Quotation of the Day: Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water Leave Military Families Reeling

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Dustin Johnson Steadily Takes Control at Mexico Championship

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What Will the N.F.L. Do About Robert Kraft This Time?

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Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan Gets Cheers in Return to Toronto, but Raptors Get Win

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Timberwolves, Without Towns for First Time in 304 Games, Top Knicks

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Corrections: Feb. 23, 2019

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An Emergency for the G.O.P.

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Britain in the Crazed Brexit Vortex

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Jackie Shane, Transgender Pioneer of 1960s Soul Music, Dies at 78

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Ethel Ennis, Singer Who Walked Away From Fame, Is Dead at 86

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Spiffy

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Feinstein Lectures Children Who Want Green New Deal, Portraying It as Untenable

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Kraft Tests How Much Costs Can Be Cut as Tastes Change

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Syria Kurds evacuate civilians from IS redoubt, hail Trump troop reversal

Kurdish-led forces in Syria said they would complete the evacuation of thousands of civilians from Islamic State's last redoubt in the area on Friday, and welcomed a White House reversal of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out all U.S. troops.

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Turkish defense minister warns against vacuum of power in Syria: Anadolu

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told Pentagon officials during a visit to the United States that there must not be a vacuum of power during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Saturday.

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Nigeria's Buhari casts ballot as polls open in delayed presidential election

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari cast his ballot in the presidential election on Saturday as polls opened after a week-long delay, television images on Channels TV showed.

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More than 100 separatists detained in Kashmir raids in pre-election crackdown

More than 100 separatists in Kashmir were detained in overnight raids, police officials said on Saturday, as part of a crackdown on groups that might cause trouble ahead of nationwide elections set to be held by May.

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North Carolina board votes to hold new House election over absentee ballot fraud

The North Carolina Board of Elections voted unanimously to hold a new election in the state’s 9th District after overwhelming evidence of vote tampering.

As Trump and Kim prepare for summit, bars in Vietnam serve 'Peace Negroniations'

Bars in Vietnam's capital are cashing in on the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un next week with special concoctions to mark the high-stakes diplomacy. "This beer was inspired by the pure streams of Mount Paektu between North Korea and China," Nguyen Thi Huong Anh, manager of Hanoi's Standing Bar, said of the "Kim Jong Ale", brewed especially for the summit. The mountain is the highest on the Korean peninsula at about 2,750 meters (9,000 ft) and the official birthplace of the late North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il.

Key moments since Jussie Smollett reported Chicago attack

CHICAGO (AP) — "Empire" actor and R&B; singer Jussie Smollett told Chicago police last month that two men physically attacked him and yelled racial and homophobic slurs. Some key moments in the story:

Southwest Airlines flights temporarily grounded due to computer outage

Southwest temporarily grounded flights early Friday due to a computer glitch. The airline has been plagued by flight cancellations this week.

'Time is running out' on climate, Swedish teen activist tells EU officials

Speaking at an EU conference, sixteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg told officials on Thursday (February 21) that the thousands of children marching out of lessons each week to demand action on climate change sought to clean up their "mess" after decades of inaction. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Pakistan military warns India against 'misadventure'

Pakistan's military warned India on Friday against "misadventure", saying it was capable of responding to any threats as tensions simmer between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. "We hope you will not mess up with us," military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press briefing in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, the second such message Pakistan has sent to New Delhi in as many days. Tensions have risen in the days following a suicide attack in Kashmir that killed 41 Indian paramilitaries and was claimed by Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), based in Pakistan.

Senator Elizabeth Warren backs reparations for black Americans

"We must confront the dark history of slavery and government-sanctioned discrimination in this country that has had many consequences including undermining the ability of Black families to build wealth in America for generations," Warren, who is white, said in a statement to Reuters. "Black families have had a much steeper hill to climb - and we need systemic, structural changes to address that," she said in the statement. U.S. Senator Kamala Harris also recently said she would support some form of reparations.

