Saturday, 26 January 2019

EU parliament won't approve Brexit deal without Irish 'backstop': statement

EU parliament won't approve Brexit deal without Irish 'backstop': statementThe European Parliament's Brexit group said on Thursday it would not approve an agreement on Britain's departure from the European Union that did not contain a full "backstop" provision to avoid a hard Irish border. The statement, issued after a meeting of the Brexit Steering Group, sought to dash any hopes in London that Prime Minister Theresa May could secure a time limit to the commitment of preventing a border on the island of Ireland. The group, chaired by Guy Verhofstadt, "reiterated that the withdrawal agreement is fair and cannot be re-negotiated.




Florida bank shooter killed five women in apparent random attack

Florida bank shooter killed five women in apparent random attackThe attack took place around lunchtime on Wednesday at a SunTrust Bank branch in Sebring, a town of about 10,000 people 95 miles (153 km) south of Orlando, authorities said. The suspect, Zephen Xaver, called the 911 emergency number just after 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT) and told dispatch he had shot five people inside the bank, according to authorities. Hoglund said all the victims were women, and named two of them as Cynthia Watson, a bank customer, and Marisol Lopez, a bank employee.




Backlash as billionaire cabinet member dismisses US shutdown hardship

Backlash as billionaire cabinet member dismisses US shutdown hardshipDonald Trump's billionaire commerce secretary fueled accusations Thursday that the US administration was deaf to the impact of the government shutdown after saying he didn't understand why some federal workers were turning to food banks. Wilbur Ross shrugged off the impact of the shutdown -- now in its 34th day -- saying workers should just take out loans to cover their expenses. Noting that the 800,000 federal workers currently working without pay will eventually receive their paychecks, Ross said "there's no real reason why they shouldn't be able to get a loan against it.




On Politics: The Biggest Stories of the Week


By Unknown Author from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2TfJcFD

Roger Stone indictment: Transparency group WikiLeaks at center of allegations against Trump associate

Roger Stone indictment: Transparency group WikiLeaks at center of allegations against Trump associateWikiLeaks has long been controversial with U.S. authorities for its dogged dedication to releasing documents from anonymous sources and leakers.




Pompeo warns Venezuela's Maduro against use of force

Pompeo warns Venezuela's Maduro against use of forceUS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday warned Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro not to use force against mass demonstrations and urged further international support for the self-declared acting president. A day after the United States and major Latin American nations recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the acting president, Pompeo pressed his case at a special meeting of the Organization of American States.




Big Apple Layoffs Pump Brakes on Its Autonomous Cars

Big Apple Layoffs Pump Brakes on Its Autonomous CarsApple’s bid to enter the autonomous vehicle space has just suffered another setback. The Cupertino company has reportedly moved 200 employees off Project Titan, according to CNBC. Credit: ShutterstockTitan has been in development since at least 2014, and although Apple hasn’t always been forthcoming in acknowledging it, a spokesperson responded to CNBC’s report by confirming the layoffs as well as the company’s commitment to self-driving technologies. “We have an incredibly talented team working on autonomous systems and associated technologies at Apple,” the statement reads. “As the team focuses their work on several key areas for 2019, some groups are being moved to projects in other parts of the company, where they will support machine learning and other initiatives, across all of Apple.” Titan has had a tumultuous ride since the beginning, as Apple reportedly backed off the idea of independently producing its own electric vehicles early on to shift its efforts to autonomous driving software. But then in August we heard the company might actually be hoping to launch its own car by 2023. At that point, Titan was said to directly involve as many as 2,700 individuals within Apple. Around the same time, the initiative gained new leadership in the form of ex-Tesla engineering executive Doug Field, who joined longtime Apple veteran Bob Mansfield to head up the secretive division. MORE: The 9 Coolest Cars from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show Field, who was previously employed at Apple from 2008 to 2013 as a vice president of hardware engineering, wasn’t the only talent the tech giant poached from Tesla last year. As many as 46 employees left the electric automaker’s ranks to join Apple through the first eight months of 2018, according to CNBC. It's unclear how many of these individuals were affected in the recent layoffs. All the while, Apple has continued to register and test self-driving prototypes, built off of hybrid Lexus SUVs. The company also reportedly entered into a partnership with Volkswagen in May to produce autonomous shuttles using the German manufacturer’s T6 Transporter as a base. Apple’s spokesperson concluded the statement following today’s news by calling Titan “the most ambitious machine learning project ever.” Internally, the company is reportedly spinning the move to downsize as a form of restructuring. However, Titan has proved to be something of a moving target all along, with Apple repeatedly shifting strategies, goals and personnel as it prepares to find the best path of entry into a rapidly changing automotive landscape. * I Drove BMW's Concept for the Future of Cars, and I'm Excited * The 10 Most Exciting Cars (and Bikes) to Watch in 2019 * Watch Out, Tesla: Apple Car Could Launch in 2023




