Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Two hurt in police gun accident at Hollande event

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Two hurt in police gun accident at Hollande event

Two hurt in police gun accident at Hollande eventA policeman providing security for Francois Hollande accidentally fired his gun as the French president was giving a speech, injuring two people in the VIP area of the crowd, an official said. "It was an accidental shot by a police officer which injured two waiters, or at least one waiter and an (event) employee. The injuries aren't life threatening," local government chief Pierre N'Gahane said.


FBI investigating shootings of Indian men in Kansas as hate crime

FBI investigating shootings of Indian men in Kansas as hate crimeBy Kevin Murphy KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Reuters) - The deadly shooting of an Indian engineer and wounding of his co-worker last Wednesday at a bar in Kansas is being investigated as a hate crime, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Tuesday. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was killed, and Alok Madasani, both 32, worked as engineers at U.S. company Garmin, which makes navigational devices. Another man, Ian Grillot, was wounded when he chased after the accused gunman, U.S. Navy veteran Adam Purinton, 51, who has been charged in the shootings.


Surprise! Study finds Subway's chicken may contain less than 50% chicken.

Surprise! Study finds Subway's chicken may contain less than 50% chicken.If you order a chicken sandwich you expect to get a chicken sandwich, right? Well not all chicken sandwiches are created equal. A recent poultry analysis by CBC Marketplace made an unsettling discovery. According to the report, Subway's chicken was found to contain less than 50 percent chicken DNA.  SEE ALSO: Taco Bell ditched the Naked Chicken Chalupa, so here's how to make your own CBC reported that Subway's oven-roasted chicken contained only 53.6 percent chicken DNA, while its chicken strips were found to have only 42.8 percent chicken DNA. The other major ingredient was soy.  Matt Harnden, a researcher at Trent University's Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, tested six sandwiches from fast food restaurants. The two Subway sandwiches were the worst offenders.  Most of the other meats tested were "very close" to 100 percent chicken, according to Harnden, so they tested the Subway chicken again. He tested the DNA from five pieces of oven-roasted chicken and five pieces of chicken strips, found in Subway's wraps. The results from the five pieces were averaged, giving the numbers 53.6 percent and 42.8 percent, respectively.  After the report was released, Subway released a statement saying it disagrees with the findings.  "Our chicken strips and oven roasted chicken contain 1 percent or less of soy protein. We use this ingredient in these products as a means to help stabilize the texture and moisture," Subway said in its statement.  Subway also said it will look into the matter and ensure with its supplier that the chicken is meeting the company's standards.  UPDATE: Feb. 28, 2017, 10:53 p.m. EST A spokesperson for Subway released the following updated statement to Mashable. Just for reference, researchers say that chicken from the grocery store should  contain 100 percent chicken DNA.   BONUS: Meet 'Big Mac,' the 23-pound chicken about to gobble up a world record


White House condemns 'racially motivated' attack on Indians

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White House condemns 'racially motivated' attack on Indians

White House condemns 'racially motivated' attack on IndiansAfter criticism that Donald Trump had not spoken about the attack -- which happened a week ago -- the White House said president did indeed condemn the attack. "As more facts come to light and it begins to look like this was an act of racially motivated hatred, I want to reiterate the president condemns these or any other racially or religiously motivated attacks in the strongest terms" said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. The comments came as grieving family and friends in Hyderabad mourned 32-year-old engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead by a US Navy veteran.


New York City plans to open 90 new shelters as homeless ranks swell

New York City plans to open 90 new shelters as homeless ranks swellNew York plans to open 90 new shelters as city officials struggle to get a handle on homelessness, which has climbed to its highest level in almost a century, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday. "This is a tough topic that has defied solution for decades," de Blasio told a news conference. De Blasio called the plan his administration's "blood-and-guts war strategy" at winning the city's long-failed struggle against homelessness.


DNC Chair Perez defends Rep. Keith Ellison’s past statements about Israel

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DNC Chair Perez defends Rep. Keith Ellison’s past statements about Israel

DNC Chair Perez defends Rep. Keith Ellison’s past statements about IsraelOn Feb. 28, ahead of President Trump’s first joint address to Congress, new DNC Chair Tom Perez spoke to Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric. Perez defended Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., who has been dogged by his past associations with the Nation of Islam and his past defense of its founder, Louis Farrakhan, who had made anti-Semitic comments. Ellison was the runner-up to Perez in DNC chair balloting and will be bringing Perez to Trump’s joint address to Congress as his guest.