Trump border wall: Third of Pentagon money president plans to use for wall is already spent, officals say

Up to a third of the $6.7bn (£5.2bn) in Pentagon funds Donald Trump has identified to spend on a US-Mexico border wall has already been spent, officials have revealed. During his emergency powers declaration last month, the US president announced he would divert billions of dollars from other Department of Defense projects towards the wall, in order to circumvent Congress. It included $3.6bn (£2.8bn) in unspent military construction money, as well as $2.5bn (£1.9bn) in counterdrug funds and $600m (£462m) from an asset forfeiture account – the latter two not dependent on the emergency delaration.

Polish activists pull down statue of priest in abuse protest

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Activists in Poland toppled a statue of a prominent Solidarity-era priest early Thursday amid allegations that he sexually abused minors, a protest against what they called a failure by the Catholic Church and society to resolve the problem of clergy sex abuse.

Empire star Jussie Smollett charged with staging racist attack in 'desperate publicity stunt'

One of America's leading black television actors has been charged with staging a racist attack on himself in a "despicable publicity stunt" which he hoped would get him a raise on his $65,000-an-episode salary. Jussie Smollett, 36, who stars in "Empire," was accused by police in Chicago of "exploiting the pain and anger of racism" in a "shameful" attempt to boost his own profile. The saga began on Jan 29 when the actor reported that he had been attacked by two white men who put a noose around his neck and yelled "This is MAGA country," a reference to Donald Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again". Following his arrest the US president wrote on Twitter: "Jussie Smollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? MAGA." The actor, who is gay, also claimed his attackers hurled homophobic insults at him during the incident at 2am in downtown Chicago. Police charged him with making a false statement, which could lead to a sentence of up to three years in jail if convicted. A mugshot showed him staring impassively at the camera. This photo released by the Chicago Police Department shows Jussie Smollett Credit: AP In a press conference Eddie Johnson, Chicago's police superintendent, lambasted the star, accusing him of "dragging Chicago through the mud" by "staging a hate crime". Mr Johnson, who is black, said: "Empire actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career. The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. When we discovered the actual motive, quite frankly, it p----d everybody off. "I'm left hanging my head asking why? Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false allegations. I'm offended by what's happened. and I'm also angry." Smollett's legal team issued a statement on Thursday night, calling the actor a "man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence." The statement also said Mr Johnson's press conference was "an organised law enforcement spectacle." Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson speaks during a press conference at Chicago police headquarters about the arrest of Empire actor Jussie Smollett  Credit: Getty "The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett," the statement read. Hollywood trade publication Variety reported that Smollett returned to the set of "Empire" - a drama about a music empire and a family dynasty - after being released by police on Thursday. The actor reportedly made a salary of $65,000 per episode for the last season of Empire, which follows the story of a family in the recording industry. There were 18 episodes, putting his annual salary at well over $1 million. Mr Johnson detailed how the actor had allegedly first sent a threatening, racist and homophobic letter to himself at the studios of Fox, which makes Empire. He then allegedly paid $3,500 to a pair of Nigerian brothers - Abel Osundairo and Ola Osundairo - who had previously appeared as extras on Empire to carry out the fake attack. Jussie Smollett timeline Police said he had hoped it would be caught on CCTV, but a nearby camera was pointed in the wrong direction. However, CCTV did capture the two brothers, who are black, fleeing the scene and getting in a taxi. They went to Chicago's O'Hare Airport, where they boarded a flight to Nigeria. Detectives established they had return tickets and arrested them at the airport when they came back on Feb 13. CCTV also emerged of the brothers buying ski masks and a red MAGA-style hat before the attack. But after two days of questioning the brothers were released without charge. Their lawyer said they had "manned up" and confessed the plot, including the actor's alleged motive to get a bigger salary. Police said they had established through phone records that the actor spoke to the brothers an hour before, and an h our after, the attack. Interview with actor Jussie Smollett on ABC's "Good Morning America" Credit: Getty Mr Johnson, the Chicago police chief, called on the actor to apologise to the city and pay the costs of the investigation, which could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. He added: "I’ll continue to pray for this troubled young man who resorted to both drastic and illegal tactics to gain attention."

Roger Stone: Trump's former advisor avoids jail as judge imposes gag order: 'I’m not giving you another chance'

Roger Stone – a former advisor to Donald Trump – has been gagged by a judge after he admitted posting an image on social media that showed her next to a set of cross-hairs. The 66-year-old veteran political operative and celebrated enforcer of dirty drinks, told the judge he acted in error when he posted the image.