Gunman Kills 2, Wounds 2 in Shooting Rampage Near Penn State Campus

Gunman Kills 2, Wounds 2 in Shooting Rampage Near Penn State CampusA man was fatally shot and two others were wounded at a restaurant just two miles from Penn State University’s main campus, with the gunman later breaking into a house and killing another man.




Florida Gunman Killed All 5 Women in Bank in 'Random' Mass Shooting, Police Say

Florida Gunman Killed All 5 Women in Bank in 'Random' Mass Shooting, Police Say“We have no information at this time as to what his true motive has been,” Chief Hoglund said. “We believe it was a random act, where nobody specifically was targeted.”




Venezuela crisis: Seven killed in violent crackdown on protests as Maduro digs in for battle with Trump

Venezuela crisis: Seven killed in violent crackdown on protests as Maduro digs in for battle with TrumpAt least seven people have been killed during unrest in Venezuela following mass protests against the South American country’s president Nicolas Maduro. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country in a bid to topple the socialist leader, who is clinging onto power amid political and economic crisis. Juan Guaido, the new leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself the country’s interim president as he addressed cheering crowds in the capital Caracas on Wednesday.




Roger Stone, shadowy provocateur of US politics

Roger Stone, shadowy provocateur of US politicsRoger Stone, who was arrested in Florida on Friday for lying to Congress about his work for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has made a career of breaking the rules as a Republican election consultant and self-avowed dirty trickster. A foppish dandy who sports a tattoo of his political hero Richard Nixon between his shoulder blades, the 66-year-old Stone avoided running afoul of the law over decades of helping crush Democrats with artful ruses and fake news, long before that term came in vogue. It could be a death blow to the career of Stone, the shadowy Machiavelli of US politics who may finally have taken a step too far.




Government shutdown strains emerge in US air travel system

Government shutdown strains emerge in US air travel systemThe strain of a 34-day partial government shutdown is weighing on the nation's air-travel system, both the federal workers who make it go and the airlines that depend on them.




The U.S. Failed in Venezuela Last Time. It’s a Different World Now

The U.S. Failed in Venezuela Last Time. It’s a Different World NowThe decision by Washington to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation’s legitimate president could see a repeat, if Chavez-heir Nicolas Maduro should cling onto power. Venezuela’s economy is in a tailspin, prompting millions to flee to neighboring states that have backed the U.S. in refusing to recognize Maduro’s 2018 re-election, widely seen as fraudulent.




Did El Chapo's sons kill acclaimed journalist? Doubts arise in Mexico

Did El Chapo's sons kill acclaimed journalist? Doubts arise in MexicoWho ordered the murder of acclaimed Mexican journalist Javier Valdez? The former right-hand man to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman says it was the kingpin's sons. Damaso Lopez Nunez, El Chapo's top lieutenant in the Sinaloa drug cartel, said Wednesday as he testified against his former boss in New York that Guzman's sons had ordered the May 2017 murder of Valdez.




Roger Stone Draws the Judge Who Threw Paul Manafort in Jail

Roger Stone Draws the Judge Who Threw Paul Manafort in JailThe no-nonsense judge assigned Stone’s case has already demonstrated that she’s got little patience for defendants who misbehave. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a gag order on Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and later revoked his bail and threw him in jail. “This is not middle school,” Jackson told Manafort’s lawyers before ordering him locked up in June for alleged witness tampering.




Dem senator explodes at Ted Cruz for 'crocodile tears' over shutdown

Dem senator explodes at Ted Cruz for 'crocodile tears' over shutdownIn an impassioned speech, the Colorado senator decried Cruz as a hypocrite over his role in forcing a 2013 government shutdown.