Q&A: What next in the long battle over Texas voter ID law?

Q&A: What next in the long battle over Texas voter ID law?President Donald Trump's administration has abandoned an Obama-era challenge to a 2011 Texas voter ID law that is among the toughest in the nation. Civil rights groups are still contesting the Texas law ...


Brave dude tries to use Windows 98 for his daily life, gets a big surprise

Brave dude tries to use Windows 98 for his daily life, gets a big surpriseAnyone old enough to remember using Windows 98 when it was still current can attest to the fact that it was a really fantastic operating system. It made big improvements over Windows 95 in almost every area that mattered, and at the time it actually looked extremely sleek and clean. Today, of course, it's absolutely ancient, but one brave man took it upon himself to see if it's still possible to use a Windows 98 system as your primary computer today, and the results are actually quite astounding.  Not wanting to cheat by installing Windows 98 on current PC hardware, the intrepid retro software adventurer Oldtech81 decided to use a machine from the same period. He settled on a Compaq Armada e500 laptop, which looks like a massive chunk of flagstone. After some issues getting the computer to actually boot up properly — no surprises there — he was able to run the outdated OS just fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA58zWmQfC4 Then came the big test: using the computer for day-to-day work and leisure. Against all odds, the extremely old Compaq and Windows 98 were able to offer a pretty respectable experience. Listening to music and watching movies was still as easy as it was back in 1998, and basic apps like Word and Excel still worked fine, which isn't really much of a surprise. The real challenge, of course, was attempting to browse the web, and that's where things got a bit hairy. Once KernelEx was installed for expanded compatibility, the machine was able to run Opera 11, giving it some decent web browsing chops. However, Gmail and YouTube still didn't load up correctly, which is a bit of a bummer, but using YouTube download sites like KeepVid allowed him to save the videos right to the computer and then play them locally. On top of that, many sites like Reddit and various forums were perfectly usable. Just for fun, Oldtech81 even booted up some old PC games like Duke Nukem, Grand Theft Auto, and Carmageddon, all of which looked just like we remember them. It's a really interesting look back, and a reminder of just how impressive Windows 98 was a couple of decades ago. Give it a watch if you feel like going on a nostalgia trip.


The 5 highest capacity microSD cards you can get right now on Amazon

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The 5 highest capacity microSD cards you can get right now on Amazon

The 5 highest capacity microSD cards you can get right now on Amazon

Storage is like money when it comes to smartphones and other mobile devices — you can never, ever have enough. This rings especially true these days since some vendors have stopped offering different storage tiers altogether, instead tasking users with buying microSD cards if they need more space. Well… OF COURSE they need more space!

Whether you have an Android phone or an iPhone, getting a good-sized microSD card is crucial (of course, if you have an iPhone you’ll need a simple and affordable Lightning microSD card reader in order to get your iPhone to accept microSD cards). Well, you’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll find the five largest microSD cards available for purchase on Amazon.


Colon cancer rates rise among Gen X, millennials: study

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Colon cancer rates rise among Gen X, millennials: study

Colon cancer rates rise among Gen X, millennials: studyRates of colon and rectal cancer are rising sharply among young and middle-aged adults in the United States but doctors have yet to pinpoint why, researchers said Tuesday. The report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that Generation X and millennials face anywhere from twice to four times the risk of colon and rectal cancer as their baby boomer counterparts. Experts say colon and rectal cancer can be inherited and can also be influenced by the high-fat, low fiber diets that are common in the Western world.


