zarif, having lived in America for so many years, might have been expected to be familiar with the customs of a free country. Apparently, he did not pay close attention. We will fully support normalization when the Islamic Republic of Iran acts like a normal nation and ends its support for terrorism and other destructive activities."Now, Zarif said, Iran is only going to agree to talks with the U.S. and the European Union if the cash starts flowing."When we went and discussed all of that and [France] thought—and we respect their decision but that does not relieve them of [their] legal obligations—that [they] needed to get some green light from the U.S.," Zarif said. "That's a contradiction because if the U.S. is interested in maximum pressure, then they wouldn't give them a green light and that's what we warned them about."The Daily Beast has previously reported that President Trump was considering the possibility of giving that green light to the French. But following the latest attacks on the Saudi oil facilities—described by Trump officials as "an act of war" on the part of Iran—Trump seems to have completely written off any idea of approving a deal that would benefit Tehran. Zarif flatly denied any accusations that Iran was involved in those attacks, pointing the finger instead at "the Yemenis." Saudi Arabia is investigating the exact origin of the drones and missiles that were used in the attack. "I think [Trump] is determined not to get involved in our country militarily," Zarif said. "But there are others who are determined to drag him into a military conflict with Iran."Zarif said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani would introduce a plan, titled "Coalition for Hope," at the United Nations this week. Although he did not provide reporters with the exact details, he said the coalition would include Iraq and other Persian Gulf countries should they choose to join and would focus on freedom of navigation and energy security. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| A Marine went missing in Arizona. He was found five days later at a rest stop in Texas Posted: 23 Sep 2019 08:40 AM PDT ![A Marine went missing in Arizona. He was found five days later at a rest stop in Texas]( "A Marine went missing in Arizona. He was found five days later at a rest stop in Texas") Lance Cpl. Job Wallace was found safe in Texas late Saturday evening. Officials didn't elaborate on Wallace's disappearance.
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| How Iran or Russia Could Fight America in a War: Kill the GPS Posted: 22 Sep 2019 12:11 PM PDT  It is the key to America's modern military.
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| After protests, Greta Thunberg and others file UN complaint Posted: 23 Sep 2019 01:11 PM PDT  After global street protests demanding action on climate change, Greta Thunberg and 15 other young activists on Monday filed a complaint at the UN against five countries for not doing enough to ward off global warming. The complaint accused Germany, France, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey of failing to uphold their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed 30 years ago. The complaint, filed by the 16-year-old Swedish activist and 15 other petitioners from 12 different countries and aged between eight and 17, accused the five countries of violating children's rights by failing to take adequate and timely action against climate change.
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| UNC denies claims of bias in Middle East studies program Posted: 23 Sep 2019 03:54 PM PDT  The University of North Carolina is disputing the Trump administration's accusations of bias in a Middle East studies program that the school operates with Duke University. In a letter sent to the department Friday and obtained by The Associated Press through a records request on Monday, UNC's research chief defends the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies, saying it has been a leader in Middle Eastern language studies for years. UNC, which houses the consortium, was responding to an Aug. 29 letter from the department.
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| Twenty suspects held in child serial killer investigation in Pakistan Posted: 23 Sep 2019 10:47 AM PDT ![Twenty suspects held in child serial killer investigation in Pakistan]( "Twenty suspects held in child serial killer investigation in Pakistan") Pakistani police have detained 20 suspects as they investigate the possibility of a serial killer being behind the suspected murder and sexual assault of three boys in a district which has a history of child abuse and abduction. The body of eight-year-old Muhammad Faizan was found on an industrial estate, after he went missing on the way home from nearby shops. Local media reported three other children from the area had been missing since the middle of the year and another child had disappeared late last week after the bodies were found.