Venezuelan generals pledge loyalty to Nicolas Maduro as leadership stand-off intensifies

Venezuelan generals pledge loyalty to Nicolas Maduro as leadership stand-off intensifiesThe Venezuelan military high command on Thursday threw its weight behind Nicolas Maduro, upping the stakes in the stand-off over the country's leadership as the US warned his regime against the use of force on protesters. The day after Juan Guaido, head of the parliament, swore himself in as interim president in front of a rally of thousands and was swiftly recognised by regional powers, military commanders took to the airwaves to make their allegiance clear.   General Vladimir Padrino, the defence minister, accused Mr Guaido of mounting a "coup d'etat" and said the armed forces would not back a president "imposed by shadowy interests". In one of several messages from the top brass broadcast on state TV, General Padrino said the 35-year-old opposition leader was staging a putsch "against democracy", adding that soldiers would be unworthy of their uniform if they did not defend the constitution. The broadcasts were aimed at reasserting Mr Maduro's grip on the armed forces after a short-lived mutiny by a group of soldiers in Caracas on Monday raised doubts over military loyalties, which will be crucial in determining how the crisis plays out.  Britain on Thursday joined a growing group of Western and Latin American countries which have recognised Mr Guaido as Venezuela's president. "The United Kingdom believes Juan Guaido is the right person to take Venezuela forward. We are supporting the US, Canada, Brazil and Argentina to make that happen," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement. While the European Union stopped short of recognising Mr Guaido, Antonio Tajani, head of the European parliament, said it was he who enjoyed "democratic legitimacy". Mr Maduro's victory in last year's election was not "free and fair", Mr Tajani added. But states including Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and Syria lent their backing to Mr Maduro, the man handpicked by Hugo Chavez to succeed him upon his death in 2013.  The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin had phoned his longtime ally and "expressed support to the legitimate government of Venezuela amid the acute political crisis that has been provoked from the outside".  In response to Washington's move against him, Mr Maduro ordered US diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 72 hours, saying he was breaking relations with the "imperialist United States government".  On Thursday evening the US ordered non-emergency embassy staff to leave Venezuela. Guaido vs Maduro | Who is backing Venezuela's two presidents The State Department mandated the departure of non-emergency US personnel and their family members "based on our current assessment of the security situation in Venezuela," a department spokesman said. "We have no plans to close the embassy. The United States will maintain diplomatic relations with Venezuela through the government of interim President Guaido, who has invited our mission to remain in Venezuela," he said. Amid deadly political clashes in the crisis-torn country, the State Department also said that US citizens "should strongly consider departing Venezuela." Mr Guaido, along with the US senator Marco Rubio, had urged the US not to evacuate personnel, in light of its disavowal of Mr Maduro's mandate. On Thursday Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, warned "remnant elements of the Maduro regime" against using violence to repress what he called "the peaceful democratic transition". He called for a meeting of the UN Security Council on Saturday to discuss the crisis. Local NGOs have reported at least 14 deaths linked to this week's protests, with nighttime clashes and riots across the country since Monday.  Protesters have clashed with security forces around the country and in both affluent and working class areas of Caracas, with some demonstrations spilling over into looting of nearby off-licenses and fast-food restaurants. Profile | Nicolás Maduro The US has not ruled out military intervention, saying that "all options are on the table" if Mr Maduro's forces employ violence.  But on Thursday John Bolton, the national security adviser, said Washington was focusing on economic measures and would seek to cut off Mr Maduro from the oil revenues that have propped up his regime.  "We think consistent with our recognition of Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela that those revenues should go to the legitimate government," Mr Bolton said. It is unclear, however, exactly how that would work, and Mr Bolton acknowledged that US officials were still studying what would be a "very complicated" process.  The US also says it stands ready to ship $20 million in humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered country, where petroleum riches have failed to prevent a dire economic crisis. Hyperinflation and an acute shortage of food and medicines have sent millions fleeing the country in recent years, with the exodus across the border into neighbouring Colombia swelling amid this week's events.  The whereabouts of Mr Guaido remain unknown, and it is expected that authorities will seek to arrest him on treason charges. But on Thursday he remained active on his social media accounts.  “We are in a crazy, mixed-up country,” said Luis Rodriguez, as he walked to his work as a plumber in the capital.  “We have two presidents, two assemblies, and we’re dying from hunger, and a lack of medicines.”