Israel evicts settlers in West Bank

Israel evicts settlers in West BankIsraeli forces began evacuating nine homes in the West Bank settlement of Ofra, following a Supreme Court decision that ruled they were built on private Palestinian land. Dozens of settlers and their supporters were protesting on the rooftops as military and police forces handed the evacuation orders to settler leaders and asked them to cooperate peacefully and avoid confrontation. >>> Read more about the settler evacuation at the AP. See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr


Thousands of French people want Barack Obama to be their next president

Thousands of French people want Barack Obama to be their next presidentMore than 40,000 people have signed a spoof petition calling for Barack Obama to be the next president of France. SEE ALSO: Obama and Richard Branson fought over kitesurfing and we're never getting him back As France prepares for its general election in May, an unofficial campaign has been launched to "bring France out of its apathy" and elect Barack Obama as France's new president. "We would like to make a big splash in electing a foreign president as head of our beautiful country," reads the campaign's manifesto."Barack Obama completed his second presidential term as POTUS on the 21 January, why not hire him as president of France?" the manifesto says. The campaign is hoping for 1 million pledges to vote for the former POTUS in order to convince Obama to stand in the next election.  Oui on peut ... (?) #obama2017 #streetsofparis pic.twitter.com/v6ptl9DSJB — Romuald COUSTRE (@rcoustre) February 21, 2017 The reasons listed on the campaign site explain why Obama is perfect for the role. According to the manifesto, he has the best CV in the world for the job."Because it's still possible to vote for a president and not against a candidate. Because at a time when France is getting ready for a massive vote in favour of the far right, we can still give a lesson in democracy to the planet in electing a foreign French president," the manifesto continues.  The group behind the campaign describe themselves as "four thirty-something Parisians" but they have not identified themselves. They explained their objectives to Mashable FR. "We've had enough of voting against candidates rather than voting for a president," they explained. "We found ourselves dreaming about what could happen if the world of politics could offer us a figure we admire and who makes us feel calm when we look to the future," they continued. They say they decided to put those thoughts into action by launching the campaign, which has since garnered the support of thousands of people.  "We just wanted to make voters think, to piss off our politicians and to make everyone dream," they continued.  Another Obama presidency, anyone?! BONUS: The Obamas got real emotional at the president's farewell address


Plane crashes into southern California neighborhood

Plane crashes into southern California neighborhoodAt least 3 people are dead and two others are injured after a small plane crashed into homes, sparking a massive fire.


Amazon's Alexa is becoming a better listener

Amazon's Alexa is becoming a better listenerAlexa could soon be able to distinguish between different people's voices.


Trump looks for reset with speech to Congress

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Trump looks for reset with speech to Congress

Trump looks for reset with speech to CongressDonald Trump gets a chance to put the rocky start to his presidency behind him on Tuesday night with a speech to the U.S. Congress where he will lay out his plans for the year including a healthcare overhaul and military buildup. The 9 p.m. (0200 GMT Wednesday) speech in the chamber of the House of Representatives will be Trump's biggest chance yet to command a large prime-time audience and describe his agenda after a first month in office characterized by missteps, internal dramas and squabbles with the news media. The address, which Trump has been writing with aide Stephen Miller and others, will include some gestures toward unifying a polarized country as he tries to bind the wounds from a bitterly fought election.


Trump to sign measure to bolster U.S.'s historically black colleges

Trump to sign measure to bolster U.S.'s historically black collegesU.S. President Donald Trump will sign a measure on Tuesday aimed at boosting government support for the nation's historically black colleges, a senior White House official said. Trump, a Republican, has pledged to improve the lives of black Americans, who voted overwhelmingly in favor of his Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Trump's order will move the federal government's program for promoting historically black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs, back under direct oversight of the White House.


Indians mourn Kansas shooting victim in home-town funeral

Indians mourn Kansas shooting victim in home-town funeralDozens of people gathered in the Indian city of Hyderabad on Tuesday for the funeral of an engineer shot dead in the United States last week, an attack that has raised fears for the safety of Indians abroad. A white U.S. Navy veteran has been charged with the murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, in a case that U.S. authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime, the official term for crimes motivated by bias or prejudice. Friends stood around Kuchibhotla's body which was garlanded with flowers ahead of his last rites, while some relatives wiped away tears, television footage showed.


Japanese emperor visits Vietnam for first time

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Japanese emperor visits Vietnam for first time

Japanese emperor visits Vietnam for first timeJapan's emperor arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday for a whirlwind tour that will include a meeting with families of Japanese soldiers who stayed there after World War II. The emperor and empress were received by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and guards of honour at the Hanoi airport, where national flags were displayed. The 83-year-old Akihito and his wife, Michiko, are on their first visit to the country, the latest in a series of trips to former battlegrounds.


Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Murdering 15-Month-Old Baby Gets 60 Years in Prison

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Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Murdering 15-Month-Old Baby Gets 60 Years in Prison

Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Murdering 15-Month-Old Baby Gets 60 Years in PrisonKyle Parker was sentenced to 60 years after acknowledging he kidnapped and killed a relative's baby.


Study finds peculiar tie between warm climate, slow snowmelt

Study finds peculiar tie between warm climate, slow snowmeltDENVER (AP) — Global warming could mean that mountain snow melts at a slower pace, researchers said Monday, a peculiar finding that might be bad news for the West and other regions that depend on snow for water.


Monday, February 27, 2017

Everything you need to know about SpaceX's big moon announcement

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Everything you need to know about SpaceX's big moon announcement

Everything you need to know about SpaceX's big moon announcementElon Musk is nothing if not ambitious.  The SpaceX founder wants his company to lead the charge to build a city on Mars, and next year, the spaceflight company plans to fly its first astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.  SEE ALSO: SpaceX wants to send 2 people around the moon in 2018 So generally, SpaceX is pretty busy. But that doesn't mean it can't take on just one other little project, right? Namely, in 2018, SpaceX plans to fly a pair of (presumably rich) private citizens around the moon and bring them back home. It all sounds pretty intense, so let us break it down for you. SpaceX is planning to fly around the moon, not land on it Fly me to the moon ... Okhttps://t.co/6QT8m5SHwn — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 27, 2017 At the moment, SpaceX isn't planning to actually land on the surface of the moon for this mission.  Instead, the company is opting to use its Falcon Heavy rocket and crewed Dragon spacecraft to circumnavigate the moon before coming back home to Earth.  The flight profile involves skimming the surface of the lunar body in a "long loop around the moon," Musk said during a press conference Monday.  The mission should take about a week. Two people are going, but we don't know who they are Perhaps the most mysterious part of this whole mission is its passengers. SpaceX has said that the two space explorers have already paid a pretty hefty deposit for the chance to fly on this mission, though the company hasn't yet revealed the names of the individuals expecting to fly next year.  The mission itself will cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hopeful space explorers, and Musk is keeping their names confidential since they haven't given the company permission to release their names.  All we know for now is that they know each other and it's not Richard Garriott, a space tourist who visited the International Space Station.  Not me... yet! https://t.co/GtVBfw7s2o — Richard Garriott (@RichardGarriott) February 27, 2017 Musk also said that "it's nobody from Hollywood" when asked if the passengers are celebrities.  They will be trained before flight No matter who they are, the two would-be space explorers will be trained before they fly to the moon.  "We expect to conduct health and fitness tests, as well as begin initial training later this year," SpaceX said in a statement.  "Other flight teams have also expressed strong interest and we expect more to follow. Additional information will be released about the flight teams, contingent upon their approval and confirmation of the health and fitness test results." The mission will launch from a historic pad SpaceX is planning to launch the Falcon Heavy to the moon from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  A Falcon 9 launching from pad 39A. Image: spacex/flickr This pad marked the starting point for many of NASA's Apollo missions to the moon, and SpaceX has a 20-year lease out on it now.  The space company recently launched its first mission from the pad, and it plans to use it for many more in the future.  This will be the farthest any human has been from Earth in more than 45 years The Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972 marks the last time humans flew to deep space.  Since then, NASA has focused on low-Earth orbit with the building of the International Space Station, ending the space agency's lunar ambitions.  If SpaceX succeeds in launching the customers to beyond the moon for their flyaround trip, it will be the farthest afield any human has flown since Apollo 17.  SpaceX has never been shy about its desire to bring humans back to deep space.  The company's goal since it was founded in 2002 has been to make humans a multi-planet species by launching crewed missions to Mars, a plan they hope to enact in the coming decades as they drive down the cost of spaceflight by reusing rockets for more than one launch. This shouldn't be the only moon mission for SpaceX If that schedule remains in place, Musk is thinking that the company can fly at least one or two moon missions per year when they really get going. A Falcon 9 rocket first stage landing. Image: spacex/flickr The SpaceX founder thinks these types of missions could be a good source of revenue for the company if multiple teams are interested in taking the trip.  These types of missions could also be of interest to NASA. Instead of flying straight to Mars, as was the plan under the Obama administration, it's possible that President Donald Trump's NASA will want to head back to the moon before moving on to the red planet.  Don't be surprised if SpaceX doesn't launch on time Musk's company is somewhat infamous in the space industry for its inability to keep to a schedule, and this moonshot might not be any different.  SpaceX has yet to launch a test flight of its Falcon Heavy rocket, though that is set to happen later this year, and the company hasn't yet flown people within its crewed Dragon capsule.  Both the rocket and capsule will need to fly multiple times before launching any kind of mission to the vicinity of the moon.  At the moment, SpaceX is planning to launch an uncrewed flight of its Dragon to the Space Station at the end of this year, with a crewed mission following shortly after.  We'll just have to wait and see if that schedule holds. BONUS: Relive SpaceX's incredible daytime rocket landing with this video