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| Most Protesters Depart After Mobbing Malls: Hong Kong Update Posted: 22 Sep 2019 05:42 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Most protesters departed the sites of rallies at malls in Hong Kong's Kowloon and New Territories districts, after an afternoon that saw some people vandalize a train station before clashing with riot police in Shatin.The rallies were relatively muted coming after Saturday's clashes that continued late into the night with protesters throwing petrol bombs and police firing tear gas, and some officers coming under direct attack. Hong Kong anticipates large-scale protests on the Oct. 1 anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.Local activists -- including protest leader Joshua Wong -- testified at a hearing in Washington last week in support of human rights legislation. There's momentum growing for Congress to take fast action to pressure Beijing to back off any crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrators by threatening its special trading status with the U.S.The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 has bipartisan support and would require yearly assessments of whether the Asian financial hub remains sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment under American law. The city's pro-democracy movement, which began over opposition to since-scrapped legislation allowing extraditions to the mainland, is in its fourth month.Here's the latest:Another Station Closed (8:30 p.m.)Most protesters had departed their various demonstration sites, with a handful of subway stations closed in the wake of the clashes. The latest to close was Kwai Fong, where trains were no longer stopping, according to the MTR's website.Kowloon Station Shuttered (6:45 p.m.)Kowloon subway station, a transit hub, was the third to close on Sunday, according to MTR Corp. It came after protesters and riot police clashed in Shatin. Meanwhile, protesters who had gathered at Maritime Square shopping mall, next to the also-closed Tsing Yi station, began leaving the mall after police inside the station moved out of sight.Trains Skip Shatin, Tsing Yi (5:30 p.m.)Both Shatin and Tsing Yi stations were closed by early evening and shutters came down over storefronts at the New Town Plaza mall where protesters had gathered for hours. Some demonstrators vandalized automated MTR ticket machines and others poured liquid on the floor of the mall, which is connected to the subway station. The shopping mall is operated by Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. Protesters jeered as police closed the shutters between Tsing Yi station and the Maritime Square shopping mall.Earlier in the afternoon, protesters removed a Chinese national flag outside Shatin City Hall and brought it inside to the mall. Some stepped and spray painted on it, then threw it in the Shing Mun River.Carrie Lam Speaks at Reception (3:55 p.m.)The city's chief executive spoke at a National Day reception hosted by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, according to a government statement. Lam said Hong Kong has faced grave challenges recently, and that the government would try its best to keep order and safeguard working people's livelihoods.Shatin shopping center sit-in (1 p.m.)Hundreds of masked people massed in a busy shopping mall in the New Territories town of Shatin where they staged a sit-in, sang songs and musicians gave impromptu performances. The multilevel center was packed with protesters on every floor, raising the ire of some shoppers who shouted abuse at them.Meanwhile, there was no evidence of any service disruptions at the airport or train stations, even as transport was curtailed because of the threat of demonstrations.Police obtain protesters' data: report (9:10 a.m.)Police obtained data of protesters' bus commutes from Octopus stored-value smart cards and CCTV camera footage from Kowloon Motor Bus Company, the South China Morning Post cited an unidentified senior police officer as saying.Curtailed traffic to airport (9 a.m. Sunday)Airport Authority Hong Kong suspended some transport to the airport in anticipation of protests targeting the facility. All "E" route buses traveling from the city to the airport and the nearby AsiaWorld-Expo will end the trip at Tung Chung from 10:30 a.m., it said in an e-mailed statement Sunday morning. Airport Express trains bound for the airport will only pick up passengers at the Hong Kong Station from 9 a.m until the end of the day's service.Violence spreads (Sunday 02.15 a.m.)Protesters in Tuen Mun repeatedly threw petrol bombs at officers, police said in a statement. Some activists attacked a policeman with "hard objects" and tried to snatch his gun, according to the statement.In the border town of Yuen Long, petrol bombs were hurled at police vehicles and demonstrators attacked rail carriages, police said. Officers had to break up clashes between opposing groups in different parts of the district, according to the statement.Protesters blocked roads in the busy shopping district of Mong Kok, where officers fired tear gas and 40 mm react rounds to disperse mobs, police said.Mall sit-in (8 p.m.)Protesters gathered in a shopping mall in Yuen Long after a rally in Tuen Mun turned violent. With stores shut, the demonstrators took over the center, singing and chanting. Hundreds staged a sit-in while others milled around waving banners.Police fire tear gas (5 p.m.)Police fired tear gas after protesters hurled petrol bombs and set fire to barriers built across roads near shopping malls in Tuen Mun. Thousands of demonstrators roamed through Tuen Mun streets after a peaceful rally in a park.Light rail service in the area was suspended on three routes, MTR Corp., operator of the city's train network, said on its website. Police said that the protesters damaged train station facilities and obstructed traffic.Tear gas warning (3:50 p.m.)Police raised a black flag outside the train station in Tuen Mun as thousands more protesters poured into the area. The black-flag warning is a signal that officers might fire tear gas.Football rally (2 p.m.)The stands of the Tuen Mun sports ground were packed with anti-China demonstrators who watched masked players compete in a game of football in one of the more convivial events since protests began. By mid-afternoon, the turnout at the rally had failed to match a previous one at the venue when crowds packed the stands and filled the pitch.Clean-up clashes (10:10 a.m.)Small groups of people scraped walls of notices plastered on boards in public areas citywide by anti-China protesters.In the border town of Yuen Long, the scene of previous clashes, a small number of people gathered outside the train station, carrying