Brazil rescuers search for hundreds missing after mining dam burst

Brazilian rescuers continued searching on Saturday for some 200 missing people after a tailings dam burst at an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA, just over three years after the miner was involved in a similar disaster nearby.


from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Mwm6YX

The Latest: Pelosi rejects 'big down payment' for Trump wall

The Latest: Pelosi rejects 'big down payment' for Trump wallWASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump, Congress and the partial government shutdown (all times local):




The Latest: Suspect worked at Walmart, restaurant, auto shop

The Latest: Suspect worked at Walmart, restaurant, auto shopSEBRING, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of five women at a Florida bank (all times local):




Trump floats ending shutdown with a 'down payment' on wall, but Pelosi doesn't blink

Trump floats ending shutdown with a 'down payment' on wall, but Pelosi doesn't blinkComing off a defeat in the U.S. Senate, the president suggests he might reopen government if Congress agrees to a down payment for his wall.




Qatar to pay aid into Gaza, with Hamas approval

Qatar to pay aid into Gaza, with Hamas approvalThe move was widely seen as a compromise between Qatar, which appears intent on increasing its regional influence, and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which controls Gaza. Qatar’s point-man for Gaza relief efforts, Mohammed Al-Emadi, said in Gaza: "It was agreed to allocate the Qatari financial grant to pay for humanitarian projects with full cooperation and coordination with the United Nations." He said the first agreement with the U.N. would be signed on Monday next week, setting up a $20 million job creation project. A Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, on Friday welcomed Qatar's decision to give money to humanitarian projects.




Venezuela crisis: Opposition leader Guaido offers 'amnesty' for President Maduro

Venezuela crisis: Opposition leader Guaido offers 'amnesty' for President MaduroVenezuela’s opposition leader has indicated he would grant amnesty to embattled president Nicolas Maduro if he cedes power. Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president of the South American country amid mass demonstrations against Mr Maduro, said “all those who are willing to side with the constitution” could be offered reprieves. Speaking from an undisclosed location, the 35-year-old National Assembly leader told the American Spanish-language TV channel Univison that an amnesty could also be offered to the president and his closest allies.




The Latest: Judge sets new hearing in Paul Manafort case

The Latest: Judge sets new hearing in Paul Manafort caseWASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort (all times local):




Bishop Stowe Errs on Covington Catholic

Bishop Stowe Errs on Covington CatholicTwo days ago, Bishop John Stowe of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., condemned the Covington Catholic schoolkids who went to the March for Life, mostly because some of them wore MAGA hats. There is a defensible argument against wearing the hats to the march, which would basically have been the same as the argument against wearing a Bush-Cheney T-shirt to the march in 2005.




Witness: El Chapo cursed, tortured and shot enemies, ordered one buried alive

Witness: El Chapo cursed, tortured and shot enemies, ordered one buried aliveA witness against Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán said the alleged Mexican drug lord interrogated, tortured, and shot enemies – and ordered one buried alive.




Government shutdown delays flights on the East Coast

Government shutdown delays flights on the East CoastAnother day, another tangible impact of the government shutdown on the American people. On Friday morning, the FAA began delaying flights into major East Coast airports -- LaGuardia, Newark, Reagan (D.C.), and Philadelphia -- due to air traffic control staff shortages in centers in Washington and Florida. > The ground delay program and ground stop for @LGAairport confirms that there are staffing issues at ZDC and ZJX (Jacksonville Center). pic.twitter.com/9Hdv4UcCg0 > > -- NYCAviation (@NYCAviation) January 25, 2019 SEE ALSO: Delta CEO says the government shutdown will cost them $25 million this month The disruptions come a day after several airline executives expressed concern about the shutdown's impact on their industry and as the public is starting to blame Trump more and more for the shutdown. Of the all the Friday delays, the biggest reaction was around LaGuardia, mostly because of its reputation and location in New York City. However, JFK, Newark, and Philadelphia are all ranked as busier airports than LaGuardia. Uh oh. Image: FAA/US Gov That didn't stop travelers from going into meltdown mode on Twitter, though, cracking jokes and lamenting in general.  > Make > Airlines > Grind to a halt > Againhttps://t.co/m8zAOgrkkd > > -- Adam Sternbergh (@sternbergh) January 25, 2019 > turns out it's Infrastructure Week after all! https://t.co/n66oMEY0VH > > -- Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) January 25, 2019 > Not like anyone is gonna see a noticeable difference with how bad LGA is https://t.co/LS61dQCclU > > -- George Basile (@JGBasile) January 25, 2019 > On a good day LGA is hell on earth..... https://t.co/iChJZDleAb > > -- TheInsistence (@cleverironictag) January 25, 2019 > art of the deal https://t.co/22jyfQys6P > > -- Stephen Metcalf (@Metlandia) January 25, 2019 > And I thought LGA was a hellhole before... pic.twitter.com/UqfUlqMsov > > -- Anne Riley Moffat (@A_Riley17) January 25, 2019 If things are bad now, though, just wait. The chain-reaction of just these delays is sure to cause a horrendous mess heading into the weekend.  Additionally, Atlanta's airport is consistently ranked as the busiest in the world, and it's expecting an influx of travelers for next week's Super Bowl. Things may get whole lot messier.  ## WATCH: Delta CEO says the government shutdown will cost them $25 million this month