Georgia pair sentenced to prison over Confederate flag confrontation

Georgia pair sentenced to prison over Confederate flag confrontationDefendants Jose Torres, 26, and Kayla Norton, 25, were convicted earlier this month of charges that include making "terroristic threats" during the confrontation in Douglas County near Atlanta, which occurred at a time of heated national debate about a flag that many consider a symbol of racism. Georgia Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres to serve 13 years in prison, and Norton to serve 6 years in prison, Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner said in a phone interview.


Congress' Trump Russia probe takes partisan turn

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Congress' Trump Russia probe takes partisan turn

Congress' Trump Russia probe takes partisan turnBy Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of a congressional committee investigating contacts between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia said on Monday the panel had not seen evidence of inappropriate communications, prompting the panel's top Democrat to insist it was too early to make such a determination. Devin Nunes, Republican chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also said there was no need for a special prosecutor and dismissed a suggestion that Trump should release his tax returns to clear up allegations he has business ties to Russia. "What are we going to appoint a special prosecutor to do, exactly?" he asked reporters.


SpaceX says it will fly 2 people to moon next year

SpaceX says it will fly 2 people to moon next yearCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX said Monday it will fly two people to the moon next year, a feat not attempted since NASA's Apollo heyday close to half a century ago.


Authorities investigate killing of hippo at El Salvador zoo

Authorities investigate killing of hippo at El Salvador zooSAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's widespread violence reached an unexpected corner with the brutal and fatal beating of the national zoo's beloved hippopotamus Gustavito.


Takata pleads guilty in air bag scandal, agrees to pay $1B

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Takata pleads guilty in air bag scandal, agrees to pay $1B

Takata pleads guilty in air bag scandal, agrees to pay $1BDETROIT (AP) — Japanese auto parts maker Takata Corp. pleaded guilty to fraud Monday and agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties for concealing an air bag defect blamed for at least 16 deaths, most of them in the U.S.


Stocks drift awaiting Trump tax plan details

Stocks drift awaiting Trump tax plan detailsNew York (AFP) - Wall Street and the major European indices drifted higher on Monday in advance of a major address by President Donald Trump, as investors in New York sent the Dow to a fresh record.


Uber executive quits for not disclosing prior sexual harassment allegation - Recode

Uber executive quits for not disclosing prior sexual harassment allegation - Recode(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc's [UBER.UL] senior vice president of engineering, Amit Singhal, has left the company for failing to disclose a sexual harassment allegation, stemming from his tenure at Alphabet Inc's Google , Recode reported, citing sources. Singhal, who was appointed last month to work closely with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, was asked to resign after Recode informed the company of the allegation this week, the technology news website said.


Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling Had Amazing Reactions to ‘La La Land’ & ‘Moonlight’ Mixup at the Oscars and More News

Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling Had Amazing Reactions to ‘La La Land’ & ‘Moonlight’ Mixup at the Oscars and More NewsEverything you need to know about ‘La La Land’ & ‘Moonlight’ mix-up at the Oscars, ‘In Memoriam’ Oscar mix-up, celebrity reactions, Chrissy Teigen falling asleep during Casey Affleck’s acceptance speech, and Nicole Kidman’s strange handclapping technique at the Oscars. Get all the details at MarieClaire.com!


NC church has unconventional rules for sex and marriage

NC church has unconventional rules for sex and marriageSPINDALE, N.C. (AP) — When it comes to relationships, marriage and sex, Word of Faith Fellowship members must follow strict and unusual rules — or risk severe punishment, former members say.