cleaning implements and wearing T-shirts with pro-Beijing slogans. As they tried to clean the walls adorned in bright stickers with anti-government messages, they were confronted by another group clad in black. Police separated them and led some away.Rail service suspension (Saturday 10 a.m.)MTR said service at the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long stations would be suspended. The Tuen Mun station would close at 1 p.m. and Yuen Long would shut at 3 p.m., it said on its website, citing public activities. Rallies are planned in both areas Saturday.Police: 1,474 People Arrested Since June (4:16 p.m.)Hong Kong police gave updated figures for arrests made since June, saying 1,474 protesters had been detained. Calls for their release is one of demonstrators' major demands as the movement grinds into October.U.S. Legislation 'Hot Air,' Ip Says (12:58 p.m.)Pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip pushed back at the U.S. during a conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, calling the legislation "hot air" and threatening action by Beijing if American lawmakers don't back down. Ip, who made clear she was not speaking on behalf of the city's leader Carrie Lam, also urged American audience members to call their congresspeople and ask them to not impose sanctions on Hong Kong.Amnesty Alleges Police 'Torture' (12:23 p.m.)Hong Kong police beat up protesters who were in custody and committed acts that amount to "torture" during demonstrations, human rights group Amnesty International alleged. Officers used "unnecessary and excessive force" in making arrests, beat a demonstrator for declining to answer a question and then held him to the floor, shined laser pens in the eyes of people who had been detained -- and threatened to electrocute a man's genitals after he refused to unlock his phone. The new report could fuel anger among protesters who have pushed back at what they see as aggressive police tactics.Weekend EventsOn Sunday, protesters will attempt another disruption of the international airport's transportation network. Previous attempts haven't gained much traction.\--With assistance from Stephen Tan, Shelly Banjo, Iain Marlow and Natalie Lung.To contact the reporters on this story: Aaron Mc Nicholas in Hong Kong at amcnicholas2@bloomberg.net;Bei Hu in Hong Kong at bhu5@bloomberg.net;Justin Chin in Hong Kong at hchin15@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Ten Kate at dtenkate@bloomberg.net, Stanley James, Karen LeighFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| No, Betsy DeVos’s Trip to a Catholic Elementary School Is Not a Scandal Posted: 23 Sep 2019 01:53 PM PDT  Rod Dreher's "Law of Merited Impossibility" condenses the rhetorical game played by cultural progressives to first secure, and then enforce, changes in public morality: "It will never happen, but when it does, you bigots will deserve it." Traditionalists, in Dreher's telling, are lulled into a truce with social revolutionaries, who mock the dystopian nightmares of social conservatives as things that "will never happen." But when the "it" happens, the revolutionaries insist that the bigots . . . deserve it.Betsy DeVos had the unfortunate privilege of watching the process behind the law of merited impossibility begin to play out last week, as that which we were told would "never happen" — the trans-rights movement would never call for schools of all stripes to endorse its precepts — has happened. And the "bigots," if the media are to be believed, indeed deserve it.The education secretary took part in a round-table discussion at Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School, which CNN called a "school that subscribes to an anti-trans student policy." Other large outlets ran headlines parroting that same insinuation, such as NBC News ("Betsy DeVos visits school with explicit anti-transgender policy") and even the typically understated CBS News ("Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visits school with anti-transgender policy").But DeVos, in fact, spoke at a Catholic elementary school in Pennsylvania, one that adheres to the Church's bimillennial teaching on the gender binary: for male and female He created them, indeed.The elementary school's policy comes directly from the diocese and is binding on all schools subject to the diocese's authority. It reads:> This policy addresses the circumstances where there is a clear biological determination of a person's sex and subsequent efforts to chemically and/or surgically alter the given biology. This is understood in Catholic moral terms as self-mutilation and therefore immoral. To attempt to make accommodations for such persons would be to cooperate in the immoral action and impose an unacceptable burden on others in the school community."Accommodating" elementary-school students who have undergone a "sex change procedure" — which necessarily presumes that the child has, in some meaningful way, changed sexes — cedes the premise that sex is fungible, giving it an institutional sanction that inevitably confuses Catholic schoolchildren on the Church's position, to say nothing of the harm done to the elementary schoolchildren given to the premise that such mutilation is a normal or healthy means of dealing with feelings that, research indicates, between 65 and 94 percent of them will grow out of by adulthood.In any case, the roundtable DeVos attended had nothing to do with "gender." It covered issues such as tuition assistance for low-income students, a recently vetoed attempt to double the state's education tax credit, and a proposed federal scholarship program. None of those subjects draw the interest of activists nearly as much as the fact that the host school's handbook might somewhere contain a passing reference to the Church's traditional teaching on gender.Which raises the question of why CNN et al. brought this up in the first place. Certainly, it's an opportunity to disparage Catholic sexual ethics as "anti-trans," which is always good fun for a certain type of disillusioned journalist and a way to propagate the canard that the administration is "anti-LGBT." But even that discussion would not be complete without an acknowledgment that we are speaking here of elementary-school students: small, prepubescent children who are not — heaven forbid — sexual beings, who have nothing approaching a mature sexual consciousness, or indeed, any sexual consciousness at all — because they're in elementary school.Which then raises this uncomfortable question: If a Catholic school's disapproval of sex-change surgeries for elementary-school students is "anti-trans," what is the alternative that CNN, CBS News, and NBC News have in mind?
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