Canada PM will not recall envoy to China over criticism on Huawei remarks

Canada PM will not recall envoy to China over criticism on Huawei remarksCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he would not recall the ambassador to Beijing who has been blasted by the opposition for saying a Chinese executive being held in Canada could make a good case against extradition to the United States. Opposition politicians accuse John McCallum of political interference in the matter and insist he be fired. After Huawei Technologies Co Ltd chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested on a U.S. warrant last month, China detained two Canadian men on national security grounds.




Trump Says He Won’t ‘Cave’ on Shutdown Ahead of Senate Votes

Trump Says He Won’t ‘Cave’ on Shutdown Ahead of Senate Votes(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he wouldn’t “cave” in his demand for a border wall, adding to the likelihood that two Senate measures aimed at opening shuttered federal agencies will fail in votes on Thursday.




Some US diplomats leaving Venezuela amid political crisis

Some US diplomats leaving Venezuela amid political crisisCARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Some U.S. diplomats in Venezuela headed for the Caracas airport early Friday amid a political power struggle between President Nicolas Maduro and an opposition leader who has declared himself interim president.




Whole Foods recalls salads, wraps with baby spinach for possible Salmonella contamination

Whole Foods recalls salads, wraps with baby spinach for possible Salmonella contaminationWhole Foods is issuing a recall for foods containing baby spinach sold at its stores in eight states over concern for potential Salmonella risk.




Nigeria opposition party pauses election campaign over suspension of judge

Nigeria's main opposition party has suspended its presidential election campaign for 72 hours in protest at the suspension of the country's most senior judge by President Muhammadu Buhari, it said on Saturday.


from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Te9EQ4

Your Canada Vacation Suggestions for 2019


By IAN AUSTEN from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2B3xBTd

The Rich Didn’t Always Need $238 Million Penthouses


By GINIA BELLAFANTE from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2DA3vrV

What’s on TV Saturday: Amanda Seales and ‘Austin City Limits’


By SARA ARIDI from NYT Arts https://nyti.ms/2WkdQzH

Alex Zanardi Takes the Wheel in a New Way


By BEDEL SAGET and GRANT GOLD from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/2B7QSTn

‘Individual Plaintiff’ Brought Case Against Imprisoned Navy Veteran, Iran Says


By RICK GLADSTONE from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2CVzvp9

Body of 2-Year-Old Boy Trapped in Well Is Found by Spanish Authorities


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2FOLCYX

Arrests in Terror Plot Raise Questions About Canada’s Refugee Embrace


By IAN AUSTEN and DAN BILEFSKY from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2Rd3wpq

Mexico Protests U.S. Decision to Return Asylum Seekers


By AZAM AHMED, MIRIAM JORDAN and ELISABETH MALKIN from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2FQm8dE

For a President Consumed With Winning, a Stinging Defeat


By PETER BAKER from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2RRFo0y

Texas Secretary of State Questions Citizenship of 95,000 Registered Voters


By LIAM STACK from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2MAnppv

Speaking Black Dialect in Courtrooms Can Have Striking Consequences


By JOHN ELIGON from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2RgGHB8

Quotation of the Day: Trump Reopens Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall


By Unknown Author from NYT Today’s Paper https://nyti.ms/2UhaeNa