Ash Monday celebration

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Ash Monday celebration

Ash Monday celebrationGreeks traditionally celebrate Clean Monday, or Ash Monday, with a “flour war” in which revelers throw colored flour at each other on the streets. Clean Monday marks the beginning of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar, and the start of a 40-day fast until Easter. See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr


Minnesota officer pleads not guilty in shooting death of black motorist

Minnesota officer pleads not guilty in shooting death of black motoristSt. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez, who according to media reports is Latino, entered a not guilty plea during a hearing at the Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the shooting death of Philando Castile, said Beau Berentson, spokesman for the state court administration office. Castile, 32, was killed on July 6 in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights during a traffic stop. The shooting, along with that of a black man by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the day before, fueled public debate in the United States over the use of excessive force by law enforcement.


Philippines condemns 'barbaric beheading' of German hostage

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Philippines condemns 'barbaric beheading' of German hostage

Philippines condemns 'barbaric beheading' of German hostageBy Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines and Germany condemned on Monday the beheading of an elderly German captive by Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants who posted a video of the killing after a deadline for a $600,000 ransom passed. The video showed a machete-wielding militant behead Jurgen Kantner. Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the Philippine peace process, said officials had exhausted all efforts to save Kantner, 70, who was held on the tiny southern island of Jolo.


Brazil's Carnival 2017: A week-long celebration of parades and street parties

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Brazil's Carnival 2017: A week-long celebration of parades and street parties

Brazil's Carnival 2017: A week-long celebration of parades and street partiesRevelers all over Brazil are gearing up for parades, balls and street parties during Carnival week celebrations. Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival parade is world famous for the samba dancing, costumes that leave little to the imagination and the magnificent floats that roll down Avenida Marques de Sapucai, also known as the “sambadrome.” Sao Paulo will also have its main samba schools taking their floats to their sambadrome. Brazilians living through two years of steep recession and nearly 13 percent unemployment have grasped this year’s carnival as a chance to let off steam.


UK government spokesman: Scotland should not hold new independence referendum

UK government spokesman: Scotland should not hold new independence referendumThe threat of a new Scottish independence referendum is creating unnecessary uncertainty and division, a British government spokesman said on Monday, reiterating Prime Minister Theresa May's view that there was no need for another vote on the issue. The comments came in response to media reports that Scottish nationalists were preparing to demand a fresh vote, possibly as early as next month to coincide with May's plan to formally trigger Britain's exit from the European Union. "The threat of one is creating unnecessary uncertainty and division." Scots rejected independence by a 10-point margin in a 2014 referendum, but the issue has resurfaced following the vote last June to leave the EU.


Voluntary police program at heart of Trump immigration policy

Voluntary police program at heart of Trump immigration policyIn one executive order from January and in separate DHS guidelines published last week, the Trump administration is counting on local police officers to act as immigration agents. But will these efforts gain traction in a contentious environment?


North Korea spy agency runs arms operation out of Malaysia, U.N. says

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North Korea spy agency runs arms operation out of Malaysia, U.N. says

North Korea spy agency runs arms operation out of Malaysia, U.N. saysIt is in Kuala Lumpur's "Little India" neighborhood, behind an unmarked door on the second floor of a rundown building, where a military equipment company called Glocom says it has its office. Glocom is a front company run by North Korean intelligence agents that sells battlefield radio equipment in violation of United Nations sanctions, according to a United Nations report submitted to the Security Council seen by Reuters. Reuters found that Glocom advertises over 30 radio systems for "military and paramilitary" organizations on its Malaysian website, glocom.com.my.


Border walls: 'turnkey' answer to threats real and imagined

Border walls: 'turnkey' answer to threats real and imaginedBuilt to keep out migrants, traffickers, or an enemy group, border walls have emerged as a one-size-fits-all response to the vulnerability felt by many societies in today's globalized world, says an expert on the phenomenon. Practically non-existent at the end of World War II, by the time the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 the number of border walls across the globe had risen to 11. One third were intended to bring an end to a conflict, Vallet says, such as between north and south Cyprus, the two Koreas, and India and Pakistan.


Bloody accident and rain mar joyful Rio carnival

Bloody accident and rain mar joyful Rio carnivalThe truck, topped with one of the extravagant floats that symbolize the world's most famous carnival, was at the tail end of the Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school parade -- the first of six schools competing overnight. Brazilians living through two years of steep recession and nearly 13 percent unemployment have grasped this year's carnival as a chance to let off steam. In Rio especially, the thrill of hosting the Olympics six months ago has given way to the grim reality of rising crime and near bankruptcy of the state government.