Britain, EU closer to possible agreement on Brexit: EU diplomats

The backstop is an insurance policy designed to avoid border controls between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland after Brexit. "We are also looking at updating the declaration on future EU-UK ties after Brexit to give more prominence to the 'alternative arrangements' sought by Britain," said one EU diplomat who deals with Brexit. "But May won't get any firm wording before Feb. 28." A second diplomat, briefed on the May-Juncker talks on Wednesday evening, confirmed the EU would only signal this was the direction of travel before the British prime minister faces another round of Brexit votes in the UK parliament.

'Hear the cry of the little ones': Pope Francis demands action from bishops as sex abuse summit opens

Pope Francis urged high-ranking church officials gathered at the Vatican to "hear the cry of the little ones" who are victims of sexual abuse.

Global equities climb on hopeful trade talk vibes

World stock markets advanced Friday as investors awaited what they hoped will be encouraging news from US-China trade talks in Washington, dealers said.

Parents dead in murder-suicide at Sugar Land home as 16-year-old daughter slept inside

Their family says they were involved in volunteering and believed in giving back before they died.

Check Out Every Photo of the 2020 Volvo XC90 R-Design

The Latest: Venezuela partially closes Colombian border

CUCUTA, Colombia (AP) — The Latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local):

AP FACT CHECK: Senator makes false national emergency claim

Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, claimed this week that members of Congress are opposing President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration because they dislike the president.

Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, warns Emmanuel Macron

France is to recognise anti-Zionism, the denial of the state of Israel, as a form of anti-Semitism in response to a surge in acts against Jews not seen “since the Second World War”. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, also promised new legislation in May to fight hate speech on the Internet, which could see platforms such as Facebook and Twitter fined for every minute they fail to take down racist or violent content. Speaking at the annual meeting of France’s largest Jewish organization, CRIF, Mr Macron said that France and other countries in Europe had recently witnessed "a resurgence of anti-Semitism that is probably unprecedented since World War II.” “We have denounced it a lot, adopted plans, passed laws sometimes. But we haven’t been able to act efficiently,” he said. While stopping short of calling for new legislation, the President said the working definition of anti-Semitism drawn up by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance would help guide police forces, magistrates and teachers in their daily work. That definition stipulates that anti-Semitism can take the form of "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour”. "Anti-Zionism is one of the modern forms of anti-Semitism,” said Mr Macron. "Behind the negation of Israel's existence, what is hiding is the hatred of Jews.” Such guidelines in no way infringed on people’s right to criticise to the Israeli government and its policies, he said. Mr Macron also said that his party would introduce a bill in parliament in May to force social media to withdraw hate speech posted online and use all available means to identify the authors "as quickly as possible.” Digital minister Mounir Mahjoubi said: “There will be an obligation for results: if the content is not taken down then there will be a fine, and a large fine,” Mr Mahjoubi told France Info radio. “Each minute that content remains online, it increases the harm to society. Twenty-four hours is far too long.” Anti-Semitic acts surged by 74 per cent last year in France, according to government figures Credit: Getty Images Europe France has been pressuring Internet companies to better regulate their content ever since a series of terror attacks starting in 2015. The recent “yellow vest” protests have largely been orchestrated online. Many postings have included links to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant and anti-vaccine messages, as well as a string of conspiracy theories. Mr Macron’s speech came a day after thousands attended rallies across France to denounce a rise in anti-Semitic acts and in a week in which almost 100 gravestones spray-painted with swastikas were discovered in a Jewish village cemetery in eastern France. The number of anti-Semitic incidents rose last year by 74 per cent from 311 in 2017 to 541, the government announced last week.

The Latest: US ambassador: Protect children, stop sex abuse

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Latest on Pope Francis' sex abuse summit at the Vatican (all times local):

Fake news: Kim and Trump lookalikes draw crowds in Hanoi

Days before the second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, to be held in Vietnam's capital, a Kim impersonator appeared at the Metropole Hotel, a back-up location for the meeting. Howard X, an Australian, has been cashing in on his resemblance to North Korea's leader, especially his haircut. It looks awful," Howard X said, adding it takes him three hours to prepare his outfit and get into character.