Trump toasts nation's governors ahead of health care talks

Trump toasts nation's governors ahead of health care talksWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump toasted the nation's governors Sunday night, welcoming state leaders to a black-tie ball at the White House ahead of discussions about his plans to repeal and replace the so-called Obamacare law.


Sunday, February 26, 2017

Photos of the day - February 26, 2017

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Photos of the day - February 26, 2017

Photos of the day - February 26, 2017Somali migrants cross the U.S. border into Canada; figure skating Gold medalist Choi Da-bin of South Korea, performs during the closing ceremony of the Asian Winter Games; Portland Timbers midfielder David Guzman and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos vie for the ball. See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.


Syrian warplanes pound rebel-held area in central city

Syrian warplanes pound rebel-held area in central cityBEIRUT (AP) — Government warplanes pounded a rebel-held neighborhood in the central city of Homs on Sunday, killing at least three and wounding dozens, Syrian opposition activists said, and President Bashar Assad's forces pushed ahead in Syria's offensive on the historic town of Palmyra held by the Islamic State group.


US urges Russia to 'immediately' observe Ukraine ceasefire

US urges Russia to 'immediately' observe Ukraine ceasefireThe United States called on Russia Sunday to "immediately" observe the ceasefire in Ukraine, accusing combined Russian and separatist forces of targeting international monitors. "We call on Russia and the separatist forces it backs to immediately observe the ceasefire, withdraw all heavy weapons, and allow full and unfettered access to the OSCE monitors," the State Department said. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States was closely monitoring growing violence in eastern Ukraine and the failure of the combined Russian and separatist forces to abide by a ceasefire agreed to two years ago in Minsk.


Pope suggests 'better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic'

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Pope suggests 'better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic'

Pope suggests 'better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic'Pope Francis delivered another criticism of some members of his own Church on Thursday, suggesting it is better to be an atheist than one of "many" Catholics who he said lead a hypocritical double life. Less than two months after his election, he said Christians should see atheists as good people if they do good.


Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus hands-on: The Moto G just went premium

Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus hands-on: The Moto G just went premiumMotorola’s Moto G phones have been some of the most popular mid-range Android handsets we’ve ever seen. Year after year, Motorola kept upgrading the phones while keeping retail price surprisingly low. Multiple rumors ahead of this year’s Mobile World Congress edition suggested that Lenovo, Motorola’s parent company, plans to come out with a new Moto G5 Plus at the event, and the leaks were obviously accurate. The company launched not one but two distinct Moto G5 models during its special media event on Sunday, with the bold goal of offering buyers a premium smartphone experience that won’t break the bank. When you look at the two handsets side by side, you won’t notice the difference. The Moto G5 and G5 Plus have almost the same size and weight, and the screen size is so similar that you won’t be able to tell the difference. motorola-moto-g5-plus-mwc-2017-hands-on-17 But as I learned more about the two devices, it became clearer that, while they’re both supposed to be premium Moto G handsets, it’s the Moto G5 Plus that’s better version of the two. In fact, Moto G fans in America won't even find the regular Moto G5 in stores this year, as that model will only be sold in international markets. Moreover, RAM and storage will also vary for both handsets, depending on which market you live in. motorola-moto-g5-plus-mwc-2017-hands-on-20 The Moto G5 features a 5.0-inch Full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 2/3GB of RAM, 16/32GB of storage, microSD support, 13-megapixel camera with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and an f/2.0 aperture, 5-megapixel front facing camera with wide field of view and an f/ 2.2 aperture, 2,800 mAh removable battery with 10W rapid charging support, water-repellent nano-coating, and Android 7.0 Nougat running the show. All that package will retail starting at €199 for the 2GB/32GB storage version this March in various countries around the world. If you think that’s a good deal, then wait until you hear about the Moto G5 Plus. motorola-moto-g5-plus-mwc-2017-hands-on-7 First of all, unlike other smartphone vendors, the Plus moniker does not indicate that the G5 Plus is a bigger version. As I said, you can hardly tell the two devices apart. “Plus” is indicative of a better feature set, in this case. The Moto G5 also features a Full HD display, but it’s a 5.2-inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It also has a Qualcomm chip, but it’s a snappier Snapdragon 625 chip. It has various RAM and storage capacities, but you’ll have 2/3/4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of storage to choose from. There's a great rear camera just like the G5, but it’s a 12-megapixel shooter with dual autofocus Pixel, f/1.7 aperture, 1.4um pixel, color balancing dual LED flash. The 5-megapixel selfie camera supports 4K video recording, unlike the G5. It also has a fast-charging battery like the G5, but it’s a non-removable 3,000 mAh unit that comes with a TurboPower Charger. The Moto G5 Plus is better than the Moto G5 in every way, and it’s only slightly more expensive than its sibling. Pricing starts at $229 for the 2GB/32GB storage version (in America), and at €279 for the 3GB/32GB storage model (in Europe). The phone will also launch this March alongside the G5. Before you even ask, both handsets come with micro USB and 3.5mm headphone jacks, which means they'll work with all the charging cables and headphones you already have around the house. motorola-moto-g5-plus-mwc-2017-hands-on-22 One more thing: Both handsets come with a fingerprint sensor on the front side, but the Moto G5 Plus will also support NFC-based wireless payments in all markets aside from America. The fingerprint sensor is going to play an even bigger role in your day-to-day phone interaction as it comes with brand new Moto Actions gesture support if you buy the Plus version. Called One Button Nav, the new feature turns the sensor into a tiny trackpad that can replace the default Android navigation buttons typically found in a row at the bottom of the display. That frees up even more real estate for apps, since those menu buttons won’t get in the way when the feature is enabled. This is Motorola's unique way of increasing display real estate without removing the fingerprint sensor from the front side or increasing the overall size of the handset. motorola-moto-g5-plus-mwc-2017-hands-on-2 Make no mistake, the new Moto G5 series isn’t here to steal the thunder from the LG G6, Huawei P10, or the incoming Galaxy S8. It’s not an iPhone killer either unless the iPhone in question is a few years old. But if you’re looking for a budget-friendly phone, the Moto G5 should be at the top of your list, which is something I could have told you about any of its predecessors. This year, however, you get a Moto G device that features a metal design, a high-resolution screen, advanced cameras, fast-charging and long-lasting batteries, and brand new Android tricks. If you can try one in a store near you, definitely give the Moto G5 phones a chance next month. And definitely go for the Plus when you decide to buy one.


Macron jumps in French polls as rivals' legal woes mount

Macron jumps in French polls as rivals' legal woes mountSupport for France's 39-year-old centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has jumped, a poll showed Sunday, following a new election alliance and mounting legal problems for his rivals. The survey from the Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting group showed Macron winning 25 percent of the first-round vote if it were held today, slightly behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen on 27 percent. In a run-off contest between the two top candidates, Macron would beat Le Pen easily 61 percent to 39 percent, the survey of 920 voters suggested.


'Ring of fire' solar eclipse will blaze across the Southern Hemisphere

'Ring of fire' solar eclipse will blaze across the Southern HemisphereA "ring of fire" eclipse will be visible from the Southern Hemisphere on Sunday morning, although anyone can catch the spectacle live via the space site Slooh.com. Sunday's solar phenomenon is known as an annular eclipse. It happens when the moon slides in between the sun and the Earth but doesn't completely block the sun, as would a total solar eclipse.  SEE ALSO: This weekend you can see a lunar eclipse and a comet Instead, a thin, fiery ring of the sun's edges blaze like an iris on an enormous, menacing eye. ring of fire #eclipse live from #Chile WOW :) pic.twitter.com/i47LKmXNjl — David Fiacchini (@naturaetratio) February 26, 2017 Skywatchers will catch the best view in Chile and Argentina in South America, as well as Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa and parts of Antarctica, Space.com reported.  We'll track the #eclipse from start to finish from Chile and South Africa, bringing the full experience to you https://t.co/vuD0wkQm67 pic.twitter.com/MPNbVLVsir — Slooh (@Slooh) February 25, 2017 These countries align with the "path of annularity," a zone where the moon casts its shadow on Earth that ranges from 18 miles to 55 miles wide. BONUS: Mesmerizing footage shows the total solar eclipse traveling over Southeast Asia